To All
Good Wednesday morning June 17 Same weather different day. The clouds are clearing and heating up to 77 by 1
Busy day with yard work and Construction going on in the back yard. It looks like the sun is starting to break up the clouds and it is supposed to be clear by 10 and hit 77 by noon.
Warm regards,
skip
HAGD
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This day in Naval and Marine Corps History (thanks to NHHC)
Go here to see the director’s corner for all 97 H-Grams
Here is a link to the NHHC website: https://www.history.navy.mil/
June 17
1815 Commodore Stephen Decatur's squadron engages the Algerian flagship Mashouda near Cape de Gatt, Spain. Though the Algerian frigate maneuvers actively to escape, she surrenders after 20 men, including her commander, are killed.
1833 The ship of the line, USS Delaware, becomes the first warship to enter a public drydock in the United States when secured at Gosport Navy Yard in Portsmouth, Va.
1870 Under the command of Lt. Willard H. Brownson, six boats from the steam sloop-of-war USS Mohican attack a group of pirates in the Teacapan River, Mexico.
1898 President William McKinley signs into law a Congressional bill authorizing the establishment of the U.S. Navy Hospital Corps.
1944 TBF (VC 95) from USS Croatan (CVE 25) damages German submarine (U 853) in the North Atlantic. On May 6, 1945, USS Atherton (DE 169) and USS Moberly (PF 63) sink (U 853) off Block Island.
2017 The guided missile destroyer USS Fitzgerald (DDG 62) is involved in a collision with the Philippine-flagged merchant vessel ACX Crystal while operating about 56 nautical miles southwest of Yokosuka, Japan. Seven Sailors lose their lives and the ship is damaged on her starboard side above and below the waterline.
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Today in World History June 17
0362 Emperor Julian issues an edict banning Christians from teaching in Syria.
1579 Sir Francis Drake claims San Francisco Bay for England.
1775 The British take Bunker Hill outside of Boston, after a costly battle.
1799 Napoleon Bonaparte incorporates Italy into his empire.
1848 Austrian General Alfred Windisch-Gratz crushes a Czech uprising in Prague.
1854 The Red Turban revolt breaks out in Guangdong, China.
1856 The Republican Party opens its first national convention in Philadelphia.
1861 President Abraham Lincoln witnesses Dr. Thaddeus Lowe demonstrate the use of a hot-air balloon.
1863 On the way to Gettysburg, Union and Confederate forces skirmish at Point of Rocks, Maryland.
1872 George M. Hoover begins selling whiskey in Dodge City, Kansas--a town which had previously been "dry."
1876 General George Crook's command is attacked and bested on the Rosebud River by 1,500 Sioux and Cheyenne under the leadership of Crazy Horse.
1912 The German Zeppelin SZ 111 burns in its hangar in Friedrichshafen.
1913 U.S. Marines set sail from San Diego to protect American interests in Mexico.
1917The Russian Duma meets in secret session in Petrograd and votes for an immediate Russian offensive against the German Army.
1924 The Fascist militia marches into Rome.
1926 Spain threatens to quit the League of Nations if Germany is allowed to join.
1930 The Smoot-Hawley Tariff Bill becomes law, placing the highest tariff on imports to the United States.
1931 British authorities in China arrest Indochinese Communist leader Ho Chi Minh.
1932 The U.S. Senate defeats the Bonus Bill as 10,000 veterans mass around the Capitol.
1940 The Soviet Union occupies Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia.
1942 Yank a weekly magazine for the U.S. armed services, begins publication.
1944 French troops land on the island of Elba in the Mediterranean.
1950 Surgeon Richard Lawler performs the first kidney transplant operation in Chicago.
1953 Soviet tanks fight thousands of Berlin workers rioting against the East German government.
1963 The U.S. Supreme Court bans the required reading of the Lord's prayer and Bible in public schools.
1965 27 B-52s hit Viet Cong outposts, but lose two planes in South Vietnam.
1970 North Vietnamese troops cut the last operating rail line in Cambodia.
1972 Five men are arrested for burglarizing Democratic Party headquarters at the Watergate complex in Washington, D.C.
1994 Millions of Americans watch former football player O.J. Simpson--facing murder charges--drive his Ford Bronco through Los Angeles, followed by police.
On June 17, 1885, the dismantled Statue of Liberty, a gift of friendship from the people of France to the people of America, arrives in New York Harbor after being shipped across the Atlantic Ocean in 350 individual pieces packed in more than 200 cases. The copper and iron statue, which was reassembled and dedicated the following year in a ceremony presided over by U.S. President Grover Cleveland, became known around the world as an enduring symbol of freedom and democracy.
Intended to commemorate the American Revolution and a century of friendship between the U.S. and France, the statue was designed by French sculptor Frederic-Auguste Bartholdi (who modeled it after his own mother), with assistance from engineer Gustave Eiffel, who later developed the iconic tower in Paris bearing his name. The statue was initially scheduled to be finished by 1876, the 100th anniversary of America’s Declaration of Independence; however, fundraising efforts, which included auctions, a lottery and boxing matches, took longer than anticipated, both in Europe and the U.S., where the statue’s pedestal was to be financed and constructed. The statue alone cost the French an estimated $250,000 (more than $5.5 million in today’s money).
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Thanks to Interesting Facts..Star Wars
I was on cruise on USS Constellation in 1977 with the New F-14s when the movie came out and knew nothing about it. Went into The PI and a group of us caught a helo from the ship to Manila to meet our wives who were coming over to meet us and then meet us again in Singapore. We arrived with hours to spare and were looking for something to do when we spotted a movie theatre. None of the shows look appealing but one of them looked interesting to a bunch of fighter pilots and it was called Star Wars. We all watched it and thought it was great. We then met our wives and told them about the movie and they went nuts and told us about the lines and furor about the move at home and they wanted to go see it so we did. They liked it and so did we again.
