Semi-retired, but still kicking. MA/History. Lifelong Californian. Lifelong Democrat. Naval and Maritime History aficionado. Servant to two cats. Reasonably articulate, but becoming more acerbic as time goes on.https://bsky.app/profile/briandunn.bsky.socialhttps://bsky.app/profile/briandunn.bsky.social/post/3mm35h7mfzk2oI just made a nice lady laugh when I told her why I don't drink: "Makes me bark at the moon and vote Republican."17 May 2026 19:57 +0000at://did:plc:w5hkkmncd5isp474d2wjoyli/app.bsky.feed.post/3mm35h7mfzk2ohttps://bsky.app/profile/briandunn.bsky.social/post/3mm32bh7x2k2aGotta admit I've been hitting the cancel icon on a lot of potential responses lately rather than hitting the post button. Just because I'm becoming caustic doesn't mean that you need that stuff on you.17 May 2026 19:00 +0000at://did:plc:w5hkkmncd5isp474d2wjoyli/app.bsky.feed.post/3mm32bh7x2k2ahttps://bsky.app/profile/briandunn.bsky.social/post/3mm2gfuyjh22iOn this day in 1995, Shawn Nelson steals an M-60 tank from a California National Guard armory and goes on a rampage in San Diego, California. He drove the tank for about 25 minutes before crashing and disabling the tank. Local police forced open the tank's hatch and shot and killed Nelson.17 May 2026 13:04 +0000at://did:plc:w5hkkmncd5isp474d2wjoyli/app.bsky.feed.post/3mm2gfuyjh22ihttps://bsky.app/profile/briandunn.bsky.social/post/3mlwco5762c2hNow if only they would drop her off in a wolf-inhabited area as a condition of clemency... [contains quote post or other embedded content]15 May 2026 21:47 +0000at://did:plc:w5hkkmncd5isp474d2wjoyli/app.bsky.feed.post/3mlwco5762c2hhttps://bsky.app/profile/briandunn.bsky.social/post/3mlwcfuix6c2hOn this day in 2001, a CSX freight train with 47 cars travels 66 miles in Ohio without an engineer. He had stepped out of his cab to correct a switch on the tracks and the train kept going. Was finally stopped by a locomotive hooking up to the rear freight car, making the train stop.15 May 2026 21:42 +0000at://did:plc:w5hkkmncd5isp474d2wjoyli/app.bsky.feed.post/3mlwcfuix6c2hhttps://bsky.app/profile/briandunn.bsky.social/post/3mlswah46mk2yOn this day in 1747 the first battle of Finesterre occurs when Admiral George Anson captures four French ships of the line and several merchantmen. Of particular significance among the captures was the Invincible, which became the progenitor of the British 74-gun ship of the line. #NavalHistory14 May 2026 13:26 +0000at://did:plc:w5hkkmncd5isp474d2wjoyli/app.bsky.feed.post/3mlswah46mk2yhttps://bsky.app/profile/briandunn.bsky.social/post/3mlrczau4d22yHave you ever wanted to buy your very own bank building? Only $2.6 million for this baby in Fresno, California! https://www.fresnobee.com/news/local/article315691854.html?tbref=hp13 May 2026 22:10 +0000at://did:plc:w5hkkmncd5isp474d2wjoyli/app.bsky.feed.post/3mlrczau4d22yhttps://bsky.app/profile/briandunn.bsky.social/post/3mlolpnpxzc2mIn January 1992, President George H. W. Bush vomited into the lap of Japanese Prime Minister Kiichi Miyazawa and then fainted during a dinner while on a visit to Japan. Let's see how Trump beats that on his trip to China.12 May 2026 20:07 +0000at://did:plc:w5hkkmncd5isp474d2wjoyli/app.bsky.feed.post/3mlolpnpxzc2mhttps://bsky.app/profile/briandunn.bsky.social/post/3mlmjni46e22cThe Russian Uragan class were ten