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Merry Christmas to all! And of course, just the facts: Festival Definition & Meaning - Merriam-Webster
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December 25th 2024 - Holidays and Observances (click on the day for details) Children's Day (Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Equatorial Guinea, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Gabon, Republic of Congo) Christian feast day: Anastasia of Sirmium (Catholic Church) Stephen (Armenian Apostolic Church) December 25 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics) Christmas Day, Christian festival commemorating the birth of Jesus. (Internationally observed) Tulsi Pujan Diwas (India) Constitution Day (Taiwan) Good Governance Day (India) Quaid-e-Azam's Day (Pakistan) Takanakuy (Chumbivilcas Province, Peru) Observances (click on the day, BD, or week for details) GOAL Mile 2021 National Pumpkin Pie Day Rusev’s Birthday Rod Serling’s Birthday Miku’s Birthday Lukas Nelson’s Birthday Keith Ape’s Birthday Justin Trudeau’s Birthday Jimmy Buffett’s Birthday Humphrey Bogart’s Birthday Bobbie-Jo’s Birthday Ashley Nichole’s Birthday Armin van Buuren’s Birthday Annie Lennox’s Birthday Taylor Zakhar Perez’s Birthday Clara Barton’s Birthday ~~~~~~~~~~~~ Hanukkah Wed Dec 25th, 2024 - Thu Jan 2nd, 2025 Mari Lwyd Wed Dec 25th, 2024 - Sat Jan 6th, 2025 Fun Observances (2) Grav Mass Day Grav-Mass Day is an unofficial holiday celebrated annually on December 25, the birth anniversary of English physicist and mathematician Isaac Newton. A play on Christmas, the holiday is a celebration of science and reason. It is also considered to be a secular alternative to the Christian holiday. Grav-Mass refers to the Gravitational Constant and Mass, two key components of Newton’s law of universal gravitation. Science Fiction Origins The holiday was the brainchild of computer programmer and Internet rights activist, Richard Matthew Stallman. He was however, not the first one to use the term grav-mass, also sometimes spelled as gravmass or gravmas. It is believed that it was first used in a short story called Merry Gravmas by science fiction writer, James Hogan. Newtonmas A similar holiday called Newtonmas is also celebrated on December 25. Rumor has it that Newtonmas was first celebrated in 1890, 248 years after Newton's birth, by the members of Newton Association. These fans of Newton met for the first time at Imperial College and spent Christmas Day exchanging their ideas and thoughts about Newton's works and theories. Sir Isaac Newton is one of the most significant scientists of all times. He was responsible for formulating the laws of motion and gravity, and along with Gottfried Leibniz, he is credited for inventing the field of calculus. In addition, Newton worked extensively in the fields of optics and alchemy. How to Celebrate? Celebrate the life and times of Isaac Newton by sharing scientific ideas and discoveries with each other. Stallman, the inventor of the holiday, recommends decorating one’s Christmas tree with apples – the fruit that Newton credited for giving him the idea about gravitation. Make science and physics related parodies of Christmas carols and sing them. Greet people by saying "Merry Grav-Mass to you", and respond by saying "may the Force be proportional to your acceleration". These greetings come from Hogan’s short story. Send Grav-Mass Day greeting cards that say "Reasons Greetings to you". Did You Know… …that technically we should be celebrating Newton's birthday on January 4? This is because when he was born on December 25, 1642, the Julian Calendar was still in effect in England. This date converts to January 4, 1643 in the Gregorian calendar. