Monday Reads

1. On Thursday, Scotland is voting to break from UK.  The United Kingdom has been, well, united for over 300 years so this is kind of a big deal. 
2. Betty Boop did not just emerge from a cartoonist's imagination.  Did you know the inspiration for the animated sexpot was actually an African American woman?
3. You know that ISIS kidnapped and publicly beheaded two people recently.  What you may not realize is that the activities of these Islamic terrorist groups are funded by the ransoms they collect from these kidnappings.  What you also know is that the ransom industry goes beyond terrorists and governments.  There is also a major insurance biz going.
4. We all watched Sesame Street.  So did some of our parents.  And I know my nephew will be learning right along with Big Bird, Snuffleupagus, Grover, and the rest of the gang.  The folks over at Sesame Place are committed to not letting the show get stale, which is how they are entering their 45th season.