Laura Turner Garrison

25 Offbeat Holidays You Can Celebrate in January

Thanksgiving and Christmas may have already come and gone, but Thomas Crapper Day is on the horizon.... READ ON

10 Other Mother’s Days from Around the World

Mother’s Day in many countries has little or nothing to do with the U.S. holiday, nor do they always occur in May.... READ ON

6 Modern Societies Where Women Rule

Who runs the world? In these six societies: Girls.... READ ON

Where Are They Now? Diseases That Killed You in Oregon Trail

You have died of dysentery.... READ ON

15 Offbeat Holidays You Can Celebrate in September

There are plenty of reasons to party this month. There are plenty of reasons to party this month. There are plenty of reasons to party this month.... READ ON

17 Offbeat Holidays You Can Celebrate in July

We’re having a heat wave ... of outstanding, offbeat July holidays!... READ ON

20 Offbeat Holidays You Can Celebrate This Month

Plenty of excuses to party this month! Plenty of excuses to party this month! Plenty of excuses to party this month! Plenty of excuses to party this month! Plenty of excuses to party this month! Plenty of excuses to party this month!... READ ON

17 Offbeat Holidays You Can Celebrate in May

If you remember nothing else from this article, remember that Mother's Day is Sunday, May 12. Go ahead and buy the card now. Once that’s taken care of, here are 17 much wackier holidays to keep it fun this... READ ON

19 Offbeat Holidays You Can Celebrate in April

Don’t let this month’s showers get you down. April is springing forth with plenty of offbeat holidays and anniversaries to keep your days festive. Don’t let this month’s showers get you down. April is springing forth with plenty of offbeat holidays and anniversaries to keep your days festive. ... READ ON

20 Offbeat Holidays and Anniversaries to Celebrate in March

This year presents a month of March packed to the gills with traditional holidays—but here are some unusual holidays and memorable anniversaries the month has to offer.... READ ON

20 Offbeat Holidays and Anniversaries to Celebrate in February

There are plenty of reasons to party this month.... READ ON

7 Other Famous Abbeys in England

The most famous abbey in England right now is not actually an abbey at all — it’s a castle. Highclere Castle is the stand-in for Downton Abbey, the eponymous location of the mega-popular British series about an upstairs-downstairs household in the early 1900s. While Downton might be the only abbey about which people in the U.S. are currently talking, Britain is home to many a famous abbey. The word “abbey” actually refers to a Catholic monastery or convent – usually operated under the... READ ON

17 More Offbeat Holidays and Anniversaries to Celebrate in January

Forget weight loss and penny-pinching, make a resolution to keep this year a little more unconventional. What better way to start than with a few offbeat holidays and anniversaries you can easily observe? 1. January 1: First Foot... READ ON

17 Offbeat Holidays and Anniversaries to Celebrate in December

Halfway through last December, we gave you 11 unusual holidays to make the month even more festive. While we still highly endorse observing National Wear a Plunger on Your Head Day (December 18th) and National Cover Anything With Chocolate Day (December 16th), we found plenty of other reasons to keep your spirits bright all month. 1. December 1st: (A Proposed) Scrabble... READ ON

15 Offbeat Holidays You Can Celebrate in November

Turkey day may be the main event in the second-to-last month of the year, but there are plenty of unusual holidays to fill your November days with celebration. 1. November 2nd: National Plan Your Epitaph... READ ON

25 Quick By-The-Numbers Facts about U.S. Ambassadors

American diplomacy is as old as the country itself. In 1776, Benjamin Franklin traveled to Paris to serve as a commissioner on behalf of his newly declared country and solicit the support of the French for the American Revolution. Today, a primary function of a United States Ambassador is to act as a representative for the President of the United States and maintain good relations with the country in which they are posted. Typically ambassadors are either appointed as political favors or they are career... READ ON

How the Neighborhoods of Manhattan Got Their Names

For an island of only 24 square miles, Manhattan sure has a lot of neighborhoods. Many have distinct monikers that might not seem intuitive to the lay-tourist, or even to a lifelong New Yorker.... READ ON

15 Offbeat Holidays You Can Celebrate in October

Need a reason to celebrate this month? Look no further than the list below. October 1st: National Homemade Cookies... READ ON

15 Offbeat Holidays You Can Celebrate in August

National Underwear Day/ At first glance, August might seem light on the holiday offerings. We dug a little deeper to find a healthy helping of celebrations to help you beat the heat. 1. August 1st: National Girlfriends Day Rest easy, boyfriends of the world, this holiday has nothing to do with you. National Girlfriends Day honors the lady friends who are there for their lady friends. If you like gendered activities, today would be the perfect day to schedule mani-pedis with your best gal pals.... READ ON

How Did Slipping on a Banana Peel Become a Comedy Staple?

