Category Archives: History

History at all levels, not just not my past or nostalgic musings.

1944: D-Day, 70 years later

I’m sure we’ll all be reminded through the day and weekend over the massive landing/invasion/retaking of France. It is tragic to think about all the lives lost so suddenly on both sides thanks to stubborn and/or insane governments at the … Continue reading

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New podcasts I’m hooked on #3

History is one of my strongest subjects whether it be Trivial Pursuit, Geeks Who Drink or general conversation. How I didn’t jump on Stuff You Missed in History Class from the day it began is beyond me! It came up through The Onion’s AV … Continue reading

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Happy Texas Independence Day

A Canadian acquaintance brought this up from the Independence Movement’s declaration against the Mexican Government in 1836. “…unless a people are educated and enlightened, it is idle to expect the continuance of civil liberty, or the capacity for self government.” … Continue reading

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The Monuments Men: Don’t Bother

A rather schmaltzy synopsis about how the (Western) Allied Forces undertook semi-dangerous missions to recover stolen artwork from the Nazi regime. We also went despite tepid reviews because The Lego Movie was sold out and we had free tickets to iPic, a … Continue reading

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Happy 205th Birthday Abe Lincoln and Charles Darwin

Two very reviled figures by the Far Right, Teabaggers and segments of the Deep South. They weren’t perfect people but both helped human progress and did what they could to make the world a better place. Lincoln resided in my … Continue reading

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1994: Twenty years in Austin!

Time to start another countdown today but I want to celebrate twenty years in my adopted home! Austin has been good to me and I hope I’m returning the favor, probably not. I fear I left a trail for other … Continue reading

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1994: Final weekend in Chicago

Well, it wasn’t the final weekend I’ve had in Chicago, I’ve been back a few times since. What happened was my last trip by car to spend a long weekend with the friends I liked. After I returned to some financial stability, I … Continue reading

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1994: TSR v. GDW

My pre-Austin vacation was nearing its halfway point by this idiotic court appearance I had to make. I still have no idea why I was dragged in as a witness for the lawsuit. I was a rather insignificant person who … Continue reading

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1994: Last day at DG

Let me preface this day with the night before because it guaranteed my last day was a victory and not a departure-under-a-dark-cloud, aka “I won!” Two weeks earlier I turned in my resignation. No new job on the horizon, not even … Continue reading

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1994: I quit DG on a wing and a prayer

Twenty years ago, I look back with utmost horror regarding the rather desperate and impulsive decision I made that day. Sometime before lunch I turned in my two weeks at Dynamic Graphics (DG). I had nothing to fall back on whatsoever. … Continue reading

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RIP Nelson Mandela

While I’m catching up, I did want to throw in my two cents about the former prisoner who went on to be president of Africa’s wealthiest nation. It seemed to dovetail really well with Mandela’s passing coinciding with the 30th … Continue reading

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1963: JFK Assassination

I too grow tired of the conspiracy theories, the “what ifs” should the guy lived and this nonsense about him being a Liberal. Bill Clinton, crony of the GOP Lite DLC was more liberal than Kennedy! However, coming from a Catholic … Continue reading

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1863: The Gettysburg Address

Abraham Lincoln gave one of his most memorable speeches on this day. It is rather weird that the president’s invitation to the cemetery’s dedication was an afterthought. Sure, he wasn’t terribly popular due to the (American) Civil War dragging out into … Continue reading

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Italian #25: (Giovanni) Giorgio Moroder

Today is the final day of Italian Heritage Month. I may not have written about as many as I did for 2011 but I certainly beat out my terrible output for 2012. Just means more to cover next year! I … Continue reading

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A familiar piece of clip art from DG!

Twenty years ago, my then current employer introduced this piece of clip art to its customers (really subscribers). Whoever used this may have filled in the text because the core part is the ghost, bats and border. Whoops! I might be … Continue reading

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