May 8 is National Bike to School Day!
SCHOOL CHILDREN, WERE FORCED TO USE THEIR BICYCLES ON FIELD TRIPS DURING THE FUEL CRISIS IN THE WINTER OF 1974. THERE WAS NOT ENOUGH GASOLINE FOR SCHOOL BUSES TO BE USED FOR EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES, EVEN DURING DARK AND RAINY WEATHER, 02/1974
David Falconer, photographer. From the EPA’s DOCUMERICA Series
What did you ride to school? 10 Speed? BMX? Fixie?
Ineligible for Citizenship
Settling in Oregon, Bhagat Singh Thind served during World War I and was naturalized at least twice. However in 1921, the District Court of Oregon filed a bill of complaint denying citizenship to Thind. The case went to the Supreme Court and in its 1923 decision, the court ended up defining Asian Indians as non-white and ineligible for naturalization.
Bill of Complaint, 01/07/1921; U.S. v. Bhagat Singh Thind, 1921 - 1926
(Thind would ultimately obtain citizenship a third and final time through the state of New York, following a law granting citizenship to any World War I veterans.)
via DocsTeach
America and Britain draw the line
On August 5, 1846, President James K. Polk proclaimed the Treaty with Great Britain, in Regard to Limits Westward of the Rocky Mountains. This treaty resolved the Oregon border dispute by drawing a straight line along the 49th parallel. The line extended the existing boundary between the United States and Britain (Canada) over the Rocky Mountains to the Pacific Ocean.
Presidential Proclamation regarding the Oregon Treaty, 08/05/1846
via DocsTeach
January 21 is Squirrel Appreciation Day!
Considering they’re a bane to gardeners and bird-feeding enthusiasts, squirrel appreciation day is probably more controversial than yesterday’s Cheese-fest, but squirrels still have some fans.
In addition to the ubiquitous Eastern Gray Squirrel, Washington DC hosts a sizable population of the melanistic variety (aka Black Squirrels). So — red squirrels, chipmunks, marmots, flying squirrels — what type of squirrels live near you?
