This day in history: 15 Apr

1450: A French force led by the Comte de Clermont achieved a decisive victory over the English at Formigny, near Carentan, France.

1865: Abraham Lincoln died after being shot the previous evening by John Wilkes Booth; Andrew Johnson became the 17th President of the United States.

1912: RMS Titanic sank after hitting an iceberg in the North Atlantic; some 1,500 people died.


1920: Anarchists Nicola Sacco and Bartolomeo Vanzetti murdered two men whilst robbing a shoe factory.

1942: The George Cross was awarded to "the Island Fortress of Malta" by King George VI.


1945: Bergen-Belsen concentration camp was liberated by the 63rd Anti-Tank Regiment, Royal Artillery. Anne Frank was one of the estimated 50,000 people who had died in this camp.

1955: The first franchised McDonald's restaurant was opened in Des Plaines, Illinois, by Ray Kroc.

In addition to Lincoln (1809-1865), Filippo Brunelleschi (1377–1446), Madame de Pompadour (1721–1764), Wallace Beery (1885–1949), Raymond Bailey (1904–1980), Corrie ten Boom (1892–1983), Greta Garbo (1905-1990), Leslie Charteris (1907–1993) and Edward Gorey (1925–2000) died on this date.






And happy birthday to Leonardo da Vinci (1452–1519), Catherine I of Russia (1684–1727), Leonhard Euler (1707–1783), Prince William Augustus, Duke of Cumberland (1721–1765), Charles Willson Peale (1741–1827), Sir James Clark Ross (1800–1862), Thomas Hart Benton (1889-1975), Corrie ten Boom (1892–1983), Michael Ansara (1922-TBD), Sir Neville Marriner CBE (1924-TBD), Roy Clark (1933-TBD), Elizabeth Montgomery (1933–1995), Jeffrey Archer, Baron Archer of Weston-super-Mare (1940-TBD), Emma Thompson (1959-TBD) and Emma Watson (1990-TBD).

Victoria Cross: I. E. Fraser and J. J. Magennis

IAN EDWARD FRASER, DSC

Lieutenant, Royal Naval Reserve; commanding HM Midget Submarine XE-3

Born: 18 December 1920, Ealing, London
Died: 1 September 2008, Wirral, Merseyside

Citation: Lieutenant Fraser commanded His Majesty's Midget Submarine XE-3 in a successful attack on a Japanese heavy cruiser of the Atago class at her moorings in Johore Strait, Singapore, on 31st July, 1945. During the long approach up the Singapore Straits XE-3 deliberately left the believed safe channel and entered the mined waters to avoid suspected hydrophone posts. The target was aground, or nearly aground, both fore and aft, and only under the midships portion was there just sufficient water for XE-3 to place herself under the cruiser. For forty minutes XE-3 pushed her way along the seabed until finally, Lieutenant Fraser managed to force her right under the centre of the cruiser. Here he placed the limpets and dropped his main side charge. Great difficulty was experienced in extricating the craft after the attack had been completed, but finally XE-3 was clear, and commenced her long return journey out to sea. The courage and determination of Lieutenant Fraser are beyond all praise. Any man not possessed of his relentless determination to achieve his objective in full, regardless of all consequences, would have dropped his side charge alongside the target instead of persisting until he had forced his submarine right under the cruiser. The approach and withdrawal entailed a passage of 80 miles through water which had been mined by both the enemy and ourselves, past hydrophone positions, over loops and controlled minefields, and through an antisubmarine boom.

(London Gazette Issue 37346 dated 13 Nov 1945, published 9 Nov 1945.)


