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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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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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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…