Trivia

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I did  not  know  that  he  used  his  voice for  MICKEY MOUSE  from 1929   to 1947

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5 Things You Didn't Know About The Washington Monument_2

On December 6, 1884, in Washington, D.C., workers place a nine-inch aluminum pyramid atop a tower of white marble, completing the construction the Washington Monument. Here are 5 things you didn't know about this structure built as a tribute to George Washington...

The Monument Was Planned Before George Washington Was Elected

The Continental Congress approved the erection of a statue to honor Washington in 1783 in the nation’s capital, which had not yet been built. When Washington was elected as president, he rejected the memorial plans because of a shortage of government funds. The plan did not go ahead until 1833 when the Washington National Monument Society, headed by the Chief Justice, John Marshall, was formed to raise funds privately.

The Original Plan for the Monument Was Completely Different

Robert Mills won a design contest for the monument, which was to include a pantheon that featured statues of heroes of the Revolutionary War, signers of the Declaration of Independence, and stone columns. At the main entrance there was supposed to be a statue depicting Washington in a chariot drawn by horses, and in the center there would be a 600-foot-tall Egyptian obelisk. Various problems caused the project to be put on hold until after the Civil War. Funding was authorized by President U.S. Grant, but tastes for such an ambitious monument had changed and only the obelisk was built.

A Navy Vet Threatened to Blow It Up

Norman Mayer, a veteran of the Navy, threatened to set off 1,000 pounds of dynamite and blow up the Washington Monument after he drove his vehicle up to its base on December 8, 1982. Tourists found themselves trapped inside, buildings had to be evacuated, and streets were closed. Following a standoff of 10 hours, Mayer tried to leave but was shot dead by police. It was soon discovered that the van contained no explosives.

The Washington Monument Was Damaged by an Earthquake in 2011

A 5.8 magnitude earthquake close to Mineral, Virginia, damaged the Washington Monument, causing some mortar to come loose and creating cracks in the obelisk. Fortunately, no one inside the building was injured, however. It was closed for 2 1/2 years to be repaired, which cost around $15 million. While the extensive repair work took place, the obelisk was shrouded in a blue mesh, which covered the enormous scaffolding system that was needed to do the repairs.

The Monument Was Briefly the World's Tallest Man-made Structure

It was a brief but glorious reign of five years when the 555-foot height of the monument made it the world's tallest man-made structure. For four of those years—1884-1888—the monument was closed to the public; it was only between 1888 and 1889 that tourists could visit Washington D.C. and say they'd been to the tallest building in the world. (The Eiffel Tower took over that title in 1889.)

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5 Things You Didn't Probably Know About Pearl Harbor_2

In the early morning hours of December 7, 1941, Japan launched a surprise military attack on the United States naval base at Pearl Harbor in Hawaii. To mark the anniversary of that event, here are five things you probably didn't know about Pearl Harbor....

The Japanese Bombers Were Originally Mistaken for U.S. Aircraft

Radar operators at Pearl Harbor were expecting a group of U.S. aircraft to fly into the area on December 7, so they weren't particularly alarmed to see two groups flying toward the base that morning. Because they assumed that the groups on radar were U.S. planes, the operators didn't issue any warnings. That turned out to be a huge mistake as those groups on radar were the Japanese planes that attacked Pearl Harbor.

The USS Arizona Still Leaks Fuel

The day before the attacks, the USS Arizona took on a full load of fuel, nearly 1.5 million gallons. Much of that fuel helped ignite the explosion and subsequent fires that destroyed the ship, but shockingly, some fuel continues to seep out of the wreckage. The Arizona continues to spill up to 9 quarts of oil into the harbor each day.

Most of The Ships That Were Sunk Were Resurrected

Nine battleships were sunk in the bombing attack. Fortunately, since the ships were docked and therefore sank in shallow water, the navy was able to raise seven of them. In fact, the navy was able not only to resurrect the ships, but also to repair them so they could be used during World War II. Only the USS Arizona and the USS Utah were irrecoverable.

Veterans of The Attack Can be Laid to Rest at Pearl Harbor

Survivors of Pearl Harbor have the option to join their lost comrades and make Pearl Harbor their final resting place. Crew members who served on board the USS Arizona during the attack may choose to have their ashes deposited by divers beneath one of the sunken Arizona’s gun turrets. Roughly 30 Arizona survivors have chosen this option. Other military survivors can choose to have their ashes scattered wherever their ship was located during the attacks.