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ A'phabet Day or No "L" Day December 25 is A'phabet Day or No "L" Day, a day to skip the ‘L’ in all your correspondences and communications - written or otherwise. The origins and purpose of this very obvious’y made-up ho’iday are unknown. L is the twelfth letter in the English alphabet and the ninth consonant. A consonant is a speech sound that is created by the complete or partial constriction of the vocal organs. There are 21 consonant sounds in the English language. December 25 is also celebrated by many people around the world as Christmas Day. How to Celebrate? Celebrating A'phabet Day or No "L" Day will be a challenge. But don't worry. We have you covered! Here are some easy ways to ce’ebrate this very quirky ho’iday. Avoid the use of ‘L’ in everything you write and say today. Ban the use of any object that begin with the letter 'L' in your house and in your workplace. This holiday is also a great excuse to learn more about orthography. Orthography is the study of the rules of writing a language. Did You Know... …that the often cited Cambridge study that spelling doesn’t impede comprehension is true? According to new studies it doesn’t matter in what order letters in a word are as long as the first two letters are at the right place. *** Our company gives out Thanksgiving turkeys to retired employees. All they have to do is stop by the plant to pick them up. A few days before the holiday, a retiree called to ask, “What time do the turkeys get in?” The receptionist, without thinking, responded, “Everyone starts at eight.” *** Two old friends, Ned and John, lived for baseball. Then one day, John died, leaving Ned inconsolable. A few weeks later, Ned heard someone calling his name. He looked up. Standing on a cloud was his old pal. “Ned,” John called down, “I have good news and bad. The good news is, there’s baseball in heaven!” “Great,” said Ned. “What’s the bad news?” “You’re pitching Sunday.” *** My sister Jordan was helping my 21/2-year-old niece Berea put on her sweatshirt when Berea’s head got stuck on the neck hole. Berea started panicking and saying, “I can’t see! I can’t see!” The shirt quickly slipped over her head, and the panic was gone until her arms got stuck on the tight cuffs. The panic returned, and she started crying again. “My fingers can’t see! My fingers can’t see!” she said. It was all we could do not to laugh as Jordan quickly pulled Berea’s arms through the cuffs. *** Q: What's the easiest way to remember your wife's birthday? A: Forget it once! *** A dog walks into a butcher shop and the butcher asks, “What do you want?” The dog points to steak in a glass case. “How many pounds?” The dog barks twice. “Anything else?” The dog points to some pork chops and barks four times. So the butcher wraps up a two-pound steak and four pork chops, and places the bag in the dog’s mouth. He then takes money from a purse tied around the dog’s neck, and sees him out. A customer, who has been watching in amazement, follows the dog to a house several blocks away, where it rings the doorbell to be let in. As the owner appears at the door, the customer says, “What a remarkable dog!” “Remarkable?” snorts the owner. “This is the second time this week he’s forgotten his keys.” *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** sandrewn
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Nothing different, nothing special, just a heart felt Merry Christmas wish to all of you.
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heartwarming - Word of the Day - Tue Dec 24, 2024
sandrewn commented on Myr's blog entry in Writing World
Just the facts: Heartwarming Definition & Meaning - Merriam-Webster -
Spiders have blue blood One of the most interesting spider facts is about their blood. We often assume all living things have red blood because humans have red blood. However, there are some animals with different colors of blood. For instance, snails have blue blood, skinks and leeches have green blood, and beetles have yellow blood. Mammals have hemoglobin, which transports oxygen to the cells. Hemoglobin has an iron atom that absorbs all light colors other than one and only shows the color red. Hence, the red color of blood in mammals. In spiders, it is different. Spiders, like snails, have blue blood. Their blood is blue because hemocyanin, the compound that transports oxygen, has an atom of copper, unlike mammals. The hemocyanin in their blood absorbs all colors except blue, making their blood blue.
