#virginia statehood

[floridasnatural]

Happy statehood Virginia!

June 25, 1788

[bourbontrend]

Discover the extraordinary journey of Kentucky Senator Bourbon and its new John Brown Bourbon Release! Celebrating Kentucky's rich history and crafted with unmatched expertise. Get ready to indulge in this highly anticipated, limited edition batch. Cheers to Kentucky's legacy!

[susiestamps]

US 1964 5¢ Centennial Nevada statehood, Virginia City and map of Nevada

[originalleftist]

It's long past time for America to either grant its territories greater autonomy, or statehood (the choice, of course, should be left to the residents of those territories).

Territories of mostly non-white people with second class citizenship are a relic of the colonial past.

Personally, I hope for statehood. I think Old Glory would look pretty damn fine with 56 stars!

FYI, the current populations of the US territories (plus DC) which do not have statehood, and what their Congressional representation would be, is (approximately) as follows:

Puerto Rico: 3, 239, 985 people. Four Congressional Representatives, 2 Senators.

DC: 689, 545 people. 1 Congressional Representative, 2 Senators.

Guam: 168,171 people. 1 Congressional Representative, 2 Senators.

American Samoa: 46,531 people. 1 Congressional Representative, 2 Senators.

Northern Mariana Islands: 44,044 people. 1 Congressional Representative, 2 Senators.

US Virgin Islands: 84,656 people. 1 Congressional Representative, 2 Senators.

Population is obviously approximate, as it changes daily. These are simply the first numbers that came up on Google when I searched today, Sunday evening on October 27th 2024.

The US currently has approximately 1 Congressional Representative per 747,000 people, and every state gets two Senators.

It has been argued that certain territories are too small to be states. However Puerto Rico's population outnumbers the states of Nevada, Arkansas, Kansas, Mississippi, New Mexico, Nebraska, Idaho, West Virginia, Hawaii, New Hampshire, Maine, Montana, Rhode Island, Delaware, South Dakota, North Dakota, Alaska, Vermont, and Wyoming, per Wikipedia. DC outnumbers Vermont and Wyoming.

Guam, U.S. Virgin Islands, American Samoa, and Northern Mariana Islands are smaller by population than any current state. However, some historic states were smaller than at least some of these when they joined.

[doueverwonder]

Delaware has beef with Virginia & Massachusetts solely bc they get all the oldest recognition Del wants so badly. Delaware was like the 7th or 8th to be established of the 13 colonies, firmly middle child, and when he was the first to become a state he was like "watch them overlook me now!!" and then they did. nothing changed. Ginny and Mass are still the eldest no matter what their statehood order is. sorry Del.

[whencyclopedia]

Northwest Ordinance

The Northwest Ordinance was enacted by the Confederation Congress of the United States on 13 July 1787. It created the Northwest Territory – comprised of the modern-day states of Ohio, Indiana, Michigan, Illinois, Wisconsin, and part of Minnesota – and laid out the procedure whereby new states could be admitted into the Union.

The Northwest Ordinance was enacted as a way to organize the settlement of lands west of the Appalachian Mountains and, ultimately, add new states to the Union. Previous land ordinances in 1784 and 1785 had gotten the original states to relinquish their claims to these western territories and had allowed Congress to sell off the land, but these ordinances had failed to mention how the territories were to be governed prior to achieving statehood. To solve this issue, Congress enacted the Northwest Ordinance, which mandated that the Northwest Territory – and all other incorporated territories of the United States – would initially be administered by a federally appointed governor who was empowered to appoint civil servants and make legislation. Once the population of the territory reached 5,000, it would be able to create its own representative assembly and, upon reaching a population of 60,000, could apply for statehood. According to the Northwest Ordinance, all new states admitted to the Union would have the same rights and privileges as the original thirteen states.

The Northwest Ordinance had a profound effect on the development of early US history. Most significantly, the Ordinance prohibited the expansion of slavery into the Northwest Territory; this effectively led to the geographic divide between 'free states' and 'slave states', helping to lay the groundwork for the national debate over the expansion of slavery that would lead to the American Civil War (1861-1865). A more immediate consequence of the Ordinance was that it brought the US government into conflict with the Native American nations who also laid claim to the territory, resulting in the Northwest Indian War (1790-1795). Additionally, the fact that the Northwest Territory was administered by a federally-appointed governor helped to enhance the authority of the federal government at a time when this was one of the most contentious political issues. Finally, the method of admitting new states to the Union laid out in the Ordinance would become the standard protocol for the entry of future states.

Land Ordinance of 1784

At the end of the American Revolutionary War in 1783, Great Britain ceded control of much of its lands west of the Appalachian Mountains to the United States, more than doubling the territory of the young republic. While this was a welcome surprise to many Americans, it also came with a set of problems – almost all this land remained undeveloped by Europeans and was home to around 100,000 Native Americans who were unlikely to welcome an influx of White settlers onto their lands. Furthermore, there was contention about who should govern this new western territory. Virginia had long laid claim to the lands along the Ohio River, citing its 1607 colonial charter, which proclaimed that Virginia's western border extended all the way to the Pacific Ocean. Other states – notably New York, Connecticut, and Massachusetts – also had old, and often contradictory, claims on the western territories.

