Today is St. Stephen’s Day. It honors St. Stephen, the first Christian martyr (protomartyr), known for his powerful preaching and forgiveness as he was stoned to death for his faith. It’s a Christian feast day marking the day after Christmas, symbolizing the ultimate sacrifice for Christ, and in some countries like Ireland, it’s known as “Day of the Wren” with traditions like wren boys parading with music, while in the UK, it’s called Boxing Day, linked to charity boxes for the poor or gifts for servants.
Today is the anniversary of the Eggnog Riot in 1826. It took place at the United States Military Academy in West Point, New York, on 24–25 December 1826. It was caused by a drunken Christmas party in the north barracks of the academy. Two days prior to the incident, a large quantity of whiskey was smuggled into the academy to make eggnog for the party, giving the riot its name.
The large number of small dairy farms in America in the early 19th century made milk, cream, and eggnog more accessible to the American public. George Washington drank eggnog that contained not only rum, but also significant amounts of sherry, brandy, and whiskey. Alcohol possession at the academy was prohibited along with drunkenness and intoxication, both of which could lead to expulsion. the cadets had been informed that, due to the alcohol prohibition on the site, their Christmas eggnog would be alcohol-free, prompting the decision to smuggle liquor into the academy.
The cadets took matters into their own hands. At Martin’s Tavern, cadets William R. Burnley (Alabama), Alexander J. Center (New York), and Samuel Alexander Roberts (Alabama) almost got into a fight with the proprietors of another tavern concerning getting whiskey back to West Point. Private James Dougan, the duty security guard, agreed to let the three cadets take a boat across the Hudson to smuggle the whiskey. The cadets planned to purchase one-half US gallon (1.9 L) of whiskey as an alcohol base for the eggnog party that would take place in the North Barracks. Burnley, Center, and Roberts successfully obtained two US gallons (7.6 L) of whiskey, smuggling them into North Barracks room No. 33. Cadet T. M. Lewis (Kentucky) also returned with one US gallon (3.8 L) of rum from Benny’s Tavern to North Barracks room No. 5.
The eggnog party started among nine cadets in North Barracks room No. 28. Numerous cadets appeared as the party progressed, while another party began in room No. 5, mentioned by seven cadets including Jefferson Davis. Farrelly went again to North’s or Havens’ and returned with another gallon of whiskey early on Christmas morning.
Cadet Charles Whipple (Michigan Territory), the division superintendent during the first part of the incident, went to North Barracks room No. 5 at 02:00 after hearing a commotion, interrupting a round of singing among eight cadets, including Davis. Whipple returned to his room after a verbal exchange with Davis and the other cadets. The party degenerated into fighting between the cadets and some faculty members.
Reveille sounded at 06:05, along with gunfire, the sound of glass breaking, profanity by cadets, cries of pain, and threats to academy officials. Some of the cadets remained in their rooms drinking, although some appeared in parade formation despite being drunk. Following testimony, the inquiry determined that seventy cadets had been involved in the riots. The included Jefferson Davis, future President of the Confederacy, Benjamin Humphries, future governor of Mississippi and John Campbell, future Supreme Court Justice.
On this day in 1919, Alice H. Parker was awarded a patent for a heating furnace using natural gas. Parker was born in 1895 in Morristown, New Jersey, where she grew up. Parker attended Howard University Academy, a high school associated with Howard University, and was awarded a certificate with honors in 1910. According to census data, Parker was a cook in the kitchen in Morristown, New Jersey, and lived with her husband, a butler.
Alice H. Parker, prior to graduating from Howard University, would eventually go on to file a patent for a special type of heating device around 1919. Given the detail and intricacy of the sketches for her submitted patent, Parker can be seen as highly educated during her early life despite conditions at the time.
The system she devised provided a much safer way of generating heat instead of burning wood, and had air ducts allowing heat to spread throughout buildings the system was installed in. It also had the ability to control the temperature in different areas, a feature other systems lacked at the time. Such an innovation had the unique societal impact of influencing the way modern home heating systems function. The way her heating system used natural gas to distribute heat through ducts paved the way to HVAC technologies and forced-air systems seen today.
