Home Archive by category "SocialStudious" (Page 2)

Category: SocialStudious

Happy "Juneteenth" and "World Sauntering Day"!!

Sauntering through the Woods

Good Morning World!!  Let’s All Go Sauntering Somewhere Today!

Where’s That Oliver Today?? Can you saunter with a stroller??

 
Today is a special day in the United States particularly within the African-American community  where Juneteenth is celebrated!!  From Wikipedia:

Juneteenth, also known as Juneteenth Independence Day, Freedom Day, or Emancipation Day, is a holiday in the United States that commemorates the announcement of the abolition of slavery in the U.S. state of Texas in 1865, and more generally the emancipation of African-Americancitizens throughout the United States. Celebrated on June 19, the term is a portmanteau of June and nineteenth,[1][2] and is recognized as a state holiday or special day of observance in most states. Read More Read More

Robert La Follette – Wisconsin Republican Progressive!!

Robert La Follette – “Fighting Bob” – Wisconsin Governor, Senator and Presidential Candidate (June 14, 1855 – June 18, 1925)

Among those born on June 14th is  another unsung American heroes the Republican/Progressive,from Wisconsin Senator Robert La Follette. Yes, while it is hard to believe considering today’s Wisconsin, under the governorship of Scott Walker. Wisconsin was once a very progressive state!  Well there is one really big black sheep Joseph McCarthy (at least in my opinion). In my lifetime, notable Senators from Wisconsin include: Gaylord Nelson, founder of Earth Day, William Proxmire creator of the Golden Fleece Award. Most the most recent carrier of the mantle of Progressives from Wisconsin is Russ Feingold. Feingold has recently reentered the political arena and will hopefully regain his seat in the Senate. Anyway, I sure hope so! But back to the politician whose birthday we celebrate today! Robert La Follette…. Read More

Trooping the Colour Day, Flag Day and Bourbon Distilled!

June 14th – Trooping the Colour Day in the UK, Flag Day in the US and Bourbon was first distilled!

Today is Trooping the Colour Day in the United Kingdom, as well as, the Official Birthday of the Queen from Wikipedia….

Trooping the Colour is a ceremony performed by regiments of the British and Commonwealth armies. It has been a tradition of British infantry regiments since the 17th century, although the roots go back much earlier. On battlefields, a regiment’s colours, or flags, were used as rallying points. Consequently, regiments would have their ensigns slowly march with their colours between the soldiers’ ranks to enable soldiers to recognise their regiments’ colours. Read More

Battle of Cold Harbor – June 3, 1864

Battle of Cold Harbor

June 3, 1864 -Battle of Cold Harbor and My 2nd Great Grandfather’s Regiment was in the thick of the battle!

On June 3, 1864 one of the most lopsided battles of the American Civil War was fought near the Cold Harbor Tavern close to Mechanicsville, Virginia. The battle actually was fought from June 1 to June 12th. But on June 3rd  the Union forces under the command of Ulysses Grant met the Confederate forces of Robert E Lee fought in one of the bloodiest and most lopsided days of the war. Over 7.000 Union troops were killed or wounded in a hopeless frontal assault against the fortified positions of Gen. Robert E. Lee‘s army in one hour on that day! Read More

Grover Cleveland Marries in the White House – June 2, 1886

Grover Cleveland’s Bride Frances Folsom is 27 years his junior!!

On June 2, 1886 Grover Cleveland became the first US president to be married in the White House and guess what it was kinda’ creepy! At the time of his marriage, Grover Cleveland was a forty-nine  year-old bachelor. The woman he married Francs Folsom was 22 year-old. She was the daughter of Cleveland’s late best friend and law partner Oscar Folsom. Frances, at the time of their marriage, had known Cleveland  from birth. In fact, she used to climb on his knee and call him “Uncle Cleve”. Frances’ father Oscar Folsom died when she was 11. Upon Oscar’s death, Cleveland became Frances legal guardian Cleveland  remained close friends with her mother to the point that many thought Cleveland  would marry her, but no! Instead Cleveland wed young Frances or Frank as Cleveland called her! Read More

Police Killings Out of Control? – Today's Reads

America is Number One in Police Killings – Western Democracies not even close!

So it’s been a long while since I’ve done a daily reads post, so here goes……before we start let me remind everyone that I am a liberal Democrat and have been since the 60s!
So one of the aspects of life in America that certainly has me pissed off recently is the number of  police killings over the last year or so. Certainly as a percentage of deaths and or arrests the rate is still fairly low – in other words what I’m trying to say is that the percentage of good policemen is still high. I just wish those cops could get the other cops over on their side!! I for one can’t  understand how with all the publicity surrounding these police killings that al of the policemen aren’t on their  best behavior everywhere.
These police killings certainly bring shame to our country and need to STOP!! The following post from AlterNet shows how bad things really are… Read More

Battle of Fairfax Court House – June 1, 1861

Battle of Fairfax Court House – First Battle of the Civil War?

So while the Battle of Manassas or Bull Run, depending on whether you are from the South or North, is considered the first major battle of the U.S. Civil War, there were two land engagement prior to that battle. The first land engagement of the war happened on June 1, 1861 at the Fairfax Court House in Fairfax, Virginia. . Read More

E.J. de Smedt Patents Asphalt Pavement

Edward J de Smedt Patented Asphalt Pavement – May 31, 1870

On May 31, 1870 Belgian immigrant Edward J de Smedt who was at Columbia University in New York City patented asphalt pavement. So we all know what asphalt is, as we all drive on it, and have all felt that heat rising off of it in the summer! But do you know how it is made? I didn’t until I started to deal with it at my job. From Wikipedia: Read More