Joseph Lawrence

@fasc1nate I guess He really did have Nine lives!

This is Unsinkable Sam, aka Oscar, a cat that served with the Kriegsmarine (navy of Nazi Germany) and the Royal Navy (navy of the UK) during World War 2.⁣⁣ He was reported to have belonged to a sailor onboard the German battleship Bismarck. On May 18, 1941, Bismarck was on its first mission when it was sunk by the Allies. Out of the 2,100 crew members, only 115 men and one cat survived. ⁣ The HMS Cossack scooped up the cat and gave him the name Oscar. For the next few months, Oscar lived on the ship until it was hit by torpedoes from a German U-boat, which killed 159 crew members but not Oscar, who was brought to the shores of Gibraltar by the remaining survivors.⁣ Oscar was soon transferred to the HMS Ark Royal, where he was given the name "Unsinkable Sam". Ironically, the Ark Royal was heavily involved in the sinking of the Bismarck. After a series of near misses, the ship had garnered a reputation for being a "lucky ship", however, its luck would soon run out. On November 14, 1941, the Ark Royal was torpedoed by a U-boat, causing it to roll over and sink. Sam was found clinging to a piece of wood and was described as "angry, but quite unharmed".⁣ ⁣ The sinking of the Ark Royal ended Sam's career at sea, and he lived out his remaining years in Belfast with a seaman until 1955.⁣ ⁣ Learn more: historydefined.net/unsinkable-sam/

@BSmile Where's Ty Cobb?

Today In 1939: Legendary players pose at the new #Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, NY - (seated) Eddie Collins, Babe Ruth, Connie Mack & Cy Young (standing) Honus Wagner, Grover Cleveland Alexander, Tris Speaker, Nap Lajoie, George Sisler & Walter Johnson. #HOF #MLB #History

@VoicesofWW2 The Man should have been Awarded the Medal of Honor instead of the Navy Cross!

84 years ago today, a pilot running out of fuel made a decision that won the Pacific War. Most Americans have never heard his name. June 4, 1942. Six months after Pearl Harbor, Japan's navy is undefeated. Four of the carriers that burned Pearl, Akagi, Kaga, Soryu, and Hiryu, are steaming toward Midway to finish off the US Pacific Fleet. At 7:52 AM, Wade McClusky launches from USS Enterprise leading 32 Dauntless dive bombers. Here's the detail nobody mentions: McClusky is a fighter pilot. He'd been given the air group weeks earlier and had barely flown a dive bomber in combat. Now he's leading every SBD the Enterprise has at the most important target in the Pacific. 9:20 AM. He arrives at the intercept point where the Japanese fleet is supposed to be. Empty ocean. Nothing for miles. The Japanese had turned. Nobody knew where. And now McClusky owns the worst math problem in naval aviation: his fuel is bleeding away, and every minute he keeps searching, he condemns more of his own pilots to ditch in open water where nobody will find them. Doctrine is clear. Turn back. McClusky keeps going. He works a search pattern, squeezing miles out of dying fuel tanks. 9:55 AM. Far below, a single Japanese destroyer is cutting a white scar across the ocean at flank speed. It's the Arashi, racing to rejoin the fleet after depth-charging the American submarine Nautilus. Think about that. A failed sub attack is about to give away the entire Japanese navy. McClusky reads the wake like an arrow and follows it. 10:02 AM. The horizon fills with the entire Japanese strike force. Four carriers, their decks crammed with planes being refueled and rearmed. Fuel lines snaking everywhere. Bombs stacked in the open. And here's the miracle: the sky above them is empty. Minutes earlier, American torpedo squadrons had attacked at sea level and been annihilated. Torpedo 8 lost all 15 planes. One survivor, Ensign George Gay, watched what came next while hiding under his seat cushion in the water. Those doomed pilots dragged every Japanese fighter down to the waves. The door upstairs was wide open. 10:22 AM. McClusky pushes over from 14,500 feet. Both squadrons follow him down onto Kaga. It's actually a mistake, doctrine said split the targets, but Lt. Dick Best catches it mid-dive, pulls out with two wingmen, and goes after Akagi alone. His single bomb pierces the flight deck into the packed hangar. It's enough. By 10:28, Kaga, Akagi, and Soryu, the third hit simultaneously by Yorktown's bombers, are floating infernos. Six minutes. Three carriers that attacked Pearl Harbor, gone. Hiryu follows them to the bottom that evening. The cost of McClusky's gamble was real. Many Enterprise bombers never made it home, some shot down, others swallowed by the sea when their tanks ran dry. McClusky himself was jumped by two Zeros on the way out, took five bullets through his shoulder, and still flew his shot-up Dauntless back to the Enterprise. Admiral Nimitz said McClusky's decision "decided the fate of our carrier task force and our forces at Midway." Japan never won another major battle. One borrowed pilot. One destroyer's wake. One choice to keep flying when every gauge said go home.

