In 2007, three years after securing a gold medal at the 2004 Olympics, wrestler Rulon Gardner and two of his friends miraculously survived a plane crash in Lake Powell, Utah. After the accident, they swam for an hour through water at a chilly 44F (7C) to reach the shore. They endured the cold night without any shelter, awaiting rescue. Remarkably, all three men survived this ordeal.
Vortex I: The State-Sponsored Festival
The Vortex I festival, a unique occurrence in U.S. history as the only state-sponsored rock concert, was held in Oregon. This event was strategically planned to coincide with President Nixon’s visit to showcase the peaceful aspects of the anti-War Movement and to deter any potential violent protests during the President’s scheduled appearance in the state. The festival took place at Milo McIver State Park and drew a crowd estimated between 30,000 and 100,000 people. As there was no admission fee, the gates were left open, and as a result, there were no precise attendance records.
On the festival’s peak day, a line of cars stretched for 18 miles (30 km) from the park entrance to southeast Portland. In an agreement with the governor, both the police and the Oregon National Guard largely turned a blind eye to non-violent offenses such as public nudity and drug use, both of which were observed at the festival. The event earned the nickname “The Governor’s Pot Party.”
The festival’s success in maintaining peace was likely helped by President Nixon’s last-minute cancellation. Both the American Legion convention and the anti-war activities of the Jamboree proceeded without any significant disruptions. The festival proved to be an effective strategy for preventing violence; there were no instances of interpersonal violence or harm, and property damage in Portland was minimal, limited to a single broken window.
The Legacy of Abstract Art: How the Works of Mondrian, and Malevich Still Inspire Contemporary Artists Today
Abstract art emerged in the early 20th century as a radical departure from traditional representational art. It challenged the idea that art had to represent the visible world, instead focusing on the power of color, line, and form to convey emotion and ideas. This revolutionary movement was led by artists such as Wassily Kandinsky, Piet Mondrian, and Kazimir Malevich, who continue to inspire contemporary artists today. Kandinsky: Pioneer of Abstract Art Wassily Kandinsky, a painter and art theorist, is often considered the father of contemporary abstract art. He believed that color and form could evoke spiritual and emotional experiences in
Caribbean Delight: The Allure of Jamaican Peanut Punch
Peanut punch, a favored beverage in the Caribbean, is concocted with ingredients like peanut butter, milk, and sugar. Some even regard it as an aphrodisiac. To give it a more robust twist, in Jamaica, this popular drink is often infused with white rum or stout beer.
Ingenious Fluid Mechanisms in Vintage Cars
During the 1960s, Volkswagen Beetles weren’t equipped with a pump for dispensing windshield washer fluid. Rather, they ingeniously utilized air pressure from the spare tire to perform this task. Vintage FIAT models, such as the 500 and 126, incorporated a rubber bulb on the dashboard, serving a similar function for washer fluid distribution. Moreover, the classic Porsche 356 had a unique approach with a rubber bulb placed on the floor, which could be activated by stomping on it.
Urban Boom and Housing Crunch: The Dramatic Rise of U.S. City Home Prices
Between 1980 and 2020, the population of urban areas in the United States saw a surge of nearly 50%. Concurrently, most of these urban regions implemented strict regulations on the construction of new, denser housing. As a result of this combination – the escalating demand due to population growth and the tight controls on supply – housing prices in US cities have experienced a sharp and dramatic rise.
Inventing the Iconic: Robert C. Baker and the Birth of Chicken Nuggets
Robert C. Baker, a professor of food science at Cornell University, devised the concept of the chicken nugget in the 1950s. He referred to this new food item as the “Chicken Crispie,” which was a small chunk of chicken enveloped in batter and subsequently deep-fried. Rather than seeking a patent for his creation, Baker took a more academic approach, opting to share his groundbreaking recipe with hundreds of corporations without any patent protection.
Unconscious Driving: The Phenomenon of Highway Hypnosis
Highway hypnosis, often referred to as white line fever, describes a psychological condition where an individual can navigate a vehicle – be it a car, truck, or any other form of automobile – across vast distances. Despite responding appropriately and safely to their surroundings, these individuals exhibit no conscious memory of their actions.
College Majors and Marriage Rates by Age 30
A research study examined the influence of one’s college major on the likelihood of being married by the age of 30. Education, Plant Science, and Microbiology majors had the highest marriage rates, with 70-80% of them being married by age 30. Conversely, majors in Geography, Theater Arts, Music, Philosophy, and International Relations experienced the lowest marriage rates, with only 32-46% being married by the same age.
7 Tantalizing Tidbits About the World’s Favorite Pie: Pizza
Get ready to dive into the delicious world of pizza as we serve up seven scrumptious facts about everyone’s favorite comfort food. From its humble beginnings to its global impact, these tidbits will leave you craving a slice and appreciating the rich history behind this irresistible culinary creation. So, grab a piece of pizza and join us on this mouth-watering journey!
1. Beware of surprise pizza deliveries in Louisiana! Sending a pizza to someone’s house without their permission is illegal and can result in fines up to $500 or even jail time. So, make sure the recipient is expecting that delicious surprise.
2. Pizza gained popularity in Italy only after it became a hit in America. Originating as a cheap street food in Naples, it wasn’t until Southern Italian Americans created more elaborate pizzas that it gained traction in Italy. Nowadays, Neapolitan pizza must meet specific ingredient requirements to be considered authentic.
3. The New York Times played a role in introducing pizza to the American public. In 1944, an article in the newspaper presented pizza as an exciting new food, paving the way for its widespread popularity.
4. Domino’s Japan once attempted a Reindeer Delivery Program in 2016, but the initiative was short-lived. After just one week, the program was halted due to the reindeer’s refusal to cooperate and issues with pizza transportation.
5. Pizza has a place in the history of e-commerce. In 1994, Pizza Hut’s PizzaNet was one of the first online services to offer pizza ordering, starting in Santa Cruz, California. Impressively, the website is still up and running today.
6. Did you know that the CIA has a penchant for pizza? On the night before Iraq invaded Kuwait, there was a spike in pizza orders made by the CIA, possibly indicating a long night of intelligence work.
7. Thomas Monaghan, the founder of Domino’s, acquired half-ownership of the now-global pizza chain in 1961 by trading his used Volkswagen Beetle. Today, Domino’s is one of the largest pizza companies in the world, a testament to Monaghan’s business acumen.