Seven years ago we wrote about an interaction with the JustAnswer web site and its conversing ability when one side (me) is being illogical. Surprisingly, not much Continue reading
There are no periodicals like Puck Magazine today.
The weekly political, satirical and humor magazine was in business from 1876-1918. A main feature of the magazine was a chromolithograph centerfold usually relating to events of the day.
Our illustration is from the February 25, 1904 issue and drawn by Udo Keppler (1872-1956). Continue reading
Radio As Effective As Morphine
This photo shows several young patients at Beth Israel Hospital, N.Y. listening in to concerts on the radio taking their minds off their ailments, and making them happy.According to Beth Israel Superintendent L.J. Frank, the doctors and nurses agree that in a large number of cases, that, at times the radio is as effective as morphine, bromine and other narcotics. Many sufferers of rheumatism and other chronic afflictions require no other sedative other than radio since it was introduced at that hospital as a treatment. photo: United Press International / Acme – August 25, 1925
Radio, morphine? An interesting comparison.
When doctors made this proclamation 99 years ago Continue reading
Page 2 article New York Herald January 16, 1921
In 1921 instead of illegals, the New York City Police Department were gathering up men from other cities who were jobless.
This article is from the January 16, 1921 New York Herald:
POLICE ROUNDING UP NON-RESIDENT IDLE
Jobless Who Do Not Live Here Arrested as Vagrants.
Squads of detectives and uniformed policemen, under orders to arrest unemployed men who could not prove themselves residents of New York City, went through the lower East Side last night and early to-day inspecting saloons and lunch rooms. At one saloon at 199 Worth street twenty-nine men, who had nothing to do but warm themselves beside a stove, were made prisoners and locked In the Elizabeth street station on charges of vagrancy. Continue reading
Don’t dare call somebody retarded unless you want scorn heaped upon you.
In the twenty-first century the word retard has been put on a list of verboten words never to be uttered, unless you wish to appall your fellow conversationalist or intend to incur the wrath of the word police. It wasn’t always this way.
The United States Postal Service issued the Retarded Children Can Be Helped stamp October 12, 1974. Over 150 million Continue reading
In these peculiar times where rules (and logic) are constantly challenged when it comes to gender, sex and discrimination, we are often oblivious to historical precedents.
In 1965 the idea that a man could be a join an organization, team, or club exclusively comprised of women (and vice versa) was considered unacceptable by consensus. Today, the situation Continue reading
About 40 miles north of Portland is the town of Wiscasset Maine. Up until the early 1800s Wiscasset was a center for shipbuilding, fishing and lumber and was the busiest seaport north of Boston. Continue reading
Asking people what they don’t know is a sure way to get wrong answers.
The New York Daily News once had a feature called The Inquiring Photographer. It’s a journalistic gimmick to take the pulse of citizens on what they think about issues. Continue reading
Louis Armstrong funeral July 9, 1971 photo: Globe
It is impossible to say who will be remembered by the multitudes years after their passing. I would hope Louis Armstrong will be among those whose name and music goes on for eternity.
Louis Armstrong brought love and joy everywhere he went. And the world universally returned that love.
On July 6, 1971 Louis “Satchmo” Armstrong died at the age of 69 of a heart attack in his home in Corona, Queens. Continue reading
Total solar eclipse June 30, 1954 photo: M Waldmeier
Never look directly at an eclipse.
It was one of the things that was drilled into me in grade school. You’ll permanently damage your eyes. You can go blind. As a class we’ll make shoe box eclipse viewers.
Apparently those eclipses happening during my juvenile years were not the same type that will occur in 2024 – a total solar eclipse. Continue reading