This informative post will be published on Saturday in place of my regular one.  You are invited to participate with the opening question.

Brain Teaser Question

What has a head, a tail, is brown, and has no legs?

(answer found at the end of this post)

Featured Facts

The American state of Georgia is admitted to the Union on January 2, 1788.  It becomes the fourth of the original thirteen states to ratify the U.S. Constitution.

Here are a few interesting facts about Georgia:

• Capital City:  Atlanta
• Nickname:  Peach State
• State Bird:  Brown Thrasher
• State Flower:  Cherokee Rose
• State Motto:  Wisdom, Justice, and Moderation

During the English colonial era, George is founded in 1732 by James Oglethorpe.  He envisions the colony as a fresh start for debt-ridden people.  The colony is named after England’s King George II. 

Agriculture has long played an important role in the state’s economy.  Cash crops include peanuts, peaches, pecans, and cotton.  Natural resources, including timber and resins such as turpentine, have led to greater industry and manufacturing.  In terms of land area, the state is the largest east of the Mississippi River.

In 1793, a significant invention from Savannah greatly increases the output of cotton.  Eli Whitney’s cotton gin cleans more cotton in one hour than the labors of 50 workers.

Atlanta hosts the 1996 Summer Olympics.  The Centennial Olympic Park remains as one of the leading sites visited by tourists.  Atlanta provides a home for four different professional sports teams:  Braves (baseball), Falcons (football), Hawks (basketball), and United (soccer).  

Revised in 2003, the current Georgia state flag offers a unique design with tributes to its history and past:

• Three horizontal stripes in alternating colors of red, white, and red
• A blue canton featuring thirteen white stars circling around the state’s gold-colored coat of arms
• The state motto of Wisdom, Justice, and Moderation is displayed along with the words “In God We Trust”

Atlanta pharmacist and chemist, John Pemberton, invents Coca-Cola in 1886.  Patrons flock to Jacob’s Pharmacy to purchase a glass for five cents.  The product is originally marketed as a temperance drink and medicinal tonic.  Today, the World of Coca-Cola houses a museum which is dedicated to the company’s long history.

In 1836, the Georgia Female College is founded in Macon.  It becomes the first American college dedicated to providing post-secondary education for women.  Today, the institution is known as Wesleyan College.

Both the states of Georgia and Virginia take credit for a delicious sample of southern cuisine.  Brunswick Stew features shredded beef, chicken and pork, along with potatoes and other vegetables.  Slow-cooking brings together flavors of the barbecue and tomato base  Years ago, more traditional versions offer wild game.  Squirrel, rabbit, and an occasional opossum find their way into the soup.  [I discovered this tasty soup at a small soup and salad restaurant in my hometown of Billings, Montana.]