This Day In History

[Cash]

I subscribe to a blurb that gives the odd interesting tidbit.
Thought I might post some of the more intriguing from time to time.
(Hmm, that might be a pun!)

"Red Telephone" - Established Between US and USSR (1963)
During the Cuban Missile Crisis, it took the US nearly 12 hours to receive and decode Soviet premier Nikita Khrushchev's initial settlement message. By the time the US drafted a reply, Moscow had already sent new demands. Afterward, it was decided that the crisis could have been resolved more quickly with faster communication. In 1963, a "hot line"—the so-called "red telephone"—was established to provide a direct link between the White House and the Kremlin.

[Jgrden]

That was the year I graduated from high school. Things were very hot.

[Cash]

Atlantis Docks with Mir for the First Time (1995)
The first in a series of seven docking missions the US Space Shuttle Atlantis flew to the Russian space station Mir, the STS-71 mission was a notable episode in spaceflight history, as it marked the 100th manned space launch by the US and the first ever on-orbit crew change. The five-day docking of the two crafts also marked the creation of the largest spacecraft ever placed into orbit at that time.

[Cash]

This day in history
The First Execution by Electric Chair (1890)
In the 1880s, inventor Thomas Edison sought to promote direct current (DC) power distribution by convincing the public that the alternating current (AC) electricity backed by rival George Westinghouse was dangerous. To that end, his partners developed an AC-powered electric chair, which was adopted by the state of New York as an official execution device. In 1889, murderer William Kemmler was sentenced to be the first person to be executed via electric chair. What happened during the execution?

This does not appear to have been a rip roaring success, unless perhaps Tillie Ziegler, the common-law wife he hatcheted to death, were able to express an opinion.

For the more ghoulish fanatic!

William Kemmler - encyclopedia article about William Kemmler.

[Z16Z06]

And i thought Batman came out with the red phone first

[MoodyBlue]

Originally Posted by Cash

This day in history
The First Execution by Electric Chair (1890)
In the 1880s, inventor Thomas Edison sought to promote direct current (DC) power distribution by convincing the public that the alternating current (AC) electricity backed by rival George Westinghouse was dangerous. To that end, his partners developed an AC-powered electric chair, which was adopted by the state of New York as an official execution device. In 1889, murderer William Kemmler was sentenced to be the first person to be executed via electric chair. What happened during the execution?

This does not appear to have been a rip roaring success, unless perhaps Tillie Ziegler, the common-law wife he hatcheted to death, were able to express an opinion.

For the more ghoulish fanatic!

William Kemmler - encyclopedia article about William Kemmler.

I remember reading this before. That guy would have been scared, if he knew how horrible he was going to die.

[Cash]

This day in history
Ray Chapman Fatally Injured by Pitch to the Head (1920)
For the entirety of his Major League Baseball career, Ray Chapman was a shortstop for Cleveland. He set a team record for stolen bases that would stand for decades, but his career was tragically cut short when he was hit in the head by a pitch thrown by Yankees hurler Carl Mays. According to eyewitnesses, Chapman likely never even saw the ball. He is the only Major League Baseball player to have died as a result of an injury received in a game. His death led the league to establish what rule?

His death led Major League Baseball to establish a rule requiring umpires to replace the ball whenever it became dirty.

[DOOPHUS]

Originally Posted by Cash

His death led Major League Baseball to establish a rule requiring umpires to replace the ball whenever it became dirty.

Is this a For True, Cash?

What does a dirty ball have to do with Ray Chapman's death?

[Cash]

Originally Posted by DOOPHUS

Is this a For True, Cash?

What does a dirty ball have to do with Ray Chapman's death?

I have no reason to disbelieve anything I see on this particular site but I can't say I know this as a fact.
I guess that would be the early days of pitchers using imperfections or "foreign" substances to doctor a baseball to their advantage.
I know you watch baseball so you must notice the inordinate number of balls that get tossed aside in a game by the umpires.
Not too long ago I coached Little League for 12 years or so. We were on a slightly different budget.
The Home Team had to supply 2 new game balls and one "slightly used".

