Trivia

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5 Things You Didn't Know About The Iran Hostage Crisis

On January 20, 1981, the 52 American hostages held in Iran were released. After 444 days in captivity, complete with fake firing squads, beatings, and emotional manipulation, the former embassy employees were finally free.  Here are five things you didn't know about the Iran Hostage Crisis...

It Wasn't Supposed to Last So Long

When militant Islamic students stormed the U.S. embassy in Tehran, they intended to hold hostages for a bit, but not for long. However, when their attack and hostage-taking actually got them a lot of praise in the country, they decided to hold the hostages for a longer time. The crisis extended and changed as different players tried different tactics; for example, at one point the hostages were suddenly broken up into groups and kept at different places after a failed rescue attempt by the U.S.

Some Hostages Were Released Early, and There Were Several Escape Attempts

The snippets of history you see in many sources tend to treat the hostages as one group that all went through the same events for the same duration of time. However, several hostages were released early on, either due to health reasons or because of their gender or race (for example, women were released as the students considered them a group oppressed by the U.S.). There were also several escape attempts—none of which worked and most of which resulted in beatings—and some of the hostages even received mail from home.

Despite Appearances, Ronald Reagan's Administration Wasn't Responsible for the Hostages' Release

The hostages were released on what was Inauguration Day in the U.S. The crisis was a major factor in Jimmy Carter's loss to Ronald Reagan in the November elections, making the crisis one of the more memorable events of the early '80s. Despite the fact that the hostages were released technically during the Reagan Administration, that administration didn't have much to do with the release at all. It was Carter's administration and the Algerian government who did most of the negotiating and release work.

Neither of the Songs Popularly Associated With the Crisis Was Actually Written for It

Two songs became associated with the crisis. One was Tie a Yellow Ribbon Round the Ole Oak Tree, a 1973 hit by Tony Orlando and Dawn about a prisoner being released. The song, and those yellow ribbons, became associated with the crisis when the wife of a hostage suggested locals tie yellow ribbons to trees to counter-protest demonstrations by Iranian students instead of throwing food at them. The other was Celebration, by Kool & the Gang, which was released in 1980 as a regular single that had nothing to do with the hostages. But it was played when the 52 hostages returned home, thus linking the song and the crisis in popular culture. Fittingly, the idea for Celebration came about when the band's saxophone player was reading the Q'uran.

There Really Was a "Canadian Caper," but It Wasn't Nearly as Dramatic as Hollywood Would Have You Believe

The movie Argo detailed a rescue mission dubbed the Canadian Caper, in which a few embassy employees escaped the initial takeover and took refuge in the Canadian ambassador's home. The movie tells the story of how Canada and the U.S. worked to spirit the employees out of the country. There really was a Canadian Caper, and it really did get some American embassy employees out of Iran. However, the movie took substantial liberties with some of the facts for dramatic purposes, including showing a daring last-minute airport escape when in reality, the Americans (posing as Canadians) were able to simply board the plane and leave. The movie also gave the U.S. government a bigger role in the escape, and it turns out that in real life, some Iranian officials actually knew about the plan.

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IPHKRAUSE

I  did  not  know that  some prisoners  got to receive  mail

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5 Things You Didn't Know About the Concorde

On January 21, 1976, the supersonic Concorde jet was put into service by Britain and France. It quickly became the preferred airborne choice of the rich and famous. To mark this landmark in aviation history, here are five things you didn't know about the Concorde...

Two Flights Took off Simultaneously

Most airlines are happy when their first jet takes off, but Concorde got a double-dose of that happiness: Two planes took off at 11:40 a.m., one in London and one in France. These were the first commercial flights for the company after years of testing. The supersonic speeds cut air travel time substantially, but the cost of fuel at the time—and the amount of fuel that the planes consumed per flight—made the tickets expensive.  At their cruising speeds, the innovative Concordes flew well over the sound barrier at 1,350 miles an hour, cutting air travel time by more than half. The plane became a symbol of wealth and privilege.

This Luxury Jet Was a Product of the Cold War

It seems odd to link such a luxurious way to travel with international relations, but the Concorde was a product of competition between Europe, the U.S., and the Soviet Union. Once pilots had broken the sound barrier, several governments became determined to have planes that could regularly accomplish that feat. Britain and France worked together and eventually produced the Concorde; the U.S. had its own plans. The Soviets may have been using information stolen from the European project to design their plane.

