DAILY DIRT: There is more to celebrate than just the Fourth in July

Can you even imagine life without Walmart? … Welcome to today’s three thoughts that make up Vol. 655 of The Daily Dirt.

1. At this time of the year we’re all wrapped up in patriotic celebrations — and rightly so.

But July is about more than Independence Day. July is also the birthday for some other items in our history — not necessarily more important than Independence Day, but quite interesting nonetheless:

• 1. Sam Walton opened the first Walmart in Rogers, Ark., in July 1962. I can’t even imagine life without Walmart.
• 2. The bikini made its debut in a July 1946 fashion show in Paris. Vive la France!
• 3. Jeff Bezos founded Amazon in July 1994. My wife will be forever grateful.
• 4. Dick Clark hosted the first “American Bandstand” in July 1956. Rock and roll, baby!
• 5. In July 1985, after an unsuccessful attempt to change its formula, Coca-Cola brings back the ever-popular original formula as “Classic Coke”. I’d still like to know what moron was responsible for trying to screw with perfection.
• 6. In July 1902 the air conditioner was invented. Whew!
• 7. Hank Aaron hit his 755th and final home run in July 1976.
• 8. In July 1969, astronaut Neil Armstrong became the first person to walk on the moon.
• 9. The first U.S. postage stamps on sale in July 1847. I’m just guessing they did not cost 63 cents apiece.
• 10. The first U.S. zip codes were used in July 1963. I actually remember when those went into use. I thought it was little more than a fad.

2. It’s been awhile since we introduced some funny (but actual) names of U.S. towns and cities.

Well, let’s make up for lost time:

• Cheesequake, New Jersey.
• Bird-In-Hand, Pennsylvania.
• Big Rock Candy Mountain, Vermont.
• DISH, Texas. (Yes, the satellite television company gave all the locals free TV to change the name.)
• Odd, West Virginia.
• Sod, West Virginia. 
• Yum Yum, Tennessee.
• Zig Zag, Oregon.
• Bangs, Texas.
• Cool, Texas.
• Why, Arizona.
• Whynot, Mississippi.
• Nameless, Tennessee.

3. Fun fact

Since 2019, the World’s largest Starbucks has been located on the Magnificent Mile in Chicago, a 13-block stretch of N. Michigan Ave. The Starbucks in question encompasses 35,000 square feet of area and spans five stories.

The first and second stories offer customers the chance to sample Reserve brand Starbucks coffee, consume baked goods and purchase Chicago-themed Starbucks merchandise. Moving up to the third floor, you can find an experiential coffee bar, featuring unique nitrogen-infused gelato drinks and special pistachio lattes, among other concoctions. 

Floor four offers a different kind of Starbucks experience. It is home to a bar brewing up alcoholic cocktails. Last but not least, the fifth floor allows the opportunity for customers to enjoy their Starbucks beverages in a private rooftop setting.

Steve Thought O’ The Day — While that Starbucks in Chicago sounds impressive, I’ll never visit. I don’t like coffee.

Steve Eighinger writes daily for Muddy River News. In his July moments, he left off an important one: Bob and Ellen Gough were married on July 4, 1992 at St. Angela Merici Church in Florissant, Mo.