Berita Hari Ini


	November 30, 2025

Original photo by //itul Patel/ 500px via Getty Images

John Steinbeck's dog ate the first draft of 'Of Mice and Men.'

Every teacher has rolled their eyes at the "my dog ate my homework" excuse, but it really happened to one of America's most revered authors. In 1936, John Steinbeck's dog Toby, an Irish setter, turned the first draft of Of Mice and Men into a snack. In a letter dated May 27 of that year, the future Pulitzer and Nobel Prize winner wrote that he "was pretty mad, but the poor little fellow may have been acting critically."

Steinbeck estimated that Toby making "confetti" of the manuscript would set him back by about two months, but it may have been worth it: Steinbeck's short, tragic tale of two migrant workers eking out a humble existence in California during the Depression is among the author's most moving and accomplished works, which is saying something for the man responsible for both East of Eden and The Grapes of Wrath. Steinbeck, a lifelong dog-lover, later wrote a travelogue featuring his poodle called Travels With Charley.

The 37 Most Obsessed-Over Gadgets of the Year

What makes a gadget worth obsessing over? It's that perfect combo of "Why didn't I think of that?" and "I need this now." These 37 picks nail it. They're the items flying into shopping carts because they solve actual problems with surprising ingenuity. From home helpers to office upgrades to gift-worthy finds, this collection showcases what happens when innovation meets everyday needs. Heads up: Popularity is through the roof, and availability is getting tight.

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		Numbers Don't Lie

This Veteran's $49 Invention Is Helping Families Cut Heating Bills by 80%

Many families are paying $300-$400 a month just to stay warm... but it doesn't have to be that way. A U.S. veteran and his NASA-engineer son created the Cyber Heater: a compact device that heats up to 300 square meters in minutes while slashing energy bills by up to 80%. Families are saving thousands by ditching central heat, and right now it's 50% off—but only while supplies last.

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No, "The Grapes of Wrath" was not called "The Angry Raisins" in Japan.

Much is lost in translation, but the title of Steinbeck's most acclaimed novel wasn't one of those things. The oft-cited rumor that The Grapes of Wrath carried the title The Angry Raisins in Japan comes from a 1996 New York Times article written about Elaine Steinbeck, the author's widow, but no evidence supports it. The anecdote has spread far and wide nevertheless, thus proving — quite literally, in this case — a quote misattributed to Mark Twain: "A lie can travel halfway around the world while the truth is still putting on its shoes."

Today's edition of Interesting Facts was written by Michael Nordine and edited by Bess Lovejoy.