Though not a federal holiday, some states have begun observing “The Day after Thanksgiving” as one so that state government employees can take advantage of Black Friday promotions. This is done in lieu of another holiday, such as Columbus Day. Currently, 22 states consider Black Friday an

JOHN DEERE

In 1962, a University of Illinois archaeological team unearthed the exact location of the blacksmith shop where John Deere developed the first successful steel plow in 1837. The site is now preserved by an exhibit hall complete with a simulated conversation between John and Demarius Deere talking about their every events on ...Read more

President Kennedy was assassinated in Dallas, Texas, at 12:30 p.m. CST on Friday, November 22, 1963, while on a political trip through Texas. Lee Harvey Oswald was charged at 7:00 p.m. for killing a Dallas policeman by "murder with malice", and he was also charged at 11:30 p.m. for the murder of the President (there was no charge for the "...Read more

Because of its hot, damp climate, Florida produces thin-skinned juicy fruits; California's drier climate, by contrast, produces thick-skinned, sweet "eating" oranges.

In 435 B.C., the Greek philosopher Anaxagoras suggested that the sun was not just a small glowing circle of light. He maintained that it was a glowing rock a hundred miles across. For that outrageous statement, he was exiled from Athens.

We think we cannot see at night. But given enough time to adjust, the human eye can, for a time, see almost as well as an owl's. Ultimately, as the amount of light decreases, an owl detects shapes after a human no longer can.

The sea lion can swim 6,000 miles, stopping only to sleep.

Fogs over the seas on the Grand Banks, Newfoundland, Canada, can last for weeks on end. These are the longest-enduring fogs recorded in the world.

More than 110,000 marriage licenses are issued in Las Vegas each year. There are no blood tests and no waiting period required. The Marriage License Bureau is open from 8 a.m. until midnight, Sunday through Thursday and 24 hours a day on Friday and Saturday. The most popular wedding days are New Year's Eve and St. Valentine's Day. Settings range...Read more

White mustard seeds are used to make yellow mustard; the color comes from turmeric. Spicy mustards are concocted from brown mustard seeds.

Ellis Island immigrants were often served a bowl of Jell-O as a "Welcome to America."

Absinthe is often referred to as la Fee Verte ("The Green Fairy") because of its coloring - typically pale or emerald green, but sometimes clear. Due to its high proof and concentration of oils, absintheurs (absinthe drinkers) typically add three to five parts ice-cold water to a dose of absinthe, which causes the drink to turn cloudy (called "...Read more

The electric organs in an electric eel make up four-fifths of its body.

Portugal is the world's largest producer of cork. The country has regulations protecting cork trees dating back to 1320. During the 1920s and 1930s, it became illegal to cut down the trees other than for essential thinning and removal of older non-producing trees.

The term choral symphony was coined by French composer Hector Berlioz when describing his symphony, Roméo et Juliette

Scientists can condense matter to greater densities and temperature than those at the center of the sun. Fusion-energy research at Lawrence Livermore Laboratory in California uses 20 laser beams to concentrate on targets so tiny that dozens can be gathered on the head of the pin.

Thirty gallons, or 135 litres, of water is used for the average shower in the United States.

To help them last longer, put the cut ends of chrysanthemums in very hot water for a moment and then straight into very cold.

Cleveland spelled backwards is "DNA level C."

In trucking circles, a "bumper sticker" is a tailgater who is following another vehicle too closely.