100 Foot Jump, On A Snowmobile!

Check out this 100 foot jump by Dan Treadway on a snowmobile in British Columbia! Unbelievable!

Flying With An Eagle

Ever wondered what it would be like to fly like an eagle? Check out THIS eagle, fitted with a GoPro camera, flying over the French Alps.

Road Rage: Caught On Video

Watch this video from Russian as road rage is caught on tape! A motorcyclist feels he is cut off on traffic and goes after the driver of a car, knockikng his mirror off and trying to get him to stop, BUT the car's driver has a surprise for HIM!

Seal Tries To Snuggle With Duck Hunters

Cute video as a baby seal climbs into a boat with duck hunters in Massachusetts and tries to "snuggle" with one of the hunters!

40 Pound Barracuda Jumps In Fishing Boat

Great video from Tales From The Outdoors and Kevin Faver near St. Augustine, Florida, as a 40 lb Barracuda jumps in a fishing boat and begins thrashing around!

Marlin Jumps In Boat, Man Jumps OUT!

Great fishing video as a large marlin jumps in the boat while fishing, and a man jumps OUT!

When Cats Attack: Housecats Attacking People, Pitbulls and an Alligator! (VIDEO)

Think cats are all soft, fuzzy and loving? Think again! Cats can be vicious! Watch these cats attack people, a pitbull and even an alligator!

Massive Pile Up Involving Dozens Of Vehicles, Caught On Video!

Check out this massive pileup near Germantown, Wisconsin, Sunday, caught on video, involving dozens of vehicles.  At least one driver was reportedly killed in the chain reaction crash, blamed on drivers following too closely, and driving too fast.


Safety officials remind everyone driving on ice and snow to leave plenty of space between yourself and other vehicles, slow down and do not get out of your vehicle if an accident occurs until it's safe to do so.

Strange But True Facts About "A Christmas Story"

"A Christmas Story" has become a Christmas tradition in itself. TBS airs the film over and over during 24 hours at Christmastime each year as fans can't get enough of watching Ralphie's quest for his Red Ryder BB Gun!  Here are some facts about the movie you might not know!


Director Bob Clark got the idea for the movie in 1968 after hearing a broadcast of radio personality Jean Shepard's memories of growing up in Indiana in the late 30s and early 40s. Many of the stories were included in Shepard's 1966 book, "In God We Trust: All Others Pay Cash." Shepard grew up in Hammond, Indiana, on Cleveland Street, and went to Warren G. Harding Elementary School, just like Ralphie.

For years, Clark, a low budget B-movie director wanted to make the film, but no movie studios were interested.

In 1981,  Clark had a "hit" with the raunchy B-movie, "Porky's."  MGM wanted a sequel to "Porky's" but Clark only agreed to do the sequel if the studio would let him make "A Christmas Story."  As a result, the studio got their sequel to Porky and Clark got to make "A Christmas Story."  Since the studio had no interest in making "A Christmas Story," Clark had total freedom to make the movie exactly as he wanted, with no studio interference.

The low budget film opened around Thanksgiving in 1983 on only 900 screens nationwide and made $6 million it's first 2 weeks. MGM didn't count on the movie's modest success and great word of mouth so it never scheduled additional distribution for it and it disappeared from theaters. It later became popular through strong "word of mouth" advertising and home video sales, along with plays on cable television.

TNT began showing the movie 12 times consecutively in 1988 as a stunt, but it quickly became a popular tradition!

The producers original choice to play "The Old Man" was Jack Nicholson, but they couldn't afford him and settled on Darrin McGavin, who was Clark's first choice all along. Clark said McGavin was the best choice because he WAS The Old Man.

Prior to being cast as Ralphie, Peter Billingsly was a correspondent on the variety show, Real People.  He is now a producer in Hollywood and works a lot with his close friend, Vince Vaughn. Among the movies Billingsly has produced are "Iron Man" and "The Break Up."

Clark cast Melinda Dillon as the mom after seeing her in "Close Encounters of the Third Kind."

The character, Scut Farkus was created for the movie and never appeared in the book by Shepard. The movie character was played by actor Zack Ward, who claimed he was only paid $5,000 for the role and later sued a company which created a board game based on the movie for using his image without his permission.  The suit was settled out of court.

The movie itself was filmed in Cleveland, Ohio and Toronto, Canada.  The house  used in the movie is just outside downtown Cleveland.  Many of the interior shots of the house, though, were filmed in Toronto. The exterior scenes of the school were filmed at Victoria School in St. Catherines, Ontario.

The department store scenes were filmed at Higbee's, a real department store in Cleveland.

Jean Shepard makes a cameo in the department scene as a grouchy customer who tells Ralphie to get to the back of the line to see Santa.

Director Bob Clark makes a cameo as Swede, the family's neighbor who stops by to gawk at the leg lamp.

The leg lamp is based on a real lamp, an illuminated Nehi logo.  Three were custom made for the movie and all were broken on the set during filming.

A hidden suction cup was used to used to give the illusion Flick's tongue got stuck to the flagpole.

The Little Orphan Annie decoder pin was the real McCoy! It was the 1940 Speedomatic model.

In a "daydream" scene which was cut from the movie, Ralphie joined Flash Gordon to defeat the villian, Ming the Merciless.  Other scenes which were cut from the final version involved a fantasy scene involving Ralphie rescuing Santa Claus from Black Bart's men.

The weird kid in the goggles was found by Clark in the department store where they filmed, Higbee's.  Both Clark and Billingsley said the kid was truly weird.  Santa, the witch and the elves were played by local actors.

Jean Shepard spent the first part of the filming on the set but was asked to leave after he began telling actors how to play their parts.

Many of the items in the film are actually from the time period of the late 30s to early 40s, such as the Little Orphan Annie Decoder ring, cars, radios and phones, however they had to use a substitute wax prop for Lifebuoy soap, as none could be found.

