02 February Topics

February 1: Big Bangs – In 1814, the Mayon Volcano erupted.
Police – In 1920, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police began working.
Grand Central Terminal – In 1913, Grand Central Terminal opened in New York City.
The Hajj – In 2004, a stampede took place at the holy pilgrimage.
Well, It’s a Start – In 1884, the first fascicle of the OED was published.
Time to Go – In 1713, the Skirmish at Bender took place.
1893 – Thomas Edison built a movie studio.

February 2: Punxsutawney Phil – In 1887, Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania celebrated their first Groundhog’s Day.
Iditarod Beginnings – In 1925, diphtheria serum arrived in Nome, Alaska.
Castaway – In 1709, Alexander Selkirk was rescued from the deserted island.
Ulysses – In 1922, Ulysses by James Joyce was published.
Not the Race – In 1933, two were murdered in Le Mans, France.
Not the Big Apple Yet – In 1653, New Amsterdam got municipal rights.
1935 – The first lie detector was tested.

February 3: Constitutionally Taxing – In 1913, the Sixteenth Amendment passed, creating the US income tax.
Show Me the Money – In 1690, the Massachusetts Colony issued a new currency, America’s first paper money.
Say “Cheese” – In 1815, the first industrial cheese plant opened in Switzerland.
Atrocity of War – In 1377, the Cesena Bloodbath took place.
You Go Girl! – In 1995, STS-63 went into space with Eileen Collins as pilot.
The Day the Music Died – In 1959, Buddy Holly was killed in a plane crash.
1900 – William Goebel died.

February 4: 20,000 Leagues – In 1957, the USS Nautilus reached 60,000 nautical miles, like her namesake.
Winter Sports – In 1932, the Third Winter Olympic Games began.
Codex Sinaiticus – In 1859, the Codex Sinaiticus was discovered.
Victimized – In 1974, Patty Hearst was kidnapped.
Yalta Conference – In 1945, the conference began in Yalta.
Connected – In 1825, Ohio began a major canal project.
1861 – The Confederate States of America was formed.

February 5: Articles of Confederation – In 1778, South Carolina became the first state to ratify the Articles.
Roger Williams – In 1631, Williams arrived in Boston.
Bombs Away – In  1958, a USAF plane drops a nuclear bomb in the waters off Savannah, Georgia.
Artiste – In 1919, United Artists studios were formed.
Hermitage Museum – In 1852, the museum opened to the public.
Welcome Find – In 1869, the world’s largest gold nugget was found.
62 – Pompeii and Herculaneum were hit by an earthquake.

February 6: Tobacco Road – In 1987, the US banned smoking in all federal buildings, except Congress.
Not So Old – In 1987, President Ronald Reagan became the oldest sitting US President.
QEII – In 1952, British King George VI died.
Voice Artist – In 1914, Thurl Ravenscroft was born.
Trains – In 1815, the first railroad charter in the US was issued.
American Colonization Society – In 1820, the society’s first ship left port.
1958 – An airplane crash killed most of the Manchester United soccer team staff.

February 7: Pluto v. Neptune – In 1979, Pluto moved inside Neptune’s orbit.
Finally – In 1971, Switzerland gave women the vote.
The Little Tramp – In 1914, Charlie Chaplin first plays The Little Tramp in the  Kid Auto Races at Venice.
Mud March – In 1907, the Mud March took place in London.
Bonfire of the Vanities – In 1497, Girolamo Savonarola began a bonfire of the vanities.
Up In Smoke – In 1904, Baltimore, Maryland suffered a devastating fire.
1854 – The Swiss Federal Institute of Technology was established.

February 8: Orangeburg, South Carolina – In 1968, the Orangeburg massacre took place.
Stars and Stripes – In 1918, the US military newspaper resumed publication.
The Devil’s Footprints – In 1855, the Devil’s Footprints appeared.
Time is on Our Side – In 1879, the idea of time zones was presented.
“Off With Her Head,” Said the Queen – In 1857, Mary, Queen of Scots was beheaded.
József Mindszenty – In 1949, the cardinal was sentenced for treason.
1879 – The Sydney Riot took place.

February 9: Time Savers – In 1942, Daylight Savings Time went into effect.
Toast of the Town – In 1964, The Beatles appeared on Ed Sullivan.
Rain, Snow, Sleet, and Hail – In  1870, the US Weather Bureau was created.
Sports Enthusiast – In 1895, Mintonette was invented.
Department of Agriculture – In 1889, the department became Cabinet level.
National Weather Service – In 1870, the service was established.
1951 – The Geochang massacre began.

February 10: American Mensa – In 1971, American Mensa was formed.
Boxing and Brains – In 1933, Ernie Schaaf was injured during a boxing match and died three days later.
St. Scholastica Riots – In 1355, The St. Scholastica’s Day riot began.
Arsonist – In 2008, the Namdaemun gate was set afire.
Boom – In 2009, two satellites crashed in orbit.
Taking Charge – In 1306, John Comyn was murdered by Robert the Bruce.
1906 – HMS Dreadnought was launched.

