Crazy Offers On Family Tents

09/01/2023

After a recent lawsuit, Costco offering 1 tent per household in the US! Complete the form and claim your Tent today!

09/01/2023

Costco is offering 1 tent per household in the US after a lawsuit over misleading advertising prices. Click link below to get started!

05/27/2023

05/25/2023

“I still remember hearing “Sweet Home Alabama” for the first time driving in Myrtle Beach…we learned it the next day and I sang it for years…Lynyrd Skynyrd was a big influence and inspiration in the early years…RIP Mr. Rossington.” -Teddy Gentry

“Rossington and the boys touched my southern soul in a proud way: never to be forgotten. God blessed us with his talent.” -Randy Owen

05/25/2023

Alabama Facts

Situated in between tranquil hills and shorelines, Alabama remains to be a state of quiet charm. Although hailed as the most affordable state in the United States, many remain unaware of its rich history despite its fame in mainstream media. There’s more to the state than just meets the eye, and certainly warrants more attention than just internet jokes. Without further ado, here are some Alabama facts to help you dig deeper into the sweet, sweet Heart of Dixie.

01Alabama is the United States’ 24th most populous state.
02As of 2019, Alabama had a population of 4,903,185 people.
03It is the 22nd state.
04Alabama has 67 counties.
05The state spans a total area of 52,419 square miles.

Alabama played a central role in the American Civil War.
When Jefferson Davis proclaimed his oath of office in 1861, Montgomery, Alabama served as the first capital of the Confederacy. This place also birthed the Constitution of Confederacy. Despite receiving significant resistance from the northern parts of the state, Alabama led the efforts towards secession. During the civil war, Alabama was a strong provider of men, military supplies, transportation such as horses and mules, and food.

Alabama does not have an official state nickname.
While state has various nicknames like The Cotton State, Heart of Dixie, The Lizard State, and The Yellowhammer State, none of these are official.

Alabama earned the nickname “The Cotton State” and “The Cotton Plantation State” because of the state’s prosperous cotton production. At the center of the Cotton Belt, the state heavily relied on cotton production for its culture and economic growth. To this day, Alabama leads cotton production in the US.

One of the more popular Alabama facts is that people refer to the state as the “Heart of Dixie”. You can find this nickname embedded in Alabama license plates, first seen during the American Civil War. The nickname “Heart of Dixie” highlights the state’s central role in the history of the southern states, or Dixie.

Meanwhile, “Yellowhammer State” is an unofficial but popular nickname for Alabama that originated way back in the time of the Civil War. It earned this nickname when a company of Alabama soldiers wore uniforms trimmed with yellow cloth. Other troops would call them “yellowhammers”, after the state bird which had yellow feathers underneath its wings and tail.

05/25/2023

Connecticut Facts

Known as the land of many firsts, the state of Connecticut has seen decades of history and progress. Its title as the Constitution State shows how vital it was to forming the American Constitution. Aside from its history, Connecticut also stands out for its famous steamed cheeseburgers, hot lobster rolls, and many other treats. Find out more about the state with these interesting Connecticut facts.

01Connecticut ranks 29th among the most populous states found in the United States.
02This state is also the 48th-most extensive state in the United States.
03Connecticut lies in the Northeastern region of the United States.
04Connecticut attained its statehood on January 9th, 1788.
05The state of Connecticut was the 5th state to join the union of the United States.

The first settlers of the state of Connecticut arrived in the year 1614.
Originally, these settlers came from The Netherlands. At the time, the Dutch traded fur and built a fort around the area of what is known to be Hartford today.

The first Dutchman noted to set foot in the state of Connecticut at the time was Adriaen Block, who sailed up the Connecticut River. By the year 1620, more Dutchmen began settling into the area and negotiated trades with the Pequot Indians.

Former United States President George W. Bush was born in Connecticut.
The former United States President was born in the town of New Haven, Connecticut on July 6th, 1946. From 2001 until 2009, George W. Bush served as the President of the United States as a member of the Republican Party.

Before his presidency, George W. Bush also served as the 46th governor of Texas from the year 1995 until 2000. Of all US Presidents, Bush stood out for his high approval ratings despite the major incidents during his presidency such as the infamous 9/11 attack.