Hawaii Was Put Into Martial Law After Pearl Harbor For Three Years

After the Pearl Harbor attack, Hawaii  spent  three years under Martial Law. The military forced a curfew onto Hawaiians at night, forcing everyone to be indoors with their electricity completely off, and anyone who was outside after hours would face arrest or possibly even shot.  Residents were also forced to build bomb shelters and barbed wire fences and have an identification card. Alcohol of any kind was banned–as was taking any photographs–and food was rationed. The military also confiscated the tourist-laden hotels on the beaches of Waikiki.Hawaii was a territory at the time, so the military’s treatment of Hawaiians after Pearl Harbor helped set forth the initiative for Hawaii to become a state.

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I did  not  know  that  from  1884 to 1888 that the  Washington MONUMENT was the tallest man made strcuture

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I did  not  know that  oil is  still  leaking  out of  the  ship  ARIZONA===

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5 Things You Didn't Know About John Lennon's Death_3

On December 8, 1980, John Lennon was shot and killed outside his apartment building in New York by Mark David Chapman. The death stunned the world, and the details only make the case stranger and sadder. Here are five things you didn't know about John Lennon's death...

Lennon's Death Was Announced as a Football Game Was in Its Last Tense Minutes

Monday Night Football was on when news of Lennon's death broke, but the network couldn't quite cut away. The game was in its final minutes. Given how upset fans can get when a game or show is interrupted by an emergency weather alert, TV-viewing fans probably wouldn't have been too keen to miss those last few minutes of play. Instead, as Howard Cosell and his colleagues gave the play by play for the game, Cosell announced Lennon's death and said there would be more news after the game.

Mark David Chapman Said He Tried to Talk Himself out of Killing Lennon

The moment of the murder was not the first time Chapman and Lennon had encountered each other that day. Lennon actually gave Chapman an autograph earlier that same day, and even Chapman admitted that Lennon had been very kind to him.  In between those two meetings, according to Chapman, he prayed for help to stop his plans to shoot Lennon. Chapman said he was too obsessed with killing Lennon to stop himself.

No One Knows Where His Remains Really Are

Yoko Ono had Lennon's body cremated, but she hasn't revealed where the ashes are. This is understandable as the site would no doubt be a target for vandals and thieves. Fans think the ashes might be in Strawberry Fields, a section of Central Park in New York that is dedicated to Lennon, but no one has found and verified a specific location.

The Most Iconic Picture of Lennon and Yoko Ono Was Taken the Same Day He Died

Just hours before he was killed, John and Yoko posed for Rolling Stone photographer Annie Leibovitz. The picture depicted a nude John wrapped around a clothed Yoko Ono. Now known as one of the most iconic pictures ever taken of the pair, it graced the Rolling Stone's cover on January 22, 1981. In 2005, that cover was named the top cover of the previous 40 years by the American Society of Magazine Editors.

Chapman Said He Killed Lennon Just for the Attention

Chapman did not have lofty societal goals when he shot Lennon. Despite claims that Chapman was angry at Lennon for his claims about God and other religious and philosophical issues, Chapman has been adamant that he shot Lennon just for the notoriety. Chapman did admit to being jealous about Lennon's posh New York digs at first, but he has also said that by the time he shot Lennon, it was all about gaining fame. Chapman apparently had a list of celebrities to shoot, including Johnny Carson and George C. Scott.

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I  did  not  know  that  Chapman  had a  list  of  celebrities who he  wanted  to  kill

including  JOHNNY  CARSON  and  GEORGE  C. SCOTT===

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5 Things You Didn't Know About The Movie Scarface

On December 9, 1983, Al Pacino starred in Scarface, a  mobster movie that was so popular it made $4.5 million the first weekend of its release alone. Say hello to our little list of 5 things you didn't know about Brian De Palma’s gangsters-and-cocaine classic...

Scarface Was a Remake of an Earlier Movie

The original Scarface was a 1932 movie directed by Howard Hawks and Howard Hughes and starred Osgood Perkins and Paul Muni. Martin Bregman, the producer of the newer version, saw the original movie on television late one night and thought it could be a good re-make. The 1983 version, directed by Robert De Palma, and starring Al Pacino, and Michelle Pfeiffer was dedicated to Howard Hawks and the screenwriter of the original film, Ben Hecht. Hecht was the writer for a number of famous films, including Gone With the Wind, Notorious, and Wuthering Heights.

