Category Archives: History

Heather Cox Richardson’s Commentary

Posted on October 7, 2026 by Jim deMaine

From historian Heather Cox’s Letter From An American Judging from his social media posts, Trump is panicking. Shortly after noon yesterday, he posted that it was “no longer the Strait of Hormuz” driving up gasoline prices, but Ukraine’s strikes on … Continue reading →

Posted in Advocacy, Government, History, Politics | Leave a comment

Medicare for All: Separating the slogan from the substance

Posted on September 23, 2026 by Jim deMaine

by Katelyn Jetelina and Hayden Rooke-Lev in Your Local Epidemiologist People are fed up with the U.S. health care system, and rightfully so. Medical premiums and debt are rising, clinicians are burned out, and patients have less access to care. … Continue reading →

Posted in Finance, Government, History, Insurance | Leave a comment

The Kennedy Center — This Building Belongs to American History

Posted on September 21, 2026 by Jim deMaine

by Deborah Cardona (thanks to Charlotte Lin) I don’t think people understand what we are talking about when we say the Kennedy Center needs to be protected. This isn’t just a theater. It isn’t an old building somebody can gut, … Continue reading →

Posted in Education, Entertainment, Government, History, Justice, On Stage, theater | Leave a comment

UN votes to adopt new world map that shows Africa’s true scale | Africa | The Guardian

Posted on September 13, 2026 by Jim Tanner

Thanks to Pam Peterson https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/sep/04/un-vote-world-map-mercator-equal-earth-africa

Posted in Geography, History | Comments Off on UN votes to adopt new world map that shows Africa’s true scale | Africa | The Guardian

Registration Open For City’s First Ever Remembrance Ruck Honoring Veterans

Posted on September 11, 2026 by Jim Tanner

Thanks to Pam Peterson https://www.ourtownny.com/news/registration-open-for-city-s-first-ever-remembrance-ruck-honoring-veterans-JY6133597

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Drone light show above NYC this week

Posted on September 11, 2026 by Jim Tanner

Thanks to Mary Jane Francis

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Meeting Bill Gates at his website

Posted on August 30, 2026 by Jim deMaine

Tim Barrick has sent this link to Gate’s website which has info about his work, books, autobiography, family, etc. The initial link is a bit daunting showing all the questions (mostly unanswered) about AI: https://www.gatesnotes.com/a-turbulent-ai-era-and-critical-choices-to-make You can click on other … Continue reading →

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Switzerland’s doomsday law

Posted on August 25, 2026 by Jim Tanner

Submitted by Bob Peterson

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Woodrow Wilson by Patricia O’Toole

Posted on August 18, 2026 by Jim deMaine

Inspiring words can carry a leader to the loftiest heights. Then what? “I doubt if there is any man in America,” the muckraking journalist Ida Tarbell said of President Woodrow Wilson, “that can talk… with such precision and at the … Continue reading →

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William Howard Taft by John G. Roberts, Jr.

Posted on August 12, 2026 by Jim deMaine

In Pursuit with Colleen Shogan, Maintaining your dignity and principles through defeat can pave the road for future success William Howard Taft holds the distinction of being the only person in the history of our Nation to have served as … Continue reading →

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Theodore Roosevelt by William Jefferson Clinton

Posted on August 9, 2026 by Jim deMaine

An ever more perfect union requires an ever wider “we.” In Pursuit Aug 04, 2026 (Ed note: “In Pursuit isn’t just a history project. It begins a dialogue about our past, present, and future as Americans. On President’s Day 2026, we’ll … Continue reading →

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Men of Mt. Rushmore

Posted on August 1, 2026 by Jim Tanner

Thanks to MJ Francis

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From Rifleman to Concertmaster, Stuart Canin Looks Back 90 Years

Posted on July 29, 2026 by Jim Tanner

Thanks to Bob Petersonn By Cristina Schreil Stuart Canin whips open the door to his Berkeley home and shakes my hand with the kind of solid clasp you’d expect from any lifelong violinist. While many in the Bay Area music … Continue reading →

Posted in History, Music | 1 Comment

Frightening. Is this Munich 1933?

Posted on July 21, 2026 by Jim Tanner

Thanks to John Roper Goebbels could not have said it better. “Fascism is the supreme expression of self-righteousness. It is the belief that one’s own group possesses a monopoly on virtue, and therefore has a holy duty to crush everyone … Continue reading →

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In Israel, Rahm Emanuel Calls for End of Unconditional U.S. Support

Posted on July 8, 2026 by Jim deMaine

Ed note: The Emanuel family is quite amazing. All three sons–Rahm, Ezekiel and Ari–are highly accomplished. Their father a pediatrician, was born in Jerusalem. Intellectual debate was part of their dinner table conversation growing up. The former Chicago mayor, a … Continue reading →

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Life Support?

Posted on July 4, 2026 by Jim Tanner

Thanks Pearle M It seems wrong to celebrate America when it’s on life support.  – New Yorker

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“We hold these truths to be self evident”

Posted on July 4, 2026 by Jim deMaine

Note: Resident-Led: A Reading of the Declaration of Independence in the OT Performance Hall at 2 PM today, July 4th Commentary by Heather Cox Richardson And on July 4, 1776, the Second Continental Congress adopted the Declaration of Independence, declaring: … Continue reading →

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Happy Canada Day! Bonne fête du Canada

Posted on July 1, 2026 by Eugene Carlson
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A New Democratic Voice

Posted on June 29, 2026 by Jim Tanner

Commentary by Heather Cox Richardson A wide range of Democratic voices are in the process of shaping new political language to move their party, and the country, forward. James Talarico is one of those new voices. On Friday, June 26, … Continue reading →

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Acquired tells the stories and strategies of the world’s greatest companies.

Posted on June 26, 2026 by Jim deMaine

Ed note: Are you curious about how COSTCO, Google, Ferrari, Trader Joe’s and other great companies succeeded? This audio deep dive is available for free on the web at https://www.acquired.fm/episodes/. Given that we all use My Chart for aspects of … Continue reading →

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Juneteenth National Independence Day

Posted on June 19, 2026 by Jim deMaine

from the National Park Service Booker T. Washington remembered his mother “was standing by my side, leaned over and kissed her children, while tears of joy ran down her cheeks. She explained to us what it all meant, that this … Continue reading →

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Art from Ashes

Posted on April 14, 2026 by Jim deMaine

Thanks to Ann M.

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Can we learn from past weeping?

Posted on March 30, 2026 by Jim deMaine

And when he was come near, he beheld the city, and wept over it. Luke 19:41 Irony and tragedy — The crowds were cheering a political-military messiah they imagined would conquer Rome. Jesus knew the real battle was spiritual, and … Continue reading →

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Being one of the “elderly”

Posted on March 30, 2026 by Jim deMaine

Thanks to John R. We are often called “the elderly,” but that quiet label hides a truth most people rarely pause to consider: we are the last living witnesses of a world that no longer exists. If you look closely, … Continue reading →

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Why Attack Iran? Our Authoritarianism and Our Corruption

Posted on March 18, 2026 by Jim deMaine

TIMOTHY SNYDER (thanks to Jim S.) Note: Timothy Snyder is an American Historian currently holds the inaugural chair in Modern European History at the Munk School of School of Global Affairs at the University of Toronto. From 2017 to 2025 … Continue reading →

Posted in Crime, Essays, Government, History, Justice, Law, Military, Politics, War | Comments Off on Why Attack Iran? Our Authoritarianism and Our Corruption