Phil Connelly

Political conventions have a rich history in the United States, evolving from informal gatherings to highly orchestrated events that are central to the American electoral process. Here's an overview of the history of political conventions:

In 1903, legendary sharpshooter Annie Oakley found herself ensnared in a scandal that threatened to tarnish her reputation — a false accusation of drug use. This incident stands as a testament to the power of sensationalism in the media and the lengths to which Oakley went to defend her honor.

Arthur Priest, a British stoker, earned an almost mythical status for his extraordinary ability to survive a series of shipwrecks during the early 20th century. Known as the “unsinkable stoker,” Priest's story is a remarkable testament to both his personal resilience and the perilous nature of maritime travel in that era.

Thomas Sawyer, better known as the real Tom Sawyer, was a man of remarkable courage and character who made his mark as a local hero in 19th-century San Francisco. His life and deeds would go on to inspire one of the most beloved characters in American literature — Tom Sawyer, the protagonist of Mark Twain's classic novel "The Adventures of Tom Sawyer." While the fictional Tom Sawyer is a playful, mischievous boy, the real Thomas Sawyer was a man who exemplified bravery and selflessness, particularly through a heroic act that left an indelible impression on his community and, indirectly, on the world of literature.

Charles Marion Russell, often called Charlie Russell, is widely regarded as one of the most influential artists of the American West. Born in St. Louis, Missouri, he left home at 16 to pursue his dream of living in the West, arriving in Montana in 1880. His early years were spent as a ranch hand and cowboy, where he immersed himself in the lifestyle that would later become the foundation of his artistic legacy. Russell's firsthand experiences with the land, wildlife, and people of the West allowed him to depict his subjects with an unparalleled level of detail and authenticity.

The CIA's “Acoustic Kitty” experiment is one of the most bizarre and controversial espionage programs in the agency's history. Initiated during the Cold War, the program aimed to turn cats into mobile listening devices, equipped with microphones and antennas, to spy on Soviet agents.

Frequently, early voting involved a voter placing colored balls or corn kernels or beans into a box, which were then counted.

A Fata Morgana is a fascinating and complex type of mirage that has sparked legends and myths for centuries. The name itself comes from the Italian phrase for “Fairy Morgana,” referencing Morgan le Fay, the powerful enchantress of Arthurian legend. She was believed to possess magical abilities that could create illusions and manipulate perceptions, and it's likely that this phenomenon, with its surreal visual effects, inspired the association.

The 1967 UFO incident at Malmstrom Air Force Base in Montana is one of the most notable cases involving unexplained aerial phenomena near U.S. nuclear missile facilities. This event, which involved an apparent UFO sighting and an unexpected shutdown of nuclear missiles, has fueled decades of debate and speculation, especially given its Cold War backdrop and the sensitive nature of the affected Minuteman missiles.

The story of the shopping cart is one of innovation driven by practicality, beginning in the late 1930s with an Oklahoma grocery store owner named Sylvan Goldman. Like many other businesses during the Great Depression, he was looking to boost his bottom line. At that time, customers handed a list of grocery items to a clerk who then went through the store to gather up items. To reduce his labor costs, Goldman came up with a handheld basket so that customers could select their own items. However, Goldman, who ran the Humpty Dumpty supermarket chain, observed a recurring problem: His customers stopped shopping when their handheld baskets became too heavy or full. This directly limited how much they could buy. Always on the lookout for ways to improve the shopping experience (and increase sales), Goldman brainstormed solutions to help customers carry more goods easily and comfortably.