Brian De Palma Almost Directed Flashdance Instead

Producer Martin Bregman offered De Palma a chance to direct Scarface while the director was filming the 1981 cult classic Blow Out.  Initially De Palma said “yes,” but then politely declined as he was too busy. He signed on to direct Flashdance instead in the hopes of getting the producer to greenlight his script on the Yablonski murders. De Palma made it about two weeks into pre-production on the dance flick before quitting.  Bregman offered Scarface to De Palma again, and the rest is history.

Pacino Was Injured During the Filming of the Movie

Pacino was actually injured twice, but the first time was during an audition when a nervous Michelle Pfeiffer was throwing dishes and accidentally cut Pacino with a broken shard. During a filming rehearsal, Pacino mistakenly grabbed the barrel of the prop gun after it had been fired several rounds, and his hand got stuck to the hot barrel. Pacino was unable to work for several weeks because of the burns.

After the Film Was Completed, One of the Actresses Disappeared

Tammy Lynn Leppert, the 18 year-old actress and model appeared as Manny’s (Steven Bauer) distraction while he was in the lookout car during the infamous chainsaw scene. Leppert was last seen in Cocoa Beach, Florida on July 6, 1983 just five months before Scarface hit theaters. Authorities speculated Leppert may have been three months pregnant at the time of her mysterious disappearance and that her missing persons status could be tied to several serial killers and drug trafficking networks around the area. Her current whereabouts are still unknown.

The Rumor That Pacino Used Cocaine on Set During the Filming Is Untrue

Although it was a long-time rumor that Pacino was really snorting cocaine in the movie, artificial substitutes for the drug were used that are handled by the prop master. In the past, either powdered milk or baking soda had been used as replacements, but vitamin B powder is used now. Pacino said that snorting the stuff damaged his nasal passages for years afterward.

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I did not  know that  AL  PACINO was injured  both in the  tryouts and  also  during  film rehearsal 

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6 Things You Didn't Know About The Nobel Prize

On December 10, 1901, the first Nobel Prizes were awarded in Stockholm, Sweden in the fields of physics, medicine, chemistry, literature, and peace. Here are 6 things you didn't know about this prestigious award...

A Mistaken Obituary Led Alfred Nobel to Establish the Prize

An obituary was published in France in 1888 noting the death of inventor Alfred Nobel, but it was Nobel’s brother, Ludwig, who had passed away. The obituary was insulting, saying that Nobel made himself wealthy by inventing ways to kill people faster. Because he was concerned about how people would remember him, Nobel came up with the idea of the Nobel Prize, which was funded by proceedings of a trust from his estate.

Nominations Are Kept Secret for a Long Time

Nominations for the Nobel Prize begin every year in September, and individuals are not allowed to nominate themselves. Once the nominations have been received, they are sent to the four nominating committees. No one knows if they have even been nominated until they have been notified that they have won, and the record of those who were nominated is kept under seal for half a century.

One Woman Was Nominated 48 Times But Never Won

Lise Meitner was a physicist who worked on projects involving nuclear physics and radioactivity. Although she was nominated numerous times by leading scientists in the field for the Nobel Prize in physics and chemistry, she never won. She, along with Otto Robert Frisch, not only explained how nuclear fission worked but gave it its name.

Some Really Nice Prizes Come With the Award, Including Money

Prize winners are called laureates, after the Greek laurel wreath given to champions in ancient times.Nobel laureates receive gold medals as well as diplomas decorated with the work of renowned artists and calligraphers.The prize money comes out of income from investments made with the late Nobel's estate. The purse is currently 8 million kronor ($1.3 million) for the full award.

Posthumous Nominations Are Not Allowed for Those Who Die

Nobel Prize rules stipulate that the award cannot be given posthumously. The only exception was made in 2011 when Canadian immunologist Ralph Steinman received the Nobel for Physiology or Medicine. The Nobel committee made its announcement on October 3, unaware that Steinman had died a few days earlier. After some deliberation, the committee decided to let Steinman keep it. According to Steinman's daughter, her father had joked about the Nobel shortly before he died. "They don't give it to you if you have passed away," he said. "I got to hold out for that."