The neighbor's dogs were not trained performers.  In face, they had no control over them running wild in the film.  The scene where they ran through the house and ate the turkey were 100% real and unrehearsed.

The scene at the Chinese restaurant was not in the book, but rather Clark's idea.  The actors were not told the wait staff would be singing to them.  They were taken completely off guard by it!  Their laughing hysterically and uncontrollably was completely natural!

in 2007, Bob Clark, along with his son were killed by a drunk driver in a head on collision.

The house used in the movie was purchased by a private developer in 2004 and turned into a museum.    Check it out, here!

Strange But True Facts About Thanksgiving

Most historians agree the origin of what we celebrate as Thanksgiving began in 1621 as the Pilgrims of Plymouth Rock celebrated with a meal with the native Americans. There may have been fall feasts at other settlements prior to this, but most of those settlements did not survive. There is no record of a Thanksgiving celebration at Jamestown.  The tribe which celebrated with the Pilgrams was the Wampznoag tribe, who taught them to grow crops.

There was no turkey or corn at the first Thanksgiving. The menu was thought to be  lobster, rabbit, chicken, fish, squashes, beans, chestnuts, hickory nuts, onions, leeks, dried fruits, maple syrup and honey, radishes, cabbage, carrots, eggs, and goat cheese .  The feast lasted 3 days.


President Abraham Lincoln issued a 'Thanksgiving Proclamation' October 3rd, 1863 and officially set aside the last Thursday of November as the national day for Thanksgiving.

The first Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade was in 1924. 

Beginning in 1947, the National Turkey Foundation began sending the President 2 dressed turkey's and one live turkey which the President "pardoned." The live turkey spends it's days on a refuge.

Minnesota produces the most turkeys (46 million), followed by North Carolina (36 million).

Each Year, around 280 million turkeys are purchased. The average weight of the turkey is 15. pounds, with 70% white meat and 30% dark.

88% of all Americans eat turkey at Thanksgiving.

The biggest turkey on record weighed 86 pounds.

Commercially raised turkey's do not have the ability to fly but wild turkeys can fly short distances at 55 mph and run at up to 20 mph.

Wild turkeys almost became extinct in the 1900s but now there wild turkeys in every state but Alaska.

Selective breeding commercially has caused turkey breasts to grow so large, the turkeys fall over.

There is more protein in turkey than chicken or beef.

The most popular turkey leftover is the turkey sandwich.

According to the U.S. Fire Administration (USFA), nearly 4,300 fires occur on Thanksgiving causing 15 deaths and almost $27 million in property damage, many of them due to accidents while attempting to deep fry turkeys. 

45 million turkeys are eaten each Thanksgiving while 22 million turkeys are eaten at Christmas.



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Did Someone Die In Your House?

Have you ever wondered if those creaks and thumps you've heard at night in your house is a ghost?  Have you ever thought about buying a house but wondered if there were secrets you didn't know about it?  Well now there's a website which claims to tell you if someone died in your home prior to your buying it, or if someone died at a home at a certain address.....for a fee of course.

The website is called DiedInHouse.com.  It says real estate agents and sellers are not required to tell a potential buyer if a death occurred at a home they're trying to sell.  That much is true!  Though a search, and for a fee, it will tell you indeed there was a death at that address and when.  The website claims if someone died in the house, it can adversely affect it's value, in addition to possibly giving you an idea of those noises are just in your head, or not!

Strange But True Facts About The NFL

Here are some strange but true scientific facts about the NFL and it's games!

1. On average NFL wide receivers run at 18 miles per hour.  After catching the ball, the speed cn actually increase!

2. Defensive linemen who weigh more than 300 pounds can tackle a runner with a force of 1,600 pounds!

3. On average, NFL quarterbacks can throw the ball from 55 to 70 yards in the air.  A few can even throw it further!

4. The fastest 40 yard dash ever recorded at the NFL Combine was 4.24 seconds by Chris Johnson, who plays for the Tennessee Titans.

5. At the NFL Combine, the average player can lift 225 pounds, 30 times in the bench press.

6. A helmet to helmet hit can create a force of 100Gs.

7. Statistics experts say, during the coin flip, there is actually a 2% better chance of heads than tails, if the heads side is up when flipped.

8. The ball speed on an NFL kickoff or field goal attempt can reach 80 mph.

9. The average punt has a "hang time" of 4.5 seconds.

10. The average NFL receiver has a vertical leap of between 30 and 40 inches.

Packin n Bikin....

Spotted on my evening commute....

DON'T cha dare cut him off in traffic....

Can You Name This Clown?

The original McDonald's Ronald McDonald.....

You might know him better as.......(scroll down)....
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Today Show Weatherman Willard Scott!

Facts About Teenagers You Might Not Know...

Do you have teenaged kids?  The teenage years are tough ones!  You might know some of these facts.  Then again, you might not!

Over 70 percent of girls age 15 to 17 avoid normal daily activities, such as attending school, when they feel bad about their looks.

75 percent of girls with low self-esteem reported engaging in negative activities like cutting, bullying, smoking, drinking, or disordered eating. This compares to 25 percent of girls with high self-esteem.

About 20 percent of teens will experience depression before they reach adulthood.

 The top wish among all teen girls is for their parents to communicate better with them!

 38 percent of boys in middle school and high school reported using protein supplements and nearly 6 percent admitted to experimenting with steroids.

7 in 10 girls believe that they are not good enough or don’t measure up in some way, including their looks, performance in school and relationships with friends and family members.

A girl’s self-esteem is more strongly related to how she views her own body shape and body weight, than how much she actually weighs.

 More teens die from prescription drugs than heroin/cocaine combined.

 1 in 9 high school seniors has tried synthetic marijuana.

 Young people who drink alcohol are 50 times more likely to use cocaine than teens who never drink.

About 64 percent of teens surveyed who have abused pain relievers say they got them from friends or relatives.

 In 2012, 15 percent of high school seniors used prescription drugs. However, 35 percent feel regular use is risky.