JAMES JOSEPH MAGENNIS

Temporary Acting Leading Seaman, Royal Navy; HM Midget Submarine XE-3

Born: 22 October 1919, Belfast, Ireland
Died: 12 February 1986, Halifax, Yorkshire

Citation: Leading Seaman Magennis served as Diver in His Majesty's Midget Submarine XE-3 for her attack on 31 July 1945 on a Japanese cruiser of the Atago class. Because XE-3 was tightly jammed under the target the diver's hatch could not be fully opened, and Magennis had to squeeze himself through the narrow space available.
He experienced great difficulty in placing the limpets on the bottom of the cruiser owing both to the foul state of the cruisers bottom and to the pronounced slope upon which the limpets would not hold. Before a limpet could be placed therefore Magennis had thoroughly to scrape the area clean of barnacles, and in order to secure the limpets he had to tie them in pairs by a line passing under the cruiser keel. This was very tiring work for a diver, and he was moreover handicapped by a steady leakage of oxygen which was ascending in bubbles to the surface. A lesser man would have been content to place a few limpets and then to return to the craft. Magennis, however, persisted until he had placed his full outfit before returning to the craft in an exhausted condition. Shortly after withdrawing Lt. Fraser endeavoured to jettison his limpet carriers, but one of these would not release itself and fall clear of the craft. Despite his exhaustion, his oxygen leak and the fact that there was every probability of his being sighted, Magennis at once volunteered to leave the craft and free the carrier rather than allow a less experienced diver to undertake the job. After seven minutes of nerve-racking work he succeeded in releasing the carrier. Magennis displayed very great courage and devotion to duty and complete disregard for his own safety.

(London Gazette Issue 37346 dated 13 Nov 1945, published 9 Nov 1945.)


Note: The cruiser which XE-3 attacked was the Takao.
Temporary Sub-Lieutenant William J L Smith RNZNVR, of XE-3, and Lieutenant John E Smart RNVR, of XE-1 (which had accompanied XE-3 on this mission), were made Companions of the Distinguished Service Order. Temporary Leading Seaman Walter H A Pomeroy and Engine Room Artificer Fourth Class Henry J Fishleigh, who served as crew on XE-3 and XE-1, were awarded the Distinguished Service Medal.


Update 1123 3 Sep 08: Added death date for Lieut Fraser.

Medal of Honor: F. W. Mausert III

FREDERICK WILLIAM MAUSERT III

Sergeant, US Marine Corps; Company B, 1st Battalion, 7th Marines, 1st Marine Division (Rein.)

Born: 2 May 1930, Cambridge, New York
Died: 12 September 1951, Songnap-yong, Korea

Citation: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty while serving as a squad leader in Company B, in action against enemy aggressor forces [at Songnap-yong, Korea, on 12 September 1951]. With his company pinned down and suffering heavy casualties under murderous machine gun, rifle, artillery, and mortar fire laid down from heavily fortified, deeply entrenched hostile strongholds on Hill 673, Sgt. Mausert unhesitatingly left his covered position and ran through a heavily mined and fire-swept area to bring back 2 critically wounded men to the comparative safety of the lines. Staunchly refusing evacuation despite a painful head wound sustained during his voluntary act, he insisted on remaining with his squad and, with his platoon ordered into the assault moments later, took the point position and led his men in a furious bayonet charge against the first of a literally impregnable series of bunkers. Stunned and knocked to the ground when another bullet struck his helmet, he regained his feet and resumed his drive, personally silencing the machine gun and leading his men in eliminating several other emplacements in the area. Promptly reorganizing his unit for a renewed fight to the final objective on top of the ridge, Sgt. Mausert boldly left his position when the enemy's fire gained momentum and, making a target of himself, boldly advanced alone into the face of the machine gun, drawing the fire away from his men and enabling them to move into position to assault. Again severely wounded when the enemy's fire found its mark, he still refused aid and continued spearheading the assault to the topmost machine gun nest and bunkers, the last bulwark of the fanatic aggressors. Leaping into the wall of fire, he destroyed another machine gun with grenades before he was mortally wounded by bursting grenades and machine gun fire. Stouthearted and indomitable, Sgt. Mausert, by his fortitude, great personal valor, and extraordinary heroism in the face of almost certain death, had inspired his men to sweep on, overrun and finally secure the objective. His unyielding courage throughout reflects the highest credit upon himself and the U.S. Naval Service. He gallantly gave his life for his country.

