On this date in 1913, the state of Oregon passed the first statewide minimum wage law.  Here is what was stipulated: 50 hour weeks, 9 hour days, 45 minute lunch breaks, and a weekly wage of not less than $8.64. So do you think this would go over well today?  Probably not!  Oh, and women got $8.25 per week. For […]

On this date in 2005, Disneyland in Hong Kong  began accepting reservations.  You will have to forgive me if I don’t cite my information as well in the next few days.  I am in the process of switching from a laptop to a tablet, and I have an app on my tablet where I am getting a lot  of my […]

The American flag is a very important part of our history as a nation, and it is nice to know that other countries respect our flag as well.  On this date in 1778, our flag flew over our ship the Ranger (commanded by John Paul Jones), and it was saluted by the French as it entered French waters at Quiberon […]

On this date in 1914, composer Victor Herbert (ever seen Babes in Toyland?  He wrote the music for that.) founded the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers known as ASCAP.  He founded this organization to ensure that royalties were paid and copyrights were protected as it related to the music scene.  Supposedly, the story goes that Victor Herbert was […]

There does appear to be some discrepancy, but the most reliable sites seem to say that on this date in 1753, the first hospital in the U.S. (Pennsylvania Hospital) began admitting patients. Dr. Thomas Bond was committed to this relatively new idea, and he asked his friend, Benjamin Franklin, to open a hospital in Philadelphia.  He worked very hard to […]

On this date in 1962, the Soviets exchanged pilot Francis Powers, a  captured U-2 pilot, for Soviet master spy Rudolph Abel.  Both men were brought to separate sides of Glienicker Bridge which connected East and West Berlin.  They crossed to freedom at exactly the same time–8:52 A.M. Berlin time.  The Soviets had shot down his plane some time before, and […]

On this date in 1895, the sport that would become known as volleyball was created by YMCA athletic director William G. Morgan.  Back then, it was called Mintonette, and he combined elements of badminton and basketball.  As he saw it, basketball was too strenuous a sport for him and his middle-aged gym class members.  This was the perfect alternative.  Initially, […]

This may be a first on my blog to feature someone from wrestling.  On this date in 1972, wrestler The Big Show was born.  Paul Randall Wright, Jr. is his real name, and he is a 7-time world champion in his  sport.   Interestingly enough, he has been in some movies and TV, and he is the only person in history […]

On this date in 1788, Thomas Jefferson wrote a letter to Alexander Donald that featured what would become a famous quote by him. “Whenever the people are well informed, they can be trusted with their own government; that whenever things get so far wrong as to attract their notice, they may be relied on to set them to rights.” Personally, […]

Today features a very troubled composer.  On this date in 1854, composer Robert Schumann was saved from a suicide attempt.  He tried to drown himself in the Rhine River, but he was unsuccessful.   According to another report, it was on February 27, 1854.  So I’m sorry if my information is skewed.  For more info: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Schumann http://www.musicorb.com/classical/composers http://www.historyorb.com/events/february/6