Tag: Karma

December 27 Today In History

Today’s Important Historical Events

1512 Spanish Crown issues the Laws of Burgos, governing the conduct of settlers with regards to native Indians in the New World

1657 “Flushing Remonstrance” petition signed in the Dutch colony of New Netherland, protesting the ban on Quaker worship

1939 Between 20,000 and 40,000 die in magnitude 8 earthquake in Erzincam, Turkey

1945 International Monetary Fund formally established by 29 member countries based on ideas of Harry Dexter White and John Maynard Keynes

1949 Queen Juliana of the Netherlands grants independence to Indonesia

1979 After invading Afghanistan two days earlier Soviet forces pull off a coup in Kabul, killing President Hafizullah Amin

Today’s Historical Events

418 [Etalius] begins his reign as Catholic Pope

537 Hagia Sophia inaugurated by the Emperor Justinian I as an Eastern Orthodox cathedral

795 Leo III begins his reign as Pope after his election the previous day

1437 Albrecht II von Habsburg becomes king of Bohemia

1512 Spanish Crown issues the Laws of Burgos, governing the conduct of settlers with regards to native Indians in the New World

1521 The “Zwickau Prophets” appear in Wittenberg

1657 “Flushing Remonstrance” petition signed in the Dutch colony of New Netherland, protesting the ban on Quaker worship

1679 Dutch troops capture Madurees prince Trunudjojo in Java

Today’s Historical Events in Film and TV

1927 Jerome Kern and Oscar Hammerstein II’s “Show Boat” premieres in New York City

1937 Mae West performs Adam & Eve skit that gets her banned from NBC radio

1947 1st “Howdy Doody Show” (Puppet Playhouse), telecast on NBC

1964 The Supremes 1st appear on “The Ed Sullivan Show” singing “Come See About Me”

1974 Dear Abby show ends run on CBS radio after 11 years

1978 CBS Television’s premiere of its version of “Les Miserables”, starring Richard Jordan and Anthony Perkins

1979 Soap Opera “Knots Landing” premieres on CBS-TV

1986 2nd Soap Opera Digest Awards – Days of Our Lives wins

Today’s Historical Music Events

1903 “Sweet Adeline”, a barbershop quartet favorite, is first sung

1932 Radio City Music Hall opens in New York City

1934 “Thumbs Up” a musical revue, including music and lyrics by Vernon Duke & James Hanley premieres in NYC

1941 Dmitri Shostakovich completes his 7th Symphony in Siberia

1954 Gian Carlo Menotti’s Pulitzer Prize winning opera “The Saint of Bleecker Street” opens at Broadway Theater in ,NYC; runs for 92 performances

1961 Styne, Comden and Green’s musical “Subways Are For Sleeping” premieres at St James Theater, NYC; runs for 205 performances

1966 “At the Drop of Another Hat” opens at Booth Theater NYC for 105 performances

1967 Leonard Cohen releases his debut album “Songs of Leonard Cohen” on Columbia Records

Today’s Historical Events in Sports

1892 Biddle University beats Livingstone College 5-0 in 1st black college football game, in Salisbury, North Carolina

1897 Stanley Cup, Victoria Rink, Montreal, Quebec: Montreal Victorias beat Ottawa Capitals, 15-2

1919 Red Sox owner Harry Frazee announces they will deal any player except Harry Hooper, Hooper is sent to the White Sox after 1920 season

1937 German immigration officials with no explanation bar Juan Carlos Zabala (Arg), 1932 Olympic marathon champion, from entering Germany

1942 5th NFL All Star Game, Shribe Park, Philadelphia: NFL All-Stars beat Washington Redskins, 17-14

1951 40th Davis Cup: Australia beats USA in Sydney (3-2)

1953 National Football League Championship, Briggs Stadium, Detroit: Detroit Lions beat Cleveland Browns, 17-16 to retain title

1956 45th Davis Cup: Australia beats USA in Adelaide (5-0)

Astronomy Picture of the Day

Discover the cosmos! Each day a different image or photograph of our fascinating universe is featured, along with a brief explanation written by a professional astronomer.

2021 December 27

Comet Leonard behind JWST Launch Plume

Image Credit & Copyright: Matipon Tangmatitham (NARIT)

 

Explanation: Which one of these two streaks is a comet? Although they both have comet-like features, the lower streak is the only real comet. This lower streak shows the coma and tail of Comet Leonard, a city-sized block of rocky ice that is passing through the inner Solar System as it continues its looping orbit around the Sun. Comet Leonard has recently passed its closest to both the Earth and Venus and will round the Sun next week. The comet, still visible to the unaided eye, has developed a long and changing tail in recent weeks. In contrast, the upper streak is the launch plume of the Ariane V rocket that lifted the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) off the Earth two days ago. The featured single-exposure image was taken from Thailand, and the foreground spire is atop a pagoda in Doi Inthanon National Park. JWST, NASA’s largest and most powerful space telescope so far, will orbit the Sun near the Earth-Sun L2 point and is scheduled to start science observations in the summer of 2022.

