What It Cost in 1980
Remember when you could take the whole family to the movies for $20? Here are some other things that were cheaper in 1980.
History
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.”
Fun History Trivia: Napoleon vs. the Bunnies
Napoleon Bonaparte served as the emperor of France twice and conquered a good chunk of Europe. When it came to rabbits, though, “Le Petit Caporal” was no match for ‘em.
10 Random Trivia Facts about $2 Bills
Quick facts about the least-popular denomination of U.S. currency.
- First authorized in 1862, $2 bills were printed until 1966, at which point they were discontinued…but only for 10 years. They were reintroduced in 1976 as part of the Bicentennial celebration.
- Many collectors had their Bicentennial bills postmarked on the day of issue (April 13, 1976), hoping to turn them into valuable collectibles. There are now so many of the postmarked bills that they may never be worth more than $2.
How Did the First Candidate Do?
Republican senator Ted Cruz this week announced his candidacy for president—the first major declared candidate in the 2016 election. Here’s a look back at the early candidates in previous presidential election.
Ask Uncle John Anything: Tennis, Anyone?
It makes very little sense why a very expensive, very shiny piece of jewelry, a bracelet studded and glimmering with diamonds would be named after tennis.
The Happiest Ghosts on Earth
Disneyland and Disney World are home to more than just actors in stuffy costumes and thousands of exhausted families—there are “grim grinning ghosts” around, too.
The Thunder Down Under
For 14 years, the very strange (and stinky) Museum of Old Art and New Art in Tasmania has been freaking out visitors and locals.
Things You Should Know: 7 Facts About Greenland
As winter winds down, here are things you should know about the place where the season never quite ends.
The Thing$ We Do For Love
Some people display their affection with a greeting card or a box of chocolates but these folks went to some pretty insane lengths to show how much they adored their sweeties.
Treasures From Beyond the Moon!
Actually, they’re from the moon. And Neil Armstrong smuggled back these items that were recently discovered.
3 Faulty Towers
The Tower of Pisa isn’t the only building in the world that’s having a hard time keeping everything straight.
When Pigs Fly: The Story Of An Iconic Power Plant (And Album Cover)
Some call London’s Battersea Power Station an eyesore but it’s been featured in tons of stuff, including several famous album covers. Here’s a quick rundown on its history…
4 More Better-Late-Than-Never Literary Sequels
It was recently announced that author Harper Lee would release a follow-up for To Kill a Mockingbird…55 years after the book’s release. Here are a few more long-delayed sequels.
A Night(mare) at the Museum
Museums can be boring, but not when their employees really mess up.
King Tut’s Close shave
King Tutankhamun’s burial mask is one of the most iconic artifacts in history. Its estimated value? Priceless. Alas, this wasn’t enough to stop five curators at Cairo’s Egyptian Museum from trying to fix it with a tube of cheap epoxy in January 2015. When the mask’s beard was knocked off by two employees replacing a ligh tbulb, their colleagues tried to glue it back on before the museum opened for the day. Worse yet, they later attempted to remove the dried epoxy with a spatula. The damages to 3,300-year-old artifact may be irreversible.
You Gotta Fight For Your Right to Pee (While Standing Up)
For many men, peeing while standing up is one of life’s great joys. It makes heeding nature’s call quick and easy…but it can also get a bit messy. This unfortunate drawback is what led to one of the most ridiculous court cases of all time in Germany.
8 Interesting Facts About the Times Square Ball
With new year celebrations behind us, we dug a little deeper and learned some interesting facts about the world famous New York City’s New Year’s Eve tradition.
The Strange Tale of the Poe Toaster
For over six decades, a mysterious figure visited the grave of Edgar Allen Poe every year on his birthday. Why? We wish we knew.
