Thanksgiving Greetings
This may be the last post before Thanksgiving. I don’t know, but maybe.
Thank you all for being part of my life. Some of you are cyber friends, and some are flesh-and-blood friends.
I have much to be thankful for and recognize God’s hand. Thanksgiving is a good moment to consider that.
Thank you for hanging in there, commenting here on VM, buying my books, and reviewing them. The best way to get me to write more is to give me encouraging reviews on Amazon. Amazon dominates the publishing market completely.
Thanks to you all.
“There can be no divided allegiance here. Any man who says he is an American, but something else also isn’t an American at all. We have room for but one flag, the American flag, and this excludes the red flag, which symbolizes all wars against liberty and civilization just as much as it excludes any foreign flag of a nation to which we are hostile. We have room for but one language here, and that is the English language, for we intend to see that the crucible turns our people out as Americans of American nationality and not as dwellers in a polyglot boarding house. We have room for one sole loyalty, which is to the American people.” — Theodore Roosevelt.
From the Days of Fighting Sail
Born in Edinburgh into a family of merchants, James Lind was educated at the Royal High School.
In 1731, aged 15, he registered as an apprentice at the College of Surgeons in Edinburgh and, in 1739, became a surgeon’s mate, seeing service around the world in the Navy.
James Lind is remembered as the man who helped conquer killer disease. His reported experiment on board a naval ship in 1747 showed that oranges and lemons were a cure for scurvy. He selected 12 men from the ship, all suffering from scurvy, and divided them into six pairs, giving each group different additions to their basic diet. Some were given cider, others seawater, and a mixture of garlic, mustard, and horseradish. Another group of two was given spoonfuls of vinegar and the last two oranges and lemons. Those fed citrus fruits experienced a remarkable recovery. While nothing new about his discovery – the benefits of lime juice had been known for centuries – Lind had definitively established the superiority of citrus fruits above all other ‘remedies.’
In 1748, Lind retired from the navy and went to Edinburgh University to obtain professional qualifications. In 1753, he published ‘A Treatise of the Scurvy’ and in 1757 ‘An Essay on the Most Effectual Means of Preserving the Health of Seamen in the Royal Navy’, which threw much light on the appalling living conditions and diet of seamen. In 1758, he was appointed physician to the Naval Hospital at Haslar in Gosport, where he investigated the distillation of fresh water from salt water for supply to ships.
Although Lind’s findings on scurvy were recognized at the time, it was not until more than 40 years later that an official Admiralty order was issued on the supply of lemon juice to ships. With this, scurvy disappeared almost completely from the Royal Navy.
Bullet Points:
** An estimated 17.5 veterans died by suicide every day in 2021. That’s the second lowest rate since 2007 but still translates into nearly 6,400 preventable veteran deaths that year.
More than 71,000 veterans died as a result of suicide from 2011 to 2021. That’s ten times the total number of troops killed in the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan over 20 years.
** I find a walk in the woods to be refreshing and invigorating. The fact that I’m dragging a dead body has very little to do with it.
**Nobody (including Old NFO) asked me, but… Hannibal the movie – Hannibal and the Carthaginians were not Black (Negroid). They were descendants of Phoenician immigrants and local Berbers (Semites and Hamites, respectively, i.e., Middle Eastern folks). Some people hear Africa and think everyone there is West African Black, which is not at all correct. Denzel Washington (who plays Hannibal) is 70. Hannibal Barca was in his 20s and 30s during the second Punic war. For the record, I like Denzel as an actor, but blackwashing everything gets old.
Beyond the mere historical issue, it seems evident that certain choices are now driven by a desire for inclusivity projected mainly to respond (or rather to BELIEVE in responding) to the social needs of the United States.
Let’s not hide behind the mantra ‘it’s the actor’s ability that matters, not his/her/zer phenotype’ because while it may be a true statement, it’s certainly not the reason behind these casting choices. A white actor will never portray a film about Shaka, Martin Luther King, Barack Hussein Obama (even though 1/2 white or his husband Big Mike – also part white), or Mansa Musa.
Identify the Aircraft
1
h/t EdB
2
3
Hint: Torpedo Bomber
This conversation may arise at your Thanksgiving dinner with family you rarely see.
(1) Bloch MB 200. The lovely lines are unmistakable.
(2) Don’t know either.
(3) Ought to know, got to examine closely.
-Kle.
(3) Still nope.
– Kle.
Identify the Aircraft:
1. Farman F.222
2. Hansa-Brandenburg D.I fighter attacking Caudron G.4 bomber
3. Curtiss CT-1
I think the Farman had more nose glazing, and sort of stub wings to the engine nacelles.
But I could certainly be wrong, and you’re usually right.
– Kle.
The Farman heavy bomber series F-220/221/222/223 had subtle differences because the company tried to improve the overall design based on experience. The changes showed in the 222 sometimes had a machine gun mounted in the nose turret and sometimes not, with that significant greenhouse underneath.
No, you are correct. Farman has bracing connecting the engines to the wing and the plane in the photo does not. In addition, the photo plane windows are larger than the Farman’s.
Hard to tell them apart at a distance.
Here’s hoping you have a wonderful thanksgiving day surrounded by your daughters and their families. Don’t overwork Mrs. LL. See you on the other side.
Oh, and if we don’t “see” you before then, Happy Thanksgiving, LL!
– Kle.
As one who stops by to “emote” on a daily basis (maybe more than I should, but it is cathartic), I have sincere gratitude for the hard work you put into VM, always interesting and always learn something. That sentiment extends to everyone else as well, always amazed at the depth of knowledge and clarity of thought.
Happy Thanksgiving! LL, enjoy your family, we’ll keep a weathered eye.
X2
Amen
I especially like the header photo, always evokes childhood memories of simpler times.
and Amen!
G-d’s mercies and grace to all present at VM
Pax tecum and safe travels to all.
I’m thankful that you’re here and enjoy sharing! Have a great Thanksgiving!
FWIW movies can/do change history… (not what actually happened but what the future thinks happened!)
Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours as well. There are, by the way, no calories on Thanksgiving so you may eat whatever you wish in abnormally large quantities.
Finished Broken Toys and am looking forward to the follow up.
Happy Thanksgiving and a Thank you from me.
I value your insight on so many issues (especially military manners) and have learned so much from your posts.
enjoy the holidays
Happy Thanksgiving to everyone.
Happy Thanksgiving and safe travels to everyone on the road. And additional thanks to LL and especially all the commenters for adding greatly to a most educational and entertaining blog. Nothing like reading a good rant to get one going in the morning.
Happy Thanksgiving LL and everyone who contributes to VM. STA safe. Let’s go Birds! 🦅
-H
Many thanks for what you do on this corner of the internet. May you and yours and all the readers of this website have a most Happy Thanksgiving. Even as crazy as the world is there is still a lot to be thankful for.
Safe travels.
Question? How often were foreign born sailors found in the Royal Navy?
I hope you have a great Thanksgiving and get to see all of your family. I to have many things to be thankful for and have very little to complain about… except for the government.
Thank you, Larry, (and commenters) for your efforts here and elsewhere.
Carry on, everybody.
And watch your six.
Stirring words from TR.
Happy Thanksgiving to all. I seldom comment, but always benefit from my daily stop here.
x2
Thanks, LL, muchly appreciated.
x2