How Long Should I Keep this?

I found this wonderful article from Suze Orman which details how long one should keep types of paperwork.

From Suze Orman:

What Personal Documents Should You Keep and for How Long?

Keep until warranty expires or can no longer return or exchange

Sales Receipts (Unless needed for tax purposes and then keep for 3 years)

What to keep for 1 month

ATM Printouts (When you balance your checkbook each month throw out the ATM receipts)

What to keep for 1 year

Paycheck Stubs (You can get rid of once you have compared to your W2 & annual social security statement)
Utility Bills (You can throw out after one year, unless you’re using these as a deduction like a home office –then you need to keep them for 3 years after you’ve filed that tax return)
Cancelled Checks (Unless needed for tax purposes and then you need to keep for 3 years)
Credit Card Receipts (Unless needed for tax purposes and then you need to keep for 3 years)
Bank Statements (Unless needed for tax purposes and then you need to keep for 3 years)
Quarterly Investment Statements (Hold on to until you get your annual statement)

What to keep for 3 years

Income Tax Returns (Please keep in mind that you can be audited by the IRS for no reason up to three years after you filed a tax return. If you omit 25% of your gross income that goes up to 6 years and if you don’t file a tax return at all, there is no statute of limitations.)
Medical Bills and Cancelled Insurance Policies
Records of Selling a House (Documentation for Capital Gains Tax)
Records of Selling a Stock (Documentation for Capital Gains Tax)
Receipts, Cancelled Checks and other Documents that Support Income or a Deduction on your Tax Return (Keep 3 years from the date the return was filed or 2 years from the date the tax was paid — which ever is later)
Annual Investment Statement (Hold onto 3 years after you sell your investment.)

What to keep for 7 years

Records of Satisfied Loans

What to hold while active

Contracts
Insurance Documents
Stock Certificates
Property Records
Stock Records
Records of Pensions and Retirement Plans
Property Tax Records Disputed Bills (Keep the bill until the dispute is resolved)
Home Improvement Records (Hold for at least 3 years after the due date for the tax return that includes the income or loss on the asset when it’s sold)

Keep Forever

Marriage Licenses
Birth Certificates
Wills
Adoption Papers
Death Certificates
Records of Paid Mortgages

*These documents should be kept in a very safe place, like a safety deposit box.

SOURCE: SUZEORMAN.COM

Happy National Arkansas Day!

Tripadvisor.com recommends seeing these Arkansas attractions for your next visit to the state!

Crater of Diamonds State Park: The ONLY diamond mine open to the public!

Anthony Chapel: The Anthony Chapel Complex is a part of Garvan Woodland Gardens, the 210-acre botanical garden of the University of Arkansas located on Lake Hamilton in Hot Springs, Arkansas.

Turpentine Creek Wildlife Refuge: Turpentine Creek Wildlife Refuge is one of the largest big cat sanctuaries in the United States. The non-profit USDA licensed refuge, founded in 1992, has grown to become one of the Top 10 attractions in Arkansas and the most popular in Eureka Springs.

Christ of the Ozarks: Built in 1967, this 7-story memorial statue of Jesus is on the grounds of The Great Passion Play and overlooks Eureka Springs, Arkansas.

SOURCE: TRIPADVISOR.COM

Amazing Science Facts: Part 1

This Reader’s Digest article details amazing science facts!

The human stomach can dissolve razor blades

Talk about a bizarre feature of the human body: If you happened to swallow a razor blade, your stomach acid would dissolve it. Acids are ranked on a scale from zero to 14—the lower the pH level, the stronger the acid. Human stomach acid typically has a pH of 1 to 2, which is incredibly strong. In a study published in the journal Gastrointestinal Endoscopy, scientists discovered that the “thickened back of a single-edged blade” dissolved after two hours of immersion in stomach acid. That said, we wouldn’t recommend swallowing one. Dissolvable or not, razor blades are still dangerously sharp.

