Today in American History: Jackie Robinson Was Born 01/31/1919

Today on 01/31/1919 in American History Jackie Robinson was born.  Jack Roosevelt Robinson was born in Cairo, Georgia to a family of sharecroppers.  Everyone knows the great number 42 for being the first African-American to play Major League Baseball.  Robinson made his major league debut with the Brooklyn Dodgers on April 15, 1947.  He went on to play ten seasons in the major leagues, augmenting his negro league career.  He retired after the 1956 season with career totals of 137 home runs, 734 runs batted in, 197 stolen bases and a career .311 batting average.  Over those ten years he earned the Rookie of the Year in 1947, six All Star appearances, one batting title, one Most Valuable Player aware and finished in the top ten in MVP voting two more times.  In addition, Robinson's Dodger teams went to the World Series six times and won one World Series ring.

In 1944, Jackie Robinson was attending Sam Huston college when the Kansas City Monarchs, of the Negro Leagues, sent him a written offer to play professional baseball with them for $400 per month ($5000 in 2015 dollars).  Robinson did play the 1945 season with the Monarchs, but pursued Major League Baseball possibilities during this year trying out for the Boston Red Sox on April 16, 1945.  The tryout was organized in order to give the appearance of racial tolerance in Boston, but was never meant to end in the signing of a black ball player.  Not only did Robinson and other players have to endure racial indignities during the try outs, the Boston Red Sox would be the last team in major league baseball to integrate its team in 1958.

Even before Jackie Robinson tried out for the Red Sox, Branch Rickey of the Brooklyn Dodgers was aware of him.  Rickey and the Dodgers had been scouting the Negro League for talent and identified Jackie as their top candidate after seeing him play and the now famous phone conversation between Rickey and Robinson on August 28, 1945 Rickey decided that Jackie was the player for the Dodgers.  Branch Rickey was vocal about why he chose Robinson to play for the Dodgers.  He said that not only did Robinson have all the physical tools to play at the major league level, but that he possessed the character and restraint that would be necessary to withstand the pressures and insults that would come with the experience.  And after a single season filled with racial slurs and blockades playing for the Montreal Royals, the Dodgers AAA minor league baseball club, Jackie Robinson was ready for prime time.

In the years since Robinson's retirement, many people have recognized what Robinson playing Major League baseball meant to not only the sport, but the country.  Martin Luther King said that Robinson was a "legend and a symbol in his own time."   He has also been credited for making the desegregation of the United States military happen in 1948.  There have been six feature films made based on his life, including the acclaimed 2011 film "42" plus a Broadway play "The First" in 1981 and the 1950 film "The Jackie Robinson Story" in which Robinson appeared playing himself.  He was also posthumously named the Major League Baseball's All Century team in 1999.


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Bruce has worked in educational technology for over 18 years and has implemented several 1:1/BYOD programs.  He also has served as a classroom teacher in Computer Science, History and English classes.  Bruce is the author of five books: Sands of Time, Towering Pines Volume One:Room 509, The Star of Christmas, Philadelphia Story: A Lance Carter Detective Novel and The Insider's Story: A Lance Carter Detective Novel.  Follow Bruce's Novel releases by subscribing to his FREE newsletter!

Be sure to check out Bruce's Allentown Education Examiner Page, his Twitter and his Facebook!

Today in American History: Space Shuttle Challenger Disaster 01/28/1986

Today on 01/28/1986 in American History the Space Shuttle Challenger (OV-099) exploded in the skies over the Atlantic Ocean just off the coast of Cape Canaveral, Florida at 11:38AM EST, just 73 seconds into its flight.  The crew, including Michael J. Smith, Dick Scobee, Ronald McNair, Ellison Onizuka, Christa McAuliffe, Gregory Jarvis and Judith Resnik, all perished in the disaster.

The Challenger disaster began when an O-ring seal in the right rocket booster failed.  This allowed pressurized gas from within the solid rocket booster to reach the outside and impinge upon the adjacent solid rocket booster aft field joint and the external fuel tank.  Because of this, the right hand solid rocket booster's aft field joint separated from its attachment hardware and the adjoining external tank experienced a structural failure.  The Challenger orbiter (which housed the crew) broke apart because of resulting aerodynamic forces.

It is largely unknown what the actual time of death for the crew was, but it is believed that they survived the initial breakup of the craft.  However, even if all seven had survived the initial disaster, the impact of the compartment into the Atlantic Ocean was not a survivable event.