Around 28 percent of teens know a friend or classmate who has used ecstasy, with 17 percent knowing more than one user.

By the 8th grade, 29.5 percent of adolescents have consumed alcohol, 15.5 percent have smoked cigarettes, and 15 percent have used marijuana.

Teens whose parents talk to them regularly about the dangers of drugs are 42 percent less likely to use drugs than those whose parents don't. However, only a quarter of teens report having these conversations.

 Fewer than 2% of adolescents have had sex by the time they reach their 12th birthday. But adolescence is a time of rapid change. Only 6% of teens have had sex by age 15, compared with one-third of those aged 16, nearly half (48%) of those aged 17, 61% of 18-year-olds and 71% of 19-year-olds. There is little difference by gender in the timing of first sex.

More than half of all teenagers aged 15-19 has engaged in oral sex. 55 percent of boys and 54 percent of girls have given or received oral sex, while 49 percent of boys and 53 percent of girls have had intercourse.

About one in five ninth graders report having oral sex and almost one third said they intend to try it during the next six months, a small study of teens at two California schools report. 

On average, young people have sex for the first time at about age 17.

Approximately 1 million teenagers every year become pregnant. Up to 95 % of those pregnancies were unplanned and unwanted.

Some states are beginning to collect child support from the parents of non-custodial teenagers who produce children prior to becoming an adult.

3 out of 10 teenaged mothers do not complete high school. The ones who do complete high school are less likely to go to college than non-teen mothers 

Teenage pregnancy rates are directly related to the income and education level of the teenager's family. Almost half of the girls living in poverty will become pregnant before becoming an adult.

For every sexually active teenager, one in four will get an STD within one year.

 European teens are more likely than U.S. teens to use contraceptives generally and to use the most effective methods; they therefore have substantially lower pregnancy rates.

 Three percent of males and 8% of females aged 18–19 in 2006–2008 reported their sexual orientation as homosexual or bisexual. During the same period, 12% of females aged 18–19 reported same-sex behaviors (any sexual experience, including oral sex), compared with 4% of males in the same age-group (includes any oral or anal sex).

CDC researchers have found that 2.2 percent of U.S. adults aged 14-39 had Chlamydia. Nearly 1 in 20 women aged 14-19, 4.6 percent, were infected. In 2003, 877,478 cases were reported in the U.S, making it the most commonly reported STD, the CDC said. 

About half of all new STDs in 2000 occurred among youth ages 15 to 24.



source: dosomething.org  www.guttmacher.org

Strange But True Facts About Women

The average height of a woman in the U.S. is approximately 5 feet 4 inches, and the average weight is about 163 pounds.

 In almost every country worldwide, the life expectancy for women is higher than for men.

 There are roughly four million more women than men in the U.S. In the age 85-and-older category, there are more than twice as many women as men currently living in the U.S.

Approximately 95% of all women in the U.S. have been married at least once by the age of 55.

The most common cause of death for American women is heart disease, which causes just over 27% of all deaths in females. Cancer ranks just below, causing 22% of female deaths

Depression is the most common cause of disability in women, and approximately 25% of all women will experience severe depression at some point in their lives.

 Approximately one in five women worldwide reports being sexually abused before the age of 15.

 Over 90% of all cases of eating disorders occur in women, and nearly seven million women in the U.S. currently suffer from anorexia nervosa or bulimia.

 Women are nearly twice as likely to be blind or visually impaired as men.

More American women work in the education, health services, and social assistance industries than in any other industry. These three industries employ nearly one-third of all female workers.

The average woman owns more than 25 pairs of shoes.

During her lifetime, the average woman eats between 4.5 and 6.5 pounds of lipstick.

The average woman spends about 120 hours a year looking at herself in the mirror.

The breasts of human women are much larger in proportion than those of other female mammals. The prominent size, while not necessary for milk production, is most likely a result of sexual selection.

 The two highest IQs ever recorded on a standard test both belong to women.

Facts About The St. Louis Cardinals

OK, so you think you're a St Louis Cardinals fan?  How many of these facts did YOU know?

The original name of the St Louis Cardinals was the Brown Stockings.  They were formed in 1882 in the American Association.

 In 1891, the team moved to the National League and changed the team name to the St. Louis Browns. In 1899, the name was changed to the Perfectos, and in 1900, the name was changed to the St. Louis Cardinals.  Later there was an American League team named the St. Louis Browns, from 1902 to 1954.  In 1954 that team moved to Baltimore and became the Baltimore Orioles.


From 1901 to 1918, The St. Louis Cardinals played at Robison Field, averaging 4,200 fans per game.

 The Cardinals have won more than 9,300 games, 11 World Series Championships, 18 National League Pennants, 3 National League Eastern Division Titles, and 8 National League Central Division Titles.

The Cardinals beat the New York Yankees to win their first world series in 1926.  Since then they have won the World Series in 1931, 1934, 1942, 1944, 1946, 1964, 1967, 1982, 2006 and 2011.

"Sunny" Jim Bottomley had more than 100 RBIs in 6 consecutive seasons for the Cardinals, from 1924 to 1929.

The Cardinals teams in the 30s were known as The Gashouse Gang. They got the nickname because of the unkept appearance.  According to one version, the nickname stuck when shortstop Leo Durocher said, "they think we're a bunch of gashousers," referring to workers in the plants which produced gas for heating and lighting in cities.  Another version is they got the nickname when Dizzy Dean bought a local gas station in Florida.

 There are more than 40 former Cardinal players and managers enshrined in the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum in Cooperstown, New York.

In all, the Cardinals have had 20 League MVPs and 3 Cy Young Award Winners.

 Although St. Louisans love their Cardinals, 90% of Cardinals fans come from outside the city of St. Louis!

The Cardinals radio network is the second largest in baseball with 117 stations in nine states (Arkansas, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Missouri, Mississippi, Oklahoma and Tennessee) with the potential to reach over 21 million listeners.

