January 26th is
Dental Drill Day *
Peanut Brittle Day
National Spouses Day
Toad Hollow Day of Encouragement *
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MORE! Julia Morgan, Glenn Curtiss and Paul Newman, click
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WORLD FESTIVALS AND NATIONAL HOLIDAYS
Australia – Australia Day *
Brazil – Santos: Founding Day
Dominican Republic – Duarte Day
India – Republic Day *
Uganda – NRM Liberation Day
Vietnam – Tet Holiday
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On This Day in HISTORY
1500 – Vicente Yáñez Pinzón becomes the first European to set foot on Brazil
1531 – The Lisbon earthquake kills about thirty thousand people
1564 – The Council of Trent establishes an official distinction between Roman Catholicism and Protestantism
1595 – Antonio Maria Abbatini born, Italian composer
1699 – Treaty of Karlowitz: for the first time, the Ottoman Empire permanently cedes territory, including most of Hungary and all of Crete, to the Christian powers
1708 – William Hayes born, English organist, composer, and conductor
1714 – Jean-Baptiste Pigalle born, French sculptor
1788 – The British First Fleet, led by Arthur Phillip, sails into Port Jackson (Sydney Harbour) to establish Sydney, the first permanent European settlement on the continent; commemorated as Australia Day
1813 – Juan Pablo Duarte born, one of the Founding Fathers of the Dominican Republic; philosopher and poet
1837 – Michigan is admitted as the 26th U.S. state
1838 – Tennessee enacts the first prohibition law in the United States
1841 – James Bremer takes formal possession of Hong Kong Island at what is now Possession Point, establishing British Hong Kong
1855 – Point No Point Treaty is signed by Washington Territorial Governor Isaac Stevens with the S’Klallam, the Chimakum, and the Skokomish tribes; the tribes cede ownership of their land in exchange for small reservations and a $60,000 payment from the federal government; it also required them to trade only with the U.S., free all their slaves, and not acquire new ones. Another bad deal for Native Americans.
1861 – The state of Louisiana announces it will secede from the Union
1870 – Virginia becomes the 8th Confederate state to rejoin the Union. Devastated by war, many Virginians are dependent on rations from the Union Army and its Freedmen’s Bureau, which is a mixed blessing for the newly-freed slaves: the Bureau forces freedmen to work for whites or be arrested as vagrants, and urges poor unmarried freedwomen to give up their older children as apprentices to white masters
1872 – Julia Morgan born, American architect, first woman admitted to the architecture program at l’École nationale supérieure des Beaux-Arts in Paris and first woman architect licensed in California; designer of Hearst Castle
1875 – George F. Green patents the battery-powered dentist’s drill *
1885 – Troops loyal to The Mahdi conquer Khartoum, killing Governor-General Gordon, who had been ordered to evacuate the area, but waited for reinforcements because he considered the escape route too dangerous with the loyalty of his Egyptian troops in question after some of them deserted during an attempt to clear the main northward road
1892 – Bessie Coleman born, 1st African-American woman in the world to fly a plane and earn an international pilot’s license
1905 – The largest diamond ever found, the Cullinan weighing 3,106.75 carats (0.621350 kg), is found at the Premier Mine near Pretoria, South Africa
1911 – Glenn H. Curtiss flies the first successful American seaplane, which has pontoons he designed
1911 – Norbert Schultze born, German composer and conductor; composed music for the song “Lili Marlene”
1913 – Jimmy Van Heusen born, American pianist-composer; music for many songs, including “All the Way” and “Call Me Irresponsible”
1915 – The Rocky Mountain National Park is established by an act of the U.S. Congress
1918 – A group of Red Guards hang a red lantern atop the tower of Helsinki Workers’ Hall to symbolically mark the start of the Finnish Civil War
1918 – Philip José Farmer born, American science fiction author; Riverworld series
1920 – Former Ford Motor Company executive Henry Leland launches the Lincoln Motor Company; he later sells Lincoln to his former employer
1925 – Paul Newman born, American movie icon, race car driver and philanthropist
1929 – Jules Feiffer born, American cartoonist and author
1930 – The Indian National Congress declares 26 January as Independence Day or as the day for Poorna Swaraj (complete independence) which occurs 17 years later
1934 – The Apollo Theater reopens in Harlem, NYC
1934 – German–Polish Non-Aggression Pact is signed
1939 – Spanish Civil War – Catalonia Offensive: Troops loyal to nationalist General Francisco Franco, aided by Italy, take Barcelona
1945 – Jacqueline du Pré born, English cellist
1949 – The Hale telescope at Palomar Observatory sees first light under the direction of Edwin Hubble, becoming the largest aperture optical telescope (until BTA-6 in 1976)
1950 – The Constitution of India comes into force, forming a republic. Rajendra Prasad is sworn in as first President of India. Observed as Republic Day * in India
1952 – ‘Black Saturday’ rioters burn Cairo’s central business district, targeting British and upper-class Egyptian businesses
