Welcome to 2015, Headliners! Today’s birthday belongs to Reggae star Alpha Blondy. Since the New Year is such an auspicious occasion, there are more Headlines Du Jour of yesteryear than usual:

• 404 – An infuriated Roman mob tears Telemachus, a Christian monk, to pieces for trying to stop a gladiators‘ fight in the public arena held in Rome.
• 1772 – The first traveler’s cheques, which can be used in 90 European cities, go on sale in London, England.




• 1773 – The hymn that became known as “Amazing Grace“, then titled “1 Chronicles 17:16–17” is first used to accompany a sermon led by John Newton in the town of Olney, England.
• 1788 – First edition of The Times of London, previously The Daily Universal Register, is published.
• 1804 – French rule ends in Haiti. Haiti becomes the first black republic and second independent country in North America after the United States
• 1808 – The importation of slaves into the United States is banned.
• 1863 – American Civil War: The Emancipation Proclamation takes effect in Confederate territory.
• 1885 – Twenty-five nations adopt Sandford Fleming‘s proposal for standard time (and also, time zones)
• 1890 – The Rose Parade in Pasadena, California, is first held.




• 1892 – Ellis Island opens to begin processing immigrants into the United States.
• 1899 – Spanish rule ends in Cuba.
• 1908 – For the first time, a ball is dropped in New York City’s Times Square to signify the start of the New Year at midnight.
• 1912 – The Republic of China is established.
• 1934 – Alcatraz Island becomes a United States federal prison.




• 1934 – Nazi Germany passes the “Law for the Prevention of Genetically Diseased Offspring“.
• 1947 – The Canadian Citizenship Act 1946 comes into effect, converting British subjects into Canadian citizens. Prime Minister William Lyon Mackenzie King becomes the first Canadian citizen.
• 1954 – NBC makes the first coast-to-coast NTSC color broadcast
  when it telecast the Tournament of Roses Parade, with public
  demonstrations given across the United States on prototype color
  receivers.
• 1959 – Fulgencio Batista, dictator of Cuba, is overthrown by Fidel Castro‘s forces during the Cuban Revolution.
• 1971 – Cigarette advertisements are banned on American television.
• 1983 – The ARPANET officially changes to using the Internet Protocol, creating the Internet.
• 1985 – The Internet’s Domain Name System is created.
• 1990 – David Dinkins is sworn in as New York City’s first black mayor.
• 1994 – The North American Free Trade Agreement comes into effect.

Here is today’s Headlines Du Jour:

YEAR-ENDERS:

MORE OF THAT GOP OUTREACH:

MORE EXCITING EPISODES OF COPS GONE WILD:

GUNS, GUNS, GUNS:

FREE THE WEED!!!

IN OUTER SPACE:

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