Today is Transfer Day, a public holiday in the US Virgin Islands. The holiday commemorates this day in 1917 when Denmark ceded the islands to the United States in exchange for $25 million in gold. The U.S. interest in the islands primarily was their strategic location to improve military positioning during World War I. Later, the islands were a foothold in the Caribbean for the U.S. Navy in World War II. As a part of the same treaty, the United States recognized Denmark’s control over Greenland.
Many Caribbean islands have switched hands many time as a result of wars between the colonizing countries. The island of Tobago changed owners 62 times, switching between Spanish, Dutch, French, British, Swedish and even German/Prussia ownership.
After the original Spanish settlement on the islands in 1555, there followed a complex period in which the islands were disputed among Spain, France, Great Britain, and the Netherlands. Denmark–Norway also took an interest in the islands, and the Danish West India Company settled on St. Thomas in 1672 and St. John in 1694, later buying St. Croix from France in 1733. The islands became royal Danish colonies in 1754, named the Danish West Indian Islands (Danish: De dansk-vestindiske øer).
Not sure of the breed…
Rapunzel
Today is the birthday, in 1949, of Swedish drummer Roger Palm. Working as a session musician he appeared on such noteworthy ABBA songs as ‘Mamma Mia’, ‘Dancing Queen’, ‘Thank You For The Music’ and ‘Take A Chance On Me’. During the 70s he was a member of Swedish bands the Gimmicks and then the Beatmakers, and started working on the session circuit in 1970. He died on 21 Sept 2024. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-crgQGdpZR0
Today is Ragnar Lodbrok’s Day. Ragnar Lodbrok according to legends, was a Viking hero and a Swedish and Danish king.
He is known from Old Norse poetry of the Viking Age, Icelandic sagas, and near-contemporary chronicles. According to traditional literature, Ragnar distinguished himself by conducting many raids against the British Isles and the Carolingian Empire during the 9th century. He also appears in Norse legends, and according to the legendary sagas Tale of Ragnar’s Sons and a Saga about Certain Ancient Kings, Ragnar Lodbrok’s father has been given as the legendary king of the Swedes, Sigurd Ring.
Around this day in 845, a Viking invasion of France culminated in the siege and capture of Paris. The Viking forces were led by a Norse chieftain named “Reginherus”, or Ragnar, who tentatively has been identified with the legendary saga character Ragnar Lodbrok. Reginherus’s fleet of 120 Viking ships, carrying thousands of warriors, entered the Seine in March and sailed up the river.They withdrew after Charles the Bald paid a ransom of 7,000 French livres [2,570 kg (83,000 ozt)] in gold and silver.
March 27, 1860 was a very important day. M.L. Byrn of New York was granted a patent for a very handy device. Wine enthusiasts rejoice, it was a corkscrew!
Early in the 1700s, glass-blowing technology had advanced to the point where cylindrical-shaped glass bottles with a small bottleneck could be made from a mold. When closed with cork, the bottle became airtight, making possible the aging of wine. (Historically, a variety of substances were kept in corked bottles, of course, not just wine. We’re not going there today!)
On this day in 1953, Dr. Jonas Salk announced the successful test of his polio vaccine on a small group of children and adults. Based on his results a large field trial was undertaken including some 440,000 children. The results of the field trial were announced on 12 April 1955 (the tenth anniversary of the death of President Franklin D. Roosevelt, whose paralytic illness was generally believed to have been caused by polio.
Soon after Salk’s vaccine was licensed in 1955, children’s vaccination campaigns were launched. In the U.S., following a mass immunization campaign promoted by the March of Dimes, the annual number of polio cases fell from 35,000 in 1953 to 5,600 by 1957. By 1961 only 161 cases were recorded in the United States.
