Did You Know?
Facts, Figures & Folklore
About America’s Independence
June 30 : 04 days to July 4th

Did you know there are nine places named “freedom,” including the most populous city on the list: Freedom, California (population 6,000 residents)?

Did you know there is one city named Patriot in America? It’s in Indiana. Population 192?

We’ll be presenting a new “Did You Know?” fact each day as we countdown to Independence Day Day (07/04)! So stop by again tomorrow.

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Leap Second Adjustment Time
A leap second can be added, or subtracted, twice a year to keep time in sync with the atomic clock time.

The second is added, or subtracted, at midnight on June 30th and January 31st.

Although a…leap second is “added” at midnight, its effect actually slows down the atomic clock by one second…since a…leap second represents an extra second that must be counted before the new day can begin.

photo credit: via flickr

Did You Know?
Facts, Figures & Folklore
About America’s Independence
June 29 : 05 days to July 4th

Did you know that there are 31 cities in America with the word “eagle” — a national symbol of the United States — in their name, including Eagle Pass, Texas (population 26,401)?

Did you know that twelve places are named for Independence, including Independence, Missouri (population 109,400)?

We’ll be presenting a new “Did You Know?” fact each day as we countdown to Independence Day Day (07/04)! So stop by again tomorrow.

Signup for our Did You Know? Holiday Countdown emails or follow us on Twitter – twitter.com/holidaysnet (@holidaysnet)

Isra Al Mi’Raj (Ascent of the Prophet Muhammad – Islamic)*
Commemorating the Prophet Muhammad’s journey to Jerusalem and his ascent into heaven where he prayed together with Abraham, Moses, and Jesus.

“The rock in the center of the dome (The Dome of the Rock) is the spot from which, according to Islamic tradition, Muhammad ascended for a night-long journey to Heaven in AD 621, accompanied by the angel Gabriel. There he met many prophets like Abraham and Moses and was given the (now obligatory) Islamic prayers before returning to Earth…A Qur’anic verse says that Muhammad took an instantaneous night journey on Buraq from al-Masjid al-Haram (“the sacred mosque”, interpreted as being in Mecca) to al-Masjid al-Aqsa (“the farthest mosque”, interpreted as being in Jerusalem).”**

more info: Isra Al Mi’Raj (Ascent of the Prophet Muhammad)

**Photo credit & quote source: Jerusalem – The Dome of the Rock at Night via flickr

*US date. Date may vary depending on where one lives in the world.

Did You Know?
Facts, Figures & Folklore
About America’s Independence
June 28 : 06 days to July 4th

Did you know that Americans spent more than $4.7 million on American flags in 2007?

And did you know that the vast majority of those flags — $4.3 million worth — were made in China?

We’ll be presenting a new “Did You Know?” fact each day as we countdown to Independence Day Day (07/04)! So stop by again tomorrow.

Signup for our Did You Know? Holiday Countdown emails or follow us on Twitter – twitter.com/holidaysnet (@holidaysnet)

National Columnist’s Day
Let your favorite newspaper columnists know how much you appreciate their witticisms and insights.

photo credit: by via flickr

Holiday Reminder:
America’s Birthday / US Independence Day / July 4th will be celebrated next Monday, 07/04!