The ink on the Treaty of Paris of 1783 was barely dry, therefore, before the states began quarreling amongst themselves about who should control the lands in the West. Several smaller states, particularly Rhode Island and Maryland, strongly protested Virginia's claims – Virginia was already the most populous and most politically influential state, and the smaller states did not wish to see its power expand any further. New York and Massachusetts, whose charters had also granted them territorial rights 'from sea to sea' also battled over western lands that stretched to the Mississippi River. As the states squabbled over governance, the West was becoming lawless; land speculators and squatters who had flooded into the territory were coming into conflict with the Native Americans who lived there, while a lack of a defined legal process for settling these lands resulted in a myriad of feuds and legal battles that proved a headache for everyone involved. It was clear that a system for the governance and settlement of the western territories would have to be resolved, and quickly.

In 1784, Thomas Jefferson, then a congressional delegate from Virginia, offered a solution, proposing that every state should relinquish its western claims and that new states would instead be carved out from the territory. In return for giving up their claims on the West, Jefferson promised the states that the money gained from the sale of western lands would go toward the betterment of all the United States. The states begrudgingly agreed and, one by one, ceded most of their western claims to Congress (Virginia continued to lay claim to Kentucky until 1789). Jefferson immediately went to work drafting what would become the Land Ordinance of 1784. In Jefferson's plan, the western frontier would be divided into several self-governing districts, and the gate would be open to new settlers. Once any given district reached a population of 20,000, it could send a representative to Congress; once that same district reached a population equal to the least populous state, it could apply for statehood.

Portrait of Thomas Jefferson, 1791

Charles Willson Peale (Public Domain)

Jefferson envisaged ten new states arising from the territory, each with artificial, rectangular boundaries, and with names like 'Sylvania', 'Cherronesus', 'Illinoia', 'Metropotamia', and 'Washington'. Jefferson had also drawn up a list of guarantees that he wanted each district to agree to before it could govern itself. These included a guarantee to forever remain a part of the United States; to remain subject to Congress and help pay off Revolutionary War debts; to always maintain a republican government; and to ban slavery after the year 1800. Congress removed this last guarantee from the final draft and struck off Jefferson's plan for state boundaries but passed the rest of his Land Ordinance on 23 April 1784. For the first time, a rough plan for the admission of new states into the Union was in place.

Continue reading...

[weirdestbooks]

The Ghosts That Haunt You (Wattpad | Ao3)

Inspired by this lovely bit of art by @collar-cat. They also made a banger animatic for this oneshot!!

And @lost-islands just made this wonderful animatic for it so please go check it out!

TW for suicidal thoughts.

Plymouth’s new identity had been haunting him for years. Even now, as the sixth state to join his father’s country, the name of his dead brother haunted him.

Massachusetts, they called him, the politicians whose hands he shook as they offered to buy him a drink and invited him to their homes, their faces alight with joy at the “birth” of their state.

It made Plymouth feel sick. His throat seized up, and he did his best to smile and nod as he choked back tears.

I’m not Massachusetts! He wanted to scream. Stop saying I’m him! 

He couldn’t. He couldn’t, not without making people think his father was mad, that he was mad.

So he bit back sobs and ignored the tears that crept into his vision as the politicians of Massachusetts Bay celebrated the existence of his murderer.

He was grateful when the day ended, when he could excuse himself from the celebration of his body.

Of the life he stole from Massachusetts Bay.

“I need to get home,” he had said. “My father wants to do something with the whole family.”

It wasn’t a lie. It still felt like one.

So now here Plymouth was, curled up on the sofa and wishing so desperately that Virginia was here, that she had ratified the Consitution before him, so he didn’t have to face this without her.

She had been there since his birth. Plymouth wished she could be with him now.

He felt empty. Even though he had a body now, a chance to live life as himself, he felt as if he had been drained of all life and all will to live. In Father’s head, he could at least pretend that Plymouth was still real, that Massachusetts Bay wasn’t—wasn’t dead, but just somewhere else.

There was no pretending here. There was no Plymouth here—only the life of his dead brother he was expected to take.

Plymouth wished he was dead.

Although…he did have a body of his own now. Would it be better if he just took care of things now so…so Massachusetts Bay’s people would have a better personification, a personification that wasn’t a murderer? Maybe if he were lucky, it would be Massachusetts Bay’s replacement.

Maybe he was standing in the way of things.

Plymouth walked into the kitchen, not feeling in control of his body. The only person in there was Connecticut, sitting on the table. The state grinned, mouth curling into a familiar smile.

“Hello, Massy,” he said. Plymouth couldn’t stop himself from flinching at the nickname. Connecticut frowned. “Sorry, Plym. I guess this day would be rough on you.”

Plymouth didn’t say anything. He wasn’t sure if he could without sobbing.

“Are you okay? I know the bodies can be overwhelming,” Connecticut said. Plymouth couldn’t breathe. He felt like he was going to faint. Everything was too much.

His hands were shaking.

He needed Virginia. He needed his mother, the only person who would understand. He couldn’t breathe, he couldn’t breathe, he couldn’t breathe.

“LITTLE BROTHER!” 

Plymouth gasped, black spots at the end of his vision as Connecticut’s voice snapped him out of whatever fit he had fallen into.

Dimly, he realized he had fallen to the floor.

“Little…little brother?” Plymouth asked, confused. He was sixteen years older than Connecticut. What was he talking about? The confusion eased the pressure on his chest, eased the weight that was crushing his mind.

Connecticut smiled, worry in his eyes.

“Well, since we’re supposedly as old as our statehood dates now, that makes me older than you in the eyes of our people,” he argued. Plymouth scoffed.

“It’s not even thirty days!” He protested, clinging desperately to the topic, eager to get his mind off of his crimes, his sins, the blood that he drowned in daily.

