Many Floridians picture Secret Service agents and think of black suits, sunglasses, earpieces, and the guys standing around the president looking intense. Hollywood has built a whole genre out of that image. The real job of a Secret Service agent is way more complicated than the movies let on, and a lot of what agents…
Beyond California’s infamous Hollywood scene, there are towns with names so quirky you can’t help but laugh. While we’re sure this article will brighten your day, we also promise to give you a dose of fascinating history as we talk about the stories behind them. Zzyzx No, your keyboard didn’t get stuck. Zzyzx is a…
Ask a Texan from Dallas, San Antonio, or Austin what they think about Houston and give them enough time to get past the polite version. The real answer includes these things that Houstonians do that the rest of Texas finds… well, a bit annoying. 1. The Highway System as a Point of Pride Houston’s freeway…
Florida doesn’t do boring when it comes to animals. Here, squirrels act like gardeners, dolphins show off like acrobats, and iguanas literally fall from the trees when it gets too cold. It’s the only state where you can see an alligator climb a fence in the morning, a manatee swim past your kayak at noon,…
Have you ever noticed things at airport security that get on the nerves of TSA agents? These folks screen millions of travelers every day. Even small issues can throw a wrench in what should be their smooth-running system. These are some of TSA agents’ biggest pet peeves when working with Alabamians and passengers across the…
Members of Congress earn $174,000 a year as a base salary, have offices in two states (their home district or state, plus Washington, DC), and work under a tax code they themselves help write. That unusual situation leads to some unusual tax rules. Here are 11 ways Members of Congress pay taxes differently from regular…
Many Texas employees worked hard to gain bragging rights about their typing speed or their knack for spreadsheets. But now? A robot can do it better, faster, and without ever needing a lunch break. Artificial intelligence (AI) is reshaping the job market in ways most Americans never saw coming. That doesn’t mean every job is…
Shopping at Walmart is an adventure. Where else can you grab a gallon of milk, a fishing pole, and a set of new tires all in one trip? But like any big store, there are things to watch out for. Whether you’re a seasoned Walmart warrior or just popping in for a quick item, these…
New Mexicans love to chat about Netflix shows and what they ate for lunch. But bring up money or death, and suddenly everyone looks for the nearest exit. It’s funny when you think about it, because most of these “taboo” subjects are universal. Everyone’s aging, everyone’s dealing with money, and everyone’s got a bathroom story…
Ask a Texan what H-E-B means to them during hurricane season, and the answer isn’t about groceries. It’s about a company that showed up for Texas when things got hard, and a state that shows up for itself by preparing before the storm rather than scrambling during it. The H-E-B hurricane season run is an…