The Concorde Program Ended After Several Mechanical Problems Plagued the Fleet

As the Concorde planes aged, their mechanical troubles began to multiply. Notably, cracks were found in the wings of the planes and the rudder fell off of one plane mid-flight. Another plane had to make an emergency landing. Keep in mind that there weren't that many Concorde planes in use, so this was a relatively alarming record. Coupled with the crash in 2000 that killed 113 people, the mechanical problems and dropping revenues led to the closure of the program.

Another Airline Was Initially Found Guilty of Causing the Infamous Concorde Crash

The 2000 crash occurred when a piece of metal fell off a Continental jet and landed on the runway. The metal supposedly shredded the Concorde's tires and sent tire material flying, which punctured the fuel tank. Continental itself was actually tried—and found guilty—of manslaughter, with one mechanic receiving a suspended jail sentence. The verdict was overturned in 2012. Continental claimed that the plane was on fire before hitting the metal, and even French investigators claimed that the Concorde's fuel tanks were not sufficiently protected and that the company knew.

The Concorde May Come Back

At least two efforts are underway to bring back supersonic air travel. One seeks to bring actual Concorde planes back into service. The planes were never destroyed, so they could technically be made airworthy again. The other effort is from a company seeking to develop its own supersonic planes that aim to be quieter than the Concorde. That company's model eliminates an afterburner that created a lot of noise on the original flights.

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PHKRAUSE

I  did not  know that the SOVIET UNION  had been working a plane like the CONCORD 

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5 Things You Didn't Know About The Unabomber_2

On January 22, 1998, Ted Kaczynski pleaded guilty to multiple bombings to avoid receiving a death sentence after his apprehension by the FBI in a remote cabin in Montana. Here are 5 things we bet you didn’t know about the man that authorities dubbed the Unabomber.

Kaczynski Was a Serial Mail Bomber

Between 1978 and 1995, Theodore “Ted” Kaczynski built and mailed 16 bombs to different people that he had selected, injuring 23 people and causing the deaths of three others. Living in a cabin in Montana without running water or electricity, Kaczynski hid from the FBI for nearly 18 years. Kaczynski picked up the nickname “Unabomber from the anagram UNABOM, which was the name of the case file and stood for “University and Airline Bombing” since those were places that he had targeted.

Kaczynski Demanded That His Essay Be Published in a Major Newspaper

Kaczynski had written to various publications to request that his lengthy essay, Industrial Society and Its Future, be published. He terrorized people around the country and tried to kill them because he believed the system was immoral, and Kaczynski wanted the publicity. The Washington Post, along with the New York Times, cooperated and published parts of his manifesto in September 1995, which helped to identify this domestic terrorist.

His Brother Turned Him In to Authorities

Kaczynski’s younger brother David recognized statements made in the essay published in the newspaper and contacted the FBI to inform them of the similarities between it and letters he had gotten from his brother. The brothers had not contacted each other since 1989, and both of them lived in different states in cabins with no electricity. The information supplied by David Kaczynski led to his brother’s arrest, and he was paid one million dollars in reward money.

He Was a Child Prodigy

Kaczynski attended Harvard University at the young age of 16 and continued on to earn his Ph.D. in mathematics from the University of Michigan. The dissertation for his doctorate was so good, he earned the university’s Sumner B. Myers award because it was considered the best one for that academic year. By the time he was 25, he was working at the University of California in Berkeley as an assistant professor.

He Was Sentenced to Life in Prison

Before his trial began in January 1998, Kaczynski tried to kill himself and was adamant that his lawyers not employ an insanity defense even though several psychiatrists believed he was a paranoid schizophrenic. He pleaded guilty to the bombing charges and received eight life sentences for his crimes. He is currently incarcerated in Florence, Georgia, at the supermax prison.

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PHKRAUSE

I did not know that TED KACZYNSKI  went  to  HARVARD at 16 ===and that  he  earn a PhD 

in mathematics in UNIVERCITY OF  MICHIGAN ===I  also did not  know  that he  had  a  brother

that help the F.B.I to catch him

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5 Things You Didn't Know About Johnny Carson_2

On January 23, 2005, former Tonight Show host Johnny Carson died at age 79 at Cedar-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles. Here are five facts you may not know about Johnny Carson...

