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Friday, February 13, 2026
Friday Morning in the Blogosphere
Important Events From This day in History February 13
1955 Israel Dead Sea Scrolls
1955 : Israel has bought four Dead Sea scrolls written at various times between the middle of the 2nd century BC and the 1st century AD. from the Syrians for $250,000. The scrolls together with many others discovered in 11 caves in and around the Wadi Qumran are now housed with many others at the Shrine of the Book, a wing of the Israel Museum near Givat Ram in western Jerusalem, Find More What happened in 1955
1920 Switzerland Neutrality
1920 : Switzerland who had asked for international confirmation of it's neutrality in 1920 before becoming a member of the League of Nations. The countries belonging to the League of Nations (the predecessor to the United Nations) agreed and recognized the perpetual neutrality of Switzerland.
1931 U.S.A. Train Crash
1931 : An attempt was made today to derail train no. 18, a train southbound between Dallas and Houston. This incident took place around midnight near the old Chambers Creek. As soon as the train engineer suspected trouble on this line, that engineer signaled a porter for help. The porter had notices two rails missing from the track, and two more that were loose. The removal of the train rails had taken about 40 minutes. Personnel from the Navarro county sheriff's department railroad detectives arrived on the scene as soon as possible. The tools used for this act of vandalism were believed to be stolen from a nearby Cotton Belt tool house.
1933 U.S.A. Kidnapping
1933 : A descendant of a millionaire pioneer Colorado family, Charles Boettcher II, was held on ransom. Kidnappers demanded a $60,000 ransom (payment for return of Boettcher II, the hostage). Two men with masks had taken not held Boettcher hostage, but those men had also taken his wife in captivity as well. They were abducted at the garage of their home as they returned from a party at midnight. The couple was directed forcibly to an upper room of their home, where Mrs. Boettcher was given a ransom note. The kidnappers then took off with Boettcher in a motorcar.
1935 Lindbergh Baby
1935 : Bruno Hauptmann was convicted of the Lindbergh baby murder after the jury reached a guilty verdict.
1937 Alabama 2% Sales Tax
1937 : Two percent sales tax was passed by the Alabama Senate on this day. It had received a 17 to 15 vote by the Senate, and was expected to be reviewed a second time by the House, which had passed the bill last week. Changes were made by the Senate before the bill was passed, which is the main reason why the House is expected to review it again. One of the changes made by the Senate was the levy of one half of one percent of a tax on new automobiles, and another was on mail order purchases outside the state.
1940 Boogie Woogie on St. Louis Blues
1940 : "Boogie Woogie on St. Louis Blues" is recorded by Earl "Fatha" Hines and his orchestra. The song eventually becomes a classic and is still popular among big band fans today.
1945 Germany Dresden
1945 : A massive air raid with hundreds of British bombers loaded with incendiaries and high-explosive bombs drop 1,478 tons of high-explosive bombs and 1,182 tons of incendiaries completely destroying the city of Dresden, in eastern Germany leaving between 35,000 and 135,000 civilian casualties.
1958 U.S.A. T-Bird
1958 : A four-passenger Thunderbird was made by the Ford Company, and it was introduced on this day in 1958 This new version was called the "Square Bird", and was considered to be a model of car that turned the Thunderbird from a sports car into a luxury car. This version of the Thunderbird is often even today referred to as the T-Bird. It is known as the epitome of 1950s culture, and has appeared in movies such as Grease and in music videos (i.e. Beach Boys "I Get Around").
1960 Algeria Fourth Atomic Power
1960 : France becomes the fourth atomic power after exploding an atomic bomb in the Sahara Desert.
1967 Beatle's Release Double A Side Single
1967 : The Beatles release the double A-sided single in the United Kingdom with Penny Lane ( Paul McCartney ) ** written about Penny Lane where Lennon and McCartney would meet to go into Liverpool *** on one side and "Strawberry Fields Forever" ( John Lennon ) *** named after a Salvation Army house where Lennon would play as a kid *** on the other side.
1974 Patricia Hearst
1974 : The Symbionese Liberation Army demanded $70 of food be given to every needy Californian which could cost as much as $400 million in exchange for the release of 19-year-old Patricia Hearst.
1975 UK Coal Miners 35% Pay Rise
1975 : British mineworkers' leaders have agreed to accept the National Coal Board latest pay offer of up to 35% in pay increases. To put this in context the basic rate for workers at the coal face increased from £45 to £61 per week.
1978 US Snowstorms
1978 : Major snowstorms hit the North Dakota area creating problems for local farmers and ranchers because they could not supply their livestock with hay and a state of emergency was declared.
1983 Italy Movie Theater Fire
1983 : 74 people lost their lives in a movie theater fire. This cinema was located in Turin, Italy. The fire took place on the ground floor and abruptly set several seats on fire. These seats were covered with plastic, which had produced toxic smoke when caught on fire. Some of the people that died during this incident did not lose their lives directly because of the fire. Rather, they had suffocated to death when a crowd of panicking people headed for exits, causing a stampede. The other problem was that the rear emergency exits were locked. In the vicinity of the locked exits, several people had died while trying to escape. A total of 37 people on the first floor had died from one or more of the following: bums, smoke inhalation, or stamped injuries. Fortunately, the firefighters were able to put out the fire before it reached the second floor and balcony. However, 37 people had died up there as well-many of them in the bathroom, as a result of smoke inhalation. Possible causes of the fire included one or more of the following: lighted cigarette, faulty electrical wiring, or a firecracker (a firearm used during the celebration of Shrove Tuesday at the time). Of course, the use of the plastic seat covers and the locking of the emergency doors was also a concern.
