fun fact for the day..

[jimLE]

The first patent in the United States was issued to Samuel Hopkins on July 31, 1790 for a process used to make potash, an ingredient used in fertilizer. Hopkins had petitioned for a patent on an improvement "in the making of Pot ash and Pearl ash by a new Apparatus and Process." The patent was signed by President George Washington, Attorney General Edmund Randolph, and Secretary of State Thomas Jefferson. The first patent, as well as the more than 6 million patents issued since then, can be seen on the Department of Commerce's United States Patent and Trademark Office website at www.uspto.gov.

 

[jimLE]

How Did a Bicycle Trigger Muhammad Ali's Boxing Career?

We assume this is why most boxers train with a stationary bike.

When, at the age of twelve, somebody stole Muhammad Ali's (then Cassius Clay) bicycle, he headed straight for the police. He stormed into the station, insisting he was going to beat up whoever did this. The police officer that day was a man named Joe Martin, and he was a boxing trainer who saw something. He took Ali under his wing and encouraged him to take up fighting. Of course, Martin's advice worked out. Clay was in the ring for his first fight six weeks later. And, well, you know the rest.

 

[jimLE]

What is located on the fifth floor of the Supreme Court building? A basketball court.

Aptly named “The Highest Court in the Land”, the U.S. Supreme Court's basketball court sits on the fifth floor of the United States Supreme Court Building, which is higher than the actual courtroom, located on the second floor. The court was once a spare room to house journals, but sometime in the 1940s, the justices converted it into a gym with a basketball court. A sign at the court's entrance reads, “Do not assume court is over. No basketball while court is being held." The Supreme Court Building was designated a National Historic Landmark on May 4th, 1987.

 

[jimLE]

The U.S. Patent Office recognizes December 1, 1885, as the first time Dr Pepper was served. It was introduced nationally in the United States at the 1904 Louisiana Purchase Exposition as a new kind of soda pop, made with 23 flavors. Its introduction in 1885 preceded the introduction of Coca-Cola by one year. It was formulated by Brooklyn-born pharmacist Charles Alderton in Morrison's Old Corner Drug Store in Waco, Texas. To test his new drink, he first offered it to store owner Wade Morrison, who also found it to his liking. Patrons at Morrison's soda fountain soon learned of Alderton's new drink and began ordering a "Waco". Alderton gave the formula to Morrison, who named it Dr Pepper.

 

[jimLE]

Just What is Cinco De Mayo Celebrating?
Many people in America think that Cinco de Mayo is a celebration of Mexican Independence Day. Actually, that's wrong, most people in America think it's a celebration of the tequila industry.

But the holiday actually celebrates the Battle of Puebla in 1862, when an undermanned and under-equipped Mexican militia defeated an attacking French army. This battle was part of the Franco-Mexican war, started the prior year when Mexico announced they would not be repaying any of their European debts for a two-year period. And you thought banks were bad when you missed a few payments.

Where is the World's Largest Cinco de Mayo Celebration Held?
Looking for the biggest Cinco de Mayo celebration in the world? Look no further than Fiesta Broadway in Los Angeles, where hundreds of thousands of people come out for food, music and crafts in a celebration of Hispanic heritage. Cinco de Mayo is actually celebrated the world over, except in Spain where they choose to celebrate Dos de Mayo in honor of another military victory. But you know where Cinco de Mayo isn't a huge deal? Mexico. They still celebrate events of May 5th, but outside of Mexico City and Puebla, it's just not that major an event. It's not even a federal holiday.

 

[jimLE]

Of the 97 Passengers on Board the Hindenburg, How Many Survived? To this day, people are still not 100% sure what caused the explosion. When you think Hindenburg, you think massive explosion. A ship detonating hundreds of feet above ground. And if you had to guess how many of the 97 passengers died, you would probably assume all of them. But actually, nearly two-thirds of the passengers survived. Of the 97 people on board, 62 lived. 35 died along with a dog and another worker on the ground. So how were there so many survivors? They jumped. Some jumped from several hundred feet up, and they were among the deceased, but others waited until the vessel was close to the ground, then leaped and ran away. Others didn't jumped but still managed to survive and were recovered from the crash site.

Why Was the Hindenburg Filled with Hydrogen Instead of the Less-Flammable Helium? 48 people died aboard the R101, making it an even more lethal crash than the Hindenburg. The Hindenburg was hardly the first airship to go up in flames. In 1930, the British military airship R101 crashed and caught fire.

Noting that the hydrogen used to fill the R101 was incredibly flammable, Hugo Eckener (the guy who designed the Hindenburg) proposed using helium for his airship. It was an effective lifting gas and less flammable. So why was the Hindenburg filled with hydrogen? The only country that had the ability to export helium was the United States, and they were worried about the gas being used for military purposes. The United States banned the exporting of helium to all countries, but you could understand them being especially wary of exporting a possible military agent to Germany in the 1930's.

oseph Goebbels Proposed Naming the Hindenberg after Whom? Before the famous explosion, the Nazis used the Hindenburg as a symbol of German strength. Its first public fight involved blaring messages and dropping leaflets in support of Adolf Hitler and reoccupying the Rhineland. The vessel was decorated with swastikas, and Joseph Goebbels even proposed naming it after Hitler. However, Eckener chose instead to name it after former president Paul von Hindenburg.

According to a Team at the South West Research Institute in San Antonio, Texas, What Caused the Explosion? For years, people haven't been sure what exactly made the Hindenburg go up in flames. Its ties to the Third Reich have made some suspect a bomb planted by saboteurs among other conspiracy theories. But a research team in San Antonio recently declared that they think they've cracked the case. They're blaming it on a build-up of static electricity from a storm the airship passed through. That, combined with a hydrogen leak, made the ship primed for an explosion. One that was triggered when the ground crew took the landing ropes, thus "earthing" the ship. Is this definitely what caused the detonation? We're not sure. But after almost eight decades it may be the best guess we have yet.

