Category: Quick hits

One of the most important inventions of our times was announced in early July 1951 by Bell Laboratories in New Jersey — the transfer resistance device — far better known as the transistor. The small, simple, and tough transistor replaced fragile, bulky and heat-generating vacuum tubes, which had been the heart of electronics for decades. The discovery led to the development of the integrated circuit and the microprocessor that are the basis of modern electronics. Today, transistor technology makes possible …

One of our favorite ice cream concoctions was purportedly invented on this date in 1881 to bypass the law. The ice cream sundae was the brainchild of drug store owner Edward Berner of Two Rivers, Wisconsin, although Ithaca, New York has a competing claim. That day was a Sunday, and because of the strict Sabbath laws at the time, he was unable to fill a customer’s order for a flavored soda water. So, Berner improvised, putting chocolate syrup — then …

Most movie buffs know the first film with a partial soundtrack was “The Jazz Singer,” with superstar Al Jolson. But not too many can name the first movie with a full-length soundtrack, which opened on this date in New York in 1928. It was “The Lights of New York,” about the murder of a crime boss, a film which has faded into obscurity. After “The Jazz Singer” stunned the country, movie studios scrambled to change over from silent films to …

Today is that most American of holidays — Independence Day, celebrating the day in 1776 when the Second Continental Congress adopted the Declaration of Independence. Ours was the first successful colonial independence movement against a European power. Recognition of our nationhood came with the Peace Treaty of 1783. From sea to shining sea, there will be parades, concerts, barbecues, and, of course, fireworks. Among the famous celebrations is the Boston Pops fireworks spectacular, featuring Tchaikovsky’s “1812 Overture,” now in its …

Befitting the eve of the nation’s celebration of freedom, one of the most important pieces of legislation in our history became law on this date in 1964. The Civil Rights Act, signed by President Lyndon Johnson, swept away Jim Crow laws by prohibiting discrimination based on race in all accommodations and facilities open to the public, as well as employment, union membership, and voter registration. Shortly after the Civil Rights Act became law, nearly 42 percent of blacks lived in …

On this date in 1788 — 225 years ago — that the Constitution of the United States was formally established, transforming the loose organization of the states under the Articles of Confederation into a more perfect union. Besides securing the rights of citizens and establishing the limits of government authority, the Constitution calls for a census every 10 years, to ensure that seats in the House of Representatives reflect the distribution of the U.S. population. The 1790 Census found 3.9 …

Income taxes first came to America 151 years ago today, when President Abraham Lincoln signed a bill levying a 3 percent tax on incomes between $600 and $10,000, and 5 percent for greater incomes. After helping finance the federal cause in the Civil War, the tax was rescinded in 1872. The income tax all of us know today dates to 1913, when the 16th Amendment to the Constitution was ratified, giving Congress the power to levy such taxes. About 145 …

One of the joys of summer — a trip to the ice cream store for several dips of your favorite flavor — goes back to this month in 1786, when Hall’s Ice Cream Store opened on Chatham Street in New York City. But the supply was limited. In 1851, Baltimore milk dealer Jacob Fussell decided to make ice cream commercially. He built larger versions of the hand-cranked machines still popular today for backyard picnics. However, ice cream didn’t become a …

One of the perennial pests of summer is mosquitoes. While most people think of them as inconvenient, there is a deadly side to these flying insects, in the form of West Nile Virus and malaria. That’s why this is National Mosquito Control Awareness Week, to honor those working to eradicate the menace. Worldwide, malaria has been historically one of the deadliest killers. Recent figures show 219 million cases and 655,000 deaths globally in a year. In the U.S., there are …

The person’s name is not known, but whoever bought a pack of chewing gum at the Marsh Supermarket in Troy, Ohio on this day 39 years ago was making history. It was the first purchase of an item to be scanned into a cash register by using the Universal Product Code — much better known as the bar code. Realizing the significance of the event, the buyer returned the item — a 10-pack of Wrigley’s Juicy Fruit — which is …

Today is the anniversary of the first color television broadcast. In 1951, CBS transmitted the appropriately named program “Premiere” from New York City, and through stations in Washington, Baltimore and Philadelphia. The program was seen in color only at a few select facilities, because color sets for the home weren’t available until 1954. By the end of 1957, while nearly 39 million U.S. households had TV sets, only 150,000 were color units. Sales of color sets caught up with those …

One of nature’s displays of power brings out an almost universal fear — lightning. As it flashes across the sky or strikes the ground, accompanied with crackling booms, it makes most people feel vulnerable. While not much can be done to lessen the unease, there are some common sense steps we can take to lessen the potential danger. That’s why this is Lightning Safety Awareness Week, sponsored by the National Weather Service. The goal is to educate Americans about the …

Summer arrived in the dark of the overnight hours, specifically at 1:04 a.m. Eastern Daylight Time. While welcomed by most, summer is a season with mixed blessings. On the one hand, there are vacation getaways, boating, cookouts, and wearing lighter clothing. On the other, it’s also a time for insects, higher electric usage and gas prices — and higher temperatures. The highest thermometer reading ever recorded in the U.S. was 134 degrees Fahrenheit at Greenland Ranch, California on July 10, …

With summer arriving before sun-up tomorrow, we will likely engage in more physical activity during the longer daylight hours. That’s why this is National Safety Month. The theme for this year is “Safety Starts With Me” — and focuses on such matters as accident prevention, emergency preparedness, and ergonomics. Emergency rooms around the country report more than 86,000 people are hurt each year by their lawnmowers, along with 144,000 on skateboards. However, the most accidents occur on bicycles — over …

As radio broadcasting matured, the Federal Communications Commission was established on this date in 1934 to regulate use of the airwaves in the public interest. The agency’s job has grown much larger and more complex in the years since, and includes all non-federal government use of the frequency spectrum. Current issues include obscenity on the air, and the blurring of distinctions between telephone companies and cable television. Among the firms the FCC monitors are almost 1,800 television stations, about 6,200 …