#First aid training in East London

[jfktechtraining]

[nursing-student-guide]

Florence Nightingale, first practicing nurse epidemiologist. Developed the first organized program for training nurses, the Nightingale Training School for Nurses (St. Thomas' Hospital, London). Established the first health-maintenance-and-restoration-based nursing philosophy. Known as the "lady with the lamp" during the Crimean War (1853) where she volunteered, traveling the battlefield hospitals nightly to treat the wounded.

Clara Barton, founder of the American Red Cross (1881). She risked her life provided self-taught nursing aid to wounded soldiers on the battlefields during The Civil War (1860-1965), and became referred to as the "Angel of the Battlefield". One of the first women to work for the federal government, she made the Office of Missing Soldiers to aid in the reunion of more than 20,000 soldiers with their families. While providing aid during the Franco-Prussian War (1869), the Red Cross movement was first brought to her attention, inspiring her to bring the movement to America.

Dorothea Lynde Dix, an advocate of indigenous people and the mentally ill. She visited multiple mental institution, reporting her findings and advocated for better managed institutions, eventually establishing asylums of her own. During The Civil War (1860-1865), she aided the Union army by recruiting more than 3,000 nurses and was designated as the Superintendent of Army Nurses. She was known and respected for providing aid to the wounded soldiers from both Confederate and Union sides.

Mary Ann Ball, aka Mother Bickerdyke. She was a hospital administrator for the Union soldiers during The Civil War (1860-1865), regulating supplies and provision for the troops. Referred to as one of the best "generals" during the war for her efforts and organizations of military hospitals, following the war she remained an advocate for veterans - becoming an attorney for those who faced legal issues. 300 hospitals were built to aid the wounded over 19 different battlefields from her involvement.

Harriet Tubman, provided safe passage for slaves during the Underground Railroad movement. Known as the "Moses" of her people, her actions resulted in more than 300 slaves being lead to freedom. She provided nursing aide to the Union forces during The Civil War (1862-1865). Following the war, she played in active role in causes including the Womens Suffrage, and created the "Harriet Tubman Home for Indigent Aged Negroes" where orphans and the elderly could be taken in and care for.

Mary Mahoney, brought awareness to the cultural and racial diversity in nursing, emphasizing respect and the inclusion of all in the profession. The first African-American to receive an official education for the nursing profession (New England Hospital for Women and Children, Boston - 1874). She became the first African-American member of what is now referred to as the American Nurses Association, and helped start up the National Association for Colored Graduate Nurses in 1908.

Isabel Hampton Robb, a large influence in the advancement of the nursing social status in society. She influenced the system of nursing education by implementing a grading policy in the program to improve the quality of the students graduating from the program. She authored the comprehensive and foundational text, Nursing: Its Principles and Practice (1893), and helped to standardize the nursing education all around. She served as president of both the National League for Nursing Education and what is now referred to as the American Nurses Association.

Lillian Wald, opened the Henry Street Settlement (1893) with her fellow nurse graduate, Mary Maud Brewster. Addressed the health needs of poor immigrant families residing in tenements of New York City's Lower East Side. Coined the term "public health nurse", she fought for public health care, women's rights, and children's rights. Her and Mary Brewster started the Visiting Nursing Service of New York. During her work at the Henry Street Settlement, she established one of the earlier playgrounds and aided in paying salary to the first Public School Nurses in NYC. She had a hand in starting up the United States Children's Bureau, the National Child Labor Committee, and the National Women's Trade Union League.

Mary Adelaide Nuting, known for becoming the first nursing professor in 1906 (Columbia Teachers College), and assisted in getting nursing education in Universities across the states. She attended the first nursing training following Florence Nightingale's inflence (John Hopkins Hospital Training School - 1889). Throughout her advancement in the nursing profession working at the school, she assisted in advancing the program - brought in scholarships and on-the-field experience; her work influencing other Universities create and better their own nursing programs. Founder of the American Journal of Nursing (1900), she also became the first registered nurse in the state of Maryland. Several of her authored and coauthored books are still implemented today in nursing programs throughout the nation.

[rinpoo-blog]

Penfriends.

Cover made by: Connie the Wolf, on Furaffinity, give them lots of money.

Synopsis: In 1894, 17-year-old Olivia Flaversham had been writing to a long-distance penfriend named Fievel Mousekewitz for almost five years. This past year, she is left waiting for Fievel's following letter to arrive, but it never comes. Seeing her heartbreak, her father pays his savings to allow Olivia to go and see if her friend is well.

Olivia sat in pensive silence as the train bounced and shook on the westward rail line. Between both of her hands sat a handwritten envelope dated the end of last year.

Running her thumbs along it, she felt a pain in her heart and a tense anxiety through her whole body. She'd never believed she'd find herself here, but the closer she drew to the destination written on the envelope, the more uncertain she became.

She'd written to Fievel for years, and she felt she'd developed a strong bond with him through those years. She'd never met him, nor did she think she ever would, but it didn't stop her from fantasizing repeatedly about doing so.

With her father having moved around so much after the incident with Ratigan, she found friends challenging to maintain. It wasn't until the advent of the penfriend's board in East London that she found that opportunity.

While humans were restricted only by their mechanical toys, the mice had the aid of birds. All it took was a simple exchange with them for far-off mail delivery, and one could talk to any mouse in the world if one wished.

Thinking back, it was on that cluttered board that she set her address to be taken elsewhere. She never expected to hear back, but was elated when she received a handwritten letter in the winter of 1890.

It was the beginning of a long correspondence that extended far past the ocean and struck straight through to her heart. She'd never say it, but as she spent more and more money sending letters to Fievel, the more she felt like she "loved" him.

It was a stupid thought in her mind: how can someone love another if they've never met them? Still, the fact that Fievel faithfully responded and continued through every address until the last meant that she felt she did know him well.

He told her everything, as did she… Their fears, their family, their wants, and their tears….

Olivia sighed and wiped the wetness away from her eyes with the back of her hand.

She was scared for him; for the first time in his life, he'd not responded to her for almost a year. She sent dozens of letters, some pleading for a reply, but he never wrote back….

Did he hate her all of a sudden? Did he find someone else to spend his time with?

She didn't know; not knowing was far more painful than accepting any possible truth. She'd become so crestfallen over the affair that tears wet her pillow nightly, and her hygiene plummeted into disrepair for a time.

As Olivia remembered the pain, she glanced out the window containing the endless expanse of gorgeous desert space.

"…."

It was her father who eventually came and spoke to her. She didn't know why he suggested she come here to see Fievel, but the mere suggestion of it had made her eyes sparkle so brightly that he only hugged her lovingly.

"You're growing up so fast…." She whispered her father's words while resting her chin on her hand.

She had grown and spent many years improving her intuition and problem-solving skills. Basil had rubbed off on her, and her competence was likely why her father was not concerned about her traveling so far alone.

"…."

As the locomotive began to slow, one of the servicemice on the train called out to passengers in her tiny train cart.

"Next stop, Green River, Utah!"

His voice was thunderous, and it jolted Olivia from her thoughts. Standing up, she slid the envelope into her leather side bag while picking it up and then straightened her long, blue coat and plaid dress.

Despite the area, she was dressed in similar attire that she'd had as a child. She always kept her favorite color and the beautiful red bow gifted by her dear, departed mother.

As the train pulled to a complete stop with a screeching sound, she quickly left and stepped outside onto the train platform with the many other humans and mice stopping there.

Immediately, the sun blinded her, and she squinted hard to dull the pain. The rays were hot against her, and she began to sweat immediately.

With a huff, Olivia walked beneath the ticket window for shade and, from there, was able to better see the entirety of the quaint western town before her.

Mice and men walked around in the sun, and many seemed to be at work. To her right was a billboard with various sheets of paper containing many different informational tidbits.

Some of which caught her eye….

Penfriends signup! Come meet mice from around the world!

Olivia smiled somewhat as she looked at the board full of numerous addresses, names, and locations. Indeed, she could only imagine Fievel walking here and grabbing her letter to nobody….

Turning, she was about to leave when another poster caught her attention immediately.

Greetings, New Arrivals! Job Opening! October 4, 1894:

Looking for a skilled typist and an investigator with experience.

See Sheriff Fievel Mousekewitz for an interview!

…

"That's only weeks ago!"

Olivia's heart pounded, and excitement nearly stole her breath. Quickly looking about at the many mousey establishments built into human ones, she could see the one labeled "Sheriff" fairly easily.

Pausing briefly, she thought over her options, and it was then that an idea came to her.

She could erase all of these turbulent feelings if she went in for the "interview" instead of as herself…. Fievel did not know what she looked like, so if it was clear he was too busy for her, she could let him go without making it complicated….

Sure, she told herself that, but as she walked out into the sun, she found her bravery lessening with each step. Standing before the establishment labeled "Sheriff," she heard an old man's voice greet her.

"Well, hello M'am, haven't seen you roun' here before."

Olivia turned to see a mining mouse standing with his pick over his shoulder.

"Oh, yes…. I am here to see Sheriff Fievel. Is he in?"

The older mouse tipped his hat and responded kindly. "Sure is, though. I hope ya ain't gonna ask him to climb no mountains or nothin'; boy's havin' a rough time of it…."

Olivia became terrified and so tried to keep her worry hidden. "Oh… Well… H-he's, ok? Isn't he?"

The man laughed and nodded. "Yep, just needin' help, but not findin' the right kind, I s'pose."

Olivia nodded and breathed a sigh of relief. "Well, that is what I am here for… To, erm… help…"

The old man grinned and spit on the ground. "Well, then, Missey, welcome to Green River! I look forward to seein' yer pretty face roun' here!"

Olivia was silent and watched the man walk away. He was friendly, but her mind could concentrate on nothing but Fievel.

Turning to stand in front of the entryway, she breathed in to calm herself and slowly opened the door. Gently, it moved, and as she peeked in, she could see a young mouse sitting at a desk.

His white hat glistened in the sun through a small hole in the wall, and his hand wrote shakily on a paper set before him. Taking his white coat and form in, she zeroed in on the Sheriff's shimmering gold star as it reflected in the sunlight.

"…."

Olivia's immediate thoughts were how handsome he was, even more so than her imagination allowed. Though he was so young, she was always surprised that he was the central acting Sheriff.

Pushing in, Fievel was oblivious to her presence. He seemed preoccupied and struggling. Glancing down at his papers, Olivia could see his hand trembling and that his handwriting was exceedingly poor, unlike the nice pen strokes he usually produced when writing her.

Glancing at his expression, he seemed forlorn and sad but dutiful regardless. Olivia was now beside his makeshift desk admiring him, but then she self-consciously felt like a creep for doing so.

"…."

Perhaps…. Perhaps it was time to talk to Fievel…. Even with her planned cover, she felt unbelievably uneasy.

"Uhm…. Ah-Hem…" Olivia muttered as she placed her hand to her mouth and made a sound.

It finally broke Fievel's concentration, and he glanced up. Immediately, he placed his fountain pen down, and it seemed he could not break his stare on the sudden company.

"I… Well, hello…." He began. "Is there something I can help you with?"

His voice was calm and masculine but oozing with unbridled empathy. He was as kind as his letters portrayed, Olivia could tell…

"Uhm, erm, well, uhhh…." Olivia lost her nerve as she bashfully ran her shoe across the wooden planks.

Fievel placed his left hand underneath his hat behind his head and scratched, then laughed nervously. "Well, I haven't seen you in Green River before…. Did you travel here and now need help with something?"

Olivia cleared her throat and then timidly lied in her subtle Scottish accent. "Well, I… I am here about your poster..."

Fievel looked confused, but then it seemed to snap into his mind. "Oh! Well, I haven't had too many come in for those positions, so it is good somebody finally decided to show…."

He laughed a bit more, then returned the pen to his right hand. "Go on, have a seat! We can discuss how you can help."

Olivia quietly walked before the desk and sat in the wooden chair made from a discarded toy block. From her new vantage point, she could clearly see the right arm of his coat was severely torn, and he had bandages creeping out of his coat sleeve above his hand.

"…."

Fievel looked down at a form atop his messy desk and placed his pen on it to fill out the essential details. Olivia watched as he struggled and hid his pain through subtle, deep breaths.

His handwriting suffered immeasurably, so she broke the silence with her immediate thoughts. "Uhm, it looks like you are having a hard time writing…. Why don't you use your left hand instead?"

Fievel frowned and then held up his right hand, after which he responded. "I am right-handed, and believe it or not, this hand still writes better than my left…. If I want to be able to read what I write later, then I need to use it."

"…."

Olivia watched him as he began writing, and then she spoke again. "What happened, Fievel?"

Her direct utterance of his name made him look up at her, and his cheeks turned slightly pink in the sunlight. She spoke as if she cared about him, and it was flattering from someone so drop-dead gorgeous.

"I…" Fievel began. "Well, we have been having a lot of trouble with rising crime and cat bandits recently. My friend Tiger is out looking for them now, but I got severely swiped a few months back… It has been slow healing."

It made sense to Olivia now, and she watched as Fievel went back to writing with his injury. Overworked and clearly suffering, he likely hadn't written her because of how serious things were for him presently.

She gazed at the floor and watched her feet. She felt like a selfish, despicable mouse. Not just because she was lying to Fievel right now but because she ever even thought he would abandon her.

"…."

After a moment longer, she heard Fievel speak.

"Ok, Miss, all I need is your name, and we can discuss your abilities that will help around here."

Olivia stared blankly at him as he readied his pen to write on the paper again. Now, she knew she could slink away with him never knowing, but she also felt obligated to tell him that she was finally here.

Glancing over at his plethora of messy papers strewn about the desk, Olivia caught a glimpse of lines he had clearly been drafting for a letter to send her at some point.

"…"

"Dear, Olivia…. Sorry that I have not responded…."

"Olivia, I do not know how to say this. We have spoken for so long, and because of that, I am afraid to…."

"Olivia, I do not want to worry you, but…."

"Olivia, please, forgive me for not writing…. I hope that you won't be mad…."

"Olivia, you are my best friend…."

The last one, in particular, got to her so much she couldn't read anymore, and she wiped her eyes to keep them from sprouting tears.

It was at this point that she heard Fievel speak again.

"Miss, are you alright?"

She nodded slowly, trying to hide her sentimentality, and just responded. "Sorry…. now, what was it you were saying?"

Fievel merely grinned kindly and responded playfully. "I asked you your name, silly. I haven't learned it yet!"

Olivia stared, and when Fievel looked down at the paper again, she spoke softly to him.

"I… My name is Olivia Flaversham…."

Fievel absent-mindedly began to write the name in awkward handwriting, but by the time he'd finished "Olivia" and made it to "Fla," his pen slipped right off the page, leaving behind a trail of ink.

He looked up and stared directly at Olivia, his mouth agape and eyes wide. It was clearly a mixture of awe and terror.

"I…. Olivia?!" He choked out.

Olivia could only give him a dopey smile, and she nodded her head to his question without speaking.

Fievel immediately got up and looked down at her from his standing position. When she mimicked him, she stood straight and decided to try and speak through her trepidation.

"I… It is so go…." She began but was abruptly silenced.

!

Fievel had spontaneously thrust himself forward from around the side of the desk, and before she could even think, she found herself with his left arm wrapped around her, brought into an intimate hug.

She wasn't frightened or offended by the sudden gesture…. She wanted this more than he could possibly imagine.

She inhaled his scent when she wrapped her arms around his frame and placed her head against his chest. It was intoxicating to her and was making her knees weak.

They stood in the Sheriff's office while the sun beamed onto them from the mousehole window. Their eyes were shut, and they felt that their strong bond had been infinitely tempered beyond any ability to destroy it.

"…."

After some time, Fievel removed himself and looked her over. Then, he spoke honestly.

"Sorry about that, Olivia…. I don't know why I did that…."

Olivia shook her head and smiled. "No, it is good to meet you too. I… Well, it has honestly been a dream for me to do so for a long time now."

Fievel agreed and beamed brighter than she'd seen him since she'd gotten here. "I feel that way, too…. I really can't believe you are here…. Come to think of it, how did you get here? What brought you all this way?"

"…"

There was absolute bashfulness in her reasoning, and now, it was her face's turn to go soft pink. Glancing up towards Fievel's face, she eventually explained that her father had given her the money…. However, when it came to admitting her reasoning, she was avoidant.

"I… Well, I always wanted to visit here, and uhm… I figured I could see you while I was at it."

Fievel nodded and simply tipped the brim of his cowboy hat. "Well, you are always welcome to spend time here with me whenever you'd like…."

Olivia's heart skipped an entire beat, and part of her wanted to jump for joy. Even though she was utterly unwilling to admit her deep care for him and her worries over his not writing to her, she would allow herself all the space in the world to feel this way privately.

"…."

As Fievel turned and sat at his desk, he held out his left hand and prompted her to sit back down. "Shall we continue with the hiring process?"

Olivia merely gave him a smirk and shook her head. "You know that I have been working every day to be more like Basil, so I am pretty sure we can skip the paperwork…."

"Fair enough," Fievel began, then got back up and stood before her. "Uhm…. Olivia?"

Olivia looked over his solemn expression and then answered hesitantly. "Y-Yes?"

Fievel sighed and then let out what he wanted to say. "I am incredibly sorry I didn't write you…. Things happened, but that is no excuse to ignore somebody I care about."

