Today in 1971, pilot Sheila Scott began her third flight around the world. Those three flights are only a few of the accomplishments of this award-winning, record breaking pilot. Plus: starting tomorrow in Wisconsin, it’s the New Glarus Polkafest.

Sheila Scott: The first British pilot to fly around the world (National Museums Scotland) 

NEW GLARUS POLKAFEST 

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Today in 2022, the world celebrated the end of a major international conflict. It involved two countries, one island, an international border... and a whole lot of liquor bottles. Plus: today in 2016, Summerville, South Carolina became home to the record for the world’s largest sweet tea.

Canada and Denmark end decades-long dispute over barren rock in Arctic (The Guardian)

Summerville, South Carolina: World's Largest Sweet Tea (Roadside America)

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It was likely this week in 1752 that Benjamin Franklin famously flew a kite in a thunderstorm. The story of this experiment has been changed and twisted over time, so we'll sort out facts from myth, and figure out why and how Franklin was doing what he was doing. Plus: today in 1961, the birthday of Michael J. Fox, whose acting career took off like lightning despite the best efforts of one of his early bosses.

Benjamin Franklin flies kite during thunderstorm (History.com)

Michael J Fox nearly lost a TV series because of a producer's strange belief (Virgin Radio)

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Today in 1959 may have been the day the US government completed a secret report that suggested one way to win the Cold War space race: build a base on the Moon. Plus: congratulations to Richard Delcid of Manassas, Virginia, who just won the "World's Fastest Pizza Maker" contest in Las Vegas.

U.S. reveals secret plans for ’60s moon base (CNN)

‘I didn’t know I could go that fast’: Virginia pizza maker breaks record (WTOP)

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Today is Denmark’s Constitution Day. That document broadly guarantees the right to personal expression, including burning the country’s flag. But doing that same thing to other countries’ flags is 100 percent against the law. Plus: starting today, it's the Georgia Peach Festival.

History and Debate of Flag Burning (Debate.org)

Georgia Peach Festival 

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Today in 1991, a rare early print of the Declaration of Independence went up for auction, and the story of how it came up for sale is pretty weird. Plus: starting tomorrow in Pasadena, California, it's the 17th annual Classic Tetris World Championship.

Did a Bargain Hunter Find Original Print of Declaration of Independence? (Snopes)

Classic Tetris World Championship 

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This is Museum Week, and while a lot of us love visiting these institutions, some people dropped by some of the best museums in the whole world and they weren’t feeling it. For reasons. Plus: starting Friday in Collinsville, Illinois, the International Horseradish Festival.

15 Hilariously Terrible Reviews of Wonderful Museums (Mental Floss)  

International Horseradish Festival 

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Today in 1975, the city of London had some unexpected weather. At a time the calendar might have suggested summery weather… it snowed. Plus: this Saturday in North Carolina, it’s Asheville HoneyFest. 

London weather: What happened the strange time it snowed in London in the middle of summer (MyLondon.news)

Asheville HoneyFest 2026 (Center for Honeybee Research)

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It’s Dinosaur Day, so we’re headed to a spot in Bolivia where you can see thousands of dinosaur tracks all at once, in an almost inexplicable setting. Plus: this weekend at Spring Mill State Park in Mitchell, Indiana, it’s Limestone Weekend. 

The Incredible Dinosaur Wall of Bolivia (Kuriositas)

Limestone Weekend, Spring Mill State Park 

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Today in 1856, Abraham Lincoln gave a speech that was so powerful, so unforgettable, that nobody documented it and so now it’s known as Lincoln’s “Lost Speech.” Plus: today in 1917, the birthday of John F. Kennedy, who used the power of words as a 10 year old to ask his dad to raise his allowance.

Abraham Lincoln's Lost Speech (RogerJNorton.com)

A Plea for a raise (Letters of Note)

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