George Carlin

George Carlin hosted the first episode of the show we now know as Saturday Night Live. When the first show aired on October 11, 1975 with George Carlin as its host, it was called NBC's Saturday Night because ABC featured a program at the same time titled Saturday Night Live with Howard Cosell. After ABC cancelled the Cosell program in 1976, the NBC program changed its name to Saturday Night Live on March 26, 1977 (and subsequently picked up Bill Murray from Cosell's show).

During Its First Season, What Popular Pop Culture Characters Appeared in a Recurring Sketch?

Throughout its uneven first season, SNL was still trying to find its unique voice. One example of this is "The Land of Gorch" segment, a segment where Muppets creator Jim Henson tested his darker and more eccentric ideas, something he couldn't do on the much safer and child-friendly TV show he was known for. Although the segment helped influence some of his later work, such as the television series Dinosaurs, the segment was almost universally hated and was removed after the first season.

Who Hosted the First Episode of SNL?

Although celebrities from all over the entertainment industry have hosted Saturday Night Live over the years, the first man to do it was an iconic comedian; a choice that makes sense for a show that wanted to be taken seriously as the premier destination for sketch comedy on broadcast television. That comedian was George Carlin, comedy legend known for his biting cultural commentary. He was, in hindsight, the perfect choice to host a show like SNL, which would later go on to become a comedy and television institution.

How Did Columbus Return to Spain After His Third Trip to the New World

That nosedive in popularity we mentioned earlier was pretty justified. Columbus treated the natives of the land he discovered in truly horrific fashion. Now we look back on that era as a time when mistreatment of indigenous people upon discovering new land was commonplace and accepted, but even back then, people knew there was something wrong about all this. Some of his crew sent word back home about the terrible things Columbus was doing and the explorer was arrested and sent home in chains where he spent six weeks in jail. Though it would be wrong to represent everyone at the time as disapproving of Columbus' actions. The king granted him a full pardon and funded his next voyage.

What Was Christopher Columbus' Name?

There are, we have come to realize, many misconceptions about Christopher Columbus from when we learned about him in school. When he set sail, plenty of people believed the earth was round, and he did nothing to further prove the point. He never set foot in North America. He certainly wasn't a hero. And, it turns out, we don't even know his name. But he did sail the ocean blue in 1492, so there's that. While Columbus is associated with Spain, he was actually Italian, and born with the name Cristoforo Colombo. And his Spanish name was Cristobal Colon. Christopher Columbus is just an anglicized version of the original name. Oh, and as long as we're talking about stuff that wasn't the actual name, let's talk about Columbus' ships. Kids are taught in school that Columbus sailed the Nina, the Pinta and the Santa Maria. But the Nina and Pinta were actually nicknames, one of which was not the kind you'd want those aforementioned kids at school to be using. Nina is harmless, but Pinta means "the painted one" or "prostitute." We should really rework those textbooks.

Vice President Spiro Agnew

During his fifth year as Vice President Spiro Agnew was under investigation by the United States Attorney's office in Baltimore, Maryland, on charges of extortion, tax fraud, bribery and conspiracy. Agnew was formally charged with having accepted bribes totaling more than $100,000 while holding office as Baltimore County Executive, Governor of Maryland, and Vice President of the United States. On October 10, 1973, Agnew was allowed to plead no contest to a single charge that he had failed to report $29,500 of income received in 1967, with the condition that he resign the office of Vice President. Agnew is the only Vice President in United States history to resign because of criminal charges.

The First Man to Climb Mt. Everest

On May 29, 1953, Sir Edmund Hillary and Nepalese Sherpa mountaineer Tenzing Norgay became the first climbers to reach the summit of Mount Everest. They were part of the ninth British expedition to Everest, led by John Hunt. Hillary later participated in expeditions to the South Pole and was among the first to reach the top of Mount Herschel. Hillary was named by Time as one of the 100 most influential people of the 20th century. Sir Edmund Hillary, who had been cited as "New Zealand's most trusted individual," died on January 11, 2008, in Auckland.

The Blind Side

The Blind Side is a 2009 biographical sports drama film. The storyline features Michael Oher, an offensive lineman who played for the Baltimore Ravens and the Tennessee Titans, and currently is signed with the Carolina Panthers in the NFL. The film follows Oher from his impoverished upbringing, his adoption by Sean and Leigh Anne Tuohy, to his position as one of the most highly coveted prospects in college football, then finally becoming a first-round pick of the Ravens. Sandra Bullock won the Academy Award for Best Actress in the film.

Hulk Hogan

Rocky III is a 1982 film written, directed by, and starring Sylvester Stallone. Rocky III marked the film debut of professional wrestler Hulk Hogan as the supporting character "Thunderlips". Sylvester Stallone was so impressed with Hulk Hogan’s wrestling skills and his larger-than-life persona, he cast the wrestler as "Thunderlips the Ultimate Male" in his 1982 movie. Over the next two years, Hulk Hogan would become the face of pro wrestling while WWF would transform into a pop culture enterprise.

President Obama--Avid Collector of Spider-Man and Conan the Barbarian Comics

In a 2008 interview with one of Barack Obama’s advisers, it emerged that Obama collects “Spider-Man and Conan the Barbarian” comic books. When Marvel Comics discovered the president was an avid collector of Spider-Man comics, they decided to have Obama the comic book character grace the cover of their The Amazing Spider-Man #583 (Jan. 2009), for the story “Spidey Meets the President!” This particular release proved extremely popular and sold out in a matter of minutes.

Bats--The Only Flying Mammal

Bats are flying mammals in the order Chiroptera. The forelimbs of bats are webbed and developed as wings, making them the only mammals naturally capable of true and sustained flight. By contrast, other mammals said to fly, such as flying squirrels, gliding possums and colugos, glide rather than fly, and can only glide for short distances.

Michael Jackson's Pet Chimpanzee

Bubbles the Chimp was the one-time pet of Michael Jackson. Jackson’s often identically-dressed pet, was one of the most famous pets in the world. The animal was a frequent travel companion to the singer, whose attachment to the animal led to media mockery and, among other factors, to a public perception of Jackson as an eccentric. During the Bad World Tour, for example, Jackson brought Bubbles with him to Japan, where they both drank tea with the mayor of Osaka. Bubbles was known to sleep in a crib in Jackson's bedroom, used the singer's toilet and ate candy in the Neverland movie theater.

How To Rate a Hurricane

The Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale is a 1-5 rating based on the hurricane's intensity. To be classified as a hurricane, a tropical cyclone must have maximum sustained winds of at least 74 mph (Category 1). The highest classification in the scale, Category 5, is reserved for storms with winds exceeding 156 mph. The scale was developed in 1971 by civil engineer Herbert Saffir and meteorologist Bob Simpson, who at the time was director of the U.S. National Hurricane Center. The scale was introduced to the general public in 1973.

Deadliest Hurricane in U.S. History

The Great Galveston Hurricane was a Category 4 storm, with winds of up to 145 mph per hour, which made landfall on September 8, 1900, in Galveston, Texas, leaving about 6,000 to 12,000 dead. It was the deadliest hurricane in U.S. history. Unfortunately for the residents of Galveston, meteorology was far from an exact science at the end of the 19th century, and they received little warning about the storm's strength. Even if one uses the low estimate of 6,000 victims, this storm remains the deadliest ever to hit the United States.

Ray Kroc

Ray Kroc was an entrepreneur best known for expanding McDonald’s from a local chain into the most successful fast food operation in the world. It was in his role as a milkshake machine salesman that Kroc first became involved with McDonald’s. The McDonald brothers were clients who had purchased multiple milkshake mixers. Kroc approached the brothers about expanding their chain nationwide which eventually led to the birth of the McDonald's Corporation. In 1955, Kroc became president of the McDonald’s Corporation, and bought out the McDonald brothers six years later.

McDonald's Big Mac

The Big Mac is a hamburger sold by international fast food restaurant chain McDonald's. The Big Mac had two previous names, both of which failed in the marketplace: The Aristocrat, which consumers found difficult to pronounce and understand, and Blue Ribbon Burger. The third name, Big Mac, was created by Esther Glickstein Rose, a 21-year-old advertising secretary. It was introduced in the metropolitan area of Pittsburgh in 1967 and nationwide in 1968. The name was popularized by a 1974 advertising campaign featuring a list of the ingredients in a Big Mac: "Two all-beef patties, special sauce, lettuce, cheese, pickles, onions – on a sesame seed bun."

The Dairy State

Wisconsin is known as "The Dairy State” because it is one of the nation's leading dairy producers. Wisconsin's dairy farms lead the United States in the production of milk, cheese, and butter, providing 40% of the nation's cheese and 20% of its butter. Beginning in the 1890s, many immigrants carried cheese-making traditions that combined with the state's suitable geography and dairy research helped the state build a reputation as "America's Dairyland." Wisconsin's license plates have read "America's Dairyland" since 1940 and have led to the nickname of its residents as "cheeseheads."

Cats

Unlike other mammals, cats lack the proper genetic coding to experience sweet tastes. Cats have a mutant chemoreceptor in their taste buds that prevents them from tasting sweet things, which is actually a trait shared by all cats big and small, not just domestic ones. In 2005, scientists from the Monell Chemical Senses Center, in Philadelphia, discovered that a genetic deficiency deletes the sugar detectors on the taste buds of a cat. In other words, cats do not possess the genetic “hardware” needed to taste sweets.

Golda Meir

Golda Meir was the fourth Prime Minister of Israel and the first and only woman to hold the title. She was elected Prime Minister of Israel on March 17, 1969, after serving as Minister of Labor and Foreign Minister. Israel’s first woman to hold such an office, she was described as the “Iron Lady” of Israeli politics years before the epithet became associated with British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher. By the end of her life, she had become a hero as one of the first women to head a nation in the modern era. She died in Jerusalem on December 8, 1978.

Joseph Stalin

Joseph Stalin was the supreme ruler of the Soviet Union for a quarter of a century. Stalin’s real name was Josef Vissarionovich Dzhugashvili, but changed his last name to Stalin, which, in Russian, means “made of steel." His mother was a devout Russian Orthodox Christian, and wanted him to become a priest. As a teen, Stalin was accepted as a student at the “Orthodox” Seminary of Tbilisi, Georgia, where he trained as a Jesuit priest. In 1899, he was expelled from the seminary for missing exams, although he claimed it was for Marxist propaganda.

The Grateful Dead

Jerry Garcia was a singer-songwriter and guitarist best known for his work with the band the Grateful Dead, which came to prominence during the counterculture era in the 1960s. Though he disavowed the role, Garcia was viewed by many as the leader or "spokesman" of the group. One of its founders, Garcia performed with the Grateful Dead for their entire thirty-year career. He was well known for his distinctive guitar playing and was ranked 46th in Rolling Stone's "100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time" cover story. Garcia died of a heart attack in August 1995.

AFLAC

Aflac Inc. (American Family Life Assurance Company) is the largest provider of supplemental insurance in the United States and was founded in 1955. Since December 1999, the company's identity and brand has become more widely recognized as the result of TV commercials featuring the Aflac Duck, who frustratingly quacks the company's name to unsuspecting prospective policy holders. The Aflac Duck character has now starred in more than 30 commercials. The Aflac Duck is enshrined on Madison Avenue's Walk of Fame as one of America's Favorite Advertising Icons.

Logan International Airport

Logan International Airport (officially General Edward Lawrence Logan International Airport) is an international airport located in the East Boston neighborhood of Boston, Massachusetts. Logan is the largest airport in New England and 18th busiest airport in the United States. The airport is a hub for several airlines, including Delta Air Lines, Cape Air and Jet Blue Airways. Before it became an international airport with six runways, Boston Logan International Airport was a muddy airfield primarily used by the Massachusetts Air Guard.

The First Man to Play Golf on the Moon

While on the moon, Alan Shepard used a Wilson six-iron head attached to a lunar sample scoop handle to hit two golf balls, becoming the first and only person to play golf on the moon. Only a handful of people in NASA knew of Shepard's plan when, after an extended excursion on the lunar surface, he pulled out the club, and dropped two balls on the moon. Despite thick gloves and a stiff spacesuit which forced him to swing the club with one hand, Shepard struck two golf balls; driving the second, as he jokingly put it, "miles and miles and miles." Since Shepard’s famous shot, no other astronaut has attempted to hit a ball off the moon.

The First Woman Computer Programmer

A gifted mathematician, Ada Lovelace is considered to have written instructions for the first computer program in the mid-1800s. Because she introduced many computer concepts, Ada is considered the first computer programmer. Ada Lovelace's contributions to the field of computer science were not discovered until the 1950s. Since then, Ada has received many posthumous honors for her work. In 1980, the U.S. Department of Defense named a newly developed computer language "Ada," after Lovelace.

Jeff Bezos, Founder and CEO of Amazon

Jeff Bezos is the founder, chairman, and CEO of Amazon.com, an electronic commerce and cloud computing company. Amazon is the largest Internet-based retailer in the world. A graduate of Princeton University, Bezos founded Amazon in 1994, at the age of 30, when worldwide internet use was still in its infancy. As of September 2016, Bezos' personal wealth is estimated to be $71.3 billion, ranking him 3rd on the Forbes list of billionaires.

Penguins

All 18 species of penguin are unable to fly, and are in fact better built for swimming and diving. Penguins are birds, so they do have wings. However, the wing structures of penguins are evolved for swimming, rather than flying. Penguins lost the ability to fly as they developed more efficient wing-propelled diving skills that allowed them to better forage for food at increasing depths of the ocean. Penguins swim underwater at speeds of up to 15 to 25 miles per hour.

"Blood and Fire" = Salvation Army

“Blood and Fire” is the motto of The Salvation Army. The Salvation Army is a Christian church and international charitable organization with a worldwide membership of over 1.5 million people. It is present in 127 countries, running charity shops, operating shelters for the homeless and disaster relief and humanitarian aid to developing countries. FUN FACT: In 2004, The Salvation Army received a $1.5 billion donation in the will of Joan B. Kroc, the third wife of former McDonald’s CEO Ray Kroc.

Roman Numeral L (50)

Roman numerals, the numeric system of ancient Rome, uses combinations of letters from the Latin alphabet to signify values. L represents the number 50. Today's use of Roman numerals tends to be more for cosmetic purposes than function. FUN FACT: The NFL broke its tradition of using Roman numerals for the Super Bowl and branded its 2016 championship game as "Super Bowl 50" instead of "Super Bowl L". The NFL said that the tradition of using Roman numerals will be reinstated in 2017 with Super Bowl LI at NRG Stadium in Houston.

Devil's Tower: First National Monument

President Theodore Roosevelt established the first national monument, Devils Tower in Wyoming, on September 24, 1906. Devils Tower is a laccolithic butte composed of igneous rock in the Bear Lodge Mountains in northeastern Wyoming. The monolith known as Devils Tower rises 1,267 feet above Belle Fourche River. What you see today at the Devils Tower National Monument is the remains of an ancient volcanic structure. Referred to by several tribes as Bears Lodge, it is a site of worship for many American Indians.

Abraham Lincoln's Great Debates

The Lincoln–Douglas Debates of 1858 (also known as The Great Debates of 1858) were a series of seven debates between Abraham Lincoln, the Republican candidate for the United States Senate from Illinois, and incumbent Senator Stephen Douglas, the Democratic Party candidate. Historians have regarded the series of debates as among the most significant statements in American political history. The widespread coverage of the debates transformed Lincoln into a national figure and led to his election to the presidency in 1860.

Obverse Side of the Great Seal of the United States

The Great Seal of the United States is used to authenticate certain documents issued by the U.S. federal government. The Latin phrase E Pluribus Unum (Out of Many, One) is included in the Great Seal of the United States, being one of the nation's mottos at the time of the seal's creation. E Pluribus Unum refers to the fact that the United States was formed as a cohesive single nation as the result of the thirteen smaller colonies joining together. Never codified by law, E Pluribus Unum was considered a de facto motto of the U.S. until 1956 when congress passed an act adopting "In God We Trust" as the official motto.

Arnold Palmer Nickname

Arnold Palmer, nicknamed "The King," died yesterday from heart complications at the age of 87. Palmer is regarded as one of the greatest players in professional golf history. He was the first golfer to win the Masters Tournament four times and won 93 tournaments during his career. In 1968, he became the first golfer to reach $1 million in career earnings. In 1974, “The King” became one of the 13 original inductees into the World Golf Hall of Fame.

First Televised Presidential Debate

On September 26, 1960, 70 million U.S. viewers tuned in to watch Senator John Kennedy of Massachusetts and Vice President Richard Nixon in the first-ever televised presidential debate. It was the first of four televised "Great Debates" between Kennedy and Nixon. Following the debate, most TV viewers believed that Kennedy had been the victor. Conversely though, radio listeners found that Nixon had a slight edge over Kennedy. Polls revealed that more than half of all voters had been influenced by the Great Debates, while 6% claimed that the debates alone had decided their choice. Whether or not the debates cost Nixon the presidency, they were a major turning point in the 1960 race, and in the history of television.

Ford Thunderbird

The Ford Thunderbird was an automobile that was manufactured by Ford in the United States over eleven model generations from 1955 through 2005. Ford positioned the Thunderbird as an upscale model and is credited in developing a new market segment, the personal luxury car. The name Thunderbird comes from the deserts of Arizona and New Mexico, where, according to Indian legend, the Thunderbird was a divine helper of man. From its introduction in 1955 to its phase-out in 2005, Ford produced over 4.4 million Thunderbirds.

Sandra Day O'Connor

On September 25, 1981, Sandra Day O'Connor was sworn in as the first female justice on the U.S. Supreme Court. President Ronald Reagan nominated her to the Supreme Court to fill the seat of retiring justice Potter Stewart. She received unanimous Senate approval, and made history as the first woman justice to serve on the nation's highest court. O'Connor was a key swing vote in many important cases, including the upholding of Roe v. Wade. A Republican, she was considered a moderate conservative and served for 24 years.

Central Perk

Central Perk was the iconic coffee house and meeting place on the NBC sitcom Friends. Friends is considered one of the most popular and influential sitcoms of all time. The series revolved around the lives of six best friends living in New York City. The most prominent fixture of Central Perk is the large orange couch that the characters usually sit on. Initially, the series was going to be called Insomnia Café. The executives at NBC originally didn’t like the idea of a coffee house and tried to get it changed to a diner.

King of All Media

Howard Stern is a disk jockey, talk show host, author, actor, and television personality. Stern has described himself as the "King of All Media" since 1992 for his successes outside radio. He gained wide recognition in the 1990s and is labeled a "shock jock" for his outspoken and sometimes controversial style. Repeated fines from the FCC eventually drove the "King of All Media" to satellite radio in 2004. Stern's bestselling 1993 autobiography is titled Private Parts.

"Kiss My Grits!"

Flo's catchphrase, "Kiss my grits!" enjoyed widespread popularity at the time the character appeared on the television sitcom Alice. The sitcom Alice sitcom ran from August 31, 1976 to March 19, 1985 on CBS. According to Polly Holliday, the line was originally written as, "Kiss my honeydew!", but did not get any laughs. Since her portrayal of Flo, Polly Holliday has refused to repeat her famous "grits" line. The series is based on the 1974 film Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore.

National Dogs in Politics Day (Checkers Day)

Every year, September 23 is designated National Dogs in Politics Day, which is also known as Checkers Day. It is the anniversary of a famous speech given by Richard Nixon that introduced America to Nixon's family dog, Checkers. On Sept. 23, 1952, Republican vice-presidential candidate Richard M. Nixon went on television to deliver what came to be known as the “Checkers'” speech as he denied allegations of improper campaign financing. Denying charges that he had accepted money from a secret political slush fund, Nixon gave a televised address insisting that the only gift he'd accepted was the family dog, Checkers. The speech would forever be known as Nixon's "Checkers Speech."

The Green Monster

The Green Monster is the nickname for the 37'2" high left field wall at Fenway Park, home to the Boston Red Sox baseball team. The wall is the highest among current Major League Baseball fields. The wall was part of the original ballpark construction of 1912. Despite the name, the Green Monster was not painted green until 1947; before that it was covered with advertisements. The wall is only 310–315 feet from home plate, and is a popular target for right-handed hitters.

IBM

The Computing-Tabulating-Recording Company, the precursor to IBM, was founded on June 16, 1911. At its beginning, it was a merger of three manufacturing businesses orchestrated by the financier, Charles Flint. Tabulating- Recording Company (C-T-R) manufactured and sold machinery ranging from commercial scales and employee time-keeping systems to automatic meat slicers, and punched card equipment. It was renamed International Business Machines (IBM) in 1924.

Camp David: Presidential Retreat

Camp David is the country retreat of the President of the United States. It is located in Catoctin Mountain Park in Frederick County, Maryland. It is officially known as Naval Support Facility Thurmont and because it is technically a military installation, staffing is primarily provided by the U.S. Navy and the U.S. Marine Corps. The retreat, which comprises a scenic mountainous area of 200 acres, is surrounded by maximum-security fencing and is closed to the public.