“Still enough to make me older,” Connecticut sing-songed. “Want to get Father?”

“He’ll say I’m older,” Plymouth said, hoping he could distract Connecticut and keep the conversation about fit to a minimum so he could forget how much his family cared for a murderer. It would make it easier for Plymouth to do what needed to be done.

“Plym…” Connecticut chided, the concern not leaving his eyes.

“I’m fine!” he snapped.

“Is this about Mass—”

“So what if it is!” Plymouth snapped, cutting off Connecticut before he could finish, rising to his feet. He couldn’t stand to hear his name anymore because it hurt, because it sank into his soul and ripped it apart, and it hurt, it hurt so badly because no one wanted to use that name to refer to its rightful owner.

“If it helps, I know how you fe—”

“How can you? How can you possibly know how I feel? I murdered our brother and sister and then took our brother’s place, and now I’m being celebrated for it! How the fuck could you know how that feels?” Plymouth snapped, tone venomous.

“You aren’t the only one whose land is made up of the dead. Rhode is lucky. Newport, Warwick, and Portsmouth are still alive. But…Saybrook, New Haven, they’re gone. Because of me. I never took anyone’s place like you did, Plymouth, but don’t you fucking dare say I don’t know what it’s like,” Connecticut snapped, tone equally venomous, before it faded into something sadder.

In an instant, all of his anger faded from his body, and Plymouth sank back to the floor.

“I’m sorry,” he whispered. The urge to get it all over with grew stronger. He couldn’t stay here anymore, ruining things for everyone else.

“I know you are. I know it hurts,” Connecticut said, sounding like he was holding back tears. “And I can’t imagine how you feel, knowing that everyone thinks you are the one and only personification of Massachusetts Bay.”

“I don’t…I can’t be the state that they want me to be, Connecticut,” Plymouth whispered as his younger brother pulled him into a hug. “I can’t.”

“Be the state that you want to be, then,” Connecticut whispered. Plymouth just clung to his brother, not answering.

He wasn’t sure what else he could say.

“New Jersey and I have been planning something,” Connecticut then said, pulling away from the hug, keeping one hand on Plymouth’s shoulder. Plymouth swallowed down his tears. 

“What?” Plymouth asked. He meant to be politer, to say more, but the words failed him. Connecticut didn’t seem to mind.

“We were planning on making a mausoleum in the Land In-Between, wherever Father builds his new home. For New Haven, Saybrook, West Jersey…and for Maine and Massachusetts Bay, if you would like to join us? We still need to wait for Virginia so she can memorialize the ones she got to know, but…do you want to help us?”

“Yes,” Plymouth whispered, desperate. He would stay until the mausoleum was complete to ensure that Maine and Massachusetts Bay were memorialized properly so he would have a place to beg for atonement for his sins before he finished things.

It wouldn’t be enough. It would never be enough.

But Plymouth had been living in Hell on Earth since they passed. He was prepared to be sent to actual Hell.

He would be better off there anyway.

[theworstfoundingfathers]

THE GRAND FINALE WHO IS THE TRULY THE WORST FOUNDING FATHER?

THOMAS JEFFERSON VS HENRY LAURENS

Thomas Jefferson (April 13, 1743 – July 4, 1826) was an American statesman, diplomat, lawyer, architect, and philosopher who served as the third president of the United States from 1801 to 1809. Following the American Revolutionary War and prior to becoming the nation’s third president in 1801, Jefferson was the first United States secretary of state under George Washington and the nation’s second vice president under John Adams.

Starting in 1803, he promoted a western expansionist policy with the Louisiana Purchase and began the process of Indian tribal removal from the newly acquired territory.

Jefferson lived in a planter economy largely dependent upon slavery, and used slave labor for his household, plantation, and workshops. Over his lifetime he owned about 600 slaves.

During his presidency, Jefferson allowed the diffusion of slavery into the Louisiana Territory hoping to prevent slave uprisings in Virginia and to prevent South Carolina secession. In 1804, in a compromise on the slavery issue, Jefferson and Congress banned domestic slave trafficking for one year into the Louisiana Territory.

In 1819, Jefferson strongly opposed a Missouri statehood application amendment that banned domestic slave importation and freed slaves at the age of 25 on grounds it would destroy the union.

Jefferson never freed most of his slaves, and he remained silent on the issue while he was president.

Since the 1790s, Jefferson was rumored to have had children by his sister-in-law and slave Sally Hemings, known as the Jefferson-Hemings controversy. According to scholarly consensus…as well as oral history, Jefferson probably fathered at least six children with Hemings.

---

Henry Laurens (March 6, 1724 [O.S. February 24, 1723] – December 8, 1792) was an American Founding Father, merchant, slave trader, and rice planter from South Carolina who became a political leader during the Revolutionary War. A delegate to the Second Continental Congress, Laurens succeeded John Hancock as its president. He was a signatory to the Articles of Confederation and, as president, presided over its passage.

Laurens had earned great wealth as a partner in the largest slave-trading house in North America, Austin and Laurens. In the 1750s alone, this Charleston firm oversaw the sale of more than 8,000 enslaved Africans.

Laurens’ oldest son, Colonel John Laurens, was killed in 1782 in the Battle of the Combahee River, as one of the last casualties of the Revolutionary War. He had supported enlisting and freeing slaves for the war effort and suggested to his father that he begin with the 40 he stood to inherit. He had urged his father to free the family’s slaves, but although conflicted, Henry Laurens never manumitted his 260 slaves.

