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Groundhog Day: History Repeating
Today is Groundhog Day in North America. Here are some things you may not know about it. First the basics: Groundhog Day is celebrated every February 2nd. Traditionally, if the groundhog sees its shadow on Groundhog Day, it means there will be six more weeks of winter. If the rodent does not see its shadow,…
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Oxford English Dictionary: All the Words!
If you’re enjoying the show, please consider supporting it through Patreon.com Today is the 132nd anniversary of the publication of the first volume of the Oxford English Dictionary. Here are some things you may not have known about the dictionary. It’s a descriptive dictionary, meaning it describes word usage and variations. Descriptivism is the opposite of…
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Dr. Strangelove: A Nuclear War Comedy
Today is the 52nd anniversary of the release of Stanley Kubrick’s “Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love The Bomb.” Here are a few things you may not have known about the film. It was loosely based on the novel “Red Alert” by Peter George. The film is about an insane…
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Challenger Disaster: Seven Astronauts Lost on Launch
Thirty years ago today, the space shuttle Challenger exploded shortly after liftoff, killing the seven crewmembers aboard. Here are some things you may not have known about the disaster. The mission was originally scheduled to launch on January 22, but was delayed by the previous space shuttle mission which landed on January 18. Weather delays…
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Apollo 1: The Space Race Reality Check
On this date in 1967, three American astronauts died in a training accident on the launch pad in Florida. Here are some things you may not have known about Apollo 1. Following the successes of the Mercury and Gemini programs, the next step in landing a man on the moon was the three-man Apollo program.…
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Winter Olympics: A Sports Tradition Since 1924
Please consider supporting the show through Patreon.com On this date in 1924, the first Winter Olympics opened in Chamonix, France. Here are some things you may not have known about the Winter Olympics. The first Winter Olympics weren’t originally considered Olympics at all. Bowing to pressure from winter sports federations, the International Olympic Committee decided to hold what…
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Macintosh “1984” Ad: A Smashing Success
On this date in 1984 the Apple Macintosh computer was introduced with a commercial during the Super Bowl. Here are a few things you may not have known about Apple, the Macintosh and the iconic advertisement. Apple was founded in 1976 by Steve Jobs, Steve Wozniak and Ronald Wayne. Let’s talk about Ronald Wayne for…
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DeLorean: A Man, a Car, a Deal Gone Wrong
On this date in 1981, the first DeLorean DMC-12 rolled off the production line. Here are some things you may not have known about the car made famous as the time machine in “Back the the Future.” Company founder John DeLorean was well known for his work at General Motors. He designed the Pontiac GTO,…
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Hawaii and the U.S.: An Arranged Marriage
On this date in 1887, the United States Congress voted to allow the U.S. Navy to lease Pearl Harbor in Hawaii for a naval base. Here are some things you may not have known about the history of the relationship between Hawaii and the United States. On January 18, 1788, Captain James Cook of Great…
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Janis Joplin: A Powerful Voice Gone Too Soon
Today would have been the 73rd birthday of singer-songwriter Janis Joplin. Here are some things you may not have known about her. She was born in Port Arthur, Texas. Her mother worked at a business college and her father was an engineer for Texaco. As a teenager, she sang in a local choir and began…