A trip down Toyland Memory Lane. Remember these? I played with the ’70′s toys, and remember the younger kids playing with the ’80′s toys while I discovered video games. Frogger was my favorite. I never did get into Pac Man nor Mario Brothers, though. More…
Category Archives: US History
Save the Guns! Support buying back an abused and unwanted firearm 6
Here is a spoof I heard played on the Randi Rhodes show Thursday. It features Sarah McLachlan’s song “In the Arms of an Angel” in the background while a man pleads to “save the guns.” Remember, “every gun has a right to life and to live up to its full potential to kill innocent children. Life begins when you disengage the safety.” More…
The Young Republican Labor Committee Salutes Labor (Unions) 12
I found this Young Republicans ad floating around the internet. This ad was circulated for Labor Day in 1956 and clearly supports and encourages labor unions.
Talk about a different Republican Party these days….
Nine Democratic Presidents Including Obama Playing a Game of Pool 14
This is a awesome painting by Andy Thomas. Democrat Presidents playing pool is titled “Callin’ the Red.” Just imagine what President Obama, Bill Clinton, Jimmy Carter, President Kennedy, Harry S. Truman, President Roosevelt, Woodrow Wilson and Andrew Jackson are talking about. (Probably Romney’s gaffes, as well as Romney’s complete incompetence for holding the office of Commander in Chief.) Yes, Andy Thomas also has one for the Republican presidents… but I won’t go there. It is on his website if you want to check it out.
To Those in Wisconsin who Support SB 507 about Single Parents 6
I recently posted about Wisconsin State Bill 507 which will list single parents as a factor to child abuse and neglect. Then I came across this photo last night on the internet and thought that this would be a very good reminder to those supporting SB 507 – that President Obama and former President Clinton were both raised by single mothers.
Swear to Uphold… 16
On Wednesday, March 1, 2006, at a hearing on the proposed Constitutional Amendment to prohibit gay marriage, Jamie Raskin, professor of law at American University, was requested to testify. At the end of his testimony, Republican State Senator Nancy Jacobs said: “Mr. Raskin, my Bible says marriage is only between a man and a woman. What do you have to say about that?”
Unusual and Weird Vintage Ads 19
Here are some rather unusual, strange and very odd ads from days gone past. Times most certainly have changed. Although some of these ads I could see being used by some of our current politicians in regards to taking women back in time to, once again, be subservient to men.
Eugenics | Mandatory Sterilization in the Early 20th Century 13
Eugenics tree
Eugenics was a very popular and successful program which occurred in the early 20th century – and was most definitely not covered in my high school history book or class. The basic premise was to sterilize the “feeble-minded” in order to force Darwin’s Theory, “Survival of the Fittest” upon society. Additionally, American studies were actually the originator of the purification of the Aryan race strongly supported by Hitler.
Who Said It, Santorum or Hitler? 35
A few days ago, Santorum compared Obama to Hitler, but in fact it is Santorum who has a few political ideals shockingly similar to Hitler’s. Don’t believe me? Take this 50/50 round and see if you can figure out who said what. I was very amazed, and actually rather frightened, both by the statements and the answers.
I Am Going to a Maximum Security Prison 14
LOL.. Yes, I am. Going on a tour for photography reasons (and hopefully some ghost-hunting) to the Old Main Prison in Santa Fe NM, where one of the worst prison riots occurred in 1980.
The New Mexico Corrections Department will be hosting tours once a month at the New Mexico State Penitentiary “Old Main” prison in Santa Fe, beginning February 2, 2012. The prison tours will be hosted once a month to display the history of New Mexico prisons for the past 100 years.
Historical Photos of Child Labor in NC Textile Mills 15
During the late 19th and early 20th century, the few laws prohibiting child labor were moderate and rarely enforced.
In North Carolina, the age limit was 13 for employment in factories such as mills, and children under 18 were allowed to work up to a shocking 66 hours per week! Mill owners had to “knowingly and willfully” break these laws before they could be convicted.
“To My Old Master, Colonel P. H. Anderson” from Former Slave Jourdon Anderson 10
This is a superb and magnificent letter written from a former slave to his former master in a response to a request to return as a “free” man and employee, no longer as a slave. When I reached the apex of the letter, which is a request of “some proof that you were disposed to treat us justly and kindly”, I laughed out loud with rejoice and respect for the writer’s forethought to do so – in addition to being a passive way of humiliating the former slave owner.
“Catch a Slave” Game Played by Teacher with Students in Georgia 14
“It was kind of like tag, but we were slaves and slave catchers,” a student told her mother. “She [the teacher] would sit on the bench and the slave catchers would come up to the door and ask did she have any slaves.”
FDR’s Second Bill of Rights 11
Saw this image come across Facebook a while back and saved it. So, just thought I would post a reminder to all what an incredible president FDR was. I wish our politicians were more like him. I am fortunate to have all these items (some to a certain degree, as in medical), but an unacceptable amount of people in our country do not. In fact, when you read down a bit further, nearly all these items are disappearing.
Interactive chart shows how the 90% have been screwed the past 30 years 3
The Economic Policy Institute has put together an amazing interactive chart that shows the growth of incomes in the U.S. over the past 90 years, from 1918 to 2008, and is broken down by who the gains went to (the bottom 90% versus the top 10%).
