Latest news with #ThomasJefferson
New York Post
a day ago
- Science
- New York Post
Florida utility crew accidentally unearths massive claw belonging to 11,000-year-old giant ground sloth named by Thomas Jefferson
A utility crew digging a trench in Florida came across a fossilized part of an 11,000-year-old giant ground sloth that was originally named by Thomas Jefferson. The team in Florida's Manatee County was excavating to install a waterline when they encountered what they believed was just an ordinary tool buried in the Earth. 4 A utility crew in Florida found part of a giant ground sloth fossil. Manatee County Government 'They were digging away and found what they thought was an ordinary tool,' Charlie Hunsicker, the director of Manatee County's Natural Resources Department, told Fox 13. The tool turned out to be a fossilized claw from a giant ground sloth, an 800-pound behemoth that lived during the tail end of the Great Ice Age. 4 The claw belonged to a medium-sized Megalonyx jeffersonii. Manatee County Government 'This was a wonderful story of happenstance,' Hunsicker said. The giant ground sloth was given its scientific name, Megalonyx jeffersonii, by Jefferson, the US's third president, in 1797 after some fossils belonging to the extinct beast were found in a cave in West Virginia, according to the Sloth Sanctuary. The ones dubbed by Jefferson are medium-sized compared to other ground sloths, primarily being smaller than the much larger Megatherium, Hunsicker explained. 'When South America and North America joined, those animals migrated up through Texas, Mexico and into the Southeast. All of this was really a tropical jungle and forest at the time,' he told Fox 13. 4 The Megalonyx jeffersonii was named by Thomas Jefferson. auntspray – The largest ground sloths could weigh up to a staggering 8,000 pounds and stand 13 feet tall. The mammal had a blunt snout and a large jaw riddled with peg-like teeth. It was able to stand on its hind legs on occasion to eat high-up plants but could also shred any enemy with its three sharp claws, according to Sloth Sanctuary. The Florida fossil was brought to a nearby science and nature museum to be properly preserved and eventually placed on display. 4 The largest of the ground sloths could weigh up to 8,000 pounds. auntspray – Very few ground sloth fossils have been discovered on the East Coast. The majority are primarily found in states along the Rocky Mountains, bits of the West Coast and even Alaska, according to Sloth Sanctuary. Recently, fossils have turned up in the least expected places. In March, an 'absolutely massive' footprint likely belonging to an Iguanodon was discovered on a coastal town's beach in England. Last June, three tweens found a Tyrannosaurus Rex fossil on a hike in North Dakota and even had their journeys later recounted in a documentary.
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
White House history: Did you know a president started National Ice Cream Day?
Picture this: a swelteringly unbearable Washington, DC summer. Now imagine stepping into the White House, where a cool scoop of ice cream awaits. For centuries, this frozen delight has been a staple in the Executive Mansion, charming presidents, first ladies, and guests alike. From Thomas Jefferson to Donald Trump, ice cream has dripped deeply into the fabric of the White House and presidential history, proving that even the most powerful people in the world can't resist a good scoop. Though ice cream's origins trace back to the second century B.C., it's as American as apple pie. Today, we devour an average of 4 gallons per person each year. In the White House, it's a treat that transcends politics and brings a touch of joy to formal state dinners and intimate garden parties alike. And that's not to mention first families or visiting grandchildren! Ice cream is a great White House tradition The story of ice cream in the White House begins with Thomas Jefferson, a man whose affinity for the frozen dessert began during his time in France. In 1806, Jefferson served ice cream at a White House Independence Day celebration, delighting guests with its cold, creamy texture – a rarity in the days before home refrigerators. Jefferson, whose menus sometimes even featured the treat served inside a warm pastry, had an icehouse built on the White House grounds to make sure ice cream was never in short supply. Dolley Madison also embraced the dessert