“New York, New York”
This year marks the 35th anniversary of one of the most famous songs in the American songbook. So start spreadin’ the news!
Daily Dispatch
Happy Arbor Day
After graduating with an agriculture degree from the University of Michigan in 1854, Julius Sterling Morton moved to a small settlement called Nebraska City in what would a few months later be called the Nebraska Territory. Morton faced a problem shared by many settlers in the territory: It was a treeless plain. That meant no trees for building materials, to burn for fuel, or to use as shade for crops. But Morton was one of the New World’s first “tree huggers,” stating, “We ought to bequeath to posterity as many forests and orchards as we have exhausted and consumed.”
The World’s Fastest Train
Here’s one Japanese choo-choo that just set a speed record and may forever change the way that people ride the rails.
8 Strange and Interesting Facts About Cotton Candy
What’s in a normal serving of cotton candy? Two tablespoons of sugar and a lot of air. Nutrition: 96 calories and no fat. And that’s not all. Here are some strange and interesting facts about cotton candy.
7 Cool Amenities at Major League Ballparks
“Baseball game? No thanks, I’m just here for the orange train.” Pool! Old news: It’s extremely hot in Phoenix, particularly during summer baseball season. New news: the Arizona Diamondbacks play at Chase Field. The outfield stands feature a swimming pool where fans can cool off (as well as a hot tub). Fish tank! Most ballparks […]
Impossible Questions: Most Valuable Player Edition – The Answer
Think you’ve got the right answer? Keep reading to see if you nailed it. If NBA scoring champion Russell Westbrook wins the Most Valuable Player award, he’ll be the first person in NBA history to do what? Westbrook would be the first MVP from a team that didn’t make the playoffs. Westbrook scored 28.1 points […]
Impossible Questions: Most Valuable Player Edition
If NBA scoring champion Russell Westbrook wins the Most Valuable Player award, he’ll be the first person in NBA history to do what?
A Car For the People
Several European automotive makers created an affordable car for the masses in the mid 20th century. But for every VW Beetle, there was a Lada.
3 Failed Music Formats
Last weekend was “Record Store Day,” an unofficial holiday to get people to buy vinyl albums again. These failed formats probably won’t ever get their own special day.
Weird Ben & Jerry News
The Vermont-based maker of groovy frozen treats has been in the public eye a lot this month.
6 Interesting Facts About ‘Guitar Hero’
After a long hiatus, the popular video game franchise is coming back. Here are some interesting facts about the game and its many spinoffs and competitors.
Fake-or-Fact Friday: Cubs Lose! Cubs Lose!
Things did not go well for the Chicago Cubs on the opening weekend of baseball season. Two of these stories are true, and luckily for Cubs fans, one isn’t. Can you guess the ringer? The answer is at the end of the post.
14 Uses for Beeswax
Sure, beeswax is useful to bees, but it also has a long history as humanity’s first plastic. It’s been used for sculpting metal, conditioning the strings for bows and crossbows, sealing and lubricating guns and musket balls, providing light by burning, and even filling cavities in emergency dentistry.
7 Fun Facts About Ringo Starr
Up until this month, Ringo Starr was the only member of the Beatles not inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a solo artist. In fact, he was only inducted via a special committee who included Starr under its “Award for Musical Excellence Banner,” which honors sideman, producers, and other tertiary participants in the music industry.
Ask Uncle John Anything: What is White Chocolate?
Is white chocolate a form of chocolate? Or, is it this other thing that is sort of like chocolate in texture and creaminess (but not flavor, appearance, or myriad other things)?
6 More Weird April Holidays You Ought to Celebrate
Because you’ll need something to celebrate after you pay your taxes. Let’s start with National High Five Day!
Interesting Trivia: Know Your Prison Tattoos!
Today’s interesting trivia could come in handy if you ever wind up in the big house. Learn all about cobwebs, teardrops, and three dots tattoos.
Your Tax Dollars at Work
As you pay your taxes, just think about all the neat things they’ll help pay for.
