The Daily Drift

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Today in HIstory

1349		2,000 Jews are burned at the stake in Strasbourg, Germany.
1400		The deposed Richard II is murdered in Pontefract Castle in Yorkshire.
1549		Maximilian II, brother of the Emperor Charles V, is recognized as the future king of Bohemia.
1779		American Loyalists are defeated by Patriots at Kettle Creek, Ga.
1797		The Spanish fleet is destroyed by the British under Admiral Jervis (with Nelson in support) at the battle of Cape St. Vincent, off Portugal.
1848		James Polk becomes the first U.S. President to be photographed in office by Matthew Brady.
1859		Oregon is admitted as the thirty-third state.
1870		Esther Morris becomes the world’s first female justice of the peace.
1876		Rival inventors Elisha Gray and Alexander Graham Bell both apply for patents for the telephone.
1900		General Roberts invades South Africa’s Orange Free State with 20,000 British troops.
1904		The “Missouri Kid” is captured in Kansas.
1912		Arizona becomes the 48th state in the Union.
1915		Kaiser Wilhelm II invites the U.S. Ambassador to Berlin in order to confer on the war.
1918		Warsaw demonstrators protest the transfer of Polish territory to the Ukraine.
1920		The League of Women Voters is formed in Chicago in celebration of the imminent ratification of the 19th Amendment, giving women the right to vote.
1924		Thomas Watson founds International Business Machines Corp.
1929		Chicago gang war between Al Capone and George “Bugs” Moran culminates with several Moran confederates being gunned down in the St. Valentine’s Day Massacre.
1939		Germany launches the battleship Bismark.
1940		Britain announces that all merchant ships will be armed.
1942		Japanese paratroopers attack Sumatra. Aidan MacCarthy‘s RAF unit flew to Palembang, in eastern Sumatra, where 30 Royal Australian Air Force Lockheed A-28 Hudson bombers were waiting.
1945		800 Allied aircraft firebomb the German city of Dresden. Smaller followup bombing raids last until April with a total death toll of between 35,000 to 130,000 civilians.
1945		The siege of Budapest ends as the Soviets take the city. Only 785 German and Hungarian soldiers managed to escape.
1949		The United States charges the Soviet Union with interning up to 14 million in labor camps.
1955		A Jewish couple loses their fight to adopt Catholic twins as the U.S. Supreme Court refuses to rule on state law.
1957		The Georgia state senate outlaws interracial athletics.
1965		Malcolm X’s home is firebombed. No injuries are reported.
1971		Moscow publicizes a new five-year plan geared to expanding consumer production.
1973		The United States and Hanoi set up a group to channel reconstruction aid directly to Hanoi.
1979		Armed guerrillas attack the U.S. embassy in Tehran.
1985		Vietnamese troops surround the main Khmer Rouge base at Phnom Malai.
1989		Iranian leader Ayatollah Ruholla Khomeini charges that Salman Rushdie’s novel, The Satanic Verses, is blasphemous and issues an edict (fatwa) calling on Muslims to kill Rushdie.

The origin of sighing

Researchers pinpoint origin of sighing reflex in the brain

“You must remember this: a kiss is just a kiss, a sigh is just a sigh.” Contrary to the words immortalized by the piano singer in “Casablanca,” a sigh is far more than a sigh. Heaving an unconscious sigh is a life-sustaining reflex that helps preserve lung function....

The Ups And Downs Of Life Overseas

Americans living abroad have all kinds of reasons for doing so. Some wanted to shake their lives up. Others followed a job or spouse. Some went for a visit and then decided to stay. All of them miss something from the United States, but also cherish their new experiences. Heather Mancini lives in Barcelona, Spain.

What she misses most about life in America: Family and friends. “When I was still single and living abroad, I got back to the States once or twice a year. Now that I have a family, and many of my friends and family have their own families, two or three years may pass without seeing some of my siblings or closest friends.”
What she loves most about life in Spain: “I learn something new every day. It could be a new word in another language, politics in another country, or how to prepare a cultural dish. Also, my kids hold three passports and will grow up with an international mindset, speaking four languages. I’m not sure what others think, but to me, that’s pretty cool.”

Buzzfeed interviewed 14 Americans living in countries from Germany to Japan to Argentina, and asked them what they’ve learned from their experiences.

Which Countries Are Happiest?