Few films have had as profound an impact on cinema as the original Star Wars and the multibillion-dollar franchise it inspired. For nearly 50 years, fans have been dressing up as Jedi, stormtroopers, and Sith, and imagining their own adventures in a galaxy far, far away. In fact, the films have had such a cultural impact that May 4 (“May the Fourth Be With You”) is essentially an official holiday for Star Wars fans the world over. Here are seven little-known facts about Star Wars, exploring both the production of the films and the inspiration behind the saga’s most iconic characters.
1 of 6
Filming the Original “Star Wars” Almost Caused an International Conflict
Although Star Wars is famously set in a galaxy far, far away, George Lucas used real-world sets and locations to stand in for extraterrestrial locales throughout the original trilogy. The ice planet Hoth in Empire Strikes Back was filmed near the town of Finse, Norway, while the forest moon of Endor scenes made use of the giant redwoods near Crescent City, California.
One of the most iconic locations in all nine films is the Skywalker homestead on the desert planet of Tatooine. Lucas decided to shoot these scenes, which kick off the entire Star Wars franchise, in the desert of Tunisia (though parts were also filmed in Death Valley, California). In the mid-1970s, Tunisia had a tense relationship with the Libyan government, run by Muammar Gaddafi. Star Wars filmed in Nefta, Tunisia, not far from the Tunisian-Libyan border. The biography George Lucas: A Life details how the Libyan government originally perceived the production as a military buildup along the border, mistaking a Jawa Sandcrawler for military hardware. Libyan inspectors even crossed the border to confirm that these otherworldly vehicles posed no real military threat. Thankfully, the matter ended smoothly.
2 of 6
Darth Vader’s Look Is Based on a Real Japanese Samurai
The inspiration behind the original Star Wars is famously pulled from a variety of sources. The iconic title crawl that sets up the space drama in the film’s opening seconds can be found in 1930s adventure serials like Flash Gordon and Buck Rogers. The space battles between TIE fighters and X-Wings are a direct reference to WWII dogfighting, and the concept of the Jedi is likely lifted from the pages of Frank Herbert’s Dune.
But the most iconic character in the entire saga is undoubtedly Darth Vader, and his look is based on a very real historical figure — a Japanese samurai warlord named Date Masamune. Ralph McQuarrie, the concept artist behind the original trilogy of films, was influenced by Japanese samurai armor, and especially the jet-black armor of Masamune, who was born in 1567. The helmets are the most alike, but McQuarrie also borrowed the extended neck piece from Masamune’s armor. Vader’s helmet includes additional influences from helmets worn by the German army during WWII, all used to create the most ominous villain the galaxy (and moviegoers) have ever seen.
3 of 6
“I Have a Bad Feeling About This” Is Said in Every "Star Wars" Film
The entire Star Wars saga is filled with little Easter eggs and references to other characters and events throughout the franchise. One that can be easily missed is the phrase “I have a bad feeling about this,” said in every single Star Wars film (and sometimes even uttered multiple times). The phrase is also found in one-off live-action films, animated TV shows, video game series, and novels, and has become a kind of “in-joke” among Star Wars creators.
Notably, The Last Jedi, the eighth film in the Star Wars saga, appears to be the only exception, as no character seemingly utters the famous phrase on screen. But director Rian Johnson confirmed that BB-8 actually delivers the line in binary, after which Poe Dameron, played by Oscar Isaac, retorts, “Happy beeps here, buddy, come on.”
4 of 6
“The Last Jedi” Invented Porgs To Digitally Mask Real-Life Puffins
One of the most important locations in Rian Johnson’s The Last Jedi is the remote island on the planet Ahco-To, where a disgruntled Luke Skywalker spends his self-imposed exile and subsequently trains an adamant Rey. These scenes were shot on a very real Irish island called Skellig Michael. Although perfect for creating a much-needed sense of isolation, the island is also a wildlife preserve for puffins. The puffins became a real problem during the many scenes filmed on the island, as they constantly flew into shots and disrupted production. By law, The Last Jedi crew couldn’t mess with them, so according to Jake Lunt Davies, a creature concept designer on the film, the team decided to design an in-universe creature that lived on the island and digitally replaced any puffins that got in the shot with them. Hence, Porgs were born.
5 of 6
'N Sync Was Almost in “Attack of the Clones”
Turn back the clock to 2001, and pop culture was obsessed with both the new Star Wars prequel franchise and the boy band 'N Sync. At the behest of George Lucas’ daughter (along with the daughter of producer Rick McCullum), the members of 'N Sync were offered minor roles during the final battle on Geonosis. Justin Timberlake and Lance Bass declined the invitation, supposedly too tired from touring, but the other three band members — Joey Fatone, JC Chasez, and Chris Kirkpatrick — donned Jedi robes and shot their scenes for the film. The moment was particularly special for Fatone, who had an entire room of his house dedicated to Star Wars memorabilia. Sadly, the footage wasn’t used in the final cut, and the blink-and-you’ll-miss-it cameo instead became a little-known piece of Star Wars history.
6 of 6
The Original “Star Wars” Almost Wasn’t Made
It’s almost unfathomable that a movie studio would pass up the opportunity to make Star Wars, but in the mid-1970s, George Lucas’ little indie film was perilously close to never being made. Lucas first tried to get the rights to Flash Gordon in order to make his own big-screen version, but when he was unable to secure a deal, he decided to make his own space adventure. Once he had the idea, he needed the money, but United Artists, Universal, and even Disney (which later bought the franchise rights for $4.05 billion in 2012) all passed on funding the film.
Finally, 20th Century Fox agreed to finance the project, not because they thought the film would be any good, but mostly to secure a relationship with the up-and-coming director. With an initial budget of only $8 million (eventually bumped up to $11 million) and plenty of disasters during filming and post-production, Star Wars was born from both financial and artistic adversity, yet it has gone on to inspire generations of fans around the globe.