Midnight Cowboy

In 1969, United Artists released the film Midnight Cowboy, starring Jon Voight (Joe Buck) and Dustin Hoffman (Ratso Rizzo) as street hustlers in NYC. It became the first X-rated movie to be nominated and win a Best Picture Oscar. In all, the film won three Academy Awards: Best Picture, Best Director and Best Adapted Screenplay. It Is the only X-rated film ever to a win Best Picture Oscar, although its rating has since been changed to R. The films “A Clockwork Orange” and “Last Tango in Paris” had X-rated nominations although they did not win Best Picture.

Irving Berlin

Irving Berlin was an American composer and lyricist, widely considered one of the greatest songwriters in American history. During his 60-year career he wrote an estimated 1,500 songs, including the scores for 19 Broadway shows and 18 Hollywood films. Many songs became popular themes and anthems, including "White Christmas", "There's No Business Like Show Business", and "God Bless America." Berlin wrote the patriotic song "God Bless America" in 1918 while serving in the U.S. Army at Camp Upton in Yaphank, New York.

Billie Jean King

On September 20, 1973, women’s tennis star Billie Jean King faced off against Bobby Riggs in an exhibition match dubbed the “Battle of the Sexes.” Riggs, a former Wimbledon champion, believed he could still beat any woman player, and King took him up on the challenge. The match was seen by an estimated 90 million television viewers around the world. Billie Jean King soundly defeated Bobby Riggs in the much-touted Battle of the Sexes tennis match defeating him, 6–4, 6–3, 6–3 in front of more than 30,000 fans at the Houston Astrodome.

Dick Cheney, 46th Vice President Under President George W. Bush

Dick Cheney was the 46th Vice President of the United States from 2001 to 2009, under President George W. Bush. Cheney served four Republican presidents and spent six terms in the House. Though he contemplated running for president in 1996, he instead opted to become the Chairman and CEO of Halliburton Company. Halliburton is an American multinational corporation, and one of the world's largest oil field services companies, with operations in more than 80 countries.

October 13, 2016

Charles Augustus Lindbergh Jr. was the eldest son of aviator Charles Lindbergh and was abducted from his family home on the evening of March 1, 1932. Lindbergh had become an international celebrity when he flew the first solo flight across the Atlantic Ocean in 1927 just five years earlier. Newspaper writer H. L. Mencken called the kidnapping and subsequent trial "the biggest story since the Resurrection." Even Al Capone offered his help from prison. It had become the Crime of the Century. Two months later, the body of the 20-month-old toddler was discovered a short distance from the Lindbergh’s' home town in New Jersey. The crime spurred Congress to pass the Federal Kidnapping Act, commonly called the "Lindbergh Law," which made transporting a kidnapping victim across state lines a federal crime.

October 12, 2016

A keg is commonly used to store, transport, and serve beer. A keg, or half-barrel contains 15 1/2 gallons (1,984 ounces) of beer. A keg produces 124 pints, 165 twelve-ounce servings or approximately seven cases of beer in 12-ounce cans. Beer kegs are made of stainless steel, or less commonly, of aluminium. A half-barrel keg of beer weighs about 161 pounds. Keg sizes are not standardized, so volumes and measurements can vary slightly between countries.

October 11, 2016

Krypton is the home planet of Superman and is named after the element krypton, which is abundant in its atmosphere. The origin story of Superman relates that he was born on the alien planet Krypton, before being rocketed to Earth as an infant by his scientist father moments before Krypton's destruction. Discovered and adopted by a Kansas farmer and his wife, the child is raised as Clark Kent. At a young age he begins to display various superhuman abilities, which he uses to benefit humanity through a secret "Superman" identity.

October 10, 2016

All video games have a rating symbol printed prominently on the box cover. The ratings are based on guidelines created by The Entertainment Software Rating Board, which is self-regulatory body that independently assigns ratings to video games. The rating “E” printed on a video game represents “Everyone.” Games with an “E” rating are suitable for children older than 6 and may contain a minimal amount of cartoon violence and/or mild language.

October 9, 2016

M*A*S*H is an acronym for Mobile Army Surgical Hospital. The television series M*A*S*H follows a team of doctors and support staff stationed at the "4077th Mobile Army Surgical Hospital" in Uijeongbu, South Korea, during the Korean War. The series premiered in the U.S. on September 17, 1972, and ended February 28, 1983, with the finale, "Goodbye, Farewell and Amen", becoming the most watched and highest rated single television episode in U.S. television history at the time, with a record-breaking 125 million viewers according to the New York Times.

October 8, 2016

John Landis is a director known for his comedy films, his horror films, and his music videos with Michael Jackson. He directed National Lampoon's Animal House, An American Werewolf in London, Trading Places, Michael Jackson's music video Thriller, The Blues Brothers, and Beverly Hills Cop III. He was approached by Michael Jackson to make a video for his song, "Thriller". The resulting video significantly impacted MTV and the concept of music videos; it has won numerous awards, including the Video Vanguard Award for The Greatest Video in the History of the World. In 2009 (months before Jackson died), Landis sued the Jackson estate in a dispute over royalties for the video; he claimed to be owed at least four years' worth of royalties.

October 7, 2016

The front (obverse) of the nickel pictures a profile of Thomas Jefferson, the third President of the United States of America and the principal author of the Declaration of Independence. The back (reverse) of the nickel pictures Monticello, Jefferson's house (which was designed by Jefferson himself), located in Virginia. Monticello was the primary plantation of Thomas Jefferson who began designing and building Monticello at age 26 after inheriting land from his father. Monticello has been designated a National Historic Landmark.

October 6, 2016

The common poorwill is the only bird known to hibernate. During the winter, instead of migrating to a warmer climate like other birds, the common poorwill can slow its metabolic rate and drop its body temperature so it can survive several weeks or months without eating. The common poorwill was not only the very first bird to be discovered to hibernate but it is also the only known species of bird to do so.

October 5, 2016

Grace Kelly was an American actress who, after marrying Prince Rainier III in April 1956, became Princess of Monaco. She died on September 14, 1982, a day after suffering a stroke while driving, causing her car to crash. Her death was reported on the front page in the debut issue of USA Today on September 15, 1982. The first issue of USA Today, the national daily published by the Gannett Company, rolled off the presses 34 years ago today. USA Today remains the widest circulated print newspaper in the United States.

October 4, 2016

Janet Guthrie the first woman to qualify and compete in both the Indianapolis 500 and the Daytona 500. Guthrie qualified for and competed in the 1977 Indianapolis 500, but finished 29th with engine troubles. She would compete in two more Indy 500s, finishing as high as ninth in the 1978 race. Overall, she competed in 11 IndyCar events finishing as high as fifth. Her helmet and race suit can be found in the Smithsonian Institution and Guthrie was one of the first elected to the International Women's Sports Hall of Fame.

October 3, 2016

Steve Allen was the first host of The Tonight Show. The Tonight Show premiered on September 27, 1954, at 11:15 a.m. with Steve Allen as host and Gene Rayburn as announcer. Steve Allen was instrumental in innovating the concept of the television talk show. Allen is also considered the originator of the talk show monologue and the comedy sketch break. The Tonight Show has had six official hosts, beginning with Steve Allen (1954–57), followed by Jack Paar (1957–62), Johnny Carson (1962–92), Jay Leno (1992–2009, 2010–14), Conan O'Brien (2009–10), and Jimmy Fallon (2014–present).

October 2, 2016

Texas is nicknamed the Lone Star State to signify its former status as an independent republic, and as a reminder of the state's struggle for independence from Mexico. The nickname "Lone Star State" originates from the star on the 1836 flag of the Republic of Texas. The "Lone Star" can be found on the Texas state flag, the state seal, and the U.S. Mint's bicentennial commemorative quarter for Texas. The origin of the state name is from the word "Tejas", which means "friends" in the Caddo language.

October 1, 2016

In 1934, the breakfast cereal Wheaties began the practice of including pictures of athletes on its packaging to coincide with its slogan, "The Breakfast of Champions." Lou Gehrig of the New York Yankees was the first athlete to appear on a Wheaties box. Initially, and for nearly the next twenty years, the athletes were depicted on the back of the Wheaties box or on its side panels. Athletes appearing on the front of the Wheaties box would not begin until the 1950s. Gehrig would later make another appearance on a Wheaties box in 1992.

September 30, 2016

Regarded as the fastest snake in the world, the Black Mamba can move at 17.6 feet per second and reach amazing speeds of 12 mph. The Black Mamba is not only the fastest snake in terms of moving, but it is also one of the fastest striking snakes in the world. The Black Mamba is regarded as the most feared snake in Africa, where its bite is known as the “Kiss of death”. A single bite contains enough venom to kill ten people. The Black Mamba’s extraordinary speed, combined with its fast-striking venom, make it one of the world’s most deadly snakes.

September 29, 2016

The Battle of Princeton (January 3, 1777) was a pivotal battle in which General George Washington's revolutionary forces defeated British forces near Princeton, New Jersey. The American victory at the Battle of Princeton was one of the most consequential of the American Revolution. George Washington and his soldiers marched north from Trenton and attacked a British force south of the town. Part of the battlefield is now preserved in Princeton Battlefield State Park, which was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1961.

September 28, 2016

The Pledge of Allegiance was written in August 1892 by the socialist minister Francis Bellamy. It was originally published in The Youth's Companion on September 8, 1892. The Pledge was supposed to be quick and to the point. Bellamy designed it to be recited in 15 seconds. In 1954, in response to the Communist threat of the times, President Eisenhower encouraged Congress to add the words "under God," creating the 31-word pledge we say today. Bellamy's daughter objected to this alteration.

September 27, 2016

Pikes Peak, located in the Rocky Mountains, is one of the most famous summits in the United States. The mountain is named in honor of American explorer Zebulon Pike who was unable to reach the summit. In July 1893, Katharine Lee Bates wrote the song "America the Beautiful", after having admired the view from the top of Pikes Peak. A plaque commemorating the words to the song was placed at the summit. The song is one of the most popular of the many American patriotic songs.

Setpember 26, 2016

Tequila is made from the blue agave plant. The high production of sugars, mostly fructose, in the core of the plant is the main characteristic that makes it suitable for the preparation of alcoholic beverages. Blue agave plants grow into large succulents, with spiky fleshy leaves, that can reach over 7 feet in height. Tequila is produced by removing the heart of the plant in its eighth to fourteenth year. This heart is stripped of its leaves and heated to convert the starches to sugars, which is fermented and distilled.