 

[jimLE]

May 8th is Mother's Day, and while you should probably celebrate by telling mom you love her, that doesn't mean you can't also stretch your brain with some trivia. How much do you know about Mother's Day?

Who is Recognized as the Founder of Mother's Day?Though it seems like it's been around as long as motherhood, Mother's Day has only been an official holiday since 1908. The woman credited with its invention, Anna Jarvis, started it as a way to honor her mother, Ann Jarvis (who might have been a great Mom, but clearly got lazy during the Naming Her Kids stage of life), and implored everybody to join her in honoring their mothers as well.

What Unofficial Predecessor to Mother's Day was Established in 1868 by Ann Jarvis, Anna's Mother? One big reason Anna Jarvis was so emphatic about starting a Mother's Day is because her own mother, Ann, had attempted to do so as well. In 1868, Ann Jarvis started up an unofficial holiday called Mother's Friendship Day, which was less about celebrating motherhood, and more about mothers working together to restore peace and harmony between Union and Confederate soldiers who still had killin' on their minds.
Why Did Jarvis Turn on Her Own Creation Years After it Became an Official Holiday? Interestingly enough, shortly after Mother's Day became an official holiday, Anna Jarvis disavowed it. Her reasoning was simple: it had become way too commercial.

She had envisioned Mother's Day as little more than sons and daughters spending the day with their mothers, honoring and thanking them for all they've done. Greeting cards, candy, flowers, and toys made no sense to her, and the corporate insistence that physical items are how you show your love depressed and angered her so much that she eventually abandoned the holiday altogether.

Unlike Charlie Brown, Jarvis's quest to spread the true meaning of her favorite holiday went virtually unnoticed, and she died broke and insane, her rage having driven her to life in a sanitarium.

What Strange Mother's Day Tradition Did Yugoslavia Once Observe?Despite Anna Jarvis's best wishes, Mother's Day has spread worldwide. Some places however, offer their own unique spin on the holiday. Perhaps the most bizarre tradition is in Yugoslavia. Two weeks before Christmas, children sneak up on their sleeping mother and stealthily tie her to her bed. When she wakes up and finds herself bound to the mattress, her lovely brood chants, "Mother's Day! Mother's Day! What will you pay to get away?" The mother than "pays" the children off with candy or toys, who untie her once satisfied with their bounty.

So yes, in Yugoslavia, Mother's Day is more like "Kids Are Evil Day." And don't we already celebrate that 365 days a year?

How Much Money Do We Spend on Mother's Day Every Year? And now for a few close-to-home tidbits. If it seems like we spend an awful lot of money each Mother's Day, it's because we do. As a nation, we spend roughly $14.6 billion every year on making Mom happy, which comes out to roughly $127 per person.

What's the Most Popular Mother's Day Flower? A good chunk of all that money ($1.9 billion, to be exact) will go towards beautiful bouquets of flowers. The question is, what kind of flower best signifies your love for your mother? Well, if you're like most people, you'll go for carnations, the most popular Mother's Day flower around.

Make sure you get the right color though. Pink carnations traditionally symbolize love, while red represents admiration. You'll likely do fine with either one. But white carnations? Don't hand those to your mother, because those are traditionally only meant to honor those who have passed on. Handing them to your still-breathing Mommy might prove awkward, no matter how loving your intent.

 

[jimLE]

4 Stately Trivia Questions about Utah
The Great State of Utah is known to the rest of the country as several things: the home of the basketball team the Utah Jazz, the state with one of the busiest airports connecting the Western and Eastern United States, and the home of the Mormon Church.

But there is a lot more to this state than its capital city or religious population. The 45th state is steeped in history and most people don't even realize just how much this region contributed to the development of the Western United States. Can you answer these four trivia questions about the state of Utah?

What did Utah's "Golden Spike" on May 10th, 1869, Commemorate? The first transcontinental railroad was one of the main reasons why the country grew so quickly in the 19th century. On May 10th, 1869, Promontory, Utah was the site of a ceremony connecting the Union Pacific and Central Pacific railways. A 17-carat gold spike was driven into the ground amidst a huge celebration by some of the railroad bigwigs and a crowd of Utahans and railroad workers. This was an important event because the joining of the railroads meant that the trains could traverse the entire continent from coast to coast, and that was a significant contribution to the development of the west.

What Additional ID Requirements do Bars & Clubs in Utah have? Fake ID sales in Utah have likely gone down. For many years, if you wanted to have an alcoholic drink in Utah, you had to become a member of one of the private clubs that served drinks. This was due to the Mormon culture in Utah, and the fact that Utah is the state with the lowest alcohol use. That law has been rescinded now, but the one that takes its place requires bar and club owners to scan the driver's license of anyone under the age of 35 - otherwise they could face the same penalty as if they served alcohol to a minor. But this scan doesn't just verify the license is real - it also sends the information to the police, making it rather inconvenient for criminals on the run who just wanted to have a drink.

When Did Women Get the Right to Vote in Utah? Utah was well ahead of the rest of the country when it came to suffrage. Women were granted the right to vote in 1850, an entire half-century before the 13th amendment was ratified and women got the right to vote in the rest of the country.

What is Surprising about Utah's Literacy Rate? In Utah, they wait for the book to come out. It might not be a surprise to you that Utah's literacy rate is the highest in the nation. Utahans certainly do love to read, but the interesting thing about that is, the inventor of the television, Philo Farnsworth, was born in Utah. Farnsworth attended Brigham Young High School in Beaver, Utah, and then went on to make a number of discoveries and create inventions that contributed more to the all-electronic television than any other inventor.

 

[jimLE]

Why Do They Call it "The Run for the Roses?"