---

By popular vote, this final round will run for one full week

Please reblog so we can get the biggest sample size possible and figure who is TRULY the worst

[whitesinhistory]

On June 14, 1910, Louisiana’s House of Representatives broadened its ban on interracial marriage by passing legislation, by a vote of 93 to 10, prohibiting Black people and white people from living together under any circumstances. Under the new legislation, cohabitation was a felony punishable by imprisonment for up to five years. The bill was signed into law by Governor Jared Sanders on July 16, 1910. The legislation broadened the state’s existing ban on interracial marriage and criminalized the cohabitation of white people and individuals with at least one Black great-grandparent, punishing those found living together irrespective of marital status. The law authorized the state to break up couples who had lived together for years. Acknowledging that the act would likely destroy thousands of families, white legislators declared the impending trauma to be “suffering incidental to a good cause-the cause of preserving the purity of the [white] race.”  Laws criminalizing relationships between Black and white people predated Louisiana’s statehood. In 1724, the French colonial government criminalized interracial relationships, imposing severe penalties on interracial couples. When Louisiana joined the U.S. in 1812, it banned marriage between enslaved Black people, free people of color, and white people. In 1825, Louisiana severely restricted the ability of biracial children to inherit property through white fathers. In 1868, during Reconstruction, newly elected Black legislators successfully pushed for the repeal of Louisiana’s interracial marriage ban. An all-white legislature reenacted the ban in 1894.  During the 20th century, Louisiana legislators repeatedly broadened the state’s ban on interracial marriage. A set of laws passed in 1900 and 1914 forbade interracial couples who claimed residence in Louisiana from getting married outside the state. A 1914 enactment made it a crime to officiate an interracial wedding and exposed individuals who violated this law to the threat of imprisonment. Louisiana courts were likewise complicit in rigorously enforcing racial hierarchy. Local press boasted that “a large number of persons had been convicted'' during the 1908-1910 period. These laws remained in effect until the Supreme Court declared anti-miscegenation statutes unconstitutional in 1967 in Loving v. Virginia. Louisiana did not formally repeal its ban on interracial marriage until five years later, in 1972.  Like Louisiana, states throughout the country relied on laws banning interracial marriage to maintain a rigid racial caste system. To learn more about these and other laws that entrenched white supremacy, read EJI’s report, Segregation in America. 

[floridasnatural]

Happy statehood West Virginia!

June 20, 1863

[misery-has-no-company-now]

Heeelloo guyss I'm baaackkkk, pretend I wasn't gone all this time and take this headcannon from me now it's OG13 (and a few of the other older ones) angst -

BTW I suppose some of the topics in this - like references to abuse and eating disorders or food issues - could be triggering for some people so I'll just mention that over here itself just to let you leave if you don't want to continue reading [also let me know if there's anything else you want me to add to this list]

Okay, now that you're here, it's picture time!

(Pic is about the largest states by size from over here : https://www.worldatlas.com/geography/us-states-by-size.html)

In the top 10 smallest states, 7 of them were from the original 13 colonies. (And amongst these 10 was West Virginia). And if we take the 17 smallest, it's mostly either one of the og13, or one of the states that came from them - like Maine or Kentucky or even WV.

So I already have a hc that their heights are a representative of their land area, and based on this, what if the reason [most] the original 13 states are so short is because those who took care of them when they were younger (like England or the Netherlands when they were still colonies) either neglected feeding them while they were still growing or starved them on purpose as a punishment?

Take for example, Rhode Island (the shortest) and Massachusetts. Both were very rebellious back in the day, right? And they're also amongst the smallest ones in size.

England knew that while personifications might not need to eat as much as humans, and would not suffer death by starvation like their fellow mortals might; they still did need food, especially while they were younger - and it was easier to make them obedient to him if they were too weak to be otherwise. So what was the best way for him to make them unable to fight him back, as well as to teach them a lesson? By withdrawing their food. He wouldn't allow them to eat, and he'd just keep them locked up in a room with a strong, unbreakable door and no windows for long periods of time - till he decided he needed them for something. They would always be exhausted and too tired to challenge him for quite a while after that, so he was fully aware his plan worked.

This went on for ages until they managed to escape his hold and he could no longer stop them from rebelling; but by then the damage had been done to them (another hc - they can grow until they achieve statehood) and since they'd been malnourished for frequent bouts of time for so long, they hadn't been able to grow to the heights they should have actually been able to reach [like for example they could have ideally gained at least a few more centimetres based on how big their land was but thanks to England stunting their growth on purpose, they couldn't], hence now they're just shorter than all the other states that came after them.

States like Maine and Kentucky are only smaller since they came from the OG 13, meaning that for them, it's naturally based on the size of their area anyway. But they did manage to achieve their potential heights (like the maximum they could obtain) and weren't a bit shorter than what they should be. Moreover, Maine is taller than Mass for this very reason.

That's sort of why food isn't a priority for them...since they didn’t always get it even if it was there. I'd discussed this headcannon with @imkindanerdy as well so based on what she added about these states being very careful about food now; I feel like they would often just have something hidden in their rooms like packaged food, stuff that's easy to open or won't be missed, stuff that doesn't have a very obvious smell, things which don't expire easily, etc. - even if they don't always eat it. Many a times they will forget that they kept food deep inside their wardrobe or under their bed (since food is rarely ever on their minds), and it'll go bad; which makes them feel terrible but this is a habit they can't stop since not having something to hold on to should there ever be a time when they don't have food makes them highly anxious, and the thing is that they keep saving it for 'in case of an emergency, yet those emergencies never come. It's hard for them to relax if they don't know that there's always something to eat nearby, despite hardly ever actually eating it. It was ages before some of them stopped taking food from the dinner table and hiding it in their sleeves for later.

