Via Teleconference 9:20 A.M. EST MODERATOR:  Good morning, everyone.  Thanks so much for joining us on this background briefing.  We’re going to share some additional information about the United States’ successful efforts to secure the release of Brittney Griner.  Just to start with some ground […]

FROM WIKIPEDIA COMMONS The American Federation of Labor (A.F. of L.) was a national federation of labor unions in the United States that continues today as the AFL-CIO. It was founded in Columbus, Ohio, in 1886 by an alliance of craft unions eager to provide mutual support and disappointed in the Knights […]

FROM WIKIPEDIA COMMONS Christmas seals are labels placed on mail during the Christmas season to raise funds and awareness for charitable programs. They have become particularly associated with lung diseases such as tuberculosis, and with child welfare. Christmas seals are regarded as a form of cinderella stamp in contrast with Christmas stamps used for postage. […]

FROM WIKIPEDIA COMMONS Kirstie Louise Alley (January 12, 1951 – December 5, 2022) was an American actress. Her breakout role was as Rebecca Howe in the NBC sitcom Cheers (1987–1993), for which she received an Emmy Award and a Golden Globe in 1991. From 1997 to 2000, she starred as the lead in the sitcom Veronica’s Closet, […]

FROM WIKIPEDIA COMMONS Burl Icle Ivanhoe Ives (June 14, 1909 – April 14, 1995) was an American musician, actor, and author with a career that spanned more than six decades. Ives began his career as an itinerant singer and guitarist, eventually launching his own radio show, The […]

FROM WIKIPEDIA COMMONS Robert Emmett McGrath (June 13, 1932 – December 4, 2022) was an American actor, musician, and children’s author best known for playing original human character Bob Johnson on the long running educational television series Sesame Street. CAREER McGrath worked with Mitch Miller and was the featured tenor on […]

FROM WIKIPEDIA COMMONS The American Association for Nude Recreation (AANR) is a naturist organization based in the United States. The AANR is the largest, longest-established organization of its kind in North America. It was founded in 1931 and went under its previous name American Sunbathing Association. Approximately 200 nudist resorts, clubs, […]

FROM WIKIPEDIA COMMONS Commander in chief (1775–1783) Congress created the Continental Army on June 14, 1775, and Samuel and John Adams nominated Washington to become its commander-in-chief. Washington was chosen over John Hancock because of his military experience and the belief that a Virginian would better unite the colonies. He was considered an incisive leader […]

FROM WIKIPEDIA COMMONS George Gershwin (/ˈɡɜːrʃ.wɪn/; born Jacob Gershwine; September 26, 1898 – July 11, 1937) was an American composer and pianist whose compositions spanned popular, jazz and classical genres. Among his best-known works are the orchestral compositions Rhapsody in Blue (1924) and An American in Paris (1928), the songs “Swanee” (1919) […]

According to his publicist, Clif Doyal, Country singer Jake Flint died in the early hours of Sunday morning — just hours after his wedding on Saturday. Flint was 37 years old. Unknown to the hardcore country music fans, Flint was a very popular songwriter, recording […]

FROM WIKIPEDIA COMMONS The Touro Synagogue or Congregation Jeshuat Israel (Hebrew: קהל קדוש ישועת ישראל) is a synagogue built in 1763 in Newport, Rhode Island. It is the oldest synagogue building still standing in the United States, the only surviving synagogue building in the U.S. dating to the colonial era, and the oldest surviving Jewish synagogue building in North America. In 1946, […]

FROM WIKIPEDIA COMMONS Irene Cara Escalera (March 18, 1959 – November 25, 2022) was an American singer and actress. Cara rose to prominence for her role as Coco Hernandez in the 1980 musical film Fame, and for recording the film’s title song “Fame“, which reached number 1 […]

FROM WIKIPEDIA COMMONS Action Comics #1 (cover dated June 1938) is the first issue of the original run of the comic book/magazine series Action Comics. It features the first appearance of several comic-book heroes—most notably the Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster creation, Superman—and sold for 10 cents (equivalent to $2 in 2021). It is widely considered to be […]

FROM WIKIPEDIA COMMONS Clarence Darnell Gilyard Jr. (December 24, 1955 – November 2022) was an American university professor, actor, and author. As a performer, he appeared in film, television, and stage productions, sometimes credited as Clarence A. Gilyard. Gilyard was known for his roles as second […]

FROM WIKIPEDIA COMMONS Pong is a table tennis–themed twitch arcade sports video game, featuring simple two-dimensional graphics, manufactured by Atari and originally released in 1972. It was one of the earliest arcade video games; it was created by Allan Alcorn as a training exercise assigned to him by Atari co-founder Nolan Bushnell, but Bushnell and Atari co-founder Ted […]

FROM WIKIPEDIA COMMONS Speed limits in the United States are set by each state or territory. States have also allowed counties and municipalities to enact typically lower limits. Highway speed limits can range from an urban low of 25 mph (40 km/h) to a rural high of 85 mph (137 km/h). Speed limits are typically […]

FROM WIKIPEDIA COMMONS Pennsylvania Station, also known as New York Penn Station or simply Penn Station, is the main intercity railroad station in New York City and the busiest transportation facility in the Western Hemisphere, serving more than 600,000 passengers per weekday as of 2019. It is located in Midtown Manhattan, beneath Madison Square Garden in the block bounded by Seventh and Eighth Avenues […]

FROM WIKIPEDIA COMMONS Thelma J. Chalifoux (February 8, 1929 – September 22, 2017) was a Canadian teacher and senator. Métis Association Chalifoux joined the Métis Association in the late 1960s during the early growth of local-level activism within Métis communities. Upon joining, Chalifoux strove to fix major issues affecting the […]

FROM WIKIPEDIA COMMONS Black Friday is a colloquial term for the Friday after Thanksgiving in the United States. It traditionally marks the start of the Christmas shopping season in the United States. Many stores offer highly promoted sales at discounted prices and often open early, sometimes as […]

THEIR MISSION STATEMENT We’re dedicated to the betterment of our members and patients everywhere. Access an extensive library of educational resources and build stronger ties with surgeons locally and around the world. TODAY’S ALMANAC Question of the Day What is the best way to deodorize […]