Carson Started Out as a Magician

Carson became interested in magic when he was 12 and performed at different venues including Kiwanis Club meetings and county fairs, earning about $3 for each performance. During his stint in the Navy, he assisted veteran actor Orson Welles and his glamorous wife, Rita Hayworth, as Welles sawed his wife in half as part of his magic act to entertain the troops. Carson began using the name “The Great Carsoni” at age 14, which he changed slightly in his appearances on The Tonight Show.

Early in His Career, He Hosted a Game Show

Carson was picked to host the game show Who Do You Trust in the late 1950s, which is where he met Ed McMahon, who worked on the show as the announcer. It was a program where couples competed, and the man would be asked if he wanted to answer the question of whether his wife should. Carson spent a large part of the show interacting with the contestants, which helped land him the job on The Tonight Show after the retirement of Jack Paar.

Another Comedian Was First Chosen to Host The Tonight Show

Carson wasn’t the original choice to host The Tonight Show because the job was initially offered to radio broadcaster and funnyman Bob Crane in 1962. Crane turned down all offers to host television shows, including The Tonight Show because he wanted to turn his attention to acting. It worked out well since he landed the starring role on Hogan’s Heroes in 1965.

Carson Played a Number of Characters Over the Years

Carson was famous for the characters he played on the show over the years. His most popular character was Carnac the Magnificent, who debuted in 1964. While playing this character, the turbaned Carson would hold a question written on a card up to his head and answer the question written on it. In addition, he played Aunt Blabby, who was a testy senior citizen and Floyd R. Turbo, who was an extremely patriotic man who rebutted editorials.

Carson’s Final Show Had no Guests

On Carson’s last show in 1992, he appeared alone on the stage and spoke to the invitation-only audience filled with friends and family. The last show featured his favorite clips from over the years. The viewing audience for this retrospective was estimated at 50 million. At the end, Carson thanked the people who worked with him on the show and the television viewers, ending with the words “good night.”

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PHKRAUSE

I did  not  know that  he  was interesting  in magic and preformed at county fairs 

for  3 dollars a  performance 

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5 Things You Didn't Know About Charles Manson

On January 25, 1971, cult leader Charles Manson and three female followers were convicted in Los Angeles of murder and conspiracy in the 1969 slayings of seven people, including actress Sharon Tate.  Here are 5 things you didn’t know about the notorious Charlie Manson and his “family.”

Manson Had a Previous Criminal Record

Manson’s first known crime was committed at age 12 when he stole money at a grocery store. He later stole cars and took them over state lines, which is a federal crime, forged checks and stole mail. At age 13, he committed an armed robbery. At 17, he committed rape and was accused of domestic abuse when he was 20 years old.

He Had Previously Visited the Home of Sharon Tate

Manson considered himself a great musician and had made friends with Dennis Wilson, who was the drummer with the popular music group, the Beach Boys. Manson ended up living at Wilson’s house for several months, along with about a dozen of his followers, costing Wilson a great deal of money and even stealing a gold record from the musician. Despite this, Wilson introduced Manson to record producer Terry Melcher, actress Doris Day’s son, and they visited the home where Sharon Tate lived.

Although Manson Masterminded the Murders, He Never Participated in Them

Manson's cult followers are known to have killed eight people at Roman Polanski’s home, including pregnant actress Sharon Tate; Abigail Folger, the coffee heiress; Wojciech Frykowski, author; Jay Sebring, a hairstylist; and Steven Parent. Cult follower Bobby Beausoleil, accompanied by Susan Atkins and Mary Brunner, killed Gary Hinman, who was the music teacher who introduced Manson to Dennis Wilson. Following the Tate murder, he and his followers murdered Leno LaBianca, a supermarket exec, and his wife, because Manson thought the Tate murders were handled sloppily.

The Name “Helter Skelter” Was Taken From a Beatles Tune

Manson had the grand ambition of running the country, and he thought a race war would do that. He called his movement “Helter Skelter” after the song by the Beatles. Manson reasoned that blacks would win the race war initially but would be unable to run the country themselves, and that is where white people would step in. He used the fear of a war between the races to compel his followers to commit the murders.

A Change in California Law Saved Manson From the Death Penalty

Manson, along with his followers Susan Atkins, Patricia Krenwinkel, Tex Watson and Leslie van Houten, were all convicted and sentenced to the death penalty in California in 1971. However, the death penalty was overturned in California the following year, so all their death sentences were commuted to life in prison. Manson died in prison at age 83 on November 19, 2017, after never having expressed any remorse for the killings.

