Most people forget some Presidents of the United States. Some are easy to forget, and some are impossible to forget. Washington, Jefferson, Lincoln, the current President - these are usually the easiest to remember. Usually the ones that are forgotten the most are weak Presidents or Presidents who really didn't do much to remember. One President who literally didn't do anything was the 9th President: William Henry Harrison. He is, however, full of expendablenlightenment.
This man was a war hero in the War of 1812, a Senator, a Representative, a Governor, and a US ambassador. He was involved in the Battle of Tippecanoe, which was a major victory for the US, and which led to the Presidential campaign slogan "Tippecanoe and Tyler too!" He ran for the Presidency in 1836 as a Whig (a now defunct political party), but so did Martin Van Buren, which is the only time in US history a major political party has intentionally run two candidates at the same time. Harrison didn't get elected, but he ran again in 1840 (with running mate John Tyler, hence the campaign slogan above) and was elected. He was the oldest elected President until Ronald Reagan in 1980.
The man has a very rich and illustrious history, but why have most people not heard of him? His Presidency is but a mere footnote in the annals of American History because the only thing he did in office was die. That sounds cold, but it's true. His opponents joked that he was too old for the Presidency, so to show them up, he read his inaugural address on March 4, 1841, without "bundling up for the weather", and proceeded to give the longest inaugural address in the history the Presidents: close to two hours in length. It was a cold and rainy day anyway, and after his two hour speech, he then went through the streets on a parade. He subsequently caught a cold, which turned into pneumonia. He was the first President to die in office, and he had the shortest Presidency: just 30 days. The only act of any notable rememberance in office was to call a special session of Congress, which he then vetoed.
Interestingly enough, 1841 is one of two times there have been three Presidents in one year (Van Buren, Harrison, Tyler). The other year was 1881.
Bet you didn't know that!
Wednesday, September 28, 2011
Friday, September 23, 2011
The Joke That Faded Away
Ever have a joke that nobody seemed to really get? And just the few who did got a really big laugh about it? This happened in 1969 with a band called "The Masked Marauders". There was a fake review in Rolling Stone Magazine about a new supergroup. At the time, there was hype over real supergroups: Blind Faith (with Eric Clapton and Steve Winwood), Crosby/Stills/Nash/Young, etc. There was a joke created to be too irresistible to not believe: a band consisting of John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison, Mick Jagger, and Bob Dylan. The joke went so far as to say that these famous musicians purposefully covered their identities to work together, which they weren't allowed to do because of contracts from the music companies.
There was so much hype over this "supergroup" that an album was actually recorded under the name of "The Masked Marauders" and released that same year. Some people claim they hear Jagger and hear the distinct playing of Harrison or McCartney. If people didn't get the joke, they should have when they read the liner notes and heard the lyrics. If you actually find the album, the songs aren't that good, and the attempts to sound like Jagger, Dylan, etc. aren't that great. There are some samples and bootlegs that still exist, but quite hard to find. If you can find the album, or if you find the liner notes online, they are quite amusing and are better to check out than the actual songs.
On another note, The Traveling Wilburys released music in the late 80's with the members using the last name of Wilbury for each member. It consisted of Bob Dylan, Tom Petty, Roy Orbison, George Harrison, and Jeff Lynne (of the Electric Light Orchestra).
Bet you didn't know that!
There was so much hype over this "supergroup" that an album was actually recorded under the name of "The Masked Marauders" and released that same year. Some people claim they hear Jagger and hear the distinct playing of Harrison or McCartney. If people didn't get the joke, they should have when they read the liner notes and heard the lyrics. If you actually find the album, the songs aren't that good, and the attempts to sound like Jagger, Dylan, etc. aren't that great. There are some samples and bootlegs that still exist, but quite hard to find. If you can find the album, or if you find the liner notes online, they are quite amusing and are better to check out than the actual songs.
On another note, The Traveling Wilburys released music in the late 80's with the members using the last name of Wilbury for each member. It consisted of Bob Dylan, Tom Petty, Roy Orbison, George Harrison, and Jeff Lynne (of the Electric Light Orchestra).
