Archives for March 2025

Have YOU heard… about a DAY when SEALS became SPIES during World War II? Stay TUNED!”

Did you know that during the Cold War, the U.S. Navy trained ACTUAL SEALS – not Navy SEALs, but literal sea mammals – to perform covert underwater missions? In the 1960s, the U.S. Marine Mammal Program developed a top-secret program where California sea lions and bottlenose dolphins were trained to detect underwater mines, locate lost equipment, and even potentially intercept enemy divers!

These marine mammals could carry specialized equipment, use cameras, and were incredibly precise. One famous seal named Hoover could even mimic human speech! The program, which began in 1960, continues today and has been used in conflicts like the Iraq War.

Source: U.S. Navy Marine Mammal Program, Smithsonian Magazine

On this day, we celebrate an epic story of scientific serendipity! In 1974, Spencer Silver, a chemist at 3M, was actually trying to create a super-strong adhesive for aerospace applications. Instead, he accidentally developed a weak adhesive that could stick to surfaces but was easily peeled off without leaving a residue.

For years, this “failed” invention sat unused until his colleague Art Fry had a brilliant idea. Frustrated with bookmark slips falling out of his church hymnal, he remembered Silver’s unique adhesive. The result? The Post-it Note – a product that would revolutionize office and home organization!

Today, over 100 million Post-it Notes are sold DAILY worldwide. Talk about turning a mistake into a million-dollar innovation!

Source: Today I Found Out, 3M Company Archives

On March 31st, 1889, the Eiffel Tower was officially opened to the public – but get this: most Parisian artists HATED it! A group of prominent French artists and intellectuals even signed a protest petition calling the tower a “useless and monstrous” structure that would be a “gigantic black smokestack” dominating the beautiful Paris skyline.

Today, it’s arguably the most recognizable landmark in the world and receives around 7 million visitors annually. Talk about a plot twist in architectural history!

Source: OnThisDay.com, History.com

Tomorrow is April Fools’ Day, folks! Did you hear about the mathematician who’s afraid of negative numbers? He’ll STOP AT NOTHING to avoid them!

Speaking of pranks, did you know the best April Fools’ jokes are the ones that make everyone laugh – including the person being pranked? Just remember: keep it fun, keep it friendly, and whatever you do, DON’T tell your boss you’re quitting!

Watch, Learn and Enjoy!

Troy W. Hudson

💚🎤 #haveyouheard

Have YOU heard that on this day in 1797, Nathaniel Briggs patented the first-ever washing machine, saving us all from the ENDLESS TORTURE of hand-washing our clothes? STAY TUNED!

On this day in 1797, Nathaniel Briggs of New Hampshire patented the very first washing machine in America! Before this revolutionary invention, laundry day was an exhausting, all-day affair involving boiling water, harsh soaps, and hours of scrubbing clothes by hand. Briggs’ machine used a series of gears and wooden rods to automate some of the labor, though it was still far from our modern appliances. Sadly, the patent office fire of 1836 destroyed all records of Briggs’ original design, so we don’t know exactly how it worked! It would take another 40 years before rotary washing machines appeared, and more than a century before electric-powered machines became common. Next time you toss your clothes in the washer with a push of a button, thank Nathaniel Briggs for taking the first step toward ending laundry day misery!

[SOURCE: U.S. Patent Office Historical Records – “Early American Inventions”]

Today is National Something on a Stick Day! From corn dogs to popsicles, kebabs to lollipops, this quirky holiday celebrates all foods served on sticks. This serving method dates back to prehistoric times when our ancestors roasted meat over fire using wooden spears. The Minnesota State Fair, nicknamed the “Great Minnesota Get-Together,” holds the record for the most foods on a stick with over 80 different offerings, including deep-fried butter, chocolate-covered bacon, and even alligator-on-a-stick! The genius of stick-based food lies in its portability and minimal cleanup—perfect for on-the-go eating. So whether you prefer savory or sweet, grab something skewered today and celebrate this puncturing holiday!

[SOURCE: NationalDayCalendar.com – “National Something on a Stick Day”]

Did you know that on March 28, 1930, Constantinople officially became Istanbul? The city that spans two continents had been called Constantinople for over 1,600 years since Emperor Constantine made it the capital of the Roman Empire in 330 AD. After the Ottoman Empire fell and the Republic of Turkey was established, the government formalized the name change that locals had already been using for centuries. The Turkish Post Office stopped delivering mail addressed to “Constantinople,” forcing the rest of the world to adopt the new name. This change inspired the catchy jazz tune “Istanbul (Not Constantinople)” in 1953, which was later covered by They Might Be Giants in 1990. Talk about a city so nice they named it twice—just not at the same time!