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Thanks to Interesting Facts
Scientists have studied the ideal amount of time to dunk an Oreo in milk.
Milk and cookies go together like peanut butter and jelly, salt and pepper, Jay-Z and Beyoncé. However, there is a right way and a wrong way to dunk a cookie in milk, according to scientists. In 1998, a professor at the University of Bristol in the U.K. looked into the ideal method for dunking a British biscuit (aka a cookie) into a drink, using the concept of capillary action — the way fluids move spontaneously through small tubes in porous materials — and Washburn’s equation, which describes their journey. Eventually, he determined that the typical British biscuit is best dunked for 3.5 to 5 seconds. Using this same technique in 2016, scientists at the University of Utah's Splash Lab determined the perfect dunk time for the much-beloved Oreo. Although the amount of time to get to “perfect” depends on preferred sogginess levels and milk fat content, the Utah researchers determined that three seconds was enough to thoroughly saturate the Oreo without losing structural integrity.
Oreos are a copy of another cookie.
The Oreo looks like the epitome of dessert ingenuity, but it actually got its start as a near-exact knockoff of a cookie called Hydrox, released in 1908. Hydrox eventually lost popularity in part because its name sounded like a cleaning product, but the brand is still around.
Here’s the journey in slow motion. Cookies are porous, and milk travels through the small holes inside them the same way ink does through blotting paper, or a spill through a paper towel. During tests, the Oreo soaked up 50% of its potential liquid weight in one second. That number shot up to 80% at two seconds, flatlined at three seconds, and maxed out at four seconds — meaning the cookie could absorb no more milk. So if the goal was to saturate the cookie but not lose structural cohesion, three seconds was the perfect number. While this test used 2% milk as its dunking medium, the optimal dunking time will vary slightly when using other milk: The higher the milk fat (like whole milk or cream), the longer a cookie can be dunked, but only by mere fractions of a second. Mmmmm, we just made ourselves hungry.
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June 17
Hello All,
Thanks to Dan Heller and the Bear
Links to all content can now be found right on the homepage http://www.rollingthunderremembered.com. If you scroll down from the banner and featured content you will find "Today in Rolling Thunder Remembered History" which highlights events in the Vietnam war that occurred on the date the page is visited. Below that are links to browse or search all content. You may search by keyword(s), date, or date range.
An item of importance is the recent incorporation of Task Force Omega (TFO) MIA summaries. There is a link on the homepage and you can also visit directly via https://www.rollingthunderremembered.com/task-force-omega/. There are 60 summaries posted thus far, with about 940 to go (not a typo—TFO has over 1,000 individual case files).
If you have any questions or comments about RTR/TFO, or have a question on my book, you may e-mail me directly at acrossthewing@protonmail.com. Thank you Dan
Thanks to Micro
To remind folks that these are from the Vietnam Air Losses site that Micro put together. You click on the url elow and get what happened each day to the crew of the aircraft. ……Skip
June 17: https://www.vietnamairlosses.com/loss.php?id=2918
This following work accounts for every fixed wing loss of the Vietnam War and you can use it to read more about the losses in The Bear’s Daily account. Even better it allows you to add your updated information to the work to update for history…skip
Vietnam Air Losses Access Chris Hobson and Dave Lovelady’s work at: https://www.VietnamAirLosses.com.
This is a list of all Helicopter Pilots Who Died in the Vietnam War . Listed by last name and has other info https://www.vhpa.org/KIA/KIAINDEX.HTM
MOAA - Wall of Faces Now Includes Photos of All Service members Killed in the Vietnam War
(This site was sent by a friend . The site works, find anyone you knew in “search" feature. https://www.vvmf.org/Wall-of-Faces/ )
Wall of Faces Now Includes Photos of All Service members Killed in the Vietnam War
By: Kipp Hanley
AUGUST 15, 2022
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Thanks to Nice News
Airports are liminal spaces — in-between places where we’re often rushing or stressing as we await our final destinations — but that doesn’t mean they can’t be easy on the eyes, too. The Prix Versailles, a prestigious architecture award, recently announced its list of the world’s most beautiful airports. Terminal 3 at Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport in Guangzhou, China, took the top spot:
Science
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Energy-Efficient Espresso Is Making (Sound) Waves
UNSW/Richard Freeman
A small latte made with sound waves, please. That could soon be on cafe menus, thanks to Australian researchers who have developed “ultrasonic coffee,” an energy-efficient method of brewing that uses high-frequency sound vibrations to pull a shot of espresso.
Unlike traditional techniques that involve super hot water, ultrasonic espresso harnesses sound waves to brew with room temperature water, creating a phenomenon called acoustic cavitation in which tiny bubbles form and pop in the liquid. The bubbles then create pressure that extracts the flavor, caffeine, and oil from the beans, all while using 75% less energy than a regular espresso machine.
But what does it taste like? The same as your usual cup of joe, according to a recent study. Researchers conducted a blind taste test with 100 coffee drinkers and found participants couldn’t consistently differentiate between traditional and ultrasonic espresso — and the ultrasonic filter coffee version actually received higher overall ratings.
“It’s a different process, but you get the same richness and concentration of a normal espresso in under three minutes,” study co-author Francisco Trujillo said in a news release. He added: “These findings showed that using ultrasound did not harm taste, and in some cases even improved it, despite brewing at room temperature and without the heat normally associated with coffee making.”
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Sports
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“This Is Our Culture”: After World Cup Matches, Japan Fans Pick Up Trash in the Stands
When the World Cup match between the Netherlands and Japan came to a close in Texas over the weekend, many Japan fans didn’t rush out to beat traffic. Instead, they stuck around to carry on a tradition of picking up litter scattered about the stadium.
