Today s Lucille Ball’s birthday.  She was born August 6^th, 1911 and passed away April 26^th, 1989 and in between those years, she made us laugh!  I found this article on yahoo.com about some surprising facts we might not have known about this wonderful redhead comedienne.

From yahoo.com:

The one, the only Lucille Ball. Groundbreaking, fearless, timeless, supremely talented… and magical. We salute her today in honor of her birthday, Aug. 6 1911, with a bevy of facts you probably didn’t know about the beloved “I Love Lucy” star. From real-life antics on the set of her iconic sitcom (that grape stomping scene turned into a wrestling match) to superstitions (keep away all pictures of birds!) to a long-kept secret (Lucy had no eyebrows — really!), we go through it all. So sit back and celebrate the icon known as Lucille Ball with this deep-dive into her life.

• The grape stomping scene turned into a real wrestling match     

“I got into the vat with one, and she had been told that we would have a fight,” Lucy said on “The Dick Cavett Show.” She continued, “I slipped and, in slipping, I hit her accidentally and she took offense, until she hauled off and let me have it. Now this was supposed to happen — that she got right.” But when she hit Lucy, it took the wind out of her. “She had been told that we were to stay down for a while, give me a chance to get my legs way up, so that they’d show in the camera, then up would come an arm and then both of them– my head was supposed to—but, well, my head never popped up. She’d get me down by the throat! I had grapes up my nose, in my ears, and she was choking me, and I’m really beating her to get her off…she didn’t understand that she had to let me up once in a while. I was drowning in these grapes!” Apparently, the woman spent so much time “beating the hell” out of Lucy that they had to cut half of it.

• Desi Jr. and Little Ricky were delivered only 12 hours apart   

You want to talk publicity stunt to end all publicity stunts? Well, on Jan. 19, 1953, Lucille Ball delivered a doozy of one. Literally. On that day, Lucille Ball delivered Desi Jr. just 12 hours before Lucy Ricardo delivered Little Ricky on “I Love Lucy.” It was all very brilliantly planned that way, with Ball being scheduled for a cesarean delivery of Desi Jr. to coincide with Little Ricky’s birth on TV. And, boy, did it payoff ratings-wise – 44 million “I Love Lucy” fans tuned in for that episode (equivalent to 72% of American households). To put that in additional perspective, the following day, President Dwight D. Eisenhower first took the oath of office, and only 29 million tuned in for that. People like Ike, but they LOVE Lucy.

• Lucy went by the name Diane Belmont in her early years    

As a model, Lucy wanted to change it up a little so for a short period of time, she went by the name Diane Belmont. “I was driving in Long Island and I saw the Belmont Race Track and I loved the name Diane,” Lucy explained. “People, to this day, think my name was Diane Belmont and I took Lucille Ball.”

• Lucy gave Vivian Vance a contract ordering her not to gain weight    

True – but it was a gag gift. Vance, who played Ethel Mertz on “I Love Lucy,” was 22 years younger than her TV husband, William Frawley. And although she agreed to go with the Plain Jane look, she refused to wear padding to make her look plump.  According to Ball, Vance told producer Jess Oppenheimer, “If my husband in this series makes fun of my weight and I’m actually fat, then the audience won’t laugh. They’ll feel sorry for me. But if he calls me a fat old bag and I’m not too heavy, then it’ll seem funny.” In 1975, Vance and Ball appeared on Dinah Shore’s daytime talk show – and Vance brought with her a mock contract Lucy had drawn up some 20 years earlier. 

Vance read it to the studio audience: “Party of the first part must promise to never dye her hair within five shades either way of the party of the second part, also known as ‘the lovable natural redhead.’ Part two: Party of the first part must also agree to put on an additional five pounds every month [within] next year, otherwise this contract shall be terminated at the whim of the party of the second part by 1) a phone call or the more generous option of 30 minutes notice. Lucille Ball.”

• Ginger Rogers’ mother Lela groomed Lucy for stardom  

During the 1930s and early ’40s, Ginger Rogers’ mother, Lela, was known in Hollywood as quite a stage mom, molding her daughter into a star with a controlling, demanding fist on the throat of the studios. While Ginger was a contract player at RKO, Lela ran an acting school on the lot and one of her students was Lucille Ball.

“Lela advised us to work on ourselves and pay no attention to those corporate machinations. Lela wouldn’t tolerate anyone taking advantage of her charges,” Lucy said of Lela’s protective nature. And Lela also saw something in Lucy that the studios didn’t… yet.  “She told me years later, ‘I noticed the twinkle in your eyes and the mobile face, which is a must for comedy. I also sensed depth and a great capacity for love,’” Lucy said. “Lela was the first person to see me as a clown with glamor. She pulled my frizzy hair back off my brow and had a couple of my side teeth straightened. Then she sent me to a voice teacher and told me to lower my high squeaky voice by four tones.”

