Eric Christensen
@echristensen.bsky.social
love, truth, beauty, corn, and a little democracy … an old, long-haired, noble-fared, leaping gnome
I love to share the things I am learning. Sometimes my histories will cover significant events, and sometimes they will just be fun. I may not be able to be able to post a history every day, but I want to post as many as possible in response to sycophants who are desperately trying to erase history.
January 4, 2026 at 6:09 PM
I love to share the things I am learning. Sometimes my histories will cover significant events, and sometimes they will just be fun. I may not be able to be able to post a history every day, but I want to post as many as possible in response to sycophants who are desperately trying to erase history.
Image—from the National Parks Service—is an 1857 illustration of Colt’s Armory in Hartford Connecticut, where work is now in progress to establish Coltsville National Historic Park as an official park. (5/5)
January 4, 2026 at 6:09 PM
Image—from the National Parks Service—is an 1857 illustration of Colt’s Armory in Hartford Connecticut, where work is now in progress to establish Coltsville National Historic Park as an official park. (5/5)
In 2021, Colt Manufacturing was acquired by Česká Zbrojovka Group (now known as Colt CZ Group) in Prague, Czech Republic, but the Colt products are still manufactured in the United States. (4/5)
January 4, 2026 at 6:09 PM
In 2021, Colt Manufacturing was acquired by Česká Zbrojovka Group (now known as Colt CZ Group) in Prague, Czech Republic, but the Colt products are still manufactured in the United States. (4/5)
The demand for firearms during the Civil War created a tremendous volume of business for Colt. He died before the end of the war, but his widow kept his business growing after his death. (3/5)
January 4, 2026 at 6:08 PM
The demand for firearms during the Civil War created a tremendous volume of business for Colt. He died before the end of the war, but his widow kept his business growing after his death. (3/5)
Colt hired the factory of the Whitney Armory to manufacture the guns and made enough money to build his own factory in Hartford, Connecticut, in 1848, and he incorporated it as Colt’s Patent Manufacturing Company in 1855. (2/5)
January 4, 2026 at 6:08 PM
Colt hired the factory of the Whitney Armory to manufacture the guns and made enough money to build his own factory in Hartford, Connecticut, in 1848, and he incorporated it as Colt’s Patent Manufacturing Company in 1855. (2/5)
I love to share the things I am learning. Sometimes my histories will cover significant events, and sometimes they will just be fun. I may not be able to be able to post a history every day, but I want to post as many as possible in response to sycophants who are desperately trying to erase history.
January 3, 2026 at 8:18 PM
I love to share the things I am learning. Sometimes my histories will cover significant events, and sometimes they will just be fun. I may not be able to be able to post a history every day, but I want to post as many as possible in response to sycophants who are desperately trying to erase history.
Image—from page 7C of the “Corpus Christi Times,” Saturday, September 11, 1971—is a photo of Harvey Ball and Joy P. Young and their Smiley Face, accompanying an article celebrating history of the Smile Button. (5/5)
January 3, 2026 at 8:18 PM
Image—from page 7C of the “Corpus Christi Times,” Saturday, September 11, 1971—is a photo of Harvey Ball and Joy P. Young and their Smiley Face, accompanying an article celebrating history of the Smile Button. (5/5)
In 1966, the button was the second most popular button in America (second to Avis Car Rental’s “We Try Harder”), and today’s social media is inundated with variations of the iconic Smiley symbol. (4/5)
January 3, 2026 at 8:17 PM
In 1966, the button was the second most popular button in America (second to Avis Car Rental’s “We Try Harder”), and today’s social media is inundated with variations of the iconic Smiley symbol. (4/5)
By 1969, there were so many requests for the buttons from the public that they became too expensive for them to produce, so Philadelphia retailer Bernard and Murray Spain began marketing them. (3/5)
January 3, 2026 at 8:17 PM
By 1969, there were so many requests for the buttons from the public that they became too expensive for them to produce, so Philadelphia retailer Bernard and Murray Spain began marketing them. (3/5)
The button was designed by commercial artist Harvey Ball, who was hired by assistant director of sales promotions Joy P. Young, as part of a campaign to promote cheerfulness and helpfulness among the company’s employees. (2/5)
January 3, 2026 at 8:16 PM
The button was designed by commercial artist Harvey Ball, who was hired by assistant director of sales promotions Joy P. Young, as part of a campaign to promote cheerfulness and helpfulness among the company’s employees. (2/5)
I love to share the things I am learning. Sometimes my histories will cover significant events, and sometimes they will just be fun. I may not be able to be able to post a history every day, but I want to post as many as possible in response to sycophants who are desperately trying to erase history.
January 2, 2026 at 6:06 PM
I love to share the things I am learning. Sometimes my histories will cover significant events, and sometimes they will just be fun. I may not be able to be able to post a history every day, but I want to post as many as possible in response to sycophants who are desperately trying to erase history.
