Trivia

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5 Things You Didn't Know About Millard Fillmore_3

On July 10, 1850, Millard Fillmore was sworn in as the 13th President of the United States, and the last one in that office who was a member of the Whig Party. Here are five things you probably didn’t know about President Millard Fillmore...

Fillmore Never Won a Presidential Election

On July 4, 1850, President Zachary Taylor came down with a stomach bug after attending a Fourth of July celebration at the Washington Monument. Within days, Taylor was dead and Vice President Millard Fillmore was sworn in as the 13th president of the United States.  The only other U.S. presidents never elected to the office were John Tyler (1841-1845), Andrew Johnson (1865-1869), Chester A. Arthur (1881-1885) and Gerald Ford (1974-1977).

Fillmore Served As President Without A Vice President

Although it may sound unusual, there are many times throughout American history when a sitting president didn't have a vice president. Fillmore was placed in the same position as John Tyler, Andrew Johnson, and Chester A. Arthur by taking over after the sitting president had died in office. This is because before the 25th Amendment was adopted in 1967, there was no provision to fill the office of vice president until the following inauguration of a new president.

Fillmore Personally Fought A Fire While He Was President

Fillmore’s father purportedly owned only three books: a Bible, a hymnbook and an almanac. Yet Fillmore became a bibliophile anyway, carrying a dictionary with him at all times in order to improve his vocabulary. As president, he and his wife founded the first permanent White House library. He also reportedly raced to help fight a December 1851 blaze at the Library of Congress and then signed a bill to fund the replacement of all the books that had been destroyed.

He Married His Teacher

Millard Fillmore's parents provided him with a basic education before they apprenticed him to a cloth maker at a young age. Through his own determination, he continued to educate himself and eventually enrolled in New Hope Academy at the age of nineteen. While at New Hope Academy, Fillmore found a kindred spirit in Abigail Powers. Even though she was his teacher, she was only two years older than him. They both loved learning. However, they did not get married until three years after Fillmore joined the bar. Fillmore lasted one term as president. At his successor’s inauguration, held outdoors in the freezing cold, Abigail became ill with pneumonia and died a short time later.

He Later Ran For President Under The Know-Nothing Party

The Know-Nothings were anti-Catholic and anti-immigrant, and it was this party that nominated Filmore as their candidate in the 1856 election against Democrat James Buchanan and Republican John C. Fremont. In the election, Fillmore only won the electoral votes from the state of Maryland. He garnered 22 percent of the popular vote and was defeated by James Buchanan.

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5 Alexander Hamilton Facts They Don't Mention in The Musical

On July 11, 1804, in one of the most famous duels in American history, Vice President Aaron Burr fatally shot his long-time political antagonist Alexander Hamilton. Here are five Alexander Hamilton facts they don’t mention in the musical...

Hamilton Was Not a Stranger to Duels

Duels back in the day of Hamilton and Burr were seen as a way to have a gentleman’s honor restored after a disagreement or slight. Hamilton had previously challenged no fewer than ten men to duels, including John Adams and James Monroe. None of his previous challenges resulted in going to the dueling field, but his luck ran out when he challenged Burr.

His Brother-in-Law Might Have Changed History

John Church, who was married to Hamilton’s sister, had fought a duel with Burr in 1799. Since he was the challenger, he chose the location and the weapons, which were British pistols especially made for dueling. Neither man was injured, however, Church managed to shoot a hole in Burr’s coat. If his aim had been truer, the duel between Hamilton and Burr might never have occurred. Five years later, Hamilton would fall at the same Weehawken battleground, with the same gun in his hand.

He Passed The Bar In Six Months

Hamilton wanted to be a lawyer but never attended law school and left his job as a Washington advisor to study. He studied law with help from his friends, William Paterson and John Jay, who both became Supreme Court Justices later. In 1782, he passed the bar after studying for the exam for about six months.

He Received George Washington’s Final Letter

Hamilton served as the right-hand man of General George Washington throughout the Revolutionary War and became the first Secretary of the Treasury. In addition to working for Washington, the two men were friends. In 1799, only two days before he died, Washington wrote to Hamilton praising his plan to set up a national Military Academy. The letter would be George’s very last.

