History Schmistory: January 27. “Isn’t the world awesome! Let’s start a club!”

Cover of the first edition, [public domain]

1888: The National Geographic Society is founded in Washington, D.C. by a collective of 33 explorers and scientists. Their mission: “To increase and diffuse geographic knowledge while promoting the conservation of the world’s cultural, historical, and natural resources.” Later the group added, “and yellow rectangles!”

History Schmistory: January 27. Telegrams Stop.

January 27, 2006. Western Union discontinues telegram services. Finally.

History Schmistory: January 26. Did you sea that?

1911: Glenn H. Curtiss flies the first successful American seaplane, executing a flawless landing, a feat that remains much more difficult than it looks.

By MoD Photo [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons

And here it is…..By MoD Photo [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons

 

 

History Schmistory: January 26. ROCK!

January 26, 1905. History’s largest diamond discovered!

Poe to Raven: “Will you shut up?”

Get schmart. Schmistory.

History Schmistory: January 25. She’s Baaaaaack!

Nellie Bly, http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/57/Nellie_Bly_journalist.jpg [public domain]

1890: Renowned journalist, Nellie Bly completes her round-the-world journey in record time, beating Jules Verne’s prediction from his famous novel Around the World in 80 Days.
Before she set out, her goal was to complete the journey in 75 days. In their brief meeting, Jules Verne himself was quoted as saying “If you do it in 79 days, I shall applaud with both hands. But 75 days -mon Dieu- that would be a miracle.” Try 72, Jules! Phileas Fogg was a pansy! …That’s totally what she said when she got back 🙂

History Schmistory: January 25. Free McCartney!

January 25, 1980. Paul McCartney deported from Japan. Avoids prison.

History Schmistory: January 24. The Mac Daddy.

Dave Winer ‘Macworld 1,’ October 21 2006 via Flickr, creative commons attribution.

1984: The Apple Macintosh computer is unleashed into the world, and in less than 30 years, manages to drastically change it. We here at TMP stare at iMacs for hours daily, but tonight, to celebrate, we might just take them out to the Cheesecake Factory or something…

History Schmistory: January 24. An Emerging Sport!

January 24, 1900. World’s oldest Badminton club established in England.

History Schmistory: January 23. Last day in the China shop.

Engraving of the Battle of Zama by Cornelis Cort, 1567 [public domaine]

Engraving of the Battle of Zama by Cornelis Cort, 1567 [public domain]

971: In China, the war elephant corps of Southern Han are thoroughly defeated at Shao by crossbow fire from Song Dynasty troops. The remaining disheartened pachyderms relocate to Middle-earth where they enjoy a more favorable size advantage.

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