Established in the 19th century, The French Foreign Legion stands out for its unique traditions and diverse membership. Let’s delve into some lesser-known aspects of this fascinating group: 1. A New Identity on Entry: Joining the French Foreign Legion isn’t a straightforward affair. Recruits must adopt a pseudonym upon entering. After a year, they can … Continue reading 5 Tidbits about the French Foreign Legion
Memorial Day Remembered: Six Facts About This Honorable Day
Memorial Day, an American holiday dedicated to honoring the country’s fallen military personnel, carries with it a rich and poignant history. The following fascinating facts shed light on the depth and significance of this solemn day.
1. Waterloo: The Birthplace of Memorial Day
The tranquil town of Waterloo, New York is acknowledged as the origin of the Memorial Day tradition. On May 5, 1866, local businesses shuttered their doors and townsfolk gathered to adorn the resting places of soldiers with decorations. This marked the first formal observance of what would become an enduring national tradition.
2. Manila American Cemetery: The Largest Collection of American World War II Graves
The Manila American Cemetery in the Philippines holds the record for containing the greatest number of graves for U.S. personnel who lost their lives during World War II. The cemetery is the final resting place of 17,206 individuals, with 16,636 of these belonging to U.S. personnel.
3. The Dutch Tradition at the Margraten American Cemetery
Memorial Day in the Netherlands carries its own unique tradition at the American military cemetery in Margraten. Every Memorial Day, Dutch families participate in a solemn “adoption” ritual, with each family choosing a grave to honor with flowers. This touching tribute ensures that every grave in the cemetery receives a personal commemoration.
4. The Inception of Memorial Day and its Deep Roots in Civil War History
The very first Memorial Day was conceived in the wake of the American Civil War. Freed slaves, in an act of gratitude and respect, held a commemorative funeral for the Union soldiers who had fought for their liberation in 1865.
5. The Unchanging Symbol at the Vietnam Memorial Wall
The Vietnam Memorial Wall holds an indelible symbol of soldiers still missing in action (M.I.A.). Each M.I.A. soldier’s name is etched with a cross, a poignant promise that their loss is not forgotten. However, should a soldier be found, a circle is drawn around the existing cross. To this day, the memorial has no circles, a stark reminder of those yet to return.
6. A Sobering Fact about Vietnam War Casualties
During the Vietnam War, a staggering 61% of U.S troops who were killed were under 21 years of age. Many of these young men had been drafted, their lives abruptly transitioning from adolescence to the harsh realities of war.
These six facts offer just a glimpse into the depth and breadth of the history and significance of Memorial Day. As we remember those who have given their lives for our freedom, let these stories serve as a reminder of the courage, sacrifice, and youth of those we honor.
DARPA’s Study on Coffee Spillage and Human Biomechanics
The US Department of Defense invested $170,000 in a study to investigate the causes of coffee spillage while walking. The findings revealed that any low-viscosity liquid could spill when exposed to human biomechanics, not just coffee. The study was part of the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency’s (DARPA) quest to understand human movement and to […]
In 1989 in Tacoma, WA, Army Ranger…
In 1989 in Tacoma, WA, Army Ranger buddies at a bbq were threatened by Crips in the neighborhood. The Rangers called more buddies, who brought more firearms. They set up defensive positions and a shoot-out ensued later that night when the Crips made a move on the house. The neighborhood is now one of the […]
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Smedley Butler was one of the most….
Smedley Butler was one of the most decorated Marines with 2 Medals of Honor. He served 33 years & became an anti war advocate. He wrote “War is a Racket” about war profiteering. He said “the best he [Al Capone] could do was to operate his racket in 3 districts. I operated on 3 continents.”
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Gillette assisted the U.S. Army…
Gillette assisted the U.S. Army in military intelligence by producing copies of German razor blades for secret agents venturing behind German lines, also manufactured razors that concealed money and escape maps in their handles, and magnetic double-edge blades that can be used as a compass.
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The Icelandic government banned…
The Icelandic government banned the stationing of black American soldiers in Iceland during the Cold War so as to “protect Icelandic women and preserve a homogenous national body”. After pressure from the US military, the ban was eventually lifted in the late 1960s.
