Monday Open Line


As a year draws to a close, it is common to reflect on the passage of time. How history will judge 2013 is not yet known, but this year’s anniversaries are woven into the fabric of today. Two-hundred years ago, a newspaper in Troy, New York coined the term “Uncle Sam” in reference to the United States. One-hundred years ago, Henry Ford unveiled the first moving assembly line. Fifty years ago, the Supreme Court issued the Miranda decision, mandating legal counsel for all defendants in criminal cases. A century ago, the average life expectancy was 56 years for a baby girl and 52 years for a boy. Now, those figures are 81 years for girls and 76 for boys. You can find more facts about America from the U.S. Census Bureau, online at www.census.gov