On this date in 1839, the scientist James Mason Crafts was born in Boston, Massachussetts.  His name may only be familiat to scientists, his work includes important work mainly within the confines of organic chemistry.  He worked with Charles Friedel in France, and tha is where much of his best research was done.  They are known for creating new element […]

History, sports, football

On this date in 1728, Great Britain and Spain signed the El Pardo treaty at the palace of that name in Madrid.  This ended the Anglo-Spanish War which began the previous year.  Unfortunately,  this treaty only worked over a little over a decade.  Fresh war betwen the two countries broke out in 1739. For more info: http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Treaty_of_El_Pardo_(1728) http://books.google.com/books?id=wxITAQAAIAAJ&pg=PA337&lpg=PA337&dq=1728+Convention+of+Pardo&source=bl&ots=yW-G7IWvlx&sig=0QDo6Ar8YgbqyZL0CHZ1se8ZCC4&hl=en&sa=X&ei=3KIYU-eeGdXfoATawoHgCw&ved=0CDYQ6AEwBA http://books.google.com/books?id=TDsyAQAAIAAJ&pg=PA337&lpg=PA337&dq=1728+Convention+of+Pardo&source=bl&ots=JLttO–PWy&sig=6CP4zVxF14dkhGACJmrlrnFyIL8&hl=en&sa=X&ei=3KIYU-eeGdXfoATawoHgCw&ved=0CDkQ6AEwBQ

So did you know about this holiday?  On this date in1934, the very first mother-in-law day was celebrated.  It was first celebrated in Amarillo, Texas, and it was later moved to the fourth Sunday in October.  So if you have a mother-in-law, share this fact with her today.  I never had one and probably never will. For more info: http://encyclopedia2.thefreedictionary.com/Mother-in-Law+Day […]

There is much history surrounding this, but on this date in 1913, the Indian Head or Buffalo Nickel was officially released into circulation.  It was originally worth five cents, and the depiction on the coin is believed to be a composite of three Native Americans, two of whom modeled for the creator of this coin, James Earl Fraser.  In total, […]

I was intrigued to discover that my state figures in today’s feature.  On this day in 1919, international air mail service began in the U.S.  Bill Boeing and Eddie Hubbard carried 60 letters via air from Vancouver, Canada to Seattle, WA.  And I guess all the rest is history. For more info: http://www.aerodacious.com/FAM002.HTM http://www.wired.com/science/discoveries/news/2009/03/dayintech_0303 http://www.centennialofflight.net/essay/Government_Role/1918-1924/POL3.htm

Any Disneyland fans out there?  It just so happens that on this day in1986, the Safari Outpost opened in Adventureland in California’s Disneyland.  I think I remember this shop.  Unfortunately, this shop closed in 1995. For more info: http://www.disneybymark.com/2013/03/01/this-month-in-disneyland-history-2/ http://www.justdisney.com/disneyland/disneyland_timeline/dl_timeline04.html#anchor1069581

I remember this date very clearly because I was the only one in my family rooting for Katarina Witt to win gold.  It was on this date in 1988, that Katarina Witt won her second consecutive gold medal at the Winter Olympics.  She beat out our skater Debbie Thomas (who I honestly never really liked). For more info: http://www.examiner.com/article/this-day-black-sports-history-february-27-1988 http://www.nytimes.com/1988/02/28/sports/88-winter-olympics-witt-is-gold-medalist-for-a-second-time.html

You may be familiar with Galileo Galilei, and on this date in 1616, he was presented with an injunction from the Spanish Inquisition.  Unfprtunately, the result of all this was that Galileo had to reverse his theory that the earth revolved around the sun.  No wonder the church is traditionally seen as backward in the field of science.  This was […]

I was intrigued to discoer that on this date in 1942, actress Karen Grassle was born.  This means that my dad’s favorite show, “Little House on the Prairie’s” Caroline Ingalls was born in he same year as he was.  I liked the show, too, but it is almost a religion for my dad. For more info: http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karen_Grassle http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0002111/