Posts by Pamela
Florence Nightingale Does the Math*
Florence Nightingale is best known for her heroic efforts in the Crimean War,** where she threw open windows, scrubbed filthy floors and equally filthy men,*** bullied doctors and officers on the spot, fought with the British Army’s military director, and saved lives. She returned home a heroine. Victorian Britain loved to celebrate a celebrity. Nightingale…
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From the Archives: Big History and Big Buts
Several years ago, when I was working on a Big Project, I stumbled across the concept of Big History.* It’s basically the opposite of the academic mantra “not my field.” Proponents of Big History integrate many scholarly disciplines in order to look at human history as a tiny part of the history of the cosmos.…
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From the Archives: The First Memorial Day
We’re heading into Memorial Day weekend here in the United States: a time to remember soldiers fallen in our country’s service. Instead of writing a new post on the subject, I’ve chosen to share this one again. For the record, My Own True Love and I plan to attend Chicago’s Memorial Day parade tomorrow–a first…
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