In 1851, the state of Illinois opened its first hospital for the mentally ill. The state legislature passed a law to protect people from being committed against his or her will. The law required a public hearing before committing a person, with one exception. A husband could have his wife committed without either a public… Continue reading The Insanity of Inequality
Category: History
Let’s Celebrate International Literacy Day
It is September 8th. Let’s celebrate International Literacy Day. Perhaps you wonder why we should have an international literacy day. Why? Because even though you can read this, there are more than 7 million people in the world who cannot read. Think of it, 16% of the world’s population cannot read or write. And most… Continue reading Let’s Celebrate International Literacy Day
A tiny Crack in Male-dominated Science
Despite the limitations 19th century society put on amateur scientist, Eunice Newton Foote, she made a tiny crack in male-dominated science.
One Deadly Virus that Won’t Kill You
In the twentieth century, about 300 million people across the world died from one disease in particular. If you were lucky enough to survive, scars disfigured you or disabled you or both. Many of those scars were on the face. Which disease? It was the variola virus, more commonly called smallpox. It’s one deadly virus… Continue reading One Deadly Virus that Won’t Kill You
The First Female Olympic Champion to Strike Gold
The first modern Olympic Games took place in Athens, Greece, April 6–15, 1896. Women athletes could not participate for ninety-four years. Hélène de Pourtalès of Switzerland became the first female athlete to compete at the Olympic Games and the first female Olympic Champion to strike gold. About Hélène Hélène de Pourtalès (pronounced El-én day Por-tá-lay)… Continue reading The First Female Olympic Champion to Strike Gold