The New York Post Was Founded by Hamilton

Thomas Jefferson ran for president against the Federalist incumbent, John Adams, in 1800, and Hamilton wasn’t pleased that Jefferson, who supported state rights and a stricter interpretation of the Constitution, had won. Apparently, Hamilton was a little more than troubled because he spent $10,000 to purchase a newspaper called The New York Evening Post. He retitled it The New York Post and used it to print articles against Jefferson and the Democratic-Republican Party.

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5 Things You Didn't Know About The Medal of Honor_2

On July 12, 1862, Congress authorized the Medal of Honor to recognize brave members of the military who distinguished themselves in combat. Here are five things you probably didn’t know about the prestigious  Medal of Honor...

About Half Were Awarded During The Civil War

President Abraham Lincoln signed a bill in 1861 that created a medal so the Navy could recognize those sailors and Marines who “most distinguish themselves by their gallantry and other seamanlike qualities during the present war.” The following year, Congress expanded it to include the valiant members of the U.S. Army. Initially, the requirements for the award were somewhat vague, and it was quickly given to 1,522 participants.

Medal of Honor Recipients Receive a Few Extra Benefits

While having a medal hung around your neck by the president is an enormous honor, other perks come with it. Added to their earned military benefits, they receive an additional $1,329.58 each month as well as a 10 percent increase in their retirement pay. Being a Medal of Honor recipient also makes them eligible to be buried at Arlington National Cemetery.

Only One President Was Awarded the Medal of Honor

It won’t come as much of a surprise that Teddy Roosevelt was awarded the Medal of Honor. However, it didn’t happen during his lifetime. Roosevelt was serving as the Assistant Secretary of the Navy when the Spanish-American War began and quickly joined the Army to lead the Rough Riders. Roosevelt was excluded for the Medal of Honor in 1916 citing a lack of evidence for heroic action, but in 2001, President Bill Clinton awarded it to him posthumously.

More Than 800 Soldiers Had to Return Their Medals

Being awarded the Medal of Honor is one thing but what about having it revoked? You’d have to ask the 864 soldiers of the 27th Maine Infantry Regiment who were awarded the medal for their service during the Civil War only to have them recalled when the Army changed eligibility criteria for the Medal of Honor. Another group of soldiers who had their Medals of Honor revoked because all they did was escort the body of President Lincoln to Springfield, Illinois, for burial, and they did not see any military action.

The Award Was Investigated for Racism Following World War II

The Medal of Honor was not awarded to any of the African-Americans during World War II, so the Army launched an investigation to discover why. While they didn’t find any proof that skin color was involved in awarding the medals, they did see that racism played into honors paid to the units they belonged to. Ten African-Americans who had been awarded the Distinguished Service Cross were upgraded as a result to the Medal of Honor.

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5 Things You Didn't Know About The Hollywood Sign_2

On July 13, 1923, a 50-foot sign that spelled out the word "Hollywoodland" was dedicated in the Hollywood Hills. Here are 5 things you didn’t know about this sign that ended up as a welcome to the movie capital of the world...

The Sign Was Created As A Real-Estate Advertisement

The Hollywood sign started out as an advertisement for a new real estate development partly financed by the publisher of the Los Angeles Times, Harry Chandler.  In order to promote the project, Chandler and his partners put up $21,000 (over $250,000 in today’s money) for 45-foot-high white block letters that were anchored to telephone poles and illuminated by 4,000 light bulbs. At night the billboard flashed in four stages: “Holly,” then “Wood,” then “Land” and then the entire word, “Hollywoodland.”

A Suicide Highlighted How Hard It Was to Reach Stardom

Peg Entwistle climbed up on the “H” in the fall of 1932 and jumped. She was distraught that her part in the film Thirteen Women had been cut out, and it was her first and only movie. Ironically, a letter had been mailed to her just before her death offering her the lead role in a play about a young woman who commits suicide. Since her suicide, rumors have floated around that the ghost of a woman dressed in clothing from the 1930s can be seen appearing near the Hollywood sign and then vanishing.  

