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Kids today may go through life without ever seeing it. Yet without the typewriter, there would be no computer as we know it. The typewriter is the primate ancestor to the personal computer that we have made part of our lives. Did you ever wonder why computer keyboards have the strange layout that they have, with the QWERTY keys across the top left? The answer lies buried in decisions made more than a hundred years ago, when the typewriter first appeared on the plains of industry.

The typewriter is to the printing press much like the personal computer is to the mainframe computer. The European version of the printing press, known as the Gutenberg press, was first developed in the 15th century. It enabled books to be printed rapidly, and helped promote the spread of literacy (and religion) throughout the world. A personal printing press, or “type writer,” used by a single person to print a legible document dates to the early 18th century.

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With Lance Armstrong out of retirement and racing in the current Tour de France, we take a look back at the history of this annual bicycle race.

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As the discussion of swine flu dominates the media, it is worthwhile to look back at some of the other pandemics that have affected the human race throughout history. A pandemic is an illness that spreads from person to person and affects a large, dispersed population. It usually creates an enormous amount of fear among those not affected. The skeleton on the right represents “Doctor Death” from an engraving made in the 1500s, when the Black Death or Bubonic Plague was common in Europe. It was one of the worst pandemics to ever strike on earth, responsible for tens of millions of deaths.

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Titanboa (Titanboa cerrejonensis)

Researchers in Colombia have found fossils of an ancient snake 42-45 feet long, that weighed more than a ton. This huge species of snake, named Titanboa cerrejonensis, lived 58 to 60 million years ago in a warm rainforest setting. So far, fossils from about 24 individual snakes have been discovered. The quest for a Titanboa skull is still underway.

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The First Inauguration

George Washington was the first person inaugurated President of the United States. He was sworn into office on April 30, 1798, following the Revolutionary War. Washington’s ceremony set the standard for Inauguration Ceremonies and began the tradition of the Inaugural Address, a speech given by the new President that often serves to inspire and reassure the American people. This ceremony happens every four years and marks the beginning of each new Presidential term.

Barack Obama’s Inauguration

On January 20, 2009 the United States will witness the 56th Presidential Inauguration. Barack Obama, the 44th President of the United States, will take his Inaugural Oath and give his Inaugural Speech on the West Front of the U.S. Capitol. This year’s Inauguration Theme commemorates the 200th Anniversary of Abraham Lincoln’s birth with the title: “A New Birth of Freedom”.

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Origin of Mahjong

The traditional game of Mahjong originated in China, specifically in the Shanghai province. Some believe that Mahjong was developed more than 2,500 years ago, yet the earliest evidence of the game dates back to the nineteenth century. The name ‘Mahjong’ roughly translates to “cluttering birds.” It is believed that this name came from the sound the tiles make when they are shuffled.

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The annual Autumn Moon Festival is an important Chinese holiday which celebrates the abundance of the Summer harvest. It is celebrated on the 15th day of the 8th lunar month of the Chinese calendar, when the moon is said to be at its fullest and brightest. The Moon Festival is also commonly referred to as the Mid-Autumn Festival, Lantern Festival & Mooncake Festival. Mooncakes are a Chinese pastry that is traditionally enjoyed while celebrating the festival.

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Have you ever wondered about the history of sneakers?

Today sneakers are very popular among people of all ages (children and adults alike). But once upon a time sneakers did not exist. Let us take you back to the pre-sneaker era to tell you the tale of how sneakers came to be.

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Louis Armstrong is a legend in the world of American Jazz music, and one of the most popular musicians of the 20th century. His influence has influenced and inspired several other popular musicians such as Bing Crosby, Ella Fitzgerald, Billie Holiday, Frank Sinatra, Elvis Presley, and Marvin Gaye.

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Origin of Cards

The earliest sign of playing cards was during the 10th century in China. There are no specifics about their markings or how the cards were played. The first familiar sign of cards was in Europe (imported from the Mamluks of Egypt). They gained popularity in Spain and Italy during the 1370s. At that time, playing cards were expensive to due to the workmanship involved in painting the cards. Playing cards eventually spread around the world through trade routes and were used by the upper classes. In the early 15th century, wood-block printing was developed in Germany. This decreased the price for a deck of cards. The price was driven even lower when the French began to produce decks by painting over stencils. This technique resulted in simplified suit marks (as shown below) which became the standard marks internationally.

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History of Glass Making

It is uncertain when glass making first began. However, the Bible does mention the rarity of glass by comparing glass to gold. Glass was used to make fake gemstones as jewelry pieces. The glass gemstones would be dyed a color that could not be found in the natural world. At times, prices of these glass gemstones were more expensive than real gemstones due to the complex process required to create them.

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How much do you know about pirates? Have you just watched the new “Pirates of the Caribbean” movie? Have you read any other facts about pirates? Do you think that you are an expert on “Blackbeard”, “Captain William Kidd” or even “Captain Jack Sparrow”?

Try to see if you know the answers to these interesting pirate questions. But remember, there are still many unanswered questions about pirates. Ahoy Matey!

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