WRITTEN BY: BILL BOWSER

• Pre-official flag (Continental Union Flag / Grand Union Flag / Cambridge Flag): This had 13 red-and-white stripes and a British Union Jack in the canton (no stars). It was first flown on December 3, 1775. It served as a de facto flag for the colonies until the official Stars and Stripes replaced it.

• First official U.S. flag (13 stars, 13 stripes): Adopted by the Continental Congress on June 14, 1777 (now celebrated as Flag Day). It featured 13 white stars in a blue field (representing a “new constellation”) and 13 alternating red-and-white stripes for the original 13 colonies. No Union Jack. This is the foundational “Stars and Stripes.”

• 15-star, 15-stripe flag: Official from May 1, 1795 (authorized by the Flag Act of January 13, 1794). Added for Vermont (March 4, 1791) and Kentucky (June 1, 1792). This is the only official U.S. flag with more than 13 stripes. It flew during the War of 1812 (including over Fort McHenry, inspiring “The Star-Spangled Banner”).

• 20-star, 13-stripe flag: Official from July 4, 1818 (Flag Act of April 4, 1818, signed by President Monroe). Congress restored the stripes to 13 (to honor the original colonies) and added stars for new states. The five new states were: Tennessee (June 1, 1796), Ohio (March 1, 1803), Louisiana (April 30, 1812), Indiana (December 11, 1816), and Mississippi (December 10, 1817). From this point forward, new stars were added on the next July 4 after a state’s admission (no more extra stripes).

Subsequent official flag versions (all with 13 stripes and stars added on July 4 following admission):

• 21-star flag: July 4, 1819 — Illinois (December 3, 1818).

• 23-star flag: July 4, 1820 — Alabama (December 14, 1819) and Maine(March 15, 1820).

• 24-star flag: July 4, 1822 — Missouri (August 10, 1821).

• 25-star flag: July 4, 1836 — Arkansas (June 15, 1836).

• 26-star flag: July 4, 1837 — Michigan (January 26, 1837).

• 27-star flag: July 4, 1845 — Florida (March 3, 1845).

• 28-star flag: July 4, 1846 — Texas (December 29, 1845).

• 29-star flag: July 4, 1847 — Iowa (December 28, 1846).

• 30-star flag: July 4, 1848 — Wisconsin (May 29, 1848).

• 31-star flag: July 4, 1851 — California (September 9, 1850).

• 32-star flag: July 4, 1858 — Minnesota (May 11, 1858).

• 33-star flag: July 4, 1859 — Oregon (February 14, 1859).

• 34-star flag: July 4, 1861 — Kansas (January 29, 1861).

• 35-star flag: July 4, 1863 — West Virginia (June 20, 1863).

• 36-star flag: July 4, 1865 — Nevada (October 31, 1864).

• 37-star flag: July 4, 1867 — Nebraska (March 1, 1867).

• 38-star flag: July 4, 1877 — Colorado (August 1, 1876).

• 43-star flag: July 4, 1890 — Added for North Dakota (November 2, 1889), South Dakota (November 2, 1889), Montana (November 8, 1889), Washington (November 11, 1889), and Idaho (July 3, 1890). This version lasted only one year.

• 44-star flag: July 4, 1891 — Wyoming (July 10, 1890).

• 45-star flag: July 4, 1896 — Utah (January 4, 1896).

• 46-star flag: July 4, 1908 — Oklahoma (November 16, 1907).

• 48-star flag: July 4, 1912 — New Mexico (January 6, 1912) and Arizona(February 14, 1912).

• 49-star flag: July 4, 1959 — Alaska (January 3, 1959).

• 50-star flag: July 4, 1960 — Hawaii (August 21, 1959). This is the current design and has been in use the longest (over 65 years).

Fun Facts…Potluck Part 2

April 15, 2026April 13, 2026 tolleystopicsLeave a comment

Despite the cold, because snow is comprised of around 90-95% air, it is actually a good insulator.

Some species of moths never develop mouths and so never eat as adults.

If you were to uncoil an orchestral tuba, the metal pipe would stretch 12 feet.

Pound cake is so named because early recipes contained one pound of butter, one pound of eggs, and one pound of sugar.

The number FOUR is the only digit whose name contains the same number of letters that the figure itself represents.

Nutmeg is faintly hallucinogenic…and bananas are faintly radioactive!

Sunday and Monday are named after the Sun and the Moon.

After his death, the ashes of Fred Baur, the inventor of the Pringles can, were partly buried in a Pringles can at his request.