• After Carole Lombard’s death, she came to Lucy in a dream and encouraged her to do “I Love Lucy”  

If it wasn’t for a “message from beyond the grave” from the Queen of Screwball Comedies, Carole Lombard, “I Love Lucy” might never have happened. Lombard and Lucy struck up a close friendship in her early days struggling in Hollywood, as Lucy studied Lombard’s comedic style. “When I’m weighing a particularly difficult decision. sometimes I ask myself what Carole would’ve said, and it helps. She gave me lots of pointers on what she called studio behavior,” Lucy said of Carole.

In 1942, Lombard, who was married to Clark Gable, died in a plane crash while touring the country selling war bonds. More than a dozen years later, when Lucy was weighing whether or not to give up her highly-paid movie career and Desi’s band commitments to go for broke on TV, Lombard visited Lucy in a dream and encouraged her to take a leap of faith. “Carole Lombard appeared to me in a dream. She was wearing one of those slinky bias-cut gowns of the ’30s, waving a long, black cigarette holder in her hand. ‘Go on. kid,’ she advised me eagerly. ‘Give it a whirl.‘”

• Lucy had no eyebrows  

The studio star system of the Golden Age was all-controlling. The first order of business was always walking potential starlets into the hair and makeup departments for a makeover, usually to glam them up. And Lucy was no different. “One of the worst things the studio people did was shave off my eyebrows,” Lucy remembered. “We were all trying to look like Jean Harlow. Now, God forbid that I should ever find myself on a desert island without an eyebrow pencil. It’s the first thing I reach for every morning. The only girl I know who managed to grow hers back again was Ginger Rogers. And even then it took her years.”

• Lucy’s mother would tie her in their yard so she wouldn’t run wild  

Throughout her life, Lucy would talk lovingly about her mother, DeDe, who lived with her famous daughter and was her biggest cheerleader. Lucy recalled that when she was three and her mother was pregnant with Lucy’s little brother Fred, DeDe would tie up the rambunctious Lucy in the yard with a dog leash so she wouldn’t run around the neighborhood. Ball wrote in her autobiography “Love Lucy,” “Every time somebody would pass by on the sidewalk, I’d beg to be released.” Forty years later, DeDe would attend every taping of “I Love Lucy.” In fact, that “Uh oh” you hear when Lucy Ricardo gets into one of her predicaments, that’s DeDe.

• Desi and Lucy were TV’s first interracial couple   

If Lucy had not been persistent about wanting her real-life husband, Desi Arnaz, to be her TV hubby on “I Love Lucy,” it would not have happened. Before “I Love Lucy,” CBS was so impressed by her comedic performance on her radio program “My Favorite Husband” that they wanted to adapt it for television. Lucy agreed under one condition – Desi would play the role of her husband. CBS wasn’t thrilled with the idea, believing that no one would tune in to watch an “all-American red-headed woman with a Cuban,” especially a Cuban with a thick accent. But Lucy wouldn’t budge. To prove her point that America would love them as a husband-wife team, Lucy and Desi toured the country in sort of vaudeville act. Her fans couldn’t get enough, and CBS agreed.

Lucy was superstitious about pictures of birds  

Lucille was only 3 years old when her father died of typhoid fever at age 27. Because she was so young at the time, she later said that she remembered very little of that day — but one thing she did remember was a picture frame falling off the wall and a bird flying into her house. And that memory scarred her for the rest of her life. Although she was able to be in the vicinity of a bird, she couldn’t look at pictures of them and had even refused to stay in a hotel room with artwork of birds on the walls.  

• Lucy became the first woman to run a major TV studio 

Lucille Ball took her Hollywood know-how to an all-new height, crashing right through that glass ceiling to become the first woman to run a major TV studio. In 1962, Desi Arnaz resigned as the studio’s president, and Lucy bought out his holding in the company. Four years later, CBS turned down the original “Star Trek” series pilot, fearing the weekly budget to produce it would be too high. But Lucy stood behind it and gave the crew the finances needed, and it was made. So, Trekkies, you’ve got Lucille Ball to thank for your obsession. (Desilu also went on to produce the TV series “Mission: Impossible.”)

• Lucy and Desi once owned Tara, Scarlett O’Hara’s plantation in “Gone With the Wind”  In 1957, Desilu Productions bought all of RKO Pictures properties for $6.15 million. Quite a steal, actually. According to Ball, “We now owned 33 more sound stages, or 11 more than 20th century Fox and four more than MGM. We had fabulous permanent sets, including the Southern plantation exterior from ‘Gone With the Wind,’ fire-scarred and weather-beaten, but still majestic.”

• When TV Superman George Reeves appeared on “I Love Lucy,” she insisted his real name not be mentioned in the credits 

  Lucy put thought into the wants and needs of her audience of all ages. In an episode of “I Love Lucy” in which she promises Little Ricky that she’ll get Superman to attend his birthday party, TV’s Man of Steel himself, George Reeves, made a guest appearance. But to keep the fantasy alive that it was really Superman (not an actor), Lucy insisted Reeves name not appear in the episode credits.

