1

Hollywood Boulevard, Los Angeles, California

Image: Aman

Los Angeles’ hellish traffic is world-famous and every experienced driver in this city has her or his own shortcuts to save time. But this one is a universal one for sure.

When driving through Hollywood, never take Hollywood Boulevard . Take, instead, Franklin or Fountain to get around the tourist mayhem. And, if you want to avoid the awful traffic of a Hollywood Bowl show, try Mulholland Drive.

2

Getting to the airport in Los Angeles, California

Image: Lukas Souza

Nobody likes missing a flight. Or, at least, most of us don’t care for that particular situation. And, when driving in the terrible Los Angeles traffic, that possibility is always looming in the background.

A sound advice from frequent flyers is to avoid the freeway altogether and take Crescent Heights until it dead-ends. Then, drive through La Cienaga to La Tijera all the way to the symbols that point to the airport.

3

Leaving New York is never easy, New York City, New York

Image: Matteo Catanese

Caught at the right time, New York City traffic can be as bad as LA traffic. And, as it usually happens, commute hours are the worst. The endless crowds and vehicles getting in and out of Manhattan through the different bridges and tunnels can create some serious delays.

Brooklyn Bridge, George Washington Bridge, and the Lincoln Tunnel are some of the most congested routes during rush hours. So, if you have no other options, make sure to schedule extra time just in case the traffic is as bad as it can be.

4

I-95, Miami, Florida

Image: Baron Alloway

Another city with legendary traffic is, without a doubt, Miami. And, as usual, commute hours can be a nightmare. I-95 is a major Interstate Highway on the East Coast and the Miami section is usually very congested . If you are trying to go south from 7 a.m. to 9 a.m. or north from 3 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., you have to expect delays, since those are the peak times for commuters who work downtown.

The High Occupancy Toll (HOT) lanes run from north of Miami to north Dade. You can only enter these lanes before 112/I-95 and you can only get off at the Golden Glades exit. Don’t take these lanes if you are trying to go anywhere between downtown and Northwest 183rd Street as there are no exits. Also, HOT lanes only accept SunPass as payment.

5

Lake Shore Drive, Chicago, Illinois

Image: Neal Kharawala

Continuing with another one of the monster-traffic cities of America, we can’t avoid the Windy City. Locals say that the city has two seasons: winter and construction , as the number of blocked streets, avenues, and roads can be nerve-wracking.

A shortcut locals use when driving through Lake Shore Drive to get off on Michigan Ave, heading southbound with a final destination past Illinois Ave, is to take Inner Lake Shore Drive and avoid the heavy congestion on Michigan Ave, as well as the occasional standstills on southbound Lake Shore Drive.

6

San Felipe instead of Westheimer, Houston, Texas

Image: Kevin Hernandez

Houston locals are familiar with busy Westheimer Avenue and know better than to fall into its trap during rush hour. They’d get stuck between multiple METRO bus routes, potholes, and never-ending construction sites.

The savvy drivers instead use San Felipe to get downtown or to the Galleria in a much shorter time.

7

Loop 202 South Mountain Freeway, Phoenix, Arizona

Image: Nils Huenerfuerst

Even the widest highway will become congested once everyone finds out about it. We are looking at you, Los Angeles. But, for a while at least, new roads offer a smooth and quiet ride to the lucky few who discover them first.

This is the case with Loop 202 South Mountain Freeway. The 22-mile-long portion of the Valley beltway from 59th Avenue on the west side to Ahwatukee , which opened in late 2019, is a smooth drive. Rolling through a part of the Valley unspoiled by development, this freeway has light traffic and no, or very few, holes –for now.

8

San Diego International Airport, San Diego, California

Image: Justin Wolff

It may seem calmer compared to neighboring Los Angeles, but San Diego can have its traffic congestion, like any big city. Getting to the airport on time is always paramount and locals have tricks up their sleeves for this ride.

