Emily Hooker 

timeline of the Empire State Building from 1928 to now

Read Helen Keller's entire letter about her experience at the top of the 

A short history of the world's tallest buildings

The Grand Opening of the Empire State Building.

".... a victory of imagination. Instead of crouching close to earth like a beast, the spirit of man soars to higher regions, & from this new point of vantage he looks upon the impossible with fortified courage & dreams yet more magnificent enterprises.”

Helen Keller in a 1932 letter writing about her visit to the Empire State Building. Both blind and deaf, Keller came to this description based on feeling alone - a tribute to the symbolism and size of the building.

The race was on to build the world's tallest building. 

 The Chrysler Building (built by the founder of Chrysler Corporation) claimed the title with 77 floors. As a result, the Empire State Building's blueprints changed from 80 to 102 floors, ensuring it would be the tallest.

Empire State Building completed (partly thanks to aid from an executive from Chrysler competitor General Motors) and became the first building in the world to reach 100 stories.

 Opening Day The Empire State Building opens to the public & is dedicated by Pres. Hoover. He (symbolically) presses a button from D.C., officially opening the building & turning on the lights for the first time. 

The building is established as the tallest in the world at 102 stories high.

It also broke records for how quickly it was built: the entire process took around 13 months or 410 days

: The Empire State Building earned this nickname after the office building struggled to get tenants. The building weathered the stock market crash of 1929 and provided jobs during the early years of the Depression, but took decades to enlist occupants.


 In 1933, two years after opening, the building experienced increased visitation & popularity when the movie "King Kong" was released. Millions began to flock to the building after its feature on the big screen.

 was the tallest building in the world for 40 years & is now ranked as 43rd. The world's tallest building currently is the Burj Khalifa in Dubai at over 160 stories.

On a clear day, six states are visible from the observation deck: 

New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Connecticut, Massachusetts, and Delaware.

The Empire State Building is one of America's most well-known attractions. Standing at 1,250 feet tall, it was originally designed to be a docking station for airships. Due to the city's wind currents and surrounding buildings, it was instead built to be one of the largest office buildings in the world.

On This Day

Empire State Building 90 

updated price of 50 pound bucket since the article was published

Lumber shortage and its impact on home-building 

What computer chips are used for and how this could last until 2022 

 -- "like tiny brains or memory receptacles" 

"Uncertainties caused by the pandemic" have "led to sharp swings in orders last year" 

How the chlorine shortage could impact swimming this summer

The impact of lumber shortages on the booming housing market 

For more information on how computer chips are important to everyday life

As Americans navigate the next stage of the COVID-19 pandemic, shortages of everyday items are still occurring. 

"A pandemic swimming pool boom" has led to a 

for chlorine. *But* a major fire at a Louisiana chemical plant has 

This plant is one of only three chlorine tablet producers in America & has been closed since August.

The average price for a 50-pound bucket of chlorine tablets was about $80 last summer. It has now increased to approximately $200. 

 Chlorine keeps pools clean & helps maintain safe swimming conditions, protecting people from waterborne illnesses. 

Many sawmills decreased their production when the pandemic hit, expecting the need for lumber to be minimal.

the housing market began to surge & lumber production hasn't been able to meet demand. 

Due to COVID-related production challenges, the problem still grows. 

 "Soaring lumber prices that have tripled over the past 12 months have caused the price of an average new single-family home to increase by $35,872." (National Assn. of Home Builders) 

 They are "like tiny brains or memory receptacles” & are essential to most modern appliances such as smartphones, cars, & airplanes.

 Inventory miscalculations & "uncertainties caused by the pandemic" have "led to sharp swings in orders last year" & widespread shortages. 

 This production delay could result in longer wait times for items like cars, phones, & kitchen appliances until 2022. 

From toilet paper to chicken wings to chlorine - the pandemic has resulted in shortages of every kind (at different times). With increased demand and lower supplies for certain goods, this summer could once again be impacted by what *isn't* available on the shelves. 

Now You Know

Pandemic-Related Shortages

https://www.archives.gov/files/exhibits/nates/files/19th-amendment-ratification-fact-sheet.pdf 

Influenced by Fredrick Douglas, sold small portraits

 https://www.archives.gov/files/exhibits/nates/files/19th-amendment-ratification-fact-sheet.pd

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For more on how photography was used to champion civil rights and women's rights: 

https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/how-sojourner-truth-used-photography-help-end-slavery-180959952/

A little more information on the 19th Amendment: 

https://www.archives.gov/files/exhibits/nates/files/19th-amendment-ratification-fact-sheet.pdf

Congress passes the 19th amendment granting women the right to vote, a result of decades of activism.