Would've preferred hay. Back when the race was just getting started, they used to pass out red roses at Derby parties. Churchill Downs president Lewis Clark saw how much enthusiasm this generated and so he made it the official flower of the race. Because, we guess, horse races are something that need official flowers. In 1896, that year's champ Ben Brush got the first garland of roses. And the tradition has been growing ever since. We're up to the winner getting a set of 554 red roses for their victory. Which is nice, though at some point it's worth asking, do horses even like roses?

Who Is the Only Kentucky Derby Winner to Ever Be Disqualified?

Which brings up the important question: do horses get to go in their own stall for privacy or are people worried that, if left unsupervised, the horses might switch the sample? For those of you who think the performance-enhancing-drug era is a recent thing, and that back in the day sports used to be a purer competitive endeavor, you may not want to read this next part. Back in 1968, Dancer's Image pulled off a dramatic last-to-first finish to win the Derby by a good 1.5 lengths. Unfortunately for the horse, they found phenylbutazone in the horse's urine test, which is shocking to us, because we had no idea they made horses take urine tests.

The drug was an anti-inflammatory that was legal at plenty of other race tracks, as well as at Churchill Downs in both 1967 and 1969, but apparently Dancer's Image was in the wrong race at the wrong time. It was enough to earn him the only disqualification in Derby history.

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Who Was the Biggest Longshot to Win the Kentucky Derby?

And... we're off! In all sports, it's fun to root for the underdog. But in horse-racing it's especially fun. After all, that's the one that pays the most money. So who's the biggest underdog champ in Derby history? That honor goes to a horse named Donerail, a 91-to-1 shot who took first back in 1913. And as long as we're talking about longshots, we might as well also ask who was the biggest favorite in Derby history? That distinction goes to Native Dancer, a heavy favorite in 1953 who was so dominant that he only lost one race in his entire career. Unfortunately for him, that one race was the 1953 Kentucky Derby.

What Form of Journalism Got Its Start at the 1970 Kentucky Derby? They call it Gonzo journalism. Where the reporter drops any precept of objectivity and launches into a subjective depiction of events, often including themselves in the story. It was pioneered by Hunter S. Thompson who gave us such great works asFear and Loathing in Las Vegas. But the medium started in 1970, when Thompson was covering the derby for Scanlan's Monthly. Working on deadline, he submitted his notebook one page at a time in a piece titled "The Kentucky Derby is Decadent and Depraved." And just like that, a new form of writing was born. It's amazing how much can happen in the fastest two minutes in sports.

 

[jimLE]

Q

What '90s high school comedy featured Cher, Tai and Dionne, the popular girls at school?

A. American Pie
B. Mean Girls
C. 10 Things I Hate About You
D. Clueless


A

D. Clueless

As if! The Alicia Silverstone-helmed comedy Clueless featured Cher, Tai and Dionne.

 

[jimLE]

Jack Paar Walked Away from Hosting The Tonight Show for Almost a Month When a Joke about What Got Censored?

Jack Paar was given pretty free reign to change the direction of The Tonight Show when he took over. And the censors basically looked the other way as he took the show in a more edgy direction. That is until he made a joke about a water closet (aka a toilet), and, well, back in 1960, you did not talk about toilets on TV. That's right, he called a toilet pretty much the classiest thing you can call it and it was still too much for the censors. When his line got edited, Paar was so upset he walked off stage and refused to come back for almost a month. Paar eventually returned, walking back in front of the camera and saying, "As I was saying before I was interrupted." In fairness to the censors, 13 years later Johnny Carson would make a joke about toilet paper shortages and accidentally set off a nationwide panic from people who thought he was telling the truth. So maybe late-night hosts making toilet based jokes can have bigger repercussions than we realize.What Tonight Show Host Wrote Songs for Judy Garland, Perry Como and Others?
Tonight Show host Steve Allen had a prolific career. He wrote or co-wrote over 50 books, he announced wrestling matches and he also wrote music. The number of songs he wrote is pegged to be somewhere in the thousands and includes numbers for Judy Garland and Perry Como. Oh yeah, and in 1964, his jazz composition, "The Gravy Waltz," won a Grammy. But he's not the only Tonight Show host with a musical inclination. Jimmy Fallon has released two musical albums, including the Grammy-winning "Blow Your Pants Off," and his single "EW" even charted on the Billboard Hot 100. Even Conan O'Brien gave us this number:

What Tonight Show Host Wanted to Be a Priest When He Was a Kid?

Jimmy Fallon was raised Roman Catholic and still remains religious to this day. When he was a kid, he was an altar boy and dreamed of growing up to be a priest. Of course, he also dreamed of being on SNL, and those are two kinds of careers where you kind of have to make a choice one way or the other at some point.

However, there's only one Tonight Show host we know of who's been ordained, and it's not Fallon. In 2011, Conan O'Brien was ordained as a minister with the Universal Life Church (a process which takes about zero seconds online) so that he could officiate the same-sex marriage of one of the people on his staff to his partner when they got hitched on Conan's show.
How Much Did Conan O'Brien Get Paid to Not Host the Tonight Show When He Was Ousted for Jay Leno? Of course, what would be a more fitting end to a Tonight Show piece than talking about rocky transitions from one host to another? Conan received a whopping $45 million to not appear on The Tonight Show, which is an offer we would be open to if NBC ever wants to pay us not to host their show. He fought for and got another $12 million for his staff. But that still left roughly 50 people who worked on the show without severance packages. So O'Brien paid them for six weeks after the show was taken off the air out of his own wallet.

 

[jimLE]

Who First Proposed the Idea of the Coast Guard to Congress?
As we've learned over the last year, there was no cooler founding father than Alexander Hamilton. At least we're pretty sure that's the moral of that show everyone's seeing. So it's no surprise that when it comes to the founding of the Coast Guard, Hamilton was involved. At the time, the United States was broke, but their Secretary of the Treasury had an idea. The creation of what was then called the Revenue Cutter Service was meant to collect tariffs and prevent smuggling. Over the years, it's taken on a few more responsibilities. And nowadays it has 42,000 active members. Here are some other fun facts for you: According to their website, in an average day, the Coast Guard saves ten lives, seizes 874 pounds of cocaine, and "conducts 14 fisheries conservation boardings." We're not really sure what that last one means, but we assume it's important.