"The Gashleycrumb Tinies"

This Sunday - 15 Apr 07 - will be the seventh anniversary of Edward Gorey's death. And in honour thereof....

A is for AMY who fell down the stairs
B is for BASIL assaulted by bears
C is for CLARA who wasted away
D is for DESMOND thrown out of a sleigh

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W is for WINNIE embedded in ice
X is for XERXES devoured by mice
Y is for YORRICK whose head was knocked in
Z is for ZILLAH who drank too much gin

Read the rest of it - plus a biography of the author, who is perhaps best known for his animated introduction to the PBS series Mystery! - here.

RIP: Kurt Vonnegut

ZUI this article from the Chicago Tribune:

Kurt Vonnegut, whose dark comic talent and urgent moral vision in novels like "Slaughterhouse-Five," "Cat's Cradle" and "God Bless You, Mr. Rosewater" caught the temper of his times and the imagination of a generation, died Wednesday night in New York City. He was 84.

His death was reported by Morgan Entrekin, a longtime family friend, who said Vonnegut suffered brain injuries as a result of a fall several weeks ago.

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His novels -- 14 in all -- were alternate universes, filled with topsy-turvy images and populated by races of his own creation, like the Tralfamadorians and the Mercurian Harmoniums. He invented phenomena like chrono-synclastic infundibula (places in the universe where all truths fit neatly together) as well as religions, like the Church of God the Utterly Indifferent and Bokononism.

From the Detroit Free Press:

“He was sort of like nobody else,” said fellow author Gore Vidal. “Kurt was never dull.”

A self-described religious skeptic and freethinking humanist, Vonnegut used protagonists such as Billy Pilgrim and Eliot Rosewater as transparent vehicles for his points of view.

He lectured regularly, exhorting audiences to think for themselves and delighting in barbed commentary against the institutions he felt were dehumanizing people.

“He was a man who combined a wicked sense of humor and sort of steady moral compass, who was always sort of looking at the big picture of the things that were most important,” said Joel Bleifuss, editor of In These Times, a liberal magazine based in Chicago that featured Vonnegut articles.

And from the Columbus Ledger-Inquirer:

Despite his commercial success, Vonnegut battled depression throughout his life, and in 1984, he attempted suicide with pills and alcohol, joking later about how he botched the job.

"I think he was a man who combined a wicked sense of humor and sort of steady moral compass, who was always sort of looking at the big picture of the things that were most important," said Joel Bleifuss, editor of In These Times, a liberal magazine based in Chicago that featured Vonnegut articles.

His mother killed herself just before he left for Germany during World War II, where he was quickly taken prisoner during the Battle of the Bulge. He was being held in Dresden when Allied bombs created a firestorm that killed an estimated tens of thousands of people.

"The firebombing of Dresden explains absolutely nothing about why I write what I write and am what I am," Vonnegut wrote in "Fates Worse Than Death," his 1991 autobiography of sorts.

But he spent 23 years struggling to write about the ordeal, which he survived by huddling with other POW's inside an underground meat locker labeled slaughterhouse-five.

A list of his books can be found here. I've only read one of them - The Sirens of Titan - and I wasn't particularly impressed by it, but the man was still a big name in SF.

Happy 107th birthday

US Navy Submarine Force

John Philip Holland

USS L-1 (SS 40)

USS Squalus (SS 192)

USS Wahoo (SS 238)

USS Albacore (AGSS 569)

USS Nautilus (SSN 571)

USS George Washington (SSBN 598)

USS Olympia (SSN 717)

USS Ohio (SSGN 726)

USS Virginia (SSN 774)

Surface! Surface! Surface!

USS Savannah (AS 8), USS Bushnell (AS 2), USS Beaver (AS 5) and USS Camden (AS 6) with tended units in Panama, ca 1923.

