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Post by pattycake on Aug 24, 2008 13:43:41 GMT -5
On this day back in 79 AD, Mt. Vesuvius erupted and buried the cities of Pompeii and Herculenean (sp?) in ash, killing an estimated 20,000 people.
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Post by Fairweather on Aug 24, 2008 14:03:12 GMT -5
On this day back in 79 AD, Mt. Vesuvius erupted and buried the cities of Pompeii and Herculenean (sp?) in ash, killing an estimated 20,000 people. Josh Bernstein (formerly of History Channel's DIGGING FOR THE TRUTH) premiered his new Discovery Channel show, INTO THE UNKNOWN WITH JOSH BERNSTEIN, last Monday night, with a segment on gladiators--the ones from ancient Rome, not our reality show/WWF whatevers--One of the places he visited was Pompeii, where they had a huge colosseum and gladiators were, in spite of being slaves, the rock stars of their day. Pompeii bothers me. Not the history, per se, of the eruption and subsequent entombment of the town for so many centuries, but those bodies that have been reconstructed in their death agonies in plaster of paris. Strange though it may sound, they make me profoundly uneasy. Auntie, more psychic than me, says it's "echoes"--a sort of residue of their dreadful ends--that I'm picking up. I don't know--I just know I'm always glad when historians move on to the buildings and to Mt. Vesivius and its history of eruptions.
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Post by Krista on Aug 25, 2008 9:09:11 GMT -5
On this date in 1984, IN COLD BLOOD author, Truman Capote, died.
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Post by Fairweather on Aug 25, 2008 11:17:50 GMT -5
This is also the date in 1944 when Paris was liberated, after four years of Nazi occupation.
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Post by Krista on Aug 25, 2008 12:09:40 GMT -5
This is also the date in 1944 when Paris was liberated, after four years of Nazi occupation. And, what a party THAT was! I'm paraphrasing Ernie Pyle here, but his Paris liberation column included something along the lines of anyone who didn't "get lucky" wasn't trying hard enough!
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Post by Fairweather on Aug 26, 2008 14:12:27 GMT -5
Ladies, a cause for us to celebrate: On Aug. 26, 1920, the 19th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, guaranteeing women the right to vote, was declared in effect. And we owe that privilege to a great lady from Niota, Tennessee, named Phoebe Ensminger Burn, who persuaded her son, Harry T. Burn, to cast the deciding vote in the TN House of Representatives, in favor of the measure. Fairweather wrote a piece about it back on Mother's Day: fairweatherlewis.blogstream.com/v1/pid/311835.html#TP.
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Post by pdb on Aug 26, 2008 14:19:38 GMT -5
Ladies, a cause for us to celebrate: On Aug. 26, 1920, the 19th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, guaranteeing women the right to vote, was declared in effect. And we owe that privilege to a great lady from Niota, Tennessee, named Phoebe Ensminger Burn, who persuaded her son, Harry T. Burn, to cast the deciding vote in the TN House of Representatives, in favor of the measure. Fairweather wrote a piece about it back on Mother's Day: fairweatherlewis.blogstream.com/v1/pid/311835.html#TP. You did a wonderful job, Katie, and thank you SO much; no wonder yellow roses have always been my favorite!! HUGS!!
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Post by Laura on Aug 26, 2008 14:44:53 GMT -5
Ladies, a cause for us to celebrate: On Aug. 26, 1920, the 19th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, guaranteeing women the right to vote, was declared in effect. And we owe that privilege to a great lady from Niota, Tennessee, named Phoebe Ensminger Burn, who persuaded her son, Harry T. Burn, to cast the deciding vote in the TN House of Representatives, in favor of the measure. Fairweather wrote a piece about it back on Mother's Day: fairweatherlewis.blogstream.com/v1/pid/311835.html#TP. What a beautiful story Katie, and Fairweather did a wonderful job telling it. I learned something new today. I had no idea the right for women to vote was made possible by a final vote of a man, who had a good mother and raised a good son.
