Month: February 2025

On this day in 1827, the General Assembly of Maryland issued a charter to the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad Company – the first commercial railroad in America.

Starting in 1825, the Erie Canal providing a water path connecting New York City to Ohio via Lake Erie. The fast-growing port city of Baltimore, Maryland, faced economic stagnation unless it opened a route to the Western states. On February 27, 1827, twenty-five merchants and bankers studied the best means of restoring “that portion of the Western trade which has recently been diverted from it by the introduction of steam navigation.” Their answer was to build a railroad: one of the first commercial lines in the world.

Construction began on July 4, 1828. Charles Carroll of Carrollton (the last living signer of the Declaration of Independence) laying the cornerstone at a groundbreaking ceremony. Building west from the port of Baltimore, the B&O reached Sandy Hook, Maryland, in 1834; Cumberland in 1842; the Ohio River at Moundsville, Virginia, in 1852; Wheeling, Virginia, in 1853; and in 1857, Parkersburg, Virginia, below rapids that made navigation difficult during parts of the year.

It was the first US railroad to operate a steam locomotive (Tom Thumb). The first telegraph line in the US was built along the B&O right of way between Washington and Baltimore. It built the first passenger and freight station (Mount Clare in 1829) and was the first railroad to earn passenger revenues in December 1829, and publish a timetable on May 23, 1830. Baltimore’s Carrollton Viaduct, named in honor of Charles Carroll of Carrollton, was the B&O’s first bridge, and is the oldest railway bridge in the Americas still carrying trains. The Thomas Viaduct at Relay, Maryland, was the longest bridge in the United States upon its completion in 1835. It also remains in use.

Carrollton Viaduct

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Hmm…

I have questions…

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DIY

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Today is the birthday, in 1941, of American guitarist and singer Marty Sanders from Jay and the Americans, who had the 1962 hit with ‘She Cried’ and the 1969 US No.6 single ‘This Magic Moment’. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1sFy5_kmEi4

Today is Weiberfastnacht, an unofficial holiday in the Rhineland. At the majority of workplaces, work ends before noon. Celebrations start at 11:11 am in Germany. In comparison with Rosenmontag, there are hardly any parades, but people wear costumes and celebrate in pubs and in the streets. Beueler Weiberfastnacht (“women’s carnival in Beuel”) is traditionally celebrated in the Bonn district of Beuel. The tradition is said to have started here in 1824, when local women first formed their own “carnival committee”.

The symbolic storming of the Beuel town hall is broadcast live on TV. In many towns across the state of North Rhine Westphalia, a ritual “takeover” of the town halls by local women has become tradition. Among other established customs, on that day women cut off the ties of men, which are seen as a symbol of men’s status. The men wear the stumps of their ties and get a Bützchen (little kiss) as compensation.

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The Big Hockey Match!

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The Irony is strong here…

Thanx, Bluebird of Bitterness

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Today is the birthday, in 1833, of Alexander Borodin, Russian/Georgian chemist and composer. A doctor and chemist by profession and training, Borodin made important early contributions to organic chemistry. Although he is presently known better as a composer, he regarded medicine and science as his primary occupations, only practicing music and composition in his spare time or when he was ill.

Borodin is known best for his symphonies, his two string quartets, the symphonic poem In the Steppes of Central Asia and his opera Prince Igor. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wiexn6O9To4

Today is Liberation Day in Kuwait. This holiday marks the day when Kuwait was liberated from Iraqi occupation in 1991.

Kuwait was first established as a small fishing village during the seventeenth century. In 1899 Kuwait became a British Protectorate. In 1961, Kuwait became independent with the end of the British protectorate and sheikh Abdullah Al-Salim Al-Sabah becoming the Emir.

On August 2nd 1990, following a dispute over revenue from an oil field, Iraqi troops invaded Kuwait and Iraq started bombing Kuwait City. By August 8th 1990, the Kuwaiti government had been replaced by an Iraqi governor.

International outrage at the invasion was widespread. Making no progress by diplomatic means, the UN Security Council gave Iraq a deadline of  January 15th 1991 to withdraw from Kuwait. The deadline passed and the U.S. led coalition forces began their assault on the Iraqi forces on January 17th 1991, known as Operation Desert Storm. The Iraqi forces proved unable to resist the coalition forces, the ground war only lasted four days and the Iraqi tanks left Kuwait on February 26th 1991.

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Faces in the crowd…

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SIGNZZZ

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Today is the birthday, in 1945, of Bob “The Bear” Hite, vocalist and harmonica player with Canned Heat who had the 1968 US No.11 single with ‘Going Up The Country’ and a 1970 UK No.2 single with ‘Let’s Work Together’. Hite performed with Canned Heat at the 1969 Woodstock Festival. On 5 April 1981, during a break between sets at The Palomino Club in North Hollywood, Hite was handed a vial of heroin by a fan. He snorted it and fell into a coma, after which others unsuccessfully attempted to revive him with a large dose of cocaine. A group of roadies put Hite in a van and drove him to bandmate Fito de la Parra’s home, where he died age 38. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QexOuH8GS-Y

Today is the Anniversary of the People Power Revolution in the Philippines. The People Power Revolution (also known as the EDSA Revolution and the Philippine Revolution of 1986) was a series of popular demonstrations in the Philippines that began in 1983 and culminated in 1986 with the overthrow of President Marcos.

