Be a Good Citizen

Fact- The Connecticut State Police Force is the oldest state police force in the country, formed in 1903.

Depressing

Fact- 17% of those in nursing homes never have any visitors

Although this sounds very sad, it was attached to a news story about a new invention that will allow the elderly to remain close to their families and independent longer. The new invention has been nicknamed..."the granny pod"

Never Good

Fact- a Times poll has 24% of Americans believing that President Obama is a Muslim.

An extra interesting tidbit, this is an increase from the number of Americans who believed he was Muslim during campaign season

Spelling Games Stink Anyway

Fact- the hardest word to guess in hangman is..."jazz"

Technology

Fact- North Korea has its own twitter account and a youtube channel. Now, if I only understood Korean, I could be influenced by their propaganda

Raccoons

Fact- Raccoons actually don't need to wash everything that they eat.

I had heard of the myth that raccoons wash all their food, but when I sent it out to friends, they had no idea what I was talking about. Maybe they are just dumb.

Frightening

Fact- An estimated hundred thousand Americans have gotten away with murder in the last 30 years.

Behind the Scenes- This one really captured my interest, so it gets a behind the scenes plug. I got this fact from NPR, they were talking about a new book which I am off to the library to get. Its called "The Murder Room" by Michael Capuzzo. Its about a cold case club located in Philadelphia called the Vidocq Society.

The Vidocq Society is composed of the world's foremost experts in forensics and investigating. They meet every month to discuss and attempt to solve the most puzzling cold case files.

It is named after the French detective who first influenced the Surete to use the psychology of a criminal to catch murderers. It probably helped his success that he was a former criminal himself.

Takes the Cake

Fact- For his 59th birthday, President FDR received a cake 5ft in height that weighed 300 lbs.

Happy Birthday!

http://www.mentalfloss.com/blogs/archives/62717

Smokey

Fact- the forest service mascot, Smokey the Bear, was actually originally a real bear cub. The cub was badly burned in a forest fire in 1950 at Lincoln National Forest, in New Mexico. The cub went on to live the rest of his life out in a Washington, DC zoo. He inspired the campaign.

Scuba Anyone?

Fact- A man in California has taught his dog, Mutley, and his cat, Hawkeye, how to scuba dive. He even invented special suits for them.

Hawkeye Mutley

Education

Fact- Alabama spends the least of all the states on education

Funny Spelling?

Fact- Haagen-Daz, as in the ice cream, is a fake word

Chubby Baby

Fact- a baby gray whale can gain between 60-70 pounds...a day

Brains

Fact- Half of a shark's brain is used for smelling

Do you have Moxie?

Fact- Moxie is the official state soft drink of Maine and has its own festival every year.

It was originally developed as a nerve tonic

Random

Fact- During his time in office, President Reagan received 372 belt buckles.

For Yesterday

Fact- On this day in history, August 3rd, in 1958, the submarine Nautilus traveled under the North Pole

Carl Mydans/Time Life Pictures/Getty Images

This is the world's first nuclear powered submarine, developed by the US Navy in 1954. By 1966, it was outdated.

Hibernate

Fact- During the winter, turtles bury themselves under the mud at the bottom of a lake or pond.

What interesting things you learn in children's books

Bugs

Fact- The state insect of MA is the ladybug.

If you have to pick a state bug, I suppose this is the best one to pick, not too creepy-crawly.