1991 Huckleberry Finn
1991 : This was the day that the original manuscript of Huckleberry Finn by Mark was recovered. It was a handwritten script of the first half of the original draft of this book, which included Twains own handwritten corrections. This manuscript had been missing for over a hundred years. It was found by a 62-year old librarian from Los Angeles, who finally sorted through old papers sent to her from upstate New York. Mark Twain had sent the second half of the manuscript to this librarian's grandfather, James Gluck. Gluck had solicited this manuscript in Buffalo, New York where Mark Twain had lived at one time. Mark Twain could not find the first half of his manuscript, even while he was alive. However, he did find it and sent it to Gluck. Court proceedings had taken place to decide who owned the rights to the lost Huckleberry Finn manuscript (the first half). The sisters, the library, and the Mark Twain Papers Projects in Berkeley, California all fought for rights of this book. After a fairly lengthy battle, the three different groups mentioned above came to a consensus, and made a deal. The library would be awarded the rights to the physical papers, and all three parties would share in publication rights. Then, in 1995, Random House won the rights to publish the book. They were said to have paid a high price for these rights, however, and the amount they were said to have paid was not disclosed to the public.
1991 Iraq Bombing
1991 : Local reports from Baghdad, Iraq say two laser-guided precision bombs from American bombers hit an air-raid shelter in the middle class district of Amiriya, five miles from the centre of the Iraqi capital. So far 235 bodies have been recovered, 12 hours after the attacks.
Today in Labor History February 13, 2026
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A flour Riot occurred in New York City
Boston Latin School was opened, the first public school in the United States. – 1635
A flour Riot occurred in New York City. 6,000 New Yorkers attending a “bread, meat, rent, and fuel” meeting in Chatham Square assaulted local flour merchants who they claimed were hoarding flour in order to drive up the price. – 1837
Knights of Labor founder Uriah Stephens (born 1821) died on this date. – 1882
A national eight-month strike by the Sons of Vulcan, a union of iron forgers, ended in victory when employers agreed to a wage scale based on the price of iron bars. This was the first time employers recognized the union, and they negotiated the first union contract in the iron and steel industry, what may be the first union contract of any kind in the United States. – 1865
After West Virginia Governor William E. Glasscock declared martial law to put down the coal miners’ strike in in Kanawha county, 83-year old activist and organizer Mary Harris “Mother” Jones was arrested. She was tried and convicted by a military court and sentenced to twenty years in prison. She was released and pardoned after serving 85 days. – 1913
Some 12,000 Hollywood writers returned to work today following a largely-successful three-month strike against television and motion picture studios. They won compensation for their TV and movie work that gets streamed on the Internet. – 2008
Thursday, February 12, 2026
Thursday Morning in the Blogosphere
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Los Angeles from City Hall
Americans’ complicated relationship with news - Pew Research
Important Events From This day in History February 12
1924 First Presidential Radio Address
1924 : Calvin Coolidge became the first U.S. president to deliver an address by radio. This was the first day that radio programming had included commercials. The National Carbon Company had aired an advertisement during the broadcast of The Everyday Hour. This first sponsored program was heard in New York, Washington, Province, and surrounding areas. This show featured celebrity appearances, music, and stories.
1958 Great Britain Transatlantic Jet Service
1958 : The first Trans Atlantic passenger jetliner service begins by BOAC with flights between London and New York on the new Comet Jet Airliner.
1935 USS Macon Rigid Frame Airship
1935 : The 785-foot USS Macon a rigid frame airship built and operated by the United States Navy for scouting was the last US Navy dirigible (ZRS-5) built, it crashed off the coast of California, killing two people. Her sister ship the USS Akron (ZRS-4) had crashed off the New Jersey coast on April 4th, 1933, killing 73 passengers and crew. The USS Macon (ZRS-5) and sister ship USS Akron (ZRS-4), were among the biggest flying objects in the world. Although the Hindenburg was bigger, the two airships still hold the world record for biggest helium filled airships. Due to the crashes The US navy halted temporarily building further helium filled airships.
1899 USA The Great Blizzard
1899 : It started on the 11th and despite its largely more southerly influence it reached -61 F in Montana and -47 F in Nebraska. Snow started falling on the 12th, 1899 and Washington D.C. had over twenty inches of snow falling, with New Jersey reaching an astonishing thirty-four inches. New Orleans was iced over, as were parts of the Mississippi River.
1912 Last Emperor of China
1912 : Hsian-T'ung, the last emperor of China, is forced to abdicate following Sun Yat-sen's republican revolution, ending 267 years of Manchu rule in China and 2,000 years of imperial rule.
1921 South Africa Independence
1921 : Following general elections in South Africa General Smuts party has won over the dutch speaking nationalists and the labour party, he has already stated South Africa will continue to be part of the British Empire but under vastly different terms these will include:
South Africa has the right to amend her own constitution
South Africa will have her own flag
South Africa will have power and authority over domestic affairs and International and Foreign Relations
South Africa will be a Independent Sovereign State in friendly association with the British Empire.
1926 U.S.A. Chase National Bank
1926 : One of the largest bank mergers of to this date in history has taken place. This merger involved at least a billion dollars in resources. The bank merge which would take place on this day includes Chase National, Metal National, and Mechanics Merger. This new bank would bear the name Chase National Bank, and was second only to National City Bank as the largest institution in the United States.