Image—from the National Postage Museum—shows the 5-cent, 1-dollar, and 4-dollar stamps from the 1893 Columbian Exhibition Exposition Issue collection. (5/5)
January 2, 2026 at 6:06 PM
Image—from the National Postage Museum—shows the 5-cent, 1-dollar, and 4-dollar stamps from the 1893 Columbian Exhibition Exposition Issue collection. (5/5)
(Later historians debunked the legend that Isabella sold her jewels to raise funds, but she had expressed a willingness to do so, which inspired other nobles to donate money for the voyage.) (4/5)
January 2, 2026 at 6:06 PM
(Later historians debunked the legend that Isabella sold her jewels to raise funds, but she had expressed a willingness to do so, which inspired other nobles to donate money for the voyage.) (4/5)
The 5-cent stamp portrayed Columbus requesting funds from Isabella; the 1-dollar stamp portrayed Isabella selling her jewels to raise money for Columbus’s expedition; and the 4-dollar stamp had individual portraits of Isabella and Columbus. (3/5)
January 2, 2026 at 6:06 PM
The 5-cent stamp portrayed Columbus requesting funds from Isabella; the 1-dollar stamp portrayed Isabella selling her jewels to raise money for Columbus’s expedition; and the 4-dollar stamp had individual portraits of Isabella and Columbus. (3/5)
The 16-stamp Columbian Exposition Issue was introduced prior to the World’s Columbian Exhibition (also known as the Chicago World’s Fair) commemorating the 400th anniversary of Columbus’s first trip to the New World. (2/5)
January 2, 2026 at 6:05 PM
The 16-stamp Columbian Exposition Issue was introduced prior to the World’s Columbian Exhibition (also known as the Chicago World’s Fair) commemorating the 400th anniversary of Columbus’s first trip to the New World. (2/5)
I love to share the things I am learning. Sometimes my histories will cover significant events, and sometimes they will just be fun. I may not be able to be able to post a history every day, but I want to post as many as possible in response to sycophants who are desperately trying to erase history.
January 1, 2026 at 9:39 PM
I love to share the things I am learning. Sometimes my histories will cover significant events, and sometimes they will just be fun. I may not be able to be able to post a history every day, but I want to post as many as possible in response to sycophants who are desperately trying to erase history.
Associated Press photo, from the Bristol [Tennessee] Herald Courier, Thursday, March 28, 2002, page 3B, is a publicity photo from “The Glen Campbell Goodtime Hour” television show on January 11, 1972, showing Johnny Cash and Merle Haggard together, along with Buck Owens and Glen Campbell. (3/3)
January 1, 2026 at 9:39 PM
Associated Press photo, from the Bristol [Tennessee] Herald Courier, Thursday, March 28, 2002, page 3B, is a publicity photo from “The Glen Campbell Goodtime Hour” television show on January 11, 1972, showing Johnny Cash and Merle Haggard together, along with Buck Owens and Glen Campbell. (3/3)
Haggard had been in trouble with the law throughout his teenage years, but he said that the performance by Johnny Cash “set a fire under me that hadn’t been there before.” After being released on parole the following year, he began performing and recording and became a country star. (2/3)
January 1, 2026 at 9:39 PM
Haggard had been in trouble with the law throughout his teenage years, but he said that the performance by Johnny Cash “set a fire under me that hadn’t been there before.” After being released on parole the following year, he began performing and recording and became a country star. (2/3)
I love to share the things I am learning. Sometimes my histories will cover significant events, and sometimes they will just be fun. I may not be able to be able to post a history every day, but I want to post as many as possible in response to sycophants who are desperately trying to erase history.
December 31, 2025 at 9:36 PM
I love to share the things I am learning. Sometimes my histories will cover significant events, and sometimes they will just be fun. I may not be able to be able to post a history every day, but I want to post as many as possible in response to sycophants who are desperately trying to erase history.
Image shows the Price Act of Ipswich, Massachusetts, which was passed shortly after the Rhode Island price controls, enumerating the maximum price for a large number of products. (4/4)
December 31, 2025 at 9:36 PM
Image shows the Price Act of Ipswich, Massachusetts, which was passed shortly after the Rhode Island price controls, enumerating the maximum price for a large number of products. (4/4)
These lessons were later forgotten, and wage and price controls were once again instituted nationwide by an Executive Order issued by President Richard Nixon in 1971. The “Nixon Shock” that this caused once again taught America that wage and price controls are not the answer to inflation. (3/4)
December 31, 2025 at 9:36 PM
These lessons were later forgotten, and wage and price controls were once again instituted nationwide by an Executive Order issued by President Richard Nixon in 1971. The “Nixon Shock” that this caused once again taught America that wage and price controls are not the answer to inflation. (3/4)