Which Countries Are Happiest? Global Survey Suggests Capitalism and Wealth Aren't Delivering the Goods

American Capitalism Has Failed Us

American Capitalism Has Failed Us: We're Overworked, Underemployed and More Powerless than Ever Before

Duke Energy Fined For Coal Waste Spill, But Environmentalists Say That's Not Enough

The fine is the latest in a series of penalties owed by the company for its involvement in the spill.

Welfare Drug Tests In Tennessee Are Coming Up Pretty Close To Empty

Welfare Drug Tests In Tennessee Are Coming Up Pretty Close To Empty

Texas couple brings Nigerian nanny to America — then turns her into a slave

Texas couple brings Nigerian nanny to America — then turns her into a slave

A Texas couple was arrested on Monday for enslaving a Nigerian woman who they brought to the United States under the belief she would be caring for their children.

Gellar: American-Muslim Olympian Too 'In Your Face' With Her Hijab

Gellar: American-Muslim Olympian Too 'In Your Face' With Her Hijab

Gellar has a huge problem with a Muslim-American fencer who wears a Hijab.

***

Gellar has a huge problem with reality to begin with ...

This study shows how the media fuels support for anti-Muslim discrimination — and even war

This study shows how the media fuels support for anti-Muslim discrimination — and even war

Since the terror attacks in Paris and San Bernardino, news stories with negative portrayals of Muslims have dominated the media.

Atheist lawmaker outsmarts bible-thumping Arizona Republicans who tried to block his invocation

Atheist lawmaker outsmarts bible-thumping Arizona Republicans who tried to block his invocation

Mendez, an atheist, asked in early January to deliver the invocation Monday, when the Secular Coalition of Arizona would be visiting the Capitol — but his request was denied.

An historian explains how 'christian' nationalists lie about Thomas Jefferson and his legacy

An historian explains how 'christian' nationalists lie about Thomas Jefferson and his legacy

Fox hack: Georgia’s plan for school-sanctioned prayer ‘drags us back to the era of insanity’

Fox hack: Georgia’s plan for school-sanctioned prayer ‘drags us back to the era of insanity’

Serial 'foot-stomper' has been assaulting women

A man in Austin, Texas. has been aggressively stomping on women's feet. Dozens of victims say they have encountered this man and they say his actions seem to be getting more violent. The women are typically alone when the incidents occur. They're either walking to or from a bus stop, sitting at the bus stop or on the bus itself when the man approaches them and starts stomping on their feet. It's so bizarre and confusing that they don't immediately recognize it as assault. It happened to Kerry Kovacik at around 4:30 one afternoon. She was catching the bus at Riverside and Congress when she says a man on a bicycle, stopped next to her and stomped hard on her foot.

An American Couple Has Been Sentenced To 20 Years In A Kuwaiti Prison

An American Couple Has Been Sentenced To 20 Years In A Kuwaiti Prison. Is It Because They’re Gay?

Indian lawyer unsuccessful in attempt to sue Hindu God for mistreating his wife

Indian lawyer Chandan Kumar Singh has made at unsuccessful attempt to sue popular Hindu God Ram. Mr Singh said that he took the action because he felt "Lord Ram was unjust to his wife Sita", and he wanted a court in the eastern state of Bihar to "acknowledge this fact". The court wasn't convinced with his argument and rejected his plea last week, saying it wasn't a "practical case". And to add to Mr Singh's woes, a group of his colleagues have accused him of "seeking publicity", and one of them has sued him for defamation. Ram is the hero of the Ramayana, the Sanskrit epic of 24,000 stanzas. He is revered by millions in India and around the world.

Mr Singh is undeterred by the criticism, and believes strongly that he has a valid case. He quotes from religious scriptures to support his argument. "It's well known that Ram asked Sita to prove that she was pure after he rescued her from the clutches of the demon king Ravana. He did not trust Sita," Mr Singh said. "Ram's treatment of Sita shows that women were not respected even in ancient times. I am aware that the case may sound ridiculous to many, but we have to discuss this part of our ancient religious history. I will file a case again because I really believe that Indians have to acknowledge that Ram mistreated Sita."
Mr Singh also rejected allegations that he was merely seeking publicity. "I filed the case because we cannot talk about respecting women in modern day India when we know that one of our most revered gods did not treat his own wife with respect," he said. But he admits the reactions have taken him by surprise. "I expected some objection but did not anticipate that my colleagues would turn against me. I was only talking about justice and had no intention of hurting anybody's religious sentiments," he said. "Is it wrong to seek justice for women? The court's acceptance of my plea would have sent a good message that respecting women was important to Indians."

