September 16: Grocery Stores, Hot Air Balloons & Metro Boomin

September 16 is one of those dates that refuses to pick a lane. We've got balloon escapes, an independence party you can actually hear from space, and a Soviet politician having a full existential crisis in a Texas grocery store. Buckle up.

The Great Grocery Store Awakening of 1989

In 1989, Soviet politician Boris Yeltsin toured the United States and wandered into a Texas grocery store — a visit that had a major impact on his views regarding the Soviet Union's economic system. Imagine building your entire worldview on collectivist ideals, then getting emotionally dismantled by an aisle of freely available snacks. Somewhere between the frozen pizzas and the 40 kinds of cereal, a lightbulb apparently went off. Never underestimate the geopolitical power of abundant produce.

Escape by Balloon, Egyptian Detour, and a Very Fast Jet

Back in 1979, eight people escaped from East Germany to West Germany in a home-made hot air balloon — proof that with enough craft supplies and nerve, you can DIY your way to freedom. In 1975, the prototype of the Soviet Mikoyan MiG-31, one of the fastest combat jets in the world, took its maiden flight, because the era clearly demanded both slow-and-cozy and terrifyingly fast forms of travel. And in 1940, Italian forces captured the town of Sidi Barrani but then their invasion of Egypt progressed no further — the military equivalent of walking into a room and forgetting why.

Happy Birthday, Metro Boomin (and Some Serious Athletes)

On this day in 1993, record producer and songwriter Metro Boomin was born, meaning if you've turned on the radio in the last decade, you've heard his work whether you knew it or not. "Metro Boomin want some more" — yes, and we're happy to oblige. He shares the date with basketball's Aaron Gordon (1995), a man who has dunked over things that should not be dunkable, and serious hockey energy from Brady Tkachuk (1999). A stacked roster of a birthday crowd.

Fire Up the Celebrations

Two big parties dominate September 16. There's the Cry of Dolores, which celebrates the declaration of independence of Mexico from Spain in 1810 — a full-throated national shout-out that kicks off Fiestas Patrias. Meanwhile, Malaysia celebrates Malaysia Day, marking its formation as an independent nation in 1963, and Papua New Guinea marks Independence Day from Australia in 1975. It's basically a global independence block party, and everyone's invited. Just try not to break anything.