Who did the Senate charge with attempting to “steal the Bicentennial?”

Sources:

Goetz, Matthew, and Marlyne Sexton. “Gerald R. Ford's Bicentennial Adventure.” White House Historical Association, 6 March 2026, https://www.whitehousehistory.org/gerald-r-fords-bicentennial-adventure.

Kalikin, Autumn. “Off the Shelf: The People's Bicentennial.” DC History Center, 12 February 2026, https://dchistory.org/news-and-insights/the-peoples-bicentennial-populist-movement/. 

Kennedy, Lesley. “Photos: How Americans Celebrated the 1976 Bicentennial.” History.com, 9 June 2026, https://www.history.com/articles/american-bicentennial-1976-photos. 

Mahoney, Mary. “From Noodles to Nostalgia: The Bizarre History of the 1976 Bicentennial.” Landline, 3 July 2024, https://marymmahoney.substack.com/p/noodling-around-the-bicentennial. 

Marshall, Sarah. “The Grim American History Of ‘The Bicentennial Minute.’” Medium, 14 March 2013, https://medium.com/the-awl/the-grim-american-history-of-the-bicentennial-minute-1ef9137e29c7. 

Rymsza-Pawlowska, M.J. “U.S. Bicentennial, 1976.” The Inclusive Historian's Handbook, 2 July 2019, https://inclusivehistorian.com/u-s-bicentennial-1976/. 

The candy with an alleged death count.

Sources:

“Ever Wonder About Pop Rocks?” Science World, 7 November 2014, https://www.scienceworld.ca/stories/ever-wonder-about-pop-rocks/.

Hunt, Krisin. “10 Things You Didn’t Know About Pop Rocks.” thrillist, 25 March 2015, https://www.thrillist.com/eat/nation/things-you-didn-t-know-about-pop-rocks-trivia-about-pop-rocks-candy.

Muse, Tyler. “The Unknown History of Pop Rocks: The Rise, Fall & Rival.” History Oasis, 29 October 2024, https://www.historyoasis.com/post/history-pop-rocks.

Smith, Scott. “Inventor of Pop Rocks candy dies of heart failure at 92.” Recordnet.com, 28 July 2004, https://www.recordnet.com/story/news/2004/07/28/inventor-pop-rocks-candy-dies/50697314007/.

Tishfield, Holly. “The Accidental Origin of Pop Rocks Candy.” Tasting Table, 1 July 2025, https://www.tastingtable.com/1897723/pop-rocks-candy-origin/.

Uncle Sam had a wife! Or was she?

Sources:

Griffith, Bobby. “Turn Your Radio On and Learn How to Cook Mouth-Watering Treats the Aunt Sammy Way.” UNT Sycamore Stacks Blog, https://blogs.library.unt.edu/sycamore-stacks/2022/10/04/turn-your-radio-on-and-learn-how-to-cook-mouth-watering-treats-the-aunt-sammy-way/.

Hill, Alexis N. “Aunt Sammy and Her Radio Recipes – The Unwritten Record.” The Unwritten Record, 17 March 2022, https://unwritten-record.blogs.archives.gov/2022/03/17/aunt-sammy-and-her-radio-recipes/. 

“History of Aunt Sammy and Her Recipes.” Quaint Cooking, 16 January 2019, https://quaintcooking.com/2019/01/16/history-of-aunt-sammy-and-her-recipes/.

Lee, Karen. “The Recipes that Ruled the Radio during the Depression.” Fishwrap: The Official Blog of Newspapers.com, 16 December 2022, https://blog.newspapers.com/recipes-that-ruled-the-radio-during-the-depression/.

Is it okay to eat your Chia Pet?

Sources:

“About Chia.” Chia Pet, https://chia.com/pages/about-us.

Edwards, Owen. “Chia Pet.” Smithsonian Magazine, https://www.smithsonianmag.com/arts-culture/chia-pet-180308610/.

