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Today in History MARCH 16

597 BC Babylonians capture Jerusalem, replace Jehoiachin with Zedekiah as king

1079 Iran adopts solar Hijrah calendar

1190 York (England) Pogrom: Jews seek refuge in Clifford's Tower, which is then besieged by a mob; about 150 people are massacred or commit suicide rather than submit to Christian baptism

1249 The Servite Order is officially approved by Cardinal Raniero Capocci, papal legate in Tuscany

1322 The Battle of Boroughbridge takes place in the First War of Scottish Independence

1345 Holy spirit glides above fire: "the miracle of Amsterdam" (legend)

1945 Würzburg, Germany is 90% destroyed, with 5,000 dead, in only 20 minutes by British bombers

1978 US Senate accepts Panama Canal treaty

2020 COVID-19 study by London Imperial College showing migration approach could lead to 250,00 deaths in UK, over 1 million in US, prompts strategy changes from both countries

2020 COVID-19: France orders a national lockdown, US recommends meetings 10 or less, 6 counties in San Francisco and surrounding counties told to "shelter in place"

2020 Global infections and deaths from COVID-19 overtake those in China for the 1st time, 86,000 vs 80,860 infections, 3,241 vs 3,208 deaths according to John Hopkins

Births On This Day, March 16

1940 MY FATHER

1954 Colin Ireland, Kent, England, serial killer ('Gay Slayer'/ Coleherne killer)

Joke of the Day

Bert and Ernie had worked together as radio hosts for twenty years.

They traded jokes, played pop music and generally made people's lives a touch brighter as they trundled to work.

In one of the breaks they received a Fax. Ernie picked up the page and was in shock. Ernie silently reread the fax message from civil defense. As licensed broadcasters they were legally obligated to alert the public, to tell them the nukes were flying and that in a few minutes, all of the world's troubles would be over.

What was the point of that though? To torture people with the knowledge of something they couldn't change?

Their eyes met and a decision was reached. Bert put on their most requested song, a sugary top 40 tune while Ernie produced a bottle of bourbon from under the desk. As their producer banged on the locked studio door, the colleagues toasted the end of a long career.

Bert, always the consummate professional, turned away from the window as the first explosion split the distant horizon. He straightened his tie, tucked in his shirt and brushed his hair back. He would meet his fiery death with dignity.

Bert turned to Ernie and said in a quiet, resigned voice, "How do I look, Ernie?"

Ernie walked slowly over to his friend. He looked into Bert's face and saw the closeness they shared, the strength of their relationship, forged over the years. took a deep breath and spoke quietly:

"With your eyes, Bert."