Heaven’s Gate.  What a deceptive and fatal misnomer! On this day in 1997, 39 members of the Heaven’s Gate cult were found dead in their San Diego complex from mass suicide.  For two days, they had consumed copious amounts of phenobarbital and vodka, purposefully ending their lives.  Why would they do this? An astronomical event… Read More »

December 21, 1861 – President Abraham Lincoln signs legislation presented earlier in the month by Iowa Senator James Grimes to create the Navy’s Medal of Honor. July 12, 1862 – Again, President Lincoln signs legislation, this time presented by Massachusetts Senator Henry Wilson to create the Army’s Medal of Honor. March 25, 1863 – Secretary… Read More »

As I age, I’m noticing more and more people who seem to have issues with their memories.  That’s a bit unsettling, especially when you know that memory loss diseases have been in your own family. “A new report estimates 6.9 million older Americans are living with Alzheimer’s disease in 2024, an increase of about 200,000… Read More »

So many things happened on March 21 that here we are two days later, and we are still referencing those events.  Let’s see if you can figure out what else gets celebrated on March 21.  If we were to write the date differently, it would be 3/21.  What if I wrote 321?  How about 3…2…1. … Read More »

Dr. Kent L. Thornburg is the M. Lowell Edwards Chair of Cardiovascular Research, Professor of Medicine, in the Knight Cardiovascular Institute at Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU). He holds joint professorships in the Departments of Physiology & Pharmacology, Biomedical Engineering and Obstetrics & Gynecology.  And he is the creator of National Future Generations Day… Read More »

Today is National Fragrance Day.  The day was started in the 1980s by the manufacturers of perfumes to celebrate how the fragrances enhance our lives.  I’ve never thought of my life being enhanced by such things.  I’ve never been having a bad day and thought, “I’ll bet if I put on some cologne, my day… Read More »

This is the day we’ve been waiting for!  It is officially the first day of spring.  Grass starts to green, it’s almost time to start gardening, buds are on the trees, and even the air smells better.  The green flag has been dropped, and we are in a race to get our mowers ready for… Read More »

Do donkey’s laugh?  Zoologists have gone to great lengths and expense to dispel what they call a myth, declaring emphatically that donkeys do not laugh, nor do they smile.  Scientifically speaking, maybe they’re right.  Maybe.  But if you’ve ever heard the sound a donkey can make, you are going to agree with me and say… Read More »

Some unique idioms have entered the English language through the years that must puzzle those from other countries.  Though the phrase isn’t used much, someone might comment that we need to talk turkey.  This makes a lot more sense around Thanksgiving or Christmas when the discussion turns to Butterballs or Honeysuckles.   But what does it… Read More »

Did you know that baby names trend for several years at a time?  I never realized that until I ran across a chart from the Social Security Administration (SSA) linked to an article that said several names from the 1930s are due to make a comeback.  Before we go to the 1930s, let’s consider the… Read More »