A laser can get trapped in water

A cool thing known as “total internal reflection” happens when you point a laser beam at a jet of flowing water. To demonstrate this phenomenon, scientists from Harvard University positioned a laser on one side of a clear tank of water. On the other side, the water flowed through a hole and into a bucket. The heavier particles in the water slowed the laser’s light, effectively “trapping” the laser beam in the water. That’s why, when the light hit the flowing stream, it looked like a red waterfall. Even as the water flow was gradually decreased, the laser beam remained contained inside the jet until it eventually disappeared when the water was turned off completely.

Earth’s oxygen is produced by the ocean

Have you ever stopped to think about where oxygen comes from? Your first thought may be of a rainforest, but here’s a cool science fact for you: We can thank plant-based marine organisms for about half of the Earth’s fresh air, according to the National Oceanic Service. Luckily, this isn’t one of those ocean mysteries we’ll never solve. Scientists have learned that plankton, seaweed and other photo synthesizers produce more than half of the world’s oxygen.

Ocean animals use Earth’s magnetic field for orientation

Lost land animals aren’t the only ones who can find their way home; it turns out, some sea animals can too. But sea creatures use a completely different means of navigation. Here’s one of the coolest animal facts you’ll ever learn: According to the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), some animals, like sea turtles and salmon, have the ability to sense the Earth’s magnetic field and can use this sense like a compass for navigation.

A cloud can weigh around a million pounds

Your childhood dreams of floating on a weightless cloud may not withstand this science fact: The average cumulus cloud can weigh up to a million pounds, according to the USGS. That’s even heavier than a Boeing 747 jet completely full of cargo and passengers. So why do they float? The moist air in clouds weighs less than the dry air below.

Soil is full of life

There are more microorganisms in a single teaspoon of soil than there are people on the planet. “Millions of species and billions of organisms—bacteria, algae, microscopic insects, earthworms, beetles, ants, mites, fungi and more—represent the greatest concentration of biomass anywhere on the planet,” says the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Rats laugh when they’re tickled

These creatures are more dynamic than we think. Rats have the ability to “laugh” when tickled. A video from National Geographic based on a 2023 German study demonstrates that rats respond positively to tickling, and they even chase after the researcher’s hand in a playful manner.

Bananas are radioactive

Here’s a very strange history-of-food fact: Bananas contain potassium, and since potassium decays, that makes the yellow fruit slightly radioactive. But don’t worry—you’d need to eat a billion bananas (literally) in one sitting to die of banana-induced radiation poisoning, according to Joe Schwarcz, PhD, director of McGill University’s Office for Science and Society.

Hot water freezes faster than cold water

This may seem counterintuitive, but it’s called the Mpemba effect, after a Tanzanian teenager in the 1960s who found that homemade ice cream froze faster when it went into the freezer right after the mixture was boiled, and therefore still hot, instead of cooled down. Ever since, scientists have been trying to find an explanation for this phenomenon. Recent work has suggested it’s the result of the hot water being out of thermodynamic equilibrium. (That long science term refers to a system that’s stable and not undergoing changes to properties like temperature.) Other theories as to why this happens include the fact that cold water produces frost when freezing, which ironically insulates the water underneath, while hot water doesn’t.

There are more trees on Earth than stars in our galaxy

Here’s a cool space fact we bet you didn’t know: NASA experts believe there could be anywhere from 100 billion to 400 billion stars in the Milky Way. However, a 2015 paper published in the journal Nature estimated that the number of trees around the world is much higher: 3.04 trillion.

Humans have genes from other species

We like to think of humans as being superior to other living creatures, but the reality is that our genome consists of as many as 145 genes that have jumped from bacteria, fungi, other single-celled organisms and viruses, according to a study published in the journal Genome Biology. This process, called “horizontal gene transfer,” could change how we think about evolution.

