Firsts in History
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Ruth Bader Ginsburg has Died at Age 87
Ruth Bader Ginsburg was the first Jewish woman to serve on the Supreme Court. After Sandra Day O’Connor, she was the second woman to serve. Ruth Bader Ginsburg died from metastatic pancreas cancer today, Friday, September 18, 2020. Supreme Court Justice Ginsburg’s dying wish was, to quote her, “My most fervent wish is that I will not be replaced until a new president is installed.” Ruth Jane Bader was born on March 15, 1933 in Brooklyn. She went on to live an amazing life, where she overcame numerous hurdles and achieved many firsts. A true heroine of our time who is greatly revered and she will continue to be a powerful…
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Phineas Gage: An Accidental First in Neuroscience
On the afternoon of September 13, 1848 a foreman for the construction of the railroad in Cavendish, Vermont suffered one of the most noteworthy neurological accidents in history. Twenty six year old Phineas Gage, due to an unfortunate explosion, had an iron rod, a tamping iron used for blasting, shoot straight through his head. The odd and interesting aftermath was that Phineas showed no obvious signs of brain damage. He spoke coherently and his memory remained intact. His unusual case attracted the attention of doctors in the medical community who reported their observations and findings. Through accounts from those close to Phineas it was discovered that in fact there had…
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First Known LSD Experience in History
It was in 1943 when Swiss scientist Albert Hofmann (credited with the synthesis and discovery of LSD-25) inadvertently ingested lysergic-acid-diethylamide, (easy to do since it only takes an infinitesimal amount to become activated in the human mind) , from leftover ergot fungus, which grows in rye kernels. This left over fungus, as recounted by Hoffmann, had been setting on a shelf in a jar for five years after having been tested in animals only. Below is an account of the 1943 synthesis experience with the left over fungus in Dr. Hofmann’s own words: ” In the final step of the synthesis, during the purification and crystallization of lysergic acid diethylamide in the…
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First March On Washington
The first march on Washington took place during what is referred to as The Gilded Age. A time period in American history spanning the years from 1870-1898 characterized by “economic inequality and technological innovation; conspicuous consumption and philanthropy; monopolistic power and populist rebellion”. A businessman from Ohio, Jacob Coxey, led the march consisting of unemployed men, Coxey’s Army, beginning with 100 men on March 25, 1894 in Massillon, Ohio. Gilded is not the same as golden. Gilded means having a thin gold coating. Read more about how the original Gilded Age is repeated in history. source: USA Today
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History of Fact Checking in Journalism
A focus on fact-checking in American journalism was spurred on by yellow journalism and muckraking practices of the late 19th century and early years of the 20th century. The Bureau of Accuracy and Fair Play that was founded in 1913 had the assignment to “correct carelessness and to stamp out fakes and fakers”. It served to find and apologize for already in print errors rather than preventing such errors from entering into print in the first place. Time magazine was one of the earliest to use the actual term “fact checking” back in 1935 in an issue of Colliers that referred to the addition of “its researchers and fact-checkers from…