Fill in the Blank: For Eight Decades the Coast Guard Basically Ran the District of ________.
The US Army was originally put in charge of caring for what was then the district of Alaska, but when they struggled to do so, the Revenue Cutter Service was brought in. For the next eight decades, they basically ran Alaska. They enforced laws, provided essential supplies to the locals, rescued ships, and they even ferried in judges to hear cases on what were called "court cruises."

Fill in the Blank: The Coast Guard is Run by the Department of ____________.
If you thought the Coast Guard was run by the Department of Defense, guess again. It's actually part of the Department of Homeland Security. And before that was a thing, it was run by the Department of Transportation. And if you've been paying attention, you won't be surprised to realize that prior to that it was controlled by the Department of the Treasury. However, in the midst of a declared war, the defense department has the prerogative to take charge of the Coast Guard, though it's worth noting this hasn't happened since World War II.

 

[Brent S]

Your trivia knowledge always amazes me Jim!

 

[jimLE]

i get the trivia in emails.and i figured some folks might like reading it.so i started posting it

 

[Brent S]

i get the trivia in emails.and i figured some folks might like reading it.so i started posting it

Keep em coming!

 

[Maverick]

though it's worth noting this hasn't happened since World War II.

If I remember right the Coast Guard was involved in the vietnam war I believe under what is known as squadron one in 1965 or 66

 

[jimLE]

here ya go mav..your right..

U.S. COAST GUARD IN VIETNAM:

A GALLERY OF HISTORIC PHOTOGRAPHS

COAST GUARD SQUADRON ONE(Part 1 of 3)

U.S. Coast Guard Squadron One, commissioned 27 May 1965.

Commander, Naval Forces Vietnam considered maintaining surveillance and patrols on the inland and coastal waters of the Republic of Vietnam. The Secretary of the Navy asked the Secretary of Treasury about the availability of Coast Guard units to support this effort. . .Coast Guard representatives and the Commander in Chief, Pacific Fleet met and decided that the Coast Guard would provide seventeen 82-foot patrol boats. The Navy promised two repair ships (ARL’s) in support of the seventeen. On 6 May 1965 the Coast Guard ordered the deployment of the seventeen patrol boats and only twelve days later they were loaded on merchant vessels in New York, Norfolk, New Orleans, Galveston, San Pedro, San Francisco, and Seattle. At Coast Guard Base Alameda, Coast Guard Squadron One was commissioned in a ceremony that took place at 1000 hours, 27 May. [Eugene Tulich,The United States Coast Guard in South East Asia During the Vietnam Conflict.]

and here's a link if you,or anyone else wanna read more about it.

https://www.uscg.mil/history/uscghist/vietnamphotoindex_a.asp

 

[jimLE]

Trivia Questions about the Purple Heart

• August 7, 2016
• On Aug 7, 1782, The "Order of the Purple Heart" was created by President George Washington. This was done after the battle of Yorktown to recognize and reward those soldiers and non-commissioned officers who served the military with essential service, fidelity and valor. See how many questions you can answer about the history of the Purple Heart.
• What Was the Original Name for the Purple Heart?
  
  The Purple Heart originated toward the end of the Revolutionary War. Originating as the "Badge of Merit" a heart made of purple silk or cloth and edged with binding or lace, this design evolved over the years into the Purple Heart. It is unknown who came up with the idea for a badge to honor those who gave excellent service or for the original design. At the time, no European countries had badges of merit for soldiers, except for officers. However, the color purple, linked with royalty, and the heart shape, associated with devotion and bravery, was chosen.
• Why Did President Washington Initiate a "Badge of Merit"? Lack of funding by Congress during the Revolutionary War left soldiers short of supplies, clothing, food and other items needed to sustain themselves during the long war. Congress did not want to pay extra money for the promotion of soldiers, and Washington was not allowed to grant commissions, so there was no formal recognition for a soldier's valor or service during this time. It was Washington's intention, by creating the badge, that soldiers and non-commissioned officers receive formal recognition for their heroism and service. In addition to receiving the badge, which was worn on the left side, the enlisted men could pass all sentinels and guards just as the commissioned officers could.
• When Was Use of the Medal Renewed? The Badge of Merit was intended by Washington to be used permanently, but it was only awarded three times for Revolutionary War service and not used again until 1932. It wasn't until almost the time the Continental Army was to be disbanded that any medals were awarded. The Adjutant General was supposed to supply recommendations to a board of officers to consider honorees, but the Adjutant General did not supply any. In 1783, Washington ordered a new review board. Two soldiers were recommended for the award with a third added shortly afterward. In 1932, on the anniversary of Washington's birth, the medal was reinstated by Douglas MacArthur. It was presented that year to 137 veterans of the First World War at the same location of the Continental Army's final encampment in winter of 1782-1783.
  
  Who Can Receive a Purple Heart? After reinstatement of the medal, only members of the Army Air Corps or Army were eligible to receive the medal, and it was not awarded to the family posthumously. Franklin Roosevelt changed the requirements in 1942 through executive order to expand it to cover Marine Corps, Coast Guard and Navy personnel along with posthumous awards for military members killed after or on the day of the attack on Pearl Harbor, Dec. 7, 1941. While the medal was awarded originally for valor, it was made unnecessary by the Legion of Merit. It is awarded to military members who were killed, wounded or died from a wound at a date past April 5, 1917.
  

