A Brief History On December 23, 1938, a commercial fisherman pulled in a “living fossil” in his net off the coast of Africa, a creature believed to be extinct since the time of the dinosaurs! Digging Deeper Digging deeper, we find the first known discovery of the Coelacanth, a prehistoric fish believed to be a link between fish and 4 legged animals and the second oldest living species of common animals! Previously thought to exist from 360 million to perhaps 60 million years ago, the Coelacanth is a primitive looking fish, with pectoral and pelvic fins located at the ends…

A Brief History On December 22, 1984, the tables got turned on criminals when their victim shot them! Digging Deeper Bernhard Goetz, a 37-year-old white man, riding a New York subway believed himself threatened when approached by four African-American men ages 18 and 19.  In an instant after initial contact, five shots rang out in rapid succession and all four young men were shot. Although the four young men were apparently carrying screwdrivers for their intended breaking into of vending machines, none of them actually threatened Goetz with a screwdriver when they either asked or demanded $5 from Goetz. Being…

A Brief History On December 21, 2012, people across the globe waited for the end of the world!  Of course, we know the world did not end then, but why did so many people think it would? Digging Deeper Digging deeper, we find the roots of this “prophecy” in the Mayan calendar. The Mayan civilization not only made impressive pyramids and other buildings, but also was observant of astronomical phenomena and based a long term calendar cycle on those observations.  In the cycle that was computed, the last date was December 21, 2012.  Many people since then have taken that…

A Brief History On December 20, 1987, the passenger ferry Dona Paz sank with twice as many drowned as the Titanic! Digging Deeper Digging deeper, we find around 1500 souls lost on the Titanic, and perhaps 4300 lost on the Dona Paz! Originally built and operated in Japan (1963), the Dona Paz was designed for only 608 passengers, although when operated in the Philippines after being sold in 1975 it was given a capacity of about 1500. On the fateful day of December 12, 1987, the ferry carried far more than the claimed roughly 1600 people, probably about 4000 or…

A Brief History On December 19, 1956, Dr. John Bodkins Adams was accused of murdering 160 (or more!) of his patients! Digging Deeper Digging deeper, we find Dr. Bodkins practicing medicine in Sussex, England when suspicions began about his practice. Never considered a “good” doctor, Adams was a poor student and considered a sloppy and inefficient doctor, although for some reason he made spectacular sums of money.  Not being accepted as a worthy peer by other doctors should have been a clue! Odd facets of Adams practice surfaced, such as being named in at least 132 of their wills.  His…