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Hot flashes are sudden bursts of intense sweating and skin hot to the touch, associated with menopause and perimenopause for women as early as 40. These flashes can last anywhere from 30 seconds to 5 minutes. These bursts can cause fatigue, irritability, and forgetfulness. The face and neck may turn red, and the heart rate will increase, causing increased sweating. Women may face up to 10 to 15 years of living with hot flashes.

Birthday cards for women reaching their late 40s feature jokes and cartoons centered around hot flash humor. Referring to hot flashes as “power surges” pokes fun at the side effects of growing older while simultaneously empowering women as they age. 

A humanoid frog sits atop a lily pad and snatches a bug with its tongue. The creature is wearing a striped t-shirt and sneakers. 

Garbage Pail Kids is a series of trading cards first released in 1985 as a humorous alternative to the widely successful Cabbage Patch Kids dolls. Comic artist Art Spiegelman (best known for his seminal graphic novel Maus) developed the idea for the Garbage Pail Kids while consulting with the trading card company, Topps. Each card has a unique character with grotesque features, engaging in typical "gross-out" activities. Toady Terry (also known as Croakin' Colin), seen here, was part of the original third series of the cards, released in 1986. Dead Ted, Bad Breath Seth, and Jay Decay are a few of many gross-out cards still collectible today. 

The cards were loved by children, but often viewed warily by parents and adults. The cards' over-the-top illustrations became a distraction in classrooms, resulting in many schools banning the trading cards. Garbage Pail Kids backlash reached a peak In 1988, when Mexico and Australia both prohibited the importation of the cards. The company was also sued for copyright infringement by Cabbage Patch Kids' parent company; the lawsuit was settled out of court. 

Despite all the controversy surrounding the cards, Garbage Pail Kids became a huge commercial success. International versions of the cards were developed in many countries around the world. A short-lived animated series and a live-action movie were released in 1987 and have become cult classics. As of 2024, the cards are still highly collectible: a mint condition version of the rarest card, Nasty Nick, is valued up to $11,000! 

An illustration of a purple dragon named Figment dressed as a chef holds a pot. The pot has blue text on it and a rainbow bursting out of it. Illustration appears on a blue background with yellow rim. 

Figment is the unofficial mascot of the Disney World Epcot park. Figment first appeared as part of the Journey Into Imagination ride and meet-and-greet in 1983. The ride has undergone multiple revisions and has not always been well-received by guests of the park. Figment was created by Tony Baxter and Steve Kirk. 

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The Royal Blind Society of New South Wales was started in 1879 as the Sydney Industrial Blind Institution, evolving into the RBS in 1952. It existed as a separate entity until it was merged with other organizations to become Vision Australia, a national non-profit provider of services for the blind or low-vision impaired.

The “2/-“ on the button represents 2 shillings, a form of currency in use in Australia until conversion to a decimal system in 1966.

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Abner Mikva was an American politician who lived from 1926-2016. He served in all three branches of government throughout his career including as a federal judge, a senator, and as an advisor to President Clinton. Mikva was a mentor to a young Illinois politician, Barack Obama, and was one of the people that encouraged him to run for president. During Mikva’s campaigns for senate, campaign volunteers, including children, were called “Mikva Messengers”, going door to door to talk about the campaign and try to connect with voters.  On August 20, 1978, Vice President Mondale came to Illinois and attended events and rallies promoting local democrats, including Mikva.

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The song “Wild Women Don’t Get the Blues,” alternatively known as “Wild Women Don’t Have the Blues,” or “Wild Women,” was written in 1924 by blues legend Ida Cox. Cox got her start in vaudeville, but when its popularity waned she turned to the blues. Many of her songs were directed to women who were ground down in life, but searching for dignity and respect.

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The Presbyterian Church has a long history in Queensland, Australia. As documented in a history of the church for a centenary event, from their perspective the church began in 1849 as a missionary movement to colonize and convert the Aboriginal people of the land. The Aboriginal people defended themselves against the forced imposition of religious beliefs, which often resulted in violent events as the church persisted its mission. The Church went through a number of iterations and ups and downs—including having a cyclone destroy the church and mission station in 1936. For the centenary event in 1949 they created a new church building and the site became a local monument in Queensland. In 2023, the Church refused to take part in acknowledgement of country, a recognition of the Aboriginal owners of the land that takes place at many Australian public events; Australia remains the only country colonized by Britain that has no government treaty with the Indigenous people. 

A blue-toned movie poster for the movie The Bodyguard. The image features a bodyguard played by Kevin Costner who carries a popstar played by Whitney Houston. Large white text appears at bottom.

The 1992 thriller romance The Bodyguard follows a singer (Whitney Houston) who hires a bodyguard (Kevin Costner) to protect her after receiving threats. The iconic movie poster seen on this button featured Costner carrying Houston through the rain. However, Costner later revealed in an interview that the person in the picture was acutally Houston’s body double.