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Post by g1 on Aug 27, 2008 7:59:05 GMT -5
On Sat Aug 27 1859 Edmund Drake and "Uncle Billy" Smith struck oil in Titusville PA -- though they didn't realize it until the next morning. The sleepy little town of 700 would never be the same. The Oil Creek valley was notorious for its mud -- so much so that the Native Americans had historically avoided the place except to gather crude oil from some seeps, for which they had various uses.. At the peak of the oil boom Oliver Wendell Holmes wrote
“Here I am in an oil town, mud all over the hubs of the wheels, literally one horse was smothered over in it; the queerest crowd of men with trousers tucked in their boots; no privacy – hotels all over-crowded – chambers here thoroughfares, everybody passing through at will…. Everybody here is making money…. Explanation – they have all struck oil.”
The oil boom didn't last. The more successful and ambitious would move on to newer frontiers, leaving a rough-and-tumble town as dangerous as anything in the wild west. Within a few years a local newsman would note
"Titusville is at present enjoying a reign of terror… If one or two cold blooded murders, several stabbings and poisoning affairs, forty or fifty grog shops, and other trifling evils, keep up the reputation of the city, then Titusville is in “good repute.” Notwithstanding the “g. r.” of the place, it would be well enough for those of our citizens having business there to go armed and prepared for the desperados who infest the city." -- (1871)
Drake's is said to be the first well drilled specifically for that purpose of recovering oil. though there are other claimants to this distinction.
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Post by Jamie on Aug 27, 2008 9:41:28 GMT -5
On this day back in 79 AD, Mt. Vesuvius erupted and buried the cities of Pompeii and Herculenean (sp?) in ash, killing an estimated 20,000 people. Josh Bernstein (formerly of History Channel's DIGGING FOR THE TRUTH) premiered his new Discovery Channel show, INTO THE UNKNOWN WITH JOSH BERNSTEIN, last Monday night, with a segment on gladiators--the ones from ancient Rome, not our reality show/WWF whatevers--One of the places he visited was Pompeii, where they had a huge colosseum and gladiators were, in spite of being slaves, the rock stars of their day. Pompeii bothers me. Not the history, per se, of the eruption and subsequent entombment of the town for so many centuries, but those bodies that have been reconstructed in their death agonies in plaster of paris. Strange though it may sound, they make me profoundly uneasy. Auntie, more psychic than me, says it's "echoes"--a sort of residue of their dreadful ends--that I'm picking up. I don't know--I just know I'm always glad when historians move on to the buildings and to Mt. Vesivius and its history of eruptions. Oh goodness, I shan't let one of my boys read your post, he lives for Mt Vesuvio and all the came from the that fateful day in 79 AD. So much so that his email screen name comes directly from a person in that time and of that disaster. Everyday when we're on the road, that child literally waits until Vesuvio comes into view. He was elated to visit Pompeii several months ago, and completely stoked when we saw it at night last month. He can't wait until it gets cooler and we get to actually climb up Vesuvio! My little blond hair, blue eyed fella wants to learn Italian and never leave here. If he does leave, he wants to come back and live near Pompeii so that he may give tours to people. Also, we have at least THREE documentaries on the subject, and he draws pictures constantly of it all. ;D Pace!!!
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Post by nanalinda on Aug 27, 2008 15:37:52 GMT -5
Josh Bernstein (formerly of History Channel's DIGGING FOR THE TRUTH) premiered his new Discovery Channel show, INTO THE UNKNOWN WITH JOSH BERNSTEIN, last Monday night, with a segment on gladiators--the ones from ancient Rome, not our reality show/WWF whatevers--One of the places he visited was Pompeii, where they had a huge colosseum and gladiators were, in spite of being slaves, the rock stars of their day. Pompeii bothers me. Not the history, per se, of the eruption and subsequent entombment of the town for so many centuries, but those bodies that have been reconstructed in their death agonies in plaster of paris. Strange though it may sound, they make me profoundly uneasy. Auntie, more psychic than me, says it's "echoes"--a sort of residue of their dreadful ends--that I'm picking up. I don't know--I just know I'm always glad when historians move on to the buildings and to Mt. Vesivius and its history of eruptions. Oh goodness, I shan't let one of my boys read your post, he lives for Mt Vesuvio and all the came from the that fateful day in 79 AD. So much so that his email screen name comes directly from a person in that time and of that disaster. Everyday when we're on the road, that child literally waits until Vesuvio comes into view. He was elated to visit Pompeii several months ago, and completely stoked when we saw it at night last month. He can't wait until it gets cooler and we get to actually climb up Vesuvio! My little blond hair, blue eyed fella wants to learn Italian and never leave here. If he does leave, he wants to come back and live near Pompeii so that he may give tours to people. Also, we have at least THREE documentaries on the subject, and he draws pictures constantly of it all. ;D Pace!!! The story of your little lad gazing in awe at Vesuvio touched my heart. I hope he never loses that sense of wonder and that his dreams are fulfilled.
