Day Tripping: April 28

Flipping, fighting, and fleecing

Treachery On The High Seas

Nearly one month into a voyage from Tahiti on the HMS Bounty, Fletcher Christian and twenty-five shipmates seize control of the ship, sending Captain William Bligh and his few supporters adrift on the South Pacific in a small wooden boat. The mutiny of the Bounty would be one of three times Captain Bligh fell victim to an uprising against his oppressive leadership.

Miraculously, Bligh managed to steer his boat to Timor in the East Indies, about 3,600 miles after being left for dead. Several of the mutineers were arrested back in Tahiti where the ship returned and were hanged. Fletcher Christian was never found.

Once And Always The Champ

“I ain’t got no quarrel with those Vietcong,” were Muhammad Ali’s famous words when he refused army induction by draft in 1967. Ali was convicted of draft evasion and sentenced to five years in prison. The Heavyweight World Champion was also fined $10,000, stripped of his boxing title, and had his license to box revoked.

Through all these tribulations, Muhammad Ali remained a positive force for social change around the world. This speech he gave one year later while awaiting sentencing, epitomizes his true Greatness.

Note: sound will begin after a few seconds

Sheer Resilience

After six years of avoiding capture at the Bendigo Station sheep ranch in New Zealand, Shrek The Sheep is shorn on national television in 2004. The shy sheep had been hiding out in caves to escape the sheerer’s knife.

While a normal amount of fleece accumulation weighs about 10 pounds, Shrek’s coat weighed in at a whopping 60 pounds, enough to make 20 suits for men. It took a professional twenty minutes to complete steering while viewers looked on.

Shrek became such a New Zealand phenom, he was brought to parliament days after to show off his new do to the Prime Minister.

Musical Milestones

The debut album of a band that defies genre pinning, Chicago Transit Authority was released in 1969. With a fusion of classic rock, jazz, blues, pop, and everything in between, these seven phenomenal musicians came out swinging with a double album.

Narratives

Iconic soul singer/songwriter Ray Charles appeared before US Congress in 1987 to advocate for funding in hearing research. During testimony, he commented, “My eyes are my handicap, but my ears are my opportunity.”

Remembrance

Brutal fascist dictator and puppet to Adolf Hitler, Italian leader Benito Mussolini was executed by firing squad in 1945 with his mistress, Clara Petacci. Let’s hope his like never darkens our world again.

Notable Births

1926 — Author of To Kill A Mockingbird, Harper Lee

1941 — The renowned singer and actress, Ann-Margret has starred in some of film’s greatest musicals.

1960 —Prolific Scottish author of the Rebus detective series, Ian Rankin

K. Barrett Katie Wallace Maria Rattray Maryam Merchant Dr Mehmet Yildiz Tree Langdon Myriam Ben Salem Phil Truman Chelsea Mandler MAT Terry Mansfield Hollie Petit, PhD. Terry Trueman Dr Preeti Singh John Gruber Bill Abbate James G Brennan ScienceDuuude Marcus Liam Ireland Claire Kelly Noorain Hassan, BMS Amy Pierovich David Acaster Nora

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