Martin Luther King, Jr. was an amazing man who inspired people to fight for change without violence. His “I have a dream” speech has uplifted and motivated generations of people.
This week, children everywhere are writing their own “I have a dream” speeches for school. Need a refresher for your assignment? Get it right from the voice for freedom and equal rights:

President John F. Kennedy was born on May 29 in 1917. The 35th president of the United States was also an avid sportsman, an author (”Profiles in Courage,” among other titles), a WWII hero, and a recipient of a Purple Heart Medal. Unfortunately, he died way too young, at age 46 on that tragic day in Dallas after having served less than three years as president.
Happy Birthday, Mr. President.
(photo of JFK and his brothers, Robert and Ted © Newscom)

March 30 is the anniversary of the birth of painter, Vincent Van Gogh in 1853. Van Gogh was born in the Netherlands, but spent most of his life in France. His work was little known during his lifetime, which ended in 1890 of a self-inflicted gunshot wound. Today, however, his paintings are some of the most sought-after and most expensive of all time. Take a look at a montage of his paintings in this video:

March 26 is Prince Kuhio Day in Hawaii. The day commemorates the birth of Jonah Kuhio Kalaniana’ole in 1871. Kuho was prince to the throne of Hawaii when the island nation was overthrown by American residents in 1893.
Kuhio was imprisonned after the uprising. Upon his release, he traveled throughout the world in a sort of self-imposed exile. The draw of the islands was too compelling, however, and Prince Kuhio returned in the early 20th century. He was elected to the US Congress in 1903 and served there until his death in 1921.
Prince Kuhio Day is a legal holiday in Hawaii.(Hawaii …read more

March 9 is Barbie’s birthday. That’s right; she’s 49 years old today. (hard to believe)
Did you know that:

Barbie has had 80 careers–everything from rock star to presidential candidate
Barbie is currently marketed in more than 150 countries
Barbie has represented 45 different nationalities
Barbie has had over 43 pets, including 21 dogs, 14 horses, 6 cats, 3 ponies, a parrot, a chimpanzee, a panda, and a zebra
Barbie’s full name is “Barbie Millicent Roberts”
Barbie has had over a billion pair of shoes (my kind of girl)
Among the designer that have created clothes for her are Givenchy, Versace, Dolce & Gabana, Vera Wang, …read more

February 22 is George Washington’s birthday, the second half of the February “Presidents Day duo.” To honor the birth of the United States’ first president, here are a few Washington facts: How many do you know?

Washington was the only president to not live in Washington DC. Although he helped to plan the city, the nation’s capital was in New York City during his presidency.
In addition to the capital, one state, 31 counties, and 17 cities are named for Washington.
Washington had red hair, but he powdered his hair as was the fashion during his time.
George and Martha Washington had …read more

February 12 is the birthday of the 16th president of the United States–Abraham Lincoln. Although his birthday and that of George Washington are celebrated together by the nation on President’s Day (February 18 in 2008), Lincoln’s birthday is marked separately by several places around the country where the Civil War president lived and worked.
Among the places celebrating Lincoln’s Birthday are the state of Illinois, where the date is a legal holiday and where Lincoln lived most of his life; Lincoln’s birthplace in Hodgenville, Kentucky; and the Lincoln Memorial in Washington DC.

February 11 is National Inventors’ Day in the United States. Not by accident is celebrated on the anniversary of the birth of one of the country’s most profilic inventors, Thomas Alva Edison.
Edison, who lived from 1847 to 1931, had 1093 US Patents issued to him. He invented the incandescent light bulb, the phonograph, the motion picture camera, and an early printing telegraph, among other things.
Edison’s Menlo Park lab, his last breath sealed in a test tube, and other memorabilia are housed at the Henry Ford Museum in Dearborn, Michigan. Another good field trip for Inventors’ Day is the …read more

January 27 is the anniversary of the birth of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart in Salzburg in 1756. Wolfgang, arguably one of the most gifted composers in the history of music, was a child protege and a troubled adult. His partying, drinking, and self-destructive behavior remind us that celebrities acting badly did not begin with Britney Spears and Lindsay Lohan.
Yet, all could be forgiven after listening to just a few bars of his music. Perhaps his greatest work was his “Requiem,” completed just before his death at age 35. Listen below:

The anniversary of 18th century Scots poet, Robert Burns’ birthday, January 25, is marked with Burns Suppers all over the English-speaking world. These events may be formal or informal, but generally follow a strict order.
The proceedings begin with a welcoming speech and then a grace, usually the Scottish “Selkirk Grace,” written by Burns.
The menu begins with soup, usually a Scotch broth or cock-a-leekie soup. The second course is the Haggis, a traditional Scottish dish made by boiling a sheep’s stomach, filled with minced meat and vegetables. The Haggis is presented at table amidst much fanfare. The diners rise, the …read more