The Challenger disaster resulted in a 32-month long freeze in America's Space Shuttle program.  President Ronald Reagan immediately appoint the Roger's Commission to investigate the tragedy.  Much to the chagrin of many, the Roger's commission found that the disaster could be attributed to NASA's decision making process, as much as anything else.  The commission found that NASA had been aware of flaws in the design of the O-rings since 1977 and had done nothing to remedy the problem.  In addition, they found that engineers had warned of possible issues with launching that morning because of the low temperatures.  These warnings failed to reach the supervisors who ultimately would make the decision.  The Challenger disaster has been used as a case study in many engineering classes as a study in work place ethics and engineering safety.

Another result of the disaster was the Air Force's decision to scrap their plans to use space shuttle's for classified military satellite launches, and instead use the Titan IV rockets instead.

The media coverage of this launch was much larger than other recent launches because of the presence of Christa McAuliffe on the crew.  Christa was suppose to be the first teacher in space.  It has been estimated that up to 20% of Americans were watching the launch live (including many classrooms) and a survey found that over 85% of Americans had heard of the disaster within an hour.

The Challenger was first launched on April 4th, 1983. The Challenger was the shuttle that hosted America's first-ever space walk by Ed White.  Every previous launch had been from launchpad LC-39A, however this ill-fated mission was launched from LC-39B.  This would have been the 10th mission for the Space Shuttle Orbiter Challenger.


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Bruce has worked in educational technology for over 18 years and has implemented several 1:1/BYOD programs.  He also has served as a classroom teacher in Computer Science, History and English classes.  Bruce is the author of five books: Sands of Time, Towering Pines Volume One:Room 509, The Star of Christmas, Philadelphia Story: A Lance Carter Detective Novel and The Insider's Story: A Lance Carter Detective Novel.  Follow Bruce's Novel releases by subscribing to his FREE newsletter!

Be sure to check out Bruce's Allentown Education Examiner Page, his Twitter and his Facebook!

Today in American History: The 24th Amendment 01/23/1964

The 24th Amendment to the United States Constitution

Section 1. The right of citizens of the United States to vote in any primary or other election for President or Vice President, for electors for President or Vice President, or for Senator or Representative in Congress, shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or any State by reason of failure to pay any poll tax or other tax.

Section 2. The Congress shall have power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation

Today on 01/23/1964 the 24th Amendment to the United States Constitution was ratified. The 24th Amendment made it unconstitutional in federal elections to impose any kind of tax associated with voting.  Remember, this only prevents poll taxes in federal elections, it was still two more years in Harper vs Board of Election that the United States Supreme Court ruled that it was also illegal to assess poll taxes in state run elections, too.

The poll tax was a part of a series of laws intended to marginalize black American from politics as far as possible without violating the Fifteenth Amendment, which required that voting not be limited by "race, color, or previous condition of servitude."  The poll tax had the additional impact of weakening poor white voters who might sympathize with the Populist Party, though this was downplayed by proponents of the poll tax for fear of electoral backlash against them.  Passage of poll taxes began in earnest in the 1890s, as with the end of Reconstruction in 1877, no federal troops remained to enforce black voting rights.  By 1902, all eleven former Confederate states had enacted a poll tax in one variety or another.  Some had a simple poll tax that you paid from year-to-year, while others not only taxed you in the year you were voting, but would make you pay compounded missed poll taxes from previous years before you would be allowed to vote.  In addition, the poll tax worked in conjunction with other voter disenfranchisement measures such as: literacy tests, voter assessments, white primaries and threats of violence.  For example, all potential voters had to undergo an assessment in Arkansas.  Conveniently, blacks were left off the assessment lists and thusly could not vote.

At the time of the ratification of the 24th Amendment, five states still levied a poll tax: Virginia, Alabama, Texas, Mississippi and Arkansas.


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Bruce has worked in educational technology for over 18 years and has implemented several 1:1/BYOD programs.  He also has served as a classroom teacher in Computer Science, History and English classes.  Bruce is the author of five books: Sands of Time, Towering Pines Volume One:Room 509, The Star of Christmas, Philadelphia Story: A Lance Carter Detective Novel and The Insider's Story: A Lance Carter Detective Novel.  Follow Bruce's Novel releases by subscribing to his FREE newsletter!

Be sure to check out Bruce's Allentown Education Examiner Page, his Twitter and his Facebook!

