This Day in History: February 16th
1249 – Andrew of Longjumeau is dispatched by Louis IX of France as his ambassador to meet with Mongol Khagan of the Mongol Empire. The Mongolians are unexpectedly pleased with the meeting, noting that Longjumeau was “delicious.”
1868 – In New York City the Jolly Corks organization is renamed the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks in a terrible attempt at making their club name more catchy.
1899 – Knattspyrnufélag Reykjavíkur Iceland’s first football club is founded. Ten years later the team would change its name to the Jolly Corks in a very successful attempt at making it catchier.
1968 – In Haleyville, Alabama, the first 9-1-1 emergency telephone system goes into service. The lines would remain silent, however, as the farm animals constantly being raped by Haleyville good ol’ boys could not figure out how to dial it with their hooves.
1985 – Hezbollah is founded. Happy birthday, Hezbollah!
1999 – In Uzbekistan, what sounds like a bomb exploding and heavy gunfire is heard near the office of President Islom Karimov. Secret Service agents found the President in his private restroom completely unharmed (he explained to them that the noises were the result of his having eaten his wife’s goulash).