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.