Did you know that the nation of Russia has a Flag Day?  The flag that they now fly over their country has been a national symbol that existed since the seventeenth century.  Of course, when it was part of the Soviet Union, this flag was not seen.  Back in 1991, there was much political unrest within the country.  A military […]

I remember hearing something about this.  On this date in 1911, one of the most famous paintings of all time–the Mona Lisa–was stolen from the Louvre in Paris, France.  At the time, this wasn’t considered the masterpiece that it is today.  A handyman at the Louvre, Vincenzo Perugia, decided to risk going to jail for this painting.  He came out […]

Okay, I don’t generally feature political figured twice in a row.  But both of the features I wanted to do today could not be corroborated.  On this date in 1935, Ron Paul was born.  He has the dubious misfortune of having the same last name as my ex’s first, but I got over that fact.  I did not realize he […]

Although helium is the second most abundant gas in the universe, it is not a gas that overly prevalent on this earth.  On this date in 1868, French astronomer Pierre Jules Janssen discovered helium during a solar eclipse in India.  Interestingly enough, another astronomer 5000 miles away was discovering the same thing–Joseph Norman Lockyer.  Both reports arrived at the French […]

I am not a sports fan, as you know, but this is a great day in history for lovers of sports and their most well-known magazine.  On this date in 1954, the first Sports Illustrated magazine was published.  This was the first magazine of its kind.  In other words, there was no national magazine that covered sports until this magazine […]

I believe that “First Ladies” can be quite instrumental in the success and/or failure of U.S. presidents, and today’s feature would seem to be no exception.  On this date in 1860, Florence Kling Harding (“Flossie) was born.  She was the First Lady of the U.S. from 1921-1923.  She was the eldest of three children, and her aspirations were to be […]

I have only ever heard of this island before, but maybe one day I’ll see it for myself.  It was on this date in 1784  that Kodiak Island became the first Russian colony in Alaska.  This island is the eightieth largest in the world and the second largest in America, coming in at 3600 square miles.  A Siberian fur merchant […]

Indeed she was one of the most noted women in Western entertainment history–at least in my opinion.  On this date in 1860, Phoebe Anne (Annie) Moses (known professionally as Annie Oakley) was born in Ohio.  Her parents were Quakers, and Annie was the sixth of seven children.  Due to her mom being widowed twice, Annie and her older sister were […]

I have never heard of this individual, but perhaps you have.  On this date, Fortino Mario Alfonso Moreno Reyes, also known as Cantinflas, was born in Mexico.  There were eight children in their family, and he attempted to enter the U.S. through California.  That did not work out so he became a prizefighter when he was in his teens.  From […]

I remember actually seeing this the last time I saw the Golden Gate bridge.  I probably have a picture somewhere, but regardless, this is a pretty famous place.  On this date in 1934, the first prisoners arrived at Alcatraz.  Its name came from a Spanish explorer who named the island after the pelicans he saw living there.  This federal penitentiary […]