The considerate act is undoubtedly headline-worthy here in the U.S., but 20-year-old Eita Tanaka told AFP that cleaning up after yourself is just part of life in Japan. “Japanese people think that when we use a certain place, we were told that you have to make that place look tidier when you leave than it was when you arrived,” he explained.
Another Japan fan, Futo Hagiwara, added: “This is our culture, that means everywhere we go we need to clean it after ourselves, it’s our spiritual way, our attitude.”
It seems the thoughtfulness is contagious — NFL quarterback Jameis Winston was spotted pitching in with the cleanup efforts as well. And perhaps it’ll inspire more of us to pick up after ourselves next time we find ourselves at a stadium ... or even just on a walk around the block.
Humanity
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And He Would Walk 3,000 Miles … to Raise $1.5M for Mental Health Awareness
Craig Williamson—SNS Group/Getty Images
Boston was brimming with exuberant Scottish soccer fans on Saturday as the country won its first World Cup match in 28 years — but one among them was likely a lot more winded than the rest. Craig Ferguson had reached the city by foot the day before, completing a 3,200-mile walk from Los Angeles that raised over $1.5 million for mental health awareness.
Calling his journey The Tartan Trek, the 22-year-old set off from the Santa Monica Pier in February after flying to the States from his hometown on the outskirts of Glasgow. He walked more than 30 miles a day while wearing a kilt, chronicling the journey on social media and fundraising for Scottish Action for Mental Health.
His activism was inspired in part by his best friend’s father, who took his own life seven years ago. “Russell was an incredible guy, and seeing what happened to my best friend and his family, it made me want to try and do anything I can to try to prevent it from happening to anyone else,” Ferguson told The Athletic.
His final steps were accompanied by a chorus of bagpipes, and a fleet of other Scotland fans cheered him on as he crossed his finish line on the Boston Common. He added: “I could never have pictured this in a million years. Walking up there and seeing all the support and being embraced by my own country, the country I am so proud to be from, was just amazing.”
In Other News
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1. It’s happening: Serena and Venus Williams will compete together in women’s doubles at Wimbledon (read more)
2. An over-the-counter glucose monitor for children with diabetes was greenlit by the FDA last week (read more)
3. Around 64,000 square miles of coral reefs were found to be climate-resilient, tripling prior estimates (read more)
4. Goblin sharks, dubbed “the ugliest” on Earth, were filmed for the first time in their deep-sea habitat
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On Humans
My dad recommended this podcast to me and listening to it always leaves me feeling smarter and more curious about the world. Host Ilari Mäkelä interviews scholars in biology, anthropology, and other specialities — asking three main questions: “Where did we come from?” “how did we get here?” and “what kind of creatures are we?”
– Rebekah Brandes, Assistant Editor
Learn More
Inspiring Story
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A happy ending to Romeo & Juliet
In an ultimate plot twist, a real couple will tie the knot at the end of every show in the Public Theater’s production of Romeo & Juliet in Central Park. “We loved the idea of celebrating our commitment in such a memorable setting,” Janelly Mendoza, the bride on opening night, told Vogue. “We also felt it was important to show how art can unite people and bring communities together.”
Photo of the Day
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Whipsnade Zoo
Hello, sweet feet! This adorable elephant was born at the Whipsnade Zoo in England just days before the World Cup began, and is already knocking the ball around. Side note: If you want the chance to help pick his name from a shortlist, you can donate to enter a prize draw here.
Babbel: New Language, New Adventures
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Summer is the perfect time to pick up a new language. With Babbel, a quick 10-minute lesson, a relaxing podcast, or some conversation practice fits easily into even the sunniest, busiest days. The Babbel method is designed to fit any lifestyle — learn your way, at your own pace (perhaps even while sitting by the pool). Start now and you could be having real conversations in a new language within three weeks.
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😋 World Cup fans’ relatable reactions to ranch and Waffle House
🎯 Target’s first-ever creative director may look familiar
🍽️ Nothing hits like home cooking — sign up for HelloFresh today*
🌡️ A tiny thermometer meant to be eaten
*Indicates a Nice News brand partnership or affiliate
Quote of the Day
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“It’s not how long, but how well one lives that matters the most.”
– AUDIE MURPHY
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Thanks to 1440
Good morning. It's Wednesday, June 17. And according to a recent report, your next Uber or Lyft fare may have more to do with you than traffic.
Also in today's Digest: the Oscars of the food world (Sports, Ent., & Cult.), AI-powered smart glasses (Sci. & Tech.), the Education Department hands off more duties (Pol. & World Affairs), the world's largest Lego hot dog (Etc.), and much more.
Need To Know
Foiled Fight Night Plot
Federal authorities said yesterday they disrupted an alleged plot targeting an Ultimate Fighting Championship event at the White House, arresting five people and identifying 23 individuals in a related online chat.
Officials say the suspects, from multiple states and allegedly in their teens to early 20s, intended to stage a demonstration on the north side of the White House while detonating explosive-laden drones outside the arena. The blasts were meant to force crowds south, where snipers would attack the roughly 4,300 attendees, targeting politicians and other high-profile guests. Investigators say the group mapped entry points and escape routes. See how consumer drones are changing the US domestic threat landscape here.
Among those arrested was 19-year-old Tycen Proper of Ohio, whose mother alerted authorities June 10. Proper allegedly admitted to helping plan the attack in hopes of sparking a US revolution after connecting with others through TikTok.
🧂In partnership with LMNT: Optimal hydration doesn’t just mean more fluids, it means getting the right balance. Try LMNT and get a free sample pack of LMNT’s 8 most popular flavors with any purchase.
Rideshare Roulette
Consumers requesting the same Uber or Lyft route at roughly the same time receive fare quotes that differ by a median of 50%, according to an investigation published yesterday. See how prices varied here.
