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Charles Addams: A “Family” Man
Today is the 103rd anniversary of the birth of illustrator Charles Addams. Here are some things you may not have known about the creator of “The Addams Family.” Charles Addams was born in Westfield, New Jersey in 1912. Houses in his hometown were said to be the inspiration for the Addams Family mansion. A childhood…
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Tonya Harding and Nancy Kerrigan: Unsportsmanlike Conduct
On this date in 1994, American figure skater Nancy Kerrigan was attacked by a man hired by the husband of her main competitor, Tonya Harding. Here are some things you may not have known about the skaters and the attack. Nancy Kerrigan was born in 1969 in a suburb of Boston. She began skating at…
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Golden Gate Bridge: Form and Function
On this date in 1933, construction began on the Golden Gate Bridge. Here are some things you may not have known about the bridge. Ferry service between San Francisco and Marin County started in the 1820s. The Golden Gate Ferry Company, which originated in 1867 went on to become the largest ferry system in the…
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Topsy: The Electrocution of an Elephant
On this date in 1903, Topsy, an Asian elephant was euthanized by electrocution at Coney Island, New York. Here are some things you may not have known about the incident. Topsy was brought to the United States and performed in the Forepaugh Circus, where she gained a reputation as a bad elephant after killing a…
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Times Square: A New Year’s Tradition
Today is New Year’s Day, which is marked in New York City by the ball drop in Times Square. Here are some things you may not have known about the Times Square Ball. The first ball drop was held on New Year’s Eve 1907. It was organized by Adolph Ochs, the owner of the New…
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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…