Who designed the current U.S. flag?

Dear Santa,

Last week, I sent you my annual letter, asking for just one thing—get this silly year over with, already!

Now, I write a postscript, in which I ask for one more thing.

Peace.

Let those in our society who harbor ill will toward others have a change of heart, or at least a little less drive to do what they do that hurts others. For a while, anyway.

This year has seen stuff I never want to see again, and I know that you can make my request happen, Nick. Just give it that old Christmas magic, and who knows? Maybe we’ll wake up in 2021 and the world will actually make sense again.

In the meantime, I’ve spoken to Sassy about bothering your milk and cookies. She promises to leave them alone this year.

Love, Jack

Now, to the trivia!

Did you know …

… Gustav Eiffel (1832-1923), builder of Paris’ iconic Eiffel Tower, is known for much more than that? Eiffel also built: a dam in Russia, a church in the Philippines, locks for the first attempt at the Panama Canal, and he also designed the right arm and supporting structure for the Statue of Liberty. (Busy fellow, wasn’t he?)

… there really was a “Johnny Appleseed?” John Chapman (1774-1845) was a nurseryman who introduced apple trees to large parts of Pennsylvania, Ohio, Indiana and Illinois, as well as Canada. But the most interesting part of the story is, Chapman’s apples were not supposed to be for eating. Rather, Chapman wanted them to be used in the making of hard apple cider, a kind of alcoholic drink. (Thank ye, Johnny!)

… one smartphone maker is trying to make it harder to “butt dial” someone? Samsung Electronics uses a specially designed robot to test phones. The robot is shaped like a human derriere, and even wears jeans. Phones are placed in the back pockets, and the robot “sits” on them, making sure they can take the pressure. (Sometimes, friends, the jokes really do write themselves.)

… the current American flag was designed by a high school student? In 1958, with Alaska about to be admitted to the union and Hawaii’s admission on the horizon, high school student, Bob Heft (1941-2009) doodled a design for the American flag that increased the number of stars from 48 to 50. Heft, of Lancaster, Ohio, amazingly earned a B- on the project from his art teacher. Heft and the teacher agreed that, if the flag design was submitted to Congress and selected, he’d get a better grade. So, he submitted it. Out of the 1,500 designs for a 50-star flag that were submitted, Heft’s was selected. President Dwight D. Eisenhower (1890-1969) contacted Heft to let him know his design had won; the teacher accordingly raised Heft’s grade to an A. *Additional trivia note: Heft also submitted a 51-star design, which has already been selected to be made should another state be admitted. (At least Heft’s teacher kept his word about the grade!)

… the computer mouse has not always been called that? When it was first developed in 1964, it was given the unwieldy name of “X-Y Position Indicator for a Display System.” (I, for one, am very glad they changed the name.)

… a president once served as manager of his college football team? Herbert Hoover (1874-1964), 31st President of the United States, was the football team manager when he attended Stanford University. In 1892, at the first game between Stanford and the University of California, Hoover forgot to bring the game ball. (Whether that event serves as foreshadowing of his presidency, I leave up to you.)

… the world’s oldest hotel is in Japan? The Nisiyama Onsen Keiunkan was founded in 705 AD, and you can still book a night or two there today. (What do you want to bet that the rates have gone up since then?)

… a DC comics character also appears in the Marvel universe? Clark Kent, the alter ego of Superman, appears in both universes. But in the Marvel universe, he’s just a mild-mannered reporter, not a superhero. (In other words, he’s not so super, man.)

… in Logan County, Colorado, it is illegal for a man to kiss a woman while she’s asleep? (Oh, the jokes I could do right here…)

… in France, it is legal to marry a dead person? (It’s foolish, but it’s legal.)

… two out of every five people marry their first love? (So what do the other three do, just marry whoever comes along?)

… the hum of a housefly has a musical note? It’s in the middle octave of the key of F. (And the swing of the fly swatter has what musical note?)

… humans are more likely to believe that a statement is true if it rhymes? (The rain in Spain stays mainly in the plain.)

… there are more than 200 different types of Barbie dolls? (And only about six of Ken, right?)

… the first McDonald’s in Rome, Italy, opened to a protest? When the first of the popular American hamburger restaurants opened in Rome in 1986, local “food purists” gathered outside giving away free spaghetti. The group said they were reminding Italians of their culinary heritage. (Are you as surprised as I am to know they never offered “McSpaghetti?”)

… an adult giant panda weighs between 200 and 300 pounds? (Funny, so do I.)

… your brain stops growing in size when you are 15 years old? (I have no excuse; mine stopped when I was 5.)

Now … you know!

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