ADDED: I'm sorry. I forgot there wasn't a link.
Yes, I quoted that statement from the site. It is sort of a Wikipedia thing.

The article went on to say this:

At the time of Chapman's death, "part of every pitcher's job was to dirty up a new ball the moment it was thrown onto the field. By turns, they smeared it with dirt, licorice, tobacco juice; it was deliberately scuffed, sandpapered, scarred, cut, even spiked. The result was a misshapen, earth-colored ball that traveled through the air erratically, tended to soften in the later innings, and as it came over the plate, was very hard to see."[4]

This practice is believed to have contributed to Chapman's death. He was struck by a pitch by Carl Mays on August 16, 1920 in a game against the New York Yankees at the Polo Grounds. Mays threw with a submarine delivery, and it was the top of the fifth inning, in the late afternoon. Eyewitnesses recounted that Chapman never moved out of the way of the pitch, presumably unable to see the ball. "Chapman didn't react at all," said Rod Nelson of the Society of American Baseball Research. "It was at twilight and it froze him."[5] The sound of the ball smashing into Chapman's skull was so loud that Mays thought it had hit the end of Chapman's bat, so he fielded the ball and threw to first base. Chapman died twelve hours later in a New York City hospital, at about 4:30 a.m. He was replaced by Harry Lunte for the rest of the game.[6]

In tribute to Chapman's memory, Cleveland players wore black arm bands, with manager Tris Speaker leading the team to win both the pennant and the first World Championship in the history of the club.[7] Rookie Joe Sewell took Chapman's place at shortstop, and went on to have a Hall of Fame career.[8]

[DOOPHUS]

Originally Posted by Cash

I have no reason to disbelieve anything I see on this particular site but I can't say I know this as a fact.
I guess that would be the early days of pitchers using imperfections or "foreign" substances to doctor a baseball to their advantage.
I know you watch baseball so you must notice the inordinate number of balls that get tossed aside in a game by the umpires.
Not too long ago I coached Little League for 12 years or so. We were on a slightly different budget.
The Home Team had to supply 2 new game balls and one "slightly used".

ADDED: I'm sorry. I forgot there wasn't a link.
Yes, I quoted that statement from the site. It is sort of a Wikipedia thing.

I believe you, Cash.

However, being BONKED in the head with a clean ball will hurt just as much as being BONKED in the head with a dirty one.

I was actually expecting you to say Major League Baseball began requiring head protection while batting.

[Cash]

Originally Posted by DOOPHUS

I believe you, Cash.

However, being BONKED in the head with a clean ball will hurt just as much as being BONKED in the head with a dirty one.

I was actually expecting you to say Major League Baseball began requiring head protection while batting.

Doophus, I added a bunch more in the earlier post that you did not see.
As to the helmets, it actually mentioned that, but apparently that was about 30 years later, so about 1950.
Smarter than hockey players. I think they finally decided wearing lids might be a good idea somewhere in the mid 80's!

[Cash]

September 3, 1935
Malcolm Campbell Becomes First to Drive over 300 MPH (1935) (FYI- this is faster than I have gone 65 years later.)
Campbell, an English automobile and speedboat racer, set many speed records for motorcycles, airplanes, automobiles, and motorboats. In 1931, he was knighted for his accomplishments.
Four years later, driving his famed automobile Bluebird at Bonneville Flats, Utah, Campbell set his final land speed record, becoming the first person to drive an automobile faster than 300 mph (483 km/h).
He later turned to speedboat racing and set a new record in 1939, when his boat reached what speed? (answer 141.7 mph)

The car was a 1924 350hp V12 Sunbeam. Never really thought about this but the only Sunbeam that comes to mind is the very cool mid 60's 289 Ford powered Sunbeam Tiger.

