A Brief History On April 23, 1910, former President Theodore Roosevelt (TR) gave one of his most famous speeches at the Sorbonne in Paris, France.  In what is known as the “Man In the Arena” speech, but actually titled “Citizenship in a Republic,” TR contrasted the bold man of action to the “timid souls that neither know victory or defeat.”  A man of action himself, and the youngest president, Teddy Roosevelt had numerous times been in the arena.  Here are 10 reasons why Theodore Roosevelt is one of the greatest of Americans. Digging Deeper 10. The Great White Fleet. Roosevelt…

A Brief History History’s worst war and its associated genocide is an dark chapter in human history overflowing with bizarre episodes.  This article presents a timeline of the most notable such incidents, some depressing and others inspiring! Origins of World War II On September 24, 1884, Hugo Schmeisser was born in Jena, in what was then the German Empire. On August 22, 1902, Helene “Leni” Riefenstahl was born in Southern Bavaria in Germany.  Thirty years later she would meet Adolf Hitler, the man who helped her become the greatest female filmmaker of the 20th century, but that association would nearly destroy her…

A Brief History World War I (and the revolutions that occurred during it) was without any doubt one of the largest, deadliest, and most significant war in human history.  It was also not without its more bizarre and epic moments… A Prologue On March 28, 1910, aviation history was made when French aviator, Henri Fabre, made the first take off by an airplane from water in a seaplane of his own design. On October 9, 1911, an accidental bomb explosion in China lead to the ultimate fall of China’s last imperial dynasty. On April 17, 1912, Russian Imperial soldiers fired on a crowd of…

A Brief History On April 1, 1984, three suburban Cleveland young men started a business that would become “The Aquarium Superstore!” Digging Deeper Robert, Mike, and Steve worked together to create RMS Aquaculture, putting their passion for tropical fish into a level above just a hobby. Initially using their expertise to breed and raise various tropical fish, the young entrepreneurs initially filled their parents’ basements with rows of fish tanks.  Successfully producing thousands of baby fish, RMS found ready buyers in local pet stores.  This initial success meant having to move to more substantial quarters, and an abandoned greenhouse complex…

A Brief History On March 31, 1889, the Eiffel Tower was completed in Paris, France and has stood as a symbol of that city ever since. The tallest man-made structure in the world at that time, it remained the tallest until 1930 when it was surpassed by the Chrysler Building in New York.  Many cities have a structure that is readily recognized as the most prominent symbol of that city.  Here is an inexhaustive list of 10 of the most iconic ones, with follow-up lists planned to cover other iconic structures that exist in such other major world cities as…