We've all seen the calendars and books and web sites that tell us "On this day in 1969, Neil Armstrong became the first human (as far as we know) to set foot on the moon," etc. That's interesting because it encourages us to remember or imagine interesting moments in history.

When I'm traveling, either on business or for pleasure, I'd like a reference for the locale in which I'm traveling that tells me "on this day, in this city, ..." That way I could spend the whole day mentally playing with how the historical event relates to what I'm experiencing as I live that day in the historical surroundings of the event. I think that could make for an interesting diversion from a business trip, or an entertaining theme for a pleasure trip. And I think that, being in an unfamiliar and interesting place, I'd be more likely to keep the historical event fresh in my mind than if I hear about it on the way to work and it's not as relevant.

I wouldn't want it to say "On this day in 1587 Elizabeth I signed the death warrant for Mary, Queen of Scots," and the next day to say "On this day in 1587 Elizabeth I had tea." Rather, on the second day, it should say "On this day in 1940, the first bombs fell on London in the Battle of Britain" (Assuming those two days are actually adjacent, though I'm sure they're not).

I'd think there's been enough history in nearly any major city to pull this off. Where actual history doesn't provide an interesting event, alx's Fiction Calendar could perhaps be consulted. It could be published in a wide variety of formats, especially electronic ones.
-- beauxeault, Apr 09 2002

alx's Fiction Calendar, http://www.halfbake.../Fiction_20Calendar
which reminded me of this idea. [beauxeault, Apr 09 2002, last modified Oct 17 2004]

October in Paris http://www.paris.or...01/history.oct.html
and other places in France [thumbwax, Apr 10 2002, last modified Oct 17 2004]

Mid-air Messaging Attaches Wireless Data to Physical Locations http://www.interex..../hpw203/03news.html
9 Apr 02 | HP Cooltown. "The idea is called mid-air messaging: messages that are available to anyone-or only to specified people-entering a specific area." [bristolz, Apr 10 2002, last modified Oct 17 2004]

Geocorder http://www.halfbakery.com/idea/geocorder
[waugsqueke, Apr 10 2002]

Sept 11 http://www.tcpalm.c...107_1077412,00.html
2000 [reensure, Apr 10 2002]

Stuart Sutcliffe Died in 1962 from a cerebral hemorrhage - While not a noteworthy musician, it was he who was the original bassist for a little combo known as the Quarry Men, but which soon changed their name to the Silver Beatles and, finally, the Beatles. He was also first who combed his hair down in the fashion at the behest of Girlfriend and fellow artist Astrid Kirchherr which became synonomous with The Beatles. Anybody up for a Hamburger?
-- thumbwax, Apr 10 2002


('wax... I always wondered, can you imagine if he had not died? I mean, this was the guy whom Lennon idolized.)
-- waugsqueke, Apr 10 2002


bliss, please note that I did specify an *interesting* place, as well as a *major* city. (I say that with a wink; I'm sure Hartford is a wonderful place.)

UB, your first link is not location-specific, but the NYTimes link looks like it's essentially what I'd like to see available for other major cities (though in most of the world I wouldn't want to be limited to newspaper stories).

Incidentally, I'm hoping to use this approach to start the day with a group of people I'm taking to London, Paris, and Amsterdam this October. Can anyone suggest interesting events that occurred in London on Oct. 18, 19, 20 or 21, in Paris on Oct. 21, 22, 23, or 24, or in Amsterdam/Netherlands on Oct. 24, 25, 26, 27?
-- beauxeault, Apr 10 2002


18 Oct. 2002 - Arrived in London - none of the halfbakers were there to greet us, odd...
19 Oct. 2002 - Still haven't located any of the halfbakers, getting more nervous...
-- thumbwax, Apr 10 2002


This reminds me of an article I read a while back (think it was in the New Scientist), about a system currently being developed. It basically allows you to leave a 'message' of some kind at a particular location (using that Halfbakery favourite, GPS), so that anyone else passing through that location will be able to read messages posted there.

Can't seem to dig out any links though...

[later...] Good work bristolz...an old coursemate of mine just got offered a placement at HP labs. No fair.
-- -alx, Apr 10 2002


[-alx] I read that one too. I think it was the researchers at HP's Bristol labs (my personal fave). They were calling it "leaving a message in midair."

Ah! I found a linky . . .
-- bristolz, Apr 10 2002


Cool. That's the same as an idea that's been kicking around here for quite a while... egnor's "geocorder". One of the suggestions there (linked) was to use it to leave bad reviews outside the entrances of crappy restaurants.
-- waugsqueke, Apr 10 2002


Just invite my gran along, she knows every milli-second of every moment in history - ever... plus she knows all the "Best Pub Guide" from cover to cover.
-- gizmo, Apr 10 2002



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