Rockets Red Glare

It’s like talking about money, religion, or affairs, you’re just not supposed to do it. Along with the campaigning, debates, and this election, who wants to hear another ridiculous word about it? I certainly don’t but also know I’m finishing up a political book, so I decided instead to put out some fun, entertaining facts from List 25 about this great country of ours, rather than wallow in the despair of this election. So, here goes…

25) Alaska is the state with the highest percentage of people who walk to work. Wait…What?

24) 27 percent of Americans believe we never landed on the moon.

23) The American flag’s official colors are “Old Glory Red,” “White,” and “Old Glory Blue.”

22) Even though the grizzly bear is California’s official state animal, none have been seen there since 1922

21) More breakfast cereal is made in Battle Creek, Michigan than in any other city worldwide

20) The seven rays on the crown of the Statue of Liberty represent the seven continents. Each measures up to 9 feet in length and weighs as much as 150 pounds

19) Montana has three times as many cows as it does people.

18) The Declaration of Independence was written on hemp paper. Now you know the real reason for your rights and freedom, they were high.

17) The American one-dollar bill contains several hidden images, including a spider in the upper right-hand corner.

16) John Adams and Thomas Jefferson both died on July 4, 1826 – 50 years to the day after the signing of the Declaration of Independence.

15) Although English is the most commonly spoken language in the United States, no official national language exists. So, much for you live in America, speak American.

14) The Liberty Bell was the last rung on George Washington’s Birthday in 1846. It received its fatal crack a few hours later.

13) In addition to its mainland, Louisiana consists of 2,482 islands that cover nearly 1.3 million acres.

12) About 35 million Americans share DNA with at least one of the 102 pilgrims who arrived aboard the Mayflower in 1620.

11) US Highway 550 in Colorado became known as Million Dollar Highway because its roadbed was paved with low-grade gold ore.

10) Broken shackles lie at the feet of the Statue of Liberty, signifying freedom from oppression and tyranny.

9) The state of Alaska is 429 times larger than the state of Rhode Island, but Rhode Island has a significantly larger population.

8) Although Ohio is listed as the 17th state in the U.S., it is technically 47th because Congress forgot to vote on a resolution to admit it to the Union until 1953. Oops!

7) About 500,000 detectable seismic tremors occur in California each year. Odds say the big one is coming.

6) Snake Alley, the most crooked street in the world, can be found in Burlington, Iowa

5) George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, James Madison, James Monroe, William Henry Harrison, John Tyler, Zachary Taylor, and Woodrow Wilson were all born in Virginia, making it the birthplace of more Presidents than any other state.

4) Venus Fly Traps can only be found natively in Carolina’s and nowhere else in the world.

3) New Jersey is home to the world’s highest roller coaster.

2) The Japanese sent bombs aboard balloons to the United States during World War II. Dozens of them actually landed, causing some damage. One of them even killed an Oregon family in 1944. The scary part is that there might be more lying around undiscovered!

1) The British deployed the first rockets in America during their attack against Fort McHenry in the War of 1812. Francis Scott Key witnessed the horrific attack and immortalized it in a song he titled “The Star-Spangled Banner.” That song is now the national anthem of the United States. Gives a whole new meaning to, “on bended knee.”

I hope your day is filled with acceptance, respect, and tolerance for your fellow man and woman.

Cheers!