history forest

Thomas Edison, today, on January 6, 1931 submitted his last patent application. Edison, if you aren’t aware is a truly fascinating character. Prolific inventor (1,093 patents!) and businessman. Believe it or not your life has been greatly influenced by Edison. He had a hand in things such as the long-lasting electric light bulb, the phonograph (forerunner of CDs and mp3 players), telephones, lighting, x-rays, movies, and electric railroads. I’m missing some, I’m sure! Fascinating story on this guy, take a little time and read about him!

His last patent, was for a holder for electroplating things.

Click here for one of Edison’s early phonograph recordings, “Mary Had a Little Lamb”.
Here’s a recording on Electricity and Progress.
Some early cylinders preserved by the University of California
Thomas Edison patent application for the light bulb
Thomas Edison birthplace museum
University of New Jersey Rutgers: Edison Patents and Edison Papers

Totally unrelated program called “Thomas Edison hates Cats”

Edward the Confessor, died today, January 5, 1066. He was the king of England and had been on the throne about 24 years. 100 years later Edward would find himself cannonized by the Roman Catholic Church, becoming the patron saint for kings, difficult marriages, and separated spouses (ironic lot these 3!).

He reign was primarily a peaceful and prosperous one. He was deeply connected with Normandy and he and his brother, Alfred, attempted unsuccessfully to depose Harold Harefoot years before he finally was able to ascend the throne. Because he had not children, Edward’s death in 1066 lead to 3 people trying to claim the throne, the successful one, Harold II, was the last Anglo-Saxon to be crowned king, as he was killed in the Battle of Hastings by Williams the Conqueror.

This of course, lead to the great history book, 1066 And All That, as well as the events of Robin Hood and Ivanhoe.

Today, January 4, 1936, Mickey Mouse took to the Polo fields along with Donald Duck, Goofy, and the Big Bad Wolf. They were competing against Stan Laurel & Oliver Hardy, Charlie Chaplin, and Harpo Marx. The short animated cartoon also had spectators, including Shirley Temple, Charles Laughton, W.C. Fields, Clark Gable, and Greta Garbo.

This cartoon was originally supposed to have Will Rogers, but was rescripted to include Harpo Marx after Will’s death in a plane crash in 1935.

Today, in 1973, George Steinbrenner bought the New York Yankees baseball team from CBS for a measly $3.2 million! The history of the team would forever be changed as Steinbrenner took charge.

At the end of his second year, he basically started the modern “free agency” era. In 1976 the Yankees reached the World Series for the first time since the early 1960s.

In all, since Steinbreener took control, the Yankees have won 6 World Series titles and 10 AL Pennants.

Jack Hanna, turns 60-years old today (January 2nd)!

Happy Birthday. You’ve been a great inspiration over the years. I (and I’m sure the rest of us) have truly enjoyed your entertaining and educating on animals and zoology over the years. I always enjoy it when learning can be made fun and go down easily!

In 1978 he became the director of the Columbus Zoo and brought its conditions up to standards. In the early 1980s Hanna had his own tv show about animals. He took animals onto Good Morning America and David Letterman’s show. He brought up the attendance to the Columbus Zoo by over 400%. Celebrities Charles Gibson and Newt Gingrich both can claim to be injured by animals Jack Hanna brought around!

Never been personally to the Columbus Zoo, but would like to go someday. Good Morning America appearances, though, have been seen on many times and it is always great to have a knowledgeable fun-loving celebrity to look up to!

New Years! Happy New Year! Hope you have a great year!

Ever wonder why, though, that New Year’s is celebrated when it is and all? Well, it is partly because of the “new” Gregorian calendar which was adopted by various countries beginning in 1582. The United States Colonies adopted that calendar in 1752. It would seem more natural to start the year at the end of a season or at the beginning of spring time, when in fact, January 1st is just a little more than a week after the beginning of Winter in the Northern Hemisphere.

In 153 BC, the Roman senate declared that January 1st was the beginning of the New Year. And later was cemented by Julius Caesar when his Julian calendar came out.

Your memories of January 1st and New Year probably hinge around New York City’s Times Square and the dropping of the ball as the countdown goes. It’s been going on since 1907!

Here’s a cute little page with a quick introduction to New Years!

Today, in 1695 a “window tax” was imposed in Britain. It was a tax on how many windows that a structure had over an arbitrary number, say 10. Since there was resistance to implementing an income tax (which didn’t happen in that country until 1798) this was a way to tax property and then based on how many windows, or how apparently affluent the owner was — because he could afford all that glass.

Theoretically then the rich would pay a larger amount on their property than the middle-class property owners.

What happened though, was that a number of shopkeepers and home owners bricked over some of their windows! And on the flip side, some of the rich, to really show off built homes with as many windows in them as possible!

It was an unpopular tax, considered to be a tax on “light and air”. It was finally removed in 1851.

Click here for a site that has a picture of a window that has been bricked over to lower their window tax.

Today is the 90th anniversary of the opening of the Giza Line on the Tokyo Metro. Noritsugu Hayakawa, a Japanese businessman, saw the London Underground in the early 1900s and decided that such an underground railroad was needed in Tokyo. Construction was begun in 1925 and completed in 1927. It became the first fully operating underground railway in the Orient.

Supposedly the demand to ride the subway was so great that the line for the 5-minute train trip sometimes exceed 2 hours!

The stations are not very deep compared to today’s more modern underground trains, they are about 1 story deep underground. The line is still in use today as part of the Tokyo Metro.

If you follow sports at all you probably have heard about the New England Patriots playing tonight. Its the last game of the regular season and they will be playing to have an undefeated regular season. Only the 1972 Miami Dolphins have accomplished that feat. Of course, the Miami 1972 team had to play only 14 games that year - the season is longer now.

So, what’s the chance that Eli Manning and the New York Giants can defeat them and upset New England’s chance to become only the second team in history to do this? Or will Tom Brady do his job and keep them undefeated?

It’s especially hard since the league is considered to be one that “Any Given Sunday” either team can win. Of course, that isn’t exactly always true, but it is possible.

So sit back, enjoy the game tonight and watch history be made!

Today, December 28, 1832 John C. Calhoun, then the Vice-President of the United States resigned his position to accept a term as Senator from South Caorlina. He became the first Vice-President to resign from office. He first served under President John Quincy Adams as well as the next President, Andrew Jackson. (Does this make him a professional Vice-President?) He resigned out from under Andrew Jackson.

John Calhoun also served as a Senator (didn’t I just say he resigned to take that job?) as well as a US Representative and Secretary of War, as well as Secretary of State!

What is interesting is that while Calhoun was serving as VP for Adams, he realized that Jackson had more popularity and that it was possible for greedy, self-serving politicians to manipulate things, so he jinxed Adams’ chance for re-election and served under Jackson’s administration.

Read John Caldwell Calhoun’s biography (short) at the US Congres website.

Here’s a little longer bio on him, from a site that appears to be in the Netherlands!