 

Gallery: Comet Leonard 2021
Gallery: Webb Space Telescope Launch: 2021 December 25

Celtic Calendar – Birch December 24 – January 20

(I am sorry I did not get this up on December 24 the day it started)

Birch – the tree of birth

The Birch was seen by the Druids as the tree of birth – a symbol of new beginnings. Beth, meaning birch, is the first letter in the Ogham alphabet and the first month in the Celtic Tree Calendar.

From ireland-calling.com – Birch

The birch tree has many uses both medicinal and practical.

Birch wood is durable but quick to rot, making it a good home for insects and birdlife.

It was often used to make May poles and start the fires at Beltane, the festival of new beginnings, due to a highly combustible tar in its bark.

This tar is furthermore believed to be good for the skin and can be used to treat eczema.

Birch is also associated with purification and protection. The leaves of the birch can be brewed into a tea that treats infection, stimulates the gall bladder and kidneys and is said to dissolve gravel and kidney stones.

Birch used to stimulate purification process

In Scandinavia birch is used in saunas to stimulate the purification process and in Russia birch branches are beaten against the skin at steam rooms for the same purpose. This practice was also used as a punishment in old England to purify a criminal of evil.

Astronomy Picture of the Day

Discover the cosmos! Each day a different image or photograph of our fascinating universe is featured, along with a brief explanation written by a professional astronomer.

2021 December 26

James Webb Space Telescope over Earth

Image Credit: Arianespace, ESA, NASA, CSA, CNES

Explanation: There’s a big new telescope in space. This one, the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST), not only has a mirror over five times larger than Hubble‘s in area, but can see better in infrared light. The featured picture shows JWST high above the Earth just after being released by the upper stage of an Ariane V rocket, launched yesterday from French Guiana. Over the next month, JWST will move out near the Sun-Earth L2 point where it will co-orbit the Sun with the Earth. During this time and for the next five months, JWST will unravel its segmented mirror and an array of sophisticated scientific instruments — and test them. If all goes well, JWST will start examining galaxies across the universe and planets orbiting stars across our Milky Way Galaxy in the summer of 2022.

 

APOD Gallery: Webb Space Telescope Launch

The Witch Said What?!

Please remember if we want Christians to accept us and our beliefs, we need to do the same for them.

The History of Christmas

Christmas may get buried under the catalogues of holiday cheer, present buying, and a lot of food prep stress, but the 2 thousand-year-old holiday commemorating the birth of Jesus has one of the most complex and interesting timelines of any holiday in the history of the world.

The annual festival celebrated on Dec. 24, Dec. 25, January 7, and Jan 19 depending on denomination, is both a cultural and deeply religious occasion celebrated by billions of people around the world. From the inclusion of the Christmas tree to the annual gift-giving, the feast day that spans through modern history has many traditions, myths, and stories that resonate around the globe.

As a main celebration in the Christian liturgical calendar, it follows the season of Advent and ushers in Christmastide, or The Twelve Days of Christmas. It was first decided to the specific date in the Western calendar by Dionysius Exiguus, a Scythian monk who was an abbot in Rome. With Exiguus’ research and biblical texts, Jesus’s birth was decided to have occurred on December 25, 1 C.E. There have been many disputes over the actual date of Jesus’s birth since, but Exiguus’ date has stuck despite them.

Prior to Christian celebrations, Roman pagans celebrated the holiday of Saturnalia, a week of raucous celebrations from December 17-25, where Roman courts were closed and the law dictated that citizens could not be punished for damaging property or injuring people during the feasting. The Romans believed these celebrations, which chose a community victim and forced them to indulge in food and festivities, destroyed the forces of evil when they murdered this victim at the conclusion of the week, on December 25.

In the 4th century, Christian leaders were successful at converting many pagans to Christianity by allowing them to also continue the celebration of Saturnalia, and this was its first connection to Jesus’s birth. Because the festival of Saturnalia had no connection with Christian teachings, leaders tacked on the holiday of Jesus’s birth onto the last day of the festival. For many years, contemporaries of the time continued to allow the celebration.

Click here to read the rest of this article.

December 25 Daily Correspondence Digest for the Daily and Birthday Horoscopes

Click here for Georgia Nicols’ Daily Horoscopes

Moon Alert

There are no restrictions to shopping or important decisions today. The Moon is in Virgo.

Aries (March 21-April 19)

You might want attention from a parent or someone in authority. You want the reassurance that you have this person’s approval. (We’ve all been there.) Believe me, this can be frustrating when you feel you’re not getting it! Relax.

Taurus (April 20-May 20)

Today you might be fascinated by someone who is far way, or different from you, or perhaps from another culture. Quite likely, you are entrenched in your views about politics, religion or a particular issue. Is this the day to get on your soap box? Maybe not.

Gemini (May 21-June 20)

It’s easy to get obsessed today about the wealth of others or what someone else owns or the wealth of your partner. You might feel jealous, or you might be obsessed about how something is shared – or not shared. In 10 years, will any of this matter? Chill out.

