Biggest Gratuity Ever?

In 1941, when Dolores Moran was just 15, she worked as a waitress at a drive-in restaurant in San Jose, Calif. One day she served a local farmer some coffee and a hamburger. The following year, Moran left San Jose and moved to Hollywood where she achieved success as an actress. By the 1960s her acting career had ended, but then something amazing happened. The farmer she had served at the drive-in 27 years before had died, leaving her his apricot orchard valued at around $300,000 ($3.3 million today). Moran had no memory of serving the farmer, whose name was Anthony Ponce. The two had never communicated since then, but evidently Moran made a big impression on Ponce. Ponce’s relatives contested the will, arguing that he was not of sound mind when he made the will, but the court sided with Moran.

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The Northernmost Human Settlement On Earth

Alert, in the Qikiqtaaluk Region of Nunavut, Canada, is the northernmost continuously inhabited place in the world. It takes its name from the Royal Navy vessel HMS Alert, which wintered east of the present station off what is now Cape Sheridan in 1875–1876. Alert's population hit a peak of 250 in the 1970s and 1980s, but technological advancements have resulted in far fewer personnel today. Today, roughly 55 people are at Alert at any given time, a mix of military and civilian personnel who are posted at the station for 6-month rotations. They represent diverse interests, including the Canadian Armed Forces, the Department of National Defense, and Environment and Climate Change Canada. The inhabitants have one thing in common: figuring out life at Alert. There, personnel must grapple with temperatures that regularly plunge below freezing, days with hardly any sunlight — and some days with nothing but sunlight — and roaming polar bears. Still, most people make the best of it. Every night there’s some sort of activity — cards, movies, a talent show, sports, etc. The group even indulges in the “Polar Bear Plunge” once a year. The social aspect of living in such a remote area is actually very good at Alert. They all have the common experience of living in a place that few people get to see, and that’s a bit of a badge of honor.

 

 

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Dog Saves His Owner With the Heimlich Maneuver

Debbie Parkhurst, of Calvert, Maryland, was eating an apple when a piece became lodged in her throat and she began to choke. She said she pounded on her own chest, but couldn’t get the piece to move. Then her dog — a Golden Retriever named Toby — joined in. He jumped on her chest until the apple piece dislodged, and then he licked her face so she wouldn’t pass out. Parkhurst said 2-year-old Toby got serious after her own efforts failed. "The next thing I know, Toby's up on his hind feet and he's got his front paws on my shoulders,” she said. While Parkhurst did suffer from chest and stomach wounds from Toby’s jumping, the doctor said she probably wouldn’t be here had it not been for Toby’s efforts.

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Most Store-Bought Ice Cream Isn't Technically Ice Cream — These Brands Make the Real Thing

With a large portion of the country suffering under a steamy heatwave, having a nice bowl of ice cream really hits the spot. Unfortunately, grabbing a carton from the grocery store is a little more complicated than it used to be, and not every brand is churning out the real deal. To be legally classified as ice cream in the U.S., a frozen dessert must contain at least 10% milkfat, at least 20% milk solids, and meet specific standards for air content and weight. If a product doesn’t meet those requirements, it must be labeled as a frozen dairy dessert. Frozen dairy desserts can still be delicious, but they’re not quite the same thing. They often use ingredients like coconut oil or vegetable oil in place of milkfat and may contain more air, which can give them a lighter, fluffier texture. They also tend to be less expensive than traditional ice cream, which is why it helps to know what you’re actually paying for. There are some brands that are still whipping  up real ice cream, and here are just a few:

Häagen-Dazs

Ben & Jerry’s

Blue Bell Creameries

Jeni’s Ice Cream

Tillamook

Graeter’s

Hood

There’s still a little label-reading that has to be done, as some companies sell both ice cream and frozen dairy desserts. Breyer’s, for example, mostly sells frozen dairy desserts, but its Classics line features real ice cream. Turkey Hill and Friendly’s also make both types. Blue Bunny, Edy’s and Dreyer’s, on the other hand, sell only frozen dairy desserts. The freezer aisle may look straightforward, but there’s more going on behind those cartons than you might think, and that’s before you even consider gelato, froyo, sorbet, soft serve, and frozen Greek yogurt!

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