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Historical fast facts

It seems these days that there are fewer and fewer people in our country that know history to any real degree.

I’m of an opinion that if more people knew a bit more about history in general, we would have a lot less to argue about.

I’ve taught my son from a very young age that with regard to history, “you’ve got to know where you’ve been before you can know where you’re going”.

Listed below are some historical facts that many may not readily know … Enjoy.

1) A remarkable 81,000 Americans are still listed as Missing In Action, dating back to the American Revolution.

2) Martin Van Buren was the first President to be born a US citizen.

3) Martin Van Buren (8th President of the United States and founder of the Democratic Party) was the only American president who did not speak English as his first language. He was born in Kinderhook, New York, a primarily Dutch community, and spoke Dutch as his first language.

The IBM 650 RAMAC
The IBM 650 RAMAC

4) The IBM 650 RAMAC hard drive from 1956 used 50 24-inch-wide platters to hold a whopping 3.75MB of storage space.

5) The United States is the single largest civilian firearm market in the world. A recent Gallup poll found that 45% of Americans have a gun in their home. And many of those households have more than one, as the U.S. is the only country with more privately-owned guns than people.

 

6) Before Abraham Lincoln became a politician, he was a champion wrestler. With more than 300 bouts under his belt, Lincoln only lost one match in his career and was inducted into the National Wrestling Hall Of Fame in 1992.

7) All British tanks since 1945 have included equipment to make tea.

Chinese prostitute Ching Shih
Chinese prostitute Ching Shih

8) One of history’s most successful pirates was a Chinese prostitute named Ching Shih. She commanded a fleet of over 1,500 ships and 80,000 sailors.

9) Tsutomu Yamaguchi was in Hiroshima when the first atom bomb was dropped. He then traveled home to Nagasaki the day before the second atom bomb was dropped. He survived both and lived to be 93.

10) Jeanette Rankin became the first female member of Congress in America in 1916, four years before women were given the right to vote.

11) At the height of his popularity, Charlie Chaplin entered a Charlie Chaplin look-a-like competition in San Francisco. He came in 20th place.

12) Before the 19th century, dentures were commonly made with teeth pulled from the mouths of dead soldiers.

13) The Civil War began on the farm of Wilmer McLean, who then moved more than a hundred miles away to escape the fighting, only to have the war end inside his new house at Appomattox.

14) The current 50 star U.S. flag was designed by 17-year-old Robert Heft for a school project. He received a B-.

Thanks for the read.

Happy Trails

Little Red Truck Cottage Market – Great Falls, Montana

This weekend we attended the Little Red Truck Cottage Market in the historical Trades and Industry Building at the Montana Expopark Fairgrounds.

The building was crammed full of stuff from many different vendors that included things like art, crafts, antiques, and other things.

Our son is really into the vintage/retro stuff and we happened across a few genuine antiques from one of our local vendors right here in Great Falls. As some of you may already know, The Picket Fence is located at 1219 13th Street South.

Kodak Vigilant Six-20 camera
Kodak Vigilant Six-20 camera

While at The Picket Fence booth, our son discovered a camera — A Kodak Vigilant Six-20 to be more precise, in mint condition. This camera was made in the U.S. by Kodak between 1939 and 1949 and it cost $38 when it was new (that’s $839 in today’s money). He was so excited about it that when we got home, he went right on the internet to see if he could still get film for it. He came back sort of disappointed however because Kodak quit making 620 film in the mid 80’s.

While he was lamenting the fact of not being able to buy 620 film any longer, I reminded him that they still make 120 film, but only on narrower spools. You can respool 120 onto 620 spools, or buy it pre-respooled at a premium price. If he needed the 620 spools, he could buy 4 of them for $20 over on https://filmphotographystore.com/collections/620-film/products/620-4-620-film-spools.

Zenith 300 transistor AM radio
Zenith 300 transistor AM radio

The next piece of vintage we found was a Zenith 300 transistor AM radio that was manufactured in 1958. It didn’t have the required 4 AA batteries in it and no one knew if it even worked, so we snagged it up anyway in the off chance that it would work (I learned at a young age that these little transistor radios were virtually indestructible). When we got home I pulled 4 AA batteries out of my old Fugifilm Finepix camera and put them into the radio. Low and behold, the radio fired right up and was tuned to 560 KMON. I told our son to wait until after the sun went down to really listen to it because AM radio has a huge range after dark.

These little transistor radios seem to hold on to a magic all their own, because as you see, our son usually has his face buried in his phone … he hasn’t touched his phone since he got that little radio … his face buried deep into and listening intently to sounds of the real-time airwaves. They just don’t make things the way they used to.

When I was a kid I’d lay awake at night under the covers and listen to Boise or Salt Lake City with my little AM radio when I was supposed to be going to sleep. Those were indeed the days and I hope that our son might have a chance to experience some of that right here in 2023.

