June 24, 1812: Forgetting the Most Famous Classic Blunder, Napoleon’s army invades Russia. Despite having one of the largest armies ever gathered, the French leader failed to win the decisive victory he expected, and was forced to retreat during Russia’s brutal winter. June 24, 1916: Mary Pickford, silent film star and United Artists co-founder, becomes […]
Today in History, June 23
June 23, 1611: Intent on making good time, Henry Hudson presses his crew to continue exploring what is now Hudson Bay; his crew, intent on going home, set him, his son, and several crew members adrift in the bay. 1926: The first SAT exams are given. No word on whether or not it became part […]
Moral Evolution (We’re Not There Yet)
The full text: Plenty of people wish well to any good cause, but very few care to exert themselves to help it, and still fewer will risk anything in its support. “Some one ought to do it, but why should I?” is the ever reëchoed phrase of weak-kneed amiability. “Some one ought to do […]
Today In History: June 21 (Special Father’s Day Edition)
Even Badass Women celebrate Father’s Day*! While Mother’s Day became law in 1914, it took another 58 years for the dads to get their turn. Various dates were celebrated annually for most of the 20th century, but it wasn’t until 1972 that the most-cuddliest of American presidents, Richard Nixon, would grant the menfolk their own special […]
Today In History: June 20
June 20, 1248: University of Oxford receives its Royal charter, and immediately begins to talk smack about Cambridge. 1837: Queen Victoria is crowned; her 67-year reign will see vast social, political, and economic changes, as well as the construction of some really fancy train stations. 1863: West Virginia becomes the 35th state after fifty counties […]