Gary Hart

 Senator Gary Hart was considered the early Democratic frontrunner for the 1988 presidential nomination until his campaign unraveled in May 1987. After rumors surfaced about his relationship with Donna Rice, the Miami Herald published a story detailing Hart’s alleged affair, followed by the now-famous photograph of Rice sitting on Hart’s lap aboard a yacht named Monkey Business. The media scrutiny and rapid public fallout led Hart to withdraw from the race, marking one of the most dramatic collapses in modern American political history.

"The Catcher in the Rye"

 J.D. Salinger concludes The Catcher in the Rye with Holden Caulfield’s memorable caution: “Don’t ever tell anybody anything. If you do, you start missing everybody.” This final line encapsulates the novel’s central tension between Holden’s longing for genuine human connection and his equally powerful fear of being hurt, disappointed, or forced to grow up. It stands as one of the most memorable closing sentences in modern American literature and reinforces the novel’s enduring themes of alienation, innocence, and emotional self-protection.

Freedom Trail

 The Freedom Trail is a 2.5-mile-long walking trail that passes through downtown Boston, Massachusetts. It is marked by a red line that is painted on the ground or on buildings, and it leads visitors to 16 important historical sites in the city.

Boston Common, the nation's first public park, serves as the starting point of the Freedom Trail. It runs from Boston Common in the city's center through the North End and Charlestown to the Bunker Hill Monument, and is mostly marked with brick. Simple ground markers with explanations, cemeteries, noteworthy churches and structures, and a historic naval ship are some of the places the route stops. The Old South Meeting House, the Old State House, and the Paul Revere House all have entrance fees, even though the majority of the locations are free or ask for contributions. The Freedom Trail is managed by the Freedom Trail Commission of the City of Boston, and it is partially funded by donations from several charitable organizations and foundations, private charity, and Boston National Historical Park.

The Freedom Trail is a popular tourist attraction in Boston, and it is a great way to learn about the city's rich history and its role in the American Revolution. Many visitors to Boston choose to take a guided tour of the Freedom Trail, which is led by a costumed guide who provides historical context and interesting anecdotes about the sites along the trail. Others prefer to explore the trail on their own, using a map or a self-guided tour app to navigate the route.

Johannes Kepler

 Johannes Kepler remains one of the most influential figures in the history of astronomy because he provided clear, mathematical descriptions of how planets move around the Sun. Born in 1571 in what is now Germany, Kepler lived during a period of major scientific transition when the long-held Earth-centered model of the universe was being challenged. Although Copernicus had earlier proposed that the planets revolved around the Sun, it was Kepler who supplied the mathematical foundation that helped establish the heliocentric model as the standard view of the cosmos. His work drew on years of detailed observational data, much of it recorded by Tycho Brahe, whose precise measurements of planetary positions were unmatched for their time. By analyzing these records, Kepler uncovered patterns that revealed how the planets actually moved, even when those movements did not fit the circular orbits assumed by earlier thinkers.

The result of this work became known as the three laws of planetary motion. The first showed that planets travel in elliptical paths rather than perfect circles. The second described how a planet moves faster when it is closer to the Sun and slower when it is farther away, a pattern that held consistently across the data. The third connected the time it takes a planet to complete an orbit with its distance from the Sun, providing a powerful mathematical relationship that could be applied across the solar system. Together, these laws gave astronomers tools that helped explain planetary behavior with a level of accuracy that had never been achieved before. They also paved the way for later breakthroughs, including Newton’s laws of motion and universal gravitation, which relied on Kepler’s findings to describe how and why objects move as they do.

Centuries after his death, Kepler’s legacy continues to be honored. NASA named the Kepler Space Telescope after him in recognition of his contributions to understanding planetary motion. Launched in 2009, the telescope was designed to detect planets orbiting distant stars, using variations in starlight to identify worlds far beyond our solar system. In a sense, it carried forward Kepler’s original work by searching for the kinds of planetary systems he once studied through mathematics alone. His influence can still be seen in many areas of astronomy, where terms such as Keplerian orbits remain central to orbital mechanics and celestial modeling.

Anna, the 7th Duchess of Bedford

 The tradition of afternoon tea is generally attributed to Anna, the 7th Duchess of Bedford, in the early 19th century. During this period, it was customary for fashionable Britons to eat only two main meals a day—breakfast and a late dinner—leaving a long gap in the afternoon. To stave off hunger, the Duchess began requesting a light meal of tea, bread, butter, and cakes in her private chambers. She soon began inviting friends to join her, and the practice quickly became a popular social ritual among the British upper classes before spreading throughout the country and becoming a cultural tradition.

Julius Caesar

 The phrase “Et tu, Brute?”—Latin for “You too, Brutus?”—is famously linked to the dramatic assassination of Julius Caesar on March 15, 44 BCE. Although there’s no historical evidence that Caesar actually uttered these exact words, William Shakespeare immortalized the line in his influential play Julius Caesar, using it to heighten the sense of shock and personal devastation at being betrayed by his trusted friend and protégé, Brutus. The moment has since become one of the most iconic and enduring portrayals of political treachery in Western literature and history.

Speedee: McDonald's Original Mascot

 Before Ronald McDonald, McDonald’s relied on a very different mascot: Speedee, a smiling little man in a chef’s uniform with a hamburger-shaped head, created to embody the chain’s promise of quick service. Introduced in the 1940s and featured prominently when the McDonald brothers launched their “Speedee Service System,” the character became a symbol of efficiency and modern fast food. As the company expanded, Speedee was gradually retired in favor of Ronald McDonald, who debuted in the early 1960s and quickly became one of the most recognizable advertising icons in the world.