Cancer (June 21-July 22)

Relations with partners, spouses and close friends are intense today. You want their attention and you want their admiration. Dare I say, you want to feel adored? This can lead to feelings of insecurity and obsession. Take a step back. Give this situation more breathing space. Relax.

Leo (July 23-Aug. 22)

When it comes to issues about health, your pet, or how you are performing in your job, you might be anxious today. You want the approval of someone. (Well, don’t we all?) Focus on lighthearted activities and social outings to have a happy day.

Virgo (Aug. 23-Sept. 22)

With the Moon in your sign today, things will tend to go your way. This is reassuring. Many of you want to enjoy social outings and fun times with kids. Therefore, do your best when dealing with increased chaos and turmoil at home. It is what it is.

Libra (Sept. 23-Oct. 22)

Issues at home today are intense because feelings are running high. This especially applies to romantic partners. Keep in mind that with Mars in your House of Communications, you’re a bit aggressive! Be gentle with others to keep the peace and promote harmony with everyone.

Scorpio (Oct. 23-Nov. 21)

Today you feel strong, intense feelings when talking to siblings, relatives and neighbours. Be smart and resist the temptation to become obsessed with an idea or a certain point of view. Instead, lighten up! Everyone sees things from their own perspective. Enjoy this day.

Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 21)

You have lots of energy now because Mars is in your sign until January 25. The good news is you have energy to get things done! The not so good news is you might overpower others, especially if they feel uncertain about something. Take it easy.

Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 19)

You have ideas about what you expect today to be, and how you want things to unfold. This is because Venus is lined up with Pluto in your sign, which makes you a bit obsessed about things. It also makes you feel intense. Be aware of this so that you can cut others some slack.

Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 18)

You might be mildly troubled by something that’s going on behind the scenes. You might know what it is, or maybe it’s something you can’t quite put your finger on? Use positive energy today to interact with friends and groups. Whatever happens, keep the high road.

Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20)

You’re keen to communicate to friends and groups today. You have strong ideas, especially about your future plans and goals. Remember to listen to what others have to say. Be cooperative because the Moon is still opposite your sign.

If Your Birthday Is Today

Actress Rachel Keller (1992) shares your birthday today. You are grounded and practical, but you are also intuitive and perceptive. You value fair play and are a natural peacemaker. You remain calm when others around you are flustered. This is been a social year for you, and also a time when you had to help others. Next year you will have more solitude to learn and to teach.

Click here to read anyone’s birthday horoscope

DECEMBER 25 birthday horoscope predicts you are an extraordinary person. You are a Capricorn who is truly a mystic healer. It’s not just a coincidence that you are interested in New Age or alternative medicine. You cannot see anyone in pain.

You have great solipsism, and people can “feel” a difference after having a conversation with you. They may even recover answers to age-old questions. In other words, those born on this birthday can be an angel in disguise.

The December 25 birthday personality has a lot of patience with people. You are likely to stay calm in situations that call for extreme measures. This is not something everyone is capable of. You should be proud of yourself as are your friends, co-workers, and family.

This Capricorn birthday person can make friendships complicated though. You’ve been known to put your friends through some “test.” You want to know if they are true or not. You want to be loved unconditionally but are not sure enough to know that anyone would stand by you in the good as well as the bad times. Until that time, this Capricorn born today will remain single.

The December 25 horoscope predicts that you fear rejection. So you don’t always show how you feel deep down. You are sensitive and will make a supportive partner. You love with your whole heart and the longer the relationship lasts, the more you invest in yourself. This zodiac birthday person will generally place communication and trust as their top requirements for a long-term relationship. They also can be highly particular individuals who remember birthdays and anniversaries.

The December 25 astrology predicts that commitment to a diet seems to be very difficult for you. You have what it takes, but you don’t want to put in the work. Listen, after you do it sometimes, it’ll become routine. Low calories foods have reached new levels of goodness. It doesn’t have to taste bland anymore. The future of person who born on December 25 depends on how well they care for their health.

When you eat right, you can lose weight or gain weight. Sometimes, you don’t even have to give up the foods you love to do it. Pick a program, take your supplements especially those that increase your calcium intake and stick with it. Your bones will thank you in the long haul. Oh, and find a nice trail and hike it. Take a friend for company.

The December 25 birthday personality are professionals who are generally found in the background. Nonetheless, you have a sunny disposition to work with. You make people laugh with your sense of humor. It would not surprise me if you somehow used your supernatural abilities to help others. They love your winning attitude, too. Usually, you are hard at work while others are sleeping. You want to live well and without financial limitations. You have the drive and the willpower to prosper; you need to use it, however.

The December 25th birthday meaning shows that you are remarkably smart and it is likely that you will have a top position in administration or business. Buying and selling property is always a popular method of making huge profits. However, your aptitude is saying that you could be a doctor. It’s up to you, Capricorn – the world is yours!

As the December 25 zodiac sign is Capricorn, chances are you are the epitome of being cool, calm and collected. You have special abilities that could be considered as above average. I mean, you may have divine qualities and not know it, my friend. You have a lot going on for yourself, but you may need a push in that direction.