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Post by Fairweather on Aug 28, 2008 12:15:33 GMT -5
On August 28, 1963, from the Lincoln Memorial, to 200,000 people, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. delivered his "I Have a Dream" speech--surely one of the greatest ever given by an American orator. I was barely two years old at the time, and in any case would not have been allowed to listen on TV, radio, or anything else; my father was a racist who labeled Dr. King a troublemaker. But I have heard it since, many many times, and it stirs my soul every time I hear it.
It surely is only coincidence that Barack Obama will be delivering, tonight, what could possibly be the most important speech of his career. God be with him as he does so.
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Post by pattycake on Aug 29, 2008 20:15:36 GMT -5
On this day in 1966, the Beatles concluded their fourth American tour with their last public concert, at Candlestick Park in San Francisco.
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Post by pdb on Aug 29, 2008 20:36:59 GMT -5
On this day in 1966, the Beatles concluded their fourth American tour with their last public concert, at Candlestick Park in San Francisco. “The Stick"!! What a place!! HORRIBLE park for baseball --cold, windy and Willie Mays probably would have it over 850 (experts estimate between 850 - 900) home runs if he had played anywhere else!! But those Beatles!! Thanks, patty!! Regardless of the freezing nights, I do have very fond memories of many nights at "The Stick" though; if a game went into extra innings at night, they gave all of the fans that stayed a special pin for us "brave and hardy souls who stuck it out for an extra-innings night game, awarding a Croix de Candlestick pin. You can tell the true diehards from the Candlestick days by the rows of orange pins circling their caps." We wore them like a badge of honor then and still do today; I have MANY!! I love the motto of the pin: Veni Vidi Vixi ("I came, I saw, I lived"). Sorry I missed you; I hope you sleep well!!
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Post by Jamie on Aug 30, 2008 5:15:26 GMT -5
On this day in 1966, the Beatles concluded their fourth American tour with their last public concert, at Candlestick Park in San Francisco. “The Stick"!! What a place!! HORRIBLE park for baseball --cold, windy and Willie Mays probably would have it over 850 (experts estimate between 850 - 900) home runs if he had played anywhere else!! But those Beatles!! Thanks, patty!! Regardless of the freezing nights, I do have very fond memories of many nights at "The Stick" though; if a game went into extra innings at night, they gave all of the fans that stayed a special pin for us "brave and hardy souls who stuck it out for an extra-innings night game, awarding a Croix de Candlestick pin. You can tell the true diehards from the Candlestick days by the rows of orange pins circling their caps." We wore them like a badge of honor then and still do today; I have MANY!! I love the motto of the pin: Veni Vidi Vixi ("I came, I saw, I lived"). Sorry I missed you; I hope you sleep well!! Mark Twain once said: 'The coldest winter I ever spent, was a summer in San Francisco.' ;D
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Post by Fairweather on Sept 1, 2008 12:48:34 GMT -5
On September 1, 1939, Nazi Germany invaded Poland--the opening of WWII.
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Post by Fairweather on Sept 4, 2008 11:35:08 GMT -5
Sarah Palin is in a long tradition of governors with experience mobilizing and deploying the National Guard:
On Sept. 4, 1957, Arkansas Gov. Orval Faubus called out the National Guard to prevent nine black students from entering Central High School in Little Rock.
Faubus ended up with egg on his face when President Eisenhower federalized the Arkansas National Guard, sent them back to their armories, and sent in units from the 101st Airborne to protect the Little Rock Nine.
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Post by Fairweather on Sept 6, 2008 11:53:34 GMT -5
On Sept. 6, 1901, President William B. McKinley was shot and mortally wounded by anarchist Leon Czolgosz at the Pan-American Exposition in Buffalo, N.Y.
An event immortalized in a traditional song called "White House Blues" which caught on with bluegrass singers long ago, the best known version probably being that of Bill Monroe, recorded in 1954. Since Sarah Palin's fallen into the error of comparing herself to Teddy Roosevelt (along with way too many of her GOP compadres), the last verse is ironic--since she could wind up in Roosevelt's position, given McCain's age--
Roosevelt's in the White House, doin' his best McKinley's in the graveyard takin' his rest He's been gone a long long time. . .
