Good morning all and welcome to this little corner of the Internet, this oasis of DailyKos, where the Good News of the day, of the night, of Today, and Yesterday and even YesterYear, is daily assembled by a dedicated crew of Front Page Good News-ers (known in local parlance as G-nus, or Gnusies.) Once a month the Great, Powerful and Yet Benevolent Dryads of Good News dare to let yours truly take the helm and leave the Solar System at Maximum Warp assemble various bits of Good News from here, there and across the Internet.
Astronomically speaking, June 21 typically marks the Day of Solstice. Allowing for the 23 ½ degree tilt of the earth on its axis, today (or sometimes June 20 or even I believe June 22 some years) this is the Day of Longest Daylight in the Northern Hemisphere, and the Day of Shortest Daylight in the Southern Hamisphere. So while you are slathering on sunscreen, reveling in sunsets flirting with 9pm, in places like Tierra Del Fuego or Hobart, the Night lingers, giving way grudgingly to Daylight, then scurrying around to throw its velvet cloak over the lands and waters.
(In my ancestral country of Estonia (more than 59 degrees North, so on a line with the Gulf of Alaska, the top border of several Canadian provinces and cutting through Hudson Bay,) on this day dawn comes around 3 am or so, and sunset flirts with 11 pm, so around 20 hours of daylight. Most houses have solid, functional shutters that are light tight and swung shut as part of the evening chores so people can actually get 7 or 8 hours of sleep at night. Naturally those numbers are reversed around December 21st. At the spring equinox (the time of fastest gain in daylight) Tallinn adds roughly 6 minutes A DAY, so from one Sunday to the next sees nearly 45 minutes more daylight. I haven’t seen it myself but one of these years it would be dramatic to see the change over a fortnight visit.)
Like many pre-Christian cultures, the Solstice was a major deal, and Estonia was no exception. After all, we were the LAST people in Europe converted to Christianity (at the point of a sword, as was often the case, and only in the 13th century) so our pagan ancestry is closer to hand than most. (After all, in most Christian cultures, for a “blessing” or “Good luck” you “cross your fingers”, also know in ancient days as making the Cross of St. Andrew (reportedly crucified on an X-shaped cross for the Faith). For good luck in Estonia you tuck your thumb into the top of your palm and fold the other four fingers over it to grip it; for good luck you “hold your thumbs.”)
So, in utterly NON-New Testament, NON-Old Testament, pre-Christian ways, the Estonians note “Jaani Päev” (“(St.) John’s Day….pronounced YAH-nee PAV (short “a”, like in “hat” or “Cat” and the final “V” almost sounding like an “F”) with lighting bonfires and jumping over them to scare off following spirits and ensure prosperity and good crops for the rest of the year. Villages build massive platform swings from serious logs, like this one:
Adults (along with children) step onto these big, village-sized platform ones and STAND on them while swinging. A YouTube moment (thanks apparently to a group of Korean tourists, if I’m guessing right on the captions) if you’d like can be seen here:
SO ye young maidens, go forth into the woods and gather your 9 different flowers. The Light lingers long so you may find nine, and then put them under your pillow tonight so you will have a predictive dream for your coming year.
Ye young lovers, wander the woods, searching for the fern flower, said to bloom only on this day, for if found, your love is affirmed and blessed.
And for those of your wanting a nice little Estonian Solstice rundown, THIS LINK will give you a charming little article to start your day’s celebrations.
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Now we turn to the Good News of Today, casually grouped under various headings. You should know that here at the Gnuville Breakfast Brunch and Solstice Soiree SandBox, that regular visitors to this diary not only take in the various Good News Stories of the Day, but are often moved to comment, expand, digress, snark, crack wise or wisely ponder in pixels. Please do so! This is the Internet and DailyKos and the Good News Round Up at its interacting, sharing, educating, debating, exploring, discovering, BEST!!! So be a part of it! Other stories of the Good News character are welcome; this is just to get you launched on your Wednesday. (Veterans of my particular brand of madness will also notice I like to include Historic Moments of the Good and the Goofy that those before us have offered to give us all The Long View of Perspective.)
Good News in Science, Engineering and Design
Solar is coming and we will all be better for it. For the sake of our children and our planet, it needs to come this fast and even faster. And yet solar is showing up in new and exciting ways being applied to other issues too. For instance THIS STORY from Cambridge University tells of a) solar powered reactor that captures CO2 (carbon dioxide), throws in some plastic waste, and produces synfuels to use for…..everything. This is doing cabon capture in a REALLY breakthrough way, all of which helps us in endless ways.