With a supportive and strong partner, the December 25 birthday personality can reach heights without limitations. Famous people were once unknown people from down the street. You are just like those people. Get a hold of your health as you will need to eat properly to have strength. Being you is no easy job and eating only ensures you’ll have the energy to be you!

 

Famous People And Celebrities Born On December 25

Humphrey Bogart, Jimmy Buffett, Dido, Rickey Henderson, Chris Rene, Annie Lennox, Atal Bihari Vajpayee

See: Famous Celebrities Born On December 25

This Day That Year – December 25 In History

2013 – The Egyptian government partnered with the Muslim Brotherhood to stop bombings and other radical deeds.
1983 – The first televised Christmas parade.
1955 – The Cleveland Browns wins the NFL championship game.
1896 – John P Sousa presents “Stars and Stripes Forever.”

December 25  Makar Rashi (Vedic Moon Sign)
December 25 Chinese Zodiac OX

December 25 Birthday Planet

Your ruling planet is Saturn that symbolizes the different definitions in our life and reminds us to stay within our limits.

December 25 Birthday Symbols

The Goat Is The Symbol For The Capricorn Zodiac Sign

December 25 Birthday Tarot Card

Your Birthday Tarot Card is The Chariot. This card symbolizes self-assertion and willpower needed to become successful. The Minor Arcana cards are Two of Disks and Queen of Pentacles

December 25 Birthday Zodiac Compatibility

You are most compatible with people born under Zodiac Sign Capricorn: This is a long-lasting love match.
You are not compatible with people born under Zodiac Sign Aries: This relationship will be contentious.

See Also:

December 25 Lucky Numbers

Number 1 – This number stands for a pioneer with a courageous and motivational spirit.
Number 7 – This is a number that is symbolic of solitude, analysis, research, and scientific mind.

Read about: Birthday Numerology

Lucky Colors For December 25 Birthday

Indigo: This is a color of imagination, perception, transformation and selfless love.
Sea Green: This is a color that stands for expanse, freedom, calmness, and loyalty.

Lucky Days For December 25 Birthday

Monday – This day ruled by the Moon shows your caring and nurturing attitude, behavior, and reactions.
Saturday – This day ruled by Saturn is symbolic of significant efforts needed to come out a victor in life.

December 25 Birthstone Garnet

Garnet is a gemstone that symbolizes confidence, love, dedication and positive thoughts.

Ideal Zodiac Birthday Gifts For People Born On December 25

A swim watch for the man and a beautifully framed collage of family photos for the woman. The December 25 birthday horoscope predicts that you like gifts that are naturally made.

Printable Spell

Color Correspondence Of Color and Hue

Color correspondence is the way that the use of color will affect your magickal workings. From the color of the candles that you use to the color of clothes that you wear

It should be noted that this type of correspondence is not just associated with pagan followings or metaphysics.  There is scientific evidence about the relationship of color to mood, success and growth.  In many penal systems, when an inmate acts out of line (eq. gets in a fight), they are put into a “pink room” for a short time.  This, under short duration, is said to calm the suspect. But long time exposure to pinks or reds can have exactly the opposite effect.

Color table and information…

Click here to read the rest of the article about Color Correspondences from ancientpathway.com

December 24 Today In History

Today’s Important Historical Events

1565 Compromise of the Nobles in Habsburg Netherlands closes against inquisition

1814 Treaty of Ghent signed, ending the War of 1812 between the United States, the United Kingdom and their allies

1936 1st radioactive isotope medicine administered in Berkeley, California

1943 US President FDR appoints General Eisenhower Supreme Commander of the Allied forces

This website was down for all the other historical events. If you are interested in reading the rest of today’s historical happenings, please click on the link above and then on the links for the rest of the topics.

Astronomy Picture of the Day

Discover the cosmos! Each day a different image or photograph of our fascinating universe is featured, along with a brief explanation written by a professional astronomer.

2021 December 24

M1: The Crab Nebula

Image Credit & Copyright: Michael Sherick

Explanation: The Crab Nebula is cataloged as M1, the first object on Charles Messier’s famous 18th century list of things which are not comets. In fact, the Crab is now known to be a supernova remnant, debris from the death explosion of a massive star, witnessed by astronomers in the year 1054. This sharp, ground-based telescopic view combines broadband color data with narrowband data that tracks emission from ionized sulfur, hydrogen, and oxygen atoms to explore the tangled filaments within the still expanding cloud. One of the most exotic objects known to modern astronomers, the Crab Pulsar, a neutron star spinning 30 times a second, is visible as a bright spot near the nebula’s center. Like a cosmic dynamo, this collapsed remnant of the stellar core powers the Crab’s emission across the electromagnetic spectrum. Spanning about 12 light-years, the Crab Nebula is a mere 6,500 light-years away in the constellation Taurus.

One Opinion on a Practical Spellcasting Guide

I suggest you always cast a spell yourself as you know the intention you have behind wanting it cast. Having someone else cast a spell for you can lead to the intention of the spell being left to their interruption of what you say you want. Through the years I have found the intention is about 90% of how the spell will manifest. Keep your intention upmost in your mind when writing and casting your spells. If using a spell someone has written edit or tweak it, so it becomes your spell with theirs as a baseline for you to build on. – Lady Beltane

Click here to read this rest of this practical Spellcasting Guide from psychicguild.com

BE CAREFUL! We do not recommend casting spells yourself without serious training. But if you are interested in learning about witchcraft basics, then read on!