"Oh…." Olivia cast her gaze away from him.

Hearing him say that lifted her spirit, and she felt entirely at peace again. Shifting her bag slung over her shoulder, she tried to express her feelings over his words.

"I… Fievel, I want…." There was a pause as a loud noise grumbled audibly from the center of her torso.

She put her hand on her stomach, and Fievel chuckled at her stomach interrupting her. "Well, someone's hungry…. Come on, why don't we get something to eat?"

Olivia was ashamed over the noises her belly made but had little time to really dwell on it. Before she could even answer, she felt Fievel grab her hand with his left one and pull her gently out the door into the sun.

The shame and anxiety she'd felt previously now felt like a living dream. Growing up, she'd fantasized about doing this with Fievel, and as this fantasy turned into an actual event, she was left with the undeniable revelation that she did and had loved him far more than she ever allowed herself.

Olivia now realized there was no shame in it; she'd known "who" Fievel was for so long that coming here wasn't like meeting a stranger at all; it was like a reunion with a very dear friend.

"…"

…

…

…

…

…

Olivia squinted again as the two made their way out into the overwhelming sunlight, but as the two walked, her eyes adjusted better over time.

Glancing at the quaint western town, she was charmed by how different it was from England. The rustic wooden structures matched the desert scenery well, and the many establishments made by human settlers had since been expanded to the many mice that migrated here.

Glancing down at her hand touching Fievel's, she preserved her feeling of floating off the ground and only broke her grasp on him when he stopped and directed her to what appeared to be a restaurant.

Curiously examining the establishment, it was apparent it was connected to some human inn. The closer they got to the hole in the wooden porch, the more detail Olivia could see on the tiny old sign before her.

"Mouse House!"

Olivia only vaguely recalled reading about it from Fievel some time ago and looked at him curiously.

After interpreting her expression, he spoke on it to refresh her memory.

"It is a place where they serve quick, good food. I never saw anything like it before it came here, so it will be a nice treat for you to experience.

Olivia nodded quietly, then entered the establishment with Fievel. The place was packed while looking very homely and well-furnished with repurposed human trinkets. There was an overwhelming scent of delectably cooked meat and vegetables wafting throughout the place.

The room was waited on by a plethora of gorgeous mice in distinct, white, and black starched skirts. Olivia was surprised by the civility and atmosphere of the place and followed Fievel to one of the only empty tables, where they both took a seat.

…

…

…

It was only mere minutes before one of the girls came over and spoke to them. "Hello, Ma'am, Sheriff Fievel! What can I get y'all to drink today?"

Fievel leaned back in his chair and spoke his routine favorite. "I'd like an iced tea, please."

"Right," the waitress began, turning his already set China cup upside down and letting it tilt off the saucer.

"And you, Miss?"

Olivia thought, and tea did sound delectable right about now. "I'd like a hot tea, please…."

The waitress smiled and turned Olivia's cup upside down on the saucer. "Right, now, what would you like to eat, or did ya need me to return in a moment?"

Olivia was uncertain, but Fievel spoke for himself and on her behalf. "I'd like some beef and vegetables, and Olivia likes seafood…. Do you have anything nice in stock?"

Olivia beamed and merely stayed quiet. Fievel had remembered that she liked fish and seafood. Trendy dishes in England…. He seemed to remember even small details she'd written him.

The waitress nodded in Olivia's direction and responded. "Well, she's in luck. We have a catch of fresh oysters brought in from Maine this mornin'."

Olivia had never had oysters, but her curiosity was piqued as it sounded like somewhat of a delicacy to her. "That sounds lovely, I will try that…."

With their orders given, the waitress was off, and Fievel, sitting across from her, was relatively lax.

Even though she was here experiencing this, it still felt unreal…. It wasn't until a few moments later, when another waitress came by and set up their China and poured their preferred drinks without a word, that she could speak.

"I… This is really neat…."

Fievel leaned forward and then took a sip of his cold tea. "Yeah, this place is really great…. I come here all the time and dine while I write to you…."

Olivia blushed again and then shook her head. "I meant, sitting here with you…."

Fievel had his moment to turn hot, and he looked at the table. "Yeah, I…. Uhm…."

Olivia raised an eyebrow curiously and then encouraged him to continue. "Yes, Fievel…?"

Fievel rested his injured arm on the table and just shook his head. "I dunno', I just feel like I have things I want to say, but I am not sure I ought to…."

Olivia felt similarly, but as she was about to tell him she wanted to hear it, the waitress returned and placed their meals directly in front of them.

Olivia was shocked by the sudden interruption but still captivated by how it was presented. Her oysters were on a decoratively painted plate that resembled that of an oyster shell.

Their composure and smell were delectable, and as she forgot what she was about to say to Fievel, she decided to try her meal.

Fievel quietly cut a small sirloin strip and observed Olivia as she tasted her oysters. At first, Olivia seemed unsure of the texture, but as she settled on the flavor, she found it highly palatable.

"Mmm…. This is just as good as English cod…."

Fievel laughed and took a bite of his meal. "Well, I am extremely overjoyed you like it. Please, enjoy yourself. It is my treat."

Olivia was speechless, not because of the gesture, per se, but more so because this now resembled dating and courtship to her.

"…."

Fievel was utterly unperturbed by how others might interpret this, so she merely acted as if she didn't care either.

By the time the two were rounding down their meal, a call from beside them broke their gaze on one another.

"Fievel! Hey, and who is this, huh!?"

When they looked over, they saw a dolled-up mouse girl not quite as tall as Fievel. At first, Olivia felt anxious, but then Fievel dispelled all of it by speaking.

"Tanya…. Don't you have a show right now!?"

Tanya walked over happily and shook her head. "Well, no! It was canceled…. That still doesn't answer my question, though!"

Olivia recognized the name, and she spoke before Fievel could introduce her. "Tanya? Fievel's sister?"

Tanya frowned and then looked at Fievel before playfully teasing him. "Been talking about me, are you?"

By their interaction, Olivia could tell they loved one another dearly. Indeed, he had written a lot about Tanya to her, and to finally see her felt like an honor.

Fievel shook his head and responded. "No, this is…. Well, uhm…. How do I put this?"

Tanya put her hands on her hips and responded directly. "How about her name? She seems to know mine!"

Fievel rubbed his right hand with his left and then spoke. "Well, you probably won't believe this, but, well, this is Olivia…."

Tanya stared as if she'd blown a fuse, and then, when she looked over Olivia, her expression turned to shock. "You mean…? YOUR OLIVIA?!"

Hearing Tanya raise her voice with those words made Olivia freeze in utter fear, but Fievel only confirmed it with a "yes."

Tanya went over and scrutinized Olivia and then quickly grabbed a seat from a newly emptied table and dragged it over. With her now sitting next to Olivia, she began to speak.

"Wow, I can't believe she's here! You've been talking to her for several years now!"

Olivia grinned at Tanya's developed gregarious demeanor and responded. "Yes…. I am here, and it is a pleasure to meet you, Tanya…."

Tanya shut her eyes and chuckled, then leaned back before deciding to humiliate Fievel. "Well, good thing you are, Fievel does nothing but talk about 'Olivia this,' and 'Olivia that…' I feel like I know you even though you've never been here."

Fievel pulled his hat down slightly, seeing where this was going, and hid his gaze from them behind the brim of his hat.

"…."

"Oh…" Olivia was caught off guard, so she ended up saying more than she had intended.

"I didn't know he thought about me as much as I do about him…."

When she uttered the words, Fievel raised his hat slightly to glance, and Tanya had a knowing look on her face before speaking again.

"You two are made for one another, I am oh-so sure…."

"…."

"…."

There was an awkward silence between Fievel and Olivia, so Tanya just rolled her eyes. After that, she raised her hand and called over the waitress.

Within seconds, a dried fruit pie had been ordered on Fievel's dime, and when it came, the three beginning to eat had cushioned the anxiety of the two.

Tanya began to ease into a conversation and genuinely showed interest in Olivia, her father, Basil, and England.

…

…

…

Hours went by, and the three continued bonding. When Tanya had her fill, she decided to let Olivia and Fievel have the time they truly deserved.

When the check came, Fievel paid the 70-cents for their dinners and pie, as well as left a generous 20-cent tip for the server.

…

…

…

By the time they made it outside, Olivia was surprised by the massive drop in temperature at night. It made her feel happy she'd worn her clothes from England.

Once they made it out onto the dusty trail, she was wholly entranced by the clear presence of night. The gorgeous sky was so absent in light that she could see the stars and galaxies beyond them in a way that defied expectations.

Fievel timidly spoke after the two walked in silence next to one another for a while.

"So, if you'd like, I can put you up at an inn, or you can stay with me for the night…."

The offer came off as more of a request to her, and Olivia's immediate thought was the latter regardless. "I'd like to see your home…."

With that, nothing more needed to be said, and Fievel led her along the now sparsely lit roads of the town.

"…."

…

…

…

…

…

By the time Fievel and Olivia made it to his home located under the porch of the human Sheriff's office, she was surprised by the modesty of it. It was cramped with various things but decently organized.

She watched as he lit a small lantern made of scrapped tin, and then took his hat off for the first time. His unkempt head fur was adorable and made her smile.

Placing it on a dull human fishing hook that he used as a hanger, he took her bag and set it beside it. After that, he struggled with his jacket until he finally pulled it off and hung it. Olivia could now see how badly he had been hurt; indeed, it looked agonizing from her perspective.

Bandages ran along his upper arm, down through his forearm, stopping at his wrist, and he was very slow to use or move it. Olivia placed her hands to her mouth and, for the first time, really felt deeply sorry.

Seeing her, Fievel frowned, and walked up to stand right before her. When she looked up at his face, he spoke.

"Don't worry, Olivia…. I… Well, I am ok…. I figured out that you are here because you were worried…. I really am sorry for that."

Olivia's motivation was now transparent to him, so rather than deny it, she responded. "I was so scared you stopped talking to me forever…. I am sorry for doubting you…. Really, Fievel…."

Fievel raised his left hand and rubbed her cheek, which she did not bother to try to stop. The dim flickering light of the small lantern made the mood tensely intimate.

Fievel eventually sighed and then spoke once more. "As I was trying to say earlier…. I have so much I want to tell you, but I…. It is like, now that I have the chance, I feel unsure and unable…."

Olivia's eyes sparkled with the light of the flickering flame beside her, and her pulse quickened. As Fievel drew his face closer to hers, she mimicked him. Then, when she could feel his warm breath on her face, she responded.

"Just…. Say what you need to, Fievel…. What's in your heart…."

Fievel stared, and the moment felt like an eternity. Before long, he moved closer until their noses practically touched and spoke.

"I love you, Olivia Flaversham…."

That was all he needed to say and all she needed to hear. Without a bit of hesitation, the two pressed their mouths together. It was slow at first but quickly escalated beyond their control.

Pent-up feelings exploded forth from years of childish fantasy and personal experimentation. They'd both dreamed about this, what this could be like, and now that they had a face to add to those fantasies, it only inexorably propelled their desire for love.

As they awkwardly added their tongues to the kissing, Olivia let out a moan, which caused Fievel to vigorously push her against the wooden wall of his home.

She shut her eyes and kissed ever harder as he used his left hand to hold her up against the wood. Her hands began searching his body and found his sides. Softly, she caressed them as the two freed their imprisoned passion for one another.

Eventually, the infinitely long kiss broke, and they were gasping for oxygen. Looking into Fievel's eyes, Olivia stated the obvious because she felt just as much of a need for it as Fievel.

"I… Love you too, Fievel Mousekewitz…."

…

…

…

…

With undeniable desire, Olivia touched just about anywhere she could while they hugged. Inevitably, Fievel moved in due to the good feelings that were being shared and began to kiss along her exposed neck.

She gasped in excited titillation as she shut her eyes. After returning the love that she had given him to her, she squealed with delight and then commented on his prurient behavior.

"Fievel…. I… This is e-embarrassing…. You are experienced with this?"

Fievel stopped kissing her neck, then gazed into her eyes again. "N-no… I…. I've never even courted a girl before…. I just…."

There was slight hesitation to continue, but Olivia just waited patiently, which inevitably caused Fievel to spill his private thoughts.

…

"Well, every time you would write me, I would get so excited…. The writing started at a time when, uhm, I was becoming more interested in girls…. I guess you could say, I liked you so much that I could only dream of you above all else."

Olivia found it sweet, and so shyly reciprocated. "Well, it is the same for me…. When I realized I felt that way, I felt stupid for liking someone I never met in person…."

"…."

Fievel stood there admiring her, feeling as if they were identical. After a bout of sentimental silence, it wasn't but a few moments later, that Olivia whispered into his ear. Her mind made up about where she wanted this to go.

"What kinds of things did you dream of, Fievel?"

He became nervous and stammered heavily. "M-marrying you, uhm…. S-some other s-stuff…."

"What other stuff?" She grinned mischievously.

"…." Fievel refused to speak any more on it.

With assertiveness, Olivia moved forward and whispered again to him.

"Show me…. Please…."

…

…

It didn't take more than that for Fievel to begin touching her body with his uninjured hand, and then, before they knew it, it was a whirlwind of unadulterated ecstasy.

Moving back and forth, groping, moaning, and then, the clothes they wore were shedding all about the floor. Neither could stop it, but at this point, neither wanted to.

When they inevitably made it atop Fievel's bed made out of an old human matchbox. They began to roll all over its covers until Olivia found herself on top positioning herself...

"…."

…

…

…

…

…

…

…

…

…

Sometime after their thrillful fling, filled with adulation, need, and a desire for experience. They wound up under Fievel's covers by the flickering of the lantern light.

Their nude bodies soaked so through with passion-laden sweat that their fur was damp. Olivia's hand rested atop Fievel's bare chest, and he used his left arm to hold her body against his.

The boisterous sounds of the quaint western town had ceased long ago, and given them the solitude to feel inner peace.

Olivia moved in and kissed Fievel, after which he spoke.

"Olivia…. Thanks for coming…. It has made me the happiest mouse that ever lived…."

Olivia giggled slightly and then shook her head. "No, you've made ME the happiest mouse that ever lived…."

…

…

…

There was a drawn-out silence, and then Fievel spoke in a more reserved and somber manner. "Well, whenever you need to go, I will pay your way home…. I make quite a bit as a sheriff in town…"

Olivia frowned at first but then returned to a smile when she began to speak. "I… Well…. I think I will stay here for…. for a little bit. You are looking for help, and I…."

As she trailed off, Fievel rubbed her bare shoulder. "What of your father?"

Olivia sighed. That was the hard part, but ultimately, she recognized she needed what she had right now in her life more than anything else. "I can write him, as you did me…. Our home has been stable for a few years now, so it should be ok…."

Fievel nodded and then pecked her cheek. "Well, my home is yours, so long as you want it…."

Olivia collapsed onto him and nuzzled her head into his neck while lovingly holding him. "Forever and always, is the answer to that…."

With that, the two new lovers spent the night contented. Rather than reading their most recent letter received over and over and over again, they now could speak extempore to one another while experiencing the unbridled joy of physical contact.

"…."

[scotianostra]

16th August 1864 saw the birth in India of Elsie Maud Inglis.

Elsie's family originated from originated from Kingsmills, Inverness-shire, her father,John, was in the service of the East India Company, although he was opposed to the imperialist policies of the 1870s. John retired and moved his family to Tasmania for two years before moving to Edinburgh in 1878. From 1878 to 1882, Inglis attended the Edinburgh Institute for the Education of Young Ladies.

When she was eighteen, Inglis attended a finishing school in Paris. Inglis knew she wanted to pursue a career in medicine and fortunately in 1886 Sophie Jex-Blake opened the Edinburgh School of Medicine for Women, where Inglis began her medical training. However, a student rebellion in 1889 led Inglis with the support of her father and his influential friends to establish a rival school, the Medical College for Women.

Inglis studied at the Glasgow Royal Infirmary for eighteen months before qualifying as a licentiate at the Colleges of Physicians and Surgeons in Edinburgh and Glasgow.

Inglis’s first position was medical officer at Elizabeth Garrett Anderson’s New Hospital for Women in London. Inglis held a short post in Dublin before returning to Edinburgh in 1894 where she opened a general practice. In 1899, Inglis graduated MB CM from Edinburgh and was appointed lecturer of gynaecology at the Medical College for Women, in partnership with Jessie Macgregor, opened a small hospital for women and children in 1894.

In 1904, Inglis’s small hospital moved to the High Street and was renamed The Hospice. In 1905 Inglis was appointed senior consultant of the Bruntsfield Hospital, which merged with The Hospice in 1911.

Inglis was nearly fifty in 1914 when war was declared, but her zeal and patriotism led her to offer her services to the War Office, only to be denied. Not deterred, Inglis sought to form independent hospital units staffed by women. An appeal for funds and support soon attracted more than just suffrage supporters. Inglis gave an inspiring speech in October 1914 at Kingsway Hall on ‘what women can do to help the war.’ Funds poured in for the new organization, the Scottish Women’s Hospitals for Foreign Service (SWH) and both the French and Serbs accepted the offer of all female medical units. The first unit left for France in November 1914 and the second went to Serbia in January 1915. Inglis went to Serbia in 1915 as the chief medical officer.

