Today in History – 1883 – Jan Matzeliger Patents the shoe “lasting machine”

Jan MatzeligerSo this morning I read that on this date in 1885 – John Matzeliger of Suriname patented the shoe lacing machine. I thought that sounded interesting, especially since I had no idea what a shoe lacing machine did? Anyway, what I found when I googled the event was that in 1883 a young man named Jan Matzeliger, who was born in Suriname patented a “shoe lasting machine”. Matzeliger was born in Suriname of a Dutch Father and a black native of Suriname. At an early age Matzeliger showed an aptitude for machines and by the age of 10 he was working in a machine ship that his father supervised. By 1873 he moved to Philadelphia and then on to Lynn, Massachusetts where the shoe industry was booming. He became an apprentice in a shoe factory’. From MIT’s Inventor of the Week: Read More

This Day in History – The Start of Operation Iraqi Freedom

A few reads regarding the Iraqi War, which started on this date ten years ago. From History.com: Bush announces the launch of Operation Iraqi Freedom

On this day in 2003, President George W. Bush addresses the nation via live television and announces that Operation Iraqi Freedom has begun. Bush authorized the mission to rid Iraq of tyrannical dictator Saddam Hussein and eliminate Hussein’s ability to develop weapons of mass destruction (WMD). Operation Iraqi Freedom illustrated the Bush administration’s pledge to use unilateral, pre-emptive strikes if necessary against nations believed dangerous to American national security. Read More Read More

New to Me: New Age from Todd Boston and Coyote Jump!

OK so like a true junkie who can’t get enough of the drug, I went  searching for new New Age music at lunchtime today! Somehow, and I forget how, I ended up at Echoes.org, I used to listen to Echoes with John Deliberto on WXPN a lot and now most times I forget that it is on at night. Anyway I wrote down the names of several of the artists whose CD have been chosen as CDs of the Month. The list includes: Marconi Union, Theiry David, Todd Boston and Coyote Jump. I gave each a brief listen this afternoon and while I enjoyed them all, the last two Todd Boston and Coyote Jump were my favorites. Todd Boston‘s album is Touched by the Sun. From Todd’s website: Read More

Dr Lonnie Smith – The Best Jazz Organist?

Dr Lonnie Smith – Organ, Hammond B3 – Born July 3, 1942

Through the years I’ve heard of organist Lonnie Smith or Dr Lonnie Smith as he is known now, but until today I’ve never listened to his music. Big mistake! The album Too Damn Hot came up on my “Just for You” on MOG and I saw the organ and said that’s good for me and it was great! Smith’s career has spanned over 50 years and he’s played with a Who’s Who of greats in jazz, he started with  the George Benson Quartet and then more on to a solo career. From his website: Read More

“Into the Night” – with the Jazz organ of Dr Lonnie Smith!

Too Damn HotSo I think that through the years I’ve heard of organist Lonnie Smith or Dr Lonnie Smith as he is known now, but until today I’ve never listened to his music. Big mistake! The album Too Damn Hot came up on my “Just for You” on MOG and I saw the organ and said that’s good for me and it was great! Smith’s career has spanned over 50 years and he’s played with a Who’s Who of greats in jazz, he started with  the George Benson Quartet and then more on to a solo career. From his website: Read More

Quick Watch Robert Reich – Raise the Minimum Wage!!

So According to Robert Reich:

“Raising the minimum wage from the current rate of $7.25 an hour to $9 should be a no-brainer,” Robert Reich says. The labor secretary during the Clinton administration argues, among other points, that putting more money in the pockets of the country’s lowest earners is not only fair, it would also help boost the economy. Read More

Night Reads: 3/16/13 – Iraqi Birth Defects and New Evidence explains Nixon and Iran Contra!

Once again I will say that the true cost of the war in Iraq is not in the number of US soldiers who were senselessly killed and wounded, it is born by the Iraqi people and what they lost, again, not only in the number of people killed or wounded, but their cultural history which was decimated and the saddest thing is that the horror inflicted on their country will go on for a VERY long time, as demonstrated by this article from Al Jazeera, look at that figure 250,000 bullets per insurgent killed! Read More