Trivia

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5 Rare Facts About The King of Rock And Roll

On this day in 1957, while spending the Christmas holidays at Graceland, rock-and-roll star Elvis Presley received his draft notice for the United States Army. Here are five shocking facts about the "King of Rock and Roll"...

Elvis Was Drafted at the Height of His Career

While at the top of his career and shortly after buying his mansion, Graceland, Presley got his draft notice in the mail. Although fans wrote the army in the tens of thousands, asking that he be excused from service, Presley wanted to serve. He did receive one deferment while he was finishing up King Creole. However, he was sworn into the army as a private on March 24, 1958, in Memphis.

He Helped Increase the Number of Polio Vaccinations

The rock and roll singer turned out to be a great role model for young people in America. Although vaccination rates were high for younger children in the 1950s, they were low for teenagers, so Elvis supported the vaccination push by appearing on national television and getting his shot. The vaccination rates shot up to 85 percent from two percent by the time Elvis left the Army on March 2, 1960.

Fifteen of the Songs Elvis Recorded Contained the Word “Blue"

”“Blue Suede Shoes,” “Blue Hawaii” and “Blue Christmas” are probably the best well-known of Elvis’s blue songs, but there were 12 others, and no one seems to know why he was attracted to songs that contained this word. Other songs that Elvis recorded containing the word “blue” are “Milkcow Blues Boogie,” “G.I. Blues” and “Blue Eyes Crying in the Rain.” One interesting thing about the King of Rock and Roll is that he never wrote any of the songs he recorded.

Presley Was a Germophobe

The King of Rock and Roll, according to his wife, was a germaphobe and went out of his way to ensure he was safe from germs wherever he went. When he dined at the homes of other people, he went so far as to bring along his own silverware. In addition, when handed a drink, he would turn it around and drink from a cup next to the handle because he thought no one else ever did that.

Presley Liked to Pretend to Be a Policeman

Famous people can sometimes get away with things that ordinary folks can’t. One of the things Presley liked to do was pretend to be a member of law enforcement. He would stick a police siren on his car and pull over drivers for speeding, after which he would lecture them on the dangers of speed and hand over an autograph. Elvis also often stopped by police stations late at night and on holidays to visit the officers who were serving the public. He also famously met with President Nixon to offer his services as an undercover FBI agent.

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5 Fascinating Facts You Didn't Know About Crossword Puzzles

On December 21, 1913, the first crossword puzzle was published in the New York World. Here are 5 fascinating facts you probably didn't know about crossword puzzles...

Crossword Puzzles Have Their Own Holiday

December 21 is celebrated as Crossword Puzzle Day in honor of the first one that was published. It wasn’t long before doing crossword puzzles became a popular national pastime, and people around the country looked forward to their daily newspaper delivery, pencils in hand. Those who decide to celebrate Crossword Puzzle Day can make up their own, join a competition among other enthusiasts, or just enjoy some relaxing time while they exercise their brains.

The First Published Crosswords Were Controversial

The New York Times wasn’t complimentary early in the days of crossword puzzles when it said it was not a game or sport and was a sinful waste of time to look for letters to words that fit into a pattern that was prearranged. By the following year, nine dailies in Manhattan and 14 additional large newspapers were offering crosswords. The New York Times, ever stubborn, declared crosswords dead in 1929 and held out for many years before including them in the newspaper in 1942.

Crossword Puzzles in the NYT Began Because of the War

Following the bombing of Pearl Harbor, which brought America into World War II, an editor at the New York Times decided that publishing crossword puzzles was a good idea to occupy people’s minds and give them something to do if a blackout occurred. Published daily, freelancers construct the puzzles for the newspaper and internet and as the week goes along, they become more difficult, culminating in the huge Sunday puzzle. Will Shortz has been the editor and a contributor to The New York Times crossword puzzle since 1993. Shortz holds a degree in enigmatology (in other words, puzzles).

Crossword Puzzles Were Suspected of Sending Secret Messages During the War

It was suspected during World War II that crossword puzzles were being used for espionage, especially some that appeared in The Daily Telegraph in Great Britain. This is because codenames related to the Normandy invasion appeared to be in the solution to the crosswords such as “Omaha,”  “Utah” and “Overlord.” Because Leonard Dawe, the puzzle creator, was at the Strand School, which had been evacuated to an area next to the place where preparations were being made for the invasion, he was arrested. It was determined later that he was innocent of any attempts at espionage.