USS Simon Lake (AS 33) with tended units in the Holy Loch

Quote

"You know, I've never met anyone who takes as much pride in being unhelpful as you do." -- ET2(SS) on Prov, talking to me

Fifth tourist arrives at ISS

Left to right: Simonyi, Kotov and Yurchikhin

Soyuz TMA-10, launched 7 April from Baikonur with three men - commander Col Oleg V. Kotov, flight engineer Fyodor N. Yurchikhin and tourist Charles Simonyi - on board, docked with the space station yesterday.

ZUI this article from Spaceflight Now:

A Russian Soyuz spacecraft carrying two fresh crew members and a wealthy American space tourist docked with the international space station today to close out a two-day orbital chase. NASA, meanwhile, announced a $719 million contract extension with the Russian federal space agency to, in part, provide the Soyuz lifeboats and supplies needed to eventually boost the station's crew size from three to six.

With spacecraft commander Oleg Kotov monitoring an automated approach, the Soyuz TMA-10 spacecraft docked at the downward facing port of the Russian Zarya module at 3:10 p.m. as the two spacecraft sailed high above Eastern Europe.

Joining Kotov in the cramped capsule were Expedition 15 commander Fyodor Yurchikhin and U.S. software developer Charles Simonyi, who paid the Russians more than $20 million to become the fifth private citizen to visit the space station.

"Contact and capture, docking confirmed, at 11:10 p.m. Moscow time (3:10 p.m. EDT)," said NASA commentator Rob Navias from the Russian mission control center. "Docking confirmed, a perfect arrival. Soyuz TMA-10 has arrived at the international space station."

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Yurchikhin and Kotov will replace Expedition 14 commander Mike Lopez-Alegria and cosmonaut Mikhail Tyurin, who were launched to the station last Sept. 18 aboard the Soyuz TMA-9 spacecraft currently docked to the aft port of the Zvezda command module.

Lopez-Alegria, Tyurin and Simonyi will return to Earth aboard the TMA-9 spacecraft April 20 after a 12-day handover period to familiarize the incoming cosmonauts with space station operations. Astronaut Sunita Williams, who joined the Expedition 14 crew in December after launch aboard the shuttle Discovery, will remain aboard the station with Yurchikhin and Kotov, returning to Earth aboard the shuttle Endeavour later this summer.

Lopez-Alegria eclipsed the American single-mission record of 196 days April 2. With landing April 20, the new record for longest time aloft on a single mission by a U.S. astronaut will stand at 214 days. Williams will beat that mark and set a new U.S. endurance record when she ultimately lands on the shuttle.

The Russian endurance record, of course, is over 400 days.

Soyuz TMA-9 crew: (Left to right) tourist Anousheh Ansari, commander Mikhail V. Tyurin and flight engineer Michael Lopez-Alegria

RIP: Johnny Hart

Bugger.



ZUI this article from the Denver Post:

Cartoonist Johnny Hart, whose award-winning "B.C." comic strip appeared in more than 1,300 newspapers worldwide, died at his home on Saturday. He was 76.

"He had a stroke," Hart's wife, Bobby, said on Sunday. "He died at his storyboard."

"B.C.," populated by prehistoric cavemen and dinosaurs, was launched in 1958 and eventually appeared in more than 1,300 newspapers with an audience of 100 million, according to Creators Syndicate, Inc., which distributes it.

After he graduated from Union-Endicott High School, Hart met Brant Parker, a young cartoonist who became a prime influence and co-creator with Hart of the "Wizard of Id" comic strip.

And from USA Today:

Besides his wife, Hart is survived by two daughters, Patti and Perri. He was a native of Endicott, about 135 miles northwest of New York City, and drew his comic strip at a studio in his home there until the day he died.

Funeral arrangements have not been set yet.

RIP: Charlotte Winters

The last Yeoman (F) is gone.




ZUI this article from the New York Times:

Charlotte Winters, the last surviving woman to have served in the American armed forces in World War I and one of the first to enlist in the Navy, died Tuesday at her home in Boonsboro, Md. She was 109.