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December 24th 2024 - Holidays and Observances (click on the day for details) Christian feast day: Adela and Irmina Paola Elisabetta Cerioli Adam and Eve December 24 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics) Christmas Eve (Christianity) and its related observances: Aðfangadagskvöld, the day when the 13th and the last Yule Lad arrives to towns. (Iceland) Feast of the Seven Fishes (Italian Americans) Juleaften (Denmark)/Julaften (Norway)/Julafton (Sweden) Nittel Nacht (certain Orthodox Jewish denominations) Nochebuena (Spain and Spanish-speaking countries) The Declaration of Christmas Peace (Old Great Square of Turku, Finland's official Christmas City) Wigilia (Poland) Quviasukvik, the Inuit new year (Alaska, Canada, Greenland and Russia) Kūčios (Lithuania) Independence Day (Libya) Day of Military Honour – Siege of Ismail (Russia) Observances (click on the day, BD, or week for details) Last-Minute Shopper's Day National Consumer Rights Day Christmas Book Flood Carols by Candlelight Ricky Martin’s Birthday Ryan Seacrest’s Birthday Louis Tomlinson’s Birthday Mads Lewis’s Birthday Kate Spade’s Birthday Lemmy Kilmister’s Birthday Hailey Orona’s Birthday Howard Hughes’s Birthday Diego Martir’s Birthday Carol Maraj’s Birthday Ava Gardner’s Birthday Stephenie Meyer’s Birthday Tiana Wilson’s Birthday Anil Kapoor’s Birthday Anthony Fauci’s Birthday Fun Observances Eggnog Day December 24 is Eggnog Day, a day to celebrate, and drink a delicious cocktail of eggs, milk, cream, sugar and spices. Originating in England, the drink has now become associated with Thanksgiving in the United States and Christmas time in many parts of the world. Alcoholic Beverage Traditionally, some kind of alcohol is added to eggnog, though non-alcoholic recipes also exist. In the United States, bourbon or whiskey is the spirit of choice, while in the United Kingdom, sherry or brandy is usually added to the beverage. Eggnog Riot While eggnog has occupied an important place during holiday social gatherings in many parts of the world, excess consumption of the drink has led to chaos in at least one particular situation. In 1826, during a Christmas party at the United States Military Academy in West Point, New York drunk cadets got involved in a brawl after drinking large amounts of eggnog. The event is popularly remembered as the Eggnog Riot. How to Celebrate? Make eggnog and share with friends and family. Make an adult version of the beverage by adding alcohol to it. Did You Know… …that according to some, the name eggnog comes from the Middle English word noggin? The word refers to a wooden mug used to serve alcohol. *** Q: Why did Santa bring 22 reindeer to Walmart? A: Because what he wanted to buy cost around 20 bucks, but just in case it was more, he brought some extra doe. *** My dog was my soul mate; we both took naps, we both skipped lunch, we both hated the vacuum... *** Comedian Daniel Tosh is no fan of the expression “The worst day of fishing is better than the best day at work.” “I’ve watched The Deadliest Catch on Discovery,” he said. “I’ve never once been at work, capsized in 40-degree water, watched all my coworkers die, and been like, ‘Hey, at least we’re fishin’.’” *** I always have trouble remembering three things: faces, names, and—I can't remember what the third thing is. *** "If the English language made any sense, lackadaisical would have something to do with a shortage of flowers." *** "At my age flowers scare me." -- George Burns *** Girl on skates. The ice was thin. Then it broke and she fell right in. Boy on bank heard her shout. Jumped right in and helped her out. Now they’re married. Very nice. But first she had to break the ice. *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** sandrewn
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rubicund - Word of the Day - Mon Dec 23, 2024
sandrewn commented on Myr's blog entry in Writing World
Just the facts: Rubicund Definition & Meaning - Merriam-Webster -
The Wasps of Doom Tarantulas, the long-living rock stars of the spider world, can last 15-30 years if they play their cards right. But enter the parasitoid wasp—a villain that makes movie monsters look tame—and they don’t last long. This wasp paralyzes the tarantula, lays eggs on its still-breathing body, and, well, let’s just say dinner is served when the larvae hatch. Glenn from Backyard Pests notes, “In the spider world, you’re either the predator or the living lunch box.” Wasp babies don’t just eat spiders – they eat caterpillars too!