Bet you didn't know that!
Monday, September 19, 2011
September 17, 1787
What's so special about September 17, 1787? This day is a special one in American history: it's the day when the Constitution was signed. Fast forward over two hundred years later, Constitution Day is celebrated across the US, and schools that receive federal aid must conduct a form of celebration.
So, in keeping with the theme of this blog, here's some expendablenlightenment that may help you if you take a Constitution Day quiz:
What state did not send anyone to the Constitutional Convention?
-Rhode Island
Where did the Constitutional Convention convene?
-The State House in Philadelphia, where the Declaration of Independence was signed.
Out of the 55 members, how many were lawyers?
-34
Who is considered the "Father of the Constitution"?
-James Madison
Why was Thomas Jefferson not present?
-He was the American Minister to France and was overseas
How did Thomas Jefferson help write the Constitution?
-He insisted on a Bill of Rights be included (the first 10 amendments)
What compromise allowed for two houses of Congress, one based on population and one based on equal representation?
-Connecticut Compromise
Who wrote the actual text of the Constitution for signing?
-Jacob Shallus, who was paid $30 and whose name never appears on the document
Why did only 39 members sign the Constitution?
-Most the remaining members that didn't sign had already left for home, and a couple refused to sign
We look at politics as being dirty and only for rich people. Nothing has really changed in the last couple hundred years. If you noticed above, not all members signed the Constitution which was because they didn't agree with it. Politics of the past is even more checkered and questionable than it is today. You will see in future posts other examples of this. And as far as the way the Constitution came about, if any one little thing was different, then our country could be very different today.
Bet you didn't know that!
So, in keeping with the theme of this blog, here's some expendablenlightenment that may help you if you take a Constitution Day quiz:
What state did not send anyone to the Constitutional Convention?
-Rhode Island
Where did the Constitutional Convention convene?
-The State House in Philadelphia, where the Declaration of Independence was signed.
Out of the 55 members, how many were lawyers?
-34
Who is considered the "Father of the Constitution"?
-James Madison
Why was Thomas Jefferson not present?
-He was the American Minister to France and was overseas
How did Thomas Jefferson help write the Constitution?
-He insisted on a Bill of Rights be included (the first 10 amendments)
What compromise allowed for two houses of Congress, one based on population and one based on equal representation?
-Connecticut Compromise
Who wrote the actual text of the Constitution for signing?
-Jacob Shallus, who was paid $30 and whose name never appears on the document
Why did only 39 members sign the Constitution?
-Most the remaining members that didn't sign had already left for home, and a couple refused to sign
We look at politics as being dirty and only for rich people. Nothing has really changed in the last couple hundred years. If you noticed above, not all members signed the Constitution which was because they didn't agree with it. Politics of the past is even more checkered and questionable than it is today. You will see in future posts other examples of this. And as far as the way the Constitution came about, if any one little thing was different, then our country could be very different today.
Bet you didn't know that!
Thursday, September 15, 2011
What's Population Density?
Say you didn't really want to be around people, and you wanted to go to a country with a lot of open space. Where would you go? I have ten places (some countries and some territories controlled by countries) that have a small population density, which means there's a lot of space for not a lot of people. The way this is figured out is by taking the population of country then dividing it by the land area of the country (which is listed in square kilometers). And in case you need a refresher, a square kilometer is if you take a square and put in on land, and each end of this square is a kilometer long, that would be a square kilometer. And in case you need another refresher, a kilometer is 0.62 of a mile long, so if you converted these to miles, it would be an even smaller measurement.
10. Mauritania - density: 3.0 people/km2
9. Iceland - density: 3.0 people/ km2 (which is slightly less but rounds to the same)
8. Suriname - density: 2.7 people/km2
7. Australia - density: 2.6 people/km2
6. Namibia - density: 2.5 people/km2
5. French Guiana - density: 2.1 people/km2
4. Mongolia - density: 1.7 people/km2
3. Western Sahara (controlled by Morrocco) - density: 1.3 people/km2
2. Falkland Islands (controlled by United Kingdom) - 0.25 people/km2
1. Greenland (controlled by Denmark) - 0.026/km2
In case you're wondering why Antarctica isn't on this list, it's simple: it isn't a country, and no one claims it as their territory. It would certainly be Number 1 if it was on this list though.
