What is 17b-ol?

The Beverly Hillbillies, one of the most popular American sitcom television shows of all time, had quite a bit going on behind the scenes. Here are some of the more interesting facts about the making of this classic program. The ironically free story of the richest family from the countryside. The entire first season of The Beverly Hillbillies and the first nineteen episodes of the second season are actually in the public domain, which means… Read More

The GIF is one of the most popular image formats on the internet, and most people are fairly confident that they know how to pronounce it. However, there are actually two common pronunciations: “giff,” with a hard “G” sound (like “gift”), and “jiff,” with a soft “G” sound (like the peanut butter brand). In recent years, the war over the correct pronunciation has become quite heated. Steve Wilhite, the inventor of the format, gave his… Read More

Americans have been arguing over the federal minimum wage since President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed it into law with the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938. Today, as then, perspectives generally coalesce around one of two arguments: Opponents of a higher minimum wage say a government-mandated wage floor will place an unfair burden on the businesses that pay workers. No one gets paid when an employer can’t afford wages, they say. Meanwhile, proponents of raising… Read More

If I had to pick one question that I get asked most often by my patients it would be, "Am I ready for a relationship?" Week after week I sit with forlorn and lovesick people who are desperate to find love and terrified that they never will. The inquiring minds on my couch want to know: Can I trust my judgment? Will I pick the wrong person and get hurt? Am I lovable? Will I… Read More

By all straightforward definitions, Chicago-style deep-dish pizza is pizza. It has a crust, sauce, and (lots of) cheese, so it certainly meets the traditional requirements-and, more to the point, it's marketed as pizza. If restaurants call something "pizza" and customers agree, it's pizza. With that said, there's a heated debate as to whether Chicago-style deep dish is a good representation of what pizza should be, and that's a more difficult question to address. As Meredith… Read More

It's humbling to find out we've been doing a very simple thing wrong our entire lives. Still, it's better late than never when realizing the error of our ways. The proper way to shower is simple, but it's not necessarily intuitive. Here are six mistakes you could make if you're not paying close attention. Not exfoliating your skin. Simply rubbing body wash on your skin or using a wash rag does not provide the exfoliation… Read More

He awakens with her on his mental. First thing in the morning, you think he's about to drape his arm across you to snuggle, but naw. He's merely reaching over you for his device, charging on the nightstand beside you. She's his default. YOU'RE the distraction. He basks in her blue magnetism so frequently during your "quality time" that you feel like the side piece. When you strike up conversation, you get the distinct feeling… Read More

Dan McGwire - 16th overall pick by the Seattle Seahawks in 1991 McGwire is the younger brother of Major League Baseball's legendary slugger Mark McGwire. To refresh your memory, Dan was a 6'8" quarterback coming out of San Diego State University where he threw for 3,883 yards and 27 touchdowns in 1990. He barely saw any action his rookie season, then his second season was demoted to third string behind Stan Gelbaugh and Kelly Stouffer… Read More

Alabama: Gadsden Gadsden is the most unhealthy city in one of the country's least healthy states. In this city, almost one in every three people are obese. Alaska: Anchorage Out of the two metropolitan areas in Alaska, Anchorage is the least healthy of the two. However, Anchorage is actually pretty healthy compared to the rest of the country. Arizona: Lake Havasu City-Kingman Residents of this city are more likely to smoke and less likely to… Read More

Get Out was written and directed by Jordan Peele, and it was both a critical and commercial success. Many positive reviews mentioned the film's insightful social commentary, so some viewers mistakenly believe that the movie was the first horror film directed by an African American. That's certainly not the case. African Americans have a rich history in cinema, and over the last century, quite a few black directors have created masterful horrors and thrillers. As… Read More

She-Ra’s Origins. The spin-off of He-Man and the Masters of the Universe, this show was designed a bit differently than its predecessor. While the first show was based off of the Masters of the Universe toy line by Mattel, She-Ra: Princess of Power was designed in collaboration between the toymaker and Filmation Associates, who animated both shows. She-Ra’s target audience was a young female crowd to compliment the young male viewers of He-Man. However, She-Ra… Read More