[SOURCE: TodayIFoundOut.com – “When Constantinople Became Istanbul”]

And that’s all for today’s edition of Have YOU heard? PLEASE leave a comment if you learned something nerdy! I’m Troy W. Hudson, the voice over with personality! Until next time, STAY CURIOUS!

Watch, Learn and Enjoy!

Troy W. Hudson

💚🎤 #haveyouheard

Have YOU heard that on this day in 1855, Abraham Lincoln was issued a patent for a device to lift boats over shoals, making him the ONLY U.S. president to ever hold a patent? STAY TUNED!”

On this day in 1855, Abraham Lincoln received Patent No. 6,469 for a device to lift boats over shoals—making him the only U.S. president to ever hold a patent! Lincoln, who had worked on riverboats in his youth, created an invention featuring adjustable buoyant air chambers that could be inflated when a boat needed to navigate shallow water. Though his device was never manufactured, Lincoln was extremely proud of this achievement. He once said that the patent system “added the fuel of interest to the fire of genius.” Who knew that before becoming the Great Emancipator, Honest Abe was also quite the inventor? His original patent model is now displayed at the Smithsonian Institution—proof that presidents can be innovators too!

[SOURCE: Abraham Lincoln Online – “Lincoln’s Patent”]

On March 27, 1977, aviation history changed forever when two Boeing 747 jumbo jets collided on the runway at Tenerife Airport in the Canary Islands, resulting in 583 fatalities—the deadliest accident in aviation history. Heavy fog, radio miscommunication, and airport congestion due to a bomb threat at another airport led to this tragic accident. The silver lining? This disaster revolutionized airline safety protocols worldwide. It introduced standardized aviation English, crew resource management training, and stricter takeoff authorization procedures. These changes have saved countless lives and made air travel significantly safer for everyone. Sometimes the most important lessons come from our most painful moments.

[SOURCE: OnThisDay.com – “March 27, 1977 – Tenerife Airport Disaster”]

Did you know that on March 27, 1964, Alaska was struck by the most powerful earthquake ever recorded in North America? The Good Friday Earthquake measured a massive 9.2 on the Richter scale and lasted for an incredible four minutes and thirty-eight seconds! The quake was so powerful it caused the ground to ripple visibly, trees to snap like twigs, and parts of Alaska to rise 38 feet while others sank 8 feet! It even caused boats to sink in Louisiana—3,800 miles away—from the resulting tsunami waves. Remarkably, due to the area’s sparse population at the time, only 131 people perished. The disaster led to the creation of the U.S. tsunami warning system that continues to protect coastal communities today.

[SOURCE: TodayIFoundOut.com – “The 1964 Alaska Good Friday Earthquake”]

And that’s all for today’s edition of Have YOU heard? PLEASE leave a comment if you learned something unbelievable! I’m Troy W. Hudson, the voice over with personality! Until next time, STAY CURIOUS!

Watch, Learn and Enjoy!

Troy W. Hudson

💚🎤 #haveyouheard

Have YOU heard that on this day in 1484, William Caxton printed the first-ever book advertisement in English history, creating the world’s first MARKETING CAMPAIGN for literature? STAY TUNED!”

On this day in 1484, William Caxton produced what historians consider the first printed advertisement in English! As England’s first printer, Caxton created a small handbill advertising a religious book called “The Pyes of Salisbury,” essentially inventing book marketing! The advertisement invited potential customers to visit his shop at the “sign of the red pale” in Westminster. Imagine that—before billboards, before radio jingles, before pop-up ads, there was just a simple piece of paper telling medieval folks where to buy a good book! This revolutionary marketing move helped spread literacy throughout England and changed how information was shared forever. Talk about an influencer before social media existed!

