1

Prince (2007)

Prince delivered a legendary performance at Super Bowl XLI in 2007, often considered the greatest halftime show ever. Without tricks or surprise guests, just his incredible talent and iconic guitar, Prince killed it with songs like "Let’s Go Crazy" and "Baby I’m a Star." But the true gem of the night was "Purple Rain": As heavy rain poured from the sky and purple lights washed over the stage, everyone at the Dolphin Stadium and millions of us watching live at home lived a moment we would never forget.

2

Michael Jackson (1993)

Until 1993, the Super Bowl halftime show looked very, very different. But the marching bands and themed productions came to an end when Michael Jackson took the stage at the Rose Bowl during Super Bowl XXVII. He turned the halftime show into a world-class pop concert. With a dramatic opening, perfectly coordinated choreography, and shocking visuals, Jackson got more viewers than the game itself, something that had never been done before.

3

The Rolling Stones (2006)

There were about 68,200 people at Ford Field in Detroit for Super Bowl XL on February 5, 2006, when the Rolling Stones hit the stage. As Mick Jagger delivered the opening lines of "Start Me Up," the crowd knew they were witnessing something special.

The legendary band didn’t need gimmicks or elaborate effects, just true rock and roll. However, they still gave the show their own special touch: a giant stage shaped like their iconic tongue logo.

4

Paul McCartney (2005)

In 2005, the NFL chose one of the world’s most respected musicians to lead the halftime show at Super Bowl XXXIX. Luckily for us, Paul McCartney said yes and took the stage at Alltel Stadium to deliver one of the Super Bowl’s most memorable performances.

Music lovers were euphoric as the former Beatle performed classics like "Drive My Car," "Get Back," and "Live and Let Die." Of course, he saved the best for last and closed his show with more than 80,000 people in the stadium singing along to "Hey Jude."

5

Bruce Springsteen (2009)

The energy of real music filled the stage at Raymond James Stadium from the very first second of Bruce Springsteen’s halftime show at Super Bowl XLIII. The E Street Band was already doing its thing when the singer tossed his guitar aside, took the mic, looked straight into the camera, and told America, "Put the chicken fingers down and turn your TV all the way up!", becoming one of the most memorable shows for old-school rock and roll fans.

6

Janet Jackson (2004)

Janet Jackson filled the stage with talent, dance, and impressive stage effects during her halftime show at Super Bowl XXXVIII at Reliant Stadium. But what most people remember isn’t the music; it’s what happened at the very end of the show.

For the final song, "Rock Your Body," Janet was joined by Justin Timberlake. Everything was going perfectly until a miscalculated move led to the infamous "wardrobe malfunction." The incident sparked immediate controversy and overshadowed what had been a great and powerful performance.

7

Madonna (2012)

A legion of Roman gladiators in armor and helmets introduced the incredible Madonna during her halftime show at Lucas Oil Stadium for Super Bowl XLVI. The Queen of Pop was carried in as the unmistakable intro to "Vogue" began to play. With precise choreography, amazing visuals, and captivating stage design, the spectacle fascinated audiences around the world, drawing more than 114 million viewers.

8

Beyoncé (2013)

In 2013, the stage at Super Bowl XLVII literally burst into flames as one of pop’s biggest stars prepared to deliver a halftime performance that people would remember for years.

Before we could even clearly see her face, Beyoncé’s powerful voice echoed through the stadium, letting us know that we were about to see an unforgettable performance. Still, few expected what came next. Just minutes into the show, Kelly Rowland and Michelle Williams, her former bandmates from Destiny's Child, rose onto the stage, making fans go wild.

9

Dr. Dre and friends (2022)

Rap and hip-hop fans will never forget the electrifying halftime show led by Dr. Dre and friends at Super Bowl LVI in 2022. The stadium trembled as stars like Snoop Dogg, Eminem, Kendrick Lamar, and Mary J. Blige joined him on stage. But as if that weren't enough, in one of the night’s biggest surprises, 50 Cent appeared to perform his hit "In Da Club." The event marked a turning point for both the Super Bowl show and the hip-hop genre, and won several Primetime Emmy Awards.

