I have to admit I don’t remember this one at all.  On this date in 2000, the MS Express Samina, a Greek passenger ferry, left the port of Piraeus with 473 passengers and 61 crew members.  At least 60 passengers were killed (including children) when it collided with what you see above in the picture.  The captain is reported to […]

I have never been to this national park, but of course, I know of it.  On this date in 1890, Sequoia National Park was established.  It included the areas of the Sierra Nevada mountains and around the San Joaquin Valley.  It was America’s second national park. For more information: http://www.sequoiahistory.org/default.asp?contentid=705 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sequoia_National_Park http://www.nationalparks.org/explore-parks/sequoia-national-park http://famousdaily.com/history/sequoia-national-park-united-states-congress-established.html

Again, let it be said that I do occasionally feature sports history on my blog.  On this date in 1957, the famous Camp Nou in Barcelona, Spain was officially opened.  This was built to replace the aging Camp de Les Corts stadium.  Interestingly enough, Handel’s Messiah was performed in honor of the opening.  It was able to fit 100,000 people […]

I absolutely had no idea about this particular sports feature (big shock since I don’t follow sports!).  Manon Rheaume became the first woman to play in the NHL.  Here’s what happened.  She is a Canadian goalie that had a dream.  She played in the minor leagues in various places, but Tampa Bay Lightning signed her as a free agent.  She […]

The first time I ever heard Andrea Bocelli sing was on a television concert with Sarah Brightman (during my big time Phantom of the Opera craze).  I was amazed, and impressed, and on this date in 1958, Andrea Bocelli was born.  I will be honest.  He’s not my favorite tenor, but he is amazing and an inspiration.  In fact, when […]

I have to admit that I don’t know a lot about recent Jewish history except for Israel’s homeland creation and the constant bad blood between the Jews and Arabs.  I was not aware of the great thing that one of the lesser-known presidents of our country did.  On this date in 1922, President Harding signed the Joint-Fish Resolution which gave […]

Well, you might be wondering what Khrushchev and Disneyland have in common.  I didn’t know the connection, but I do now.  On this date in 1959, this Soviet leader was denied entrance to the Disneyland.  He had begun a goodwill tour, and he had already visited Broadway, a Pittsburgh steel mill, and IBM headquarters.  While in L.A., he was told […]

I’m not familiar with today’s feature, but I guess it was big news.  Patricia Hearst was kidnapped  by a guerilla group when she was 19.  In a strange twist, she announced that she joined the group that kidnapped her.  She changed her name to “Tania,” and she helped this group with bank robberies and such.  She was put on the […]

Even though I am not a sports fan, this story truly did interest me.  On this date in 1960, Amos Alonzo Stagg retired as a football coach.  Here’s the truly amazing part.  He was 98 years old!  He had been with the game almost from the beginning of the sport.  He played football in Yale University, and was selected to […]

This goes way back in time today, and it shows that horrible things happened long ago as well.  On this date in 668, Constans II (Constantine the Bearded) was assassinated while bathing.  He had been named co-emperor of the Roman Empire in 641.  He wasn’t well-liked for a number of reasons, and his chamberlain (the person in charge of his […]