On Jan. 14, 1960, Elvis Presley was promoted to sergeant in the U.S. Army. It was the culmination of a year and a half stint in the military. Presley was drafted on March 24, 1958. Originally, he had been assured by his manager Colonel Tom Parker that he would Read more
For those unfamiliar with this classic slang term, it means a man who is a bit of as scamp or rascal. In some cases, it acted as a more acceptable version of “son of a b****”. The most accepted explanation for the origin of the phrase comes from the Read more
She was born to Quaker parents on Jan. 11, 1885. She was a descendant of William Penn. Her parents were progressives who believed in gender equality and education for women. Her mother was a member of the National American Woman Suffrage Association and brought young Alice to the meetings. She Read more
I was taking the day off when I read that today is the anniversary of the start of picketing by the Silent Sentinels. I am a huge fan of Alice Paul, ever since I saw the movie “Iron-Jawed Angels”, so I couldn’t leave the ladies hanging. The Silent Sentinels Read more
Irma Grese was the blonde, blue-eyed daughter of a German farmer. Her mother committed suicide as age 13 and she was raised by a strict, violent father. Indoctrinated in the greatness of Nazism at school, she joined the League of German Girls when she left home at age 14. Read more
The Harlem Globetrotters played their first game on Jan. 7, 1927 in Hinckley, Illinois. They were originally called the Savoy Big Five. They played before dances in the Savoy Ballroom in Chicago. Some players broke away in a pay dispute and formed the Globe Trotters. A Jewish businessman named Abe Read more
I thought it would be appropriate to do a post on an event that was mentioned a lot yesterday as the news covered the storming of the Capitol. It was correctly pointed out that this was not the first time that people of ill-intent had broken into the building. That Read more
The greatest mountain man was born on this day in 1798 in Bainbridge, NY. Jedediah Smith went west at age 24 to become a fur trapper. He joined William Ashley’s Rocky Mountain Fur Company. One his first expedition, up the Missouri River, he distinguished himself in a battle with Read more
One reason the Allies chose Normandy as the D-Day invasion site was it would be a surprise. That element of surprise was crucial and needed to be maintained. Fortunately, the Germans (specifically Hitler) were fixated on the Allies doing what they would do – invade the closest place to Read more
On Jan. 4, 1903, probably the first filmed killing of an animal occurred. The famous victim was Topsy the elephant. Topsy (named after a character in “Uncle Tom’s Cabin”) had been smuggled into America from Southeast Asia by a circus in 1875. The circus was a rival of Barnum Read more