Several People Have Turned Down The Nobel

It’s rare, but it has happened. Two Nobel laureates declined their prizes. It’s rare, but it has happened. French philosopher and writer Jean-Paul Satre was awarded the Nobel Prize in literature in 1964, but declined the honor. In 1973, Communist Vietnamese leader Le Duc Tho was jointly awarded the peace prize with U.S. Secretary of State Henry Kissinger for their work negotiating the Paris Peace Accords during the Vietnam War. Kissinger accepted his award, but Tho refused, stating that a true peace had not actually been achieved. Adolf Hitler also forbade Richard Kuhn, Adolf Butenandt and Gerhard Domagk from accepting their prizes in 1938 and 1939, while the Soviet Union forced Boris Pasternak to turn down his 1958 literature award.

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5 Things You Didn't Know About The Apollo Missions_2

On December 11, 1972, man landed on the moon for the last time during the Apollo 17 mission. Here are 5 shocking facts that you probably didn't know about the Apollo missions...

You Can Thank NASA’s Apollo Program for Many New Convenience Items

A number of household items were invented because they were needed on the space missions for the Apollo program. Probably the most commonly used invention is the portable vacuum cleaner (a.k.a. the Dustbuster) because NASA required a lightweight, cordless vacuum. Cordless tools such as cordless drills, grass shears and shrub trimmers also have a background with the Apollo missions. Both the mini cordless vacuum and motors for the cordless drill and other tools were developed using a computer program designed by Black & Decker.

NASA Was Sued Because of Apollo XII

Astronauts Jim Lovell, Bill Anders, and Frank Borman were circling around the moon on Christmas Eve 1968 and decided to recite a passage from Genesis in celebration of the holiday. Madalyn Murray O’Hair, an atheist who was more than a little vocal about her views, sued NASA, saying that the astronauts’ Bible passage violated her constitutional rights. Although the lawsuit was dismissed, it created a legal hassle for NASA, so the astronauts never referred again to anything having to do with religion.

An Emmy Was Awarded to Apollo VII’s Crew

Apollo 7 introduced superstars when astronauts Walter Cunningham, Wally Schirra and Donn Eisele broadcast for the first time on live television from their spacecraft. Nicknamed the “Wally, Walt and Donn Show,” they gave tours of Apollo 7 and showed how they prepared meals without gravity, as well as cracked jokes throughout. The broadcasts were so well received by the television audience that when the astronauts returned to Earth, the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences gave them a special Emmy for their efforts.

There Was no Apollo II or III

A horrific accident that killed astronauts Edward White, Roger Chaffee, and Virgil Grissom in 1967 led to it being renamed Apollo I after the three men died in a fire that broke out onboard their command module. However, there were three unmanned flights that had taken place earlier called AS-201, AS-202, and AS-203. It was decided that the 1967 flight that was never launched would be called Apollo 1 in honor of the deceased astronauts, and the following mission would then be Apollo IV.

There’s a Man-Made Memorial Installed on The Moon

The crew of Apollo 15 left a tiny, human-shaped statuette—commissioned by commander David Scott from a Belgian artist—on the top of Mons Hadley (one of the moon’s highest known peaks) as a memorial to fallen astronauts from the American and Soviet space programs. Other items still sitting on the moon? About 500 crashed modules, two golf balls, TV cameras, used wet wipes, hammers/tongs/rakes, and, without fail, 96 bags of urine, feces, and vomit. 

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5 Shocking Facts You Didn't Know About Frank Sinatra

On December 12, 1915, Singer Frank Sinatra was born in Hoboken, New Jersey. He later became one of the most influential singers of the 20th century. Here are 5 shocking facts about the singer nicknamed “Ol’ Blue Eyes.”

His Nickname as a Teen Was Scarface

Forceps were used in Sinatra's birth, leaving a scar from his jawline to his mouth, along with a cauliflower ear. His nickname was “Scarface,” when he was a teen, and to add more problems, he suffered from severe acne that pitted his cheeks. Sinatra hated being photographed along his left side and often used makeup in an attempt to hide his scars. His physical insecurities didn’t end there. At 5’7, he also wore elevated shoes to appear taller.

