Friday 3/31/23
Celebrate:
Dance Marathon Day
Eiffel Tower Day
International Transgender Day of Visibility
National "She's Funny That Way" Day
National Bunsen Burner Day
National Clams on the Half Shell Day
National Crayon Day
National Farm Workers Day
National Prom Day
National Tater Day
No Homework Day
World Backup Day
–
Are kids today too sensitive for "Friends"? Jennifer Aniston thinks so. She says, quote, "There’s a whole generation of people, kids, who are now going back to episodes of 'Friends' and find them offensive.
"There were things that were never intentional and others . . . well, we should have thought it through, but I don't think there was a sensitivity like there is now."
Jen thinks we've even lost the ability to laugh at BIGOTS, just because people can't handle the subject matter. And in a way we've lost a good learning tool.
Quote, "It was about educating people on how ridiculous people were, and now we're not allowed to do that."
–
I hate to get political, but this just sounds tone deaf.
Two days after a shooter used legally purchased guns to kill three adults and three children at a school in Nashville, Tenn., the North Carolina legislature ended permits to buy handguns by overriding the veto of Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper. The new law no longer requires a criminal background check and character evaluation from a sheriff's office. Background checks are still required when purchasing pistols from a gun store or a federally licensed dealer, and concealed carry permits are still mandatory.
Bill supporters say the sheriff screening process for handguns was no longer necessary in light of significant updates to the national background check system. They also argue the permit system wasn’t very effective at preventing criminals from obtaining guns.
--
Seniors aren't letting the youths have all the fun: 15% of the 65-and-up set are now using cannabis, a share that has grown as more states legalize it and other seniors share stories of it helping relieve insomnia, pain or anxiety and even cutting the need for some medications. Before heading to the dispensary, though, older adults should check in with their doctor about a few things to make sure that their experience is safe, fun and helpful.
--
Pope Francis was hospitalized for treatment of a lung infection on Wednesday after having difficulty breathing in recent days, the Vatican said. Vatican spokesman Matteo Bruni said the pope, 86, does not have COVID-19, and is expected to stay in the hospital "a few days." Pope Francis has been missing part of a lung since undergoing surgery as a young man. Shortly before seeking treatment, Francis gave his weekly general audience in St. Peter's Square. He has recently appeared frail, and has been using a wheelchair due to knee pain. Last year he acknowledged that his age and health posed limitations, and raised the possibility he might one day step aside. "It is possible to change pope," he said.
We hope he gets better..Easter is right around the corner.
--
The 2023 Major League Baseball season began yesterday, with all 30 teams playing their first game on Opening Day for the first time since 1968 (see schedule). The sport has undergone several major rule changes analysts expect will have significant impact on the game.
The most visible change is the adoption of a pitch clock, where pitchers must throw the ball within a certain timeframe. The clock, combined with a limit on pitcher throws to first base, is expected to shorten games by roughly 20 minutes on average while boosting base-stealing attempts. (a ball will be called if not thrown in time.)
Also hitters gets 1 timeout per plate appearance; must be in batter’s box with 8 seconds left or a strike is called.
Bases have been enlarged by three square inches, reducing the distance between bases by 4.5 inches.
--
The average baseball fan spends $51 once they enter the ballpark . . . which includes concession food and drinks, beer and other alcoholic beverages, seat upgrades, parking, and team merch.
When tickets to the game are included, that makes the overall cost $86 per person, or over $300 for a family of four.
In a recent survey, 47% of people said they're planning on going to an MLB game this season . . . but 58% said they prefer to watch MLB games at home on TV.
--
In a separate poll, 42% of Americans say they have a favorite MLB team. And 22% have a LEAST favorite teams.
A whopping 26% of people say they hate the Yankees . . . 11% dislike the Red Sox . . . and only 4% are still upset at the Houston Astros for CHEATING a few years back.
--
A commemorative quarter honoring the late, legendary Hawaiian hula teacher rolled out on Monday.
Edith Kanakaʻole is one of five American women to be minted on new quarters this year as part of the American Women Quarters Program.
Edith Kanakaʻole was selected to be honored for her efforts in preserving Native Hawaiian knowledge, serving the Hawaiian community, and applying a new lens to academic science.
“She was a renowned practitioner of, and an authority on, modern Hawaiian culture and language,” said Mint Director Ventris C. Gibson.
--
Penguin books asked the question to those that love reading, What one book (or series) would you recommend to someone who was in a reading rut, or who didn't usually devote time to books, in print or audio?
Interesting that some of the books are on the "banned" lists.
The most frequent recommendations were,
Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte
1984 by George Orwell
To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
Animal Farm by George Orwell
The Book Thief by Markus Zusak
One Hundred Years of Solitude by Gabriel Garcia Marquez
The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien
A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini
Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier
--
Traditional passports may be replaced by human heartbeats in the future.
Well not until 2070, but it could happen! The experts are forecasting that passengers’ heartbeat signatures, which are unique to each person, will be used alongside their biometric information to check a person’s identity.
They also believe that plane seats will be able to adapt to a person's body shape, and optoelectronic inflight entertainment will see content get beamed directly to passengers’ eyes. That’s not all: a language hearing aid will translate other languages in real-time, making the term ‘language barrier’ a thing of the past. (i'm still not putting a fish in my ear......Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy fans...anyone??????)
--
A colossal amount of rain and snow has fallen on California over the past few months from a dozen atmospheric rivers: more than 78 trillion gallons of water and counting. It's not the wettest year the Golden State has ever seen, but it is a massive amount of water in a state that has been beset by drought for several years. The precipitation didn't fall evenly across the state, but if it did, it would have covered all of California with about 30 inches of water.
Let's hope that i has eased the drought at least a little.
--
Today's Useless Fact(s) of the Day - The New York Yankees have the best winning percentage of any Major League Baseball franchise. Since they were founded in 1903, they've won 57% of their games. The Miami Marlins are last, at 46%.
There are FIVE MLB teams that have won every time they've been in the World Series. The Miami Marlins and Toronto Blue Jays are both 2-and-0, and the Los Angeles Angels, the Washington Nationals, and the Arizona Diamondbacks are 1-and-0.
And five teams have lost every time they've been in the World Series. The San Diego Padres, the Texas Rangers, and the Tampa Bay Rays are all 0-and-2, and the Milwaukee Brewers and the Colorado Rockies are 0-and-1.
Then, there's the Seattle Mariners: They're the only active team that's never been to the World Series.
--
Comentarios