Thursday 9/12/24
Celebrate:
National Chocolate Milkshake Day
National Day of Encouragement
National Hug and High Five Day
National Just One Human Family Day
National Police Woman Day
National Report Medicare Fraud Day
Programmers' Day
Video Games Day
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Yesterday was 9/11.
A new poll asked 3,000 Americans, "Do you remember where you were on September 11th, 2001, when you heard about the 9/11 attacks?"
78% of people said YES. BUT that number includes 18- to 29-year-olds, who were either not born or were under seven years old. Only 30% of them say they remember it . . . but that number surges to 83% for Millennials . . . 94% among Gen X'ers . . . and 97% of Boomers. Which makes sense.
Still, roughly 4% of those who were old enough to remember where they were, don't for whatever reason.
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It's the end of an era: Campbell Soup is over . . . in name, at least. They just announced that they're planning to drop the "Soup" and re-name themselves "The Campbell's Company."
The CEO said, "Today we're so much more than soup."
The idea is that they have a whole bunch of brands and products now, like Pepperidge Farm breads, crackers, and cookies . . . Pace salsa . . . Prego and Rao's sauces . . . Snyder's pretzels . . . and Kettle potato chips.
So they'd like to use the Campbell's name across more of that, to expand the company's umbrella beyond just "soup."
The higher-ups specifically mentioned Goldfish crackers, which they also own. They expect Goldfish snacks to become their largest brand by 2027.
Dunkin did this because they are more than donuts.
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September is National Preparedness Month. The government launched it three years after 9/11 to encourage us to be ready for ANY type of crisis.
A new poll for it looked at the top things we'd grab if we had to evacuate in five minutes. Can you guess what #1 is? And is it the first thing YOU'D grab?
People and pets weren't an option, because obviously you grab them first. Here are the Top 10 . . .
1. Your phone. 74% said it's one of the first things they'd grab.
2. Your wallet or purse.
3. Important documents, like passports and Social Security cards.
4. Prescription medications.
5. Family photo albums.
6. Extra clothes.
7. Your laptop.
8. Shoes. So, some of us would grab our laptop . . . and run outside barefoot.
9. Water.
10. Food or snacks.
A few more that ranked high were jewelry . . . toiletries . . . and 10% said they'd grab their gaming console.
36% of Americans think they're more prepared than anyone else. Partner or spouse was next with 14% of the vote, followed by "my MOM" at 11%.
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What this says about America is kinda sad, but last night, Kamala Harris got what might just be the most important endorsement of her campaign: Taylor Swift.
After watching the debate, Taylor posted her support for Kamala on Instagram.
She said, quote, "I'm voting for Kamala Harris because she fights for the rights and causes I believe need a warrior to champion them.
"I think she is a steady-handed, gifted leader and I believe we can accomplish so much more in this country if we are led by calm and not chaos.
"I was so heartened and impressed by her selection of running mate Tim Walz, who has been standing up for LGBTQ+ rights, IVF, and a woman's right to her own body for decades."
She also told her fans to do their own research and make their own choice.
And she signed it, "Taylor Swift, Childless Cat Lady."
Oh, and it was accompanied by a picture of Taylor with her cat Benjamin Button.
MSNBC read the statement live while interviewing VP Candidate Walz.
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Hotels.com released a list of UNUSUAL room service requests. They include:
1. An Evian-filled bathtub . . . so a child "can bathe in the purest water."
2. A customized allergen menu for their pet . . . "gluten free, dairy free."
3. Burnt toast.
4. A caviar hot dog.
5. Fresh goat milk.
6. Four pounds of bananas.
7. A "high-five" from a team member . . . "to ensure their room service request was read."
They also have a list of the strangest belongings that were left behind . . . and those include:
1. Expensive stuff, like: A Rolex . . . a Birkin bag . . . and a $6 million watch.
2. Animals: A chick and pet lizard were found and returned after their owner checked out.
3. Essentials: Guests forgot two full-leg casts . . . and 10% of hotels say that guests have left behind their dentures.
4. The unexplainable: Other lost and found items include a rice cooker . . . a car tire . . . a blender . . . and construction pipes.
See the full article here.
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The Verge had an article about the new iPhone 16 that will be coming, and asked the question - are the announcements enough for you to upgrade?
One of the new features is a visual intelligence feature where you can take a picture and then get information about it. Let’s say you take a picture of a cute pooch at the park. Now, “you can get prices on dog breeds; you can get locations, phone numbers, addresses, websites at the touch of a button.”
Yes the camera is better, but there are many features that it can do that aren't ready yet. Much in the AI world.
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Fire officials in Virginia were called to a home in the Richmond area, when a homeowner reported that their OVEN had "exploded."
When the firefighters showed up, they found the oven . . . exploded . . . and a HANDGUN inside. Apparently, someone had turned on the oven, which heated up a LOADED gun . . . and five rounds went off.
Fortunately, no one was hurt, despite the fact that at least one of the rounds shot through the front glass. There aren't any further details on WHY the gun was in the oven, or if the person who turned on the oven had put it there.
In a post on Facebook, fire officials shared this life hack: "When you place any item in the oven it is easy to forget it is there, which can lead to a fire or something worse when you turn it on. You should also make sure to properly store your firearms. Keep them somewhere secure, like a gun safe."
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Today’s Useless Fact of the Day - Since Ecuador is split by the equator, winter and summer happen at the same time. When the north part of the country is having winter, the south is having summer, and vice versa. Locals say they have just two seasons: Wet and dry.
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Check out the web version of this briefing, along with The Anniversary Song of the Day and more content, on the web at https://bribriny.wixsite.com/brianbriefing
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