Pink plastic flamingos are one of the most famous lawn ornaments in the United States,
along with the garden gnome.
(https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ig_Nobel_Prize)
It has even spawned a lawn greeting industry where flocks of pink flamingos are installed on a victim's lawn in the dark of night. After the release of John Waters's 1972 movie Pink Flamingos, plastic flamingos came to be the stereotypical example of lawn kitsch.
Many imitation products have found their way onto front lawns and store shelves since then. Genuine pink flamingos made by Union Products from 1987 (the 30th anniversary of the plastic flamingo) until 2001 can be identified by the signature of Don Featherstone located on the rear underside. These official flamingos were sold in pairs, with one standing upright and the other with its head low to the ground, "feeding". Sometime after Featherstone's retirement in 2000, Union Products began producing birds without the signature. In December 2001, the Annals of Improbable Research (bestowers of the Ig Nobel prize) teamed up with the Museum of Bad Art to protest this omission in the form of a boycott. Union Products, of Leominster, Massachusetts, stopped production of pink flamingos on November 1, 2006.
It's never been easier to cook up some dinnertime magic! All you have to do is make this Chicken Ranch Casserole. Made with family-favorite potato tots, lots of cheese, bacon, ranch mix, and chicken, this casserole has it all. Plus, it's made in your slow cooker, so there's hardly any work involved!
- 1 (32-ounce) package frozen potato tots
- 1 1/2 cups grated cheddar cheese
- 1 1/2 cups grated Monterey Pepper Jack cheese
- 1 (2.8-ounce) package real bacon pieces
- 1 (1-ounce) package ranch dressing mix
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- 3/4 cup milk
On October 13th, the United States Navy observes its birthday every year.
The United States Navy (USN) is the United States Armed Forces’ naval warfare service branch and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is currently the largest, most powerful navy in the world, with the highest combined battle fleet tonnage. The service has over 340,000 personnel on active duty and more than 71,000 in the Navy Reserve.
With only two ships and a crew of eighty men, the Continental Navy was born on October 13, 1775. The decision of the Continental Congress set the Continental Navy on course to carry arms to the British army, not to defend against it. However, these two ships and crew represent the birth of the United States Navy.
Throughout the Revolutionary War, their importance grew. Today, the United States maintains 40 naval bases across the country, including the world’s largest Naval Station Norfolk, in Norfolk, Virginia.
Below the sea, submarines became a part of the Navy during World War II. While experiments began in the late 1800s and during the Civil War, they did not become a large part of the Navy inventory until World War II. At that point, subs became necessary for surveillance and rescue, even though they were also armed.
With the advent of the airplane, the Naval ships became vital stations for the Airforce as well. As a result, the Navy modified ships into floating landing strips. Today, joint Naval and Airbases such as Pearl Harbor-Hickam provide the country with sea and air defense fleets.
Celebrate with the U.S. Navy. Join Navy personnel as they celebrate their history and military heritage. Learn about naval history in the United States and around the world. Explore the various fleets the Navy uses. Celebrate a sailor you know by giving them a shout-out.
On October 13, 1775, the Continental Congress authorized the first American naval force. Thus began the long and prestigious heritage of the United States Navy. Between 1922 and 1972, the Navy celebrated its birthday on October 27th, the date of Theodore Roosevelt’s birth. The Navy League of the United States designated the date due to Roosevelt’s foresight and vision in elevating the U.S. Navy into a premier force.
The change to October 13th was seen as the more relevant date in line with the first official action legislating a navy. Since 1972, the Navy has officially recognized October 13th as the official date of its birth.
Regardless of when the Navy observed its birth, the celebration has always been one of pride.
Navy FAQ
Q. How many U.S. naval bases are in the United States?
A. The United States supports over 40 naval bases.
Q. Where is the largest naval base?
A. The world’s largest naval base is the Naval Station Norfolk in Virginia.
Q. Which country has the world’s largest navy?
A. Defining the largest navy in the world includes many variables – personnel, tonnage, vessels, types of vessels, and assets. If by largest you mean the navy with the most vessels, then North Korea leads. However, if you combine all the variables, the United States has the most powerful navy in the world.
My dad lied about his age, he was only 16, and joined the US Navy in WWI.