Franklin D. Roosevelt

 The president of the US at the time of the Pearl Harbor attack was Franklin D. Roosevelt.  He proclaimed that December 7, 1941, would be "a date which will live in infamy" in a speech he delivered to a joint session of Congress on December 8, 1941.  

On Sunday, December 7, 1941, shortly before 8:00 a.m. (local time), the Imperial Japanese Navy Air Service launched a surprise military assault on the United States at the naval facility at Pearl Harbor in Honolulu, Territory of Hawaii. The strike caused the United States, which was at the time a neutral nation, to formally enter World War II the next day. The assault was code-named Operation AI, Hawaii Operation, and Operation Z by the Japanese military command.

At 7:48 in the morning Hawaiian Time, the assault started. 353 Imperial Japanese aircraft—fighters, level and dive bombers, and torpedo bombers—attacked the facility in two waves, taking off from six aircraft carriers. All eight of the existing US Navy battleships were damaged, with four of them being sunk. Six of them were subsequently raised, with the exception of USS Arizona, and they all continued to combat in the war. In addition, the Japanese sunk or damaged one minelayer, three destroyers, three cruisers, and an anti-aircraft training ship. There were more than 180 US planes lost. 1,178 people were hurt, and 2,403 Americans died. The headquarters building—also the location of the intelligence division—and other significant base structures, including the power plant, dry dock, shipyard, maintenance, and fuel and torpedo storage facilities, were spared bombardment. Only 29 airplanes, five midget submarines, and 64 military members were lost by the Japanese nation. One of the submarine's commanding officers, Kazuo Sakamaki, was taken prisoner.

Edward Hopper

 Edward Hopper created the celebrated 1942 painting “Nighthawks,” a work that has become one of the most recognizable images in American art. The painting depicts a quiet, late-night diner scene viewed from the outside, with four figures seated at a long counter while a single attendant works behind it. Hopper was known for his ability to capture stillness, isolation, and the subtle emotional undercurrents of everyday life, and “Nighthawks” has often been cited as the defining example of these themes. Though many viewers assume it depicts a real New York City diner, Hopper explained that it was actually a composite of several locations and imaginative details he arranged to convey the mood he wanted. The sharply angled windows, the cool glow of the fluorescent lighting, and the absence of a visible door all contribute to the sense of separation between the viewer and the people inside. Even as the painting shows more than one figure, the emotional tone is one of quiet solitude, an idea that would later become a hallmark of Hopper’s work.

Hopper painted “Nighthawks” during a time when the United States was entering World War II, and some art historians have suggested that the atmosphere of uncertainty and tension influenced its subdued, introspective qualities. Others interpret the painting as a meditation on modern urban life, highlighting how people can feel alone even when they are physically close. Hopper often rejected overly symbolic explanations, insisting he simply wanted to paint “the loneliness of a large city,” and the composition’s empty streets and bright-but-isolated diner capture that sentiment effectively. His use of light is particularly important: the diner glows with an artificial brightness that spills onto the sidewalk, contrasting the deep shadows of the surrounding buildings and making the interior the focal point of the scene.

“Nighthawks” was purchased by the Art Institute of Chicago shortly after Hopper completed it, and it remains one of the museum’s most visited works. Over the decades, the painting has influenced films, photography, and popular culture, inspiring homages in everything from advertising to television shows. Its timeless quality comes from the way Hopper balanced realism with atmosphere, presenting a scene that feels familiar yet emotionally layered. The painting continues to resonate because it captures an experience many people recognize: being awake when most of the world is asleep, surrounded by strangers, and suspended in a moment of quiet reflection.

Cole Porter's Kiss Me Kate

 Cole Porter’s 1948 musical Kiss Me, Kate draws its inspiration from William Shakespeare’s lively comedy The Taming of the Shrew. The show cleverly blends onstage and offstage drama: a spirited theater troupe performs Shakespeare’s fiery battle-of-the-sexes story. At the same time, their own real-life romantic squabbles amusingly mirror the play’s plot. The musical became one of Porter’s greatest and most enduring successes, earning the first-ever Tony Award for Best Musical and solidifying its place as a witty, sophisticated reimagining of Shakespeare’s classic.

Snails

 Snails can sleep for up to three years by entering a state of dormancy called estivation (to avoid heat and dryness) or hibernation (to prevent cold temperatures). During these prolonged rest periods, their metabolism slows to conserve moisture and energy. To protect itself, the snail secretes a thick layer of mucus that hardens into a barrier, sealing the opening of its shell. This natural shield helps prevent dehydration and keeps out predators. When favorable weather conditions return, the snail simply dissolves the barrier and reawakens.

Tuxedo Park, NY

 The "tuxedo" was named after Tuxedo Park, an upstate New York countryside enclave for Manhattan's wealthiest citizens. The story has it that one evening, Griswold Lorillard, the son of the founder of Tuxedo Park, and his friends came up with the idea to wear a short black jacket without tails to the club's first Autumn Ball in October 1886. The new fashion was a hit. When male guests would visit with families in Tuxedo Park, they were intrigued by the jackets that men wore and would ask their tailors to make them a jacket “like the ones worn in Tuxedo.”

