History Schmistory, June 28: The Tomato Playing Ketch-up!
Friday, June 28, 2024
1820Â –Â The tomato was proven to be non-poisonous. Thank goodness for that…our most important foods (pizza, spaghetti, burgers) would never have been the same!
Way to go tomatoes!
“Jumping tomato” by Gabi Greve /CC BY
History Schmistory: June 27. Ka-ching
Thursday, June 27, 2024
‘Waiting in line… what the Brits do best!”
“Cash point” by Mat Hyde / CC BY
History Schmistory, June 27: Halt Your Horses!
Thursday, June 27, 2024
1652Â –Â New Amsterdam (now NYC) passed the 1st speed limit law in the U.S.A. Probably to prevent all the horse & carriage races that were taking place.
Woah! Slow it down, speed demon!
History Schmistory: June 26. Quite a ride for twenty-five cents!
Wednesday, June 26, 2024
1927: the Cyclone; arguably the father of the modern roller-coaster, opens at Coney Island to much fanfare and vomit.
“Cyclone in Fog,” by Missy S / CC BY
History Schmistory, June 26: The Cavity Catastrophe
Wednesday, June 26, 2024
1498Â –Â The toothbrush was invented. Interestingly, people started to tell more secrets.
Hush if you don’t brush!
History Schmistory: June 24. Dance Fever.
Tuesday, June 25, 2024
1374: The town of Aachen, Germany experiences a massive outbreak of St. John’s Dance, aka the Dancing Plague, a mass psychogenic illness (MPI) of the 14th – 17th centuries that actually caused large groups of people to dance uncontrollably until they passed out. Â Many can still be found at a Phish concert near you.
History Schmistory: June 25. Custer Bites the Bighorn.
Tuesday, June 25, 2024
1876: the ill-fated Battle of Little Bighorn culminates in the death of Lieutenant Colonel George Armstrong Custer. Gary Larson said it best:
History Schmistory, June 25: There’s Hope for a Magical Pope!
Tuesday, June 25, 2024
253Â –Â St. Lucius I began his reign as Catholic Pope. This was before he fell in love with the dark arts & started working for Voldem…I mean, You-Know-Who!
What do you mean I can’t bring my wand to church?
History Schmistory, June 24: Dance Dance Revolution!
Monday, June 24, 2024
1374Â –Â A sudden outbreak of St. John’s Dance caused people in the streets of Aachen, Germany, to experience hallucinations and begin to jump and twitch uncontrollably until they collapse from exhaustion.This phenomena, know as “Dancing Mania” spread throughout Europe over the next few decades.
And still continues to effect “victims” all over the world today…
History Schmistory: June 23. Frrreeeedooooooom!!!
Sunday, June 23, 2024
1314: Battle of Bannockburn begins. With the losses of great patriots like Andrew de Moray and William Wallace still weighing heavily on their hearts, Robert the Bruce leads his troops to victory, winning Scottish Independence from England, and an Oscar for Mel Gibson.
“My BraveHeart” by Loren Kerns / CC BY