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December 23rd 2024 - Holidays and Observances (click on the day for details) Birthday of the Queen Silvia, an official flag flying day (Sweden) Children's Day (South Sudan and Sudan) Christian Feast Day: Abassad (Coptic Church) Behnam, Sarah, and the Forty Martyrs (Coptic Church) Dagobert II John Cantius O Emmanuel Psote (Coptic Church) Thorlac Thorhallsson, patron saint of Iceland; The last day of preparations before Christmas. Victoria December 23 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics) Day of all level operational control structures servicemen (Ukraine) HumanLight (Secular humanism in United States) Kisan Diwas (Uttar Pradesh, India) Night of the Radishes (Oaxaca City, Mexico) Tibb's Eve (Newfoundland and Labrador) Tom Bawcock's Eve (Mousehole, Cornwall) Victory Day (Egypt) Observances (click on the day, BD, or week for details) Birthday of Emperor Akihito National Christmas Movie Marathon Day National Pfeffernusse Day National Roots Day Madam C.J. Walker’s Birthday Joseph Smith’s Birthday Kenny Screven’s Birthday Jeffy Jey’s Birthday Johnny Utah’s Birthday Finn Wolfhard’s Birthday Holly Madison’s Birthday Eddie Vedder’s Birthday Elena CupcakeSurpriseToys’s Birthday Danielle Busby’s Birthday Corey Haim’s Birthday Connor Darlington’s Birthday Belly Dancing Boy’s Birthday Amy Rose’s Birthday Saylor Waldrop’s Birthday Fun Observances Festivus Day Festivus is a made up secular holiday popularized and celebrated by the fans of the TV series, Seinfeld. Celebrated on December 23, the holiday was created by writer DanO’Keefe who introduced it in a Seinfeld episode called The Strike. Made-up Holiday In the episode, first aired in December 1997, the holiday is conceived by the father of George Costanza one of the show's central characters. In the episode, Frank Costanza reveals that he came up with Festivus as a response to the commercialization of Christmas. According to reports, Festivus was initially created in February 1966 by Dan O’Keefe’s father, who made up this holiday to celebrate an anniversary with his wife. Since the airing of the first Seinfeld episode featuring Festivus, the holiday has become popular among the fans of the show. Popular TV Show Seinfeld is a popular American sitcom that follows the lives of four friends who live in New York City. The show ran for 9 seasons between 1989 and 1998. How to Celebrate? Host a Festivus party in accordance with the traditions set by the episode. According to Festivus tradition, the Festivus meal is accompanied with the airing of grievances, where every guest tells every other guest how they have disappointed them over the year. So tell all your guests how disappointed you are in them. Follow the meal with feats of strength, where the head of the household wrestles with other guests, and the feats end only when the head is pinned to the ground. Greet people by saying “Happy Festivus” or “a Festivus for the rest of us”. Did You Know… …that an unadorned aluminum pole is generally considered as the symbol of Festivus? *** My boyfriend and I were taking his 19-year-old niece to a weekend festival. When we arrived at her house to pick her up, she appeared in tasteful but very short shorts, and a tank top with spaghetti straps. A debate began immediately about appropriate dress. I took the girl's side, recalling that when we began dating, I dressed the same way. "Yes," said my boyfriend sternly, "and I said something about it, didn't I?" Everyone looked at me. "Yeah," I replied. "You said, 'What's your phone number?'" *** During a conference, I was pleasantly surprised to be seated next to a very handsome man. We flirted casually through dinner, then grew restless as the dignitaries gave speeches. During one particularly long-winded lecture, my new friend drew a # sign on a cocktail napkin. Elated, I wrote down my phone number. Looking startled for a moment, he drew another # sign, this time adding an X to the upper-left-hand corner. *** Wife: "How would you describe me?" Husband: "ABCDEFGHIJK." Wife: "What does that mean?" Husband: "Adorable, beautiful, cute, delightful, elegant, fashionable, gorgeous, and hot." Wife: "Aw, thank you, but what about IJK?" Husband: "I'm just kidding!" *** When weeding your garden, there’s an easy way to tell the difference between a weed and a vegetable or flower. Pull on it, and if it doesn’t come up, it’s a weed. But if it comes out easily, it’s not. *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** I forgot to turn off automatic shipments on Amazon. *** *** *** *** *** *** sandrewn
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rhapsodic - Word of the Day - Sun Dec 22, 2024
sandrewn commented on Myr's blog entry in Writing World
Just the facts: Rhapsodic Definition & Meaning - Merriam-Webster -
