Here are some fun facts to help get you through the day and look like the most informed person at the water cooler…
Fun (or not-so-fun) Facts:
- September 6th is the day Piggly Wiggly was founded in 1916, 107 years ago. It was notable for being the first “self-service” grocery store, where shoppers went through the store and gathered their own stuff, and put it in a cart or basket. Before Piggly Wiggly, store clerks would assemble your order for you, weighing out dry goods from large barrels. So, in a way, kind of like what Instacart does for you today.
- The Straw Hat Riot of 1922 was an eight-day riot in New York City over whether men could wear straw hats after the summer was over.
- The first diet cola was Diet Rite, in 1958. Then in 1963, Coca-Cola released Tab, and Diet Pepsi came out. Diet Coke didn’t come out until 1982.
- Denmark managed to save over 99% of its Jewish population during the Holocaust by getting almost 8,000 Jews onto boats to Sweden before the Nazis could capture them.
- Barbie is from a fake town called Willows, Wisconsin.
(Smithsonian / Wikipedia / Wikipedia / Wikipedia / Wikipedia)
Strange and trending news:
- Do you have a “five-year plan”? Or more? The average American is now planning 12 years ahead. (Full Story)
- 14% of adults say they used to be “very happy” when summer ended, and they were going back to school. Another 23% were “somewhat happy” about going back. 17% were “very sad” for summer to end. (Full Story)
- A man in Florida was arrested for driving around in a stolen Mercedes . . . after boasting on social media about having a new Mercedes. (Full Story)
- A new study has found that the best place to retire is Tampa, Florida. The WORST PLACE to retire is Stockton, California, which is south of Sacramento. (Full Story)
- There’s a new work term: “Grumpy stayers” . . . or employees who stick around because leaving one mediocre job for another is a waste of time. (Full Story)
- If you were sad when Chick-fil-A dropped its chicken salad in 2017, they just posted the recipe online. (Full Story)
- This is kind of wild: The city of Pittsburgh is looking for ARCHERS to help deal with a deer population crisis in parks. (Full Story)
- Next week, Taco Bell is giving people $5 off Mexican food on DoorDash . . . even if you order from another, ACTUAL Mexican restaurant. (Full Story)