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PHKRAUSE

I did  not  know that he committed == armed robbery===stole cars==rape ===all  by the age of 20 

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5 Things You Didn't Know About Douglas MacArthur_2
On January 26, 1880, Douglas MacArthur was born as the son of a Civil War captain and went on in his own military career to liberate the Philippines from Japanese hands during World War II. Here are 5 things you might not know about General MacArthur...

Both MacArthur and His Father Were Awarded the Medal of Honor

Douglas MacArthur and his father, Arthur, both received the Medal of Honor. The younger MacArthur received his for defending the Philippines against Japanese invaders during World War II, and his father’s award was for his bravery in 1863 during the Battle of Missionary Ridge. Interestingly enough, MacArthur’s father, a captain in the Union Army, married Mary Pinkney, whose family were dedicated supporters of the Confederacy.

Only Two Other Cadets Surpassed His Performance at West Point

MacArthur’s mother was so intent on his doing well when he attended West Point that she moved there and lived in a hotel on the campus grounds while he attended school there. He ended up graduating first in 1903 out of a group of 94 cadets with 2,424.2 points, which was a performance rate of 98.14 percent. Only Confederate General Robert E. Lee and Charles Mason, who became chief justice in the U.S. Supreme Court, outscored him.

MacArthur Fulfills His Promise

The Philippines had been surrendered to Japanese forces in May 1942, and the commanding general, Jonathan Wainwright, remained a Japanese prisoner until 1945. General MacArthur was determined to return and liberate the Philippines and use the island of Luzon as a base for operations against the Japanese in their homeland. Arriving in October 1944, along with the Sixth Army and supported by two Navy fleets, the Japanese finally surrendered in early 1945.

MacArthur Wanted to Become President of the United States

MacArthur was popular with people at home, and a movement grew for him to run for the presidency in 1944 against Franklin Delano Roosevelt. However, when he lost the Wisconsin Primary to Minnesota Governor Harold Stassen, he was overlooked in support of another World War II hero, Dwight D. Eisenhower.

MacArthur Was Honored With a Huge Ticker-Tape Parade

MacArthur wanted to continue fighting and take over North Korea but did not have the support of President Truman because the president thought it would start another war. When MacArthur defied Truman and would not back down on his position, Truman fired him. Americans did not hold that against MacArthur and threw an enormous ticker-tape parade in Manhattan to honor him for his service.

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PHKRAUSE

I did not  know that both  he  and  his father  received the MEDAL OF HONOR

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5 Things You Didn't Know About The Challenger Disaster

On January 28, 1986, the NASA space shuttle Challenger exploded at 48,000 feet just 73 seconds after lift-off, killing all seven crew members and leaving a nation stunned and in mourning.  Here are five things you didn't know about the Challenger disaster...

The "Explosion" Seen in the Video Originated From the Fuel Tank, Not the Shuttle Itself

If you watch the video of the Challenger disaster, you see the shuttle suddenly dissolve into a ball of flame with two long trails of smoke extending outward. That explosion was actually not the shuttle; it was the fuel and gases that combined after the failures of the booster and fuel tank. When the o-rings failed, gas and flames from the rocket booster caused the external fuel tank to fail. The tank essentially collapsed, and the fuel plus flames created that fireball. The shuttle itself did not explode. But it did become surrounded by flames, eventually disintegrating and falling back toward the ocean.

The Last Recorded Sound From The Crew Was The Pilot Saying "Uh-Oh"

The mission, dubbed Challenger's STS-51L, marked pilot Mike Smith's first spaceflight. Just before NASA lost telemetric contact with the shuttle, the crew's voice recorder captured Smith saying "Uh-oh," which proves that at least one member of the crew was aware something was going wrong with the launch before the actual explosion.

Engineers Warned of an O-Ring Problem Before the Launch

That o-ring problem wasn't a surprise to NASA engineers, who had warned the rings could fail in very cold weather. January 28 was exceptionally cold in Florida, and the launch had already been delayed by several days. One engineer even refused to sign off on the launch because he was worried about how the below-freezing temperatures could affect the ring material. However, NASA managers gave the go-ahead for the flight despite knowing about the potential for failure.

The Shuttle Actually Continued Flying for a Short Time After the Fuel Tank Failed

Remember, the shuttle didn't explode when the fuel tank failed. So, it actually continued to fly for a short time until fire from the flames engulfed it and the aerodynamic forces at play ripped it apart. The cabin portion with the astronauts remained intact, and their bodies were all recovered when that part was found, but the forces during the fall were so great that the astronauts had most likely died before the cabin entered the Atlantic Ocean.

