Archives for May 2025

“Have YOU heard that in 1969, a Kentucky Derby-winning horse was stripped of his title after failing a drug test… because a baker put cough medicine in his birthday cake? STAY TUNED!”

On May 14, 1969, the Kentucky Derby winner Dancer’s Image became the only horse in Derby history to be disqualified after winning. Why? Traces of phenylbutazone(FEE-NUL-BYOOT-AH-ZONE), an anti-inflammatory drug, were found in his system. The strangest part? The most likely source wasn’t nefarious cheating – it was a birthday cake! A local baker who loved the horse had baked him a special cake containing cough medicine that contained the banned substance. Talk about a bitter taste of victory!

*[Source: Sports Illustrated archives, 1969]*

May 12th is National Limerick Day! This quirky celebration honors the birthday of Edward Lear, who popularized this five-line poetic form in his 1846 “Book of Nonsense.” Here’s a limerick about limericks:

*There once was a form with five lines,*

*Whose rhythm particularly shines,*

*With wit and with mirth,*

*It circled the Earth,*

*And thrives as new talent combines!*

Now that’s a day worth celebrating with some wordplay!

*[Source: NationalDayCalendar.com]*

On May 15, 1930, airline hostesses took to the skies for the very first time! Boeing Air Transport hired eight nurses as the world’s first flight attendants, with Ellen Church becoming the pioneer of this profession. But here’s the catch – these women had to be single, under 25 years old, weigh less than 115 pounds, and stand no taller than 5’4″! Their duties included not just serving food and reassuring nervous passengers, but also hauling luggage, fueling planes, and even helping pilots push planes into hangars! For their extraordinary multi-tasking skills, they earned a whopping $125 per month. Next time you request an extra pillow mid-flight, remember your flight attendant’s predecessors once had to help push the actual plane!

*[Source: OnThisDay.com]*

On May 16, 1960, physicist Theodore Maiman demonstrated the world’s first functioning laser at Hughes Research Laboratories. But did you know that when Maiman submitted his paper on this groundbreaking invention to the prestigious journal “Physical Review Letters,” they REJECTED it? They thought it wasn’t important enough! The paper was later published in Nature, and lasers now power everything from barcode scanners to eye surgery tools. Talk about missing the beam for the light!

*[Source: TodayIFoundOut.com]*

May 13th marks the birthday of Stevie Wonder, born in 1950. Despite being blind since shortly after birth, Wonder signed with Motown Records at just 11 years old! Here’s something most people don’t know – Stevie Wonder’s real name is Stevland Hardaway Judkins, and he was born six weeks premature, which contributed to his blindness. The oxygen-rich atmosphere in his incubator damaged his developing retinas – a condition now known as retinopathy of prematurity. Despite this challenge, he went on to win 25 Grammy Awards and revolutionize music!

*[Source: Rock & Roll Hall of Fame archives]*

May 17th is “World Baking Day” – but did you know that the world’s oldest bread was discovered in Jordan and dates back 14,400 years? That’s right – our ancestors were baking before we even invented agriculture! These ancient flatbreads were made from wild cereals that people gathered long before formal farming began. So next time you’re enjoying a slice of toast, remember you’re participating in one of humanity’s oldest traditions!

*[Source: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 2018]*

And finally, May 18th is “Visit Your Relatives Day”! And here’s a story from a viewer that says their reunions are a little different than most – I wonder how many of you can relate to this: “Last year’s reunion was WILD – my uncle tried to show everyone how he could still do a cartwheel at age 72. Let’s just say the ambulance drivers are now considered extended family! My cousin brought her new robot vacuum to clean up after dinner, but Grandma kept putting her feet up every time it came near her, yelling “I’m not going anywhere yet, you electronic grim reaper!” And don’t get me started on the family photo – we tried using a drone for an aerial shot, but Aunt Mildred swatted it down with her purse screaming “THE ALIENS ARE HERE!” The photographer said he’d never seen a $1,200 drone taken out by a $12 handbag before! So remember folks, on Visit Your Relatives Day, nothing says “I love you” like showing up with a good excuse to leave early!

[Source: National Day Calendar’s “Visit Your Relatives Day” – May 18th]

Watch, Learn and Enjoy!

Troy W. Hudson

💚🎤 #haveyouheard

“Have YOU heard? NASA once spent millions developing a pen that could write in space while the Russians just used pencils! …STAY TUNED!”

Our feature story today tackles one of the most persistent myths about the space race. You’ve probably heard that NASA spent millions developing a fancy space pen while the practical Russians just used pencils. It’s a great story, but completely false!