Four Letters On The Sign Were Eventually Removed

Regular maintenance on the sign stopped when the Hollywoodland real-estate development went under due to the Great Depression. The “H” even toppled over, so that it briefly read “Ollywoodland.” After ownership of the sign passed to the city in the mid-1940s, the L.A. Recreation and Parks Commission apparently wanted it razed. But the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce stepped in, and in 1949 it removed the last four letters and restored the rest.

The Sign Was Restored With the Help of Donations

Despite the 1949 restoration, the Hollywood sign eventually began to deteriorate once again. The third “O,” for example, tumbled down the side of Mount Lee, and arsonists set fire to the bottom of the second “L.” In 1978, Playboy magazine founder Hugh Hefner held a gala at his mansion, where he and eight other donors, including rock musician Alice Cooper, pledged nearly $28,000 each to fund a replacement. After a three-month period without a sign, construction finished up later that year. The sign looked the same, but structural improvements were added, and it is maintained with fresh paint from time to time.

The Sign Was Hit By A Car

You might not think that a sign perched on the side of a steep hill would be in danger of being hit by a car. But one night, Albert Kothe had a little too much too drink. He drove his 1928 Ford station wagon right off the cliff just above the sign. The car rolled down the hill, smashing into the “H.” Luckily, Albert was OK, but both the Ford and the “H” were destroyed.

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5 Things You Didn't Know About Billy The Kid_4

On August 17, 1877, the legendary Billy the Kid, whose real name was Henry McCarty, killed his first man, an Arizona blacksmith named Frank Cahill. Think you know Billy the Kid? Here are five of the most interesting facts about the young outlaw...

His Real Name Is A Topic Of Debate

What was Billy the Kid's real name? He went by many names -- Henry McCarty, Henry Antrim, William Henry Bonney (William H. Bonney), Oliver P. Roberts (Ollie), and, most notably, Billy the Kid. He was born Henry McCarty, but there's some speculation that his dad may have been a man named William Bonney. Antrim was his step-father's last name; and he went by that for some time as well as "Kid Antrim". Two different versions of a wanted poster dated September 23, 1875, also refer to him as "Wm. Wright, better known as Billy the Kid". 

He Was Involved In At Least Nine Murders

The Kid was known for his easygoing personality, but he wasn’t afraid to draw his six-shooter when provoked. In a four-year span between 1877 and 1881, the baby-faced outlaw was involved in the shooting deaths of some nine men, although he claimed he had killed 21 people. One particularly legendary gunfight unfolded in 1880 at a New Mexico saloon with a drunk named Joe Grant who was terrorizing the bar’s patrons. The Kid approached Grant and said, “That’s a mighty nice looking six-shooter you got.” He then slipped Grant’s gun out of its holster, spun its cylinder so that its next shot would be an empty chamber, and handed it back. It proved to be a wise move. Soon after, Grant pulled the same pistol on the Kid and tried to shoot the Kid. When it didn’t fire, the Kid drew his own gun and shot Grant dead.

The Kid Never Robbed a Train or a Bank

Unlike other Old West outlaws such as Jesse James, Cole Younger or Butch Cassidy, Billy the Kid didn’t make his living as a bandit. The young gunslinger stole the occasional horse, but he never once held up a bank, train or even a stagecoach. Outside of his gunfighting days with the Regulators, his main criminal enterprise was rustling cattle on the New Mexico plains.

He’s Been The subject of More Than 50 Movies

The Kid was a celebrity in his own time, but his legend only grew after his death thanks to novels, television shows and Hollywood films. Beginning with the 1911 silent film “Billy the Kid,” the gun-toting outlaw’s story has appeared on the big screen more than 50 times. Some of the most famous actors to play the Kid include Roy Rogers, Paul Newman, Val Kilmer and Emilio Estevez.

The Kid's Case Came up for Review for a Possible Pardon in 2010

Toward the end of former New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson's last term in office in 2010, he took another look at a pardon that had been proposed for Billy the Kid back in the 1800s. The pardon was part of a deal between a former governor and the Kid: a pardon in exchange for testifying for the state. Unfortunately, even though Billy the Kid kept his part of the deal, he was never pardoned. Richardson was not the first 21st-century lawmaker to look at granting the pardon, and in each case, descendants of both the Kid's family and Garrett, as well as descendants of others murdered by Billy the Kid, gave passionate testimony regarding pardoning or not pardoning. In the end, Richardson declined to pardon the Kid in 2011.