Home Depot is a bit kinky…
How to wear a hat…
Unfortunate juxtaposition…
SIGNZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ
Today is the birthday, in 1959, of British session drummer Chris Whitten who provided drums for the hit singles ‘What I Am’ by Edie Brickell & New Bohemians, ‘World Shut your Mouth’ by Julian Cope and ‘The Whole of the Moon’ by The Waterboys. Whitten has also worked with Paul McCartney, Dire Straits, Tom Jones, Johnny Cash, The Pretenders, Swing Out Sister, ABC and The The. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tDl3bdE3YQA
Today is, of course, MARYLAND DAY, one of the most important days of the year. On this day in 1634, some 140 settlers, led by Leonard Calvert (younger brother of Lord Baltimore) and accompanied by 3 Jesuit priests became the first settlers in the Province of Maryland, landing on St. Clement’s Island in the Potomac River. In thanksgiving for the safe landing, Jesuit Father Andrew White celebrated the Mass for the colonists.
The colony’s grant was renewed to Cecil Calvert, 2nd Baron Baltimore, (1605-1675), two years prior by Charles I of England, after first being given to his father Sir George Calvert, 1st Baron Baltimore, (1574-1632), along with the title of “Lord Baltimore”.
“My Food Bowl is Empty, Sharon” – sculpture circa 1567
BADA BING!!!
After his 8th failed rocket attempt, I think it’s safe to say Elon Musk has projectile dysfunction.
My best friend said that dating after 50 is like trying to find the least damaged thing in a thrift store that doesn’t smell.
Me: Those are flies! Dog: Sky raisins!
Every tech innovation for the last 15 years boils down to ‘let’s make everything shittier and force you to pay a monthly subscription for it.’
I don’t mind getting older but my body is having a hissy fit about it.
I thought I was a good person, but the way I react when people drive slowly in the left lane would suggest otherwise.
If you ever think English is not a weird language just remember that read and lead rhyme and read and lead rhyme. But read and lead don’t rhyme, and neither do read and lead.
Missouri House unanimously approves bill allowing pregnant women to get a divorce. And yes it’s 2025.
My wife and I decided we don’t want children. It was a difficult decision, but we’re telling them tonight.
Apparently, stress balls are not supposed to be thrown at people who are stressing you out.
My son found me crying in the kitchen, wrapped his arms around me and said, “Is it because you’re fat?” Now I’m crying for two reasons.
I barely talk to anyone. So if I talk to you and you’re not a dog, congrats!
It turns out a ceiling fan will not cut a bagel in half even on high speed. Also, we need a new window.
Marjorie Taylor Greene said she doesn’t want to discuss her vaccination status. I agree – those conversations are best left between Marjorie and her veterinarian.
When I have to fill out a form asking who to call in case of an emergency, I always write ambulance. Because no one in my family is going to answer a call from an unknown number.
Old age is a thing… last night I was in bed for 20 min when I heard the pizza guy cough. Then I remembered I came to my room for my wallet.
A narcissist mindset, that didn’t happen, and if it did, it wasn’t that bad, and if it was, it’s not a big deal, and if it is, it’s not my fault and if it was, I didn’t mean it, and if I did, you made me do it.
How can we be sure that the Teslas aren’t setting themselves on fire to avoid the association with Elon Musk?
We’re going to have to color potatoes for Easter this year.
Every news agency reported that the capsule landed in the Gulf of Mexico and I’m sure the most petty man in the universe was fuming.
Donald Trump is trying to shutter the Department of Education, which will make it very difficult for students to know the last time America was grate.
If you believe that teaching about god in public schools will improve people’s morality, you first need to explain why it doesn’t work in a church.
I will never understand how they were more upset about a Super Bowl halftime show than Elon Musk stealing our social security numbers.
Today is the birthday, in 1951, of Maizie Williams, from German vocal group Boney M, who had the 1978 UK No.1 & US No.30 single ‘Rivers Of Babylon’ and with more than 150 million records sold, they are one of the Best Selling Artists of all time. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l3QxT-w3WMo
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