But don’t worry—humans have a lot of DNA

Scientists have mapped the human genome and now know there are more than 3 billion base pairs of DNA in human genes and more than 25,000 genes in the human genome, according to an article in Nature. An entire copy of that genome exists in each of the 28 to 36 trillion cells in the adult human body.

SOURCE: READERSDIGEST.COM Elizabeth Yuko

What Shall We Bake Today?

Hubby loves pecan pie, so I wanted to try this Pecan Pie Bar recipe!

Ingredients

Crust

1 cup butter

3/4 cup granulated sugar

1/2 tsp. salt

2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour

Filling

1/2 cup butter, melted

1 cup dark corn syrup

1 cup light brown sugar

4 large eggs

1 Tbsp. vanilla extract

1 tsp. salt

3 cups pecan halves

Directions

For crust: Preheat the oven to 350°F. Butter or spray the bottom and sides a 13-by-9-inch baking pan with baking spray. Line the pan with parchment paper or foil letting the excess extend over the edges of the pan.

Cube the butter and place in a saucepan over medium heat. Cook until the butter smells nutty and the solids have turned brown, 6 to 8 minutes. Immediately pour the butter into a medium bowl to stop the cooking. Whisk in the sugar and salt. Add the flour, and stir until it is fully moistened. Press the crust evenly into the bottom of the prepared pan. (The crust will be moist. Press carefully to reach all edges and corners of the pan).

Bake for 15 minutes. Remove and lightly press down any large bubbles in the crust.

For the filling: In a large bowl, whisk together the melted butter, corn syrup, brown sugar, eggs, vanilla, and salt until smooth. Stir in the pecans. Pour over the baked crust.

Bake at 350°F until the topping is puffed and set (it should not wiggle), 30 to 35 minutes. Let cool completely in the pan. Use the excess parchment or foil to lift the bars out of the pan. Cut into squares to serve.

ENJOY!

Alaska State Motto

Motto: North to the Future

Adoption of the Alaska State Motto

The United States purchased Alaska from Russia in 1867.

In 1963, as the 100-year anniversary of this purchase was approaching, a commission was formed to organize a celebration. As one of the events leading up to the celebration, the Alaska Centennial Commission sponsored a contest to come up with a centennial motto and emblem that would express the unique character of the State of Alaska. They offered a $300.00 prize to the winning entry. 761 entries were received by the Commission. In December 1963, the commission announced that they had selected Juneau newsman Richard Peter’s suggestion: North to the Future.

The Alaska Legislature officially adopted North to the Future as the official motto of Alaska in 1967, during Alaska’s Purchase Centennial celebration.

About the Alaska State Motto

The motto represents a forward-looking optimism, a state of promise. Richard Peter is quoted that the motto

“…is a reminder that beyond the horizon of urban clutter there is a Great Land beneath our flag that can provide a new tomorrow for this century’s ‘huddled masses yearning to be free.’ “

The motto also promotes the State of Alaska, advising that the future lies with the state to the north of the “lower 48”

19 Untold Nicholas Cage Facts

How could you NOT be intrigued by an article with that name? I found this article on CLEDEMY.COM and it was written by RASHMI PANCHAL.

This famous American actor was born on January 7, 1964, in Long Beach, California. His dad, August Coppola, was a professor of literature, and his mom, Joy Vogelsang, was a dancer and choreographer. Nicolas was raised in a Catholic family –his father was of Italian descent, while his mother was of Polish and German ancestry! He is the youngest of three sons. His two brothers are Marc “The Cope” Coppola and director Christopher Coppola.

He changed his name

In 2012, Nicolas told The Huffington Post that he decided to change his last name after actors on the set of the film Fast Times at Ridgemont High (1982) resented him! It was the first movie by Nicolas and the actors hated him because his uncle was a well-known director Francis Ford Coppola. Unfortunately, most of his scenes in that movie ended up getting cut. To stand out from his relatives, Nicolas chose “Cage.” He took the name after being inspired by the African-American comic book superhero Luke Cage.

