Random Fact 11-25-11: Black Friday

Back in Black!

Image from keetria.com

It's the consumers favorite day of the year, Black Friday. The day when the Christmas Shopping begins, and  popular items go on sale.  It was known as the beginning of the Christmas Shopping season for many years and Christmas specials couldn't start until after the Thanksgiving Day Parades had finished. In 1966, the Philadelphia Police Department called the day after Thanksgiving Black Friday due to the streets being packed with cars and people. The more accepted version of the story goes back to math class. In business accounting, black is the color for positives and profit. As the shopping season begins today, the stores start making profit and go from red (debt) to black (profit).

Hopefully now you know more about Black Friday!

Random Fact 11-24-11: Thanksgiving Day



Gobble! Gobble! Gobble!

Image from juniorfriends.wordpress.com


Happy Turkey Day! Thanksgiving, also known as Turkey Day, is a favorite holiday by many.  It falls on the 4th Thursday of November in the United States and on the 2nd Monday of October in Canada. Thanksgiving is a holiday celebrating the good harvest of the Pilgrims shared by the Native Americans. Half wouldn't survived if the Wampanoag Indians hadn't taught the Pilgrims to plant and to fish.



Image from wikipedia.org, The First Thanksgiving by Brownscombe

The traditions are very similar in Canada and the United States. Canadians celebrate earlier most likely due to their winter beginning earlier there.

Perhaps you learned something new on Turkey Day 2011!

Random Fact 11-21-11

Up, Up, and Away!

Image from wikipedia.org



On November 21st in 1783, the hot air balloon made history becoming the first successful way of air travel for humans. There is a lot of science behind it, but basically, the hot air balloon is caused by rising and sinking air and the heating of it by fire in the capsule beneath the actual balloon. Originally, King Louis XVI decreed that the first pilots to go up untethered should be condemned criminals, but after petitioning, Pilatre de Rozier and Marquis François d'Arlandes were the first to go into the air without a rope to hold them down.

Hopefully, you have a better Monday now knowing how the hot air balloon started.

(Random Information from wikipedia.org)

Random Fact 11-17-11

Image from wikipedia.org

It's the 37th United States President, Richard Nixon. You might be asking yourself, why would we pick Richard Nixon to talk about? 

Well, on November 17th, 1973, he insisted that he wasn't a crook.

In addition to holding office of United States President, he was also the 36th Vice President of the United States, a senator, and representative.

Hopefully you are enjoying your day, now knowing that Richard Nixon was Dwight D. Eisenhower's VP.

Random Fact 11-14-11

Image from asdfhj.com
Everyone knows this great game. From Mediterranean Avenue to New York Avenue to Boardwalk and Park Place. It was presented in 1934 by Charles Darrow to Parker Brothers and to Milton Bradley, however they originally rejected it. Also, from a professor from San Francisco State University created Anti-Monopoly to contradict principles and how a monopoly isn't always desirable.

Random Fact 11-11-11: Veterans Day

Here is a Video from the US Department of Vetrans Affairs about why we celebrate Vetrans Day. Enjoy! Happy 11-11-11!

Random Fact 11-9-11

Your Daily Dose of Randomness



Image from powerpointfan.blogspot.com

As we approach Vetrans Day on Friday, here are a few random facts about Vetrans Day. Vetrans Day used to be called Armistice Day and is celebrated for the ending of World War I. It was statred on November 11th, 1919 by President Woodrow Wilson.

Watch out though! Vetrans Day will also be 11-11-11.





Random Fact 11-06-11

We're Back! 

Image from fourshrops.files.wordpress.com

      As most can tell, this is the Statue of Liberty. Standing on Liberty Island, she has many little-known-facts about her. You probably didn't know that the statue was given to the United States as a gift from France. Or that the 7 rays on her crown represent each of the seven continents. And inscribed on her immense tablet, are the words "July IV MDCCLLXXVI (July 4, 1776). After the restoration process in 1986, the torch was covered with 24 karat cold. Of course we couldn't leave out the fact that she wasn't intended to be the color blue. She just oxidized.

“Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free.” Emma Lazarus New Colossus