[SOURCE: British Library – “Caxton’s Advertisements”]

Today is National Spinach Day! This leafy green superfood gained incredible popularity thanks to a cartoon character—Popeye the Sailor Man, who first appeared in 1929. When the character debuted, spinach consumption in America reportedly increased by 33%! But here’s the fascinating part—the belief that spinach is ultra-high in iron actually came from a decimal point error in the 1870s that overestimated its iron content by ten times! Despite this mistake, spinach remains nutritionally impressive with high levels of vitamins A, C, K, and folate. Whether you prefer it raw in salads or cooked into dips, today’s the perfect day to celebrate this versatile veggie!

[SOURCE: NationalDayCalendar.com – “National Spinach Day”]

Did you know that on March 26, 1973, women were finally allowed to serve on the floor of the London Stock Exchange? For 202 years, women had been explicitly banned from the trading floor! The first women to break this barrier were given commemorative tie pins—yes, TIE pins—to mark the occasion. One of these pioneering women, Sue Masterman, recalled that on her first day, “Everyone stopped to stare.” Even the restaurant had to be remodeled to include ladies’ restrooms. While we might take gender equality in the workplace for granted today, it’s worth remembering that these barriers fell within living memory!

[SOURCE: TodayIFoundOut.com – “When Women First Entered the London Stock Exchange”]

And that’s all for today’s edition of Have YOU heard? PLEASE leave a comment if you learned something fascinating! I’m Troy W. Hudson, the voice over with personality! Until next time, STAY CURIOUS!

Watch, Learn and Enjoy!

Troy W. Hudson

💚🎤 #haveyouheard

Have YOU heard that the world’s most famous painting, the Mona Lisa, was stolen from the Louvre and missing for over TWO YEARS before being recovered on this day in 1914? STAY TUNED!

On this day in 1914, the Mona Lisa was rediscovered after being missing for over two years! The painting was stolen from the Louvre in Paris on August 21, 1911, by Italian handyman Vincenzo Peruggia, who simply hid in a closet overnight, removed the painting from its frame in the morning, and walked out with it under his coat. Bizarrely, the theft wasn’t even noticed until the next day! Peruggia kept the masterpiece in his apartment until he tried to sell it to the Uffizi Gallery in Florence, claiming he was returning it to its rightful home in Italy. The recovery made headlines worldwide and actually increased the painting’s fame, helping make it the iconic masterpiece we know today!

[SOURCE: History Channel – “Stolen Mona Lisa recovered”]

Today is National Medal of Honor Day! Established by Congress in 1990, this day commemorates the anniversary of the first Medals of Honor presented on March 25, 1863, during the Civil War. The Medal of Honor is the United States’ highest military decoration, awarded by the President for “conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of life, above and beyond the call of duty.” Did you know that almost half of the Medals of Honor awarded since World War II have been presented posthumously? Each medal is a testament to extraordinary courage and selfless sacrifice!

[SOURCE: NationalDayCalendar.com – “National Medal of Honor Day”]

Did you know that on March 25, 1995, WikiWikiWeb, the very first wiki, was established by programmer Ward Cunningham? Named after the Hawaiian word “wiki” meaning “quick,” it was designed as a quick way for programmers to share ideas and collaborate. Cunningham described it as “the simplest online database that could possibly work.” This revolutionary concept of user-editable web pages later inspired Jimmy Wales and Larry Sanger to create Wikipedia in 2001. Today, Wikipedia contains over 60 million articles in more than 300 languages! That’s quite an impressive legacy for a humble programming tool with a funny name!

[SOURCE: TodayIFoundOut.com – “The Birth of the Wiki”]

And that’s all for today’s edition of Have YOU heard? PLEASE leave a comment if you learned something astonishing! I’m Troy W. Hudson, the voice over with personality! Until next time, STAY CURIOUS!

Watch, Learn and Enjoy!

Troy W. Hudson

💚🎤 #haveyouheard

Have YOU heard that Houdini’s final performance was on March 24, 1918, where he made an elephant disappear on stage in New York? STAY TUNED!”

On this day in 1918, the legendary Harry Houdini performed one of his most spectacular illusions at New York’s Hippodrome Theater – making a 10,000-pound elephant named Jennie disappear! With 5,000 spectators watching, Houdini wheeled a large cabinet containing the elephant on stage. After some dramatic flourishes, he opened the cabinet to reveal… nothing! Jennie had vanished into thin air! Though the secret remained carefully guarded, it involved clever staging, lighting, and misdirection rather than actual magic. This spectacular illusion cemented Houdini’s reputation as the world’s greatest magician.

