Geography Geography 4 min read

Local treasures

These 10 American regional industries make our country amazing!

Image: Dziana Hasanbekava / Polina Tankilevitch / David Foodphototasty

One of the many advantages of living in such a vast country is the wide variety of landscapes, cultures, and people that can be found in each of our 50 states. The United States offers a rich tapestry of industries that vary greatly throughout the nation. If you are lucky enough to travel this great country of ours, you’ll encounter many unique and outstanding regional products. In that sense, we’ve selected 10 of the most remarkable regional industries from across America, hoping to pay homage to the hard work and dedication that make this country so wonderful. Enjoy!

1
Wisconsin - Cheese

Image: Lauren Forando

Wisconsin is crazy about cheese , and there’s a reason it’s known as "America’s Dairyland"! The state takes great pride in this regional product, and with good reason. Its cheesemaking tradition is almost as old as the state itself, with European colonists introducing the trade in the 19th century in the fertile lands that would eventually become Wisconsin. Approximately 100 years later, over 1,500 cheesemonger shops and factories had been established in the area.

2
Chicago - Deep-dish pizza

Image: Jon Tyson

Deep-dish pizza has its fair share of detractors, but we honestly can’t think of a single, concrete reason why. In our eyes, Chicago’s most famous regional delicacy is wonderful, with its copious amounts of cheese and chunky tomato sauce. In any case, residents of the "Windy City" take great pride in this pizza style, so be sure to try some whenever you're in town.

3
Detroit - Automotive industry

Image: Egor Vikhrev

Detroit has been synonymous with cars since the 1920s , when the city’s population surged following the expansion of the automotive industry across the country. Nowadays, Detroit is considered the epicenter of this industry in the United States, with the headquarters of the "Big Three" auto manufacturers—Ford, General Motors, and Chrysler—located in "The Motor City."

4
Kentucky - Bourbon

Image: Maxim Hopman

Bourbon is one of the few products that can only be found in America . This type of whiskey, typically made from maize, was created in the United States during the 18th century. While it is undeniably an American treasure, bourbon is most closely associated with the American South and, particularly , with Kentucky . The "Bluegrass State" produces 95% of the world’s supply of bourbon, so it shouldn’t come as a surprise that it is a source of great pride to all Kentuckians.

5
New Mexico - Chiles

Image: Javier Balseiro

The New Mexican chile , a moderately spicy variety , is unsurprisingly a staple of the state’s cuisine and one of its official vegetables. Not only that, New Mexico’s official question is a direct reference to this tasty vegetable. Whenever you hear a New Mexican ask, "Green or Red?", be sure they are asking which type of chile you want with your food.

6
New Orleans - Lucky Dogs

Image: Peter Secan

We could have included any number of delicious New Orleans products in this entry, from its mouth-watering gumbo to its delectable beignets. However, we’ve decided to focus instead on a New Orleans institution—a business that has been standing strong since 1948. Located throughout the streets of "The Big Easy," Lucky Dogs and its iconic hot dog stands bring smiles and tasty treats to both locals and tourists. These stands are featured in one of New Orleans’s most beloved novels, A Confederacy of Dunces , in which its extravagant protagonist briefly works at one of these stands.

7
Texas - Cowboy hats

Image: Donald Giannatti

In 2015, the Texas State Legislature declared the cowboy hat the official "State Hat of Texas." This probably doesn’t come as a surprise. If you’ve ever visited "The Lone Star State," you’ve likely seen cowboy hats everywhere. These accessories have been synonymous with Texas for as long as anyone can remember. In fact, Texas Rangers were the very first law enforcement agency to officially adopt cowboy hats as part of their uniform.

8
New York - I Heart NY T-Shirts

Image: Abhilash G

What might seem like an inexpensive memento to take home after a wonderful trip to New York City is actually one of the most instantly recognizable images in pop culture. "I Heart NY" t-shirts are everywhere in the "Big Apple," and while locals might seem disgruntled at the sight of a happy tourist sporting one of these shirts, rest assured that they feel a small amount of pride in the love and praise their city receives every day.

9
Las Vegas - Casinos

Image: David Lusvardi

Las Vegas calls itself "The Entertainment Capital of the World" for the same reason many refer to it as "Sin City." The largest city in Nevada is known worldwide for its amazing selection of Casino Hotels. Las Vegas’s most famous regional product offers many hours of fun and excitement, though we advise that caution be observed at all times.

10
Sweet Tea - South Carolina

Image: Crystal Tubens

Sweet tea has been a staple of American Southern cuisine for centuries, but many believe the birthplace of this delicious, cold drink is Summerville, a town in South Carolina . According to some historians, during the 19th century, a resident of Summerville named Dr. Charles Shepard started growing tea in the region and innovating with ice-cold drinks that he offered to visitors and neighbors. In due time, sweet tea made Summerville a tourist attraction, eventually cementing the town as the birthplace of this iconic drink.