At the foot of Cage’s bed, a naked home intruder ate a fudgsicle

While talking about his home invasion thriller Trespass in the year 2011, Cage told reporters that he was once victimized in his home! He shared that a person had broken into his Orange County home. He was sleeping, and “I opened my eyes, and there was a naked man wearing my leather jacket eating a Fudgsicle in front of my bed.” He further added, “I know it sounds funny…but it was horrifying.” Later, Cage convinced the man to leave before the police arrived. While Cage didn’t press charges, he said he never stayed in the house again.

Cage once owned 15 houses, including a haunted house

There are many interesting possessions Cage has accrued throughout his life–such as shrunken pygmy heads, an octopus, and his amazing houses located around the world. Many of those houses were foreclosed on in the wake of debt, including America’s “Most Haunted House.” In 2007, Cage bought the LaLaurie House in New Orleans. He claimed that he bought this to get inspiration to write a book; however, the book was never produced, and two years later, the house was sold.

Cage once slept in Dracula’s castle

While promoting the film Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance in 2011, popular actor Idris Elba recalled an incident. One day, noticing Cage was tired, Elba asked if they had gotten any rest. He answered, “Yeah, man, I went up to Dracula’s castle…the ruins up in the mountains, and I stayed the night.” He further added, “I just had to channel the energy, and it was pretty spooky up there.” He was probably talking about Bran Castle near Transylvania, which may have been Dracula’s residence in the novel of Bram Stoker.

While filming ‘Vampire’s Kiss,’ Cage ate live cockroaches

While playing Peter Low in the 1988 film Vampire’s Kiss, Cage ate a live cockroach! Eating the cockroach was his idea as a calculated on-screen move. According to Bierman, the director, the script actually required the character to eat a raw egg. However, Bierman and Cage decided an egg wasn’t extreme enough, so Cage decided to eat a cockroach.

Cage owns a pyramid-shaped Tomb in New Orleans

Cage owns a tomb that is located in St. Louis Cemetery in the French Quarter in New Orleans. The tomb is ready for him to be placed inside when the time arrives. The tomb can only be seen on a licensed tour offered by New Orleans Catholic Church and it sits among the tombs of notable figures, like Voodoo Queen Marie Laveau. It is not known how much Cage paid for this nine-foot-high pyramid tomb when he bought it in 2010, but according to a report, it was $40,000. It has the inscription “everything from one” in Latin.

Cage was the victim of a massive comic book heist

In 1997, comic book fan Nicolas Cage bought a copy of Action Comics #1, the highly sought-after issue of 1939. It was the issue that introduced Superman and even ushered in the superhero genre of the 20^th century. The book, however, along with some other rare titles, was stolen in January 2000 from Cage’s home. The case went cold for 11 years before the book showed up in the storage locker of San Fernando Valley. After a police investigation, Cage got his book back, and he sold it for a then-record of $2.1 million!

Nicolas Cage accidentally bought a skull of a dinosaur

The extravagant spending habits of Cage have been well documented; however, very few of them can match his grandiose gesture of spending $276,000 at a 2007 auction for a Tyrannosaurus bataar skull. Unfortunately, he didn’t know that the skull had been stolen from the Gobi Desert in Mongolia. In 2014, contacted by the Department of Homeland Security, Cage agreed to hand it over…so that it could be returned.

A Japanese corn snack used Cage’s likeness without permission

In October 2017, Cage’s fans in Japan were very happy to see the actor’s face emblazoned on a snack package! It was a crunchy corn snack known as Deluxe Umaibou Nicolastick! The snack was intended to promote his movie, Army of One, in a few theaters; however, no one asked him for his consent.