Drivers can take Washington Street to Pacific Highway and get to the airport that way, or they can also take Pacific Highway north to Barnett, then Lytton, then Rosecrans, then Nimitz, which can be better than going through Sassafras if there’s traffic.

9

LBJ interchange, Dallas, Texas

Image: Zack Brame

Dallas, Texas, is a major city with major traffic jams during rush hours. Trying to get to the LBJ interchange can be a recipe for disaster if you are in a hurry but there is a shortcut that can save quite some time.

If you are on the Central Expressway, you can get off at Coit Road , which will allow you to bypass the interchange. Instead, you'll wind around a corner and find yourself right back at the entrance ramps for LBJ. From there, you just wait for a light and merge back onto LBJ, having skipped over the whole mess.

10

I-35 alternatives, Austin, Texas

Image: MJ Tangonan

Texas’ hippest city, Austin has some major highways, including the I-35, Mopac Expressway (Loop 1), and Highway 183. These big highways can cause big delays if taken from 7 a.m. to 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. to 6 p.m.

But the city provides alternatives. Lamar Boulevard and Burnet Road provide time-saving options for I-35 . During rush hour and special events, knowing these lesser-used routes can save time.

1

Tony the tiger

Image: Sten Ritterfeld

Tony the Tiger is a strong contender for the title of the world’s most famous cereal mascot: his go get 'em' attitude and amazing design have cemented him as a pop culture icon. Tony has been the quintessential mascot for Frosted Flakes since the 1950s, encouraging families to add this delicious cereal to their kids’ breakfast.

Curiously, Tony first appeared as part of a group of mascots that included characters like Katy the Kangaroo or Elmo the Elephant. However, this tiger’s immense popularity made him Frosted Flakes' sole representative. In due time, Tony’s family got bigger: the character now has a spouse called "Mrs. Tony" and two children, Antoinette and Tony Jr.

2

Ronald McDonald

Image: Erik Mclean

McDonald’s chooses to describe their iconic mascot and symbol, Ronald McDonald as "The Smile Known Around the World." This phrase perfectly summarizes this clown’s unbelievable popularity: McDonald’s claims that Ronald is only second to Santa Claus in terms of recognition and that virtually every schoolchild in America can immediately identify him.

In his 1963 television debut, Ronald McDonald’s appearance was quite different: these television spots featured a clown with yellow hair, striped yellow pants, and a McDonald’s cup on his nose. It wasn’t until 1966 that a real-life clown helped redesign the character, turning him into this instantly recognizable mascot.

3

Snap, Crackle, and Pop

Image: SqueakyMarmot from Vancouver, Canada, CC BY 2.0

Not many people know this, but the names of the three timeless Rice Krispies mascots actually come from a 1930s radio ad. At the time, Rice Krispies was advertised as "the talking cereal" and they promised to "merrily snap, crackle, and pop in a bowl of milk." A few years later, illustrator Vernon Grant took these onomatopoeic sounds to name the trio, calling them Snap, Crackle, and Pop.

Since their first appearance in 1933, these elf-like creatures have appeared in countless ads, often voiced by a myriad of talented actors that include names like Ben Schwartz, Tom Kenny, and Josh Brener.

4

Toucan Sam

Image: Necip Duman

As you might have noticed through their unusual spelling, Froot Loops are all about their loopy shape and the fun times that come with them. In that sense, this colorful breakfast cereal has an equally colorful representative: Toucan Sam, Froot Loops’ mascot since 1963.

Originally voiced by Hollywood legend Mel Blanc (responsible for voicing Bugs Bunny and Barney Rubble, among others), Toucan Sam has an extraordinary sense of smell, which helps him find Froot Loops from a great distance. Most Froot Loops ads end with Sam using his nose to locate a hidden bowl of cereal, before chanting his catchphrase "Follow your nose! It always knows!"