Some of the areas listed above are large areas of land: Greenland, Mongolia, Australia, etc. Oddly enough, if you look at the countries (or territories) that are the most densely populated, they usually small places. For example: Bangladesh (which is only 147,000km2) has a slightly higher population than Russia (which is 17,000,000 km2 and the largest country by land area in the world), which makes Bangladesh's density 1100 people/km2 and Russia's density 8.3 people/km2. And then there's countries like China and India, numbers 1 and 2 in population in the world (China having 1.3 billion, and India having 1.2 billion). China's population density is 140 people/km2 and India's population density is 365 people/km2.
And since we live in the US, I'm sure you're curious where we rank. The 2011 estimate listed the US as having over 312,000,000 people, which puts us 3rd in the world. Land area is 9,826,000 km2, which puts us 3rd if you include territories and 4th if you don't (depending on which source you look at). So our population density is 33.7 people/km2.
Bet you didn't know that!
10. Mauritania - density: 3.0 people/km2
9. Iceland - density: 3.0 people/ km2 (which is slightly less but rounds to the same)
8. Suriname - density: 2.7 people/km2
7. Australia - density: 2.6 people/km2
6. Namibia - density: 2.5 people/km2
5. French Guiana - density: 2.1 people/km2
4. Mongolia - density: 1.7 people/km2
3. Western Sahara (controlled by Morrocco) - density: 1.3 people/km2
2. Falkland Islands (controlled by United Kingdom) - 0.25 people/km2
1. Greenland (controlled by Denmark) - 0.026/km2
In case you're wondering why Antarctica isn't on this list, it's simple: it isn't a country, and no one claims it as their territory. It would certainly be Number 1 if it was on this list though.
Some of the areas listed above are large areas of land: Greenland, Mongolia, Australia, etc. Oddly enough, if you look at the countries (or territories) that are the most densely populated, they usually small places. For example: Bangladesh (which is only 147,000km2) has a slightly higher population than Russia (which is 17,000,000 km2 and the largest country by land area in the world), which makes Bangladesh's density 1100 people/km2 and Russia's density 8.3 people/km2. And then there's countries like China and India, numbers 1 and 2 in population in the world (China having 1.3 billion, and India having 1.2 billion). China's population density is 140 people/km2 and India's population density is 365 people/km2.
And since we live in the US, I'm sure you're curious where we rank. The 2011 estimate listed the US as having over 312,000,000 people, which puts us 3rd in the world. Land area is 9,826,000 km2, which puts us 3rd if you include territories and 4th if you don't (depending on which source you look at). So our population density is 33.7 people/km2.
Bet you didn't know that!
Monday, September 12, 2011
Big Word: Trypanophobia
Here's a quick word for you: trypanophobia. Ever heard of it? I bet you know someone with it. Trypanophobia is the extreme fear of medical procedures involving injections or hypodermic needles. However, if you look in a medical dictionary, it's unlikely you will find it. You will more likely find "needle phobia". It's been reported that about 10% of the population has this phobia, but it's much more common in children in the ages of 5-16.
Bet you didn't know that!
Bet you didn't know that!
Thursday, September 8, 2011
Was Missouri Northern or Southern?
One question always comes up in history classes about Missouri: what side was Missouri on in the Civil War? Was it a Northern state? Was it a Southern state? Actually, the shortest answer is both.
Missouri is a very complicated state during the Civil War: it sent 110,000 troops to the north and 40,000 troops to the south.Missouri was a slave state prior to the Civil War, but when war broke out in 1861, Missouri considered to leave the Union in favor of the south. After all, since it was a slave state, it had more in common with the south. The governor at the time Claiborne Jackson wanted to join the south, but military men sided with the north wanted to prevent the south from taking over the state. So what happens when the politicians side with the South, and the military men side with the North?
