Five Things that Happened on This Day in History

[Snargfargle]

On 26 December

2021, the renowned biologist E. O. Wilson died. I've got several textbooks that he wrote in my library.

1991, the Soviet Union was dissolved, ending the Cold War. The Army gave me a certificate of appreciation for my small part in "winning" it. In light of current events, however, I'm not so sure that we actually did.

1943, the German battleship Scharnhorst was sunk in the Battle of the North Cape.

1862, the largest mass hanging in the US occurred when 38 Sioux were hanged in the aftermath of the Dakota War of 1862. Before you feel too sorry for them, they killed 358 settlers, 77 soldiers, and 36 militia.

1776, George Washington crossed the Delaware and defeated the Hessians at Trenton. This was actually one of only three battles that Washington won under his direct command during the Revolutionary War and the largest, Yorktown, was mostly won by the French. Instrumentally, it was François Joseph Paul, Comte de Grasse's fleet, which defeated the British Fleet and set up the blockade that helped win the battle. You may have the De Grasse in your WOWS Port.

 

 

Edited December 27, 2024 by Snargfargle

[Snargfargle]

On 27 December

1968, Apollo 8 splashes down in the Pacific Ocean after its voyage around the Moon. It was the first time humans had ever orbited the Moon.

1922, The Japanese aircraft carrier Hōshō becomes the first purpose-built aircraft carrier to be commissioned in the world. Perhaps you have this Tier IV carrier in your Port?

1901, Marlene Dietrich was born. She sold more WWII war bonds than any other Hollywood star and performed with the USO in Europe during the War, sometimes within earshot of the fighting. It is said that she saw more of the front lines than Eisenhower did. She contributed nearly a half million dollars of her own money to support Jewish refugees ($10 million today). She worked with the OSS making German-language broadcasts. "I am personally deeply grateful for your generosity in making these recordings for us." -- Major General William J. Donovan, head of the OSS. She received the US Medal of Freedom and was also was awarded the Légion d'honneur by the French government. Sort of amazing from someone who was born in Berlin and was a German citizen until she was 38. She really did not like the Nazis.

1831, Charles Darwin embarks on his Journey on the HMS Beagle. What he learned on the voyage enabled him (with Wallace) to formulate the Theory of Evolution, which is the fundamental theory of Biology. "Nothing in Biology makes sense unless viewed in the light of Evolution." -- Theodosius Dobzhansky

1814, The sinking of the USS Carolina brings to an end Commodore Patterson's fleet, which fought a series of delaying actions that contributed to Andrew Jackson's victory at the Battle of New Orleans. The war was already over as the treaty of Ghent had been signed on December 24, 1814 but it would be several weeks before the news would reach the combatants. Jackson used ships' cannon loaned to him by the French pirate Jean Lafitte as his artillery. Lafitte and his brother were so instrumental in helping win the Battle of New Orleans that they were mentioned in dispatches, which is now equivalent to being awarded a Bronze Star.

Edited December 27, 2024 by Snargfargle

[tm63au]

3 hours ago, Snargfargle said:

1901, Marlene Dietrich was born. She sold more WWII war bonds than any other Hollywood star and performed with the USO in Europe during the War, sometimes within earshot of the fighting. It is said that she saw more of the front lines than Eisenhower did. She contributed nearly a half million dollars of her own money to support Jewish refugees ($10 million today). She worked with the OSS making German-language broadcasts. "I am personally deeply grateful for your generosity in making these recordings for us." -- Major General William J. Donovan, head of the OSS. She received the US Medal of Freedom and was also was awarded the Légion d'honneur by the French government. Sort of amazing from someone who was born in Berlin and was a German citizen until she was 38. She really did not like the Nazis

So a front line veteran that didn't fire a shot OK by me, though I read Patton gave her a pistol for self defence. 

[Admiral_Karasu]

Interesting, Feodosiy Dobzhansky (Dobrzanski) was...

Spoiler

... my distant cousin's husband's first cousin twice removed, meaning, in this case, he was a grandson of Dostoyevsky's cousin.

 

[Snargfargle]

 

Top pistol. 1942 Beretta 9mm Corto (short)."Gen Omar Bradley to Marlene Dietrich, 1944."

Bottom revolver. Webley-style Belgian .38 revolver "To Marlene Dietrich from General George S. Patton With Devoted Affection and Protection, 1944."

She brought home a total of eleven guns that had been given to her.

