Happy 50th, Sesame Street! 
It’s hard to imagine a world without Sesame Street, but it’s equally hard to believe that the beloved children’s show is turning 50 this year! TV shows sometimes have the power to change the world, and Sesame Street has definitely done that. And even though the most die-hard fans may think they know everything there is to know about Big Bird and company, trust us—they don’t. We got the behind-the-scenes scoop on America’s longest-running children’s show from Sesame Street’s current executive producer, Ben Lehmann, and former cast member Emilio Delgado, who played Luis for a whopping 44 years.
Archive for the ‘Did you know?’ Category
Behind-the-scenes facts about ‘Sesame Street’
Posted: November 22, 2019 in Did you know?, What's newTags: sesame street
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Everyone knows to expect a partridge in a pear tree from your true love on the first day of Christmas … But when is the first day of Christmas?
You’d think that the 12 days of Christmas would lead up to the big day—that’s how countdowns work, as any year-end list would illustrate—but in Western Christianity, "Christmas" actually begins on December 25 and ends on January 5. According to liturgy, the 12 days signify the time in between the birth of Christ and the night before Epiphany, which is the day the Magi visited bearing gifts. This is also called "Twelfth Night." (Epiphany is marked in most Western Christian traditions as happening on January 6, and in some countries, the 12 days begin on December 26.)
9 signs you’ve shifted from frugal to cheap
Posted: November 14, 2019 in Did you know?, GeneralTags: cheapskate, frugal
There was a time when your friends admired your money-saving ways. Yet now you’re starting to work most of your friends’ and coworkers’ last generous nerve. Why?
Because you left frugal behind and are now as cheap as those yellowed greeting cards you pull from your closet for special occasions. Friends and family members know you’ve crossed the line into the cheapskate lane. But do you?
How to Use Your Fire Extinguisher the Right Way
Posted: November 5, 2019 in Did you know?Tags: fire safety
Personal safety can mean a lot of things. Maybe you need to be knowledgeable about natural remedies for anxiety to feel at ease. For others, they feel a bit safer knowing the ins and outs of how to fight black mold. And for a few, it could be as simple as figuring out how to get rid of gnats and drain flies. But no matter who you are, you need to know about fire safety. We know, the very idea of a home catching fire is something you’d rather not contemplate, but it’s important to fight that urge and lean into demystifying a common fire-safety item you probably already own: the fire extinguisher. Read on for tips including where to buy a fire extinguisher and what kind of fire extinguisher you need for kitchen fires and grills and also four simple steps to using a fire extinguisher with confidence.
13 Glaring Grammar Mistakes in the U.S. Constitution
Posted: November 1, 2019 in Did you know?Tags: government
In 1787, the U.S. Constitution was drafted by members of the Constitutional Convention, as led by James Madison. On September 15, 1787, as the convention wound down, a man named Jacob Shallus, who was a clerk for the Pennsylvania State Assembly, set about committing it to "final form." He did so by hand, with pen and ink, as was standard for the time. Shallus did a "fine job" inscribing the more than 4,000 words across four large sheets of parchment paper, as the National Archives states, but that’s not to say Shallus didn’t make errors, or that further errors weren’t made by others who had a hand in its signing and amendment. Some were substantive. Some were grammatical. Some may or may not involve a little of both:
What To Do When Your S.O. Has To Have The Last Word During Arguments
Posted: October 30, 2019 in Did you know?, GeneralTags: relationships
You know the type: the person who just can’t walk away from an argument unless they’ve had the last word, proving once and for all that they’re right and you’re wrong. When you’re in a relationship with someone like that, it can make any dispute needlessly long, frustrating and unproductive.
“Partners who seek to win against their mate may end up ‘winning’ the battle and losing the war by destroying their relationship connection,” said Kurt Smith, a therapist in Roseville, California, who specializes in counseling men. “Conversations and arguments shouldn’t be a competition.”
I asked relationship experts to explain why some partners fall into this bad habit and how to deal if it’s hurting your relationship.
Things You Can Do With a Jack-O-Lantern After Halloween
Posted: October 20, 2019 in Did you know?Tags: pumpkin craft
Save The Seeds For Planting
If you have a jack-o-lantern that’s fully intact (perhaps you drew on the face instead of carving), you can take advantage of the guts once Halloween is over. Scrape out the seeds, wash them, towel dry and then store them in a brown paper bag for a month. After a month, discard any seeds that show signs of rot or mold, then label your good seeds and store them in a dark, cool place until spring rolls around and you can plant them. Get in the spirit of fall with these pumpkin spice goodies.
Compost It
Toss that jack-o-lantern in your compost pile if you’re using a heap method to compost. For more delicate composting, be sure to cut the pumpkin into smaller pieces first. Highlight autumn’s freshest hues on white, orange or pale green pumpkins.
Make a Pumpkin Bird Feeder
DIY your own bird feeder by simply filling up your old jack-o-lantern with a layer of bird feed. Place it in the yard where you’ll get a good vantage point of the birds coming and going. You can also hang the pumpkin, carving out a large section of the back of the pumpkin to see the birds eating. Check out these 20 jack-o-lantern ideas that’ll make you wish you had a bigger porch.
Save Them to Make Pumpkin Snowmen
If snow is around the corner in your part of the country, why not save your pumpkins and reuse them as heads for your snowmen?
Try a Pumpkin Cannon
You’re not the only one wondering what to do with your leftover jack-o-lantern! See if there’s a local pumpkin cannon party in your neck of the woods and plan to show up and shoot your JOL through the sky! You could also build your own pumpkin catapult or trebuchet.
Have a Pumpkin Smashing Party
Another fun way to use your jack-o-lantern is to host a pumpkin smashing party. It’s a great excuse to get friends together and have a little outdoor fun in the fall. Ask your guests to bring their old pumpkins over and something to damage it with: slingshot, hammer, broomstick etc.
Make a Pumpkin Flower Planter
Hollow out a jack-o-lantern that wasn’t carved and transform it into a festive fall flower pot. You can also put a whole plant in the pumpkin, then place the pumpkin in the ground. The pumpkin will deteriorate in the ground, fertilizing the plant as it breaks down.
Make Pumpkin Potpourri
Fill your house with the smell of pumpkin pie by using your leftover pumpkin as indoor potpourri. If it’s not already carved, add some vents once you’ve hollowed it out, then burn a candle inside once you’ve rubbed spices in the lid.
Feed Wildlife
Do you live in an area with an active wildlife population? Make use of your old jack-o-lantern by bringing it into the woods or to the edge of your lawn, away from the road, and allow deer, raccoons, squirrels and other animals to eat it the pumpkin.
Make a Thanksgiving Tablescape
Pumpkins aren’t just for Halloween! Keep a pumpkin or two around and add them into your tablescape for Thanksgiving. Add candles, pine cones and leaves for a beautiful setting. To make sure the day goes smoothly, here are 12 must-haves for a successful Thanksgiving.
