On this day in 1846, the United States Congress chartered the Smithsonian Institution using funds from the estate of James Smithson. The Smithsonian tells us, “The will left his estate to his nephew, Henry James Hungerford, and stated that if… Continue Reading
Today is the 48th anniversary of the murder of Sharon Tate, as well as guests Jay Sebring, Abigail Folger, Wojciech Frykowski, and Stephen Parent. Tate was an actress and model, probably best known for the now-classic Valley of the Dolls. She… Continue Reading
Today is the 57th anniversary of the birth of David Duchovny, an American actor best known for his portrayal of Fox Mulder in The X-Files. Duchovny was born in New York City to Margaret “Meg” Miller and Amram “Ami” Duchovny. Duchovny’s… Continue Reading
Today, August 2, is the anniversary of the 1776 formal signing of the US Declaration of Independence. Fifty-six people signed the Declaration. It is also the anniversary of Frédéric-Auguste Bartholdi’s 1834 birth in Colmar, France. Bartholdi grew up to become the sculptor… Continue Reading
August 1 marks the beginning of autumn observances in the Northern hemisphere, and spring observances in the Southern hemisphere: Lughnasadh and/or Lammas in the Northern hemisphere, Imbolc and Pachamama Raymi in the Southern hemisphere. According to The Festival of Lughnasa,… Continue Reading
American game designer and author best known for co-creating the role-playing game Dungeons & Dragons (D&D) with Dave Arneson, and described by some as the father of D&D, Gary Gygax was born today in 1938. As a surprising number — or not, depending on your viewpoint… Continue Reading
Dame Helen Mirren was born 72 years ago today at Queen Charlotte’s Hospital in West London. Well known for her many roles of film, stage, and television, she is the only person to have portrayed both Queen Elizabeth I (2005) and… Continue Reading
Today is the anniversary of Willie Mae Thornton’s death in 1984. Better known as Big Mama Thornton, she was a powerful blues singer whose songs helped lead to the development of rock & roll. She was the original singer of… Continue Reading
Be not animal; refine thy rapture! If thou drink, drink by the eight and ninety rules of art: if thou love, exceed by delicacy; and if thou do aught joyous, let there be subtlety therein! –AL II:70 Today we celebrate… Continue Reading
On July 12, 1895, R. Buckminster “Bucky” Fuller was born in Milton, Massachusetts, the son of Richard Buckminster Fuller and Caroline Wolcott Andrews, and grand-nephew of the American Transcendentalist Margaret Fuller. Fuller was the second World President of Mensa from… Continue Reading