All witchcraft practices have one thing in common. They require creating a sacred space where you can focus your intention. Wiccans cast a circle using the elements. Other forms of pagan spellcasting or witchcraft spells use the pentagram. Other spells don’t require either, but a gathering of the energies and focusing of your intentions is always necessary for spells to work. Otherwise, there will simply be no effect!

  • Step 1: Define your intention: Refining which effect you intend to create in the physical world is crucial! Make it clear and concise, and be sure to think through the possible consequences and whether you are prepared to take responsibility for them.
  • Step 2: Always follow spellcasting best practices:
  • Get permission from anyone you plan to cast a spell on
  • Clearly state your intention for optimal success
  • Cast a series of spells if your goal is complicated
  • Step 3: Find the right timing for your spell: Remember that privacy is important. Distractions such as other people or pets coming into your space while you are spell casting is a no-no because it will break your energy flow. If you are using the power of the lunar phases, consider casting banishing spells on the new moon. Cast love or abundance spells on the full moon to get them an extra boost, or follow the days of the week that best correspond to the energies:
    • Sunday – for personal achievements
    • Monday – for fertility, pregnancy and feminine moon (moonday) magic
    • Tuesday – for strength and courage
    • Wednesday – for Mercury, the planet of communication
    • Thursday – cast spells for prosperity and abundance. Also for healing
    • Friday – love magick
    • Saturday – cleansing and banishing
  • Step 4: Collect your materials and supplies: Each spell will outline the needed materials and supplies. From candles to crystals or representations of the elements, spells will clearly state what is needed. Be sure to gather them all carefully before you begin your spell! The last thing you want is to be sitting in your circle and realize you are missing something important!
  • Step 5: Raise, direct and release the energy: Once you have set your intention, remember to magnify it by raising the cone of power! You can do this by drumming, dancing, chanting, visualization or even orgasm, as in sex magic. Then, once you have built the energy to a climax, send it to the universe to manifest. Afterward, remember to ground yourself back down. Then you can just await the results!

Tips on casting free magic spells

Stay away from darker magic if you are a beginner. Even white magic spells can have negative consequences if you accidentally cast them wrong, but black magic can be very dangerous. If you’ve already reached out to a professional spellcaster and you are ready to try some white magic basics, then keep these tips in mind:

  • Stick to white magic spells if you are a novice
  • Remember not to affect anyone else’s free will with your spellcasting or you may have negativity come your way
  • Collect all of your materials before you start and make sure you have privacy
  • Keep your intention as precise as you can – confused spells can have unintended consequences.
  • It is a good idea to memorize your spell so you know exactly what to do before you start

Can a free spell backfire?…

The color of magic…

Witchcraft basics…

White magic…

Wicca…

Black magic…

Satanism…

Voodoo and folk magic…

The Law of Threefold Return

As you can see it is very important to know what you are getting into before you go dabbling around with witchcraft and magic spells! But for the sake of learning, I will share a few free spells with you, so that you can begin to understand how spellcasting works. But be sure to get the advice of a professional before trying these out!

How will I know when my free spell has been cast?

Spells take effect immediately, so you should notice the effects of your spellcasting right away. But remember, if your spell was very complicated, it might take some time to manifest fully. Sometimes spells require several steps and take effect gradually over time. Especially if your spell is controlling the actions of others by sending them away, for example. It will probably take some time for them to pack up their belongings and move away.

Frequently Asked Questions…

Pros of Free Spells

  • Many great resources for free spells
  • First three minutes free with a professional on Kasamba
  • You can even write your own spells!

Cons of Free Spells

  • Spellcasting can be risky business
  • Unanticipated consequences can come back threefold!
  • May not work at all

Ready to cast your Free spell? Click below and get what you have been wishing for!…

The Witch Said What?!

December 23 Today In History

Today’s Important Historical Events

962 Byzantine-Arab Wars: Under the future Emperor Nicephorus Phocas, Byzantine troops storm the city of Aleppo, recovering the tattered tunic of John the Baptist

1688 King James II, the last Roman Catholic British monarch flees to France from William of Orange

1783 US General George Washington resigns his military commission as Commander-in-Chief of the Army to Congress

1888 Vincent van Gogh cuts off his left ear with a razor, after argument with fellow painter Paul Gauguin, and sends to a prostitute for safe keeping

1920 Government of Ireland Act / Home Rule Act passed partitioning Ireland

1954 The first human kidney transplant is performed by Dr. Joseph E. Murray at Peter Bent Brigham Hospital in Boston, Massachusetts

Today’s Historical Events

619 Boniface V begins his reign as Catholic Pope

962 Byzantine-Arab Wars: Under the future Emperor Nicephorus Phocas, Byzantine troops storm the city of Aleppo, recovering the tattered tunic of John the Baptist