Two Pieces From The Spacecraft Washed Ashore More Than a Decade After The Challenger Disaster

A decade after the disaster, memories of the disaster resurfaced when two large pieces of the Challenger washed up in the surf at Cocoa Beach, 20 miles south of the Kennedy Space Center at Cape Canaveral. NASA believed the two fragments, one measuring more than 6 feet wide and 13 feet long, were originally connected, and that they came from the shuttle’s left wing flap. After being verified, the newly found parts were placed in two abandoned missile silos with the other shuttle remains, which number around 5,000 pieces and weigh in at some 250,000 pounds.

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PHKRAUSE

I did  not  know that 2 large pieces washed up  on shore  10 years  later

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6 Things You Didn't Know About The Baseball Hall of Fame

On January 29, 1936, the Baseball Hall of Fame inducted its first group of players. Since then, the Baseball Hall of Fame has grown by leaps and bounds, with 325 members as of January 2019. Here are six things you didn't know about the Baseball Hall of Fame...

The First Class of Players to Be Inducted Contained Some Very Familiar Names

Ty Cobb, Babe Ruth, Honus Wagner, Christy Mathewson and Walter Johnson were the first players to be honored by the Baseball Hall of Fame, elected as part of the inaugural class on Jan. 29, 1936. Ty Cobb was the most productive hitter in history; Babe Ruth was both an ace pitcher and the greatest home-run hitter to play the game; Honus Wagner was a versatile star shortstop and batting champion; Christy Mathewson had more wins than any pitcher in National League history; and Walter Johnson was considered one of the most powerful pitchers to ever have taken the mound.

Gaylord Perry Learned That You Get What You Think

Gaylord Perry, inducted in 1991, was famous for claiming that his chances of hitting a home run were so bad that "They'll put a man on the moon before I hit a home run." And -- that's exactly what happened. On July 20, 1969, Perry hit his first home run only 20 minutes after Neil Armstrong stepped onto the moon's surface. And, it was his only home run!

Dave Winfield's Career Took Being the Breadwinner Too Far

Dave  Winfield is the only player in MLB history ever traded for a five-star meal.  The Minnesota Twins traded the future hall of famer to the Cleveland Indians for a player to be named later at the trading deadline in 1994. But, two weeks later, before Winfield could play for the Indians, a strike ended the season. Winfield never played for the Indians and a player was never named. To settle the trade, executives from Minnesota and Cleveland decided to go out for dinner and the Indians picked up the check.

Dave Winfield Threw One for the Birds -- Unfortunately

Dave Winfield certainly had an interesting career. Not only was he the only trade for a dinner, but he also went to jail for a night because of a ball he threw during the warmup session at a game in 1983. The ball hit and killed a seagull, and Winfield was arrested and charged with cruelty to animals. The charges were dropped, and the incident gave rival teams plenty to joke about regarding Winfield's skills. Given that Winfield is now in the Baseball Hall of Fame, however, he got the last laugh.

Ty Cobb's Family Experienced Tragedy Right Before His Debut

Cobb's mother shot and killed his father in 1905, three weeks before their son's big league debut. Suspecting his wife of infidelity, William Cobb died while sneaking around their home after saying he'd be out of town. Amanda Cobb was acquitted of murder after claiming she thought he was an intruder.

Honus Wagner's Valuable Trading Card Was Stopped Possibly Because He Didn't Want Kids Smoking

Honus Wagner's baseball card was apparently the most valuable card ever -- but it was discontinued. The card was sold by the American Tobacco Company, and Wagner may not have been too thrilled about kids possibly smoking (as kids would have known about the tobacco company through its marketing of the card, which would have been a form of advertising). He had the company stop printing the card.

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PHKRAUSE

I  did  not  know that Gaylord Perry hit  his  1st  home run==just 20  mins before  a man  landed  on the moom

DGRIMM60

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5 Things You Didn't Know About Mahatma Gandhi

On January 30, 1948, Mohandas K. Gandhi was assassinated, ending a lifetime of nonviolent resistance and advocacy for peace and Indian independence. While Gandhi's current image in popular culture is one of complete tolerance, there's more to the story. Here are five things you didn't know about Gandhi...

