Nikola Tesla was born 162 years ago today in Smiljan, Croatia. Known as a pioneer of radio, the father of alternating current, and the archetypal “mad scientist” he was awarded at least 278 patents. A lifelong eccentric, he never married nor had any romantic relationships, though he’s rumored to have been infatuated with a pigeon. […]
Since “The Star-Spangled Banner” has been at the center of controversy in recent years, I thought it appropriate to reuse and update an article I wrote a few years back. Most people know (I hope) that Francis Scott Key wrote the lyrics over 200 years ago during the War of 1812. Few people know that […]
Lately, we Americans have been obsessed with Mexico but it’s all too easy to forget about our other neighbor, Canada. No American forgets about Cinco de Mayo (actually a rather minor Mexican holiday), but I’d be surprised if more than one in a hundred knows about Dominion Day. This commemorates Canada’s transition from British colony […]
One of my favorite things about writing for Steampunk Desperado is that it motivates me to discover new authors and gives me the opportunity to promote them to the world. Peter Clines’ 2017 novel Paradox Bound is about time travel, and normally I’d see that as a red flag. Even more concerning, it’s strictly about […]
Today is the 199th anniversary of the birth of England’s celebrated Queen Victoria, who reigned over the British Empire from 1837 to 1901. This was an official holiday for many years in the United Kingdom, though it’s been superseded by Commonwealth Day, which is celebrated in March. It’s still a holiday in Canada, though like […]
The beginnings of our 26-letter alphabet are shrouded in the mists of time. The same is true for most other types of writing, like Greek, Hebrew, Arabic, and Chinese. But three writing systems were actually invented by specific individuals, and went on to be used by thousands and sometimes millions of people. What better way […]
Monument to the Age of Steam: The Eiffel Tower Nothing says “Paris” like the Eiffel Tower. France’s most iconic landmark was officially opened on this day in 1889. The tower is named for Gustav Eiffel, the engineer whose firm designed it for the 1889 World’s Fair. At the time many artists and architects hated it, […]