Unlike traditional taxis, which charge metered rates, Uber and Lyft use dynamic pricing to calculate fares up front based on shifting rider demand, traffic, and car availability. But the report suggests the rideshare companies are also analyzing personal data to predict how much a given customer may be willing to pay—a tactic called surveillance pricing. Uber and Lyft deny the allegation, but acknowledge using customer data to offer personalized discounts. The report's authors say that these discounts are sometimes applied to inflated base fares to deceive customers into thinking they're getting a deal. Both companies reject that claim as well.
Another study published last year found that only one in six riders compares prices across Lyft and Uber, with prices differing by an average of 14%.
🫶 Humankind: The last 475 beagles from a closing Wisconsin research facility will find refuge with a Florida rescue group that has already taken in about 1,500 of the dogs.
New Walking Shark
Scientists have discovered a new species of walking shark off the coast of Papua New Guinea. Dudgeon's Walking Shark (Hemiscyllium dudgeonae) is a nocturnal species that uses its four fins like legs to move across reef flats at low tide.
There are nine other species of walking sharks, also called epaulette sharks (see short video). They have only ever been found in or near Australia, New Guinea, and Indonesia, sparking concerns they could be vulnerable to the changing climate and coastal development. The newest shark is known for the distinctive white and brown pattern on its body. Like other walking sharks, this one eats invertebrates living on the seafloor and is not considered dangerous to humans. Its local name is kadedekedewa, meaning dog shark or lazy shark..
What makes a shark a shark? The secret lies in the composition of its skeleton.
In partnership with LMNT
Caffeine Gets a Bad Rap …
Sorry to all the coffee and Monster lovers, but it’s the truth. Whether we’re talking sudden crashes, degrading focus, or issues sleeping, caffeine—especially the isolated kind found in most energy drinks—isn’t the solution, it’s the problem. But here’s the good news: When used correctly, caffeine can do amazing things … and LMNT’s newest flavor, Lemonade Iced Tea, is the proof.
Made with full black tea extract, crucial electrolytes for optimal hydration (like sodium, potassium, and magnesium), and no artificial colors, flavors, or sugars, LMNT Lemonade Iced Tea isn’t your average pick-me-up. This unique blend offers a noticeably steadier feeling and no crash … probably why everyone from Stanford neuroscientists to NFL, NBA, and Olympic athletes trust it.
In The Know
Sports, Entertainment, & Culture
> Venus and Serena Williams accept doubles wild card invitation from Wimbledon, which begins June 29; the sisters last played doubles together in 2022 | US sprinter Noah Lyles clocks world's best 150-meter sprint at 14.67 seconds
> Recording Academy reveals five new categories for 2027 Grammy Awards, including best Asian pop music performance (More) | Thai restaurant in Philadelphia wins James Beard's outstanding restaurant award
> England replaces injured player ahead of World Cup opening match (More) | Cristiano Ronaldo and Portugal to play Democratic Republic of the Congo in Houston at 1 pm ET; Colombia faces Uzbekistan in Mexico City at 10 pm ET (More, w/schedule)
1440 is partnering with Men in Blazers to bring you the most detailed coverage of the world’s biggest tournament. Gear up for the US squad's second match Friday against Australia with the best daily, in-depth updates.
Science & Technology
> Snapchat parent company unveils smart glasses, now available for preorder at $2,195; glasses use AI to answer questions about objects in focus, play multiplayer games, watch videos, and more
> Tropical butterfly tribe shows little to no age-related decline and lives three times longer than its closest relatives, offering clues to slowing aging | Why grip strength is one of the best predictors of death
> Astronomers discover third galaxy lacking dark matter, challenging the assumption that dark matter is an invisible glue needed to hold galaxies together | If we can't see it, how do we know dark matter exists?
In partnership with Doroni
Morgan Stanley Calls This a $9T Opportunity
If they’re right, the flying car industry will grow 185,850% by 2050.
They say it will reach $9 trillion, 2X+ more valuable than today’s car market. And 5,500+ investors think Doroni will lead the charge. Their flying car is designed for everyday life, charging like an EV, fitting in two-car garages. It’s no concept, either. In March Doroni unveiled a full-scale showroom model of the H1-X aircraft 600+ people already reserved, good for $240M in potential revenue.
> SpaceX to acquire AI coding startup Cursor for $60B worth of stock, marks largest-ever acquisition of a VC-backed startup | SpaceX overtakes Amazon as world's fifth-largest company
Politics & World Affairs
> Iran says Israel has to withdraw from Lebanon under the terms of its tentative deal with the US; the Trump administration hasn't commented as of this writing
> Education Department transfers certain responsibilities—including oversight of civil rights, special education—to the Justice Department and Department of Health and Human Services, respectively
> Infant mortality in the US falls to an all-time low of fewer than 5.4 infant deaths per 1,000 live births but remains higher than other high-income countries (More) | San Marino tops list of countries with lowest infant mortality
In partnership with LMNT
Less Caffeine, Better Everything
Not-so-fun fact: Energy drinks are full of isolated caffeine, which causes crashes, jitters, and lack of focus. It’s kinda like taping over your body’s check engine light instead of, you know, actually fixing it … not good.
About 15% of grandparents care for their grandkids almost daily.
Historybook: Battle of Bunker Hill fought (1775); Statue of Liberty arrives in New York as gift from France (1885); Tennis star Venus Williams born (1980); Rapper Kendrick Lamar born (1987); Juneteenth established as US federal holiday (2021).
"You have to believe in yourself when no one else does—that makes you a winner right there."
- Venus Williams
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Thanks to Barrett
Summary of Roosevelt, Theodore. The Naval War of 1812. Annapolis: Naval Institute Press, 1987. Pp 289
https://userpages.umbc.edu/~jamie/html/review_of__the_naval_war_of_18.html
His text is a tremendous example of historiography (primary sources) and objectivity in both directions US-UK. Includes land campaigns especially N Orleans.