The state of Connecticut has a flag for its state.
The state flag of Connecticut displays a blue background with a central coat of arms that shows three grapevines. Below the coat of arms, a ribbon bears an inscription that states Qui transtulit sustinet, which translates to ‘He who transplanted still sustains’ in English.

Based on the 80th Psalm of the Christian Bible, this inscription has also been known as the Connecticut’s state motto. First displayed during the time of the American Revolution, its original background color was red. It only changed to the current one in 1897.

05/23/2023

Lindsey Graham Facts

In 2015, Lindsey Graham announced his plans to run for the 2016 election. Due to this, details about his personal life began to emerge quickly. Despite withdrawing from the race, Graham’s name has been of interest to political enthusiasts and normal people alike. In an interview in Utah, he claimed that he almost got married to a flight attendant while he was in Germany, but no one knows what happened next. Find out more about the man behind the mystery with these Lindsey Graham facts.

01Lindsey Graham was born on the 9th of July 1955.
02He is an American politician that took a seat in the Senate in 2003.
03Lindsey Graham has represented South Carolina as a senator for 17 years.
04Before running for Senator, he served the House of Representatives from 1995 until 2003.
05Lindsey Graham received his Juris Doctor degree in 1981 at the University of South Carolina School of Law.

Lindsey Graham adopted his sister.
As he was studying at the University of South Carolina, Graham’s parents died. First, he lost his mother to Hodgkin’s lymphoma at the age of 52. Around 15 months after, his father left him at age 69 due to a heart attack. During that time, his sister was only 13 years old, or 9 years his junior.

Because of this, he became the legal guardian of his sister. After enlisting with the Air Force, he legally adopted Darline so that she could have his military benefits.

He became known for the Senate trial and House impeachment of former President Clinton.
Graham started his career in politics in 2002 at the South Carolina Legislature. The window became wide open for him during the 1994 open U.S. House seat, which he won campaigning this conservative record. Although he has been in the election scene, the questions he threw at the House Judiciary Committee in 1998 gave him the spotlight he needs.

Namely, this Committee led the Congress’ formal impeachment inquiry against former President Clinton. Even though the Republicans lost the case, Graham got catapulted to the national stage.

Lindsey Graham was an Air Force Reserve.
In 2015, Graham retired as a colonel from the Air Force Reserve. Unlike other politicians, he spent around 3 decades serving in the military. In 2014, he received a Bronze Star award for his service as a senior legal adviser for the Air Force from August 2009- 2017 during the combat operations in Afghanistan. When he retired, he was only 59 years old, or a year shy of the mandatory age for retirement.

Although a Republican, he has a record of reaching out to other parties.
Even though Graham is known to be a constant Obama agitator, this did not prevent him from reaching out to Democrats to solve current issues. There’s no doubt that he’s a Republican all the way through, but he will not hesitate to work with those on the other side of the fence to make things work.

In an interview, he even claimed that Democrats and Republicans should join forces to find the best and practical solution for immigration reform.

Graham is okay with allowing illegal immigrants to stay in the US given that they meet conditions.
Unlike any other politician in the Republican field, Graham supports illegal immigrants staying in the US under certain conditions. As part of the bipartisan senators known as the “Gang of Eight,” they authored the legislation that will eventually give immigrants US citizenship. While it was submitted to the Senate, it sadly did not follow through.

He was planning to run in the 2016 elections but Lindsey Graham got little support.
In 2015, Graham announced his participation in the Presidential Election Race of 2016. Despite this, he got low poll numbers and little support which led to his removal from the Republican debates. Eventually, he suspended and withdrew his campaign in December.

Lindsey Graham does not know how to send an email.
Yes, you got that right. In 2015, he made headlines when he said that despite being in politics for so long, he has never sent an email in his life. Upon discussing the Clinton e-mails with Chuck Todd his comment quickly went viral. As a consolation, Graham regularly carries his cellphone – but don’t expect to see him with an Android or an iPhone anytime soon. Apparently, he still prefers a flip phone.

05/20/2023

Shrek Characters

Shrek characters are some of the most iconic characters in animation film history. Loved for their uniqueness, they appear in several films and spin-offs of the long-standing franchise starring the popular ogre.

With so much success, it’s only natural to be curious about these unconventional characters. Keep on reading to learn more about these 5 iconic Shrek characters!

