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#51
The Tailgate / Re: Today in history 3-31
Last post by Okanagan - March 31, 2026, 11:59:12 AMI have never understood antisemitism. At a cosmic level it seems to me that some unseen hand is behind it.
I do understand ethnic and racial animosities. Nepali's hate Butanese and produce racially hateful comic books. So it goes for African tribes, such as Hutu and Tutsi, and a hundred other tensions between people groups.
Most tensions are between people who live close together. So New Yorkers love Native Indians until they live next to a reservation. But the anti Jewish animosity is global.
Jordan Peterson, whom I would trust on this point, said that Jewish people test higher IQ's than average humans. That plus a culture shaped in persecution and shrewd business would account for some of the animosity but not all.
Maasi can dunk basketballs better than pygmies and virtually all other ethnic groups. So I would expect that one of the world's ethnic groups would average a higher IQ than the rest. One group higher than average in some specific ability is normal.
I'm back to the cosmic drama, that some force out there hates Jews because God favored them. Maybe so.
I do understand ethnic and racial animosities. Nepali's hate Butanese and produce racially hateful comic books. So it goes for African tribes, such as Hutu and Tutsi, and a hundred other tensions between people groups.
Most tensions are between people who live close together. So New Yorkers love Native Indians until they live next to a reservation. But the anti Jewish animosity is global.
Jordan Peterson, whom I would trust on this point, said that Jewish people test higher IQ's than average humans. That plus a culture shaped in persecution and shrewd business would account for some of the animosity but not all.
Maasi can dunk basketballs better than pygmies and virtually all other ethnic groups. So I would expect that one of the world's ethnic groups would average a higher IQ than the rest. One group higher than average in some specific ability is normal.
I'm back to the cosmic drama, that some force out there hates Jews because God favored them. Maybe so.
#52
The Tailgate / Today in history 3-31
Last post by remrogers - March 31, 2026, 11:10:29 AM1492
March 3-31
Spain announces it will expel all Jews
In 1492, King Ferdinand II of Aragon and Queen Isabella I of Castille issue the Alhambra Decree, mandating that all Jews be expelled from the country. This comes not long after they had conquered the Nasrid Kingdom of Granada, finally freeing Spain from Muslim rule after nearly 800 years.
In 1478, Ferdinand and Isabella, whose marriage and conquests cemented Spain as a unified kingdom, had instituted the Inquisition, an effort by Spanish clergy to rid the country of heretics. Pogroms, individual acts of violence against Jews and anti-Semitic laws had been features of Catholic Spain for over a century before the Alhambra Order, causing deaths and conversions that greatly reduced Spain's Jewish population. Having already forced much of Spain's Jewish population to convert, the Church now set about rooting out those who suspected of practicing Judaism in secret, oftentimes by extremely violent methods. Tomas de Torquemada, the Grand Inquisitor, is said to have petitioned the monarchs to expel all Jews for years before they finally issued the order on March 31, 1492.
The results were catastrophic. Jews were given until the end of July to leave the country, resulting in the hasty selling of much of their land and possessions to Catholics at artificially low prices. Many converted in order to remain in Spain, with some continuing to practice their religion in secret and others assimilating into Catholicism. Estimation is difficult, but modern historians now believe around 40,000 Jews emigrated, with older estimates putting the number at several hundred thousand. Many died trying to reach safety, and in some cases it is believed that refugees paid for passage to other countries only to be thrown overboard by Spanish captains. While the Ottoman Empire welcomed the influx of Spanish Jews, many other nations in Europe treated them as cruelly as the Spaniards—though Portugal was a popular destination, its rulers issued a similar decree five years later.
Communities established by Spanish Jews, known as Sephardim in Hebrew, formed the foundation of the Sephardic communities that now make up a significant percentage of the world's Jewish population. The year of the Alhambra Decree was also the year that Christopher Columbus, sailing for Spain, "discovered" the Americas, and thus it marks the beginning of two centuries of Spanish efforts to force its Catholicism on its substantial colonial holdings. Spain has never had a significant Jewish population since; current estimates put the Jewish population of Spain at lower than .2 percent. Spain formally revoked the Alhambra decree in 1968, and in the early 2000s both Spain and Portugal granted Sephardic Jews the right to claim citizenship of the countries that expelled their ancestors 500 years before.
March 3-31
Spain announces it will expel all Jews
In 1492, King Ferdinand II of Aragon and Queen Isabella I of Castille issue the Alhambra Decree, mandating that all Jews be expelled from the country. This comes not long after they had conquered the Nasrid Kingdom of Granada, finally freeing Spain from Muslim rule after nearly 800 years.
