12/26/25 - Boxing Day, Kwanzaa, and Foods to Avoid for Stress

Friday 12/26/25

Happy Kwanzaa! 

The annual celebration of African-American culture from December 26 to January 1, culminating in a communal feast called Karamu, usually on the sixth day. It was created by activist Maulana Karenga based on African harvest festival traditions from various parts of West, East, as well as Southeast Africa. Kwanzaa was first celebrated in 1966.

Today’s principle:

Umoja (Unity): To strive for and to maintain unity in the family, community, nation, and race.

Tomorrow’s Briefing will have all the principles.

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Celebrate:

Boxing Day - primarily observed in the United Kingdom. One possible reason for the name is that boxes holding a present or gratuity were given to tradesmen and workers in service industries for their previous year's work.

National Candy Cane Day

National Thank You Note Day

National Whiner's Day

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We have a winner!!! It's not you!!!! Powerball was won on Christmas Eve with a winning ticket in Arkansas. There were 2 Million dollar winners in New York, though. Check your tickets.

If you care, Saturday's jackpot is $20 Million.

Mega Millions is worth $125 Million for tonight's drawing.

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If you're looking for new movies in the Theaters, here's what's new.

Song Sung Blue  - Drama about a Neil Diamon tribute band with Hugh Jackman, Kate Hudson, Fisher Stevens, Michael Imperioli, Jim Belushi, Mustafa Shakir, Ella Anderson, King Princess, and Hudson Hilbert Hensley.

Anaconda - Comedy with Jack Black and Paul Rudd making a remake of their favorite movie.

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Chris Rea, British Singer-Songwriter and Hitmaker, Dies at 74

A blues-influenced guitarist, he built a lasting career, particularly in Europe.

He was a much bigger star in the UK, but was nominated for a Grammy for Best New Artist in 1978. He had two songs you might know.

"Fool If You Think It's Over" was a #12 hit in 1978.

"At the Beach" (which I thought was a bigger hit) made #9 AC.

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Authorities in London are still investigating the "grate" cheese heist, where over 22 tonnes of premium cheddar were stolen by fraudsters posing as legitimate wholesalers. It’s being called the most sophisticated dairy crime in history, leaving the actual cheesemakers feeling blue. (This is a real Gouda story!!)

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The Squirrel Who Stole Christmas: A homeowner in New Jersey caught a squirrel on camera methodically stealing the "C," "H," and "R" from their outdoor holiday sign. The squirrel isn't a Grinch; it’s apparently using the wooden letters to reinforce its nest against the winter wind.

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Financial experts say 2026 will be the year of "loud budgeting," where consumers are vocal about not spending money to avoid social pressure. Instead of making excuses, people are flat-out telling friends, "I'm not going to that dinner because it's not in my budget," and it's becoming a badge of honor.

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A major clinical study has proven that specific sound frequencies can reduce physical pain levels in chronic sufferers by up to 25%. Doctors are now looking into "prescribing" personalized playlists as a non-drug alternative for pain management.

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Researchers have developed a contact lens that can monitor glucose levels in tears and change color if the wearer’s blood sugar is too high. This could completely replace the "finger-prick" method for millions of people living with diabetes.

This is technology that I will never use...can't use. I can't even put in eyedrops!

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A service dog named Justin attended every single lecture with his owner for four years and was officially awarded his own "honorary diploma" during the graduation ceremony. He even wore a custom cap and gown to walk across the stage.

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WebMD.com has an article about foods to avoid if you have anxiety or depression.

Fruit Juice - The fiber in whole fruit fills you up and slows down how your blood takes in energy. Without that fiber, you’re just drinking nutritious sugar-water that can quickly hype you up -- and bring you down just as fast. 

Regular Soda - If you crave a pop, try seltzer water with a splash of juice instead. It'll give you a bubbly fix without too much of the stuff you don't need.

Diet Soda is just as bad.

Toast - If it's made from white bread, yes. The highly processed white flour it's made from quickly turns to blood sugar after you eat it. Go for the whole grain.

"Light" Dressing - Many get their sweetness from aspartame, an artificial sweetener linked to anxiety and depression.

Ketchup - It's basically sugar.

Coffee - If you’re not used to it, the caffeine in it can make you jittery and nervous. It could also mess up your sleep. Neither helps anxiety or depression. Caffeine withdrawal can make you feel bad, too. If you think it causes you problems, cut caffeine out of your diet slowly. If you’re OK with it, or drink decaf, coffee can actually help make you feel less depressed. 

Frosting - It’s the sugar, right? Well, yes, but that’s not all. It’s also loaded with around 2 grams of "trans fats" per serving. 

Soy Sauce - This one is only for people who are sensitive to gluten. In addition to breads, noodles, and pastries, it’s also in prepackaged foods like soy sauce. If you’re sensitive to gluten, it can cause anxiety or depression

Doughnuts - Doughnuts have all the wrong kinds of fats, snow-white flour with little fiber to slow absorption, and lots of added sugar. 

See the full article here.

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Today’s Useless Fact of the Day - On December 26, 1865, James H. Nason of Massachusetts received the first U.S. patent for a coffee percolator. Before this, making coffee was a much messier "boil and hope for the best" situation involving cloth bags or just letting the grounds settle at the bottom of the pot.

If you aren't sure what a percolator is, it continually cycling the boiling or nearly boiling brew through the grounds using gravity until the required strength is reached. The grounds are held in a perforated metal filter basket, and you could see the color of the coffee in the clear top part where the coffee..well perked! The Drip-brew replaced it!

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