March 14 marks 140 years since the birth of Albert Einstein, the renown physicist, Nobel Prize winner, and father of the atomic age. Or was he? Although the first two labels are most certainly correct, the third moniker--though widely-held--may not be entirely correct. Especially if you ask Einstein himself. Born in Ulm, Germany in 1879 … Continue reading Einstein’s “Greatest Mistake”
history
Home Sweet…Hole?
In the early 1900's, bolstered by the tune of "every man a landlord," thousands flocked West, hoping to snag a piece of Manifest Destiny and the American dream. Land was cheap, hope was high, and there was nothing standing between a man and his homestead but a few weeks' travel and a little elbow grease. … Continue reading Home Sweet…Hole?
The Dust Bowl Takes on NYC
New York City was dirty. Fueled by rapid industrial and population growth, by the early 1930s New York City had swelled to almost seven million people. Immigrants seeking a better life, rural Americans seeking better pay, and hundreds of thousands of people from all walks of life seeking the fun, excitement, and culture of a … Continue reading The Dust Bowl Takes on NYC
Captain Cook and the Complicated Legacy of the Sandwich Islands
The holidays have come and gone, leaving most of us with lighter wallets, tighter pants, and weeks upon weeks of endless winter drear on the horizon. My head is filled with dreams of somewhere warm and green, the sound of the ocean in my ears and the smell of salt in my hair... ...and I'm … Continue reading Captain Cook and the Complicated Legacy of the Sandwich Islands
Christmas in the Dust
As the 1930's wore on, the rain still refused to fall on parts of Oklahoma, Texas, and New Mexico. The dusters got worse, health deteriorated, and money grew scarce as crops withered and what would come to be known as the Great Depression tightened its grip on the country. Every-day life became a battle against … Continue reading Christmas in the Dust
Giving Thanks–and Wanting More
Love it or hate it, Black Friday is here. The unofficial start of the Christmas shopping season brings hordes of early birds, deal seekers, or--more my style--people watchers. And as I stare at the crowds of overly caffeinated, sometimes short-tempered shoppers with their over-loaded carts, I can't help but wonder: how in the world did … Continue reading Giving Thanks–and Wanting More
More Than a Face on a Coin
Crossing the western half of the United States by car or airplane is an awe-inspiring experience. From the Great Plains of the Dakotas to the sharp peaks of the Rockies, it's not hard to imagine the America of long ago: the sheer brutality of the vast wilderness mixed with the reverence of its majestic beauty. … Continue reading More Than a Face on a Coin
Authors Are People, Too
If you've ever walked the halls of Hogwarts with Harry, floated down the Mississippi River with Huck, or braved the stares of Puritan America with Hester--all without leaving the comfort of your house--then you understand the sheer magic of books. What you might not understand, however, is the amount of blood, sweat, and tears that … Continue reading Authors Are People, Too
Call Me George
The Essex was a lucky ship, or so the old-timers used to say. Although old and small, her previous whaling voyages had been disproportionately successful (and--more importantly--profitable), especially the last one, in which George Pollard Jr. and Owen Chase had done so well, they had earned their promotions to captain and first mate, respectively. So … Continue reading Call Me George
We Need to Taco ‘Bout Something…
"I wish I was full of tacos instead of emotions." "Ways to my heart: buy me tacos, make me tacos, be tacos." "You cannot make everyone happy; you are not a taco." Americans love tacos. In fact, experts estimate Americans consume 4.5 billion tacos every year, with at least half the population eating Taco Bell … Continue reading We Need to Taco ‘Bout Something…
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