Ancient New Years: 11 Days of Celebration
4,000 years ago in Babylon, an ancient city 55 miles south of Bagdad, it is believed that people began to celebrate the New Year.
The festivities began shortly after the first day of spring, when the new moon appeared in the sky.
The ancient people celebrated for 11 days, each day had its own purpose and significance.
It makes a lot more sense to have the new year start in spring, when the year seems to start over and the earth comes back to life.
It wasn't until Julius Caesar came along in the year 46 BC and changed the calendar, that January 1st became the official New Year.  "New Beginnings" Photo by Casey Kelley
Will Anyone Run Against George Washington?
The very first presidential election was not quite as sophisticated or
complicated as our elections are today.
There were no billion dollar campaigns or generator operated
electronic voting booths; in fact, there weren't even two people running for President!
The year was 1788 and everyone sort of just assumed that
George Washington should be the first president.
The only thing that was really decided by the 69 electors was who the Vice President would be.
Each elector got two votes and everybody voted for Washington, so he became the President. John Adams received the second most votes, a total of 34, so he became Vice President.
Imagine that, the person with the most votes became president and the person who came in second place became Vice President. Interesting.
Elections continued like this until the passing of the Twelfth Amendment in 1804.
 "George Washington" by Rembrandt Peale  "John Adams" by Gilbert Stuart
Cool Cardboard Sculptures
German artist Bartek Elsner has one thing to say about the project, "Internet Killed the Analog Stuff!"
I'm a huge fan of any artist that works with cardboard, it is such a humble and eco-friendly material.
I remember these objects very well from my childhood....do you?  "The Analog Entertainment Set" by Bartek Elsner  "The Analog Entertainment Set" by Bartek Elsner  "The Analog Entertainment Set" by Bartek Elsner  "The Analog Entertainment Set" by Bartek Elsner
 "A "Bad Language is Degrading" sign on a steam roller in Pontardawe" 1951 Photo by Geoff Charles
Imagine if There Was No Warning Before a Hurricane
It wasn't until the 1950's that the very first forecast models were developed for predicting the path of a hurricane.
Prior to that time, there was really no warning at all.
In fact, unless a storm was witnessed by a passing ship, airplane, or happened to sweep over an island, there was no way to know a storm was brewing.
In the 1940's and 50's, aircraft reconnaissance and very basic computer technology were used to learn about storms.
Of course, these beginning forecast models were not always reliable and scientists are always working to create more precise methods for predicting the path of a big storm.  "Aerial view of a train swept off its tracks by a hurricane: Florida Keys, Florida" State Library and Archives of Florida  "1926 hurricane washed the land away from both ends. The photograph was taken at Baker's Haulover Inlet in Miami, Florida. " State Library and Archives of Florida  " Barbados. 'Houses blown across the road by the angry wind prevented free passage to pedestrians and vehicles of all kinds'." 1955 The National Archives UK
"Train Wreck"
Nowadays, train crashes are not as commonplace as they used to be.
The term "train wreck" is often used to describe a complete and total disaster.
For example, "Man...I overslept, forgot to eat breakfast, and then missed my bus to school. I had a train wreck of a day so far!"  "Collision between two engines, Bay of Quinte Railway, ON, 1892" Musée McCord Museum
How Cool Would It Be To Drive On The Moon?
We are all accustomed to seeing images of the famous first landing on the moon, but did you know that between 1969 and 1972 there were actually six missions to the moon?
These photographs show a handful of lucky astronauts roaming around the lunar surface collecting samples and exploring.
In 1971, the fourth mission to the moon, astronauts David R. Scott and James B. Irwin, got the opportunity to spend four days on the moon.
In 1972, which was the last mission to the moon, three astronauts, Eugene A. Cernan, Harrison H. Schmitt, and Ronald E. Evans, spent time on the moon cruising around in the Lunar Roving Vehicle.
How awesome would that be...four wheeling around the moon?
 "Schmitt with Flag and Earth Above" NASA  "Astronaut James Irwin gives salute beside U.S. flag during lunar surface extravehicular activity " NASA  "Cernan Driving the Rover" NASA  "Apollo 17 Astronaut Harrison Schmitt Collects Lunar Rock Samples" NASA  "Astronaut Irwin with LRV" NASA
A Flood of Molasses
On this day, back in 1919, 21 people died and 150 were injured due to a "sticky" situation. A five-story tank of molasses broke in Boston. Molasses spilled out at 35 miles per hour and covered everything around. The total damage was $100,000,000.
Can you imagine looking up to see a 15 foot wave of molasses heading towards you? I would have thought I was dreaming.  "Molasses Sequence" by Marshall Source posted by Julia
Chuck Yeager Did It First!
65 years ago, on October 14, 1947, Chuck Yeager was the first man to fly at the speed of sound.
He was flying in a rocket research plane named "Glamorous Glennis" and was awarded the Collier Trophy for this amazing achievement.
A few days ago, on October 14, 2012, Chuck Yeager did it again!
At the age of 89, Chuck jumped into a F-15D and broke the sound barrier simply to celebrate the 65th birthday of his original flight.  "Yeager, Charles "Chuck" San Diego Air & Space Museum Archives  "Chuck Yeager commemorates historic flight" Photo by Master Sgt. Jason Edwards
"Muck City" 1939-1941
Belle Glade is a small town in the western part of Palm Beach County on the coast of Lake Okeechobee.
The town used to be completely underwater and is often referred to as "Muck City" due to the muddy ground.
Belle Glade was born in 1925, when the Federal Government decided to drain the water from the local swamp land to create space for agriculture. The pictures below show migratory workers who travelled to the area in the late 1930s and early 1940s. Many stayed in camps like the Lake Okeechobee Migratory Workers Camp shown below.
This history still pervades the area. Today, roughly half of the sugarcane grown in the US comes from the fields surrounding "Muck City" and the people that harvest the sugarcane live in Belle Glade.
The average income for residents in Belle Glade is $22,715. A full 32% of individuals live below the poverty line.
Although Belle Glade is part of one of the richest counties in Florida, the people in Belle Glade face failing schools, violent streets, and broken promises.
If you ever visit West Palm Beach, be sure to drive west and check out this small sugarcane town. Just head west on Southern Blvd, past the houses and the fields until you run into the muck.
 "Migratory laborers cutting celery, Belle Glade, Florida" January 1941 Farm Security Administration Collection. / Florida. / Marion Post Wolcott.  "In front of city hall, Belle Glade, Florida" January 1939 Farm Security Administration Collection. / Florida. / Marion Post Wolcott.  "Migratory workers fishing to eat, Belle Glade, Florida" January 1939 Farm Security Administration Collection. / Florida. / Marion Post Wolcott.  "Washing greens by pump near metal shelters at Okeechobee Migratory Labor Camp. Belle Glade, Florida" Feb. 1941 Farm Security Administration Collection. / Florida. / Marion Post Wolcott.
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