In the autumn Serbia was invaded and Inglis’s hospital was taken over by Germans. She was interned until February 1916 when she was sent home. Upon her return home, Inglis advocated for aid in Serbia. On 3 April 1916, Inglis became the first woman to be decorated with the order of the white eagle. Attempts over the next couple of years to found hospitals and aid Serbia were tried and failed. Inglis remained with her unit in Romania until September 1917 when it re-joined the Serbian division.

Inglis knew she had cancer, and by the end of September was unable to work as a surgeon, although she continued to direct the unit. Although the political situation was deteriorating rapidly, Inglis refused to leave until the Serbs were transferred out of Russia. When the unit finally left, Inglis sent a telegraph home saying, ‘Everything satisfactory and all well except me.’ Inglis and her unit landed in Newcastle and the following day, 26nd November 1917, in the presence of her sisters, Inglis died. Before her body was interned in Dean Cemetery, Inglis’s body lay in state in St Giles’ Cathedral. The SWH continued its work for the duration of the war, sending out more units and raising money for the work. Remaining funds were used to establish the Elsie Inglis Memorial Maternity Hospital in Edinburgh in July 1925.

Elsie Inglis has been honoured many times since her death, most notably on a stamp in Serbia, on a Clydesdale Bank £50 note and most recently on the centenary of her death in November 2017, as seen in the fourth pic.

[uniquejellyfishqueen]

Lyle and Erik Melendez killed their parents (8/20/1989)

Gainesville Murders- Danny Rolling (8/1990) one student was from Sante Fe

Eazy E died (3/26/95)

304 days before JL died in 1996 (1/24/96)

233 days before Tupac (9/13/96)

336 days before JBR (12/25/96)

410 days before The Notorious BIG (3/9/97)

585 days before Princess Diana (8/31/97)

1981 to 1996, playwrights created an entire sub-genre of drama about AIDS. This category echoes artistic responses to other catastrophes — like the poetry of World War One, literature on the Holocaust, films about Vietnam. Following the seminal As Is and Kramer's The Normal Heart (both 1985), Broadway audiences bore witness to Craig Lucas' Prelude to a Kiss (1988), Richard Greenberg's Eastern Standard (1989), Terrence McNally's Love! Valour! Compassion! (1995), and of course Jonathan Larson's Rent (1996).

Marian Syndrome Named after Antoine Marfan, the French doctor who discovered it in 1896, Marfan syndrome is a disorder that affects the body's connective tissue, which is found everywhere in the body. Think of it as a type of "glue" that helps support all of your organs, blood vessels, bones, joints, and muscles.

Antonine- A

Marfan- M

1896:

1/28/1896 Walter Arnold, of East Peckham, Kent, England, is fined 1 shilling for speeding at 8 mph (13 km/h), exceeding the contemporary urban speed limit of 2 mph (3.2 km/h), the first speeding fine.

2/1/1896 Puccini's opera La bohème premieres in Turin, Italy

2/19/1896 Braamfontein Explosion: A train carrying 56 tons of dynamite explodes at Braamfontein, Johannesburg, killing more than 78 people

3/3/1896 Publication begins for Der Eigene, the world's first magazine with an orientation to male homosexuality, by Adolf Brand in Berlin.

4/23/1896 Blackpool Pleasure Beach, a popular English theme park ("Britain's Biggest Tourist Attraction"), is founded by Alderman William George Bean

5/18/1896 May 18 – Plessy v. Ferguson: The U.S. Supreme Court introduces the separate but equal doctrine, and upholds racial segregation.

5/27/1896 St. Louis–East St. Louis tornado: The costliest and third deadliest tornado in U.S. history levels a mile wide swath of downtown St. Louis, Missouri, incurring US$2.9 billion (1997 USD) in normalized damages, killing more than 255 and injuring over 1,000 people

6/4/1896 The Ford Quadricycle, the first vehicle developed by Henry Ford, is completed, eventually leading Ford to build the empire that "put America on wheels". (GM founded 1908)

6/18/1896 The New York Telephone Company is formed, succeeding the Metropolitan Telephone and Telegraph Company, to control telephone service within New York City.

6/28/1896 Twin Shaft disaster: An explosion in the Newton Coal Company's Twin Shaft Mine in Pittston, Pennsylvania results in a massive cave-in that kills 58 miners.

7/9/1896 William Jennings Bryan delivers his Cross of Gold speech at the Democratic National Convention, which nominates him for president of the United States.

7/21/1896 In Washington, D.C., in response to a "call to confer" issued by Josephine St. Pierre Ruffin to all women of color, the National Association of Colored Women's Clubs is organized.

7/26/1896 The International Socialist Workers and Trade Union Congress opens in London.

7/30/1896 Atlantic City rail crash: Shortly after 6:30 pm, at a crossing just west of Atlantic City, New Jersey, two trains collide, crushing five loaded passenger coaches, killing 50 and seriously injuring approximately sixty

august 1896 The 1896 Eastern North America heat wave kills 1,500 people from Chicago, Illinois to Boston, Massachusetts.

8/17/1896 Bridget Driscoll is run over by a Benz car on the grounds of The Crystal Palace, London, the world's first motoring fatality.

11/30/1896 St. Augustine Monster": A large carcass, later postulated to be the remains of a gigantic octopus, is found washed ashore near St. Augustine, Florida

12/25/1896 John Philip Sousa composes The Stars and Stripes Foreverwhich will become the national march of the United States

1896 The pharmaceutical and healthcare company Hoffmann-La Roche in Switzerland comes wholly under the control of Fritz Hoffmann-La Roche

Jonathan Larson's musical Superbia was never fully produced, but it was performed in workshops and readings and won awards. Larson was given the opportunity to develop and stage the musical in the United Kingdom through the Buxton Opera House's "Quest for New Musicals" competition, but he turned it down because he was not happy with the contract.

Larson performed a second reading of Superbia at The Public Theater in December 1991, but the reading didn't go well. The reading was scheduled on the same day as the theater's Christmas party, which started during intermission

Larson's development process for Superbia was immortalized in his autobiographical musical tick, tick … BOOM which premiered at the Jane Street Theater on 5/23/2001 revamped to the three piece…. Which was 1945 days after his death. That can also be written as 5 years 3 months and 28 days (5/13). 5/23/2001 was 111 days before 9/11. It closed on 1/6/2002

It went from a one piece solo to a three-actor piece

****uh holy shit i think this answers the burning question of who the people are that she is singing about. It's her. She is a solo three piece for all of her work. It is all fictional, and she has brought the music to life by doing what she sings about in her songs.

Solo Three Piece

S-19

T-20

P-16

1/6/2019:

At least 30 people are killed after a gold mine collapses in north-eastern Afghanistan.

The Zwicky Transient Facility in California discovers a large Atira asteroid, 2019 AQ3, an asteroid with a diameter of 1.4 kilometres (0.87 miles) that stays closer to the Sun during its orbit than any other known asteroid, passing from inside the orbit of Mercury to just outside the orbit of Venus

chancellor of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (Moscow Patriarchate) describes the granting of autocephaly on January 5 to the Orthodox Church of Ukraine as "a secular event."

1990 Marvel Movies

Captain America released on 12/14/1990 in the UK

And it was released on 7/22/1992 in the US (to direct video)

While the film takes several liberties with the comic's storyline, it features Steve Rogers becoming Captain America during World War II to battle the Red Skull, being frozen in ice, and subsequently being revived to save the President of the United States from a crime family that dislikes his environmentalist policies.

The Death Of The Incredible Hulk

Released on NBC on 2/18/1990

It was filmed in Vancouver, BC, Canada

3/3 in the series made for tv movie series.

When Scientist Dr. Ronold Pratt and his wife are kidnapped, David Banner must become The Incredible Hulk for one last time

******According to both Stan Lee and Lou Ferrigno, it was also changed because CBS thought the name Bruce sounded "too gay-ish", a rationale that Ferrigno thought was "the most absurd, ridiculous thing [he had] ever heard". On the DVD commentary of the pilot, Johnson says that it was a way to honor his son David

David Banner the rapper released his first studio album on 8/15/2000

”Get Like Me” was released as a single on 3/25/2008

Six Degrees Of Separation premiered off broadway on 5/16/1990

The play explores the existential premise that everyone in the world is connected to everyone else in the world by a chain of no more than six acquaintances, thus, "six degrees of separation".

**the invisible string theory

The play was inspired by the real-life story of David Hampton, a con man and robber who managed to convince a number of people in the 1980s that he was the son of actor Sidney Poitier (2/20/1927-1/6/2022), was a Bahamian-American actor, film director, activist, and diplomat. In 1964, he was the first Black actor and first Bahamian to win the Academy Award for Best Actor

9/11/90 Warrant released Cherry Pie.

3/19/1992 Britney Spears on Star Search, she sang “Love Can Build A Bridge”

born in 1960

Elizabeth Taylor

Julie Andrews

events that happened in 1960 and would have their 30th anniversary in 1990

1. Murderer/Writer Caryl Chessman is executed.

2. Sprite is introduced by Coca-Cola.

3. In Greensboro, North Carolina, four black students begin a sit-in at a segregated Woolworth's lunch counter. Although they are refused service, they are allowed to stay at the counter. The event triggers many similar nonviolent protests throughout the Southern United States, and 6 months later the original 4 protesters are served lunch at the same counter.

4. Joanne Woodward receives the first star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

5. After a two-year stint, Elvis Presley returns from Germany.

6. President Dwight Eisenhower signs the Civil Rights Act of 1960 into law.

7. The Beatles begin a forty-eight night engagement at the Indra Club in Hamburg, West Germany.

8. Cold War trivia: Nikita Khrushchev pounds his shoe on a table at a United Nations General Assembly meeting, protesting discussion of Soviet Union policy toward Eastern Europe.

9. The Polaris missile is test-launched.

10. "The Flintstones" who were often compared to "The Honeymooners" air on television.

11. France tests its first A Bomb in the Sahara desert.

"30/90"

(from "tick, tick... BOOM!" soundtrack)

Jonathan Larson turned 30 on 2/4/1990.

His 13th birthday was on 2/4/1973.

He turned 21 on 2/4/1981. 1981 was the first year of HIV/AIDS (6/5/1981) His birthday was 121 days prior….

1/21 is Squirrel appreciation day.

January 21:

1846 - 1st edition of Charles Dickens' "Daily News"

1903 - Harry Houdini escapes police station in Amsterdam

1903 - Wizard of Oz, premieres in New York City

1915 – Kiwanis International is founded in Detroit, Michigan.

1942 - Japanese air raid on Rabaul New Britain

1944 - 447 German bombers attack London

1949 - 1st inaugural parade televised (Harry Truman)

1954 – The first nuclear-powered submarine, the USS Nautilus, is launched in Groton, Connecticut by Mamie Eisenhower, the First Lady of the United States.

1962 - Snow falls in San Francisco

1966 - George Harrison marries Pattie Boyd in Surrey, England with Paul McCartney as best man.

1968 - Vietnam War: Battle of Khe Sanh - One of the most publicized and controversial battles of the war begins.

1977 - Italy legalizes abortion

1977 – President Jimmy Carter pardons nearly all American Vietnam War draft evaders, some of whom had emigrated to Canada.

1979 - Superbowl XIII: Pittsburgh Steelers beat Dallas Cowboys, 35-31 MVP: Terry Bradshaw, Pittsburgh's Quarterback

2001 - Limp Bizkit hits #1 on the UK singles chart with 'Rollin'

2008 – Black Monday in worldwide stock markets. FTSE 100 had its biggest ever one-day points fall, European stocks closed with their worst result since 11 September 2001, and Asian stocks drop as much as 14%.

[JON:]

Stop the clock - take time out

NFL 1990 Season: the time interval on the Play Clock (the time limit the offensive team has to snap the ball between plays) after time outs and other administrative stoppages has been reduced from 30 seconds to 25 seconds (the time interval between plays remains the same at 45 seconds)

Darryl Usher, a member of the Phoenix Cardinals in the 1989 NFL season was shot and killed on February 24, 1990, in Phoenix, Arizona at age 25 (20 days after JL 30th birthday) he was a 7th round draft pick in 1988

The 1990 Major League Baseball lockout was the seventh work stoppage in baseball and, at the time, the second-longest since 1972. Beginning in February, the lockout lasted 32 days, virtually wiping out spring training, moving Opening Day back a week to April 9 and extending the season three days to accommodate the normal 162-game schedule

In 1990, the NHL amended the icing rule to nullify the infraction if the puck touched or passed through the goal crease when the goaltender was removed for an extra attacker. 1990-91The goal lines, blue lines, defensive zone face-off circles and markings all moved one foot out from the end boards, creating 11 feet of room behind the nets and shrinking the neutral zone from 60 to 58 feet.

Time to regroup before you lose the bout

The word "bout" comes from a word that means bending or going in a circle. It can also refer to other intense periods of time, such as binging or being sick

In 1990 there were 6 notable boxing matches.

2/11/1990: Buster Douglas upsets Mike Tyson by 10th-round KO in Tokyo, to become the undisputed heavyweight champion of the world. Douglas was a 42–1 underdog

[JON & ROGER:]

Freeze the frame - back it up

‘Freeze Frame’ made for TV movie starring Shannon Doherty, Robyn Douglass, and Charles Haid. “The highly intelligent Lindsay wants to become a reporter; already in high school she works for their paper. During her inquiries she discovers a big scandal, which seems to involve even the governor candidate Reinardt. Soon she and her friends are chased by dangerous criminals, but no one believes their accusations.” This movie had a run time of 1 hour and 18 minutes. It was filmed in Indianapolis, Indiana. And it was released on 12/28/1990. (327 days after his 30th birthday)

The first known film to use freeze frame was Alfred Hitchcock’s 1928 film ‘Champagne’… Champaign, Illinois is known for being the birthplace of the world’s first web browser.

J. Geils Band ‘Freeze Frame’ released on 1/14/1982 (8 years and 21 days before JL turned 30. 8 21 is 12 8 mirrored.)

[JON:]

Time to refocus before they wrap it up

On May 21, 1990, ACT UP (AIDS Coalition to Unleash Power)protests at the National Institutes of Health (NIH), demanding more HIV treatments and the expansion of clinical trials to include more women and people of color In July 1990, the U.S. Congress enacts the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). The Act prohibits discrimination against individuals with disabilities, including people living with HIV/AIDS

Wrap it up. Like a condom?On November 17, 1991 T 8:43 pm, Fox Broadcasting Company became the first national broadcast television network to run a paid condom commercial. On Sunday, during the short-lived comedy "Herman's Head," FOX ran a 15-second spot for its Trojan Extra Strength brand.

*it's important to note that people are reporting that this ad has been wiped? This advertisement aired just 10 days after Magic Johnson announced that he was HIV positive

*Dave Chappelle “wrap it up�� skit

refocus.. like a camera?

Kodak 1990: Kay Whitmore was elected Kodak Chairman and CEO. ♦ Kodak announced the development of its Photo CD system for playing images on television screens, and proposed a worldwide standard for defining color in the digital environment of computers and computer peripherals. ♦ The KODAK PREMIER Image Enhancement System helped commercial and industrial photography labs achieve new levels of quality and productivity by combining silver-halide and electronic technologies to scan photographs, digitize the information, and then output to photographic film or paper. ♦ The company announced its first product in a new family of document management systems, providing high-speed printing capability for centralized duplicating departments. ♦ Kodak began a recycling program for one-time use cameras and also began using recycled paperboard for film boxes

**Andrew Whitmore was a character introduced in the 5th episode of the 5th season of The Vampire Diaries. He told Elena that his parents died in 1997 when he was 6 years old.

Kodak in 1997: Kodak sold the sales, marketing, and equipment service operations of its Office Imaging business and its facilities management business (formerly known as Kodak Imaging Services) to Danka Business Systems PLC. ♦ The company introduced four new KODAK GOLD Films (100, 200, 400 and Max 800 speeds) that employed COLORSHARP Technology. ♦ By February, the company had recycled more than 100 million one-time-use cameras since the program began in 1990. ♦ The KODAK Picture Network was announced, enabling people to view their photos, order reprints, and share their pictures with friends and family around the world via the Internet. ♦ In April, the company unveiled the KODAK DIGITAL SCIENCE DC120 Zoom Digital Camera, the first point-and-shoot megapixel quality digital camera under $1,000. ♦ Kodak and Sun Chemical Corporation agreed to form a joint venture, Kodak Polychrome Graphics, to supply the graphic arts market with sensitized products as well as computer-to-plate and other digital solutions. ♦ An advanced Kodak image sensor allowed NASA's Mars Rover to "see" as it moved about to explore that planet's surface.

Years are getting shorter

There are 365 days in a year 366 in a leap year.

Or is this about that we only have so much time and we continue to waste it?

Time will not slow down for anyone, and that is one of the biggest lessons we learn through life. We have to eventually catch up, we are all going at different speeds and that's another problem. People want you to go faster or slow down or come here now in 2024 it isn’t okay to take your time. But how can we when it never slows. If we take our time with something there is a chance that fear and anxiety will take over and tell you that it can never be done and that you’re not gonna achieve your goals, making you feel like you wasted time on your dream as life was passing you by. Or its the reverse, you say you’ll get to your dreams eventually and then run out of time before you ever get the chance to really live.