Baltimore Colts

 Between 1953 and 1984, the Colts were a professional American football club that competed in Baltimore. The squad currently goes by the name Indianapolis Colts and moved there in 1984. The team's name honors Baltimore's equine breeding and racing heritage. It was the Baltimore Colts' second incarnation after their original team spent three years competing in the All-America Football Conference and one year in the National Football League. Memorial Stadium served as the home field for the Baltimore Colts from 1953 through 1983.

In 1983, the Colts franchise received a proposal to relocate to Indianapolis, Indiana. The municipal administration of Baltimore tried to convince the state legislature to take away the Colts franchise and provide ownership to a different company that would guarantee to keep the Colts in Baltimore after failing to persuade them to do so. With the Oakland Raiders, Oakland, California, has recently had some legal success. On March 29, 1984, in the middle of the night, the franchise moved to Indianapolis under the threat of eminent domain from the city of Baltimore.

Baltimore would not give up and filed a lawsuit to declare the franchise invalid and take ownership. Despite losing in court, Baltimore finally gained a new NFL club in 1996 with the formation of the Baltimore Ravens in response to the Cleveland Browns' relocation issue.

The action outraged a lot of former Colts players. One of the most noteworthy was Johnny Unitas, who made the decision to sever all relations with his previous squad after the tragedy. On the other side, Colts owner Jim Irsay hosted a reunion for the Baltimore Colts, the 1975 AFC East champions, in 2009 at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis. Bert Jones, Lydell Mitchell, and Mike Curtis were among the 39 of the team's 53 members who showed up for the event.

Sea Otter

 The sea otter is one of the few non-human animals known to regularly use tools. These intelligent marine mammals, found along the coasts of the northern and eastern North Pacific Ocean, often use rocks or other hard objects to help them access their favorite meals, such as clams, mussels, sea urchins, and crabs. A sea otter will float on its back, place a rock on its chest, and then smash the shellfish against it until the shell cracks open. This remarkable behavior demonstrates problem-solving and dexterity rarely seen among marine mammals.

Sea otters have a very high metabolic rate, which means they must eat about 25% of their body weight in food every day to stay warm in cold ocean waters. Unlike whales or seals, sea otters lack a thick layer of insulating blubber, so they rely on their extremely dense fur—around 600,000 to 1,000,000 hairs per square inch—to trap air and maintain warmth. This makes their fur the densest of any animal on Earth, but it also made them a target for fur hunters in the 18th and 19th centuries, pushing the species close to extinction.

Fortunately, conservation efforts and international protection have allowed many sea otter populations to rebound. They play a critical role in maintaining the balance of coastal ecosystems, particularly kelp forests. By feeding on sea urchins, they prevent these invertebrates from overgrazing and destroying kelp beds, which serve as vital habitats for numerous marine species.

The sea otter’s use of tools not only reflects intelligence but also cultural transmission—young otters often learn foraging techniques by observing their mothers. Scientists have even documented individual differences, with some otters favoring particular types of rocks or methods. This remarkable adaptability highlights the sea otter’s status as one of the most fascinating creatures of the marine world.

M&Ms

 If you were born before the 1990s, chances are high that you have encountered tan M&Ms. However, in 1995, the Mars candy company decided that having two shades of brown M&Ms was unnecessary. The company held a contest and invited M&Ms lovers to call 1-800-FUN-COLOR to vote for their favorite replacement color: blue, pink, or purple. After 10 million votes were cast, the color blue was chosen to replace the tan M&M. Since then, a regular pack of M&M's has contained a total of six colors: brown, yellow, green, red, orange, and blue.

Andy Griffith

 Andy Griffith plays the title character of criminal defense lawyer Ben Matlock in Dean Hargrove's American mystery legal drama television series Matlock. The program was created by Intermedia Entertainment Company, The Fred Silverman Company, Dean Hargrove Productions, and Viacom Productions and first shown on NBC and ABC, respectively, from March 3, 1986, through May 8, 1992.

Both Matlock and the 1980s Perry Mason television films were developed by Dean Hargrove. The concept of the program is identical to that of CBS' Perry Mason, with Matlock finding the offenders and then facing them in dramatic courtroom sequences. One distinction was that Matlock often won a jury acquittal at trial, but Mason typically cleared his clients in a pretrial hearing. Reruns of Matlock have been shown on TBS, INSP, Hallmark, CBS Drama, WGN America, FETV, PlutoTV, and MeTV since 1991.

The protagonist of the program is widower Ben Matlock (Andy Griffith), a famous, endearing, and cantankerous lawyer. Even though Matlock makes it clear that his only objective is to establish a reasonable doubt in the case of his client's guilt or to establish his client's innocence, in most cases the person who is on the stand being questioned by Matlock at the conclusion of the case is the actual perpetrator, and Matlock will expose him or her. After working as a public defender for a while, Matlock formed his own legal firm in Atlanta while living in a small farmhouse in a nearby neighborhood. Matlock studied law at Harvard Law School. He is renowned for visiting crime sites to unearth information that could otherwise go unnoticed and develop strong alternate interpretations of the particular event. Throughout the entire length of the series, Matlock owned three iterations of the Ford Crown Victoria—always an all-gray model—and was known for his very fussy sense of style. He often arrives in court wearing a recognizable light gray suit.

An Army of Frogs

 The traditional collective noun for a group of frogs is an army. This term is part of a broader collection of colorful and imaginative collective nouns in the English language, many of which date back to the Late Middle Ages. These group terms were often coined by hunters, writers, or poets to describe animals not with scientific precision but with flair, character, or humor.

