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Turtles: Who Doesn’t Like Them?
Today is World Turtle Day. Here are some things you may not have known about them. Turtles are reptiles that belong to the order Testudines. Their defining characteristic is their shell, which is made of bone or cartilage depending on the species. In American English, the word turtle is used to describe all members of…
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Homesteading: Go West, Young Man
On this date in 1862, U.S. President Abraham Lincoln signed the Homestead Act into law. Here are some things you may not have known about homesteading in the United States. The idea of opening up the American west to settlement had been proposed several times by northern lawmakers before the Civil War. Southern lawmakers, however…
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Canada’s National Parks: Grandeur on Display
On this date in 1911, the world’s first national parks service was founded in Canada. Here are some things you may not have known about national parks, especially those in Canada. While the Canadians were the first to create a national parks service, the world’s first national park was Yellowstone, located mostly in the U.S.…
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Sports Broadcasting: Spreading the News Since 1921
On this date in 1939, the first live television broadcast of a sporting event in the United States happened. Here are some things you may not have known about the early days of sports broadcasting. If a fan couldn’t get to the stadium to see their team in action, traditionally they would have to wait…
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Uh-Oh, 51 Years of SpaghettiOs
On this date in 1965, SpaghettiOs were introduced. Here are some things you may not have known about the convenience food and other similar products. For those that don’t know, SpaghettiOs is a brand of canned pasta in a tomato sauce. The pasta is circular, hence the Os in the name. They were created by…
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Alcoholics Anonymous: Helping Since 1935
On this date in 1935, Bill Wilson and Dr. Bob Smith met for the first time, forming a relationship that would lead the the founding of Alcoholics Anonymous. Here are some things you may not have known about the group and its history. In the 1930s, alcoholism was viewed as a moral failing and something…
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What’s the Deal with Luxembourg?
On this date in 1867, Luxembourg gained its independence. At just under 1,000 square miles, it’s considered by some to be the largest European microstate. Here are some things you may not have known about Luxembourg and European microstates. Luxembourg is a grand duchy, meaning its monarch is a grand duke. It is the only…
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Shakespeare Riot: Guns, Fire and Macbeth
On this date in 1849, about 25 people were killed and more than 120 injured during what came to be known at the Shakespeare Riot. Here are some things you may not have known about it. New York City in the Mid-19th century was in the midst of a class struggle between an upper class…
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European Union: United for Peace
Today is Europe Day, the anniversary of the first major step toward what is now known as the European Union. Here are some things you may not have known about it. Following World War II, cooperation between European nations was seen as a way to prevent the extreme nationalism that led to the war. British…