1958 – Anita Baker born, American singer-songwriter
1961 – John F. Kennedy appoints Janet G. Travell to be his physician, the first time a woman holds the appointment of Physician to the President
1962 – Ranger 3 space probe launches to study the Moon, but misses its target by 22,000 miles (35,400 km)
1965 – Hindi becomes the official language of India
1980 – Israel and Egypt establish diplomatic relations
1981 – Gustavo Dudamel born, Venezuelan violinist-composer-conductor; music director of the Simón Bolívar Youth Orchestra and Los Angeles Philharmonic
1992 – Teacher Ralph Morrison learns the story of Toad Hollow Country School, originally built in 1834 in Michigan, and begins spinning tales about his imagined version of Toad Hollow for his second occupation as a Storyteller. The tales become so popular that a group of volunteers, dubbed the ‘Voluntoads,’ raises enough money to build an educational recreation of an 1800s pioneer town with educational programs, museums and reenactments at a little-used county park – Toad Hollow Day of Encouragement * celebrates sharing knowledge and helping others
2005 – Condoleezza Rice is sworn in as U.S. Secretary of State
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Visuals
- Peanut Brittle
- International flags
- Vicente Yáñez Pinzón in front of period map
- Bust of Marie-Antoinette – Jean-Baptiste Pigalle
- Julia Morgan with a baby elephant at the Hearst Castle zoo
- Glenn H. Curtiss flies the first successful American seaplane
- Jules Feiffer
- One-room schoolhouse
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Nicole Plyler Fisk
Gene Howington
FFS Guest Blogger
Joy of Fishes
Chuck Stanley
shortfinals
Terry Welshans
ann li-summers
wordcloud9
Flowers For Socrates 
Although Michigan was still a territory, there was a war between Michigan and Ohio about a boundary dispute, know as the Toledo War lasting from 1835-1836. The land Ohio claimed was given to the State of Ohio. Michigan was given what is known as the Upper Peninsula. Separated from the State by lake Michigan and lake Huron. A ferry enable people to travel between the two, also going to Mackinac Island. Then in 1957 the Mighty Mac Bridge was opened connecting the two.
Although the Upper Peninsula is connected to Wisconsin, it was part of the State of Michigan. Michigan is physically in the Central Time Zone, however in 1883 four time zones were created in the US, they opted for the Eastern Time Zone because that was where the stock exchange was located. In summer, it can still be considered dusk as late a 22:00.
Although Ford bought Lincoln Motor Company from Leland in 1920 its base was in California and it still remains the world headquarters for Lincoln.
I am familiar with Toad Hollow. Very inspiring.
Lastly, the non aggression pact signed by Germany and Poland in 1934, was a farce as much as Trumps presidency is a farce. The ink was barely dried on the paper when Hitler invaded Poland and sent many to there deaths. This past August and September I was I was in Krakow and Warsaw Poland. It was a very intense trip visiting the concentration camps. And visiting the ghetto’s where both Polish and Jews were interned before they were sent to their deaths. Propaganda was disseminated through out Europe, for a better way to live. Some as far as Greece signed up and were transported to Krakow. Because the Nazis knew that most would only travel with there best and took anything valuable with them, they were sent to the concentration camps for a certain death. Aushwitz I was segregated by men and women. Aushwitz II had encampments separated by many nationality and family quarters. They followed the propaganda which lead them to a certain death.
Hi Russell –
I knew only vaguely about that particular boundary dispute – there have been quite a number of them in the U.S., starting even before the American Revolution.
The time zones are another, albeit minor, “states rights” issue. My home state of Arizona refuses to go on Daylight Savings Time, so the time there and the here in the West Coast is now the same for more of the year than it’s an hour different. The problem for travelers is that Federal Land within the state, including Indian Reservations DOES go on Daylight Savings, so you go in and out of the two zones within the same state. I had a summer job for the Auto Club during my college days, and we were always having to warn people which motel reservations were Daylight Savings and which were ‘Arizona time.’
I knew of course that the “non-aggression” pact was broken by the Nazis before the ink was barely dry. The savage cruelty of the death camps is so staggering it is simply beyond the comprehension of many human beings, who can’t believe that the numbers could possibly be real, and yet the proof is irrefutable, in spite of all the deniers.
The smug certainty that it “couldn’t happen here” is just another form of denial. It has been happening all through history all over the world, just on a smaller scale, and nothing has stamped it out yet. Too many in America are lusting for it right now – the flags and symbols change, but the hatred and desire for a “final solution” to rid a nation of people who are “different” does not.