Some states that know what they went through, like VT, ME, or KY, often purposefully buy a ton of small pieces of packaged food so that these states can sometimes take a few and 'sneak' it to their rooms because that's better than them not eating anything at all on the days they're too scared and stuck thinking about the past to come down for a meal. Furthermore, this is how the eating disorders faced by some of the western states really affected them all a lot, which is also why they helped the west to a great extent during those times too.

Also, the fact that this wasn't at all in their hands, and the reason they're so small is because of England definitely isn't helped by the fact that the other states tease them a lot for their heights; but in typical NE fashion, the northeastern states just curse them out and do their best to ignore them, while the states in the South usually resort to replying with any and all of the southern insults they have accumulated over the years.

They all do their best to shrug it off, but that doesn't stop them from being hurt by this though, particularly on the days when the jokes hit them one after the other with all the force of the unaware states. Heck in fact, I'm willing to bet that after the Rhode Island Joins the Table meeting was one of the few rare times that Rhode Island was actually unable to even pretend to not cry - as is common of the Northeast states - since a bunch of such comments at once affected him so badly he just couldn't keep it in anymore and broke down once he was in his own room. Because it's not his fault he's so short he needs a booster seat. Because had England allowed him to eat just a bit more, he wouldn't need a step-stool to see over the kitchen counter. Despite this though, he just tends to use the fact that the other states remark on his height as an excuse to fight them, because that's the RI spirit in him.

Also, he freely uses his size to exploit the kids under 12 eat free option since they all always fake their ages whenever they need to make a new identity card [this is a hc that I'll talk about another day]. But only him. No one else gets to do this for him. One of the more miser states tried that once, and all he got was the living daylights beaten out of him plus a bigger check than what he would have had to pay if Rhodey just ate as an adult.

Anyway that's all I can think of right now, this came to me long back, I just finally got the inspiration to write it; since the fact that I already had this down in a bunch of messages made it easier to do. I can't promise I'll be active frequently again, but wttt hcs fill my brain whenever it's not busy being against me so er...yeah. Anyway, add on if you have anything more.

[spacetimewithstuartgary]

NASA Analysis Shows Irreversible Sea Level Rise for Pacific Islands

Climate change is rapidly reshaping a region of the world that’s home to millions of people.

In the next 30 years, Pacific Island nations such as Tuvalu, Kiribati, and Fiji will experience at least 8 inches (15 centimeters) of sea level rise, according to an analysis by NASA’s sea level change science team. This amount of rise will occur regardless of whether greenhouse gas emissions change in the coming years.

The sea level change team undertook the analysis of this region at the request of several Pacific Island nations, including Tuvalu and Kiribati, and in close coordination with the U.S. Department of State.

In addition to the overall analysis, the agency’s sea level team produced high-resolution maps showing which areas of different Pacific Island nations will be vulnerable to high-tide flooding — otherwise known as nuisance flooding or sunny day flooding — by the 2050s. Released on Sept. 23, the maps outline flooding potential in a range of emissions scenarios, from best-case to business-as-usual to worst-case.

“Sea level will continue to rise for centuries, causing more frequent flooding,” said Nadya Vinogradova Shiffer, who directs ocean physics programs for NASA’s Earth Science Division. “NASA’s new flood tool tells you what the potential increase in flooding frequency and severity look like in the next decades for the coastal communities of the Pacific Island nations.”

Team members, led by researchers at the University of Hawaii and in collaboration with scientists at the University of Colorado and Virginia Tech, started with flood maps of Kiribati, Tuvalu, Fiji, Nauru, and Niue. They plan to build high-resolution maps for other Pacific Island nations in the near future. The maps can assist Pacific Island nations in deciding where to focus mitigation efforts.

“Science and data can help the community of Tuvalu in relaying accurate sea level rise projections,” said Grace Malie, a youth leader from Tuvalu who is involved with the Rising Nations Initiative, a United Nations-supported program led by Pacific Island nations to help preserve their statehood and protect the rights and heritage of populations affected by climate change. “This will also help with early warning systems, which is something that our country is focusing on at the moment.”

Future Flooding

The analysis by the sea level change team also found that the number of high-tide flooding days in an average year will increase by an order of magnitude for nearly all Pacific Island nations by the 2050s. Portions of the NASA team’s analysis were included in a sea level rise report published by the United Nations in August 2024.

Areas of Tuvalu that currently see less than five high-tide flood days a year could average 25 flood days annually by the 2050s. Regions of Kiribati that see fewer than five flood days a year today will experience an average of 65 flood days annually by the 2050s.

“I am living the reality of climate change,” said Malie. “Everyone (in Tuvalu) lives by the coast or along the coastline, so everyone gets heavily affected by this.”

Flooding on island nations can come from the ocean inundating land during storms or during exceptionally high tides, called king tides. But it can also result when saltwater intrudes into underground areas and pushes the water table to the surface. “There are points on the island where we will see seawater bubbling from beneath the surface and heavily flooding the area,” Malie added.

Matter of Location

Sea level rise doesn’t occur uniformly around the world. A combination of global and local conditions, such as the topography of a coastline and how glacial meltwater is distributed in the ocean, affects the amount of rise a particular region will experience.

“We’re always focused on the differences in sea level rise from one region to another, but in the Pacific, the numbers are surprisingly consistent,” said Ben Hamlington, a sea level researcher at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Southern California and the agency’s sea level change science team lead.

