Connecticut became a state on January 9, 1788- one of the first thirteen (which comes after 3 and before a thousand.)
Connecticut has always had a high standard of civilized behavior, and was the first state to impose a speed limit for automobiles. That was in 1901.
Every craze starts somewhere, as any Rhino would tell you. Why not Connecticut?
Rhinos have been around, in one form or another, for 50 million years. We get comfortable, then Nature shakes up the recipe; We split into various new looks, scents, and capabilities. And colors.
It’s exciting being Us, and has been for longer than even We can recall.
Rhinos are grateful for our opportunities. We strive to deserve them.
Mr. Henry Mill (b.1683) was granted a British patent on the first Typewriter in 1714. Little is known about his machine today.
One goal early typewriters achieved was helping the blind to write letters. A Great Kindness from Creative Individuals.
Rhinos hail Considerate Endeavors.
We salute New Mexico today, which joined up in 1912. A fine state with everything to recommend it, including much open space for the native Critter Population.
In 1901 a teen cowpoke named James L. White noticed a slew of bats coming out of the ground, and thus discovered the Carlsbad Caverns. He slithered down there, and over the next years lobbied (successfully) for recognition for this remarkable find. The Caverns are enormous, marvelous, and extensive.
Rhinos do not often go into caves, dreading the “lemon squeeze” factor, when you go through a tight space and get stuck. Clearly, the problem is more pressing (and common) when you are our size, yes?
On January 4, 1896, Utah became a state, officially. As usual, there are fine folk there, and a bunch of accomplishments to which they point with pride.
Utah is home to lots of Astonishing Geography, all sorts of shapes and sizes. We are told these Triumphs are sculpted with some Wind, some Water, and incalculable amounts of Time. And a lot of Rock. Nature can and does do just about Everything worth knowing about.
Rhinos get all overwrought in the face of it all.
Alaska was admitted as the 49th state on February 3, 1959. It is the biggest state by far; it is twice as big as Texas, and you could toss in New Mexico as well. It gets a lot of light, or a lot of dark, depending on the season.
Alaska has the highest mountain in North America, Denali. It used to be called Mount McKinley. Before it was called anything, it was simply a really high mountain, which was fine with the critters who lived there.
Rhinos can’t quite understand how the impact of this Natural Phenomenon could be enhanced by one title or another.
Georgia was admitted to the United States on January 2, 1788.
All states, no matter how flat or bumpy have a high and low place. States with coastal turf have that as the low point. And the high point is figured out from there. We don’t know how they figure it out; don’t ask Us. We always imagined it was done with a big ball of string, but were informed otherwise.
Georgia has much to recommend it. Lucky for them, and Lucky for Us.
To the extent that Rhinos can conceive of a decade, We welcome the 2020s. Years ago, there was a 1920s, one full of Pizzazz.
So anyhow, it was a Hot Time, and that is always good, until things went Haywire.
So YIR is happy when you get happy. But there is the Limit, and Time will give you a demo, We promise. It did in 1929.
New Year’s Eve is probably most meaningful to Critters who keep track of the Calendar. Rhinos are not much attuned to fretting with the particulars of Time, but We try to get into the Spirit of the Moment.
This thing on the wall is as much a calendar as anything else Rhinos notice. There is too much to preoccupy our minds to fuss with Numbers. After Three, that is.
Still, there’s a Festivity, so that grabs our attention! Break out the Confetti, and Rhinos are front and center!! Confettitators, from Way Back.
Texas has had a complex history, dating far back before it became a state in 1845. It seems to be a place where Enthusiasm runs rampant, and the populace fans its own flames. There are so many memorable features to the doings in Texas, that YIR found it hard to pinpoint just one to feature.
But here We are. Not all states have a State Dinosaur, but Texas has a State Everything, the list goes on and on. Texas claims the Paluxysaurus, which lived 110 million years ago. That is a Long Time. It was three Very Large Bignesses long, and a Lot of Bignesses tall as well. Very Texas, where Bigger is Better.
Texas is a natural home to Armadillos, as its state small mammal. Nice folks, in Texas.
Your Inner Rhino 