He Was Arrested For Seduction And Adultery

Frank Sinatra’s brief stint in lockup was thanks to his womanizing ways. In 1938, the crooner was dragged into jail on the charge of seduction, evidently a serious deal back in the ’30s. Sinatra was caught sleeping with an upstanding single woman, a pillar in the community until she was corrupted by Frankie’s wicked ways.The charge was eventually dismissed, and Sinatra was let go until he was hauled back to the slammer the following month. After doing a little detective work, authorities discovered Sinatra’s lady friend was married, and Frank was charged with adultery. Eventually, officials dropped the case, and after a combined total of 16 hours in jail, Sinatra was back on the prowl.

He Tried to Commit Suicide Numerous Times

Sinatra was a heavy drinker and described himself as manic-depressive, or bipolar. During the 1950s, he tried to kill himself with a gas stove because he thought his popularity was waning. Fortunately, his manager found him in time to save his life. While he was with Ava Gardner, he tried to commit suicide three times, once by trying to shoot himself.

Sinatra Could Have Played the Lead in Die Hard

The role of John McClane ended up going to Bruce Willis in the movie Die Hard, but Sinatra had first call on the part. This is because the movie was based on a sequel to the book “Nothing Lasts Forever” called The Detective in which Sinatra had starred back in 1968. Because Sinatra was 73 at the time Die Hard was being cast, it was probably a good idea that he turned the role down.

The FBI Had a Big Investigative File on Sinatra

Without a doubt, “My Way” is Frank Sinatra’s most iconic song. It become his trademark song and audiences wouldn’t let him end a show without singing about how he’d lived his life without regrets. The song became a part of music history, and soon everyone was singing it, not just Sinatra. “My Way” has been covered by everyone from Sid Vicious to the Three Tenors. In 2005, it was played at more British funerals than any other pop song. The funny thing about all of this is that Sinatra absolutely hated “My Way.” And whenever he performed live, he told audiences exactly what he thought about it. During a gig at Caesars Palace, he told the crowd, “I hate this song—you sing it for eight years, you would hate it too.” But the fans wanted “My Way” so he gave it to them without fail.

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5 Things You May Not Know About The Bush-Gore Election

On December 13, 2000, Republican George W. Bush claimed the presidency 36 days after Election Day when a recount of ballots in Florida was halted. Here are 5 things you may not know about this hotly contested presidential election...

The Vote Was Incredibly Close

Viewers on election night in the presidential race between Republican George Bush and Democrat Al Gore realized it was a tight race as the lead seesawed between both candidates throughout the night. The winner hinged on which candidate took Florida and its 29 electoral votes. When the results came in the following morning, it was apparent that both candidates had taken 49 percent out of the six million votes cast in Florida. However, the margin was so small, with Bush leading by less than 1,500 votes, the election would turn into a battle for the presidency.

The First Recount Was by Machine

Florida state law required a machine recount if the victory margin by a candidate was less than 0.5 percent, so a recount was conducted. It took about 2 ½ days. In the recount, Bush’s lead had shrunk to 327 votes. This ended up in the call for an additional recount.

A Hand Recount Was Requested by Gore

Since the margin of victory had narrowed even more, Florida law allowed Gore to request a manual recount – and he did. Gore requested that a manual recount be conducted in four traditionally blue-leaning Florida counties – three in South Florida and one in Central Florida.The counties began to fulfill his request, but when concerns grew over whether election officials would be able to meet deadlines and whether late filings from some of those counties should be accepted, then-Secretary of State Katherine Harris said she could not find reason as to why they should. Harris then declared Bush the winner in Florida. But the fight still wasn’t over. 

Balloting Methods Made the Situation Worse

The Florida Supreme Court granted a recount of about 70,000 of the ballots that were considered questionable after it was requested by Gore. The problem was the methods of balloting where some counties used a hole punch where the machine wouldn’t count the ballot if it wasn’t properly punched. About 29,000 voter ballots had been discarded in Broward County alone; however, the United States Supreme Court stopped the recount, which angered Gore supporters because the Supreme Court vote was split along party lines.

The Election Results Might Have Been Different But for Hanging Chads

A flaw in the design of some ballots that were perforated made it hard for machines to read because the holes were incomplete, resulting in hanging chads. However, the ruling by the Supreme Court denied making a hand count of these ballots. There were arguments among legal authorities that the Supreme Court had overstepped its jurisdiction by ruling on election voting, while others pointed out that it showed needed election reform in Florida.

