1

E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial

In the same year that Michael Jackson’s Thriller was released, an 11-year-old Henry Thomas starred as Elliot, a young boy who befriends an extraterrestrial stranded in his backyard, and helps him find his way home.

Directed by Steven Spielberg, this science fiction classic was filmed in chronological order to ensure the young cast (which also included a then-unknown Drew Barrymore) could perform convincingly. After Star Wars’ big debut in 1977, E.T. held the record for the highest-grossing film of all time until Spielberg’s own Jurassic Park surpassed it in 1993.

2

Fast Times at Ridgemont High

Did you know this movie is Nicolas Cage's professional debut? He was about 17 -18 years old and played one of Spicoli’s (Sean Penn) stoner friends, called "Bad Bud". This coming-of-age comedy drama features early appearances by future stars like Penn, Eric Stoltz, and Jennifer Jason Leigh.

3

Tootsie

Tootsie is a satirical romantic comedy starring Dustin Hoffman as Michael Dorsey, a struggling actor who disguises himself as "Dorothy Michaels" to land a role on a soap opera. His success brings complications when he falls in love, putting both his career and his secret at risk. Jessica Lange later won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for her role in the film.

4

Blade Runner

Directed by Ridley Scott, this futuristic science fiction classic starring Harrison Ford, Rutger Hauer, and Sean Young is set in a dystopian 2019 Los Angeles, where replicants (synthetic humans) are bio-engineered to work on space colonies. But when one group of rebellious replicants escapes back to Earth, policeman Rick Deckard (Ford) is in charge of hunting them down.

5

Rocky III

Rocky Balboa (Sylvester Stallone), now wealthy and complacent as champion, loses both his mentor Mickey and his title to his younger rival, Clubber Lang (Mr. T). With Apollo Creed’s help, he fights to regain his discipline and reclaim his championship.

The third installment of this sports drama trilogy , written, directed, and starring Stallone, was released on May 28, 1982.

6

Poltergeist

Because Steven Spielberg was contractually unable at the time to direct another movie other than E.T the Extra-Terrestrial, Tobe Hooper was chosen to direct the film. This supernatural horror film won the BAFTA Award for Best Special Visual Effects and was nominated for the Academy Award in the same category, losing to E.T the Extra-Terrestrial the next year.

7

An Officer and a Gentleman

On August 13, 1982, An Officer and a Gentleman hit theaters. This romantic drama , directed by Taylor Hackford and starring Richard Gere and Deborah Winger, follows the story of a Navy recruit who signs up for the Aviation Academy, where he learns to relate to others and finds love. It was a critical success and became the third highest-grossing film of 1982, after Tootsie and E.T the Extra-Terrestrial.

8

Gandhi

While science fiction was blowing everyone’s minds, this historical epic captured audiences’ hearts despite its 3-hour, 20-minute runtime. Ben Kingsley won both the Academy Award and the BAFTA Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role. The biographical drama follows the key moments of Mahatma Gandhi’s life, from resisting British rule to leading India toward independence.

9

The Thing

Directed by John Carpenter, this sci-fi horror story is all about paranoia and mistrust during the Cold War era. In an isolated Antarctic base, the crew is hunted by a shape-shifting alien that can transform into the shape of any living organism it consumes. Paranoia erupts as the isolated scientists, led by MacReady (Kurt Russell), realize anyone could be the creature, leading to everyone's distrust and desperation.

At release, The Thing was overshadowed by E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial , but it later gained a strong cult following through TV and home video.

10

Tron

Steven Lisberger drew inspiration for this science fiction adventure from the early video game Pong (1972). Combining groundbreaking animation with live action , the film was released on July 9, 1982, and became an influence on future animated filmmaking.

After discovering his work has been stolen, computer engineer Kevin Flynn (Jeff Bridges) attempts to hack into his company’s network, only to become trapped in a digital world.