Frogs are usually solitary creatures, but they do come together in large numbers during the breeding season, especially near water sources like ponds, marshes, or wetlands. When this happens, the sheer volume of frogs — often accompanied by loud croaking and energetic movement — can resemble an advancing force, which is likely how the term “army” came into being. Though not used in scientific writing, this term remains recognized in dictionaries and English language resources as the accepted collective noun for frogs.

This sort of naming isn’t unique to frogs. English has many such traditional collective nouns that are not based in biology but are instead steeped in creativity and convention. For example, you’ll find terms like a murder of crows, a parliament of owls, and a crash of rhinoceroses. These terms capture something vivid or behavioral about the animals — in the frog’s case, their sudden mass gatherings during rainy seasons or breeding times can seem like an amphibian invasion, hence the term “army.”

It’s important to note that while these terms are charming and memorable, scientific texts are more likely to refer to frogs in groups using neutral phrases like “a group,” “a population,” or “a breeding aggregation.” Still, “army” remains a beloved bit of English trivia, perfect for crossword puzzles, pub quizzes, and nature-themed games alike.

Alex P. Keaton

 Alex P. Keaton, the standout character from the 1980s sitcom Family Ties, was a young Republican with a love for capitalism, Ronald Reagan, and briefcases. Played by Michael J. Fox, Alex was the oldest child in a liberal, former-hippie household, creating constant comic tension between his conservative ideals and his parents' progressive values. His obsession with success, politics, and money was both a parody and reflection of 1980s America, and Fox's performance earned him multiple Emmy Awards and launched his career into stardom.

Thomas Edison

 Thomas Edison is credited with inventing the phonograph in 1877.  

A phonograph, sometimes known as a gramophone in later incarnations, a record player since the 1940s, or more recently a turntable, is a mechanical and analogue recording and sound reproduction device. As matching physical distortions of a spiral groove carved, etched, incised, or impressed into the surface of a revolving cylinder or disc, referred to as a "record," the sound vibration waveforms are captured. A playback stylus tracks the groove and is therefore vibrated by it to reproduce the sound by slightly rotating the surface while doing so. The stylus of early acoustic phonographs vibrated a diaphragm, producing sound waves that were connected to the open air through a flare horn or directly to the listener's ears using stethoscope-style earphones.

Emile Berliner, who invented the word "gramophone" for record players that play flat discs with a spiral groove extending from the edge to near the center, pioneered the switch from phonograph cylinders to flat discs in the 1890s. Later upgrades throughout the years included adjustments to the turntable's motor system, stylus or needle, pickup system, sound and equalization systems, and pickup system.

For the majority of the 20th century, the disc phonograph record dominated commercial audio recording formats. Cassette tapes and 8-track cartridges were developed as substitutes in the 1960s. Due to the popularity of cassettes, the development of the compact disc, and the subsequent arrival of digital music distribution in the 2000s, phonograph usage drastically decreased in the 1980s. However, records have seen a renaissance during the 2000s and are still a preferred medium for certain DJs, collectors, turntablists, and audiophiles.

San Francisco 49ers

The San Francisco 49ers are named after the prospectors who flocked to Northern California in 1849 during the California Gold Rush. Known as "forty-niners," these adventurers came from across the United States and around the world hoping to strike it rich. The influx of fortune seekers transformed San Francisco from a small town into a booming city almost overnight. When the football team was founded in 1946, the name "49ers" was chosen to honor the spirit of ambition, risk-taking, and discovery that defined that era.

The 1950s

 All these events took place in the 1950s.

The Korean War took place from 1950 until 1953 between North and South Korea. Following border conflicts and rebellions in South Korea, North Korea invaded South Korea on June 25, 1950, sparking the start of the Korean War. China and the Soviet Union backed North Korea, while the United Nations, particularly the United States, supported South Korea. On July 27, 1953, an armistice ended the conflict. With around 3 million military casualties and a higher percentage of civilian deaths than World War II or the Vietnam War, the Korean War was one of the most devastating wars of the modern period.

The first 180 half-hour episodes of the American television comedy I Love Lucy, which ran for six seasons from October 15, 1951, to May 6, 1957, were broadcast on CBS. Lucille Ball, Desi Arnaz, Vivian Vance, and William Frawley all appeared in the program. The show focused on the lives of Lucy Ricardo, a young housewife from a middle-class neighborhood in New York City, who often devised schemes with her closest friends, Ethel and Fred Mertz, to make an appearance with her bandleader husband, Ricky Ricardo, at his nightclub.

From 6 February 1952 until she died in 2022, Elizabeth II reigned over the United Kingdom and other Commonwealth territories. During her lifetime, she had the regency over 32 sovereign nations; at the time of her death, that number was 15. She ruled for 70 years and 214 days, the longest known tenure for a female head of state in history and the longest of any British monarch. At the age of 25, Elizabeth succeeded her father as head of the Commonwealth and queen of seven sovereign Commonwealth nations: the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Pakistan, and Ceylon. Her father passed away in February 1952.

Sundae

 Sundae is a type of blood sausage in Korean cuisine. It is a popular street food in both North and South Korea, generally made by steaming cow or pig's intestines stuffed with various ingredients. Sundae has been featured on various weird food lists and is considered a highly unusual food by most foreigners. It is favored by most Koreans as a snack to be eaten between meals. The dish dates back to the Goryeo period (918–1392), when wild boars, prominent across the Korean Peninsula, were used in the dish. In South Korea, sundae is often steamed and served with steamed gan (liver) and heopa (lung).