 

[jimLE]

President Gerald R. Ford
On August 9, 1974, Vice President Gerald R. Ford was sworn in as the 38th president of the United States in America's most recent nonscheduled presidential inauguration. To mark the anniversary of Ford's inauguration, we've put together some trivia questions; try your luck with them to test your knowledge of Ford's presidency and the events that brought him to the White House.
Who Had Ford Replaced as Vice President?

This portrait of President Ford hangs in the National Portrait Gallery in the nation's capital. Under a cloud after an investigation into claims of bribery, conspiracy, extortion, and tax fraud, Vice President Spiro Agnew resigned on October 10, 1973. Shortly thereafter, Agnew pleaded no contest to criminal charges of tax evasion and money laundering related to a deal in which he allegedly accepted bribes of $29,500 while serving as governor of Maryland. Finding himself without a vice president, Nixon sought recommendations from congressional leaders to help him find a suitable replacement for Agnew. Carl Albert, then Speaker of the House, later told reporters that he and his colleagues agreed unanimously that Ford was the best man for the job.

What Political Scandal Led to Ford's Presidency?

A June 1972 break-in at Washington's sprawling Watergate office complex started a scandal that eventually led to Nixon's resignation and Ford's inauguration as president. Ford, a longtime member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Michigan, on December 6, 1973, became vice president in the presidential administration of Richard Nixon. Even as Ford took the oath of office as vice president, Nixon found himself enmeshed in a major political scandal known as Watergate, so-named for the massive office complex that was the scene of a break-in at the headquarters of the Democratic National Committee. That break-in on June 17, 1972, was eventually linked to the Committee for the Re-election of the President, or CREEP, and members of Nixon's inner circle at the White House. Nixon's refusal to cooperate fully in the investigation into the break-in led to charges that he had obstructed justice. Facing an all-but-certain impeachment vote in the House and certain conviction in the Senate, Nixon on the evening of August 8, 1974, went on national television and announced his intention to resign the following day.
What Controversial Decision Damaged Ford's Credibility? Less than a month after taking the presidential oath of office, President Ford went on nationwide television to announce that he was pardoning former President Nixon for any crimes that he might have committed while in the nation's highest office. Ford's September 8, 1974, pardon of Nixon was widely unpopular among the many Americans who were convinced that Nixon and his closest advisers had been involved in criminal activity related to the Watergate scandal. An editorial in The New York Times called the pardon of Nixon a "profoundly unwise, divisive and unjust act." The editorial went on to say that the move had seriously damaged Ford's "credibility as a man of judgment, candor and competence."

Who Defeated Ford in the 1976 Presidential Election? Although his heart wasn't really in it, Ford agreed to run for re-election as president in 1976. He was challenged for the Republican nomination by former California Governor Ronald Reagan, who was then a leader of the party's growing conservative wing. Ford survived the primary contests against Reagan but went down in defeat in the general election. His victorious opponent was Jimmy Carter, former governor of Georgia. Although Carter was not widely known nationally, he appealed to American voters who were looking for a new direction in government in the wake of the Watergate years.

 

[jimLE]

4 Trivia Questions about the Mall of America
On August 11th, 1992, The Mall of America, America's biggest shopping mall, opened in Bloomington, Minnesota. See how much you know about the massive center of commerce with these trivia questions...
In What Country Would You Find the Biggest Mall in the World?

The country's biggest mall and a giant US flag. You can't get more American than that. The Mall of America is big. Like, crazy big. Like so big it literally has its own zip code (55425 if you're curious). It's 4.2 million square feet, it has over 500 stores plus a theme park plus an aquarium plus a whole bunch more. You can even get married in their wedding chapel. And don't worry about parking, they've got 20,000 spaces, not to mention the shuttle and rail services that will take you straight there. But it's not the biggest mall in the world. In fact, it doesn't even make the top 10 list. Number one in the world is New South China Mall in Dongguan, China, which clocks in at almost 6.5 million square feet. That's right, we think of America as being the king of consumer spending, and malls as being the ultimate manifestation of capitalism, but the biggest mall in the world is in Communist China. Fun fact: There are some who feel that the Mall of America isn't even America's biggest mall. Sure it takes up the most square feet, but if you go by volume of retail sales, Mall of America is second to King of Prussia Mall in Pennsylvania.

What Structure Once Stood Where the Mall of America Is Now Located? The Mall of America now stands at the former site of Metropolitan Stadium, home to the Minnesota Vikings and Twins. In fact, if you visit the Mall, you can still see a plaque designating where home plate originally was. And if you visit the Log Chute, you might notice a chair attached to the wall that seems completely out of place. That's where Harmon Killebrew parked a 520-foot home run shot, the longest in Metropolitan Stadium history.
If You Visit the Mall of America in Minnesota Winter, How Does the Mall Regulate the Temperature?

Average Minnesotan's default state come winter time. The entryways at Mall of America are heated, but the rest of the place is not. Which is kind of a terrifying thought come winter time because, as we all know, Minnesota winters don't mess around.

So what do they do to regulate the temperature at winter time? They turn on the A/C. Yup, that's right, between solar heat coming in through the sky lights, lights giving off their own heat and the body heat of thousands upon thousands of people walking through the mall, even in the Minnesota winter it's still too hot for comfort. So they actually have to turn on the air conditioning.

In 2013, What Occupant of a Third Floor Location, at Subsidized Rent, Was Forced to Leave the Mall of America? That massive list of things you can find in the Mall of America once included a high school. The Metropolitan Learning Alliance was a satellite school that launched there in 1994. But recently, The Mall of America announced they were no longer able to subsidize the school's rent, and the school district moved to dissolve the institution. Of course, there were people who opposed the school being there before 2013, people who felt a giant mall wasn't the best place for a school. But said Bloomington school Board Member Arlene Bush, "We were pleased with it or we wouldn't have kept it going this long." Hey, it's tough getting teenagers to come to high school, but getting them to come to a mall? That's easy.

 

[jimLE]

How Much More Likely is a Left-Handed Person to Die in an Accident Than a Right-Handed Person?