BT
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Thanks to History Facts
The Vikings reached North America before Columbus.
WORLD HISTORY
VIKING EXPLORERS
Though the idea that Christopher Columbus discovered America has long been taken as fact, the famous explorer did no such thing. Not only were Indigenous people already living in North America, but the Vikings reached the continent long before Columbus did. Led by Leif Erikson, a group of Norse explorers arrived on these shores in 1021, nearly 500 years before Columbus’ 1492 journey. The two expeditions do have one thing in common, however: Erikson probably wasn’t looking for America either.
There are two main accounts of the Norse journey to North America. The Saga of Erik the Red (Erikson’s father) suggests the explorer made his way across the Atlantic by accident en route from Norway to Greenland. The Saga of the Greenlanders, meanwhile, claims it was indeed intentional. Having heard about the strange new land from Bjarni Herjólfsson, an Icelandic trader who had seen North America but not set foot on it after overshooting Greenland on a journey of his own a decade earlier, Erikson was inspired to make the voyage himself. Upon his successful arrival in present-day Canada, he named it “Helluland” — Old Norse for “Stone Slab Land.” It’s believed that this was Baffin Island, which certainly fits the description.
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This Day in U S Military History…….June 17
1579 – During his circumnavigation of the world, English seaman Francis Drake anchors in a harbor just north of present-day San Francisco, California, and claims the territory for Queen Elizabeth I. Calling the land “Nova Albion,” Drake remained on the California coast for a month to make repairs to his ship, the Golden Hind, and prepare for his westward crossing of the Pacific Ocean. On December 13, 1577, Drake set out from England with five ships on a mission to raid Spanish holdings on the Pacific coast of the New World. After crossing the Atlantic, Drake abandoned two of his ships in South America and then sailed into the Straits of Magellan with the remaining three. A series of devastating storms besieged his expedition in the treacherous straits, wrecking one ship and forcing another to return to England. Only the Golden Hind reached the Pacific Ocean, but Drake continued undaunted up the western coast of South America, raiding Spanish settlements and capturing a rich Spanish treasure ship. Drake then continued up the western coast of North America, searching for a possible northeast passage back to the Atlantic. Reaching as far north as present-day Washington before turning back, Drake paused near San Francisco Bay in June 1579 to repair his ship and prepare for a journey across the Pacific. In July, the expedition set off across the Pacific, visiting several islands before rounding Africa’s Cape of Good Hope and returning to the Atlantic Ocean. On September 26, 1580, the Golden Hind returned to Plymouth, England, bearing its rich captured treasure and valuable information about the world’s great oceans. In 1581, Queen Elizabeth I knighted Drake during a visit to his ship.
1775 – During the American Revolution, British General William Howe lands his troops on the Charlestown peninsula overlooking Boston and leads them against Breed’s Hill, a fortified American position just below Bunker Hill. As the British advanced in columns against the Americans, Patriot General William Prescott reportedly told his men, “Don’t one of you fire until you see the whites of their eyes!” When the Redcoats were within 40 yards, the Americans let loose with a lethal barrage of musket fire, cutting down nearly 100 enemy troops and throwing the British into retreat. After reforming his lines, Howe attacked again, with much the same result. However, Prescott’s men were now low on ammunition, and when Howe led his men up the hill for a third time, they reached the redoubts and engaged the Americans in hand-to-hand combat. The outnumbered Americans were forced to retreat. The British had won the so-called Battle of Bunker Hill, and Breed’s Hill and the Charlestown peninsula fell firmly under British control. Despite losing their strategic positions, the battle was a morale-builder for the Americans, who had suffered far fewer casualties than their enemy while demonstrating that they could conduct war effectively against the British.
1944 – The US 1st Army cuts off the Contentin Peninsula. The US 9th Division (part of US 7th Corps) reaches the west coast to the north and south of Barneville. German divisions isolated to the north are not permitted to attempt to break out. Hitler meets with Rundstedt, Commander in Chief (West), and Rommel, commanding Army Group B. Both Field Marshals seek a withdrawal to more defensible positions inland. Hitler refuses to allow a retreat in Normandy. He suggests that the V1 bombing of Britain will force it out of the war.
1944 – The US 27th Infantry Division lands on Saipan to reinforce the American beachhead.
1944 – The carriers led by Admiral Clark and the rest of the main US carrier forces sail for a rendezvous to the west of the Mariana Islands.
1945 – On Okinawa, reinforced American units advance in the Kuishi Ridge area which has been stubbornly defended by forces of the Japanese 32nd Army. Along the line of the US 24th Corps, the last Japanese defensive line is broken. The US 7th Division completes the capture of Hills 153 and 115. The commander of the Japanese naval base on Okinawa, Admiral Minoru Ota, is found dead, having committed suicide.
1945 – On Luzon, elements of the US 37th Division, US 1st Corps, captures Naguilian after making a forced crossing of the Cagayan river, near the town of Cagayan.
1945 – General Arnold orders General Chennault to be replaced by General Stratemeyer as Commander in Chief of the US air forces operating in China. Japanese troops in southern China begin withdrawing northward in five long columns between the Yellow and Yangtze rivers.
1965 – For the first time, 27 B-52s fly from Guam to bomb a Vietcong concentration in a heavily forested area of Binhduong Province. Such flights, under the aegis of the Strategic Air Command, are known as Operation Arc Light.
Medal of Honor Citations for Actions Taken This Day
BROSNAN, JOHN
Rank and organization: Sergeant, Company E, 164th New York Infantry. Place and date: At Petersburg, Va., 17 June 1864. Entered service at: New York, N.Y. Birth: Ireland. Date of issue: 18 January 1894. Citation: Rescued a wounded comrade who lay exposed to the enemy’s fire, receiving a severe wound in the effort.