All I can say is one hell of a lady.

Traveling in open jeeps she ate regulation food which gave her a bad stomach because of the phenol it contained. On the eve of 15 May, Dietrich and troupe were lost nearby enemy territory when their jeep broke down in a grove: they could hear gunfire and it was a cold night. Eventually a truck drove up and the troupe approached it. Dietrich heard their language and said in French ‘I’m Marlene Dietrich.’ The reply came ‘If you’re Marlene Dietrich. I’m General Eisenhower.’ She proved her identity with a flashlight: with them was the actor Jean-pierre Aumont and Dietrich referred to an unusual odor rising from his uniform. He explained that he’d just had his first sleep in days, next to the corpse of a Senegalese soldier.

On hospital visits she’d make beds for the wounded. Occasionally some wounded American allies would tell her of injured Germans in the same hospital. Passing boys would argue among themselves whether she was really Marlene Dietrich. “I’d go to these young, blank-faced, very young Nazis and they’d ask me with tears in their eyes ‘Are you the real Marlene Dietrich?’ All was forgotten and I’d sing ‘Lili Marlene’ to everyone. In that hospital. There was no greater moment in my life.”

In the autumn Dietrich visited France, where she suffered shaking chills and was constantly vomiting. She was infected with lice in October. At night rats with frozen feet would race across their faces. The SS general Sepp Dietrich put a price on her head when she was surrounded by his entire army but she was adamant that she be given no star treatment ‘I’m just one of the boys’ she’d say.  Dietrich suffered severe frostbite and influenza the effects of which remained with her lifelong resulting in her arthritis later in life. However, she continued her twice daily performances all through the final great German offensive on the western front in Southern Belgium.

In April she visited Belsen and its concentration camp where she sifted through the corpses looking for her sister. She eventually found her sister alive and arranged medical care for her.  In July she returned to New York for treatment of a jaw infection.  Later she returned to Europe and lectured students at a G. I. University in Biarritz, France.

http://lastgoddess.blogspot.com/2012/08/dietrich-at-war.html

 

Edited December 27, 2024 by Snargfargle

[Admiral_Karasu]

1 minute ago, Snargfargle said:

 

Top pistol. 1942 Beretta 9mm Corto (short)."Gen Omar Bradley to Marlene Dietrich, 1944."

Bottom revolver. Webley-style Belgian .38 revolver "To Marlene Dietrich from General George S. Patton With Devoted Affection and Protection, 1944."

She brought home a total of eleven guns that had been given to her.

All I can say is one hell of a lady.

Traveling in open jeeps she ate regulation food which gave her a bad stomach because of the phenol it contained. On the eve of 15 May, Dietrich and troupe were lost nearby enemy territory when their jeep broke down in a grove: they could hear gunfire and it was a cold night. Eventually a truck drove up and the troupe approached it. Dietrich heard their language and said in French ‘I’m Marlene Dietrich.’ The reply came ‘If you’re Marlene Dietrich. I’m General Eisenhower.’ She proved her identity with a flashlight: with them was the actor Jean-pierre Aumont and Dietrich referred to an unusual odor rising from his uniform. He explained that he’d just had his first sleep in days, next to the corpse of a Senegalese soldier.

On hospital visits she’d make beds for the wounded. Occasionally some wounded American allies would tell her of injured Germans in the same hospital. Passing boys would argue among themselves whether she was really Marlene Dietrich. “I’d go to these young, blank-faced, very young Nazis and they’d ask me with tears in their eyes ‘Are you the real Marlene Dietrich?’ All was forgotten and I’d sing ‘Lili Marlene’ to everyone. In that hospital. There was no greater moment in my life.”

In the autumn Dietrich visited France, where she suffered shaking chills and was constantly vomiting. She was infected with lice in October. At night rats with frozen feet would race across their faces. The SS general Sepp Dietrich put a price on her head when she was surrounded by his entire army but she was adamant that she be given no star treatment ‘I’m just one of the boys’ she’d say.  Dietrich suffered severe frostbite and influenza the effects of which remained with her lifelong resulting in her arthritis later in life. However, she continued her twice daily performances all through the final great German offensive on the western front in Southern Belgium.

In April she visited Belsen and its concentration camp where she sifted through the corpses looking for her sister. She eventually found her sister alive and arranged medical care for her.  In July she returned to New York for treatment of a jaw infection.  Later she returned to Europe and lectured students at a G. I. University in Biarritz, France.

http://lastgoddess.blogspot.com/2012/08/dietrich-at-war.html

 

Most other women get flowers and jewellery...