DST started on 4/1/1990 at 2 am

DST ended on 10/28/1990 at 2 am

Daylight Savings Time there was no federal law on this from 1945-1966

Lines on your face are getting longer

laugh lines and frown lines

Doctors began using Botox for cosmetic purposes in the 1990s, after it was originally approved for therapeutic use in 1989. Botox became a popular way to reduce the appearance of fine lines around the eyes, crow's feet, frown lines, and forehead lines.

Eleven lines Two vertical lines that appear between the eyebrows, which are more noticeable when frowning, squinting, or concentrating

Feel like you're treading water

Treading water is a swimming technique that involves moving your arms and legs in a vertical position to stay afloat in deep water. It's an important skill that can help prevent drowning and conserve energy

Did you know that the world record for treading water is 85 hours? That's about 3.5 days and was set by a 19-year-old in 1997

But the riptide's getting stronger

5/21/2013 Riptide released by Vance Joy( dob 12/1/1987 and he was born in Melbourne.) He opened for TS on the 1989 World Tour, she hand picked him after seeing his acoustic performance of this song on BBC1. He said in an interview in 2017 that the two of them had lost touch.

Riptide lyrics:

I was scared of dentists and the dark - “said her name was Georgia Rose and her daddy was a dentist.” - Best Song Ever/ One Direction

Oh, all my friends are turning green- wicked. And TS held the solid green outfit from us. Is this perhaps because she is already green.

You're the magician's assistant in their dream- “all eyes on you, my magician” So It Goes. This is also the only rep song to not be repeated if I remember correctly

There's this movie that I think you'll like

This guy decides to quit his job and heads to New York City

This cowboy's running from himself - in the hidden messages for her 5 original albums, WTNY hidden message was “We begin our story in New York”…. Also Cowboy Like Me

Closest thing to Michelle Pfeiffer that you've ever seen, oh- I mean TS is pretty damn close to catwoman at this point.

Don't panic, don't jump ship

Panic…. Like Panic At The Disco? Formed in Las Vegas in 2004. The band parted ways on 1/24/2023. Panic was on The Greatest Show soundtrack and with ‘The Greatest Show Reimagined’

Brandon Urie (DOB 4/12/1987, born in St. George, Utah) the lead singer was on the track ME! By TS which was released on 4/26/2019.

Brandon was raised in an LDS family but renounced his faith around 17 due to displeasure with the church and not believing in its ideology

ship is used in 14 songs in the TS verse:

Ship (8)- ‘Down Bad’, ‘So, Long London’, ‘Willow’, ‘Gold Rush’, ‘This Love’, ‘I Know Places’, ‘Castles Crumbling’, ‘The Best Day’

Shipwrecked (1)- ‘Evermore’

Battleships (1)- ‘My Tears Richochet’

Worship (1)- ‘Clara Bow’, ‘False God’

Showmanship (1)- ‘Robin’

Friendship (1)- ‘You’re On Your Own, Kid’

Situationship (1)- ‘Glitch’

Battleship is known worldwide as a pencil and paper game which dates from World War I. It was published by various companies as a pad-and-pencil game in the 1930s and was released as a plastic board game by Milton Bradley in 1967. The game has spawned electronic versions, video games, smart device apps and a film.

The game of Battleship is thought to have its origins in the French game L'Attaque played during World War I, although parallels have also been drawn to E. I. Horsman's 1890 game Basilinda,[1]and the game is said to have been played by Russian officers before World War I.[3] In 1907 the game playing was mentioned in the diary of Russian poet Ryurik Ivnev.[4] The first commercial version of the game was Salvo, published in 1931 in the United States by the Starex company. Other versions of the game were printed in the 1930s and 1940s, including the Strathmore Company's Combat: The Battleship Game, Milton Bradley's Broadsides: A Game of Naval Strategy and Maurice L. Freedman's Warfare Naval Combat. Strategy Games Co. produced a version called Wings which pictured planes flying over the Los Angeles Coliseum. All of these early editions of the game consisted of pre-printed pads of paper

Battleship was one of the earliest games to be produced as a computer game, with a version being released for the Z80 Compucolor in 1979.

Battleship directed by Peter Berg was released on 4/3/2012 in Tokyo and on 5/18/20012 in the United States. Filming took place on the USS Missouri and in Hawaii. “A fleet of ships is forced to do battle with an armada of unknown origins in order to discover and thwart their destructive goals.”

Ship as is The RMS Titanic?

Ordered: 9/17/1908

Laid Down: 3/31/1909

Launched: 5/31/1911

Completed: 4/2/1912

8 days later…. Are they sure they built it right??

Maiden Voyage: 4/10/1912 shortly after 12 pm noon. Set sail from Southampton, England to New York.

April 10, 1912, 6:30 p.m. - Arrival in Cherbourg, France

April 10, 1912, 8:10 p.m. - Leaves Cherbourg.

April 11, 1912, 11:30 a.m. - Arrival in Queenstown, Ireland.

April 11, 1912, 1:30 p.m. - Leaves Queenstown, raising anchor for the last time.

Fate: Struck an iceberg at 11:40 pm (ship's time) 14 April 1912 on her maiden voyage and sank 2 h 40 min later on 15 April 1912; 112 years ago

*the wreckage is about 350 miles off the southeast coast of Newfoundland

Cause: the iceberg punctured 5 of 16 supposedly watertight compartments designed to hold water in case of a breach to the hull.

There were 329 1st class passengers aboard. 199 survived.

There were 285 2nd class passengers aboard. 119 survived.

There were 710 3rd class passengers aboard. 174 survived.

There were 899 crew members aboard. 214 survived.

**Captain Edward Smith went down with the ship and his body was never recovered.

**May 31, 2009 - The last known survivor, Millvina Dean, dies at age 97.

May 18, 2020 - A judge rules that RMS Titanic Inc. can salvage the radio the Titanic used to call for help.

Can't fight it, like taxes

"Can't fight it" means that someone is unable to resist or oppose something, implying that they have no choice but to accept a situation or feeling because they cannot control it; essentially, it means "it's inevitable" or "I have to give in."

At least it happens only once in your life

They're singing, "Happy Birthday"

Happy Birthday To You published in 1893 by Patty Hill and Mildred J Hill. The song is in the public domain in the United States and the European Union. Warner Chappell Music had previously claimed copyright on the song in the US and collected licensing fees for its use; in 2015, the copyright claim was declared invalid and Warner Chappell agreed to pay back $14 million in licensing fees.Warner claimed that the United States copyright would not expire until 2030 and that unauthorized public performances of the song were illegal unless royalties were paid. In February 2010, the royalty for a single use was US$700.[12] By one estimate, the song is the highest-earning single song in history

One of the most famous performances of "Happy Birthday to You" was Marilyn Monroe's rendition to US President John F. Kennedy on May 19 1962 at a gala held at Madison Square Garden for his 45th birthday, 10 days before the actual date (May 29).

She continued the song with a snippet from the classic 1938 song, "Thanks for the Memory", for which she had written new lyrics specifically aimed at Kennedy.

Thanks, Mr. President

For all the things you've done

The battles that you've won

The way you deal with U.S. Steel

And our problems by the ton

We thank you so much

-Monroe attended the event during the production of Something's Got to Give, resulting in her receiving a hand-delivered note stating that she had violated her contract with 20th Century Fox and eventual firing in June 1962 this would be one of the last major public appearances by Monroe before her death on 8/4/1962 which was 77 days later.

*Something’s Gotta Give is a song by LeAnn Rimes and it was released as the 3rd single from her 7th studio album. It was released on 12/12/2005. The label used was Asylum-club.

You just want to lay down and cry

”I’m so depressed I act like its my birthday, everyday” ICDIWABH

Not just another birthday, it's 30/90

The difference between 30 and 90 is 60. Like 1960 the year JL was born?

1960: The Civil Rights Movement

The Counterculture

JFK created the peace corps

Why can't you stay 29

In 1929 the Wall Street Crash of 29 marked the end of the roaring twenties and the beginning of the Great Depression which lasted until 1939.

Hell, you still feel like you're 22

this would be a 7 year difference

1922 was 38 years before 1990

1922:

WJAX: Began broadcasting in Cleveland later in 1922

WGY: Began broadcasting on February 20, 1922

KDKA: The first commercially licensed radio station in the world, broadcasting from Pittsburgh on November 2, 1920. KDKA broadcast the 1920 World Series and the Harding-Cox presidential election

WWJ: A Detroit station that began broadcasting in 1920 and considers itself the "Pioneer Broadcasting Station

The first AM radio station was launched, and the BBC was formed on 10/18/1922.. it evolved to what it is known as now on New Years Day 1927

Benito Mussolini's Fascist Party took control of the Italian government, and Mohandas Gandhi was arrested for sedition

The Lincoln Memorial was completed in Washington, D.C., and construction of Yankee Stadium began in the Bronx

Insulin was introduced to treat diabetes, and Einstein won the Nobel Prize in Physics

Louis Armstrong's train trip from New Orleans to Chicago marked the beginning of modern jazz

22 is the fourth single from TS ‘Red’ it was released on 3/12/2013. The music video premiered on 3/13/2013. ‘Red’ was released on 10/22/2012.

Before the release of Red on August 13, 2012, Swift performed an acoustic rendition of "22" for her "YouTube Webchat" in Nashville. It was later included on the set list to Swift's private concert held on a péniche on the Seine on January 28, 2013.

Her first televised performance of "22" was on May 19, 2013, at the Billboard Music Awards

Turn thirty 1990

30th day of the year 1/30/90

1/30/1990:

LA center Wayne Gretzky sets NHL record by scoring his 100th point of the season for the 11th straight season; milestone comes with an assist in a 5-2 Kings' win over visiting New Jersey Devils

Jake Thomas born in Knoxville, TN. He played the younger brother on Lizzie McGuire.

oh how interesting that the 1st McDonalds opened in the Soviet Union in Moscow on 1/31/1990 the same day that the first ever all-sports daily “National” began publishing. Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson, and Patrick Ewing were on the first cover to represent Chicago, LA, and NYC media markets. It ceased publication on 6/13/1991, on its final issue with its front cover reading “We Had A Ball: The Fat Lady sings our song”. -> ummm like the Fat Lady portrait to get into the Gryffindor common room? Because Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone was originally published on 6/26/1997

Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone the film was released on 11/16/2001

George H. W. Bush the 41st president of the United States on 1/31/1990 at 9pm…

Bang! You're dead,

Alfred Hitchcock presents: Bang! You’re Dead. The episode aired on 10/17/1961 (10/17/72 is Eminem’s birthday, 11 years after this premiered) A 5-year-old boy finds his uncle's revolver, partially loads it with bullets, and plays with it in public, unaware of its deadly power “Rick Sheffield visits his brother and sister-in-law after a lengthy absence living in Africa. His nephew Jackie unpacks his suitcase and finds a revolver. Jackie and his friends are always playing with their toy guns and Jackie goes around town, pointing the gun and pulling the trigger, oblivious to the fact that there is a live round in the chamber. When his parents and uncle realize he has the gun, they set off on a frantic search but not before he fires at someone”

What can you do?

“Ask not what your country can do for you—ask what you can do for your country” is a line from John F. Kennedy's inaugural address, which he gave on January 20, 1961. The line is an example of antithesis, a rhetorical device that uses parallel opposition to set off two ideas. Kennedy's speech was a sensation, inspiring Americans to contribute to the public good and civic action. He believed that democracy thrives when citizens contribute their talents, and that leaders should inspire citizens to sacrifice. The speech also included a call for peace, a celebration of freedom, and a warning against nuclear threats

What can you do?

What can you do?

“My fellow citizens of the world: ask not what America will do for you, but what together we can do for the freedom of man” JFK inaugural address.

[ROGER:]

Clear the runway - make another pass

VS Founded 6/12/1977

HQ in Reynoldsburg, OH

The first Victoria's Secret Fashion Show was held in August 1995 at the Plaza Hotel in New York City. The show was the brainchild of Leslie Wexner and Ed Razek, the CMO of L Brands at the time. (*JL was 34 at the time of this first show)

The show was a risky move for the retailer, but it paid off and helped make lingerie mainstream. The show became a yearly event that was one of the most-watched and attended off-calendar fashion events. The show's production value increased over the years, with bigger wings, more expensive lingerie, and more famous musical acts. Some of the most famous models to walk the show include Tyra Banks, Gisele Bündchen, and Heidi Klum.

The show was discontinued in 2019 due to concerns about a lack of diversity, declining ratings, and public criticism. However, the show returned in 2024

TS performed at the 2013 (18th show) and the 2014 (19th show) VS Fashion Show.

In 2002, Victoria's Secret announced the launch of PINK, a brand that was aimed at teenagers and young women. Starting in 2008, Victoria's Secret expanded internationally, with retail outlets within international airports, franchises in major cities overseas, and company-owned stores throughout Canada and the UK.

The NFL was founded on 9/17/1920 in Canton, OH

Commissioner: Roger Goodell since 9/1/2006, prior to him was Paul Tagliabue who served as the NFL commissioner from 1989 to 2006. Tagliabue was an American lawyer who previously worked for the NFL. During his time as commissioner, he oversaw many league issues, including television contracts, players union-management agreements, and league expansion.

Number of teams: 32 (JL turned 32 in 1992)

Team with most titles: Green Bay Packers

HQ: 345 Park Avenue, New York City

Try one more approach before you're out of gas

the average price of gas in 1990 was $1.15

On December 29, 1990, a gas line ruptured in a building in Brooklyn, causing a powerful explosion that injured 14 people and left at least 16 families unable to stay in their apartments.

On March 13, 1990, a liquid propane line exploded in North Blenheim, New York, causing a fire disaster

The Piper Alpha disaster in the North Sea on July 6 & 7, 1988 is considered one of the worst oil rig disasters in history: 167 people died, including 165 crew members and two rescuers.A communication error led to a gas leak and fire that damaged the control room and made it impossible to put out the flames. The automatic fire-fighting systems had also been turned off during maintenance.At the time of the disaster, the Piper Alpha was the world's largest oil producer and accounted for about 10% of North Sea oil and gas production. One of the oil fields was called Tartan (Like the TS in yellow Tartan plaid?)

A drilling ship capsized in Typhoon Gay in November 1989, killing 91 of the 97 crew members

[JON:]

Friends are getting fatter

The Coronary Artery Risk Development in Young Adults (CARDIA) study

This study examined weight gain and overweight in the United States from 1985–1986 to 1995–1996

Friends premiered on 9/22/1994

The final episode was on 5/6/2004 it was watched by around 52.5 million American Viewers making it the 5th most watched series finale in tv history.

The show ran for 10 seasons, 236 episodes, and 1 special.

The theme song was “I’ll Be There For You” by The Rembrandts which earned $5 million in Royalties.

The song was released on 5/23/1995 (247 days before JL death 247 equals 13)

The creators were Martha Kauffman and David Crane (the Kauffman clock…. And a paper crane?)

The Friends Reunion Special aired on HBO Max on 5/27/2021. This was 17 years and 21 days from the finale 1+7=8 2+1=3 (8/3?)

Matthew Perry passed away 2 years 5 months and 1 day later (8)

Monica was also known as “Fat Monica”..The Friends episode where Monica is still fat is titled "The One That Could Have Been, Part 1" and aired on February 17, 2000. In this non-canon episode, the gang imagines what their lives would be like if things had gone differently.Monica is still fat, and the episode also features Joey still on Days of our Lives, Ross and Carol still married, and Chandler a comic writer

In another episode, "The One With All the Thanksgivings", which aired on 11/19/1998. Monica gets revenge on Chandler for making fun of her weight by losing weight and becoming attractive. In this episode, Monica and Rachel are in high school and Monica is overweight. Chandler overhears Monica and Rachel and tells Monica she should become a chef. Monica later loses weight and Chandler finds her attractive. When Monica comes by his apartment seeking his forgiveness by putting a turkey on her head, she entertains him by putting a fez and a pair of large sunglasses on the turkey and does a funny dance for him. He is so amused that he inadvertently tells her he loves her for the first time in their relationship. He nervously tries to deny it and Monica ends up scaring Joey when he arrives at the door.

A tag scene shows another of Phoebe's past life memories as she serves in a World War I field hospital in 1915 and again loses an arm. (Like the reputation bodysuit only had one arm and leg covered?)

Hairs on your head are getting thinner

In the mid-1990s, follicular unit transplantation was introduced, which is a technique that involves removing a strip of scalp and dividing it into tiny grafts. This procedure is still used today, but it is not always successful and is expensive and time-intensive

Some older HIV medications, like Crixivan, Atripla, and AZT, caused hair loss as a side effect

Feel like a cleanup batter

Fourth batter in the line up, the one with the most power and ability to drive in runs

Eddie Murray, nicknamed “Steady Eddie” has the most plate appearances as a cleanup hitter with 8775.

He was born on 2/24/1956 and had his MLB debut on 4/7/1977 for the Baltimore Orioles. His last appearance was on 9/20/1997 for the LA Dodgers.

He was elected to the Baseball HOF in 2003 in his first year of eligibility.

