Good morning, Whitewater.
Our week in town begins with partly sunny skies and a high of seventy-four. There’s an even chance of rain later in the day.
Posts this week will include commentary on the schools referendum (two on politics for Tuesday, the curriculum apart from the referendum on Wednesday), videos for Halloween, and on Friday FREE WHITEWATER’s annual Scariest Things in Whitewater. (This year will be the eight annual edition of that post).
It’s Theodore Roosevelt’s birthday:
Theodore “T.R.” Roosevelt, Jr. … [a] (October 27, 1858 – January 6, 1919) was an American politician, author, naturalist, soldier, explorer, and historian who served as the 26th President of the United States.[3] He was a leader of the Republican Party (GOP) and founder of the Progressive Party insurgency of 1912. He is known for his exuberant personality, range of interests and achievements, and his leadership of the Progressive Movement, as well as his “cowboy” persona and robust masculinity.[4] Born into a wealthy family in New York City, Roosevelt was a sickly child who suffered from asthma. To overcome his physical weakness, he embraced a strenuous life. He was home-schooled and became an eager student of nature. He attended Harvard College where he studied biology, boxed, and developed an interest in naval affairs. He quickly entered politics, determined to become a member of the ruling class. In 1881 he was elected to the New York State Assembly, where he became a leader of the reform faction of the GOP. His book The Naval War of 1812 (1882) established him as a learned historian and writer.
On this day in 1864, a solider from Waukesha sinks a confederate ship:
On this date William Cushing led an expedition to sink the Confederate ram, the Albermarle, which had imposed a blockade near Plymouth, North Carolina and had been sinking Union ships. Cushing’s plan was extremely dangerous and only he and one other soldier escaped drowning or capture. Cushing pulled very close to the Confederate ironclad and exploded a torpedo under it while under heavy fire. Cushing’s crew abandonded ship as it began to sink. The Albemarle also sunk. Cushing received a “letter of thanks” from Congress and was promoted to Lieutenant Commander. He died in 1874 due to ill health and is buried in the Naval Cemetery at Annapolis, Maryland. [Source: Badger Saints and Sinners by Fred L. Holmes, p.274-285]
Google-a-Day asks a sports trivia question:
What is the name of the twin of the wife of the Super Bowl XXXVI MVP?
How ’bout a 3D animation, from the Emmy-winning artists and directors at The Saline Project, to start our Halloween week? For today, a vampire:
