Thursday, 13, August, 2026

Why Do We Go Trick-or-Treating on Halloween?

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Why Do We Go Trick-or-Treating on Halloween?
From Nation, For Nation - Pulse of the Nation
OG Apple Watch
OG Apple Watch

The Original Apple Watch: A Fab Four Collectible Like No Other

Meet the OG Apple Watch.
When people hear “Apple Watch,” they think of sleek smartwatches and cutting-edge tech launches.
But before Steve Jobs, there were John, Paul, George, and Ringo, who created one of the rarest “Apple Watches” in history. That's right, back in 1967, nearly 50 years before Apple Inc. would debut its Apple Watch, the Fab Four briefly sold their very own timepiece.

The Apple Boutique
The Beatles weren’t just chart-toppers; they were entrepreneurs. Their company, Apple Corps, branched into music publishing, film, electronics, and even retail. Now, of course, not all of these were as successful as their music, but you have to love the creativity!
On London’s Baker Street, they opened the Apple Boutique, a psychedelic shop that carried clothes, oddities, and Beatles-branded merchandise.
But unlike their music, the boutique wasn’t a hit. It only stayed open for around seven months before closing down for good.

A Short-Lived Timepiece
During its brief life, the Apple Boutique released a handful of products, including the now-legendary Apple Watch. No, not the digital wrist gadget you know today. This was a stylish Beatles-era accessory featuring their Apple branding.
Because the boutique shut down so quickly, only a limited number of these watches were ever sold. That makes them extremely rare collectibles today, nearly impossible to find in the wild. Which, of course, means we here at Ripley's have one in the vault!

A True Collector’s Gem
The Beatles’ Apple Watch is more than a quirky piece of memorabilia; it’s a snapshot of a moment when the iconic band was experimenting beyond music, building a brand that tried to stretch into every corner of pop culture.
So next time someone flashes their Apple Watch to check the time, just remember who did it first!
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Air Balloon Festival
Air Balloon Festival

The World's Largest Hot Air Balloon Festival

Every year, over 500 hot air balloons float above Balloon Fiesta Park!
The Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta takes place in New Mexico and is the world's largest hot air balloon festival!

Up and Away
Every October, the skies over Albuquerque come alive as over 500 hot air balloons float above Balloon Fiesta Park.
However, New Mexico isn't new to hot air ballooning. The history dates back to 1882, with Park Van Tassel. Tassel was an aerial exhibitionist who would go into the air in balloons and jump with parachutes throughout the western United States in the 1880s.
In 1882, Tassel made the first recorded balloon flight in New Mexico.
Ballooning paused for decades until Sid Cutter revived it in 1972 with the first official Balloon Fiesta, featuring 13 balloons. Since then, the event has blown up, now attracting hundreds of balloons and thousands of visitors annually.

Balloons Galore
Balloon Fiesta has moved locations over the years, from Coronado Center to the current Balloon Fiesta Park, each time accommodating more participants.
Special events like the Dawn Patrol and Glowdeo, along with the "Albuquerque Box" wind pattern that allows balloons to return to their launch point, have become staples.
The Fiesta now features balloons from all over the globe, including traditional designs and those, well, not so traditional. This international event is not just a celebration of ballooning, but a testament to the beauty and history of Albuquerque.
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From Globe, For Globe - Pulse of the Planet
Hot Dogs
Hot Dogs
Hot Dogs by the Numbers: Fourth of July Traditions

On Independence Day, Americans eat 155 million hot dogs each year. That's enough hot dogs to make a line from Washington, D.C. to Los Angeles five times! →

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