February 11: Pennsylvania Hospital – In 1752, the first hospital in the colonies opened.
Coal – In 1808, anthracite coal was first used to heat a home.
Jack Paar; Tonight Show – In 1960, Jack Paar walked off a live telecast of the Tonight Show.
Science Fiction – In 1938, television first showed a sci-fi film.
The King Duke – In 1873, King Amadeo I of Spain abdicated.
The Sun Rose – In 660 BC, Japan was founded.
1812 – Gerrymandering began.

February 12: Nine Days of Rule – In 1554, Lady Jane Grey was executed.
NAACP – In 1909, the NAACP was formed.
Going Metric – In 1973, the first metric road sign in the US was erected.
Honor – In 1914, groundbreaking for the Lincoln Memorial took place.
Avoiding a Stall Unsuccessfully – In 2009, Colgan Flight 3407 crashed.
Shameful – In 1946, Isaac Woodard was brutally beaten.
1924 – Rhapsody in Blue premiered.

February 13: The Center of the Universe – In 1633, Galileo was brought before the Inquisition.
Charlie Brown and the Gang – In 2000, the last original Peanuts cartoon was run.
That’s Debatable – In 1815, The Cambridge Union Society was founded.
Old MacDonald – In 1692, the Glencoe Massacre took place.
Edison Effect – In 1880, Edison discovered the thermionic emissions from a light bulb.
Challenge Met – In 1503, the Challenge of Barletta took place.
1867 – Brussels, Belgium began to bury a river.

February 14: Opening Night – In 1895, The Importance of Being Earnest opened in London.
Smooch – In 270, St. Valentine was executed.
Scarface vs. Bugs – In 1929, the Saint Valentine’s Day Massacre took place in Chicago.
Apostles – In 1835, The Quorum of the Twelve Apostles were first named.
Women Can Vote – In 1920, the League of Women Voters was formed.
GOSH – In 1852, the hospital was founded.
1983 – The United American Bank (UAB) collapsed.

February 15: Teddy Bear – In 1903, the first official teddy bear was introduced.
Oh, Canada! – In 1965, Canada adopted a new flag.
Hemlock – In 399 BC, Socrates drank hemlock.
Video – In 2005, You Tube went online.
DEWy Eyes – In 1954, the Distant Early Warning Line was agreed upon.
Money Conversion – In 1971, the UK changed its monetary system.
1493 – Christopher Columbus wrote a letter.

February 16: King Tut – In 1923, Howard Carter opened the tomb of King Tutankhamen.
Nylon – In 1937, nylon was patented.
Altmark Incident – In 1940, the German ship, Altmark, was boarded by cutlass-wielding soldiers.
What Is our Emergency? – In 1968, 9-1-1 service began.
Icelandic Football – In 1899, the KR was founded.
Blank Screen – In 1957, the Toddlers Truce ended.
1959 – Fidel Castro became Prime Minister of Cuba.

February 17: H L Hunley – In 1864, the first successful sinking of a ship by a submarine took place.
Newsweek – In 1933, Newsweek was first published.
Miles Standish – In 1621, Miles Standish was appointed first commander of Plymouth colony.
Butterfly – In 1904, Madame Butterfly opened in Milan.
Giordano Bruno – In 1600, he died.
Keep Out – In 1838, the Weenen Massacre took place.
2015 – Disaster hit a Mardi Gras parade.

February 18: Michelangelo – In 1564, the great Renaissance man died.
#3 – In 2001, Dale Earnhardt died in a NASCAR crash.
Talking and Talking – In 1841, the first filibuster was used in the US Senate.
Mass Murder – In 1983, the Wah Mee Massacre took place.
Huck – In 1885, Adventures of Huckleberry Finn was published.
The Cow Flew Not Quite Over the Moon – In 1930, a cow first was flown (and milked in flight).
1930 – Pluto was discovered.

February 19: Cracker Jack – In 1912, Cracker Jack began to include prizes in every box.
Bollingen Prize – In 1949, the prizes were first given out.
Rockin’ the World – In 1600,  the most powerful volcano in South America erupted.
Soaps – In 1985, the EastEnders was first broadcast.
Mysterious – In 1963, The Feminine Mystique was published.
Founding Traitor – In 1807, Aaron Burr was arrested.
1913: Pedro Lascuráin became the President of Mexico.

February 20: Iceberg Ahead – In 1856, the ship John Rutledge struck an iceberg and sunk.
Medal of Honor – In 1942, Butch O’Hare was declared the first US flying ace during World War II.
The Met – In 1872, New York City’s Metropolitan Museum of Art opened.
Ice Skating – In 1998, Tara Lipinski won the gold medal at the Olympics.
It’s In the Mail – In 1792, the Postal Service Act was signed into law.
Up, Up and Away – In 1962, Friendship 7 launched.
1472 – King Christian I of Norway was forced to cede land to Scotland.

