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Space Needle Turns 50
By Harriet Baskas, msnbc.com contributor A popular way for visitors to get an overview of a city is from the observation deck of an iconic structure such as New York’s Empire State Building, Chicago’s Willis Tower (formerly the Sears Tower) or Seattle’s Space Needle, which joins the Seattle World’s Fair in celebrating its 50th anniversary on April 21. Created as the centerpiece of the 1962 space-themed exposition, the 605-foot-tall Space Needle has been described as looking like “a UFO on stilts” and was for many years the tallest building west of the Mississippi River. Today, the still futuristic-looking Needle is an iconic landmark in the Emerald City, its most visited…
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Rome Founded
Apr 21 753 B.C. According to tradition, on April 21, 753 B.C., Romulus and his twin brother, Remus, found Rome on the site where they were suckled by a she-wolf as orphaned infants. Actually, the Romulus and Remus myth originated sometime in the fourth century B.C., and the exact date of Rome’s founding was set by the Roman scholar Marcus Terentius Varro in the first century B.C. According to the legend, Romulus and Remus were the sons of Rhea Silvia, the daughter of King Numitor of Alba Longa. Alba Longa was a mythical city located in the Alban Hills southeast of what would become Rome. Before the birth of the…
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Apollo 13 Astronauts Return Safely on April 17, 1970
1970: Critical explosion cripples Apollo 13 An explosion on board Apollo 13 has caused one of the most critical situations in American space history and put the lives of the three astronauts on board in severe jeopardy. The explosion happened in the fuel cells of the spacecraft’s service module approximately 56 hours after lift-off. This resulted in the loss of Apollo 13’s main power supply which means oxygen and water reserves are now critically low. The safety of the three astronauts, Captain James Lovell, Jack Swigert and Fred Haise, is uncertain although Nasa is hoping emergency contingency plans will ensure their safe return. Certain death The cause of the explosion…
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Aung San Suu Kyi Biography
The Nobel Peace Prize 1991 Aung San Suu Kyi Biography* 1942: September 6. Marriage of Aung San, commander of the Burma Independence Army, and Ma Khin Kyi (becoming Daw Khin Kyi), senior nurse of Rangoon General Hospital, where he had recovered from the rigours of the march into Burma. 1945: June 19. Aung San Suu Kyi born in Rangoon, third child in family. “Aung San” for father, “Kyi” for mother, “Suu” for grandmother, also day of week of birth. Favourite brother is to drown tragically at an early age. The older brother, will settle in San Diego, California, becoming United States citizen. 1947: July 19. General Aung San assassinated. Suu…
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Friday the 13th Phobia Triskaidekaphobia
Today’s Psychological Disorder: Phobias – Friday the 13th – Friggatriskaidekaphobia – Triskaidekaphobia and Globophobia By Chato B. Stewart Match stick: So, the Patch is NOT impervious to superstition! Caption: One 2012 New year’s resolution only lasted 13 days! Yes, this year you have three times to fear Friday the 13th, called Friggatriskaidekaphobiafriggatriskaidekaphobiaand also called/referred to as triskaidekaphobia triskaidekaphobiathat is translated as the fear of the number 13. What days do you need to be weary of? Well, this Friday is January 13th then the second week in April is our second “Friday the 13th” and the last 2012 “Friday the 13th” is in July… Watch out for black cats and broken mirrors people! Triskaidekaphobiathat THIS is a REAL Psychological…