1482 The Peace of Atrecht (now Arras) concluded between Louis XI of France and Maximilian of Austria, ending the War of the Burgundian Succession

1493 Georg Alt’s German translation of Hartmann Schedel’s Nuremberg Chronicle is published.

1588 “The Day of the Dagger” Henry, Duke of Guise, leader of the Catholic League is assassinated by the bodyguards of King Henry III at the Château de Blois

1620 French huguenots declare war on King Louis XIII

1672 Giovanni Cassini discovers Rhea, a satellite of Saturn

1688 King James II, the last Roman Catholic British monarch flees to France from William of Orange

Today’s Historical Events in Film and TV

1911 Frank Wedekind‘s play “Oaha, die Satire der Satire” premieres in Munich

1928 NBC sets up a permanent, coast-to-coast radio network

1930 Bette Davis arrives in Hollywood under contract to Universal Studios

1938 Margaret Hamilton‘s costume catches fire while filming “The Wizard of Oz”

1951 National Football League Championship, LA Memorial Coliseum: Los Angeles Rams beat Cleveland Browns, 24-17; first coast-to-coast televised NFL title game

1961 KICU TV channel 43 in Visalia-Fresno, CA (IND) begins broadcasting

1966 Britain’s rock TV show “Ready Steady Go” last program

1990 Comedy “Lettice & Lovage” closes at Barrymore Theater NYC after 284 performances

Today’s Historical Music Events

1893 Opera “Hansel und Gretel” by Engelbert Humperdinck and his sister Adelheid Wette premieres in Weimar, conducted by Richard Strauss

1911 Ermanno Wolf-Ferrari’s opera “I Gioielli Della Madonna” premieres at at the Kurfürstenoper in Berlin, Germany, sung in German as “Der Schmuck der Madonna”

1915 Jerome Kern and Schuyler Greene’s musical farce “Very Good Eddie” premieres at the Princess Theatre, NYC; runs for 341 performances

1943 1st telecast of a complete opera (Hansel & Gretel), Schenectady, NY

1948 “Cinderella” the first full-length ballet by Frederick Ashton with music by Sergei Prokofiev is first presented by Sadler’s Wells Ballet at Covent Garden, London

1958 Musical revue “Party with Comden & Green” opens at John Golden NYC for 38 performances

1974 Revival of RAy Henderson, B.G. DeSylva, and Lew Brown’s musical “Good News” opens at St James Theater, NYC; runs for 16 performances

1974 Premier of Dmitri Shostakovich‘ Suite on Verses of Michelangelo Buonarroti song cycle in Leningrad

 

Today’s Historical Events in Sports

1866 First yacht race across the Atlantic won by the schooner Henrietta owned by Gordon Bennett of New York, first to reach Bishop Rock in the Scilly Isles after racing from NY

1923 Yankees pitcher Carl Mays sold to Reds for $85,000

1933 Montreal Canadiens center Howie Morenz scores in 3-0 win v Detroit Red Wings; his NHL record 249th career goal

1951 National Football League Championship, LA Memorial Coliseum: Los Angeles Rams beat Cleveland Browns, 24-17; first coast-to-coast televised NFL title game

1953 Dodgers 2nd baseman Jim Gilliam wins NL Rookie of Year

1957 Test cricket debut for all-time great Australian wicketkeeper Wally Grout and future captain and coach Bobby Simpson, 1st Test v South Africa in Johannesburg

1969 Ballon d’Or: Milan midfielder Gianni Rivera wins award for best European football player ahead of Cagliari forward Luigi Riva and Bayern Munich striker Gerd Müller

1972 New York Islanders end 15 games winless streak

Astronomy Picture of the Day

Discover the cosmos! Each day a different image or photograph of our fascinating universe is featured, along with a brief explanation written by a professional astronomer.

2021 December 23

Three Planets and a Comet

Image Credit & Copyright: Tunc Tezel (TWAN)

Explanation: Are you still looking for that perfect holiday gift for an astronomer? If your night sky is dark and horizon clear enough, the Solar System may have done your shopping for you. Send them outside after sunset to see three planets and a comet. In this snapshot of the December solstice evening sky from the village of Kirazli, Turkey the brightest celestial beacon is Venus, close to the southwestern horizon at the right. Look left and up to find Saturn shining between clouds. Follow that line farther left and up to bright Jupiter, the Solar System’s ruling gas giant. This year’s surprise visitor to the inner Solar System, Comet Leonard (C/2021 A1), is near the horizon too. The comet is fainter but forms a nearly equilateral triangle with planets Venus and Saturn in this view. After a dramatic brightening in recent days the comet is just visible to the unaided eye, though a nice pair of binoculars is always a good idea.