 

[Snargfargle]

2 minutes ago, Admiral_Karasu said:

Most other women get flowers and jewellery...

Most other women aren't awarded the highest civilian medals of two different countries either.

[Asym]

Marlene Dietrich:  she was not alone. 

Then there was Martha Raye.    Oh my.   My Great Aunts loved her !  So, I knew who she was because those aunts always visited to watch her on TV....  Never in my wildest dreams did I think I'd meet and interact with her....  Small world. 

  "as retrieved from the link below, 2024"  My pictures of her are in storage so.....  This will have to do.

I met her in the 70's at Fort Bragg and well, life takes many paths and you get to meet all sorts of people....  She, spent a lot of time entertaining in three wars.... She was a "force of nature" one team sergeant pointed out to me....  And, as a combat nurse who "got dirty" in fire bases,  no one else would go to,  got dirty doing what she could in keeping them alive....  Yeah, true stories.  They don't make them like her anymore...  So many stories. 

BTW, she had some very harsh words concerning "another" entertainer whom shared the same USO list of service in those three wars. I won't mention that short Pock's name.  At the South Carolina's Governor's mansion,  after the 1976 Bi-Centennial celebration, where my unit was invited to raise and lower the flag,  was an epic night for me....  With a CH-47 to SC and back to Bragg the next day (massively hung over in a freaking 47 : HMOG,  a short, long trip...)  A great party was had and another *what the doodle* moment no one would ever believe...  Wow.....

https://www.truthorfiction.com/colonel-maggie/

For those whom are interested. 

 

[Wolfswetpaws]

8 hours ago, Snargfargle said:

1922, The Japanese aircraft carrier Hōshō becomes the first purpose-built aircraft carrier to be commissioned in the world. Perhaps you have this Tier IV carrier in your Port?

Yep.
The Hosho in my Port is Captained by Hololive collaboration Commander Marine Houshou.
https://virtualyoutuber.fandom.com/wiki/Houshou_Marine  

Nice to learn more about Marlene Deitrich's background, too.  I had no idea.

Edited December 27, 2024 by Wolfswetpaws

[Snargfargle]

On December 28th

2014, due to a combination of computer and pilot errors, Indonesia AirAsia Flight 8501 crashes into the Karimata Strait, killing all 162 people aboard. After the crash it was suggested that all commercial aircraft have ejectable flight recorders, also known as deployable flight recorder systems (DFRS). The U.S. military uses DFRS and has had 100% success recovering them after accidents. Airbus has been installing DFRS on its aircraft since 2019. The recorders are designed to eject from the tail fin and float on water if the plane crashes into the ocean.

2004, Jerry Orbach died of cancer. Law and Order wasn't the same after him. He was a genius with a tested IQ of 163, which allowed him to skip two grades in elementary school.

1973, the Endangered Species Act is signed into law by President Richard Nixon. As a biologist, former farmer, and natural resources management instructor, I've mixed feelings about this. While the law has been used appropriately to help preserve endangered species, so-called "environmental activists" also have used it to halt much-needed public projects, shut down farms, and prevent beneficial and sustainable natural resources management all in the name of preserving some species that probably were ecologically on their way out anyway no matter what humans did.  

1972, was the last scheduled day for induction into the military by the Selective Service System. Due to the fact that President Richard Nixon declared this day a national day of mourning due to former President Harry S Truman's death, approximately 300 men were not able to report due to most Federal offices being closed. Since the draft was not resumed in 1973, they were never drafted.

1835, Osceola lead his Seminole warriors into Florida, starting the Second Seminole War. The war lasted six and a half years and resulted in the deaths of 1600 US soldiers and twice that number of Seminoles. It was one of the longest and most costly of the Indian Wars.

[Admiral_Karasu]

14 hours ago, Snargfargle said:

On December 28th

2014, due to a combination of computer and pilot errors, Indonesia AirAsia Flight 8501 crashes into the Karimata Strait, killing all 162 people aboard. After the crash it was suggested that all commercial aircraft have ejectable flight recorders, also known as deployable flight recorder systems (DFRS). The U.S. military uses DFRS and has had 100% success recovering them after accidents. Airbus has been installing DFRS on its aircraft since 2019. The recorders are designed to eject from the tail fin and float on water if the plane crashes into the ocean.