Doing Crossword Puzzles Is a Healthy Brain Exercise

Crossword puzzles are not only interesting but can boost vocabulary and brain function as well as improve memory. According to the National Center for Biotechnology Information, working crossword puzzles may slow the memory decline found in patients with Alzheimer's or other dementias by two or more years.

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Five Super-Presidential Marriages in U.S. History

On December 22, 1968, Julie Nixon married David Eisenhower at Marble Collegiate Church in New York City. Here are 5 political marriages that intertwined in surprising ways throughout the years...

David Eisenhower and Julie Nixon Started Dating in College

David Eisenhower, the grandson of Dwight Eisenhower, and Julie Nixon, the daughter of Richard Nixon, had become acquainted during the Republican National Convention in 1956. They started dating in 1966 while they were both attending college. It was reported that when David Eisenhower went to Smith College, where Julie Nixon was a student, he announced to a security guard “David Eisenhower here to see Julie Nixon”, the guard thought it was a joke responding, “Yeah, and my name is Harry S. Truman.”

The Daughter of George Washington’s Stepson Married an Interesting Fellow

Although George Washington had no children, he treated Martha’s children from her previous marriage just like his own, going so far as to adopt George Washington Parke Custis, who was his step-grandson. Custis’ daughter, Mary Anna, married Robert E. Lee, who was her third cousin. That was an interesting family connection, especially since the great-great-grandmother of Lee was the great aunt of Thomas Jefferson.

Zachary Taylor’s Daughter Married a Man Who Was Famous During the Civil War

Sarah Knox Taylor, one of Zachary Taylor’s daughters, fell hard for Lieutenant Jefferson Davis, who was his second-in-command and later became the President of the Confederacy during the Civil War. Davis served as Colonel under the command of General Zachary Taylor in the 1847 Battle of Buena Vista during the Mexican–American War. In 1835, the young couple married, despite hesitation by her parents. However, the new bride contracted malaria quickly after her marriage and died three months later. 

William Henry Harrison Was Benjamin Harrison’s Grandfather

Benjamin Harrison served as the 23rd President of the United States from 1889 to 1893. He was a grandson of the ninth president, William Henry Harrison, creating the only grandfather–grandson duo to have held the office. Benjamin’s daughter, married James Blaine Walker, the grandnephew of James G. Blaine, her father’s secretary of state. 

Franklin Delano Roosevelt Married His Cousin

Here’s a twist. How about a presidential relative who married another presidential relative, and then later became president himself. Did you follow all of that? Here is what happened: Teddy Roosevelt’s niece, Anna, married his fifth cousin, Franklin. You probably know them better as FDR and Eleanor Roosevelt. That's right, Franklin Delano Roosevelt married his fifth cousin once removed, Eleanor Roosevelt, in 1905.

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5 Things You Didn't Know About Van Gogh_2

On December 23, 1888, Vincent van Gogh cut off his ear.  Van Gogh's life had been marked by irrational and unexpected behavior, but these episodes did not stop him from creating some of the world's most famous paintings. Here are 5 things you didn't know about Van Gogh...

He Produced Some of His Most Famous Paintings While in a Mental Asylum

After the ear incident came hospitalization, and following that, Van Gogh voluntarily went into a mental institution. The more than 100 paintings he produced during this period include some of his most celebrated works, such as “The Starry Night,” which was acquired by New York City’s Museum of Modern Art in 1941, and “Irises,” which was purchased by an Australian industrialist in 1987 for a then-record sum of $53.9 million. 

There Were Four Vincent van Goghs

Vincent van Gogh the artist was named after his older stillborn brother Vincent, who was in turn named after their grandfather. Another of van Gogh’s brothers, Theo, fathered a son – whom he named Vincent Willem van Gogh.

He Used to Work as a Priest but Was Dismissed When He Decided to Live With Minimal Material Goods

Van Gogh spent some time as a priest, working with miners and impoverished communities. He had a sudden revelation at one point that he should get rid of his material goods and began living a spartan life, essentially as a pauper. The church was not supportive of this, reasoning that a priest living in what looked like poverty was a poor representation of the church, and Van Gogh was dismissed.