September 25, 2016

Brown University is a private, Ivy League research university in Providence, Rhode Island. Founded in 1764 as "The College in the English Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations," Brown is the seventh-oldest institution of higher education in the United States. At its foundation, Brown was the first college in the United States to accept students regardless of their religious affiliation. Undergraduate admissions is highly selective, with an acceptance rate of 9% for the class of 2020, according to the university.

Setpember 24, 2016

Wall Street is a 1987 American drama film, directed and co-written by Oliver Stone, which stars Michael Douglas, Charlie Sheen, Hannah and Martin Sheen. The film tells the story of Bud Fox (Sheen), a young stockbroker who becomes involved with Gordon Gekko (Douglas), a wealthy, unscrupulous corporate raider. Stone made the film as a tribute to his father, Lou Stone, a stockbroker during the Great Depression. Stone met with Tom Cruise about playing Bud Fox, but the director had already committed to Charlie Sheen for the role.

September 23, 2016

Manfred von Richthofen, also widely known as the Red Baron, was a German fighter pilot with the Imperial German Army Air Service during the First World War. He is considered the ace-of-aces of the war, being officially credited with 80 air combat victories. By 1918, he was regarded as a national hero in Germany, and respected and admired even by his enemies. Richthofen was shot down and killed on April 21, 1918. He remains perhaps the most widely known fighter pilot of all time, and has been the subject of many books, films and other media.

September 22, 2016

Ronald Reagan was born in an apartment on the second floor of a building in Tampico, Illinois on February 6, 1911. Reagan's family briefly lived in several towns and cities in Illinois, including Monmouth, Galesburg, and Chicago. In 1919, they returned to Tampico and lived above the H. C. Pitney Variety Store until finally settling in Dixon. After his election as president, residing in the upstairs White House private quarters, Reagan would quip that he was "living above the store again".

September 21, 2016

"Layla" is a song written by Eric Clapton and Jim Gordon. The song was inspired by Clapton's then unrequited love for Pattie Boyd, the wife of his friend and fellow musician George Harrison of The Beatles. In 1966 George Harrison married Pattie Boyd, a model he met during the filming of A Hard Day's Night. During the late 1960s, Clapton and Harrison became close friends. Clapton fell in love with Pattie and wrote the song "Layla," pouring out his feelings for his unrequited love. Boyd divorced Harrison in 1977 and married Clapton in 1979. During their relationship, Clapton wrote another love ballad for Pattie called "Wonderful Tonight." Clapton and Boyd eventually divorced in 1988 after several years of separation.

September 20, 2016

The Oprah Winfrey Show aired for 25 seasons and was filmed at Harpo Studios in Chicago. Produced and hosted by Oprah Winfrey, it remains the highest-rated talk show in American television history. The show has its roots in A.M. Chicago, a half-hour morning talk show airing on WLS-TV, an ABC owned-and-operated station in Chicago. Winfrey took over as host on January 2, 1984 and, within a month, took it from last place to first place in local Chicago ratings. On September 8, 1986 the talk show was relaunched under its current title and picked up nationally.

September 19, 2016

The Jazz Singer was released on October 6, 1927 and became the first feature-length film to include dialogue on the filmstrip itself. The Jazz Singer made way for the future of "talkies," which is what movies with audio soundtracks were called. A major hit, it was made with Vitaphone, which was at the time the leading brand of sound-on-disc technology. Sound-on-film would soon become the standard for talking pictures, triggering the talking-picture revolution. A year after its release, Hollywood recognized the importance of "The Jazz Singer" with regard to motion picture history by honoring the film with a special Academy Award.

September 18, 2016

Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh is the husband of Queen Elizabeth II. He is the longest-serving consort of a reigning British monarch and the oldest-ever male member of the British royal family. After an engagement of five months, he married Elizabeth on November 20, 1947. Just before the wedding, the King granted him the style of His Royal Highness and the title Duke of Edinburgh. His wife made him a Prince of the United Kingdom in 1957. Philip has four children with Elizabeth: Prince Charles, Princess Anne, Prince Andrew, and Prince Edward. He has eight grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.

September 17, 2016

On Sept. 6, 1901, President William B. McKinley was shot and mortally wounded by anarchist Leon Czolgosz at the Pan-American Exposition in Buffalo, New York. Czolgosz approached McKinley, who had been standing in a receiving line inside the Temple of Music, greeting the public for ten minutes. At 4:07 P.M., Czolgosz reached the front of the line. McKinley extended his hand. Czolgosz slapped it aside and shot the President in the abdomen twice, at point-blank range: the first bullet ricocheted and lodged in McKinley's jacket; the other seriously wounded him. McKinley died eight days later of an infection which had spread from that wound.

September 16, 2016

The very first Labor Day in the United States was celebrated on September 5, 1882 in New York City. The day was celebrated with a picnic, concert and speeches. Ten thousand workers marched in a parade from City Hall to Union Square. The idea of celebrating American labor spread and by 1887, Oregon, Massachusetts, New York, New Jersey and Colorado made Labor Day a state holiday. Beginning in 1894, the first Monday of September was designated "National Labor Day," a date set by President Grover Cleveland.

Labor Day Trivia

When Did Labor Day Begin? Labor Day has been an official federal holiday since 1894. Linda Stinson, former historian at the U.S. Department of Labor, points to a labor-centric celebration held in New York City on September 5, 1882, as the first unofficial observation of a holiday dedicated to America's workers. The closing decades of the 19th century witnessed giant strides by the trade union movement in organizing workers to push for improved wages, fewer hours, and better working conditions. In New York City, many labor unions banded together in a coalition called the Central Labor Union. On May 14, 1882, members of the CLU called for a massive celebration of labor's achievements to be held in early September of that year. A committee of five was named to plan the event, which was held in a park on Manhattan's Upper West Side and included a parade and picnic, followed by fireworks. What Workplace Abuses Gave Rise to the Labor Movement? The holiday was originally set aside as a day to honor American workers and their contributions to this country's way of life. The Industrial Revolution, which began in Britain in the late 18th century, reached its zenith in America in the late 1800s. To keep America's manufacturing operations running smoothly and without interruption, workers, many of them still children, were forced to work 12 hours a day, seven days a week. Working conditions were harsh and often unsafe. To strengthen their bargaining hand with employers, workers began to organize into trade unions in the belief that there was strength in numbers. Despite sometimes violent opposition, the labor movement grew rapidly during this period. When Did Labor Day Become an Official U.S. Holiday? Inspired by the successful celebration of labor's achievements in New York City, similar local and state celebrations were organized during the 1880s. In 1887 Oregon became the first state to declare Labor Day an official holiday on the state calendar. Other states quickly followed Oregon's lead. However, Congress resisted the push to make Labor Day an official federal holiday until its hand was forced by a tragic clash between railroad workers and the Pullman Palace Car Company in the late spring and early summer of 1894. After George Pullman summarily cut workers' pay and fired union representatives, Eugene Debs, leader of the American Railroad Union, called for a boycott of all Pullman railway cars. Labor's move crippled railroad operations nationwide, and President Grover Cleveland ordered troops sent into Chicago to break up the strike. In the ensuing violence, several workers were killed, forcefully bringing the plight of workers into the public spotlight. In this atmosphere of increased sympathy for workers, Congress later that year passed legislation designating the first Monday in September as Labor Day. How Has Labor Day Changed over the Years? Like a number of other holidays on the federal calendar, Labor Day has gradually morphed from a day set aside to honor America's working men and women to a day marking the unofficial end to summer. Ironically, the unofficial start to summer is usually observed on Memorial Day (last Monday in May), which was originally set aside to honor those who died while in the service of their country. Labor unions still stage celebrations on Labor Day, but for many Americans, the holiday's true significance has been lost.

September 15, 2016

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics most recent figures, logging workers have on average, the most dangerous jobs in America with a fatality rate of 110.9 deaths per 100,000 workers. Common dangers include falling tree limbs and dangerous equipment. In 2014, the median salary for loggers was $37,640. After loggers, the second deadliest job belongs to fishers and other fishing workers, with 80 fatal injuries per 100,000 workers in 2014. Source: Time.com

September 14, 2016

The official nickname for Kansas is The Sunflower State (the sunflower is also the state flower of Kansas and appears on the state flag and the Kansas state quarter). The alcohol laws of Kansas are among the strictest in the United States. Kansas liquor laws date back to 1881 during prohibition when it was the first state to constitutionally ban alcohol, statewide. The complete ban remained in effect until 1948. Since then there have only been minor changes to the law leaving Kansas with one of the most antiquated liquor laws in the country.

September 13, 2016

The Last Supper is a late 15th-century mural painting by Leonardo da Vinci in the refectory of the Convent of Santa Maria delle Grazie, Milan. It is one of the world's most famous paintings, and one of the most studied, scrutinized, and satirized. The Last Supper measures 460 cm × 880 cm (180 in × 350 in) and covers an end wall of the dining hall at the monastery of Santa Maria delle Grazie in Milan, Italy. Due to the methods used, and a variety of environmental factors, very little of the original painting remains today, despite numerous restoration attempts, the last being completed in 1999.

September 12, 2016

Lester Joseph Gillis, known under the pseudonym George Nelson, was a bank robber and murderer in the 1930s. Gillis was better known as Baby Face Nelson, a name given to him due to his youthful appearance and small stature. Nelson entered into a partnership with John Dillinger, helping him escape from prison in the famed Crown Point, Indiana Jail escape, and was later labeled along with the remaining gang members as public enemy number one. He was killed in a short but furious gun battle with FBI agents in 1934.

September 10, 2016

"We Bring Good Things to Life" was an advertising slogan used by General Electric between 1979 and 2003. It was designed by the advertising firm BBDO led by project manager Richard Costello, who would later go on to become head of advertising at General Electric. The slogan was designed to highlight the diversity of the products and services the company offered. The slogan, after its many appearances in GE advertising, was responsible for increased popularity and a new image for the company. By the early 1990s, GE was among the most recognized brands in the United States along with Coca-Cola and IBM.

September 9, 2016

Nathaniel Hawthorne was an American novelist and short-story writer who was a master of the allegorical and symbolic tale. One of the greatest fiction writers in American literature, he is best known for The Scarlet Letter. The book is considered to be his "masterwork". Set in 17th-century Puritan Boston, Massachusetts, during the years 1642 to 1649, it tells the story of Hester, who conceives a daughter through an affair and struggles to create a new life of repentance and dignity. His use of allegory and symbolism make Hawthorne one of the most studied writers.