The impacts of 8 inches (15 centimeters) of sea level rise will vary from country to country. For instance, some nations could experience nuisance flooding several times a year at their airport, while others might face frequent neighborhood flooding equivalent to being inundated for nearly half the year.

Researchers would like to combine satellite data on ocean levels with ground-based measurements of sea levels at specific points, as well as with better land elevation information. “But there’s a real lack of on-the-ground data in these countries,” said Hamlington. The combination of space-based and ground-based measurements can yield more precise sea level rise projections and improved understanding of the impacts to countries in the Pacific.

“The future of the young people of Tuvalu is already at stake,” said Malie. “Climate change is more than an environmental crisis. It is about justice, survival for nations like Tuvalu, and global responsibility.”

IMAGE: Pacific Island nations such as Kiribati — a low-lying country in the southern Pacific Ocean — are preparing now for a future of higher sea levels. Credit: NASA Earth Observatory

[lickmystamp]

US postage stamp, 1988 “Virginia - Bicentenary Statehood” Scott #2345

Issued: June 25, 1988 - Williamsburg, Virginia Quantity: 160,245,000 Designer: Pierre Mion Printed By: Bureau of Engraving and Printing (Lithographed, engraved, & photogravure)

On June 25, 1788, Virginia ratified the U.S. Constitution and was admitted as the 10th state of the Union.

[rabbitcruiser]

Kentucky is admitted as the 15th state of the United States on June 1, 1792. 

Statehood Day in Kentucky

Kentucky lights up with pride on June 1st each year as it celebrates Statehood Day, marking the day it became the 15th state in 1792.

It’s a special day that invites Kentuckians to honor their state’s entry into the Union. People across the state revel in this annual observance, showcasing their state flags and indulging in local history and culture.

This day isn’t just about honoring the past—it also strengthens community ties. Kentuckians come together to appreciate their shared heritage and learn more about their state’s fascinating journey from territory to full statehood.

Events like historical reenactments, museum exhibits, and live music performances make the day lively and educational.

Statehood Day is celebrated with enthusiasm, reflecting the spirit of independence and bravery that led to Kentucky’s statehood.

It’s a day that unites everyone, offering a chance to celebrate freedom and the values that make Kentucky unique.

The day serves as a reminder of the importance of civic involvement and the role it plays in maintaining the vibrant community spirit that defines Kentucky.​

History of Statehood Day in Kentucky

Kentucky’s journey to statehood began as part of Virginia’s far-off territory, with early settlers expressing the need for their governance by the late 1700s.

The difficulty of traveling to Virginia’s state capital and the inability to address local needs effectively fueled the desire for separation.

As the population grew, Kentuckians felt more disconnected from Virginia, primarily due to long-distance governance issues and neglected defense needs against Native American raids​​.

The push for statehood gained momentum through a series of conventions held in Danville starting in 1784.

These meetings were pivotal, as they gathered locals to discuss and plan the route to becoming an independent state.

However, the process was complex and drawn out, marked by political disagreements and external influences, including a controversial proposal to align with Spain.

Despite these challenges, by 1792, Kentucky had drafted its constitution and was ready to join the Union as the 15th state​​.

Finally, on June 1, 1792, Kentucky was officially admitted to the United States. The new state’s admission represented not just a geographic expansion but also the culmination of local leaders’ efforts to secure autonomy and better manage their affairs.

This date is now commemorated annually as Statehood Day, celebrating Kentucky’s identity and history as part of the broader tapestry of American states​.

How to Celebrate Statehood Day in Kentucky

Celebrating Statehood Day in Kentucky can be a blast with these playful suggestions:

Explore Kentucky’s Historical Gems

They could kick off their day with a time-travel adventure by visiting iconic landmarks like the Kentucky State Capitol or the Abraham Lincoln Birthplace National Historical Park.

It’s like stepping right into the pages of a history book but way cooler because it’s real life!

Catch Some Local Tunes

How about grooving to some live music? Kentucky’s rich musical heritage, including bluegrass and country, comes alive during Statehood Day.

They might find themselves tapping their toes or even shaking a leg!

Join the Parade

Everyone loves a parade, right? They could watch or even join in on the Statehood Day Parade in Frankfort. Picture this: floats, bands, and a whole community coming together—pure magic!

Enjoy a Festival

From arts and crafts to delicious local eats, Statehood Day festivals are where it’s at. It’s a party in the park (or street) with something fun for everyone in the family.

Support Local Makers

They could round out the day by shopping locally. Kentucky is chock-full of amazing artisans and craftsmakers.

Whether it’s handcrafted jewelry, quirky prints, or homemade jams, they’re sure to find something that tickles their fancy.

