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Soviet Union: The Rapid Collapse
Today is the 24th anniversary of the final winding down of the USSR. Here are some things you may not have known about the dissolution of the Soviet Union. The collapse of the Soviet Union began in earnest in 1985 with the election of Mikhail Gorbachev as general secretary of the Communist Party. He…
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Soviet Union: Rising from Revolution
On this date in 1922, the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics was formed following the Russian Revolution of 1917. Here are some things you may not have known about the formation of the Soviet Union. On December 30, 1922, the leaders of the Russian Republic, Transcaucasian Republic, Ukrainian Republic and Byelorussian Republic met in the…
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Thomas Becket: The Turbulent Priest
On this day in the year 1170, Thomas Becket was killed by supporters of King Henry II of England during a conflict over the rights of the Catholic Church in England. Here are some things you may not have known about Thomas Becket. He was born around the year 1120 in London. His father was…
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Stan Lee: A 93-Year-Old Marvel
Today is the 93rd birthday of comic book legend Stan Lee. Here are a few things you may not have known about him. He was born Stanley Martin Lieber in his parents’ apartment in New York. As a child he enjoyed writing and found work writing obituaries and press releases. He also worked as a…
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Christmas: Why Is It Celebrated on December 25?
Here are some things you may not have known about the history of Christmas. Christmas is, of course, the celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ. In addition to being a religious holiday, it’s also a public holiday in many parts of the world and is celebrated by many non-Christians. There is not much agreement…
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Eggnog Riot: What Do You Do With a Drunken Cadet?
Today is the 189th anniversary of the Eggnog Riot, the aftermath of a drunken Christmas party at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, N.Y. Here are some things you may not have known about the riot. In 1826, alcohol possession and intoxication were grounds for expulsion from West Point. Despite this, there was…
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“A Visit From St. Nicholas”: Playing the Reindeer Name Game
On this date in 1823, “A Visit From St. Nicholas” was published for the first time. Here are some facts you may not have known about what has come to be known as “The Night Before Christmas.” The poem was originally published anonymously in the Sentinel newspaper in Troy, New York. In 1837, it was…
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Lady Bird Johnson: The First Modern First Lady
Today is the birthday of Lady Bird Johnson, the wife of U.S. President Lyndon B. Johnson. Here are some things you may not have known about her. She was born Claudia Alta Taylor in Karnack, Texas in 1912. When she was a baby, her nurse said that she was as “purty as a ladybird” and…
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Crossword Puzzles: Looking for Answers Since 1913
On this date in 1913, the first crossword puzzle was printed in the New York World newspaper. Here are some things you may not have known about crossword puzzles. The first puzzle was actually called a word-cross puzzle. It was created by Arthur Wynne, who was a journalist from Liverpool, England. It was based on…
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Prohibition: America’s Dumbest Idea
On this date in 1917, the 18th amendment to the U.S. Constitution passed the Senate and was sent to the states for ratification. Here are some facts you may not have known about prohibition. Prohibition was the climax of the temperance movement in the United States. The movement began in earnest just after the American…