[MoodyBlue]

Originally Posted by Cash

September 3, 1935
Malcolm Campbell Becomes First to Drive over 300 MPH (1935) (FYI- this is faster than I have gone 65 years later.)
Campbell, an English automobile and speedboat racer, set many speed records for motorcycles, airplanes, automobiles, and motorboats. In 1931, he was knighted for his accomplishments.
Four years later, driving his famed automobile Bluebird at Bonneville Flats, Utah, Campbell set his final land speed record, becoming the first person to drive an automobile faster than 300 mph (483 km/h).
He later turned to speedboat racing and set a new record in 1939, when his boat reached what speed? (answer 141.7 mph)

The car was a 1924 350hp V12 Sunbeam. Never really thought about this but the only Sunbeam that comes to mind is the very cool mid 60's 289 Ford powered Sunbeam Tiger.

Nice History. I too like the Tiger. But they did overheat. With todays better Cooling Systems they are a Joy to Drive.

[Cash]

This Day in History: Pony Express announces it's closure.
The Pony Express played such a part in Western lore and was depicted in so many movies that I had no idea the service was so short lived, about 18 months.

Pony Express
The Pony Express was a mail service from Missouri to California from April 1860 to October 1861. It was vital for tying California closely with the Union before the Civil War.
For its 18 months of operation, it briefly reduced the time for messages to travel between the coasts to about ten days, with telegraphic communication covering about half the distance across the continent and mounted couriers the rest.
While I am the employ of A. Majors, I agree not use profane language, not to get drunk, not to gamble, not to treat animals cruelly and not to do anything else that is incompatible with the conduct of a gentleman. And I agree, if I violate any of the above conditions, to accept my discharge without any pay for my services.
– Oath sworn by Pony Express Riders
.......Eventually, everything except one revolver and a water sack was removed, allowing for a total of 165 pounds (75 kg) on the horse's back. Riders, who could not weigh over 125 pounds, changed about every 75–100 miles (120–160 km), and rode day and night. In emergencies, a given rider might ride two stages back to back, over 20 hours on a quickly moving horse.

I got saddle sores driving a car non-stop (more or less) for 18 hours!

[Cash]

I was feeling sorry for myself thinking I was having a rather bad day when I read this:

Louis XVI of France Is Guillotined (1793)
Louis XVI was the king of France during the complex sociopolitical conflict that culminated in the French Revolution, but he was shy, dull, and corpulent and lacked the leadership skills necessary for the job. During the revolution, he was caught attempting to flee the Tuileries palace in disguise, and when proof of his counterrevolutionary actions emerged, he was tried for treason and beheaded. It is said that while his blood dripped to the ground, many in the crowd ran forward to dip their handkerchiefs in it. Some accounts of Louis's beheading indicate that the blade did not sever his neck entirely the first time. There are also accounts of a blood-curdling scream issuing from Louis after the blade fell but this is unlikely, since the blade severed Louis's spine.

So, with a skip in my gitalong, I shall happily go outdoors and brave the -5 degree weather to shovel the beautiful white fluff off my driveway!

[DOOPHUS]

Originally Posted by Cash

I was feeling sorry for myself thinking I was having a rather bad day when I read this:

So, with a skip in my gitalong, I shall happily go outdoors and brave the -5 degree weather to shovel the beautiful white fluff off my driveway!

Hey, Cash . . . is that -5 degrees in C's or F's?

! ! ! ! ! !

[Cash]

Originally Posted by DOOPHUS

Hey, Cash . . . is that -5 degrees in C's or F's?

! ! ! ! ! !

Too funny because I'm really not sure. Below zero is a bit confusing.
Being of old school Canadian, I still work with Fahrenheit and MPH and refuse to adapt. This $hit never ceases to confuse me!
I think -5 is minus 5 C or F. All I know is it feels pretty balmy compared to the last 5 days which were between -14 & -18!
For the most part we have had a great winter with tons of sun and brisk days. I always want some snow but limited.

[Big Jon]

-5C equals 23F
-40C equals -40F and I hope to never see that day again.

[Cash]

Originally Posted by Big Jon

-5C equals 23F
-40C equals -40F and I hope to never see that day again.

-40!! I think that was the temp the day they sank the Bismark!!
I can understand 23 fahrenheit much more readily than -5 centigrade.

[Big Jon]

Originally Posted by Cash

-40!! I think that was the temp the day they sank the Bismark!!
I can understand 23 fahrenheit much more readily than -5 centigrade.