But his colleagues are not convinced. Lawyer Ranjan Kumar Singh said that the plea "insulted Hindus". "He has a history of filing publicity-seeking pleas. But this time he has gone too far. He has hurt our sentiments," he said. Ranjan Kumar Singh has also filed a defamation case against his colleague. "We have also requested the bar council to cancel his license to practice law. All lawyers are united against Chandan, he needs to learn a lesson," he said. "We see Ram and Sita as one and worship them as a couple, there is no question of us believing that Ram mistreated Sita," Ranjan Kumar Singh added. But Chandan Kumar Singh insists that "his fight isn't against Ram". "I too worship Ram. I am a practicing Hindu. I apologize to people if they feel hurt, but I cannot ignore the fact that Sita wasn't respected," he said.

‘Pharma bro’ Martin Shkreli faces $2 million lawsuit over Wu-Tang Clan album

‘Pharma bro’ Martin Shkreli faces $2 million lawsuit over Wu-Tang Clan album

The 32-year-old is also known for sparking outrage last year among patients, doctors and politicians after his former company Turing Pharmaceuticals raised the price of the anti-parasitic infection drug Daraprim by more than 5,000 percent.

Indicted anti-abortion agitators avoid federal judge’s order with new bogus anti-Planned Parenthood video

Indicted anti-abortion agitators avoid federal judge’s order with new bogus anti-Planned Parenthood video

"The fact that he cut it in such a way to make it sound like I'm talking about him instead of a court case in the early 2000s is another example of how misleading of what he does is," National Abortion Federation President Vicki Saporta said.

Quick Hits

How sleep deprivation helps police obtain false confessions

Federal judge rejects Texas' attempt to bar Syrian refugees -- again

Police chief's daughter gets 5 to 10 months in jail for attacking Philadelphia gay couple

Flint investigator says involuntary manslaughter charges possible

New York cop still on the job after being arrested for beating up an eighth-grader

School Resource Officer Arrested For Having Sex With A Minor

California School Resource Officer Arrested For Having Sex With A Minor

If this is indeed true, throw the book at him.

Man helped police catch suspected drug dealer with a nonchalant trip

A London man gave police a helping foot from a casual have-a-go hero when they were chasing down a suspected drug dealer at the weekend.

The teenager suspected of dealing drugs in Kingston, south west London, was evading three police officers on foot. The officers were in pursuit but were several metres behind him.

Walking arm-in-arm with a girlfriend, the well-dressed gent thought he would help out the officers by casually sticking his leg out. The man did not even have to take his hands out of his trouser pockets when the teenager met his leg and went tumbling to the ground.

YouTube link.

The couple then keep on walking while the collapsed alleged drug dealer was tackled in a doorway by officers and arrested. A 17-year-old was arrested and bailed on suspicion of possessing Class A drugs with intent to supply. He is due to appear in court in April.

No laughing matter as man arrested for DUI

A man from Jefferson County Alabama, was arrested after he was pulled over for erratic driving on Saturday night. Joel Allan Sloan, 51, was stopped by a Jefferson County sheriff's deputy after another motorist flagged down authorities. The deputy was notified of the potential problem at about 8:30pm, said Chief Deputy Randy Christian.

The motorist who alerted the deputy reported seeing a red Ford SUV that was weaving from lane to lane. The deputy caught up with the SUV and saw the vehicle crossing into the oncoming lane and then back again. The deputy pulled over the driver, who was later identified as Sloan.
He was dressed as a clown, and told the deputy that he had just had a few drinks at a local restaurant, Christian said. He offered no explanation for his attire. Sloan, of Fultondale, was arrested on a DUI charge. He also had an outstanding felony warrant for first-degree theft of property. He was booked into the Jefferson County Jail just before 9:30pm.
His bond is set at $2,500. Christian said driving drunk is no laughing matter, but it's not every day someone dressed as a clown is booked into jail. "I thought I had, but obviously I haven't seen it all,'' Christian said. "I would really like to have seen Otis when he woke up from an all-nighter with this clown sitting next to him in the cell. All kidding aside,'' Christian added, "DUI is dangerous."