10

Rihanna (2023)

Rihanna’s 2023 Super Bowl performance at State Farm Stadium was definitely special. What at first seemed like a typical pop show became one of the biggest surprises in halftime history. As she started to sing the very first song, Rihanna suddenly revealed her baby bump: she was pregnant with her second child, a secret that even her dancers and team didn’t know. The show drew around 121 million viewers, making it the most-watched halftime ever at that time.

1

The term "Speakeasy" came from a whispered instruction

Image: Shtefan Lounge

This expression, by now forever associated with the Prohibition Era, came from bartenders quietly warning patrons to "speak easy" when ordering illegal drinks.

It is believed that the phrase was already in use in 1800s saloons, but it took off during Prohibition. Hidden behind trapdoors or fake businesses, these secret bars required passwords or knocks to enter.

2

Prohibition sparked the rise of NASCAR

Image: Caleb Woods

Southern moonshiners during Prohibition needed to move whiskey fast. To evade federal agents, they needed to modify cars for speed and for driving through uneven terrains under the cover of the night.

What do you do with that peculiar set of skills when the Prohibition ends, then? Many of these trained drivers began racing each other for fun , and eventually for prizes. These informal competitions laid the groundwork for stock car racing, and in 1948, NASCAR was officially founded.

3

Grape bricks were a legal alternative

Image: Keegan Houser

Though commercial winemaking was banned, winemakers adapted quickly by selling "grape concentrate bricks" legally.

They were dense blocks that came with a cheeky warning: "Do not dissolve in water , add yeast, and let sit for 21 days, or it may ferment into wine." Of course, that’s exactly what people did.

4

Al Capone opened a soup kitchen

Image: Drew Gilliam

During the Great Depression, mob boss Al Capone operated a soup kitchen in Chicago, serving thousands of unemployed individuals .

The sign outside read "Free Soup, Coffee & Doughnuts for the Unemployed." It was certainly a clever PR move that helped soften his infamous image, even as he profited from illegal booze and violence.

5

There was a "whiskey prescription" loophole

Image: Anastasia Zhenina

While Prohibition outlawed alcohol sales, there was one major exception: whiskey prescribed by a doctor. The government allowed the writing of prescriptions for " medicinal liquor ," so millions were written. Patients could pick up their booze at a local pharmacy, usually in a clearly labeled bottle: "For Medicinal Use Only."

6

"Mountain Dew" meant Moonshine

Image: Josh McLain

Long before it was a neon-green soda, "mountain dew" was slang for homemade whiskey . The term already appeared in folk songs of the Appalachian region back in the 19th century, and it became especially popular during Prohibition, as illegal distilling became widespread.

In the 1940s, the creators of the soft drink Mountain Dew originally formulated it as a mixer for whiskey. The name was a wink after the bootlegging culture it came from.

7

Women were on both sides of the front lines

Image: Agustina Tolosa

Fierce women activists led the temperance movement, yes. For example, Carrie Nation famously stormed saloons with a hatchet. But many women also thrived in the world of illegal liquor.

Some saw Prohibition as an opportunity and became successful bootleggers, smugglers, and speakeasy owners. One of the most famous was Gertrude "Cleo" Lythgoe, nicknamed "The Queen of the Bahamas," who smuggled high-end liquor from Nassau to the U.S. East Coast and built a fortune.

8

Toothpaste and hair tonics were alcoholic

Image: Chelms Varthoumlien

With liquor banned, some people turned to unlikely products to get drunk. Items like bay rum aftershave, vanilla extract, hair tonics, and even toothache drops were legally sold and packed with high-proof alcohol. Desperate drinkers downed them despite the awful taste and potential health risks.

In New York City alone, an estimated 150,000 gallons of bay rum were consumed for intoxication in a single year.

9

Bootlegging funded jazz and nightlife

Image: cottonbro studio

Prohibition did help launch a cultural revolution . Speakeasies became centers of nightlife and music, and in places like Harlem, they gave rise to the Harlem Renaissance. Jazz greats like Duke Ellington and Billie Holiday got their start playing in these clubs.