Each year at Busch Stadium, Cardinals fans eat more than a half million hotdogs!

Albert "Red" Schoendienst did 3 stints as the Cardinals manager, from 1965 to 1976 (Winning 2 World Series), and in 1980, prior to the hiring of Whitey Herzog and 1990, after the departure of Herzog.

From 1996 to 2012, Tony LaRussa managed the Cardinals to 3 NL Pennants and 2 World Series Championships before retiring as the third winningest manager of all time, behind only Connie Mack and John McGraw.

Cardinal outfielder Lou Brock ranks second all-time in Major League Baseball with 938 stolen bases, leading the league 8 times.

In his first three seasons with the Cardinals, Vince Coleman stole more than 100 bases in each season. In 1985,  Coleman was injured as the automatic tarp at Busch Stadium rolled over his leg!

Cardinals legend Stan "The Man" Musial got his 3,000th hit off the arch rival Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field.  He finished with 3630 hits:  1815 at home and 1815 on the road.

Before signing Jackie Robinson in 1945 and breaking baseball's color barrier, the innovative Branch Rickey managed the Cardinals in the 1920s and was credited with starting the minor league farm system which set the stage for successful Cardinals teams from then on.

The only Cardinal pitcher to win 30 games in a season was Dizzy Dean, who went 30-7 in 1934.  Tony Mullane with a 35-15 record in 1883 did it for the previous incarnation of the Cardinals, the Browns in 1887.

In the 1940s, a Cardinals player won the MVP 5 times: Mort Cooper in 1942, Marty Marion  in 1944, Stan Musial in 1943, 1946 and 1948.

In 1946, Enos Slaughter's "Mad Dash" from 1st base with 2 outs scored the winning run as the Cardinals beat the Boston Red Sox in the World Series. Slaughter scored exactly 100 runs in 1942, 1946 and 1947.

The Cardinals season home run leader is Mark McGwire, who hit 70 in 1998.  Outside of the "Steroid Era" the Cards Johnny Mize hit 43 in 1940.

 Rogers Hornsby was the first to hit 40 home runs for the Cardinals in 1922.  He also won the Triple Crown that year.  Hornsby won the Triple Crown twice in his career.

Bob Gibson only led the league in strikeouts once, in 1968, when he struck out 268 batters.  In 3 other seasons, he actually had more strikeouts but was beaten out by Sandy Kofax in 1965 and Sam McDowell in 1969 and 1970.  In 1968, Gibson led the league with a 1.12 ERA, which caused Major League Baseball to lower the height of the pitching mound.  Also in 1968, Gibson became the only Cardinal to win the Cy Young and MVP awards in the same season.

The Cardinals pitcher with the most no-hitters is Bob Forsch with 2. Bob Gibson and Dizzy Dean had one each.  The first Cardinals pitcher to throw a no-hitter was Jesse Haines in 1924.

Fernando Tatis  hit 2 grand slams in one inning for the Cardinals in 1999, off pitcher Chan Ho Park.  That's also a record for RBIs in one inning (8).  Ironically, Tatis later played for the minor league team in New Orleans, where he was on the same roster as Park.

Mark Whiten became the first Cardinal to hit 4 home runs in a game, in the second game of a doubleheader with the Cincinnati Reds in 1993.

Jose Oquendo played all nine positions in his major league career with the Cardinals, and even recorded a decision as a pitcher, losing in a 19 inning game to the Atlanta Braves.

Mike Laga was the only player to hit a ball completely out of the old Busch Stadium (it was a foul ball).

Hall of Fame shortstop Ozzie Smith played 4 seasons for the San Diego Padres before being traded to the Cardinals. He finished his career with 13 Gold Gloves, and 16 All-Star Game appearances.

Strange But True! Can You Recognize These Beauties?

Can you recognize these beauties?   Some grew up to be beauty queens and glamorous movie stars, and some were glamorous back "in the day" before becoming famous later!

Angela Lansbury, who later went on to star in "Murder She Wrote"

Betty White....yes, Betty White, who went on to star on "Golden Girls"

Elizabeth Taylor

Jayne Mansfield

Jessica Tandy, who went on to star in "Driving Miss Daisy"

Julie Newmar, who went on to star as Catwoman in the Batman TV series

Lucille Ball

Marilyn Monroe

Raquel Welch

Rue McClanahan, who went on to star on "Golden Girls"

Vivian Leigh, who later starred as Scarlett O'Hara of "Gone With The Wind."

Facts About The Rolling Stones

This is the 50th Anniversary of the Rolling Stones!  In honor of their 50th anniversary, here are 50 facts about the Stones.  Many of them are indeed strange but true!