I will say that I enjoyed Poland much more than the week I spent in Paris or the 8 days I spent in Rome. For some reason or another I felt comfortable in Poland, it may have been the weather, the people or the food. It was most enjoyable.
Word of warning never book a room in Europe directly with the place you are going to stay. I did so in Paris and Rome and they hit me with a room tax upon checking out. It was something like $100 euros. I felt taken, so I’m Kraków and Warsaw the room was booked through agoda which is like booking buddy or something like that. Agoda stated that all fees and room charges were included in final price. So everyday upon leaving for the day I asked if I owed anymore money. It was taken care of.
Also, I just read an article about The Third Assistant Fuher, Rudolph Walter Richard Hess. He was sent to England to negotiate a peace accord with England and Western Europe. Winston Churchill would not meet with him. The reason he wanted the meeting was Hitler want to invade Russia and take it over, if I recall it was 1941, Winston not trusting Hitler or Hess, wanted to not offend Russia because they were attacking from the East and he wanted the US involved.
Now from Miss Case, my high school vivid and government teacher, I remember the lend-lease the US had endeavored to teach. She left a great impression on me. We were gearing up for war, but at the same providing everything that our allies needed.
I still recall Gene’s statements about the Bush family and that Prescott Bush voted against the War as he had financial dealing with Nazi Germany to provide cement to build anything the Germans wanted to. So Volkswagen was started by the German, concentration camps were built, the gas chambers etc.
If correctly remembered, he was the only sitting Senator to have his assets frozen, for trading with the enemy.
Now Prescott, not to be outdone by the OSS, wanted that department shuttered because they put him in the spotlight. He along with a few other created a new agency called the CIA. Which the Dulles family as a partner of Prescott Bush, initially ran. Alan Dulles specifically ran it from its inception to the bad Intel he gave JFK in the bay of Pigs invasion. It was a disaster and a career ender for Alan. His brother Foster, had been the Secretary of State under Dwight D. Eisenhower. I think that was one hell of a conflict. But hey what do I know. One day of the next directors was George Herbert Walker Bush the son of Prescott was appointed by Gerald R. Ford in 1976.
I will say that I enjoyed Poland much more than the week I spent in Paris or the 8 days I spent in Rome. For some reason or another I felt comfortable in Poland, it may have been the weather, the people or the food. It was most enjoyable.
Word of warning never book a room in Europe directly with the place you are going to stay. I did so in Paris and Rome and they hit me with a room tax upon checking out. It was something like $100 euros. I felt taken, so I’m Kraków and Warsaw the room was booked through agoda which is like booking buddy or something like that. Agoda stated that all fees and room charges were included in final price. So everyday upon leaving for the day I asked if I owed anymore money. It was taken care of.
Also, I just read an article about The Third Assistant Fuher, Rudolph Walter Richard Hess. He was sent to England to negotiate a peace accord with England and Western Europe. Winston Churchill would not meet with him. The reason he wanted the meeting was Hitler want to invade Russia and take it over, if I recall it was 1941, Winston not trusting Hitler or Hess, wanted to not offend Russia because they were attacking from the East and he wanted the US involved.
Now from Miss Case, my high school vivid and government teacher, I remember the lend-lease the US had endeavored to teach. She left a great impression on me. We were gearing up for war, but at the same providing everything that our allies needed.
I still recall Gene’s statements about the Bush family and that Prescott Bush voted against the War as he had financial dealing with Nazi Germany to provide cement to build anything the Germans wanted to. So Volkswagen was started by the German, concentration camps were built, the gas chambers etc.
If correctly remembered, he was the only sitting Senator to have his assets frozen, for trading with the enemy.
Now Prescott, not to be outdone by the OSS, wanted that department shuttered because they put him in the spotlight. He along with a few other created a new agency called the CIA. Which the Dulles family as a partner of Prescott Bush, initially ran. Alan Dulles specifically ran it from its inception to the bad Intel he gave JFK in the bay of Pigs invasion. It was a disaster and a career ender for Alan. His brother Foster, had been the Secretary of State under Dwight D. Eisenhower. I think that was one hell of a conflict. But hey what do I know. One day of the next directors was George Herbert Walker Bush the son of Prescott was appointed by Gerald R. Ford in 1976.
Of course old Joe Kennedy was just a s bad – ties to organized crime, anti-semite/pro-Nazi.
Lots of people have been credited with saying it, and it is so true:
Behind every great fortune is a great crime – or these days, many crimes..
Did your spam filter eat my last post?
Russell,
A couple of your comments, plus a couple of other folks were apparently snagged. I restored them.
Thank you kind sir.