Cage helped Johnny Depp break into acting

Johnny Depp and Nicolas Cage were good friends, and during a casual game of Monopoly, Cage told Depp that he should try acting! Later in 2019, Cage told The New York Times that Depp was actually dismissive of the suggestions and even said that he couldn’t act and wanted to be a musician! However, Cage pestered and had Johnny Depp meet with his agent. Soon after, Depp was cast in the movie A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984).

One of Cage’s kids is named after Kal-El, his favorite superhero

Cage has two sons, Weston, and Kal El. Weston was born in 1990 and is the child of Cage and his long-time girlfriend, Christian Fulton. Weston is a musician, has entered acting, and even wrote a comic book with his father called Voodoo Child.

Cage’s third wife, Alice Kim, gave birth to the boy Kal-El in 2005. The name of the actor’s younger son is the same name given to Superman when he lived on Krypton. The name is believed to resemble the Hebrew words for “Voice of God.”

After Cage was arrested in 2011, Dog the Bounty Hunter posted his bail

In 2011, Cage was arrested in New Orleans for domestic abuse and disturbing the peace. He had been fighting with his wife, Alice Kim, according to the police. Duane “Dog” Chapman, also famous as Dog the Bounty Hunter, came to help Cage, posting the $11,000 bond required to be released. According to Chapman, he just performed his duties as a bail bondsman.

Cage has been married five times

In February 2021, Cage walked down the aisle with Riko Shabata in Las Vegas, NV, making it the fifth marriage of the actor. He married Patricia Arquette (1995-2001), Lisa Marie Presley (2002-2004), Alice Kim (2004-2016), and also Erika Koike (2019).

Nicolas Cage worked his way out of $6 million in debt

In an interview on CBS’ 60 Minutes, this talented actor, Nicolas Cage, revealed that at one point in his life, he was $6 million in debt! So, he had to act in different kinds of movies, including a few “crummy movies”, but he managed to work himself out of that debt.

SOURCE: CLEDEMY.COM RASHMI PANCHAL

Alabama State Motto

The last 2 years we’ve been exploring the state flowers and the state animals. Starting this year, we’ll explore the state mottos and state trees. (I was going to do state insects–who knew the states had state insects?– but most turned out to be honey bees…LOL)

We start with Alabama. Their motto is…

“We dare to
defend our rights”

The Alabama State Motto
The Alabama State motto is expressed in Latin as “Audemus jura nostra defendere” which means: We dare to defend our rights.

The motto is sometimes translated as “We dare to maintain our rights”. The motto was approved on March 14, 1939.

The Meaning of the Alabama State Motto
The meaning of the Alabama Motto reflects the aspirations and concepts of freedom, justice and independence. The motto also reflects the history of the War of Independence and the part Alabama played in the American Civil War.

Healthy Habits to Adopt in the New Year

I found this article on thefactsite.com that details some healthy habits to adopt this year.

From thefactsite.com:

Our habits reveal what kind of person we are. That’s why creating healthy habits and breaking bad ones is important, especially when it comes to things like succeeding or feeling happier. Regardless of your reason, in this article, you’ll discover the healthy habits that are worth trying, ranging from minimizing screen time to learning something new every day. With that said, keep on reading, and let’s make this year worthwhile!

Avoid doom-scrolling.

Too much screen time has been a problem these days. And one culprit of it is scrolling too much on social media. It can be addicting to the point you find yourself consuming content for hours on social media apps like Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok. This bad habit can make you waste a lot of time and prevent you from achieving the goals you’ve set or keeping your New Year’s resolutions. To avoid mindlessly scrolling, consider turning off your notifications, setting time limits for app usage, and deleting apps that always distract you.

Eat for nutrition, not just for pleasure.

It’s kind of annoying that healthy foods typically taste bad while unhealthy ones make your mouth water. However, it doesn’t always have to be this way, as there are some ways to make healthier foods taste yummy! Some examples would be roasting your veggies or adding herbs and spices to it. It’s also worth noting that eating healthy doesn’t necessarily mean you only eat fruits and vegetables. You can still take a bite of that donut or drink those sugary drinks. Just remember to consume them in moderation!

