Browsing: September

A Brief History On September 3, 1941, the first experiments using an insecticide which had been adapted to kill people were conducted at the Auschwitz concentration camp.  Soviet prisoners of war were gassed to death with a cyanide-based insecticide in a dress rehearsal for the mass extermination of Jews and others known as the Holocaust. Digging Deeper Zyklon B was a product made by the giant German chemical company IG Farben.  Developed from an earlier version known as Zyklon A, it was originally intended to be used as an insecticide and delousing agent.  In its insecticide form, it had a special odorant added for safety reasons so that the smell…

A Brief History On September 3, 1783, the treaty that ended the American Revolutionary War was signed in Paris, France, thus becoming known as the Treaty of Paris.  Paris is often referred to as “The City of Light,” and many other cities have notable nicknames as well.  Here 10 are listed.  (This list is American-centric because there seem to be more nicknamed cities in the U.S. than in other parts of the world.) Digging Deeper 10. Hershey, Pennsylvania, “Chocolate City” People love chocolate, so Hershey must be one of the most beloved cities in the U.S.  The motto of the city is “The Sweetest Place…

A Brief History On September 2, 1901, the then Vice President of the United States, Theodore “Teddy” Roosevelt first used his famous phrase “Speak softly and carry a big stick” in a speech at the Minnesota State Fair.  Presidents and other famous people have often uttered lines that has become closely associated with that person.  Here 10 of the author’s favorite utterances by famous people are listed.   Digging Deeper 10. “I am not a crook.” Richard Nixon. Twice elected vice president twice and twice elected president, and this simple line is how he is remembered.  This was one tortured, weird guy.…

A Brief History On September 2, 1666, one of history’s most memorable fires occurred in the English capital of London.  The medieval portion of central London located within the old Roman wall was completely devastated and every building therein basically gutted. Digging Deeper Despite the terrific damage, the death toll has never been known and only 6 fatalities have been documented.  Researchers seem to think many more people must have died but were not counted as they came from parts of town that were either poor or middle class; the shops and homes of the upper classes being spared.  Also, possible victims may have been incinerated in the flames, making it…

A Brief History On September 1, 1952, The Old Man and the Sea, the Pulitzer Prize-winning Ernest Hemmingway novel, was first published.  Many great novels have centered on ships and men at sea.  In the Marine Corps we used to say, “The difference between a fairy tale and a sea story is the fairy tale starts ′Once upon a time,′ while the sea story starts ′This is no sh*t!′ ”  Here 10 great sea stories involving the tales of sailors and seamen and their ships are listed.   Digging Deeper 10. The Caine Mutiny, Herman Wouk, 1951. This Pulitzer Prize-winning fictional story of…