Browsing: July

A Brief History On July 20, 1997, the famous American warship, the USS Constitution, better known as “Old Ironsides,” celebrated 200 years of service by embarking on a cruise under her own sails for the first time in 116 years! Digging Deeper The now restored heavy frigate was launched in 1797 to serve the fledgling US Navy, enforcing freedom with her armament of 30 24 pounder cannons and 20 32 pounder cannons.  With a crew of 450, the wooden sailing ship counted 30 “boys” among her crew. Highly successful in battle during the War of 1812, Old Ironsides earned her…

A Brief History This article presents a chronological list of notable events that happened on July 19th.  For each date below, please click on the date to be taken to an article covering that date’s event. Digging Deeper On July 19, 64 AD, the Roman night was interrupted by the beginning of what became known as The Great Fire of Rome. On July 19, 1588, during the Anglo-Spanish War’s Battle of Gravelines, the ultimately doomed Spanish Armada was sighted in the English Channel. On July 19, 1814, Samuel Colt was born in Hartford, Connecticut, and although he lived only to…

A Brief History On July 19, 1977, the first ever Global Positioning System, GPS, signal was received in Cedar Rapids, Iowa courtesy of Navigation Technology Satellite 2, ushering in an era that prevents fumbling around with intricately folded maps while trying to drive a car.  Today, we look at some nominees for the greatest inventions of the 20th Century, and you are welcome to make your own nomination to the list. Digging Deeper The Airplane, 1903. Tetanus Vaccine, 1924. Television, 1927, though disputed. Electronic Computer, 1943 or 1937. Silly Putty, 1943. Microwave Oven, 1945. Oral Contraceptive Pill, 1950, came to…

A Brief History This article presents a chronological list of notable events that happened on July 18th.  For each date below, please click on the date to be taken to an article covering that date’s event. Digging Deeper On July 18, 64 AD, the center of Western Civilization, the city of Rome, the capital of the Roman Empire, suffered an enormous fire that devastated the city and burned for six days. On July 18, 1290, King Edward I of England, also known as “Edward Longshanks” or alternatively “The Hammer of the Scots,” issued the Edict of Expulsion, a royal decree…

A Brief History On July 18, 1967, little Mark Sinclair was born in Alameda County, California, a baby that would become one of the highest grossing film actors, Vin Diesel. Digging Deeper Of “ambiguous” ethnicity, Diesel has a mother of English, Scots, and German heritage, while he never met his biological father.  He himself claims not to know his exact ethnicity, although his mother described him as “multi-cultural.” At the time of Diesel’s birth, several states had “anti-miscegenation” laws against mixed race marriages, and Diesel has speculated that this fact may have contributed to his hidden background. Diesel took to…