And for a truly “science fiction becomes science fact’ moment (that feels peeled out of one of my 1962 comic books) this “How Star Trek Can You Get?” SUCCESSFUL DEMONSTRATION of using orbiting satellites to BEAM DOWN solar energy to receiving stations and patching those excited electrons into the electrical grid.
Meanwhile, in an up close and personal account, THIS DIARY from earlier in the month follows the diarist going completely solar on his/her house, and the financial and practical particulars. (Spoiler: the payback for installing comes up quicker and quicker each year.)
Of course, all these brainy people have great examples to draw from for inspiration and awe.
1675 London Back in 1666 London had its Great Fire, a catastrophic blaze that left much of the city in ashes. The rebuilding has begun, first in wood and now, larger, stone buildings. The rebuilding of St. Paul’s Cathedral begins this day under the eye and according to the design of (later Sir) Christopher Wren. 33 years from now (1708) the building would be formally consecrated, and re-started worship services, but the work went on for years afterwards. (St. Paul’s dome is in that famous picture from World War II, hulking against the heavy smoke of yet another Luftwaffe raid on London like a brawny shoulder, heartening morale and stiffening upper lips.)
1834 Chicago, Illinois On this day inventor Cyrus McCormick receives a patent for the “reaping machine”, revolutionizing food crop production. The device, and further improvements, allows anyone who can handle a pair of horses (and millions could, including a fair number of women and girls!) to harvest field after field. McCormick in the next month relocates to Chicago, figuring all those endless Midwestern fields would be a good market for his machine. (He was right.)
He set up a factory to build them, and the little town along Lake Michigan (only incorporated three years ago in 1831) suddenly starts growing Sandburg-ian “broad shoulders” and learns to stack wheat for a nation. (Soon railroads and telegraph wires will arrive and Chicago begins overtaking older Eastern cities in wealth and importance.
(In the first autumn of the Civil War, (harvest time), Southern generals, politicians and spies kept watching for reports of regiments and even whole brigades being furloughed home from the Union armies to help bring in the harvest. They planned to attack when the Union armies were short-handed but the reports never came, and they couldn’t figure out why. McCormick machines were rare in the South, almost unknown (since they didn’t work on cotton or tobacco or rice). They didn’t understand a pair of horses handled by one teenage farm kid or a 50-something farmer or farmer’s wife in one day could reap (and bale into sheaves) a given field that otherwise would take 20 men with scythes 5 days to reap the same field.)
1893 Chicago By now, the city IS a city of broad shoulders, stacker of wheat and is playing with the nation’s railroads. Also, it has furiously rebuilt after a devastating fire back in 1871 and is now taking a worldwide bow. The Columbian Exposition is a huge coming out party, and visitors flock to town from near and far. Visitors gawk at the sights, take in the exhibits, and taste various new flavors: a box of flour and other stuff, just add water, and you get pancakes branded as Aunt Jemima. Juicy Fruit is showing off a new flavor of chewing gum (and showing off chewing gum as well.) Milton Hershey is here showing off “milk chocolate” bars. The Pabst Brewing Company wins a tasting contest and goes national, bragging about their “Blue Ribbon Beer.” But on this day the gawking rises to new heights. Engineer and inventor George Washington Gale Ferris completed the construction of a 254-foot high, powered, revolving steel wheel (the height of about a 24-story building.) It was fitted with 38 passenger cars, each of which featured 40 plush chairs. (Math says, fully loaded, 1520 could all ride at the same time.) The George Wheel /Washington Wheel/Gale Wheel…….FERRIS Wheel has been a hit ever since.
1921 Atlantic Ocean near Virginia. The US Navy has a very large, captured German battleship from World War I, the Ostfriesland, which they use for reverse-engineering purposes, maneuvering drills and target practice. Both the Army and Navy top brass and military planners at large are trying to learn the lessons of the Great War, and while airplanes were obviously a new development, those spindly biplanes surely were more dangerous to ground operations than out at sea. Brigadier General William (“Billy”) Mitchell sets out to change everyone’s thinking and emphasize the reach and power of aircraft. On this day the Ostfriesland is anchored in deep water, unmanned, with US Navy ships near by for observation. Mitchell conducts a bombing raid, with no effect. The top brass say “See?” Mitchell now has his planes reload with newly improved armor-piercing bombs and aerial torpedoes. The Ostfriesland rolls over and sinks in 30 minutes. The top brass is impressed, and even though they think Mitchell has “too many ideas” they start paying attention less to battleships and much more serious attention to those new drawings labeled “aircraft carrier.” (In some ways, the whole Pacific theater of World War II, from both sides, started from this demonstration……)
And finally, although this last is an engineering marvel, it is ALSO a great segue to the next section of “Music and the Arts.” Likely you had a serious collection of……
1948 New York City At a gala reception at the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel (how swanky can you get?) Columbia Records this day unveils Peter Carl Goldmark’s invention: the 33-1/3 rpm LP (“Long Play”) phonograph record. You could get up to 20 minutes per side (available in 10 and 12 inch diameters). Over the next decade the popularity and profitability of the LP pushed the 78 rpm out of production. Made the “Hi-Fi” Age possible….