1

The Pillsbury Doughboy

Image: Dan Depew, CC BY 4.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0>, via Wikimedia Commons

You only need to see a tiny bit of his fluffy body to recognize him: Poppin’ Fresh, better known as the Pillsbury Doughboy, is a global star. The Pillsbury Company created him in 1965, and over the decades, he has appeared in hundreds of commercials and on all kinds of merchandise. Now, 60 years later, his cute image is still familiar to Americans everywhere. He’s even part of the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade!

2

Tony the Tiger

Image: SqueakyMarmot from Vancouver, Canada, CC BY 2.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0>, via Wikimedia Commons

Our childhood memories include a character who was and still is right there at the breakfast table. We're talking about Tony the Tiger, the beloved mascot of Frosted Flakes. Introduced in 1952 by Kellogg’s, many of us grew up with him and watched him become a cereal icon. And of course, no one can forget his iconic catchphrase: "They’re grrrreat!"

3

The Energizer Bunny

Image: Jazz Guy from New Jersey, United States, CC BY 2.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0>, via Wikimedia Commons

Style, attitude, energy: The Energizer Bunny has it all. With his signature sunglasses, drum, and flip-flops, this bunny first appeared in 1989 as a parody of the Duracell bunny, and he quickly grew far beyond Energizer batteries. In fact, he became a symbol of vitality and nonstop energy, so much so that when someone can’t sit still, they’re often compared to this bunny. You know, he just keeps going and going and going.

4

Mr. Clean

Image: JESHOOTS.COM

His style is unmistakable: that celebrity tan, bald head, bright white eyebrows, and even a cool earring. Of course! It’s Mr. Clean, the magical helper who shows up when stains get stubborn. Procter & Gamble introduced him in 1958, and he quickly became more than just the face of a product; he is a full character with his own personality and identity, deeply tied to the idea of household cleaning.

5

Mr. Monopoly

Image: Fluffybuns, CC BY-SA 4.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0>, via Wikimedia Commons

We already talked about Mr. Clean, but there’s another Mister who is just as famous, if not more: Mr. Monopoly. While we all know him by that name today, he originally had a much funnier one: "Rich Uncle Pennybags." His mustache and top hat are unmistakable, and his fame has long transcended the Monopoly game, turning him into a visual symbol of wealth and capitalism in pop culture.

6

The Jolly Green Giant

Image: greefus groinks, CC BY-SA 2.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0>, via Wikimedia Commons

The Green Giant Company introduced its giant mascot in 1928, and he quickly became synonymous with frozen vegetables across America. The Jolly Green Giant originally had a somewhat intimidating look, but a later redesign turned him into the friendly, smiling giant everyone knows and loves today. Decades of TV commercials, packaging, toys, and pop-culture references made him famous even among people who don’t buy the products.

7

Mr. Peanut

Image: InOttawa.ca, CC BY 2.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0>, via Wikimedia Commons

With his classic top hat and monocle, Mr. Peanut is undoubtedly a sophisticated mascot. And since he’s literally a peanut, it’s almost impossible not to think of Planters every time we grab a handful, right? Surprisingly, despite his excellent condition, Mr. Peanut is over 100 years old, having been introduced in 1916.

8

Mickey Mouse

Image: Brian McGowan

If there’s one truly world-famous mascot, it’s definitely Mickey Mouse. His round ears, white gloves, red shorts, and big yellow shoes are so familiar that most of us could sketch them from memory. Mickey started as a character but quickly became the unmistakable icon of Disney. Over time, he even transcended the brand itself, appearing in all kinds of products, commercials, shows, and parades, becoming a symbol of childhood around the world.

9

Colonel Sanders

Image: Marques Thomas

Every time you see this face, you instantly crave fried chicken. That’s the magic of the iconic Colonel Sanders, who is much more than a mascot. He was a real person, the founder of KFC. Because of that, his face has become so familiar to Americans that he feels almost like a father figure. His fame is so strong that KFC often doesn’t even need the brand name; the Colonel’s friendly face says it all.