Source

[brookstonalmanac]

Holidays 7.13

Holidays

Ann Hutchinson Memorial Day

Atomic Bomb Test Day

Barbershop Music Appreciation Day

Bastille Eve (France)

Be A Geek For A Day

Blame Someone Else Day

Bottled Beer Day

Childhood Memories Day

Embrace Your Geekness Day

Festival of Inner Worlds

Festival of the Three Cows (Border of France & Basque Spain)

Fool's Paradise Day

GIST Awareness Day

Go Wakeboarding Day

Go West Day

Gruntled Workers Day

Guinea Fowl Day (French Republic)

International Day of ADHD Awareness

International Day of Sarcoma

International Day of the Conductor

International Growth Hacking Day

International Puzzle Day

International Rock Day

International Rock ’N’ Roll Day

Job Satisfaction Day

Kashmir Martyrs’ Day (Pakistan)

La Retraite Aux Flambeaux (Night Watch; France)

Martyrs’’ Day (Kashmir)

Montenegrin Peoples Uprising Day (Yugoslavia)

Naadam, Day 3 (Mongolia)

Nathan Bedford Forrest Day (Tennessee)

National Day (French West Indies; Tahiti)

National Delaware Day

National Geekness Day

National Paul Day

National Sam Day

National Security Committee Day (Kazakhstan)

Puzzle Day

Sandra Bland Day (Texas)

713 Day

Swiftie Day

Uniwaine Day (Elderly Men Day; Kiribati)

World Aquatics Day

World Cup Day

World Naked Photography Day

World Rock Day

Food & Drink Celebrations

Beans 'n' Franks Day

Krispy Kreme Doughnut Day

National Beef Tallow Day

National French Fries Day (a.k.a. National French Fry Day)

National Nitrogen Ice Cream Day

Independence & Related Days

Alabama (Readmitted to the Union; 1868)

Statehood Day (Montenegro)

Usi (Declared; 2014) [unrecognized]

Wilkland (Declared; 2009) [unrecognized]

2nd Saturday in July

Bald In / Bald Out Day [2nd Saturday]

Blissfest begins (Michigan) [2nd Saturday]

Bon Odori (Festival of the Lanterns; Japan) [2nd Saturday]

Carver Day (Missouri) [2nd Saturday]

Grange Day [2nd Saturday]

International Brick & Rolling Pin Throwing Contest (Stroud; Australia, Canada, UK, US) [2nd Saturday]

International Skinny Dip Day [2nd Saturday]

Lindenfest begins (Rhineland, Germany) [2nd Saturday]

The Mooning of the Amtrak (Laguna Niguel, California) [2nd Saturday]

Stone House Day (New York) [2nd Saturday]

World Rum Day [2nd Saturday]

World Skydiving Day [2nd Saturday]

Weekly Holidays beginning July 13 (2nd Week of July)

Bohemian Club Rites (California) [2nd Saturday]

Jūras Svētki Sākas (Sea Festival; Riga, Latvia) [Every 5 Years]

Festivals Beginning July 13, 2024

Aarhus Jazz Festival (Aarhus, Denmark) [thru 7.20]

Arts & Wine Festival (Los Altos, California) [thru 7.14]

Bierbörse Festival (Rapid City, South Dakota)

Blueberry Festival (Media, Pennsylvania)

Blueberry Festival & Market To Go (Bethlehem, Pennsylvania) [thru 7.14]

Blues & Brews (Mount Hope Estate & Winery, Pennsylvania)

Breckenridge Summer Beer Festival (Breckenridge, Colorado)

Castle Rock WineFest (Castle Rock, Colorado)

Food Truck Festival (St. Paul, Minnesota) [thru 7.14]

Frankfort Bluegrass Festival (Frankfort, Illinois) [thru 7.14]

Horse & Hound Wine Festival (Bedford, Virginia)

Keep NH Brewing Festival (Concord, New Hampshire)

Keystone Wine & Jazz Festival (Keystone, Colorado) [thru 7.14]

Laramie Brewfest (Laramie, Wyoming)

Maine Potato Blossom Festival (Fort Fairfield, Maine) [thru 7.21]

Mango Festival (Coral Gables, Florida) [thru 7.14]

MangoMania (Bokeelia, Florida)

McDade Watermelon Festival (McDade, Texas)

Middle Eastern Festival (West St. Paul, Minnesota) [thru 7.14]

North Atlantic Blues Festival (Rockland, Maine) [thru 7.14]

Parker County Peach Festival (Weatherford, Texas)

Pendleton Whisky Music Fest (Pendleton, Oregon)

Raspberries & Wine Festival (Chisago City, Minnesota) [thru 7.14]

Ridgeway Cantalope Festival (Ridgeway, North Carolina)

Saint Benedict Festival (St. Benedict, Oregon)

Slice of Chico (Chico, California)

Solo Batik Carnival (Surakarta, Indonesia)

Strawberry Festival (Billings, Montana)

St. Vladimir Ukrainian Festival (Parma, Ohio)

Sweet Corn Extravaganza (Willcox, Arizona) [thru 8.11]

Taste of Buffalo (Buffalo, New York) [thru 7.14]

Tequila & Taco Festival (Ventura, California) [thru 7.14]

Feast Days

Abd-al-Masih (Christian; Saint & Martyr)

Abel of Tacla Haimonot (Coptic Church)

Anacletus (Christian; Martyr)

Asarnha Bucha Day (Theravada Buddhism)

Bhanu Jayanti (Sikkim, India)

Blanche of Castile (Positivist; Saint)

Boun Khao Phansa begins (Buddhist Lent)

Clelia Barbieri (Christian; Saint)

Conrad Weiser (Episcopal Church (USA))

Day of Osiris (Everyday Wicca)

Eugenius of Carthage (Christian; Saint)

Feast of Kalimát (Words; Baha’i)

Francis Solano (Christian; Saint)

Geek Appreciation Day (Pastafarian)

Henry II, Holy Roman Emperor (a.k.a. Henry the Emperor; Christian; Saint)

Jane Hamilton (Writerism)

Joel the Prophet (Christian; Saint)

Macarena Day (Church of the SubGenius)

Marcia Brown (Artology)

Maura and Brigid (Christian; Saints)

Millennial Fairy Olympics, Day 8 (Shamanism)