Fawcett, Kirstin. “9 Nostalgic Facts About Chia Pets.” Mental Floss, 13 February 2017, https://www.mentalfloss.com/article/91683/9-nostalgic-facts-about-chia-pets. 

Rasmussen, Patty, et al. “Ch-Ch-Ch-Chia! You Know the Jingle, Now Hear the Chia Pet Story.” People | HowStuffWorks, 5 May 2020, https://people.howstuffworks.com/chia-pet.htm. 

Which celebrity walked on broken glass?

Sources:

“Circus of the Stars.” Retro Video Inc., https://www.retrovideo.com/footage_library/circus-of-the-stars/.

O'Connor, John J. “TV: 'Circus of the Stars,' a One-Ring show on CBS.” The New York Times, 13 January 1977, p. 49, https://www.nytimes.com/1977/01/13/archives/tv-circus-of-the-stars-a-onering-show-on-cbs-tacky-bicentennial.html.

Rossen, Jake. “When Circus of the Stars Ruled Primetime.” Mental Floss, 9 February 2023, https://www.mentalfloss.com/article/642242/when-circus-of-the-stars-ruled-primetime.

Who was the holdout who refused to do the show, and why?

Sources:

Gajewski, Ryan. “Hollywood Flashback: 'Battle of the Network Stars' Turned Celebs Into Gladiators.” The Hollywood Reporter, 25 August 2025, https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-features/battle-of-the-network-stars-celebs-gladiators-1236348098/.

Harris, Will. “A Battle Royale Revisited: An Oral History of Battle of the Network Stars.” AV Club, 14 August 2017, https://www.avclub.com/a-battle-royale-revisited-an-oral-history-of-battle-of-1797835884.

Nagle, Dave. “Battle of the Network Stars Returns to ABC on June 29.” ESPN Press Room, 30 May 2017, https://espnpressroom.com/us/press-releases/2017/05/battle-network-stars-returns-abc-june-29/.

Rossen, Jake. “When Network Stars Went to Battle.” Mental Floss, 29 June 2017, https://www.mentalfloss.com/article/501898/when-network-stars-went-battle.

It wasn’t meant to be a drink.

Sources:

Cooper, Meredith. “The Untold Truth Of Hawaiian Punch.” Mashed, 12 April 2022, https://www.mashed.com/314834/the-untold-truth-of-hawaiian-punch/.

Cox, Cami. “The Nostalgic Drink That Was Supposed To Be An Ice Cream Topping.” Food Republic, 31 October 2024, https://www.foodrepublic.com/1692226/what-drink-ice-cream-topping-hawaiian-punch/.

Hawaiian Punch, 10 January 2014, https://www.hawaiianpunch.com/. Accessed 10 December 2025.

“Hawaiian Punch Started in Fullerton! – Fullerton History.” Fullerton History, 12 July 2023, https://fullertonhistory.com/2023/07/12/hawaiian-punch-started-in-fullerton/.

“The History of Hawaiian Punch.” Retroist, 11 August 2025, https://www.retroist.com/p/history-of-hawaiian-punch.

Love, death, and stowaway beds

Sources:

Associated Press. “Man dies inside Murphy Bed.” Star News, 15 June 1982, https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1454&dat=19820615&id=_UdOAAAAIBAJ&sjid=XBMEAAAAIBAJ&pg=5293,3260935.

Caputo, Joseph. “Curator Finds Murphy Bed's Place in American History.” Smithsonian Magazine, 28 April 2009, https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smithsonian-institution/curator-finds-murphy-beds-place-in-american-history-48350873/.

Donnelly, Frank. “Defective Murphy bed killed Staten Island man, lawsuit alleges.” SI Live, 7 April 2014, https://www.silive.com/westshore/2014/04/defective_murphy_bed_killed_st.html.

“History of the Murphy Bed.” Smart Spaces, https://smartspaces.com/history-of-the-murphy-bed/.

