thoughts of a college graduate

life: Presidential candidate John F. Kennedy confers with his brother and campaign organizer, Robert Kennedy, in a hotel suite during the 1960 Democratic National Convention in Los Angeles. See more photos of LIFE’s coverage from the Democratic National Convention through the years here.

life:

Presidential candidate John F. Kennedy confers with his brother and campaign organizer, Robert Kennedy, in a hotel suite during the 1960 Democratic National Convention in Los Angeles.

See more photos of LIFE’s coverage from the Democratic National Convention through the years here.

freundevonfreundentravel: View from Wallberg, Bavaria, Germany.

freundevonfreundentravel:

View from Wallberg, Bavaria, Germany.

life: Old-school NBC. Two-way radios were used to interview delegates on the floor at the 1956 Democratic National Convention in Chicago. See more photos here.

life:

Old-school NBC.

Two-way radios were used to interview delegates on the floor at the 1956 Democratic National Convention in Chicago.

See more photos here.

“If farmers and blacksmiths could win independence from an empire, if immigrants could leave behind everything they knew for a better life on our shores, if women could be dragged to jail for seeking the vote, if a generation could defeat a depression, and define greatness for all time, if a young preacher could lift us to the mountaintop with his righteous dream, and if proud Americans can be who they are and boldly stand at the altar with who they love… then surely… surely we can give everyone in this country a fair chance at that great American Dream.”
—   Michelle Obama, speaking at the Democratic National Convention. (via pantslessprogressive)

(via coolchicksfromhistory)

historical-nonfiction: Leonardo da Vinci’s Studies of Water Passing Obstacles and Falling, c. 1508-1509

historical-nonfiction:

Leonardo da Vinci’s Studies of Water Passing Obstacles and Falling, c. 1508-1509

(Source: )

pbsthisdayinhistory: August 24, 79 AD:  Pompeii and Herculaneum Destroyed in Mount Vesuvius Eruption On this day in the year 79 AD, over 16,000 people died from the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in the Gulf of Naples, Italy.  The volcano spewed molten rock and pulverized pumice at 1.5 million tons per second, releasing a 100,000 times the thermal energy released by the Hiroshima bombing. As a result, the cities of Pompeii and Herculaneum and their citizens were nearly instantly buried beneath a thick layer of volcanic material. Join geo-archaeologists in Secrets of the Dead’s “Herculaneum Uncovered” as they examine how the eruption devastated Herculaneum in a very different manner than to Pompeii. Photo: Mount Versuvius, Library of Congress, 1872.

pbsthisdayinhistory:

August 24, 79 AD:  Pompeii and Herculaneum Destroyed in Mount Vesuvius Eruption

On this day in the year 79 AD, over 16,000 people died from the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in the Gulf of Naples, Italy.  The volcano spewed molten rock and pulverized pumice at 1.5 million tons per second, releasing a 100,000 times the thermal energy released by the Hiroshima bombing.

As a result, the cities of Pompeii and Herculaneum and their citizens were nearly instantly buried beneath a thick layer of volcanic material.

Join geo-archaeologists in Secrets of the Dead’s “Herculaneum Uncovered” as they examine how the eruption devastated Herculaneum in a very different manner than to Pompeii.


Photo: Mount Versuvius, Library of Congress, 1872.

pbsthisdayinhistory: August 23, 2012:  100th Anniversary of Gene Kelly’s Birth On this day in 1912, American performer and choreographer Eugene “Gene” Kelly was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.  Most known today for his starring roles in Singin’ in the Rain and An American in Paris, Gene Kelly is regarded as one of the greatest male stars of all time. Check out this American Masters timeline of Gene Kelly’s life and career.

pbsthisdayinhistory:

August 23, 2012:  100th Anniversary of Gene Kelly’s Birth

On this day in 1912, American performer and choreographer Eugene “Gene” Kelly was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.  Most known today for his starring roles in Singin’ in the Rain and An American in Paris, Gene Kelly is regarded as one of the greatest male stars of all time.

Check out this American Masters timeline of Gene Kelly’s life and career.

historical-nonfiction: The leaning tower of Pisa was nearly destroyed during WWII by the Allies, because it gave Nazis full view of all their movements. Luckily, the soldier who was supposed to call in the artillery strike was overcome by it’s grace and beauty, and couldn’t do it.

historical-nonfiction:

The leaning tower of Pisa was nearly destroyed during WWII by the Allies, because it gave Nazis full view of all their movements. Luckily, the soldier who was supposed to call in the artillery strike was overcome by it’s grace and beauty, and couldn’t do it.

pbsthisdayinhistory: August 22, 1934:  Al Capone Arrives at Alcatraz On this day in 1934, American gangster and mob boss Alphonse Capone began serving his 10-year sentence at the newly opened United States Penitentiary, Alcatraz Island for income tax evasion.  Capone led a Prohibition-era crime syndicate specializing in smuggling and bootlegging liquor, and other illegal activities from the early 1920’s to 1931. Watch a clip from Ken Burns’s Prohibition about Al Capone’s downfall.

pbsthisdayinhistory:

August 22, 1934:  Al Capone Arrives at Alcatraz

On this day in 1934, American gangster and mob boss Alphonse Capone began serving his 10-year sentence at the newly opened United States Penitentiary, Alcatraz Island for income tax evasion. 

Capone led a Prohibition-era crime syndicate specializing in smuggling and bootlegging liquor, and other illegal activities from the early 1920’s to 1931.

Watch a clip from Ken Burns’s Prohibition about Al Capone’s downfall.

Death by Chocolate

historical-nonfiction:

Nazis conspired to assassinate Winston Churchill by using exploding chocolate! MI5 papers show that Hitler’s bomb-makers coated explosives in a thin layer of dark chocolate and expensively wrapped as “Peter’s Chocolate.” The deadly treats were then to be planted among other treats taken to Britain’s War Cabinet. The plot was discovered by M15 agents, who alerted their superior, Lord Rothschild. He quickly had advertisements around England warning citizens to beware of exploding sweets!

(Source: )