December 22 Today In History

Today’s Important Historical Events

1790 Supposedly impenetrable Turkish fortress of Izmail stormed and captured by Suvorov and his Russian armies during the Russo-Turkish War (1787–92)

1877 Thomas Edison‘s Phonograph is announced by Scientific American

1885 Itō Hirobumi, a samurai, becomes the first Prime Minister of Japan

1989 After 23 years of dictatorial rule, Romania ousts Communist dictator Nicolae Ceausescu

1990 Lech Wałęsa sworn in as Poland’s 1st popularly elected president

2010 Repeal of the “Don’t Ask Don’t Tell policy”, a 17-year-old policy banning homosexuals serving openly in the US military, signed into law by President Barack Obama

Today’s Historical Events

401 St. Innocent I begins his reign as Catholic Pope

1135 Norman nobles recognize Stefanus van Blois as English king

1216 Pope Honorius III delegates decree “Religiosam vitam eligentibus”

1465 Peace of St Truiden: Louis van Bourbon becomes bishop of Liège

1536 English scholar Reginald Pole appointed cardinal

1596 Ferryboat Meuniers crashes in Paris, 150 die

1642 Pope Urbanus VIII publishes decree In eminente

1666 The French Academy of Sciences, founded by Louis XIV with Jean-Baptiste Colbert first meets in the Kings Library

Today’s Historical Events in Film and TV

1932 “The Mummy” directed by Karl Freund and starring Boris Karloff is released in the US – 1st Mummy horror film

1948 KPIX TV channel 5 in San Francisco, California (CBS) begins broadcasting

1952 WSBA (now WPMT) TV channel 43 in York, PA (IND) begins broadcasting

1957 KWRB (now KFNE) TV channel 10 in Lander-Riverton, WY (ABC) begins

1964 American comedian Lenny Bruce is convicted of obscenity

1965 “Doctor Zhivago” based on the novel by Boris Pasternak, directed by David Lean and starring Omar Sharif and Julie Christie premieres in NYC

1966 WCVW TV channel 57 in Richmond, VA (PBS) begins broadcasting

1967 “The Graduate” American comedy-drama film directed by Mike Nichols, starring Dustin Hoffman and Anne Bancroft, is released (Best Director 1968)

Today’s Historical Music Events

1808 Beethoven‘s Symphonies No. 5 and No. 6, Choral Fantasy and Piano Concerto No. 4 (featuring the composer as soloist) premiere at the Theater an der Wien in Vienna, Austria

1894 Claude Debussy‘s first orchestral masterpiece “Prélude à l’apres-midi d’un faune” premieres in Paris

1946 “Bal Negre” closes at Belasco Theater NYC after 54 performances

1956 “New Faces of 1956” closes at Barrymore Theater NYC after 221 performances

1958 “Chipmunk Song” reaches #1

1958 “Whoop-Up” opens at Shubert Theater NYC for 56 performances

1976 “Your Arm’s Too Short…” opens at Lyceum NYC for 429 performances

1976 East Germany grants rock singer Nina Hagen her request to leave the country, after refusing her stepfather re-entry

Today’s Historical Events in Sports

1877 “American Bicycling Journal” begins publishing (Boston, Mass)

1888 Heavyweight boxing champ John L. Sullivan challenges Jake Kilrain

1894 United States Golf Association forms in New York

1915 Organized baseball and Federal League sign a peace treaty at Cincinnati; Federal Baseball League dissolves

1917 In the NHL’s first official week of play, 3 players score hat tricks in the same game, for the same team; Corb Denneny, Reg Noble, & Harry Meeking each score 3 for the Toronto Arenas in an 11-4 win over the Ottawa Senators

1923 Bill Ponsford & Edgar Mayne make 456 opening stand for Vict

1924 Babe Dye of NHL’s Toronto St Patricks scores 5 goals beat Bruins 10-2

1941 1942 NFL Draft: Bill Dudley from University of Virginia first pick by Pittsburgh Steelers

Astronomy Picture of the Day

Discover the cosmos! Each day a different image or photograph of our fascinating universe is featured, along with a brief explanation written by a professional astronomer.

2021 December 22

Launch of the IXPE Observatory

Image Credit & Copyright: Jordan Sirokie

Explanation: Birds don’t fly this high. Airplanes don’t go this fast. The Statue of Liberty weighs less. No species other than human can even comprehend what is going on, nor could any human just a millennium ago. The launch of a rocket bound for space is an event that inspires awe and challenges description. Pictured here, a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket lifted off from Kennedy Space Center, Florida earlier this month carrying the Imaging X-ray Polarimetry Explorer (IXPE). IXPE is scheduled to observe high-energy objects such as neutron stars, black holes, and the centers of distant galaxies to better determine the physics and geometries that create and control them. From a standing start, the 300,000+ kilogram rocket ship lifted IXPE up to circle the Earth, where the outside air is too thin to breathe. Rockets bound for space are now launched from somewhere on Earth every few days.

