APRIL 24 — 1800 Library of Congress created; 2017 Peggy Whitson sets record for longest time in space; 1978 Ryan Express strikes out Mariners
APRIL 24
1950 – Happy Birthday, Gavi! That’s my mom-in-law. Love you Evelyn!
1800- Happy birthday Library of Congress.
The idea is credited to James Madison in 1783, and President John the Atlas of Independence Adams signed the act of Congress for providing from the old seat of Philadelphia to the new seat in the District of Washington. Congress allotted $5000 for “the purpose of such books as may be necessary for the use of Congress…and for fitting up a suitable apartment for containing them.”
Thomas Jefferson signed into law the establishment of the structure to regulate and oversee the Library, as well as making sure that in case the p[resident or vice president wanted to borrow a book and were late returning it, they wouldn’t get a fine. Especially if they rewound the book. Just seeing if you’re paying attention.
You don’t rewind books.
Or DVDs.
The building was destroyed in 1814 by the British, but hey no problem! Not when Thomas Jefferson can just donate the books from his library to replace them. Problem solved. Imagine going through Jefferson’s library. If there’s anything about science, philosophy, literature, or architecture, you’re all set, thanks to Long Tom.
These days, the Library of Congress is the de facto national library of the United States, the oldest federal cultural institution, and quite possibly the largest and most international library in the world.
2017 – Peggy Whitson sets record to longest time in space. Born Feb 9, 1960 and raised on a farm in Iowa, Peggy wasted no time beginning her work in biochemistry after high school, getting her bachelor’s degree early on in biology and chemistry. In 1989 she began working for NASA doing research, becoming the lead scientist for the Shuttle-Mir Project, became deputy chief of the Medical Sciences Division at the NASA Johnson Space Banter n Houston, as well as becoming co-chair of the U.S. Russian Mission Science Working Group, then became as astronaut in 1996, and let the awards pour in. In 2002 she spent some time on Endeavor and spent 185 days at a space station.
On Endeavor 50/51, she spent four spacewalks, amassing 10 total space walks for her, totaling a staggering 665 days in space. According to Wikipedia, Peggy Whitson is the oldest female spacewalker, has completed more spacewalks than any other woman, the oldest female spacetraveller at 57, was the first woman astronaut to command the international space station twice. The list goes on and on.
1980-Operation Eagle Claw/Evening Light/Rice Bowl.
Force Delta’s first missions resulted in a nightmare. Let me back up a few years. Islamic fundamentalists, led by the exiled Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini began to oppose the pro-American Iranian government under Mohammed Rheza Shah Pahlavi. By the late 70s, militant Iranian students, outraged because the US allowed the shah to come to US for medical aid to treat his cancer, seized the US embassy in Tehran. Ayotollah Khomeini took over the 52 hostages for the next 14 months. Hot Shot Jimmy Carter tried to get the hostages out.
The USAF had eight helicopters. The RH-53 helicopters departed the Nimitz and headed to Desert One. But during the flight, two helicopters aborted because of flight instrument and mechanical problems while a third helicopter had hydraulic problems and had to turn back. The mission had to be aborted. Upon retreat, one of the helicopters’ blade collided with a fuel filled EC-130 transport planes, killing eight soldiers and injuring five more.
The next day, President Jimmy Carter remorsefully gave a press conference that might have caused him the next election to Ronald Reagan.
1978-Angel Nolan Ryan strikes out 15 Mariners,
…the 20th time he’d done that in 15 games. Incidentally, The Ryan Express is tied with Bob Feller for the most one-hitters, with 12. Ryan has also pitched 18 two-hitters, and despite his seven no-hitters, he’s never pitched a perfect game, nor has he ever won a Cy Young Award. Want more Nolan Ryan trivia? He’s only one of 29 players in baseball history to have appeared in MLB games spanning four decades.