monitors based on the US Navy Passaic class built during the Civil War. The Russians used the monitors as coastal defense ships in the Baltic and were built in St. Petersburg, except for two ships which were built in Belguim and shipped to Russia for assembly.12 May 2026 00:25 +0000at://did:plc:w5hkkmncd5isp474d2wjoyli/app.bsky.feed.post/3mlmjni46e22chttps://bsky.app/profile/briandunn.bsky.social/post/3mlltbpmi4c2fEvery Death Watch begins with a Doze Watch. [contains quote post or other embedded content]11 May 2026 17:45 +0000at://did:plc:w5hkkmncd5isp474d2wjoyli/app.bsky.feed.post/3mlltbpmi4c2fhttps://bsky.app/profile/briandunn.bsky.social/post/3mljovxsbbk2iIt's only a bronze statue covered with gold leaf. If it was real gold it would have been stolen faster than the golden toilet at Blenheim Palace. On the other hand, commercial bronze is worth about $3.00 a pound.10 May 2026 21:21 +0000at://did:plc:w5hkkmncd5isp474d2wjoyli/app.bsky.feed.post/3mljovxsbbk2ihttps://bsky.app/profile/briandunn.bsky.social/post/3mlivd6q5oc2bFor those of you suffering from a deficiency in dreadnoughts. HMS Neptune, 1909. #NavalHistory10 May 2026 13:43 +0000at://did:plc:w5hkkmncd5isp474d2wjoyli/app.bsky.feed.post/3mlivd6q5oc2bhttps://bsky.app/profile/briandunn.bsky.social/post/3mla7r5t6ws2tFor those of you who are unaware of the Waterford Whispers News, here is a sample of their unparalled quality work: https://waterfordwhispersnews.com/2026/05/06/us-defends-sinking-of-hantavirus-hit-ship/07 May 2026 02:56 +0000at://did:plc:w5hkkmncd5isp474d2wjoyli/app.bsky.feed.post/3mla7r5t6ws2thttps://bsky.app/profile/briandunn.bsky.social/post/3ml5hnnnyx22eBetween 1924-1926, the US Navy transferred twenty-five older destroyers to the US Coast Guard to assist in Prohibition activities. This was done instead of building new ships for the Coast Guard. In 1930, six of the oldest ships were replaced by more modern Clemson class destroyers. #NavalHistory06 May 2026 00:39 +0000at://did:plc:w5hkkmncd5isp474d2wjoyli/app.bsky.feed.post/3ml5hnnnyx22ehttps://bsky.app/profile/briandunn.bsky.social/post/3ml5ee2p5es2eThe Powers that be finally caught up with me again. I've been summoned for jury duty three weeks from today. Pro tip: always bring a book!05 May 2026 23:40 +0000at://did:plc:w5hkkmncd5isp474d2wjoyli/app.bsky.feed.post/3ml5ee2p5es2ehttps://bsky.app/profile/briandunn.bsky.social/post/3ml4dz6tuks26On this day in 1821, the former Emperor of France, Napoleon Bonaparte, dies at the age of 51 in exile on the island of St. Helena.05 May 2026 14:02 +0000at://did:plc:w5hkkmncd5isp474d2wjoyli/app.bsky.feed.post/3ml4dz6tuks26https://bsky.app/profile/briandunn.bsky.social/post/3mkvqhkksb225On this day in 1866, the Battle of Callao was fought between a Spanish fleet and Peruvian batteries guarding Callao. The Peruvian guns included 300 pounders in armored barbettes while the Spanish included a broadside ironclad frigate, the Numancia. The fight itself was inconclusive. #NavalHistory02 May 2026 22:56 +0000at://did:plc:w5hkkmncd5isp474d2wjoyli/app.bsky.feed.post/3mkvqhkksb225https://bsky.app/profile/briandunn.bsky.social/post/3mkusiyptmc2gOn this day in 1863, during the battle of Chancellorsville, Confederate Lt. General Thomas "Stonewall" Jackson was shot and wounded by soldiers of the 18th North Carolina Regiment. Jackson would