@DemocraticWins GEE! Imagine that!

BREAKING: In a humiliating move, Donald Trump's Chief of Staff just asked JD Vance to get off of Twitter because he was behaving beneath the office of the Vice Presidency. MAGA is in extreme disarray. Good.

@Rainmaker1973 Bullshit! Earth contaminants reach Mars and pollute a meteor which then somehow launches itself into space and lands on Earth! Sounds like the Magic Bullet theory from the JFK assassination and BULLSHIT to me!

Researchers examining six meteorites from Mars found clear evidence of earthly contamination embedded in the samples. The intruders included ballpoint pen ink, gel pen dye, polishing abrasives, industrial lubricants, synthetic fibers, and even microscopic diamond particles from laboratory tools. These findings are significant because scientists scrutinize Martian meteorites for delicate chemical signatures that could reveal the planet’s ancient environment, past water activity, or potential biosignatures. Even tiny contaminants can interfere with those analyses. Using Raman spectroscopy, a non-destructive laser technique that identifies molecules by their light-scattering patterns, the team pinpointed the foreign substances. One prominent contaminant was Pigment Blue 15 (copper phthalocyanine), a common dye in blue ballpoint pens. Another sample contained gel-pen ink. Additional residues included silicon carbide from polishing compounds, diamond grains from cutting tools, and molybdenum-based lubricants used in machinery. Alarmingly, contamination appeared even in a meteorite that had not undergone laboratory preparation, likely introduced through simple handling, packaging, clothing, or labels (including polyester fibers). This study highlights a growing challenge in planetary science. With NASA’s Perseverance rover collecting pristine samples from Mars for a future return mission, the risk of similar contamination during handling, cutting, polishing, and analysis on Earth remains high. A microscopic smear of ink or lubricant could easily be mistaken for, or mask, genuine Martian organic compounds. The research underscores the need for stricter contamination controls and better documentation of sample handling to ensure the reliability of future Mars sample studies. [Coloma, L., et al. (2026). "Analysing the sample preparation process in meteorites: a Raman spectroscopy study of contaminants in Martian samples." Applied Geochemistry]

@SecWar Sure Pete! Whatever you say!

Today, I am convening a special review panel to conduct a comprehensive, long-term, department-wide review of every aspect of the military legal system impacting our servicemembers. This panel will enhance trust, strengthen our force, drive real reform, and help ensure our warfighters receive the world-class military legal system they deserve.

@Brown_World7 Yes!

NEW POLL: 75% of Americans say Pete Hegseth should be removed from office. Are you one of them? Yes. No.

@JoJoFromJerz He'll kiss anyone or anything to get votes!

Eww fucking ewwwwww 🤢

@glenn_tunes Ha! Ha! Ha! A WAR? Baby you ain't SEEN nothing yet!

