Latest blog entries
His Vision Became the Internet
On Mar. 11, 1915, Joseph Carl Robnett Licklider was born in St. Louis. Educated as a psychologist, he is credited as the first to describe the Internet (when he proposed a “galactic network” of interconnected computers in 1962).
Blue on Blue ... from Devilish Deb
Nobody asked me but.... When was the last time Duke beat UNC in football and twice in basketball during the same school year? I watched last night's game calm, resigned to Duke's losing. We won at home, they deserved the same. Plus, UNC finally found their grove. They sizzled, not ...
How Her Garden Did Grow
On Mar. 9, 1892, Victoria Mary “Vita” Sackville-West was born in Kent, England. A novelist and poet who is best known for the weekly gardening columns she wrote for The Observer, and her garden at Sissinghurst Castle.
Finding the New in 'Old Style'
On Mar. 8, 1865, Frederic W. Goudy was born in Bloomington, Illinois. When he was 40, he embarked on a new career, designing type, and became the leader of American type designers.
Maurice Ravel was a Musical '10'
On Mar. 7, 1875, Maurice Ravel was born in in the Basque town of Ciboure, France, near Biarritz, close to the border with Spain. He is most famous for “Bolero,” a work he dismissed as trivial.
Dred Scott Ruling was Supreme Court Disaster
On Mar. 6, 1857, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that because Dred Scott was black, he was not a citizen of the United States, arguably the worst ruling by our nation’s highest court.
Bank Holiday Set Stage for Reform
On Mar. 5, 1933, President Franklin D. Roosevelt, on his first full day in office, declared a Bank Holiday would begin on March 6, and depositors would not be able to withdraw their funds.
No Quorum for Congress' First Meeting
On Mar. 4, 1789, the first United States Congress met in Federal Hall in New York City, though it was not until April 1 that the House of Representatives had sufficient members present for a quorum, and April 6 for the Senate.
Pauling Saw the Connections in Chemistry
On Feb. 28, 1901, Linus Pauling was born in Portland, Oregon. He is one of the few two-time winners of the Nobel Prize.
We Are Glad That Dr. Seuss Was Who He Was
On March 2, 1904, Theodor Seuss Geisel was born in Springfield, Mass.; he became one of the most popular children’s book authors of all time.
Simmel Saw the Sociology of Money
On March 1, 1858, sociologist Georg Simmel was born in Berlin, Germany. He wrote extensively on the effects our modernizing world had on individuals and society.
Reigning In the Possibility of President For Life
On Feb. 27, 1951, Minnesota became the 36th state to ratify the 22nd Amendment to the Constitution of the United States, setting a term limit for the office of the President.
Dow Dined at the Predator’s Ball
On Feb. 26, 1866, Herbert Henry Dow was born in Belleville, Ontario, Canada. He founded the company that eventually became industrial giant, Dow Chemical Company.
'Old Glory'
When Union troops under the command of Gen. Don Carlos Buell entered Nashville on Feb. 25, 1862, one resident welcomed them with open arms, former sea captain William Driver, who unfurled “Old Glory,” and flew it from the state capitol.
Santa Ana Was Loyal to Himself
On Feb. 21, 1794, Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna was born in Veracruz. He was president of Mexico eleven times during his career.
How will they Manage Now?
Here is a serious observation that was previously made regarding the absolute crisis facing the BOC because of the loss of Jim Westbrook back in November. Here is some background, it should be noted that Mr. Westbrook was basically the Big Boys 'go to guy' for many years. In an ...
Schopenhauer Advocated Asceticism
On Feb. 22, 1788, Arthur Schopenhauer was born in Danzig (now Gdansk, Poland). He was among the first to see the universe as essentially irrational.
America the Beautiful, In Black and White
On Feb. 20, 1902, Ansel Adams was born in San Francisco. He is known for the iconic photographs of America’s western landscapes.
Copernicus Struck the Spark of Reason
On Feb. 19, 1473, Nicolaus Copernicus was born in Thorn, Poland. His theory placing the Sun at the center of our universe sparked the scientific revolution.
Obama Consigns Traditional Values to the Dark Side
As often happens, science fiction somehow manages to emerge as reality. From the fictional communicators used by the original captain Kirk on the Star Ship Enterprise to the use of lasers in ways once only imagined, some ideas seem to rise from the realm of mere imagination into real life. ...
