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Philly Cheesesteak, Photo by Mikey Il

Philadelphia may be the City of Brotherly Love, but when it comes to its signature sandwiches, the hoagie and cheesesteak, it’s more like a Civil War battleground.

In honor of National Columnist Day on June 23, take a look back at these writers, poets, playwrights, and philosophers who got their start in journalism. Many of these men also sported fantastic facial hair. Coincidence? Yes.

At 22 years old, newly married with abandoned plans to create a Utopia in the Pennsylvania wilderness, English poet and philosopher Samuel Taylor Coleridge (1772-1834) created a journal called The Watchman, published every eight days to avoid the weekly newspaper tax (smart!).

The journal’s first issue was published in March of 1796 and ceased publication by May of the same year (okay, maybe not so smart). Coleridge’s journal contained essays, poems, news stories, reports on Parliamentary debates, and book reviews. Coleridge soon grew to detest his wife Sara Fricker, but at least their marriage lasted longer than The Watchman. The two were separated in 1808.

George Lucas and the Bard of Avon aren't the only two creative forces behind the upcoming William Shakespeare’s Star Wars®—author Ian Doescher had the genius to combine the two. We sat down with Ian to ask age-old questions about inspiration, iambic pentameter, and who shot first.

(Image via flickr)

If there’s any upside to the crazily severe thunder- and wind storms that have been terrorizing large parts of the U.S., it’s the addition of a new word to our collective vocabulary. If you’ve been living under a hailstone, the word is derecho, derived from the Spanish for “straight.” Derechos are, according to Wikipedia, “convection-induced and take on a bow echo (backward “C”) form of squall line, forming in an area of wind divergence in the upper levels of the troposphere, within a region of low-level warm air advection and rich low-level moisture.”

Yikes. You can see why they gave this meteorological mouthful a nickname. Still, weathermen countrywide are probably relishing the rare chance to trot out a term more colorful than “partly cloudy.” And, furthermore, why stop there? We should seize this opportunity to expand our storm-related wordbank. Here are 5 new words to learn, because hey, when it rains, it pours!

I can hardly believe that my first “baby,” Campfire Cuisine, turned seven years old on May 1. And like any parent, I can’t help but wonder where the time has gone. But the coolest part is that to celebrate the occasion, Quirk Books released a new, upgraded, updated, spiffed up edition of the book. I couldn’t ask for a better birthday present.

I'll be honest. I'm a total sucker for the DIY Father's Day gifts that my kids bring home from school. Something with their handprint on it or a homemade pencil case? Perfect. But, this year, I'd like something a bit more practical…

SUV Privacy Window
Ever take a road trip with two young kids? Ever try to have a conversation with your wife or listen to your own music during said trip? It's nearly impossible, right? Not if you have the SUV Privacy Window. It would be identical to the privacy windows that separate the front and back seats in limousines. And, it could come in soundproof glass or completely opaque varieties. Roll it up and silence. Unfortunately, these don't come manufacturer-installed…yet.

The DVR Playlist App
It's 6am. The kids are awake and you want a few more hours of sleep. At that hour, the only thing that can hold their attention is the television. Unfortunately, that means they will come in practically every 30 minutes for a new show. Enter the DVR Playlist App. Just pre-set the 4 shows that your child wants to watch and press play. The App rolls from one show to the next while you get 2 more hours of uninterrupted sleep. (And, don't judge me for having the TV babysit my kids at 6am.)

The Toy Roomba(TM)
Despite having a playroom and a basement, there are toys everywhere in my house. At the end of the day, the kids are pretty good about cleaning them up. But, it's usually a point of contention. Can't technology fix this somehow? Nowadays, we've got robots that clean your carpet, your floors, your pool, your dishes and more. It would be so much easier for everyone if we had a robot that cleaned up your toys too.

A dad can dream, right?

Regardless of the gift, I'm certain that I'll have a great day with my kids. And, I hope you have a happy Father's Day!

Share your ideas for Father's Day Gifts That Don't Exist in the comments section below. Our three favorites will win a copy of Stuff Every Dad Should Know!