How did suffragists *finally* change the public's mind? 

Here's one unique strategy you may recognize - 

The women's voting movement (aka "women's suffrage") began in the 1800s. 

41 years after it was first introduced, Congress passed the 19th Amendment, guaranteeing women the right to vote. 

One year, two months & two weeks later, the necessary three-fourths of the states ratified the 19th Amendment, officially adding it to the Constitution.

Wyoming was first to ratify (the state  granted women the right to vote in 1870), Tennessee was the last.

Born in 1797 &  enslaved until 1826 in NY. 

Magnetic speaker who promoted civil rights & women's rights. 

Her strategy: Inspired by Fredrick Douglas, 

she began selling her photographed portrait on small, inexpensive cards. 

Similar to baseball cards, people exchanged & collected the cards.

The significance: By providing an image of herself, 

Truth influenced how people saw her & countered

 racist & sexist cartoons with other imagery.

Inspired by Sojourner Truth, Susan B. Anthony distributed portraits of herself & other suffragists on cards, in papers & beyond.

She requested & managed portraits of suffragists, giving instructions for their pose, & asking for the “best eyes,” & “best hair."

personalize the mission & influence public opinion

; to provide visualization of strong female leaders & counteract the cartoons that mocked suffragists. 

“When we shall have our amendment [for woman suffrage] . . . everybody will think it was always so . . . They have no idea of how every single inch of ground that she stands upon today has been gained by the hard work of some little handful of women of the past.”

Susan B. Anthony, 1894. To continue their storytelling of women's suffrage, Anthony & other prominent leaders compiled portraits & stories, published in six volumes of the 

- each volume has approximately 1,000 pages.

While the 19th Amendment granted women the right to vote in 1920, it wasn't until 1965 that the Voting Rights Act was passed, which ended discriminatory practices (ex: literacy tests) that discouraged or prevented Black Americans from voting in federal elections.

OTD 19th Amendment

The Kite Experiment: The Franklin Institute 

The science behind the experiment: Benjamin Franklin Historical Society

John Priestly's thoughts on the experiment

 to learn more about Benjamin Franklin's other inventions, discoveries, and contributions

Benjamin Franklin flies a kite during a thunderstorm.

How the founding father's experiment impacted modern science (and ignited myths along the way).

“...Dr. Franklin, astonishing as it must have appeared, contrived actually to bring lightning from the heavens, by means of an electrical kite, which he raised when a storm of thunder was perceived to be coming on.”

Friend of Franklin and discoverer of oxygen, Joseph Priestly, in a 1767 account on the groundbreaking discovery using metal as a conductor for electrical charges - or, as he described it: "To demonstrate, in the completest manner possible, the sameness of the electric fluid with the matter of lightning..."

Franklin had been researching electricity & various hypotheses for years.

His original experiment was designed to occur on top of a church's steeple; he planned to attach iron rods to the top of the steeple to test for electrical charges. 

However, the church's construction was taking too long. As a result, it occurred to him to build a kite suitable for testing electrical charges during a thunderstorm. 

 A kite made out of a silk handkerchief, hemp string, silk string, sharp wire, a Leyden jar (stores electrical charge for later use), & a metal house key. 

When the storm began, Franklin conducted the experiment from the ground using his newly-developed kite. With the help of his son, he flew the kite & discovered a spark when the kite drew electric charges. 

Franklin's theory was solidified when the key, attached to the bottom of the kite, received a negative charge & shocked him. 

Franklin was not the first person to discover electricity.

 Scientists had already been working extensively with (static) electricity up to the point of the experiment. 

 rather, it collected the nearby electrical charge from the lightning. 

Franklin's experiment was not the first to demonstrate the electrical nature of lightning.

 It was first tested a month beforehand in France, but Franklin had not heard of the findings until after his own experiment. 

Why it matters: This well-known experiment laid the groundwork for the lightning rod and helped develop a better understanding of positive and negative charges. It's just one of many inventions developed or inspired by Benjamin Franklin. 

OTD Ben Franklin Kite Experiment 

The much-anticipated meeting between U.S. and Russian presidents will take place in a country known for its neutrality. 