I JUST WANT TO REMIND EVERYONE THAT IRAN DID NOT HAVE ANY NUCLEAR WEAPONS AND THAT THE STRAIT OF HORMUZ WAS OPEN FOR BUSINESS BEFORE TRUMP STARTED THE EPSTEIN WAR 🤷

@nexta_tv I hope it's a better military than he has in Ukraine!

🚨 Russia plans to use the military to protect Putin from the International Criminal Court The Russian government has introduced a bill in the State Duma that would allow the use of Russian armed forces to protect citizens being pursued by foreign courts, including the International Criminal Court (ICC) and other tribunals not recognized by Russia. What does this mean? In the event of the arrest or an arrest warrant for any Russian citizen (but we know who this law is really aimed at), Russian authorities could send the military to the country where the court is located, with the goal of protecting their citizens from prosecution. This bill is still under discussion in the State Duma and has not yet been passed.

@MaryLTrump John Fetterman IS a Republican in the Democratic Part! It was probably set up that way by the Republicans to give them an extra Vote whenever needed! This is one Wolf in Sheep's clothing that got by the Democrat herdsman!

There is literally no excuse for John Fetterman. He has betrayed every single person who's voted for him. Seriously, Fetterman, resign or switch parties.

@SecWar That's right! We don't need any Thinkers inthis Country! We don't need any Scientists or Philosophers and we sure as Hell don't need anyone who can Think outside the Box! All we need is mindless killing human beings and mindless killing leaders to lead them!

Professional Military Education should produce warfighters and leaders—not wokesters. That’s why we are establishing a Task Force to evaluate our Senior Service Colleges and ensure the focus is where it belongs. No distractions. Just warfighting.

@nexta_tv Peskov Talks a Lot of SHIT!

⚡️Peskov threatens Estonia with nuclear weapons The Kremlin spokesperson said that Russia would aim nuclear weapons at Estonia if NATO nuclear weapons were deployed there. Earlier, Estonian Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna said such a step could be considered if the alliance deems it necessary for defense.

@nytimes @TheAthletic That is one Ugly woman!

From @TheAthletic: What a comeback from Amber Glenn. The American figure skater had a nearly flawless routine in her free skate after her disappointing women’s short program. “What a brilliant, redemptive skate. She just fought so hard.” nyti.ms/3Or3LQX

@fasc1nate Now there's a Man who is Outstanding in His FIELD!

Legendary Illinois corn farmer Herman Warsaw poses in a field with some of his record-breaking crop, circa 1985. He achieved a world record of 370 bushels per acre. What makes his story even more incredible is that when he and his family bought the farm in 1941, the damaged soil was yielding only about 38 bushels per acre. Through soil restoration and highly creative techniques, he completely transformed the fields over the years and made history. More rare photos: bit.ly/44OpIzi

@histories_arch I wish we had someone like that running the Country today!

In 1783, King George III asked an American painter what George Washington would do now that he had virtually won the war. The painter replied that the General intended to return to his farm in Virginia. The King was stunned. He reportedly said, "If he does that, he will be the greatest man in the world." Throughout history, victorious generals almost always seized the throne. From Caesar to Cromwell, military success usually meant political dictatorship. The concept of voluntarily walking away from absolute power was practically unheard of. But George Washington wasn't like other men. By December 4, 1783, the British surrender at Yorktown was past, and peace was finally assured. Washington commanded a powerful, seasoned army that adored him. Conversely, many of his officers were unpaid and angry at the inefficient Congress. They had the guns, the manpower, and the loyalty to install a new monarch. He could have been King George I of America. Instead, on this day in history, Washington walked into the Long Room at Fraunces Tavern in lower Manhattan. The room was filled with his most loyal officers—men like Henry Knox and Baron von Steuben—who had frozen with him at Valley Forge and bled with him for eight long years. The atmosphere wasn't celebratory. It was heavy with inevitable separation. Washington, usually stoic and commercially reserved, poured a glass of wine and looked at his brothers-in-arms with visible emotion. "With a heart full of love and gratitude, I now take leave of you," he said, his voice shaking. "I most devoutly wish that your latter days may be as prosperous and happy as your former ones have been glorious and honorable." He didn't order them. He didn't demand their allegiance. He hugged them. One by one, the hardened soldiers wept openly. Washington embraced each man in silence. There was no pomp, no ceremony, and no speeches about future conquests. It was just a quiet goodbye between warriors who had done the impossible. Immediately after leaving the tavern, Washington didn't march on Congress to demand payment or power. He rode to Annapolis, Maryland, resigned his commission, and went home to Mount Vernon to plant crops. He did the impossible. He refused the crown. He trusted the people. By stepping down, he ensured that the United States would be a republic ruled by laws, not a kingdom ruled by force. He proved that the military serves the people, not the other way around. It was the final, and perhaps greatest, victory of the Revolution. The world watched in awe as the American Cincinnatus returned his sword to its sheath, proving that character is the strongest constitution of all." #archaeohistories