1932 U.S.A. Malcolm Campbell
1932 : A new record was set by racer Captain Malcolm Campbell. He had set a record speed of 245.733 miles per hour as he sped across Daytona's 12-mile strip. Part of the above-mentioned accomplishment was due to the fact that Campbell made sure his Bluebird, the automobile he drove, was in top shape. For instance, professionals had worked on the Bluebird, increasing its horsepower and reducing its wind resistance.
1938 US Taxicab Insurance
1938 : The plan was to enforce a strict taxicab ordinance. This ordinance would require taxicab drivers to carry liability insurances. Furthermore, this new legislation would make it easier for taxicab drivers to have their licenses revoked if they break any city driving laws. Additionally, cab drivers would be rated by a scoring system, which would include points accumulated for actions such as speeding and excessive horn use.
1954 Atomic Energy Authority
1954 : The Atomic Energy Authority has been created to control the production and development of atomic energy in the UK.
1964 Cyprus Fighting
1964 : Following Cyprus gaining independence from the Britain in 1960 the fighting continues to increase in Limassol, Cyprus between ethnic Turks and Greeks which has left at least 16 people dead.
1973 First U.S. Prisoners Released
1973 : As part of the Vietnam cease-fire agreement, the first U.S. prisoners of war were released by North Vietnam.
1993 England James Bulger
1993 : Two 10-year-old boys lured 2-year-old James Bulger from his mother at a shopping mall in Liverpool, England, then beat him to death.
1994 Norway Scream Stolen
1994 : Thieves have stolen one of the world's best known paintings ( Scream by by Edvard Munch circa 1893 ) from a gallery in the Norwegian capital, Oslo.
1998 Russia Accident
1998 : The Russians had bumped into a U.S. destroyer (Caron) and U.S. cruiser (Yorktown). This incident took place towards the end of the Russian-American Cold War, and it occurred in the Crimean Peninsula of the Black Sea. The Caron and Yorktown were moving about in the 12-mile-limit area designated to them by the Soviet Union. Apparently, even though the Cold War was coming close to an end, there still were some unresolved differences and tensions between the Russians and the Americans.The operators of the American ships were being challenged by the operators of a Soviet frigate and Soviet destroyer. The soviet ship operators order the Americans to move out of the way and then were pushed out of the way while being bumped slightly. The Americans hesitated to move, but eventually did move out of the area. There was no exchange of gunfire during this incident, and no injuries or damage (no serious damage) to ship or personnel. Even though the Americans were allowed within the 12-mile sea radius near Soviet grounds, there was some suspicion as to the nature of the use of the Caron. This particular ship was known as a spy vessel, and it was considered foolish by many Americans and/or leaders that this ship was allowed to sail in Russian waters at this time.
1999 UK GM Food Report
1999 : A group of 20 independent international scientists has reinforced warnings that genetically modified food may be damaging to health after looking at a report about the effects of biologically altered potatoes on laboratory rats produced by Arpad Pusztai who was forced to retire over his revelations.
1999 U.S.A. Bill Clinton
1999 : The five-week period during which Bill Clinton was being tried had ended on this day. The Senate voted to acquit Clinton on charges of perjury and obstruction of justice. The trial was set in order to determine whether or not President Clinton would be impeached. Before the beginning of the trial, a lawsuit was filed by Paula Jones against the president on the account of sexual harassment charges. During this process, she had subpoenaed Monica Lewinsky, who had an affair with Bill Clinton over the period of a year and a half. Later Clinton had denied having sexual relations with Monica Lewinsky, but had admitted that the relationship was "inappropriate." Over time, it was clear that the affair had taken place, and the president had approved up to three articles of impeachment. However, he was determined to be "not guilty" on other charges, such as lying under oath and obstruction of justice.
Today in Labor History February 12th, 2026
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John L Lewis
Lady Jane Grey, who had claimed the throne of England for nine days, and her husband, Guildford Dudley, were beheaded after being condemned for high treason - 1554
Abraham Lincoln, the 16th president of the United States, was born in a log cabin in Hardin (now LaRue) County, Kentucky - 1809
Abolitionist Frederick Douglass born into slavery near Easton, Md - 1818
Labor leader John L. Lewis was born in Cleveland, Iowa to Welsh immigrant parents. Lewis began working as a miner when he was a teenager, worked as a mine workers’ organizer for the American Federation of Labor, and went on to serve the president of the United Mine Workers of America (UMW) for 40 years. A firm believer in industrial unionism, he pulled the UAW from the American Federation of Labor (and punched out Carpenter’s Union President William Hutcheson in the process) when the AFL refused to endorse industrial unionism. Lewis formed the predecessor organization to what would become the Congress of Industrial Organizations. They organized millions of unskilled, mass production workers into unions in the 1930s and 1940s. – 1880
The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) was founded in New York City - 1909
On Feb. 12, 1999, the Senate voted to acquit President Bill Clinton in his impeachment trial of charges of perjury and obstruction of justice - 1999
Mexico’s most notorious drug lord, JoaquÃn “El Chapo” Guzmán, was convicted in New York of running an industrial-scale drug smuggling operation, murder and money laundering. (Guzman is currently serving a life sentence at the federal supermax prison facility in Florence, Colorado.) - 2019
Wednesday, February 11, 2026
Wednesday Morning in the Blogosphere
Why vertical video is becoming essential for local news - E&P Magazine
After USPS changes, more newspapers aren’t reaching subscribers on time - Nieman Lab
Local media industry looks to optimize cross-platform ad growth in 2026 - Local Media Consortium
Important Events From This day in History February 11th
1963 The Beatles Please Please Me Recorded
1963 : The Beatles record their first album Please Please Me at the Abbey Road Studios which is released on 22 March which helped to create the phenomenon known as Beatlemania. Each one of The Beatles received seven pounds and ten shillings (£7.50) session fee for each three hour session making a total £30.00 as full payment for the recording session of 9 hours and 45 minutes.