• A “Simpson” character was made in her honor  

“The Simpsons” has paid homage to Lucille Ball on more than one occasion. In the episode titled “Little Big Mom,” Lisa is visited by Lucy’s ghost, who is named Lucy McGillicuddy Ricardo Carmichael (Ball’s maiden and married names on “I Love Lucy” and “The Lucy Show.”) There was also an episode that had Moe selling clams that look like Lucy, and a parody of “I Love Lucy” called “I Lost Lucy,” in which a character visits Lucille Ball’s grave.

• Lucy taught a class in “Television and Film Aesthetics” at California State University, Northridge  

You can add college professor to Lucy’s resume. In 1979, California State University, Northridge hired her as an assistant professor to teach a three-unit class called “Television and Film Aesthetics,” which included showing and analyzing film and television programs. “I try to teach them the art of taking care of themselves in every way so someone else doesn’t have to,” she told The Los Angeles Times. “All they hear about is rejection. I try not to talk about rejection. I teach how to do the best for you — don’t be a patsy, a pushover — and to take that step ahead every day.”

SOURCE: YAHOO.COM

Today is Don Henley’s birthday (born in 1947) and this song is about getting dirt on people.  It seemed relevant today, giving the state of “journalism” in America.

“Dirty Laundry”

I make my living off the evening news
Just give me something
Something I can use
People love it when you lose
They love dirty laundry

Well, I coulda been an actor
But I wound up here
I just have to look good
I don’t have to be clear
Come and whisper in my ear
Give us dirty laundry

Kick ’em when they’re up
Kick ’em when they’re down
Kick ’em when they’re up
Kick ’em when they’re down

Kick ’em when they’re up
Kick ’em when they’re down
Kick ’em when they’re up
Kick ’em all around

We got the bubble headed
Bleached blonde
Comes on at five
She can tell you ’bout the plane crash
With a gleam in her eye
It’s interesting when people die
Give us dirty laundry

Can we film the operation
Is the head dead yet
You know the boys in the newsroom
Got a running bet
Get the widow on the set
We need dirty laundry

You don’t really need to find out
What’s going on
You don’t really want to know
Just how far it’s gone
Just leave well enough alone
Eat your dirty laundry

Kick ’em when they’re up
Kick ’em when they’re down
Kick ’em when they’re up
Kick ’em when they’re down

Kick ’em when they’re up
Kick ’em when they’re down
Kick ’em when they’re stiff
Kick ’em all around

Dirty little secrets
Dirty little lies
We got our dirty little fingers
In everybody’s pie
We love to cut you down to size
We love dirty laundry

We can do the innuendo
We can dance and sing
When it’s said and done
We haven’t told you a thing
We all know that crap is king
Give us dirty laundry

Today would have been Robin Williams’ birthday.  He was born in 1951 and passed away in 2014.  One of my favorite Robin Williams’ movies was Mrs. Doubtfire. This article is from Mental Floss:

From Mental Floss:

After voice-over actor Daniel Hillard (Robin Williams) gets divorced and loses custody of his three children, he resorts to dressing up and speaking like a matronly grandmother to get hired as his kids’ nanny. Here are some facts about Mrs. Doubtfire, which was released on this day in 1993.

1. IT’S BASED ON A BRITISH NOVEL.

During the mid-1970s, author Anne Fine walked by a “bric-a-brac” shop selling jewelry and old furs, never having the time to walk inside and meet the store’s proprietor, one Madame Doubtfire. Fine remembered the name in 1986 when she wrote her book Madame Doubtfire. Fine said her one request to the filmmakers was that they “not make the children bratty, and they did indulge me in that.”

2. BLAKE LIVELY BLEW HER AUDITION TO PLAY NATALIE.

It came down to the future Gossip Girl star and Mara Wilson. To calm his daughter, Lively’s father told the then five-year-old Blake that she would be reading with Robin Williams’s twin brother at her final audition, not the movie star himself. That plan failed when someone in the room introduced Williams as Robin. Lively described the experience as “horrible.”

3. THEY WENT THROUGH PHOTOGRAPHS OF OLD WOMEN.

Director Chris Columbus claimed that he and his fellow filmmakers looked through “hundreds and hundreds” of photographs until finding a 1940s-era English woman to base Mrs. Doubtfire’s look on.

4. IT TOOK FOUR AND A HALF HOURS TO APPLY MRS. DOUBTFIRE’S MAKEUP.

Makeup artist Ve Neill did the honors. Neill—alongside Greg Cannom and Yolanda Toussieng—won the Oscar for Best Makeup, just like she did for Beetlejuice and Ed Wood. The wig was created by Toussieng, the hairstylist who created Edward Scissorhands’s hair.

5. WILLIAMS WENT TO A SAN FRANCISCO SEX SHOP IN THE MRS. DOUBTFIRE COSTUME.

The shop employee was about to sell a sex toy to him when he realized the true identity of the customer.

6. IT WAS SHOT ENTIRELY IN SAN FRANCISCO.

That includes the five large sets built in a 100,000-square-foot building in the Richmond district. It used to be a candy warehouse. After Williams’s passing, fans of the actor left flowers, photographs, and letters at the Pacific Heights house that doubled as the Hillards’ home. The plastic surgeon who lives there didn’t mind. In the original script, Mrs. Doubtfire was set in Chicago.