The short story is that Gov. Jackson and his people left Jefferson City and eventually setup camp in Neosho, MO. The official government (most likely referred to in history as the official government because it was the side that one) in Jefferson City was taken over after Jackson's departure. But Jackson, while in exile in Neosho, posted an Ordinance of Secession from the Union to join the South. However, in Missouri, a plebiscite (a direct vote where an entire electorate is asked to accept or reject a proposal) must be made, and since this wasn't done, most look at the actions in Neosho as renegade and not legitimate.
So most look at the existing system in Jefferson City as the real government, and the Neosho government as the illegitimate one. The story is much longer and most complicated than this, but basically Capt. Lyon chased Gov. Jackson through Missouri, which if you visit the sites for the Battle of Boonville and the Battle of Carthage, you will learn of this chase.
One more piece of trivia: Missouri, as well as, Kentucky, West Virginia, Maryland, and Delaware were considered Border States. Border states were slave states that didn't secede from the Union. Each one has its own unique history during the Civil War (Maryland had marshall law induced to keep it from seceding, West Virginia broke off of Virginia in 1863, etc.). The Border States were deeply divided and were very scary places to be in that time.
Bet you didn't know that!
Missouri is a very complicated state during the Civil War: it sent 110,000 troops to the north and 40,000 troops to the south.Missouri was a slave state prior to the Civil War, but when war broke out in 1861, Missouri considered to leave the Union in favor of the south. After all, since it was a slave state, it had more in common with the south. The governor at the time Claiborne Jackson wanted to join the south, but military men sided with the north wanted to prevent the south from taking over the state. So what happens when the politicians side with the South, and the military men side with the North?
The short story is that Gov. Jackson and his people left Jefferson City and eventually setup camp in Neosho, MO. The official government (most likely referred to in history as the official government because it was the side that one) in Jefferson City was taken over after Jackson's departure. But Jackson, while in exile in Neosho, posted an Ordinance of Secession from the Union to join the South. However, in Missouri, a plebiscite (a direct vote where an entire electorate is asked to accept or reject a proposal) must be made, and since this wasn't done, most look at the actions in Neosho as renegade and not legitimate.
So most look at the existing system in Jefferson City as the real government, and the Neosho government as the illegitimate one. The story is much longer and most complicated than this, but basically Capt. Lyon chased Gov. Jackson through Missouri, which if you visit the sites for the Battle of Boonville and the Battle of Carthage, you will learn of this chase.
One more piece of trivia: Missouri, as well as, Kentucky, West Virginia, Maryland, and Delaware were considered Border States. Border states were slave states that didn't secede from the Union. Each one has its own unique history during the Civil War (Maryland had marshall law induced to keep it from seceding, West Virginia broke off of Virginia in 1863, etc.). The Border States were deeply divided and were very scary places to be in that time.
Bet you didn't know that!
Monday, September 5, 2011
Labor Day
Ever wonder where Labor Day came from?
The first Labor Day was celebrated on September 5, 1882, in Boston by the Central Labor Union, which was the nation's first integrated major trade union. In 1894, several workers were killed by the US military and US marshals during the Pullman Strike (a nationwide strike which embattled railroad workers against the railroad companies). Pres. Cleveland made it a priority to put an end to the strike and increase labor relations, and Congress agreed by the proposal of a federal holiday. Just six days after the end of the strike, Congress unanimously voted in the holiday.
Labor Day is celebrated as the first Monday in September, and is symbolic of the end of summer: no more white for women, beginning of the NFL and college football seasons, the Southern 500 in Darlington was held on Labor Day from 1950-1983 (from 1984-2004, it was held on the weekend), and schools that started summer vacation mid-June will return to session near Labor Day.
Bet you didn't know that!
The first Labor Day was celebrated on September 5, 1882, in Boston by the Central Labor Union, which was the nation's first integrated major trade union. In 1894, several workers were killed by the US military and US marshals during the Pullman Strike (a nationwide strike which embattled railroad workers against the railroad companies). Pres. Cleveland made it a priority to put an end to the strike and increase labor relations, and Congress agreed by the proposal of a federal holiday. Just six days after the end of the strike, Congress unanimously voted in the holiday.