Exercise consistently.

Besides eating healthier, exercising is one of the things that’s always in the conversation if health is the topic. After all, working out improves your physical and mental health without making your wallet cry. But I want you to know that not everyone who works out becomes healthy. Why so? Well, it’s due to a lack of consistency. So, don’t think that one day or even a month of exercising is enough to keep you in shape for the rest of your life. Unfortunately, it doesn’t work that way (although we wish it did)!

Wake up earlier than usual.

Research at the University of Westminster, UK, discovered that people who wake up earlier have higher cortisol levels, which is associated with energy and productivity. That explains why people generally feel more energized and motivated to accomplish their daily tasks when they wake up early rather than late. It’s worth reminding, though, that for this to be a healthy habit, you need to get to bed early enough; going to bed late and waking up early is terrible for you!

Socialize more.

While spending time with your own thoughts can be a good thing, too much of it can be a buzzkill for your mental health. That’s why you also have to interact with others since it prevents loneliness, increases happiness, and even improves your memory. So, get yourself out there, have some chit-chats, and make new friends! But just like fact number two, remember that balance is key since both socializing and spending time alone have their fair share of pros and cons.

Take up journaling.

Whenever you write down your thoughts and feelings, it helps you process your emotions, reduce stress, and reflect on yourself. In other words, journaling is essential for your mental well-being! But other than improving your mental health, journaling also serves as a documentary of your life. Come to think of it, wouldn’t it be nice to flick back through old journals, and reflect on how far you’ve come along?

Practice mindfulness.

Mindfulness meditation is about meditating while being in the moment, accepting whatever thoughts come into your mind without judgment. As a result, you gain more focus, reduce stress levels, and become less emotionally reactive. Keep in mind, though, that mindfulness doesn’t just revolve around meditation. It can also be practiced with other activities, like yoga, tai chi, and qigong.

Implement a skincare routine.

According to dermatologists, a proper skincare routine doesn’t have to be complicated. All you really need are three things: cleanser, moisturizer, and sunscreen. They say anything other than the three mentioned are just optional. Looking after your skin is a great habit to adopt, since, just like exercising, skincare not only benefits your physical but also your mental well-being.

This is because caring for your skin activates happy hormones like dopamine and serotonin and boosts self-confidence, making you look good and feel good!

Get organized.

Becoming an organized person has many mental health benefits. It eliminates distractions and stress in your surroundings, making you feel relaxed or giving you peace of mind. As the saying goes, “A cluttered desk is a cluttered mind.” In addition, when you plan and organize what you eat daily, you also become physically healthier. Now, I know some claim being messy can boost your creativity; even Albert Einstein implied that an empty desk equates to an empty mind. But hey, if disorganization deteriorates your life, then copying them might not be a great idea!

Become a lifelong learner.

There’s a saying that the day you stop learning is the day you stop growing. This alone is enough to make us realize how important lifelong learning is. But to be more specific, learning consistently can provide you with many benefits. For example, it can keep your brain healthy, increase self-esteem, and make life a little more interesting! So, starting from now on, become the best and healthiest version of yourself by reading a book, learning a new skill, or picking up a new hobby!

Habits can make you or break you. And while you can’t do anything about the unhealthy habits you’ve had in the past, like always using your phone and waking up late, I’m here to tell you it’s never too late to change! Let this be a sign to replace them with healthy ones today. Start cleaning your place, never let a day pass without learning something new, and become a skincare fanatic. Of course, changing your habits is easier said than done. But please don’t use this as an excuse not to start improving your life!

SOURCE: THEFACTSITE.COM

Happy National Missouri Day!

Missouri, the Show Me state, is also known as the Gateway to the West. Here are some of the best attractions to enjoy when you visit!

