ON THIS DAY
It was on this date in 1782 that Britain officially recognized the United States.
On this date in 1917, First Class Postage in the U.S. went up to 3 whole cents.
In 1952, Charles Birdseye introduced frozen peas.
The very first coast-to-coast color TV broadcast took place on this date in 1953.
On this date in 1956, "The Wizard of Oz" was shown on TV for the very first time.
Today is Godzilla's 55th birthday.
Dennis Miller celebrates his 56th birthday. and Kathy Kinney, "Mimi" from the old "Drew Carey Show" also turns 56 today.
Comedienne Roseanne Barr turns 57 today.
Ken Berry, who you may remember from "F-Troop," "Mayberry, R.F.D." or even "Mama's Family" turns 76 today.
National Sandwich Day -- Yes, on this day way, way back in 1718, English explorer and diplomat John Montague (4th Earl of Sandwich) was born. The modern sandwich (meat between 2 slices of bread) is named after him.
THIS WEEK IS
Pursuit of Happiness Week -- What does it take to be truly happy and have feelings of joy permeate your everyday life? Six British experts have found what they say are 10 simple steps we can all take to make our lives happy, reports the BBC News. The team determined that the "seeds of happiness" are in this 10-point plan:
- Plant something and nurture it.
- Count your blessings -- at least five -- at the end of each day.
- Take time to talk. Have an hour-long conversation with a loved one each week.
- Phone a friend with whom you have not spoken for a while and arrange to meet up.
- Give yourself a treat every day and take the time to really enjoy it.
- Have a good laugh at least once a day.
- Get physical. Exercise for half an hour three times a week.
- Smile at and/or say hello to a stranger at least once each day.
- Cut your TV viewing by half.
- Spread kindness. Do a good turn for someone every day.
A study from the Mayo Clinic found optimists reported having better physical and emotional health. Doctor Toshihiko (toh-she-HEE'koh) Maruta (mar-OO'tuh) says the research is a follow-up to a study they did a couple years ago. He says the optimist also tends to live longer and better lives.
THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW
- Rachel Ray is offering a free turkey dinner to anyone who lives in Wilmington, Ohio, because of their high unemployment rate. She'll serve it up this Sunday, offering it to anyone with an ID that shows they live in Wilmington.
- TNT has picked up the drama "Southland" after NBC cancelled it last month.
- A guy who walked into the E! offices last Friday and asked to see Ryan Seacrest was carrying a knife and was arrested.
- Eddie Murphy is going to make an appearance on the finale of CW's "America's Next Top Model" on November 18.
- Elton John has had to cancel many tour stops after a case of the flu and e. coli landed him in the hospital.
- Colin Farrell and Polish actress Alicja Bachleda became proud parents of baby boy Henry Tadeusz Farrell on October 7.
- Meanwhile, Mel Gibson's a dad again... welcoming a baby girl to his ever expanding brood, this one through his new girlfriend.
- A man was arrested on suspicion of shooting four other men in Mayberry, North Carolina. Yep, the quiet town that was the inspiration for the Andy Griffith show.
- Michelle Triola Marvin, who waged a landmark palimony case against former lover actor Lee Marvin, died Friday at age 76. She died at the Malibu home of actor Dick Van Dyke, her partner of 30 years.
- Nicole Richie has gone to court to get some space for her and her children from the paparazzi.
Of America's 55 largest cities, Raleigh-Durham, NC, is the smartest, and Fresno, CA, is the dumbest. That's according to The Daily Beast, which compiled the numbers on American brainpower and then ranked U.S. cities from first to worst, giving each a civic IQ score.
Top 10 smartest U.S. cities and their civic IQ score:
- Raleigh-Durham, NC, 170
- San Francisco, 165
- Boston, 162
- Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minnesota, 159
- Denver, 158
- Hartford, 156
- Seattle-Tacoma and Washington, DC, 151 (tie)
- Portland, OR, 143
- Baltimore, 135
Top 10 dumbest U.S. cities and their civic IQ score:
- Fresno, CA, 3
- Las Vegas, 11
- San Antonio 26
- Louisville, 46
- Memphis, 48
- Harrisburg, PA, 57
- Phoenix, 63
- Dallas, 64
- Orlando, 66 (tie)
- Houston, 66 (tie)
In addition to buying your groceries, shampoo and cleaning supplies at Wal-Mart, you can add another discounted item to your list: A casket. Yes, Wal-Mart has started selling caskets at prices that undercut most funeral homes. However, Wal-Mart's caskets are only available online from the company's web site. The selection of 15 caskets and dozens of urns ranges in price from $999 to $3,199. Most are under $2,000.
Scientists have developed a new security camera system designed to detect criminals and stop them before they've committed any crimes. The Integrated Sensor Information System, under development at Ireland's Queen's University Belfast, loudly summons police if it sees hooded tops, sudden movements or signs of verbal aggression. (Sun)
It's beauty before brains on payday. An eye opening new Yale study reveals good looking people make more money than the intelligent Plain Janes and Average Joes they work with. Just like TV's Ugly Betty character is pinned in a low paying position beneath her hidden talents and attractive Katie Couric banks $15 million as the anchor of CBS Evening News, the beautiful people make an average of $75 a week more, based on a salary of $35,000 a year. Researcher Dr. Jason Fletcher concludes that beauty may breed confidence and that folks who are self assured may appear to be doing better at their jobs and they also have fewer qualms about asking for a raise. "The results show that people's looks have an impact on their wages," he adds, "and it can be very substantial." (National Examiner)
