Category: Quick hits

Even with smart phones, iPads, and other electronic gadgets, just about everyone on vacation buys some picture postcards, either to send to friends –or just to keep as a reminder of the trip. In the U.S., the first postcards were mailed this week in 1870. For many years, only the post office was allowed to print postcards. Beginning about 1900, private firms were allowed to produce them, and illustrations and photographs began appearing on them. These picture postcards were wildly …

One of the most traveled bridges in the U.S is celebrating its 81st birthday today — the graceful George Washington Bridge, linking New York and New Jersey. When it opened in 1931, it was the world’s longest suspension bridge. The designer, Othmar Ammann, had the foresight to build in expansion potential to handle increased traffic. In 1946, two lanes were added to its original six. Then, in 1962, a six-lane lower deck was added. Today, the bridge carries some 300,000 …

Jokes are often made about elderly people telling youngsters how tough they had it when they were young, especially going to school. For those of a certain age, there may be a certain element of truth to their stories. In the warmer areas of the country, classrooms in May, June and September could be exceptionally hot in the past. Now, of course, just about every school in those areas is air conditioned. The first public elementary school to be air- …

One of the most famous bird migrations in the world is scheduled for its latest chapter today — the traditional day the swallows leave the mission at San Juan Capistrano in California. After circling the old mission, the birds fly 6,000 miles to Goya, Argentina to spend the winter. They return in the early hours of March 19, a few days after some scout birds arrive to check out the area. Their arrival is celebrated by a big festival and …

One of the key events of the long-running Cold War started 50 years ago today — the Cuban Missile Crisis. Ships and aircraft of the Soviet Union had brought nuclear-armed missiles into Cuba, only 90 miles from the U.S. On this date in 1962, President John F. Kennedy made a national television address, demanding the removal of Soviet missiles, launch equipment and bombers from Cuba. He also imposed a naval quarantine to prevent further weapons from reaching Cuba. Six days …

Today marks the birthday of one of the legends of American mountain climbing — Annie Peck. Born in 1850, she was a dedicated scholar and became one of the first women professors in the U.S. Turning her attention to mountain climbing at the age of 44, she was only the third woman to scale the Matterhorn in Switzerland. At the age of 58, she climbed the north face of Mount Huascaran in Peru — the first American, man or woman …

A key piece of environmental legislation became law on this date 40 years ago. Known as the Water Pollution Control Act, the bill was vetoed by President Richard Nixon because of its $25 billion price tag. This veto was overridden by Congress. The law was later amended and is now known as the Clean Water Act. The goal is controlling the discharge of toxic waste into the nation’s waterways. In its first 20 years, the Clean Water Act is estimated …

As the weather gets colder, a bulky package will be taken out of closets in many homes across the country — where it has been stored since spring. Inside is an electric blanket, and homeowners will be testing their memories to make sure it’s hooked up correctly. For thousands of years, people used handmade woolen blankets to ward off the cold — and started their evening’s rest with either a bed warmer filled with coals from the fire or a …