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December 22nd 2024 - Holidays and Observances (click on the day for details) Dongzhi Festival Armed Forces Day (Vietnam) Christian feast day: Anastasia of Sirmium (Orthodox Church) Eimhin Ernan, Son of Eogan Frances Xavier Cabrini (outside US) Hunger O Rex Henry Budd (Episcopal Church (USA)) Lottie Moon (Episcopal Church (USA)) December 22 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics) Mother's Day (Indonesia) National Mathematics Day (India) Teachers' Day (Cuba) Unity Day (Zimbabwe) Observances (click on the day, BD, or week for details) Forefathers’ Day National Ashton Day National Cookie Exchange Day National Short Person Day Hennessy Carolina’s Birthday Guru Gobind Singh’s Birthday G Hannelius’s Birthday Denzel Dion’s Birthday Tanner Fox’s Birthday Nate Garner’s Birthday Moonbyul’s Birthday Meghan Trainor’s Birthday Luther Campbell’s Birthday Hobo Johnson’s Birthday Jean-Michel Basquiat’s Birthday Alexandria Everett’s Birthday Latto’s Birthday Bershan Shaw’s Birthday Madison Kennedy’s Birthday Big Tigger’s Birthday Mike Chen’s Birthday Bryce Gheisar’s Birthday Natalie Guercio’s Birthday Chris Hughes’s Birthday Srinivasa Ramanujan’s Birthday DaBaby’s Birthday Jordin Sparks’s Birthday Fun Observances Date Nut Bread Day On December 22 add date nut bread to your holiday baking list because it is Date Nut Bread Day. Made with different kinds of nuts like walnuts and pecans and dates that give it its distinct sweet flavor, date nut bread is thought to have been first baked in England. Ancient Fruit Grown in many parts of the world, dates are the fruit of the date palm. Food historians believe that the date palm was first cultivated for its fruit in the Middle East around 6000 BC. Farmers classify dates based on their texture and the sugar content into 3 types. These are soft, dry and semi-dry dates. Date Nut Bread Day is an unofficial holiday which is also known as National Date Nut Bread Day. How to Celebrate? Bake date nut bread and share with family, friends and coworkers. Remind them that it is a healthy treat. What about making little muffins instead of making a loaf of the bread? Experiment with the flavors of your date nut bread. What about adding strawberries to it? Or chocolate chips? Make a banana date nut bread or an orange date nut bread instead. Serve toasted slices of the bread with a pat of butter. Did You Know… …that contrary to popular belief, a peanut is not a nut, but is part of the legume family? *** My 90-year-old dad was giving a talk at our local library about his World War II experiences. During the question-and-answer period, he was asked, “How did you know the war was over?” He replied, “When they stopped shooting at me.” *** Wandering inside a pet store, I stopped in front of a birdcage to admire a parakeet. We watched each other for a few minutes before it asked, “Can’t you talk?” *** My son and I were checking out a house he was interested in buying. When the owner came to the door, she looked at me and said, “Larry? I know you. We went to school together. I’m Elaine. Don’t you recognize me?” I drew a complete blank. She took out our old yearbook and showed me her graduation picture—still nothing. “Let’s look at your picture,” she said. She flipped the pages until she came to me. Under my photo I had written, “Elaine, I will never forget you.” *** Shortly after we moved to rural South Carolina, we found out Clemson Ag Extension was selling all sorts of berry and fruit trees at great rates. We needed quite a few things because the property we bought was cleared cow pasture and, besides a huge pecan tree, had no other trees on it. So I ordered blueberry and blackberry bushes and apple, peach and pear trees. When it came time to pick up the order, my friend called to ask if I could pick hers up, too. I told her we’d better take two trucks. When I got to the extension office I was shocked to find the pickup area empty except for some little bundles of twigs tied with string. I asked where my order was and the attendant led me to one of those bundles. They were bare root cuttings, which take up very little space. I could lift mine in one hand. I mentioned to the attendant that I felt silly bringing a truck to pick up the order. It was then that I noticed a man behind me. He ruefully stated, “Don’t feel bad; I brought a trailer.” *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** sandrewn
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ruminate - Word of the Day - Sat Dec 21, 2024
sandrewn commented on Myr's blog entry in Writing World
Just the facts: Ruminate Definition & Meaning - Merriam-Webster -