The truth is both Americans and Soviets initially used pencils in space, but they were actually dangerous! Broken pencil tips could float around, causing damage to equipment or even be inhaled by astronauts. Plus, the wood and graphite were flammable in the oxygen-rich environment of early spacecraft.

The Fisher Space Pen was privately developed by Paul Fisher of the Fisher Pen Company without NASA funding. He invested around $1 million of his own money before NASA purchased the pens at $2.95 each in 1967. The Soviets liked the pens so much, they started buying them too!

So next time someone tells you this “wasteful spending” story, you can set the record straight faster than a rocket to the moon!

[SOURCE: NASA History Office, “Common Space Myths Debunked”]

May 5th marks Cinco de Mayo, but did you know it’s NOT Mexican Independence Day? It actually commemorates the Mexican army’s victory over the French at the Battle of Puebla in 1862!

While it’s a relatively minor holiday in Mexico, primarily celebrated in the state of Puebla, it’s become a major celebration of Mexican culture in the United States. The first American Cinco de Mayo celebrations began in California in the 1860s as a show of solidarity with Mexico against French occupation.

The holiday gained widespread popularity in the U.S. during the 1980s when beer companies began promoting it as a marketing opportunity. Now you know the real story behind your tacos and margaritas!

[SOURCE: National Day Calendar, “Cinco de Mayo History and Celebrations”]

May 9th marks the birthday of the rubber duck! On this day in 1949, sculptor Peter Ganine patented the design for the now-iconic bathtub toy.

Originally intended as a floating art piece, Ganine’s creation became wildly popular, with over 50 million sold. The rubber duck gained international fame when it appeared on Sesame Street in 1970, with Ernie singing “Rubber Duckie, you’re the one” while taking a bath.

In 2013, the rubber duck was inducted into the Toy Hall of Fame, cementing its place in bathroom history. That’s something to quack about!

[SOURCE: OnThisDay.com, “Innovation and Invention History”]

May 11th is Mother’s Day this year, but did you know this holiday has a somewhat controversial origin? Anna Jarvis founded Mother’s Day in 1908 to honor her own mother, but later spent years fighting against its commercialization!

When Jarvis saw how florists, card companies, and confectioners were profiting from the holiday, she actually filed lawsuits to stop them and was even arrested for disturbing the peace at a Mother’s Day event. She ultimately depleted her personal fortune fighting against the very holiday she created!

Today, Mother’s Day is the third-largest card-sending holiday in the United States and one of the biggest days for restaurant sales. Sorry, Anna!

[SOURCE: TodayIFoundOut.com, “The Founder of Mother’s Day Later Fought to Have It Abolished”]

On May 6, 1954, Roger Bannister became the first person to run a mile in under 4 minutes, breaking what many considered an impossible human barrier!

The British medical student completed the mile in 3 minutes and 59.4 seconds at the Iffley Road Track in Oxford. Doctors had previously claimed that the human body was physically incapable of achieving this feat – some even warned that the heart would explode from the effort!

Within just 46 days, Australian John Landy broke Bannister’s record. Today, the world record stands at 3:43.13, set by a Moroccan runner 1999. Talk about raising the bar!

[SOURCE: OnThisDay.com, “Sports History Milestones”]

May 5th is National Hoagie Day! This beloved sandwich, also known as a sub, hero, or grinder depending on where you live, has been filling American bellies since the early 20th century.

The name “hoagie” originated in Philadelphia, where Italian immigrants working at the Hog Island shipyard during World War I would bring massive sandwiches stuffed with meats, cheeses, and vegetables. These became known as “Hog Island sandwiches,” later shortened to “hoggies” and eventually “hoagies.”

In 1992, the hoagie was declared the official sandwich of Philadelphia. Now that’s a designation you can really sink your teeth into!

[SOURCE: National Day Calendar, “National Hoagie Day – May 5”]

Look up at the night sky on May 10th for the spectacular “Flower Moon”! Native American tribes named the May full moon after the abundant flowers that bloom this time of year.

This year’s Flower Moon coincides with a celestial event known as “lunar perigee” – when the moon is closest to Earth in its orbit – making it appear slightly larger than usual. Astronomers call this a “supermoon,” though they often roll their eyes at the term.

Last year’s Flower Moon viewing party in Central Park had an unexpected visitor when a local florist showed up with 500 daisies, saying he “thought it was some kind of flower competition.” When told it was actually about the moon, he replied, “Well, that explains why no one brought vases!” Talk about a blooming misunderstanding!

[SOURCE: Upcoming Astronomy Events Calendar, May 2025]

Watch, Learn and Enjoy!

Troy W. Hudson

💚🎤 #haveyouheard