I've lived 38 of my 58 years in ND and have only seen -40 once.

On that day I rescued a driver after his fuel froze 12 miles out on a rural highway. The guy didn't even have a parka or gloves along.

I had my pickup into 2 different heated shops for about a half hour each.
At the 2nd shop one of the sliding windows on the topper just exploded into
tiny bits from the temp. change.

I got absolutely nothing productive done that day [although throwing several cups of hot water into the air to watch them vaporize was highly entertaining] so now it is known that on each & every -40 day I will not be
showing up at work.

Sorry for the threadjack, I did enjoy the on this day stories.

[Cash]

Race Car Driver Dale Earnhardt Dies in Daytona 500 Crash (2001)
Earnhardt was a seven-time champion and one of NASCAR's most successful drivers when he was killed at the 2001 Daytona 500 race. In the final lap, his car veered abruptly down the track and made contact with two others before hitting a concrete retaining wall head-on at about 160 mph (258 km/h). He was killed instantly. In the wake of the tragedy, NASCAR launched an intensive safety campaign.
NASCAR President Mike Helton - "Undoubtedly this is one of the toughest announcements I've ever personally had to make. After the accident in Turn 4 at the end of the Daytona 500, we've lost Dale Earnhardt."



Following Earnhardt's death and the subsequent investigation of the events leading to his death, NASCAR began an intensive focus on safety that has seen the organization mandate the use of head-and-neck restraints, oversee the installation of safer barriers at all oval tracks, set rigorous new inspection rules for seat-belt and seats, develop a roof-hatch escape system, and eventually led to the development of a next-generation race car built with extra driver safety in mind, the Car of Tomorrow.

[MoodyBlue]

Originally Posted by Cash

Race Car Driver Dale Earnhardt Dies in Daytona 500 Crash (2001)
Earnhardt was a seven-time champion and one of NASCAR's most successful drivers when he was killed at the 2001 Daytona 500 race. In the final lap, his car veered abruptly down the track and made contact with two others before hitting a concrete retaining wall head-on at about 160 mph (258 km/h). He was killed instantly. In the wake of the tragedy, NASCAR launched an intensive safety campaign.
NASCAR President Mike Helton - "Undoubtedly this is one of the toughest announcements I've ever personally had to make. After the accident in Turn 4 at the end of the Daytona 500, we've lost Dale Earnhardt."

Attachment 114345

Following Earnhardt's death and the subsequent investigation of the events leading to his death, NASCAR began an intensive focus on safety that has seen the organization mandate the use of head-and-neck restraints, oversee the installation of safer barriers at all oval tracks, set rigorous new inspection rules for seat-belt and seats, develop a roof-hatch escape system, and eventually led to the development of a next-generation race car built with extra driver safety in mind, the Car of Tomorrow.

I remember this; like it was yesterday.

[Cash]

50 years ago today:
The Seattle World's Fair opened in 1962.


I had just entered Junior High and living in a small rural town in Alberta I recall vividly my opinion of what an awe inspiring event this was. The Firebird II was the Chevy Concept Car offered for display.


At the end of this article it asks why President Kennedy was unable to attend the closing ceremonies. I was sure I was correct but confirmed that he was dealing with the Cuban Missile Crisis. Tragically, just 19 months later President John F Kennedy would be assassinated, the most memorable event in my Junior High years, but for a completely different reason.

Hosted at the dawn of the Space Age, the 1962 World's Fair featured a glittering array of futuristic technology. Nearly 10 million people came to see the new cars and gadgets or ride to the top of the new Space Needle. While its technology was advanced, the fair anticipated none of the social changes soon to come—the society of the future looked like that of 1950s, but with gyrocopters. Why did US President John F. Kennedy lie, claiming to be too sick to attend the closing ceremony?

[turnheadz]

he was out shagging with Marylin Monroe

[Cash]

Originally Posted by turnheadz

he was out shagging with Marylin Monroe

Come on!! That was the night before!
Jack & Bill - my two favourite Presidents of the last 50 years!