He Sold Only One of His Paintings While He Was Alive

Out of about 900 paintings, Van Gogh managed to sell only one, and that one was toward the end of his life. His fame occurred after his death when his brother, and then his sister-in-law (after his brother's death), started to loan out his paintings in an effort to make his name and art more well-known. His sister-in-law, Jo Van Gogh-Bonger, also published his letters to his brother after her husband's death. In fact, she declined to simply sell the collection of paintings and instead began arranging exhibitions. Even after her death, her son, named Vincent Willem Van Gogh after his uncle, continued the work, eventually opening the Van Gogh Museum in 1973.

He Committed Suicide in 1890

.On 27 July 1890, van Gogh shot himself in the chest and died 2 days after. It is thought that the shooting took place in the wheat field where he had been painting. After the shooting, he managed to walk back to his residence at Auberge Ravoux where he was treated by two doctors. However, he eventually passed away as a result of infection. According to his brother Theo, his last words were "La tristesse durera toujours", meaning: "the sadness will last forever".

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Ho Ho Ho, Here's 5 Things You Didn't Know About Christmas

December 25 is Christmas Day, and it has been celebrated since the year 336 A.D. when the Roman Emperor Constantine held the first celebration. Here are 5 surprising facts you probably didn't know about Christmas...

Rudolph the Red-Nose Reindeer Was a Promotion By a Popular Department Store

The red-nosed reindeer was created in 1939 by Robert L.May, an advertising copywriter for Montgomery Ward department store based in Chicago. Every year the store would give away free coloring books as holiday gifts to the children who visited the store. Rudolph's story sold 2.4 million copies in its first year of publication. The famous song was released in 1949 becoming one of the best-selling songs of all time.

You Can Thank Prince Albert For Your Christmas Tree

You might want to brew a cup o' tea when decking your halls this year. The origin of Christmas trees goes all the way back to ancient Egyptians and Romans, who marked the winter solstice with evergreens as a reminder that spring would return soon. But it wasn't until Prince Albert of Germany introduced the tree to his new wife, Queen Victoria of England, that the tradition really took off. A drawing of the couple in front of a Christmas tree appeared in Illustrated London News way back in 1848 and as we say today, the idea went viral.

The First Department Store Santa Appeared in Massachusetts

James Edgar was a department store owner in Brockton, Massachusetts. In 1890, he dressed as Santa Claus, which delighted his patrons as they brought their children in to greet him. However, Santa Claus wasn’t the only character portrayed by Edgar. In addition, he was known to dress as a sea captain, George Washington, and a clown, among others. Edgar was an imaginative, progressive man, instituting a layaway policy in his department store.

Celebrating Christmas Used to be Illegal

.By the time the Puritans settled Boston, celebrating Christmas was outlawed. Talk about missing the Christmas spirit! From 1659 to 1681, anyone caught making merry would face a fine for celebrating the once-pagan day. And after the Revolutionary War, the new Congress found the day so unimportant that they even held the first session on December 25, 1789. Christmas wasn't proclaimed a federal holiday for nearly another century, proving that the Grinch's notorious hatred of the holiday was alive and well long before he was.

Edward Johnson Invented Electric Christmas Lights

Edward Johnson was an inventor that never created anything of value. The highlight of his career was that he often worked with the legendary Thomas Edison. All this changed in 1882, when Johnson created the first-ever electric Christmas lights, for personal use at his home in New York. Though very much a one-hit wonder, these lights were enough of a hit to permanently etch his name onto the long list of great American inventors.

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5 Chilling Facts You Probably Didn't Know About The Exorcist

On December 26, 1973, The Exorcist, based on the book by William Peter Blatty, opened in theaters across the country. The film has been out for 46 years now, but there are still some chilling details that even the biggest horror buffs might not know. Here are 5 crazy facts about the movie The Exorcist…

The Theatrical Release Caused “Cinematic Neurosis”

Over the holiday weekend that The Exorcist opened and the weeks that followed, visceral audience reactions swept the country. Fainting, vomiting, panic, and even reports of miscarriages and heart attacks lead to further reporting of panic and hysteria surrounding the film’s release. The frenzy was so publicized that it even lead to medical journalists giving a psychiatric name for the craze associated with the horror film, titled “cinematic neurosis.” To say that the film struck a nervous chord in America would be putting it mildly.

