John Neal

American Writers is an 1824–25 work of literary criticism by American writer and critic John Neal (pictured). Published by Blackwood's Edinburgh Magazine, it is the first history of American literature and the first substantial work of criticism concerning US authors. Using no reference materials, Neal made incorrect assertions about many of the more than 120 authors covered. Scholars nevertheless praise the staying power of his opinions, many reflected by critics decades later. Neal also argued American literature relied too much on British precedent and had failed to develop its own voice. Neal wrote the series in London under the English pseudonym of "Carter Holmes", which convinced few. American Writers was well received in the UK but drew considerable ire in the US, particularly from William Lloyd Garrison. Neal was met with hostility and a fistfight on an 1827 visit to his hometown of Portland, Maine; he relocated there and remained until his death forty-nine years later. (Full article...)

Everett Railroad 11

• ... that Everett Railroad 11 (pictured) had to be modified after it met a sharp curve on its first trip?
• ... that David Fishwick went from a £27.50-a-week pebbledashing job to becoming the biggest minibus supplier in Britain?
• ... that modern Chinese drama was banned during the Cultural Revolution?
• ... that American football player Rich Romer was selected three times as an All-American by Pizza Hut?
• ... that the medieval font of St Peter's Church, Stapenhill, was restored in 1973?
• ... that as a nine-year-old, Anastasia Somoza lobbied U.S. president Bill Clinton?
• ... that Bini's performance of "Cherry on Top" at KCON 2024 was the first act by a Filipino pop group at the event?
• ... that French cellist Nicolas-Joseph Platel is considered to be the founder of the Belgian school of cello playing?
• ... that Saint George fought a dragon at the Paradise Theater until both were stolen?

Woo Won-shik, the speaker of the South Korean National Assembly, signing the impeachment resolution

• President of South Korea Yoon Suk Yeol is impeached (signing pictured) following his declaration of martial law.
• Astro Bot wins Game of the Year at the Game Awards.
• Gukesh Dommaraju defeats Ding Liren to win the World Chess Championship.
• Syrian rebel forces capture Damascus following multiple offensives as overthrown president Bashar al-Assad flees to Russia.

December 18: National Day in Qatar (1878)

Atlas rocket carrying SCORE

• 1622 – Portuguese forces and their Imbangala allies defeated the Kongo army at the Battle of Mbumbi.
• 1932 – Playing indoors at Chicago Stadium on a modified American football field, the Chicago Bears defeated the Portsmouth Spartans in the first playoff game of the National Football League.
• 1958 – The United States launched SCORE (rocket pictured), the world's first communications satellite.
• 1963 – Ghanaian and other African students organized a protest in Moscow's Red Square in response to the alleged murder of medical student Edmund Assare-Addo.
• 2017 – An Amtrak Cascades passenger train derailed near DuPont, Washington, killing three people and injuring sixty-five others.