What is Shrek?
Over the years, Shrek has become more than just a fictional character or a movie title. Today, the Shrek franchise is one of the most successful media series from DreamWorks Animation. In fact, Shrek was the film that established the name of DreamWorks as a household name in computer animation. Before its success, however, Shrek first appeared in a children’s book.

In 1990, American writer William Steig published a book titled Shrek! The book is a fantasy picture book with illustrations by Steig himself. The story focuses on Shrek, an indestructible monster with green skin. He goes on a journey to meet a princess, and along the way, meets a witch, a knight, and a donkey.

This book later inspired the iconic film Shrek (2001). In 1991, Steven Spielberg purchased the rights to the book, but it isn’t until 1995 that development for the film actually began.

In 2001, Shrek premiered at the Cannes Film Festival and became the first animated film since Peter Pan (1953) to compete for the Palme d’Or.

During its commercial release, Shrek became the fourth highest-grossing film of 2001. With such positive critique, the film received many awards. This includes the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature and the British Academy of Film and Television Arts Award for Best Animated Screenplay.

Its success led to three sequels: Shrek 2 (2004), Shrek the Third (2007), and Shrek Forever After (2010).

Why is Shrek so popular?
It’s difficult for a film to stay popular after its initial release. Shrek, however, does it with ease. Two decades after the first film’s release, the Shrek franchise continues to be popular with old and new fans.

One reason ‌Shrek is still so popular is because the franchise goes beyond the film industry. Shrek has merchandise, video games, and even a Broadway musical adaptation to its name.

Conventions and festivals also keep the fan community alive. For instance, Shrek fans in Wisconsin hold an annual “Shrekfest” to celebrate the green ogre. The event has costume and eating contests, booths, and other fun activities.

Another reason ‌Shrek is so popular is because it appeals to a large audience. Regardless of age, gender, and background, the Shrek films are all enjoyable to watch. The sense of humor in Shrek movies is timeless, and it’s easy to relate to them even years down the line.

The characters of the franchise are also unforgettable. It features familiar characters from children’s fairytales, such as Prince Charming and Cinderella, and gives them humorous twists.

If you’re interested in learning more about the popular Shrek characters, then keep on reading!

Who are the Shrek characters?
Shrek
First appearance: Shrek (2001)
Other notable appearances: Shrek the Musical, Tony Hawk’s Underground 2, Madagascar Kartz, and DreamWorks Super Star Kartz

The first name on this list of Shrek characters is the man, or ogre, himself: Shrek. Shrek is the titular character of the franchise. Canadian actor Mike Myers voiced Shrek throughout the film series, while Brian d’Arcy James played the role in Shrek the Musical.

His name comes from the German word, “Schreck”, which means “fright” or “terror”. It’s a fitting name for a green ogre who initially comes off as scary and hostile. Shrek is known for his bald head, long ears, and protruding belly.

In the first film, Shrek is a recluse who happily lives alone in his swamp. As the film progresses, he learns to enjoy the company of other people and becomes more welcoming.

In 2010, Shrek received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in Los Angeles. In the same year, Shrek also ranked 15th in Entertainment Weekly’s list of “100 Greatest Characters of the Last 20 Years”.

Donkey
First appearance: Shrek (2001)
Other notable appearances: Shrek the Musical, Shrek The Halls (2007), and Scared Shrekless (2010)

One of the most popular Shrek characters is Donkey. As his name suggests, Donkey is a donkey, albeit someone who talks. Eddie Murphy voiced him in the films, while Daniel Breaker played the role in the original Broadway cast of Shrek the Musical.

Donkey has gray fur with a short black mane and large front teeth. In Shrek 2 (2004), however, Donkey turns into a stallion with white fur and a long white mane.

As the funny sidekick, Donkey is always throwing punch lines, singing silly tunes, and arguing with other characters. His bubbly personality contrasts with Shrek’s grumpy attitude at first, but their personalities jive later on.

Princess Fiona
First appearance: Shrek (2001)
Other notable appearances: Shrek the Musical, Shrek the Halls (2007), and Shrek in the Swamp Karaoke Dance Party! (2001)

Princess Fiona, or simply Fiona, is one of the main characters of all Shrek films. Like Shrek, she is an ogre with green skin, long red hair, and wears an emerald green dress. Cameron Diaz voiced Fiona in the films, while Sutton Foster played the role in the Broadway musical.