Good News in Arts and Music
All those records made rock stars possible, and we listened, and, maybe, if we were lucky and could scrape up the scratch, even got to see our idols live.
On this Day in 1975 on the hallowed pitch of Wembley Stadium (all soccer fans around the world doff their hats and tug forelocks at the whispered mention of the name of “Wembley”) tonight features a NON-futbol/football/soccer event. 72,000 awed and noisy fans, egged on by each other (and likely with significant quanitites of chemical enhancements) listen, sing along, dance on the seats, and cheer madly at the Rock Concert line up and pieces performed: Elton John was there, not yet knighted but riding that piano like a fiery steed. Also on stage, the Eagles laid down their rising collection of hits. And the Beach Boys…..yeah, the Beach Boys…..what a concert!
Of course, the day was well chosen, with History on their side at Wembley!
Maybe 30,000 BCE (Now) Queensland, (now) Australia Going WAY BACK…...as in maybe 30,000 years back (NOT A TYPO…...5 digits with a minus in front) the artistic impulse is part of being human. Sight in paint and carving. Hearing the music within and making it ring in the ears of others. Touching the weaving and assembling to complement our skins. Noses inhaling this flower, that essence, and creating a certain aroma. And for the tongue, not only speech, but more than just nourishment: the flavor, the tang, the sweet of this ingredient, that friend at the table, and the stomach-weighing satisfaction of a fine meal.
But yes, 30,000 years! Archeologists in Australia have found a set of rock art/paintings, confidently dated as far back as the end of the last Ice Age. As you READ ABOUT IT HERE, I invite you to put on a little music for the ear…...maybe from one of these:
1732 Leipzig, Germany Birth of Johann Christoph Friedrich Bach, composer and 5th son of Johann Sebastian Bach. (Because of Bach’s many children----the man was productive in several ways---- JCF has been nicknamed “Buckeburg Bach” since he lived in that town for almost his entire adult life.) Grew up in Leipzig having learned music at home (duh!) then was appointed keyboardist and later kappelmeister in Buckeburg. Composed about 20 symphonies and a raft of sonatas and vocal music. The sheet music didn’t fall far off the organ bench with Johann: his fingers followed his dad’s, although rather than organ, JCF made his mark on the harpsichord and the early pianos. A good number of his works were lost during World War II as these were stored in Berlin, but he is studied as a bridge figure between the end of the Baroque and the beginning of the Classical periods, and his works often show an unusual blend of these.
1868 Munich Lean back, close your eyes, and let the voices fly! Richard Wagner’s new opera premieres this day: “Die Meistersinger”. (I’m not partial myself, but I know the name and this is a big one.) Probably not that good as Background Music, but demands attention be paid…….
Good News in Society and Politics
Since President Joe BIden doesn’t get his due from the Mainstream Media, here’s one to put into your stream of Goodies. The Inflation Reduction Act of last year (passed with NO GQP votes) is providing incentives to move us to a Greener Environment and Make Money doing Good. Having counted hubcaps rolling off of dealer lots, THIS STORY REPORTS that EV sales in the US in the 1st Quarter, 2023 were up……..79% up! Yes, fossil fuel cars still outsold them by a wide margin BUT the trend line is unmistakeable…...as are the knock-on effects in US manufacture of batteries, and recharging stations, etc. YAY!
The Good News here continues to roll in in a bold and different way as well, as in Accountability on a Stallion!
>>>>» Just yesterday WE LEARNED that August 14th is “the” trial date for Trump in the Stolen Documents Case. While this comports (comports, I say!) with the Smith…..Jack Smith statement on Indictment Revelation Day that the DOJ would seek a “swift” trial, it also fits with the Federal statue that sets a 70 day time limit from indictment to trial start. Likely, though, it will be later; for one thing Trump’s lawyers need to be certified (not THAT sort of certified) by Intelligence Agencies as worthy to view classified documents in the pre-trial Discovery phase. Still, though, the Clock begins ticking and I think this trial will happen and be done with, verdict in, easily before the end of 2023….so WAY ahead of primary season.
