8/12/25 - Bye Dial Up, Middle Children, and Take 2..or 100
- bribriny
- 12 hours ago
- 4 min read
Wednesday
8/12/25
Celebrate:
International Left-Handers Day
National Filet Mignon Day
National Prosecco Day
World Calligraphy Day
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Danielle Spencer from What's Happening Dies At 60.
Best known for playing the role of Dee Thomas Raj’s sassy younger sister on the 1970s sitcom What’s Happening!! After What’s Happening!! was canceled in 1979, Spencer segued away from acting and attended UC Davis to earn a degree in veterinary science. She later went on to Tuskegee University Veterinary School in Tuskegee, Alabama and became a veterinarian in 1996.
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The AOL dial-up internet service that those of a certain age associate with the World Wide Web is coming to a close.
The company, also known by its "You've got mail" greeting and the CD trial discs — so many CDs — made the announcement on its website.
"AOL routinely evaluates its products and services and has decided to discontinue Dial-up Internet.
Oh you remember, dial-up connected to the internet using a conventional telephone line, emitting a distinctive, high-pitched chirping sound (putting it mildly) in the process.
September 30th is the kill date.
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Yesterday was National Middle Child Day! A recent poll found a third of us are a middle child, or at least somewhere in the middle. 30% are the oldest . . . 32% are in the middle . . . 26% are the youngest . . . and 12% are an only child.
24% are estranged from at least one of their siblings. Parents are next at 16%.
Here are the top five reasons we've cut ties with a brother or sister.
1. Personality conflicts. So, you just don't vibe.
2. Lies or betrayal. They were dishonest or didn't have your back.
3. Manipulative behavior. Like guilt-tripping you, or always playing the victim.
4. Conflict with other family members. Maybe you've broken off into two rival groups.
5. Conflicting values or lifestyles. POLITICS is a common reason there.
The good news is people were more likely than not to say they'd be willing to reconcile with an estranged sibling. 45% said they would, 29% said no way, and the rest aren't sure.
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Weddings are expensive! But!!! There's an app that allows couples to sell tickets to their wedding. Not to friends and family, but to strangers. The idea is that it can reduce costs . . . and random people can pay to attend the event socially.
It's happening in Europe and it puts a new spin on wedding crashers.
The couples can choose how much to charge, but generally tickets would cost $100 to $200 . . . and maybe more if you have a special venue. (I don't even want to go for free!!!)
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What is happening with funny weather reports. I've been noticing various weather people on Facebook with funny reports. I know the weather can be kind of predictable day after day this part of summer but..here's Howard from WBNG last night.
I hate to be the bearer of bad news to my winter-weather loving fans.
The latest Euro ensembles are showing a zero percent chance of total snowfall greater than 1" in the next 15 days in our area.
There is freakishly amazing agreement from the GFS ensembles, as well. They, too, are showing nary a flake flying during this period.
Such agreement, out so far, leads to a very high confidence that we will NOT see more than 1" of snow from now through August 26.
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Pamela Anderson is now selling her own artisanal pickles for $38 a jar.
The recipe was inspired by one that was passed down to her by her great-aunt Vie. It features "rose, dill, mustard, and garlic." They're "hot and vegan" . . . like Pamela . . . and 100% of the proceeds will benefit the California Wildlife Center.
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It's rare for a song to be perfect in one take. Sometimes vocals have to be re-recorded, or even the instrumental. UltimateClassicRock.com put together a list of popular rock songs and how many takes it took to record them.
Here are some highlights:
1. "Refugee", Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers: 100 takes
2. "Creep", Radiohead: 1
3. "Smells Like Teen Spirit", Nirvana: 3
4. "Heroes", David Bowie: 3
5. "Start Me Up", The Rolling Stones: 38
6. "Working Class Hero", John Lennon: 120 to 130
7. "Every Breath You Take", The Police: 1
8. "Riders on the Storm", The Doors: 2 or 3
9. "All Along the Watchtower", The Jimi Hendrix Experience: 27
10. "La Grange", ZZ Top: 3
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An NBA all-star went on Instagram Live to ask America how to use a CAN OPENER.
Tyrese Maxey of the Philadelphia 76ers is going viral after the video of him struggling (badly) with his can opener made its way around the internet.
It starts with him saying, "I need help." He explains that he needs to "feed his dogs," and he admits that he has no clue how to use the can opener. He says that he usually has his chef help him, but they were off that day.
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Today's Useless Fact of the Day - There's a town called Zilwaukee in Michigan. The founders chose the name in 1848 to try to confuse people who were planning to move to Milwaukee so they'd accidentally move there instead.
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