Impossible Questions: ‘70s Flashback Edition
Think you know the answer to this question? It’s harder than you think. Come back tomorrow to see if you’re right.
Daily Dispatch
A Brief History of First Ladies on Sitcoms
In 2009, Barack Obama became the first sitting president to sit down for a TV talk show interview, on The Tonight Show. Big deal. First Ladies of the United States have been showing up on TV for years—and on sitcoms to boot.
Quokka: The Cutest—And Happiest—Animal on Earth
As far as cuteness is concerned, cats rule the internet. But a little Australian creature could give kitties a run for their money. Have a look at a quokka. These cat-sized marsupials can primarily be found on the islands and national parks near Perth, Australia. Sure enough, they’re pretty friendly and cheerful.
Meet the Wellesley Sleepwalker
Meet “Sleepwalker,” the latest thing to roll out of the studio of Tony Matelli. The New York artist created the eerily lifelike sculpture for an exhibition at Wellesley College’s Davis Art Museum. Sleepwalker is more than a little unsettling, clad only in a pair of underwear and with his arms outstretched, as if sleepwalking.
AUJA – Why are weathermen called meteorologists?
Like the names of many scientific disciplines, “meteorologist” comes from Ancient Greek. The study of weather study kept the name meteorology, and now means a study of the atmosphere, weather, and climate.
Ski Beautiful Pee Mountain
Those weird side-by-side toilets in Sochi aren’t the only convergence of bathroom news and winter sports to make headlines. In Arizona, you can ski on snow made from pee.
Fact-or-Fake Friday: Gross Animal News Edition
What follows are three weird news stories involving animals. However, only two are real, and the other one we made up. Can you spot the fake? Check your answer at the end.
That Time Prince Harry Hiked All the Way to the South Pole
Trekking to the South Pole was once something that only the hardiest of explorers would attempt to pull off. Now everybody seems to be doing it. Even Prince Harry (for a good cause). This isn’t the first time that Harry has gone off on a risky journey. After all, the third-in-line to the British throne is a trained combat pilot and flew Apache helicopters during his deployments in Afghanistan.
Impossible Questions: Vanity Edition (Answers)
Have you got an answer? Read on to see if you’re right.
What are “Thunderbox,” “Dogstar,” and “P,” and what distinction links them?
7 Things You Didn’t Know About Coca-Cola
It’s one of the oldest and most distinctively American products…but how much do you really know about Coke?
- Coca-Cola inventor John Pemberton, a trained doctor, served in the Civil War…for the Confederate Army. He made it to the rank of colonel, and in combat he suffered a wound that left him addicted to morphine. He created Coca-Cola as a way to break himself (and he presumed, many others) of that addiction. It worked, although in the 19th century, Coca-Cola contained both alcohol and cocaine, with the former phased out the latter ultimately replaced with caffeine.
Impossible Questions: Vanity Edition
Think you know what these three oddly named entities have in common? Look back to the title for a (very vague!) clue, and come back tomorrow to see if you guessed correctly.
What are “Thunderbox,” “Dogstar,” and “P,” and what distinction links them?
Two Weird TV Coincidences
Real life converges with TV, and vice versa.
Burger War!
In 1982, Burger King created a TV first—it became the first fast food chain to directly attack the competition, by name, in a commercial. The ad featured a cute, four-year-old actress, addressing the camera and stating that McDonald’s burgers were “20 percent smaller” than Burger King’s. McDonald’s sued Burger King for defamation and the case was settled out of court. The four-year-old actress—actually made to testify in the suit—went on to a successful career, first on the soap All My Children, and then as the star of Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Her name: Sarah Michelle Gellar.
7 Amazing, Obscure, and Wonderful Bits of Oscars Trivia
Impress (or annoy) your friends at your Oscars party this weekend with these fun facts.
- Six actors have won Academy Awards for performances not in the English language: Sophia Loren in Two Women (1961, Italian); Roberto Benigni in Life is Beautiful (1998, Italian); Benicio del Toro in Traffic (2000, Spanish); Marion Cotillard in La Vie en Rose (2007, French); and Penelope Cruz in Vicky Cristina Barcelona (2008, Spanish). Those five actors are native speakers of those languages. The sixth winner is Robert De Niro, who had to learn Sicilian for his Oscar-winning role in The Godfather, Part II (1974).
Can You Solve the Mystery of the Krafla Toilet in Iceland?
Anaheim has Disneyland. South Dakota has Wall Drug. Þingeyjarsveit has a toilet. You may not have heard of this remote municipality in northeastern Iceland, but its home to one of the world’s most unusual tourist attractions. Those willing to make the trek will find the Krafla Toilet along a desolate stretch of highway that leads to the local Krafla power station.
AUJA – Who is John Doe?
Until their identity can be ascertained, crime victims or unknown suspects are usually referred to by police (and the media) as “John Doe” (for men) or “Jane Doe” (for women). Why are unidentified people referred to as “John Doe” or “Jane Doe”?
Power Laces: Auto-Lacing Sneakers On the Way
Coming soon to stores: self-lacing sneakers like the ones in “Back to the Future Part II.” Really, power laces are on their way.
How the FAA Stole Valentine’s Day
Amazon announced last year that it would soon be delivering packages via unmanned flying drones. A Michigan company just beat them to the punch, or it least it would have if not for those spoilsports at the Federal Aviation Administration.
Impossible Questions: Presidential Honors Edition (Answers)
Have you got an answer? Read on to see if you’re right.
What honorific has been bestowed on five different Democratic U.S. presidents…but no Republican U.S. presidents? (It’s not as politically charged a question as you think…or maybe it is?)
