ON THIS DAY

ON THIS DAY

On this date in 1778, a New Orleans businessman named Oliver Pollock created the dollar symbol. Yes, the S with the lines through it.

• Talk about selling an idea -- a symbol using an S for a word that doesn't even have an S in it.
• A lot of people said it didn't make cents and they were right.
• Finally, there was something to put above the four when you hit shift on a keyboard.
• To be honest, had it been up to me, I probably would have started with the letter D and not the S.

On this date in 1826, the internal combustion engine was patented by Samuel Mory. For years, he was told "stop internalizing things," but the last laugh was on them.

In 1853, Cincinnati became the first U.S. city to pay firefighters a regular salary. Their reaction: "Ok, NOW we'll pose for that calendar."

On this date in 1864, the first accident insurance policy was issued in Hartford, CT. Unfortunately, it was insurance that the guy would never end up in Hartford, so they had to pay out right away.

In 1889, the first dishwashing machine was sold in Chicago. Finally, someone had invented a use for all those bottles of Cascade that had been stacking up.

On this date in 1929, the Yo-Yo was introduced.

• It gave economist something to use in comparing the stock market.
• Yep, over the years it's experienced a lot of ups and downs.
• Without it, we'd have no way to describe Lindsay Lohan's life.

Superman debuted in the comic strips on this date in 1938. Until that time, not very many men wore tights and capes and could get away with it.