Warning: This answer contains Game of Thrones spoilers. While Game of Thrones isn't exactly a historical drama--it features dragons, zombies, mages, and various other supernatural elements--many of its story points were inspired by historical events. Like many fantasy novelists, writer George R.R. Martin uses real-life parallels to give his stories some extra weight, and judging by Game of Thrones' ratings and book sales, it's an effective technique. One of the most infamous moments from the… Read More

Sharpen your knife before cutting. This is, by far, the most effective way to avoid crying while cutting onions. Using a sharp knife limits the damage to the cells of the onion, so fewer gases get released. Basically, you're making cleaner cuts, so even if you finely chop the onion, you probably won't start weeping. However, you need a really, really sharp knife for this to work effectively. Ideally, you'll also add in some of… Read More

To access to the iPhone's hidden emoji menu, you'll have to add a new keyboard. Don't worry--it's a fairly simple process, and it won't prevent you from using your standard keyboard. These instructions are accurate for iOS version 12. Start by heading over to your Settings app. Tap General, then Keyboards. Here, you'll have to tap on Keyboards one more time. Look to see if you've already got a keyboard called "Emoji." If so, you've… Read More

E3 2019 has finally transpired, and all the big names in gaming have shown the world what they’re working on. What were the best moments from this year’s E3? Here’s our answer. Marvel’s Avengers Gameplay Trailer. Essentially nothing had been shown of Square Enix’s take on the incredibly popular superhero team before this point, but the trailer gave us a short, yet in-depth look at what’s to come. This story-driven co-op game will feature favorite… Read More

That depends on the type of prank that appeals to you, but in 2019, there were plenty of great examples. For April Fool's Day, businesses often announce hoax products via social media, hoping to catch consumers off guard (and capture a bit of viral traffic along the way). Of course, some are more successful than others. This year, dating site Tinder created substantial controversy by introducing a new "height verification badge." The idea: Weed out… Read More

As soon as the St. Louis Blues won their first Stanley Cup, fans began blasting Laura Branigan’s 1982 single “Gloria" from the rooftops. The song has been emblematic of the Blues during their unlikely championship run. Here’s where it started: On Jan. 6, 2019, Blues players Joel Edmundson, Alexander Steen, Jaden Schwartz, Robby Fabbri, and Robert Bortuzzo went to Philadelphia to watch the Chicago Bears and Philadelphia Eagles compete in the NFL’s NFC Wild Card… Read More

You need to use the Animoji menu. To use Animoji, you need an iPhone X or newer. Open the Messages app, then start a conversation (or open an existing conversation). Tap the Animoji button--it looks like a monkey. The phone will pull up a bunch of Animojis, but that's not what we're after. Tap the “plus" icon on the left of the Animoji choices. Here, you'll be able to create your custom emoji; you can… Read More

The St Louis Blues won their first Stanley Cup in 2019. The Blues won in game 7 of the Stanley Cup playoff Final on June 12th 2019. The final score was 4-1 in favor of the St Louis Blues. This was St Louis' first Stanley Cup Trophy win in the history of their franchise. 2019 Playoff MVP Ryan O’Reilly won the Playoff MVP also known as the Conn Smythe Trophy winner. This was in large… Read More

Quietly, while you weren't looking, one of the deepest questions in human history has been answered. It happened on Twitter, of course. Where else? Chances are you have a strong opinion on this subject. You've probably fought with someone close about it. And now, at long last, a clear victor has emerged. This news comes to us from Owen Williams, who seems to be more-or-less a normal guy. (His Twitter bio says he likes "learning… Read More

No, Beyoncé was not pregnant during Coachella in 2018. In the past, she has performed while pregnant, but that's not the reason her Coachella set made such an impression on fans and critics. A bit of background: In 2017, Beyoncé was announced as one of Coachella's headliners, but she postponed her set for a year. At the time, she was pregnant with twins (Rumi and Suri, born on June 13, 2017, about two months after… Read More

