Today in 1988, the community of Embo, in the Scottish Highlands raised money for a community center by declaring independence from the rest of the UK… but just for one day. Plus: today in 2022, an odd moment in the world of real estate. And milk.

Embo Community Centre Appeal (via Archive.org) 

B.C. real estate agent fined $20K after chugging milk in fridge at showing (North Shore News) 

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Today in 1912, high honors for William Walker, who saved the UK’s famous Winchester Cathedral from partial collapse through five years of foundation work… all of which he did underwater. Plus: this week in Aroostook County, Maine, it’s the Maine Potato Blossom Festival. 

Saving the Cathedral (BBC)

Maine Potato Blossom Festival  

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Today in 1895, the birthday of Buckminster Fuller, the “engineer, architect and futurist" who once proposed building a see-through dome over part of Manhattan to save energy and money. Plus: a community festival that’s actually in a bunch of communities.

The 1960 Plan To Put A Dome Over Midtown Manhattan (Gothamist)

This Was Buckminster Fuller’s Plan to Cover Manhattan With a Giant Dome (The Daily Beast)

Stroud Brick Throwing and Rolling Pin Competition 

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Around this time in 2012, a teacher in Germany saved a young student's life, literally keeping the three year old's head above water after falling into an abandoned mine shaft. Plus: starting tomorrow in Oklahoma, it’s the McLoud Blackberry Festival. 

Teacher jumps down mineshaft to save boy (The Local)

The McLoud Blackberry Festival 

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Today in 1899, the signing of the Anglo-Egyptian Condominium, that established most of the border between Egypt and Sudan, but eventually led to a dispute over two stretches of land. Both countries want one stretch, and neither wants the other. Plus: this Friday in New Orleans, the running of the bulls! Well, sort of.

This man is the latest in a series of travellers to declare ownership of a bizarre no man’s land in north Africa (Business Insider)

Running of the Bulls (NewOrleans.com)

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On this National Fashion Day, we have a letter from 3,800 years ago that shows some things never change, like teenagers nagging their parents for a fancier set of clothes. Plus: an artist in Japan designs a pair of jeans that look like they're hanging out unzipped... because that's something someone needs, apparently?

Reading Ancient Mail (JSTOR) 

Jeans designed to look like your fly is down (Boing Boing)

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Today in 1776, it's said that the Liberty Bell rang out in Philadelphia for the first public reading of the Declaration of Independence. More than two centuries later, a fast food giant put out fake ads claiming that it had acquired the Liberty Bell to help pay off the national debt. Plus: today in 1978, Def Leppard played its first-ever concert, in Sheffield, England, though it didn’t exactly start off with a bang.

Hold the taco sauce, Liberty Bell is safe (Philadelphia Inquirer via Newspapers.com)

The Hilariously Bad First Concerts of Rock's Biggest Bands (Ultimate Classic Rock)

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Today in 1994, the start of a very unusual road trip: Alvin Straight drove 240 miles by lawn mower. Plus: next week in Wausau, Wisconsin, it’s the Taste ‘N Glow Balloon Fest. 

Brotherly Love Powers a Lawn Mower Trek (New York Times)

Taste 'n Glow Balloon Fest

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Today in 1827, the people of Boonsboro, Maryland marked Independence Day by trying to build a stone monument to George Washington in a single day. It was a Washington Monument way before the opening of the Washington Monument in DC. Plus: today in Michigan, it's the Berrien Springs Pickle Festival.

The Little-Known Story of the First Washington Monument (Smithsonian)

After A More Than 16-Year Hiatus, This Small Town Now Hosts The Longest-Running Pickle Festival In Michigan (Only In Your State)

Today in 1958, the Washington Post reported on a way to transform a Ford station wagon into a full-service campsite with the push of a button. Plus: this weekend in Congham, Norfolk, England, the World Snail Racing Championships.

The 1959 Ford Country Squire Camper, the Pushbutton Dream Camper That Never Was (Auto Evolution)

SNAIL RACING WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS 

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