Beginnings

  • Bot Prevention, Crowdsourcing, Language Learning

    Louis von Ahn was born in 1978 in Guatemala. Both of his parents were doctors, and he had privileges that others in his country did not have. His privileged background has helped shape his career. His experience in applying for college in the U.S. left him with a...

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  • The Purple Heart

    In 1782, George Washington commander of the Continental Army created the Badge of Military Merit. The original badge was a medal heart on a purple background. The award was discontinued in use until after World War I. In 1927, the Army Chief of Staff asked Congress to...

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  • Electronic Books

    Angela Ruiz Robles was born in Spain in 1895. Her family was wealthy so she was able to get a college education. She studied to be a teacher, preparing women for office jobs. Ruiz lived during the Spanish Civil War and became an advocate for female literacy. At the...

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  • The Steel Guitar

    Joseph Kekuku, a native of Hawaii, was a student in a boarding school in Honolulu. He was walking along the road one day with his old Spanish guitar. Seeing a rusty bolt on the ground, he reached down to pick it up. The bolt accidentally hit one of the strings on his...

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  • Martin Luther King Jr. Day

    The assassination of Martin Luther King, Jr. (MLK) came at a turbulent time in American history. Following his assassination, major civil rights legislation was passed, but there were those who felt that MLK deserved more recognition. Labor unions were the first group...

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  • Groundhog Day

    Groundhog Day began in the 16th Century. In Germany, February 2nd was known as Badger Day. The date of February 2nd was known as Candlemas, a religious holiday. Like Groundhog Day in the U.S., if the Badger saw his shadow, it would retreat to their den for additional...

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  • Presidents’ Day

    By an 1879 Act of Congress, federal offices in Washington DC closed to celebrate the birthday of George Washington. Six years later, the holiday was extended to all federal offices. The date selected was to be George Washington’s birthday. And that presented a...

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  • St. Patrick’s Day

    According to his own written words, Saint Patrick was born in Britain in the 4th Century to a wealthy family who were leaders in the Christian church. When he was 16, he was kidnapped and taken to Ireland as a slave. He underwent a religious experience while he was in...

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  • April Fools’ Day

    The beginning of April Fools’ Day is uncertain. Some believe it began in 1582 when France changed from the Julian Calendar to the Gregorian calendar. The start of the New Year on the Julian Calendar was April 1. Some people, unaware of the change, continued to...

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  • Black History Month

    Carter Washington was born in Virginia in 1875. Both of his parents had been slaves. His father was illiterate but his mother had been taught to read by her mistress. As a child, Carter did not attend school so that he could help out on a small farm they were able to...

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