Well the events on that date resulted in a Big Bang (or two) for the Japanese, that's for sure . ...

AGREEMENT REGARDING JAPAN

The leaders of the three great powers - the Soviet Union, the United States of America and Great Britain - have agreed that in two or three months after Germany has surrendered and the war in Europe is terminated, the Soviet Union shall enter into war against Japan on the side of the Allies ...

It's been said that the 20th Century was by far the bloodiest, most cruel and environmentally devastating in human history. The death toll (read millions upon millions of innocent human beings) exacted by the USSR and Red China, by the likes of Hitler, Milosevic, Saddam etc was staggering and unprecedented. Yet paradoxically, in the face of all that horror it was also the century that held out the most hope (at least since 33 CE! :-) via all the incredible advances in medicine, technology, human rights and quality of life (to name just a few).

Mack, do you remember the reasons for stating that the early 1900's were the "closet to optimum we've ever seen" for ordinary people? I find that quite curious. No traffic jams or TV's as yet, perhaps? Or is it because marijuana was still legal?   ;-)