CHANDLER, HENRY F.
Rank and organization: Sergeant, Company E, 59th Massachusetts Infantry. Place and date: At Petersburg, Va., 17 June 1864. Entered service at: ——. Birth: Andover, Mass. Date of issue: 30 March 1898. Citation: Though seriously wounded in a bayonet charge and directed to go to the rear he declined to do so, but remained with his regiment and helped to carry the breastworks.
STRAUSBAUGH, BERNARD A.
Rank and organization: First Sergeant, Company A, 3d Maryland Infantry. Place and date: At Petersburg, Va., 17 June 1864. Entered service at: Warfordsburg, Pa. Birth: Adams County, Pa. Date of issue: 1 December 1864. Citation: Recaptured the colors of 2d Pennsylvania Provisional Artillery.
WAGEMAN, JOHN H.
Rank and organization: Private, Company I, 60th Ohio Infantry. Place and date: At Petersburg, Va., 17 June 1864. Entered service at: Amelia, Ohio. Birth: Clermont County, Ohio. Date of issue: 27 July 1896. Citation: Remained with the command after being severely wounded until he had fired all the cartridges in his possession, when he had to be carried from the field.
YOUNG, BENJAMIN F.
Rank and organization: Corporal, Company I, 1st Michigan Sharpshooters. Place and date: At Petersburg, Va., 17 June 1864. Entered service at: Canada. Born: 1844, Canada. Date of issue: December 1864. Citation: Capture of flag of 35th North Carolina Infantry (C.S.A.).
McGANN, MICHAEL A.
Rank and organization: First Sergeant, Company F, 3d U.S. Cavalry. Place and date: At Rosebud River, Mont., 17 June 1876. Entered service at:——. Birth: Ireland. Date of issue: 9 August 1880. Citation: Gallantry in action.
PARNELL, WILLIAM R.
Rank and organization: First Lieutenant, 1st U.S. Cavalry. Place and date: At White Bird Canyon, Idaho, 17 June 1877. Entered service at: New York. Birth: Ireland. Date of issue: 16 September 1897. Citation: With a few men, in the face of a heavy fire from pursuing Indians and at imminent peril, returned and rescued a soldier whose horse had been killed and who had been left behind in the retreat.
ROBINSON, JOSEPH
Rank and organization: First Sergeant, Company D, 3d U.S. Cavalry. Place and date: At Rosebud River, Mont., 17 June 1876. Entered service at: ——. Birth: Ireland. Date of issue: 23 January 1880. Citation: Discharged his duties while in charge of the skirmish line under fire with judgment and great coolness and brought up the lead horses at a critical moment.
SHINGLE, JOHN H.
Rank and organization: First Sergeant, Troop 1, 3d U.S. Cavalry. Place and date: At Rosebud River, Mont., 17 June 1876. Entered service at: ——. Birth: Philadelphia, Pa. Date of issue: 1 June 1880. Citation: Gallantry in action.
SNOW, ELMER A.
Rank and organization: Trumpeter, Company M, 3d U.S. Cavalry. Place and date: At Rosebud Creek, Mont., 17 June 1876. Entered service at: ——. Birth. Hardwick, Mass. Date of issue: 16 October 1877. Citation. Bravery in action; was wounded in both arms.
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This Day in Aviation History” brought to you by the Daedalians Airpower Blog Update. To subscribe to this weekly email, go to https://daedalians.org/airpower-blog/.
June 16, 1936
Seversky Aircraft Company won a contract to provide the Air Corps with P–35 airplanes—the Army’s first single-seat fighters with enclosed cockpits and retractable landing gear.
June 17, 1986
After being returned to flyable condition, B-47E-25-DT Stratojet serial number 52-166, made the last flight of a B-47. It was flown by Maj. Gen. John D. (“J.D.”) Moore and Lt. Col. Dale E. Wolfe from the Naval Air Weapons Station China Lake in the high desert of Southern California, to Castle AFB in California’s San Joaquin Valley, to be placed on static display. Click HERE to learn more about this historic mission.
June 18, 1981
The first Full Scale Development Lockheed YF-117A Nighthawk, 79-10780, made its first flight at Groom Lake, Nevada, with Skunk Works test pilot Harold “Hal” Farley Jr. at the controls. The super-secret airplane was made of materials that absorbed radar waves, and built with the surfaces angled so that radar signals are deflected away from the source. Commonly called the “Stealth Fighter,” the Nighthawk is actually a tactical bomber. Five developmental aircraft and 59 operational F-117As were built. They were in service from 1983 until 2008, when the Lockheed F-22 Raptor was planned to assume their mission. They are mothballed and could be returned to service if needed.
June 19, 1968
Lt. j.g. Clyde Everett Lassen was awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions as the pilot and aircraft commander of a search and rescue helicopter during operations against enemy forces in North Vietnam. In part, the citation reads: “Although enemy fire was being directed at the helicopter, he initially landed in a clear area near the base of the hill, but, due to the dense undergrowth, the survivors could not reach the helicopter. With the aid of flare illumination, Lieutenant Lassen successfully accomplished a hover between two trees at the survivor’s position. Illumination was abruptly lost as the last of the flares were expended, and the helicopter collided with a tree, commencing a sharp descent. Expertly righting his aircraft and maneuvering clear, Lieutenant Lassen remained in the area, determined to make another rescue attempt, and encouraged the downed aviators while awaiting resumption of flare illumination. After another unsuccessful, illuminated, rescue attempt, and with his fuel dangerously low and his aircraft significantly damaged, he launched again and commenced another approach in the face of the continuing enemy opposition.”