Mordecai Ardon (Artology)

Mildred (Christian; Saint & Virgin)

Mildrith of Thanet (Christian; Saint)

Mr. Screech (Muppetism)

Obon (a.k.a. Ulanbana, Festival of the Lanterns; Buddhist, Shinto)

Ronald Bladen (Artology)

Rosa Mystica (Christian; Saint)

Silas (Catholic Church; Saint)

Solstitium IX (Pagan)

Spot the Loony Day (Pastafarian)

Svein Ellingsen (Artology)

Teresa of the Andes (Christian; Saint)

Thomas Rowlandson (Artology)

Turiaf (a.k.a. Turiave or Thivisiau; Christian; Saint)

Wenceslaus Hollar (Artology)

Wole Soyinka (Writerism)

Lucky & Unlucky Days

Dismal Day (Unlucky or Evil Day; Medieval Europe; 13 of 24)

Egyptian Day (Unlucky Day; Middle Ages Europe) [13 of 24]

Fatal Day (Pagan) [14 of 24]

Sensho (先勝 Japan) [Good luck in the morning, bad luck in the afternoon.]

Premieres

Breaking Away (Film; 1979)

Bully Beef (Terrytoons Cartoon; 1930)

Californy’er Bust (Disney Cartoon; 1945)

Country Mouse (WB MM Cartoon; 1935)

Dedicated To the One I Love, by The Shirelles (Song; 1959)

Don’t Be Cruel/Hound Dog, by Elvis Presley (Song; 1956)

Eight Men Out: The Black Sox and the 1919 World Series, by Eliot Asinof (Sports Book; 1963)

Eighth Grade (Film; 2018)

The Frisco Kid (Film; 1979)

Generation Kill (TV Series; 2008)

Ghost (Film; 1990)

A Hard Day’s Night, by The Beatles (US Album; 1964)

Hollywoodland sign (Dedicated; 1923)

Ice Age: Continental Drift (Animated Film; 2012)

Inception (Film; 2010)

In My Gondola (Color Rhapsody Cartoon; 1936)

The Last Starfighter (Film; 1984)

Legally Blonde (Film; 2001)

Live Aid (Live Charity Concert, Wembley Stadium, London, UK; 1985)

Microbe Hunters, by Paul de Kruif (Science Book; 1926)

Midaq Alley, by Naguib Mahfouz (Novel; 1947)

The Muppets Take Manhattan (Film; 1984)

My Lady’s Garden (Terrytoons Cartoon; 1934)

An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge, by Ambrose Bierce (Short Story; 1890)

Pat Garrett & Billy the Kid, by Bob Dylan (Soundtrack Album; 1973)

Pedro and Lorenzo (Noveltoons Cartoon; 1956)

Pilgrim Popeye (Fleischer/Famous Popeye Cartoon; 1951)

Queen, by Queen (Album; 1973)

Rock Odyssey (Hanna-Barbera Animated TV Film; 1987)

Skyscraper (Film; 2018)

The Spy Who Loved Me (James Bond Film; 1977) [#10]

The Stone Age (Oswald the Lucky Rabbit Cartoon; 1931)

Tehanu, by Ursula Le Guin (Novel; 1990) [Earthsea #4]

Where the Money Goes (Money Rock Cartoon; Schoolhouse Rocks; 1995)

Yukon Have It (Chilly Willy Cartoon; 1959)

Today’s Name Days

Anno, Heinrich, Kunigunde (Austria)

Emanuel, Ferdinand, Henrik (Croatia)

Markéta (Czech Republic)

Margrethe (Denmark)

Greta, Grete, Kreet, Kreeta, Mare, Maret, Mareta, Margareeta, Marge, Margit, Marit, Marita, Meeta, Reeda, Reet (Estonia)

Ilari, Joel, Lari (Finland)

Enzo, Eugène, Henri, Joël (France)

Heinrich, Kunigunde (Germany)

Iliofotos, Sarah (Greece)

Jenő (Hungary)

Enrico (Italy)

Alda, Margarita, Margrieta, Mariska, Pērle (Latvia)

Anakletas, Arvilas, Arvilė, Henrikas (Lithuania)

Melissa, Mia, Mildrid (Norway)

Ernest, Ernestyn, Eugeniusz, Irwin, Jakub, Justyna, Małgorzata, Radomiła (Poland)

Margita (Slovakia)

Enrique, Joel (Spain)

Joel, Judit (Sweden)

Ezra, Joel, Joelle, Mildred, Natalia, Natalie, Natasha, Nathalie, Nathan, Nathanael, Nathania, Nathaniel, Tasha (USA)

Henri, Nathalie, Nathaly (Universal)

Today is Also…

Day of Year: Day 195 of 2024; 171 days remaining in the year

ISO: Day 6 of Week 28 of 2024

Celtic Tree Calendar: Tinne (Holly) [Day 7 of 28]

Chinese: Month 6 (Xin-Wei), Day 8 (Wu-Yin)

Chinese Year of the: Dragon 4722 (until January 29, 2025) [Wu-Chen]

Hebrew: 7 Tammuz 5784

Islamic: 6 Muharram 1446

J Cal: 15 Red; Oneday [15 of 30]

Julian: 30 June 2024

Moon: 50%: 1st Quarter

Positivist: 26 Charlemagne (7th Month) [Blanche of Castile]

Runic Half Month: Ur (Primal Strength) [Day 5 of 15]

Season: Summer (Day 24 of 94)

Week: 3rd Week of July

Zodiac: Cancer (Day 23 of 31)