On this day in history, Oct. 26, 1825, Erie Canal opens, transforming American infrastructure, commerce

The Erie Canal, a major achievement in transportation infrastructure that connected the Great Lakes to the Atlantic Ocean and ignited American economic development, was completed on this day in history, Oct. 26, 1825. “The Erie Canal played a major part in commerce in the history of the United States,” reports the Library of Congress. “Its…

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On this day in history, Oct. 25, 1944, first kamikaze suicide pilots attack US Navy in World War II

Kamikaze suicide planes sent by desperate Imperial Japan screamed down from the skies over Surigao Strait in the Philippines, terrifying American sailors, for the first time on this day in history, Oct. 25, 1944.  “The Americans who witnessed these first kamikaze attacks were horrified and shaken, but it was only the beginning,” historian James P….

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Starbucks customers and 'Hocus Pocus' fans make witchy drink recipes inspired by the movies

Starbucks customers and baristas are taking inspiration from Disney’s “Hocus Pocus” with drink recipes that embody the Halloween film franchise and its witchy cast of characters. These beverage creations are being shared on social media platforms with hashtags and mentions of a “Starbucks secret menu” or “Starbucks menu hack,” and they’ve attracted millions of views…

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Reddit community responds to 'best things about America' query: 'God bless Teddy Roosevelt'

A user on Reddit posted this open-ended question this weekend on the popular subreddit known as “Ask Reddit”: “Americans, what is a good thing about your country?” Some of the answers reflected strong and abiding patriotism — and elicited thousands of other responses and pieces of conversation — while other answers were thought-provoking.   Here’s…

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