Alcott Harvested the Fruits of Friendship
On Nov. 29, 1799, Amos Bronson Alcott was born in Wolcott, Connecticut; though he became well known as education reformer and teacher, it is the many lives that intersected with his that make his story fascinating.
The Interesting Mythology of William Blake
On Nov. 28, 1757, William Blake was born in London, England. His poetry, criticism and engraving revealed a penetrating vision of religious and personal mythology.
Freezing to Boiling in 100 Steps
On Nov. 27, 1701, Anders Celsius was born in Uppsala, Sweden; the astronomer proposed the centigrade temperature scale that the international standard is based on.
NHL's Birthday: Who Can Celebrate?
On Nov. 26, 1917, the owners of four hockey teams in Montreal, Quebec and Ottawa organized the National Hockey League.
Origins of Evolutionary Biology
On Nov. 24, 1859, John Murray published “On The Origin of Species, by Means of Natural Selection,” by Charles Darwin.
Acting Began in Tragedies
Perhaps on Nov. 23, 534 BCE, Thespis of Icaria eschewed the tradition of the Greek stage; wearing a mask, he spoke as Dionysus not himself. Two hundred years later, Aristotle calls it the first acting performance.
Our Traditions Free Us to Celebrate Thanks in our Own Ways
Thanksgiving, a time to recall the deliverances and bounties of our lives.
The Voice of the Enlightenment
On Nov. 21, 1694, Voltaire, the name that François-Marie Arouet published under, was born in Paris. He rejected the law for a chance to write, and became one of the most successful, and influential authors in history.
The Gettysburg Address
On Nov. 19, 1863, President Abraham Lincoln consecrated the Soldiers’ National Cemetery at Gettysburg, where 3,155 Union soldiers died in a three-day battle, with one of America’s most memorable speeches.
Blood of Patriots
“We petition the Obama administration to: Peacefully grant the State of Tennessee to withdraw from the United States of America and create its own NEW government.”
'An Army Marches on Its Stomach'
On Nov. 17, 1749, Nicolas Appert was born in Châlons-en-Champagne, Marne, France; he invented “canning” as a way to preserve food.
Chilly Pipe Dreams
On Nov. 16, 1973, President Richard Nixon authorized the construction of the 800-mile Trans-Alaska Pipeline from the North Slope of Alaska to Port Valdez.
The Cyclone Strikes 'Em Out
Denton True Young earned the moniker Cyclone in 1890, and when he retired 21 years later he left baseball records in a shambles.
Robert Fulton Was an Artist, Inventor and Entrepreneur
On Nov. 14, 1765, American inventor Robert Fulton was born on a farm in Pennsylvania; he built the first workable submarine, the Nautilus, for Napoleon Bonaparte in 1800, and built the early warship.
You May Sit Where You Please
On Nov. 13, 1956, the U.S. Supreme Court struck down laws in Alabama that segregated buses, and heralded the end of “separate but equal” as legal segregation.
Passing Through the Gates of Hell
On Nov. 12, 1840, François-Auguste-René Rodin was born in Paris; his sculptures were initially unappreciated, but wrought change and presaged a modern era in art.
A Little Thawing on the 'Fiscal Cliff' is Welcomed
Rhetorical bombs are for pundits, and policy-makers should ignore the recommendations of taking a plunge over the “fiscal cliff.”
No Middle Name, but Very Popular
On Nov. 10, 1871, American author Winston Churchill was born in St. Louis, Missouri. At the height of his fame he quit writing and retired from public life.
The Pen Succumbs to the Pistol
On Nov. 9, 1908, Robin Cooper shot and killed former Sen. Edward W. Carmack, editor of the Tennessean.
Solving the “Tyranny of Numbers” and Changing the World
On Nov. 8, 1923, Jack Kilby was born in Jefferson City, Mo. His 1958 invention of the integrated circuit made possible the incredible devices we use everyday.
Rankin Fought For Women’s Suffrage and Against War
On Nov. 7, 1916, Jeannette Rankin became the first woman elected to serve in Congress. She represented the at-large district in Montana.
Mind, Body, Spirit: Basketball
On Nov. 6, 1861, James Naismith was born in Almonte, Canada. He made a ministry of teaching young men athletics, and invented basketball along the way. The college basketball season starts Friday.
Separating the Comets From the Chaff
On Nov. 5, 1906, Fred Lawrence Whipple was born in Red Oak, Iowa. His astronomical observations changed our understanding of comets.
Congratulations! You Won! Get to Work.
Preparing for the day after. Buckle up and get to work.
The Final Three Electoral Votes
On Nov. 3, 1964, residents in the District of Columbia voted in their first presidential election; the Electoral College votes went to Democrat Lyndon Johnson, and have gone to the Democrat in every election since.
Harding Landslide in a 'Return to Normalcy'
On Nov. 2, 1865, Warren Harding was born in Blooming Grove. Ohio, and on Nov. 2, 1920, he was elected as the 29th President of the United States.
Liberty Without Discipline is Lost
Around Nov. 1, 1790, Edmund Burke published the pamphlet “Reflections on the French Revolution.” The pamphlet became a core philosophical treatise for the emerging Conservative movement.
A Pearl of a Dutch Master
On Oct. 31, 1632, Flemish painter Johannes Vermeer was baptized in Delft, Dutch Republic.