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Lady Lucy Houston was a British philanthropist…
Lady Lucy Houston was a British philanthropist who, after WWI, recognized the need for a strong Air Force. When the British government refused, she funded development of what became the Spitfire. She passed before WWII, and never saw how much that investment paid off.
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The U.S. military has used superstition…
The U.S. military has used superstition and pretended to be vampires and ghosts to scare enemies away. They dispersed scary horoscopes in Germany, staged vampire attacks in the Philippines, and in Vietnam blasted ghost tapes which consisted of spooky music and eerie voices. Only vampires worked.
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People Talk About Things That Sound Futuristic but Are Happening Right Now
The future is now, people!
While it might seem like crazy inventions are a long way off, we’re already living in it!
And we’re about to get some inside info.
What sounds futuristic but is happening now?
AskReddit users shared their thoughts.
1. Robots.
“It’s quite phenomenal how much certain industries have developed their robotics.
You just don’t see it in your everyday life, but places like Amazon and pretty much all mechanical-related businesses are developing robotics at an insane rate.”
2. Didn’t see it coming.
“I still feel a tiny bit blindsided by lab-grown meat suddenly being commercially viable. Would not have predicted that one.
Those drone light-shows too. What year was it where radio-controlled drones just kind of showed up, and became commonplace?
I think around 2015 was when they really “took off.””
3. It is a big deal!
“Private companies launching rockets into space like it’s no big deal. You can literally walk outside one night and think “what tf is that???”
And someone will tell you “oh that’s just the latest Space X launch.” And you go about your business.”
4. There you go.
“My 2 yr old daughter, walking around the house following and talking to a robot while it vacuums our house.”
5. Pretty insane.
“I have a device that fits into my pocket.
I can get virtually every bit of information produced by the human race if I know what buttons to push.
It’s also voice-activated, so I can just talk to it and figure out when my flight leaves or where the nearest fresh tomatoes are being sold.”
6. Seeing double.
“Scientist have already managed to clone a living thing.
And it happened around 25 years ago.”
7. Open Sesame!
“Automatic doors.
I remember seeing the first 6 Star Wars films many years ago (I’m 18 now) and playing the Lego games of it and I remember thinking to myself how cool the sliding doors were.
I understand they’ve been around for so long, but recently it just came to me that they have automatic doors just like in Star Wars.”
8. Scary.
“In China, they are using AI to identify Uyghur Muslims from the rest of the population.
It detects “classic Uyghur features” based on complexion, and facial features.
It’s the worlds first instance of “automated racial profiling.””
9. Weapons of war.
“Saw the recent news of the Israeli-Hamas conflict, including footage of Iron Dome being used.
I remember seeing the prototypes of that system in a “future weapons” documentary on TV years ago, but was never really sure if or when it entered active service
So yeah, we have rockets that shoot down other rockets now and might have for years already.”
10. Antimatter.
“The fact that humans are capturing and containing antimatter for study is amazing.
The fact that we can store it longer than a year at a time is extraordinary.”
11. That’s crazy.
“Facebook is integrating occlus rift support.
I’m not sure what’s available to the public, but in-house, they are having 3d meetings like in Star Wars. They can project and manipulate a screen in 3D like the 3d map in the first Ray movie. It doesn’t wrap around you yet, it hovers in front, but it will.
My friend works for FB in the AI dpt. The first software I tried out was a demo for medical education. I saw a life size human and I could use gestures to look at his different body systems, right in front of me, like on the Holodeck.
You turn the system on by holding up your palm like a wizard and an interactive sphere appears on your hand.”
12. Gene editing.
“CRISPR gene editing. People’s genes can literally be edited.
Basically, people get this enzyme called Cas9 (a nuclease) inserted into their DNA somehow (don’t know how, maybe an injection?) and Cas9 slices the target strand of DNA open, allowing a sequence to be taken out and replaced with something else which can then be transcripted into RNA, translated into a protein, and used in the body.
It’s mostly being used right now for gene therapy, stuff like sickle cell anemia, and agriculture but it’s crazy to think about what it could be used for in the near future. It’s kind of controversial because people don’t like the unnaturalness of it (like people’s dislike of GMOs), and I can see their point, I just think it is very intriguing and revolutionary, and I will be interested in seeing what happens with it in the future.”
Now it’s your turn to sound off.
In the comments, tell us about things you know about that sound futuristic but are happening now.
Thanks in advance!
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