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Mrs. Winters held the rank of Yeoman (F) — the F was for female — from March 1917 to July 1919, and served her entire enlistment as a clerk at the Naval Gun Factory at the Washington Navy Yard.

And from the Los Angeles Times:

With Winters' death, there are only four surviving U.S. veterans from the "war to end all wars," according to Scripps Howard News Service, which tracks living veterans of that war. Since the beginning of the year, six — including Winters — have died.

In 1916, in the midst of the war, Winters called on Navy Secretary Josephus Daniels in Washington, D.C., and asked why women weren't allowed to enlist.

"She convinced him that women could be in the Navy, and her visit is corroborated in his journals," said her niece, Kelly N. Auber. "While he did not admit that she directly influenced him, he did acknowledge that they had met."

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Winters was assigned to the Washington Navy Gun Factory, also known as the Washington Navy Yard, where she worked as a typist for the duration of the war.

Within months after the end of the war, all of the enlisted women had been released from active duty. Winters, discharged in 1919 with the rank of yeoman 2nd class (F), returned to her former job as a civilian employee at the Washington Navy Yard, where she continued working as a typist through World War II and the Korean War. She retired in 1953.

Yeoman (F) First Class Amalie M. Townsley, USNRF, shows the white summer dress uniform for women, circa 1919.









Photo of Charlotte Winters on her 109th birthday from the Boston Globe.

Submarines, подводные лодки and country music

What more could you ask for?

And they're all right here together.

Victoria Cross: A. C. C. Miers

ANTHONY CECIL CAPEL MIERS, DSO

Commander, Royal Navy; commanding HMS Torbay

Born: 11 November 1906, Birchwood, Inverness, Scotland

Citation: For valour in command of HM Submarine Torbay in a daring and successful raid on shipping in a defended enemy harbour [at Corfu, Greece], planned with full knowledge of the great hazards to be expected during seventeen hours in waters closely patrolled by the enemy. On arriving in the harbour he had to charge his batteries lying on the surface in full moonlight, under the guns of the enemy. As he could not see his target he waited several hours and attacked in full daylight in a glassy calm. When he had fired his torpedoes he was heavily counter-attacked and had to withdraw through a long channel with anti-submarine craft all round and continuous air patrols overhead.

(London Gazette Issue 35622 dated 7 Jul 1942, published 3 Jul 1942.)


Note: Lieutenant (E) Hugh A Kidd DSC, RN, was made a Companion of the Distinguished Service Order, and Lieutenant Paul C Chapman DSC, RN, was awarded a bar to his Distinguished Service Cross. Additionally, eight crewmembers received the Distinguished Service Medal (second award, for two of them), and twelve received a Mention in Despatches.

Medal of Honor: D. Bronson

DEMING BRONSON

First Lieutenant, US Army; Company H, 364th Infantry, 91st Division

Born: 8 July 1894, Rhinelander, Wisconsin
Died: 29 May 1957

Citation: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity above and beyond the call of duty in action with the enemy. On the morning of 26 September [1918], during the advance of the 364th Infantry, 1st Lt. Bronson was struck by an exploding enemy handgrenade, receiving deep cuts on his face and the back of his head. He nevertheless participated in the action which resulted in the capture of an enemy dugout from which a great number of prisoners were taken. This was effected with difficulty and under extremely hazardous conditions because it was necessary to advance without the advantage of cover and, from an exposed position, throw handgrenades and phosphorous bombs to compel the enemy to surrender. On the afternoon of the same day he was painfully wounded in the left arm by an enemy rifle bullet, and after receiving first aid treatment he was directed to the rear. Disregarding these instructions, 1st Lt. Bronson remained on duty with his company through the night although suffering from severe pain and shock. On the morning of 27 September, his regiment resumed its attack, the object being the village of Eclisfontaine. Company H, to which 1st Lt. Bronson was assigned, was left in support of the attacking line, Company E being in the line. He gallantly joined that company in spite of his wounds and engaged with it in the capture of the village. After the capture he remained with Company E and participated with it in the capture of an enemy machinegun, he himself killing the enemy gunner. Shortly after this encounter the company was compelled to retire due to the heavy enemy artillery barrage. During this retirement 1st Lt. Bronson, who was the last man to leave the advanced position, was again wounded in both arms by an enemy high-explosive shell. He was then assisted to cover by another officer who applied first aid. Although bleeding profusely and faint from the loss of blood, 1st Lt. Bronson remained with the survivors of the company throughout the night of the second day, refusing to go to the rear for treatment. His conspicuous gallantry and spirit of self-sacrifice were a source of great inspiration to the members of the entire command.

