Harold Nathan Braunhut was a Jewish man born in Memphis, Tennessee on March 31, 1926.  Shortly after his birth, his family moved to NYC, clinging to their Jewish roots and finding many Jews in the city.  However, as Harold grew up, he passionately distanced himself from his Jewish heritage, changing his name to Harold von… Read More »

Imagine becoming a multimillionaire in about six months and being the poster child for the “dumbest idea that paid off.”  That’s exactly what happened to Gary Dahl in 1975. Gary was born in Bottineau, North Dakota, but raised in Spokane, Washington.  His mom worked as a waitress and his dad was a lumber mill operator.  Neither profession… Read More »

We love to see deer in their natural habit.  Herds will be grazing in an open field.  Others might be seen in the woods.  And if you watch carefully, you might even catch one hitching a ride on a school bus. It’s Thursday, April 1st in the Powhatan County, Virginia school district.  Ninth-grade student, Brendan,… Read More »

Revenge is sweet and not fattening. Alfred Hitchcock Revenge is a dish best served cold. I don’t get mad.  I get even. These phrases reflect the way a lost world thinks.  A person who experienced this first hand was Andreas Flaten who worked for A OK Walker Luxury Autoworks in Peachtree City, GA. According to… Read More »

Nobody ever said the wheels of government move quickly.  Sometimes, they don’t move at all.  Most times, they move very slowly.  Such is the case with today’s story. Starting in the 19th c., nations around the world sought to honor educators.  The day usually centered around a particularly well-known educator or some special event in… Read More »

The lives of some are so filled with multiple tragedies that you wonder how they could ever survive.  Such is the case for a woman named Candace. Candace Dodderidge was born in 1946 in California.  She married a U.S. Air Force Officer named Steve Lightner.  In 1967, twins Cari and Serena were born.  In 1971,… Read More »

Aaargh!  Does anyone else have issues with ground moles in their yards?  If you don’t, you can be thankful.  These little pests leave trails of heaved up soil all across the yard.  And I have plenty of trails! The ground mole is a small little mammal with velvety fur, inconspicuous ears and eyes, a protruding… Read More »

By declaration of President Dwight D. Eisenhower, May 1, 1958 was the first Law Day.  It was codified by Public Law 87-20 on April 7, 1961.  The purpose of the day is to reflect on the necessity of Law to the founding and preserving of our country and democracy.  Without law, society would succumb to… Read More »

Today is National Arbor Day and we have journalist and newspaper editor Julius Sterling Morton to thank. Born April 22, 1832 in Adams, NY, Morton’s life was destined for many great things.  In 1854, he moved with his bride, Caroline Joy, to the Nebraska Territory where he became the editor of the newspaper.  By 1855,… Read More »

Our clothing, jackets, bags, boots, and a whole lot more have a device that we probably take for granted until it fails.  It’s the zipper. This unique contraption had its earliest version created by American inventor Elias Howe in 1851.  Patented as the “Automatic, Continuous Clothing Closure,” his device set the groundwork for today’s modern… Read More »