[SOURCE: Smithsonian Magazine – “Houdini’s Greatest Trick: Making an Elephant Disappear”]

Today is National Chocolate Covered Raisin Day! These tiny treats were first introduced by the Blumenthal Chocolate Company in 1927 and sold under the name “Raisinets.” Americans consume about 1.7 million pounds of these chocolate-covered gems every year! Whether you’re sneaking them at the movie theater or adding them to your trail mix, today’s the perfect day to celebrate this sweet-and-chewy snack. Fun fact: it takes about 1.5 pounds of grapes to make just one pound of raisins, making each chocolate-covered raisin a tiny powerhouse of concentrated flavor!

[SOURCE: NationalDayCalendar.com – “National Chocolate Covered Raisin Day”]

On March 24, 1989, the oil tanker Exxon Valdez ran aground on Bligh Reef in Alaska’s Prince William Sound, spilling approximately 11 million gallons of crude oil. The environmental disaster affected over 1,300 miles of coastline and killed hundreds of thousands of seabirds, otters, seals, and eagles. The silver lining? This catastrophe led to major improvements in maritime safety, including the Oil Pollution Act of 1990, requiring double-hulled tankers and comprehensive emergency response plans. Sometimes it takes our biggest mistakes to create our most important improvements!

[SOURCE: OnThisDay.com – “March 24, 1989 – Exxon Valdez Oil Spill”]

Did you know that on March 24, 1944, the Great Escape took place? 76 Allied prisoners of war tunneled out of the German Stalag Luft III prison camp in Poland. The prisoners spent over a year digging three tunnels nicknamed “Tom,” “Dick,” and “Harry,” using improvised tools made from stolen items. They even created a railway system inside the tunnels for faster movement of dirt! Though most escapees were eventually recaptured, their ingenious plan inspired the classic 1963 film “The Great Escape” starring Steve McQueen. Sometimes you just have to dig deep to find your freedom!

[SOURCE: TodayIFoundOut.com – “The Real Story Behind The Great Escape”]

And that’s all for today’s edition of Have YOU heard? PLEASE leave a comment if you learned something mind-boggling! I’m Troy W. Hudson, the voice over with personality! Until next time, STAY CURIOUS!

Watch, Learn and Enjoy!

Troy W. Hudson

💚🎤 #haveyouheard

😂😂😂 If you would like to purchase your own Dad Joke Button, I receive a small commission from you clicking this Amazon affiliate link – https://amzn.to/4i1cD9D

Have YOU heard about the day California accidentally legalized CANNIBALISM due to a typo in their state constitution?! …STAY TUNED!

On March 21, 1850, California’s first state constitution was completed with what might be history’s most unfortunate typographical error! The document was supposed to outlaw “dueling,” but someone accidentally wrote “devouring” instead! This meant that for nearly 22 years, dueling was perfectly legal in California, while eating human flesh was explicitly banned! The error wasn’t discovered until 1872 when legal scholar John Norton Pomeroy was reviewing state laws and noticed the bizarre prohibition. The state legislature quickly amended the constitution, officially outlawing dueling and removing the unnecessary cannibalism clause – though to be clear, eating people was and still is illegal under other laws! Still, for over two decades, any literal law-and-order types in California had to admit that technically, you could challenge someone to a pistol duel at dawn, but sharing a neighborly barbecue with human ribs was strictly forbidden!
[SOURCE: California Historical Society and LexisNexis Legal Archives]

Today we’re celebrating National Common Courtesy Day! In a world of ever-fading social niceties, March 21st is dedicated to reminding us all that “please,” “thank you,” and not taking the last donut in the break room without asking are still important! Studies show that experiencing common courtesy can actually trigger the release of oxytocin – the same chemical your brain produces when you cuddle puppies! A University of California study found that witnesses to acts of courtesy were 40% more likely to perform acts of kindness themselves, creating a ripple effect of positivity. So maybe being polite isn’t just nice – it’s scientifically contagious! The practice of formally teaching courtesy dates back to medieval times, when knights followed elaborate “chivalry codes.” So the next time you hold the door for someone, you’re basically being a knight in shining armor – just with fewer dragons to slay and more doors to hold!
[SOURCE: nationaldaycalendar.com]

