Donner Pass: this is where the first European settlers entered into present-day California. They tried using a new route and it led to a horrible tragedy, if you have ever read about the Donner Party, this pass is named after them. At the Donner summit are archeological petroglyphs – carvings on the rocks – madeContinue reading “Thanksgiving at site of Native American petroglyphs where settlers entered California”
Tag Archives: history
High Heeled Shoes Were Originally Created For Men
History is fascinating. I had no idea! The origin of high-heels can be traced back to 15th century Persia when soldiers wore them to help secure their feet in stirrups. Persian migrants brought the shoe trend to Europe, where male aristocrats wore them to appear taller and more formidable. https://www.teenvogue.com/story/heels-history-men “The heel was an additionalContinue reading “High Heeled Shoes Were Originally Created For Men”
A “flux” view of the world
It’s important to remember how the world changes and why. It is always changing and it continues to change. Borders, boundaries, peoples, rights, wrongs – a “flux” view is the only optimal way to understand it all. This is what America was around 1500 AD (yes, that’s only 500 years ago!). I am an immigrantContinue reading “A “flux” view of the world”
Tree of Unity: Republic Day of India
The Indian Constitution turns 70 today. It’s unimaginable how 500+ princely states scattered all across the subcontinent, with 30+ major languages (definition of major language: spoken by at least a million people), and spanning almost every religion in the world, was able to come together and form a country that ended up becoming the largestContinue reading “Tree of Unity: Republic Day of India”
A brief, selective history of India
[Just putting together some thoughts. Welcome fact checking / corrections / perspectives.] 28,000 years ago The oldest definitively identified Homo sapiens fossils yet found in South Asia are Balangoda man. Named for the location in Sri Lanka where they were discovered, they are at least 28,000 years old. 10,000 years ago Indians who are lactose-tolerantContinue reading “A brief, selective history of India”
Why the railway signs in Bombay changed from Gujarati to Marathi, and why it’s now Mumbai
Have you wondered whether the city is “Bombay” or “Mumbai”? Here’s the violent, xenophobic history behind the change. I was rewatching a Bollywood movie shot in Bombay in the 80s. In this scene, the two protagonists are at the train station waiting to go home. Notice the sign behind them. It says “Marine Lines”, whichContinue reading “Why the railway signs in Bombay changed from Gujarati to Marathi, and why it’s now Mumbai”