Keyboard

 The celesta, an instrument that conjures the magical, tinkling sounds famously heard in Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky's "Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy" from "The Nutcracker" suite, is a keyboard instrument. Despite being a keyboard instrument, the celesta holds a unique place in the pantheon of musical instruments, with connections, both direct and indirect, to the string, woodwind, and brass families through its use and orchestration in various musical compositions.

At its core, the celesta consists of a keyboard mechanism that, when played, activates hammers that strike metal plates or bars, producing a sound that is ethereal and bell-like. This mechanism is somewhat similar to that of a piano, which is also a keyboard instrument but utilizes strings struck by hammers to produce sound. The celesta's sound production mechanism distinguishes it from string instruments, which generate sound through the vibration of strings either by bowing (as in violins, violas, cellos, and double basses) or plucking (as in harps or guitars).

Despite its classification as a keyboard instrument, the celesta's unique timbre and ethereal quality allow it to blend well with instruments from the woodwind and brass families, adding a shimmering layer to the ensemble's texture. Woodwind instruments, such as the flute, clarinet, oboe, and bassoon, produce sound through the vibration of air in a tube, with pitch altered by opening and closing holes along the tube's length. In contrast, brass instruments, including the trumpet, trombone, horn, and tuba, generate sound through the vibration of the player's lips against a mouthpiece, with pitch modified by valves or slide positions. The celesta, through clever orchestration, can complement the airy, breathy sounds of woodwinds and the bold, resonant tones of brass, creating a blend that enhances the color and depth of orchestral compositions.

Moreover, the celesta's role in the orchestra and chamber music showcases its versatility and ability to interact with various instrumental families. Its use is not limited to classical compositions; it has found a place in film scores, jazz, and even pop music, demonstrating its adaptability and the enchanting appeal of its sound.

Val Kilmer

 In the 1986 film Top Gun, Val Kilmer portrayed Navy pilot Tom "Iceman" Kazansky. The nickname "Iceman" reflected his calm, calculated demeanor and flawless flying skills. Kilmer’s career spanned a wide range of roles, including his portrayal of rock legend Jim Morrison in The Doors and the caped crusader in Batman Forever. The iconic actor passed away in Los Angeles on Tuesday at the age of 65 from pneumonia. His death followed a long health battle that began with a 2014 throat cancer diagnosis, which led to a tracheostomy, chemotherapy, and radiation before the disease went into remission.

Bonanza

 Ponderosa Ranch was a theme park and tourist attraction inspired by the hit TV western Bonanza, which aired from 1959 to 1973. Opened in 1967, the park was located in Incline Village, Nevada, near Lake Tahoe—the same region where the show’s fictional ranch was set. Designed to bring the world of Bonanza to life, the park featured a full-scale replica of the Cartwright family’s ranch house and barn, along with Western-themed attractions such as gunfight reenactments, wagon rides, and gold panning. Ponderosa Ranch operated for nearly four decades before closing its doors in 2004.

Jupiter

 Jupiter rotates the fastest of all the planets in the solar system, completing one rotation on its axis in just under ten hours. This causes an equatorial bulge that is visible through a simple telescope. Jupiter's upper atmosphere rotates differentially because it is not a solid entity. The polar atmosphere of Jupiter rotates more slowly than the equatorial atmosphere, by around 5 minutes. The planet is an oblate spheroid, which means that the distance between its poles and across its equator is greater than the distance between those two distances. The equatorial diameter of Jupiter is 5,764 miles greater than the polar diameter.

Jupiter is the biggest planet in the Solar System, and the fifth planet from the Sun. It is a gas giant with a mass that is slightly less than one thousandth that of the Sun but more than two and a half times that of all the other planets in the Solar System put together. After the Moon and Venus, Jupiter is the third brightest natural object in the Earth's night sky, and people have been seeing it since ancient times. It was given the name Jupiter after the Roman god and supreme deity.

When Pioneer 10 made its closest approach to Jupiter in December 1973, it became the first spacecraft to visit the planet. Since then, other robotic spacecraft have studied Jupiter, starting with the Pioneer and Voyager flyby missions from 1973 to 1979 and continuing with the Galileo orbiter in 1995. The New Horizons spacecraft visited Jupiter in 2007 by accelerating through its gravity and curving its course toward Pluto. Juno, the most recent spacecraft to explore the planet, orbited Jupiter in July 2016. The likely ice-covered liquid ocean of Europa is a future target for study in the Jupiter system.

Lenny Bruce

 In 1964, comedian Lenny Bruce was convicted of obscenity in New York, a landmark case that highlighted tensions between free speech and public decency laws. Known for his provocative and often controversial routines, Bruce challenged societal norms by addressing taboo topics such as religion, politics, and sex with raw honesty. He was arrested for using “over 100 obsene” words while on stage at Greenwich Village by undercover police officers who deemed his language indecent. Bruce was found guilty and sentenced to four months in a workhouse, though he died before his appeal could be heard.