What the heck is a tanka?

I am the tanka. The attention of others Is unnerving, and Since I try not to draw it, I'm left alone. Which is good. (If you were not a Tanka you would be Heroic Couplets.) What Poetry Form Are You?

This day in history: 6 Apr

1320: The Scots signed the Declaration of Arbroath, reaffirming their independence. "For so long as a hundred of us are left alive, we will yield in no least way to English dominion. We fight not for glory nor for wealth nor honours; but only and alone we fight for freedom, which no good man surrenders but with his life."

1652: Jan van Riebeeck established a resupply camp at the Cape of Good Hope, which eventually became Cape Town.

1814: Napoleon abdicated in favour of his son; under the Treaty of Fontainebleau he was exiled to the island of Elba.

1832: The Black Hawk War began when the Sauk chief Black Hawk and his followers returned to Illinois.

1862: The Battle of Shiloh began when forces under Union General Ulysses S Grant met Confederate troops led by General Albert Sidney Johnston.

1865: Robert E. Lee's Army of Northern Virginia fought its last major battle - the Battle of Sayler's (or Sailor's) Creek - whilst retreating from Richmond, Virginia.

1896: The first modern Olympic Games opened in Athens.

1909: Robert Peary and five others may or may not have reached the North Pole.






1917: The United States declared war on Germany.

1941: Germany invaded Yugoslavia and Greece.






1965: Intelsat 1 (Early Bird), the first communications satellite to be placed in synchronous orbit, was launched.







1973: Pioneer 11 was launched.





1994: The aircraft carrying Rwandan president Juvénal Habyarimana and Burundian president Cyprien Ntaryamira was shot down by Rwandan extremists.

In addition to Habyarimana (1937-1994) and Ntaryamira (1956-1994), King Richard I "Cœur de Leon" (1157–1199), King Matthias Corvinus (1440–1490), Raphael (1483–1520), Albrecht Dürer (1471–1528), Sir Francis Walsingham (c. 1530—1590), Albert Sidney Johnston (1803–1862), Igor Fyodorovich Stravinsky (1882–1971), Dr Isaac Asimov (1920–1992), Greer Garson CBE (1904-1996), Tammy Wynette (1942–1998) and HSH Prince Rainier III (1923–2005) died on this date.

And happy birthday to Raphael (1483–1520), John William Waterhouse (1849–1917), Anton Fokker (1890–1939), Harold Edgerton (1903–1990), Virginia Hall MBE (1906-1982), André Previn KBE (1929-TBD), Ivan Dixon (1931-TBD), Merle Haggard (1937-TBD) and Candace Cameron (1976-TBD).

Slave ship replica sails up the Thames

From the MoD Defence News:

A replica of the 18th century slave ship the Zong sailed up the River Thames in London today, 29 March 2007, accompanied by Royal Navy frigate HMS Northumberland.

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The events on the Thames are part of the ongoing national commemorations of the 200th anniversary of the abolition of the slave trade act.

The Zong, a wooden square rigger, was at the centre of an infamous court case in 1783 after 133 slaves were thrown overboard in an insurance scam. The outrage it caused gave impetus to the abolition movement and created a public uproar against slavery.