The Movie Was Based on a Real Exorcism

William Peter Blatty's novel upon which the film was based, also called The Exorcist, was itself inspired by a real-life exorcism that took place in 1949. A boy in Maryland, known only by the pseudonym "Ronald Doe," suffered from an inexplicable ailment.  After the death of the boy’s aunt, strange occurrences that included odd noises, furniture moving by itself, and objects flying through the air began. Doctors couldn't help, so the family consulted their Lutheran Priest. He referred them to the Roman Catholic Church, which approved an exorcism after inspecting the circumstances of the possession.

The Film Set Was Believed to Be Cursed

Actor Jack MacGowran and actress Vasiliki Maliaros both died shortly after filming wrapped on The Excorcist. MacGowran of the flu, Maliaros of natural causes. Actresses Ellen Burstyn and Linda Blair were both injured while filming the movie, and the son of Mercedes McCambridge, who voiced the demon, murdered his wife and two daughters before taking his own life after being accused of fraud in November of 1987. All told, nine people associated with the movie died violently, mysteriously, or during or immediately after filming. 

It Was Banned in the UK

In 1974, The Exorcist was released in the UK with an X rating. A few local authorities banned the film, which led to buses providing transit for The Exorcist viewing tours. Then, in 1988, it was banned from video sale under the Video Recordings Act. Though it had already been available for seven years, it was taken off shelves. Because apparently the British government had nothing better to do in the 80s than review movies for home release suitability.

It Was the First Horror Film to Be Nominated for Best Picture at the Academy Awards

The Exorcist was nominated for 10 Academy Awards, and took home two: Best Screenplay and Best Sound Mixing. It's nomination for Best Picture made it the first horror film nominated for the prestigious award, a feat not even Rosemary's Baby could claim six years earlier, when it nabbed a few historic noms. The Silence of the Lambs is the only horror film to win the Best Picture award.

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I did  not  know  that  he  help  increase the  vaccinations with  teenagers

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I did  not  know  that  the  NEW YORK TIMES  did not   publish cross-word puzzles  until  1942===

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I did  not  know  that  ZACKARY TAYLOR'S   daughter   married  JEFFERSON DAVIS  but  died  3 months  later===

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I did  not  know  that  more  than  100  paintings  were  done  when  he  was  in a  mental hospital===

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I did not  know  that  RUDOLPH THE  RED NOSE REINDEER  was  a promotion buy   MONTGOMARY  WARDS DEPT STORE===

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I did  not  know that  the  movie  the  EXORCIST was  based  on a  real exorcism in 1949===

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7 Things You Probably Didn't Know About Peter Pan

On December 27, 1904, the play Peter Pan, by James Barrie, opens at the Duke of York’s Theater in London. Here are 7 facts that will surprise even the most dedicated fans of Peter Pan...

Peter Pan Started Out as a Stage Play

“Peter Pan; or, The Boy Who Wouldn't Grow Up” began as a play, not as a novel, and it first opened in 1904 in London at the Duke of York’s Theatre. It was based on stories told by James Barrie to the children of Llewelyn Davies, who was a cousin to author Daphne du Maurier.

Peter Pan Didn’t Wear All Green

Peter Pan wasn’t dressed in all green until Disney presented him that way in the 1953 animated movie. During the stage productions, the boy who could fly wore tans, auburn, and browns, along with cobwebs. The character was named for one of the Davies boys, whose name was Peter, and for Pan, the Greek god of wild things and nature. In addition, it has been suggested that the character was based on Barrie’s own brother, who died in his teens following a skating accident.

Fairy Dust Was Added Later For Safety Reasons

Originally Peter and the Lost Boys could fly unaided, but after several reports of children injuring themselves attempting to fly from their beds, JM Barrie added Fairy Dust to the play as a necessary factor for flying, so children would understand they could not fly without it.

The Character of Peter Pan Was Played by a Woman

Theatrical tradition in those days was that women were used to play young boys, and this tradition continued for Peter Pan. Nina Boucicault was the first actress to play Peter when the play opened. In 1905, the play opened in New York City with Maude Adams, who was the most successful actress of her day, in the title role. J M Barrie always wished to see a boy play Peter on stage, though he never lived to see it occur. It’s also traditional to have the same actor playing Hook and Mr Darling, which is the case in our production at Polka.

