Monday, December 5, 2016

History: The Year is 1910

I've uploaded year 1910 to the TSP Wiki...

http://tspwiki.com/index.php?title=1910

Here are some one liners...


Coolidge's Persistence and the Pitfall of Genius -- A proverb often attributed to Calvin Coolidge, appears at this time but he never said it. I talk about genius.

Giving Anarchy a Bad Name -- Assassination has become associated with anarchy.

Notable Births -- Mother Teresa, Jane Wyatt and the inventor of Top Ramen®.

In Other News -- Halley's Comet, Frankenstein's monster and the 1st infrared photographs.



Coolidge's Persistence and the Pitfall of Genius

Nothing in this world can take the place of persistence.
Talent will not; nothing is more common than unsuccessful men with talent.
Genius will not; unrewarded genius is almost a proverb.
Education will not; the world is full of educated derelicts.
Persistence and determination are omnipotent.
--A Proverb often attributed to Calvin Coolidge, but he never said it.
At this time, "Silent Cal" Coolidge is mayor of Northampton. He won with a margin of less than 150 votes by convincing the Irish to vote Republican. He is a farmer's son, so he knows when a man is watering the milk. He can listen, take criticism and joke with the common man because he is one. He refuses to attack his opponent, and keeps plugging away. It all works... just barely. The above anonymous proverb appears this year as a filler for newspapers. It is often attributed to Coolidge because one day he will become famous for his persistence and win the Presidency. [1] [2]
My Take by Alex Shrugged
To echo the proverb... genius is no guarantee of success. It is not magic. It is a measure of the capacity to absorb facts and make connections. It's like drinking a large glass of water in one smooth motion. The genius drinks in knowledge, but only if he is thirsty. If he doesn't care or if he is lazy, his genius will not help him. The person with an average capacity will drink in knowledge in smaller gulps, but with discipline and desire, he is almost as fast and smooth as the genius. Discipline and desire are the keys. I have bested people smarter than myself because I have persisted. When there is a downturn in the economy, I refuse to participate, and when the job market becomes saturated, I don't cry about it. I move to where I am needed. I tell my children, "Keep moving forward and whatever you do... don't stop." Do not wait overlong for someone to create your future. Create your own. [3]

Giving Anarchy a Bad Name

Assassination has become the method of choice for political change. Many assassins claim to be anarchists, so anarchy is becoming a synonym for murder. Let's hit the highlights:
  • 1888: Anarchists derail the train carrying Tzar Alexander the 3rd. His injuries lead to his death. [4] [5]
  • 1890: Union members (read as "anarchist Italians") are suspected of murdering the Chief of Police of New Orleans. [6]
  • 1892: The chairman of Carnegie Steel is shot by an anarchist for union-breaking policies. [7]
  • 1901: President McKinley is shot by a man who had recently attended a lecture on the virtues of anarchy. [8]
  • 1903: Alexander the 1st of Serbia is shot by the Black Hand, the same group that will assassinate Archduke Ferdinand, and kick off World War 1. [9]
My Take by Alex Shrugged
"Black Hand" was a mixed group sometimes labeled as nihilists. It may have been nihilism rather than anarchy that was driving those assassinations. Nihilism frees one from all limits... including the limit of caring whether someone lives or dies. Unfortunately, the public at that time associated assassinations with anarchy, and unions such as the "Wobblies" (Industrial Workers of the World or IWW). I know it is difficult to imagine, but people were polarized at that time, believing that they had the final truth and everyone else was messing up the world and preventing us from making it right. Yes. I know. Crazy. Thank God we are a lot smarter today. Aren't we? Yes. Somewhat smarter. [10]

Notable Births

  • Mother Teresa (Will help the poor in India and be elevated to sainthood in September 2016. ) [11] [12]
  • Jane Wyatt (Will play Spock's mother in Star Trek. She will also become Ronald Reagan's 1st wife.) [13]
  • Momofuku Ando (The patron saint of bachelors. He invents Top Ramen® and Cup Noodles®... one of the inventors. Spread the glory.) [14]

In Other News

  • The Earth passes through the tail of Halley's Comet. The comet comes within 13 million miles. No one turns into a zombie. [15]
  • Frankenstein's monster is released! The monster has no name except in relation to his creator. This is the first horror film. It runs 16 minutes. [16]
  • The first infrared photographs are published by Robert Wood. That infrared glow around plants is now called "The Wood Effect." [17] [18]

This Year in Wikipedia

Year 1910, Wikipedia.

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