By adjusting the sliders on the chart, you can break down the period into different eras, which show startlingly different trends. More…
Photos / Video of Occupy Wall Street “Day of Action” Nov 17th #ows 1
Today, Thursday November 17th, marked the two-month anniversary of the Occupy Wall Street movement. Just 60 days ago, a few hundred arrived at Wall Street to take up camp and occupy the area in protest to the greed and corruption within our government and corporations. The main stream media refused to cover the inaugural event instead covering such events such as the Tea Party. Many scoffed and did not believe this would take hold. Now the media cannot get enough coverage especially since this only brings in more profit. Look at how this has grown throughout the country with an Occupy movement in nearly every major city, and hundreds of smaller “home towns.” Not only has this spread throughout the United States, but has taken hold world-wide. More…
“Million Dollar Courtroom” Theodore Levin United State Courthouse, Detroit Federal Bldg (photos) Reply
Courtroom is from the previous building built in 1896. It was disassembled and reassembled in the new building in 1932. It contains over 30 types of marble. Behind the bench is a frieze of 10 female figures depicting the purity of justice.
On April 22, 1930, the federal budget bureau recommended that Detroit get a new federal building and customs house at a price of nearly $5 million (about $63.9 million today). Robert O. Derrick (best known for designing the Henry Ford Museum) and Bronson V. Gander were selected as the architects of the new building.
Among the more opulent rooms in the old Federal Building was the so-called Million-Dollar Courtroom. Federal Judge Arthur J. Tuttle arranged to have his courtroom dismantled piece by piece and replaced exactly as it was in the 1897 building.
Credit line: Photographs by Carol M. Highsmith (click on picture for larger image)
World War I posters – A journey through American history Reply
Vintage and historical America has always fascinated me. Here are some of the more interesting of the thousands available of posters issued during WWI. I saw some sites which called these “propoganda.” Perhaps in today’s society, some posters may be considered that, but during this era in US history, that is just the way it was.
We have all seen the “Join now…” posters, what women can do, join the Red Cross, etc., but what I did not realize were the number of posters in regards to the disable soldiers and sailors. Interesting, though, I did not see the term “veteran” anywhere… I wonder when “Disabled Veteran” become the normal terminology….
Enlisting during WWI was also targeted unemployed – which was many – as well as a way to be paid to earn an education – which many could not afford on their own.
Learning to walk for the second time c1919
At work again Back to the farm c1919
What can the blinded men do in world of commerce and industry c1919
Reading and writing are not lost arts to the blinded men c1919
Facts of interest to the disable soldier or sailor c1919
India restores her war cripples to self-support c1919
First steps to usefulness c1919
The lure of movies c1919
Future shipworkers one-armed men c1919
The disabled man who is profitably employed is no longer handicapped c1919
With compass and tsquare c1919
Back home, Gave both arms in service c1919
Refugees in Russia poster c1917 1918
Refugees in Russia text c1917 1918
Here is your chance to see France and the Rhine enlist c1917 or 1918
How would you like to be with Uncle Sams priviledged tourists c1918
Urgent the President has issued an urgent call c1917 to 1919
US Army wants you enlist c1917 to 1919
You are wanted by the US Army 660 Market San Fran btwn c1915 1918
For action enlist in the air service c1917 to 1920, Cushing, Otho
Come on boys Do your duty by enlisting c1917
Men wanted for the army btwn c1910 and 1915, Whelan, Michael P
General Pershing says A chance for you to enlist c1917 or 1919
Lighten his load c 1918
Twenty sheep to clothe c1917 1918
Women girls rest info go to YWCA c1917 or 1918
The men know home fols know c1918
Earn while you learn c1919
Engineers blaze the trail for education c1919
Know him by this sign the Medical Caduceus c1919
The signal corps c1919
Why not meet us in hero land c1917
Territory of Hawaii registration day c1917 or 1918
If you only knew c1917 1918
Be a trained nurse c1917 1918
Join the red cross candle in window c1917 1918
Amer Red Cross clothes overseas c1914 to 1918
Jr Red Cross comrades c1919
Your money or his life btwn c1914 to 1918
What can you do Join our Red Cross
What are you doing to help Join Amer Red Cross c1919, Grant, Gordon 1875-1962
The Red Cross sees a man through c1919
Red Cross first aid c1919
Many peoples One Nation poster c1917
Many peoples One Nation text c1917
Dawn after darkness c1918 Levy, Alexander Oscar 1881-1934
Liberty claims her own c1917 1918 Levy, Alexander Oscar 1881-1934
Liberty, freed, humanity’s need c1918 Levy, Alexander Oscar 1881-1934
The cross and the crusaders c 1917 Levy, Alexander Oscar 1881-1934
You in her thoughts poster c1917 1918. This poster is a poem by Ella Wheeler Wilcox extolling male virginity before marriage to prevent health problems related to sexually transmitted diseases. Below is a zoom of the text.
Source: Government Archives
A nostalgic Black & White photo journey through America’s past 9
Nostalgia…. What a flood of memories many of these pictures bring to most adults and baby-boomers. A little journey through our childhood via some incredible black and white photos gathered from the internet. A brief description provided when available. Sadly, I am unable to locate the source of these photos.