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December 21st 2024 - Holidays and Observances (click on the day for details) Armed Forces Day (Philippines) Christian feast day: O Oriens Peter Canisius Thomas the Apostle December 21 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics) Forefathers' Day (Plymouth, Massachusetts) São Tomé Day (São Tomé and Príncipe) The first day of Pancha Ganapati, celebrated until December 25 (Saiva Siddhanta Church) Gravy Day (Australia), celebrated in honour of the song "How to Make Gravy" by Paul Kelly Observances (click on the day, BD, or week for details) Anne and Samantha Day Blue Christmas Service December Solstice Don’t Make Your Bed Day Dongzhi Humbug Day Look On The Bright Side Day National Armagnac Day National Coquito Day National Crossword Puzzle Day National Flashlight Day National French Fried Shrimp Day National Homeless Persons’ Remembrance Day National Maine Day Phileas Fogg Win a Wager Day Short Girl Appreciation Day Winter Solstice World Snowboard Day Yule World Basketball Day National Short Story Day International Energy Drink Day Gravy Day Ribbon Candy Day Mike Vitar’s Birthday Mario Selman’s Birthday Mickey Singh’s Birthday Jinger Duggar’s Birthday Kiefer Sutherland’s Birthday Jessie James Combs’s Birthday Jane Fonda’s Birthday Hubert Keller’s Birthday Nick Davis Weinstein’s Birthday Samuel L. Jackson’s Birthday Chris Heria’s Birthday Frank Zappa’s Birthday Kaitlyn Dever Fun Observances International Dalek Remembrance Day December 21 is International Dalek Remembrance Day, a day to remember the extraterrestrial cyborgs called Daleks in BBC's Doctor Who universe. Considered to be one of the biggest enemies of Doctor Who, the time travelling lord, the robotic Daleks made their debut on December 21, 1963 in a 7 part serial aptly called The Daleks. These salt and pepper shaker shaped creatures were created by another enemy of the Doctor - Davros, who genetically modified his own people, the Kaleds and removed all emotions from them. The Daleks were then left to operate just on hate and vengeance. Frightening Villains Known for repeatedly saying exterminate and for wanting to destroy every other race in the universe, the metal covered, aggressive Daleks are popularly considered by science fiction fans as one of the most frightening villains ever shown on television. A 2010 survey by the sci-fi magazine SFX found that the Doctor's arch-enemies were the most popular fantasy creatures on television and the big screen. Today, Daleks are easily recognized icons in popular culture especially in the United Kingdom. Being or sounding like a Dalek is sometimes used as a way to refer to someone who's behavior or voice sounds mechanical or robotic. Remembrance of Daleks Remembrance of Daleks is a 4 part serial in the 25th season of the British science fiction show. In the serial, Doctor Who returns to 1963 to retrive the Hand of Omega, a device that can fuel time travel by converting stars into supernovas. Another popularly celebrated Doctor Who inspired holiday is Impossible Astronaut Day. How to Celebrate? Spend the day doing a Doctor Who marathon. Host a Doctor Who party. Decorate the venue with Doctor Who inspired decorations and invite all the Whovians in your life. Did You Know… …that originally Daleks could not go up stairs? This lack of stair-climbing abilities was one way that Doctor Who characters could save themselves from these monstrous creatures. In a more recent avatar of the Daleks, the creators of the TV show have given them hovering capabilities, which they employ while uttering escalate in the same tone as they say eliminate. *** The last year I entered a marathon. The race started and immediately I was the last of the runners. It was embarrassing. The guy who was in front of me, second to last, was making fun of me. He said, "Hey buddy, how does it feel to be last?" I replied, "You really want to know?" Then I dropped out of the race. *** A man came in to give his application to the manager. But the manager asked, "Why is there a four-year gap in your application?" And the man responded, "Yale." The manager hired him and the guy said, "Thanks. I needed a yob." *** An elderly farmer had an old bull that lost its usual desire and no longer went near the cows. The farmer called the vet, who prescribed a pill to stimulate the bull’s interest. A few weeks later, the farmer ran into a friend, who asked, “How’s that bull?” “Great!” said the farmer. “The bull is back to his former frisky self.” “That’s fantastic. What miracle drug did the vet prescribe?” “I don’t know,” said the farmer. “But it tastes like licorice.” *** I took our 4-year-old granddaughter, Halle, to the corral on pregnancy testing day to watch as the veterinarian did ultrasounds on our cows. After a positive test, the vet shouted out, “Call it good!” I explained to Halle this meant there was a baby in the cow’s tummy. She replied, “I don’t want to call the baby Good; I want to call it Queen Elsa.” *** *** *** *** *** *** *** (Thanks for the nightmares) *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** sandrewn
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quagmire - Word of the Day - Fri Dec 20, 2024