September 8, 2016

Fans of the sitcom "Seinfeld" probably know that Jerry Seinfeld is a big fan of Superman and often made references to the Man of Steel in his show. In fact, there is an image of or reference to Superman somewhere in most episodes of "Seinfeld". Trying to find these references has become a sport for Seinfeld and Superman fans alike. Some references are quite vague and take a little imagination to make the connection, but some references are more obvious.

September 7, 2016

Port is always the left-hand side of the boat when you are facing the bow. Because “right” and “left” can become confusing sailing terms when used out in the open waters, port is used to define the left-hand side of the boat as it relates to the bow, or front. At night, the port side of a vessel or aircraft is indicated with a red navigation light and the opposite side with a green one, to help avoid collisions. Starboard is the right-hand side of the boat, facing forward.

September 6, 2016

Abigail Adams was the wife of President John Adams and the mother of John Quincy Adams, who became the sixth president of the United States. She is now designated the first Second Lady and second First Lady of the United States, although these titles were not in use at the time. She is remembered for the many letters she wrote to her husband while he stayed in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, during the Continental Congresses. John frequently sought the advice of Abigail on many matters, and their letters are filled with intellectual discussions on government and politics. Her eldest son, John Quincy, would become president 7 years after her death in 1825.

September 5, 2016

Romeo Montague is one of the title characters in William Shakespeare's tragedy Romeo and Juliet. He serves as the play's male protagonist. Romeo, the son of Montague and his wife, secretly loves and marries Juliet, a member of the rival House of Capulet. Forced into exile by his slaying of Juliet's cousin, Tybalt, in a duel, Romeo commits suicide upon hearing falsely of Juliet's death. His last words are, “Thy drugs are quick. Thus, with a kiss, I die.”

September 4, 2016

Today marks the 19th anniversary of the deadly Paris car crash that claimed the life of Diana, Princess of Wales. Princess Diana died from serious injuries in the early hours of August 31, 1997 as a result of injuries sustained in a car crash. Diana was riding in the rear seat of a Mercedes along with her boyfriend, Dodi Alf Fayed, when it struck a support column inside a tunnel in Paris as they were traveling from the Ritz Hotel to Al Fayed's apartment. Although the media blamed the paparazzi following the car, a French judicial investigation found that the crash was caused by Henri Paul, who lost control of the car at high speed while drunk. The investigation concluded that the photographers were not near the Mercedes when it crashed.

September 3, 2016

Pennsylvania's nickname is The Keystone State because it was the middle colony of the original 13 colonies and because Pennsylvania has held a key position in the economic, social, and political development of the United States. A keystone is a wedge-shaped piece at the crown of an arch that locks the other pieces in place; it is a stone on which the associated stones depend for support. Geographically, Pennsylvania’s central location along the arch of the 13 original states calls to mind a keystone. Politically, Pennsylvania played a vital role in holding together the states of the newly formed Union. The state song of Pennsylvania also mentions the state nickname in the second verse: "Birthplace of a mighty nation, Keystone of the land."

September 2, 2016

The shortest U.S. President was James Madison who stood a mere 5 feet, 4 inches, while the tallest was Abraham Lincoln who was 6 feet, four inches. Madison was the fourth President of the United States and is hailed as the "Father of the Constitution" for his pivotal role in drafting and promoting the U.S. Constitution and the Bill of Rights. The average height for a U.S. president is roughly 5 foot, 11 inches. At a height of only five feet, four inches (163 cm), and never weighing more than 100 pounds, James Madison became the most diminutive president.

September 1, 2016

Andes Chocolate Mints are small rectangular candies consisting of one mint-green layer sandwiched in between two chocolate-brown layers. The candies are usually wrapped in green foil imprinted with the company's logo, the word Andes written amidst a drawing of snow-capped peaks. In the United States, Andes mints are a popular after dinner mint, which can be found at popular restaurants, including Olive Garden. The candy shares its name with the longest continental mountain range in the world.

August 31, 2016

Neverland Ranch was the name of the home of the late Michael Jackson. Jackson named the property after Neverland, the fantasy island in the story of Peter Pan, a boy who never grows up. The 12,598-square-foot French Normandy-style home sits on 2,698 acres in the Santa Ynez Valley, northeast of Los Angeles. It has six-bedrooms, a four-acre lake with waterfall, three guest houses, a tennis court, and a 5,500-square-foot movie theater and stage. It was Jackson's home as well as his private amusement park. It contained a floral clock, a petting zoo, and two railroads. There was also a Ferris wheel, Carousel, Zipper, Octopus, Pirate Ship, Wave Swinger, Super Slide, roller coaster, bumper cars, and an amusement arcade.

August 30, 2016

Chinese restaurants in the United States began during the California gold rush, which brought twenty to thirty thousand immigrants across from the Canton region of China. By 1850, there were 5 restaurants in San Francisco, California. Soon after, significant amounts of food were being imported from China to America's west coast. According to the Chinese American Restaurant Association, there are now over 45,000 Chinese restaurants currently in operation across the United States.

August 29, 2016

The New York Stock Exchange was founded on May 17, 1792, when 24 stockbrokers signed an agreement establishing the basic rules for stock trading. This document was named the Buttonwood Agreement, because these pioneering stockbrokers would regularly meet beneath a buttonwood tree on New York City's Wall Street. The organization drafted its constitution on March 8, 1817, and named itself the "New York Stock & Exchange Board". In 1863, this name was shortened to its modern form, the "New York Stock Exchange".

August 28, 2016

Tiananmen Square is a large city square in the center of Beijing, China. It has great cultural significance as it was the site of several important events in Chinese history. Outside China, the square is best known for the Tiananmen Square Massacre, an armed suppression of a pro-democracy movement in June 1989. In what became widely known as the Tiananmen Square Massacre, troops with assault rifles and tanks killed student demonstrators trying to block the military's advance towards Tiananmen Square. The number of civilian deaths has been estimated at anywhere between hundreds and thousands.

August 27, 2016

Excalibur is the legendary sword of King Arthur, sometimes attributed with magical powers or associated with the rightful sovereignty of Great Britain. King Arthur was a legendary British leader who, according to medieval histories and romances, led the defense of Britain against Saxon invaders in the late 5th and early 6th centuries AD. The details of Arthur's story are mainly composed of folklore and literary invention, and his historical existence is debated and disputed by modern historians.

August 26, 2016

Usain Bolt is a Jamaican sprinter. Bolt was born on August 21, 1986 in Sherwood Content, a small town in Trelawny, Jamaica. Usain Bolt is an Olympic legend who has been called “the fastest man alive” for smashing world records and winning 9 gold medals as a reigning champion at the 2008, 2012 and 2016 Summer Games. Due to his unprecedented dominance and achievements in the athletic field he is widely considered the "Greatest sprinter of all time".

August 25, 2016

Sherlock Holmes is a fictional private detective created by British author Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. Known as a "consulting detective" in the stories, Holmes is known for a proficiency with observation, forensic science, and logical reasoning, which he employs when investigating cases. First appearing in print in 1887 (in A Study in Scarlet), the character's popularity became widespread with the first series of short stories in The Strand Magazine in 1891. Guinness World Records lists Sherlock Holmes as the "most portrayed movie character" in history.

August 24, 2016

To Kill a Mockingbird is a novel by Harper Lee published in 1960. It was immediately successful, winning the Pulitzer Prize, and has become a classic of modern American literature. The plot and characters are loosely based on the author's observations of her family and neighbors, as well as on an event that occurred near her hometown in 1936, when she was 10 years old. To Kill a Mockingbird was Lee's only published book until Go Set a Watchman, an earlier draft of To Kill a Mockingbird, was published on July 14, 2015.

August 23, 2016

The small intestine is the longest part of the digestive system. According to the Cleveland Clinic, the small intestine is 22 feet long, while the large intestine is only 6 feet long. The descriptive terms “small” and “long” refer to the diameter of the intestine rather than the length. The small intestine is the part of the gastrointestinal tract between the stomach and the large intestine, where most of the digestion and absorption of food takes place. The primary function of the small intestine is the absorption of nutrients and minerals from food.

August 22, 2016

The Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest is an annual American hot dog competitive eating competition. It is held each year on Independence Day at Nathan's Famous Corporation's original, and best-known restaurant at the corner of Surf and Stillwell Avenues in Coney Island, a neighborhood of Brooklyn, New York City. The contest has gained public attention in recent years due to the stardom of Takeru Kobayashi and Joey Chestnut. The current champion is Joey Chestnut, at 70 hotdogs in the 2016 championship. He beat out 2015 champ Matt Stonie.

August 21, 2016

Robert E. Lee was never the President of the United States. Robert E. Lee was the leading Confederate General during the U.S. Civil War and has been venerated as a heroic figure in the South. Lee was a top graduate of the United States Military Academy and an exceptional officer in the United States Army for 32 years. During this time, he served throughout the United States, distinguished himself during the Mexican–American War, and served as Superintendent of the U.S. Military Academy and as the president of Washington College.

August 20, 2016

Almost 14 years! Prohibition in the United States was a nationwide constitutional ban on the production, importation, transportation and sale of alcoholic that remained in place from 1920 to 1933. Prohibition was mandated state after state, then finally nationwide under the Eighteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution in 1920. Prohibition ended with the ratification of the Twenty-first Amendment, which repealed the Eighteenth Amendment, on December 5, 1933.

August 19, 2016

Manolo Blahnik is a Spanish fashion designer and best known for his signature line of high-end women’s footwear. Becoming a household name through shows like Sex and the City and his never ending list of celebrity endorsements, Manolo Blahnik has become one of the most influential shoe designers of our time. Blahnik is renowned for handcrafting each shoe prototype himself. To this day, Blahnik still is the sole designer to every shoe that is created under the Manolo Blahnik label.

August 18, 2016

At about 4 feet long and around 100 pounds, the capybara is the largest rodent in the world. Native to South America, they live in densely forested areas near bodies of water, such as lakes, rivers, swamps, ponds, and marshes. The capybara has a heavy, barrel-shaped body and short head, with reddish-brown fur on the upper part of its body that turns yellowish-brown underneath. The capybara is not a threatened species and is hunted for its meat and hide and also for a grease from its thick fatty skin which is used in the pharmaceutical trade.

August 17, 2016

The U.S. Olympic Committee pays out a $25,000 bonus per gold medal, $15,000 for silver and $10,000 for bronze. The money does not come from the U.S. government. The U.S. Olympic Committee gets its money from the sale of broadcast rights, licensing and trademark income, and corporate sponsorships. Those bonuses pale in comparison to some other nations – Kazakhstan pays $250,000 USD for a gold, Indonesia pays $381,000 USD for a gold, and Singapore leads the list with a $741,000 USD gold medal bonus.