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5 Things You Didn't Know About Schindler's List_2

On December 15, 1993, the film Schindler's List opened in theaters. The film tells the true story of a German businessman Oskar Schindler, who saves the lives of more than a thousand Polish Jews during the Holocaust. Here are 5 things you didn't know about Schindler's List...

The Film Helped Steven Spielberg Finally Graduate from College

Spielberg has originally enrolled at Cal State Long Beach (CSULB) as an undergraduate years ago in 1965, but he dropped out when his film career took off. In 2001, he re-enrolled in secret at CSULB, using a pseudonym and working on independent projects to complete his degree. He also submitted Schindler's List as his final project for one of his classes. This movie had already won Spielberg Oscars for Best Director and Best Picture.

The Girl in the Red Coat Was Based on a Real Person Who Survived

The most striking image of the movie was more than an artistic decision. Schindler’s List was shot in black and white but one character, a little girl in a red coat, had her garment presented in color. It turns out the character was based on a real girl who was known for her bright red coat in the Warsaw ghetto. This girl, who in real life had survived, had no idea of the connection until she saw the film in theaters. Roma Ligocka, born Roma Liebling (her mother changed their last name to avoid detection after escaping the Warsaw ghetto after its liquidation), didn't want to see the film at first due to too many bad memories. However, when she saw it, she recognized the coat and realized it might have been based on her. She later met Spielberg, who was delighted to find she was alive. She wrote her own memoir of survival. (By the way, Ligocka's cousin is Roman Polanski, who went on to make his own Holocaust film, The Pianist.)

Spielberg Directed The Movie For Free

Spielberg was not comfortable with taking a salary or any royalties from the film. He did not want the film to be done as a way to earn money and so refused pay and refused to profit personally from the film. Instead, he funneled the profits into forming a foundation called the Shoah Foundation, which was and still is based at USC. The Shoah Foundation's purpose is to record testimony from Holocaust survivors.

Spielberg Didn't Want a Hollywood Movie Star to Portray Schindler

Kevin Costner, Warren Beatty, and Mel Gibson all auditioned for the role of Oskar Schindler. However, Spielberg cast then relatively unknown Irish actor Liam Neeson, whom the director had seen in a Broadway play called Anna Christie. “Liam was the closest in my experience of what Schindler was like,” Spielberg told The New York Times. “His charm, the way women love him, his strength. He actually looks a little bit like Schindler, the same height, although Schindler was a rotund man,” he said. Besides having Neeson listen to recordings of Schindler, the director also told him to study the gestures of former Time Warner chairman Steven J. Ross, another of Spielberg’s mentors, and the man to whom he dedicated the film.

The Movie Wasn't Supposed to be in English

For a better sense of reality, Spielberg originally wanted to shoot the movie completely in Polish and German using subtitles, but he eventually decided against it because he felt that it would take away from the urgency and importance of the images onscreen. According to Spielberg, “I wanted people to watch the images, not read the subtitles. There’s too much safety in reading. It would have been an excuse to take their eyes off the screen and watch something else.”

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5 Things You Didn't Know About The Boston Tea Party _2

On the winter night of Thursday, December 16, 1773, members of the Sons of Liberty disguised as Mohawk Indians dumped 342 chests of tea into Boston Harbor.  Here are five things you didn't know about the Boston Tea Party...

The Financial Loss Was Significant

It’s estimated that the protestors tossed more than 92,000 pounds of tea into Boston Harbor. That’s enough to fill 18.5 million teabags. The present-day value of the destroyed tea has been estimated at around $1 million.

The Tea Wasn't Destroyed Immediately, and Looting Was a Concern

The tea was dumped in the water, but it was not destroyed immediately. A lot of tea got loose and not only stank up the harbor water, but it floated as well. The Sons of Liberty were concerned that looters would try to salvage the tea, so the Sons of Liberty would paddle into the harbor daily, beating any floating masses of tea with oars in an attempt to sink them and make them so waterlogged with salt water that they would be unusable. Some of the tea remained in its chests, and in the 1980s, a salvage team tried to recover the chests from the floor of the harbor.

For Decades, The Identities of Participants Were Shrouded in Secrecy

The band of protestors was tight-lipped. Even after American independence, they refused to reveal their identities, fearing they could still face civil and criminal charges as well as condemnation from elites for engaging in mob behavior and the wanton destruction of private property. Even today, only the names of some of the participants are known.