Gandhi Never Won The Nobel Peace Prize

Gandhi was nominated for a Nobel Peace Prize in 1937, 1938, 1939 and 1947, but never received the award. He also was nominated in 1948, the year he was assassinated, but the Nobel committee opted not to bestow him with the award posthumously. Instead, the committee announced there was “no suitable living candidate” that year and no winner was named.  In 2006, the Nobel committee publicly expressed regret that Gandhi had never been given the prize.

Gandhi Got His Start As An Activist In South Africa, Not India

While Gandhi is known for his work with Indian independence and human rights in that country, his resistance path began in South Africa, where he and his family lived for several years. Gandhi had been on a train and refused to give up his seat to a white passenger, and thus was taken outside and severely beaten. He was so disgusted by the treatment of Indians in the country that he began leading civil-disobedience campaigns. He eventually returned to India, where he took up the cause of independence from Britain.

A Lot of Those Quotes Attributed to Him Were Not His

Gandhi's face pops up in many internet memes, usually with an inspirational quote about success and perseverance. For example, "Be the change you wish to see in the world" is one of the classic "Gandhi" quotes that makes it onto mugs and posters -- yet he never said it. The New York Times noted that the closest possible quote like that, that could accurately be attributed to Gandhi, is "If we could change ourselves, the tendencies in the world would also change. As a man changes his own nature, so does the attitude of the world change towards him. ... We need not wait to see what others do." Another quote, "First they ignore you, then they laugh at you, then they fight you, then you win," may have been a paraphrase of a speech from a North American union leader, Nicholas Klein.

He Ended His Initial Indian Independence and Resistance Campaign Due to Violence

As expected, his campaigns in India involved passive and nonviolent resistance. However, violence broke out anyway; in the early 1920s, he ended the movement and was then arrested and sentenced to prison. However, the need for appendicitis surgery led to an early release. Gandhi didn't get involved in politics again until 1930.

Gandhi Was Murdered By A Fellow Hindu

Despite the accusations of racism, one thing is for sure: Gandhi was more tolerant of other religions to the point that it got him killed. While walking to a prayer meeting in New Delhi on the evening of January 30, 1948, Gandhi was shot three times at close range by Hindu nationalist Nathuram Godse. The gunman blamed Gandhi for going along with the 1947 plan that partitioned British India along religious lines into two new independent states: Hindu-dominated India and Muslim-dominated Pakistan. Following the partition, riots broke out across India between Hindus and Muslims, and Godse was angered by Gandhi’s calls for an end to the bloodshed and believed the pacifist icon was pandering to Muslims. Godse was apprehended after Gandhi’s murder, and in November 1949 he and a co-conspirator were hanged for their crimes.

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PHKRAUSE

I did not  know that GANDHI    1st started his  work  in SOUTH AFRICA

dgrimm60

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5 Things You Didn't Know About Groundhog Day

February 2 is Groundhog Day, when people pull a sleepy groundhog out of its burrow to compete with weather forecasters. If the groundhog, Punxsutawney Phil, sees his shadow, then that forecasts six more weeks of winter. Will he see his shadow? Will he not? Here are five things you didn't know about this kooky holiday ...

It Could Have Been Called Hedgehog Day

The origins of Groundhog Day go far back to before the Christian holiday of Candlemas began; previously, it was called St. Brigid's Day, which was a Christianization of the old holiday of Imbolc (which is still celebrated at the beginning of February by many Wiccan and neopagan traditions). But the addition of an animal weather prophet started sometime later, with German farmers who wanted a way to figure out how long the winter (i.e., the season when they couldn't really grow anything) would last. They looked to nature and animals that seemed to follow seasonal cycles, and the best one they found was the hedgehog. When people used to that tradition came to the United States, they couldn't find hedgehogs to help them out but noticed that groundhogs seemed to follow a similar schedule.

More Than One Groundhog Is Used to Predict the End of Winter

Punxsutawney Phil is the most famous groundhog and gets national attention, but he's not the only furball on whom townspeople rely for dodgy predictions. Georgia, North Carolina, and Alabama all have their own local groundhogs to help figure out when winter will end. This isn't surprising because not only do people like to have their own local version of a fun event, but the late-winter weather in Pennsylvania is going to be a lot different than that in places like Alabama. It only makes sense that the state would want its own version.