1. Founded by Mick Jagger and Keith Richards in 1962, The Rolling Stones are the longest continuously performing band in the history of Rock n Roll
2. Mick Jagger was actually schooled at the London School of Economics.
3. Early on Jagger and Richards used the the pseudonym  "Nanker Phelge in songwriting.
4. The Stones signed with Decca Records in 1963 and within 6 months of their first release, they were big time.
5. In 1964, the Stones' Brian Jones wrote a jingle for, and the band appeared in a commercial for Kellogg's Rice Krispies, in England.
6. The Stones first toured the USA in 1964. Their first USA hit was "That Girl Belongs to Yesterday."
7. The Beatles and The Rolling Stones were actually good friends, although for marketing purposes, the Stones were portrayed as the "bad boys" and the "anti-Beatles"
8. The Stones first worldwide number one hit was in 1965, "Satisfaction."
9. The Stones started out playing exclusively American Blues cover songs, as they were big fans of the genre.  Their name comes from a Muddy Waters song.
10. Original Stones guitarist Brian Jones worked at Whitely's Dept Store in London but was fired for stealing.
11.  Although Jagger and Richards did a lot of drugs, and drugs ultimately killed Brian Jones, Bass player Bill Wyman and Drummer Charlie Watts did not like drugs and for the most part steered clear of them.
12. In 1969, at a free concert to promote the album "Let It Bleed" a fan, Meredith Hunter,  was stabbed to death by a Hell's Angel at Altamont Speedway, California as the band was playing "Under My Thumb."
13. Another fan died during the Alamont show by falling into and drowning in an irrigation ditch. That victim is not identified.
14. The cake featured on the cover of the Stones album "Let It Bleed" was baked by famed television chef Della Smith
15. As a child, Keith Richards dressed in cowboy outfits, complete with holsters and said he wanted to be like Roy Rogers, and play guitar.
16. Guitarist Brian Jones fathered 2 illegitimate children by he time was was 16 years old.
17. Brian Jones, who many attributed to introducing the band to American Blues, left the Stones in 1969 and a few weeks later was found dead in his swimming pool.  The coroner listed the cause of death to "death by misadventure."
18. The Stones' answer to The Beatles "Sgt Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band" was "Their Satanic Majesties Request."  It was the last album on which Brian Jones would play.
19. At the Beatles premier part for "A Hard Days Night," Brian Jones, Keith Richards and Charlie Watts were not invited, but crashed the party anyway!
20. Jagger made his acting debut in 1970, playing the lead in a film titled, Ned Kelly.  He played an outlaw.
21. Keith Richards named his child after actor Marlon Brando
22. The Stones are the highest earning band in Rock history, with the concerts grossing between 750 million and 1 billion dollars over the years.
23. Bill Wyman owns a restaurant in London, named "Sticky Fingers"
24. The Stones song "Midnight Rambler" is actually based on Albert DeSalvo, AKA The Boston Strangler.
25. Mick Jagger's middle name is Philip
26. The Rolling Stones have sold more than 200 million albums worldwide.
27. During a 1965 tour, Wyman coined the phrase "groupie."
28. The "Sticky Fingers" album cover was designed by Andy Warhol
29. The producers of the 1971 film "Clockwork Orange" initially wanted the lead role to be played by Jagger, but later decided upon Malcolm McDowell.
30. The Stones formed their own label, Rolling Stones Records, in 1971, becoming one of the first groups to form their own record label.
31. In 1975, when guitarist Mick Taylor left The Stones, one of the possible replacements named was Peter Frampton, although the Stones eventually went with Wood.
32. The 2002, Texas billionaire David Bonderman hired The Rolling Stones for his 60th birthday party, for 7 million dollars.
33. Led Zeppelin guitarist Jimmy Page plays guitar on the Stones hit "One Hit To The Body."
34. The famous "tongue" logo was designed by  John Pasche, and inspired by the Hindu Goddess, Kali The Destroyer
35. Guitarist Mick Taylor replaced Brian Jones in The Stones.  Later, he was replaced by Ron Wood.
36. Former bassist Bill Wyman's hobby is metal detecting....
37. On the 1967 Stones song, "We Love You," Beatles Paul McCartney and John Lennon sang back up.
38. Four different films directed by famed director Martin Scorsese used the Stones song "Gimme Shelter.
39.   Mick Jagger was knigted in 2002.  Richards thought it was hypocritical
40. Upon Bassist Bill Wyman's "retirement," he was replaced by bass player Darryl Jones, a one time bar band veteran in Carbondale, Illinois, the home of Southern Illinois University.  Jones has played with the Stones since 1994 although he is NOT listed as an official band member.
41. Originally, The Stones album "Exile On Main Street" had the working title of "Tropical Disease."
42. The Stones drummer for their first show, Mich Avory, went on to be the drummer for The Kinks.
43. Mick Jagger and Keith Richards are also known as the "Glimmer Twins"
44. After a drug bust in Toronto, Keith Richards said, "Drugs were never a problem. Policemen, were a problem."
45. "Get Yer Ya Ya's Out" is the only Stones Album cover featuring drummer Charlie Watts.
46. Almost all Stones songwriting cresits are Jagger/Richards.  This does not sit well with Watts and Wyman
47. One of Creedence Clearwater Revival's biggest hits, "Suzie Q," was actually a cover of a Rolling Stones song. 
48. Mick Jagger has fathered SEVEN children, four with longtime girlfriend Jerry Hall.
49. For the opening leg of the Rolling Stones "Steel Wheels" tour, the opening band was Guns n Roses.
50. In 1989, The Rolling Stones were inducted into the Rock n Roll Hall of Fame.

The 10 Most Expensive Guitars Of All Time

Guitars are wonderful instruments and also incredibly personal, with lots of history and sentimental value behind them.  These guitars brought the highest prices ever, either through private sale or auction.

10.   $375,000   Leo Fender's 1949 prototype for the Fender Telecaster

9. $455,550  Eric Clapton's Fender Stratocaster, plated in 23 carat gold to mark the 50th anniversary of Fender in 1996

8. $571,000 George Harrison and John Lennon's 1964 Gibson SG

7. $623,500  Stevie Ray Vaughan's 1965 Fender Stratocaster, nicknamed "Lenny" after his wife, who bought him the guitar.

6. $791,500 Eric Clapton's 1939 Martin Acoustic Guitar, auctioned to raise funds for his Crossroads Benefit

5. $847,500  Eric Clapton's 1964 Gibson 335

4. $959,5000 Eric Clapton's 1970 Fender Stratocaster nicknamed "Blackie"

3. $1.2-2 million estimated.  Bob Marley's Washburn.

2. $2 million.  Jimi Hendrix's 1968 Fender Stratocaster, bought by Paul Allen of Microsoft in 1998, the guitar was played by Hendrix at Woodstock in 1969

1.  $2.7 Million: The "Reach Out To Asia" Fender Stratocaster auctioned off to raise money for tsunami relief efforts.  It was signed by Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, Eric Clapton, Brian May, Jimmy Page, David Gilmour, Jeff Beck, Pete Townsend, Mark Knopfler, Ray Davis, Liam Gallagher, Ronnie Wood, Tony Iommi, Angus and Malcolm Young, Paul McCartney, Sting, Ritchie Blackmore, Def Leppard and Bryan Adams

Source: The Telegraph

Strange But True Facts About The Beatles

The Beatles may have been the most influential band in the history of rock n roll, even though they had a relatively short tenure together.  Here are some cool facts about the Beatles and their songs you may not know!