General General 4 min read

Beyond the Preamble

The amendment that took 200 years and other intriguing Constitution facts

Image: Anthony Garand

The Constitution is undoubtedly one of the most important documents in our history —and in our present! But even if we think we know everything about it, there are still some surprising details that might shock even the most knowledgeable history fans. Did you know that the 27th Amendment, which is also the last one, took more than 200 years to be ratified? Join us to uncover 10 fascinating facts about the Constitution that many people don't know about!

1
10/12

Image: Sue Winston

We know that the Bill of Rights consists of the first 10 amendments to the Constitution, but did you know that Congress originally proposed 12 amendments? That's right! Yet, the states ratified only 10, leaving two out.

But here's the interesting part: One of these unratified amendments —the one concerning congressional compensation— was ratified more than 200 years later! In 1992, it became the 27th Amendment, which is also the last one.

2
World record

Image: Pierre Bamin

Our Constitution was signed in the 18th century, and while we know it's been a long time, what you might not know is that it is considered the world's oldest written national constitution still in effect today.

With various changes and amendments added over the years, this document not only defined the ideals of our nation but also earned us a world record!

3
The youngest

Image: MJ S

The men who signed this historic document were of varying ages. In fact, the age difference between the youngest and oldest signer was a remarkable 55 years!

The youngest to sign was attorney Jonathan Dayton of New Jersey, who was 26 years old at the time. Do you want to know who was the oldest? Keep reading!

4
The oldest

Image: Adam Nir

Well, as we mentioned, there was a 55-year age gap between the youngest and oldest signers of the US Constitution.

Do you know who the oldest was? That's right, Benjamin Franklin! He was a distinguished 81 years old when he signed this historic document.

5
500 copies

Image: Christa Dodoo

The original Constitution had 500 copies printed for distribution, made by the Founding Fathers themselves. They distributed those copies to members of Congress and state legislatures. Of those 500 original copies, however, only 13 are known to exist today. We have to say that, given that more than 230 years have passed, it's impressive that so many have survived!

6
How much?

Image: Jp Valery

Logically, since so few original copies remain, they ' re incredibly rare and valuable. In fact, one of these original documents was sold in 2021, and you won't believe its price!

You might have imagined it was sold for $5 million, maybe $10 million. But no, this invaluable copy went for $43.2 million. With that sale, it also became the most expensive historical document ever sold at an auction.

7
30 bucks

Image: Barry A

The person who transcribed the original US Constitution signed in 1787 had an important job, didn't he? The man who accomplished this major deed was Jacob Shallus, a clerk of the Pennsylvania General Assembly at the time. He was responsible for taking the text drafted by the Founding Fathers and transcribing it onto parchment: over 4,000 words scribbled down entirely by hand! Surprisingly, he was paid just $30 for this task.

8
Let's celebrate

Image: Kelly Sikkema

In 1789, long before Thanksgiving became an official national holiday, President George Washington issued a proclamation declaring November 26 as a day to give thanks. As it was an occasion for national gratitude, he also encouraged citizens to celebrate the birth of the new nation and the recently established Constitution.

9
A spelling issue

Image: Katherine McAdoo

Being a text from so long ago, some words —particularly proper nouns— may have changed slightly since the Constitution was first drafted. This was the case for the state of Pennsylvania, which is spelled as "Pensylvania" in the original document. However, while some may consider it a misspelling today, it was actually an accepted spelling for the state's name in the 18th century.

Fun fact: You can also find "Pensylvania" engraved on the Liberty Bell!

10
The Father of the Constitution

Image: Richard Hedrick

"The Father of the Constitution" is one of the nicknames given to James Madison, one of our Founding Fathers. And it's these very words that appear on the rare $5,000 bill.

Although this bill is no longer in circulation, if you are lucky enough to get your hands on one, you'll read "James Madison, The Father of the Constitution" next to the portrait of the 4th U.S. President.

History History 4 min read

Is a slap really a feud?

Was the Will Smith-Chris Rock slap scripted? 12 famous feuds

Image: Andrew Le

Hollywood isn’t always glitz and glam—sometimes it’s full-on drama. From shady tweets to onstage outbursts and headline-making slaps, celebrity feuds have a way of stealing the spotlight just as much as any blockbuster. You probably know about some of these incidents, but a few will surprise you!

1
Joan Crawford vs. Bette Davis

Image: Shubham Panwar

The feud between Joan Crawford and Bette Davis began in 1935 when Bette fell for her co-star Franchot Tone, only for Joan to marry him soon after filming ended .