More Than One Groundhog Can Predict the End of Winter

Whether or not Punxsutawney Phil's predictions hold up, there is a connection between groundhogs and the end of winter, and it doesn't really have to do with their shadows. Early February is when a lot of male groundhogs wake up from hibernation and go scope out the females of the species in preparation for mating, which takes place in March. Hibernating animals, in general, have internal clocks that help wake them up, but they can go back into hibernation mode if the weather is too cold (in fact, there have been cases of bats and bears waking up too early because of warmer weather). If you manage to see a number of groundhogs in February, then, that means their internal seasonal clocks are working, and they've decided spring is on the way.

The Weather on Candlemas Day Used to Be the Key to Weather Prediction

Remember the German farmers who looked to hedgehogs to predict the end of winter? The weather on Candlemas itself used to be a predictor. People believed that if Candlemas was sunny, winter would last about another six weeks. The idea of animals seeing their shadows and thus predicting more winter weather likely sprung from that. After all, animals can't see their shadows if it's not sunny.

Chances Are Punxsutawney Phil's Prediction Won't Be Accurate

Regardless of seasonal indicators and whether or not February 2 is sunny, Punxsutawney Phil's predictions are not really accurate. Overall, he's been wrong almost 61 percent of the time, and when you look at how his predictions have held up in specific regions, he fares even worse. For example, in Columbia, South Carolina, he's been accurate only 36 percent of the time since 1950.

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PHKRAUSE

I did  not  know that it stated  with  the GERMAN farmers  and they used a  Hedgehog

dgrimm60

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5 Things You Didn't Know About Facebook

On February 4, 2004, the social networking website Facebook was launched at Harvard University in a dorm room. Since then, the network has grown to over 2.27 billion monthly active users, making it one of the most popular websites in the world. Here are 5 things you didn’t know about this social media giant...

Yahoo! Tried to Buy Facebook in 2007

In 2007, Yahoo! reportedly offered to purchase Facebook for $1 billion. Apparently, Mark Zuckerberg was interested, however, he changed his mind about selling the social network site when the CEO of Yahoo! lowered the amount of the offer. Zuckerberg’s wealth was estimated at $53.6 billion in 2019, so holding off on the sale turned into a win-win situation.

The Mysterious Face That First Appeared on Facebook Was a Famous Actor

The design for Facebook’s original logo was made in 2004 by Andrew McCollum, who was one of Mark Zuckerberg’s classmates. The image was foggy, so it made it difficult for users to recognize the image of actor Al Pacino, who starred in The Godfather movies.

There’s a Reason the Main Color Used on Facebook Is Blue

Mark Zuckerberg, the founder of Facebook, is color blind in the red and green spectrum. That’s one of the reasons the primary color used in Facebook is blue. In addition, the color blue is associated with security and trust, which is ironic given the privacy issues Facebook has faced recently.

You Can Speak Pirate on Facebook

On the right side of the feed where advertising appears on Facebook, there is a box at the bottom that allows the user to choose a language. If the user checks out the choices for English, they will find US English, UK English and pirate in English. As an added fun feature, they can choose to have their English appear upside down.

Mark Zuckerberg Chose the Name for the “Like” Button

The “like” button on Facebook was almost an “awesome” button. One of the engineers on the project, Andrew Bosworth, thought calling it the “awesome” button was a great idea; however, Zuckerberg vetoed the name in 2007. The “like” button was settled on later but apparently received a reception that was definitely lukewarm.

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PHKRAUSE

I did  not  know  MARK was  color blind====I also did  not  know that

the  like button was  going  to be  called the awesome button

dgrimm60

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5 Things You Didn't Know About Albert Einstein

You probably know him as one of the most profound geniuses in history and as the physicist behind the famous "E = mc2" equation that helped explain the presence of gravity. But there's a lot more to Albert Einstein than just that. We dug up five things we bet you didn't know about Einstein. Ready?

Despite the rumors, Einstein never failed math. Though he did fail his college entrance exam.

Sorry kids—no more bringing home a flunked math test and saying, "It's okay, Einstein failed math, too." The truth is, this longstanding legend is totally false. Einstein was an average student in most subjects, but he actually excelled in math while in primary school. At 16 years-old, he did, however, fail his entry exam to the Swiss Federal Polytechnic—a STEM school in Zurich. His test scores were exceptional in math and physics, but he bombed in other areas and therefore failed the test as a whole (don't worry, he got in a year later).

An autopsy revealed that Einstein's brain was bigger but lighter than the average person's. And the doctor stole it.

