Today in History

[LizzieMaine]

On this date in 1939, John Steinbeck's definitive novel of migrant farmer life "The Grapes of Wrath" was published by Viking Press. It immediately became the most controversial novel of its time, especially in California -- where its uncompromising portrait of the exploitation of migrants by agricultural entrepreneurs led to bans on the book in several towns and cities in the state, and public book-burnings in others.

The bans and burnings did nothing to stunt the sales of the book, or its powerful message -- and while the burners and the banners are all dead, gone, and forgotten, "The Grapes of Wrath" has never been out of print in eighty years.

 

[GHT]

1912 The British built Titanic luxury ocean liner that had collided earlier with an iceberg about 400 miles from Newfoundland sank at 2:20 a.m. More than 1,500 people drowned or froze to death in the icy waters. Most of the 700 survivors were women and children. As the ship sank, the band played music to calm the passengers and all the musicians went down with the ship. They were recognized for their heroism and bandleader Wallace Hartley aged 33, from Colne in Lancashire, is commemorated in a memorial in the town's centre. His grave is in Colne cemetery. The words 'Nearer My God To Thee', the alleged last song that the band played on RMS Titanic, are engraved on the plinth along with a violin and bow.

1942 The people of the British colony of Malta were awarded the George Cross in recognition of their heroic war time struggle against enemy attack.

1945 British troops entered the Belsan concentration camp after negotiating a truce with the German commandant. Soldiers found piles of dead and rotting corpses and thousands of sick and starving prisoners. Freddie Gilroy, a former miner and 23 year old soldier from County Durham was one of the first allied troops to enter Bergen-Belsen concentration camp. Freddie Gilroy and the Belsen Stragglers statue at Scarborough 'represents ordinary people pulled out of ordinary lives because of war.'

1953 Reis Leming, a 22-year-old US airman stationed in Britain was presented with the George Medal. He had rescued 27 people in East Anglia during winter floods. The award was the first given to a foreigner during peacetime.

("The George Cross is the second highest award of the United Kingdom honours system. It is awarded "for acts of the greatest heroism or for most conspicuous courage in circumstance of extreme danger.")

 

[ChiTownScion]

On this date in 1939, John Steinbeck's definitive novel of migrant farmer life "The Grapes of Wrath" was published by Viking Press. It immediately became the most controversial novel of its time, especially in California -- where its uncompromising portrait of the exploitation of migrants by agricultural entrepreneurs led to bans on the book in several towns and cities in the state, and public book-burnings in others.

The bans and burnings did nothing to stunt the sales of the book, or its powerful message -- and while the burners and the banners are all dead, gone, and forgotten, "The Grapes of Wrath" has never been out of print in eighty years.

Not to be confused with, "The Grapes of Mud. (SCTV)"

 

[Peacoat]

Columbine massacre was today in 1999. The worst US school killing spree to date. I had just walked into the main bar at the Officers' Club at Maxwell Air Force Base and there it was on the news. I just couldn't believe it. Thirteen students and teachers were killed with twenty five more being injured before the two shooters shot and killed themselves. Why?

 

[GHT]

Today is St George's Day, patron saint of The English. Far from celebrating it, wearing a rose has become demonised.
Today is also The Bard's birthday. Born on this day in 1564, and died on this day in 1616.

 

[MissMittens]

Today in 1914, The Federals defeated Kansas City in the first major league baseball game to be played in Chicago's Weeghman Park, later renamed Wrigley Field.

On this day in 1564, the man who is credited as writing many classic British plays, William Shakespeare, was born. Whether he wrote the works or not is still open to scholarly debate.

 

[MissMittens]

Columbine massacre was today in 1999. The worst US school killing spree to date. I had just walked into the main bar at the Officers' Club at Maxwell Air Force Base and there it was on the news. I just couldn't believe it. Thirteen students and teachers were killed with twenty five more being injured before the two shooters shot and killed themselves. Why?

My partner was supposed to have been in school there on that day, but didn't go.

 

[Edward]

Columbine massacre was today in 1999. The worst US school killing spree to date. I had just walked into the main bar at the Officers' Club at Maxwell Air Force Base and there it was on the news. I just couldn't believe it. Thirteen students and teachers were killed with twenty five more being injured before the two shooters shot and killed themselves. Why?

