Rappers Delight

The Sugarhill Gang was the first hip hop band  to make a single (Rappers Delight) that made it on the Top 40s list in 1979. This band was a "one hit wonder" because not one of their other songs ever made it to the Top 40. This song was way before my time, but I listened to it this morning - all 15 minutes of it - and my favorite line has to be: "I don't mean to brag - I don't mean to boast... but we like hot butter on our breakfast toast." These are the life-changing lyrics I look for in a rap song :)

The Colt Revolver

Samuel Colt patented the Colt Revolver in 1836, which saved his company. His handguns were expensive and inaccurate before this time, so people in the Old West used rifles or knives instead. But if they got this revolver they would not have to worry about missing, because they had five more shots. Here are some interesting facts about this:

• The U.S Government purchased a large number of the Colt revolvers for the soldiers.
• Before 1850, cowboys, gamblers, and gunslingers could not afford the revolver  
• In 1850, Colt lowered its prices of the revolver so more people could afford it.
• From 1850, throw 1860, during the gold rush Colt sold over 170,000 revolvers.

Mars Spirit Rover

NASA's Mars Spirit Rover departed from Earth June 10, 2003, and landed January 3 2004. Originally, its mission was scheduled to be three months long. However, as information came in, NASA decided to extend the mission. Here are some facts about the mission:

• Gustev's lake bed turned out to be a lava field.
• The Rover weighs 400 pounds 
• Spirit's sister rover, named Opportunity, roved the other side of Mars. Opportunity left Earth July 7, 2003 and arrived on Mars on January 24, 2004. You can read more about the Rover Missions here.
• NASA lost connection with earth March 22, 2010 after falling in a quicksand-like substance.

For more information about this mission, click here.