Labor Day is celebrated as the first Monday in September, and is symbolic of the end of summer: no more white for women, beginning of the NFL and college football seasons, the Southern 500 in Darlington was held on Labor Day from 1950-1983 (from 1984-2004, it was held on the weekend), and schools that started summer vacation mid-June will return to session near Labor Day.
Bet you didn't know that!
Thursday, September 1, 2011
Missouri's Boot?
Missouri has one feature that most find interesting, but they don't seem to understand where it came from, and although this is a brief explanation, you might win awards in the trivia circuit for this one. Where did Missouri get its bootheel from?
The answer goes back a long time to when Missouri was becoming a state. When you look at territory maps, there is no bootheel, but then it becomes a state, and there it is. In 1821, Missouri became a state as part of the Missouri Compromise (which allowed Maine to become the 20th state and a free state, and Missouri to become the 21st state as a slave state). No state above the lattitude line 36°30′ could become a slave state, and Missouri would have been the last above this line. This lattitude line is the southern border of Missouri, and if you follow it east, the border between Kentucky and Tennessee. So, as defined, there should be no bootheel.
Enter a pioneer planter named John Hardeman Walker. He lived in this region, and his land area would become part of the Arkansas Territory. He claimed that the area had more in common with areas to the north: places such as Cape Girardeau, Ste. Genevieve, and St. Louis. (There are theories that there was an exchange of cash for the favor of being part of Missouri.) So a small exception was made for the area, which includes the counties of Dunklin, New Madrid, and Pemiscot.
There are other stories about why this land was included with Missouri, most of which are quite humorous. One claimed that Missourians didn't want to be associated with those from Arkansas because it was sickly in Arkansas, or that Arkansas was "full of bears and copperhead snakes, so no civilized person could spend even a night there".
One more piece of trivia: the Missouri Bootheel was once referred to as Lapland, because it was where Missouri lapped over into Arkansas. Most people don't say this anymore, and even the region has changed. Some people refer to the Bootheel as the area that encompasses the entire southeastern lowlands, which includes parts of the following counties: Butler, Mississippi, Ripley, Scott, Stoddard, and the extreme southern portion of Cape Girardeau county. This area is known as the northern edge of the Mississippi Embayment.
Bet you didn't know that!
The answer goes back a long time to when Missouri was becoming a state. When you look at territory maps, there is no bootheel, but then it becomes a state, and there it is. In 1821, Missouri became a state as part of the Missouri Compromise (which allowed Maine to become the 20th state and a free state, and Missouri to become the 21st state as a slave state). No state above the lattitude line 36°30′ could become a slave state, and Missouri would have been the last above this line. This lattitude line is the southern border of Missouri, and if you follow it east, the border between Kentucky and Tennessee. So, as defined, there should be no bootheel.
Enter a pioneer planter named John Hardeman Walker. He lived in this region, and his land area would become part of the Arkansas Territory. He claimed that the area had more in common with areas to the north: places such as Cape Girardeau, Ste. Genevieve, and St. Louis. (There are theories that there was an exchange of cash for the favor of being part of Missouri.) So a small exception was made for the area, which includes the counties of Dunklin, New Madrid, and Pemiscot.
There are other stories about why this land was included with Missouri, most of which are quite humorous. One claimed that Missourians didn't want to be associated with those from Arkansas because it was sickly in Arkansas, or that Arkansas was "full of bears and copperhead snakes, so no civilized person could spend even a night there".
One more piece of trivia: the Missouri Bootheel was once referred to as Lapland, because it was where Missouri lapped over into Arkansas. Most people don't say this anymore, and even the region has changed. Some people refer to the Bootheel as the area that encompasses the entire southeastern lowlands, which includes parts of the following counties: Butler, Mississippi, Ripley, Scott, Stoddard, and the extreme southern portion of Cape Girardeau county. This area is known as the northern edge of the Mississippi Embayment.
Bet you didn't know that!
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