Changing gears with your weaker hand is frustrating, but the true insult? You need to use a cup holder on your non-dominant side too. That's no way to go through life. We all know that most items are designed with righties in mind. And that's not just notebooks, it also includes such deadly items as scissors, knives, and cars.

Considering that, you might not be too surprised to learn that lefties die in accidents more often than righties, but what might shock you is just how often it happens. Left-handed people are a whopping five times more likely to die in accidents than righties. But if you're left-handed, there is some good news. Studies show lefties have lower instances of ulcers than righties. So we guess what that means is you're more likely to die in an accident, but at least that fear isn't really stressing you out.

Northwestern's Robin Nusslock Told the Wall Street Journal That Many Studies about the Brain Do What with Left-Handed Participants?

So that study you read about last week that said chocolate cures every disease ever? Turns out the data may not be applicable to everyone. We know, we're shocked too. Next time you see a study about human brain function, be aware that there's a decent chance the scientists are actually only talking about right-handed humans' brains.

According to In a Wall Street Journal article, Northwestern University psychology professor Robin Nusslock said many studies about brain function "prohibit left-handers from participating because their brain wiring is known to be different." We should say, those are the Journal's words, not Nusslock's. That means that many studies are eliminating 10% of the data pool out of hand. Get it? Out of HAND? Sorry. But yeah, apparently 10% of people are just LEFT out. Eh? Eh? Again, sorry.

The Right Hand Gets Mentioned 100 Times in the Bible. How Many Times Does the Left Hand Come Up?

It says Left Hander's day, but let's be honest, look at that lack of smudge marks. This was written by a righty. Over the years, lefties have been discriminated against and some parents have even forced their kids to use their right hand despite it not coming naturally. Some of that negative predisposition comes from the bible which mentions the right hand 100 times, with all those references being positive ones. It mentions the left hand only 25 times. And those are all negative references.

Of the Last Four US Presidents, How Many Have Been Left-Handed?

Represents the left in more ways than one. Nine out of every ten Americans is right-handed, but when it comes to our last few presidents, that number shrinks down to one out of four. George W. Bush is the only one of that group to be right-handed. Barack Obama and Bill Clinton were both lefties and even Bush's dad, George H.W. Bush, was a lefty.

Before him was Reagan who used his right hand, but there are many who contend he was one of those aforementioned kids born a lefty whose parents made him use the other hand. Yessir, we've been giving lefties a hard time in this piece, but there are some areas where southpaws have a lot more success. Studies show lefties are more likely to be artistic or become professional athletes and, it's a small sample size, but clearly a disproportionate number of lefties have also become president over the years. So is that a coincidence? Maybe. Or maybe being a lefty isn't so bad after all.

 

[Joe SA]

Now in SA vehicles are righthand drive, so the lefties like me is more likely to survive [emoji1]

 

[Brent S]

I can't do anything with my left hand!

 

[jimLE]

im a leftie.but there are things i do with my right..like using the steak knife with my right.or grab something down from a shelve with my right,out of convenience..

 

[Brent S]

im a leftie.but there are things i do with my right..like using the steak knife with my right.or grab something down from a shelve with my right,out of convenience..

That's one thing I wish I could do, hold the knife with my left hand vs setting it down for every bite. Just seems more efficient.

 

[jimLE]

only draw back with the knife in my right hand,is when we still kids..on account.us 3 youngest kids sat on a long bench.in which my sister sat,just to the right of me..need i say more? LOL

 

[jimLE]

Trivia Questions about the Death of Elvis Presley
On August 16, 1977, Elvis Aaron Presley, widely acclaimed as the King of Rock and Roll, died at his home in Memphis at the age of 42. To mark the anniversary of this iconic entertainer's death, we've put together some trivia questions; try your luck with them to test your knowledge of the circumstances surrounding Presley's death.
What Were the Circumstances of Presley's Death?

Elvis Presley was found unresponsive in the master bathroom of his beloved Memphis home known as Graceland. Despite taking an undisclosed amount of the powerful painkiller Dilaudid and three packets of pills prepared especially for him by his doctor for twice-daily use, Presley had been unable to sleep during the nighttime hours of August 15-16. Staying at Presley's Graceland mansion in Memphis with him was his fiancee Ginger Alden. At about 9:30 a.m. local time, having given up on his attempts to sleep, Presley grabbed a book and went from the bedroom he shared with Alden to the bathroom. As he went, Alden reportedly called out to him, "Don't fall asleep in there," to which Presley responded, "Okay, I won't." Alden then fell back to sleep, awakening at about 1:30 p.m. The bathroom door was still closed, and there was no sign of Presley. Alden knocked on the bathroom door but got no response. She entered the bathroom to find Presley's unresponsive body on the floor in front of the toilet. He was rushed to Baptist Memorial Hospital, but attempts to revive him were unsuccessful, and he was officially pronounced dead at 3:30 p.m. local time.

What Book Was Presley Reading at the Time of His Death?

Presley's final resting place is on the grounds of Graceland. In 1964, Elvis hired Larry Geller to serve as his personal hairstylist. Only five years earlier, Geller had partnered with hairdresser Jay Sebring to set up what was said to be America's first men's hair styling salon in Hollywood. During his time with Presley, Geller became the singer's confidant, and the two often discussed questions of spirituality, a topic in which both men were deeply interested. When Presley's lifeless body was found in the early afternoon of August 16, 1977, the book on the floor beside him was A Scientific Search for the Face of Jesus by Frank Adams, given to Presley by Geller.
What Was Presley's Cause of Death? The investigation into Presley's cause of death was the subject of considerable controversy. Even before the autopsy was completed and toxicology results were in hand, Shelby County Medical Examiner Jerry Francisco reportedly attributed the death to cardiac arrhythmia, a condition that can only be definitively diagnosed in live patients. Postmortem toxicology reports indicated that Presley's body was loaded with powerful prescription drugs, including the presence of codeine at roughly 10 times the therapeutic level. In light of continuing questions about Presley's cause of death, the Tennessee Department of Health in 1994 hired Dade County (Florida) Medical Examiner Joseph Davis to review Francisco's findings from 17 years earlier. Davis reported that he found no evidence that drugs were the direct cause of Presley's death, blaming it instead on "a sudden, violent heart attack." However, there's little doubt that Presley's overuse of prescription drugs were a contributing factor in his death at such an early age.

