March 28, 2024

President Abraham Lincoln became the first “wired president” by embracing the original electronic messaging technology—the telegraph. The 16th president may be remembered for his soaring oratory that stirred the Union, but the nearly 1,000 bite-sized telegrams that he wrote during his presidency helped win the Civil War by projecting presidential power in unprecedented fashion.

- History.com (February 12, 2024)

March 27, 2024

catalepsy noun cat·​a·​lep·​sy ˈka-tə-ˌlep-sē A trancelike state marked by loss of voluntary motion in which the limbs remain in whatever position they are placed

- Merriam-Webster

March 26, 2024

In Connecticut, there are 225 bridges and over 2,076 miles of highway in poor condition. The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law will rebuild our roads and includes the single largest dedicated bridge investment since the construction of the interstate highway system. Based on formula funding alone, Connecticut is expected to receive approximately $4.1 billion over five years in federal funding for highways and bridges.

- Whitehouse.gov (Bipartisan Infrastructure Law State Fact Sheets) (February 2024)

March 25, 2024

KISSES Chocolates were in production from 1907 to 1942 and then not produced until 1947 due to rationing of aluminum during World War II. During that nearly six-year period, Hershey retooled its KISSES production equipment in order to produce chocolate D-Rations for the US Military. KISSES Chocolates have been in continuous production since 1947 and the KISSES Brand has added many flavors to the iconic product line to become one of the leading chocolate product brands in the world.

- Hersheyland.com

March 24, 2024

The woven treat containers represent birds' nests and new life, especially when filled to the brim with eggs. Plus, they're a pretty utilitarian way to gather those goodies on your Easter egg hunt.

- Good Housekeeping (April 17, 2022)

March 23, 2024

It may be covered with ice, but Antarctica gets only 6.5 inches of rain or snow per year, making it the continent with the lowest annual rainfall by far. On the other end of the spectrum, Lloro, Colombia, absorbs more than 500 inches of rainfall per year. North America is relatively dry by comparison, collecting 256 inches of rain annually.

- Reader's Digest (Jun. 01, 2023)

March 22, 2024

Most physicians work between 40 and 60 hours per week, but nearly one-quarter of physicians work between 61 and 80 hours per week, according to the 2014 Work/Life Profiles of Today’s Physician released last year by AMA Insurance.

- American Medical Association (ama-assn.org) (Jan. 6, 2015)

March 21, 2024

The first happy hour was in 1914, when the US Navy, in an attempt to entertain on-duty sailors, hosted an evening of food, music, and dancing. An April 1914 newspaper article described the sailors at one such happy hour as enjoying themselves “with as much abandon as though no war were in the air.”

- hr-brew.com (December 20, 2023)

March 20, 2024

Brush your teeth twice a day with fluoride toothpaste for at least two minutes each time you brush. This recommendation is from the American Dental Association.

- Mayo Clinic

March 19, 2024

Some authorities ascribe the invention of the pendulum clock to Galileo, while others credit Christiaan Huygens. This disagreement arises because Galileo first noted, about 1583, the relative constancy of a pendulum’s period, but Huygens created a clock in 1656 that relied on the movement of a pendulum at a truly constant rate.

- Britannica.com (Jan 18, 2017)

March 18, 2024

Italians make at least 350 types of pasta, each with its own shape. Spaghetti is the most popular type of pasta and consists of long strings of noodles. Another type of pasta is macaroni, which includes tiny pieces of pasta cut to an angle at each end. You may also find spiral pasta called fusilli. There is even the Farfalle pasta that resembles butterflies with wings crinkled at the edges and in the middle.

- Picano's Italian Grille (Dec 09, 2022)

March 17, 2024

Leprechauns are fairies. Although they might not match your initial idea of what a fairy is, leprechauns are considered a part of the family. Like other fairies, they’re small in size and prone to mischief. The miniature men are said to be descendants of Tuatha Dé Danann, a group of magical beings that served under the Gaelic goddess Danu. According to legend, this mythical group lived in Ireland long before humans inhabited the land.

- Mental Floss (March 17, 2022,)

March 16, 2024

The West Hartford Reservoirs and Reservoir 6 are the sites of MDC’s water treatment facilities, five small reservoirs and more than 3,000 acres of some of the most beautiful woodlands and trails in the region.

- The Metropolitan District (MDC), Hartford, Connecticut

March 15, 2024

Ides of March, day in the ancient Roman calendar that falls on March 15 and is associated with misfortune and doom. It became renowned as the date on which Roman dictator Julius Caesar was assassinated in 44 BCE and was further immortalized in the tragedy Julius Caesar by English dramatist William Shakespeare. In the play, a soothsayer warns Caesar to “beware the Ides of March.” In 44 BCE, Julius Caesar was in the midst of a series of political and social reforms when he was assassinated by a group of nobles on the Ides of March. Led by senators Marcus Junius Brutus and Gaius Cassius Longinus, a group of approximately 60 conspirators fatally stabbed Caesar in the Roman Senate in a plot to preserve the Roman Republic and halt Caesar’s increasingly monarchical regime.

