On this day in 1820, a Russian expedition led by Fabian Gottlieb von Bellingshausen spotted an ice shelf attached to Antarctic land now known as Queen Maud Land, making them the first to see the long-sought-after Terra Australis Incognita (“unknown southern land”) many explorers before had tried--and failed--to locate. It should have been a major … Continue reading I *maybe* Claim This Land for Russia
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The Beginning of a Dream (Re-Post)
In honor the upcoming Martin Luther King Jr. Day holiday, today's #historyfriday article is a repost of a feature I wrote a few years back. It's worth sharing again, as we honor the life and legacy of this important Civil Rights activist:"I have a dream." Perhaps one of the most famous lines in all of … Continue reading The Beginning of a Dream (Re-Post)
All It Needs Is A Little Bit of Love
We're a little over two weeks in the Christmas season, and I've already done it three times. Maybe you have, too. To me, it's the first sign of the coming holiday, usually done while putting up the tree. And then again while baking cookies and/or wrapping gifts. I can repeat it from memory; its soundtrack … Continue reading All It Needs Is A Little Bit of Love
Following the Bouncing…Mouse?
On November 18, 1928, the world of animation changed forever with the introduction of a certain cartoon mouse bopping along to fully synchronized sound and music in what would become an instant classic (and studio boon): Steamboat Willie. The brainchild of relative newbie Walt Disney, the eight-minute film premiered at the Broadway Theater in New … Continue reading Following the Bouncing…Mouse?
The Curse of Tutankhamen?
The Valley of the Kings, located on the western bank of the Nile River opposite modern-day Luxor, had long been a site of "antiquity tourism," dating all the way back to the time of the Roman Empire. Housing the principal burial location for many major royal figure in the Egyptian New Kingdom, as well as … Continue reading The Curse of Tutankhamen?
The Tragedy at Aberfan
It was foggy on the morning of October 21, 1966. Not that that was unusual for the small Welsh village of Aberfan. It had been raining for weeks, but that wasn't unusual either for an area that received over 60 inches a year. It was dreary and misty, yes. But also full of excitement. Because, … Continue reading The Tragedy at Aberfan
Quoth the Raven: “Huh?”
On October 3, 1849, a reporter for the Baltimore Sun named Joseph W. Walker decided to head to Gunner Hall's, which had been set up at polling station for the day's election. Thinking he'd gauge the vibe or catch a whiff of public sentiment, he knew the public house would be a great place to … Continue reading Quoth the Raven: “Huh?”
The Little Rock Nine
On June 7, 1892, Homer Plessy, a shoemaker and social activist, walked into the Press Street Depot in New Orleans, bought a first-class ticket to Covington, Louisiana, and boarded the East Louisiana Railroad’s Number 8 train--all with the full expectation of being forced off the train or arrested—or both. That's because Plessy was a black … Continue reading The Little Rock Nine
Computer Slow? Check for bugs!
In February 1945, with World War II dragging into its sixth year, the United States Navy entered a contract with a team of scientists at Harvard University to build a computer. Having been impressed by a demonstration of the Mark I, an electromechanical computer used to study implosions for the Manhattan Project, Navy higher-ups believed … Continue reading Computer Slow? Check for bugs!
When The Third Time’s NOT a Charm
Blink and you'll miss it. Codell is a small farming community much like many others scattered throughout Kansas. Located in the windswept prairie north of Hays (and the bustling traffic of Interstate 70), Codell was established as a railroad town in 1887 and once boasted hundreds of houses, a school, multiple churches as well as … Continue reading When The Third Time’s NOT a Charm
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