On this day in 1999, balloonists Bertrand Piccard and Brian Jones completed the first non-stop circumnavigation of the Earth in a hot air balloon! After 19 days, 21 hours, and 55 minutes floating through the sky, the pair landed in the Egyptian desert, having traveled 25,361 miles! Their balloon, the Breitling Orbiter 3, stood taller than the Statue of Liberty at 180 feet high when fully inflated! During their record-breaking journey, they reached speeds of up to 105 miles per hour and altitudes of nearly 36,000 feet – where temperatures plummeted to minus 50 degrees Fahrenheit! The two men lived in a pressurized capsule the size of a minivan for nearly three weeks, sleeping in shifts of four hours each. Talk about social distancing before it was cool! I guess you could say they really took the expression “rising to the challenge” to new heights!
[SOURCE: onthisday.com]

Today I found out that on March 21, 1963, Alcatraz Federal Penitentiary – America’s most notorious prison – closed permanently after 29 years of operation! Despite housing infamous criminals like Al Capone and “Birdman” Robert Stroud, the prison’s downfall wasn’t security concerns – it was plumbing! The island facility’s pipes were being severely corroded by saltwater, causing raw sewage to pollute the San Francisco Bay. Combined with exorbitant operating costs of nearly three times more per inmate than other federal prisons, the government decided to shut it down! Here’s a mind-blowing fact: in its entire history, not a single prisoner ever successfully escaped! Of the 36 men who tried, 23 were captured, 6 were shot and killed, 2 drowned… and 5 went missing and were presumed drowned – though conspiracy theories about their potential survival persist to this day! I guess you could say that for most inmates, Alcatraz was literally a “sink or swim” situation!
[SOURCE: todayifoundout.com]

Watch, Learn and Enjoy!

Troy W. Hudson

💚🎤 #haveyouheard

😂😂😂 If you would like to purchase your own Dad Joke Button, I receive a small commission from you clicking this Amazon affiliate link – https://amzn.to/4i1cD9D

Have YOU heard about the day the CIA spent $20 MILLION dollars trying to train CATS as spies?! …STAY TUNED!

On March 20, 1967, the CIA officially abandoned “Operation Acoustic Kitty,” one of the strangest Cold War spy programs ever conceived! For five years, the agency had been trying to turn ordinary house cats into four-legged spies by surgically implanting microphones in their ear canals, radio transmitters in their skulls, and antenna wires along their tails! The idea was to release these feline James Bonds near Soviet embassies, where they would casually wander around and eavesdrop on secret conversations. After spending over $20 MILLION (that’s about $172 million in today’s money), the project’s first field test was a CAT-astrophic failure when their inaugural spy cat was immediately hit by a taxi after being released near the Soviet embassy in Washington D.C.! The declassified CIA memo dryly concluded: “The program was not successful.” I guess you could say the operation didn’t have nine lives after all!
[SOURCE: theatlantic.com and nsarchive2.gwu.edu]

Today we’re celebrating National Proposal Day! That’s right – it’s a day dedicated to popping the big question, strategically positioned on the Spring Equinox when day and night are of equal length, symbolizing the equal partnership that makes successful relationships work! The tradition was started by John Michael O’Loughlin after his cousin waited years for a proposal that never came. Fun fact: About 40% of all marriage proposals happen between November and February, with Christmas Eve being the most popular day to get down on one knee! And here’s a quirky statistic – 20% of women are secretly disappointed with HOW they were proposed to! So fellas, maybe skip the jumbotron at the baseball game unless you’re REALLY sure that’s her style! Remember, the goal is to hear “I do,” not “I don’t think so!”
[SOURCE: nationaldaycalendar.com]

On this day in 1916, Albert Einstein published his groundbreaking General Theory of Relativity! This revolutionary paper explained that what we perceive as gravity is actually the warping of space and time by massive objects – kind of like how a bowling ball would bend a trampoline if you placed it in the center! The theory was so ahead of its time that when it was confirmed by observations during a solar eclipse in 1919, The New York Times ran the headline: “Lights All Askew in the Heavens; Einstein Theory Triumphs.” Despite being one of history’s greatest geniuses, Einstein failed his university entrance exams on his first attempt and struggled to find an academic job after graduation. So the next time you mess up, just remember – even Einstein had his off days! That’s relatively comforting, isn’t it?
[SOURCE: onthisday.com]

