Dec 20

 

‘Tis the Season

FYI: Any Green text is a link. Click to check it out!

Dec 20, 2020  Week: 52 Day: 355	Local:  H 45°\ L 18°\Average Sky Cover: 5%
Wind:   3mph\Gusts:  7mph	Nearest lightning:  1038mi.; Active fire:  59mi
Moderate Risk of Fire	Visibility:  10mi
Record: 62°[2018]   Record: -12°[1924]	Nov Averages: 44°/\17° (5 days with moisture)

 

Today’s  Quote

I shut my eyes in order to see.

Paul Gauguin

 

Random Tidbits

Deadly Plants

Giant Pitcher Plant
Discovered more than 5000 feet above sea level on Mount Victoria in the Philippines, the giant, carnivorous pitcher plant secretes a nectar-like substance to lure unsuspecting prey into a pool of enzymes and acid.

Castor Bean Plant
Castor-bean plants can be purchased at just about any garden center, despite containing the deadly poison ricin.  

 

A little humor

What kind of joke do you tell a vegetarian? One they've never herbivore..

******

-I had to discipline my weed whacker the other day. It just got out of line

 

True Things

Police say Lisa Degerolamo and Daniel McLaughlin, both 29, went to a Wal-Mart in Falmouth, Massachusetts and stole a 60-inch flat screen TV, but as they were loading it into their SUV, a man and his wife noticed them.
They also saw a young boy in a car seat in the back.
Now, the story gets a little fuzzy about how the couple managed to stroll out of a Wal-Mart carrying a stolen 60-inch TV between them, but the witness did detail how the flat screen would not fit in the back seat and Mr. McLaughlin's attempt to wedge the door shut by wrapping a towel around it.
An attempt that failed, because the witness said that as soon as they took off and sped around a corner, the door popped open and the boy "flew out of the car and hit his head off the concrete."
That didn't even slow down the driver, Lisa Degerolamo, who sped away.
The witness and his wife rushed to comfort the 5-year-old, and while they were sitting in the street Degerolamo swung back around to pick up the boy, who she probably assumed had stopped bouncing by that time.
It didn't take long for police to find the couple and arrest them at their home. The child is now in the custody of the Department of Children and Families and Degerolamo and McLaughlin were each ordered held on $2,500 bail, which is not much more than a 60-inch flat screen would have cost if they were to have bought one.

 

Observations This Week

Christmas Bird Count Week Link…………………	14-1/5
Halcyon Days……………………………………………..	14-28
Posadas……………………………………………………..	16-24
Saturnalia…Roman Festival for Saturn……….	17-23

 

 

Observations for Today

Games Day Link
Go Caroling Day

International Human Solidarity Day
Mudd Day
National Sangria Day 
Poet Laureate Day
World Day of Prayer and Action for Children Link

 

My Rambling Thoughts

Seasons are ready to change on the calendar. Turned mattress, washed linens, and put a new toothbrush head on my Sonicare today. Ready for the winter.

I’m still debating my trip to Mexico. Have one more day to finally decide. Whatever I choose, it will work out fine.

Wondering why the Pentagon suddenly stopped meeting with the transition team. With all going on, this seems like a political move rather than a National Security move. I for one do not want another 9/11. The Trump DOD says it was a mutual decision, for the holidays. The transition team says there was no mutual decision about meetings. Guess I’ll just have to wonder.

CNN & Sesame Street collaborated on a Saturday morning program for kids and their questions about Covid. I watched part of it, and it was interesting and educational. Good job.

 

Today’s Puzzle

Answer at the bottom of the page

A girl who was just learning to drive went down a one-way street in the wrong direction, but didn’t break the law.

 

Historical Events

1803 – Although officially signed in April 1803, the French flag came down and the United States’ flag rose in New Orleans, completing the Louisiana Purchase.

1880 – New York’s Broadway was first lighted by electricity, built by Charles F. Brush, and became known as the “Great White Way.”

1938 – The Cathode-Ray Tube was patented by Vladimir Zworykin

1946 – It’s a Wonderful Life, starring Jimmy Stewart, premiered in New York City.

1955 – Cardiff was declared the capital city of Wales, United Kingdom. It is also the city where much of the action in the modern Doctor Who television show takes place.

1957 – Elvis Presley was drafted. He served between March 1958 and March 1960. His army serial number was 53 310 761.

1985 – Pope John Paul II announced the institution of World Youth Day.

2004 – A gang of thieves stole £26.5 Million from the Donegall Square West headquarters of Northern Bank in Belfast, Northern Ireland, United Kingdom, one of the largest bank robberies in British history.

2007 Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II becomes the oldest ever monarch of the United Kingdom, surpassing Queen Victoria, who lived for 81 years, 7 months and 29 days.

2007 The painting Portrait of Suzanne Bloch (1904), by the Spanish artist Pablo Picasso, was stolen from the São Paulo Museum of Art, along with O Lavrador de Café, by the major Brazilian modernist painter Candido Portinari.

2018 US Defence Secretary Jim Mattis announces his resignation after disagreements with President Donald Trump

2019 United States Space Force founded, an armed forces branch dedicated to space warfare

 

Birthdays Today

@84 – John Hillerman, American actor (d. 2017)

75 – Peter Criss [George Peter John Criscuola], singer-songwriter and drummer [Kiss]

74 – Uri Geller, Israeli-English magician and psychic

74 – Dick Wolf, American TV producer

@69 – Harvey Firestone, American inventor (Firestone tires) (d. 1938; heart attack)

61 – Jackie Fox (Jacqueline Louise Fuchs), American attorney, Jeopardy! champ and bass player- The Runaways

37 – Jonah Hill, American actor

 

Puzzle Answer

She was walking.

Enjoy the Holiday