August 16, 2016

The United States has hosted a total of eight Olympic Games (4 Summer Olympics and 4 Winter Olympics), which is more than any other country in the world, followed by France with five editions. Canada, Germany, Italy, Japan, and the United Kingdom have each hosted three Games. The U.S. Summer Olympic venues have included St. Louis, Atlanta, and two times in Los Angeles. Winter Games have been held twice at Lake Placid, and once each in Squaw Valley and Salt Lake City.

August 15, 2016

The Olympic motto is made up of three Latin words: Citius, Altius, Fortius, which is Latin for "Faster, Higher, Stronger." The motto was proposed by Pierre de Coubertin on the creation of the International Olympic Committee in 1894. Coubertin borrowed it from his friend Henri Didon, a Dominican priest who, amongst other things, was an athletics enthusiast. Coubertin said "These three words represent a programme of moral beauty. The aesthetics of sport are intangible." The motto was introduced in 1924 at the Olympic Games in Paris.

August 14, 2016

The Flintstones is an animated, prime-time American television sitcom that was broadcast from September 30, 1960, to April 1, 1966. Mr. Slate was Fred's hot tempered boss at the Bedrock Quarry and Gravel Company. He is voice by John Stephenson. A running gag is his ever-changing first name, which has been presented as Sylvester, Nate, Oscar and George. On the episode "The Long, Long, Long Weekend", which originally aired on January 21, 1966, he is shown as being the founder of Slate Rock and Gravel Company. The company is still in business two million years later and is being run by his descendant George Slate the Eighty-Thousandth

August 13, 2016

Polo must be played right-handed. The use of the left hand or the mallet was banned in the 1930s. The rule was relaxed after World War II when there was a lack of players, but the rules were re-introduced in 1974. The banning of left-handed play is for safety reasons in order to avoid the likelihood of a head-on collision between players. As a left-handed player and a right-handed player head for the ball, they would not pass each other as they do in right-hand only games. Happy International Left-Hander's Day!

August 12, 2016

Psycho is a 1960 American psychological horror thriller directed and produced by Alfred Hitchcock. The murder of Janet Leigh's character in the shower scene is the film's pivotal scene and one of the best-known in all of cinema. The blood in the scene is reputed to have been Bosco chocolate syrup, which shows up better on black-and-white film, and has more realistic density than stage blood. The sound of the knife entering flesh was created by plunging a knife into a casaba melon. Janet Leigh was so affected by this scene when she saw it, that she no longer took showers unless she absolutely had to; she would lock all the doors and windows and would leave the bathroom and shower door open.

August 11, 2016

Six out of the 44 U.S. presidents served as officers in the Navy. The first American president who served in the navy was John F. Kennedy (who commanded the famous PT-109). Others U.S. presidents that served in the Navy include Lyndon B. Johnson, Richard Nixon, Gerald Ford, Jimmy Carter, and George H. W. Bush. Both Theodore Roosevelt and Franklin D. Roosevelt were the assistant secretary of the navy prior to their presidencies. Many members of Congress served in the navy, notably U.S. Senators Bob Kerrey, John McCain, and John Kerry. Other notable former members of the U.S. Navy include astronauts, entertainers, authors and professional athletes.

August 10, 2016

President Franklin D. Roosevelt first coined the term “United Nations” to describe the Allied countries during the Second World War. “On New Year's Day 1942, President Roosevelt, Prime Minister Churchill, Maxim Litvinov, of the USSR, and T. V. Soong, of China, signed a short document which later came to be known as the United Nations Declaration and the next day the representatives of twenty-two other nations added their signatures.” The term United Nations was first officially used when 26 governments signed this Declaration.

August 9, 2016

Oberlin College is a private liberal arts college in Oberlin, Ohio. In 1833, Presbyterian ministers John Jay Sipherd and Philo P. Stewart founded the institution as a college preparatory institute to promote Christian values. With its founding it is the oldest coeducational university in the United States and the second oldest continuously operating coeducational university in the world. Oberlin was the first school to accept not only women as well as men, in 1837, but black students as well as white, in 1835.

August 8, 2016

Nike in ancient Greek religion, was a goddess who personified victory, also known as the Winged Goddess of Victory. Since Giuseppe Cassioli's design for the 1928 Summer Olympics, the obverse face of every Olympic medal bears Nike's figure holding a palm frond in her right hand and a winner's laurel crown in her left. In the top right section of the medal a space was left for the name of the Olympic host and the Games numeral. The sports equipment company Nike, Inc. is named after the Greek goddess Nike.

August 7, 2016

''I do not like broccoli,'' the President said, responding to queries about a broccoli ban he had imposed aboard Air Force One and the White House. ''I haven't liked it since I was a little kid and my mother made me eat it. And I'm President of the United States, and I'm not going to eat any more broccoli!'' The broccoli growers of California responded by sending a truckload of broccoli to the White House in protest. First Lady Barbara Bush, holding a bouquet of the veggie as she addressed reporters, accepted the truckload of broccoli on the White House lawn and sent it to a homeless shelter.

August 6, 2016

Bob Barker hosted the popular television game show The Price Is Right from 1972 to 2007. Barker has a black belt in karate and trained under Chuck Norris and his brother Aaron. In a 2007 interview, Barker said, “I’ve done karate for thirty years. I studied with Chuck Norris. That’s another reason I think I’ve lasted this long.” After suffering a health scare back in 1999, Barker quipped that his training with Norris may have played a role. "Maybe I should blame it on Chuck Norris. He probably kicked me in the neck. God knows he kicked me everywhere else.” In his autobiography "Priceless Memories," Barker says his sparring with Norris once resulted in four cracked ribs.

August 5, 2016

The Treaty of Paris, signed on September 3, 1783, ended the American Revolutionary War between Great Britain on one side and the United States of America and its allies on the other. Britain acknowledged the United States to be sovereign and independent. The treaty set the boundaries between the British Empire and the new country, on lines "exceedingly generous" to the United States. Details included fishing rights and restoration of property and prisoners of war. The treaty is named for the city in which it was negotiated and signed.

August 4, 2016

Burj Khalifa is a megatall skyscraper in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. It is the tallest structure in the world. The Burj Khalifa stands at a stunning 2,722 feet, rendering it nearly 700 feet taller than the second tallest structure in the world. The building was opened in 2010 as part of a new development called Downtown Dubai. The building was named in honor of the ruler of Abu Dhabi and president of the United Arab Emirates, Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan. The Burj Khalifa also features both the world’s highest nightclub and the world’s highest restaurant.

August 3, 2016

Jaguar's business was founded as the Swallow Sidecar Company in 1922, originally making motorcycle sidecars before developing bodies for passenger cars. The name was eventually changed to SS Cars Ltd. Its first use of the name Jaguar was on a 1936 model called the S.S. Jaguar - the S.S. was for Swallow Sidecar. After the Second World War, SS Cars Ltd. changed its name to Jaguar to avoid confusion with the Nazi "SS". The company's name was officially changed from S.S. Cars Limited to Jaguar Cars on March 23, 1945.

August 2, 2016

Goodbye, Farewell and Amen served as the 256th and final episode of the television series M*A*S*H. Closing out the series' 11th season, it first aired on CBS on February 28, 1983. A whopping 105.9 million people watched on average over the two-and-a-half hours, with that number peaking at 121.6 million in the final six minutes. The episode surpassed the single-episode ratings record that had been set by the Dallas episode that resolved the "Who Shot J.R.?" cliffhanger. From 1983 until 2010, Goodbye, Farewell and Amen remained the most watched television broadcast in American history, passed only in total viewership (but not in ratings or share) in February 2010 by Super Bowl XLIV. It still stands as the most-watched single episode of an American television series.

August 1, 2016

"The Star-Spangled Banner" is the national anthem of the United States of America. The lyrics come from "Defence of Fort McHenry", a poem written in 1814 by the 35-year-old lawyer and amateur poet, Francis Scott Key, after witnessing the bombardment of Fort McHenry by the British Royal Navy ships in Chesapeake Bay during the Battle of Fort McHenry in the War of 1812. More than a century after its first publication, the song was adopted as the American national anthem, first by an Executive Order from President Woodrow Wilson in 1916 and then by a Congressional resolution in 1931, signed by President Herbert Hoover.

July 31, 2016

A month before his death on April 25, 1616, English poet and playwright William Shakespeare constructed his last will and testament. His will stated that upon his death, his wife Anne would receive his “second-best bed.” This is the only mention of Anne in Shakespeare's will and testament. Some scholars see the bequest as an insult to Anne, whereas others believe that the second-best bed would have been the matrimonial bed and therefore rich in significance. There is no reference made to his "best" bed. Shakespeare bequeathed the bulk of his large estate to his elder daughter Susanna under stipulations that she pass it down intact to "the first son of her body."

July 30, 2016

For some people, the number 13 may represent bad luck, but Taylor Swift considers it to be her lucky number. She recently opened up about her love for the number 13 and has credited it with many of the successes in her life. "The significance of the number 13 on my hand ... I paint this on my hand before every show because 13 is my lucky number; for a lot of reasons," she explained. Not only is it the day she was born on in December 1989, but over the years it has become so much more. "I was born on the 13th. I turned 13 on Friday the 13th. My first album went gold in 13 weeks. My first #1 song had a 13-second intro," she said. "Every time I've won an award I've been seated in either the 13th seat, the 13th row, the 13th section or row M, which is the 13th letter." Her Twitter account is named @taylorswift13.

July 29,2016

The Golden Globe Award is an American accolade bestowed by the 93 members of the Hollywood Foreign Press Association recognizing excellence in film and television, both domestic and foreign. The annual formal ceremony and dinner at which the awards are presented are a major part of the film industry's awards season. In 1943, a group of writers banded together to form the Hollywood Foreign Press Association, and created the Golden Globe Award. The 1st Golden Globe Awards, honoring the best achievements in 1943 filmmaking, was held in January 1944, at the 20th Century-Fox studios.

July 28, 2016

Laika was a Soviet space dog who became the first animal to orbit the Earth. Laika, a stray dog from the streets of Moscow, was selected to be the occupant of the Soviet spacecraft Sputnik 2 that was launched into outer space on November 3, 1957. The experiment aimed to prove that a living passenger could survive being launched into orbit, paving the way for human spaceflight. She died within hours of takeoff from panic and overheating, according to the BBC. The true cause and time of her death were not made public until 2002. Sputnik 2 continued to orbit the Earth for five months, then burned up when it reentered the atmosphere in April 1958. In 2008, Russian officials unveiled a monument to Laika built near the military research facility in Moscow that prepared Laika's flight to space.