George Washington Condemned The Boston Tea Party

Although America’s foremost Revolutionary figure wrote in June 1774 that “the cause of Boston…ever will be considered as the cause of America,” he strongly voiced his disapproval of “their conduct in destroying the Tea.” Washington, like many other elites, held private property to be sacrosanct and believed the perpetrators should compensate the East India Company for the damages.

There Was a Second Boston Tea Party

Three months after the Boston Tea Party, Bostonians once again sent tea splashing when 60 disguised men boarded the Fortune in March 1774, forced the crew below deck and dumped tea chests into the harbor. The sequel wasn’t quite as impressive as the original, however, as only 30 chests were sent overboard.

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5 Things You Probably Didn't Know About The Simpsons

On December 17, 1989, the animated TV series "The Simpsons" premiered on Fox. Here are 5 things you probably didn’t know about this cartoon series that has been on the air for thirty years...

The Characters Premiered on “The Tracey Ullman Show”

Before the popular cartoon characters were given their own program, they appeared in animated shorts on “The Tracey Ullman Show” from 1987 through 1989. Matt Groening was the creator, and the shorts featured the same characters of Homer, Marge, Bart, Lisa, and Maggie. The characters from the shorts appeared once again as ghosts in “Treehouse of Horror XXV” during season 26.

The Simpsons Are All Yellow For a Reason

Everybody knows what the Simpsons look like…and it’s mainly down to their striking yellow skin! Have you ever wondered why they’re all yellow? Simpsons creator Matt Groening explained that it was his idea to use yellow for his character’s skin color. Groening wanted to attract the attention of channel surfers and was convinced that bright yellow was the best color to do this. He explained the decision in an interview “When you’re flicking through channels with your remote control, and a flash of yellow goes by, you’ll know you’re watching The Simpsons.” The yellow theme didn’t go entirely to plan though. The Simpsons has never had a large following in Myanmar, because a bizarre national law bans yellow and red colors from being overly-used in movies and TV shows!

The Show Waged a Good-Natured War With the Bushes for Years

During an interview with People Magazine in 1990, Barbara Bush, wife of President George H.W. Bush, said that “The Simpsons” was the “dumbest thing” she had ever seen, which prompted the show’s writing staff to respond through a letter written by the character Lisa. Then the president mentioned the Simpsons, saying American families would be strengthened to be similar to the Waltons and less like the Simpsons, and the war was on once again. It didn’t stop with the election of Bill Clinton because the cartoon version of the Bushes appear as neighbors to the Simpsons and a feud begins, which causes the Bush family to move away from Springfield.

The Show’s Best Writer Is Almost a Mystery Man

You may know Conan O’Brien and Greg Daniels, who were comedy writers for “The Simpsons.” However, fans may be unfamiliar with the reclusive John Swartzwelder, even though he wrote some of the most famous episodes. Matt Groening said Swartzwelder generally wrote scripts while sitting in a diner. When the eatery banned smoking, he purchased the booth and used it at home. Swartzwelder seldom showed up at the writers' room for “The Simpsons” because smoking had been banned there too.

The Simpson’s House Really Exists

Although it isn’t as easy to find these days since the owner repainted the house from its original brilliant orange with red fencing, the Simpsons’ house exists in full detail outside of Las Vegas in Henderson, Nevada. All the rooms on the inside of the house are decorated and include the purple and orange kitchen cabinets, a fake fireplace in the living room, and even the photos and pictures on the walls. The house was built in 1997 as a prize for a contest held by Pepsi and Fox, but it ended up being sold by the winners for an undisclosed amount to a woman who still lives there.

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I  did  not  know  that  he  did  not b  take  pay  for the  movie=====

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I did  not  know that  the  show  was  used  as  shorts  on  another  show from  1987  to  1989

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5 Things You Probably Didn't Know About The Mayflower_2

On December 18, 1620, the British ship Mayflower docked at Plymouth Harbor, carrying 102 passengers who intended to settle in the new world. Here are five surprising facts you probably didn't know about the Mayflower's journey...

Plymouth, Massachusetts Wasn’t Named For Plymouth, England.

The Pilgrims departed from Plymouth, England, but aren’t responsible for naming Plymouth, Massachusetts. It had been named that years earlier by explorers in the regions and was marked as Plymouth – or Plimoth (spellings varied) – on maps. It’s just an odd coincidence that the Mayflower sailed from and landed in a town called Plymouth.