10

New York’s mayor toasted the end with a beer… on air

Image: Muhammed ÖÇAL

When the 21st Amendment officially ended Prohibition on December 5, 1933, New Yorkers celebrated with flair. So did their mayor. Fiorello La Guardia, a vocal critic of the alcohol ban , marked the occasion by cracking open a beer during a press conference and drinking it on live radio.

La Guardia had long argued that Prohibition bred crime and disrespect for the law, so this on-air symbolic gesture made sense and marked the beginning of instant change.

11

Some states didn’t ratify the end until the 21st century

Image: Chris Hardy

Though the 21st Amendment repealed Prohibition in 1933, some states and counties held out for decades . Mississippi didn’t officially end state Prohibition laws until 1966; that’s 33 years after the national repeal. Kansas, meanwhile, banned public bars until 1987.

Even today, Prohibition echoes remain. Several U.S. counties are still "dry," meaning alcohol sales are restricted or banned outright.

1

It happens every 10 years

The U.S. Census is required by Article 1, Section 2 of the Constitution and takes place every decade, ending in "0," such as 2000, 2010, and 2020 . The first census was conducted in 1790 under President George Washington.

This fixed schedule ensures consistency. Population changes over time, so a regular count allows the government to fairly adjust representation and resources based on where people actually live.

2

It counts everyone living in the U.S.

The census aims to count every person residing in the country, not just citizens. This includes legal residents, undocumented immigrants, and people without permanent housing .

The key concept is "usual residence," meaning where a person lives most of the time. This approach provides a realistic snapshot of the population and ensures communities are represented accurately.

3

It determines seats in the House of Representatives

Census results are used to divide the 435 seats in the U.S. House of Representatives among the 50 states , a process known as apportionment.

States can gain or lose seats depending on population shifts. For example, after the 2020 census, Texas gained two seats, while states like California and New York lost one each due to slower growth.

4

It influences federal funding

Census data guide the distribution of hundreds of billions of dollars in federal funding each year, with estimates ranging from $675 billion to $1.5 trillion.

Programs for highways, hospitals, schools, and housing depend on population figures . Areas with higher populations typically receive more funding, making an accurate count financially important for communities.

5

Households receive census invitations

Every household in the United States receives an official census invitation , usually by mail. In 2020, more than 140 million housing units were included.

This system replaced earlier door-to-door counting methods. Using a national address database helps ensure broad coverage and makes it easier for people to respond on their own.

6

It can be completed online, by mail, or by phone

The modern census offers multiple ways to respond. In 2020, people could complete it online, by mailing back a paper form, or by phone .

Adding online responses marked a major shift. It reduced costs, improved convenience, and reflected how Americans increasingly move towards digital communication.

7

Census workers follow up in person

If households do not respond, trained census workers, called enumerators, visit homes in person to collect the information.

This step is essential because the census must count everyone, not just those who respond voluntarily . It helps reach people in rural areas, dense cities, and communities with lower response rates.

8

It asks basic demographic questions

The census form is intentionally short. In 202, it included about 10 questions covering age, sex, race, household relationships, and housing status.

The goal is to keep it simple. Shorter forms increase participation while still collecting the key data needed for representation, funding, decisions, and planning.

9

Responses are legally confidential

Federal law strictly protects census responses. Under Title 13 of the U.S. Code, personal data cannot be shared with law enforcement, immigration authorities, or other agencies .

Only anonymous, combined statistics are released. Census workers face severe penalties, including fines and prison, for revealing personal information.

10

Missing the census is technically against the law

Responding to the census is legally required. Federal law allows fines for refusing to answer or providing false information .

In practice, penalties are rarely enforced. The rule exists mainly to emphasize how important it is for everyone to be counted accurately.

11

The data helps draw voting districts

After the census determines how many representatives each state receives, the data is used to redraw congressional and state legislative districts .

This process, called redistricting, ensures districts reflect current population patterns. It supports the principle of equal representation, often described as "one person, one vote."

12

Results are released over time

Census results are published in stages. Basic population counts come first, allowing Congress to complete apportionment.

More detailed demographic data follows months later. This gradual release ensures accuracy while protecting privacy , sometimes using advanced techniques like statistical noise to safeguard identities.