“As Iowa goes, so goes Iowa” (Iowa caucus as bellwether)
"As Maine goes, so goes the nation" is an old political saying from the 1800s. In 1972, the Iowa caucus became the first political event of the U.S. presidential election. The winner of…
Iowa: “As Iowa goes, so goes Iowa”
"As Maine goes, so goes the nation" is an old political saying from the 1800s. In 1972, the Iowa caucus became the first political event of the U.S. presidential election. The winner of…
Maine: “As Maine goes, so goes the nation”
"As goes Maine, so goes the nation" usually means that the winner of Maine's presidential vote will win the presidential election. This was not the original form of the phrase, nor…
New Hampshire: “Iowa picks corn, New Hampshire picks presidents”
New Hampshire likes to brag that its primary is more important that the Iowa caucus to the presidential election cycle. In 1988, Vice President George H. W. Bush lost the Iowa caucus to Kansas…
Iowa: “Iowa picks corn, New Hampshire picks presidents”
New Hampshire likes to brag that its primary is more important that the Iowa caucus to the presidential election cycle. In 1988, Vice President George H. W. Bush lost the Iowa caucus to Kansas…
Iowa: Full Grassley (politician visiting each county)
Chuck Grassley was first elected U.S. Senator in Iowa in 1980. During his campaign, Grassley visited each of Iowa's 99 counties -- something he would repeat every year in office. U.S.…
Iowa: “Three tickets out of Iowa” (Iowa caucus adage)
The Iowa caucuses provide the first presidential voting in the United States. The political proverb is that "three tickets come out of Iowa" -- the first, second, and third place caucus…
“How much does a hipster weigh?”/“An Instagram.”
A viral joke about Instagram is: Q: How much does a hipster weigh?A: An Instagram. The joke was cited on Twitter on May 22, 2012. Wikipedia: Instagramnstagram is an online mobile photo-sharing,…
South Dakota: Blizzard State (nickname)
Entry in progress -- B.P. Google Books28 April 1888, The Railway News, pg. 693:This blizzard was supposed to come from what is called now the Blizzard State — Dakota. Google BooksOctober 1889,…
Brutus Salad
The Caesar salad is so popular that some chefs make a "Brutus salad" (after Marcus Junius Brutus the Younger, who participated in the assassination of Julius Caesar). However, it appears…
“My dream job would be getting paid to sleep”
People are sometimes asked about their dream job. A funny response is: "My dream job is getting paid to sleep." "My dream job would be getting paid to sleep" was cited on…
“A lollipop is a cross between hard candy and garbage”
Not everyone likes lollipops. American comedian Mitch Hedberg (1968-2005) said: "A lollipop is a cross between hard candy and garbage." It's not known when Hedberg first used the…
“I don’t want to achieve immortality through my work”
New York-born comedian, actor and film director Woody Allen has achieved immortality through his work, but he said that he didn't want that: "I don't want to achieve immortality…
“The object of golf is to play the least amount of golf”
Golfers try to lower their scores, prompting this, from reddit -- Shower Thoughts on July 18, 2015: "he object of golf is to play the least amout of golf." The one-line saying went viral.…
Nebraska: Tree Planters State (nickname)
Most of the trees in Nebraska were planted by its citizens, and >he first "Arbor Day" was founded in Nebraska in 1872. "Tree Planters State" was suggested as a Nebraska state…
Connecticut: Nutmeg State (nickname)
Entry in progress -- B.P. Connecticut State LibraryThe “Nutmeg State”According to the book State Names, Flags, Seals, Songs, Birds, Flowers, and Other Symbols by George Earlie Shankle (New…
One-Food Wonder
A "one-hit wonder" is a recording artist who has only one hit song. A "one-trick pony" is someone who can do only one thing well. New York City saw a growth of one-food…
New Jersey: Blue State (nickname)
Entry in progress -- B.P. Wikipedia: 1st New Jersey RegimentThe 1st New Jersey Regiment was the first organized militia regiment in New Jersey, formed in 1673 in Piscataway "to repel foreign…
Tennessee: Lion’s Den State (nickname)
Entry in progress -- B.P. Wikipedia: Daniel in the lions' denThe story of Daniel in the lions' den (chapter 6 in the Book of Daniel) tells how Daniel is raised to high office by his royal…
Tennessee: Whelp (nickname)
Entry in progress -- B.P. 22 March 1866, Louisville (KY) Daily Journal, "Nicknames," pg. 1, col. 4:The natives of these States are:... Tennessee, whelps; ... 7 April 1866, The Daily…