7. CHUCK JONES SUPERVISED THE OPENING ANIMATION.

Jones was the iconic animator of Looney Tunes and Merrie Melodies cartoons for Warner Bros. The full five minutes of Pudgy Parakeet and Grunge the Cat was released as a DVD feature.

8. COLUMBUS USED MULTIPLE CAMERAS SIMULTANEOUSLY TO CAPTURE THE CAST WHEN WILLIAMS IMPROVISED.

The director mostly shot one or two takes of each scene as it was written in the script before shooting something Williams made up. Columbus said the resulting footage gave him the option of cutting a PG, PG-13, R, or NC-17 version of the movie. (He ended up going with the PG-13 version.)

9. WILLIAMS DIDN’T KNOW THE BARBRA STREISAND LYRICS.

Harvey Fierstein (Frank) and Scott Capurro (Jack) taught Williams “Don’t Rain On My Parade.”

10. WILLIAMS TRIED TO BREAK PIERCE BROSNAN’S CONCENTRATION.

While Brosnan (Stu) was attempting to choke on the shrimp, Williams kept making suggestive comments to make his task much more difficult.

11. SALLY FIELD AND MARA WILSON ALSO WENT OFF SCRIPT.

When Field inadvertently gave herself a cappuccino mustache, it was added to the movie. Wilson ad-libbed her princess line.

12. LYDIA WAS EXPELLED FROM HER SCHOOL FOR WORKING ON THE MOVIE.

Lisa Jakub was kicked out of her Toronto school for taking the five-month-long gig. When Williams found out, he wrote a letter to the school asking them to reconsider. School officials framed his letter, but didn’t change their mind about Jakub.

13. A LENGTHY SUBPLOT INVOLVING THE NEIGHBOR GLORIA WAS CUT.

Scenes were filmed where Daniel got even with Gloria for telling Mrs. Doubtfire nasty rumors about him by telling her to use dog urine to make her garden beautiful, which ultimately kills her flowers. Gloria is only in two scenes in the final version.

14. THE HILLARDS ALMOST GOT BACK TOGETHER.

Screenwriter Randi Mayem Singer left the movie when 20th Century Fox wanted her to change the ending so that Daniel and Miranda get back together. After the studio and Columbus read the new, happier ending in Leslie Dixon’s revised script, they asked Singer to come back and change the ending back to the two remaining divorced.

15. TALK OF A SEQUEL BEGAN IN 2001.

In 2014, Williams had given Elf screenwriter David Berenbaum the go-ahead to work on a second draft of the sequel, which was cancelled following Williams’s passing.

16. BUT A MUSICAL MIGHT STILL BE COMING.

In early 2015, Alan Menken announced that he was in the early stages of working on a musical adaptation of the movie. In May 2016, however, he told Digital Spy that the project had stalled out a bit. “Mrs. Doubtfire went through a change of lyricist, and then also a dramaturgical evolution,” he said. “At the moment, the best thing I could say is that it’s on a creative hiatus.” At this point, only time will tell if and when it happens.

SOURCE: MENTAL FLOSS

Today is Luke Bryan’s birthday (born in 1976) and this song is one of my all time country favorites…Do I?

“Do I”

Baby, what are we becomin’?
It feels just like we’re always runnin’
Rollin’ through the motions every day

I could lean in to hold you
Or act like I don’t even know you
Seems like you could care less either way

What happened to that girl I used to know?
I just want us back to the way we were before

Do I turn you on at all when I kiss you, baby?
Does the sight of me wantin’ you drive you crazy?
Do I have your love? Am I still enough?
Tell me, don’t I? Or tell me, do I, baby?
Give you everything that you ever wanted?
Would you rather just turn away and leave me lonely?
Do I just need to give up and get on with my life?
Baby, do I?

Remember when we didn’t have nothin’
But a perfect simple kind of lovin’?
Baby, those sure were the days

There was a time our love ran wild and free
But now I’m second guessin’ everything I see

Do I turn you on at all when I kiss you, baby?
Does the sight of me wantin’ you drive you crazy?
Do I have your love? Am I still enough?
Tell me, don’t I? Or tell me, do I, baby
Give you everything that you ever wanted?
Would you rather just turn away and leave me lonely?
Do I just need to give up and get on with my life?
Baby, do I

Still give you what you need?
Still take your breath away?
Light up the spark way down deep?
Baby, do I?!

Whoa! Do I turn you on at all when I kiss you, baby?
Does the sight of me wantin’ you drive you crazy?
Do I have your love? Am I still enough?
Tell me, don’t I? Or tell me, do I, baby
Give you everything that you ever wanted?
Would you rather just turn away and leave me lonely?
Do I just need to give up and get on with my life?
Tell me, baby, do I get one more try?
Do I?
Baby, do I?

Happy Birthday Luke!

Today would have been Toby Keith’s birthday. He was born in 1951 and passed away in 2024.  His song Made in America is one of my favorites.