In 1478, Ferdinand and Isabella, whose marriage and conquests cemented Spain as a unified kingdom, had instituted the Inquisition, an effort by Spanish clergy to rid the country of heretics. Pogroms, individual acts of violence against Jews and anti-Semitic laws had been features of Catholic Spain for over a century before the Alhambra Order, causing deaths and conversions that greatly reduced Spain's Jewish population. Having already forced much of Spain's Jewish population to convert, the Church now set about rooting out those who suspected of practicing Judaism in secret, oftentimes by extremely violent methods. Tomas de Torquemada, the Grand Inquisitor, is said to have petitioned the monarchs to expel all Jews for years before they finally issued the order on March 31, 1492.
The results were catastrophic. Jews were given until the end of July to leave the country, resulting in the hasty selling of much of their land and possessions to Catholics at artificially low prices. Many converted in order to remain in Spain, with some continuing to practice their religion in secret and others assimilating into Catholicism. Estimation is difficult, but modern historians now believe around 40,000 Jews emigrated, with older estimates putting the number at several hundred thousand. Many died trying to reach safety, and in some cases it is believed that refugees paid for passage to other countries only to be thrown overboard by Spanish captains. While the Ottoman Empire welcomed the influx of Spanish Jews, many other nations in Europe treated them as cruelly as the Spaniards—though Portugal was a popular destination, its rulers issued a similar decree five years later.
Communities established by Spanish Jews, known as Sephardim in Hebrew, formed the foundation of the Sephardic communities that now make up a significant percentage of the world's Jewish population. The year of the Alhambra Decree was also the year that Christopher Columbus, sailing for Spain, "discovered" the Americas, and thus it marks the beginning of two centuries of Spanish efforts to force its Catholicism on its substantial colonial holdings. Spain has never had a significant Jewish population since; current estimates put the Jewish population of Spain at lower than .2 percent. Spain formally revoked the Alhambra decree in 1968, and in the early 2000s both Spain and Portugal granted Sephardic Jews the right to claim citizenship of the countries that expelled their ancestors 500 years before.
#53
Non Hunting/Fishing Photos / Re: Sunset addiction
Last post by Okanagan - March 30, 2026, 09:39:55 PMWow! That's a beauty.
We had an odd sunset last night but I was driving and not in a good place to get a picture. It was a brilliant large fireball of cloud on the horizon with dark everywhere else.
We had an odd sunset last night but I was driving and not in a good place to get a picture. It was a brilliant large fireball of cloud on the horizon with dark everywhere else.
#54
Non Hunting/Fishing Photos / Re: Sunset addiction
Last post by FinsnFur - March 30, 2026, 09:25:39 PM5Shots is taunting us with the Skies of Montana.
He texted me this one tonight. Probably from his 18 wheeler.
He texted me this one tonight. Probably from his 18 wheeler.
#55
The Tailgate / Today in history 3-30
Last post by remrogers - March 30, 2026, 10:46:52 AM1867
March 30
U.S. purchase of Alaska ridiculed as "Seward's Folly"
U.S. Secretary of State William H. Seward signs a treaty with Russia for the purchase of Alaska for $7 million. Despite the bargain price of roughly two cents an acre, the Alaskan purchase was ridiculed in Congress and in the press as "Seward's Folly," "Seward's icebox," and President Andrew Johnson's "polar bear garden."
Inuit and other Indigenous peoples had inhabited Alaska for thousands of years before the czarist government of Russia established a presence there around the mid-18th century. Russia first approached the United States about selling the territory during the administration of President James Buchanan, but negotiations were stalled by the outbreak of the Civil War. After 1865, Seward, a supporter of territorial expansion, was eager to acquire the tremendous landmass of Alaska, an area roughly one-fifth the size of the rest of the United States. He had some difficulty, however, making the case for the purchase of Alaska before the Senate, which ratified the treaty on April 9, 1867.
Six months later, Alaska was formally handed over from Russia to the United States. Despite a slow start in U.S. settlement, the discovery of gold in 1898 brought a rapid influx of people to the territory, and Alaska, rich in natural resources, has contributed to American prosperity ever since.
March 30
U.S. purchase of Alaska ridiculed as "Seward's Folly"
U.S. Secretary of State William H. Seward signs a treaty with Russia for the purchase of Alaska for $7 million. Despite the bargain price of roughly two cents an acre, the Alaskan purchase was ridiculed in Congress and in the press as "Seward's Folly," "Seward's icebox," and President Andrew Johnson's "polar bear garden."
Inuit and other Indigenous peoples had inhabited Alaska for thousands of years before the czarist government of Russia established a presence there around the mid-18th century. Russia first approached the United States about selling the territory during the administration of President James Buchanan, but negotiations were stalled by the outbreak of the Civil War. After 1865, Seward, a supporter of territorial expansion, was eager to acquire the tremendous landmass of Alaska, an area roughly one-fifth the size of the rest of the United States. He had some difficulty, however, making the case for the purchase of Alaska before the Senate, which ratified the treaty on April 9, 1867.