 

Launch Update: James Webb Space Telescope

December 21 Today In History

Today’s Important Historical Events

1620 Mayflower Pilgrims come ashore at in Plymouth Bay, traditionally thought to be at Plymouth Rock, Massachusetts [OS=Dec 11]

1898 Scientists Pierre and Marie Curie discover radium

1968 Apollo 8: 1st manned Moon voyage launched with Frank Borman, Jim Lovell and William Anders

1988 Lockerbie disaster: A terrorist bomb destroys Pan Am Flight 103 mid-air, over Scotland; kills all 259 passengers and crew on board, and 11 people on the ground [1]

1991 Soviet Union formally dissolves as 11 of 12 republics sign treaty forming Commonwealth of Independent States

Today’s Historical Events

1163 Hurricane hits villages in Holland/Friesland, causing floods

1561 Antoine Perrenot de Granvelle, Archbishop of Mechelen, made Cardinal

1582 Flanders adopts the Gregorian calendar, skipping 11 days making the next day Jan 1, 1583

1598 Battle of Curalaba: the Mapuche people led by Pelentaru revolt and inflict a major defeat on Spanish troops in southern Chile

1620 Mayflower Pilgrims come ashore at in Plymouth Bay, traditionally thought to be at Plymouth Rock, Massachusetts [OS=Dec 11]

1650 Johan de Witt installed as Dutch Pensionary of Dordrecht

1784 John Jay becomes acting US Secretary of State (1789-90)

1788 Hue Tay Son becomes emperor Quang Trung of Vietnam

Today’s Historical Events in Film and TV

1914 1st feature-length silent film comedy “Tillie’s Punctured Romance” released starring Marie Dressler, Mabel Normand and Charlie Chaplin

1925 “Battleship Potemkin”, Soviet silent film directed by Sergei Eisenstein, starring Aleksandr Antonov, Vladimir Barksy and Grigori Aleksandrov, premieres in Moscow

1933 Fox Films signs Shirley Temple aged 5, to a studio contract

1934 French film “Zouzou” premieres in Paris, starring Josephine Baker; 1st black woman to star in a major motion picture

1937 The first full-length animated feature film and the earliest in the Walt Disney Animated Classics series, “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs”, premieres at the Carthay Circle Theatre

1949 “Samson and Delilah”, directed and produced by Cecil B. DeMille, starring Hedy Lamarr and Victor Mature, premieres in New York

1952 WSBT TV channel 22 in South Bend, IN (CBS) begins broadcasting

1953 KOMU TV channel 8 in Columbia, MO (NBC/PBS) begins broadcasting

Today’s Historical Music Events

1920 Jerome Kern/BG DeSylva’s musical “Sally” premieres in NYC

1941 David Diamond’s 1st Symphony premieres

1945 “Billion Dollar Baby” opens at Alvin Theater NYC for 219 performances

1946 “If the Shoe Fits” closes at Century Theater NYC after 20 performances

1950 Cole Porter‘s musical “Out of this World” premieres at New Century Theater NYC; runs for 157 performances

1960 Ornette Coleman records his influential album “Free Jazz: A Collective Improvisation”, establishes the name for the Free Jazz sound

1961 Beatles record “Sweet Georgia Brown” & “Ready Teddy”

1968 Glen Campbell‘s album “Wichita Lineman” goes to #1 in the US

Today’s Historical Events in Sports

1891 1st game of basketball, based on rules created by James Naismith, played by 18 students in Springfield, Massachusetts

1918 Red Sox trade Dutch Leonard, Ernie Shore & Duffy Lewis to Yankees for Ray Caldwell & Slim Love, Frank Gilhooey, Al Walters & $15,000

1925 Test batsman Hunter “Stork” Hendry scores career best unbeaten 325 for Victoria against New Zealand in drawn tour match at the Melbourne Cricket Ground

1926 Soccer team DOS Struggle forms

1932 Giants sign former outfielder Billy Southworth as a coach

1936 Bradman‘s 2nd consecutive Test Cricket duck! Australia all out for 80

1937 O’Reilly completes 14-98 for cricket match, NSW v South Aust

1937 Chicago Black Hawks left wing Paul Thompson becomes first player in NHL history to score a goal against his brother; scores on bro Cecil of the Boston Bruins with just 9 seconds left in regulation; Bruins win though, 2-1

Astronomy Picture of the Day

Discover the cosmos! Each day a different image or photograph of our fascinating universe is featured, along with a brief explanation written by a professional astronomer.

2021 December 21

Solstice Sun and Milky Way

Composite Image Credit & Copyright: Stefan Seip (TWAN)

Explanation: Welcome to December’s solstice, first day of winter in the north and summer for the southern hemisphere. Astronomical markers of the seasons, solstice and equinox dates are based on the Sun’s place in its annual journey along the ecliptic, through planet Earth’s sky. At this solstice, the Sun reaches its maximum southern declination of -23.5 degrees today at 15:59 UTC, while its right ascension coordinate on the celestial sphere is 18 hours. That puts the Sun in the constellation Sagittarius in a direction near the center of our Milky Way galaxy. In fact, if you could see today’s Solstice Sun against faint background stars and nebulae (that’s really hard to do, especially in the daytime …) your view might look something like this composited panorama. To make it, images of our fair galaxy were taken under dark Namibian night skies, then stitched together in a panoramic view. From a snapshot made on 2015 December 21, the Sun was digitally overlayed as a brilliant star at today’s northern winter solstice position, close to the center of the Milky Way.

 

Discovery + Outreach: Graduate student research position open for APOD