The #YangGang hashtag is used to express support for 2020 Democratic candidate Andrew Yang. The 44-year-old Asian American businessman announced his candidacy back on Nov. 6, 2017, and his relatively unconventional platform appeals to many younger voters. His central issue is the creation of the “Freedom Dividend,” a universal basic income that would provide every American adult with $1,000 per month. Yang, a successful technology entrepreneur, believes that the rise of artificial intelligence and automation… Read More

The modern bikini was invented in 1946, but swimsuits resembling the bikini appeared much earlier. A Sicilian mosaic dating from the fourth century A.D. called Coronation of the Winner shows women wearing garments remarkably similar to the modern bikini. The women appear to be exercising, and they’re receiving crowns of flowers—which likely indicates that they’ve recently won sporting events. While we can’t date the artwork definitively, it clearly predates the modern bikini by over a… Read More

SB 277 removed personal belief exemptions to vaccination requirements that allowed (or prevented) entry to California schools and daycare centers. To put that another way, the bill requires children who attend school to receive certain vaccinations, regardless of their personal beliefs (or the beliefs of their parents). The bill passed in 2015 and was signed into law by Governor Jerry Brown. “The science is clear that vaccines dramatically protect children against a number of infectious… Read More

Notre-Dame de Paris was substantially damaged on April 15, 2019, but officials believe that a full reconstruction is possible. While the church’s structure is mostly intact, its 300-foot spire was destroyed dramatically (this was actually the cathedral’s second spire, as its first was lost between 1786 and 1792). The building’s wood roof is completely lost, along with 13,000 oak beams dating back to the 12th century. The building likely sustained water damage during the rescue… Read More

Thanos is a recurring villain in Marvel comics, and the Avengers have defeated him many times. However, the 1991 series The Infinity Gauntlet closely resembles the plot of the recent films in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Needless to say, there are a number of major differences between the two stories. In the comics, Thanos attempts to collect all of the Infinity Gems (called Infinity Stones in the movies) to destroy half of the life in… Read More

This answer might change soon, as James Holzhauer is on his way to topping the all-time record for Jeopardy! winnings. As of May 29, 2019, the records for Jeopardy! winnings are as follows: Ken Jennings currently holds the all-time record for total winnings in consecutive games. He won 74 straight games in 2004, winning over $2.5 million before losing to Nancy Zerg. Brad Rutter holds the all-time earnings record, as he has taken home more… Read More

Yes...but they need to be officially declared eligible prior to the start of the game. If you’re attending a hockey game, you don’t have to worry about suddenly being pulled onto the ice. Here’s an excerpt from the NHL rulebook (link opens a PDF): "In regular League and Playoff games, if both listed goalkeepers are incapacitated, that team shall be entitled to dress and play any available goalkeeper who is eligible [emphasis added]. This goalkeeper… Read More

The #FridayFeeling hashtag is commonly used to describe the feeling you get when something’s about to change for the better—for instance, when the weekend’s almost here. It’s also used to describe the feeling of laziness (or lack of motivation) that comes at the end of the week. https://twitter.com/storms_horizon/status/1123866732614029315 The hashtag is commonly used on Fridays, for obvious reasons, and it’s often trending on Twitter and Instagram. In 2019, many Twitter users started using the #FridayFeeling… Read More

It’s no secret that the latest season of Game of Thrones is controversial. On IMDB, which allows fans to rate shows on a scale of 1-10, the series has an average rating of 9.4, but the Season 8 episodes “The Last of the Starks" and “The Bells” currently have ratings of 5.6 and 6.2, respectively. The final episode, “The Iron Throne,” has an abysmal rating of 4.3. The main criticism is that Game of Thrones… Read More

Yes, but those benefits are limited. First, for the uninitiated: Intermittent fasting diets restrict a person’s caloric intake during certain hours or days. For instance, a person might follow a 16:8 fasting diet, eating only in an 8-hour window each day and fasting for the remaining 16 hours. Some diets are more extreme—dieters might drastically reduce their intake to about 500-600 calories for several days per week then eat normally for the other days. Proponents… Read More