A Famous Line From the Show Was Cut During the War

One famous line was removed from the production of the show during World War II because many of those in the audience were soldiers who were on leave. The line “To die will be an awfully big adventure” is attributed to the original producer of “Peter Pan,” Charles Frohman. They were reportedly his last words just before he died on the RMS Lusitania when it sank after being struck by a torpedo fired by a German U-boat in 1915.

Walt Disney Once Starred as Peter Pan in a Play

The decision to bring an animated version of Peter Pan to the big screen stems from Walt’s own childhood. After seeing a stage production of the show, he got the chance to play Peter in a school play. He recalled his brother Roy using a rope to hoist him up over the stage to make it look like he was flying.    

JM Barrie Gave All The Rights to Peter Pan to Great Ormond Street Hospital

The hospital has received royalties every time a production of the play is put on. Barrie requested that the amount raised from Peter Pan should never be revealed, and the hospital has always honored his wishes.

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I   did  not  know that  the name  PETER  PAN  was  form  one  of the  sons =====

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5 Things You Probably Didn't Know About The YMCA

On Dec 29, 1851, the first American Young Men's Christian Association was organized in Boston. Here are 5 facts you probably didn’t know about the history of the YMCA...

The Early YMCA Objected to Exercise Programs

The early YMCA was geared toward improving a young man’s spiritual condition through holding Bible classes and prayer meetings and formulating ways to improve society. Several of the people associated with the YMCA believed because it was theologically inclined that exercise programs should not become a part of it. This attitude continued until the late 1800s when exercise programs were included to teach the importance of exercise, good health, and sportsmanship.

Thank a YMCA Instructor for the Invention of Basketball

James Naismith was a Canadian-born instructor at the International Training College of the YMCA in Springfield, Massachusetts, when he invented a game that would take the country by storm. That winter in 1891, he invented the game of basketball, in which the nine players on each team used a soccer ball and hoops made of peach baskets. Unfortunately, that first game caused a free-for-all in the gym with one boy being knocked unconscious, one suffering a dislocated shoulder, and another getting a black eye, so the rules had to be changed.

Another YMCA Teacher Invented Volleyball

William G. Morgan met James Naismith while he was attending college in Springfield, Massachusetts, and decided to become an instructor of physical education at the YMCA. He invented a game that he called "Mintonette" for older members who needed an exercise game less strenuous than basketball to play. It was later renamed “Volleyball” because of the way the ball was volleyed back and forth between the players.

The First Father’s Day Celebration Was Held at a YMCA

Sonora Louise Smart Dodd of Spokane, Washington pitched the idea of having a special day to honor dads everywhere at a regional YMCA meeting.  The organization was enthusiastic about her idea, and the first celebration of Father’s Day was held on June 19, 1910. Father’s Day became observed nationally in 1972 on the third Sunday in June.

The YMCA Sued The Village People for Their Hit Song

“Y.M.C.A.” is one of the most iconic disco tracks ever created, thanks to the disco group Village People. It turns out that the Young Men's Christian Association, for whom the song is named, wasn't too thrilled about being at the center of what arguably began as a gay disco anthem and sued the disco group for copyright infringement (the case was eventually dropped).

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I  did  not  know  that  both   BASKETBALL  and  VOLLEY BALL  were  started  at  the  Y.M.C.A.

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5 Things You Didn't Know About The War of 1812_4

On December 30, 1813, British forces and their Native American allies torched several towns along the U.S. - Canadian border, including Buffalo, New York. Here are five things you didn't know about the Burning of Buffalo and the War of 1812. 

It Was an Act of Revenge

 The Burning of Buffalo didn't come out of nowhere. It was an act of revenge exacted after American troops had burned several Canadian towns as bad winter weather closed in, with the idea of leaving everyone in those towns homeless and at risk from the cold and snow. The burnings so enraged British and Canadian leaders, especially Lieutenant-General Gordon Drummond, that they devised a plan to attack and burn several American border towns as revenge.