My old man’s that old man, spent his life livin’ off the land
Dirty hands and a clean soul
It breaks his heart seein’ foreign cars filled with fuel that isn’t ours
And wearin’ cotton we didn’t grow

[Chorus]
He’s got the red, white, blue flyin’ high on the farm
Semper Fi tattooed on his left arm
Spend a little more at the store for a tag
In the back that says U-S-A
He won’t buy nothin’ that he can’t fix
With WD-40 and a Craftsman wrench
He ain’t prejudiced, he’s just
Made in America

[Verse 2]
He loves his wife, but she’s that wife that decorates on the 4th of July
But says, “Every day’s Independence Day”
She’s golden rule, teaches school, some folks say it isn’t cool
But she says the Pledge of Allegiance anyway

[Chorus]
He’s got the red, white, blue flyin’ high on the farm
Semper Fi tattooed on his left arm
Spend a little more in the store for a tag
In the back that says U-S-A
He won’t buy nothin’ that he can’t fix
With WD-40 and a Craftsman wrench
He ain’t prejudiced, he’s just
Made in America

Born in the heartland, raised up a family
Of King James and Uncle Sam

[Chorus]
He’s got the red, white, blue flyin’ high on the farm
Semper Fi tattooed on his left arm
Spend a little more in the store for a tag
In the back that says U-S-A
Won’t buy nothin’ that he can’t fix
With WD-40 and a Craftsman wrench
He ain’t prejudiced, he’s just
Made in America

[Outro]
Made in America
Made in America
Yeah, my old man’s that old man
Made in America

Today is Melissa Petermen’s birthday!  She was born in 1971 and is best known for her portrayal of Barbra Jean on the television show Reba.  I found this article on the countryrebel.com website detailing 5 things we may not have known about the Reba show.

From countryrebel.com:

One of the biggest hit television shows in the 2000s, Reba McEntire‘s beloved sitcom and family show took off like wildfire with American viewers.

Originally only expected to last a few seasons, the show endured the test of time and developed a massive fan base which helped it reach new heights as the top-rated sitcom on its network, The CW.

For more than six years, Reba captured viewers hearts and souls with its witty, wise-cracking humor and ditzy antics from the easy-to-love, Barbra Jean all while touching on some of life’s most difficult and hard-hitting topics.

If you consider yourself a Reba fan (which you likely do) then you’re going to love this list of shocking and true facts about this incredible TV show!

The Show Almost Wasn’t Called “Reba”

When the show was developed and pitched to Reba McEntire, it was originally written with the main character named “Sally”. Of course, by this time McEntire had a massive and loyal fan base built up from her career in music. After some talking with executives, the decision was made to re-name the show and character “Reba” to give fans a foothold and connect to the show.

 Reba Had Some Friendly Faces On The Show

Although many believed this hot and fresh sitcom was the first gig for some of these actors, both McEntire and Christopher Rich, who plays her ex-husband Brock, co-starred in Kenny Roger’s 1991 masterpiece, The Gambler Returns: Luck of the Draw.

Reba & Barbra Jean Are Best Friends – But She Would Never Admit It

Throughout the entire show, fans were able to see just how close Reba’s character and Barbra Jean became, but even through some of the most trying of circumstances, there never was a moment that she opened up about how close they are.

It was only during the very last episode they would ever tape that Reba actually acknowledged to Barbra Jean that she was her closest friend.

 The Final 6th Season Almost Didn’t Happen

Originally broadcast on the WB network, Reba was cut out of the lineup and cancelled after a merger brought an entirely new channel to television, The CW. During a last-minute maneuver, the 6th and final season of Reba was ordered by the network for a 13-episode run, giving devoted fans the closure they had been hoping for.

Reba + Barbra Jean = 4EVER

After spending more than six years working on the show together and enduring the highs and lows of their beloved series getting cancelled and renewed, Reba McEntire and Melissa Peterman (Barbra Jean) became incredibly close friends off screen.

To this day, Peterman and McEntire consider each other some of the closest friends they’ve had and every now and then, you can find Peterman crashing one of McEntire’s concerts in a hilarious turn of events! 

SOURCE: COUNTRYREBEL.COM

Happy Birthday Melissa!

I found an interesting article listing 50 facts about Elon Musk that might not be widely known. I skipped most about his businesses and concentrated on Elon the person. I provided the link at the bottom for those interested in reading more about Elon.

From: unknownfacts.in:

Elon Musk’s Early Start in Coding

At the age of 12, Elon Musk taught himself how to code and created a video game called Blastar, which he later sold for $500. This was Musk’s first entrepreneurial venture and gave him early exposure to the world of programming and technology.

He Was Bullied in School

Elon Musk endured intense bullying during his school years in South Africa. At one point, he was beaten so severely by classmates that he had to be hospitalized.

 Elon Dropped Out of a PhD Program

Elon Musk briefly attended Stanford University to pursue a PhD in applied physics but dropped out after just two days. He realized that his entrepreneurial goals could be better achieved outside of academia.

Elon Musk’s Mars Ambition

One of Musk’s most audacious goals is to colonize Mars. He founded SpaceX with the long-term goal of making life multiplanetary. Musk has repeatedly said he wants to send humans to Mars within his lifetime.