February 21: The Washington Monument – In 1885, the Washington Monument was dedicated.
Karl Marx – In 1848, The Communist Manifesto was published.
Plop, Plop, Fizz, Fizz – In 1931, Miles Laboratories introduced Alka-Seltzer to the world.
Incas – In 1918, the last Carolina Parakeet died.
Candid Camera – In 1947, Edwin Land demonstrated a new type of camera.
Pen vs. Sword – In 1828, the Cherokee Phoenix was first published.
1677 – Baruch Spinoza died.

February 22: Copy Rights – In 1774, perpetual copyrights were banned by the House of Lords.
Hello, Dolly – In 1997, the Roslin Institute announced the successful cloning of a sheep.
Grady the Cow – In 1949, a cow got stuck in a silo and made national news.
The White Rose – In 1943, three young adults were executed.
Florida – In 1819, the Adams-Onis Treaty was signed.
Bubble Boy – In 1984, David Vetter died.
1909 – The Great White Fleet returned.

February 23: The Rotary Club – In 1905, the Rotary Club was formed.
Cato Conspiracy – In 1820, the plot to kill British cabinet members was exposed.
Gutenberg Bible – In 1455, the Gutenberg Bible was published.
ISO – In 1947, a new set of standards were adopted.
Tootsie – In 1896, the Tootsie Roll was introduced.
Boy Wonder – In 1886, Charles Hall discovered a way to make aluminum cheaply.
1739 – Richard Palmer was unmasked.

February 24: Smile – In 1938, DuPont created a nylon-bristle toothbrush.
Opera – In 1607, the first opera premiered.
Murder, She Wrote – In 1981, Jean Harris was convicted of murder.
Religious Persecution – In 303, the new sect, Christians, were the subject of a Roman edict.
Just Peachy – In 1868, President Andrew Johnson was impeached.
Early School Shooting – In 1984, Tyrone Mitchell opened fire on a school playground.
1582 – Pope Gregory XIII issued a papal bull.

February 25: “Do you feel lucky?” – In 1836, Samuel Colt received a patent for his new revolver.
Gas Tax – In 1919, the first gas tax in the US was instituted.
Cut Off – In 1570, Pope Pius V excommunicated Queen Elizabeth I.
Battle Stations – In 1942, Los Angeles was under fire.
Sea Change – In 1933, the USS Ranger was launched.
Pyrrhic Victory – In 1336, Pilėnai Castle fell.
1866 – The Calaveras Skull was found.

February 26: Waist Overalls – In 1829, Levi Strauss was born.
Grand Canyon – In 1919, Grand Canyon National Park was established.
WorldWideWeb Browser – In 1991, Tim Berners-Lee introduced his WorldWideWeb browser, the first stable web browser.
World Trade Center – In 1993, the WTC was bombed.
Colored Movies – In 1909, Kinemacolor was first shown to the public.
Not Again – In 1914, the HMHS Britannic was launched.
1971 – Earth Day was proclaimed.

February 27: Party in New Orleans! – In 1827, Mardi Gras was celebrated in New Orleans for the first time.
Andersonville – In 1864, the Confederacy’s POW camp at Andersonville opened.
The Lord and the Luddites – In 1812, George Gordon Byron spoke out in the House of Lords.
Suffrage – In 1922, Leser V. Garnett was decided by the US Supreme Court.
Carbon Fourteen – In 1940, the carbon isotope was discovered.
Making a Run For It – In 1860, Abraham Lincoln gave a speech.
1964 – Italy asked for help with the Tower of Pisa.

February 28: Dord – In 1939, the unknown word DORD was found in Webster’s Dictionary.
B&O Railroad – In 1827, a law was passed to form the B&O Railroad.
Goodbye, Farewell, and Amen – In 1983, the final episode of M*A*S*H was televised.
Betrayal – In 1844, an explosion aboard the USS Princeton shocked the nation.
228  – In 1947, a massacre took place in Taiwan.
Diplomatic – In 1867, the US breaks off diplomatic relations with the Holy See.
1874 – The Claimant was found guilty.

February 29: Hammerin’ Hank – In 1972, Hank Aaron signed with the Atlanta Braves for a record salary.
Leap Day – In 1584, the first Leap Day took place.
Child Labor Law – In 1916, a new minimum age for workers was passed in South Carolina.
Run For Office – In 1932, Bill Murray was on the cover of TIME magazine.
At the Shore – In 1916, Dinah Shore was born.
Hey, Baby – In 1936, Fanny Brice first presented Baby Snooks.
1912 – Piedra Movediza fell.