5

Phillie Phanatic

Image: Michael Stokes, CC BY 2.0

Few characters literally stand out as the Phillie Phanatic does. The moment you arrive at Citizens Bank Park to watch the amazing Philadelphia Phillies play, you will immediately notice this furry, green bird dancing somewhere in the stadium. Since 1978, this character has brought joy and treasured memories to countless Philadelphians.

Did you know that the Phanatic is a distant relative of the Muppets ? You would think his green fur made him a long-lost cousin of Kermit the Frog, but this relation comes from the fact that one of the Phanatic’s creators, Bonnie Erickson, also created the Muppets’ Miss Piggy and Statler & Waldorf.

6

Mr. Met

Image: Metropolitan Transportation Authority of the State of New York from United States of America, CC BY 2.0

We hope we don’t start any heated baseball debates by including this mascot, who many believe to be the very first Major League mascot to appear in human form. While Mr. Met first appeared as a cartoon character in programs, it was his 1964 introduction as a live costumed mascot that skyrocketed him to fame.

Although his design has varied over the years, Mr. Met is instantly recognizable through his striped Mets uniform and large baseball head. Soon after his inception, Mr. Met was given a female counterpart companion known as "Mrs. Met," who joins him in Citi Field to cheer on every New York Mets game.

7

Smokey the Bear

Image: Brian Wangenheim

Since 1944, Smokey the Bear has helped U.S. forests and landscapes with his prevention campaigns. Generations of American children have been inspired and encouraged by Smokey and his memorable catchphrase: "Only you can prevent wildfires!"

What’s interesting is that this iconic fictional bear inspired the name of a beloved real bear. In 1950, a three-month black bear cub was rescued from a massive wildfire in the Capitan Mountains in New Mexico. Although he was originally named "Hotfoot Teddy" by his rescuers, the cub was renamed "Smokey" after the fire safety mascot and was relocated to the National Zoo, where he grew up to become an American icon.

8

The California Raisins

Image: Syed F Hashemi

How did a 1986 commercial promoting the California Raisin Advisory Board end up becoming an Emmy-nominated, Billboard Hot 100-listed supergroup? Well, that’s the magic of the California Raisins at work. No one expected these anthropomorphized claymation raisins to be as popular as they were, and yet they went on to become the quintessential mascot for one of California’s most cherished agricultural products.

The Raisins were created by the advertising firm Foote, Cone & Belding. According to legend, one of the firm’s writers came up with the concept after saying "We have tried everything but dancing raisins singing 'I Heard It Through the Grapevine'." To everyone’s surprise, the Raisins' rendition of Marvin Gaye’s classic song became a massive success and paved the way for numerous other TV appearances, including a Saturday morning cartoon and a Christmas special.

9

McGruff the Crime Dog

Image: sydney Rae

In a medium already filled with exemplary TV detectives, McGruff the Crime Dog broke through the ranks and taught an entire generation of American children to "Take a bite out of crime!" Dressed in his iconic beige raincoat (reminiscent of the legendary Frank Columbo), this anthropomorphic hound was created by the National Crime Prevention Council in an effort to help prevent crime in America.

Over 40 years have passed since his national debut, but McGruff the Crime Dog still manages to do his part in increasing the safety of all Americans. This iconic character has appeared in national campaigns as recently as 2022, and will undoubtedly return whenever his country needs him.

10

Uncle Sam

Image: Steve Shook from Moscow, Idaho, USA, CC BY 2.0

We’ll end with what many believe to be the most iconic personification of the United States. While Uncle Sam is perhaps most known for the "I Want You" posters encouraging citizens to enlist in WWI, the truth is that the character is much older than that. In fact, his origins can’t be entirely traced, to the point that the birth of this iconic character is still shrouded in mystery.

Most historians agree that Uncle Sam first came into use during the War of 1812. According to this popular theory, the man who inspired this mascot was Samuel Wilson, a meatpacker from New York who supplied rations to the Army during the war. Apparently, many soldiers jokingly referred to the U.S. initials in their packages (that stood for "United States") as the initials for "Uncle Sam," unknowingly giving birth to this American legend.