After the abolition of the slave trade in 1807 ships like The Zong were captured by the Royal Navy to face trial and possible destruction in Sierra Leone.

Beards for Afghan-bound RAF personnel

From the MoD Defence News:

Personnel from 51 Squadron RAF Regiment have taken an unusual step in their bid to win over local people during their forthcoming deployment to Afghanistan.

Such is the Squadron’s motivation and attention to detail during their preparation many of the gunners have grown beards. Previous experiences by the RAF Regiment in Afghanistan reflect the fact that men with beards are more likely to be respected within Afghan society.

So 51 Squadron, based at RAF Lossiemouth in Morayshire, requested permission from senior officers in order to help them win the hearts and minds of local Afghans, for whom a beard is a symbol of stature and masculinity.

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Squadron Leader Tony Brown, Officer Commanding 51 Sqn, said:

"Throughout the last three months of pre-deployment training the guys have become very focused on what they’re going to be doing. The motivation and enthusiasm to get the job done is high.

"It is essential that we win the hearts and minds of the local people, the majority of whom are friendly towards the NATO forces. In the rural south where we will be, beards are a big thing culturally and represent strength and virility.

"Beards engender a lot of respect in the local community and this may help to open doors and give us a rapport with the local population."

Boo, hiss

From the Daily Mail:

The charity founded by war hero Leonard Cheshire VC is planning to change its name.

The Leonard Cheshire group, which works with 21,000 disabled people around the world, says the name of the RAF bomber commander 'can be a barrier to achieving the organisation's goals'.

Its leaders have canvassed staff, volunteers and residents in some of its 50 homes for suggestions for a new title in which the Cheshire name would have only a minor role.

Among the possibilities are Equability UK, A-BL UK, which stands for Ability Beyond Limitations, Disability UK and eQual UK.

News of the planned change has appalled many supporters. The family of Lord Cheshire will meet the charity's chief Sir Nigel Broomfield, a former diplomat, tomorrow in a bid to stop the move.

Group Captain Cheshire, who was later made a peer and died in 1992, won the Victoria Cross in 1944. He founded his charity soon after the war and it has grown into an organisation which had an income of £135million last year, most of it in public money.

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Charity chiefs say a recent survey showed that one in five people under 35 did not recognise the Cheshire name. Critics say this means that an overwhelming majority did. Some £8million of the charity's income last year came from legacies and donations by individuals and companies.

One in five? That means four in five - eighty percent - did recognise the name. Sounds to me like these people are mucking with something that doesn't need it.

So who was Cheshire? From the same article:

Leonard Cheshire, the son of a university professor, became one of the most famous commanders of the Second World War.

He held the two highest awards for valour and merit that can be awarded in Britain.

Cheshire won the VC in 1944 for, uniquely, courage sustained over four years of immensely dangerous operations for RAF Bomber Command.

Some 37 years later he was awarded the Order of Merit for devoting his life to the sick, dying and disabled.

I really hope the family succeeds in talking some sense into these people....

Thank you, Kelly

Kelly Herold writes an outstanding kidlit blog called Big A little a, providing not only her own book reviews but also links to published reviews, poetry and other good things.

Turns out that in Real Life, she's an assistant professor of Russian somewhere in the Midwest. And she was able (and willing) to help me out with a problem that's been bothering me since the mid-1960s.

My favourite group is the Chad Mitchell Trio, and my favourite song by them is one called "Molodezhnaya."* Unfortunately, it's also the one CMT song I couldn't sing along with, because it's in Russian and I couldn't figure out the words. Kelly not only recognised the song, which comes from a 1938 Soviet musical called Volga-Volga, but sent me the words to it - original Russian, transliteration into the Roman alphabet, and translation.

So once again, thank you, Kelly!


* Spelt "Maladyozhenaya" on their albums.

Concerning rhinogradentians

A pair of very - ahem - interesting, long-promised posts from Dr Naish about the rhinogradentians here and here.