A Brief History On December 26, 2023, hordes of recipients of unwanted Christmas gifts will start the annual pilgrimage to the stores to return those disliked gifts. Traditionally, people make fun of fruitcake as a disliked gift, but we go further and list some of the most disliked gifts, although lists you find vary considerably. What gifts do you dislike the most? Digging Deeper Candles, as apparently folks like to pick their own fragrances. Clothes and Shoes, especially baby and toddler clothes. Exercise equipment and weight loss related items are often seen as an insult. Glassware and coffee cups since…
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A Brief History Today, December 25, 2023, I, Dr. Zar, wish all of my family, friends, colleagues, students, and subscribers a Merry Christmas! Digging Deeper With the year nearing its end, I can reflect back upon many positive moments in 2023 from my wonderful time teaching my students to the awesome events experienced with my friends, and especially meeting my new puppy. I hope that all of you have also had an abundance of happiness this past year. Question for students (and subscribers): What has been your favorite moment of 2023? Please let us know in the comments section below this…
A Brief History On December 25, 1991, on the day that Mikhail Gorbachev resigned as President of the Soviet Union, Ukraine’s referendum was completed, meaning Ukraine was no longer part of the USSR. In fact, the next day, the USSR itself ceased to exist. Digging Deeper Ukrainian independence had been declared back on August 24, 1991, but became official when the December 1, 1991 national vote on leaving the USSR became finalized. In Ukraine at the time of independence, Christmas was usually celebrated on January 7th, although the horrible events surrounding the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine caused Ukrainians to…
A Brief History On December 24, 1913, someone, either as a prank or as an evil way of messing with the crowd, yelled, “Fire!” in the crowded Italian Hall in Calumet, Michigan. The Christmas party turned tragic when 73 people died in the crush to escape the false fire. Digging Deeper When discussing “Freedom of Speech,” the example of falsely calling out “Fire!” in a crowded place is often cited as an exception. Some other exceptions include: Counterfeit currency. False advertising and speech that is copyrighted or otherwise owned by another. False statements, which include Slander and Libel, the spoken…
A Brief History On November 30, 1936, the Crystal Palace in London, England was destroyed by a fire. The huge iron, wood, and mostly glass building had been built for the Great Exposition of 1,851 and stretched 1851 feet long with an interior height of 128 feet. Erected in Hyde Park, after the Exposition the entire structure was dismantled and rebuilt in South London. Digging Deeper Some other significant structures destroyed by fire include: The Great Library at Alexandria, burned in 48 BC when Julius Caesar burned a fleet in the harbor that spread to the iconic library. The White…
