Snow People

A woman in a small Wyoming town thinks snowmen bring joy and decided to bring joy to her town of 314. She started with the 27 foot snowman as a center piece then went on to make around 400 personalized snowmen for everyone in the 142 houses, she even made sure their eyes were the same color as their namesakes. Word spread to neighboring towns and they wanted snowmen too so she made them their own personalized snowmen but she didn't stop there she then organized a scavenger hunt with a 20 question search of the snowmen and rewards anyone completing all 20 questions with a snowman treat. She said the reason she did it was to bring everyone together and it seemed to work. 

For the Record

 Today's piece is a few of the 2023 oddest Guinness World Records. A tabby cat named Kit Kat jumped rope 9 times in one minute, the skill has led to a Jimmy Kimmel appearance and a Friskies ad. Loudest female burp came in at 107 decibels, about as loud as a motorcycle at full throttle. The burp was induced by having coffee and beer with her breakfast. A cockatoo named Chico broke his own record for riding a scooter 16.4 feet in 14.58 seconds which topped his previous 17.79 seconds. 

Wacky Words

Today we have some interesting words from dictionaries that are seldom heard/used in modern times. We'll start with bumfuzzle which means to be in a state of bewilderment. Gubbins are bits and pieces or scraps of something or an unnamed gadget, also a foolish or gullible person.  Bibble (not to be confused with Bible) is a pebble of a certain size or in Australia a troublesome person or animal. Last and certainly not least is wabbit (without the Elmer Fudd voice) meaning to be exhausted and weary which happens to many people this time of year so cut yourself some slack! 

Safe Santa

 It was bound to happen eventually, a Santa safety check. Turns out he is non compliant with many safety issues. Of course working one shift a year of around 36 hours straight is near the top of safety concerns as is sleigh safety, no seat belt or airbags. Then there is the lack of copilot and radio operator in congested airspaces though maybe NORAD clears a path? Of course his age and health can't be overlooked due to the stress the job entails and the amount of snacks consumed he probably shouldn't be operating any vehicle. I'm afraid he may be due to be replaced by either several teams or AI before there is a terrible accident. 

Where's the Crunch?

 Considering studies showing problem drinking has increased since the pandemic it seems like odd timing to bring out a addictive sounding alcohol. Seriously, Nacho Cheese Doritos has partnered with flavor company Empirical with a product that they claim smells and tastes like the real thing (Nacho Cheese Doritos). Frito Lay is the same company who launched the Lay's potato chip slogan, "Betcha can't eat just one" and it's pretty much the same deal with Doritos or maybe worse depending on the individuals tastes. So how many can you drink??

A Degree in Piracy

 Completing courses in sailing, fencing, pistol shooting and archery then taking a secret pirate oath will result in a certificate of piracy at MIT. MIT began offering the certificate in 2012 as a way for students to enjoy completing the physical education requirements though students had called themselves pirates for decades upon completion of the four fitness courses. At one point it was discussed that the award should be an eye patch but the certificate won out. Matt Damon holds an honorary pirate certificate even though MIT rarely bestows honorary degrees. Oh, in case anyone is wondering the certificate doesn't give the bearer license to do anything pirate like such as robbing and plundering.  

Snap Click Pop

 So what would vegans eat if they discovered plants were sentient beings? or are they just against killing things with faces and hearts?  Earlier this year scientists proved that not only can plants hear they also makes ultrasonic sounds when they are stressed. After isolating plants in a soundproof acoustic chamber/greenhouse they were able to differentiate the sounds plants make when they are cut or dehydrated. Unstressed plants made very little noise but the stressed plants made frequent clicking and popping sounds. Stressed plants made about 40 clicks per hours while dehydrated plants clicked more frequently as they got more dehydrated. Though they are still unsure how the plants make these sounds they think it's possible that some animals and insects can hear them and avoid the stressed plants.