1916 Jailed for Advocating Birth Control
1916 : Emma Goldman who worked as a nurse and midwife among the poor in New York who was also a crusader for women's rights and social justice, is arrested in New York City for lecturing and distributing materials about birth control. She was accused of violating the Comstock Act of 1873, which made it a federal offense to disseminate contraceptive devices and information through the mail or across state lines.
11 Feb, 1920 U.S.A. Flu Epidemic
1920 : Medical advancements were being made in regards to dealing with flu epidemics. However, precaution still needed to be taken at this time-as is still true even today. For instance, it was suggested that a person who has the flu (influenza) to stay in bed at least three days after feeling "well." Likewise, people were told to cover their faces when coughing or sneezing. For medical staff taking care of people infected with the flu, it was recommended that they use handkerchiefs to catch catarrhal discharge. These handkerchiefs should then be placed in water and boiled. Either that or small cloths which are burn-able after use for collecting patient discharge. Medical staff should also be careful to wash their hands thoroughly after taking care of a sick patient. Likewise, other people should avoid any direct contact with infected persons until those persons recover.
1929 Italy Vatican City
1929 : The Lateran Treaty is signed, with Italy recognizing the independence and sovereignty of Vatican City. The agreements included a political treaty which created the state of the Vatican City and guaranteed full and independent sovereignty to the Holy See.
1932 U.S.A. Waldo Frank
1932 : A novelist by the name of Waldo Frank announced that a Congressional Investigation of alleged terrorism would be demanded as of this day. Frank belonged to an association of New York writers who were subjected to comply with a certain terrorist group at Pineville, Kentucky. Waldo Frank had arrived in Kentucky early in the morning with Allen Taub, another novelist. At this time they were beaten by a mob and then were taken to the Tennessee state line. Frank and Taub were in the process of making an effort to supply striking miners with food. They were beaten so bad that Frank had to be bed-ridden. One of the two men (the writers) had suffered a broken nose.
1932 Japanese Bomb US Marines
1932 : Japanese troops were reported to have bombed 19 U.S. Marines. Afterwards, the Japanese had apologized for it, as the bombing was meant to target the Chinese and not the Americans. The Japanese were attempting to dismantle Chinese troops that were stationed along the Markham road sector when they decided to bomb a mill where the U.S. Marines were killed. Not only did the Marines get killed, but four Chinese women and one man (non-combatant) were killed and 3,000 others had escaped, screaming on the way out.
1937 U.S.A. Flood
1937 : A flood had caused damage in nine states. As a result, 460 lives were killed, and 1,610,000 people were left homeless. Aside from the extensive damage to humans and property, the cost of rebuilding was expected to be in the billions of dollars (at least one billion dollars worth of damage reported).
1937 US Auto Workers Strike
1937 : A sit down strike against General Motors ended with the company agreeing to recognize the United Automobile Workers Union.
11 Feb, 1945 Yalta Agreement
1945 : President Roosevelt, British Prime Minister Winston Churchill and Soviet leader Josef Stalin sign the Yalta Agreement laying down rules for control of Germany after the war is ended including the occupation by the three Allies, each of a separate zone, also for reparations in kind to be paid by Germany for damages.
1952 Austria Avalanches
1952 : A series of deadly deadly avalanches begin in Europe following a 10-day snowstorm. The worst affected was Austria where an avalanche crashed down on the ski resort in Melkoede. Twenty people, almost all German tourists, were killed at the resort and another 10 were seriously injured.
1956 Soviet Union Burgess and Maclean
1956 : Two former members of the British Foreign Office who had disappeared from England in 1951, Burgess and Maclean amid rumors that they were spies for the Soviet Union appear in Moscow confirming suspicians may well have been correct.
1961 Israel Adolf Eichmann
1961 : Adolf Eichmann ( a high-ranking Nazi and SS Obersturmbannfuhrer during World War II) was indicted today on 15 criminal charges in Jerusalem, Israel. He was convicted in December of 1961 and hanged in Jerusalem on June 1st, 1962.
1970 Japan 4th Space Power
1970 : Japan launches Oshumi, its first satellite, and it had made a complete revolution around the earth. This achievement made Japan the worlds "fourth space power," after the Soviet Union (1957), the United States (1958), and France (1965).
1975 UK Margaret Thatcher
1975 : The British Conservative Party has chosen it's first women leader, Margaret Thatcher and will be the first woman to head any British political party.
1976 UK John Curry
1976 : Figure skater John Curry wins Britain's first Olympic gold in figure skating and the country's first medal at the winter games for 12 years.
11 Feb, 1979 Iran Khomeini
1979 : Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini took control of Iran as the Islamic Revolution reached its climax.
1987 UK Cynthia Payne
1987 : Cynthia Payne is acquitted of nine charges of controlling prostitutes at her home in south west London, but is still to be prosecuted for keeping a brothel.
1990 Nelson Mandela Released
1990 : Nelson Mandela is released from prison after 27 years. He was the person who had lead the movement to end South African apartheid back in the mid-1940s. Mandela was a lawyer who had joined the African National Congress (ANC), which was the oldest black political organization in South Africa. For this organization, he had served as the leader of the Johannesburg youth ANC chapter, and then later he became ANC deputy national president. During his time as the president of ANC he advocated non-violence and resisted apartheid (South Africa's system of white supremacy and segregation of races). He had changed his tune in 1960, however, when he lead a revolt against the white minority government-after the massacre of peaceful black demonstrators had taken place.
