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Election Special: Political Conventions
On this week’s election special we look at the history of the Democratic and Republican presidential nominating conventions. The Democrats have convened this week in Philadelphia and picked Hillary Clinton as their nominee for November’s presidential election. The Republican party met last week in Cleveland to nominate Donald Trump as its standard bearer. The first…
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Esperanto: A Language for the World
On this date in 1887, a book called “Dr. Esperanto’s International Language” was published for the first time. Here are some things you may not have known about the language that came to be known as Esperanto. It is known as a contracted international auxiliary language, meaning it was created and didn’t develop naturally. A…
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In Vitro Fertilization: Giving Couples Hope
On this date in 1978, Louise Brown, the first child conceived through in vitro fertilization or IVF, was born. Here are some things you may not have known about what were known as “test-tube babies.” The first thing to know is that most in vitro pregnancies begin not in a test tube, but in a…
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John Dillinger: Public Enemy Number One
On this date in 1934, gangster John Dillinger was killed in a shootout with law enforcement outside a Chicago theater. Here are some things you may not have known about “Public Enemy No. 1.” John Dillinger was born in 1903 in Indianapolis, Indiana. His father was a grocer, who was reportedly quite stern with his…
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Jane Grey: The Nine-Day Queen of England
On this date in 1553, the disputed nine-day reign of Lady Jane Grey as Queen of England ended. Here are some things you may not have known about the shortest reign in British history. Jane Grey was born in either 1536 or 1537, possibly in Leicestershire or possibly in London. She and her sisters Catherine…
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The ‘Glory’ Regiment: Leading the Way
On this date in 1863, the 54th Massachusetts Infantry was defeated in the second battle of Fort Wagner, near Charleston, South Carolina. Here’s a few things you may not have known about one of the first African-American units in the American Civil War. The governor of Massachusetts, John A. Andrew, authorized the regiment in March…
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Boeing: Soaring Since 1916
Today is the 100th anniversary of the founding of The Boeing Company. Here are some things you may not have known about the world’s largest aerospace company. The company was founded as Pacific Aero Products Co. by William Boeing along with George Conrad Westervelt in Seattle, Washington. The inspiration to start the company came when…
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Big Money: Who Doesn’t Need a $10,000 Bill?
On this date in 1969, the United States retired all currency above $100. Here are some things you may not have known about large denomination currency. The first $500 bill was issued in North Carolina in 1780, followed by Virginia, which also began printing $1,000 and $2,000 bills a year later. However, the first high-denomination…
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Hollywood Sign: Above It All Since 1923
On this date in 1923, the Hollywood Sign in Los Angeles was dedicated. Here are some things you may not have known about it. Originally the sign read “Hollywoodland” as a promotion for a housing development in the Hollywood Hills. One of the developers of the project was Harry Chandler, the owner of the Los…