Nearby American Forces Fled Instead of Fought

American troops were stationed near both villages, and they outnumbered the British and Native American troops by a fairly large margin. The Americans may have had superior numbers, but they lacked superior soldiers. All except very few of them behaved in the most cowardly manner,” reported General Lewis Cass. “They fled without discharging a musket.”The troops near Buffalo simply put up no fight, fleeing instead and leaving the village open to attack.

The British Later Returned to Burn More of Buffalo

It's bad enough your town gets burned to the ground once, but twice? On December 30, during the main Burning of Buffalo, one resident named Sarah Lovejoy did not flee and instead put up a fight as Native Americans ransacked her house during the attack. Some sources call her foolish or reduce her fight to an attempt to save her dresses—and according to neighbors, she said she'd stay behind to protect her property—but she put up more of a fight than some American troops who fled the scene. Lovejoy was killed and her house set on fire; her neighbors later returned, put out the fire in her house, and placed her corpse inside. Unfortunately, the British returned soon after (depending on the source, either December 31 or January 1) and torched her house again, leaving only her bones for burial.

The British Issued a Statement of Regret Later

Believe it or not, the British leaders in North America actually recognized how bad the burning was, though that was of little comfort to people who'd lost homes and neighbors. One British leader, Lieutenant General Sir George Prevost, offered regret over the burnings a few weeks after troops were no longer attacking border towns and incinerating them. But before you assume that this regret was part of an act of repentance, realize that Prevost said the burnings were in response to the actions of the Americans on the Canadian side of the border, and he placed the blame squarely on the Americans' shoulders—not on the British or Canadian troops who had burned American towns.

Canadians Know More About the War Than You Probably Do

The War of 1812 is one of the most overlooked conflicts in the history of the United States.  Few Americans celebrate the War of 1812, or recall the fact that the U.S. invaded its northern neighbor three times in the course of the conflict. Although it produced patriotic icons such as “The Star-Spangled Banner” and “Old Ironsides,” the War of 1812 is often lost in the American memory.  Not so in Canada, where the war is credited with forging a national identity as Canadians united to repel a series of American invasions.

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PHKRAUSE

I  did not  know that  the  burning of  villages   in America was the  result  of the villages  being   burned

in Canada  by Americans  during the  WAR OF  1812

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5 Things You Didn't Know About The Panama Canal_3

On December 31, 1999, the Panama Canal was turned over to Panama after tensions and rioting by Panamanians about the Canal Zone. Here are 5 things you didn’t know about this artificial waterway that sped up travel between the two major oceans... 

Approximately 14,000 Ships Use The Canal Every Year

American ships use the canal the most, followed by those from China, Chile, Japan, Colombia and South Korea. Every vessel that transits the canal must pay a toll based on its size and cargo volume. Tolls for the largest ships can run about $450,000. The smallest toll ever paid was 36 cents, plunked down in 1928 by American adventurer Richard Halliburton, who swam the canal. Today, some $1.8 billion in tolls are collected annually.

More Than 25,000 Workers Died During The Canal’s Construction

Workers on the construction of the canal had to deal with the difficult tropical weather, tropical diseases and terrain that was challenging. The French, in their earlier attempt, had lost around 20,000 workers, while America lost about 5,600 between 1904 and 1913 because of accidents and devastating diseases such as malaria and yellow fever.

The Panama Canal Was Spain's Idea

Though it was completed by the Americans and is now controlled by Panama, the canal was actually the brainchild of King Charles V of Spain in the early 1500's, and he even began a study of the feasibility of the project which would begin 350 or so years later. Today, a bust of King Charles V stands in Panama City's Casco Viejo ("Old Town") in commemoration of his vision.

America Wanted to Build the Canal Through Nicaragua

Throughout the 1800s, the United States, which wanted a canal linking the Atlantic and Pacific for economic and military reasons, considered Nicaragua a more feasible location than Panama. However, that view shifted thanks in part to the efforts of Philippe-Jean Bunau-Varilla, a French engineer. Bunau-Varilla began lobbying American lawmakers to buy the French canal assets in Panama, and eventually convinced a number of them that Nicaragua had dangerous volcanoes, making Panama the safer choice.