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Post by moonstone on Sept 6, 2008 15:20:47 GMT -5
On Sept. 6, 1901, President William B. McKinley was shot and mortally wounded by anarchist Leon Czolgosz at the Pan-American Exposition in Buffalo, N.Y. An event immortalized in a traditional song called "White House Blues" which caught on with bluegrass singers long ago, the best known version probably being that of Bill Monroe, recorded in 1954. Since Sarah Palin's fallen into the error of comparing herself to Teddy Roosevelt (along with way too many of her GOP compadres), the last verse is ironic--since she could wind up in Roosevelt's position, given McCain's age-- Roosevelt's in the White House, doin' his best McKinley's in the graveyard takin' his rest He's been gone a long long time. . . Don't even think about it, my friend.
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Post by pdb on Sept 6, 2008 21:10:25 GMT -5
On Sept. 6, 1901, President William B. McKinley was shot and mortally wounded by anarchist Leon Czolgosz at the Pan-American Exposition in Buffalo, N.Y. An event immortalized in a traditional song called "White House Blues" which caught on with bluegrass singers long ago, the best known version probably being that of Bill Monroe, recorded in 1954. Since Sarah Palin's fallen into the error of comparing herself to Teddy Roosevelt (along with way too many of her GOP compadres), the last verse is ironic--since she could wind up in Roosevelt's position, given McCain's age-- Roosevelt's in the White House, doin' his best McKinley's in the graveyard takin' his rest He's been gone a long long time. . . And what always amazes me is that so many Republicans invoke FDR!! And the manner in which they do it leads people that, sadly don't know their history, to believe he was one of them!! That angers me; nothing could be further from the truth!!
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Post by Fairweather on Sept 15, 2008 11:20:11 GMT -5
On Sept. 15, 1963, four black girls were killed when a bomb went off during Sunday services at a Baptist church in Birmingham, Alabama, in the deadliest act of the civil rights era.
God rest the souls of all who gave their lives in those years.
There's still work to be done.
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Post by moonstone on Sept 15, 2008 13:05:02 GMT -5
On Sept. 15, 1963, four black girls were killed when a bomb went off during Sunday services at a Baptist church in Birmingham, Alabama, in the deadliest act of the civil rights era. God rest the souls of all who gave their lives in those years. There's still work to be done. Indeed. Thanks, katie. If there IS a God, this is the sort of thing that I imagine God cares about. Not oil pipelines or bridges to folly.
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Post by Fairweather on Sept 17, 2008 13:25:30 GMT -5
The single bloodiest day in American history was Sept. 17th, 1862--the Battle of Antietam. More Americans died in what proved to be the battle that gave Lincoln impetus to issue the Emancipation Proclamation than were lost on D Day (June 6th, 1944) or on September 11th, 2001.
It was also the earliest battle to be documented fully in pictures: photographer Mathew Brady and his assistants hauled those bulky slow nineteenth century cameras around the battlefield and later that year did an exhibition of them in NYC called "The Dead of Antietam." The photos brought war up close and personal as sketch artists had never been able to do.
Get the feeling Dubya would not have approved of Brady?
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Post by Jamie on Sept 17, 2008 13:37:44 GMT -5
The single bloodiest day in American history was Sept. 17th, 1862--the Battle of Antietam. More Americans died in what proved to be the battle that gave Lincoln impetus to issue the Emancipation Proclamation than were lost on D Day (June 6th, 1944) or on September 11th, 2001. It was also the earliest battle to be documented fully in pictures: photographer Mathew Brady and his assistants hauled those bulky slow nineteenth century cameras around the battlefield and later that year did an exhibition of them in NYC called "The Dead of Antietam." The photos brought war up close and personal as sketch artists had never been able to do. Get the feeling Dubya would not have approved of Brady?[/quote] That was my thought before I even finished reading your post. He'd probably send him to Gitmo!
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Post by Fairweather on Sept 22, 2008 10:46:09 GMT -5
On Sept. 22, 1862, President Abraham Lincoln issued the preliminary Emancipation Proclamation, declaring all slaves in rebel states should be free as of Jan. 1, 1863.
Note that it says "all slaves in rebel states"--which in effect meant only those in areas already controlled by Union troops were affected. Many slaves were unaware that such a proclamation had been made.
But it was a start.
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