Did George Washington know about dinosaurs? Most likely, no. Today, the existence of dinosaurs may seem like an immutable fact, but our knowledge of these ancient creatures is a relatively modern development. In fact, the very concept of dinosaurs is so recent that many of the founders of the United States lived most if not all of their lives without knowing that dinos existed. English naturalist Robert Plot described the very first fossilized evidence of dinosaurs, what we now know to be the femur of a megalosaurus, in 1677. But with no concept of dinosaurs in the mid-17th century, Plot theorized that the bone must have belonged to some ancient forgotten race of giant humans.

It’s likely that George Washington died in 1799 believing that such giant humans existed in the distant past. It wasn’t until the 1820s that geologists began to reexamine this theory and proposed that the mysterious bones belonged to an ancient reptile rather than a mammal. Even then, it took until 1842 for English paleontologist Richard Owen to offer up the word “dinosaur,” based on the Greek words for “terrible lizard,” to describe the ancient beasts (not entirely accurate, but close enough). This etymological creation arrived a full decade after Charles Carroll, the longest-surviving signer of the Declaration of Independence, died at the age of 95. The story of the dinosaurs is long and ancient, but our knowledge of them certainly isn’t.

E very country needs a national symbol to represent its noble struggle, and the United States has one of the most recognizable: Uncle Sam, who is said to be named after a New York meat merchant. Samuel Wilson of Troy, New York, was himself known as Uncle Sam, an affectionate nickname that became familiar to millions of Americans after he supplied thousands of barrels of beef and pork to hungry troops during the War of 1812. The barrels had “U.S.” stamped on them to indicate that they were government property, but the initials came to be associated with Uncle Sam among grateful soldiers.

The name took off, and before long illustrations of Uncle Sam began appearing in print. Cartoonists such as Thomas Nast and Joseph Keppler depicted the patriotic figure as a thin and bearded older man with a top hat and coattails, popularizing the image we recognize today. The origin of the name “Uncle Sam” remains disputed, however, and some historians have noted that references to the name appeared in newspapers before Wilson ever stamped “U.S.” on his meat barrels. Still, the legend is widely accepted, and Congress even passed a resolution in 1961 recognizing Wilson as Uncle Sam’s namesake. Today, the figure is inextricably linked with America, but he wasn’t the first personification of the country. He was preceded by Brother Jonathan, a rustic but good-natured character who originated in New England during the American Revolution.

T he Great War was such a difficult time, some soldiers sought out the assistance and comfort of four-legged friends — including cats, who were used in the trenches to boost morale. Dogs, homing pigeons, foxes, goats, lion cubs, and even raccoons also served their countries as pets and mascots throughout the “war to end all wars,” and some even carried out official duties. Cats did a bit of both: Though most kitties simply kept their compatriots in good spirits by providing them with loyal companionship (and fending off rats), some also used their heightened sense of atmospheric pressure to detect bombs in advance.

Not all feline soldiers’ deeds have gone unnoticed. Among the 75 animals who have received the PDSA Dickin Medal, which was established in 1943 to honor the military service of animals, is a cat named Simon. He served aboard the HMS Amethyst from 1948 to 1949 and received the medal for “disposing of many rats though wounded by shell blast. Throughout the incident his behaviour was of the highest order, although the blast was capable of making a hole over a foot in diameter in a steel plate.” In a newsreel of the ship returning home, Simon is rightly referred to as “a hero in his own right.”

 Think about the fact that it is not just a person that will enter the White House based on the outcome of the 2024 election, it is going to be the catalyst for our way of life. 

  Re-elect Biden and we will continue as a democratic nation with Constitutional rights and privileges. Elect Trump and we are headed into a situation that is not completely known as yet. It could be that it will be sunshine and roses, or it could be that darkness and the stench of death are what we get, or something in between those extremes. 

  If you look at the current state of many of the states that are being controlled by the GOP it get some indications of what may be coming. They have taken away educational opportunities and burned the books, literally. They have taken away women’s rights to make decisions about health and reproductive issues. This includes the enactment of laws to chase women down that leave the state to seek those treatments and bring them back and prosecute them for violating their home state laws. 

  The rights of those that live an alternate lifestyle have been removed and in some cases criminalized. Efforts to limit the voting rights of segments of the populace have been implemented, mostly those that are not white. 

  Other things that are very likely to happen. Most of your agencies that are there to protect the populace from contaminated products or bad water will be eliminated and it will be left to the Leader to determine what is or is not put forth. For the outdoorsmen of this nation the waterways will become dead from the efforts to find precious metals. There will be no game to hunt because those habitats will vanish because the forests will be stripped and the land turned over looking for whatever riches may be there. 

  Our country will become as ravished as if we had a war going on with the bombing and destruction that happens when mankind loses the plot. We already know that the states that are GOP lead do not care about whether children go hungry, they have refused to participate in programs to feed children. Having people get so desperate that they are willing to harm or kill their neighbors for food will be considered as minor. We will have the feudal system back in place with a very few controlling everything and the rest scrambling to survive. 

  Will we be able to turn back the clock and regain our way of life? It is not likely as the intent of a Dictator is to pass the wand of power to the next generation and those at the top of the power base will no doubt do their best to keep the power as close as possible.

  This of course means that at some point we will have an elite class that is mentally unstable from inbreeding just like it happened across Europe and Russia from the 1600’s to the 1900’s. The current King of England’s parents were cousins and if you take a look at previous generations it is possible to connect the rulers of Europe and Russia to just a few related families.

  So the question is does your vote go to the person or to a way of life that person ultimately represents?