On This Day
1794 – Denmark and Sweden form a neutrality compact.
A neutral country is a state which is neutral towards belligerents in a specific war, or holds itself as permanently neutral in all future conflicts (including avoiding entering into military alliances such as NATO). As a type of non-combatant status, neutral nationals enjoy protection under the law of war from belligerent actions, to a greater extent than other non-combatants such as enemy civilians and prisoners of war.
Different countries interpret their neutrality differently. Some, such as Costa Rica, have demilitarized; whereas Switzerland holds to “armed neutrality” in which it deters aggression with a sizeable military while barring itself from foreign deployment. Not all neutral countries avoid any foreign deployment or alliances, however, as Austria, Ireland, Finland and Sweden have active UN peacekeeping forces and a political alliance within the European Union. The traditional Swedish policy is not to participate in military alliances, with the intention of staying neutral in the case of war. Immediately before World War II, the Nordic countries stated their neutrality, but Sweden changed its position to that of non-belligerent at the start of the Winter War.
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193 – Roman Emperor Pertinax is assassinated by Praetorian Guards, who then sell the throne to Didius Julianus in an auction.
Didius Julianus (/ˈdɪdiəs/; Latin: Marcus Didius Severus Julianus Augustus;[1] 30 January 133 or 2 February 137 – 1 June 193) was Roman Emperor for nine weeks from March to June 193, during the Year of the Five Emperors.
He ascended the throne after buying it from the Praetorian Guard, who had assassinated his predecessor Pertinax. A civil war ensued in which three rival generals laid claim to the imperial throne. Septimius Severus, commander of the legions in Pannonia and the nearest of the generals to Rome, marched on the capital, gathering support along the way and easily defeating those sent to impede his progress.
Abandoned by the Senate and the Praetorian Guard, Julianus was killed by a soldier in the palace and succeeded by Severus.
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Born On This Day
1724 – Jane Colden, American botanist and author (d. 1766)
Jane Colden (March 27, 1724 – March 10, 1766) was an American botanist,[2]:53–4 described as the “first botanist of her sex in her country” by Asa Gray in 1843. Although not acknowledged in botanical publications, she wrote a number of letters resulting in botanist John Ellis writing to Carl Linnaeus of her work applying the Linnaean system of plant identification to American flora, “she deserves to be celebrated”.[2]:54 Contemporary scholarship maintains that she was the first female botanist working in America. She was regarded as a respected botanist by many prominent botanists such as: John Bartram, Peter Collinson, Alexander Garden, and Carl Linnaeus. Colden is most famous for her manuscript which remains titleless, in which she describes the flora of the New York area, and draws ink drawings of 340 different species of them.
1599 – Witte de With, Dutch captain (d. 1658)
Witte Corneliszoon de With (28 March 1599 – 8 November 1658) was a famous Dutch naval officer of the 17th century.
Pamphleteer
One of the more remarkable aspects of De With’s personality was his being a notorious pamphleteer, publishing many booklets, anonymously or under the name of friends, in which he sometimes praised but more often ridiculed or even insulted his fellow officers. Tromp was a favourite subject for all three categories.
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FYI
The Passive Voice: Opening Day; A Neurotic; What It’s Like Using the Internet When You Have OCD; Frankfurt’s Juergen Boos on the International Perspective: ‘It’s Always Changing’; I Was Paid £12,500 to Write My Book. Here’s Why I’m Revealing That
Open Culture: The Amazing Isolated Drums of Dennis Davis, David Bowie’s Master Drummer, Revisited by Producer Tony Visconti; Download Original Bauhaus Books & Journals for Free: A Digital Celebration of the Founding of the Bauhaus School 100 Years Ago; Newly Discovered Shipwreck Proves Herodotus, the “Father of History,” Correct 2500 Years Later and more ->
The Rural Blog: Interior secretary nominee blocked pesticide-study release; Op-ed: Funding certain research universities could help revitalize rural America; Federal judge rejects Medicaid work or ‘community engagement’ requirements for Arkansas and Kentucky; Blight is a problem for rural towns, too; some fight back and more ->
By Nick Fouriezos: The Tech Generation Rush Isn’t to Major Cities. It’s Away From Them
Why you should care
Because the move to superstar cities may have been overstated.
By Fabrice Deprez: This Far-Right Radical, and His Fists, Will Watch Over Ukraine’s Vote
Why you should care
Because in a country on edge, he’s supposed to be keeping order.
Atlas Obscura: Japan Meat Ban; Cadaver Factory; The Great Goddess; Iconic Restaurants and more ->
By Michelle Lou and Saeed Ahmed, CNN: Space scientists want to pay you almost $19,000 to lie in bed for 2 months
KTVZ News 21: In world first, HIV-positive woman donates kidney
(CNN) – An Atlanta woman became the first living HIV-positive kidney donor in the world on Monday when surgeons at Johns Hopkins Medicine in Baltimore transferred her organ to a recipient who is also HIV-positive, according to a statement from the medical center. Both the donor and the recipient, who wishes to remain anonymous, are doing well.
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Nina Martinez, a 36-year-old public health consultant, acquired HIV as a 6-week-old in 1983, when she received a blood transfusion in the years before blood banks began routine testing for the virus. HIV damages the immune system and interferes with the body’s ability to fight the organisms that cause disease.
Despite her illness, Martinez’s enduring spirit is audible.
By Ashley May, USA Today: FDA proposes mammogram changes for first time in 20 years to identify breast cancer early
Open sourcing Science Journal iOS
Google’s Science Journal app enables you to use the sensors in your mobile devices to perform science experiments. We believe anyone can be a scientist anywhere. Science doesn’t just happen in the classroom or lab—tools like Science Journal let you see how the world works with just your phone. From learning about sound and motion to discovering how atmospheric pressure works, Science Journal helps you understand and measure the world around you.
By Joseph Burns: GAO report confirms the financially toxic nature of air ambulance fees
wikimedia
- Wikimedia Commons picture of the day for October 13 October 13, 2024Picture of the day In 1909, US Navy engineer Robert Peary completed an expedition that he claimed was to the North Pole. Although this is heavily disputed by modern historians, he was credited for the achievement at the time.
- Wikimedia Commons picture of the day for October 12 October 12, 2024Picture of the day View of the Basilica of Our Lady of Aparecida with the walkway called "Passarela da Fé", connecting the old and the new church, in the foreground. Today is the feast of Our Lady of Aparecida and public holiday in Brazil.
Recipes
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