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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…
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Richard Jewell: A Life Turned Upside Down by False Accusations
Today is the birthday of Richard Jewell, the security guard who discovered a bomb during the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta and was later considered a suspect in the attack. Here are some things you may not have known about him. Richard Jewell was born Richard White in 1962 in Danville, Georgia. He was later…
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Beethoven: A Beloved Talent Who Overcame Adversity
Today is probably the birthday of Ludwig van Beethoven, perhaps the most famous of all composers. Here are some things you may not have known about Beethoven. He was born in Bonn, in what is now Germany in 1770. At the time, Bonn was part of the Holy Roman Empire. His grandfather, also named Ludwig…
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John Hammond: Mastering the Art of Musical Talent Scouting
Today is the birthday of American music producer and talent scout John Hammond. Here are a few facts about a man whose career spanned several decades and several genres. John Hammond was born in New York in 1910, the great-great-grandson of Cornelius Vanderbilt. As a child, Hammond was drawn to music played by his family’s…
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Toledo War: The Almost Bloodless Battle Between Michigan and Ohio
On this date in 1836, the Toledo War, a battle between the state of Ohio and the territory of Michigan, ended. Here are some facts about the largely bloodless battle. Ohio and Michigan were once part of the Northwest Territory of the United States. When the borders of the territory were created, it was determined…
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Ponzi Schemes and Pyramid Schemes: What’s the Difference?
On this date in 2008, Bernard Madoff was arrested and charged with running a $50 billion Ponzi scheme. Here are some facts about Ponzi schemes, their history and how they work. A Ponzi scheme is a scam where a person or organization pays returns to investors using funds from new investors, rather than from profit…