Simon & Garfunkel

 Simon & Garfunkel were one of the most influential folk-rock duos of the 1960s, blending poetic lyrics with intricate harmonies. Consisting of Paul Simon and Art Garfunkel, the duo first gained recognition in 1965 when "The Sound of Silence" became a surprise hit. Originally an acoustic track on their 1964 debut album Wednesday Morning, 3 A.M., the song initially failed to gain traction. However, producer Tom Wilson later added electric instrumentation, transforming it into a folk-rock anthem that soared to No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100.

Another defining hit, "Mrs. Robinson," was released in 1968 and became synonymous with the film The Graduate, starring Dustin Hoffman. The song's lyrics, while partly enigmatic, include references to the loss of American innocence, with the famous line, "Where have you gone, Joe DiMaggio?" capturing a sense of nostalgia. The song won the Grammy Award for Record of the Year and cemented the duo's place in popular culture.

Simon & Garfunkel’s ability to craft both introspective ballads and socially relevant anthems set them apart from their contemporaries. Songs like "The Boxer," "Scarborough Fair/Canticle," and "Homeward Bound" further showcased their lyrical depth and melodic brilliance. While their music was rooted in folk traditions, they incorporated orchestral arrangements and rock influences, making their sound more dynamic.

Despite their immense success, tensions between the two led to their split after their landmark 1970 album Bridge Over Troubled Water. Paul Simon continued a successful solo career, while Art Garfunkel pursued music and acting. Though they occasionally reunited for special performances, including the legendary 1981 Central Park concert, their partnership remained one of both artistic brilliance and personal conflict.

Their legacy continues to influence modern folk and rock artists, and their songs remain timeless. Whether through their haunting harmonies or profound storytelling, Simon & Garfunkel’s music still resonates with audiences decades after their heyday.

Carl Douglas

 Carl Douglas, a Jamaican-British singer, is best known for his 1974 disco hit Kung Fu Fighting. The song, inspired by the rising popularity of martial arts films in the 1970s, became an unexpected global sensation, reaching No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 and selling over 11 million copies worldwide. Despite its success, Douglas never replicated the same level of mainstream popularity, cementing his status as a classic one-hit wonder. Kung Fu Fighting remains a cultural staple, frequently featured in movies, commercials, and nostalgic playlists.

Sigourney Weaver

 Sigourney Weaver, born Susan Weaver, adopted the name "Sigourney" after a minor character in F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby. She was inspired by Sigourney Howard, a wealthy socialite mentioned in the novel. Weaver made the name change at the age of 14, feeling that "Susan" was too common and wanting a more distinctive identity. The name ultimately became synonymous with her strong and memorable screen presence, particularly through her iconic portrayal of Ellen Ripley in the Alien science fiction film franchise.

Mercury

 The chemical element mercury has the atomic number 80 and the symbol Hg. It was once known as hydrargyrum and goes by the moniker quicksilver. The only other metallic element that is known to be liquid under normal circumstances for temperature and pressure is the halogen bromine, while metals like caesium, gallium, and rubidium melt slightly above room temperature. Mercury is a heavy, silvery d-block element.

The primary form of mercury found in global deposits is cinnabar. Grinding either synthetic mercuric sulfide or natural cinnabar yields the red color vermilion.

Mercury is used in a variety of devices, including thermometers, barometers, manometers, sphygmomanometers, float valves, mercury switches, mercury relays, fluorescent lamps, and others. However, due to worries about the element's toxicity, mercury thermometers and sphygmomanometers have been largely phased out in clinical settings in favor of substitutes like alcohol- or galinstan-filled glass thermometers and thermistor- or Likewise, mercury sphygmomanometers have been replaced with mechanical pressure gauges and electrical strain gauge sensors.

In certain places, amalgam is still used for dental repair, and mercury is still used in scientific research applications. Additionally, fluorescent lighting uses it. Short-wave ultraviolet light is created when electricity is delivered through mercury vapor in a fluorescent lamp. This light then causes the phosphor in the tube to glow, producing visible light.

Robinhood Actors

 Kevin Costner, Sean Connery, and Russell Crowe have all taken on the role of Robin Hood in different film adaptations. Costner starred in Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves (1991), a swashbuckling adventure that became a box office hit. Sean Connery, best known as James Bond, portrayed an aging Robin Hood in Robin and Marian (1976), a more somber and romantic take on the character, opposite Audrey Hepburn as Maid Marian. Russell Crowe later assumed the role in Ridley Scott's Robin Hood (2010), a gritty, more grounded version which focused on the origins of the man behind the myth.

The Volstead Act

 The law that enacted Prohibition was informally known as the Volstead Act, named after Andrew Volstead, the Congressman who sponsored the legislation. Officially titled the National Prohibition Act, it was passed by Congress in 1919 to provide enforcement measures for the Eighteenth Amendment, which banned the manufacture, sale, and transportation of alcohol. Intended to reduce alcohol consumption, it instead fueled bootlegging, speakeasies, and organized crime until its repeal in 1933 by the ratification of the Twenty-First Amendment.

27th U.S. President William Howard Taft

 Before becoming the 27th president of the United States, William Howard Taft held the unique distinction of serving as governor-general of both the Philippines and Cuba. Appointed by President William McKinley, Taft served as governor of the Philippines from 1901 to 1903, where he focused on establishing a civilian government. Later, while serving as secretary of war under President Theodore Roosevelt, Taft briefly acted as provisional governor of Cuba in 1906 to help stabilize the country following a political crisis, further showcasing his administrative and diplomatic skills.