2002 Palestine Israel Attack
2002 : Israel attacked Palestinian security headquarters in Gaza City in response to unprecedented Palestinian rocket fire and a shooting attack on Israeli civilians.
2006 Dick Cheney
2006 : Vice President Dick Cheney accidentally shot and wounded a Harry Whittington who is in intensive care at a Corpus Christi hospital after being hit by several pellets of birdshot, during a weekend quail-hunting trip in Texas.
2006 U.S.A. Blizzard
2006 : What has become known as the Blizzard of 2006 started on the evening of the 11th. Heavy snow fell across the northeastern United States from Virginia to Maine through to the evening of the 12th. Its last falls were in eastern Canada on 13th. Cities from Baltimore to Boston received at least a foot of snow, and 26.9 inches was recorded in New York City. This was the heaviest snow recorded since about 1869 (when records began).
2007 Iran Accused of Supplying E.F.P's to Iraq
2007 : The U.S. military has accused the Iranian government of supplying increasingly sophisticated roadside bombs to Iraqi insurgents. At an intelligence briefing in Bagdad a display of the weapons captured in Iraq showed that they had Iranian markings on them. The name for this a type of bomb is an E.F.P. or Explosively Formed Penetrator. The Pentagon has estimated that 'more than 170 Americans killed in action and more than 600 wounded' by these weapons.
2007 G7 Wants China to Control Currency
2007 : Finance ministers and bankers from the Group of Seven (G7) industrial nations have renewed pressure on China to relax its controls over its currency. They've said that Beijing needs to increase its efforts to improve the Yuan's exchange rate flexibility. The G7 ministers were meeting in Germany.
2008 Europe Space Lab Columbus
2008 : Europe's space laboratory, Columbus, has docked with the International Space Station, the Columbus was delivered to the Space Station by the US space shuttle Atlantis.
2008 Six Al-Qaeda Charged
2008 : The Pentagon has announced the charges against six of the Guantánamo Bay prisoners over their involvement in the September 11th, 2001 attacks in the U.S. Prosecutors will be seeking the death penalty for the six, who include the plot mastermind Khalid Sheikh Mohammed. The charges, which are the first to accuse the Guantánamo inmates of direct involvement in 9/11, are expected to be heard in a military tribunal. Brigadier-General Thomas Hartmann, a legal adviser to the head of the Pentagon's Office of Military Commissions, has said that the charges were made against a 'long-term, highly sophisticated plan by al-Qaeda to attack the U.S.'
2008 F.B.I. Arrest Chinese Spies
2008 : The F.B.I have arrested four people for passing defense information to China. A former Boeing engineer is said to have given them details on the space shuttle and other programs, and two men and a woman are accused of handing over Defense Department documents about Taiwan. A Justice Department spokesman has said that the cases are serious breaches of national security. Investigators say these people are partners in an espionage network, and accused of transferring classified military information from a U.S. Defense Department weapons expert to a Chinese government official.
2010 EU Blocks US Monitoring Bank Transactions
2010 : The European Parliament has blocked an agreement that allows the United States to monitor Europeans bank transactions. This has angered Washington. The U.S. has called the decision a 'setback for E.U.-U.S. counter-terror co-operation.' The vote is seen as a rebuff to the intensive U.S. lobbying for E.U. help in its counter-terrorism investigations.
2010 US Tests Airborne Laser Weapon
2010 : The U.S. Missile Defense Agency has said that an American high-powered airborne laser weapon has shot down a ballistic missile in the first successful test of a futuristic directed energy weapon. The agency went on to say that the test took place at 8:44 p.m. PST at Point Mugu's Naval Air Warfare Center in central California. 'The Missile Defense Agency demonstrated the potential use of directed energy to defend against ballistic missiles when the Airborne Laser Testbed (A.L.T.B.) successfully destroyed a boosting ballistic missile.' The high-powered Airborne Laser system has been developed by Boeing Co., (BA.N) the prime contractor, and the U.S. Missile Defense Agency.
2008 Six Al-Qaeda Charged
2008 : The Pentagon has announced the charges against six of the Guantánamo Bay prisoners over their involvement in the September 11th, 2001 attacks in the U.S. Prosecutors will be seeking the death penalty for the six, who include the plot mastermind Khalid Sheikh Mohammed. The charges, which are the first to accuse the Guantánamo inmates of direct involvement in 9/11, are expected to be heard in a military tribunal. Brigadier-General Thomas Hartmann, a legal adviser to the head of the Pentagon's Office of Military Commissions, has said that the charges were made against a 'long-term, highly sophisticated plan by al-Qaeda to attack the U.S.'
2008 F.B.I. Arrest Chinese Spies
2008 : The F.B.I have arrested four people for passing defense information to China. A former Boeing engineer is said to have given them details on the space shuttle and other programs, and two men and a woman are accused of handing over Defense Department documents about Taiwan. A Justice Department spokesman has said that the cases are serious breaches of national security. Investigators say these people are partners in an espionage network, and accused of transferring classified military information from a U.S. Defense Department weapons expert to a Chinese government official.
2010 EU Blocks US Monitoring Bank Transactions
2010 : The European Parliament has blocked an agreement that allows the United States to monitor Europeans bank transactions. This has angered Washington. The U.S. has called the decision a 'setback for E.U.-U.S. counter-terror co-operation.' The vote is seen as a rebuff to the intensive U.S. lobbying for E.U. help in its counter-terrorism investigations.