Today in American History: The Battle of Anzio, 01/22/1944

On the morning of January 22, 1944, Allied troops began landing on the beach thirty miles south of Rome in Italy signaling the beginning of the Battle of Anzio.  This battle has been planned for months in 1943, but eventually scrapped because General Eisenhower thought that it was not the best way to accomplish the goals that were set for the offensive, and that the fighting would be fierce with more lives lost than it would be worth.  After Eisenhower relinquished command of the Mediterranean Allied forces, Allied commanders put the Italian offensive back on the table, and we got The Battle of Anzio.  The Battle lasted from January 22, 1944 through May 24, 1944 and is remembered as some of the fiercest fighting of World War II.  All told, the Allies lost 4,400 lives with over 18,000 casualties and 6,800 missing or taken prisoner.  It was a costly battle, that failed to meet the stated objectives: move the Germans out of the way, take Rome and advance north -- all quickly.

The impetus for the offensive existed within the scope of the surrender of Italy to the Allies in 1943.  After Italy surrendered, Germany began a grab and run operation.  The goal being to get out of Italy with as many supplies and goods that they could, while slowing the Allied advance from the south as much as possible.  And through the end of 1943, Germany had been very successful in doing just that.  Seeing that the Allied troops were being pinned down at every turn, the Allies thought a major offensive that landed behind enemy lines would kick the Germans out of the way and open the door for a larger European invasion from the south.

The reasons for the difficulties were clear.  The Germans had a strong presence, and had been quite effective in keeping the Allies at bay in Italy, this was simply a continuation of that effort.  Another reason is that it seems the Allies underestimated the German resistance.  General Lucas was vocal before the offensive was launched that he needed more people, more armament and more resources.  Those requests fell on deaf ears, and they went forward undermanned and undergunned.  Lucas' critics say he was too timid a commander.  That he spent too much time digging in and failed to launch an aggressive enough offensive to catch the Germans.  The Germans had adequate time to prepare and defend their positions.  Instead of a quick and aggressive offensive, the Allies put on a slow, methodical war of attrition.  In retrospect, maybe someone like General Patton would have been the right call for this mission.  He had a knack for making lemonade out of rocks.

But the offensive is seen as important in the scope of World War II for a number of reasons.  First, it put a great deal of pressure on the Germans from the south.  Having a sustained number of Allied troops sitting behind their lines of resistance made Germany put more resources into Italy than they would have done otherwise.  These resources (as many as 144,000 troops) came from other places in Europe they were perhaps needed more.  Ultimately, the offensive drained the German resources enough that the 15th Army broke through and marched onward.


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Bruce has worked in educational technology for over 18 years and has implemented several 1:1/BYOD programs.  He also has served as a classroom teacher in Computer Science, History and English classes.  Bruce is the author of five books: Sands of Time, Towering Pines Volume One:Room 509, The Star of Christmas, Philadelphia Story: A Lance Carter Detective Novel and The Insider's Story: A Lance Carter Detective Novel.  Follow Bruce's Novel releases by subscribing to his FREE newsletter!

Be sure to check out Bruce's Allentown Education Examiner Page, his Twitter and his Facebook!

Foodie Review: Red Sombrero, Kennett Square, PA

Red Sombrero
879 E. Baltimore Pike
Kennett Square, PA 19348

Red Sombrero... what can I say about this place?  Nothing... that isn't awesome!

Red Sombrero is a little burrito joint hidden next to Starbucks in Kennett Square just off Baltimore Pike.  You won't just notice it -- it is on the backside corner facing the strip mall.  But trust me -- if you think Baja Fresh is the bomb, you are in for a wonderful surprise at Red Sombrero!

The menu is certainly more than just burritos.  It is quite large for a walk up burrito joint.  But the money is in the burrito.  I've eaten here three times and the burritos are always fresh, hot and full of wonderful flavors.  There are half a dozen or so different burritos on the menu, or you can build your own.  You get free chips and salsa with every order -- and 6 different types of salsa in the salsa bar ranging from pedestrian to burn your mouth off hot.  I am partial to the Red Wine Salsa myself.

At the end of the day, I wish this place was closer to home.  I only get to visit when I work down that way and I have a light day at work.  But the service is fast and friendly and the burritos are second-to-none!  I highly recommend!

Overall:
Atmosphere: 5/5 - You order at the counter, but they bring your food out to you -- and they are super friendly!
Service: 5/5
Food: 5/5
Price: 5/5 - $6-10 per meal
Overall: 5/5

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Bruce has worked in educational technology for over 18 years and has implemented several 1:1/BYOD programs.  He also has served as a classroom teacher in Computer Science, History and English classes.  Bruce is the author of five books: Sands of Time, Towering Pines Volume One:Room 509, The Star of Christmas, Philadelphia Story: A Lance Carter Detective Novel and The Insider's Story: A Lance Carter Detective Novel.  Follow Bruce's Novel releases by subscribing to his FREE newsletter!

Be sure to check out Bruce's Allentown Education Examiner Page, his Twitter and his Facebook!