@RepPressley @OversightDems I HOPE the ICE OFFICER Lives to be a very ripe old age and Everyday when he sees a young mother playing with her children I HOPE His Conscience reminds him of that Shooting!

In @OversightDems this week, I moved to subpoena all records & footage related to Renee Nicole Good's murder. Every Republican voted it down. Now, the FBI has blocked Minnesota officials from conducting an independent investigation. Republicans have never cared about accountability.

@UN_PGA Pretty much Useless now! It didn't stop the War in Ukraine or Trump from taking over Venezuela or His ambitions toward seizing Greenland! Might just as well send Everybody HOME and lock the doors and Sell the Building and just leave Everyone on the Planet in GODS HANDS!

80 years ago today, on 10 January 1946, the United Nations General Assembly met for the first time in London. This UN was born in a world on fire and desperate for reprieve. 750 million – nearly a third of humanity back then– still under colonial rule. Two World Wars in a generation. 70 million dead. The horrors of the Holocaust revealed to our collective shame. This was a generation that knew almost nothing but suffering and despair. But the signing of the Charter in San Francisco and the first meeting of the 51 states in the Methodist Central Hall in London guided our path from the ashes of war with a compass pointing toward peace, humanity, and justice. We have not always succeeded. But the story of this institution is not a story of easy victories. It is the story of pulling ourselves and each other back up and trying harder. Just as our predecessors did eight decades ago, our job is to find the resolve not to give up. The resolve to be Better Together.

@archeohistories Another case of a Family who should have went Out more often!

In 1978, Soviet geologists discovered a family living in complete isolation deep in Siberia. The Lykovs had fled Stalin’s persecution in 1936 and, for 42 years, survived without any human contact, technology, or knowledge that World War II had even happened. The group of Soviet geologists surveying the remote Sayan Mountains of Siberia stumbled upon a wooden hut that seemed abandoned. To their astonishment, it was inhabited, by the Lykov family, who had been living in total isolation since the 1930s. Karp Lykov, a devout Old Believer, had fled with his wife and two children in 1936 to escape Stalin’s religious persecution. Deep in the taiga, over 150 miles from the nearest settlement, the family built a life entirely disconnected from the modern world. They grew rye and potatoes, made clothes from hemp, and lived without metal tools or contact with outsiders. When discovered, two more children had been born in the wilderness, neither had ever seen a stranger or even tasted bread. The Lykovs’ isolation lasted 42 years, ending only when they were rediscovered. When the geologists told the family that humans had landed on the Moon, they were astonished, unaware that World War II or the Space Race had ever occurred. © History Pictures #archaeohistories

@nexta_tv If you feel Froggy go ahead and Jump!

Russian State Duma deputy Gurulyov called for striking Europe with the “Oreshnik” missile and sinking ships in the Black Sea in response to the seizure of a Russian tanker. He considers the actions of the United States part of preparations for a major war and proposes a mirror response to what he calls “maritime piracy” — stopping, inspecting, and, if necessary, sinking vessels.