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5 Hard Facts About The Movie "Die Hard"

On July 15, 1988, Die Hard, an action film starring Bruce Willis as wisecracking New York City cop John McClane, opened in theaters across the United States. Here are five hard facts you didn;t know about this classic film...

It's Actually Based on a Book

Die Hard seems like a great idea on its own, but it wasn't quite original. Not only was it influenced by The Towering Inferno, but it also was an adaptation of a book, which itself was a sequel. The movie is based on Roderick Thorp’s 1979 crime novel Nothing Lasts Forever, which is a sequel to his 1966 novel, The Detective. In 2013, Thorp's book was re-released for Die Hard's 25th anniversary.

Frank Sinatra Was Considered Before Bruce Willis

Frank Sinatra was originally offered the main role in the movie Die Hard. Because Sinatra had starred in the big-screen adaptation of The Detective, producers were contractually obligated to offer Frank Sinatra the leading role in its sequel. At the age of 73, he gracefully turned down the role.

Bruce Willis's Movie Debut Was In A Frank Sinatra Film

If you like movie coincidences, you'll love this: Bruce Willis ended up with a lead role that was originally meant for Frank Sinatra -- years after Willis made his film debut as an extra in a film starring Frank Sinatra. Willis didn't have lines  and if you blink, you might miss him because the role simply required that Willis entered a diner as Sinatra’s character left it. The film was The First Deadly Sin, released in 1980.

Bruce Willis Wasn't Even the Studio's Third Choice For The Role

The studio didn't jump from Sinatra to Willis immediately, however. Willis was known for his work in comedy at the time -- remember the TV show Moonlighting? -- and the studio wanted an action star. However, no other action stars wanted the role.  Rumor has it that Sylvester Stallone, Burt Reynolds, Harrison Ford, Robert De Niro, Don Johnson, Charles Bronson, Richard Gere, Nick Nolte, and Mel Gibson, were all considered for the role of John McClane. And all declined it.

Bruce Willis Went Partially Deaf During Filming

Extra-loud blanks were used in a few scenes to create a better level of realism, but when one was shot off too close to Bruce Willis' ear, it led to permanent hearing loss. When asked by The Guardian what his most unappealing habit was, he said, "Due to an accident on the first Die Hard, I suffer two-thirds partial hearing loss in my left ear and have a tendency to say, 'Whaaa?'"

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5 Things You Probably Didn't Know About Amazon

On July 16, 1995, Amazon opened for business as an online bookseller. Amazon eventually morphed into an e-commerce colossus, selling everything from groceries to furniture to live ladybugs, and helping to revolutionize the way people shop. Here are 5 things fascinating you didn't know about Amazon...

The Company Started Out Selling Books

When Jeff Bezos first started the company in 1995, it was just a bookstore run out of his home garage. Within just one month, Amazon had shipped books to all 50 US states and to 45 countries.  In 1998, Amazon extended beyond books and began selling CDs and DVDs. In 1999, they added toys and games. In 2000, health and beauty products were added to the marketplace, as well as a service allowing individual sellers and outside merchants to sell their products to Amazon customers.

They Named A Building After Their First Customer

Not many people spend $27.95 and get a building named after them.  But John Wainwright is one of those people. The first book Amazon.com ever sold was Douglas Hofstadter's "Fluid Concepts and Creative Analogies: Computer Models of the Fundamental Mechanisms of Thought", ordered by a computed scientist named John Wainwright. You will find a building on Amazon’s corporate campus called the Wainwright Building, named after its very first customer. 

They Were Thrifty

In the early days Jeff Bezos and his team needed desks. But the thrifty CEO realized that doors were cheaper than buying desks, so he decided to buy doors and just put legs on them. Their legacy lives on today with thousands of Amazon employees using a modern version of the door desk today. The company also hands out a 'Door Desk Award' to employees who implement thrifty ideas.

They Made Some Costly Mistakes

Today Amazon is one of the most successful companies in the world. But at launch there were a few teething problems. In fact, the site wasn't actually finished which resulted in a huge programming error that allowed sneaky customers to trick Amazon into sending them money. By ordering a negative quantity of books Amazon would credit the money to their bank card.  