At the beginning of Shrek (2001), Fiona seems like any other princess. She is a beautiful damsel in distress who needs a prince to save her. It is later revealed that Fiona turns into an ogre at night.

Fiona is one of the most beloved Shrek characters because she defies the stereotype of a damsel in distress. She has a powerful personality, and she doesn’t let other people sway her beliefs. To both children and adults, she is a powerful role model.

Puss in Boots
First appearance: Shrek 2 (2004)
Other notable appearances: Shrek the Halls (2007), Puss in Boots (2011), Shrek Super Slam, and The Adventures of Puss in Boots (2015–2018)

05/18/2023

Cuba Facts

Cuba stands as one of the smallest countries in the world, but that hasn’t stopped it from making waves like its bigger neighbors. Sitting on the crystal waters of the northern Caribbean is Cuba, an endlessly fascinating country that is also unmistakably different from all the other countries in the world. No one feels left out in Cuba because it has something for everyone!

The island is popular for its ci**rs, beaches, and vintage vehicles, but it also has a thriving culinary scene. In search of adventure? Cuba has excellent rock climbing and scuba diving sites. Want to dance the night away? You’ll find many excellent hotels and resorts that offer a lively night scene!

You get the best of both worlds in Cuba because it’s the largest island in the Caribbean that won’t empty your wallet. The low cost of living, the pearly-white sand beaches, and the rich culture make Cuba a thriving hub for tourism.

Worried about the safety of the countries you visit? You won’t have to think about that in Cuba. The Cuban health system is recognized worldwide for its excellence and its efficiency. In fact, Cuba has managed to provide health care to its population, achieving results comparable to the most industrialized countries. Cuba also has the world’s largest doctor-to-patient ratio. As a result, several Cuban doctors travel to countries in need of medical assistance. How’s that for some impressive Cuba facts?

Once you get to Cuba, you will feel right at home! The country’s unique blend of indigenous, African, and European influences has resulted in a vibrant community that is now well-known across the world.

Want to know more about Cuba? You are in luck! We’ve got more important info to add to your knowledge of this alluring country. Here is a list of 40 Cuba facts for you to enjoy!

01Cuba, as a nation, covers an area of 109,884 square kilometers.
02The island of Cuba itself only makes up 104,556 square kilometers of the country’s total area.
03With a population of 11 million people, Cuba has the second-largest population of any Caribbean country.
04This puts the country’s population density at 102 people for every square kilometer.
05The country belongs in the GMT-5 time zone.

Cuba enjoys a tropical climate.
The island has its position south of the Tropic of Cancer and the currents of the Caribbean Sea to thank for this. The latter, in particular, brings warmer waters North, from the equator to the island. This has the interesting result of giving Cuba a tropical climate when its latitude would otherwise give it a subtropical climate.

We can observe this in Hong Kong, which lies on the same latitude as Cuba on the other side of the world. But while Hong Kong only has a subtropical climate, the circumstances of Cuba’s location give the island a fully tropical climate.

Hurricane Irma devastated Cuba in 2017.
The hurricane hit Northern Cuba on September 9, with a wind speed of up to 270 km per hour. Storm surges caused flooding along the coast, something made worse by high tide at the time. Up to 23 inches of rain fell in the island’s affected regions, leaving an estimated 160,000 homes damaged and another estimated 15,000 homes destroyed.

At least 1,000 healthcare facilities were also left in ruins. Thankfully, only 10 people died during the storm, but the damage still cost the country an estimated $13.19 billion. Cuba’s agricultural sector took particularly heavy damage, evident from the 950 square kilometers of farmland that was ravaged by the hurricane.

Columbus’ arrival in Cuba resulted in disaster for the natives.
Columbus first spotted Cuba on October 12, 1492, and made landfall on October 28. That said, it would take until 1511 before the Spaniards began colonizing the island at Baracoa.

The colonists imposed the encomienda system on the Taino natives, and they found themselves forced to work for the Spaniards. The worst impact of Spanish colonization, however, came in the form of diseases, to which none of the Taino had any form of resistance whatsoever. Diseases such as smallpox and measles brought by the Spanish proved especially deadly as they wiped out the Taino population by the early 1600s.