>>>>>>» “George” (maybe his name) “Santos” (maybe his surname) was arrested for a set of fraud charges, which he vehemently denied. He was arraigned and bail was set at $500,000. This was paid and he walks free ON BAIL awaiting trial. A whole bunch of people have wanted to know just WHO bailed this guy out. We only know the money came from 3 sources. So who? Or what bodies? There have been legal motions asking the court to DISCLOSE the names. Well THIS STORY reports we will find out TOMORROW! A judge has set this information for the release. Now “George” proclaimed he would rather “sit in jail” than disclose the names (in jail is NOT out on bail, so nothing is paid.) We will see if some or all of the original 3 withdraw their bail (so George sits in a cell), allow their names to go public, or if new “bailers” who don’t mind being known step forward. Worth watching for!
>>>>>» Yesterday, Tuesday, was Day 1 of John “Coup Memo Author” Eastman’s hearing in front of the California Bar Association. Because of that memo, other lawyers have formally asked the Bar to discipline Eastman, all the way up to and including being disbarred. The procedure is expected to run 8 Days, so google up “John Eastman” and “live stream” to find the action on all 11 (!) charges. A background story is HERE, to bring you up to speed.
>>>>>» Speaking of Estonia, in a VERY modern bit of news, the country is set, ACCORDING TO THIS PIECE and according to the President, to introduce legislation to legalize same-sex marriage in the country. Expected time from intro of bill to enactment: estimated at 4 WEEKS. The times, they are a-changin’……….
>>>>>» Meanwhile, down the coast of the Baltic in Poland, the ruling party has made noises about following Hungary’s Viktor Orban down a neo-fascist path. Mind you, they have been adamant in backing Ukraine in its fight against Russia (“It is our fight too!”) but on the domestic front there have been some oppressive signs…..as well as resistance. Now comes THIS HEART WARMING STORY of a major public march by the LGBTQ community. In an overtly Catholic country, in an overtly authoritarian-wannabe country, this is a Big Deal…..and good to read about.
>>>>>» Yes, this was on the front page here at Daily Kos, but it bears a repeat. War is always a painful thing, and it can be especially hard on the four-pawed friends of humans. It is worth ONE MORE READING about a Ukrainian grandmother who is taking food and water to and caring for the felines and canines living among the ruins of her city. YAY!
Naturally, there have been Historical moments on this June 21st to inspire and ponder over as well.
1832 Georgetown, South Carolina Birth of Joseph Rainey, barber and politician. Born to
slave parents, Rainey’s father had learned barbering and practiced the trade in town, with most of the earnings going to his owner. Most, but not all. The elder Rainey saved his coins so that in the 1840s he had earned enough to purchase freedom for himself, his wife and both boys. They moved North and Joseph learned the trade too, as well as bartending. He married a West Indian woman and after the Civil War, moved back to SC, now Charleston. As a prosperous man he gained respect and influence and in a special election in 1870 became the 1st African American in US House of Representatives. Served several terms, advocating for the Grant-era ‘Enforcement Laws’ (that were enforced in favor of racial equality and against white supremacy and the KKK.)
1843 London. The Royal College of Surgeons was chartered this day. The were the successors to an earlier professional body the Barber-Surgeon Company. The doctors generally considered a good professional step, but they did give up a steady, even lucrative sideline. (BTW, that red-and-white striped ‘barber pole’ that marks such an establishment? In earlier days and centuries, barbers cut hair, offered shaves AND did minor surgeries (moles, growths, etc, all without anesthesia or sanitizing.) They would bind up the incisions with strips of cloth until clotting took over. They took the damp strips and hung them up outside the shop to dry, typically weighted down with something to they wouldn’t curl. Instead, they just twisted in the wind, making a visual of turning red-and-white stripes…..)
1905 Paris. Birth of Jean-Paul Sartre, writer and philosopher. Leading 20th century exponent of existentialism (Why are we here? Why are we here reading the history notes of the Good News Round Up? What is the meaning of meaning?) (Le Mur, Being and Nothingness) Won the Nobel Prize in 1964 but declined to accept. Charming, possibly true, story: Sartre at a café. His publisher has sent him the galley proofs of ‘Being and Nothingness’ so he can have 1 more look at it, make final changes, catch any typos, etc. before it goes to print. Waitress: “Can I get you anything, monsieur?” Sartre: “Yes, please. A cup of coffee, but without cream.” Waitress: “We have no cream. You’ll have to have it without milk.” Ah, Paris……..
So I hope this will hold you and get you started with the Wednesday, Solstice Special Good News.
Now its your turn to comment, snark, encourage, support, link in, correct, amplify all sorts of other Good News stories and moments. So have at them in the comments!
May all your News be Good, comforting and inspiring.
Shalom.