Musk’s Fear of AI

Despite co-founding OpenAI, Musk has often expressed concerns about artificial intelligence. He believes that unregulated AI could pose a serious threat to humanity, going as far as to call it more dangerous than nuclear weapons.

Elon Musk Doesn’t Take Salaries

Despite being one of the wealthiest people in the world, Musk doesn’t take a salary from his companies. Instead, he opts for stock options, which are tied to the success of his companies.

He Lived on $1 a Day in College

During his college years, Musk lived on just $1 a day by buying groceries in bulk. He would often eat cheap food like hot dogs and oranges to save money for bigger dreams.

Elon Musk’s Quirky Sense of Humor

Musk is known for his quirky and sometimes controversial sense of humor, especially on social media. His tweets about topics ranging from Dogecoin to memes often go viral.

Musk Has Asperger’s Syndrome

In 2021, Musk revealed on Saturday Night Live that he has Asperger’s syndrome, a form of autism that often makes social interactions challenging. Despite this, Musk has successfully navigated the high-pressure worlds of business and technology.

Elon Musk is a Father of 10 Children

Elon Musk has fathered 10 children from various relationships. He has expressed that he views population decline as one of the biggest threats to humanity and that he is doing his part to counter it.

Musk Reads 2 Books a Day

Elon Musk is an avid reader, and his reading habits are intense. He has said that he used to read up to two books a day on a variety of subjects, including science fiction, philosophy, and engineering.

Elon Musk Was Once Broke

After selling PayPal, Musk reinvested almost all of his earnings into his ventures like Tesla and SpaceX. By 2008, he was so financially stretched that he had to borrow money for rent.

Elon Musk’s Boring Company

In 2016, Musk founded The Boring Company, a tunnel construction and infrastructure firm. The company aims to reduce traffic congestion by building underground transportation systems.

He Opened Tesla’s Patents

In 2014, Musk announced that Tesla would open its patents to the public in an effort to accelerate the adoption of electric vehicles worldwide. This move was seen as unprecedented in the highly competitive automotive industry.

Elon Musk’s Stint on Saturday Night Live

In May 2021, Musk made his debut as a host on Saturday Night Live, becoming one of the few non-entertainment industry figures to host the show. His appearance drew mixed reactions but garnered significant media attention.

Musk Owns a McLaren F1

Musk once owned a rare McLaren F1 supercar, which he purchased with part of his proceeds from the sale of Zip2. Unfortunately, he wrecked the car in 2000 without having insured it, and it was damaged beyond repair.

He Became the Richest Person in the World in 2021

In January 2021, Musk briefly overtook Jeff Bezos to become the richest person in the world, thanks to Tesla’s surging stock price. Although the rankings fluctuate, Musk’s net worth remains in the hundreds of billions.

He Was a Heavy Sleeper

Musk used to sleep for more than eight hours a night, but after founding his companies, he reportedly cut his sleep to about six hours a night to have more time for work.

He Taught Himself Rocket Science

Elon Musk didn’t have a formal background in aerospace engineering before founding SpaceX. He taught himself rocket science by reading textbooks and speaking with experts in the field.

Musk’s Father’s Wealth

Elon Musk’s father, Errol Musk, was a wealthy South African engineer who helped Elon financially in his early days. However, the two have had a tumultuous relationship over the years, with Elon describing his father as a difficult person.

Elon Musk’s $6 Billion Philanthropy Pledge

In 2021, Musk pledged to donate $6 billion to address world hunger after a United Nations official suggested that such an amount could help solve the crisis. However, the specifics of this pledge remain under discussion.

He Has a High Pain Threshold

Musk has admitted that he has an unusually high pain threshold, which has helped him endure both physical and mental challenges over the years.

He Plans to Die on Mars

Elon Musk has said that he would like to die on Mars, but not on impact. His dedication to space exploration is so deep that he envisions his final moments on the Red Planet, marking the fulfillment of his life’s dream.

Top 50 Unknown and Interesting Facts About Elon Musk

Today is Tim Allen’s birthday (born in 1953), so I brought this article from usmagazine.com detailing some interesting and perhaps unknown facts about The Toolman!

From usmagazine:

Whether you remember him as Tim “The Toolman” Taylor from Home Improvement or as the voice of Buzz Lightyear from the Toy Story franchise, Tim Allen has certainly left his mark in pop culture.

Now, as he’s gearing up to say goodbye to his Mike Baxter character on Last Man Standing after nine seasons, the 67-year-old actor exclusively opened up to Us Weekly with 25 things you might not know about him. Read on to learn more about Allen, including what his favorite Home Improvement episode is, his go-to hobbies and more.

1. The book Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance [by Robert M. Pirsig] changed my life. I love motorcycles.