*The Baseball HOF is in Cooperstown NY. It was dedicated on 6/12/1939. The Hall of Fame was established in 1939 by Stephen Carlton Clark, an heir to the Singer Sewing Machine fortune. His granddaughter, Jane Forbes Clark, is the current chairman of the board of directors

**the sewing machine in her fortnight challenge.

On a team that ain't a winner?

The 1899 Cleveland Spiders own the worst single season record of all time and for all eras finishing at 20-134

On August 23, 1989, as punishment for betting on baseball, Cincinnati Reds manager Pete Rose accepts a settlement that includes a lifetime ban from the game. The ban is publicly announced the following morning

[ROGER:]

Don't freak out, don't strike out

Nolan Ryan had 232 strikeouts in 1990 also this was the most in history to that point. *His record of 5,714 strikeouts is considered unbreakable.

No pitcher has had 250 strikeouts in one season since 2004.

Nolan Ryan had a 27 year playing career. He played for: The Mets, California Angels, Houston Astros, and Texas Rangers. His MLB Debut was on 9/11/1966 and his last appearance was on 9/22/1993. After his retirement in 1993, Ryan served as chief executive officer (CEO) of the Texas Rangers and an executive advisor to the Houston Astros. He was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1999 in his first year of eligibility, and is widely considered to be one of the greatest pitchers of all time.

On 5/17/2013 His son Reid was announced as president of the Houston Astros. - On January 13, 2020, Manfred announced the results of the investigation, confirming that the Astros had illegally used a video camera system to steal signs in the 2017 regular season and postseason, and in parts of the 2018 regular season. Only hours after MLB announced its findings, Astros owner Jim Crane fired Luhnow and Hinch, saying, "Neither one of them started this but neither one of them did anything about it."

Can't fight it, like City Hall

On 2/16/1996 the movie City Hall was released. Its plot was: The accidental shooting of a boy in New York leads to an investigation by the Deputy Mayor, and unexpectedly far-reaching consequences.

Al Pacino as Mayor John Pappas, John Cusack, and Bridget Fonda starred in the film.

*To help prepare for his role, Al Pacino spent time with then-New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani and former Mayors Ed Koch and David Dinkins.

filming locations were Teaneck, New Jersey

6/20/1990 Mayor David N. Dinkins presented Nelson Mandela with the key to the city during a reception at City Hall

6/21/1990 Nelson Mandela Town Hall interview

[JON:]

At least you're not alone

Your friends are there too

They're singing, "Happy Birthday"

December 25 is the rarest birthday of all birthdays.

That’s not to say it doesn’t happen…

Isaac Newton: Born on December 25, 1642, according to the Julian calendar used in England at the time. However, his birthday was changed to January 4 after England switched to the Gregorian calendar in 1752

Annie Lennox: Born on Christmas Day in 1954, Lennox is a former member of the 80s band the Eurythmics. She is also an activist for female empowerment

Justin Trudeau: Born on Christmas Day in 1971, Trudeau is the second youngest prime minister in Canadian history

Clara Barton: Nurse and founder of the Red Cross

Humphrey Bogart: Actor.

Cab Calloway: Band leader

Rod Serling: TV producer

Jimmy Buffett: Singer

Rickey Henderson: MLB stolen base leader (65).

Alannah Myles

Anne Spielberg

Dido

Hailie Jade Mathers

Louis Chevrolet

Sissy Spacek

Thelma Stefani

[JON & MICHAEL:]

You just wish you could run away

Runaway was the first single off of Bon Jovi, it was released as a single in February of 1984. The album was released on 1/23/1984

Since the early 1990s, it has been the only song from the band's first two albums to be performed on a regular basis

[JON:]

Who cares about a birthday? But

[JON & MICHAEL:]

30/90, hey

“90-90-90" and "95-95-95" are both targets used in HIV prevention and treatment, with the key difference being that "95-95-95" represents a more ambitious goal, aiming for a higher percentage of people living with HIV to know their status, be on treatment, and achieve viral suppression compared to the "90-90-90" target; essentially, "95-95-95" aims to reach 95% at each stage, while "90-90-90" aims for 90% at each stage

H- 8

E- 5

Y- 25

8/5/2025? National Oyster Day

8+5=13

8+5+2+2+5=22

1322

Waverley Lodge 1322 was consecrated on the 24th September 1870. On the 30th September 2021 The Deputy Provincial Grand Master, The Very Worshipful Brother John F. Farrington, accompanied by a Provincial Delegation were in attendance to celebrate the Lodge having been in existence for 150 years. However, it was not until 1960 – only 46 years ago – and 134 years after its first mention that the Province of East Lancashire with the area that it covers and as we know it today was formally established.

Bro Blair ‘dedicated to the purposes of Freemasonry’ the Manchester Freemasons Hall, Cooper Street on 2nd November 1864.

Bro Blair’s successor to the office of Provincial Grand Master was Colonel Le Gendre Nicholas Starkie whose term of office began in 1870

Lancashire is a ceremonial county in North West England It is bordered by Cumbria to the north, North Yorkshire and West Yorkshire to the east, Greater Manchester and Merseyside to the south, and the Irish Sea to the west. The city of Preston is the largest settlement.

8/5 in history:

1100 - Henry I is crowned King of England in Westminster Abbey

1305 - William Wallace, who led the Scottish resistance against England is captured near Glasgow and taken to London where he is put on trial and executed.

1583 - Sir Humphrey Gilbert claims Newfoundland for the British crown and establishes the first English colony in North America

1861 - The United States Army abolishes flogging

1861 - The US levies it's 1st Income tax as part of the Revenue Act of 1861 (3% of all income over $800)

1882 - The Standard Oil of New Jersey is established

1884 - The cornerstone for the Statue of Liberty is laid on Bedloe's Island in New York Harbor (now called Liberty Island)

1891 - American Express issues their 1st travelers checks

1914 - In the USA, the first electric traffic light is installed in Cleveland, Ohio

1926 - Harry Houdini stays in a sealed tank underwater 91 minutes before escaping

1930- Neil Armstrong born

1948- The Cleveland Indians with 6 double plays set the record for most double plays in a game

1949 - A 6.75 earthquake hits Ecuador and destroys 50 towns and kills more than 6,000

1957- American Bandstand debuts

1962- Marilyn Monroe died

1963 - The United States, the Soviet Union and the United Kingdom sign a nuclear test ban treaty

1964 - The U.S. begin bombing North Vietnam in retaliation for strikes against U.S. destroyers in the Gulf of Tonkin.

1969- The Beatles record Because and The End

1975- Stevie Wonder signs a $13 million contract with Mowtown to record albums for seven years

1978- Miss You by The Rolling Stones hits #1

1980- The Osmonds officially disband

1981- Olivia Newton-John receives a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame

1981 - U.S. President Ronald Regan fires 11,359 striking air traffic controllers

1984- Richard Burton died

1989- Right Here Waiting by Richard Marx hits #1

1991- Soichiro Honda died

2015 - The US EPA releases 3 million gallons of heavy metal toxin tailings and waste water into the Animas River in Colorado.

[JON:]

Can you be optimistic?

CYBO….COBY….like Kobe

C-3

K-12

E-5

Y-25

[JON & MICHAEL:]

You're no longer the ingénue

George H. W. Bush State of the Union speech 1990: Let me tell you, if we ignore human capital, if we lose the spirit of American ingenuity, the spirit that is the hallmark of the American worker, that would be bad. The American worker is the most productive worker in the world. Like the General Motors workers?

Turn thirty, 1990

[JON:]

Boom! You're passé

[JON & MICHAEL:]

What can you do?

much remains to be done — for AIDS victims and for gay rights, since the two are still inextricable

[JON:]

What can you do?

What can you do?

[ROGER & KARESSA & CUSTOMERS:]

Peter Pan and Tinkerbell Ahhh

Robert James a sculptor in the UK has made a Peter Pan and Tinkerbell bronze garden statue (thanK you aIMee)

Tinkerbell- At first only a supporting character described by her creator as "a common fairy", her animated incarnation was a hit and has since become a widely recognized unofficial mascot of The Walt Disney Company, next to the official mascot of Mickey Mouse.

The extremes in her personality are explained in the story by the fact that a fairy's size prevents her from holding more than one feeling at a time, so when she is angry she has no counterbalancing compassion

June 2006- August 2019: In the Andy Weir and Sarah Andersen Cheshire Crossing series, Tinker "Tink" Bell firstly appears alongside Peter as they attempt to rescue captured fairies from Captain Hook and the Wicked Witch of the West, with Peter being captured and Tink fleeing to get Wendy's help, alongside that of Dorothy Gale and Alice Liddell, providing the latter two with fairy dust to fly. Later, after Dorothy is captured, Tink frees her and goes to Castle West to warn Jack the Knave of Hearts of the incoming flying pirate ship, preventing the Cheshire Cat from eating her when they attempt to do so. Later, after the Witch defeats Mary Poppins in battle, Tink lends Poppins her power against the Witch as Poppins utters "Say hello to my little friend!", leaving them evenly matched. Later, after the Witch has been defeated, Alice places Peter (now shrunken to Tink's size and having matured due to consuming size-altering berries in Wonderland) next to Tink, having recognized her as being in love with him, and after being complimented by Peter as to her appearance, the pair kiss.

A bronze sculpture of Tinker Bell by London artist Diarmuid Byron O'Connor was commissioned by Great Ormond Street Hospital, to whom Barrie bequeathed the copyright to the character, to be added to his original four-foot statue of Peter Pan, wresting a thimble from Peter's finger. The figure has a 9.5 in (240 mm) wingspan and is 7 in (180 mm) tall. She was unveiled on 29 September 2005 by Sophie, Countess of Wessex.

Which way to Never Never Land? Ahhh

Neverland is a fictional island featured in the works of J. M. Barrieand those based on them. It is an imaginary faraway place where Peter Pan, Tinker Bell, Captain Hook, the Lost Boys, and some other imaginary beings and creatures live.

its best-known resident famously refused to grow up. Thus, the term is often used as a metaphor for eternal childhood(and childishness), as well as immortality and escapism.

The concept was first introduced as "the Never Never Land" in Barrie's West End theatre play Peter Pan, or The Boy Who Wouldn't Grow Up, first staged in 1904. In the earliest drafts of the play, the island was called "Peter's Never Never Never Land", a name possibly influenced by the 'Never Never', a contemporary term for outback Australia. In the 1928 published version of the play's script, the name was shortened to "the Never Land". Although the caption to one of F. D. Bedford's illustrations also calls it "The Never Never Land", Barrie's 1911 novelisation Peter and Wendy simply refers to it as "the Neverland," and its many variations "the Neverlands

The novel says that the Neverlands are compact enough that adventures are never far between, and that a map of a child's mind would resemble a map of Neverland, with no boundaries at all

Peter—who is described as saying "anything that came into his head"—tells Wendy the way to Neverland is "second to the right, and straight on till morning." In the novel, the children are said to have found the island only because it was "out looking for them."

In Barrie's Peter Pan in Kensington Gardens (1906), a proto-version of Neverland, located in the Serpentine in Kensington Gardens, is called the Birds' Island, where baby Peter reaches by flight, or by sailing in a paper boat or thrush's nest.

Walt Disney's 1953 Peter Pan adds a "star" to Peter's directions: "second star to the right, and straight on till morning."

In Peter Pan in Scarlet (2006), by Geraldine McCaughrean, Neverland is located in waters known as the 'Sea of One Thousand Islands'. The children get to the island by flying on a road called the High Way

In Peter David's 2009 novel Tigerheart, Neverland is renamed the Anyplace and is described as being both a physical place and a dream land where human adults and children go when they dream. Additionally, there is a location called the Noplace which is cold and devoid of colour where people in a coma and those who are "lost" live.

In the 2011 miniseries Neverland, inspired by Barrie's works, the titular place is said to be another planet existing at the centre of the universe. It is accessible only via a magic portal generated by a strange sphere. In the 2015 American film Pan, Neverland is a floating island in a sky-like dimension.

The passage of time in Neverland is similarly ambiguous. The novel Peter and Wendy mentions that in Neverland there are many more suns and moons than on the Mainland, making time difficult to track.[2] One way to tell the time is to find the crocodile, and wait until the clock inside it strikes the hour.[3] Although Neverland is widely thought of as a place where children don't grow up, Barrie wrote that the Lost Boys eventually do grow up, having to leave, and fairies there lived typically short lifespans. [citation needed]

In Peter Pan in Scarlet (2006), by Geraldine McCaughrean, time freezes as soon as the children arrived in Neverland. In the 2011 miniseries Neverland, in which Neverland is said to be another planet entirely, time has frozen due to external cosmic forces converging on the planet, preventing anyone living there from ageing

Emerald City's gone to hell

Since the wizard

Located in the center of the Land of Oz, the Emerald City is the end of the famous yellow brick road, which begins in Munchkin Country. In the center of the Emerald City is the Royal Palace of Oz. The Oz books generally describe the city as being built of green glass, emeralds, and other jewels.

In the earlier books, it was described as completely green. However, in later works, green was merely the predominant color while buildings were also decorated with gold, and people added other colors to their costumes

Baum may have been partly inspired in his creation of the Emerald City by the World Columbian Exposition of 1893, nicknamed the "White City,"[10] which he visited frequently, having moved to Chicago in anticipation of the event. W. W. Denslow, who illustrated the original Oz book, also incorporated elements that may have been inspired by the White City.[11] Denslow was familiar with the exposition as he had been hired to sketch and document it for the Chicago Times. Likewise, the quick building of the real-life White City, in less than a year, may have contributed to the quick construction of the Emerald City in the first book.[4]

Others believe Baum may have based his description of the city on the Hotel del Coronado, where he supposedly did much of his writing

Scholars who interpret The Wonderful Wizard of Oz as a political allegory see the Emerald City as a metaphor for Washington, D.C., and unsecured "greenback" paper money. In this reading of the book, the city's illusory splendor and value are compared with the value of fiat money, which also has value only because of a shared illusion or convention. Here, Dorothy gains entry to the Emerald City (Washington, D.C.) wearing the witch's silver slippers (the silver standard) and taking the Yellow Brick Road (the gold standard). There, she met the Wizard (President William McKinley), whose power was eventually revealed to be an illusion.

More recently it has been speculated that the name “Emerald City” may be referring to the city of Seattle, Washington. This is incorrect as the American city gained its “Emerald City” nickname in 1982,[16] over 80 years after the publication of Baum's first book

Seattle is known for:

The Space Needle built in 1962 (on 4/19/1999 it became a historical landmark)

Oysters

Seattle Great Wheel

Chihuly Garden and Glass

Its first real sushi bar opened at Maneki in 1969

Starbucks first opened its doors on 3/30/1971 at Pike Place Market, Elliott Bay, Seattle, WA

Founders: Jerry Baldwin

Zev Siegl

Gordon Bowker

Chairman & CEO: Brian Niccol

Chairman: Howard Schultz

Locations: 40,1099

Sleepless in Seattle released on 6/25/1993:

After the death of his wife, Sam Baldwin (Tom Hanks) moves to Seattle with his son, Jonah (Ross Malinger). When Jonah calls in to a talk-radio program to find a new wife for his father, Sam grudgingly gets on the line to discuss his feelings. Annie Reed (Meg Ryan), a reporter in Baltimore, hears Sam speak and falls for him, even though she is engaged. Unsure where it will lead, she writes Sam a letter asking him to meet her at the Empire State Building on Valentine's Day.

*It was adapted from An Affair To Remember which was released on 7/19/1957. Which was a remake of Love Affair which was released on 4/7/1939, This was written by Mildred Cram who was born on 10/17/1889 (83 years before Marshall)

HISTORY REPEATS ITSELF. THEY WEREN’T KIDDING

[JON & ROGER & KARESSA:]

Blew off his command

The 41st President from 1989-1993 was George H. W. Bush (DOB 6/12/1924 DOD 11/30/2018) Houston, TX

The 42nd President from 1993-2001 was Bill Clinton (DOB 8/19/1946) Hope, AR

The 43rd President from 2001-2008 was George W. Bush (DOB 7/6/1946) New Haven, CT

[JON:]

On the streets you hear the voices

Lost children, crocodiles

But you're not into

Making choices, wicked witches,

Poppy fields, or men behind the curtain

Tiger lilies, ruby slippers

[JON & ALL:]

Clock is ticking, that's for certain

[JON:]

They're singing, "Happy Birthday"

[JON & ROGER & KARESSA:]

I just wish it all were a dream Happy birthday

It feels much more like doomsday

The Doomsday Clock

The Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists' Doomsday Clock is set by a board of experts and scientists every year. In 2024, the clock was set at 90 seconds to midnight, the closest it has ever been to midnight. The Bulletin cited a number of factors, including the war in Ukraine, the risk of nuclear escalation, and the climate crisis

Nostradamus

The French psychic predicted that 2024 would see a climate apocalypse, war with China, and the abdication of King Charles. One of his predictions came true when a powerful earthquake struck Japan on New Year's Day, 2024

2/13/1925

Margaret Rowen: According to this seventh day Adventist, the angel Gabriel came to her in a vision and told her that the world would end on this date

4/22/1959

Florence Houteff: The second prophet of the Branch Davidians predicted the apocalypse foretold in the Book of Revelationwould proceed on this date. The failure of the prophecy led to the split of the sect into several subsects, the most prominent led by Benjamin and Lois Roden.