Amazon.com Was Almost Cadabra.com

The company was originally called Cadabra, like the magic term "abracadabra." But Jeff Bezos' lawyer told him that the magic reference was too obscure, and when you say it out loud, "cadabra" could be mistaken for "cadaver." Eventually, they came up with the name Amazon, a reference to the river in South America. The idea was that their selection of books would be vast and wide, just like the world's largest river. They did have many other names in mind and still own one of the domains. If you type in Relentless.com in your browser, you will be redirected to Amazon.com

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5 Fun-Facts You Didn't Know About Disneyland

On July 17, 1955, Disneyland opened in Anaheim, California. It's estimated that just under 45,000 people make their way to Disney's land of enchantment every single day! That's not the only fun fact we know about Disneyland—here are five more interesting tidbits you probably didn't know...

Walt Disney Had A Secret Apartment in the Park

Although Walt apparently loved to walk around the park and chat with visitors, he still needed a retreat after a long day. It turns out, he had his own secret apartment within Disneyland – a small spot above the fire department on Main Street. While Walt is sadly no longer around, the apartment remains, and the park employees apparently keep the light in the window to symbolize his presence in the park. Walt and his wife aren't the only residents of Disneyland, though—the park is also home to over 200 feral cats that help keep rodents and pests down to a minimum within the park walls.

Members of the Cast Can’t Use One Finger to Point

It isn’t unusual for visitors to ask employees at Disney for directions, but workers there never use only one finger to point. This is because Disneyland is a vacation location for visitors from all around the world, and pointing with one finger is considered offensive or rude in some cultures. Employees gesture either by using two fingers or an open palm to avoid offending anyone.

The Matterhorn Is Equipped With a Basketball Court

The Matterhorn is a popular attraction at Disneyland, and tourists probably don’t know that there is a half-court basketball court inside. It was installed for the use of employees near the top of the mountain and contains a net and full backboard.  Unfortunately, not just anyone can take a break from lining up for rides to play a few rounds of ball – the secret court is only for employees.

Future-President Ronald Reagan Hosted a Live Telecast of the Park's Opening.\

Sure, he would later become the President of the United States, but when Disneyland opened on July 17, 1955, Ronald Reagan was just an unemployed actor looking for his next gig in Hollywood. Disney found him and brought him on to host the live telecast of the park's opening. Tickets cost just $1, and there was only 18 attractions compared to the 52 today. Other notable former Disneyland employees include Steve Martin, who was a magician at the park, and Michelle Pfieffer, who played Alice in Wonderland.

If You Hear "Code V," Keep an Eye Out...For Vomit

If  you’re ever at Disneyland and hear there’s a Code V near a particular ride, you may want to avoid that area. "Code V" is the term used among the park's 23,000 employees for when someone has a few too many churros before getting on the teacups ride. Needless to say, if you hear someone yell out "Code V in progress!" keep an eye out for any flying leftovers coming your way. 

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I did  not  know  that  the founder brought  doors  and  added  legs  to  use  as  tables ==== 

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I did  not  know  about  the  pointing  of  2 fingers  or  use  of  palm  of  hand===

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5 Inspiring Facts You Didn't Know About Nelson Mandela

On July 18, 1918, Nelson Mandela was born in the village of Mvezo in Umtata, then part of South Africa's Cape Province. Here are 5 inspiring facts you probably didn’t know about the man who would go on to become the first black president of South Africa...

He Lived up to His Name

Mandela was actually named Rolihlahla, which is a Xhosa word meaning “troublemaker,” but his school teachers had difficulty pronouncing it. On his first day of elementary school, his teacher began calling him by the name Nelson for Horatio Nelson, the British admiral, and it stuck with him his entire life.

He Has Received Many Honors

Mandela received more than 695 awards, including the Nobel Peace Prize and the U.S. Congressional Medal. More than 25 schools, universities and educational institutions have been named after Nelson Mandela. At least 19 scholarships and foundations bear his name. He was awarded 115 honorary degrees and more than 95 sculptures and statues have been made of him. His influence can even be seen in Hollywood. In "The Cosby Show," the grandchildren of Cliff and Clair Huxtable, Winnie and Nelson Tibideau, were named after Mandela and his former wife.