June 20, 1941
The Department of War established the United States Army Air Forces. The new organization consisted of Headquarters Army Air Forces, the newly formed Air Force Combat Command, and the existing United States Army Air Corps. The U.S.A.A.F. was placed under the command of Maj. Gen. Henry H. “Hap” Arnold, Chief of the Air Forces. At the end of 1941, the U.S. Army Air Forces had a strength of 354,161 (24,521 officers and 329,640 enlisted) and 12,297 aircraft, with 4,477 of these classified as combat aircraft.
June 21, 1993
Lt. Col. Nancy J. Currie-Gregg, the first female Army aviator to become an astronaut, made her first space flight.
June 22, 1962
The last of 744 Boeing B-52 Stratofortress strategic bombers, B-52H-175-BW, serial number 61-0040, was rolled out at the Boeing Military Airplane Company plant in Wichita, Kansas. The U.S. Air Force contracted 62 B-52H Stratofortresses, serial numbers 60-0001 through 60-0062, on May 6, 1960. A second group of 40, serials 61-0001 through 61-0040, were ordered later. All were built at the Boeing Wichita plant.
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AMERICAN AEROSPACE EVENTS for June 17, FIRSTS, LASTS, AND SIGNIFICANT ACCOMPLISHMENTS. THANKS TO HAROLD “PHIL” MYERS CHIEF HISTORIAN AIR FORCE INTELLIGENCE, SURVEILLANCE, AND RECONNAISSANCE AGENCY
17 June
1909: Orville and Wilbur Wright received special gold medals from Congress. (24)
1917: The Aeronautical Mission (known as the Bolling Mission), under Maj Raynal Cawthorne Bolling, sailed for Europe. It determined the types of aircraft the US should build and surveyed foreign manufacturing techniques. (21)
1922: RAdm William A. Moffett became the first Naval Aviation Observer. (24)
1928: FIRST WOMAN TO CROSS THE ATLANTIC: Amelia Earhart flew her airplane, the Friendship, with Wilmer Stultz and Lou Gordon (navigator) from Newfoundland to Wales in 20 hours 40 minutes. (9) (24)
1942: Army Air Corps tow planes picked up their first gliders.
1943: PROJECT WINDOW. Tinfoil strips (chaff) were used to confuse German radar so American bombers could strike targets. (4)
1952: Goodyear delivered the world’s largest nonrigid airship, ZPN-1, 324 feet long and 94 feet 5 inches high, to the Navy at Lakehurst, N. J. (24)
1957: The formation of the International Council of Aeronautical Services officially announced.
1958: The USAF accepted the Martin Company's first Titan I. (6) The Air Force picked the Boeing and Martin companies to be competing prime contractors on the X-20 Dyna-Soar boost-glide space vehicle. (20)
1963: The Polaris A3 made its first successful firing at sea from the USS Observation Island. (5)(16)
1964: The triservice XC-142A, a vertical takeoff and landing VTOL aircraft, made its roll-out in Dallas, Texas.
1968: MAC’s first C-9 Nightingale aeromedical evacuation aircraft rolled out at the McDonnell Douglas facility at Long Beach. (16) (21)
1975: Detachment 5, 37 ARRS, saved 131 flood victims from a 13-county flood in Montana. (16) (26)
1983: The USAF launched the first Peacekeeper ICBM from Vandenburg AFB. Its unarmed reentry vehicles landed in the Kwajalein target area. (21)
1985: SAC initiated studies of five alternative basing modes in case Congress approved the second installment of 50 Peacekeeper missiles. The modes included superhardened silos in pattern array, superhard silos in Minuteman spaced basing, rail mobility, multiple protective shelters, and ground mobility. (16)
1986: Rickenbacker ANGB, Ohio, retired the last operational UC-123K Provider. (18)
1993: At Minot AFB, Lt Col Patricia Fornes became the 740th Missile Squadron commander. She was the first woman to command a combat missile unit. Her father, Lt Col Glenn L. Fornes, also commanded the 740th from 1969 thru 1971. (16) (26)
1996: The USAF selected Lockheed-Martin Integrated Systems of Orlando, Fla., and McDonnell Douglas Aerospace of St. Louis to compete to build the new JASSM. (AFNEWS)
1997: Operation PROVIDE HOPE. A C-5A Galaxy from the 436 AW at Dover AFB flew from Andrews AFB to Tashkent, Uzbekistan, on the 500th humanitarian airlift mission supporting this operation. (22)
2003: DISTINGUISHED FLYING CROSSES. The USAF awarded 34 aircrew members from Charleston AFB the DFC for actions in Operation ENDURING FREEDOM. Eight recipients earned the DFC during the first night of humanitarian relief operations in Afghanistan (7 October 2001), while the others received the DFC for inserting Marine forces at the Rhino Landing Zone near Kandahar on 28-30 November 2001. The crews flying to the landing zone performed the deepest insertion of Marines into hostile territory in Marine Corps history. They also accomplished three C-17 operational milestones: (1) the first C-17 combat landings on an unimproved dirt strip; (2) the first missions by C-17 special operations low-level aircrews in hostile conditions; and (3) the first use of night vision goggles by C-17 aircrews to make blacked-out approaches and landings in hostile territory. (22) An AFFTC B-1B dropped two JSOWs, the first time the new long-range glide weapon had been dropped from a Lancer, as part of a separation test. (3)
2007: The 555th Fighter Squadron deployed 300 airmen and 18 F-16 Fighting Falcons to Kunsan AB, Republic of Korea, making it the first U.S. Air Forces in Europe unit to deploy to a Pacific Air Forces unit for an air expeditionary force rotation. During its deployment to Kunsan, the 555th from Aviano AB, Italy, reunited with the 8th Fighter Wing for the first time since 1966, when the squadron joined the 8th Tactical Fighter Wing at Ubon AB, Thailand. (AFNEWS, “USAFE Fighter Squadron Deploys to Kunsan,” 20 Jun 2007.)
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