The United States Transferred Control of The Canal to Panama in 1999

The United States transferred control of the canal to Panama in 1999. In the years after the canal opened, tensions increased between America and Panama over control of the canal and the surrounding Canal Zone. In 1964, Panamanians rioted after being prevented from flying their nation’s flag next to a U.S. flag in the Canal Zone. In 1977, President Jimmy Carter and General Omar Torrijos of Panama signed treaties that transferred control of the canal to Panama in 1999 but gave the United States the right to use military force to defend the waterway against any threat to its neutrality.  Control of the canal was transferred peacefully to Panama in December 1999, and the Panamanians have been responsible for it ever since.

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PHKRAUSE

I  did  not  know  that the    original  idea for the  canal was  the idea of  KING  CHARLES of SPAIN  in the early  1500's

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5 Things You Didn't Know About The New Year's Eve Ball Drop_2

Welcome to 2020, folks! It's a brand new decade, so join us as we celebrate New Year's Day, Trivia Today style!  Here are five things you didn't know about the New Year's Eve Ball Drop.

The First Ball Was Made of Iron and Wood

The first ball drop in New York City goes all the way back to 1907-1908 when an iron and wood ball decorated with 100 25-watt bulbs was lowered in Times Square. Waiters and others at nearby restaurants and hotels wore top hats with tiny battery-operated light bulbs spelling out “1908.” At midnight, the year on their hats lit up, complementing the display on the Times building’s tower.

The Ball in Times Square Has Had a lot of Makeovers

The 2020 Waterford Crystal Times Square New Year's Eve Ball was built around the theme of the "Gift of Goodwill", which displays three pineapples all decked out in Waterford crystal to represent hospitality and goodwill. The 12-foot ball is covered in 2,688 Waterford Crystal triangles and is believed to be the largest crystal ball in the world. While the ball drop is now timed electronically using an atomic clock out of Colorado, for the first 87 years, the ball was lowered by hand.

No Ball Drop Occurred in New York City for Two Years

During 1942 and 1943, the ceremonial ball drop was suspended because New York City lights were dimmed due to World War II. However, people in the city still celebrated by gathering in Times Square for a moment of silence. Sound trucks, parked at the tower’s base, were used to transmit the sound of ringing chimes. This was similar to earlier celebrations where church bells were rung to announce the arrival of the New Year.

Time Balls Have Been Used Since the 1800s

The concept of dropping a ball to mark time dates back to the mid-1800s in England. One of the earliest time-balls was the one atop the Flamsteed House of the Greenwich Observatory along the River Thames. Starting in 1833, it was lowered every day at exactly 1 p.m. to signal the time to sailors and Londoners who could not afford clocks and watches.

The Cleanup Is Massive

Thousands of pounds of confetti are dropped at the stroke of midnight. One hundred volunteers, called confetti dispersal engineers, are stationed on the roofs of the Times Square buildings, and they are in charge of its release on the populace below. Once the festivities are over and the crowd is gone, a massive effort is undertaken by the Department of Sanitation to clean up the mess. For example, in 2013-2014, it was estimated that it took eight hours and 190 workers to clean up more than 50 tons of confetti and items dropped by celebrants.

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I did not  know that the  tradition of  draping  a  ball  was  stated  in  ENGLAND in  the  1880's

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5 Things You Didn't Know About "Peanuts" _3

The last daily "Peanuts" comic strip by Charles Schulz ran on January 3, 2000.  Many of the 2,600 newspapers that carried Peanuts ran the farewell strip on their front page.  Here are five things you didn't know about one of the most popular and influential comic strips of all time... 

The Comic Strip Had Bad Ratings at First

The comic strip “Peanuts” appeared in seven newspapers in October 1950, and by the time its first year in publication ended, it was listed as last in reader survey popularity.  The comic strip ended up having syndication in more than 2,600 newspapers and was read in 75 countries by more than 350 million fans. Its popularity spun off “Peanuts” merchandise that ranged from stuffed toys to pajamas and greeting cards, which are still popular today.

Snoopy Wasn’t the Only Puppy in the Litter

Spike, Snoopy’s brother, appeared in the comic strip in 1975 and was named after a dog Charles Schulz had as a child. Snoopy had six other siblings named Molly and Belle, Marbles, Andy, Olaf, and Rover. Charlie Brown was Snoopy’s second owner since the little girl who originally adopted the cute beagle had to return him to the puppy farm because she couldn’t keep him.

