12/16/25 - Rob Reiner, Best Holiday, and Worst Gifts

Tuesday 12/16/25

Celebrate:

Barbie and Barney Backlash Day - a time to openly express frustration with the excessive cheerfulness and manufactured perfection of these two famous, brightly colored characters.

Boston Tea Party Day

National Chocolate Covered Anything Day

Stupid Toy Day

The Boston Tea Party (1773) American colonists disguised as Mohawk Indians boarded three British ships (the Dartmouth, the Eleanor, and the Beaver) and dumped 342 chests of tea into Boston Harbor to protest "taxation without representation." The tea would be worth approximately $1 million today.

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Rob Reiner, the son of a comedy giant who became one himself as one of the preeminent filmmakers of his generation with movies such as “The Princess Bride,” “When Harry Met Sally …” and “This Is Spinal Tap,” has died. He was 78.

Reiner and his wife, Michele Singer Reiner, were found fatally stabbed Sunday at their home in the Brentwood neighborhood of Los Angeles.

He told 60 Minutes, “My father thought, ‘Oh, my God, this poor kid is worried about being in the shadow of a famous father,’” recalling the temptation to change his name. “And he says, ‘What do you want to change your name to?’ And I said, ‘Carl.’ I just wanted to be like him.”

After starting out as a writer for “The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour,” Reiner’s breakthrough came when he was, at age 23, cast in Norman Lear’s “All in the Family” as Archie Bunker’s liberal son-in-law, Michael “Meathead” Stivic. But by the 1980s, Reiner began as a feature film director, churning out some of the most beloved films of that, or any, era. His first film, the largely improvised 1984 cult classic “This Is Spinal Tap,” remains the quintessential mockumentary.

I won't get into the politics of the day, go find that out yourself.

We also lost

Carl Carlton, best known for his smash hit "She’s a Bad Mama Jama," has died at 72.

Eight-time Daytime Emmy winner Anthony Geary, beloved by generations of television viewers for his iconic portrayal of General Hospital‘s Luke Spencer, passed away on December 14 at the age of 78.

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So if you're like me, you have to reset at least one password a week. Well this takes it to a new level.

A magician-scientist in Missouri once implanted an RFID chip in his hand to wow crowds — only to forget the password and lock himself out of his own device. It’s a funny tech mishap that shows even smart people can be tripped up by their own inventions.

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Yes, you read that right: Mug Root Beer has turned its iconic flavor into a limited-edition cologne called Daddy’s Home, infused with cedar, sandalwood, vanilla, and caramel.

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A long-term study suggests tea drinkers tend to have stronger bones, especially in older women, while heavy coffee intake shows a slight link to lower bone density. It’s a simple twist on your daily cup that could have big implications for aging health.

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Consumer safety groups have released their annual "Worst Toys" list. Topping the 2025 list is a "VR Headset for Toddlers," which experts warn causes immediate motion sickness and balance loss, leading to a spike in "walking into furniture" accidents among 4-year-olds.

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Holidays have a way of bringing people together, giving us all a reason to take a break from the daily grind and focus on what truly matters. They offer moments to celebrate, reflect, and enjoy the company of loved ones, or sometimes just to relax and have fun.

The Top Tens are ranking the holidays.

1. Christmas

2. Halloween

3. Thanksgiving

4. Easter

5. July 4th

6. New Year's Eve

7. New Year's Day

8. Valentine's Day

9. Christmas Eve

10. St. Patrick's Day

See and rank your favorite here.

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The #1 Worst Christmas Gift This Year, According to Research

the self-help book. Personal development titles consistently rank among the most regifted or overlooked presents. Other common unwanted gifts include clothing the recipient didn’t choose and socks, but self-help books top the list by a significant margin.

The problem with giving a self-help book is often the context in which it’s given. If a recipient hasn’t asked for it, the gesture can feel like an implicit judgment.

If someone specifically requests a title or has expressed interest in a particular area, such as productivity, organization or mindfulness, the gift can show attentiveness and thoughtfulness. 

The lesson is simple: know your audience, pay attention to their preferences and err on the side of thoughtful fun. That way, your gifts will be remembered for the joy they bring, not the discomfort they cause.

In another list.

More than a quarter of respondents (28%) said defective discount items were the worst holiday gift.

Fruitcake was a close second, with 23% of respondents dubbing the festive dessert a poor gift. 

One in 10 respondents said they weren’t a fan of cheap chocolates either.

Gifts related to weight were also sore subjects, with survey respondents not liking weight-loss items, scales and gym memberships.

Other gifts that were deemed the worst include out-of-style clothing, Christmas-themed ties, knock-off luxury goods and political items.

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Genologyexplained.com has a list of Christmas traditions that once defined the American holiday season (60s & 70s)—and then disappeared completely.

DIY Tree Flocking Kits

Do-it-yourself tree flocking kits were Christmas staples in the 1960s and early 1970s.

These kits cost about what $35 would buy today. They contained spray guns, adhesive, and white cellulose fibers.

The process was messy. Goggles required. Everything nearby got covered.

Some used vacuum cleaners in reverse to blow flocking material onto trees.

Some flocking materials contained asbestos into the 1970s. Nobody understood the health hazards.

Cleanup took days. White residue appeared months later.

By 1975, pre-flocked artificial trees offered easier alternatives. That messy family activity of creating your own winter wonderland disappeared.

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Today’s Useless Fact of the Day - There is a greater chance for you to die on the way to get lottery tickets than your chance of winning.

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