1967

Jim Jones: The founder of the People's Temple stated he had visions that a nuclear holocaust was to take place in 1967

Fuck

[ALL:]

30/90

GEForce RTX 3090 Family- highly recommended for gaming or mining.

1930 (60 years before 1990)

The discovery of Pluto

Construction of the Hoover Dam

CBS broadcast the New York Philharmonic live over the radio for the first time.

The Motion Picture Production Code was established

Sinclair Lewis became the first American to win the Nobel Prize for Literature.

The United States, Japan, and the United Kingdom signed the London Naval Treaty to regulate submarine warfare and limit naval shipbuilding, the process of constructing ships and other floating vessels, typically in a specialized facility called a shipyard.

[JON:]

Seems like I'm in for a twister

Twister was released on 5/10/1996 . It had a run time of 113 minutes. Filming took place in Oklahoma.

*Oklahoma School Board Meeting 1/17/2025

TS has perfomed “Change” twice in Oklahoma. The two performances were 367 days apart. The 367 area code is for Quebec, Canada. Other cities in the area code include Saguenay, Lévis, Rimouski, Saint-Georges, Alma, Thetford Mines, Sept-Îles, Baie-Comeau, and Rivière-du-Loup. The 763 area code northwestern suburbs of Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minnesota cities like Brooklyn Park, Maple Grove, and Plymouth

#21 performance of ‘Change” 9/25/2008 BOK Center, Tulsa, OK

#81 performance of ‘Change’ 9/27/2009 BOK Center, Tulsa, OK

TS visited Oklahoma on 3/6 tours. (Fearless, Speak Now, Red)

Texas Twister (I got stuck upside down on this ride in 2007 I was 14.) was a HUSS Top Spin located at the now defunct Six Flags Worlds of Adventure park in Aurora, Ohio. The ride would operate from 1993 to September 16, 2007 (TS was on tour with Brad Paisely they did not have a show this day.) when the park closed altogether. In 1993, Funtime Incorporated, the owners of the Geauga Lake park, opened a first-of-its-kind attraction in North America. This attraction would be a Top Spin manufactured by the German company HUSS. The ride would continue to operate with the same name throughout the parks history. It would operate throughout the Premier Parks, Six Flags, and Cedar Fair ownerships of the park. On September 21, 2007 (Ts was with Brad Paisely and Rodney Atkins in Tampa, FL @ the MIDFLORIDA Credit Union), Cedar Fair announced the ride's park would close, only operating the water park on the opposing side of the lake. Texas Twister was not demolished, but relocated to California's Great America where it would open as Firefall for the 2008 season. The ride would later be closed and demolished on October 30, 2016 due to Top Spins being discontinued.

*in 1997 a 14 year old girl had an asthma attack and died at Geauga Lake before it became part of the Six Flags Franchise

California Great America

4701 Great America Parkway Santa Clara, CA

Opened: 5/20/1976

Owner: Prologis

General Manager: Barbara-Lea Granter

Acres: 112

Attractions: 42

Rollercoasters: 9

Water Rides: 2

Ownership of the park transitioned several times, beginning with the city of Santa Clara's acquisition from Marriott in 1985. It was then sold to Kings Entertainment Company in 1989, while Santa Clara retained ownership of the land. Paramount Parks acquired the park in 1992, followed by Cedar Fair in 2006. Santa Clara eventually sold the land occupied by the park to then-owner Cedar Fair in 2019, who then sold it to Prologis in 2022. While its current owner, Six Flags, plans to eventually close the park by 2033, the land rental agreement is a six-year lease through 2028 that gives Prologis the option of extending it another five years

The park made appearances in the 1994 films Beverly Hills Cop III and Getting Even with Dad.

*this park has had 5 deaths

[ROGER & KARESSA:]

I don't see a rainbow, do you? Ah, ah

Reading Rainbow was released on 7/11/1983 and had its final episode on 11/10/2006. It had 21 seasons and 155 episodes. Each episode had a 30 minute run time. During its 26 year run the show won 250 awards including 25 Emmys, it was the most watched PBS show in the classrooms.

[ALL:]

Turn 30 in the 90's

[JON:]

Into my hands now

The ball has passed

Scream - Troy Boulton HSM3

“Voices in my head tell me they know best

Got me on the edge

They're pushin', pushin', they're pushin'

I know they've got a plan, but the ball's in my hands

This time, it's man to man

I'm drivin', fightin' inside a world that's upside down”

I want the spoils, but not too fast

Jason Aldean released his 6th studio album on 10/7/2014

”Too Fast” is track 8, this song was written by Chris Stapleton and Lee Thomas Miller.

“The Spoils” is a single by British group Massive Attack released on 7/29/2014, this song features Mazzy Star singer Hope Sandoval which is her third collaboration with the band after “Paradise Circus”

3/1/2024 The Spoils, an Indian Film

”An elderly homeless man who saves a transgender woman from some attackers is taken home by her and her friend. The bond between the three starts building and one day the man was found missing. The two friends start to search for him and they find that their journey is a story about hunger, freedom and rights”

Spoils Defintions:

Diminish or destroy the value or quality

Synonyms: Mar, damage, impair, blemish, disfigure, blight, flaw, deface.

Harm the character of someone especially a child by being too lenient or indulgent.

Synonyms: overindulge, pamper, mollycoddle, cosset, coddle

Goods stolen or taken forcibly from someone from a person or place

Synonyms: booty, loot, plunder, haul

Waste material brought up during the course of an excavation or a dredging or mining operation.

****Diana, Princess of Wales's landmine walk in Angola on 15 January 1997. It had a far-reaching impact, triggering a worldwide conversation that saw a turning point in the fight against the lethal devices

Princess Diana's last official engagement before her death was a visit to Bosnia on August 8-10, 1997 to meet with landmine victims. The trip was part of her campaign to raise awareness of landmines and their devastating effects on people. She would die in Paris 21 days later. Diana's visit to Bosnia led to increased funding for demining projects and the creation of the Ottawa Treaty in 1999. The treaty aimed to eliminate the use, production, stockpiling, and transfer of anti-personnel landmines.

The release of TS “Mine” was on 8/4/2010 and it was the lead single from her third studio album Speak Now. She revealed that she wrote the song during her Fearless Tour in Texas:

San Antonio Stock Show 2/10/2009 (Change played)

Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo 3/20/209 (Change played)

Dallas, American Airlines Center 9/25/2009

Austin 3/10/2010

Dallas, American Airlines Center 3/11/2010

Corpus Christi, American Bank Center Arena 3/12/2010

Houston, Toyota Center 5/21 and 5/22/2010

[ROGER & KARESSA:]

The world is calling Ahhhh

The world is calling" means that there is a significant need or opportunity in the world that is urging you to take action, to contribute your skills or talents to make a positive impact, often implying a sense of purpose or a "calling" to engage with larger issues beyond yourself.

A calling is a pull towards something you feel uniquely qualified to do and enjoy passionately.

It's now or Neverland

Why can't I stay a child forever

And

30/90

30/90

30/90

[JON:]

30/90

30/90

30/90

[ROGER & KARESSA:]

30/90

Like 20/20 vision is good you can’t have 30/90 vision

[ALL:]

30, 30/90

What can I do?

Johnny can’t decide.

[ALL & JON:]

30/90, 30, 30/90

1990 + 30 = 2020

What can I do?

Wonderland Amusement Park- Temporarily closed

in Thompson Memorial Park

2601 Dumas Drive, Amarillo, Texas

It opened on 8/12/1951

Its slogan is “WOW!”

It is on 10 acres, has 43 attractions, and 5 rollercoasters. (The Pirate Ship and The Rainbow were added in 1990)

Owned by: Roads family and Borchardt family

Which happens to be near Pizza Planet (3 separate locations, 3 separate owners, 1 famous recipe):

2400 Paramount Blvd, Amarillo, TX (has online delivery and a website)

6801 Bell St #100 Amarillo, TX (no online delivery, but has a website)

335 E Hastings Ave Amarillo, TX (no website or online delivery)

6/26/2006 on his debut album Jason Aldean released “Amarillo Sky” a cover of Big Kenny and John Rich, along with Rodney Clawson, and Bart Pursely. It was track 2 on his album. It was also track 12 on the deluxe edition which included the music video which featured Illinois farmers, at the beginning of the video it showed the farmers talking about how they grew up on their farm and how much the farmland meant to them (this part has been cut from the music video at times)

Martina McBride also covered this song on 5/21/2002.

”Amarillo by Morning" is a country music song written by Terry Staffordand Paul Fraser, and recorded in a country pop style by Stafford as a single on 8/2/1973 to minor success.[2]The song would be popularized in a fiddle-based Western rendition by Texas neo traditionalist George Strait on 1/14/1982 he recorded it on 4/13/1982

The song is sung from the point of view of a rodeo cowboy, driving at night from San Antonio to a county fair in Amarillo, that will begin the following morning. The man recounts the hardships his occupation has caused him, including divorce, broken bones, and poverty, but states that he does not regret his lifestyle: "I ain't rich/ But Lord, I'm free." The song has appeared in several lists of the best country songs

Amarillo by Morning" was named "No. 12 country song of all time" by Country Music Television in 2004. In 2010, members of the Western Writers of America chose it as one of the Top 100 Western songs of all time. A 2003 survey of tourism-related officials by Development Counsellors International named "Amarillo by Morning" the 7th-best song about a place.

The song is regularly played at rodeos.

The song was parodied by hosts Brad Paisley and Carrie Underwood at the 2013 Country Music Association Awards as "Obamacare by Morning", which mocked technical problems with that year's rollout of the federal HealthCare.gov website as part of the Affordable Care Act

George W. Bush was at Emma E. Booker Elementary School in Sarasota Florida

“That’s When” From The Vault Fearless (TV) ft Keith Urban 4/9/2021” -> “When Emma Falls In Love” From The Vault. Speak Now (TV) released on 7/7/2023 *730 days between the two songs release days or 2 years or exactly 24 months.

Sarasota is a city in and the county seat of Sarasota County, Florida, United States. It is located in Southwest Florida, the southern end of the Greater Tampa Bay Area, and north of Fort Myersand Punta Gorda. Its official limits include Sarasota Bay and several barrier islands between the bay and the Gulf of Mexico. Sarasota is a principal city of the North Port-Bradenton-Sarasota, FL Metropolitan Statistical Area. According to the 2020 U.S. census, Sarasota had a population of 54,842, up from 51,917 at the 2010 census. The Vice Mayor is Jen Ahearn-Koch, and one of the Commissioners is Erik Arroyo. William J Burns who was the director of the FBI was from Sarasota. Also from Sarasota include: Lois Duncan, James A Haley (Vp and P of the Ringling Bros Circus), Brian Johnson (lead singer from AC/DC), Josh Kaufman, Margaret Kerry (actress, radio host, and model for Tinker Bell in the 1953 Walt Disney film Peter Pan), Stephen King, Paul Reubens, Milton Rubenfeld, Jerry Springer, Dick Vitale, Iain Webb, and Bridgett Zehr.

Became a town on 10/14/1902

Became a city on 5/13/1913

Sister cities:

Perpignan, Pyrénées-Orientales, France (1994)

Vladimir, Vladimir Oblast, Russia (1994) (suspended)

Tel Mond, Central District, Israel (1999)

Dunfermline, Fife, Scotland, UK (2001)

Siming District, Xiamen, Fujian, China (2007)

Mérida, Yucatán, México (2010)

Friendship cities:

Rapperswil-Jona, Kanton St. Gallen, Switzerland (2017)

Busseto, Emilia-Romagna, Italy (2020)

JL Died 2057 days before 9/11

The Twin Towers were built between 1966 and 1975 (started 3 years post the Kennedy Assassination)

The Presidents at this time were:

1965-1969 Lyndon B Johnson 35th President

1969-1973 Richard M Nixon 36th President

1973-1974 Richard M Nixon 37th President

1974-1977 Gerald R Ford 38th President

Construction began on 8/5/1966 and the North Tower was completed in December 1970, followed by the South Tower in July 1971.

The WTC opened to the public on 4/4/1973

The Twin Towers were the world's tallest buildings at the time of their completion, standing at 1,368 and 1,362 feet, respectively. The towers were designed by architect Minoru Yamasaki. Yamasaki a Japanese-American architect was born in Seattle, WA on 12/1/1912 and died on 2/6/1986 in Detroit, MI. During his three-decade career he and his firm designed over 250 buildings, his firm Yamasaki & Associates closed on 12/31/2009. In 1978, Yamasaki designed the Federal Reserve Bank tower in Richmond, Virginia. The work was designed with a similar external appearance as the World Trade Center complex, with its narrow fenestration, and stands at 394 ft (120 m).

Yamasaki designed the BOK Tower in Tulsa, OK in 1976. He also worked on a terminal at the St. Louis Airport.

[brookstonalmanac]

Events 12.22 (1950-2000)

1963 – The cruise ship Lakonia burns 290 kilometres (180 mi) north of Madeira, Portugal with the loss of 128 lives. 1964 – The first test flight of the SR-71 (Blackbird) takes place at Air Force Plant 42 in Palmdale, California, United States. 1965 – In the United Kingdom, a 70 miles per hour (110 km/h) speed limit is applied to all rural roads including motorways for the first time. 1968 – Cultural Revolution: People's Daily posted the instructions of Mao Zedong that "The intellectual youth must go to the country, and will be educated from living in rural poverty." 1971 – The international aid organization Doctors Without Borders is founded by Bernard Kouchner and a group of journalists in Paris, France. 1973 – A Royal Air Maroc Sud Aviation Caravelle crashes near Tangier-Boukhalef Airport in Tangier, Morocco, killing 106. 1974 – Grande Comore, Anjouan and Mohéli vote to become the independent nation of Comoros. Mayotte remains under French administration. 1974 – The house of former British Prime Minister Edward Heath is attacked by members of the Provisional IRA. 1975 – U.S. President Gerald Ford creates the Strategic Petroleum Reserve in response to the 1970s energy crisis. 1978 – The pivotal Third Plenum of the 11th National Congress of the Chinese Communist Party is held in Beijing, with Deng Xiaoping reversing Mao-era policies to pursue a program for Chinese economic reform. 1984 – "Subway vigilante" Bernhard Goetz shoots four would-be muggers on a 2 express train in Manhattan section of New York, United States. 1987 – In Zimbabwe, the political parties ZANU and ZAPU reach an agreement that ends the violence in the Matabeleland region known as the Gukurahundi. 1989 – Romanian Revolution: Communist President of Romania Nicolae Ceaușescu is overthrown by Ion Iliescu after days of bloody confrontations. The deposed dictator and his wife Elena flee Bucharest in a helicopter as protesters erupt in cheers. 1989 – German reunification: Berlin's Brandenburg Gate re-opens after nearly 30 years, effectively ending the division of East and West Germany. 1990 – Lech Wałęsa is elected President of Poland. 1990 – Final independence of Marshall Islands and Federated States of Micronesia after termination of trusteeship. 1992 – During approach to Tripoli International Airport, a Boeing 727 operating as Libyan Arab Airlines Flight 1103 collides in mid-air with a Libyan Air Force Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-23, killing 157 people. 1996 – Airborne Express Flight 827 crashes in Narrows, Virginia, killing all six people on board. 1997 – Acteal massacre: Attendees at a prayer meeting of Roman Catholic activists for indigenous causes in the small village of Acteal in the Mexican state of Chiapas are massacred by paramilitary forces. 1997 – Somali Civil War: Hussein Farrah Aidid relinquishes the disputed title of President of Somalia by signing the Cairo Declaration, in Cairo, Egypt. It is the first major step towards reconciliation in Somalia since 1991. 1999 – Just after taking off from London Stansted Airport, Korean Air Cargo Flight 8509 crashes into Hatfield Forest near Great Hallingbury, killing all four people on board.