President Marcos came to power in the Philippines in 1965. From the early days of his reign, he was seen as autocratic and corrupt. To maintain power, he declared Martial Law in 1972 beginning a period of political repression, censorship, assassinations and human rights violations.

His main political rival was Senator Benigno ‘Ninoy’ Aquino, Jr. In August 1983, Aquino was returning from the United States after medical treatment when he was shot dead at Manila International airport.

The killing was a turning point in the country, and a potent opposition movement gathered around Corazon Aquino, the wife of Ninoy Aquino.

Threatened by the growing opposition and in an attempt to win back his popularity among the people, Marcos held a snap presidential election in February 7th 1986, in which he was opposed by Corazon Aquino.

The election is seen as the most corrupt in Philippine history, with clear evidence of electoral fraud. This led to some of Marcos’ former ministers, the army and Church leaders all calling for his removal from office. These calls drew people from all over the country to join mass peaceful protests against Marcos.

The protesters blocked Manila’s main thoroughfare, the Epifanio de los Santos Avenue (EDSA), a scene repeated in cities all over the country. In defiance of repeated threats from President Marcos, they refused to end the protests.

On the afternoon of the protest’s second day, the president sent in tanks to clear the street. But the troops refused to fire, prompting one of the most iconic images of the revolution – nuns knelt in front of tanks with rosaries in their hands and uttering their prayers.

After just four days, President Marcos stepped down and fled the country.  On February 25th 1986, Corazon Aquino was proclaimed as the 11th President of the Republic of the Philippines. She was the first female president of the country. 

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For you mathematicians…

Might have to investigate again…

Why we have trust issues…

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Bada Bing!

Patriotism is the optimistic belief that your country could be the best. Nationalism is the ignorant belief that it already is.

It’s true that exercise helps with decision making. I went for a run this morning and decided never to do that again.

What do you call a woman who knows where her husband is all the time? A widow.

I hate it when I’m singing along to a song and the artist gets the words wrong.

I’m actually pretty good in bed. I hardly ever fall out anymore.

At the nursing home, all the men get a blue pill before bedtime. Since then, none have fallen out of bed.

If a man says you’re ugly, he’s just mean. If a woman says you’re ugly, she’s jealous. If a kid says you’re ugly, you’re ugly.

At this point, I’m convinced some people were put on this planet to test my anger management skills.

Every time I drive my wife’s car… Me: How long has your car been making that noise. Her: What noise?

I’m not crazy, I’m mentally spicy.

It’s like Winter is really mad and keeps storming out of the room and then coming back in yelling, “OH… AND ANOTHER THING!!”

Broke an egg making breakfast this morning. My insurance company said an adjuster will be out tomorrow.

If you’re going to mess something up, do it so badly that everyone will wonder how it was even possible.

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Rock’n roll is king!! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sVU5S0MAHxc

Today is Dragobete, a traditional Romanian holiday celebrated on February 24. Dragobete was the son of Baba Dochia, which stands for the main person in the myth related to spring arrival and the end of the harsh winter. Due to his endless kindness he was chosen – according to some sources, by Virgin Mary – to be the Guardian of Love.

The day is particularly known as “the day when the birds are betrothed”. It’s said that If boys don’t meet the girl they like, they will have really bad luck for the rest of the year. It is around this time that the birds begin to build their nests and mate. On this day, considered locally the first day of spring, boys and girls gather vernal flowers and sing together. Maidens used to collect the snow that lay on the ground in many villages and then melt it, using the water in magic potions throughout the rest of the year. Those who take part in Dragobete customs are supposed to be protected from illness, especially fevers, for the rest of the year. If the weather allows, girls and boys pick snowdrops or other early spring plants for the person they are courting. In Romania, Dragobete is known as a day for lovers, rather like Valentine’s Day.

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Cary Elwes and Robin Wright – then and now

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A Scotsman who was planning a trip to the Holy Land was aghast when he learned that it would cost sixty dollars an hour to rent a boat on the Sea of Galilee.

“In Scotland it wouldn’t have been more than twenty,” said the Scotsman.

“True,” said the travel agent. “But the Sea of Galilee is water on which Jesus himself walked.”

The Scotsman said, “Well, at sixty dollars an hour for a boat, it’s no wonder he walked!”

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SOLAR COLLECTORS

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On this day in 1997, the Spice Girls won best single with ‘Wannabe’ at the Brit Awards held in London. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gJLIiF15wjQ