It is now a deadly weapon in Mario Kart and a slapstick comedy staple, but how did the banana peel gets its reputation as such a threatening object?A Danger to SocietyBefore the discovery of its comedic potential, the banana skin was considered a real public hazard. In the mid-19th century, a man named Carl B. Frank began importing Panamanian bananas to New York City. The fruit quickly became a popular street food throughout America, but the surge in urban migration and lack of sanitation regulation... READ ON

17 Offbeat Holidays You Can Celebrate in April

With April Fools' Day, Passover, and Easter, there are a few mainstream holidays to observe in April. Here are a few less-traditional opportunities to celebrate.... READ ON

12 Offbeat Holidays You Can Celebrate in March (and a Contest!)

Here are some reasons to celebrate this month, plus the once-in-a-lifetime chance to create your own holiday. March 1st: National Peanut Butter Lover’s... READ ON

15 Offbeat Holidays You Can Celebrate in February

February may be the shortest month of the year, but there is certainly no shortage of unusual holidays to celebrate. February 4th: Ice Cream for Breakfast... READ ON

9 Comedians Who Ran for Office (Including Some Who Won)

© T.J. Kirkpatrick/Corbis Stephen Colbert's satirical campaign for "President of the United States of South Carolina" made headlines Friday, as he appeared with Herman Cain at the "Rock Me Like a Herman Cain South Cain-olina Primary Rally." Colbert, who's not actually on the ballot on South Carolina, is using his pseudo candidacy to shed light on campaign finance reform and the Citizens United ruling. For his part, according to ABC News, Cain recited a few lines from the Pokemon movie. Election... READ ON

18 Offbeat Holidays to Celebrate in January

It’s a New Year, which means 12 new months to observe some offbeat, obscure and just plain odd holidays. Like these! January 7th: National Old Rock Day Have you thanked a veteran rock today? Though no official creator has stepped forward, paleontologists must be behind this holiday honoring the fossils and rock formations that are as old as time. January 9th: National Static Electricity... READ ON

The Lessons of Kwanzaa, as Taught by TV

December 26th wasn't just Boxing Day; it also marked the first day of the pan-African holiday celebrating African culture known as Kwanzaa. Founded in the mid-1960s by Maulana Karenga, a black studies professor at Cal State Long Beach, this holiday lasts from the day after Christmas through January 2nd. Each of the 7 days is assigned a principle to be honored: unity, self-determination, collective work and responsibility, cooperative economics, purpose, creativity and faith. Just as Kwanzaa is a... READ ON

11 Offbeat December Holidays You Still Have Time to Celebrate

You don't need us to remind you about the major December holidays. But you do need us to tell you that it's Monkey... READ ON

10 Coca-Cola Beverages You Won’t Find on U.S. Shelves

According to the Coca-Cola Company’s website, they currently manufacture 3500 different products in over 200 countries. Here are 10 unique Coca-Cola beverages you probably won’t find in your local grocery store.... READ ON

10 Scientists Who Experimented on Themselves

Would you inject 50 hookworms under your skin for your job? Or steam in a vomit sauna for a few hours? Hopefully we non-scientists will never have to answer questions like these.... READ ON

11 Broadway Musicals Featuring Characters in the U.S. Military

Not only have the men and women of the United States Armed Forces served their country, they have also served as inspiration for the Great White Way. 1. Carmelina... READ ON

The Flashy Girl From La Florida: The Nanny's Global Success

In its six seasons on CBS, The Nanny never broke into the Top 10 in ratings, peaking at #16 in season three. And this was before it was nearly canceled after a dismal first season. It was not a critical darling, nor an award-winner, garnering only one Emmy in its entire run: Best Costume Design. Yet despite a modest first-run performance, The Nanny has achieved great success in the years since its cancellation. The Nanny soared overseas. Dubbed versions were broadcast worldwide with minor tweaks for... READ ON

What Happened to the X-Rating?

Once a pariah among concerned parents and a source of snickers among schoolchildren, the dreaded X-rating has all but vanished. What made this formerly MPAA-sanctioned rating go away? The Rating Game Hollywood has enforced an evolving system of self-regulation since the 1920s to avoid government intervention. In 1922, studio bosses answered the threat of censorship by creating the Motion Picture Producers and Distributors Association of America. In 1945, the name was truncated to the Motion Picture... READ ON

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