This little Zenith 300 Transistor Radio came with a list price of $59.95 in 1958 (that’s $626.80 in today’s money)

There were so many vendors and so much to see. I had planned to stay longer and poke around some more but we got in there mid Saturday afternoon and the market was scheduled to shut down at 4pm. I’m hoping that we can get in earlier next time so we can stay longer. The longer we’re able to stay, the more in the way of one-of-kind treasures we’re able to find.

Over all, the Little Red Truck Cottage Market at the ExpoPark was a blast. We’ll definitely have to do it all again soon. We were told that they’ll be back around again in October.

I can hardly wait.

Thanks for the read.

Happy Trails

FWP: License required for training bird dogs using birds not raised in captivity

During the 2023 Montana State legislative session, SB0280 was passed that requires a license be obtained for training bird dogs using birds not raised in captivity.

As of August 1, 2023, anyone training bird dogs using game birds not raised in captivity needs to hold a bird dog training license, whether on private or public land. If you are training dogs with captive-reared birds, a license is not required.

According to the FWP:

The Class D-5 licenses can be purchased online through the FWP Online License Service, any FWP regional office or any license provider. The license is $5 for residents ages 18 and over and $10 for nonresidents 18 and over. For residents and nonresidents ages 12 to 17, the license is free.

Bird dog training season with wild birds on public lands began on Aug. 1 for residents and Aug. 15 for nonresidents and ends March 31, 2024.

While the license requirement is not included in the printed 2023 Upland Game Bird Regulations booklet, it is included in the online version. You are invited to contact your nearest FWP office for questions about dog training relative to this new license requirement.

For those commercially training bird dogs on state trust land, a special recreational use license (SRUL) is required from the Department of Natural Resources and Conservation.

Windows 12 concept video – by AR 4789

Adoption of Windows 11 might be much slower than Microsoft would have hoped for or expected, but this isn’t stopping the company from forging ahead with its successor.

The project is currently dubbed CorePC, but it’s being referred to by many as — naturally — Windows 12.

According to Zac Bowden, Senior Editor at Windows Central —

“The project is codenamed CorePC and is designed to be a modular and customizable variant of Windows for Microsoft to leverage different form factors with. Not all Windows PCs need the full breadth of legacy Win32 app support, and CorePC will allow Microsoft to configure “editions” of Windows with varying levels of feature and app compatibility.

The big change with CorePC versus the current shipping version of Windows is that CorePC is state separated, just like Windows Core OS. State separation enables faster updates and a more secure platform via read-only partitions that are inaccessible to the user and third-party apps, just like on iPadOS or Android.”

While no one has seen any actual screenshots or videos of Windows 12, there are some very talented concept designers like AR 4789 for instance, who takes us through the entire installation and set-up process in this concept video.

Features showcased in the video include a new Start menu, File Explorer, and Settings.

See AR 4789’s Windows 12 concept video below:

video
play-sharp-fill

Also, according to Bowden:

“Microsoft is also working on a version of CorePC that meet the current feature set and capabilities of Windows desktop, but with state separation enabled for those faster OS updates and improved security benefits. The company is working on a compatibility layer codenamed Neon for legacy apps that require a shared state OS to function, too.”

The next version of the Windows client, codenamed Hudson Valley, is currently scheduled for some time in 2024, and Microsoft is thought to be aiming to have CorePC ready around the same time.

sourced credits:

Icons8 for the Icons and jepriCreations for the Cursors

music:

Jeremy Blake – Exhale
Jeremy Blake – Let’s Go Home

All designs like UI’s, features, and others in this concept video belong to AR 4789

This is NOT an actual/real OS or software, this is just a concept, so there is no ISO for this OS.

Confusing interactions with relationships can occur for various reasons

Confusing interactions with relationships can occur for various reasons.

Here are a few possible explanations:

Mixed signals:

One common reason for confusing interactions is when one or both parties in the relationship send mixed signals. For example, one person may express interest and affection one day, but then seem distant or uninterested the next. This inconsistency can leave the other person feeling confused and unsure about where they stand.

Lack of communication:

Communication is essential in any relationship, but when it’s lacking, confusion can arise. If one or both individuals are not expressing their needs, desires, or concerns clearly, misunderstandings can occur. This can lead to both parties feeling confused about their roles and expectations in the relationship.

Unresolved issues:

Past unresolved issues or conflicts can create confusion in present interactions. When past disagreements or unresolved emotions are still present but not addressed, they can resurface and affect current interactions. This can make it difficult to understand each other’s perspectives and intentions.

Different communication styles:

People have different communication styles, and when they clash, it can lead to confusion. For example, one person may prefer direct communication, while the other may be more indirect or avoidant. These differences can lead to misunderstandings and misinterpretations of each other’s intentions.

Emotional baggage:

Personal issues or emotional baggage from past experiences can also contribute to confusing interactions. If one or both individuals have unresolved traumas or emotional wounds, it can affect their behavior and communication in the relationship. This can make it challenging to understand and navigate each other’s emotions.

It’s important to remember that confusing interactions are relatively common in relationships and do not always indicate a negative outcome. However, open and honest communication, active listening, and a willingness to address and resolve issues are key to reducing confusion and creating a healthier relationship dynamic.