Mon, Dec 21, 2020
Like coffee and tea, when chocolate was first imported to Europe from America it was treated with a degree of suspicion. It did not fit well into the Humorism model of medicine at the time and the medical establishment limited its use. But when James Wadsworth introduced it to misery plagued Great Britian claiming all sorts of curative benefits at a low cost it was widely accepted.
Mon, Jan 25, 2021
In Strasburg in 1518 hundreds of people began dancing uncontrollably, each for several days. This was not the first or last occurrence of this behavior and no medical cause has been identified. The most likely cause is a psychic contagion brought on by sever stress in the society and knowledge of the behavior occurring in the past.
Wed, Aug 18, 2021
Philadelphia was an early leader in public transportation in the form of electric street cars. The city introduced its subway system in 1905. In the 1950s under the leadership of Edmund Norwood Bacon a program of combining subway, utility and pedestrian tunnels complete with shopping was begun. While much of the ambitious plan was complete some tunnels never fully opened and have been sealed up along with their graffiti.
Wed, Aug 25, 2021
Many superlatives can be applied to New York's Singer Tower; magnificent, luxurious, iconic, state of the art, tallest in the world. But alas, it was literally overshadowed buy newer, taller buildings and it's artistic features gradually defaced during maintenance. It was finally demolished to make way for the featureless, behemoth United States Steel Building.
Fri, Jul 1, 2022
The Seven Mile Bridge connecting the Florida keys is actually two bridges over the longest expanse of ocean between the islands. Considering their length, that they are built on an ancient coral reef and at the mercy of ocean salt and Hurricanes, constructing as well as maintaining them is quite a challenge.