with enthusiasm, serving it frequently during her time as first lady from 1809 to 1817. While she wasn't the first, she helped solidify ice cream's place as a White House tradition. Decades later, at Abraham Lincoln's second inauguration ball in 1865, flavors ran the gamut as guests enjoyed an elegant buffet that included vanilla, lemon, white coffee, chocolate, burnt almonds, and maraschino ice creams alongside other desserts. The crowd left little behind, proving that ice cream could take the cake even amid national turmoil. Opinion: White House hospitality is a form of diplomacy that has evolved over time By the 20th century, ice cream was a White House summer staple, as evidenced by a charming moment in 1924 when President Calvin Coolidge and first lady Grace Coolidge enjoyed scoops at a garden party for veterans. The image of the famously reserved Coolidge indulging in ice cream humanized a president known for his stoicism. President Reagan proclaimed July as National Ice Cream Month The establishment of the White House executive pastry chef position in 1979 marked a new era of creativity for frozen desserts. Roland Mesnier, who held the role from 1979 to 2004, often used sorbet – an ice cream-like dessert traditionally made with sugar, fruit juice or puree and water instead of dairy – in his elaborate final courses. For a 1984 state dinner honoring President Miguel de la Madrid of Mexico, Mesnier formed kiwi sorbet into cactus shapes filled with tequila-flavored mousse and adorned with pulled-sugar flowers and spines. A decade later, chef Mesnier went the full 'cream' route in his dessert at a 1995 state dinner honoring German Chancellor Helmut Kohl, serving coffee and hazelnut ice cream. Opinion: White House state dinners put America on display. They're crucial for US diplomacy. President Ronald Reagan, known for his love of jelly beans, also had a soft spot for ice cream. In 1984, he proclaimed July as National Ice Cream Month and the third Sunday of the month as National Ice Cream Day – a 'sundae' celebration. Barack Obama brought a scooper's perspective to the ice cream narrative. As a teenager in Honolulu, he worked at a Baskin-Robbins. In a 2016 LinkedIn post, the president reflected on the job's lessons in responsibility and hard work, though admitting the endless free scoops somewhat but not completely dulled his taste for the treat. There was no shortage of ice cream devotees at the White House, though. At a 2010 visit to an ice cream factory in Columbus, Ohio, the then-vice president proclaimed, 'My name is Joe Biden, and I love ice cream. You all think I'm kidding – I'm not. I eat more ice cream than three other people … all at once.' Opinion alerts: Get columns from your favorite columnists + expert analysis on top issues, delivered straight to your device through the USA TODAY app. Don't have the app? Download it for free from your app store. Donald Trump's ice cream preference made headlines in 2017. As TIME magazine reported after a small Blue Room dinner for reporters during this first term, President Trump was served two scoops of vanilla ice cream with his chocolate cream pie, while his guests received just one. Whether intentional or not, the president's double scoop added a modern twist to the mansion's ice cream lore. White House ice cream history is more than a tale of dessert – it's a reflection of American tastes, ingenuity, and the human need for a little sweetness amid the pressures of leadership. During this National Ice Cream Month, the White House Historical Association will offer our own selection of ice cream delectables daily outside The People's House, our new education center across from the White House Grounds. Stop by and have a scoop with us! Stewart D. McLaurin is president of the White House Historical Association, a private nonprofit, nonpartisan organization founded by first lady Jacqueline Kennedy in 1961, and is director of The People's House: A White House Experience multimedia educational center and museum. You can read diverse opinions from our USA TODAY columnists and other writers on the Opinion front page, on X, formerly Twitter, @usatodayopinion and in our Opinion newsletter. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: It's National Ice Cream Day – thanks to Reagan. Cool, right? | Opinion
USA Today
4 days ago
- Politics
- USA Today
White House history: Did you know a president started National Ice Cream Day?
