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Good morning. Remember when “going online” was becoming less of a place and more of a reflex—and when one catchy bass line seemed to follow you everywhere? We’ll revisit that not-so-distant world shortly. First, September 18 has stories stretching from a cornerstone in Washington to a photograph taken millions of miles from home.
📅 On This Day — September 18
1793 — A cornerstone for the Capitol. President George Washington laid the first cornerstone of the United States Capitol in a Masonic ceremony.
1850 — The Fugitive Slave Act became law. President Millard Fillmore signed the measure, strengthening federal enforcement for the capture and return of people who had escaped slavery.
1851 — A newspaper began. The first edition of the New-York Daily Times appeared; it would later become The New York Times.
1947 — The Air Force became a separate service. The United States Air Force began operating independently under the National Security Act.
1975 — Patty Hearst was captured. FBI agents arrested the newspaper heiress in San Francisco after more than a year on the run.
1977 — Earth and Moon shared one frame. Voyager 1 captured the first spacecraft image to show both worlds together in a single photograph.
From a stone set in the young capital to a camera looking back from 7.25 million miles away, September 18 has a way of changing the view. Now let’s move to a year when smartphones were becoming everyday companions and a nation faced a decision about its future.
⏪ REWIND: 2014
📰 The Headlines
🗞️ Scotland answered a defining question
On September 18, 2014, voters across Scotland went to the polls to answer a direct question: “Should Scotland be an independent country?”
The answer was no. The unionist side won 55.3% of the vote to 44.7% for independence, with turnout reaching 84.6%. Twenty-eight of Scotland’s 32 local authority areas voted No, while Glasgow, Dundee, North Lanarkshire and West Dunbartonshire voted Yes.
The result kept Scotland in the United Kingdom, but the campaign had transformed political participation. Sixteen- and seventeen-year-olds could vote, neighborhoods organized at street level, and the question of Scotland’s constitutional future remained very much alive after the ballots were counted.
🎬 At the Movies
The thriller No Good Deed, starring Idris Elba and Taraji P. Henson, opened at No. 1 at the domestic box office for September 12–14. It arrived ahead of Dolphin Tale 2 and gave moviegoers a tense counterpoint to the superhero spectacle still lingering from summer.
🎵 On the Charts
On the Billboard Hot 100 dated September 20, Meghan Trainor’s “All About That Bass” reached No. 1. Its doo-wop bounce and instantly recognizable hook made it one of the year’s defining pop records.
🏁 In Sports
Four days before the Rewind date, the United States defeated Serbia 129–92 in Madrid to win the FIBA Basketball World Cup. Kyrie Irving scored 26 points, and the Americans completed the tournament unbeaten.
📺 On Television
The fall season had not fully arrived, so Thursday night mixed repeats, reality competition and live football. Affiliate schedules could vary.
ABC — Grey’s Anatomy and two episodes of Scandal, all repeats.
CBS — NFL Thursday Night Kickoff followed by Thursday Night Football, with Tampa Bay visiting Atlanta.
NBC — The Biggest Loser and a repeat of The Mysteries of Laura.
FOX — Two repeat episodes of Sleepy Hollow.
Which button on the remote would you have pressed first?
🏰 Disney Vault
Just days earlier, Disney announced that a Frozen-themed attraction would replace Maelstrom in Epcot’s Norway pavilion. Maelstrom still had a few weeks left to sail, but the enormous popularity of Frozen was already reshaping the parks.
❤️ Health Snap
If screens leave your eyes feeling tired, try the 20-20-20 rule: every 20 minutes, look at something about 20 feet away for 20 seconds. The American Optometric Association recommends the simple pause to help reduce digital eye strain.
Ready for a quick health check-in? Take the free Health Assessment.
🎂 September 18 Birthdays
Frankie Avalon turns 86 — born in 1940, the singer and actor is remembered for “Venus” and the beach-party films he made with Annette Funicello.
Jada Pinkett Smith turns 55 — born in 1971, the actor is known for A Different World, Set It Off and the Matrix films.
James Marsden turns 53 — born in 1973, the actor has appeared in the X-Men films, Enchanted and Westworld.
Jason Sudeikis turns 51 — born in 1975, the Saturday Night Live alumnus became the Emmy-winning star and co-creator of Ted Lasso.
Was 2014 part of your story? Share this with someone who remembers the referendum headlines—or the song that made bass impossible to escape.
Until tomorrow, keep looking back. You never know what you’ll find.
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