Was Anyone Ever Prosecuted in Connection with Presley's Death?
George "Doctor Nick" Nichopoulos served as Presley's personal physician for the last decade of the singer's life. Lingering questions about the role of drugs in Presley's death hung over Doctor Nick for years after his patient's passing. In 1980, the doctor was indicted on charges of overprescribing prescription medicines to Presley and others. Evidence was uncovered showing that in 1977 alone, Nichopoulos had prescribed for Presley more than 10,000 doses of amphetamines, barbiturates, hormones, sleeping pills, tranquilizers, and other medications. During the trial, the doctor's defense attorneys pointed out that Nichopoulos was aware of Presley's growing dependency on prescription drugs and had gone so far as to supply the singer with roughly 1,000 pills that were nothing more than placebos. In the end, the jury acquitted the doctor of all charges.

 

[Brent S]

Trivia Questions about the Death of Elvis Presley
On August 16, 1977, Elvis Aaron Presley, widely acclaimed as the King of Rock and Roll, died at his home in Memphis at the age of 42. To mark the anniversary of this iconic entertainer's death, we've put together some trivia questions; try your luck with them to test your knowledge of the circumstances surrounding Presley's death.
What Were the Circumstances of Presley's Death?

Elvis Presley was found unresponsive in the master bathroom of his beloved Memphis home known as Graceland. Despite taking an undisclosed amount of the powerful painkiller Dilaudid and three packets of pills prepared especially for him by his doctor for twice-daily use, Presley had been unable to sleep during the nighttime hours of August 15-16. Staying at Presley's Graceland mansion in Memphis with him was his fiancee Ginger Alden. At about 9:30 a.m. local time, having given up on his attempts to sleep, Presley grabbed a book and went from the bedroom he shared with Alden to the bathroom. As he went, Alden reportedly called out to him, "Don't fall asleep in there," to which Presley responded, "Okay, I won't." Alden then fell back to sleep, awakening at about 1:30 p.m. The bathroom door was still closed, and there was no sign of Presley. Alden knocked on the bathroom door but got no response. She entered the bathroom to find Presley's unresponsive body on the floor in front of the toilet. He was rushed to Baptist Memorial Hospital, but attempts to revive him were unsuccessful, and he was officially pronounced dead at 3:30 p.m. local time.

What Book Was Presley Reading at the Time of His Death?

Presley's final resting place is on the grounds of Graceland. In 1964, Elvis hired Larry Geller to serve as his personal hairstylist. Only five years earlier, Geller had partnered with hairdresser Jay Sebring to set up what was said to be America's first men's hair styling salon in Hollywood. During his time with Presley, Geller became the singer's confidant, and the two often discussed questions of spirituality, a topic in which both men were deeply interested. When Presley's lifeless body was found in the early afternoon of August 16, 1977, the book on the floor beside him was A Scientific Search for the Face of Jesus by Frank Adams, given to Presley by Geller.
What Was Presley's Cause of Death? The investigation into Presley's cause of death was the subject of considerable controversy. Even before the autopsy was completed and toxicology results were in hand, Shelby County Medical Examiner Jerry Francisco reportedly attributed the death to cardiac arrhythmia, a condition that can only be definitively diagnosed in live patients. Postmortem toxicology reports indicated that Presley's body was loaded with powerful prescription drugs, including the presence of codeine at roughly 10 times the therapeutic level. In light of continuing questions about Presley's cause of death, the Tennessee Department of Health in 1994 hired Dade County (Florida) Medical Examiner Joseph Davis to review Francisco's findings from 17 years earlier. Davis reported that he found no evidence that drugs were the direct cause of Presley's death, blaming it instead on "a sudden, violent heart attack." However, there's little doubt that Presley's overuse of prescription drugs were a contributing factor in his death at such an early age.

Was Anyone Ever Prosecuted in Connection with Presley's Death?
George "Doctor Nick" Nichopoulos served as Presley's personal physician for the last decade of the singer's life. Lingering questions about the role of drugs in Presley's death hung over Doctor Nick for years after his patient's passing. In 1980, the doctor was indicted on charges of overprescribing prescription medicines to Presley and others. Evidence was uncovered showing that in 1977 alone, Nichopoulos had prescribed for Presley more than 10,000 doses of amphetamines, barbiturates, hormones, sleeping pills, tranquilizers, and other medications. During the trial, the doctor's defense attorneys pointed out that Nichopoulos was aware of Presley's growing dependency on prescription drugs and had gone so far as to supply the singer with roughly 1,000 pills that were nothing more than placebos. In the end, the jury acquitted the doctor of all charges.

Hard to believe that was 39 yrs ago.

 

[jimLE]

Trivia Questions about the Woodstock Music Festival
On August 17, 1969, the Woodstock Music Festival officially came to a close, concluding three days of epic rock and roll performances on a dairy farm in upstate New York.
Why Wasn't the Festival Held in Woodstock?

More than 400,000 music fans flocked to the Woodstock Music Festival in the summer of 1969. As the event's official name indicates, the original venue selected for the music festival was Woodstock, a small town in Ulster County, New York, that had long been a popular retreat for artists of all stripes. However, locals' objections to the plans forced festival promoters to look elsewhere for a more welcoming site. They eventually settled on a tract of land owned by dairy farmer Max Yasgur, who operated a 600-acre farm in White Lake, a hamlet within the town limits of Bethel, New York. According to some sources, the actual venue for the festival was a hayfield owned by Yasgur that was roughly three miles from the pastures of his dairy farm.