Silver Dollar City

Branson’s #1 attraction for over 50 years, Silver Dollar City features six world-class festivals, 30 thrilling rides & attractions, 40 live shows daily, 60 unique shops, a dozen family restaurants and over 100 demonstrating craftsmen.

City Museum

Don’t take the name so literally. We’re about fun. Not your white walls, walk around, and be quiet museum. If you want to climb around, get active with your kids or are a big kid at heart, we’re the place. If you get freaked out easily, you might not want to come. We’re four floors filled with miles of tunnels, a full cave system, over 30 slides, a circus, an arts area, a large outdoor climbing space, Architectural Museum, a Cabin that serves adult beverages, a Museum of Mayhem, Mirth and Mystery, and a ton more. Also, there’s the roof with a Ferris Wheel and a bus hanging off its edge.

Titanic Museum

Everyone knows the name Titanic! Everyone knows Titanic struck an iceberg! And everyone knows Titanic was lost! She sat at the bottom of the ocean for 75 years before they found her in 1985. A second expedition to the wreck site went out in 1986 and that expedition was co-led by the owner of this museum. The artifacts you see throughout the ship are REAL and valued at over $4 million dollars. You’ll be able to touch a growing iceberg, experience the 28 degree water, try and steer the ship and pay tribute to the 2,208 passengers and crew that were on the Titanic. You will enter as a guest and leave as a Titanic Passenger!

Fantastic Caverns

Discover the timeless beauty of Fantastic Caverns, one of the earth’s rarest treasures. There are only four of its’ kind in the entire world, and only one in North America. Here, you’ll discover one of the world’s most beautiful natural wonders; giant columns stretching from floor to ceiling, delicate soda straws glistening with minerals, tiny cave pearls hidden in crystal-clear water. And best of all, you’ll see it close-up from the comfort of a Jeep-drawn tram!

Dogwood Canyon Nature Park

Dogwood Canyon Nature Park is a one-of-a-kind experience for nature lovers and adventure seekers of all ages. Covering 10,000 acres of pristine Ozark Mountain landscape, the park has miles of crystal-clear trout streams, dozens of cascading waterfalls, ancient burial caves, unique hand-built bridges and bottomless, blue-green pools.

The Gateway Arch

From the thrilling views to the amazing stories, a visit to the Gateway Arch is an experience that never fails to inspire. Whether you have a few hours or a full day, you’ll find activities to please every member of your party. Attractions include the Tram Ride to the Top of the Gateway Arch, the Museum at the Gateway Arch (opened July 3, 2018), a documentary film about the construction of the Arch, shopping at The Arch Store, a new Arch Cafe, and cruises aboard the Riverboats at the Gateway Arch. Tickets sell out early and often – advance purchase strongly recommended. Closed Thanksgiving, Christmas Day and New Year’s Day.

SOURCE: TRIPADVISOR.COM

Happy Birthday Blue Eyes!

Today is Mel Gibson’s birthday (born in 1956), and I went looking for interesting facts about this talented, sexy man. I found this article on factinate.com and I wanted to share some of the article.

1. A Few Brothers and Sisters…

Mel Gibson is the sixth of eleven children. Eleven children.

2. Poser Down Under

Originally born in New York, Gibson and his family emigrated to Australia when he was twelve. He kept his American citizenship, but picked up the Australian accent.

3. Knowledge is its own Reward

Gibson’s father won $21,000 playing Jeopardy.

4. Bottled Up

His sister applied on his behalf, but without his knowledge, to the National Institute of Dramatic Art in Sydney. At the time, Gibson had graduated but was working at an orange juice bottling factory. Somewhere out there is an alternate universe where Mel Gibson is referred to as the “Clark Gable of Orange Juice Bottling”.

5. One Day She’ll Fly Away

While working on that production, Gibson met his future ex-wife Robyn Moore. Gibson took one look at her and said, “One day, I’m gonna divorce that girl.”

