Tag: history
6 Insane Early Drafts of Iconic Buildings
City lights seen from space show the evolution and development of countries over time
City lights as seen from space show the evolution and development of countries over time.
City lights as seen from space show the evolution and development of countries over time.
Casablanca – “I bet they are asleep in New York. I bet they’re asleep all over America.”
An evening pause: On the anniversary of the day the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor: “I bet they are asleep in New York. I bet they’re asleep all over America.” From Casablanca (1942).
The DB Cooper hijacking case might finally be solved.
The DB Cooper hijacking case might finally be solved.
The DB Cooper hijacking case might finally be solved.
World War II: After the war, in photos
World War II: After the war, in photos.
World War II: After the war, in photos.
German bomb experts successfully defuse WW II bomb after evacuating 45,000
German bomb experts have successfully defused a World War II bomb after evacuating 45,000.
“I did my job, that was all,” lead defusing expert Horst Lenz told local daily Rhein Zeitung.
German bomb experts have successfully defused a World War II bomb after evacuating 45,000.
“I did my job, that was all,” lead defusing expert Horst Lenz told local daily Rhein Zeitung.
German authorities ask 45,000 people to evacuate their town this weekend while bomb experts defuse a just discovered World War II bomb
German authorities have asked 45,000 people to evacuate their town this coming weekend while bomb experts attempt to defuse an unexploded World War II bomb.
German authorities have asked 45,000 people to evacuate their town this coming weekend while bomb experts attempt to defuse an unexploded World War II bomb.
Pictures of London’s Tower Bridge, taken during construction in the 1890s, discovered
Cool images: Lost for more than a hundred years, a set of pictures taken during the construction of London’s Tower Bridge in the 1890s have been rediscovered.
Cool images: Lost for more than a hundred years, a set of pictures taken during the construction of London’s Tower Bridge in the 1890s have been rediscovered.
New discoveries at Stonehenge are suggesting the site is far older than previously believed
New discoveries at Stonehenge are suggesting the site is far older than previously believed.
New discoveries at Stonehenge are suggesting the site is far older than previously believed.
The 1960s space race: The US orbits its first living animal, Enos the chimpanzee
An evening pause: Fifty years ago today the United States succeeded for the first time in placing a living animal in orbit, four years after the Soviet’s launched the dog Laika into space. On November 29, 1961 NASA orbited a chimpanzee named Enos as a dress rehearsal for John Glenn’s orbital flight, then scheduled for early in 1962. See this article for some details about Enos difficult flight.
Since the flights of Gagarin, Titov, Shepard, and Grissom earlier in 1961, the 1960s space race had seemed in abeyance as NASA geared up for its first orbital manned mission, while the Soviets were typically silent about their plans. Yet, for those like myself who were alive at that time, the suspense never abated. What would happen next? Could the U.S. beat the Russians to the Moon? Only time would tell.
Before Thanksgiving, the big holiday this week was Evacuation Day
Some history: Before Thanksgiving, the big holiday Americans used to celebrate this week was Evacuation Day.
Some history: Before Thanksgiving, the big holiday Americans used to celebrate this week was Evacuation Day.
Einstein explains E=mc²
The Kennedy assassination
An evening pause: On this date, forty-eight years ago, I was ten years old, home sick with a cold instead of at school. As I watched a silly afternoon rerun of a 1950s comedy sitcom (I don’t even remember what show it was) and sipped chicken soup (of course), the show was interrupted with the news of Kennedy’s assassination.
For each generation, there is often a single moment that defines their future. For the baby boomer generation, it probably was this moment more than any other.
The Pilgrims arrive in New England
An evening pause: Three hundred and ninety one years ago on this day the Pilgrims first sighted the shore of New England. Knowing that they soon would disembark and attempt to create a new society in this New World, they gathered and signed what we today call the Mayflower Compact, what might be called the first ever consciously written social contract in human history.
Having undertaken, for the glory of God, and advancement of the Christian faith, and honor of our King and Country, a voyage to plant the first colony in the northern parts of Virginia, do by these presents solemnly and mutually, in the presence of God, and one of another, covenant and combine our selves together into a civil body politic, for our better ordering and preservation and furtherance of the ends aforesaid; and by virtue hereof to enact, constitute, and frame such just and equal laws, ordinances, acts, constitutions and offices, from time to time, as shall be thought most meet and convenient for the general good of the Colony, unto which we promise all due submission and obedience.
This idea, that society is formed from the consent of its members, still forms the bedrock idea of America. And woe to us if we ever forget it.
Charles Laughton – The Gettysburg Address from Ruggles of Red Gap
An evening pause: On the anniversary of its first presentation, Charles Laughton gives his interpretation, from the movie Ruggles of Red Gap (1935).
Is Newt Gingrich America’s Churchill?
Is Newt Gingrich America’s Churchill?
As the author himself says, “The thought startles.” However, it is quite a fascinating read, founded strongly in history.
