ON THIS DAY
On this date in 1776, the Continental Congress used the term "United States" for the very first time.
Abe Lincoln received his law degree on this date in 1836.
In 1850, California became our 31st state.
Colonel Harland Sanders, the founder of Kentucky Fried Chicken, was born on this date in 1890.
In 1919, Boston's entire police went on strike.
Macy Gray turns 42 today, Adam Sandler is 43, Actor Hugh Grant turns 49, and Former Washington Redskins quarterback and football announcer Joe Theismann turns 60 today.
National Teddy Bear Day -- The teddy bear was named after President Theodore Roosevelt, after a 1902 incident on a hunting trip in Mississippi. The president found a wounded bear and ordered it killed to put it out of its misery. After reading the story, New York toy store owner Morris Mitchtom got Roosevelt's permission to call his new stuffed animal a teddy bear, and the name stuck. Mitchton went on to found the Ideal Novelty and Toy Company.
- People who collect teddy bears are called arctophiles.
- At the height of the toy's early popularity, a priest in Michigan publicly denounced it as an enemy of the American family. He claimed that the stuffed toy would take over the mother's nurturing role and would eventually lead to racial suicide.
- Bears from the German toy maker Steiff are among the world's most prized collectibles. In 2000, one Steiff bear made in 1904 was priced at almost $18,000, according to one collectibles website.
THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW
- Hillary Swank's new love, following the breakup of her 9-year marriage to Chad Lowe: her agent, John Campisi.
- Teri Hatcher has been in training for the Nautica Malibu Triathalon which comes up this Sunday.
- George Clooney, his broken hand and his latest girlfriend Elisabetta Canalis have made an appearance in Venice this week during the 66th annual Venice film festival.
- Jerry Lewis did another Labor Telethon for MD and raised over $60 million in pledges, down from last year, but still a heck of a lot!
- San Diego Chargers linebacker Shawne Merriman was arrested Sunday and accused of choking and restraining his girlfriend, Tila Tequila. He said, she said to follow.
- Michaela Watkins and Casey Wilson are gone from "Saturday Night Live," along with long-time announcer Don Pardo.
- Classes have begun at Brown University, including for new student Emma Watson.
- Jon Gosselin is accusing Kate of stealing his wedding ring. It just keeps going and going and going..
Women's Health asked, "What's your favorite way to bust some balls outdoors?"
- 31.8% said beach volleyball
- 22% said tennis
- 18.8% said soccer
- 15.6% said softball
- 11.8% said golf
Guys constantly complain that they have to sit around and wait while women get ready, but a new survey found that men spend just as much time in the powder room as women. Of course, to no one's surprise, men don't want to admit they hang out in the bathroom, fixing themselves up or whatever. But the study, which was sponsored by a health products firm and polled 1,042 adults, found that guys and gals each spend about 30 minutes a day puttering around in the bathroom. That adds up to about eight days in the John each year spent brushing teeth, reading, slathering on makeup whatever. (National Examiner)
Victoria "Posh Spice" Beckham shouldn't be surprised that her husband David eyes other ladies, according to a new survey. A photographer recently snapped soccer star David ogling a couple of Los Angeles Lakers cheerleaders during an NBA game. But he's just doing what comes naturally to both men and women, according to the poll of 3,000 people by the Kodak Lens Vision Centers. Men spend about a year of their lives checking out gals, averaging 10 women a day for a total of 43 minutes, or 4 minutes and 18 seconds apiece. Meanwhile, gals eye guys for about six months of their lives, averaging six fellas a day for a total of 20 minutes, or 3 minutes and 18 seconds apiece. Says a company spokesman: "Six months of a year of your life is a long time to spend with your eyes fixed on the opposite sex." (National Examiner)
Redbook asked readers, "What's the most comforting at the end of a stressful day?"
- 46% said "seeing my family"
- 20% said "my favorite TV show"
- 16% said "something tasty"
- 13% said "a glass of wine"
- 5% said "exercise"
Whether they're taking siestas, power naps or beauty sleeps, 34% of Americans regularly curl up for a midday snooze, says a study by the Pew Research Center. In a poll of 1,488 adults, 38% of men between 18 and 49 and 31% of women between 18 and 49 reported taking a nap within the previous 24 hours. In the over 50 crowd, 41% of men and 28% of women admitted catching daytime ZZZs. Naps were on the agenda for 33% of the people who earned more than $100,000 a year, 21% of people who earned between $75,000 and $99,000 a year, 31% of people who earned between $50,000 and $74,000, 35% of people who earned between $30,000 and $49,000 and 42% of folks who earned less than $30,000 a year. (National Examiner)
