Avatar Posted by duke 220 days ago (http://encyclopedia.thefreedictionary.com)
Category: This Day in History
When Ruth Handler, wife of Mattel toy company co-founder Elliot Handler, realized that there were no adult-bodied dolls on the toy market, she suggested to her husband that Mattel begin producing one. In 1959, Barbie made her debut. She was based on a German doll called Bild Lilli and was marketed as a "Teen-age Fashion Model." According to estimates, over a billion Barbie dolls have been sold worldwide and many have become collector's items. How much is a mint-condition original Barbie worth?
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Avatar Posted by duke 209 days ago (http://encyclopedia.thefreedictionary.com)
Category: This Day in History
Occupying the eastern portion of the great bulge of North Africa, Tunisia is bounded on the west by Algeria, on the north and east by the Mediterranean Sea, and on the southeast by Libya. In 1955, France granted Tunisia complete internal self-government, and full independence was negotiated in 1956. A year later the monarchy was abolished, and Tunisia became a republic. What powerful ancient city was located near modern day Tunis?
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Avatar Posted by duke 208 days ago (http://encyclopedia.thefreedictionary.com)
Category: This Day in History
Alcatraz, a rocky island in western California's San Francisco Bay, served as a federal prison housing the country's most dangerous criminals from 1933 to 1963. It became a National Recreation Area in 1972, and by the mid 1990s, it was attracting almost a million visitors a year. Nicknamed "The Rock," Alcatraz was a symbol of the impregnable maximum security fortress prison. During its 29 years of operation, 34 prisoners attempted escapes, but only 3 may have succeeded. Who were they?
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Avatar Posted by duke 207 days ago (http://encyclopedia.thefreedictionary.com)
Category: This Day in History
Lipinski is an American figure skater who, at the age of 14, won the both US and World Championships, becoming the youngest person ever to win either title. At the 1996 US Postal Challenge, she became the first female skater to land a triple loop/triple loop jump combination, which became a signature element in Lipinski's performances. In 1998, she became the youngest person ever to win a gold medal at the Olympic Winter Games. Why did Lipinski stop skating in 2002?
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Avatar Posted by duke 206 days ago (http://encyclopedia.thefreedictionary.com)
Category: This Day in History
Gemini 3 was the first manned launch of the Gemini program, whose objective was to develop techniques for advanced space travel. The mission's primary goal was to test the new, maneuverable Gemini spacecraft. In space, the crew fired thrusters to change the shape of their orbit, shift their orbital plane slightly, and drop to a lower altitude. What dangerous contraband did one member of the flight crew sneak on board the spacecraft?
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Avatar Posted by duke 205 days ago (http://encyclopedia.thefreedictionary.com)
Category: This Day in History
The Mont Blanc Tunnel was completed in 1965 and soon became a major trans-Alpine transport route. On March 24, 1999, a truck carrying a cargo of flour and margarine caught fire in the tunnel. The margarine load in the trailer was the equivalent of 6,000 gallons (23,000 liters) of oil and caused the fire to burn for 56 hours and reach temperatures of over 1,832°F (1,000°C). The blaze claimed 39 lives. How many people were saved by a man on a motorcycle before he died in the intense fire?
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Avatar Posted by duke 204 days ago (http://encyclopedia.thefreedictionary.com)
Category: This Day in History
Titan is Saturn's largest moon and the second largest moon in the solar system. It was discovered by Dutch astronomer Christiaan Huygens in 1655 and remains the only natural satellite in the solar system known to have a significant atmosphere. This thick, opaque atmosphere obscures the surface, but some surface detail has been observed via the Hubble Space Telescope using infrared light. In what ways are the conditions on Titan's surface similar to those on Earth?
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Avatar Posted by duke 203 days ago (http://encyclopedia.thefreedictionary.com)
Category: This Day in History
Caracas is the capital of Venezuela, located in the northern part of the country near the Caribbean coast. In 1811, Venezuela declared its independence from Spain, signing a declaration to that effect in Caracas on July 5. Less than a year later, the city was destroyed by an earthquake, prompting authorities to portray the disaster as divine punishment for those who rebelled against the Spanish Crown. What does the red color on the flag of Caracas represent?
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