6. I Don’t Want to Go to There

Gibson made $400 for his first film role, the 1977 Australian surfer film “Summer City.” It is also known as “Coast of Terror,” which would be a pretty awful tourism ad.

7. Mad Money

For his role in the first Mad Max film, Gibson made $15,000. By the time he got to the second sequel, “Mad Max Beyond the Thunderdome,” Gibson’s salary was up to a million, his first million-dollar payday.

8. American Gothic

Gibson’s first American film was 1984’s “The River” in which he and Sissy Spacek played struggling Tennessee farmers.

9. Moo-Urns!

After working on four films in a row, Gibson took almost two years off to work at his Australian cattle station because cows are easier to deal with than actors.

10. Behind-The-Wheel Woes

Gibson took another year off after he rear-ended a car in Toronto whilst under the influence. He was banned from driving in Ontario for three months, which given the traffic, is much less of a punishment than you’d think.

11. Fine, I’ll Win an Oscar

Just like with acting, Gibson originally had no desire to direct. The studios encouraged him to do so, which resulted in Gibson eventually winning a Best Director Oscar for his work on “Braveheart.

12. Why So Serious?

As a director, Gibson likes to break the tension on set by having his actors perform serious scenes while wearing a red clown nose.

13. It’s a Sign

After making “Signs,” Gibson said he no longer wanted to be a movie star and only wanted to focus on roles that were “extraordinary.” He went on to make “Edge of Darkness,” which scored 56% on Rotten Tomatoes.

14. As You Wish

In keeping with his desire to no longer be a movie star, in 2010, Gibson had a public (and profoundly racist, cruel, and threatening) outburst against his girlfriend and was dropped from William Morris Endeavor, his talent agency.

15. Alcohol

On July 28^th, 2006, Gibson was arrested by deputy James Mee of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department for driving under the influence while speeding in his vehicle with an open container of alcohol. Gibson first told the officer, “My life is over. I’m [redacted]. Robyn’s going to leave me.” When the officer wouldn’t let him drive home, he exploded into a racist tirade which culminated with, “Jews are responsible for all the wars in the world. Are you a Jew?”

16. Not the Best Record

Gibson’s divorce was finalized in December 23^rd, 2011 and, at over $400 million, the settlement was said to be the highest in Hollywood history.

17. In the Right

Gibson’s political views have been charitably described as “ultraconservative.”

18. Laughing in the Face of Controversy

Gibson’s Icon Productions originally agreed to finance Michael Moore’s film “Fahrenheit 9/11” but later sold the rights to Miramax Films. Moore said that his agent claimed that “top Republicans” had called Gibson to tell him not to expect any more invitations to the White House. A spokesperson for Icon dismissed the story saying, “We never run from controversy. You’d have to be out of your mind to think that of the company that just put out The Passion of the Christ.” Fair point.

19. Stickler for the Rules

Gibson was raised a Sedevacantist traditionalist Catholic. He believes that, “There is no salvation for those outside the church… My wife is a saint. She’s a much better person than I am. Honestly. She’s… Episcopalian. And it’s not fair if she doesn’t make it. She’s better than I am. But that is a pronouncement from the chair. I go with it.”

20. On Abortion

Gibson is staunchly pro-life, telling Barbara Walters in an interview that, “God is the only one who knows how many children we should have, and we should be ready to accept them. One can’t decide for oneself who comes into this world and who doesn’t. That decision doesn’t belong to us.” This certainly explains why Gibson has nine children.

21. Breakfast of Champions

Despite his problems with alcohol addiction, he still managed to maintain his professionalism. “Lethal Weapon 2” director Richard Donner recalls being quite surprised when Gibson confided that he was drinking five pints of beer for breakfast. What’s more surprising is that Gibson managed to maintain his action star physique considering the sheer number of carbs he was consuming on a daily basis.

SOURCE: FACTINATE.COM