Many of The Peanuts Characters Were Inspired by Real People and Events

Charlie Brown was named after a friend Schulz had when he was in Minneapolis attending art classes. Schulz loosely based Snoopy on a black-and-white dog named Spike he had as a teenager. The cartoonist originally planned to call his cartoon dog Sniffy, but shortly before the comic strip launched Schulz learned there was a comic magazine featuring a dog with the same name. Now in need of a new name, Schulz remembered his mother’s suggestion that the family should name their next dog “Snoopy.” Another character, a yellow bird called Woodstock, was named for the 1969 landmark music festival.

A Reader Suggested Adding a Black Character

A Los Angeles schoolteacher named Harriet Glickman wrote to Schulz shortly after the assassination of Martin Luther King, Jr., urging him to introduce a black character into Peanuts. This began a correspondence between Schulz and Glickman that led to Schulz's creation of Franklin. Introduced on July 31, 1968, Franklin was the first African American character in the strip. In his first story arc, he met Charlie Brown when they were both at the beach. His last appearance was in 1999, the year before Schulz's death.

Schulz Died the Night Before His Last Sunday Strip Ran

On February 12, 2000, the 77-year-old cartoonist died at his home in Santa Rosa, California, the day before his last Sunday Peanuts strip appeared in newspapers. Schulz had stipulated in his syndicate contract that no one else could take over the comic strip he’d drawn for nearly half a century. In all, Schulz produced 17,897 Peanuts strips: 15,391 daily strips and 2,506 Sunday strips.

[dgrimm60]

PHKRAUSE

I did  not  know  that  the name for  snoopy  came from  his  mother's  suggestion===

dgrimm60

[phkrause]

5 Things You Didn't Know About Utah

On this day in 1896, Utah became the 45th state to enter the Union. The mysteries of this state may surprise you—and no, not all of it has to do with Mormons. Here are 5 facts you probably never knew about this western state...

Utah’s State Bird Is the Seagull

Utah may be landlocked, but the seagull holds a special place in the hearts of Utah’s residents. According to the story, settlers that arrived early in the area almost starved when Mormon crickets arrived in swarms to decimate their crops. The story goes on to say that a flock of seagulls arrived in the knick of time in 1848 and stayed for two weeks gorging themselves on those destructive crickets, and the crops were saved. True or not, a statue dedicated to those hero seagulls can be found outside the assembly hall in Salt Lake.

Utah Is Home to Five National Parks

The average state has just 1.18 national parks, but Utah is home to five because of its impressive and beautiful fauna, flora, and landscapes. Zion National Park with its red cliffs, forest trails, and river is one of the most visited in the country. In addition, the state boasts Arches, Bryce Canyon, Canyonlands, and Capitol Reef, which offer exciting areas to explore.

Jurassic-Era Dinosaurs Apparently Loved the Area that Became Utah

Utah is a favorite spot for archaeologists because of its dense concentration of fossils from the Jurassic era. More than 12,000 bones — from at least 74 dinosaurs — have so far been excavated. One of the big mysteries of this ancient grave site is the presence of so many animals, and that around 75% of the bones found came from meat-eaters.

It’s Home to The Heaviest Known Organism in The World

Pando, the “trembling giant,” is an aspen grove located in the Fish Lake National Forest. However, Pando is not a large group of trees but one single organism that spreads over 107 acres. Each of the approximately 47,000 or so trees in the grove is genetically identical and all the trees share a single root system. It’s believed that the tree is 80,000 years old, although there are other theories that place it closer to a million years old. As a whole, the entity is estimated to weigh around 13 million pounds.

Utah Has Tough Liquor Laws

About 62 percent of those living in Utah are Latter-Day Saints, so the state has strict laws with regard to liquor. Beer that is more than 4 percent alcohol is not sold in convenience stores, grocery stores, or taverns. Until 2017, frosted barriers made of glass and known as Zion Curtains were installed in bars so patrons could not see the bartender mixing drinks. Why? It's because supporters of this practice thought it might glamorize bartenders and tempt youngsters to try alcohol.

Utah is Home to KFC

Despite the name, the first Kentucky Fried Chicken restaurant actually opened in Salt Lake City. Colonel Sanders began his chicken career at a roadside restaurant in Kentucky during the Great Depression, but the first of the franchise opened out west in 1952.

ps:Looks like its 6 things and not 5!!!!!