The Beatles were formed in 1957 by John Lennon.  The original name of the band was The Blackjacks.  Later they became The Quarrymen, and after that, The Beatles!  Paul McCartney and George Harrison joined the band in 1958.

In 1962, the Beatles single "Love Me Do" reached number 17 on the charts in the UK.  Part of the reason for this may have been their own manager bought 10,000 copies of the single, to move it up the charts!


Astronomer Carl Sagan wanted The Beatles recording "Here Comes The Sun" included on a phonograph record sent into space aboard the Spacecraft Voyager. While the Beatles themselves liked the idea,  EMI, the Beatles label, refused to allow it.

George Harrison was the first Beatle to perform in the United States.....in 1963, he visited his sister, Louise,  in Benton, Illinois! He wound up playing/jamming with a local band, The Four Vests, at the VFW in nearby Eldorado, Illiniois. They played everything from Carl Perkins' "Matchbox." to Hank Williams' "Your Cheatin' Heart."  While in Southern Illinois, he also bout a guitar at a Mt. Vernon music store ( a Rickenbacker 425) , and the first Beatle record to ever be played on the radio in United States happened at WRFX-AM, in West Frankfort, Illinois, where Harrison was also interviewed on the air.  The record they played was "She Loves You."  In 1964, The Beatles made their first trip to the USA as a group, appeared on the E Sullivan Show, and the rest is history!

At first, Paul McCartney and John Lennon were disinterested in George Harrison song, "While My Guiar Gently Weeps" for The White Album.  Eric Clapton initially refused to play on it,  saying "No one ever plays on Beatles records." Harrison convinced him to participate.

The Beatles debut album, "Please Please Me" was recorded in only 9 hours.

In the 60s, The Beatles bought a private 80 acre island where they planned to live together, as a sanctuary away from they overly enthusiastic fans, but eventually, they broke up and the island was sold....at a profit.

The original bass player for the Beatles was Stuart Suttcliffe, who left the band in Germany.  He was replaced by Chas Newby.  Newby also left the band to return to school and later became a math teacher.

In the 60s, The Beatles wanted to be in a film directed by Stanley Kubrick, based on "The Lord Of The Rings," but the project never materialized.  Lord of the Rings creator, J.R.R.Tolkien was against the Beatles being involved in the project.

"I Want To Hold Your Hand" was the first Beatles record to be recorded in stereo.

"Yesterday" holds the record for the most "covered" recording of all time. It was been recorded more than 16 hundred times by artist ranging from Elvis, to Frank Sinantra to Boys 2 Men.

The second most covered song is George Harrison's "Something," which Frank Sinatra called "The greatest love song of the last 50 years."

"Ticket To Ride" was the first Beatles song to last more than 3 minutes.

Walt Disney wanted The Beatles to perform in the Disney classic "Jungle Book, but the Beatles themselves shot down the idea, as John Lennon said "There's no way The Beatles are going to sing for Mickey Fu*king Mouse!"

Paul McCartney is left handed although there were rumors he was right handed and simply played left handed.  Ringo Starr is ambidextrous but plays drums right handed.

None of The Beatles could read music. They played "by ear."

Paul McCartney and former Beatles drummer Pete Best were deported from Germany for arson.....for burning condoms.  They were trying to use them for light to see in their van.

British model Pattie Boyd inspired both George Harrison's "Something." and Eric Clapton's "Wonderful Tonight." She wound up being the first wife of BOTH!

In 1961, The Beatles were rejected by Decca Records, who told them "guitar groups are on the way out.," and they had no future.  Less than a year later, Beatlemania swept England.

Every 15 seconds, a Beatles song is played, somewhere in the world.

On April 4, 1964, The Beatles held 12 positions on Billboard Magazine's "Hot 100" chart, including ALL of  the top 5 positions.  A feat that has never been matched.  Number one was "Can't But Me Love."

Cher's first song release, under the name Bonnie Jo Mason, was a song titled, "Ringo, I Love You"

"Strawberry Fields Forever" is based on a Salvation Army children's home in Liverpool which John Lennon remembered from his childhood.

The song "Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds" is NOT about LSD.  It's about a drawing little Julian Lennon did in nursery school, which he brought home to his dad, John.

In 1964, The Beatles were introduced to marijuana by Bob Dylan. Paul McCartney later confiemd every reference to "high" and "grass" in Beatles songs were related to marijuana.

The Beatles song "She's So Heavy" is more than 8 minutes long, yet the lyrics only contain 14 words.

Facts About The State of Illinois

The name "Illinois" comes from a Native American word meaning "tribe of superior men."

Illinois became a state on December 3, 1818. Illinois was the 21st state to enter the Union. It had a population of 34,620 people. Illinois is now the sixth most populous state in the country with almost 11.5 million people.

The state song is “Illinois.”

Illinois’ state animal is the white-tailed deer.

The state slogan, "Land of Lincoln," was adopted by the General Assembly in 1955. The State of Illinois has a copyright for the exclusive use of the slogan.

Ottawa, Freeport, Jonesboro, Charleston, Galesburg, Quincy, and Alton hosted the famous Lincoln-Douglas debates that stirred interest in the slavery issue all over the country.

The first aquarium opened in Chicago in 1893.

The world's first skyscraper was built in Chicago in 1885.

Illinois is home to the Chicago Bears Football Team, Chicago Blackhawks hockey team, Chicago Bulls basketball team, Chicago Cubs and Chicago White Sox baseball teams, and Chicago Fire soccer team.

Peoria is the oldest community in Illinois.

Illinois’ state fruit is the Goldrush apple.