- Britannica.com (Mar. 13, 2024)

March 14, 2024

The forage cap was introduced just in time to become the signature headgear of the Civil War soldier. This model was the most popular worn by the Union army, officers and enlisted men alike. It was adopted as standard army headgear. The visor can be flat or sloping. Because of its popularity, the cap was made in several styles. Made of navy wool with a black leather visor and chin strap, with gold-colored buttons. Civil War Union enlisted man's forage cap insignia explained: Crossed Cannons (Artillery) Company Letter (L) Regimental Number (1)

- Smithsonian: National Museum of American History

March 13, 2024

Postage on July 1, 1885 was 2 cents, by November 1, 1981 it was 20 cents, then January 21, 2018 it was up to 50 cents, and as of January 21, 2024 it's up to 68 cents!

- USPS

March 12, 2024

The Titanic was taller above the water than most urban buildings of the time. There were three real smokestacks, with a fourth "dummy" stack added to increase the impression of its size and power and to vent smoke from the ship’s numerous galleys. At the time, Titanic was the largest ever movable man-made object.

- Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution

March 11, 2024

Connecticut has had an anti-litter law since at least 1897, when people who threw nails, tacks, scrap iron and certain other debris on highways or streets could be fined $20. In 1992, littering was made an infraction, which means littering is punishable by a fine, usually set by a Superior Court judge, of between $35 and $90. An infraction is not a crime. It is however, against the law to litter.

- ct.gov

March 10, 2024

It has been claimed that dogs may remember up to 250 different places and people, and that they can even remember events from years ago.

- purina.co.uk

March 09, 2024

The Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA) recommends that you replace your pillow every two years or sooner. This is because pillows can get pretty gross. Pillows can contain allergens like dust mites, pet dander, and even mold once they reach the end of their lifespan.

- USNews.com (April 19, 2023)

March 08, 2024

Ancestry refers to a person’s ethnic origin or descent, ""roots,"" or heritage, or the place of birth of the person or the person’s parents or ancestors before their arrival in the United States. Some people identify their ancestry as American. This could be because their ancestors have been in United States for so long or they have such mixed backgrounds that they do not identify with any particular group.

- Census.gov (December 16, 2021)

March 07, 2024

For more than 2,000 years encyclopaedias have existed as summaries of extant scholarship in forms comprehensible to their readers. The word encyclopaedia is derived from the Greek enkyklios paideia, “general education,” and it at first meant a circle or a complete system of learning—that is, an all-around education.

- Britannica.com (Mar 9, 2024)

March 06, 2024

Play benefits motor development by encouraging movement [and the] understanding of spatial relations, promoting motor planning skills, and supporting balance and dexterity,” Mendez says. “It also supports gross motor skills, such as energy, stamina, flexibility, and body awareness.

- Healthline.com (September 28, 2020)

March 05, 2024

Your brain’s storage capacity is considered virtually unlimited. Research suggests the human brain consists of about 86 billion neurons. Each neuron forms connections to other neurons, which could add up to 1 quadrillion (1,000 trillion) connections. Over time, these neurons can combine, increasing storage capacity. However, in Alzheimer’s disease, for example, many neurons can become damaged and stop working, particularly affecting memory.

- Northwestern Medicine (October 2019)

March 04, 2024

To get the most out of a nap, follow these tips: Keep naps short. Aim to nap for only 10 to 20 minutes. The longer you nap, the more likely you are to feel groggy afterward. However, young adults might be able to tolerate longer naps. Take naps in the early afternoon. Napping after 3 p.m. can interfere with nighttime sleep. Individual factors, such as your need for sleep, your sleeping schedule, your age and your medication use, also can play a role in determining the best time of day to nap. Create a restful environment. Nap in a quiet, dark place with a comfortable room temperature and few distractions.

- mayoclinic.org (Nov. 09, 2022)

March 03, 2024

An asphalt shingle roof should last between 20 and 30 years. If you have a 40-year-old roof,there could be a problem — even if it looks good from the ground.

- Claude McGavic, executive director of The National Association of Home Inspectors

March 02, 2024

Learn the “rule of threes” and apply to your home decorating projects. Overall, odd numbers of objects when decorating are more eye-catching and interesting than even numbers.

- houseplansandmore.com

March 01, 2024

A rare, 184-year-old copy of the Declaration of Independence found by a bargain hunter at a Nashville thrift shop is being valued by experts at about 100,000 times the $2.48 purchase price.

- NBC News (Feb. 23, 2007)