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Ask 10 different stay-at-home moms about their motivation behind devoting their life to caring for their children and home, and you might get 10 different answers. For some, staying at home with their children is a lifelong ambition. Others are former full-time professionals who gave up a high-paying career to change diapers and clean up after their children. Still others are taking time off from their profession, wanting to spend time at home with their newborn or toddler before returning to the workforce. A 2012 survey conducted by Mothers & More, a support organization that caters mainly toward stay-at-home moms, or SAHMs, found that 82 percent of their members quit a full-time career to care for their children. The United States Census also found that there were approximately 5 million SAHMs in 2010, which is a drop from 5.3 million in 2008. These numbers are compelling, but they don’t begin to explain the life of a stay-at-home mom. Here are five thoughts on the day-to-day turmoil, joys and anxieties faced by many stay-at-home moms.

The 2012 Summer Olympics kick off July 27 in London, bringing us a parade of flags from countries around the globe. Think of it as a rare free art exhibit. While the flag designs may not reach the same creative heights as, say, Picasso or Dali, many of them are interesting enough to merit mention on a top 10 list. And because even bad art can sometimes be fun, we’ve also included another half dozen or so national flags that are so bad they wouldn’t even earn a place on our kitchen fridge.

Ask most Americans about the War of 1812, and chances are their entire body of knowledge could be summarized in two facts: A) it was a war and; B) it happened in 1812. While most citizens have at least a passing knowledge of the major military engagements in U.S. history, such as the two world wars, the Civil War, and the American Revolution, the War of 1812 usually falls through the cracks in history class. The war is commonly dismissed as insignificant, which is why the 200th anniversary of the conflict this year has been virtually ignored in the national media. But the War of 1812 helped shape the United States’ future in several important ways. Here are five legacies of the war commonly known as the “Second War for American Independence.”

This is a great time to be an aviation buff. The end of July will bring the annual EAA AirVenture Oshkosh show in Wisconsin, a weeklong extravaganza expected to draw more than 10,000 aircraft and an estimated half-million aviation buffs from around the world. If that’s not enough, this month marks the one-year anniversary of the final flight of the space shuttle, and the three remaining space shuttles, trainers and associated hardware are currently being distributed to museums nationwide. But fans of flight don’t have to wait for these special occasions to indulge themselves, as there are numerous air and space museums nationwide, open year-round. Here are 10 aviation museums commonly listed among the best in the U.S.

When you think top-secret and strategic United States facilities, no doubt Area 51 with its “little green men” or the impenetrable Fort Knox with its real-life city of gold come to mind. But there are other bizarre strategic and storage sites scattered throughout the country that are virtually unknown to many Americans. Some were born out of Cold War paranoia; others arose out of a need to store items deemed essential for national security. While some of these facilities have a lifespan that can be measured in decades, others have been designed to last thousands of years.

One of the most controversial topics during President Barack Obama’s presidency has been government stimulus spending. President Obama and congressional Democrats favor spending billions on improving America’s infrastructure and investing in fields such as green energy; Republicans tend to oppose such spending in the name of budget austerity, arguing that the private sector offers a better alternative to government spending anyway. Throughout history, however, some publicly funded projects have created not just short-term jobs, but lasting legacies that have transformed the United States. That’s not to say that government stimulus is always the answer; there are many examples where private enterprise does a far better job than the government at tackling a major project. That said, here’s a look at five federally funded projects that changed America.

Nothing drives a science fiction plot along like throwing in a good fictional element or chemical compound or two. And while some purists may decry this as “plot resolution by techno-babble,” a well-crafted fictional element can enhance a created universe and serve as a way to give characters real-world limitations. Every superhero has got to have a strength or weakness, right? Think of Dune, where the galactic economy is linked to the power of the Spice. In the recent Avengers movie, Tony Stark’s Iron Man suit was formerly powered by palladium (a real element), to be replaced by an unnamed fictional one in Iron Man 2. Following is a look at 10 memorable substances from the worlds of superheroes and science fiction.

We all know the world is round, is populated with people and is surrounded by the sun, moon and stars. Exactly how everything got that way, however, remains up for debate. Some creation myths are well known: much of the world knows the Genesis tale of Adam and Eve, as well as Greek mythology, while Eastern cultures are familiar with the Hindu and Chinese creation stories. But there are a number of lesser known but no less delightful creation myths around the world. As diverse as the myths may get, common themes tend to pop up in many of them. These include an all-powerful deity who brings on the light, floods that kill off the unwanted and the fact that the world was once covered in water until something — or someone — came along to change it. Some of these myths are incredibly detailed, with multiple versions. Here’s a brief look at five of the more unusual creation myths.

So how do you plan to spend this Fourth of July? Maybe you’re headed to the lake, or a cookout, or a baseball game. You’re certainly not planning a trip to the emergency room. Unfortunately, an estimated 8,000 Americans will spend the afternoon or evening of July Fourth not celebrating, but in the hospital ER, getting treatment for a fireworks-related injury. Still, fireworks are synonymous with Independence Day celebrations, even in states where they’re illegal (and no, that is not an endorsement). Here are five surprising facts about fireworks in the U.S.