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A Brief History of the Goodyear Blimp

If you tuned in to Game 1 of the National League Championship Series last night, you were treated to spectacular aerial views of Dodger Stadium and greater Los Angeles courtesy of one of Goodyear's blimps. America's most recognizable airships, the tire and rubber company's "Aerial Ambassadors," travel more than 100,000 miles each year to cover more than 80 sporting events. Here's a brief history of how Goodyear's blimps have evolved. What's a Blimp?... READ ON

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The Late Movies: Famous Tracking Shots

In motion picture terminology, a tracking shot is a single continuous shot made with a camera moving along the ground, following the movements of the subject. Why this topic? Because I just watched Goodfellas for the 400th time, and there's a famous one midway through the movie. The Player Touch of... READ ON

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A Brief History of Gummy Bears

Ever since I can remember, I have been a confirmed gummy bear addict. I love gummy bears, particularly Haribo's Gold Bears and Happy Cola (it does make me happy), but I'll even deal in Trolli in a pinch. Of course, that the little, fruit-flavored gelatin bears are addictive shouldn't be surprising—after all, in 1997, tobacco exec James Morgan, head of Philip Morris Co., claimed that tobacco is no more addictive than gummy bears. But what do we really know about these tasty... READ ON

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6 More Prizes Not Awarded for Length

Last week's announcement that President Barack Obama had won the Nobel Peace Prize raised eyebrows around the world. Even his staunchest supporters seemed to admit that it was a bit odd the president would win such a prestigious award so early in his first term. We're not here to get political, though. Instead, let's take a look at some other big awards that weren't given out for length of performance or service time. 1. Rafael Palmeiro's Gold... READ ON

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10 Epic Halloween Costumes

This article was originally posted in October 2007. The use of the word "epic" in the title could mean any of its uses, possibly "awesome," could be "larger than life," or it could mean "it's a long story" as it pertains to these Halloween... READ ON

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9 Movies That Always Make Me Cry

Happens every time. Flipping channels on Sunday, Rudy's on, and it's the final game. Obviously, I put down the clicker and prepare to hold back the tears, but it never works. I don't know what it is about that flick, but every single time I watch I'm transformed into an eight-year-old schoolgirl by the time he's carried off the field. So in honor of Daniel "Rudy" Ruettiger, I present clips from nine films that make me—and many other guys I know—well up just a little. It's my first official... READ ON

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11 Celebrities Who Overcame Dyslexia

On Monday, molecular biologists Carol Greider and Elizabeth Blackburn became the first two women to share the Nobel Prize in Medicine. Greider also joined Pierre Curie and Archer Martin among the handful of individuals with dyslexia who have won a Nobel Prize. In honor of Greider's accomplishment and National Dyslexic Awareness Month, here's a brief background on dyslexia and 11 other dyslexic celebrities. Dyslexia in Brief According to the International Dyslexia Association, dyslexia... READ ON

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Cast Away: 5 Amazing Stories of Messages in Bottles

Whenever a message in a bottle is discovered on a beach or floating in the ocean, it feels like something out of a fairy tale. The idea that two people have made a connection that mathematics would say is virtually impossible gives us hope that life is more than a series of random events. Here are five stories of the almost unbelievable connections these messages have brought about. 1. A Ticket to Freedom During a 1979 cruise to Hawaii, Dorothy and John Peckham passed the time by writing notes and... READ ON

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The Quick 10: 10 Names the Seven Dwarves Could Have Had

There have been numerous jokes over the years as to what Snow White's sidekicks should have been named, but these were really options! The original fairytale left the dwarves nameless; theater productions over the years either followed that tradition or made up random names such as Quee and Glick. But Disney wanted his dwarves' names to reflect their physical and character traits. Just think how different the movie might have been if Snow White's most lovable little buddy had been... READ ON

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6 Other Plots to Blackmail Celebrities

David Letterman has been in the news for helping police foil an attempt to blackmail him, but the late-night star is hardly the first celebrity in this position. Here are a few other brazen—and mostly unsuccessful—attempts to blackmail famous people. 1. Bill... READ ON