Daily Wisecracks & Wisdom

April 15, 2026April 13, 2026 tolleystopicsLeave a comment

You miss 100% of the naps you don’t take.
Anonymous

THE SPHINX—CAVES

April 15, 2026April 14, 2026 tolleystopicsLeave a comment

ADIOS ERIC. Go to Netflix or the Clinton and Obama libraries.

https://nypost.com/2026/04/13/us-news/eric-swalwell-resigns-from-congress-after-sexual-accusations/

This is how Clinton would have looked if he was just a Congressman and not President.

https://townhall.com/tipsheet/mattvespa/2026/04/14/did-you-miss-swalwells-lawyer-going-in-cnn-over-the-weekend-it-was-a-total-trainwreck-n2674344

https://townhall.com/tipsheet/mattvespa/2026/04/13/gop-rep-teases-more-debauchery-involving-eric-swalwell-is-coming-n2674400

Hasta la vista Tony.

https://redstate.com/sister-toldjah/2026/04/13/new-tony-gonzales-announces-his-resignation-from-congress-n2201257

*****

DoorDash to the White House.

https://www.breitbart.com/politics/2026/04/13/watch-trump-receives-mcdonalds-delivery-doordash-grandma-who-benefited-no-tax-tips/

*****

It was all a bunch of lies from the DNC, Hillary, Schiff, Nancy Pelosi, Liz Cheney, and others. It is why Joe pardoned the J-6 committee and their staff.

https://townhall.com/tipsheet/mattvespa/2026/04/13/oh-boy-tulsi-gabbard-just-declassified-the-docs-behind-the-2019-trump-impeachment-effort-n2674371

*****

THOUGHTS ON THE MASTERS–AUGUSTA NATIONAL.

https://pjmedia.com/chris-queen/2026/04/10/the-masters-doesnt-sell-out-and-thats-the-point-n4951663

They don’t need ESPN or any clowns like Kelce.

https://www.breitbart.com/sports/2026/04/10/augusta-fans-not-happy-with-jason-kelces-antics-at-the-masters/

As we reported earlier Mark Calcavecchia was kicked out for using his phone.

https://nypost.com/2026/04/08/sports/mark-calcavecchia-kicked-out-of-masters-grounds-for-using-his-phone/

*****

The entire J-6 Democratic House Committee needs to be locked up.

https://pjmedia.com/matt-margolis/2026/04/10/the-doj-opens-criminal-investigation-into-j6-star-witness-cassidy-hutchinson-n4951640

https://abcnews4.com/news/nation-world/house-jan-6-committee-scrapped-100-files-before-gop-majority-takeover-report-says-january-2021-capitol-riots-donald-trump-2020-election-barry-loudermilk-bennie-thompson

NATIONAL

A good decision.

https://redstate.com/smoosieq/2026/04/10/trump-admin-scores-a-big-win-at-4th-circuit-regarding-doge-n2201160

One thing is for sure, immigration is a HUGE problem. The President has too much power, including not enforcing the borders.

https://redstate.com/joesquire/2026/04/11/barack-obama-gave-green-cards-to-screaming-marys-family-marco-rubio-just-had-them-arrested-n2201183

https://www.breitbart.com/politics/2026/04/10/illegal-alien-convicted-nine-counts-groping-girls-virginia-high-school/

More illegal crimes. Keep electing Democrats.

https://www.breitbart.com/crime/2026/04/11/seattles-leftist-mayor-fights-ice-as-crime-plagues-residents-tells-immigrants-you-should-be-safe-here/

Have another.

https://www.breitbart.com/politics/2026/04/11/nolte-police-called-on-democrat-governor-candidate-amy-actons-2019-drunken-rage-episode/

ENTERTAINMENT

https://www.breitbart.com/entertainment/2026/04/10/nolte-star-wars-spielberg-fail-to-rank-as-summers-most-anticipated-movies/

*****

Mamstinky–Elected by the people.

https://nypost.com/2026/04/12/us-news/nycs-east-village-furious-over-mamdani-emergency-order-sticking-it-with-planned-men-shelters/

*****

The Spelunker Editor: What is new with caves, LL ?

The Exploring Cat: Our first cave is in Vietnam. All of these caves have many video sites.

A cave in Kentucky.

Caves in France.

These are about 36,000 years old.

https://www.google.com/search?client=firefox-b-1-d&q=history+oc+french+caves#sv=CAMSVhozKhFpYy1ncDJZQWtuQnVxX284TTIOZ3AyWUFrbkJ1cV9vOE06DkFxNW5LZVdKcWo0ck1NIAQqGwoEc3ZpbRIRaWMtZ3AyWUFrbkJ1cV9vOE0YATABGAcgh4vG6gw

https://www.google.com/search?q=alley+oop+video+with+the+argyles&client=firefox-b-1-d&hs=DDep&sca_esv=3dab4d851e494cfc&ei=2knRaY7sKtr_ptQP35mWyA0&start=90&sa=N&sstk=Af77f_cC9Jf-_Q02dbtKRbNMdxWiv8l4hHFwbjqHHh2hQEEdwDcefJREtUop928BrwQw8auzSWmufMN8ZooF3_78NLkTuoxiKoQzOmd7Z47FIQ7WsgTyNXbkaOS9gxGHLVDjkYbGAe_OAGkBQvNIqLS_HI3X8v0IZhBfn3BrKX3qyRkPGnJ8T2gh5J5iiuhBMwdsLDsDMWEhJWsE6M_SzjRtX03sWEErnGmCnEyST0EC2-cSUTLPf7ClMwjNJl9VsH1pvBy6xF-J93xh9B4IJOqytM3somj_KgWhaLPCTYFgboHs73uu1rfctVY7leW42UkQrYJ_Rt8P7Yj6uq7umqm8zXI&ved=2ahUKEwiOwbXp29STAxXav4kEHd-MBdk4UBDy0wN6BAgJEA8&biw=1084&bih=462&dpr=1.67#fpstate=ive&vld=cid:263ab711,vid:-CpUZUilCfg,st:0

