Professor Mei X. Chen, M.A., Literature Scholar

July 2nd: An Alligator Fell From The Charleston Skies

2Jul

By Professor Mei X. Chen, M.A., Literature ScholarNo Comments

July 2nd: An Alligator Fell From The Charleston Skies

What Happened On July 2nd? July 2, 1843, seemed like any other summer day in Charleston, South Carolina. However, by afternoon, dark clouds gathered over the city, foretelling a severe thunderstorm. Now, what happened next was far from ordinary. Amidst the storm’s fury, an alligator fell from the sky. Charleston Braces For A 'Gator-ific" Storm Temperatures soared that day, pressing the heavy air down on the city. By mid-afternoon, the sky turned a shade of gray, and the first rumbles of thunder echoed across the rooftops. Residents hurried to close their windows and secure their belongings, preparing for a typical summer storm. However, this storm would prove anything but typical. A Gator From The Heavens As the storm raged, witnesses reported seeing a small alligator fall...

June 29th: Apple Released The First Ever iPhone To The Public

29Jun

By Professor Mei X. Chen, M.A., Literature ScholarNo Comments

Science & Industry

June 29th: Apple Released The First Ever iPhone To The Public

What Happened On June 29th? On January 9, 2007, at the Macworld conference in San Francisco, Apple CEO Steve Jobs unveil the first iPhone. This sleek, touchscreen device changed not just the phone industry but daily interactions with technology. The Core Of The Apple Steve Jobs, dressed in his trademark black turtleneck and jeans, began his keynote speech with characteristic flair. He spoke of three new products: a widescreen iPod with touch controls, a mobile phone, and an internet communicator. The audience watched in awe as Jobs revealed that these were not three separate devices but one device—the iPhone. "Today, Apple is going to reinvent the phone," he proclaimed. This new device combined an iPod, a phone, and an internet communicator into a single, elegant package. The ...

June 26th: Clinton Punished Iraq For Bush Assassination Attempt

26Jun

By Professor Mei X. Chen, M.A., Literature ScholarNo Comments

U.S. History

June 26th: Clinton Punished Iraq For Bush Assassination Attempt

What Happened On June 26th? On June 26, 1993, President Bill Clinton ordered a military strike against Iraq in retaliation for a plot to assassinate former President George H.W. Bush. This bold move showed the United States' resolve to protect its leaders and assert its power on the global stage. The Assassination Plot In April 1993, Kuwaiti officials discovered a car bomb intended to kill former President George H.W. Bush during his visit to Kuwait. The bomb, hidden in a Toyota Land Cruiser, contained over 175 pounds of explosives. Investigations by both Kuwaiti and American intelligence agencies linked the plot to the Iraqi Intelligence Service (IIS). Several suspects, including two Iraqi nationals, confessed to involvement in the plan, with direct orders coming from the top le...

June 10th: The First “Salem Witch” Was Hanged

10Jun

By Professor Mei X. Chen, M.A., Literature ScholarNo Comments

U.S. History

June 10th: The First “Salem Witch” Was Hanged

What Happened On June 10th? On June 10, 1692, the town of Salem, Massachusetts, Bridget Bishop was hanged, which began the infamous Salem witch trials. This was a period of mass hysteria and paranoia that led to the execution of twenty people and the imprisonment of many more. Brewing Trouble The late 17th century in Salem experienced social, economic, and religious unrest. The small Puritan community faced tensions, exacerbated by recent hardships such as harsh winters, crop failures, and attacks from neighboring Native American tribes. These stresses created a fertile ground for fear and suspicion. In this climate, accusations of witchcraft provided a convenient outlet for communal anxieties. The fear of witches often targeted women who defied societal norms, such as those who...

May 22nd: Pac-Man Released To The Public

22May

By Professor Mei X. Chen, M.A., Literature ScholarNo Comments

Arts & Culture

May 22nd: Pac-Man Released To The Public

What Happened On May 22nd? On May 22, 1980, Namco officially released the arcade game Pac-Man in Japan. Created by game designer Toru Iwatani, Pac-Man introduced a unique maze chase format. Players would have to guide the titular character through a labyrinth to eat pellets and avoid ghosts. The game was later distributed by Midway in North America, and it rapidly became a cultural phenomenon. The Conception Of Pac-Man Toru Iwatani, a young game designer at Namco, was seeking to create a game that would appeal to a broader audience, including women and younger players. Iwatani’s inspiration came from a simple yet universally relatable experience: eating. The now-iconic character design of Pac-Man was reportedly inspired by a pizza missing a slice, a visual that struck Iwatan...

