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This gentle lullaby about sheep might be a toddler’s favorite, but its backstory might raise an eyebrow. It is believed to allude to the medieval wool tax introduced by King Edward I. The King’s share? A third of the proceeds from each sack. In this context, if you had three bags … Read the rest
It may not be easy for most people to admit, but certain national holidays often get a little muddled in their minds—namely, Memorial Day and Veterans Day. Clearly, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs has seen and/or been asked about the confusion enough times that it has gone ahead and dedicated some space on … Read the rest
Almost 170 years after the Pilgrims and the Wampanoag tribe feasted together for the first unofficial Thanksgiving in 1621, the U.S. government decided to make it official. So on October 3, 1789, President George Washington declared that the nation would celebrate a “day of publick thanksgivin” on November 26 that year.
While November 26, … Read the rest
If you grew up in the English-speaking world, chances are you’ve heard this nursery rhyme before (probably while you were in a bath):
“Rub-a-dub-dub
Three men in a tub,
And who do you think they be?
The butcher, the baker, the candlestick maker,
And all of them out to sea.”
Nursery rhyme origins are often … Read the rest
As architects and their clients become more conscious of the impact construction has on the climate, many talents are taking pains to make sure their designs not only enhance but protect the environment. Features such as green roofs and passive architecture help connect the dwellings to their sites and offer sustainable alternatives to traditional heating … Read the rest
Puerto Vallarta, Mexico –
Comet C/2023 A3 (Tsuchinshan-ATLAS), dubbed the “Comet of the Century,” is currently on its way toward Earth and is expected to become one of the most thrilling astronomical events in recent memory. Discovered in early 2023 by observatories in China and Hawaii, the comet has generated significant excitement among astronomers and … Read the rest
On Sept. 17, 1787, the Constitution of the United States was completed and signed by a majority of delegates attending the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia.
On Sept. 15, 1963, four Black girls were killed when a bomb went off during Sunday services at the 16th Street Baptist Church in Birmingham, Alabama. (Three Ku Klux Klansmen were eventually convicted for their roles in the blast.)
Thirty-seven people – including three Americans, a Briton, a Belgian and a Canadian national – have been sentenced to death over an attempt to overthrow the president of the Democratic Republic of Congo.
The men were accused of leading an attack on both the presidential palace and the home of an ally of President Félix … Read the rest
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