Two Ships Originally Set Sail for America

The Mayflower, along with the Speedwell, set out in 1620, but the second ship started leaking and the ocean voyage was delayed. Setting sail again around August 12, the Speedwell started leaking again, which caused the Mayflower to go on alone. Some of the passengers of the Speedwell transferred to the Mayflower, while others, feeling discouraged, gave up on the idea of traveling to America.

The Diet of the Passengers Was Limited and Difficult to Prepare

Because of the wind and rough seas, the voyagers on board the Mayflower were seldom allowed to cook due to the fire risk. Instead, they had to exist on provisions on board the ship. Those provisions consisted of fish, salted beef, moldy cheese, dried peas and beans, cabbage, porridge, and butter. The 66 days it took to make the trip must have seemed very long indeed.

Some of The Mayflower’s Passengers Had Been to America Before

Several of the Mayflower’s crew had made the passage before, on either fishing or exploration trips. One of them, Stephen Hopkins, tried to settle at Jamestown 10 years earlier. On his way to join the settlement, his ship wrecked off the coast of Bermuda. Hopkins eventually returned to England and joined the Mayflower as a member of the sympathetic group of supporters from London.

Fewer Than Half of the Voyagers Were Puritans

The Mayflower actually carried three distinct groups of passengers within the walls of its curving hull. About half were in fact Separatists, the people we now know as the Pilgrims. Another handful of those on board were sympathetic to the Separatist cause but weren’t actually part of that core group of dissidents. The remaining passengers were really just hired hands—laborers, soldiers and craftsmen of various stripes whose skills were required for both the transatlantic crossing and those vital first few months ashore.

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5 Things You Didn't Know About The Movie "Titanic"

On December 19th, 1997, James Cameron’s epic drama Titanic opened in theaters across America. See how much you know about the movie that grossed over $2 billion worldwide and earned 11 Oscar Awards…

There Was Almost a Different Jack and Rose

It's impossible to imagine the film without Kate Winslet and Leonardo DiCaprio, but rumor has it they were not the first choices for their characters. Gwyneth Paltrow and Matthew McConaughey were reportedly in talks to star before things fell through. With that said, don't expect James Cameron to reveal the truth. "I will neither confirm nor deny," he said. "I just don't think that's cool to talk about actors that either chose not to do it, or were unavailable, or stupidly decided that there wasn't enough meat on the bone of the character, or whatever it was."

The Crew Was Reportedly Drugged

After a long and difficult shoot, the cast and crew were nearly ready to wrap when many of them came down with a mysterious illness. Fifteen minutes after eating lobster chowder, "the crew was all milling about. Some people were laughing, some people were crying, some people were throwing up," actor Bill Paxton recalled. "One minute I felt okay," he added, "the next minute I felt so goddamn anxious I wanted to breathe in a paper bag. Cameron was feeling the same way." It turns out that someone had spiked their food with PCP. To this day, no one knows the culprit behind it.

The Cost of The Movie Was More Than The Cost of the Real Ship

The fact that the movie cost more than the real ship is a little bit unbelievable. To make a film as classic as Titanic, it took $200 million and it was the first film to reach the billion dollars mark with an initial worldwide gross of over $1.84 million. And to create the real ship, it took $7.5 million, which now would be roughly equivalent to $174 million. 

J. Dawson Was Real

Jack Dawson might have been a fictional character but, as it turns out, there was a J. Dawson aboard the real ship. It's a mere coincidence that the two share such similar names because Cameron didn't find out about the latter until after the film wrapped. Since its release, the real Dawson's gravesite has been extremely popular among tourists.

It Was the First Movie to Have Two Separate People Receive Oscar Nominations for Playing the Same Character

Titanic famously racked up 14 academy award nominations, tied with All About Eve for the most all time. In fact, the academy was so in love with it, that one of the characters even got nominated twice. Kate Winslet was nominated for best actress for playing the younger version of Rose DeWitt and Gloria Stuart was nominated for playing the older version. Only one other movie has duplicated the feat: 2001's Iris, where the titular role was played by and earned Oscar nominations for both Dame Judi Dench and - wait for it - Kate Winslet. In both films the two nominated actresses ultimately lost.