Today I found out that “Everything’s Coming Up Roses,” one of Broadway’s most famous songs from the musical “Gypsy,” was originally written as “Everything’s Coming Up DAISIES”! Composer Stephen Sondheim and playwright Arthur Laurents wrote the song for Ethel Merman, who was set to play Mama Rose in the original 1959 production. But when Merman first saw the lyrics, she reportedly said, “What am I? A florist?” and demanded the change to “roses” because it was easier to belt out dramatically! The song became Merman’s signature number and has since been covered by everyone from Frank Sinatra to Bette Midler. So the next time you hear this iconic tune, remember that we were just a few stubborn diva moments away from everything coming up completely different flowers! I guess when Ethel Merman makes a suggestion, you’d better “rose” to the occasion!
[SOURCE: todayifoundout.com]

Watch, Learn and Enjoy!

Troy W. Hudson

💚🎤 #haveyouheard

😂😂😂 If you would like to purchase your own Dad Joke Button, I receive a small commission from you clicking this Amazon affiliate link – https://amzn.to/4i1cD9D

Have YOU heard about the day America accidentally dropped FOUR nuclear bombs on itself?! …STAY TUNED!

On March 19, 1958, the United States experienced what could have been its most catastrophic accident when a B-47 bomber accidentally dropped a Mark 6 nuclear bomb on a family’s backyard in Mars Bluff, South Carolina! Thankfully, the nuclear core wasn’t installed, but the conventional explosives in the bomb still detonated, creating a 35-foot deep crater, destroying the Gregg family’s home, and sending debris flying for miles! The explosion injured six people, including the homeowner’s wife, son, and niece – who were thankfully just outside the house. This wasn’t even America’s only nuclear oopsie – between 1950 and 1968, there were 32 documented “Broken Arrow” incidents where nuclear weapons were accidentally dropped, burned, or otherwise mishandled! The Mars Bluff crater still exists today and has become a bizarre tourist attraction. Talk about a home renovation that really went BOOM!
[SOURCE: smithsonianmag.com and airforcemag.com]

Today we’re celebrating National Poultry Day! That’s right – a day dedicated to celebrating all things chicken, turkey, duck, and more! Americans consume over 8 billion chickens annually – that’s about 97 pounds of chicken per person every year! But here’s a fun fact: chickens aren’t just delicious; they’re the closest living relatives to the T-Rex! DNA studies confirm that chickens share more genetic material with these fearsome dinosaurs than any other living animal. So next time you’re enjoying some crispy fried chicken, remember: you’re basically eating a tiny T-Rex! And if that doesn’t make family dinner more exciting, I don’t know what will! Maybe that’s why chickens are so angry – they know their ancestors used to be at the top of the food chain!
[SOURCE: nationaldaycalendar.com]

On this day in 1831, the first bank robbery in America was reported when the City Bank of New York was robbed of $245,000 by Edward Smith! That’s over $7 million in today’s money! But here’s the twist – Smith didn’t use guns or threats. Instead, he simply forged a duplicate key to the bank vault and casually strolled away with the cash! Smith was eventually caught and sentenced to five years in Sing Sing prison. The judge made him serve his sentence in silence – not allowed to speak a single word for FIVE YEARS! I guess you could say he gave the bank teller the “silent treatment” before the judge returned the favor! Talk about karma making a withdrawal from your conversation account!
[SOURCE: onthisday.com]

Today I found out that one of history’s most valuable treasures was discovered by accident on March 19, 1999, when a farmer in England was using a metal detector in a field and stumbled upon the Ringlemere Cup – a 3,500-year-old solid gold ceremonial cup from the Bronze Age! The farmer, Cliff Bradshaw, initially thought he’d found an old car part, but upon digging it up, realized he’d discovered something extraordinary. The British Museum later purchased the artifact for £270,000 (over $340,000)! The cup was likely used in elaborate burial rituals for elite members of Bronze Age society. Archaeologists believe it may have held some kind of ancient alcoholic beverage – proving that fancy drinking cups have been impressing people at parties for millennia! I guess you could say this farmer really struck GOLD with his hobby!
[SOURCE: todayifoundout.com]

And finally, with the official start of spring just around the corner tomorrow, March 20th, I’m reminded of the time my neighbor decided to celebrate by planting a garden for the first time. He called me over to see his progress and proudly pointed at rows of tiny holes in the ground. “See my garden?” he asked. I looked confused and said, “There’s nothing there.” He replied, “Of course not! I planted SEEDS!” The next day, I caught him standing over the garden with a flashlight at 3 AM. When I asked what he was doing, he said, “The packet said ‘plant in full sun,’ so I’m giving them some extra light!” I told him that’s not how it works, and he said, “Well, how else are they supposed to grow if they can’t SEE what they’re doing?!”

