Staff blogs
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.
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.
Just White Rain...
It's just white rain, I keep telling the panicked backyard birds who are gobbling sunflower seeds like they're expecting Santa Claus. What a perfect afternoon...interesting weather, three of the best NC basketball teams all playing, but not each other, so all can win with no hard feelings. I knew when ...
Memories of Popes Passing
I was raised Catholic. Served as an altar boy, went to Catholic schools, have told or heard all the Catholic jokes I think there are to tell and hear. We had crosses in all our bedrooms and a piece of that year's palm from Palm Sunday woven into the cross. ...
A 'Grand' Agreement Made at Yalta
On Feb. 11, 1945, the heads of the Big Three Allied Powers – Great Britain, USA and USSR – concluded a conference in Yalta, Crimea, which divvied up the post-World War II world.
The Hero of Tippecanoe
On Feb. 9, 1773, William Henry Harrison was born in Virginia. He was elected president in the 1840 election and sworn in on Mar. 4, 1841; he died a month later, and John Tyler became president
Schumpeter Saw the Creative Force of Destruction
On Feb. 8, 1883, Joseph Schumpeter was born in Třešť, Habsburg Moravia (now part of the Czech Republic. He became on the world’s most influential economists.
Savonarola Lit a Fire for Reform
On Feb. 7, 1497, Friar Girolamo Savonarola and his followers piled objects, books, art, cosmetics, and other “sinful” items, for a bonfire of the vanities.