2004, Jerry Orbach died of cancer. Law and Order wasn't the same after him. He was a genius with a tested IQ of 163, which allowed him to skip two grades in elementary school.

1973, the Endangered Species Act is signed into law by President Richard Nixon. As a biologist, former farmer, and natural resources management instructor, I've mixed feelings about this. While the law has been used appropriately to help preserve endangered species, so-called "environmental activists" also have used it to halt much-needed public projects, shut down farms, and prevent beneficial and sustainable natural resources management all in the name of preserving some species that probably were ecologically on their way out anyway no matter what humans did.  

1972, was the last scheduled day for induction into the military by the Selective Service System. Due to the fact that President Richard Nixon declared this day a national day of mourning due to former President Harry S Truman's death, approximately 300 men were not able to report due to most Federal offices being closed. Since the draft was not resumed in 1973, they were never drafted.

1835, Osceola lead his Seminole warriors into Florida, starting the Second Seminole War. The war lasted six and a half years and resulted in the deaths of 1600 US soldiers and twice that number of Seminoles. It was one of the longest and most costly of the Indian Wars.

If the last item refers to Chief William "Billy" Powell, he is also one of those very distant cousins of mine, you only need to go back a mere 36 generations to find the link. Actually... what that means is that probably quite a few people are about as distantly related to him.

[Wolfswetpaws]

🤔

[Snargfargle]

1 hour ago, Admiral_Karasu said:

If the last item refers to Chief William "Billy" Powell, he is also one of those very distant cousins of mine, you only need to go back a mere 36 generations to find the link. Actually... what that means is that probably quite a few people are about as distantly related to him.

Most Indian tribes go by "blood quantum" to determine who is an "Indian" but this has almost nothing to do with actual genetics. Due to the particulate nature of genes, an offspring may receive few or no genes from a particular great-grandparent's lineage. Quite a few of my "relatives" (in quotes because I am adopted), including one great-grandpa, are on the Dawes Rolls as an Indians. However, my brother and sister have no "Indian" genetic markers whatever.

These girls are twins, both born to "Black" mother. The one on the left got the "expected" dominate genes but the one on he right, got only recessive genes from her Irish and Scottish grandparents. Even though she is of African decent, she would test completely European genetically. There are relatively few genes involved in the combination of facial features and skin color commonly associated with "race" and the probability of this happening can be worked out fairly simply, if somewhat tediously, by hand.

When I first started teaching genetics, I thought it was going to bore the students to death as my own genetics professors had made the subject a dry and boring one for me. However, it turned out to be one of my most popular courses because nearly every student came into the course with a genetics-related question that they were curious about.

 

Edited December 28, 2024 by Snargfargle

[Admiral_Karasu]

2 minutes ago, Snargfargle said:

Most Indian tribes go by "blood quantum" to determine who is an "Indian" but this has almost nothing to do with actual genetics. Due to the particulate nature of genes, an offspring may receive few or no genes from a particular great-grandparent's lineage. Quite a few of my "relatives" (in quotes because I am adopted), including one great-grandpa, are on the Dawes Rolls as an Indians. However, my brother and sister have no "Indian" genetic markers whatever.

These girls are twins, both born to "Black" mother. The one on the left got the "expected" dominate genes but the one on he right, got only recessive genes from her Irish and Scottish grandparents. Even though she is of African decent, she would test completely European genetically. There are relatively few genes involved in the combination of facial features and skin color commonly associated with "race" and the probability of this happening can be worked out fairly simply, if somewhat tediously, by hand.

When I first started teaching genetics. I thought it was going to bore the students to death as my own genetics professors had made the subject a dry and boring one for me. However, it turned out to be one of my most popular courses because nearly every student came into the course with a genetics-related question that they were curious about.

 

As I understand it, this 'blood quantum' is a novelty. Back in the day, I believe, if the tribe accepted you it meant you were in. Blood had nothing to do with it.

[Snargfargle]

Just now, Admiral_Karasu said:

As I understand it, this 'blood quantum' is a novelty. Back in the day, I believe, if the tribe accepted you it meant you were in. Blood had nothing to do with it.