Their rivalry peaked during the tense 1962 shoot of What Ever Happened to Baby Jane? The tension never eased, and the two reportedly never reconciled before their deaths.

2
Kim Cattrall vs. Sarah Jessica Parker

Image: Erhan Çoban

On Sex and the City , Kim Cattrall and Sarah Jessica Parker played close friends, but off-screen their relationship was far from warm . Tensions reportedly surfaced when Kim declined to join a third Sex and the City movie.

In 2018, things worsened after Sarah publicly offered condolences over the death of Kim’s brother. Kim responded sharply on Instagram, writing, "You are not my friend. You are not my family.

3
David Letterman vs. Jay Leno

Image: Diogo Cardoso

The biggest late-night feud kicked off in 1992 when Johnny Carson retired from The Tonight Show . Many expected David Letterman to take over, but NBC chose Jay Leno instead.

Letterman left for CBS to launch The Late Show , going head-to-head with Leno. Their rivalry, known as the "Late-Night Wars," lasted for years as both battled for ratings before eventually retiring .

4
Gwyneth Paltrow vs. Martha Stewart

Image: Lesya Tyutrina Andrey Biyanov

The feud between Gwyneth Paltrow and Martha Stewart began in 2014, when Martha criticized Gwyneth’s lifestyle brand , saying she should stick to acting.

Things escalated with cheeky recipe jabs—Martha’s "Conscious Coupling" and Gwyneth’s "Jailbird Cake," a nod to Martha’s past prison time.

5
Vin Diesel vs. Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson

Image: Ayu Anggraini

The rivalry between Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson and Vin Diesel began during the filming of The Fate of the Furious in 2016, when The Rock called out unnamed co-stars for unprofessional behavior on social media .

Fans quickly guessed he was referring to Vin, especially after The Rock thanked the cast and crew in a post, but noticeably left out Vin Diesel.

6
Elton John vs. Madonna

Image: Mélody P

Elton John and Madonna’s feud began in 2002, when Elton slammed her Bond theme, calling it "the worst of all time." He later accused her of lip-syncing during live shows.

Things heated up again in 2012, when both were nominated for a Golden Globe. Elton claimed Madonna had "no chance"—but she won. Backstage, Madonna said she adored him and hoped he’d win another award.

7
Elizabeth Taylor vs. Debbie Reynolds

Image: Venti Views

The drama between Debbie Reynolds and Elizabeth Taylor began when Debbie's husband, Eddie Fisher, left her for Elizabeth, who was her close friend at the time.

Their affair began after Eddie comforted Elizabeth following the death of her husband, Mike Todd, in 1958. Years later, after Elizabeth and Eddie split, Debbie and Elizabeth reconciled and remained friends until Taylor’s death.

8
Frank Sinatra vs. Marlon Brando

Image: David Clode

Frank Sinatra and Marlon Brando clashed while filming Guys and Dolls (1955), thanks to their huge egos and very different acting styles .

Sinatra gave Brando rude nicknames, while Brando deliberately ruined takes during a cheesecake scene, forcing Sinatra to eat far more than he wanted.

9
Dean Martin vs. Jerry Lewis

Image: Akbar Nemati

Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis were a wildly popular comedy duo from 1946 to 1956, dominating film, radio, and television. But behind the scenes, tensions grew.

Martin felt Lewis was taking over the act , leading to their split in 1956. Though both went on to solo success, their friendship suffered for years. They finally reconciled in 1976, thanks in part to Frank Sinatra.

10
Angelina Jolie vs. Jon Voight

Image: Daniil Komov

Family ties don’t always guarantee harmony in Hollywood. The feud between Jon Voight and Angelina Jolie largely stems from Voight’s infidelity toward Jolie’s mother , Marcheline Bertrand.

Though they’ve had brief periods of reconciliation, their relationship has repeatedly broken down over the years, making their feud long-lasting and complicated.

11
Will Smith vs. Chris Rock

Image: Frida Lannerström

Will Smith and Chris Rock’s feud exploded publicly at the 94th Academy Awards in 2022, when Will slapped Chris after a joke about Jada Pinkett Smith . The slap was not scripted and took everyone—especially Rock—by surprise.

The incident went viral and had major consequences for Smith. Despite the fallout, there are hints that the two might eventually repair their friendship.

12
Johnny Carson vs. Joan Rivers

Image: Long Ma

The legendary Johnny Carson often featured Joan Rivers as a guest and occasional guest host on The Tonight Show. But when Rivers launched her own late-night show without telling Carson , he saw it as a major betrayal.

Carson never forgave her, and their feud lasted until his death. Sadly, Rivers’ show struggled and never quite matched his success.

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