Renee, Shelly. “The Fascinating History of Murphy Beds.” Monarch Murphy Beds, 20 April 2023, https://monarchmurphybeds.com/news/fascinating-history-murphy-beds/.

Stanford, Kaitlin. “The (Slightly Scandalous) Way Murphy Beds Got Their Name.” Apartment Therapy, 8 May 2019, https://www.apartmenttherapy.com/history-of-murphy-beds-32066534.

Torchinsky, Rina. “Wall beds sold by Costco and Amazon are recalled after 1 death and dozens of injuries.” NPR, 8 April 2022, https://www.npr.org/2022/04/08/1091752697/wall-beds-recall-amazon-costco-bestar.

“Why Do They Call It A Murphy Bed?” Wilding Wallbeds, 14 June 2023, https://www.wallbedsbywilding.com/why-do-they-call-it-a-murphy-bed/?keyword=&utm_term=&utm_campaign=PMax+%7C+Core+Business&utm_source=adwords&utm_medium=ppc&hsa_acc=3122974690&hsa_cam=20438260466&hsa_grp=&hsa_ad=&hsa_src=x&hsa_tgt=&hsa_kw=&hsa_mt=&hsa_net=.

We’re sorry to be the ones to tell you this, but you never had a chance.

Sources:

Hanbury, Mary. “How McDonald's Monopoly Game Was Rigged.” Business Insider, 31 July 2018, https://www.businessinsider.com/how-mcdonalds-monopoly-game-was-rigged-2018-7.

“How the 'McMillions' scammers rigged McDonald's Monopoly game and stole $24 million.” CNBC, 9 February 2020, https://www.cnbc.com/2020/02/07/how-mcmillions-scam-rigged-the-mcdonalds-monopoly-game.html.

Lichtenberg, Nick. “McDonald's is bringing back Monopoly for the first time since the 'McMillions' scammer was exposed for stealing $24 million in prizes.” Fortune, 29 September 2025, https://fortune.com/2025/09/29/mcdonalds-bringing-back-monopoly-mcmillions-prizes-cash-vacations/.

O'Keeffe, Kevin. “The Rich, Surprisingly Wild History of McDonald's Monopoly.” MIC, 11 April 2016, https://www.mic.com/articles/140424/the-rich-surprisingly-wild-history-of-mc-donald-s-monopoly.

Pena-Calderon, Mirtle. “The Weird History of McDonald's Monopoly.” Mashed, 22 February 2021, https://www.mashed.com/338961/the-weird-history-of-mcdonalds-monopoly/.

Do you remember the Shamrock Shake having a flavor other than mint, or is it all a Mandela Effect?

Sources:

“10 Fun Facts You Probably Didn't Know About the Shamrock Shake.” McDonald's Corporation, 16 March 2021, https://corporate.mcdonalds.com/corpmcd/our-stories/article/shamrock-10fun-facts.html.

“Drink Origins: The Shamrock Shake.” Flavorman, https://www.flavorman.com/media/drink-origins-the-shamrock-shake.

“McDonald's Celebrates 50th Anniversary of the Shamrock Shake® by Taking the Legendary Treat National and Introducing a New, Delicious Shamrock Dessert.” McDonald's Corporation, https://corporate.mcdonalds.com/corpmcd/our-stories/article/shamrock-shake-50.html.

McLaughlin, Chris. “McDonald's Shamrock Shake has New England origins; heres's where.” Mass Live, 7 February 2025, https://www.masslive.com/food/2025/02/mcdonalds-shamrock-shake-has-new-england-origins-heres-where.html.

“The Shamrock Shake: Raising the Green to Launch a Legacy.” Ronald McDonald House Charities Northeast Ohio, https://www.rmhcneo.org/shamrock-shake/.

Vaughn, Hank. “A Brief History of the Shamrock Shake.” Dallas Observer, 28 February 2023, https://www.dallasobserver.com/food-drink/a-brief-history-of-the-shamrock-shake-16020240/.