This day in history

On this day in1885 some doofus from Belgium named King Leopold II decided to claim the Congo Free State -- a large area in Central Africa -- as "his," which is apparently something you could decide in the 1800s.

It never seems to work out too well for child stars, and Coleman's life is no exception.

On February 1,1979 Patty Hearst -- a young woman made famous after being brainwashed by her kidnappers and robbing a bank -- was released from prison after serving 22 months for robbing a bank with her captors.

On this day in 1957, the Brooklyn Dodgers announced that they had hired the infamous circus clown Emmett Kelly to entertain their fans at games. (Read: On this day in history, a lot of people developed a debilitating phobia at a friendly afternoon baseball game in Brooklyn.)

It's almost the weekend, which is my favorite time to crack open a can of...well, if I'm honest, these days it's usually PBR. Times are tough, but not as tough as they probably were before this day in 1935, when the Gottfried Krueger Brewing Company delivered it's first batch of 2,000 cans of Krueger's Finest Beer and Cream Ale to one of my favorite cities in America: the dirty river city of Richm

On this day in 1983, we learned a valuable moral lesson about human compassion from a very large, loud man in gold chains: We learned to pity fools.

I'll never forget the feeling I had on January 22, 2003, when I learned that Chinese scientists had found dinosaur fossils with four feathered wings. That feeling was: awesome.

Here’s a look at some interesting events that took place on this day in history: 1643: The first legal divorce in the American colonies takes place (more info) 1925: Nellie Tayloe Ross of Wyoming becomes the first female governor in the United States (more info)

Here’s a look at some interesting events that took place on this day in history: 1870: The construction of the Brooklyn Bridge begins (more info) 1938: The March of Dimes is established by President Franklin D. Roosevelt (more info)

Here’s a look at some interesting events that took place on this day in history: 1863: President Abraham Lincoln signs the final Emancipation Proclamation, ending slavery in the rebelling states (more info) 1934: Alcatraz Island becomes a United States federal prison (more info)

Here’s a look at some interesting events that took place on this day in history: 1879: Thomas Edison demonstrates incandescent lighting to the public for the first time (more info) 1907: The first New Year's Eve celebration is held in Times Square -- then known as Longacre Square -- in New York City (more info)

Here’s a look at some interesting events that took place on this day in history: 1831: Charles Darwin embarks on his journey aboard the HMS Beagle, during which he will begin to formulate the theory of evolution (more info) 1900: Prohibitionist Carry Nation smashes up her first saloon, causing several thousand dollars in damage and landing in jail (more info)