2. Women were a strong influence in my life when I was growing up.

3. I am one of nine kids.

4. I worked at a sporting goods store when I was younger.

5. Matthew McConaughey used to be my neighbor. He [was] a great [one].

6. I have the original Tool Time set from Home Improvement in my garage.

7. I like Spam — there I said it.

8. I love reading about different religions.

9. One of my favorite Home Improvement scripts [took place] up in the International Space Station.

10. I talk a lot at the screen [while] watching movies and commercials on TV.

11. I like to make friends with spiders.

12. When I appear on a talk show, I rearrange the furniture in my dressing room.

13. I’ve met the real Santa Claus. He was a consultant on my [Santa Clause] films.

14. I would eat the same meal every day.

15. I would wear the same clothes every day.

16. I think I have lived many lifetimes.

17. [The] best advice I’ve ever received was: “A grateful heart has no room for resentment.”

18. I like studying quantum physics.

19. If I weren’t a comedian, I would be a designer.
20. My favorite part of school was shop class.
21. Richard Pryor made me choose comedy. His stuff made me laugh ’til I was almost sick.
22. My favorite fast food is White Castle and Chick-fil-A.

23. I love the mountains in Colorado. I was born in Denver.

24. I always wanted to be a semi truck driver or a bulldozer operator.

25. The Sound of Music is one of my top 10 [favorite] movies.

SOURCE:USMAGAZINE.COM

Happy Birthday Tim!

Today is Jessica Tandy’s birthday (born 1909 and died 1994), and southernliving.com had aninteresting article on facts we may not have known about Fried Green Tomatoes. 

From southernliving.com:

One of the greatest friendships in Southern fictional history is that of Idgie and Ruth, the two women at the heart of the classic film Fried Green Tomatoes. Based on Fannie Flagg’s classic novel, the movie tells the intertwined stories of two friendships. Ninny Threadgoode (Jessica Tandy) keeps Evelyn Couch (Kathy Bates) entertained with stories of her colorful past. Ninny’s most engaging tales involved the exploits of her free-spirited sister-in-law Idgie (Mary Stuart Masterson), who owned a small Alabama café in the 1920s, along with her best friend Ruth (Mary-Louise Parker).

Now, Idgie would do absolutely anything to help her dearest friend Ruth, so when Ruth winds up married to a monster of a man, Idgie steps in. The two end up raising Ruth’s child together while running a small café in Whistle Stop, Alabama.

The movie has everything—love, friendship, mystery, laughs, and a lot of good food with good friends—as well as impeccable writing and a stellar, Oscar-winning cast. Since its release in 1991, Fried Green Tomatoes has become a staple of Southern cinema.

Yet no matter how many times you’ve watched it, there is always more to the story. Here are 11 things that even die-hard fans of the Fried Green Tomatoes movie may not know.

The U.S. And U.K. Versions Had Different Titles

Flagg’s 1987 novel is titled Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe, which is what the film was called in the U.K. and some other countries. That was apparently too much of a mouthful for U.S. audiences, though, where the film’s title was abbreviated to just Fried Green Tomatoes.

It Was Originally Written As A Musical

When he first started the process of bringing Fried Green Tomatoes to the screen, executive producer and director Jon Avnet hired Carol Sobieski. She came up with the idea of doing the story as a musical. Sadly, Avnet was not on board with the idea of Idgie and Ruth singing their way through the story.

It Was A Surprise Box Office Smash

The film was made for $11 million, which makes it low-budget in Hollywood terms. While it wasn’t an overnight smash hit, the film eventually grossed a whopping $81,000,000, proving that Southern stories can be loved by all.

The Whistle Stop Was Based On A Real Café In Alabama

Fannie Flagg’s great-aunt Bess Fortenberry started running the Irondale Café during the 1930s in the small town of Irondale, which is just outside of Birmingham, Alabama.

There’s A Real Whistle Stop Café

While Flagg’s real-life inspiration came from Alabama, Hollywood chose the small town of Juliette, Georgia, to stand in for Whistle Stop, and the set was turned into a tourist district. Now, visitors can drive about 20 minutes from Macon, sit at the Whistle Stop Café, and enjoy a plate of fried green tomatoes all day long, just like Idgie and Ruth.

There’s Even A Cookbook

After the movie came out, so many people asked for recipes that Flagg ended up writing a cookbook to accompany the film. The Original Whistle Stop Café Cookbook was published in 1993.

The Stunt Double Quit Right Before The Bee Scene

Remember when Idgie is momentarily covered in bees? Well, the stunt woman who was hired for the film was too afraid to actually do the stunt, and she backed out at the last minute. That left actress Mary Stuart Masterson with a tough choice—hold up the film or do the stunt herself. She jumped into the job, working with the buzzing bees, and making for a memorable cinematic moment.

Fannie Flagg Appeared In The Film

Flagg has a cameo in the movie, playing the leader of a self-help group, who tells the women in attendance: “You can get that spark back into your marriage!” This was not Flagg’s first time on camera. She appeared on Match Game throughout the ’70s and early ’80s and had a role in Grease and Five Easy Pieces.

Harper Lee Was A Big Fan

The reclusive To Kill A Mockingbird author reviewed the book, giving it a rave and saying, “Idgie Threadgoode is a true original: Huckleberry Finn would have tried to marry her!”