How Many Attended the Festival?

Jimi Hendrix was only one of dozens of performers at Woodstock. In searching for a site where the festival could be held, organizers originally had assured local authorities that they expected only about 50,000 music fans to attend. As enthusiasm built in advance of the event, that estimate was raised to 150,000 to 200,000. However, in the end, actual attendance at the three-day event soared to somewhere between 400,000 and 500,000.
What Performers Headlined the Festival? Headlining the Woodstock festival were some of America's most popular rock and folk performers, including Janis Joplin, Jimi Hendrix, Grateful Dead, Carlos Santana, Creedence Clearwater Revival, and The Who. Among those who performed on the festival's opening night were Joan Baez, Arlo Guthrie, Richie Havens, Ravi Shankar, and Melanie. In addition to Joplin, Santana, Creedence Clearwater Revival, The Who, and Grateful Dead, popular second-night acts included Canned Heat, Jefferson Airplane, and Sly & The Family Stone. Headlining the third night of the festival were Joe Cocker; Country Joe & The Fish; Blood, Sweat, & Tears; and Crosby, Stills, Nash, & Young.

Why Did Performances Extend into Monday Morning? The music festival was plagued by periods of rain that turned the grounds into a muddy mess. So heavy was the rain during Sunday night's performances that three of the event's performers were unable to take the stage until early Monday. Those three acts were the Paul Butterfield Blues Band, Sha Na Na, and Jimi Hendrix, of whom Hendrix was by far the most eagerly awaited. His set included many of the songs for which he was best known, but perhaps the most memorable moment from Hendrix's performance was his rendition of "Star-Spangled Banner."

Who Was the Highest-Paid Performer at the Festival? By today's multimillion-dollar concert standards, Woodstock's performers played mostly for the pleasure of making music. With an $18,000 paycheck for his Woodstock gig, Jimi Hendrix was easily the highest paid. The festival's next highest earner was Blood, Sweat, & Tears, whose members split $15,000. Joan Baez and Creedence Clearwater Revival each received $10,000 for their performances, Getting $7,500 each were Janis Joplin and Jefferson Airplane. Sly & The Family Stone took home a check for $7,000, while Canned Heat, Arlo Guthrie, and Richie Havens were paid $6,500, $6,250, and $6,000, respectively. Payments for the remaining performers ranged from a low of $375 to $5,000. Santana got only $750, and the Grateful Dead received $2,500.

 

[Brent S]

Trivia Questions about the Woodstock Music Festival
On August 17, 1969, the Woodstock Music Festival officially came to a close, concluding three days of epic rock and roll performances on a dairy farm in upstate New York.
Why Wasn't the Festival Held in Woodstock?

More than 400,000 music fans flocked to the Woodstock Music Festival in the summer of 1969. As the event's official name indicates, the original venue selected for the music festival was Woodstock, a small town in Ulster County, New York, that had long been a popular retreat for artists of all stripes. However, locals' objections to the plans forced festival promoters to look elsewhere for a more welcoming site. They eventually settled on a tract of land owned by dairy farmer Max Yasgur, who operated a 600-acre farm in White Lake, a hamlet within the town limits of Bethel, New York. According to some sources, the actual venue for the festival was a hayfield owned by Yasgur that was roughly three miles from the pastures of his dairy farm.

How Many Attended the Festival?

Jimi Hendrix was only one of dozens of performers at Woodstock. In searching for a site where the festival could be held, organizers originally had assured local authorities that they expected only about 50,000 music fans to attend. As enthusiasm built in advance of the event, that estimate was raised to 150,000 to 200,000. However, in the end, actual attendance at the three-day event soared to somewhere between 400,000 and 500,000.
What Performers Headlined the Festival? Headlining the Woodstock festival were some of America's most popular rock and folk performers, including Janis Joplin, Jimi Hendrix, Grateful Dead, Carlos Santana, Creedence Clearwater Revival, and The Who. Among those who performed on the festival's opening night were Joan Baez, Arlo Guthrie, Richie Havens, Ravi Shankar, and Melanie. In addition to Joplin, Santana, Creedence Clearwater Revival, The Who, and Grateful Dead, popular second-night acts included Canned Heat, Jefferson Airplane, and Sly & The Family Stone. Headlining the third night of the festival were Joe Cocker; Country Joe & The Fish; Blood, Sweat, & Tears; and Crosby, Stills, Nash, & Young.

Why Did Performances Extend into Monday Morning? The music festival was plagued by periods of rain that turned the grounds into a muddy mess. So heavy was the rain during Sunday night's performances that three of the event's performers were unable to take the stage until early Monday. Those three acts were the Paul Butterfield Blues Band, Sha Na Na, and Jimi Hendrix, of whom Hendrix was by far the most eagerly awaited. His set included many of the songs for which he was best known, but perhaps the most memorable moment from Hendrix's performance was his rendition of "Star-Spangled Banner."

Who Was the Highest-Paid Performer at the Festival? By today's multimillion-dollar concert standards, Woodstock's performers played mostly for the pleasure of making music. With an $18,000 paycheck for his Woodstock gig, Jimi Hendrix was easily the highest paid. The festival's next highest earner was Blood, Sweat, & Tears, whose members split $15,000. Joan Baez and Creedence Clearwater Revival each received $10,000 for their performances, Getting $7,500 each were Janis Joplin and Jefferson Airplane. Sly & The Family Stone took home a check for $7,000, while Canned Heat, Arlo Guthrie, and Richie Havens were paid $6,500, $6,250, and $6,000, respectively. Payments for the remaining performers ranged from a low of $375 to $5,000. Santana got only $750, and the Grateful Dead received $2,500.

Santana only getting 750 is sacrilege! It would have been a great weekend.