JFK officially declared his intent to run for President on January 2, 1960. He won his party’s nomination on July 30, 1960 and on Tuesday November 8, Kennedy defeated Nixon and won the Presidency of the United States. He was sworn in as President on January 20,1961. The most remembered part of his inaugural address is his world famous quote “Ask not what your country can do for you; ask what you can do for your country.” He was assassinated on November 22, 1963 – ending his short lived but world changing Presidency. Read the rest of this entry »
Hardtack (also known as pilot bread, ship’s biscuit, shipbiscuit, sea biscuit, sea bread or pejoratively as dog biscuits, tooth dullers, sheet ironor molar breakers.) The name hardtack has its origins from the British sailor slang for food, i.e. “tack”. And since the cracker is as hard as a rock, its name became hard tack (i.e. hard food.)
So what exactly is this cracker that is as hard as a rock?
Read the rest of this entry »
During the period of time when Ellis Island/the Port of New York were open and processing immigrants, millions of people from far shores entered the United States to start a new life. As would be expected, most people were everyday folks – known only to friends, family and their employers. Sort of like most people living their lives all around the world today. But also, as would be expected, a small percentage of these immigrants differentiated themselves from the teeming masses by their remarkable accomplishments on the cultural and scientific landscape. Read the rest of this entry »
K Rations were developed in 1941 when the U.S. War department tasked Dr. Ancel Keys with designing a non-perishable, ready-to-eat meal that could fit in a soldier’s pocket as a short-duration, individual ration. Keys did his research at a local supermarket, choosing foods that were inexpensive but high in caloric content. He purchased hard biscuits, hard candy, dry sausages and chocolate bars. His initial k ration weighed in at 28 ounces and packed a whopping 3,200 calories. The rations were tested on soldiers who gave uniformly low ratings for their taste but said that they did relieve hunger and provide energy for the days tasks. Due to the lack of balance in these meals, they were intended for short duration activities only. In fact, they were recommended for a maximum of only 15 meals before the soldiers were to be put on the more balanced ‘A’ or ‘B’ field rations. Read the rest of this entry »
One of the functions of the post office is to issue commemorative stamps. Commemorative stamps commemorate people, places, artwork and ideas and are hot collectibles. Read the rest of this entry »