1

Postal "Army" (of Sorts)

Image: Emily Powers

The U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS), founded in 1775, is the nation’s oldest federal law enforcement agency . It protects the USPS, its employees, and its customers from crimes such as mail fraud, theft, and identity theft.

USPIS agents investigate mail-related crimes, provide security at postal facilities, and work to stop illegal drugs from being transported through the mail system.

2

Zip codes

Image: Tareq Ismail

ZIP codes were introduced by the USPS in 1963 to improve mail sorting and delivery. The five-digit code, short for Zone Improvement Plan, pinpoints specific geographic areas.

The digits represent a region, a city or county, and a local delivery zone . Today, ZIP codes are also used to study demographics and help businesses target mailings to particular areas.

3

The Postal Anthem

Image: Keagan Henman

The "United States Postal Service Anthem," composed by Jack Stamp (yes, that is his real name), honors the USPS and its long-standing service to the nation. It’s a musical tribute to the dedication of postal workers and the agency’s role in American life.

The lyrics highlight the USPS’s core values: honesty, integrity, and reliability, while celebrating its impact on U.S. history and everyday citizens.

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4

Guaranteed delivery

Image: Victória Kubiaki

The USPS is legally required to deliver to every U.S. address, no matter how remote . This includes over 153 million addresses, even in hard-to-reach areas.

To meet this huge challenge, USPS uses curbside mailboxes, local post offices, and partnerships with community centers. Virtual mailbox services, such as Stable, also help remote residents access and manage their mail online.

5

A lot of mail

Image: Sam LaRussa

Every day, the USPS handles over 400 million pieces of mail, including 162 million First-Class items. It delivers worldwide to more than 180 countries through its Global Express Guaranteed service and processes approximately 44% of the world’s mail . That is a lot of mail, by any standard.

To manage this massive volume, USPS uses advanced automation tools and operates over 34,000 retail locations, keeping its system fast, efficient, and reliable.

6

Going out West

Image: Jim Strasma

In the 19th century, the USPS played a vital role in developing the American West, providing new settlements with access to mail, supplies, and communication. Post offices and mail routes connected remote areas to the rest of the country.

This network helped settlers stay in touch with loved ones, receive news, and trade goods. Without the USPS, much of the frontier would have remained isolated.

7

Post office in a tavern

Image: Kevin Snow

‍ The first USPS office was established in Boston in 1775, inside a tavern associated with Benjamin Franklin , who served as the first Postmaster General. Franklin viewed mail delivery as key to America’s independence and began developing a postal network.

The office supported routes to Philadelphia and New York, and by 1789, post offices existed in all 13 colonies.

8

A floating post office

Image: Alessio Billeci

The Halibut Cove Post Office in Homer, Alaska (ZIP code 99603, in case you are interested), is unlike any other: it floats on water!

This tiny post office operates from a houseboat that’s permanently docked , serving the local community right from the harbor.

9

Bad handwriting department

Image: Kit (formerly ConvertKit)

We are not sure as to how often this happens, but it must be often. When automated equipment at a USPS processing plant cannot read a piece of letter mail, an image of the mail is captured and sent to the Remote Encoding Center (REC). At the REC, employees review the image and manually enter the address information .

The information is matched up with a valid address, the data is transmitted back to the equipment at the plant, and a barcode is printed on the letter, which can be read by the processing machines.

10

Mail a brick

Image: Math

Yes, you can mail a brick through the U.S. Postal Service. Just write the recipient’s address and return information directly on the brick with a permanent marker .

Once it’s weighed and stamped with the correct postage, your brick is ready to ship.

11

Someone mailed a kid

Image: Jonathan Borba

In 1913, shortly after the Parcel Post service began, some parents mailed their children to relatives. One baby in Ohio was sent to his grandmother just a few miles away .

The child arrived safely, but the incident led to new rules banning people from being sent through the mail.