2010 US Tests Airborne Laser Weapon
2010 : The U.S. Missile Defense Agency has said that an American high-powered airborne laser weapon has shot down a ballistic missile in the first successful test of a futuristic directed energy weapon. The agency went on to say that the test took place at 8:44 p.m. PST at Point Mugu's Naval Air Warfare Center in central California. 'The Missile Defense Agency demonstrated the potential use of directed energy to defend against ballistic missiles when the Airborne Laser Testbed (A.L.T.B.) successfully destroyed a boosting ballistic missile.' The high-powered Airborne Laser system has been developed by Boeing Co., (BA.N) the prime contractor, and the U.S. Missile Defense Agency.
Today in Labor History February 11th
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2011 Wisconsin protests
500 Japanese and 200 Mexican laborers united to form the Japanese-Mexican Labor Association (JMLA) in order to fight the labor contractor responsible for hiring at the American Beet Sugar Company in Oxnard, California. They refused to work until their grievances were addressed and by the first week in March, over 90% of the county’s beet industry labor force has joined the JMLA, bringing the sugar industry to a standstill. They ultimately won higher wages and the right to shop at stores not owned by the company. – 1903
Workers at the Firestone factory walked off the job over the imposition of a new piece-rate scale. Four days later, nearly 15,000 workers were on strike in the city. – 1913
The Seattle General Strike ended after six days. Some 65,000 workers struck for higher pay after two years of World War I wage controls. – 1919
2,000 unemployed workers stormed the Cleveland City Hall, dispersing only when the police threaten to turn fire hoses on them. With over 4 million jobs lost within months of the stock market crash in late October 1929, unemployed workers took to the streets to demand work and food. Similar actions happened in Philadelphia, Chicago, and Los Angeles throughout just this month alone. – 1930
General Motors recognized the United Auto Workers (UAW) following a 44-day sit-down strike involving 48,000 GM workers. Two months later, company guards beat up UAW leaders at the River Rouge, Michigan plant. – 1937
On this day, “White Shirt Day” was implemented at UAW-represented GM plants. Union members were encouraged to wear white shirts, marking the anniversary of the 1937 sitdown strike that gave the union bargaining rights at the automaker. The mission: send a message that “blue collar” workers deserve the same respect as their management counterparts. One of the day’s traditional rules: Don’t get your shirt any dirtier than the boss gets his. The 44-day strike was won in 1937 but the tradition didn’t begin until 1948, at the suggestion of Local 598 member Bert Christenson. – 1948
Some 1,300 sanitation workers began what was to become a 64-day strike in Memphis, Tennessee. They ultimately won union recognition and wage increases. The April 4 assassination in Memphis of Martin Luther King Jr., who had been taking an active role in mass meetings and street actions, brought pressure on the city to settle the strike. – 1968
Eight workers were contaminated when 100,000 gallons of radioactive coolant leaked into a containment building of the Tennessee Valley Authority’s (TVA) Sequoyah I plant in Tennessee. – 1981
Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker announced he would call out the National Guard if necessary, to deal with any “unrest” among state employees in the wake of his decision to unilaterally end nearly all collective bargaining rights for the workers. – 2011
2,600 educators from 160 schools walked out in Denver, Colorado over the merit-based pay system that relies heavily on annual bonuses that fluctuate from year to year. After 3 days of picketing, they won an average of an 11.7% pay raise, and an emphasis on education and training when considering promotions. – 2019
Monday, February 09, 2026
Monday Afternoon in the Blogosphere
We held many press men dinners here
National Apprenticeship Week kicks off - Print Week
37+ things The Washington Post did wrong - Nieman Lab
Hong Kong media tycoon Jimmy Lai sentenced to 20 years in prison - Press Gazette
A coach offers some comfort – and practical ideas – for journalists in the wake of a layoff - Poynter
Important Events From This day in History February 9
1971 Sylmar earthquake
1971 : The San Fernando earthquake ( 6.6 ) at 6:00 AM ruptures a segment of the San Fernando fault zone, causing the loss of life of 65, the worst loss of life was at the at the Veterans Administration Hospital in San Fernando, where 49 people died. The damage caused by the quake was estimated at 1/2 billion dollars due to damage to buildings, bridges and major freeways including Interstate 5.
1943 World War II Battle of Guadalcanal
1943 : The Battle of Guadalcanal, which occurred in the Southwest Pacific Ocean, ended on this day. This was a very important victory over the Japanese, which was achieved by the United States.
1961 U.S.A. Medicare Program
1961 : President Kennedy asked Congress to approve a health insurance program ( the Medicare Program ) for 14.2 million Americans 65 or older, financed by an increase in Social Security taxes.
9 Feb, 1920 Wellsboro Corning Glass Works
1920 : Following a major fire which destroyed the plant Superintendent Smith of the Wellsboro Corning Glass Works plant had dispelled rumors that the plant was going to close. He also had mentioned that there were no grounds for this rumor at all. Necessary repairs were going to be made, but the plant was to remain open.
1937 U.S.A. Work Relief and Flood Rehab
1937 : A bill was passed which allowed for a total of $940,000,000 to be used for relief projects. $790,000,000 of this money was intended to be used to fund work relief and flood rehab programs. This aid was expected to be administered between the 1st and June 30th. It took several weeks to reach a verdict regarding this bill. This was one of the most controversial pieces of legislation passed during this time in history.