Eggs Benedict

 Eggs Benedict is a common American breakfast that consists of an English muffin that is cut in half, with each half being topped with Canadian bacon, a poached egg, and hollandaise sauce. This meal is often served for breakfast or brunch in the United States. New York City helped make it popular.

Regarding the Eggs Benedict's history, there are varying versions. Eggs Benedict was originally made in our ovens in 1860, according to the menu of Delmonico's in Lower Manhattan. Its Eggs a la Benedick recipe was also made public in 1894 by Charles Ranhofer, one of its previous cooks.

Lemuel Benedict, a retired Wall Street stock broker, claimed to have wandered into the Waldorf Hotel in 1894 and ordered "buttered toast, poached eggs, crisp bacon, and a hooker of hollandaise" in an interview published in the "Talk of the Town" column of The New Yorker in 1942, the year before he passed away. The maître d'hôtel Oscar Tschirky was so delighted with the meal that he included it on the breakfast and lunchtime menus, although he replaced ham for the bacon and a toasted English muffin for the bread.

Stevie Wonder

 Stevie Wonder wrote the iconic song "Isn't She Lovely?" to celebrate the birth of his daughter, Aisha Morris, in 1975. The joyful song captures Wonder's overwhelming love and pride as a new father. The lyrics express his amazement at her beauty and the miracle of her existence, blending heartfelt words with an upbeat melody that mirrors his happiness. The song even includes the sound of Aisha as a baby, with her coos and cries adding a personal and intimate touch. "Isn't She Lovely?" remains one of Stevie Wonder's most beloved songs.

September 9: Most Common U.S. Birthday

 If you were born on September 9, you are far from alone. According to data from the National Center for Health Statistics and the Social Security Administration, September 9th is the most common birthday in the United States, followed closely by September 19th. Of the top 10 most common birthdays, nine of them happen to be in September — with all of them falling between Sept. 9 and Sept. 20. The data was collected by looking at the average number of births per day from 1994 to 2014 - for Sept. 9, that came out to 12,301 births. That's a lot of Virgos.

P.E.I.: Prince Edward Island, Canada

 One of Canada's thirteen provinces and territories is Prince Edward Island, or PEI. It is the most densely inhabited province while having the lowest geographical area and population. The island has been given the titles "Garden of the Gulf," "Birthplace of Confederation," and "Cradle of Confederation." Charlottetown is the country's biggest city and capital. One of the four Atlantic provinces, PEI is also one of the three Maritime provinces.

It was a portion of the Mi'kmaq's ancestral territory before the French colonized it in 1604 as part of the Acadia province. Following the end of the French and Indian War in 1763, the island was given to the British and included in the province of Nova Scotia until becoming its own British colony in 1769. The Charlottetown Conference, held on Prince Edward Island in 1864 to propose a merger of the Maritime provinces, served as the precursor to a series of discussions that eventually resulted in the Canadian Confederation in 1867. When faced with financial ruin due to the Land Question and the building of a railroad, Prince Edward Island changed its mind and agreed to become Canada's seventh province in 1873.

According to Statistics Canada, 158,717 people lived in Prince Edward Island in 2019. Farming is the foundation of the island's economy; it provides 25% of Canada's potato supply. Fisheries, tourism, aerospace, bioscience, information technology, and renewable energy are other significant businesses. Being one of Canada's oldest colonies, Prince Edward Island's population still represents some of the country's original immigrants, with the majority of surnames having Canadian, Scottish, Irish, or English origins.

36th U.S. President Lyndon B. Johnson

 Lyndon B. Johnson served as President of the United States from 1963 to 1969, assuming office after John F. Kennedy's assassination and later winning a full term in the 1964 election. Johnson, whose presidency ended before the 1970s, was succeeded by Richard Nixon, who served from 1969 to 1974 but became the only U.S. president to resign, stepping down amid the Watergate scandal. Gerald Ford, Nixon’s vice president, assumed the presidency following Nixon's resignation and served from 1974 to 1977. Ford was succeeded by Jimmy Carter, served as president from 1977 to 1981.

Jelly Belly Flavor: Blueberry

 At his 1981 inauguration, President Ronald Reagan added a sweet and patriotic touch to the celebration by ordering three and a half tons of red, white, and blue Jelly Belly jelly beans. To complete the tri-colored mix of Very Cherry and Coconut flavors, Jelly Belly specially created a new blue flavor—Blueberry—just for the occasion. Reagan, a devoted fan of the Jelly Belly brand, famously kept jars of their jelly beans in the Oval Office. The Blueberry flavor became an instant hit and, more than forty years later, remains one of the most popular in the Jelly Belly lineup.

Meat Loaf

 Meat Loaf was the stage name of Marvin Lee Aday, an American singer. He was renowned for his spectacular live performances and strong, versatile voice. More than 65 million records from his Bat Out of Hell trilogy—Bat Out of Hell, Bat Out of Hell II: Back into Hell, and Bat Out of Hell III: The Monster Is Loose—have been sold worldwide. The first record, which is currently on the list of best-selling albums, has been in the charts for more than nine years and is still thought to sell 200,000 copies yearly.

Aday had significant trouble building a stable career in the United States despite the economic success of Bat Out of Hell and Bat Out of Hell II: Back Into Hell and his Grammy Award for Best Solo Rock Vocal Performance for the song "I'd Do Anything for Love." His popularity in Europe, particularly in the United Kingdom and Ireland, where he won the 1994 Brit Award for best-selling album and single, was a major factor in his success.