Fried Green Tomatoes Weren’t Very Popular In The South Before The Film

This may sound like sacrilege to some, but according to Robert Moss, food writer and expert in food history, fried green tomatoes weren’t really a Southern dish until the movie made them one. While gardeners across the U.S. would fry up unripe tomatoes instead of letting them wither on the vine, the dish itself was not all that common in the South at the end of the 20th century. Then came the movie and along with it a huge, revived interest in the dish. Soon fried green tomatoes started appearing on menus across the South. “Fried green tomatoes weren’t always a marker of Southern cooking,” Moss writes, “but they sure are now.”

The Movie Received Oscar Nominations

The movie was shot in 10 to 12 weeks, and it scored several Oscar nominations but did not win. Jessica Tandy was nominated for best supporting actress, and Fannie Flagg and Carol Sobieski were up for best adapted screenplay.

SOURCE: SOUTHERNLIVING.COM

Today is Gary Burghoff’s birthday (he was born in 1943), and I found this article on Facts.net detailing some interesting things about RADAR.

From Facts.net:

Gary Burghoff, best known for his iconic portrayal of Radar O’Reilly on the hit TV series M*A*S*H, is a celebrated actor who has left an indelible mark on the entertainment industry. With his endearing personality and exceptional acting skills, Burghoff captivated audiences around the world. But there’s more to this talented performer than meets the eye.

In this article, we will delve into the fascinating world of Gary Burghoff and uncover 10 astonishing facts that you may not have known about him. From his early life and career to his unique talents and personal achievements, we will explore the intriguing details that have shaped this beloved celebrity. So, grab a cup of coffee and prepare to be amazed by these remarkable insights into the life of Gary Burghoff!

Key Takeaways:

Gary Burghoff, known for playing Radar O’Reilly on M*A*S*H, overcame physical differences and won an Emmy for his iconic role. He’s also a talented drummer and wildlife advocate.

After M*A*S*H, Gary Burghoff pursued a successful stage career, invented fishing tackle, and appeared on “Survivor: All-Stars.” His passion for wildlife and the environment shines through his activism.

Gary Burghoff played the iconic character of Radar O’Reilly on the hit TV series M*A*S*H.

You may remember him as the lovable and quirky character Radar O’Reilly from the beloved TV show M*A*S*H. Burghoff’s portrayal of the company clerk won the hearts of millions of viewers around the world.

He was the only actor from the movie version of M*A*S*H to reprise his role in the TV series.

Not only did Gary Burghoff play Radar O’Reilly in the original M*A*S*H film, but he also went on to portray the character in the highly successful TV series, making him the only actor to reprise his role.

Gary Burghoff was born with a partially deformed hand.

One of the most astonishing facts about Gary Burghoff is that he was born with a partial left hand, with three fingers on that hand. However, this physical difference did not hinder his acting career, and he found great success in the industry.

He has a keen interest in collecting and playing rare drums.

Aside from his acting talent, Burghoff is also known for his passion for playing drums. He collects and indulges in playing rare drums, making it another interesting aspect of his life outside of his acting career.

Gary Burghoff appeared on the reality TV show “Survivor: All-Stars.”

In 2003, Gary Burghoff made a surprising appearance on the hit reality TV show “Survivor: All-Stars.” This unexpected cameo delighted fans, who were excited to see him in a completely different role.

His performance as Radar O’Reilly earned him an Emmy Award.

Thanks to his outstanding portrayal of Radar O’Reilly on M*A*S*H, Gary Burghoff received critical acclaim and won the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series in 1977.

He had a successful stage career after leaving the show M*A*S*H.

After his time on M*A*S*H came to an end, Gary Burghoff transitioned to the stage and flourished in the world of theater. He took on various roles and showcased his versatility as an actor.

Gary Burghoff designed and patented a fishing tackle invention.

Outside of the entertainment industry, Burghoff is also a talented inventor. He designed and patented an innovative fishing tackle invention, demonstrating his creativity and practicality beyond acting.

He is an avid wildlife advocate and has participated in environmental activism.

One of the lesser-known facts about Gary Burghoff is his passion for wildlife and the environment. He has actively participated in various environmental activism initiatives, using his platform to raise awareness and make a difference.

Gary Burghoff has made frequent guest appearances on TV shows over the years.

Throughout his career, Gary Burghoff has made numerous guest appearances on various television shows, showcasing his versatility and continuing to captivate audiences with his talent.

Conclusion

In conclusion, Gary Burghoff is a truly remarkable celebrity with a wealth of astonishing facts surrounding his life and career. From his iconic portrayal of Radar O’Reilly in M*A*S*H to his passion for wildlife conservation, Burghoff’s contributions to the entertainment industry and beyond have left an indelible mark. From his unique physical attribute to his talent as a musician, Burghoff’s versatility and dedication deserve recognition. As we uncover even more intriguing facts about him, it’s clear that Gary Burghoff’s impact extends far beyond his iconic TV role. Whether you’re a long-time fan or discovering his legacy for the first time, these astonishing facts about Gary Burghoff will undoubtedly deepen your admiration for this multi-talented celebrity.

SOURCE: FACTS.NET