Austin police gun down naked (and unarmed) black teen for ‘disobeying’

Austin police gun down naked (and unarmed) black teen for ‘disobeying’ — and then refuse to say if he was armed

‘All-around nice guy’ fatally shoots girlfriend after Super Bowl — claims self-defense

‘All-around nice guy’ fatally shoots girlfriend after Super Bowl — claims self-defense

A Utah man shot and killed his girlfriend during an argument Sunday night after the Super Bowl. The 41-year-old man called police shortly before 11 p.m. to report that he had shot his 30-year-old girlfriend.

Texas man shoots puppy that pooped on his lawn — and is met with gunfire from dog owner’s friend

Instant Karma

Texas man shoots puppy that pooped on his lawn — and is met with gunfire from dog owner’s friend

A Texas man gunned down a puppy that had wandered into his yard — and then he hit the ground to avoid gunshots fired by the dog owner’s friend.

Dog perhaps in-advisably attempted to befriend shark swimming in shallow water

A dog apparently thought a shark was up for some play when they encountered each other in the shallows off Geraldton in Western Australia. Donna Kowald shot the video of her Ridgeback Bullmastiff cross Koda playfully jumping in and out the water, while the shark seems oblivious.

Mrs Kowald was a bit worried the one-year-old pup might end up as shark dinner and called Koda back to shore several times. “We couldn’t believe how close it was to the shore,” she said. “The shark was actually closer before I managed to start shooting the video with my phone.”
Mrs Kowald and husband Jason were at the beach near Point Moore on Friday afternoon to give Koda a run when Mr Kowald spotted the shark. The couple estimate the shark swam around for about a minute before moving into deeper water.

YouTube link.

Only three days earlier, Mrs Kowald had been swimming in the same location. “I know there are sharks in the ocean, but I didn’t realize they came in so close,” she said. Ridgebacks and Bullmastiffs are known for their spirit, but Mrs Kowald did not think Koda would have turned the tables on the shark. “He hasn’t got a mean bone in his body,” she said.

Crane needed to remove giant catfish that had been blocking hydroelectric power dam inlet

Power plant workers looking to remove a blockage on the entrance to a huge hydroelectric power dam across the River Danube in Austria discovered a huge catfish.

Staff at Kraftwerk Abwinden-Asten, near Linz in Upper Austria. were clearing rubbish caught on a grille allowing water into the huge water turbines when they discovered the dead fish. They then needed to use a crane to lift it out of the water, and once it was on the banks the team from the Austrian electricity company Verbund were stunned to discover that the catfish was an incredible 2.25 meters (7.4 feet) in length, and weighed 90 kilograms (200 pounds).
Usually catfish species (Siluriformes) can grow up to 1.5 meters (5 feet), and discoveries of catfish over 2 meters (6.5 feet) in length are extremely rare. Fish expert Peter Noebauer said that catfish have multiplied in recent years on the river, with more and more monster specimens being found like this one. He said: "We are seeing more and more catfish, though I don't ever remember seeing one of this size before."

Six people injured after leopard wandered into school

A male leopard which entered a school in the Indian city of Bangalore injured six people trying to capture it. A scientist and a forestry employee were among those mauled during the near 10-hour long effort to corner the dangerous animal on Sunday. The leopard, which strolled into the Vibgyor International school, was eventually tranquilized and released.

A recent wildlife census estimated that India has a leopard population of between 12,000 and 14,000. The eight-year-old male was spotted strolling inside the school premises in the Kundalahalli area. Footage on the school's security cameras showed it attacking a man near a swimming pool.
Conservation scientist Sanjay Gubbi and forest department employee Benny Maurius were injured when they tried to corner the animal and tranquilize him, reports say. "It was a long struggle to capture the leopard. Although it was injected with tranquilizers it could be captured only around 20.15 local time when the medication took full effect," senior police official S Boralingaiah said.

YouTube link.

Wildlife official Ravi Ralph said that the leopard possibly strayed into the school from a patch of forest not far from the school. The captured animal has been moved to a national park and the six injured people, including a cameraperson of a TV channel, have been treated for minor injuries. Leopards and other big cats have been known to stray into populated areas, and conservationists have warned that such confrontations may increase as humans encroach on animal habitats.

Animal Pictures