Meat Loaf and Steinman started working on Bat Out of Hell II: Back into Hell in December 1990, and it was released in September 1993 as a result of the popularity of his touring in the 1980s. The song "I'd Do Anything for Love" peaked at number one in 28 countries thanks to the rapid popularity of Bat Out of Hell II, which resulted in the selling of almost 15 million copies. Meat Loaf received the Grammy Award for Best Rock Vocal Performance, Solo for "I'd Do Anything for Love" in March 1994 at the 36th Annual Grammy Awards.

Greek Desserts

 "Baklava," "Koulourakia," and "Galaktoboureko" are delectable desserts that have their origins deeply rooted in the rich culinary heritage of Greece. Each of these sweet creations carries its own unique flavors, textures, and traditions, offering a glimpse into the country's cultural and gastronomic richness.

"Baklava," arguably Greece's most renowned dessert, is a testament to the country's mastery of pastry-making. This centuries-old delicacy is a marvel of sweet and savory contrast. It consists of meticulously layered sheets of paper-thin phyllo pastry, carefully brushed with melted butter and interspersed with finely chopped nuts, typically walnuts or pistachios. The layers of phyllo are repeated, creating a delicate, crispy, and multi-layered structure. Once baked to a golden hue, the dessert undergoes a transformation with the introduction of a sweet syrup, often infused with aromatic ingredients like cinnamon, cloves, lemon, or orange zest. This syrup is generously poured over the baked layers, seeping into the gaps and creating a harmonious blend of textures – crisp, flaky, and tender. Baklava is often cut into geometric shapes, such as diamonds or squares, resulting in visually enticing pieces that are as delightful to behold as they are to savor.

"Koulourakia," on the other hand, represent a more modest and homely facet of Greek baking. These delightful cookies are a testament to the country's love for simple, comforting treats. Koulourakia are traditionally prepared for special occasions, particularly during Easter and other festive celebrations. They are shaped into various forms, such as twists, braids, or S-shaped spirals, showcasing the creativity and artistry of Greek bakers. The key to their irresistible charm lies in their buttery, crumbly texture and a subtle sweetness derived from sugar, often complemented by a hint of vanilla. In some variations, they are adorned with sesame seeds, enhancing their texture and flavor. Koulourakia are not overly sweet, making them an ideal companion for a cup of coffee or tea, especially during heartfelt gatherings and social occasions.

"Galaktoboureko" is yet another Greek dessert that showcases the country's passion for combining buttery pastry with creamy fillings. This dessert marries layers of buttered phyllo pastry with a luscious custard filling. The custard is prepared with milk, sugar, semolina (or farina), and eggs, resulting in a velvety and rich consistency. Once baked, the dessert undergoes its final transformation as it is drenched in a fragrant syrup, often flavored with citrus notes from lemon or orange zest. The result is a textural symphony that contrasts the crispy, golden phyllo layers with the silky smoothness of the custard. Galaktoboureko is typically portioned into squares or diamond shapes before serving, offering a delightful combination of sweet, creamy, and crispy elements.

1st U.S. President George Washington

 George Washington, often called the "Father of His Country," never had any biological children. Despite this, he played a paternal role to many, particularly as a stepfather to his wife's children, Martha Custis. When Washington married Martha in 1759, she was a wealthy widow with two young children, John "Jacky" and Martha "Patsy" Custis, whom Washington lovingly helped raise as his own. Historical accounts suggest Washington may have been rendered permanently infertile due to an illness such as smallpox or tuberculosis earlier in life.

Jane Austen's Emma

 The 1995 film Clueless, starring Alicia Silverstone, is inspired by Jane Austen's novel Emma. The film reimagines the story in a modern setting, moving from early 19th-century England to 1990s Beverly Hills. Silverstone's character, Cher Horowitz, serves as a contemporary adaptation of Austen's Emma Woodhouse—both are wealthy, socially influential young women who view themselves as skilled matchmakers. Clueless retains the core themes of Austen's work while adding a fresh, comedic spin tailored to a modern audience.

"All in the Family"

 The TV program "Maude" was All in the Family's first spin-off, and Beatrice Arthur had made two appearances as Edith Bunker's beloved cousin Maude. Producers Norman Lear and Bud Yorkin produced Maude, a comedy with topical plots similar to All in the Family. In two episodes of All in the Family's second season, Maude makes her first appearance as a guest to the Bunker household in December 1971 and as a backdoor pilot introducing the plot of the Maude series in March 1972. She is the beloved cousin of Edith Bunker (Jean Stapleton), who has been married four times.

From September 12, 1972, through April 22, 1978, the CBS network first aired the American comedy television series Maude.  The show ran for six seasons before Bea Arthur stepped down due to poor ratings.

Bea Arthur plays the outspoken Maude Findlay in the show. Maude and her fourth husband, Walter Findlay, the proprietor of a home appliance company, reside in the New York neighborhood of Tuckahoe.  

James Joyce's Ulysses

 Leopold Bloom is the central character in James Joyce's novel Ulysses, first published in 1922. The novel chronicles a single day in Bloom's life, June 16, 1904, as he navigates the streets and interactions of Dublin. Bloom's character is an ordinary, relatable figure who embodies themes of humanity, compassion, and introspection, contrasts with the heroic image of Odysseus from Homer’s The Odyssey, which loosely inspires the novel. Bloom’s mundane yet introspective experiences explore themes of humanity, identity, and mortality.