On This Date In History
August 7, 1928 -- The birthday of Randall James Hamilton Zwinge, later to change his name to James Randi.
August 14, 1374 -- Pope Gregory XI issues a letter to Inquisitors of France, asserting the right of the Inquisition to
intervene in trials for magic. most magic, the Pope argued, was worked with the aid of demons and thus under
inquisitorial jurisdiction.
August 18, 1999 -- The space probe Cassini will pass by the Earth on this date, to pick up speed for its trip
to Saturn. Because it carries plutonium on board, Cassini has been the target of protests from people, most of whom have
either entirely misunderstood or grotesquely exaggerated the potential dangers. Along with the usual bad science,
opponents who want it redirected to the Sun are now citing a new "authority:" Nostradamus. He predicted in 1558
that "The year 1999 seven months, From the sky will come the great King of Terror." He must have used the Julian
calendar, they say, and clearly was referring to Cassini.
August 26, 1914 -- Purported date of the Angels of Mons myth of WWI.
August 28, 1995 -- An alleged documentary picturing a ludicrous autopsy on an unconvincing alien airs on Fox. Makeup
artist Phil Tippet succinctly summed it up when he said, "it's a rubber guy."
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