die eight days later.02 May 2026 14:00 +0000at://did:plc:w5hkkmncd5isp474d2wjoyli/app.bsky.feed.post/3mkusiyptmc2ghttps://bsky.app/profile/briandunn.bsky.social/post/3mksjzufpis2rOn this day in 1898, Commodore George Dewey, commanding the US Asiatic Squadron defeats the anchored Spanish Pacific Squadron at the Battle of Manila Bay. This is the United States' first victory in the Spanish-American War. #NavalHistory01 May 2026 16:23 +0000at://did:plc:w5hkkmncd5isp474d2wjoyli/app.bsky.feed.post/3mksjzufpis2rhttps://bsky.app/profile/briandunn.bsky.social/post/3mks56s4ai22sIt's Frigate Friday! The victories of the large US frigates in 1812 led the Admiralty to order the Leander and Newcastle. Built of softwoods (pine and fir) to speed construction, they were designed to carry a mixed armament of over 50 cannons and carronades on the main and spar deck. #NavalHistory01 May 2026 12:33 +0000at://did:plc:w5hkkmncd5isp474d2wjoyli/app.bsky.feed.post/3mks56s4ai22shttps://bsky.app/profile/briandunn.bsky.social/post/3mkqzlehfz224If you could wrap him in enough aluminum foil, he might make a passable low-orbit satellite, but that's about it. [contains quote post or other embedded content]01 May 2026 01:56 +0000at://did:plc:w5hkkmncd5isp474d2wjoyli/app.bsky.feed.post/3mkqzlehfz224https://bsky.app/profile/briandunn.bsky.social/post/3mkn4kcrksc2zHMS Charles Galley (1676) Designed for use in the Mediterranean against the Barbary Pirates, this 32 gun ship was designed to be rowed as well as sailed. #NavalHistory29 Apr 2026 12:38 +0000at://did:plc:w5hkkmncd5isp474d2wjoyli/app.bsky.feed.post/3mkn4kcrksc2zhttps://bsky.app/profile/briandunn.bsky.social/post/3mkm64qiu6s2nWell, g'nite folks! Been a long day.29 Apr 2026 03:34 +0000at://did:plc:w5hkkmncd5isp474d2wjoyli/app.bsky.feed.post/3mkm64qiu6s2nhttps://bsky.app/profile/briandunn.bsky.social/post/3mkkwssygjs2tTorpedo boat Tuesday! #NavalHistory28 Apr 2026 15:50 +0000at://did:plc:w5hkkmncd5isp474d2wjoyli/app.bsky.feed.post/3mkkwssygjs2thttps://bsky.app/profile/briandunn.bsky.social/post/3mkkraqts5c2zIt turns out that Trump already spent the donation money for his ballroom, so the architects came up with another plan.28 Apr 2026 14:11 +0000at://did:plc:w5hkkmncd5isp474d2wjoyli/app.bsky.feed.post/3mkkraqts5c2zhttps://bsky.app/profile/briandunn.bsky.social/post/3mkj4x3irgs2yTrump wouldn't allow any of them into his ballroom except for during tours at $25.00 a head. [contains quote post or other embedded content]27 Apr 2026 22:35 +0000at://did:plc:w5hkkmncd5isp474d2wjoyli/app.bsky.feed.post/3mkj4x3irgs2yhttps://bsky.app/profile/briandunn.bsky.social/post/3mkijtqyzas2iYour Monday Mid-Morning Dreadnought. Austrian dreadnought Viribus Unitus, 1912. #NavalHistory27 Apr 2026 16:53 +0000at://did:plc:w5hkkmncd5isp474d2wjoyli/app.bsky.feed.post/3mkijtqyzas2ihttps://bsky.app/profile/briandunn.bsky.social/post/3mki53kttwk2vEarly Monday Morning Dreadnought. The French dreadnought Paris on trials, 1914. #NavalHistory27 Apr 2026 13:04 +0000at://did:plc:w5hkkmncd5isp474d2wjoyli/app.bsky.feed.post/3mki53kttwk2vhttps://bsky.app/profile/briandunn.bsky.social/post/3mk7gw4m46c2qJust waiting for the drooling. The cameras can't hide that. [contains quote post or other embedded content]24 Apr 2026 02:06 +0000at://did:plc:w5hkkmncd5isp474d2wjoyli/app.bsky.feed.post/3mk7gw4m46c2q