Delaware is the only state without a national park.

I wasn’t del-aware of that.

I don’t know what’s worse.  That pun.  Or the post’s useless title.

Samuel Wilson was a meat-packer in Troy, New York during the War of 1812.  Saying meat-packer makes me laugh.  Anyway, large amounts of meat were being sent to the soldiers.  Elbert Anderson, a contractor for the government, oversaw this process.  Before the meat could be shipped, it had to be inspected.  Enter Samuel Wilson, who was nicknamed “Uncle Sam” by his fellow meat-packers.  After it passed inspection, the provisions were marked with E.A.-U.S., as Elbert Anderson of the United States government approved the meat.  However, the workers didn’t know what E.A.-U.S. stood for, so they joked that it must stand for “Uncle Sam.”  To this day, the U.S. government has been personified by Uncle Sam.

It’s amazing how a little joke told by a bunch of meat-packers came to represent our country.

Uncle Sam “the Meat-Packer” sounds like an uncle that isn’t allowed at family events.

This is fun.  I was looking at a list of Presidential Pets, or First-Pets, or whatever cutesy name you want to call the animals that live at the White House.  There have been some good ones.  The early presidents often had horses and donkeys.  Thomas Jefferson had two bear cubs.  John Quincy Adams had an alligator.  James Buchanan had an eagle (the pinnacle of badass pets).  Benjamin Harrison apparently had opossums (the least badass pets).  Calvin Coolidge pretty much had a zoo.  But my favorite pets of them all were owned by John Adams.  John Adams had two dogs.  One was named Juno.  The other one was named Satan.

I won’t even ruin this by saying anymore. The guy had a dog named SATAN!  Brilliant!

President James Buchanan was the only president to have never married.  He also tried to buy Cuba from Spain in order to expand slavery.  To make him look like an even bigger loser, his presidency was followed by Abraham Lincoln’s.  Historians consider Buchanan one of the worst, if not the worst, president ever.  As of 2010, he still can’t get a wife.

What a loser.

According to Men’s Health, the top 3 most patriotic cities are as follows: 1. Portland, OR- 2. Salt Lake City, UT- 3. Kansas City, MO.   Patriotism was calculated by considering the percentage of registered voters who turned out for state and federal elections, by the amount of money spent on military veterans per capita, percentage of residents who volunteer, participate in civic activities, or work with neighbors, and (most important) sales of fireworks and American flags.  Because every time I light off a firework I am doing it for America!  If I was in another country, I would still set off fireworks for America!  The ancient Chinese in the 12th century invented fireworks for America!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

U.S.A! U.S.A! Fireworks!

The 2-dollar bill was discontinued in 1966, but reintroduced 10 years later as a part of the U.S. Bicentennial celebrations (WOOHOO!!!!!…).  Currently, the usage of $2 bills is increasing.  For instance, strip clubs will hand out $2’s for change instead of singles, so the strippers get mo’ money.  I think most people I know have a $2 bill.  Either your grandma gave you one.  Or you are a grandma waiting to give your grandson one.  Or you are a stripper.   I really hope you are not both a grandma and a stripper… so does that 2 dollar bill.

E pluribus unum— out of many, one.    Before the Civil War, the United States was generally accepted as a plural noun.  For example, we used to say, “the United States are full of people seeking political freedom.”  Around the time of the Civil War, we started to view the country as a singular entity, rather than just a bunch of united states.  Now we say, “the United States is full of people seeking the new Big Mac Snack Wraps from McDonald’s.”   Watching the Olympics, I very often hear the commentators reinforcing the country’s singularity…  I also see a lot of McDonald’s commercials.