The story of how Switzerland went from a nation of professional soldiers to a nation of peacemaking. 

“Permanent neutrality is a principle of Swiss foreign policy. It is a generating source of peace and stability in Europe and beyond. It ensures the country’s independence and the inviolability of its territory."

Switzerland's Federal Dept. of Foreign Affairs describing its permanent neutrality principle. This long-standing principle emphasizes that Switzerland is to refrain from engaging in war, treat countries at odds with one another equally, and not supply military troops to countries in conflict.

Switzerland was not always a neutral territory. Throughout the Middle Ages, its mercenary forces (soldiers hired to serve in foreign armies) earned the Swiss a reputation for their military prowess - and in doing so, benefited its economy. 

Problem #1:  As warfare changed, Switzerland began losing battles in the early 1500s and lost their economic stability as a result. 

Problem #2: Swiss soldiers grew weary of fighting each other in foreign wars. 

:  European countries met from 1814 to 1815 to help rebuild government order after the French Revolutionary War and Napoleonic Wars. 

In both wars, the Swiss worked as mercenary soldiers; as a result, they found themselves at the center of debate and unable to choose sides. 

The meeting declared Switzerland a neutral zone because of its strategic geographic location in Europe and history of fighting for different countries. 

Switzerland has (mostly) managed to maintain neutrality since their 1815 commitment.

Neutrality isn't without controversy. For example, Switzerland did not engage in combat in WWII but infamously participated in some financial dealings with Nazi Germany.

Switzerland still has a military (for defense purposes) but is NOT a member of NATO.

Switzerland is NOT part of the European Union (an economic and political union).

Leaders from around the world still meet in Switzerland because of the country's political neutrality. The spotlight once again falls on Geneva, known as "the capital of peace," for the meeting between Presidents Biden and Putin. Geneva is home to the UN's European headquarters, several international organizations (ex: World Health Organization), and numerous non-governmental organizations (ex: the International Red Cross). 

Why Switzerland is Neutral 

Texas voted in favor of joining the 
United States of America. 

Just 176 years later, could the state that made famous 

 Texas declared independence from Mexico.

 Nine years  later, Texas and the U.S. Congress voted in favor of 

 (when a new territory is added to a country). 

 Texas first voted in favor of annexation in 1836, but the U.S. gov't opposed it because of fears of conflict with Mexico and concerns about permitting another state into the Union that allowed slavery. 

Great Britain wanted Texas to remain independent in order to preserve their trade relations and prevent U.S. expansion

After years of debate, U.S. Pres. John Tyler proposed annexation in order to counter competition with Great Britain.

After negotiations between the U.S. & Texas, Congress passed an annexation resolution. Texas accepted the offer, but added unique terms. One example: Texas' right to retain title to its public land.

The U.S. Constitution maps out how a state enters the Union, but there's no legal roadmap for exiting.

Texas can divide itself into smaller states. Texas asserted its independence by stipulating its ability to choose to divide into five smaller states in the 1845 resolution: “

New States of convenient size not exceeding four in number, in addition to said State of Texas and having sufficient population, may, hereafter by the consent of said State, be formed out of the territory thereof 

Any change to statehood would require congressional approval. 

While not in an official Supreme Court opinion (or specific to Texas), the late Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia once weighed in on the issue of secession in the United States, replying in a 2006 letter, Justice Scalia wrote "

... the answer is clear. If there was any constitutional issue resolved by the Civil War, it is that there is no right to secede. (Hence, in the Pledge of Allegiance, 'one Nation, indivisible.'

Texas to the USA 

https://www.loc.gov/item/today-in-history/june-25/

Rosalind Walter *first* inspired female patriotism during WWII (and beyond).

Born in 1924, she grew up in Long Island & Connecticut attending prep schools. 

At 19, she began working the night shift as a riveter (drilling fasteners) on WWII fighter planes at a factory.

To establish how much women should get paid, the factory timed Roz while she worked. She broke all the men's records, resulting in equal pay for men & women in the factory. 

In 1942, two men wrote a song called “Rosie the Riveter” after an article highlighting her work was published. 

That little girl will do more than a male will do

From the 1942 song "Rosie the Riveter.”

 attempted to depict “Rosie The Riveter” as a way to recruit American women to traditionally male jobs due to a wartime labor shortage. 