In America, it's not as simple as the Tribe accepting you because being "Indian" comes with quite a few monetary perks from state and federal government. For the "Five Tribes" the primary document that denotes Indian ancestry is the Dawes Rolls. One major problem with this is that there were quite a few Indians that hid out in the hills or passed for White and and never got put on them. Therefore, their decedents aren't considered Indians. One relative of mine had an Indian mom but when people were getting registered as Indians his dad told him that since he could pass for White and had a pretty good business going that mainly catered to Whites that he might consider not registering. Therefore, although he is on a Dawes Card, he was never was put on the Rolls proper.

[Admiral_Karasu]

4 minutes ago, Snargfargle said:

In America, it's not as simple as the Tribe accepting you because being "Indian" comes with quite a few monetary perks from state and federal government. For the "Five Tribes" the primary document that denotes Indian ancestry is the Dawes Rolls. One major problem with this is that there were quite a few Indians that hid out in the hills or passed for White and and never got put on them. Therefore, their decedents aren't considered Indians. One relative of mine had an Indian mom but when people were getting registered as Indians his dad told him that since he could pass for White and had a pretty good business going that mainly catered to Whites that he might consider not registering. Therefore, although he is on a Dawes Card, he was never was put on the Rolls proper.

Yes, but that's part of the 'novelty package'. I'm talking about how it was ways back.

[Wolfswetpaws]

6 minutes ago, Snargfargle said:

In America, it's not as simple as the Tribe accepting you because being "Indian" comes with quite a few monetary perks from state and federal government. For the "Five Tribes" the primary document that denotes Indian ancestry is the Dawes Rolls. One major problem with this is that there were quite a few Indians that hid out in the hills or passed for White and and never got put on them. Therefore, their decedents aren't considered Indians. One relative of mine had an Indian mom but when people were getting registered as Indians his dad told him that since he could pass for White and had a pretty good business going that mainly catered to Whites that he might consider not registering. Therefore, although he is on a Dawes Card, he was never was put on the Rolls proper.

Which reminded me of news stories involving a certain politician. 
Example:
https://www.vox.com/2018/10/16/17983250/elizabeth-warren-bar-application-american-indian-dna  

[Admiral_Karasu]

2 minutes ago, Wolfswetpaws said:

Which reminded me of news stories involving a certain politician. 
Example:
https://www.vox.com/2018/10/16/17983250/elizabeth-warren-bar-application-american-indian-dna  

Yeah, DNA doesn't cut it. If I took the right test, it would show me having North American Indian DNA, because parts of that DNA is identical with parts of the DNA in East Asia. We are talking about fractions, like single digit percentages here.

[Snargfargle]

5 minutes ago, Admiral_Karasu said:

Yeah, DNA doesn't cut it. If I took the right test, it would show me having North American Indian DNA, because parts of that DNA is identical with parts of the DNA in East Asia. We are talking about fractions, like single digit percentages here.

The genetics of migration of humans into the New world is very interesting.

[Wolfswetpaws]

6 minutes ago, Snargfargle said:

The genetics of migration of humans into the New world is very interesting.

[Admiral_Karasu]

35 minutes ago, Snargfargle said:

The genetics of migration of humans into the New world is very interesting.

This would be why, for instance, I would have traces of 'New World DNA' because we share the same ancestral populations in Siberia, from the Ural mountains to the Altai region and Kamchatka.

[Ensign Cthulhu]

On 12/27/2024 at 2:32 AM, Snargfargle said:

The Army gave me a certificate of appreciation for my small part in "winning" it. In light of current events, however, I'm not so sure that we actually did.

You won the war; successor politicians took advantage of the peace. More than that, I will not say lest the banhammer descend. 

[Admiral_Karasu]

14 minutes ago, Ensign Cthulhu said:

You won the war; successor politicians took advantage of the peace. More than that, I will not say lest the banhammer descend. 

Better leave things at the end of history.

[HogHammer]

10 minutes ago, Ensign Cthulhu said:

More than that, I will not say lest the banhammer descend. 

Well, there is a fine line here.  Posting events (and it would be helpful with links for those who would appreciate more information) is perfectly fine.  We may be getting into a gray area when it comes to the "additional commentary/opinions" of those events.  We've already been alerted to this thread, so please keep it focused.

[Admiral_Karasu]

2 minutes ago, HogHammer said:

Well, there is a fine line here.  Posting events (and it would be helpful with links for those who would appreciate more information) is perfectly fine.  We may be getting into a gray area when it comes to the "additional commentary/opinions" of those events.  We've already been alerted to this thread, so please keep it focused.

I gather paleo-Siberian should be on the safer side of things.