Watch, Learn and Enjoy!

Troy W. Hudson

💚🎤 #haveyouheard

😂😂😂 If you would like to purchase your own Dad Joke Button, I receive a small commission from you clicking this Amazon affiliate link – https://amzn.to/4i1cD9D

Have YOU heard about the $500 MILLION art heist that remains unsolved to this day, with empty frames still hanging in the museum?! …STAY TUNED!

On March 18, 1990, two men disguised as Boston police officers pulled off the largest art heist in world history at the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum! After claiming they were responding to a disturbance call, these fake cops handcuffed the security guards in the basement and spent 81 minutes stealing 13 masterpieces valued at over $500 MILLION! We’re talking Rembrandt, Vermeer, Degas, Manet – the art world’s A-listers! But here’s the kicker – 35 years later, not a single artwork has been recovered, and the museum still displays the EMPTY FRAMES where these masterpieces once hung, as required by Isabella Gardner’s will! The FBI believes the thieves are likely deceased, but the $10 million reward remains active. I guess you could say this case really has been… “framed” as an unsolvable mystery!
[SOURCE: fbi.gov/gardner-museum and gardnermuseum.org]

Today we’re celebrating National Sloppy Joe Day! That’s right – an entire day dedicated to that deliciously messy sandwich that’s been the downfall of countless white shirts since the 1930s! While the exact origin is debated, many credit “Sloppy Joe” Russell, who owned a bar in Key West frequented by Ernest Hemingway. Legend has it that Russell’s cook added tomato sauce to the loose meat sandwiches they were serving, and voilà – culinary history was made! The average American school cafeteria serves over 45 million Sloppy Joes annually, making it the fifth most popular school lunch item. So tonight, embrace the chaos, grab extra napkins, and remember – if it’s not dripping down your arms, you’re not eating it right!
[SOURCE: nationaldaycalendar.com]

On this day in 1965, Soviet cosmonaut Alexei Leonov became the first human to perform a spacewalk, floating outside his Voskhod 2 spacecraft for 12 minutes and 9 seconds! But this historic achievement nearly ended in disaster when his spacesuit ballooned in the vacuum of space, making it impossible for him to re-enter the airlock! Leonov had to secretly bleed air from his suit to shrink it enough to squeeze back inside – a dangerous gamble that could have caused decompression sickness. Upon returning to Earth, the cosmonauts landed off-course in the Ural Mountains and spent two freezing nights surrounded by wolves before rescue teams reached them! Talk about an out-of-this-world commute problem!
[SOURCE: onthisday.com]

Today I found out that the world’s oldest known melody with notation is the “Hurrian Hymn No. 6,” discovered on a clay tablet in Syria dating back to approximately 1400 BCE! That’s over 3,400 years old – making it the ancient equivalent of finding your great-great-great-great-great-great-grandfather’s mixtape! The hymn was dedicated to Nikkal, the goddess of orchards, and was written in cuneiform text using a seven-note diatonic scale that’s surprisingly similar to our modern musical scales. Musicologists have recreated the hymn using period-appropriate instruments like the lyre, and you can actually listen to this ancient tune online! Ancient Mesopotamians – dropping beats before it was cool!
[SOURCE: todayifoundout.com]

And finally, speaking of March 18th – did you know it’s also when New Orleans celebrates St. Joseph’s Day with their iconic Italian-American parades? Instead of throwing beads like during Mardi Gras, these parades feature floats where participants throw VEGETABLES – especially cabbages! That’s right, the streets of New Orleans literally turn GREEN with flying produce! One year, a tourist caught a massive cabbage and yelled to a local, “What am I supposed to do with this?!” The local replied, “Make coleslaw, of course!” The tourist looked confused and said, “But I don’t have any mayonnaise!” The local winked and said, “Don’t worry – they’ll be throwing THAT in the parade tomorrow!” The tourist waited all day the next day for flying condiments… talk about a real “Mayo-clinic” of disappointment!

Watch, Learn and Enjoy!

Troy W. Hudson

💚🎤 #haveyouheard