A Brief History On October 15, 1997, Andy Green became the first supersonic driver of a car by setting the land speed record of 763 mph (Mach 1.016), driving a twin jet powered ThrustSSC across a measured course and back in Nevada’s Black Rock Desert. This historic event occurred 50 years and 1 day after Chuck Yeager became the first person to fly supersonic in level flight. Digging Deeper Green is an RAF fighter pilot, no stranger to high speed, also is the holder of the land speed record for diesel powered vehicles with a speed of 350 mph in…

A Brief History On October 15, 1997, the ThrustSSC driven by Andy Green became the first land vehicle to break the sound barrier. At a speed of 763 mph this twin jet powered car became the fastest car on the planet. Here we list 9 such land based people, animals, or vehicles that are the fastest in their category. What additions to this list would you make? (See our list from March 30, 2014 10 Fastest Things, and our list from July 9, 2014, 10 Greatest Swimmers.) Digging Deeper 9. Fastest Roller Coaster, Formula Rossa, 149 mph. Located in the…

A Brief History On July 19, 1848, somewhat earlier than you may have imagined, the modern Women’s Rights movement began with a 2 day convention held in Seneca Falls, New York. Digging Deeper This first Women’s Rights convention, known appropriately as the Seneca Falls Convention, was not to be an aberration.  Only two weeks later, another convention was held, also in New York (Rochester) and within two years annual conventions concerning women’s rights were being held. The convention was organized by several Quaker women, including Lucretia Mott and with the collusion of Elizabeth Cady Stanton, a famous suffragist  and advocate…

A Brief History On October 14, 1939, German submarine U-47 captained by Gunther Prien stealthily crept into the Royal Navy’s main anchorage at Scapa Flow and sank the British battleship HMS Royal Oak, an audacious and remarkable feat of skill and daring.  Military men and women have performed heroically quite often, but not as often with a truly amazing degree of skill and daring.  Here we list 10 of those feats of military success that most captivate us.  What military feats impress you? Digging Deeper 10. Sinking of Royal Oak, 1939. Piloting his sub into the British Navy’s back yard…

A Brief History On April 8, 2013, the Dawlat al-ʻIraq al-Islāmīyah, “Islamic State of Iraq” (ISI) claimed territory in the Levant and thereby became “The Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant”.  Now known as just “The Islamic State”, this so-called “caliphate” is arguably one of the most evil entities in human history.  This article lists some of the most horrendous crimes against humanity in chronological order. Digging Deeper 1.  Beheading Abu Musab al-Zarqawi (October 30, 1966 – June 7, 2006), a militant Islamist from Jordan who ran a paramilitary training camp in Afghanistan, became known after going to Iraq and being responsible for a series of bombings, beheadings, and attacks…