*****

You decide.

https://theonion.com/pros-and-cons-of-u-s-withdrawing-from-nato/

https://www.seattletimes.com/

*****

Maple Syrup, like taxpayer money, will cure almost anything. Ask Walz and the Somalis.

https://babylonbee.com/news/canadian-astronaut-humanely-euthanized-after-suffering-light-bruise-during-takeoff

https://pjmedia.com/

Astronomy Picture of the Day

April 15, 2026April 15, 2026 kenmitchell92Leave a comment

The ISS Transits the Moon
Image Credit & Copyright: Sébastien Borie
Text: Keighley Rockcliffe (NASA GSFC, UMBC CSST, CRESST II)

Explanation: Nope, that is not an alien spaceship landing on the Moon! This is an image of the International Space Station (ISS) as it begins to transit in front of the Moon. The ISS is in low-Earth orbit (LEO) where it wizzes around the Earth every 90 minutes. Orbiting the Earth 16 times per day for 25 years, the ISS has photobombed many familiar celestial objects including Venus, Mars, Saturn, and the Sun. Thousands of experiments led by researchers from over one hundred countries have been conducted on the ISS. Growing protein crystals in low-gravity was one of the first experiments onboard the ISS and continues to contribute to new medical treatments. ISS astronauts study plant growth, water recycling, human health, and more to support the Artemis missions which will take humans farther than they’ve ever gone before. Next time you are out and about at night, try to spot the ISS zooming across the sky!

Tomorrow’s picture: the night sky in Brazil

Bible Verse

April 15, 2026April 14, 2026 tolleystopicsLeave a comment

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WRITTEN BY: BILL BOWSER

Subsequent official flag versions (all with 13 stripes and stars added on July 4 following admission):

• 21-star flag: July 4, 1819 — Illinois (December 3, 1818).

• 23-star flag: July 4, 1820 — Alabama (December 14, 1819) and Maine(March 15, 1820).

• 24-star flag: July 4, 1822 — Missouri (August 10, 1821).

• 25-star flag: July 4, 1836 — Arkansas (June 15, 1836).

• 26-star flag: July 4, 1837 — Michigan (January 26, 1837).

• 27-star flag: July 4, 1845 — Florida (March 3, 1845).

• 28-star flag: July 4, 1846 — Texas (December 29, 1845).

• 29-star flag: July 4, 1847 — Iowa (December 28, 1846).

• 30-star flag: July 4, 1848 — Wisconsin (May 29, 1848).

• 31-star flag: July 4, 1851 — California (September 9, 1850).

• 32-star flag: July 4, 1858 — Minnesota (May 11, 1858).

• 33-star flag: July 4, 1859 — Oregon (February 14, 1859).

• 34-star flag: July 4, 1861 — Kansas (January 29, 1861).

• 35-star flag: July 4, 1863 — West Virginia (June 20, 1863).

• 36-star flag: July 4, 1865 — Nevada (October 31, 1864).

• 37-star flag: July 4, 1867 — Nebraska (March 1, 1867).

• 38-star flag: July 4, 1877 — Colorado (August 1, 1876).

• 43-star flag: July 4, 1890 — Added for North Dakota (November 2, 1889), South Dakota (November 2, 1889), Montana (November 8, 1889), Washington (November 11, 1889), and Idaho (July 3, 1890). This version lasted only one year.

• 44-star flag: July 4, 1891 — Wyoming (July 10, 1890).

• 45-star flag: July 4, 1896 — Utah (January 4, 1896).

• 46-star flag: July 4, 1908 — Oklahoma (November 16, 1907).

• 48-star flag: July 4, 1912 — New Mexico (January 6, 1912) and Arizona(February 14, 1912).

• 49-star flag: July 4, 1959 — Alaska (January 3, 1959).

• 50-star flag: July 4, 1960 — Hawaii (August 21, 1959). This is the current design and has been in use the longest (over 65 years).

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Despite the cold, because snow is comprised of around 90-95% air, it is actually a good insulator.

Some species of moths never develop mouths and so never eat as adults.

If you were to uncoil an orchestral tuba, the metal pipe would stretch 12 feet.

Pound cake is so named because early recipes contained one pound of butter, one pound of eggs, and one pound of sugar.

The number FOUR is the only digit whose name contains the same number of letters that the figure itself represents.

Nutmeg is faintly hallucinogenic…and bananas are faintly radioactive!

Sunday and Monday are named after the Sun and the Moon.

After his death, the ashes of Fred Baur, the inventor of the Pringles can, were partly buried in a Pringles can at his request.

Share this:

Like this:

You miss 100% of the naps you don’t take. Anonymous

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*****

*****

*****

*****

*****

*****

*****

*****

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Do not boast about what you will do tomorrow. You do not know what might happen.

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You miss 100% of the naps you don’t take.
Anonymous