White House ice cream history is more than a tale of dessert – it's a reflection of American ingenuity. Picture this: a swelteringly unbearable Washington, DC summer. Now imagine stepping into the White House, where a cool scoop of ice cream awaits. For centuries, this frozen delight has been a staple in the Executive Mansion, charming presidents, first ladies, and guests alike. From Thomas Jefferson to Donald Trump, ice cream has dripped deeply into the fabric of the White House and presidential history, proving that even the most powerful people in the world can't resist a good scoop. Though ice cream's origins trace back to the second century B.C., it's as American as apple pie. Today, we devour an average of 4 gallons per person each year. In the White House, it's a treat that transcends politics and brings a touch of joy to formal state dinners and intimate garden parties alike. And that's not to mention first families or visiting grandchildren! Ice cream is a great White House tradition The story of ice cream in the White House begins with Thomas Jefferson, a man whose affinity for the frozen dessert began during his time in France. In 1806, Jefferson served ice cream at a White House Independence Day celebration, delighting guests with its cold, creamy texture – a rarity in the days before home refrigerators. Jefferson, whose menus sometimes even featured the treat served inside a warm pastry, had an icehouse built on the White House grounds to make sure ice cream was never in short supply. Dolley Madison also embraced the dessert with enthusiasm, serving it frequently during her time as first lady from 1809 to 1817. While she wasn't the first, she helped solidify ice cream's place as a White House tradition. Decades later, at Abraham Lincoln's second inauguration ball in 1865, flavors ran the gamut as guests enjoyed an elegant buffet that included vanilla, lemon, white coffee, chocolate, burnt almonds, and maraschino ice creams alongside other desserts. The crowd left little behind, proving that ice cream could take the cake even amid national turmoil. Opinion: White House hospitality is a form of diplomacy that has evolved over time By the 20th century, ice cream was a White House summer staple, as evidenced by a charming moment in 1924 when President Calvin Coolidge and first lady Grace Coolidge enjoyed scoops at a garden party for veterans. The image of the famously reserved Coolidge indulging in ice cream humanized a president known for his stoicism. President Reagan proclaimed July as National Ice Cream Month The establishment of the White House executive pastry chef position in 1979 marked a new era of creativity for frozen desserts. Roland Mesnier, who held the role from 1979 to 2004, often used sorbet – an ice cream-like dessert traditionally made with sugar, fruit juice or puree and water instead of dairy – in his elaborate final courses. For a 1984 state dinner honoring President Miguel de la Madrid of Mexico, Mesnier formed kiwi sorbet into cactus shapes filled with tequila-flavored mousse and adorned with pulled-sugar flowers and spines. A decade later, chef Mesnier went the full 'cream' route in his dessert at a 1995 state dinner honoring German Chancellor Helmut Kohl, serving coffee and hazelnut ice cream. Opinion: White House state dinners put America on display. They're crucial for US diplomacy. President Ronald Reagan, known for his love of jelly beans, also had a soft spot for ice cream. In 1984, he proclaimed July as National Ice Cream Month and the third Sunday of the month as National Ice Cream Day – a 'sundae' celebration. Barack Obama brought a scooper's perspective to the ice cream narrative. As a teenager in Honolulu, he worked at a Baskin-Robbins. In a 2016 LinkedIn post, the president reflected on the job's lessons in responsibility and hard work, though admitting the endless free scoops somewhat but not completely dulled his taste for the treat. There was no shortage of ice cream devotees at the White House, though. At a 2010 visit to an ice cream factory in Columbus, Ohio, the then-vice president proclaimed, 'My name is Joe Biden, and I love ice cream. You all think I'm kidding – I'm not. I eat more ice cream than three other people … all at once.' Donald Trump's ice cream preference made headlines in 2017. As TIME magazine reported after a small Blue Room dinner for reporters during this first term, President Trump was served two scoops of vanilla ice cream with his chocolate cream pie, while his guests received just one. Whether intentional or not, the president's double scoop added a modern twist to the mansion's ice cream lore. White House ice cream history is more than a tale of dessert – it's a reflection of American tastes, ingenuity, and the human need for a little sweetness amid the pressures of leadership. During this National Ice Cream Month, the White House Historical Association will offer our own selection of ice cream delectables daily outside The People's House, our new education center across from the White House Grounds. Stop by and have a scoop with us! Stewart D. McLaurin is president of the White House Historical Association, a private nonprofit, nonpartisan organization founded by first lady Jacqueline Kennedy in 1961, and is director of The People's House: A White House Experience multimedia educational center and museum.
