A Brief History On April 13, 1917, Diamond Jim Brady died at the age of 60, not surprisingly of a heart attack. His reputation made him a truly American legend. Digging Deeper Brady was born in New York City to Irish immigrants. Jim worked low level jobs, gradually working his way up the ladder in the railroad industry, amassing power and wealth that spawned a legend. His flashy use of diamonds earned him his moniker, while his eating was most legendary. The first New Yorker to own a car, Brady is claimed to eat meals that would feed 10 men. …
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A Brief History On April 12, 1955, the Polio vaccine developed by Dr. Jonas Salk was declared safe and effective for use in the United States, ending the epidemic that killed or crippled mass numbers of children in the 19th and 20th Centuries. An earlier Polio vaccine in 1950 was not approved in the US, and in 1961, an oral vaccine became available. Digging Deeper Many diseases have been tamed or eliminated by vaccines, and today we ask, which vaccine is the greatest? Here are some contenders: The smallpox vaccine, saving millions of lives, goes back to as long ago…
A Brief History On April 9, 2017, Dr. David Dao, age 69, found out how bad flying on commercial airlines can be when he was forcibly dragged off of a United Express jet to make room for United employees. Digging Deeper This incident shows our point, that flying commercial can be a horrible experience. Here are some more recent examples: In January 2024, a door panel blew off of a Boeing 737 while in flight, terrifying passengers and sucking property out of the jet. Christmas Eve of 2023 brought no joy to a Delta flight that had a passenger poop…
A Brief History On April 5, 2007, Hellenic Cruise Lines ship MS Sea Diamond struck a reef in the Aegean Sea and sank, taking the lives of two passengers. The Sea Diamond was 469 feet long, displaced 21,000 tons, and could carry 1,500 passengers. Some other recent cruise ship disasters may make you leery of taking a cruise, and include the incidents described below. Digging Deeper In 2010, luxury cruiser Celebrity Mercury was hit with a norovirus outbreak that left hundreds of passengers with severe vomiting and abdominal ailments. In 2012, the Costa Concordia ran aground off Italy and sank, leaving…
A Brief History On April 3, 2024, Americans celebrate National Walking Day, a day celebrated only since 2007 in spite of being an activity people have been doing since proto-humans came down from the trees. Digging Deeper People seem to walk as little as possible to travel from point A to point B, and yet all sorts of walking machines, treadmills, and elliptical machines, are sold every year. In honor of those blessed with the ability to perambulate, stroll, trudge, hike, amble, plod, march, tramp, stride, and tread, here are a few facts about walking. You burn about 5 calories…