10

Geico Gecko

Image: Roland Balik, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

The GEICO Gecko is so famous that seeing any lizard instantly brings him to mind. This friendly character has been tied to the brand since 1999, and the idea for him came from people mispronouncing "GEICO" as "gecko." Over the years, he has become a celebrity, so recognizable that he doesn’t even need the brand name for people to know exactly who he is.

1

Why are elections held on a Tuesday?

Election Day is always on a Tuesday because of 1800s rural life . Most Americans were farmers who needed a full day to travel to polling places, often by horse. Sunday was reserved for church, and Wednesday was typically market day.

Tuesday became the most practical option: travel on Monday, vote on Tuesday, return on Wednesday. November was chosen because the harvest season had ended, but winter had not yet made travel difficult.

2

Why do voters register in advance to participate?

Voter registration exists because the U.S. has no single national voter list . Since elections are run locally, authorities need a system to confirm identity, residency, and eligibility before Election Day.

The practice expanded in the 1800s as cities grew, helping manage large populations and reduce fraud. Today, it remains a key administrative step in a decentralized system.

3

Why does the Electoral College decide presidential elections?

The Electoral College was created as a compromise between letting Congress choose the president and allowing a direct popular vote, which proved logistically challenging at the time . The founders were concerned about balancing power and limiting centralized control.

It also gave smaller states more influence against larger states with more population, and reflected the challenges of communication in the 1700s. The system remains as part of the original constitutional design.

4

Does each state run its own election system?

The Constitution gives states the authority to manage elections , reflecting the country’s federal structure. The founders wanted states to retain power rather than create a single national system.

This allowed flexibility based on local conditions like geography and population. Today, it explains why voting rules and procedures differ widely across states. These differences range from voter registration policies to the types of documents required for voting to whether prison inmates are allowed to vote, among many other variations.

5

How are party candidates determined?

Primaries were introduced in the early 1900s to reduce the influence of party insiders . Before that, candidates were often chosen behind closed doors by political leaders.

The reform movement aimed to give voters more control. Primaries shifted decision-making power from party elites to the public, making the process more democratic.

6

What is early voting?

Early voting developed to address the limitations of a single Election Day . As work schedules became less flexible, states began offering additional in-person voting days.

These days, most states offer early voting, with examples like Minnesota, South Dakota, or Virginia, extending that period to over 40 days prior to the official election. This change helps reduce long lines and increase participation. It reflects an effort to adapt an old system to modern time constraints. And, judging by the 60% of votes being cast before Election Day, it works.

7

What about mail-in voting?

Mail-in voting began during the Civil War, allowing soldiers to vote while away from home . Over time, it expanded to include civilians who could not easily reach polling places.

Its broader use today reflects convenience and accessibility, especially in a large country where distance and mobility can be barriers to in-person voting.

8

What can a ballot include?

F ederal, state, and local referendums are often combined into a single election . This means that American ballots can include several voting points.

Studies indicate that this approach saves money by avoiding multiple referendums and increases participation by attracting individuals interested in voting on those topics. It also allows voters to decide on laws and policies directly through referendums and ballot measures.

9

Who are the poll workers?

Poll workers are typically local citizens because elections are run at the community level. Instead of a national workforce, local governments recruit and train temporary staff.

Most poll workers are community members who apply directly through their local election office. Also, in many states, local chapters of political parties submit lists of recommended workers to election boards. Officials often prioritize these nominees to meet legal requirements for partisan balance.

10

Why is Election Day not a federal holiday?

Election Day was never made a federal holiday because early lawmakers assumed rural voters had flexible schedules. Travel time, not work obligations, was the main concern .

Today, this decision is often debated. Modern work patterns make weekday voting less convenient, leading to calls for reform or expanded voting options.

11

Why do results take so long?

Final results can take time because ballots must be carefully verified before counting . This includes checking signatures, eligibility, and processing mail-in and provisional votes.

While early results are reported quickly, official certification happens later. The delay reflects a priority on accuracy and legitimacy over speed.