On April 29, 1975, Armed Forces Radio broadcast Bing Crosby’s rendition of "White Christmas" as a code to signal the U.S. evacuation of Saigon, Vietnam.
Source: Military.com and Time.com
Stories by FactCheck.org
December 24, 2009
"Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" was written for Judy Garland to sing in the movie musical "Meet Me in St. Louis."
Source: Entertainment Weekly
December 23, 2009
The most popular holiday song played at malls is "Jingle Bells."
Source: International Council of Shopping Centers
FactCheck Mailbag, Week of Dec. 15-Dec. 21
This week, readers sent us comments on climate change, dire health care predictions and private insurance in a single-payer system.
In the FactCheck Mailbag we feature some of the e-mail we receive. Readers can send comments to editor@factcheck.org. Letters may be edited for length.
December 22, 2009
Of the $410 million in sales by U.S. Christmas tree farmers in 2007, Oregon farmers led the nation with $109.3 million.
Source: Census Bureau/USDA
December 21, 2009
It rarely snows when the temperature drops below 0 degrees Fahrenheit, not because it is too cold but because the atmosphere is too stable. Snow occurs when there is enough lifting of saturated air.
Source: NOAA’s National Severe Storms Laboratory
December 20, 2009
On average, 13 inches of snow equals 1 inch of rain. The ratio depends on the type of snow, however. Only 2 inches of sleet but nearly 50 inches of powdery snow can equal 1 inch of rain.
Source: NOAA’s National Severe Storms Laboratory
December 19, 2009
When lightning occurs in a snowstorm, it is called thundersnow. This can occur when there is strong instability and abundant moisture above the surface, such as above a warm front.
Source: NOAA’s National Severe Storms Laboratory
December 18, 2009
As of 2008, the city of North Pole, Alaska, had a population of 2,212.
Source: Census Bureau
December 17, 2009
Fourteen percent of department store sales and 18 percent of jewelry store sales in 2008 occurred in December.
Source: Census Bureau