Britain briefly took control of Cuba in the 18th century.
This took place during the Seven Years’ War, with the British reaching and capturing the island in June 1762. Western Cuba fell under British occupation, which lasted less than a year. The British withdrew control in February 1763.

This surrender of authority was due to the signing of the Treaty of Paris of 1763, with Britain returning Cuba to Spain in exchange for Florida.

Slavery in Cuba expanded during the early 19th Century.
Here’s a grim piece of true Cuba Facts. This ironically resulted from the Haitian Revolution, when slaves in nearby Haiti revolted against their French masters. This not only ensued in Haiti gaining independence but also an end to slavery on the island, at the cost of Haiti’s economy.

Cuba’s landowners saw an opportunity in this, importing large numbers of slaves from Africa. They then put the slaves to work in sugar plantations, hoping to have Cuba take Haiti’s former place as the heart of the Caribbean sugar industry. By 1817, African slaves made up a third of Cuba’s population, with an estimated 600,000 slaves across the country.

Cuba repeatedly tried to gain independence in the late 19th Century.

Carlos Manuel de Cespedes led a revolt against Spain in 1868, even freeing his own slaves to become soldiers to fight the Spanish. Volunteers from the USA, Mexico, and other American countries joined the rebels. Even former Chinese slaves fought alongside the rebels.

The war ended with the 1878 Pact of Zanjon, an agreement that still placed Cuba under the Spanish crown but with its own autonomy. Calixto Garcia attempted another revolt in 1879 but failed to find the support he needed. Jose Marti made his own attempt in 1895, but his death in the Battle of Dos Rios that same year caused his revolt to collapse.

The USS Maine’s destruction in Cuba led to the Spanish-American War.
The instability in Cuba during the 1890s caused great concern in the USA, mainly because of the country’s economic interests on the island. This eventually led the US Navy to send the battleship USS Maine to Havana in February 1898. They hoped the battleship’s presence would show the Spaniards America’s determination and willingness to protect their interests.

On February 15, the battleship exploded while sitting at anchor, causing American outrage and blaming Spain for the incident. Predictably, the US government acted on the conflict, beginning the Spanish-American War. In 1974, a navy investigation found evidence that an accidental coal fire could have caused the explosion that sank the battleship. It might just been an accident that caused unnecessary bloodshed.

The Communist takeover in Cuba in the 1960s led to the Bay of Pigs Invasion.
The CIA planned the invasion, with the goal of landing a force of American-trained and equipped Cuban exiles on the island. They would then secure a landing zone, and with American air and naval backing, retake the island and bring the Castro regime down.

Unknown to the CIA, however, Cuban agents had learned of the impending invasion, and had also received additional warnings from the Soviet KGB. This meant when the invasion began on April 17, 1961, the Cuban military lay in wait for the invaders.

Despite American air support, the invasion force struggled to make any real gains. Worse, the CIA had failed to properly coordinate with US President John F. Kennedy. This allowed the Soviets to win the fight for international opinion and forced President Kennedy to withdraw American support. This, in turn, forced a surrender of the trapped forces on the island to the Cuban military.

05/18/2023

Idaho Facts

How the U.S. state Idaho got its name is still a mystery. Regardless of how that name came to be, you most likely know it as the “Gem State.” Now, here’s another question. Why the “Gem State?” This is perhaps the most fitting name for Idaho since the state produces over 240 different forms of minerals. Included in that list are semi-precious gems like aquamarine, cerussite, vivianite, and pyromorphite. Within the mountains of Idaho are gold veins, zinc, silver, copper, and cobalt deposits.

Idaho is a truly precious and special state! It is famous not only for its stone and gems, but also for its amazing history, and always cheerful locals. If you’re in a bad mood, you better stay away from Pocatello, Idaho, because it’s illegal to frown there! You may think that bit of info doesn’t belong in any list of Idaho facts, but it is 100 percent true!

When it comes to potato-producing states, everyone knows Idaho is the cream of the crop. Despite the fact that potatoes are a major agricultural product in more than 30 states, the Idaho potato industry has led the United States the extensive potato production for more than 60 years. Idaho is the home of quality potatoes, and the state continues to be inventive in preparing its most staple food.