Six months later, Alaska was formally handed over from Russia to the United States. Despite a slow start in U.S. settlement, the discovery of gold in 1898 brought a rapid influx of people to the territory, and Alaska, rich in natural resources, has contributed to American prosperity ever since.
#56
Non Hunting/Fishing Photos / Re: DEA SWAT
Last post by nastygunz - March 29, 2026, 01:21:04 PMPrior to that he was a state police SWAT team member. He said he knows the war on drugs is unwinnable but he's having fun and making money 
.
. #57
The Tailgate / Re: Help me ID an old wooden i...
Last post by nastygunz - March 29, 2026, 01:18:01 PM17° last night. The walleye run hasn't started in the Connecticut river either.
#58
The Tailgate / Re: Help me ID an old wooden i...
Last post by pitw - March 29, 2026, 11:49:20 AMQuote from: Okanagan on March 10, 2026, 10:41:24 AMPitw will know the pancake mix I mean.
I surely do. Been in my tickle trunk forever. Makes pancakes and fish batter better.
#59
Non Hunting/Fishing Photos / Re: DEA SWAT
Last post by Okanagan - March 29, 2026, 11:17:17 AMWow!! That is serious!
#60
The Tailgate / Today in history 3-29
Last post by remrogers - March 29, 2026, 10:56:57 AM1965
March 29
Appomattox, the final campaign in the Civil War, begins
On March 29, 1865, the final campaign of the Civil War begins in Virginia when Union troops under General Ulysses S. Grant move against the Confederate trenches around Petersburg. General Robert E. Lee's outnumbered Rebels were soon forced to evacuate the city and begin a desperate race west.
Eleven months earlier, Grant moved his army across the Rapidan River in northern Virginia and began the bloodiest campaign of the war. For six weeks, Lee and Grant fought along an arc that swung east of the Confederate capital at Richmond. They engaged in some of the conflict's bloodiest battles at Wilderness, Spotsylvania, and Cold Harbor before settling into trenches for a siege of Petersburg, 25 miles south of Richmond. The trenches eventually stretched all the way to Richmond, and during the ensuing months the armies glowered at each other across a no man's land. Periodically, Grant launched attacks against sections of the Rebel defenses, but Lee's men managed to fend them off.
Time was running out for Lee, though. His army was dwindling in size to about 55,000, while Grant's continued to grow—the Army of the Potomac now had more than 125,000 men ready for service. On March 25, Lee attempted to split the Union lines when he attacked Fort Stedman, a stronghold along the Yankee trenches. His army was beaten back, and he lost nearly 5,000 men. On March 29, Grant seized the initiative, sending 12,000 men past the Confederates' left flank and threatening to cut Lee's escape route from Petersburg. Fighting broke out there, several miles southwest of the city. Lee's men could not arrest the Federal advance. On April 1, the Yankees struck at Five Forks, soundly defeating the Rebels and leaving Lee no alternative. He pulled his forces from their trenches and raced west, followed by Grant. It was a race that even the great Lee could not win. He surrendered his army on April 9, 1865, at Appomattox Court House.
March 29
Appomattox, the final campaign in the Civil War, begins
On March 29, 1865, the final campaign of the Civil War begins in Virginia when Union troops under General Ulysses S. Grant move against the Confederate trenches around Petersburg. General Robert E. Lee's outnumbered Rebels were soon forced to evacuate the city and begin a desperate race west.
Eleven months earlier, Grant moved his army across the Rapidan River in northern Virginia and began the bloodiest campaign of the war. For six weeks, Lee and Grant fought along an arc that swung east of the Confederate capital at Richmond. They engaged in some of the conflict's bloodiest battles at Wilderness, Spotsylvania, and Cold Harbor before settling into trenches for a siege of Petersburg, 25 miles south of Richmond. The trenches eventually stretched all the way to Richmond, and during the ensuing months the armies glowered at each other across a no man's land. Periodically, Grant launched attacks against sections of the Rebel defenses, but Lee's men managed to fend them off.
Time was running out for Lee, though. His army was dwindling in size to about 55,000, while Grant's continued to grow—the Army of the Potomac now had more than 125,000 men ready for service. On March 25, Lee attempted to split the Union lines when he attacked Fort Stedman, a stronghold along the Yankee trenches. His army was beaten back, and he lost nearly 5,000 men. On March 29, Grant seized the initiative, sending 12,000 men past the Confederates' left flank and threatening to cut Lee's escape route from Petersburg. Fighting broke out there, several miles southwest of the city. Lee's men could not arrest the Federal advance. On April 1, the Yankees struck at Five Forks, soundly defeating the Rebels and leaving Lee no alternative. He pulled his forces from their trenches and raced west, followed by Grant. It was a race that even the great Lee could not win. He surrendered his army on April 9, 1865, at Appomattox Court House.