He Was on The US Terrorist Watch List

Mandela was once considered a criminal in his own country and a communist in the eyes of the United States, where he was placed on a terrorism watch list by President Ronald Reagan in the 1980s.  In 2008, after Mandela won the Nobel Peace Prize, President George W. Bush removed Mandela and the African National Congress from the terrorist list.

He Appeared in a Movie

Spike Lee’s film, Malcolm X, released in 1992, includes a cameo appearance by Nelson Mandela. At the very end of the movie, Mandela plays a school teacher reciting a speech by Malcolm X to a room of school children from Soweto. However, Mandela, being a pacifist, refused to say the phrase “by any means necessary,” because he was afraid the South African government would see it as a call to violence. So Lee cut back to footage of Malcolm X to close out the film.

There's a Woodpecker Named After Jim

On Nelson Mandela’s 94th birthday, he received an unusual present when he was notified that the oldest woodpecker ever discovered had been named after him as Australopicus nelsonmandelai. This prehistoric woodpecker lived during the Pliocene period from three to five million years ago. Its descendants are no longer found in Africa but exist in Eurasia and the Americas today.

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5 Secrets You Didn't Know About The Rosetta Stone

On July 19, 1799, a French soldier discovered a black basalt slab inscribed with ancient writing near the town of Rosetta.  Here are 5 things you probably didn’t know about this mysterious tablet that helped expand research into ancient Egypt...  

The Rosetta Stone Was Made Several Hundred Years Before Christ Was Born

The Rosetta Stone was carved in 196 BC during the reign of Ptolemy V Epiphanes, an ancient Egyptian pharaoh. Ptolemy was five years old in 204 BC when he came to power and reigned until 181 BC. The stone describes Ptolemy V’s good deeds for the Egyptian people, instructions for erecting statues of him in the temples, and the repeal of various taxes.

It Contains Three Different Scripts

The same decree was displayed in three different scripts on the stone. The upper text was Ancient Egyptian hieroglyphs, the script used for important or religious documents which was understood by only about 1% of ancient Egyptians. The middle portion was demotic, the common script of Egypt at the time used for writing records, letters etc. The lowest portion was ancient Greek, script of the Egyptian rulers of the time. All three convey the same royal decree, with slight variations, indicating the message was widely read and circulated.  Hence by using three scripts it was ensured that priests, government officials and rulers could all read the decree.

It Took 23 More Years to Actually Crack The Code

It was a French scholar, Jean-François Champollion, who finally discovered that the ancient hieroglyphs represented the sounds of the Egyptian language, and through the Rosetta Stone and other ancient texts was able to decipher key characters that translated the stone and unlocked an entire culture. Champollion went on to write a dictionary of Egyptian hieroglyphs and is widely credited as the man responsible for bringing back a 2,000-year-old language.

It’s the Most Visited Object at The British Museum

The British took possession of the Rosetta Stone under the Capitulation of Alexandria in August 1801 after they and Ottoman forces defeated the French. In 1802, it was moved to the British Museum in London where it remains to this day. It is on public display and is the most popular object in the museum. The only time the Rosetta Stone has not been displayed was near the end of World War I because of bombing when it was stored in a postal railway tube underground.

Egypt Wants The Rosetta Stone Returned

The Rosetta Stone has been in England since 1802, so it isn’t surprising that the director of the Grand Egyptian Museum wants it back. It is a discussion that’s gone on for many years. In 2005, Egypt was presented with a replica of the Rosetta Stone by the British Museum, but this obviously isn’t the same thing as having the original. Although Dr. Tarek Tawfik, the museum director in Egypt, said that talks were ongoing in 2018, a spokesperson at the British Museum said they had not received a request for the return of the artifact.

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5 Things You Didn't Know About The First Moon Landing_3

On July 20, 1969, American astronaut Neil Armstrong became the first human being to walk on the moon. To celebrate the anniversary of this landmark event, here are five little known facts about the first moon landing...

The Astronauts Didn’t Have Life Insurance

The cost for life insurance for an astronaut is extremely high, which isn’t much of a surprise, and is probably even more if they are heading to the moon. Since Astronauts Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin and Michael Collins did not have life insurance to provide for their families if the moon mission failed, they came up with a new plan. The three men signed autographs in the hundreds to distribute among the families, so they could sell them if something went wrong.