[systemtek]

Rollout of electric vehicle chargepoints to be accelerated across the UK

New measures to support electric vehicle drivers from the government’s Plan for Drivers have launched today (5 February 2024), including grants for schools, cash for councils and new proposals to boost chargepoint numbers. Technology and Decarbonisation Minister, Anthony Browne, will launch support for greener schools in Nottinghamshire today, with a new grant providing up to 75% of the cost to buy and install chargepoints, up to £2,500 per socket, up from the previous £350.  Paid for by the Department for Transport, the grant forms part of the Workplace Charging Scheme and is available for state-funded schools, colleges, nurseries and academies to boost the chargepoint facilities for staff and visitors. This could also help schools to generate revenue by making their chargepoints available to the public. The school’s grant is for state-funded schools and education institutions, which must have dedicated off-street parking facilities – applications can be made online. Independent schools may apply for funding through the Workplace Charging Scheme and the Electric vehicle infrastructure grant for SMEs.  The government is also delivering the £381 million Local Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (LEVI) Fund to local authorities across the country. The first capital payments for charging projects have been approved to 3 local authorities from East Sussex to North Yorkshire, and 2 London boroughs, bringing the total funding for these areas to more than £ 14.2 million. The funding will support the installation of thousands of new chargers, ensuring the rollout continues at pace to support drivers in every area of the country. Through our LEVI capability funding, almost 100 dedicated EV officers have been newly recruited to support chargepoint procurement. To aid local authorities in building a skilled workforce and delivering their charging projects, the government is also launching the electric vehicle infrastructure (EVI) training course for their officers, which will open to all local authorities from mid-March following a successful trial.  Technology and Decarbonisation Minister, Anthony Browne, said: We’re getting on with delivering our Plan for Drivers, and this latest set of measures will mean EV owners everywhere benefit from easier and more convenient access to chargepoints.  This government has already spent over £ 2 billion to ensure a smooth switch to EVs, and we’re committed to supporting drivers as we transition towards net zero in a proportionate way that doesn’t burden working people. More and more drivers are making the switch to electric vehicles, with fully electric vehicles accounting for over 16% of the new UK car market in 2023, according to industry statistics. The number of plug-in vehicles in the UK has also risen to over 1.2 million, of which 770,000 are fully battery-electric, meaning more and more drivers are making the switch. As this number continues to grow, government is investing alongside industry in EV infrastructure to ensure we meet our climate change commitments, while charting the fairest path to net zero which does not unnecessarily burden families. New laws recently came into force to provide EV drivers with easier and more reliable public charging, mandating that prices across chargepoints are transparent, easy to compare and that a large proportion of new public chargepoints have contactless payment options. This comes as over 53,000 public chargepoints have been installed across the UK, demonstrating the progress that has been made in the switch to electric.  Minister for the School System and Student Finance at the Department for Education, Baroness Barran, said:  This is an exciting opportunity for schools across the UK to become part of an ongoing move towards a greener public sector. Schools engaging with this grant will be supporting the development of green infrastructure, helping to improve their local environments. Developing a greener education estate is a key element of our sustainability and climate change strategy. The expansion of this grant supports our ambition to improve the sustainability of our schools in the ongoing move towards net zero. In addition, the government is today launching a consultation to look at ways to speed up chargepoint installation across the country. The proposals would give EV chargepoint operators the right to carry out street works using a permit rather than a licence.  Permits can be issued much faster, taking days instead of months, and are significantly cheaper to obtain than licences, reducing costs for operators and speeding up the chargepoint rollout for drivers. While the consultation runs, a new good practice guide has been published by the government to improve consistency in processing licence applications across different areas.  These are the second package of measures delivered from the government’s Plan for Drivers and follow last month’s announcement of a crackdown on disruptive roadworks and better digital information to boost sat-nav accuracy. To further deliver on our Plan for Drivers’ commitments, we have published a list of common questions and answers on the transition to EVs, including battery range and chargepoint availability across the country. To provide further flexibility to individuals and organisations wishing to install EV charging outlets, we will shortly consult on removing the 2-metre limitation so that wall-mounted outlets and upstands can be installed anywhere within an area lawfully used for off-street parking. Councillor Neil Clarke MBE, Cabinet Member for Transport and Environment at Nottinghamshire County Council, said: Through initiatives like the Electric Vehicle Cable Channel Pilot Programme and improving local electric vehicle infrastructure, we’re working hard to help residents without off-street parking, along with road users in Nottinghamshire, to charge their electric vehicles. We are continuing with our ambition to make Nottinghamshire healthier, more prosperous, and greener. Initiatives like this are a step closer to achieving these ambitions. As a county, we must do all that we can to protect the environment, and that’s why we welcome this continued government support, which helps us to roll out electric vehicle infrastructure more widely across Nottinghamshire. These measures come following the UK’s world-leading path to reaching zero emission vehicles by 2035 coming into effect earlier this year. The zero emission vehicle (ZEV) mandate requires 80% of new cars and 70% of new vans sold in Great Britain to be zero emission by 2030, providing certainty to consumers and industry – helping speed up the rollout of chargepoints. The government’s approach to EVs has already attracted record investment in gigafactories and EV manufacturing, including: - Nissan’s recent investment of over £3 billion to develop 2 new electric vehicles at their Sunderland plant - Tata’s investment of over £4 billion in a new 40 GWh gigafactory - BMW’s investment of £600 million to build next-generation MINI EVs in Oxford - Ford’s investment of £380 million in Halewood to make electric drive units - Stellantis’ £100 million investment in Ellesmere Port for EV van production Last year, the UK and EU agreed to extend trade rules on electric vehicles, saving manufacturers and consumers up to £4.3 billion in additional costs and providing long-term certainty for industry. In addition, the On-street residential chargepoint scheme (ORCS) is open to all UK local authorities.  Grants are also available to help businesses make the transition through the government’s Workplace charging scheme (WCS), as well as people in flats and rented accommodation through the Electric vehicle chargepoint grant. Read the full article

[mmnutrition]

Maximize Your Workout Performance with Proper Nutrition: Insights from Michelle Mina

Are you striving to achieve your fitness goals, but feel like something is missing from your routine? It's time to take a closer look at your nutrition. Proper nutrition is the key to unlocking your workout potential and achieving the results you desire. In this article, we'll explore the vital role of nutrition in your fitness journey and how consulting a nutritionist in East London can make all the difference. The Power of Nutrition in Fitness Success When you think of fitness, you likely envision challenging workouts and sweating it out at the gym. While exercise is undoubtedly crucial, it's only one piece of the puzzle. Nutrition is the other half. Your body requires the right balance of nutrients to perform at its best, whether you're lifting weights, running, or practicing yoga. Proper nutrition provides your muscles with the energy they need to perform optimally, aids in muscle recovery, and reduces the risk of injury. Without it, you may find yourself struggling to make progress, feeling fatigued, or experiencing setbacks in your fitness journey. Choosing a Nutritionist in East London To ensure you're on the right track with your nutrition, consulting a qualified nutritionist is a wise choice. If you're in East London, you're in luck. Michelle Mina, a leading nutrition and wellness expert based in London, offers her expertise to individuals in the area. A nutritionist can provide personalized guidance, creating a nutrition plan tailored to your unique goals, lifestyle, and dietary preferences. Michelle Mina, in particular, understands the specific needs of individuals in East London, making her an excellent choice for those seeking to optimize their fitness journey through nutrition. Fueling Your Workouts with the Right Nutrition To excel in your workouts, you need to fuel your body properly. A balanced diet that includes carbohydrates, lean proteins, and healthy fats is essential to provide your muscles with the energy they require during exercise. Additionally, staying well-hydrated is crucial for optimal performance. The Synergy of Nutritionist Expertise and Exercise Working with a nutritionist complements your exercise routine. They can fine-tune your nutrition plan to align with your workout goals, ensuring that you're getting the most out of your training sessions. This synergy between nutritionist expertise and exercise can lead to remarkable results. Expert Guidance from Michelle Mina Michelle Mina emphasizes the importance of combining nutrition and exercise for fitness success. "Achieving your fitness goals is about balance," she says. "The right nutrition plan, guided by a qualified nutritionist, can make all the difference." Michelle Mina Nutrition offers a range of personalized nutrition packages designed to cater to your specific needs. Here's a brief overview of what their packages include: - BRONZE (Essentials) – £130 per month: Includes essential dietary analysis, an essential nutrition plan, and 1x 30-minute video consultation per month. - SILVER (Personalized) – £180 per month: Offers personalized dietary analysis, a personalized nutrition plan, and 2x 30-minute video consultations per month. - GOLD (Comprehensive) – £230 + per month: Provides comprehensive dietary analysis, a comprehensive nutrition plan, and 4x 20-minute video consultations per month. These packages are designed to cater to various needs and budget levels, ensuring that you receive the guidance and support you require on your fitness journey. In conclusion, if you're eager to maximize your workout performance and achieve your fitness goals, don't overlook the role of nutrition. Michelle Mina Nutrition, with its expertise and personalized nutrition packages, can help you harness the power of proper nutrition for fitness success. Whether you're in East London or beyond, take the first step towards a healthier, fitter you by consulting with a qualified nutritionist. Your body will thank you, and your workouts will reach new heights. Read the full article

[hellothetutorshelp-blog]

[jfktechtraining]

[hattusha]

Nikolai

(text copied from my DA, becuz I am lazy)

Second portrait of my colored series. This time my character Nikolai Romanov, main character of an old story of mine called Eternal, that will never be finished :^) He's a trainee doctor and medic in his early 30s working for an organization called Epsilon, which is based in a futuristic alternative (universe) Britain, that deals with the control and punishment of rogue Espers. As part of the medical team his main job is mainly first aid and trauma care, as victims of psionic attacks can suffer nasty bodily damages. He spend most of his time since childhood in (alternative) London, the capitol of Britannia (which has slightly different borders and sea shores than in real life). His father Dmitri, who works as a talking therapist, has a mysterious past - he came from Russia post World War three with his then young kids - Nikolai and Mikhail. He barely speaks about that time and neither Nikolai nor his brother Mikhail can remember anything from before they came to Britannia - something that has made them both a bit suspicious about their own identity and past. Both brothers did however continue to live life without asking too many questions and everything was pretty ordinary, save for the few peculiar and odd things about Nikolai, such as his extremely fast wound healing, slow aging and excellent night vision. The family was eventually expanded by a marriage and a (half-) sister Natasha. Nikolai was raised well in a middle-class family that lived very comfortably despite the government being ruled by an authoritarian regime (and a world where automatization caused people to be classed mostly in unemployed fed-by-the-state mindless consumers and privileged working people). To become better than the large bulk of people who live on a fixed monthly salary tied to social credits by their gov he began to study medicine (he also  possessed an actual interest and a want to help others after his stepmother died of an obscure illness). All was going well with becoming a medical doctor and leading a perfect, stable and normal life until he decided to join Epsilon to finish his training in the field of trauma surgery. His father was vehemently against it but couldn't do much to change his son's decision. Then his father suddenly vanishes and the authorities almost seem to deliberately hinder the search for him. Nikolai starts to severely question his world view, even more so when he finds his friend and fellow Epsilon colleague (and mentor) Dr. Simon Kruzcik dead in his home after a strange call - at the crime scene he meets two strangers: rogue Espers and scientists from Albion - a technocratic state in the North-East of England - Loui Device and Ethan Mayer. Through the former Nikolai learns that his father's identity was made up by the ruling party of Britannia and that the man behind the fake name used to be involved in a secret Russian research project in the Caspian steppe - a project to which Nikolai himself is heavily connected to and might explain his strange physical traits and abilities. It's after this event that Nikolai's normal life gets inadvertently ripped apart and he's dragged into a thousand year old war between two inhuman (and eldritch) entities…

[theoriginalladya]

Look at me. You’re gonna be okay (writing prompt)

Okay, so @jedirangerpenguin asked me two of the Protective Prompts found here last night, and I have one done but not the other.  So, rather than make you wait, my dear, I’ll post this one separately and then respond to the ask with the second one when I get there.

Pairing:  ABBOATS    Abby Williams, Major (Ryan) Coats

Setting: London, England, 2186 during the Reaper War

On AO3 here

Look at me.  You’re gonna be okay.

“Commander?”  The voice – his voice – is soft, a hiss and barely audible, but she hears it. Just loud enough to catch her attention as he seeks her out, but not to give away their position.  

Her eyes squeeze shut as Abby grimaces; not because he spoke and it was loud enough to hear, but because the rush of pain coursing through her body just then makes far too much of a challenge to focus on anything else right now.  If she opens her mouth, instead of the whisper required in order to keep their location secret, the scream prying for freedom at the back of her throat will escape. She can’t… can’t give in to that right now.  Not here. Not now.

Something brushes against her arm and her she inhales sharply through her nose as her eyes fly open.  Everything is a blur at first, but there’s nothing to be done for it.  Again, not here.  

“Williams?”  

She draws in a deeper, slower breath this time and nods.  He might not see the movement, but he’s beside her.  It’s enough to give her something steady to lean on.  Just for a moment.

That is, until he bumps against her right hip, jarring it, and sending another wave of pain arcing through her with such intensity she literally buries her face in the chest of his armor to muffle the cry she cannot hold in.  His hands tighten around her arms as he hisses, “Abby!”  The warning in his tone is enough; her cry cuts short and her legs give out.  She falls, dead weight, toward the ground.

Impact never comes.  Coats’ hands tighten, preventing her from clattering to the ground.  Denied a connection with asphalt and cement, her armor knocks against his and not quietly.  

Sounds stir to life in the night beyond them, a reminder of the ever-present danger they are in when on a mission.  Coats shifts to her side – her good one, thankfully – and slides one arm around her waist while looping hers around his neck and shoulders.  “What’s with you?” he hisses as they move forward, seeking out safety.

Abby shakes her head, unable to respond.  The agony is just too much.  As they step off a curb, she stumbles and his hand tightens it’s hold, then everything around her goes dark…

~

Consciousness comes slowly.  Abby is only slightly surprised that her eyes open again and with it, the darkness returns.  Can’t have been too long, then.  Though it takes longer than usual for her vision to focus, and the pain is still excruciating, she immediately starts listening.  The only thing she hears are the soft whimpers of a child.  

A child?  She blinks twice more, and her eyes finally clear enough to notice the grey eyes staring back at her. She tries to speak, but his hand covers her mouth.  She blinks again, eyes widening as she realizes the whimpers come from her.  

“Why didn’t you tell me you’d been hit?” he hisses.

One of his eyebrows lift before his gaze darts to her hip and then back; she nods, pulling her lip between her teeth and biting down.  She can keep silent while he tends to her injuries.  Hopefully.

Abby knows exactly what he’s doing.  Every soldier gets a course in basic battlefield first aid. At his rank, Coats may well have additional training; she doesn’t know.  Not that it’ll do much good for her situation, though.  Her best recourse is to get back to HQ ASAP and have the medical staff tend to it.  But she’s lost quite a bit of blood and, if the soft grunts Coats can’t hide is an indication, the wound itself isn’t superficial.  

That’s problematic.  Face it, Williams, you may have hit the end of the line here…

She draws in a sharp breath as something cool is applied to her skin.  She recognizes it, though she wants to chastise Coats for resorting to it; it’s a waste for injuries like hers.  Medigel won’t be anywhere near effective as she needs it to be.  

“C’mon, soldier,” he huffs, sliding her arm around his shoulders and neck again, pulling her up to her feet and closer to him. “We’ve got to get out of here.”

She tastes blood as she bites down on her lip. “Leave me,” she breathes, unable to put weight on the leg.  “I’m just slowing you down.”

Without stopping, he half drags, half carries her along with him.  Stubborn bastard, aren’t you?  “If I leave you here, you’re as good as dead.”

“And if you don’t,” she counters, “we both are.”

They stumble through the shadows again, making up for lost time as they head east using the old Tube tunnels and train lines as a guide.  Even if they could make it back tonight – and in her current condition, that’s not very likely – there’s no guarantee she isn’t too far gone as it is.  Plus, it’s a hell of a long trip, and as slowed down as they will be, a far greater chance for the reapers to catch up to them.  

Coats drags them into the shadows between two nearby buildings before he speaks again, and even then, it isn’t above a hoarse whisper near her ear.  "I’m not leaving you here, Abbs.”

Abbs.  Fuck, he’s not listening!  “But –”

Even in the shadows, surrounded by night skies on all sides, she can’t miss the dogged determination that fills the steel grey of his eyes.  “Not happening.  Now, belt up and –”

In the distance, the familiar snarls and growls they’ve come to associate with husks and other reaper creatures drift ever closer.  Abby places her hands on his chest and shoves him with all the strength she has in that moment which, granted, isn’t much.  “Go!  Save yourself!”

He captures her chin in his hand and forces her to look up at him.  She would look away if she could, but the intensity there refuses to let go.  “Look at me,” he insists as he uses his free hand to brush some of her hair back from her eyes.  “You’re gonna be okay.  I promise."

She has no reasonable explanation for it, but in that moment, she believes him…

[scotianostra]

Happy 68th Birthday James “Midge” Ure born October 10th 1953 in Cambuslang.

Born to a working class family Ure attended Cambuslang Primary School and Rutherglen Academy in Glasgow until he was 15 years old. For the first 10 years of his life he lived in a one-bedroom tenement flat. After leaving school Ure attended Motherwell Technical College and then began to work as an engineer, training at the National Engineering Laboratory (NEL), in nearby East Kilbride.

Midge started playing music in a Glasgow band called Stumble in 1969, before joining Salvation, a Glasgow-based group that became the bubblegum band Slik in 1974. Upset in the change of direction, Ure left the band to join the Rich Kids, a punk-pop group led by former Sex Pistol bassist Glen Matlock. The Rich Kids only released one album, 1978’s Ghosts of Princes in Towers, before breaking up later that year. Ure spent a brief time with the Misfits (not the American band) before forming Visage with drummer Rusty Egan and vocalist Steve Strange; he left the group to replace Gary Moore in Thin Lizzy, who had left in the middle of an American tour. After the tour was finished, Ure fulfilled an agreement to join Ultravox as the replacement for John Foxx.

Once he joined the band in 1980, Ure helped make Ultravox a mainstream success; during this time he also worked as a producer, making records with Steve Harley and Modern Man. In 1982, Ure released a solo single, a cover of the Walker Brothers’ hit “No Regrets”; it climbed into the U.K. Top Ten. Ure and Bob Geldof formed Band Aid, a special project to aid famine relief efforts in Ethiopia, in 1984. The two wrote the song “Do They Know It’s Christmas?” and assembled an all-star band of musicians to record the single; it sold millions of copies over the 1984 holiday season.