May 16th: The First Ever Academy Awards Held In L.A.

16May

By Professor Mei X. Chen, M.A., Literature ScholarNo Comments

Arts & Culture

May 16th: The First Ever Academy Awards Held In L.A.

What Happened On May 16th? On May 16, 1929, Hollywood gathered for a legendary evening in the annals of cinema. The first Academy Awards ceremony took place at the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel in Los Angeles, where about 270 attendees, including industry luminaries, gathered for a private dinner. To celebrate the highest achievements in filmmaking, this event would grow into one of the most prestigious awards ceremonies in the world, the Oscars. The Inception Of The Academy Awards The idea for the Academy Awards was conceived by Louis B. Mayer, head of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM), who sought to create an organization that would mediate labor disputes and improve the industry’s image. In 1927, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS) was formed, and the concept of award...

April 5th: Jacob Roggeveen Landed Upon Easter Island

5Apr

By Professor Mei X. Chen, M.A., Literature ScholarNo Comments

Arts & Culture

April 5th: Jacob Roggeveen Landed Upon Easter Island

What Happened On April 5th? Easter Island, a speck of volcanic rock adrift in the South Pacific Ocean, has intrigued imaginations for centuries. More specifically, the colossal, enigmatic statues on the island – the moai – have fueled theories of lost civilizations and extraterrestrial intervention. However, the island's true history remained a mystery until April 5th, 1722, when European explorers found the isolated paradise. Now, Dutch explorer Jacob Roggeveen wasn't specifically searching for Easter Island. Rather, he was leading a squadron of three ships on a chartered mission for the Dutch East India Company, tasked with finding a rumored continent south of South America. Lost and running low on supplies, Roggeveen and his crew veered off course, their instruments failing t...

April 2nd: The U.S. Dollar Established With The Mint Act

2Apr

By Professor Mei X. Chen, M.A., Literature ScholarNo Comments

U.S. History

April 2nd: The U.S. Dollar Established With The Mint Act

What Happened On April 2nd? Having emerged victorious from the Revolutionary War, the United States now faced a new challenge: rebuilding the economy. More specifically, the nation was in need of a stable and unified currency. So, on April 2nd, 1792, this challenge was addressed with the passage of the Coinage Act. In turn, the legislation not only created the United States Mint, but also introduced the dollar as the nation's official currency. How The Founding Fathers Played A Role The Coinage Act wasn't born out of thin air. Founding Fathers like Alexander Hamilton, the first Secretary of the Treasury, recognized the importance of a standardized currency for a burgeoning nation. Hamilton, a champion of a strong federal government, envisioned the dollar as a symbol of unity and ...

March 29th: Farmers In Lintong County Brought The Terracotta Army To Life

29Mar

By Professor Mei X. Chen, M.A., Literature ScholarNo Comments

Arts & Culture

March 29th: Farmers In Lintong County Brought The Terracotta Army To Life

What Happened On March 29th? March 29th, 1974, forever changed the landscape of archaeology. On that day, a group of farmers in Lintong County, near the city of Xi'an, China, stumbled upon an unbelievable discovery – the Terracotta Army. Buried beneath the earth for over 2,000 years, this vast collection of life-sized terracotta warriors, horses, and chariots emerged from their slumber, offering a breathtaking glimpse into the power and ambition of China's first emperor, Qin Shi Huang. How Was The Army Born? The Terracotta Army was not a random creation... it was all very meticulously planned for a specific purpose. Almost one thousand years before the rule of Charlemagne, Qin Shi Huang, a ruthless yet visionary ruler, obsessed with immortality, started a colossal project to buil...

March 19th: NASA’s Curiosity Rover “Unearthed” Water On Mars

19Mar

By Professor Mei X. Chen, M.A., Literature ScholarNo Comments

Science & Industry

March 19th: NASA’s Curiosity Rover “Unearthed” Water On Mars

What Happened On March 19th? 2013 was a year for science as fatal disease smallpox was eradicated completely, while NASA made their moves on Mars. And, on March 19, 2013, NASA's rover, Curiosity, analyzed rock powder and meticulously drilled from the Martian surface, revealing the presence of hydrated minerals. This became a tantalizing clue, igniting hope that microbial life on the Red Planet could have existed or could still exist. The announcement was made at a prestigious planetary science conference, where scientists all over world were taken by surprise and excitement! The specific minerals identified were clay minerals, known to only form in the presence of water. While not concrete proof of a "flowing river," it strongly inferred that Mars had a wetter environment in its dis...