The Illinois state reptile is the painted turtle.

The Willis Tower, located in Chicago, is the tallest building on the North American continent. It was the world's tallest building from 1973 until 1996. It covers two city blocks and rises one-quarter mile above the ground. It is still the tallest building to the top of the roof (1,450 feet) and has the highest occupied floor (1,431 feet).

Metropolis, the home of Superman, really exists in southern Illinois.

Illinois is home to Cahokia Mounds State Historic Site, which is the most sophisticated prehistoric native civilization north of Mexico.

Illinois had two different capital cities, Kaskaskia and Vandalia, before Springfield.

The Illinois state fossil is the Tully monster.

The Illinois state prairie grass is big bluestem.

Illinois was the home of President Ulysses S. Grant, whose home is preserved in Galena.

The NFL's ChicagoBears were first known as the "Staley Bears." They were organized in Decatur in 1920.

In 1865, Illinois became the first state to ratify the 13th Amendment to the Constitution abolishing slavery.

On December 2, 1942, Enrico Fermi and a small band of scientists and engineers demonstrated that a simple construction of graphite bricks and uranium lumps could produce controlled heat. The space chosen for the first nuclear fission reactor was a squash court under the football stadium at the University of Chicago.

Illinois’ state tree is the white oak.

The Illinois state mineral is fluorite.

Springfield is the state capital and the home of the national historic site of the home of President and Mrs. Abraham Lincoln. Abraham Lincoln is buried just outside Springfield at Lincoln Tomb State Historic Site.

Chicago is home to the Chicago Water Tower and Pumping Station, the only buildings to survive the Great Chicago Fire.

The Illinois state insect is the monarch butterfly.

Illinois’ state snack food is popcorn.

Before Abraham Lincoln was elected president, he served in the Illinois legislature and practiced law in Springfield.

Carlyle is the home of the largest man-made lake in Illinois.

Illinois has 102 counties.

Ronald Reagan, born in Tampico and raised in Dixon, became the 40th president of the United States in 1980.

The highest point in Illinois is Charles Mound at 1,235 feet above sea level.

The state motto is “State Sovereignty, National Union.”

The Illinois state amphibian is the eastern tiger salamander.

Illinois’ state flower is the violet.

Evanston is the home of the ice cream sundae.

The first silo was constructed on a farm in Spring Grove.

The Illinois state dance is square dancing.

The Illinois state bird is the cardinal.

Illinois’ state fish is the bluegill.

At over 6,000, Illinois has more units of government (i.e., city, county, township, etc.) than any other state. One reason for this may be the township governments, which generally govern areas of just 6 square miles.

In 1905, the president of the Chicago Cubs filed charges against a fan in the bleachers for catching a fly ball and keeping it.

Unlike most skyscrapers, the Chicago's Mercantile Exchange building was built entirely without an internal steel skeleton; it depends on its thick walls to keep itself up.

The abbreviation "ORD" for Chicago's O'Hare airport comes from the original name, Orchard Field. The airport was renamed in honor of Lieutenant Commander Edward H. "Butch" O'Hare.

The trains that pass through Chicago's underground freight tunnels daily would extend over 10 miles total in length.

In Mount Pulaski, it is illegal for boys (and only boys) to hurl snowballs at trees.

Illinois is known for its varied weather, including major winter storms, deadly tornadoes, and spectacular heat and cold waves.

The first birth on record in Chicago was that of Eulalia Pointe du Sable, daughter of Jean-Baptiste Pointe du Sable and his Potawatomi Native American wife, in 1796.

Chicago's Mercy Hospital was the first hospital in Illinois.

The first animal purchased for the Lincoln Park Zoo was a bear cub, which was bought for $10 on June 1, 1874.

The University of Chicago opened on October 1, 1892, with an enrollment of 594 and a faculty of 103.

Comedy showcase "Second City" was founded on North Wells Street in a former Chinese laundry in 1959.

Chicago's first African American mayor, Harold Washington, took office in 1983.

The four stars on the Chicago flag represent Fort Dearborn, the Chicago Fire, the World's Columbian Exposition, and the Century of Progress Exposition.

The Chicago PublicLibrary is the world's largest public library, with a collection of more than 2 million books.

The Chicago Post Office at 433 West Van Buren is the only postal facility in the world you can drive a car through.

The Chicago River is dyed green on Saint Patrick's Day.

Chicago is home to the world's largest cookie and cracker factory, where Nabisco made 16 billion Oreo cookies in 1995.

Illinois’ state soil is Drummer silty clay loam.

Source: Illinois Attorney General's Office

Strange But True Facts About Superman

Superman is the original and most known comic book super hero!  Many people know the basics about the Superman story, but here are some strange but true facts you may not know about him!

Superman was originally a villain!  In the early 1930s, Jerry Siegal and Joe Shuster collaborated on a comic in which a mad scientist transformed a regular person into someone who could read and control minds and who used his powers for evil and his own gain. The comic was titled, "The Reign of the Super Man."

The first Superman comic in which the super hero appeared as we all know him, came out in 1938, as Action Comics  #1. It is the most valuable comic book in the world.

The original falling out between Superman and his arch enemy,  Lex Luther  was because Superman cost Luthor his hair! As teenagers, they were working on a scientific experiment when a fire in the lab began. Superboy (then) blew out the fire with his "super breath" but the spread of the chemicals caused Lex Luthor's permanent hair loss and Luthor vowed revenge!

There really is a hometown of Superman! It's the small town of Metropolis, Illinois.  The newspaper is even named "The Planet," although it's a weekly newspaper instead of a daily newspaper.  Each year, Metropolis hosts a Superman Celebration as Superman and comic book enthusiasts gather!  Metropolis boasts a huge statue of Superman, a Superman Museum, and  a statue of Noel Neill, who played Lois Lane in the TV series with George Reeves, in addition to other attractions.