* associate with “Rosie The Riveter” (1943 “We Can Do It!” poster) was NOT inspired by Roz, but by another woman working in a factory during WWII. 

Another popular WWII "Rosie The Riveter" poster was painted by Norman Rockwell. It depicted a 19-year-old phone operator holding a rivet gun & eating a sandwich. 

The wartime image of "Rosie The Riveter" was only used for a few weeks by a private company in 1942 but gained popularity in the 1980s. 

Roz passed away last year at 95 years old. She was a lifelong philanthropist and well known for her support of public programming. She was the largest individual supporter of NYC's local PBS station. 

OTD Rosie The Riveter

James Smithson passes away, putting in motion a surprising story of how this British scientist - who never set foot in the U.S. - funded one of America's most famous museums and research facilities: the Smithsonian Institution.

Born in 1765 in Paris as an illegitimate child. His mother was a widow and reportedly a descendent of King Henry VII; his father was a married, wealthy duke. 

He excelled in the sciences from a young age & had a particular interest in chemistry. 

He immersed himself in the scientific communities of London & Paris, publishing 27 papers ranging from mineral analyses to methods for making a better cup of coffee. 

Smithson dedicated his life to science, incl. its accessibility & its application in everyday life. 

1826: As Smithson got older and sensed his health worsening, he traveled to London to write his will. 

He left his estate to his nephew, who was in his early 20s - adding that if his nephew died without an heir, his estate would go to America in order to fund the development of the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C. 

Smithson died three years after writing his will. His nephew died six years later - without an heir. 

"... to the United States of America, to found at Washington, under the name of the Smithsonian Institution, an 

establishment for the increase and diffusion of knowledge among men.

The clause in Smithson's will. The estate was valued at over $500,000 & was awarded to the U.S. in 1838. Congress debated for eight years on what to do with the money before reaching an agreement in 1846, when Pres. James Polk signed legislation establishing the Smithsonian Institution as a series of museums & research facilities. 

Consists of 19 museums, a zoo, and many research facilities. 

The Smithsonian is home to approx. 155 million objects, works of art, & specimens. Nearly 146 million are scientific specimens at the National Museum of Natural History. 

The annual budget for fiscal year 2021 is approx. $1 billion, 62% of which is federally funded. 

Items on display are wide-ranging, including Dorothy's famous Ruby Slippers and a jar of pickled woolly mammoth flesh. 

James Smithson passed away on this day in 1829. His unexpected endowment resulted in one of the world's most well-known museums... but *why* he did it still remains a mystery. Some believe his donation was intended to be a retaliation against the rigid scientific community of England; others think it served as a way to make his name known after being claimed illegitimate as a child. It is also thought to reflect his passion for democracy and access to education. 

OTD Smithsonian Institute

Search and rescue efforts continue after the remainder of the Champlain Towers South building was 

 the death toll stood at 46 (32 have been identified). 200 people are accounted for and officials are still searching for over 90 unaccounted for residents. No one has been rescued since the first few hours after the building collapsed on June 24.

 on Tuesday, Surfside Mayor Charles Burkett expressed urgency as more days have passed since the collapse and with 

 set to make landfall along Florida's northern Gulf Coast on Wednesday, marking the 14th day of the search-and-rescue operation.

Elsa has brought increased wind to the Miami area, limiting the use of cranes in search efforts. Lightning halted rescue workers for about two hours on Tuesday afternoon. 

 for a live update on the search and rescue efforts.

Search and rescue efforts continue with the Miami condo collapse. 

Miami Condo Collapse Update

 on June 28. It was the first successful inter-city trip, going from Nitra to Bratislava, Slovakia, in 35 minutes. By car, the trip would take just over an hour or so. 

Following the test flight, the vehicle landed and transformed into a car (the transformation takes 2 minutes and 15 seconds) and was immediately driven through downtown Bratislava. 

, is the creator of the AirCar. He has spent the last 20 years developing flying cars, and in 2017 he co-founded KleinVision with entrepreneur and friend Anton Zajoc.

The AirCar is built with a BMW engine and is fueled by regular petrol-pump (gas) fuel. The vehicle has clocked around 40 hours total in the air. 

“This flight starts a new era of dual transportation vehicles. It opens a new category of transportation and returns the freedom originally attributed to cars back to the individual," said Professor Klein upon exiting the cockpit after the flight. 

 to watch the milestone event on KleinVision's Instagram page.