1942 World War II Joint Chiefs of Staff
1942 : For the first time since the start of the war, the Joint Chiefs of Staff had come together for an official meeting. The purpose of this staff was to coordinate military strategy, which would help the allied forces (i.e. U.S., France, Italy, Russian Empire, British Empire) win World War II.
1942 SS Normandie
1942 : The SS Normandie had burned in New York on this day, while in the process of being converted to an allied transport ship. Normandie was regarded as the number one most elegant ocean liner ever built.
1950 U.S.A. Post Goes Up to 2 Cents
1950 : A majority has been reached among the members of the United States House of Representatives regarding the hike in postal rates. As a result of a voice vote made on this day, a bill was passed which had raised the rate of postal card rates from one to two cents. Regular letter rates would stay at three cents.
1950 U.S.A. Joseph McCarthy
1950 : Senator Joseph Mc Carthy from Wisconsin had announced that 205 communists had made their way into the U.S. State Department.
9 Feb, 1964 The Beatles
1964 : For the first time ever, the popular music group the Beatles had appeared on the Ed Sullivan Show. Shortly afterwards, they played their first American concert at the Coliseum. The Beatles had come a long way-literally. They originated from England, and were told that they "could not carry a tune across the Atlantic". In the early days they were though of to be no more than a fad. That of course was proven wrong many times over.
1966 UK Dounreay Nuclear Reactor
1966 : The first of it's kind a Prototype Fast Reactor (PFR) is to be built at the Dounreay power station on the north coast of Scotland. This reactor will be 5 times more efficient at obtaining the extraction of the energy available in nuclear fuel than current reactors in use.
1969 U.S.A. 747 Test Flight
1969 : Boeing 747 airliner takes its first test flight piloted by test pilots Jack Waddell and Brien Wygle at the controls.
1979 UK Football Transfer Record Over a Million
1979 : England forward Trevor Francis signs for Brian Clough's Nottingham Forest side in Britain's first £1m transfer deal.
1981 U.S.A. Bill Haley
1981 : Bill Haley dies at age 56 he brought the existing genre of rock and roll into the spotlight with his chart-topping single "Rock Around the Clock," in 1955, you can find more information and other music on our 1950s Music Page
9 Feb, 1996 Kasparov
1996 : The legendary Russian Chess Grandmaster Kasparov loses his first chess game ever to IBM's chess computer Deep Blue. He did go on to gain three wins and two draws and easily wins the match.
2001 USS Greenville
2001 : An American submarine (USS Greenville) accidentally struck a Japanese fishing boat and nine lives were lost. This event took place off the coast of Hawaii in Pearl Harbor.
2002 UK Princess Margaret
2002 : Princess Margaret, the younger sister of Queen Elizabeth II, died at age 71 after suffering a massive stroke.
2008 Pakistan Political Unrest
2008 : The political unrest in Pakistan continues following the murder of Benazir Bhutto and the detention of the deposed chief justice. An estimated 100,000 supporters of Benazir Bhutto turned out for her party's first major election rally since her assassination. Meanwhile in the capital of Islamabad riot police used water cannons and tear gas on protesters over the detention of the deposed chief justice. Also at a political gathering Saturday in northwestern Pakistan, a bomb is detonated killing at least 25 people.
Today in Labor History February 9th, 2026
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George Lippard
Novelist, journalist, and social activist George Lippard died on this day. Considered the first muckraking novel in the United States, his The Quaker City was a bestseller about city life in Philadelphia. Lippard founded the Brotherhood of the Union to “espouse the cause of the Masses, and battle against the tyrants of the Social System – against corrupt Bankers, against Land Monopolists, and against all Monied Oppressors”. The Brotherhood eventually had 40,000 members in 20 states. – 1854
Congress approved legislation allowing for a total of $940,000,000 to be used for Depression-era relief projects. $790,000,000 of this money was intended to be used to fund work relief and flood recovery programs. – 1937
U.S. Senator Joseph McCarthy falsely charged that the State Department was riddled with Communists. It seemed that just about everyone else the Wisconsin senator didn’t like was a Communist as well, including scores of unionists. This was the beginning of “McCarthyism”. McCarthy ultimately was officially condemned by the Senate and died of alcoholism. – 1950
President Kennedy asked Congress to approve the creation of the Medicare program. It was financed by an increase in Social Security taxes and aided 14.2 million Americans aged 65 or older. – 1961
Boeing engineers and technical workers begin what was to become a forty-day strike over economic issues. At the time, it was the largest white-collar strike at a private company in the U.S. It ended in a victory for the 22,000 workers represented by the Society of Professional Engineering Employees in Aerospace (SPEEA). – 2000
Friday, February 06, 2026
Friday Morning in the Blogosphere
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Royce Hall UCLA
Revenue, resilience and community: Inside ACP - E&P Magazine
How AJP is cutting through the AI hype for local newsrooms - E&P Magazine
Minnesota Star Tribune launches News Literacy Initiative - The Minnesota Star Tribune
Why the Issues Around Newsrooms and Trust Aren’t Quite What You May Think - 2nd Rough Draft
Important Events From This day in History February 6
1952 King George VI Dies
1952 : King George VI dies making Elizabeth II the Sovereign of Great Britain, The future Queen of England heard the news while on a trip to Kenya.
1971 Apollo 14
1971 : Alan Shepard became the first man to hit a golf ball on the Moon, using a ball and golf club head he had smuggled on board inside his space suit.