Is Newt Gingrich America’s Churchill?
As the author himself says, “The thought startles.” However, it is quite a fascinating read, founded strongly in history.
From Here to Eternity – Reverly
An evening pause: In honor of this Armistice Day, the eleventh day of the eleventh month of the eleventh year: Montgomery Clift plays revelry, from the 1953 classic movie, From Here to Eternity.
Escape from Berlin
An evening pause: In honor of the fall of the Berlin Wall on this day in 1989, I post below Part 2 of a documentary on the history of the Wall’s construction and the many escape attempts by East Germans. Though the documentary does a poor job of explaining why East Germans desperately made attempt after attempt to flee to the west (a wish to escape from oppression and go somewhere where they could freely live their lives), it does include some incredible film footage showing the various escape attempts. Part 1 outlines the Wall’s initial construction, during which many people could easily break through.
Part 2, embedded below, describes the first deaths, when the communist East German government gave its guards orders to “shoot to kill.” Part 3 is even more fascinating, showing the effort by West Germans to dig tunnels under the 150 foot death strip in order to get friends and relatives out. Parts 4 and 5 show later attempts, when the Wall had become more impregnable, including one escape using an arrow (!) and another using two ultralight airplanes. Part 6 shows the Wall’s fall in 1989.
For twenty-eight years a government decided it had the right to imprison its citizens because they longed for freedom. In the end, all that government really achieved was to prove that freedom is better, and that good intentions — based on intellectual ideology and imposed on people by force — lead nowhere but hell.
Sports images of the 20th century
The Viking Sunstone Revealed?
Sailing without a compass: the Viking’s sunstone revealed?
Sailing without a compass: the Viking’s sunstone revealed?
Explorers appear to have found the wrecks from Sir Francis Drake’s last voyage
Explorers appear to have found the wrecks from Sir Francis Drake’s last voyage.
As Drake was buried in full armor in a lead-lined coffin near the wrecks, there is also the chance of locating his grave.
Explorers appear to have found the wrecks from Sir Francis Drake’s last voyage.
As Drake was buried in full armor in a lead-lined coffin near the wrecks, there is also the chance of locating his grave.
Humans do it quickly
A team of scientists from Japan have found evidence that the human settlement of the Marshall Islands in the central Pacific Ocean occurred almost immediately after those islands emerged from beneath the sea. Though it had been previously believed that a thousand years had to pass until these newly emerged islands had developed sufficient vegetation for humans to occupy them, the evidence from this study shows that humans not only showed up almost immediately, they acted to vegetate the island themselves in order to make it habitable.
The scientists drilled four cores just off the western shore of Laura Island, the largest island of Majuro Atoll, as well as thirteen trenches on that same island, in order to determine when the island first emerged from under the sea. They also excavated a well-preserved bank at the center of Laura Island to study the human occupation of the island.
What they found was that the Atoll emerged from underwater approximately 2000 years ago, triggered by a fall in sea level. More surprising, the first evidence of human settlement appeared to occur at almost the same time.
» Read more
Gerry & The Pacemakers – Ferry Cross The Mersey
An evening pause: From 1965, the Top of the Pops show. I’ve always liked this song, “Ferry Cross the Mersey,” but it is also fun to watch early television, with the band attempting to simulate playing to the original recording, while the kids on the dance fall make believe they’re dancing as they repeatedly sneak peaks at the cameras.
The story of Columbus’s voyage, in Lego animation
A new report has found that Big Ben in London is leaning just under a half a meter off the perpendicular
A new report has found that Big Ben in London is leaning, just under a half a meter off the perpendicular.
A new report has found that Big Ben in London is leaning, just under a half a meter off the perpendicular.
Tracing the Canals of Mars
Beethoven — second movement, Fifth Symphony, performed by NBC Symphony Orchestra conducted by Arturo Toscanini
An evening pause: This March 22, 1952 television performance of Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony from Carnegie Hall by the NBC Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Arturo Toscanini, was probably the most remembered by the generation of our parents. I show the second movement, because it happens to be my favorite. Listen as the opening theme returns several times during the piece, only changing the last time into something even more beautiful.
Watching Toscanini as he conducts is fascinating as well.
The Taj Mahal in danger of collapse
The Taj Mahal is in danger of collapse.
Certain points about this story — few details and the extreme and sudden nature of the claims — leave me skeptical and wondering if it isn’t merely a ploy for funding.
The Taj Mahal is in danger of collapse.
Certain points about this story — few details and the extreme and sudden nature of the claims — leave me skeptical and wondering if it isn’t merely a ploy for funding.
Texas Congressmen try again to grab shuttle from New York
Vultures fighting over a corpse: Texas Congressmen are trying again to grab the shuttle from New York.
Vultures fighting over a corpse: Texas Congressmen are trying again to grab the shuttle from New York.
New York’s plans for shuttle display very unsettled
New York’s plans for shuttle display very unsettled.
New York’s plans for shuttle display very unsettled.