An "AirCar" completed its first inter-city flight in Slovakia. 

Flying Car

The world's tallest sandcastle was built in Blokhus, Denmark at the annual 

It broke the Guinness World Record at 69.4 feet tall and consists of over 

. It is 11.5 feet taller than the tower that previously held the title for world's tallest sandcastle 

, a Dutch artist who is known for his sand, ice, and snow sculptures. He was assisted by 30 experienced sand sculptors from around the world. 

The detailed structure resembles a pyramid and features detailed designs such as beach houses, lighthouses, and kitesurfing. Atop the sandcastle is the coronavirus wearing a crown - inspired by the pandemic's 

 of fall and winter, it consists of 10% clay and a layer of glue (applied after completion). The sandcastle is expected to remain standing until February or March. 

World's tallest sandcastle constructed in Denmark 

World's Tallest Sandcastle 

The Guardian: Sky Brown: 'Sometimes you fall but I wanted to show me getting up again'

New sports being added to the Tokyo Olympics 

It’s OK to fall sometimes and I’m just going to get back up and push even harder

Sky Brown, who will be 13 years old next week, is making her Olympic debut in Tokyo as Great Britain's youngest Olympian. She will be competing in skateboarding, which is 1 of 4 new sports making their Olympic debut this year. As a younger child, Brown watched YouTube videos to learn new tricks. She is currently ranked #3 in the world in women's park skateboarding & is the world's youngest professional skateboarder. Great Britain's female skateboarding team will also include 14-year-old Bombette Martin. 

Quote of the Day

QTD Sky Brown 

“I’ve got to trust my guide with my ability to get down the track ... And off the track, as well as on the track, I’ve got to trust God with my ability to get through life.”

David Brown is the world's fastest blind runner. He won the gold medal in the 2016 Paralympics 100 meter run and is competing in the 2021 Paralympics in August. He will run with Jerome Avery, whose job is to guide Brown and encourage him to the finish line. The duo has worked together for 7 years. 

Brown is not only a professional athlete, but is also a seminary student, can play four instruments, and travels as a motivational speaker. 

QTD world's fastest blind runner

 for a closer look at the Tokyo 2020 Games medals

As the Olympic Games begin, the world's best athletes compete for first-of-its kind medals - the same hue as the past, but history-making for modern times.

 In ancient Greece's Olympics, victors received wreaths made of olive branches taken from the sacred olive tree of Zeus at the sanctuary site of Olympia. 

 Modern Olympic Games began in 1896 in Athens, Greece. 1st-place winners received a silver medal, olive branch, & diploma; 2nd-place winners rec'd a bronze medal, laurel branch, & diploma. The 1904 Games in St. Louis began the tradition of awarding gold, silver, & bronze medals to the top 3 finalists.

"The gold, silver and bronze medals ... not only represent the greatest honor for the athletes but also an opportunity for Japan to showcase its culture & charm to the rest of the world."

Tokyo 2020 Olympic website. Each host city designs the medals awarded to Olympians & Paralympians following these three requirements: Nike, the Greek goddess of victory, must be pictured in front of the Panathinaikos Stadium (site of the 1896 Games in Athens), they must include the official name of the games, & the Olympic five rings symbol must be visible. 

Quick. Concise. Nonpartisan.

Articles by Emily Hooker

“There's no giving up hope, I think we're all unified on that... It is really a beautiful thing. There is a lot of love here.”

Surfside Mayor Charles Burkett on the search and rescue efforts of the Miami condo collapse.

“I can't wait to see the piece of paper that says this is safe to fly and safe to sell.”

Senior research fellow in avionics and aircraft at the University of West England, Dr. Stephen Wright, on the AirCar's first inter-city flight

“It's very, very, very beautiful artwork that you've never seen before.”

John Andersen on the world's tallest sandcastle built in his sculpture garden.

“Delivering during COVID is hard ... It’s nice to be celebrated and everybody wants to win a gold medal and it's fun to incorporate the Olympics into it.”

Nurse Stephanie Peterson at St. Luke's Health System in Missouri. She crocheted around 20 gold medals for newborns born on the day of the Olympic Opening Ceremony.

“This was an audacious theft, carried out in plain view of experienced and professional staff at a renowned jewelers.”

Detective Sgt. William Man at London's Metropolitan Police Service on a historic jewelry heist in London, as another sentence for the crime was handed out.