I think I still havesome of the UK tabloid coverage of it; I was writing on moral panic at the time, and the rush to blame anything for this attack was an excellent example. It was pinned on Marilyn Manson for a few weeks (it latercame out both boys hated him). I also recall one locally elected official to CHS calling for a ban on "long coats", stating a claim that witout a long coat to hide a rifle under h massacre couldn't have happened. I had to buy those tabloids, because unlike today, in 1999 not many ritish newspapers had much of a website.

Today is also The Bard's birthday. Born on this day in 1564, and died on this day in 1616.

His DOB is celebrated today by custom, though it was only recorded for convenience when he died. Noone knew hisexact dae of birth, so they just put it down as the same day he died.

On this day in 1564, the man who is credited as writing many classic British plays, William Shakespeare, was born. Whether he wrote the works or not is still open to scholarly debate.

Oh, they're all English plays. Even "The Scottish play".

I love the conspiracy theories about Shakespeare, though I've ye to see one that gets past the cracking yarn standard and actuall produces sufficient evidence for the 'balance of probabilities' test.

 

[MissMittens]

I think I still havesome of the UK tabloid coverage of it; I was writing on moral panic at the time, and the rush to blame anything for this attack was an excellent example. It was pinned on Marilyn Manson for a few weeks (it latercame out both boys hated him). I also recall one locally elected official to CHS calling for a ban on "long coats", stating a claim that witout a long coat to hide a rifle under h massacre couldn't have happened. I had to buy those tabloids, because unlike today, in 1999 not many ritish newspapers had much of a website.



His DOB is celebrated today by custom, though it was only recorded for convenience when he died. Noone knew hisexact dae of birth, so they just put it down as the same day he died.



Oh, they're all English plays. Even "The Scottish play".

I love the conspiracy theories about Shakespeare, though I've ye to see one that gets past the cracking yarn standard and actuall produces sufficient evidence for the 'balance of probabilities' test.

England likes to claim everything, particularly anything Welsh, Scottish, or Irish

Shakespeare and the Welsh

 

[Edward]

England likes to claim everything, particularly anything Welsh, Scottish, or Irish

Shakespeare and the Welsh

Quite so. Even our wn Jon Watson, a Northern Ireland GRand Prix DRiver in the early eighties, was 'Irish' unless he was in the lead - the he became "British". I used to laugh at how easy it was to tell whether Andy Murray had lost in the tennis or not depending upon whether they introduced him as a Scot or a Brit. Never failed.

 

[MissMittens]

Quite so. Even our wn Jon Watson, a Northern Ireland GRand Prix DRiver in the early eighties, was 'Irish' unless he was in the lead - the he became "British". I used to laugh at how easy it was to tell whether Andy Murray had lost in the tennis or not depending upon whether they introduced him as a Scot or a Brit. Never failed.

LOL!!! So true! I noticed that with Colin Jackson as well. British when he was in form, Welsh when he wasn't.

 

[GHT]

On this day in 1731, the death of Daniel Defoe, English novelist and author of Robinson Crusoe, his most famous novel. Robinson Crusoe is second only to the Bible in its number of translations.
It was placed on the Index Librorum Prohibitorum (prohibited book index) by the Catholic Church in 1720, for heresy, and therefore giving the book far more publicity than Defoe could ever have hoped for.

 

[Fading Fast]

Didn't see an obviously place to put this one, so thought here might kinda fit.

U.S. World War II bomb detonates in Germany

Published: Apr 24, 2019 12:31 p.m. ET

By
ASSOCIATEDPRESS

BERLIN (AP) — The controlled detonation of an American World War II bomb in the southern German city of Regensburg has still caused widespread damage to nearby houses.

Some 4,500 residents had to be evacuated from the area before experts performed the detonation. A spokeswoman for the Bavarian city, Dagmar Obermeier-Kundel, said the 250-kilogram (550-pound) bomb still shattered windows in several surrounding buildings early Wednesday. Photos also showed damaged roofs.

Munitions expert Andreas Heil told The Associated Press that the bomb couldn’t be safely defused because the type of detonator it contained was tamper-proof, very sensitive and could have triggered an explosion at any moment.

Thousands of unexploded relics of World War II’s extensive aerial bombardment are found in Germany every year, even 74 years after the end of the war.

https://www.marketwatch.com/story/u...es-in-germany-2019-04-24?mod=newsviewer_click

 

[Edward]

On this day in 1731, the death of Daniel Defoe, English novelist and author of Robinson Crusoe, his most famous novel. Robinson Crusoe is second only to the Bible in its number of translations.
It was placed on the Index Librorum Prohibitorum (prohibited book index) by the Catholic Church in 1720, for heresy, and therefore giving the book far more publicity than Defoe could ever have hoped for.