Did you like what you just read? Well, guess what, there is more where that came from! Our comprehensive list of the 5 most interesting Idaho facts will definitely surprise you and make you appreciate this amazing state even more!

01Idaho is the 14th largest state in the United States.
02Idaho borders six U.S. states and one Canadian province.
03Idaho has a land area of 83,570 square miles or (216,400 square kilometers).
04Idaho is the 12th least populous US state.
05Idaho became a US state on July 3, 1890.

The Borah Peak earthquake had a magnitude of 6.9.
One of the most historical earthquakes in Idaho was the Borah Peak earthquake. It was the largest earthquake, not only in magnitude but also in damage to properties. It occurred on October 28, at around 8:00 a.m. MDT. Borah Peak was hit with a magnitude 6.9 earthquake and was under intensity IX.

Idaho's population is rapidly increasing.
The population in Idaho is growing rapidly. As of 2020, the state’s population is approximately 1,826,913, a 2.12% increase compared to 2019. It’s higher than Nevada, Utah, and Arizona, with only 1.7%. Between 2018 and 2019, an average of 36,529 people was added to Idaho, the majority of these immigrants are from California.

Boise is the most populous city in Idaho.
The most heavily populated city in Idaho is Boise. It has a population of 240,380 in 2020. In the USA, Boise takes the 80th spot as the most populous metropolitan area. It is located on the Boise River in the Southwestern portion of Idaho. The city has a land area of 80.05 square miles (or 207.33 square kilometers).

Idaho State University's first name is Academy of Idaho.
On March 11, 1901, the fifth governor of Idaho from 1901 to 1903, Frank W. Hunt legalized the establishment of the Academy of Idaho and the use of donated land as the site for the academy. On May 1, 1901, the Academy of Idaho was officially opened, but classes began only a year after.

In 1963, the Academy was renamed ISU or Idaho State University. It is now considered the public research university in Pocatello, Idaho. It currently offers more than 250 courses and has a principal campus in Twin Falls, Meridian, and Idaho Falls.

George Willing suggested the name Idaho.
The American physician and politician, George Maurice “Doc” Willing, Jr. suggested the name Idaho. Willing said that the term Idaho was from a Shoshone term that means “gem of the mountains.” But later on, he admitted that it is coined from a girl’s name Ida.

Emma Green designed the state official seal.
American painter and designer Emma Edwards Green created the official seal of Idaho, the only woman to do so.

The seal illustrates a woman implying justice and a miner, which symbolizes the main industry of the state. It also has the words, “Great Seal of the State of Idaho” and the state motto. The state adopted Green’s design as the official state seal in 1891.

Idaho covers two time zones.
Idaho is one of the U.S. states that has two time zones. Cities in north Idaho observe Pacific Time Zone (UTC 08:00, DST UTC 07:00) while the rest of the state is under the Mountain Time Zone (UTC 07:00, DST UTC 06:00).

Ice cream potato is one of the most iconic desserts in Idaho.
Idaho is the home of quality potatoes, so it’s no wonder that the state continues to be inventive in preparing its most staple food.

05/18/2023

North Korea Facts

North Korea’s way of life interested the world. However, there is very little of what we know about the country. What we do know is that it is very different from South Korea. Several photos and articles are available online showing how eager the world is to know more about it. That said, what do we really know? Based on a few North Korea facts published online, the standard of living is higher in Pyongyang, the nation’s capital. And who doesn’t know the famous personalities of North Korea, including the current Supreme Leader Kim Jong-Un.

Life in Pyongyang is unquestionably better than life in the countryside. However, North Koreans must obtain permission to live in the capital. In fact, there are roadblocks on the country’s streets to stop you from traveling without permission. So, who lives in Pyongyang? The city is mostly filled with party loyalists and those with higher social status.

However, as the world becomes more innovated, and multiple channels of communication emerge, more and more information about what goes on inside North Korea is being leaked to other countries. Let’s take a look at 70 of the biggest North Korea facts. You’ll definitely learn a lot about the mysterious world that its citizens live in.

01As of the 2020 census, North Korea has a population of 25,779,000.
02North Korea covers a land area of 47,399 square miles.
03The largest stadium in the world is in North Korea and it can seat 150,000 people.
04North Korea covers 55% of the Korean Peninsula’s land area.
05The Demilitarized Zone between South and North Korea runs for about 240 kilometers.