After Einstein's death in 1955 from an abdominal aneurysm rupture, an autopsy and several studies were conducted on Einstein's brain. Two interesting discoveries were made: first, Einstein's brain weighed notably less than the average human brain. His weighed 1,230 grams, while the average is 1,400 grams. Second, his parietal lobe (where mathematic thought resides) was 15 percent larger. The pathologist who conducted the autopsy later stole Einstein's brain and was fired from Princeton when he refused to return it (he later did bring it back, but not until 1998). 

That same doctor stole Einstein's eyeballs, too.

Yep, this guy was a real kleptomaniac when it came to Einstein's body parts. The doctor took Einstein's eyes—sealed in a jar of formaldehyde—and gave them to Einstein's friend and ophthalmologist, Henry Abrams. Abrams stored the eyeballs in a safety deposit box in New Jersey. Though frequent rumors bubbled up that the eyeballs were up for auction, Abrams vehemently denied the claims until his death in 2009. The whereabouts of the eyeballs today are unknown, but presumably, they may still be in that New Jersey bank vault.

J. Edgar Hoover spied on Einstein and had a 1,400-page file on the scientist.

Hoover began spying on Einstein shortly after he fled Germany in 1932 to escape the rising Nazi Socialist party. Einstein was a vocal political activist, who denounced nationalism, racism, and even questioned capitalism. His left-wing views put him on Hoover's radar, who believed Einstein could be a communist or even a Soviet spy. Einstein was, of course, neither, but that didn't stop Hoover from ordering agents to listen in on his calls, read his mail, and even sift through his trash for close to two decades.

Einstein hated socks.

That's right—the man behind one of the most important scientific discoveries in recent history had a big beef with socks. He once bragged to a colleague about rarely wearing them at Oxford and was said to be annoyed by the constant holes that popped up. Whether it was while out sailing or to a formal dinner at the White House, Einstein went without socks everywhere. To Einstein, socks were a pain because they often would get holes in them.

[dgrimm60]

PHKRAUSE

I did  not  know that  he  did  not  like  or  wear  socks===I  also  did  not  know that 

the  doctor  that  did the  autopsy  took  the brain and  eyes  of  EINSTEIN

dgrimm60

[phkrause]

5 Things You Didn't Know about Queen Elizabeth_2

On this day in 1952, King George VI of Great Britain and Northern Ireland died in his sleep. Princess Elizabeth, the oldest of the king’s two daughters and next in line to succeed him. Here are 5 things you probably didn’t know about the longest-reigning British monarch....

The Queen’s Handbag Serves a Purpose

The Queen doesn’t require a place to keep her house keys, but according to the royal biographer, Sally Bedell Smith, she does have things in her purse that most women carry such as a tube of lipstick, reading glasses, a mirror, pen, lozenges and a few bills to put in the collection plate at church. However, the Queen’s handbag serves another purpose. When she moves her handbag from one arm to the other, it is a signal to the staff that she wants to end the conversation she is in, while placing her bag on the dinner table means she wants the meal to be over in five minutes.

She Has Two Birthdays

The Queen's actual date of birth is April 21, 1926, but it is officially celebrated on June 8. The royal tradition of having two birthdays began in 1748 with King George II, who was born in November and wanted to hold a large public celebration. However, the weather that time of year would have made that difficult. As part of Queen Elizabeth’s birthday celebration, an enormous parade is held, and the Royal Air Force performs an aerial display.

The Queen Always Loved Corgis

The Queen received her first corgi, Susan, in 1944 as a birthday gift. Over the years, she has had 30 of the affectionate, lively little herding dogs. Her last corgi, Willow, died in 2018 and was the 14th and last purebred generation in the line. The Queen still owns two corgi/dachshund mixes named Candy and Vulcan and adopted a corgi named Whisper, whose owner passed away last year.

She Used Rationing Coupons to Help Pay for her Wedding Gown

Princess Elizabeth married Philip Mountbatten, the Duke of Edinburgh, on November 20, 1947. To pay for the fabric that was used in her wedding gown, she was given 200 coupons by the British government, and in addition, used her rationing coupons. The completed gown was ivory silk and decorated with seed pearls and crystals.

Prince Philip and Queen Elizabeth Are Cousins

Queen Victoria, who lived from 1819 until 1901, was the great-great-grandmother of both the Prince and the Queen. Queen Elizabeth is descended from Queen Victoria on her father’s side of the family, while the Prince is descended from her on his mother’s side.