There are no known photos of Parker. photos commonly said to be of Parker were either of Bessie Blount Griffin (another inventor) or an Englishwoman named Alice Parker. Although Alice H. Parker was African-American, most photos on the internet show her as white.
They know how to celebrate Christmas in Brazil!!!
BADA BING!
My brain just logged me out due to inactivity, and now I can’t remember my password. (Bilbo)
Dear every Doctors Office and Hospital in the world: we do not want to see FOX NEWS on the freaking TV!
What’s the difference between ‘Completed’ and ‘Finished’? No dictionary has been able to define the difference between ‘Complete’ and ‘Finished’. But I am here to set the record straight. When you marry the right woman, you are ‘Complete’. If you marry the wrong woman, you are ‘Finished’. And when the right woman catches you with the wrong woman, you are ‘Completely Finished’.
Ideally, the president wouldn’t be someone whose face was featured on novelty condoms at the rape palace of history’s most notorious pedophile.
tRUMP can’t even flip a coin correctly at a football game. Explains how it’s Biden’s fault.
When he dies, we’ll be told to be respectful. BWAHAHAHAHAHA
I got fired yesterday. My boss told me to leave my problems at the door when I came to work. I told him to go stand outside.
My girlfriend broke up with me when she found out I only have 8 toes. She was lack toes intolerant!
What did the janitor say when he jumped out of the closet? SUPPLIES!
What do you call a herd of sheep falling down a hill? A lambslide.
I have reviewed the request to get out of bed and become a productive member of society today, and I would like to respectfully decline.
tRUMP: Numerous states introducing bible literacy classes, giving students the option of studying the bible. Starting to make a turn back? Great! Commenter: According to the bible, you should be put to death for adultery.
OB Doctor: Hi, I’m Juan, and I’ll be delivering your baby. Dad: OB Juan, you’re our only hope! Mom: Doc, don’t put his name on the birth certificate.
I want to throw a snowblower in the back of my truck and drive south until someone says, “What the f**k is that thing?”, and then that’s where I’ll live.
If alcohol can affect short-term memory, then imagine what alcohol can do!
Nurse, explaining EMS to her patient… “EMTs are basically feral nurses who live in mobile hospitals”.
On this day in 1989, the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin was re-opened. West German Chancellor Helmut Kohl walked through the gate and was greeted by East German Prime Minister Hans Modrow. West Germans and West Berliners were allowed visa-free travel starting 23 December.
The Berlin Wall, officially the Anti-Fascist Protection Rampart, was a guarded concrete barrier that encircled West Berlin from 1961 to 1989, separating it from East Berlin and the German Democratic Republic . Construction of the Wall was commenced by the government of the GDR on 13 August 1961. It included guard towers placed along large concrete walls, accompanied by a wide area (later known as the “death strip”) that contained anti-vehicle trenches, beds of nails and other defenses. The primary intention for the Wall’s construction was to prevent East German citizens from fleeing to the West.
The opening of the Iron Curtain between Austria and Hungary at the Pan-European Picnic on 19 August 1989 set in motion a peaceful chain reaction, at the end of which there was no longer an East Germany and the Eastern Bloc had disintegrated.
On this day in 1776, Thomas Paine published the first of his ‘American Crisis’ pamphlets. Winter 1776 was a time of need in the colonies, considering Philadelphia and the entire rebel American cause were on the verge of death and the revolution was still viewed as an unsteady prospect. Paine wanted to enable the distraught patriots to stand, to persevere, and to fight for an American victory. Paine published the first Crisis paper on December 19. Its opening sentence was adopted as the watchword of the movement to Trenton. The opening lines are as follows:
These are the times that try men’s souls: The summer soldier and the sunshine patriot will, in this crisis, shrink from the service of his country; but he that stands it now, deserves the love and thanks of man and woman.
Paine brought together the thirteen diverse colonies and encouraged them to stay motivated through the harsh conditions of the winter of 1776. Washington’s troops were ready to quit until ordered by Washington to be read aloud Paine’s Crisis paper and heard the first sentence, “These are the times that try men’s souls.” The pamphlet, read aloud to the Continental Army on December 23, 1776, three days before the Battle of Trenton.
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