Neil Armstrong’s Famous Quote Was Incorrectly Transmitted

Listeners back on Earth heard, "That's one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind." But Neil Armstrong maintained that he actually said something slightly different: "That's one small step for a man..." Armstrong told the press after the Apollo 11 mission, that people just didn't hear the "a". In 2006, computer programmer Peter Ford analyzed the audio recording using software that allows disabled people to communicate via computers using their nerve impulses. In a graphical representation of sound waves of the famous sentence, Ford said he found evidence that the missing "a" had been spoken after all: It was a 35-millisecond-long bump of sound between "for" and "man" that would have been too brief for human ears to hear.

One of the Astronauts Designed the Mission Insignia

Astronaut Michael Collins designed the insignia for the Apollo 11 mission. On advice from Jim Lovell, he traced an eagle he found in National Geographic and drew one that was landing on the moon’s surface and holding an olive branch by its beak. Since he thought the talons of the eagle looked aggressive, he moved the olive branch down, so the eagle was holding the branch in both claws.

The Original Tapes of Apollo 11’s Moon Landing Were Erased

The films taken by the lunar camera during the landing were lost, according to NASA, probably because they were erased in order to reuse the film. Because the camera used on board wasn’t compatible with television broadcasting, it had to be changed. This made the films seen by those at home on their television sets dark and difficult to make out, instead of the much clearer images filmed on the moon itself.

The President Had a Speech Prepared in Case of a Disaster

Richard Nixon was president at the time of the Apollo II moon landing, and everyone was aware that the mission might go wrong and the astronauts possibly would not return, so he had a speech ready in case a tragedy happened. The speech touched on the men’s bravery, how they would be mourned and how others would follow them into space. General Eisenhower also wrote a speech in the event the D-Day invasion wasn’t successful, but fortunately, neither man had to read these speeches.

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5 Interesting Facts About The Battle of Bull Run

On July 21, 1861, the First Battle of Bull Run was fought just 30 miles from Washington, D.C. See how much you know about this major Civil War battle with these five surprising facts about the First Battle of Bull Run…

The Battle of Bull Run Was Where Stonewall Jackson Earned His Nickname.

General Thomas Jackson, leading his troop of Virginia volunteers in the battle on July 21, began a major push forward to block a gap in the Confederate line from Union attack. One of the other Confederate generals engaged in the battle remarked that Jackson was standing in place like a stone wall. The nickname stuck, and Jackson was promoted to major general that October.

Around 55,000 Union and Confederate Troops Fought in the Battle.

The Union Army of Northeastern Virginia, commanded by Brig. Gen. Irvin McDowell was composed of about 35,000 troops, while the Confederate troops that were called the Army of the Potomac and under Brig. Gen. P.G.T. Beauregard had about 20,000 troops. The Union suffered 2,708 casualties—481 soldiers were killed, 1,011 were wounded and 1,216 were listed as missing. The Confederates are estimated to have suffered 1,982 casualties, which included 387 fatalities, 1,582 wounded and 13 reported missing.

The Fight Was Also Called the Battle of Manassas.

Confederates named battles after the cities or towns that were nearby. The Federal government named them after nearby rivers or creeks. For this reason, the Confederates referred to this confrontation as the Battle of Manassas, and the Union called it Bull Run. which is a river tributary of the Occoquan River.

It Was the First Time a Railroad Was Used to Move Troops

General Beauregard wanted reinforcements to increase the Confederate's chance of success in the upcoming battle; however, rebel General Joseph Johnston and his 12,000 troops were in the Shenandoah Valley, some distance away. To get there, Johnston marched his troops to Piedmont Station where they boarded the Manassas Gap Railroad, which took them to the battlefield.

The Was Some Uniform Confusion

Some Southern soldiers at Bull Run wore blue uniforms instead of Confederate gray, and some Northern soldiers wore gray instead of Union blue. They had to fight in their state militia uniforms because neither side had enough official uniforms.  The lack of uniforms led to confusion on the battlefield, and soldiers often shot people from their own side.

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PHKRAUSE

I did  not  know  ab out the  eagle   and the  olive  branch   drawing===

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