sandrewn commented on Myr's blog entry in Writing World
Just the facts: Quagmire Definition & Meaning - Merriam-Webster -
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December 20th 2024 - Holidays and Observances (click on the day for details) Abolition of Slavery Day, also known as Fête des Cafres (Réunion, French Guiana) Bo Aung Kyaw Day (Myanmar) Christian feast day: Dominic of Silos O Clavis Ursicinus of Saint-Ursanne Katharina von Bora (Lutheran) December 20 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics) Earliest date for Winter solstice's eve (Northern Hemisphere), and its related observances: Yaldā (Iran) International Human Solidarity Day (International) Macau Special Administrative Region Establishment Day (Macau) Observances (click on the day, BD, or week for details) Cathode-Ray Tube Day Dot Your I’s Day Games Day Go Caroling Day Mudd Day Sacagawea Day Sandra Lee’s Birthday Pouya’s Birthday Peter Criss’s Birthday NAO’s Birthday Mystic Inscho’s Birthday Zack Carpinello’s Birthday Melanie Scrofano’s Birthday Lucia Zambetti’s Birthday Kylian Mbappé’s Birthday Jonah Hill’s Birthday JoJo’s Birthday De'Aaron Fox’s Birthday Christmas Abbott’s Birthday Taimur Ali Khan’s Birthday Ashleigh Wendrock’s Birthday Mya Nicole Johnson’s Birthday Todd Phillips Fun Observances (3) Sangria Day December 20 is Sangria Day. This unofficial holiday encourages people around the world to enjoy the day with a tall glass of the delicious alcoholic beverage. Typically made of red wine, sangria is a beverage that originated from Spain and Portugal. Usually, the wine is steeped with a variety of that is infused with a variety of chopped fruits and sugar for a few days before being consumed. How to Celebrate? If you are in the Northern Hemisphere, chances are that you are dreaming of a warm sunny day and a cool drink, and if you are in the Southern Hemisphere, you are probably looking for a cold drink to cool you down. No matter where you are on Earth, here are some ways you can celebrate Sangria Day: Make a huge batch of sangria and share with family and friends. Experiment with different kinds of wine and fruits to change the flavor profile of the Sangria you make. Don't drink alcohol? No problem. Make yourself a batch of non-alcoholic sangria with ginger ale or any other sparkling fruit juice of your choice. Did You Know… …that the term Sangria comes from the Spanish word for bleeding? This is because the beverage is typically made of red wine, which is deep red in color. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Underdog Day Underdog Day is celebrated every year on the third Friday of December. This unofficial holiday owes its name to the term “underdog” popularly used in sports and competitions and refers to someone who is popularly expected to lose. All of us know of someone who works very hard but never gets recognized for their hard work. In addition, they are usually expected to fail in their efforts. Maybe, you have been in a situation like that? Celebrate all such underdogs and unsung heroes on Underdog Day. How to Celebrate? Remember that it is sometimes ok to be an underdog. It may be frustrating sometimes, but when underdogs win, they tend to upset the expected order of things. If you know of an underdog, tell them to persevere on. If you feel you are an underdog, work harder and shatter everyone’s expectations. Watch the American animated series, Underdog. The series, which aired on NBC in the 1960s, detailed the adventures of Underdog, a superhero who spoke in rhyming verse and wore a caped costume. Did You Know… …that the opposite of an underdog is a top dog and in if an underdog wins in a competition, the outcome of the event is known as an upset. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Ugly Sweater Day The third Friday of December is Ugly Sweater Day. On this day, get in the holiday spirit and flaunt those ugly holiday sweaters (thanks, Grandma!) you have been too embarrassed to wear in public. In many countries, the holiday is associated with fundraising events for children’s charity. A similar holiday, Christmas Jumper Day, is celebrated every year as part of a fun raising event by Save the Children, a not for profit organization. In 2017, it is on December 15 as well. How to Celebrate? Take that ugly sweater out and wear it in public, chances are, you won’t be the only one wearing the Rudolph sweater grandma made for you ten years ago. Don’t have an ugly sweater? Make one of your own. Bedazzle an old or thrifted sweater, add embroidered holiday motifs and some sequins, and voila, you are ready for Ugly Sweater Day. Host an ugly sweater party. Have your guests contribute to charity and hold an ugly sweater competition. The person flaunting the ugliest sweater goes home with the top prize. Did You Know... ...that the word cardigan, which is a type of sweater that is open from the front, comes from James Thomas