July 27, 2016

The very first scanning of the now ubiquitous Universal Product Code (UPC) barcode was on a 10-pack of Wrigley's Juicy Fruit gum in June 1974. The bar code was scanned at 8:01 a.m. on June 26, 1974 at a Marsh supermarket in Troy, Ohio. The pack of gum wasn't specially designated to be the first scanned product. It just happened to be the first item lifted from the cart by shopper Clyde Dawson. The cash register rang up 67 cents. The pack of gum and the receipt are now on display at the National Museum of American History.

July 26, 2016

The polar bear first debuted in a Coca Cola print advertisement in France in 1922 and then appeared periodically for the next 70 years. The modern polar bear did not make its debut until the 1993 “Always Coca Cola” campaign in a television ad called “Northern Lights”, which featured polar bears gathering to drink Coke and watch the aurora borealis. Since then, the polar bear has appeared in numerous television and print advertisements becoming one of the most popular symbols of Coca-Cola advertising. The Coca-Cola polar bear commercials, are often featured during the winter months and the Super Bowl. The beverage company has pledged over $2 million dollars to protect the Arctic environment that polar bears call home.

July 25, 2016

Detroit was founded on July 24, 1701 by the French explorer and adventurer Antoine de la Mothe Cadillac and a party of settlers. Cadillac was the leader of a band of soldiers and French Canadians adventurers who came ashore and claimed the land for the King of France. The city he helped found, Detroit, became the world center of automobile production in the 20th century. William H. Murphy and Henry M. Leland, founders of the Cadillac auto company, paid homage to him by using his name for their company and his armorial bearings as its logo in 1902. Various places bear his name in North America, in particular Cadillac Mountain, Maine, and the town of Cadillac, Michigan.

July 24, 2016

The Rhodes Scholarship, named after Cecil Rhodes, is an international postgraduate award for non-British students to study at the University of Oxford in Oxford, England. The award is widely considered to be one of the world's most prestigious scholarships. The Rhodes Scholarships are administered and awarded by the Rhodes Trust, which was established in 1902 under the terms and conditions of the will of Cecil John Rhodes, and funded by his legacy. There have been nearly 8,000 Rhodes Scholars since the inception of the Trust. Each year 32 young students from the United States are selected as Rhodes Scholars.

July 23, 2016

Prince Andrew, the third child and second son of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, first met Sarah Ferguson when they were children. They did not become romantically involved until they met again at a party at Floors Castle in 1985. Diana, Princess of Wales, Andrew's sister-in-law, played a hand in matchmaking the couple. Four months after announcing their engagement, Andrew and Sarah married on July 23, 1986, at Westminster Abbey in London. By marriage, Sarah became Her Royal Highness The Duchess of York, Countess of Inverness and Baroness of Killyleagh, also attaining the rank of Princess of the United Kingdom. Andrew and Sarah announced their separation in 1992, and divorced on May 30, 1996. After the couple's divorce, Sarah lost the style Her Royal Highness, becoming "Sarah, Duchess of York", and was no longer a British Princess.

July 22, 2016

Sonny Bono achieved commercial success, along with his then-wife Cher, as part of the singing duo Sonny and Cher. He was mayor of Palm Springs, California, and congressman for California's 44th district from 1995 until his death in 1998. Sonny Bono died on January 5, 1998, of injuries sustained when he hit a tree while skiing on the Nevada side of Heavenly Ski Resort near South Lake Tahoe, California. Bono, who had been coming to the resort for 20 years, was on vacation with his wife and their two children at the time. Not long after his passing, his widow agreed to run for his congressional seat. She won election to Congress and served their district until 2003. The epitaph on Bono's headstone reads: "AND THE BEAT GOES ON".

July 21, 2016

Captain Eugene Cernan holds the distinction of being the last man to leave his footprints on the moon. Cernan is one of only three people to go to the Moon twice and the last man to leave a footprint on the lunar surface. Cernan's distinction as the last person to walk on the Moon means that Purdue University currently holds the distinction of being the alma mater of both the first person to walk on the Moon (Neil Armstrong), and the most recent. The final words Cernan spoke on the Moon in December 1972 represented everything the Apollo missions stood for. “We leave as we came and, God willing, as we shall return,” he said, “with peace and hope for all mankind.” Eugene Cernan is now 82 years old.

July 20, 2016

The New York Post is the 13th-oldest and seventh-most-widely circulated newspaper in the United States. Established in 1801 by federalist and Founding Father Alexander Hamilton, it became a respected broadsheet in the 19th century, under the name New York Evening Post. The meeting at which Hamilton first recruited investors for the new paper took place in then-country weekend villa that is now Gracie Mansion. The modern version of the paper is published in tabloid format. In 1976, Rupert Murdoch bought the Post for US$30.5 million. Since 1993, the Post has been owned by News Corporation and its successor, News Corp, which had owned it previously from 1976 to 1988.

July 19, 2016

What sounds like a tweet from Kanye West was actually a controversial remark made by the Beatles' John Lennon in 1966. Lennon said that Christianity was in decline and that the Beatles had become more popular than Jesus Christ. The comment drew no controversy when originally published in the United Kingdom, but angry reactions flared up when it was republished in the United States five months later. Some radio stations stopped playing Beatles songs, their records were publicly burned, press conferences were cancelled, and threats were made. Known as the "bigger than Jesus" controversy, the scandal ultimately influenced the band's decision to never tour again.

July 18, 2016

Before former President Ronald Reagan married former first lady Nancy Reagan, he was married to actress Jane Wyman. Wyman and Reagan were married in 1940 and divorced in 1948. She was an actress, singer and dancer best known for her Academy Award winning performance in Johnny Belinda and from her time on the soap opera Falcon Crest. Together they had two biological children, Maureen and Christine (who was born in 1947 but only lived one day), and adopted a third, Michael. After arguments about Reagan's political ambitions, Wyman filed for divorce in 1948, citing a distraction due to her husband's Screen Actors Guild union duties. He is the only US president to have been divorced.

July 17, 2016

Dopey is the only dwarf who does not have a beard. He is clumsy and mute, with Happy explaining that he has simply "never tried" to speak. Dopey’s garments are at least 5 sizes too big for him, but that only adds to his charm. The Seven Dwarfs appear in the classic fairy tale Snow White. Snow White was the first major animated feature made in the United States, the most successful motion picture released in 1938, and, adjusted for inflation, is the tenth highest-grossing film of all time.

July 16, 2016

George was a glossy monthly magazine centered on the theme of politics-as-lifestyle co-founded by John F. Kennedy, Jr. and Michael J. Berman with publisher Hachette Filipacchi Media U.S. in New York City in September 1995. Its tagline was "Not Just Politics as Usual." For the debut issue, creative director Matt Berman conceived a cover which received a great deal of attention for its image of Cindy Crawford dressed as George Washington. After Kennedy was killed in an air crash with his wife and sister-in-law on July 16, 1999, the magazine was bought out by Hachette Filipacchi Magazines and continued for over a year. With falling advertising sales, the magazine ceased publication in early 2001.

July 15, 2016

Walt Disney was an entrepreneur, animator, voice actor and film producer. As a film producer he received 22 Academy Awards from 59 nominations and has won more individual Oscars than anyone else in history. He was presented with two Golden Globe Special Achievement Awards and one Emmy Award, among other honors. Disney was also an innovative animator and created the cartoon character Mickey Mouse. He is famous as a pioneer of cartoon films and as the founder of theme parks Disneyland and Walt Disney World.

July 14, 2016

Founded in 1876, the United States Coast Guard Academy (USCGA) is the military academy of the United States Coast Guard. Located in New London, Connecticut, it is the smallest of the five federal service academies. The academy provides education to future Coast Guard officers in one of eight major fields of study. The academy is regularly cited as being one of the most difficult American institutions of higher education in which to gain entrance. Each year more than 2000 students apply and appointments are offered until the number accepting appointments to the incoming class numbers approximately 240. Unlike the other service academies, admission to the academy does not require a congressional nomination.

July 13, 2016

In 1976, Mars, the candy company that makes M&M's, eliminated the red version of the candies from their mix. This decision came as a result of public controversy surrounding a synthetic dye called FD&C Red No. 2, which was a suspected carcinogen, and were replaced with orange-colored candies. This was done despite the fact that M&M's did not contain the dye; the action was purely to satisfy worried consumers. However, to avoid consumer confusion, the red candies were pulled from the color mix. Red candies were reintroduced ten years later, but they also kept the orange colored M&M's. Paul Hethmon, then a student at University of Tennessee, started the campaign to bring back red M&M's as a joke that would eventually become a worldwide phenomenon. More than 400 million individual M&M's are produced every day in the United States.

July 12, 2016

The United States Census is a decennial census mandated by Article I, Section 2 of the United States Constitution. Starting in 1790, the United States government has taken a census every 10 years. A census is an official count of a population. The Constitution requires a census to determine how many seats in the U.S. House of Representatives each state should have. The government also collects census data to get a clearer picture of the nation’s population. Today, census forms are mailed to every household. The head of each household is required to fill out the form and return it. In the past, workers went door-to-door to complete each census form. The current national census was held in 2010; the next census is scheduled for 2020 and will be largely conducted using the Internet. In the United States' recent censuses, Census Day has been April 1.

July 11, 2016

Today marks the 212th anniversary of the deadly duel between Alexander Hamilton and Aaron Burr. The Burr–Hamilton duel was a duel between two prominent American politicians – Aaron Burr, the sitting Vice President of the United States, and Alexander Hamilton, the former Secretary of the Treasury – at Weehawken, New Jersey on July 11, 1804. The duel was the culmination of a long and bitter rivalry between the two men. Tensions reached a boiling point with Hamilton's journalistic defamation of Burr's character during the 1804 New York gubernatorial race in which Burr was a candidate. Burr shot and mortally wounded Hamilton, who was carried to the home of William Bayard on the Manhattan shore, where he died the next day. Burr, who survived the duel, was indicted for murder in both New York and New Jersey, though these charges were later dismissed.

July 10, 2016

Steve Wozniak is an American computer scientist best known as one of the founders of Apple and the inventor of the Apple II computer. Wozniak competed on Season 8 of Dancing with the Stars in 2009 where he danced with Karina Smirnoff. Wozniak has been very vocal about how the Dancing with the Stars judges score routines and about the fan voting system; at one point, he had said the judges were out of sync with the public taste and that the voting was rigged. He later retracted and apologized for his statements. Despite suffering a pulled hamstring and a fracture in his foot, Wozniak continued to compete, but was eliminated from the competition after four weeks on Dancing with the Stars.

