Prior to 1938, engagement rings were often comprised of a combination of the bride and her mother’s birthstones, which meant that sapphires, rubies, and emeralds were the order of the day.
Early basketball rules called for a jump ball to occur after the scoring of each field goal.
Clifton Keith Hillegass is the “Cliff” behind Cliff's Notes. He started his company in 1958 when he published 16 Shakespearian study guides.
New York Tribune founder Horace Greeley is best known for saying, “Go West, young man.” Problem is, he didn’t say it. The quote actually came from Indiana newspaper editor John B.L. Soule. In fact, Greeley’s own comments regarding the West were less than encouraging. In 1859, while traveling across Utah, he wrote, “The desolation seems irredeemable.” Twelve years later, he proclaimed, “This Daniel Boone business is about played out.”
Skin contains pain and temperature receptors, which are only sensitive to extreme hot or cold. The brain experiences both these sensations in the same way. Therefore, very cold and hot temperatures cause the same kind of pain, and the brain has trouble distinguishing between the two.
On March 1st, 1912, Captain Albert Berry became the first person to parachute from an airplane...and walk away.
Kathleen Casey of Philadelphia was born at 12:00:01 A.M., Eastern time, on January 1st, 1946. This not only made her the first child born in the United States that year, but also made her the first "Baby Boomer."
The first artist signed to the Beatles' Apple Records label was singer-songwriter James Taylor.
At the Wife Carrying World Championships in Finland, first prize is the wife’s weight in beer.
Bluetooth, the wireless communication standard, was named after Harald Bluetooth, a tenth century king who encouraged communication and unity among warring Norse and Danish tribes.