Overall, yes, self-driving cars seem to be safe, but there are a few important caveats to keep in mind when comparing autonomous systems to human drivers. First, let’s look at the available statistics. Google’s Waymo autonomous vehicles boast some of the field’s best technology, and they’ve logged over 10 million miles of real-world experience since 2009; as of 2018 (before they’d reached the 10-million-mile mark), they’d been involved in at least 30 minor accidents, but… Read More

The tradition of throwing an octopus onto the ice started at a Detroit Red Wings game on April 15, 1952. It’s a pretty fascinating tradition, and over the decades, it has spread to other NHL teams. We can thank brothers Pete and Jerry Cusimano for coming up with the idea. They owned a fish market in Detroit, and by mid-April, the Red Wings were in a great position: They led the Stanley Cup Final series… Read More

That’s a tough question with several potential answers. Professional wrestling history is full of mistakes (or, as they’re known in industry lingo, “botches"), and many are quite funny. The debut of the Shockmaster, though, reigns supreme as the funniest. The 1993 debut of the Shockmaster is generally considered the worst character introduction in wrestling history, but that wasn’t by design. Some background: Sting and the British Bulldog appeared on a talk show segment of WCW’s… Read More

Universal income, also called universal basic income or basic income, is a term for various economic models that provide all of a country’s residents with a periodic cash allowance regardless of their employment status or other factors. To many Americans, this sounds like a radical idea—and, indeed, universal basic income is highly controversial. Proponents claim it’s the most effective way to prevent widespread poverty. They say the current workforce is too large, and increasing amounts… Read More

That's a somewhat complicated question. In the United States, Memorial Day--or Decoration Day, as it was once known--officially started in 1868. However, it didn't become a popular holiday until much later, and memorial traditions occurred long before the United States existed. The idea for an official Memorial Day came from soldier John A. Logan, who served in the Mexican-American War and, later, as a Union Army general in the Civil War. Logan issued a proclamation… Read More

Witch windows, also known as “Vermont windows" or “coffin windows,” are an architectural feature of many homes in the American Northeast. They’re standard portrait-style windows, but they’re angled so that their long edge is parallel to the roofline. The term “witch windows” probably comes from superstition. According to local lore, witches can’t travel through the tilted windows, since the windows form a cross with the roofline—or possibly because witches aren’t very good at flying at… Read More

While this is a subjective question, there are several obvious answers. In pro wrestling history, female entertainers haven't been quite as popular as world-famous male wrestlers like Hulk Hogan, Bruno Sammartino, or Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson, but prominent women wrestlers have been a part of the sport since its inception. The Fabulous Moolah might be the most famous female wrestler of all time, and she was certainly one of the biggest names in her era… Read More

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Pit bulls absolutely make good pets, provided that you're willing and able to care for them properly. Pit bulls have a bad reputation, and many cities have ordinances banning them or requiring owners to obtain special licenses or insurance. These "breed-specific" laws are highly controversial, but when digging into the statistics, it's easy to see why people would think pit bulls are inherently dangerous. One five-year review of dog bite injuries reported in Plastic and… Read More

Yes, you can be friends with an ex. Whether or not that's a good idea depends on your personality, your ex's personality, the nature of your relationship, and a host of other factors. For many people, the idea of staying friends is untenable. After all, that's why breaking up is called "ending a relationship." In most cases, the relationship...ends. Scientists have looked into post-breakup friendships, and some of the research has interesting implications for these… Read More

Warning: This answer contains Game of Thrones spoilers. At the time this question was asked, seven seasons of Game of Thrones had aired for a total of 67 episodes, per IMDB. The show's notable for its twisting storylines and frequent violence, and as such, many of the actors get limited screen time. Characters die, disappear, or go on long quests that take them away from the cameras. To date, Peter Dinklage, who plays Tyrion Lannister… Read More

Wednesday comes from the Middle English Wednes dei, which is from Old English Wēdnes dæg, meaning the day of the Germanic god Woden who was a god of the Anglo-Saxons in England until about the 7th century. Read More