July 9, 2016

"Georgia on My Mind" is a song by Hoagy Carmichael and Stuart Gorrell, now often associated with the version by Ray Charles, a native of Georgia, who recorded it for his 1960 album The Genius Hits the Road. On March 7, 1979, "Georgia On My Mind" became Georgia's official state song. To celebrate the moment, Charles was invited to perform it for state legislators at the state capital building in Atlanta. The title of the song was used as the state of Georgia's license plate slogan exclusively from January 1997 through November 2003. In 2003, Rolling Stone magazine named Ray Charles' "Georgia on My Mind" the 44th greatest song of all time.

July 8, 2016

"Be All You Can Be" was the recruiting slogan of the United States Army for over twenty years. Earl Carter (pen-name, E.N.J. Carter) working for the N.W. Ayer Advertising Agency as a Senior Copywriter created the “Be All You Can Be” theme line in 1980. In January 2003, the U.S. Army awarded Carter its Outstanding Civilian Service Award. Carter’s original concept sheet, with words “Be All You Can Be”, is now part of a permanent collection at the US Army Heritage Center Foundation. The United States Army is the largest branch of the United States Armed Forces and performs land-based military operations.

July 7, 2016

The Obama family has two Portuguese Water Dogs, Bo and Sunny. President Barack Obama and his family were given Bo as a gift from Senator Kennedy after months of speculation about the breed and identity of their future pet. The final choice was made in part because Malia Obama's allergies dictated a need for a hypoallergenic breed. Bo officially arrived and moved in at the White House on Tuesday, April 14, 2009. Bo has occasionally been called "First Dog". In August 2013, Bo was joined by Sunny, a female dog of the same breed. Sunny was introduced via First Lady Michelle Obama's Twitter account on August 19, 2013.

July 6, 2016

During the War of 1812 between the United States and England, British troops entered Washington, D.C. and burned the White House (known as the Presidential Mansion at the time) in retaliation for the American attack on the city of York in Ontario, Canada. It marks the only time in U.S. history that Washington, D.C., has been occupied by a foreign force. When the British arrived at the White House, they found that President James Madison and his first lady Dolley had already fled to safety in Maryland. They found refuge for the night in Brookeville, a small town in Montgomery County, Maryland, which is known today as the "United States Capital for a Day." British soldiers reportedly sat down to eat a meal in the White House before ransacking the presidential mansion and setting it ablaze. Less than a day after the attack began, a sudden, very heavy thunderstorm—possibly a hurricane—put out the fires.

July 5, 2016

The Quarrymen was a British skiffle/rock and roll group, formed by John Lennon in Liverpool in 1956, which eventually evolved into the Beatles in 1960. Originally consisting of Lennon and several school friends, the Quarrymen took their name from a line in the school song of Quarry Bank High School, which they attended. Paul McCartney joined the band in October 1957. George Harrison joined the band in early 1958 at McCartney's recommendation, though Lennon initially resisted because he felt Harrison (still 14 when he was first introduced to Lennon) to be too young. The group moved away from skiffle and towards rock and roll, causing several of the original members to leave. This left only a trio of Lennon, McCartney, and Harrison, who performed under several other names, including Johnny and the Moondogs and Japage 3 before returning to the Quarrymen name in 1959. In 1960, the group changed its name to the Beatles.

July 4, 2016

In the summer of 1776, when the Declaration was signed, the population of the nation is estimated to have been about 2.5 million. (Today the estimated population of the U.S. is 322.7 million.) One of the most widely held misconceptions about the Declaration of Independence is that it was signed on July 4, 1776. In fact, independence was formally declared on July 2, 1776, a date that John Adams believed would be “the most memorable epocha in the history of America.” On July 4, 1776, Congress officially adopted the Declaration of Independence. However most delegates did not sign the document until August 2, 1776, according to the National Archives.

July 3, 2016

John Calvin Coolidge, the 30th President of the United States, was born in Plymouth Notch, Windsor County, Vermont, on July 4, 1872. He is the only U.S. President to be born on Independence Day. Coolidge was elected as the 29th Vice President in 1920 and succeeded to the Presidency upon the sudden death of Warren G. Harding in 1923. Calvin Coolidge was the only U.S. president to be sworn in by his own father. In 1923, while visiting his childhood home in Vermont, Coolidge learned of President Warren Harding's death. As it was the middle of the night, Coolidge's father--a notary public--administered the oath by lamp light.

July 2, 2016

The story of pizza in America starts in New York City, on Spring Street in lower Manhattan, in 1905 when Gennaro Lombardi, a baker and pizzaiolo from Naples is granted the first license in the United States to sell pizza. Opened in 1905 Lombardi's has been acknowledged by the Pizza Hall of Fame as the first pizzeria in the United States. Gennaro Lombardi started the business in 1897 as a grocery store at 53½ Spring Street, and began selling tomato pies wrapped in paper and tied with a string at lunchtime to workers from the area's factories. In 1905 Lombardi received a business license to operate a pizzeria restaurant. In 2005, Lombardi's offered entire pizzas for 5 cents, their 1905 price, to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the first pizza sold at its original location.

July 1, 2016

Alexander Fleming is credited with the discovery of penicillin; perhaps the greatest achievement in medicine in the 20th Century. In 1928, while studying influenza, Fleming noticed that mold had developed accidentally on a set of culture dishes being used to grow the staphylococci germ. The mold had created a bacteria-free circle around itself. Fleming grew the mold in a pure culture and found that it produced a substance that killed a number of pathogenic bacteria. After calling it "mold juice" for several months, he later named the substance penicillin in March of 1929, paving the way for the use of antibiotics in modern healthcare. The laboratory in which Fleming discovered and tested penicillin is preserved as the Alexander Fleming Laboratory Museum in St. Mary's Hospital, Paddington.

June 30, 2016

On February 11, 2006, then U.S. Vice President Dick Cheney shot Harry Whittington, a 78-year-old Texas attorney, while participating in a quail hunt. Cheney was hunting quail at the Armstrong Ranch in Texas with Whittington when he accidentally fired his gun at the lawyer, hitting Whittington in the face, chest, and neck with hundreds of pellets. Whittington was taken to the hospital for treatment, and three days after his arrival suffered a minor heart attack from a pellet lodged in his heart. Cheney is one of only two Vice Presidents to shoot someone while serving as Vice President, with the other being Aaron Burr. In Burr's case, he fatally wounded Alexander Hamilton during their 1804 duel. Cheney said in his memoir that “the day of the hunting accident was one of the saddest of my life.”

June 29, 2016

Old Navy was named after a bar in Paris! Old Navy is owned by Gap Inc. which operates five primary divisions: The Gap, Banana Republic, Old Navy, Intermix, and Athleta. Millard Drexler, the former CEO of Gap Inc., decided to create Old Navy after reading an article in a retail trade publication. From the article, Drexler learned that the company that operated Target and Mervyn’s retail stores, planned to open a new brand meant to be what they called, “a cheaper version of The Gap”. Drexler decided to create his own discount identity to target this young new market. Drexler decided on the name “Old Navy”, the name of a bar he ran across while walking through the streets of Paris, France.

June 28, 2016

The chocolate chip cookie was invented by Ruth Graves Wakefield in 1938, who owned the Toll House Inn, in Whitman, Massachusetts. Wakefield wrote a best selling cookbook which was the first to include the recipe for a chocolate chip cookie, which she called the "Toll House Chocolate Crunch Cookie". As the popularity of the Toll House Chocolate Crunch Cookie increased, the sales of Nestlé's semi-sweet chocolate bars also spiked. Andrew Nestlé and Ruth Wakefield made a business arrangement: Wakefield gave Nestlé the right to use her cookie recipe and the Toll House name for one dollar and a lifetime supply of Nestlé chocolate. Nestlé began marketing chocolate chips to be used especially for cookies and printing the recipe for the Toll House Cookie on its package.

June 27, 2016

After graduating from Eureka College in 1932 with a bachelor’s degree in economics and sociology, Ronald Reagan decided to enter radio broadcasting. He began working for station WHO radio in Des Moines as an announcer for Chicago Cubs baseball games. His specialty was creating play-by-play accounts of games using as his source only basic descriptions that the station received by wire as the games were in progress. Sportscaster “Dutch Reagan” became very popular throughout the state for his broadcasts of Chicago Cubs baseball games. Because the station could not afford to send him to Wrigley Field in Chicago, Reagan was forced to improvise a running account of the games based on sketchy details delivered over a teletype machine. While traveling with the Cubs in California, Reagan took a screen test in 1937 that led to a seven-year contract with Warner Brothers studios.

June 26, 2016

Charlie Chaplin died on Christmas Day in 1977, at the age of 88. Two months later, his body was stolen from a Swiss cemetery. Chaplin’s widow, Oona, received a ransom demand of some $600,000, sparking a police investigation and a hunt for the culprits. Oona had refused to pay the ransom, saying that her husband would have thought the demand “ridiculous.” The callers later made threats against her two youngest children. After a five-week investigation, police arrested two auto mechanics who eventually led them to Chaplin’s body, which they had buried in a cornfield about one mile from the Chaplin family’s home. The men were convicted of grave robbing and attempted extortion. As for Chaplin, his family reburied his body in a concrete grave to prevent future theft attempts.

June 25, 2016

Homer Simpson is one of the major characters on the animated television series The Simpsons. He loves to eat, but his food trademark is without a doubt donuts, with his catchphrase “mmm…donuts” said at least once in every episode. His love of donuts has been the focus of many plot-lines over the years. His pink-iced donuts have been the focus on countless pieces of Simpsons merchandise and even serves as the menu graphic on the official website for The Simpsons. The promise of free donuts are pretty much the only thing motivating him to go to work each day. In the 10th season’s episode “They Saved Lisa’s Brain”, his donut mania goes to the next level with guest star Stephen Hawking telling Homer: "Your theory of a donut-shaped universe is intriguing… I may have to steal it."

June 24, 2016

Ted Turner is a media mogul and founder of the Cable News Network (CNN), the first 24-hour cable news channel. In addition, he founded WTBS, which pioneered the superstation concept in cable television. Turner attended Brown University and served in the Coast Guard before joining his father at Turner Advertising. He was forced to take control in 1963 when his father committed suicide, building an empire that came to be Turner Broadcasting. He founded the first 24-hour cable news network, CNN, which debuted on June 1, 1980. Time Warner purchased Turner Broadcasting for $7.5 billion in 1996. Ted Turner was married to actress Jane Fonda from 1991-2001.