After a storyline in 1945 where Superman visited an "cyclotron" which smashed atoms, the FBI, fearing a leak involving the development of the nuclear bomb in WWII, visited the editorial offices of the comic.

Superman celebrates his birthday as June 1st, the day he landed on Earth.  Clark Kent celebrates his birthday on June 18th, the day he was adopted by the Kent family.

Long before the Civil Rights Movement, Superman took on the KKK in episodes for the radio show, in which Superman challenged the KKK's Grand Scorpion, preaching tolerance over racial purification.

The S on Superman's outfit is not really an S at all, but a symbol honoring the family name of his birth father, Jor-El.  It only looks like an S!

Originally, Superman stood for just "Truth and Justice," but around the time of World War II, the "and the American Way" was added in the radio broadcasts and eventually in the TV show.

The characters Perry White and Jimmy Olsen,  along with the storyline about the element Kryptonite, came from the radio show, not the comic.

Although Superman first appeared, in his present character, in 1938, he didn't gain the ability to "fly" until 1941.

Clark Kent's middle name is Joseph.

Superman gave Batman a piece of Kryptonite, to to used if Superman ever got "out of control."

Facts About The American Flag

How much do you know about the American Flag?  Here are some facts, some of which might surprise you!

The flag was first authorized by Congress June 14, 1777. This date is now observed as Flag Day.

There is NO evidence that Betsy Ross had anything to do with the design or sewing of the first American Flag! YOu can tour the Betsy Ross House in Phildelphia, although it's unclear if it's the actual house she even lived in!

It was first decreed that there should be a star and a stripe for each state, making thirteen of both; for the states at the time had just been erected from the original thirteen colonies.

The flag was first flown from Fort Stanwix, on the site of the present city of Rome, New York, on August 3, 1777. It was first under fire for three days later in the Battle of Oriskany, August 6, 1777.

The colors of the Flag may be thus explained: The red is for valor, zeal and fervency; the white for hope purity, cleanliness of life, and rectitude of conduct; the blue, the color of heaven, for reverence to God, loyalty, sincerity, justice and truth.

The star (an ancient symbol of India, Persia and Egypt) symbolized dominion and sovereignty, as well as lofty aspirations. The constellation of the stars within the union, one star for each state, is emblematic of our Federal Constitution, which reserves to the States their individual sovereignty except as to rights delegated by them to the Federal Government.

There have been 27 official versions of the US flag, each with a different amount of stars. A 39-star version is not among them, but that did not stop some enterprising flag manufacturers from producing one for the marketplace. The reason for the miscalculation: some thought North Dakota and South Dakota were going to be admitted as one state.

The current 50-star American Flag was designed by a high school student, Robert Heft, from Ohio!

The symbolism of the Flag was thus interpreted by Washington: “We take the stars from Heaven, the red from our mother country, separating it by white stripes, thus showing that we have separated from her, and the white stripes shall go down to posterity representing Liberty.”

In 1791, Vermont, and in 1792, Kentucky were admitted to the Union and the number of stars and stripes was raised to fifteen in correspondence. As other states came into the Union it became evident there would be too many stripes. So in 1818 Congress enacted that the number of stripes be reduced and restricted henceforth to thirteen representing the thirteen original states; while a star should be added for each succeeding state. That law is the law of today.

The actual "Star Spangled Banner" flag which flew over Ft McHenry in the War of 1812 STILL EXISTS and hangs in the Smithsonian Museum of American History. It inspired Francis Scott Key's song which remains the National Anthem. It's actually what's left of the flag, as many swatches were snipped off as souvenirs.

The name “Old Glory” was given to our National Flag August 10, 1831, by Captain William Driver of the brig Charles Doggett.

Of the 6 American Flags planted on the moon, 5 are still standing!

The United States Flag is unique in the deep and noble significance of its message to the entire world, a message of national independence, of individual liberty, of idealism, of patriotism.

It symbolizes national independence and popular sovereignty. It is not the Flag of a reigning family or royal house, but of 205 million free people welded into a Nation, one and inseparable, united not only by community of interest, but by vital unity of sentiment and purpose; a Nation distinguished for the clear individual conception of its citizens alike of their duties and their privileges, their obligations and their rights.

It incarnates for all mankind the spirit of Liberty and the glorious ideal of human Freedom; not the freedom of unrestraint or the liberty of license, but an unique ideal of equal opportunity for life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness, safeguarded by the stern and lofty principles of duty, of righteousness and of justice, and attainable by obedience to self-imposed laws.

Floating from lofty pinnacle of American Idealism, it is a beacon of enduring hope, like the famous Bartholdi Statue of Liberty enlightening the World to the oppressed of all lands. It floats over a wondrous assemblage of people from every racial stock of the earth whose united hearts constitute an indivisible and invincible force for the defense and succor of the downtrodden.

It embodies the essence of patriotism. Its spirit is the spirit of the American nation. Its history is the history of the American people. Emblazoned upon its folds in letters of living light are the names and fame of our heroic dead, the Fathers of the Republic who devoted upon its altars their lives, their fortunes and their sacred honor. Twice told tales of National honor and glory cluster thickly about it. Ever victorious, it has emerged triumphant from eight great National conflicts. It flew at Saratog, at Yorktown, at Palo Alto, at Gettysburg, at Minala bay, at Chateau-Thierry, at Iwo Jima. It bears witness to the immense expansion of our national boundaries, the development of our natural resources, and the splendid structure of our civilization. It prophesies the triumph of popular government, of civic and religious liberty and of national righteousness throughout the world.

The flag first rose over thirteen states along the Atlantic seaboard, with a population of some three million people. Today it flies over fifty states, extending across the continent, and over great islands of the two oceans; and two hundred and five million owe it allegiance. It has been brought to this proud position by love and sacrifice. Citizens have advanced it and heroes have died for it. It is the sign made visible of the strong spirit that has brought liberty and prosperity to the people of America. It is the flag of all us alike. Let us accord it honor and loyalty.