1964 England / France Channel Tunnel
1964 : The British and French Governments announce commitment to build a tunnel under the English Channel. In 1984 Euro tunnel was selected to build the tunnel and The Channel Tunnel is finally opened in 1994. When completed The Channel Tunnel consists of three tunnels and is the longest undersea tunnel in the world, measuring 31 miles in total, with 24 miles under the sea.
6 Feb, 1911 Rolls-Royce Mascot
1911 : On this day and year in history, the official Rolls-Royce mascot has been chosen. It is a silver-winged animal called "The Spirit of Ecstasy" and it is used as the Rolls hood ornament to this day.
1926 First Doughnut Making Machine
1926 : In Dubuque, Iowa the first doughnut-making machine was launched by a company called Trausch Bakery.
1928 Anastasia Tchaikovsky
1928 : Anastasia Tchaikovsky, the young woman who claimed to be the daughter of the late Russian Czar who was murdered had come to the United States. Reporters were skeptical of this claim because there had been about dozen other women who had made the same claim.
1937 USA Rattlesnakes
1937 : A report was printed on this day about the "Rattlesnake Scare". The Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) had housed a rattlesnake in a camp located about a half a mile from the rim of the Grand Canyon. During lunch time, a rattlesnake named Cleo had wandered in to where some visitors where eating with CCC members. The rattlesnake was de-fanged, but the visitors did not know this at first. Therefore, they ran out of the room as fast as they could.
1938 Bondi Beach Waves
1938 : A series of freak waves strike Bondi Beach in Sydney, Australia. The waves pull people back into the sea causing the death of 5 and a further 250 had to be rescued as they had been dragged hundreds of yards off shore. The day became tragically known as "Black Sunday" in Australia.
1943 Frank Sinatra
1943 : Frank Sinatra makes his singing debut on the popular radio show "Your Hit Parade." His career takes off after that and he eventually becomes one of the most respected vocalists of all time.
1943 World War II Dwight D. Eisenhower
1943 : Lt. Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower becomes the commander-in-chief of all allied forces in North Africa.
6 Feb, 1950 West Germany Nazism
1950 : West Germans had harshly criticized the allied countries on this day. The allied countries were the forces that fought against the Germans and other pro-Nazi armies during World War II, and the U.S. was one of those countries. In response to West Germany's Criticism, U.S. high commissioner John J. McCloy reprimanded the West Germans for their criticism. He also made it clear that Nazism would not rule again in that country. McCloy also presented a nine-point plan for West Germany to follow. Part of this plan included the strong suggestion that Germans stop involving themselves too much in foreign affairs and take care of the problems in their own country.
1950 U.S.A. Strike
1950 : Federal telephone negotiations were being made to postpone and/or end nationwide walkout planned for Wednesday 6 p.m. the same week. Earnest Weaver, president of the installment division of CIO Communications Workers of America, said the organization would consider a walkout postponement if their was something to be gained. However, Weaver also mentioned that it would be impossible to call off a strike within 24 hours. Therefore, any decision to postpone the workers strike would have to be made before tomorrow (Tuesday). This did not give federal negotiators much time to reach a decision. However, another meeting was scheduled for 2 p.m. that day. If the strike were to take place, it would involve 300,000 workers.
1951 US Train Crash
1951 : A commuter train, The Broker, derailed off a temporary trestle and slid down an embankment in Woodbridge, New Jersey, killing 85 and injuring many more.
1954 Mercedes 300SL Coupe
1954 : Mercedes introduced the 300SL coupe, the car is far advanced of anything else with its gull-wing doors a six-cylinder engine and a top speed of 155mph. Only 1,400 300SL coupes are ever produced but many consider it to be the most impressive sports car of the decade.
1958 Manchester United Football Club Disaster
1958 : A British European Airways flight crashes just after takeoff from Munich Airport. Eight players from the Manchester United soccer team together with 15 others died in the crash. The Team manager Matt Busby and striker Bobby Charlton are being treated in hospital.
1964 Cuba Guantanamo Bay
1964 : Cuba has shut off the fresh water pipeline to the U.S. naval base at Guantanamo Bay until 36 Cuban fishermen jailed in Florida are freed.
1974 National Health Insurance
1974 : President Nixon has urged Congress to approve a comprehensive national health insurance plan.
1985 Hertz
1985 : Walter L. Jacobs, the founder of the first car rental company, died on this day. He had formed what is now the present-day Hertz Corporation, after Hertz had purchased Jacob's car rental business.
1995 Pre-Employment Alcohol Testing
1995 : Pre-employment alcohol testing for motor carriers was to take place as of the first of this year. However, it was delayed, and as of this date it was determined that May 1 would be the date when the DOT would require trucking companies as well as other transport companies to comply with this new ruling. The testing was to be completed with some type of unit that would check an employee's breath, or would include a test of saliva.
6 Feb, 1995 England Security Cutbacks
1995 : It was revealed via a letter not intended to be made public that airport security cutbacks were to be made. A third of the staff of Transec, the company responsible for airport security in UK and overseas ports are to be let go. As a result, Brian Mawhinney was questioned regarding this manner. Concerns were expressed as well by people such as Dr. Jim Swire, whose daughter was killed by the airport bombing incident that took place in 1988 Dr, Swire recounted the promise that was made that airport security would be improved. However, he feared that instead progress in this area would be reversed.
1998 Mary Kay Letourneau
1998 : A school teacher was sent to prison for the second time as of this date. Mary Kay Letourneau was sent back to prison for seven years after violating a restraining order that was set between her and a former student. She had been on probation and failed to uphold the agreement set before.
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