Fox News
7 days ago
- Politics
- Fox News
Protecting the Declaration of Independence in our 250th year
July Fourth marked 249 years since the 13 American colonies rejected a British monarch and embraced freedom. But as we enter the first days of our 250th year on this Earth, it feels like we're moving in the wrong direction. The Declaration of Independence was a bold (though clearly never fully realized) assertion of equality and democratic ideals. Thomas Jefferson wrote that governments derive "their just powers from the consent of the governed" – the people of the United States would decide our own fate, not be anyone's subjects. But in the past six months all three branches of government have done serious damage to those ideals. And in just the last few weeks we've seen our government repudiating the core values of the Declaration of Independence. "For suspending our own Legislatures, and declaring themselves invested with power to legislate for us in all cases whatsoever." The animating idea behind the American Revolution and the Constitution that eventually emerged was that people were in charge through representatives. President Donald Trump has not suspended our legislatures, but he has moved to sideline them and assume the power to legislate for himself. Last week alone saw the final endgame for USAID, dismantled by the president despite congressional authorization. The Department of Education is refusing to distribute billions of congressionally appropriated dollars to state schools. And the administration sued Los Angeles for refusing to use its own resources to aid ICE's violent deportation arrests. In just the last few weeks, the Department of Justice charged a member of Congress after an oversight visit to an immigration detention facility and federal agents handcuffed Sen. Alex Padilla, D-Calif., for asking Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem questions at a press conference. "He has obstructed the Administration of Justice... He has made Judges dependent on his Will alone..." We have no rights if the president is not bound to follow the law, which is why the founders recognized the importance of an independent judiciary. Yet President Trump has brazenly broken laws and violated the Constitution. Numerous lower court judges, including those appointed by the president himself, have excoriated DOJ lawyers for stonewalling their orders and violating the basic due process protections guaranteed by the Constitution. In some cases, the administration has appeared to openly defy the courts, like when they refused to stop deportations to a torture prison in El Salvador. More alarming, Congress and the Supreme Court majority seem eager to help. Two weeks ago, President Trump's former defense attorney and current senior DOJ official, Emil Bove, received a friendly hearing from the Senate Judiciary Committee considering his nomination to the Third Circuit Court of Appeals. This despite a whistleblower describing him openly contemplating telling courts "f--- you." "For transporting us beyond Seas to be tried for pretended offences." The founders were aggrieved by Britain hauling people away from their communities on specious charges. Yet here we are again. Although the Supreme Court prevented the administration from sending more people to El Salvador's notorious CECOT prison under the Alien Enemies Act, they have allowed 238 Venezuelans, three-quarters with no criminal record, to languish there since March. And just two weeks ago, the court blessed the deportation of others to countries they've never set foot in without a chance to challenge that action. "He has kept among us, in times of peace, Standing Armies without the Consent of our legislatures." Freedom is hard to come by when those in power can sic the military on the people. The colonists kicked out the British for this offense, yet President Trump federalized the California National Guard without the consent of the California government, then brought in active-duty U.S. Marines, and then even more Marines after the questionable justification of civil unrest was over. "He has... sent hither swarms of Officers to harass our people, and eat out their substance." The singular hallmark of this administration's first six months has been the use of government power to harass the president's perceived enemies. The administration escalated its war on Harvard University. It forced the resignation of the president of the University of Virginia under threat of federal funding cuts. President Trump called for legal action against the New York Times and CNN for their reporting on the Iran bombing campaign that contradicted the president's preferred story. Secretary Noem called for an investigation into CNN for reporting on a public ICE-tracking app. And by withholding approval of a merger, the administration got Paramount to pony up $16 million to his interests to settle a thoroughly meritless lawsuit over "60 Minutes" editorial decisions. All that was in just one week. If President Trump and his allies are going to repudiate the Declaration of Independence, then we need to use the 250th year of our country to peacefully but fiercely embrace the revolutionary spirit. We would hardly be the first to take those values of equality and freedom and challenge America to do better. At Seneca Falls, the delegates calling for women's equality modeled their Declaration of Sentiments on the Declaration of Independence. Dr. Martin Luther King's most famous speech, delivered on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial, lodged its dream in the words of the Declaration of Independence: "We hold these truths to be self evident, that all men are created equal." The government rang in this July 4th by testing our commitment to our nation's founding ideals of equality and government of, by and for the people. But that ideal is still worth fighting for peacefully – in the courts, at the ballot box and in the streets. Not to restore any of the flawed institutions that came before and during this administration, but to build a more just version of America that is truer to its ideals.
Washington Post
16-07-2025
- Politics
- Washington Post
Why attack colleges? To open students' minds or blow up institutions?
When President Donald Trump and the foot soldiers of his populist brigade went after Harvard and Columbia, they were right on message: In a rigidly divided country, Trump delights in dramatic actions against the symbols and institutions of the nation's elites. When the Trump assault targeted the University of Virginia, the message got a bit muddy: Sure, most American colleges are hotbeds of conformist liberals eager to impose their righteousness on the rest of us. But U-Va. is also something of a throwback, a school that still celebrates its intellectual inspiration, Thomas Jefferson; stands up for rigor; and attracts students from a wide array of political backgrounds. Going after U-Va. seemed like a decision to spray the MAGA movement's ammo randomly rather than target the core engines of higher education's woke machine.
