Browsing: February

A Brief History On February 1, 2009, a milestone in LGBT rights occurred when the Icelandic Althing (their version of a Parliament) elected Johanna Siguroardottir Prime Minister, age 66, an openly lesbian woman, the first head of government in the world to be openly LGBT. Digging Deeper The ascension of Johanna in 2009 placed her in the Forbes List of 100 Most Powerful Women in the world.  Serving only one term as Prime Minister, Johanna retired from politics in 2012. After graduating from college, Johanna worked as a flight attendant and office worker, then became active in labor union work,…

A Brief History On this date, February 29, 1992, American Idol Season 13 finalist Majesty Rose was born.  She is one of many great African-American female singers! Digging Deeper Hailing from Goldsboro, North Carolina, Rose auditioned in Atlanta, where she sang Coldplay’s “Violet Hill”.  Prior to auditioning, she was a pre-school teacher and she graduated in Eastern Wayne High School on 2011.  In Hollywood, she performed “1234” and “Stars”.   She was ultimately eliminated on March 27, 2014, and came in ninth place. Of course, she is but one example of the many great African-American female singers in history.  Three African-American women…

A Brief History Earlier today, we covered the North Hollywood Bank Robbery of February 28, 1997.  Therefore, it only seemed right that we also count down the top ten famous shootouts in history! Digging Deeper 10. John Dillinger gunned down outside a Chicago theater, 1934. Set up by The Woman in Red, was given no chance to shoot back.  Having committed 24 bank robberies, two jail breaks, and four police station robberies, J. Edgar Hoover declared him Public Enemy #1.  Cracked fact: Ambushed by Agent Melvin Purvis, the same agent that was in on the Pretty Boy Floyd shootout! 9.…

A Brief History On February 28, 1997, Hollywood was outdone by North Hollywood in a real life shootout worthy of the movies! Digging Deeper Digging deeper, we find the Los Angeles Police Department engaged in perhaps the biggest police versus robber shootout in American history!  To put it in perspective, about 2,000 rounds were fired of rifle, pistol, and shotgun ammunition! The two bank robbers, Larry Phillips and Emil Matasareanu (from Romania) were not rookies at the robbery game.  They had robbed an armored car in 1993 and were arrested a couple months later when during a traffic stop police…

A Brief History On February 27, 2011, Frank Buckles died at 110 years old, just one of the many fascinating things about his life! Digging Deeper Digging deeper, we find our hero born in 1901 in Missouri into a family of farmers that already had a history of service to the country in the American Revolutionary and Civil Wars. When the U.S. entered World War I, Frank was eager to join the action and went to the nearest Marine Corps recruiting station where he was sent away for being too small.  His 2nd choice, the Navy turned him away for flat…