Last week I attended a lecture on the notion of Italian identity–what does it mean to be Italian? The speaker was a professor and a member of the European Parliament. At one point, someone asked him whether an attempt should be made to disallow the entry of new foreign words into the Italian language.
I was [...]

It’s that time of year again. Time for children to dress up as ghouls and goblins, princesses and superheroes. However, how much of what we really know about Hallowe’en is true?
One myth about Hallowe’en is that is comes from the ancient Celtic Lord of the Dead named Samhain and is, therefore, evil. Most of us [...]

We hear a lot of stories about America’s founding fathers, and many of them are about Benjamin Franklin’s inventions and exploits. One of the most famous legends about Franklin is that he discovered electricity with a kite and a key in a storm. The story goes that he went outside on a stormy night with [...]

American Exceptionalism, the idea that the United States is inherently different because it was founded on the principles of personal responsibility, freedom from over-reaching government, and equality, was alive and well for nearly 200 years although it would appear over the last few decades that that notion has been expelled from American culture.  In its [...]

In 1492, Columbus sailed the ocean blue. Children hear that a million times, and that much is true. However, the rest of the story is a little more myth than fact. Just a few days ago, we celebrated Columbus Day. Let’s take a look at the true story of Christopher Columbus.
Contrary to popular belief, almost [...]

I once read that one of Steve Jobs’s favorite quotations is by Wayne Gretzky: “I skate to where the puck is going to be, not where it’s been.”
I’ve been thinking about that notion a lot lately. Watching old videos of Jobs presenting before Apple employees in 1997 following his return to the company confirms he [...]

We’ve all heard the story of Paul Revere’s midnight ride on April 18, 1775. We hear the take of his courageous ride alone through the countryside calling “The British are coming!” The colonists were warned and disaster averted. It’s a wonderful tale of heroism. Unfortunately, it isn’t entirely true.
The true story is equally heroic, although [...]

In 1984, Steve Jobs unveiled the first Macintosh.
Watching this video, you will feel the audience’s excitement as Steve Jobs inserts the floppy disk, and it feels like they are cheering in a small room, not an auditorium. The computer goes on to displays the visual power of his innovation; this was the defining moment in [...]

In the early 1950s, Americans were enjoying peace and prosperity. World War II was over, the baby boom was drawing to a close, and our love affair with the road was speeding up…literally. Manufacturers had been experimenting with sports cars for years, but 1953 brought us the Chevrolet Corvette, and it changed everything. It was [...]

BET founder Robert Johnson on the “FOX News Sunday” program: “Well, I think the president has to recalibrate his message. You don’t get people to like you by attacking them or demeaning their success. You know, I grew up in a family of 10 kids, first one to go to college, and I’ve earned my [...]

Last weekend, I attended the 2011 Students For Liberty Chicago Regional Conference. In a few short years, this organization has changed the entire cultural dialogue for college students interested in the ideas of free markets, individual liberty, and limited government. The group has made it acceptable–even laudable–to be a libertarian on campus. Students now have [...]

Let’s face it, Americans tend to get restless. Once automobiles became commonplace in America, the open road was calling to us, and our roadways had to keep up. Nothing was going to keep us penned in, and this spirit was embodied in Route 66, “The Mother Road.” Established in 1926, Route 66 was one of [...]