RenoVous

Two days before Armistice Day in 1921, an unknown soldier, who had fallen somewhere on a World War I battlefield, arrived in DC from a military cemetery in France. On this day, he was buried with the highest honors in Arlington Cemetery.  A layer of soil from France was placed below the coffin, "so that he might rest forever atop the earth on which he died." Later, unknown soldiers from WWII and then the Korean War were added to the tomb. For 14 years there was also a soldier from Vietnam, but his remains were identified in 1998  The Changing of the Guard happens every hour on the hour this time of year, as the tomb has been guarded continuously since 1937.  It is meant to honor all fallen service members whose names were lost in war.

 Back in 1966, conversations started between producer, Joan Ganz Cooney, and the Carnegie Foundation.  They wanted to create a children's show that would "master the addictive qualities of television and do something good with them." Carnegie provided a large donation, along with the Ford Foundation, the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, and the federal government. It first aired on this day in 1969. Jim Henson was initially hesitant to join for fear of being typecast as a children's entertainer.  He had previously launched Sam and Friends,  which was a late-night puppet show.  A large part of his agreement was that he would retain ownership of his characters. Such as Big Bird, who was created specifically to be a street character that would interact with the human actors.  Child psychologists had initially suggested the segments be separate, but testing confirmed kids were most interested in the puppets. While education has been a core aspect of the sho...

  Alex Consani Anya Taylor-Joy Odessa A'zion Rosie Huntington-Whiteley Viola Davis Alix Earle Jasmin Larian Hekmat Elsa Hosk Chloe Kim Anderson Paak

Archaeologists investigated a 2,800 year old monumental tomb in Siberia, where they found several log coffins in the royal mound.  On top of the coffins were horse skeletons, which represented a "spectral cavalcade" of Scythian funeral tradition. They also found piles of tiny seeds, which turned out to be Cannabis ruderalis. Researchers were able to test hair samples of the mummies and found chemical traces. But was it used for intoxication, or perhaps a calming agent for those about to be sacrificed.... It does change the timeline previously established for when the psychoactive properties became known.  Greek historian Herodotus noted Scythian nomads inhaling fumes from burning hemp seeds back in the 5th century BC, the same era from which evidence of use was found in China. Carbon dating of these seeds indicates they're from 800-760 BC.  Of course, the plant has been cultivated for thousands of years for ropes and textiles, also as an oilseed crop.

 All done! I noted a reference in the title of Chapter 30, to that of a poet who was mentioned in the text. "It's Time, My Friend" by Alexander Pushkin. It's time, my friend, it's time! The peace is craved by hearts... Days flow after days - each hour departs a bit of life - and both, you and I, plan a long life, but could abruptly die. The world hasn't happiness, but there is freedom and peace. And long have I daydreamed the life of bliss - and long have planned, a tired slave, the flight, to the removed abode of labor and delight. Peace was certainly an ending point, for the Master and Margarita as well as Pilate.  For Ivan, even though he's disturbed on the Spring's full moon, and for Moscow itself.  They told themselves lies about what they had experienced and what was responsible, which I took as commentary on the entire Soviet system. I'll go to the library this weekend and see what I find to read next, of course I have some things on my shel...

  Back in 1924, the first female governors were elected, just five years after gaining the right to vote. Nellie Tayloe Ross of Wyoming.  Miriam Amanda "Ma" Ferguson of Texas. In this year of 2026, we saw more history being made. Keisha Lance Bottoms of Georgia has become the first Black woman elected governor. Gina Hinojosa will be the first Latina governor of Texas. Deb Haaland was previously one of the first Native American women to serve in Congress as well as Cabinet secretary, and now she is the first Native American woman to be a governor.  (She represents New Mexico). Amy Acton not only won against extremely vile attack ads, but she will be the first female governor of Ohio. "Let's go, girls."