In 1985, Ultravox was put on hiatus and Ure began to pursue a full-time solo career. Recorded entirely by Ure, his 1985 solo debut, The Gift, launched the number one single “If I Was,” as well as the minor hits “That Certain Smile” and “Call of the Wild.” The following year, he recorded the final Ultravox album; in 1987, the band broke up and he began recording his second solo album. The resulting record, 1988’s Answers to Nothing, was less successful than The Gift in the U.K., yet it charted in the U.S., which is something Ure’s previous album failed to do. Three years later, Ure released his third album, Pure; while it didn’t do any business in America, the album featured the Top 20 British hit “Cold, Cold Heart.” He attempted a comeback in 1996 with Breathe, which went ignored by both the American and British markets. Four years later, his score for the Jon Cryer drama-comedy Went to Coney Island was issued by the Evenmore label.

Ure’s recording activity during the 2000s began with Move Me, which featured some surprisingly hard rocking material. A few years later, he published an autobiography, If I Was, and then, with Geldof, arranged the Live 8 concerts.

Following the release of the covers-oriented 10 IN 2008, Ure participated in an Ultravox reunion and continued to record as a solo artist. Fragile was issued in 2014, and featured the Moby collaboration “Dark, Dark Night.” In 2017, he collaborated with composer Ty Unwin on the album Orchestrated, which featured orchestral reworkings of Ultravox songs, as well as songs from his solo career.

Last year Midge released an album Soundtrack 1978-2019, he was one of the lucky artists to have just completed his tour promoting this in February this year.

Midge continues to work with The Band Aid Trust and several other charities, last year he and Bob Geldof angrily denied rumours that they take any money from Band Aid, saying every penny has gone to the charity.

The Cambuslang singer was in the news last month after he revealed a “mugger” tried to snatch his phone in London. Posting on Twitter, he explained: "Someone on a bike tried to snatch my phone from my hand in central London yesterday. In broad daylight! Came out of nowhere on the pavement, made the grab, missed and knocked it out my hand then disappeared into the traffic.

Midge was recently awarded  the lifetime achievement award at the Scotland's Champions event run by the Daily Record. 

The multi-talented singer-songwriter and producer announced tour dates for next spring including Glasgow, Edinburgh and Aberdeen, he will also play some dates in North America in the next month or so. 

[daloy-politsey]

Palestine was more prepared for the first coronavirus wave than many other governments because the PA’s security forces successfully lobbied the international community to provide them with a public health emergency simulation the previous year. “International donors gave them a workshop, and they modeled it on the basis of a potential MERS [Middle East respiratory syndrome] outbreak,” said Tahani Mustafa, a Jordanian-based research fellow at the London School of Economics.

The exercise proved beneficial, since the PA already suffered from limited logistical options and an obstructed health sector as a result of the Israeli military occupation, which has prevented the acquisition of supplies and equipment and greatly constrained the travel necessary to keep up-to-date with medical training and development, according to a report by al-Shabaka, an independent global Palestinian think tank.

Mustafa explained that the simulation was meant to include a workshop for representatives of the various branches of the security sector first, followed by a workshop for relevant political actors, such as representatives of the Health Ministry. The first workshop in 2019 addressed potential solutions to anticipated problems—which included a novel respiratory coronavirus.

Before the second workshop could take place, Covid-19 hit. With the first simulation fresh in memory, the PA moved fast, setting up a joint operations center where the Health Ministry, the prime minister’s office, and the security branches came up with procedures and rules and then delegated them to each governorate in the West Bank.

“With the first wave, what you had was an instantaneous response as soon as there was an outbreak in Bethlehem,” Mustafa said. “They basically shut down the area, and then a week or two later you ended up having the entire West Bank go into this severe lockdown. They did an OK job in the first couple of months. From what I was told, there was a lot of public consistency, where people were complying with the rules.” But unlike the simulation, the pandemic didn’t end.

Ten months have passed since those early days of relative success, and a different reality has emerged in the occupied territories. Makeshift checkpoints of dirt and stone now divide the towns. Travel and trade with Israel have been restricted even more than usual. And testing kits and supplies have run critically low. All 350 artificial respirators available in the territories had been put to use by July, according to the Health Ministry. At the same time, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was pushing for annexation, a threat that preoccupied the Palestinian leadership. With the government overwhelmed, the PA saw no choice other than to look abroad for financial support. But it ran into a roadblock.

In the past, Palestinians relied heavily on US support, which amounted to around $400 million a year, according to a 2018 congressional report. But the bipartisan Anti-Terrorism Clarification Act, which was signed into law by President Trump in 2018, slashed that funding to virtually nothing. According to that law, any foreign entity receiving US aid must consent to the jurisdiction of US courts regarding anti-terrorism claims, meaning the PA would be subject to terrorism-related lawsuits based on American law. Considering that it pays a stipend to the families of Palestinian citizens who are imprisoned in Israel, some of whom are being held on terrorism charges, the PA opted against accepting any US money. When the Palestinian economy shuttered after the first wave of the coronavirus, Washington pledged $5 million in aid—a paltry sum, roughly 1 percent of what had been the annual US aid budget to the PA.

According to data from the Palestinian Finance Ministry Service and an analysis by the London-based Al-Araby Al-Jadeed, since March, the PA has received no aid from Arab countries, some of which signed US-backed normalization agreements with Israel during that period. These cuts arrived on top of a 50 percent decrease in foreign aid from outside the region, with total funding dropping from $500 million in 2019 to $255 million in 2020.

“When we ask how Palestinians are able to live under these conditions, we have to understand that it’s never been much better,” said Yara Asi, a postdoctoral scholar at the University of Central Florida who is researching health and development in fragile and conflict-ravaged populations. “For Palestinians who can afford it, they will continue to access higher-quality private facilities or, travel conditions permitting, travel to Jordan, Egypt, or other states for advanced [health] care they are unable to get in the territories,” she said. “Low-income Palestinians will continue to rely on the public health sector, buoyed by inconsistent aid to the Palestinian Authority, as US funding has essentially ended.”

While donors in other parts of the world have filled some of the funding shortfalls, Asi added, many Palestinians will now be unable to access health care altogether while resources run dry and medical facilities and providers remain overworked and understaffed. For example, “thousands of Palestinians are missing needed vision care, as they have not been able to access ophthalmologists for months,” she said. “One report estimated that 1,200 surgical procedures to help restore vision have been canceled since April.”

[brookstonalmanac]

Events 12.22 (after 1950)

1963 – The cruise ship Lakonia burns 290 kilometres (180 mi) north of Madeira, Portugal with the loss of 128 lives. 1964 – The first test flight of the SR-71 (Blackbird) takes place at Air Force Plant 42 in Palmdale, California, United States. 1965 – In the United Kingdom, a 70 miles per hour (110 km/h) speed limit is applied to all rural roads including motorways for the first time. 1968 – Cultural Revolution: People's Daily posted the instructions of Mao Zedong that "The intellectual youth must go to the country, and will be educated from living in rural poverty." 1971 – The international aid organization Doctors Without Borders is founded by Bernard Kouchner and a group of journalists in Paris, France. 1973 – A Royal Air Maroc Sud Aviation Caravelle crashes near Tangier-Boukhalef Airport in Tangier, Morocco, killing 106. 1974 – Grande Comore, Anjouan and Mohéli vote to become the independent nation of Comoros. Mayotte remains under French administration. 1974 – The house of former British Prime Minister Edward Heath is attacked by members of the Provisional IRA. 1975 – U.S. President Gerald Ford creates the Strategic Petroleum Reserve in response to the 1970s energy crisis. 1978 – The pivotal Third Plenum of the 11th National Congress of the Chinese Communist Party is held in Beijing, with Deng Xiaoping reversing Mao-era policies to pursue a program for Chinese economic reform. 1984 – "Subway vigilante" Bernhard Goetz shoots four would-be muggers on a 2 express train in Manhattan section of New York, United States. 1989 – Romanian Revolution: Communist President of Romania Nicolae Ceaușescu is overthrown by Ion Iliescu after days of bloody confrontations. The deposed dictator and his wife Elena flee Bucharest in a helicopter as protesters erupt in cheers. 1989 – German reunification: Berlin's Brandenburg Gate re-opens after nearly 30 years, effectively ending the division of East and West Germany. 1990 – Lech Wałęsa is elected President of Poland. 1990 – Final independence of Marshall Islands and Federated States of Micronesia after termination of trusteeship. 1992 – During approach to Tripoli International Airport, a Boeing 727 operating as Libyan Arab Airlines Flight 1103 collides in mid-air with a Libyan Air Force Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-23, killing 157 people. 1996 – Airborne Express Flight 827 crashes in Narrows, Virginia, killing all six people on board. 1997 – Acteal massacre: Attendees at a prayer meeting of Roman Catholic activists for indigenous causes in the small village of Acteal in the Mexican state of Chiapas are massacred by paramilitary forces. 1997 – Somali Civil War: Hussein Farrah Aidid relinquishes the disputed title of President of Somalia by signing the Cairo Declaration, in Cairo, Egypt. It is the first major step towards reconciliation in Somalia since 1991. 1999 – Just after taking off from London Stansted Airport, Korean Air Cargo Flight 8509 crashes into Hatfield Forest near Great Hallingbury, killing all four people on board. 2001 – Burhanuddin Rabbani, political leader of the Northern Alliance, hands over power in Islamic State of Afghanistan to the interim government headed by President Hamid Karzai. 2001 – Richard Reid attempts to destroy a passenger airliner by igniting explosives hidden in his shoes aboard American Airlines Flight 63. 2010 – The repeal of the Don't ask, don't tell policy, the 17-year-old policy banning homosexuals serving openly in the United States military, is signed into law by President Barack Obama. 2016 – A study finds the VSV-EBOV vaccine against the Ebola virus between 70 and 100% effective, thus making it the first proven vaccine against the disease. 2017 – United Nations Security Council Resolution 2397 against North Korea is unanimously approved. 2018 – A tsunami caused by an eruption of Anak Krakatau in Indonesia kills at least 430 people and injures almost a thousand more. 2018 – The 2018–2019 United States federal government shutdown, the longest shutdown of the U.S. federal government in history, begins.

[cruger2984]

Haikyuu!! and its Saints

Fly to victory. In celebration of my birthday today, here's our black and orange boys of Karasuno and their corresponding saints!

December 31 - Daichi Sawamura

Pope St. Sylvester I: 33rd bishop of Rome who reigned from 314 to 335 A.D. He filled the see of Rome at an important era in the history of the Western Church, yet very little is known of him. The accounts of his pontificate preserved in the seventh or eighth-century Liber Pontificalis contain little more than a record of the gifts said to have been conferred on the church by Constantine the Great, although it does say that he was the son of a Roman named Rufinus. Large churches were founded and built during Sylvester I's pontificate, including Basilica of St. John Lateran, Basilica of the Holy Cross in Jerusalem, Old St. Peter's Basilica and several churches built over the graves of martyrs. Legend has it that Sylvester is slaying a dragon, hence he is often depicted with the dying beast.

June 13 - Koshi Sugawara

St. Anthony of Padua: Franciscan Portuguese friar and priest who is noted by his contemporaries for his powerful preaching, expert knowledge of scripture, and undying love and devotion to the poor and the sick, he was one of the most quickly canonized saints in church history. Although he is known as the patron of lost items, his major shrine can be found in Padua, Italy. In January 1946, he is proclaimed a Doctor of the Church by Pope Pius XII, and is given the title of Doctor Evangelicus (Evangelical Doctor).

January 1 - Asahi Azumane

Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God: One of the most important Marian feasts days to start the New Year. It is to honor the Blessed Virgin Mary under the aspect of her motherhood of Jesus Christ, whom Christians see as the Lord, Son of God, and it is celebrated by the Latin Rite of the Catholic Church on 1 January, the Octave (8th) day of Christmastide.

October 10 - Yu Nishinoya

St. Cerbonius: Populonian bishop who lived in the time of the Barbarian invasion. Gregory the Great praises him in Book XI of his Dialogues. Another tradition states that Cerbonius was a native of North Africa who was the son of Christian parents. Ordained a priest by Regulus, though not the same one as in the Scottish Legend. One of the saint’s attributes was a bear licking his feet, because during Totila’s invasion of Tuscany, he was ordered to be killed by a wild bear, the bear remained petrified before him. It stood on two legs and opened its jaws wide. Then, it fell back on its paws and licked the feet of the saint.

March 3 - Ryunosuke Tanaka

St. Katharine Drexel: American philanthropist, religious sister, educator, heiress, and foundress of the Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament, as well as Xavier University of Louisiana, the only historically black Catholic college in the country. She might be the second canonized saint to have been born in the United States and the first to have been born a U.S. citizen, she is the patron of philanthropists and racial justice.

December 26 - Chikara Ennoshita

St. Stephen: Dubbed as the first Christian martyr, and his appearance can be found in the Acts of the Apostles. He is a deacon in the early church at Jerusalem who aroused the enmity of members of various synagogues by his teachings. Accused of blasphemy at his trial, he made a long speech denouncing the Jewish authorities who were sitting in judgment on him and was then stoned to death, in which Saul of Tarsus was a witness to see him died before his conversion in Damascus.

February 15 - Hisashi Kinoshita

St. Claude de La Colombière: 17th century French Jesuit priest who assisted St. Margaret Mary Alacoque in establishing the devotion to the Sacred Heart. He was her confessor, and his writings and testimony helped to validate her mystical visions and elevated the Sacred Heart as an important feature of Roman Catholic devotion. He was appointed court preacher to Mary of Modena, who had become duchess of York by marriage with the future King James II of England, and he took up his residence in St. James's Palace in London. Falsely accused by a former protégé of complicity in Titus Oates's 'popish plot,' he was imprisoned for five weeks and, when released, was obliged to return to France, where he died an invalid under the care of Margaret Mary. Canonized by Pope St. John Paul II on the Feast of the Visitation in 1992, his major shrine can be found in Paray-le-Monial.

August 17 - Kazuhito Narita

St. Hyacinth of Poland: 13th century Polish Dominican priest and missionary who worked to reform women's monasteries in his native Poland, and was a Doctor of Sacred Studies, educated in Paris and Bologna, and is known for the monicker, 'Apostle of the North.' One of the major miracles attributed to Hyacinth came about during a Mongol attack on Kiev. As the friars prepared to flee the invading forces, Hyacinth went to save the ciborium containing the Blessed Sacrament from the tabernacle in the monastery chapel, when he heard the voice of Mary, the mother of Jesus, asking him to take her, too. He lifted the large, stone statue of Mary, as well as the ciborium. He was easily able to carry both, despite the fact that the statue weighed far more than he could normally lift. Thus he saved them both. His tomb is in the Basilica of Holy Trinity in Krakow, Poland, in a chapel that bears his name. Hyacinth is the patron saint of those in danger of drowning.

December 22 - Tobio Kageyama

St. Ernan, Son of Eogan: He was a nephew of St. Columba. His monastery in Ireland was at Druim-Tomma in the district of Drumhome, County Donegal. He is venerated as the patron saint of Killernan, though he may not have visited Scotland and also as patron of the parish of Drumhome, where a school has been dedicated to him. His commemoration is assigned to the 21st and 22nd of December according to the Scottish Kalendars.

June 21 - Shoyo Hinata

St. Aloysius Gonzaga: Italian confessor from the Jesuit order. Born into the noble Gonzaga clan in 1568, and in order to satisfy his father's ambitions, he was trained in the art of war and was obliged to attend royal banquets and military parades. Not with standing his father's furious opposition, Aloysius renounced his inheritance and join the Jesuits in Rome. While still a student at the Roman College, he died as a result of caring for the victims of a serious epidemic. Canonized on New Year’s Eve in 1726 by Pope Benedict XIII, he is the patron saint of the Christian youth, Jesuit scholastics, the blind, AIDS patients, AIDS care-givers.

September 27 - Kei Tsukishima

St. Vincent de Paul: 17th century French priest who is the founder of the Congregation of the Mission (the Vincentians) for preaching missions to the peasantry and for educating and training a pastoral clergy. The patron saint of charitable societies, he is primarily recognized for his charity and compassion for the poor, though he is also known for his reform of the clergy and for his early role in opposing Jansenism. With St. Louise de Marillac, he co-founded the Daughters of Charity (Daughters of Charity of St. Vincent de Paul) in 1633. The association was patterned after the Confraternities of Charity and was the first noncloistered religious institute of women devoted to active charitable works. Canonized as a saint by Pope Clement XII in 1737, his major shrine can be found in Rue de Sèvres in Paris.

November 10 - Tadashi Yamaguchi

St. Leo the Great (Pope St. Leo I): 45th bishop of Rome who reigned from 440 to 461 A.D. His pontificate - which saw the disintegration of the Roman Empire in the West and the formation in the East of theological differences that were to split Christendom—was devoted to safeguarding orthodoxy and to securing the unity of the Western church under papal supremacy. He is perhaps best known for having met Attila the Hun in 452 and allegedly persuaded him to turn back from his invasion of Italy. Leo is mostly remembered theologically for issuing the Tome of Leo, a document which was a major foundation to the debates of the Ecumenical Council of Chalcedon. Pope Benedict XIV proclaimed Leo I a Doctor of the Church in 1754, next to one other pope, St. Gregory the Great.