Brudenell, the 7th Earl of Cardigan? The English general was thought to have worn such as sweater while leading a cavalry charge at Balaclava in 1854. *** I was picking up my letters at the post office when I heard a boy ask his mother if they had gotten any mail. She said, “No, just bills.” Then he asked, “Why do we always get his mail?” *** While on patrol, I arrested a burglar who’d injured himself running from a home. He told me he’d broken in and unhooked the phone before searching for valuables. But he’d panicked when he heard a woman’s voice. I entered the house and heard the same voice: “If you’d like to make a call, please hang up and try your call again.” *** We were an Air Force family, but our son could not grasp that fact. Anytime someone asked what his father did, he’d say, “He’s in the Army.” I told him umpteen times, “Stop telling people I’m in the Army!” It finally seemed to hit home because on the admittance form for kindergarten, under “father’s profession,” the teacher wrote, “He doesn’t know what his father does, but he’s not in the Army.” *** One day when my son David was 5 years old, he informed me that he no longer wanted to go to day care because the other kids were all babies. He said he was a big boy and could stay home alone while I worked. So I asked him, “Who will make your lunch? You can’t reach the stove.” He quickly replied, “I’ll make a salad.” *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** Bang Zoom ...You're Going to the Moon! - YouTube *** *** *** *** *** *** sandrewn
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quiescent - Word of the Day - Thu Dec 19, 2024
sandrewn commented on Myr's blog entry in Writing World
Just the facts: Quiescent Definition & Meaning - Merriam-Webster -
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- deadly spiders
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December 19th 2024 - Holidays and Observances (click on the day for details) Christian feast day: Lillian Trasher (Episcopal Church) O Radix Pope Anastasius I Pope Urban V December 19 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics) Saint Nicholas Day Goa Liberation Day (Goa, India) National Heroes and Heroines Day (Anguilla) Observances (click on the day, BD, or week for details) Look for an Evergreen Day National Hard Candy Day National Oatmeal Muffin Day National Emo Day National Re-Gifting Day Jenelle Evans’s Birthday Janet Guzman’s Birthday Jasmine Sorge’s Birthday Ines de Ramon’s Birthday Jake Gyllenhaal’s Birthday Hawkeye Huey’s Birthday Hey.lexie’s Birthday Delta Shepard’s Birthday Elaine Joyce’s Birthday Criss Angel’s Birthday Cicely Tyson’s Birthday Ashley Flowers’s Birthday Nico Hiraga’s Birthday Souline McBroom’s Birthday Alkaline’s Birthday Alyssa Milano’s Birthday Ronan Farrow Fun Observances ( 0 ) *** The DMV was as crowded and noisy as ever. When I finally got to the window, I asked the clerk, “Does the never-ending line of loud people ever drive you crazy?” She shook her head. “We call it job security.” *** There is No Such Thing as a Dumb Question, Except for These: • I work in IT. A customer asked me if a string of numbers I'd read off was upper- or lowercase. • Someone once asked, “Is this the museum?” I work at a pool. • A few of the things customers have asked for at our art-supply store include disco balls, trees, and crucifixion wood. • I'm a butcher. A woman asked if she could sleep in our freezer to test out a heavy-duty sleeping bag before a trip to the Himalayas. *** Conversation With A Customer-Service Representative: Me: I have a Roundup Multi Purpose Sprayer that is defective. Customer Rep: Ma’am, we’ll need the exact name of the item. Do you have the box? Me: No, but it’s the Roundup Multi Purpose Sprayer. Customer Rep: Ma’am, we’ll need the box so we can have the exact name of the product. Me: Hold on. I’ll run out to my garage and get the box. [Long pause ... ] OK ... [huff ... puff] I have it. It says ... Roundup Multi Purpose Sprayer. Customer Rep: Thank you for that information, ma’am. *** Several years ago, our grandson Andrew slept at our house overnight. For breakfast I made pancakes, and I gave him one that was browner than the others. He told me he didn’t want that one because it was too ripe. *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** (Be careful of what you wish for) *** *** *** *** sandrewn
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I see 8, for a like(more often) I'll even point them out to you(hint).
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quixotry - Word of the Day - Wed Dec 18, 2024
sandrewn commented on Myr's blog entry in Writing World
Just the facts: Quixote Definition & Meaning - Merriam-Webster (Two days in a row M-W has let me down) -
- 2,105 replies
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- deadly spiders
- nightmare spiders
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