Today is April 25th. On this date in 1953, Senator Wayne Morse wrapped up the third longest filibuster in Senate history, at 22 hours, 26 minutes. The second longest was Sen. Alfonse D’Amato in 1986 at 23 hours, 30 minutes, and the longest was Sen. Strom Thurmond, at 24 hours, 18 minutes, in 1957. Morse died in 1974. His last words were … transcribed in | Read More »
Today is April 24th. On this date in 1981, IBM introduced the first personal computer. Today, PCs are most commonly used to look at pictures of cats and share with others what one had for breakfast. Waffles, by the way. Also on this date, in 1990, Space Shuttle Discovery launched, carrying the Hubble Space Telescope. In the years since, Hubble has produced many mind-blowing photographs | Read More »
Today is April 13th. It is Friday the 13th. Friggatriskaidekaphobics take note: there are three Friday the 13ths in 2012, each exactly 13 weeks apart! On Friday, April 13th in 1945, the city of Vienna, Austria, then under Nazi rule, fell to Soviet troops after an 11 day battle. People just really like those little sausages, I guess. On Friday, April 13th in 1860, the | Read More »
Today is April 11th. On this date in 1814, Napoleon Bonaparte was forced to abdicate power and was exiled to the island of Elba. In March of the following year, he escaped and returned briefly to power before finally being defeated at Waterloo. He spent the remainder of his life trying to convince people to vote for Pedro. Also on this date, in 1970, the | Read More »
Today is April 10th. On this date in 1849, Walter Hunt patented the safety pin. He sold the patent mere hours later for $400. Hunt was a prolific inventor, having received patents for a fountain pen, a sewing machine, and even a pre-Winchester repeating rifle. Coincidentally, it was this date in 1790 that the very first U.S. Patent Office was established. I once invented something | Read More »
Today is April 9th. On this date in 1865, Robert E. Lee surrendered the Confederacy to General Ulysses S. Grant in Appomattox, Virginia, ending the Civil War. After the terms were agreed upon, a band struck up a celebratory song, but General Grant famously shushed them, saying “The war is over. The Rebels are our countrymen again.” And since the band was Nickelback, nobody minded. | Read More »
Today is April 4th. On this date, in 1818, Congress adopted a plan that added five more stars to the American Flag, bringing the total to 20. It also permanently reduced the number of stripes to 13, in honor of the original colonies. Fans of the original practice of adding a star and a stripe for each state promptly started a Facebook page to protest | Read More »
Today is April 3rd. On this date in 1860, the Pony Express began service. It lasted until October of 1861, when Kevin Costner finally defeated General Bethlehem. Also on this date, in 1996 suspected “Unabomber” Ted Kaczynski was arrested at his remote shack in the woods of Montana. His main beef was with technology and “industrial society,” and he was eventually sentenced to life in | Read More »
Today is April 2nd. On this date in 1513, Juan Ponce de Leon claimed Florida for Spain. He believed to be an island. He named it “La Florida”, both for the lushness of the foliage, and because it was Easter week, or Pascua Florida. After several days visiting Disney World, he decided it had become “too commercial” and carried on looking for the Fountain of | Read More »
REMINDER: Today is the LAST DAY to get the Early Bird Rate for the RedState Gathering. Read about it here, or sign up right away here!Today is March 31st. On this date in 1889, the Eiffel Tower had its first official tour, as Gustave Eiffel led a group of reporters and city officials throughout the structure. The ascent to the top was accomplished by stairs, | Read More »
Today is March 30th. On this date in 1867, the U.S. purchased Alaska from Russia for 7.2 million smackers. So if you win the lottery tonight, you can buy, like, 80 million Alaskas all at once, which is way more Alaskas than most people will own in a lifetime! Also on this date in 1981, Ronald Reagan was shot by John Hinckley, Jr. in Washington, | Read More »
Today is March 29th. On this date in 1992, Bill Clinton admitted to having tried marijuana, but stated that he “didn’t like it, and didn’t inhale, and never tried it again.” He then asked if the host had any cheetos and pondered the odd nature of fingers. Also on this date, in 1918, Walmart founder Sam Walton was born. Walton once said: “There is only | Read More »
Today is March 26th. On this date, in 1827, classical composer Ludwig van Beethoven died in Vienna, Austria. He was, of course, one of history’s greatest composers. (I think my personal Beethoven favorite is probably Moonlight Sonata.) If he were alive today, he would probably say “Hi, I’m Gary Oldman.” Also on this date, in 2000, Vladimir Putin was elected President of Russia, thereby laying | Read More »
Today is March 23rd. On this date, in 1775, Patrick Henry famously said “Give me liberty, or give me death!” Today is also the 2nd anniversary of the passage of Obamacare. Things sure do change. Also on this date, in 1957, the U.S. Army apparently sold the last of its homing pigeons, having shut down the Pigeon Corps the year before. Statues and cars could | Read More »
Today is March 22nd. On this date in 1903, the American side of Niagara Falls ran out of water due to drought, says the internet. But slowly the weather turned, and then, step by step, inch by inch, the water came back. Also on this date, in 1978, Karl Wallenda, founder of the flying Wallendas, died while trying to walk a tightrope between two ten | Read More »
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