If memory serves, Defoe also worked for the English government as a spy in Scotland ahead of the Union. He is buried in Bunhill Fields cemetery here in London, the non-conformists graveyard. Defoe was a Presbyterian and suffered as such in England, which is why he was trusted by Scottish Presbyterians when posing as a sympathiser of those opposed to the Union. Reminiscent of Marlowe in some respects, if significantly less decadent!

 

[Peacoat]

Today in 1956 Elvis' Heartbreak Hotel hit number one on the charts. The song was written by Tommy Durden and Mae Axton. Elvis is listed as a co-writer, but he wasn't. Listing him as a co-writer was the Colonel's way to get a bit more money out of the deal. Back then writers got one Penney for each single sold. So, instead of splitting the Penney two ways, Tommy and Mae split it three ways.

After Mae moved to an antebellum home in Hendersonville (a suburb of Nashville) the piano Heartbreak Hotel was written on was moved there. There it stayed in her living room until her death in 1997. As an aside, I have played that piano. Well, actually, I just banged a few notes, but that's close enough for a piano that famous.

 

[GHT]

If memory serves, Defoe also worked for the English government as a spy in Scotland ahead of the Union. He is buried in Bunhill Fields cemetery here in London, the non-conformists graveyard. Defoe was a Presbyterian and suffered as such in England, which is why he was trusted by Scottish Presbyterians when posing as a sympathiser of those opposed to the Union. Reminiscent of Marlowe in some respects, if significantly less decadent!

At my catholic school Defoe was definitely persona non grata, so snippets like your's are great for using when foraging for further details.

Today in 1956 Elvis' Heartbreak Hotel hit number one on the charts. The song was written by Tommy Durden and Mae Axton. Elvis is listed as a co-writer, but he wasn't. Listing him as a co-writer was the Colonel's way to get a bit more money out of the deal. Back then writers got one Penney for each single sold. So, instead of splitting the Penney two ways, Tommy and Mae split it three ways.

The very reason Dolly Parton turned Colonel Parker's offer down. After, I Will Always Love You, was released in 1974, Elvis made a play to record it himself. His manager, Colonel Tom Parker, approached Dolly with an offer that would have taken half of her songwriting rights. Parton was torn. "I was desperate for Elvis to sing my song and I'd told everyone he was going to sing it, but I couldn't let that happen," Parton revealed in an interview with Event magazine. "It's my song, my publishing rights. It broke my heart but I had to turn him down,"
Wise choice though. Who could have forseen The Bodyguard?

 

[Edward]

Dolly was once asked how she felt about Whitney Houston having a much bigger hit than her with her own song. Her answer?

"When ah wrote that song, ah had a hurtin'...but its amazin' how healin' a whole heap of money rollin' in can be."

 

[Fading Fast]

At my catholic school Defoe was definitely persona non grata, so snippets like your's are great for using when foraging for further details.

The very reason Dolly Parton turned Colonel Parker's offer down. After, I Will Always Love You, was released in 1974, Elvis made a play to record it himself. His manager, Colonel Tom Parker, approached Dolly with an offer that would have taken half of her songwriting rights. Parton was torn. "I was desperate for Elvis to sing my song and I'd told everyone he was going to sing it, but I couldn't let that happen," Parton revealed in an interview with Event magazine. "It's my song, my publishing rights. It broke my heart but I had to turn him down,"
Wise choice though. Who could have forseen The Bodyguard?

Great respect for Dolly's decision. Separately, would've been interesting to hear an Elvis version of that song.

 

[MissMittens]

in 1954 on this day, Bell labs announces they've created the world's first solar cell.

Today in 1926, the opera "Turandot" premiered in Milan

 

[scotrace]

Donner, party of six?

The last of the Donner Party emerged from their ordeal on this day in 1847, raggedy but sated. I've crossed the Donner Pass in good weather and it's easy to see how they'd be hopelessly lost in bad.

The first person to lose his head to the guillotine, Nocolaus J. Pelletier, common robber, perished in the new machine in 1792, which was also the year that saw the composition of La Marseillaise, the French national anthem.