CAROLINA NATURALLY

Sunday, December 25, 2016

Things That Confuse Americans About British Xmas Traditions

Xmas poppers, figgy pudding and mince pies? They're some of the most common Xmas traditions across the pond, but those words make almost no sense to practically any American. Fortunately for those hoping to get a better idea of what the Brits are doing for Xmas, Mental Floss has collected a whole list of traditions in England that make no sense to those living elsewhere. If you watch Doctor Who or other BBC shows with a Xmas special, it's a great way to understand what the heck they're up to.

So check out the full list (including what Boxing Day is) over at Mental Floss.

Candy

Xmas shopping

Norm and Shirley were in a local shopping center just before Xmas. Shirley suddenly noticed that Norm was missing, and as they had a lot to do, she called him on his cell phone. Shirley asked, “Norm, where are you? You know that we have lots to do.”
Norm said, “Do you remember the jewelry store we went into about 59 years ago, and you fell in love with a diamond necklace? I could not afford it at the time, and I said that one day I would get it for you.”
Little tears started to flow down Shirley’s cheek, and she got all choked up. “Yes, I do remember that shop,” she replied.
“Well, I’m in the Hooters next to that store.”

The 'Santa Lie'

How the 'Santa Lie' Helps Teach Children to Be Good Little Consumers

Soap

Xmas Grinch Popcorn

Here's a recipe so easy the kids can do it -and they need something to do during Xmas break. Xmas Grinch Popcorn would also be perfect to much on whirl watching How the Grinch Stole Xmas. The popcorn is coated with green candy, and decorated with M&Ms, hearts (three sizes too small, of course) and red Grinch eyes. Get the recipe and instructions at Kitchen Fun with My Three Sons.

The 5 States (and One City) Where You Can Legally Give Weed as a Xmas Present

The 5 States (and One City) Where You Can Legally Give Weed as a Xmas Present

Brownies

This Pizza Inside a Burger is the Sexiest Food Creation We've Ever Seen

Pizza and burgers are two of the most incredible junk foods in the history of snacking and while there are plenty of cheeseburger pizzas out there -they're usually a poor combination of both with just hamburger and pickles thrown on top of a pizza.

(Video Link)

But this pizza by Hellthy Junk Food truly combines the two foods -with a bacon cheeseburger complete with pickles, ketchup and mustard surrounded by a pepperoni pizza. You can learn how to make this monstrosity for yourself, but make sure your heart can handle such a monster meal before daring to consume it. The recipe is here.

The Craziest Flavored Vodkas Ever

There's nothing quite like a shot of fresh cut grass. Or smoked salmon. No, really, those are real flavors of vodka and they're only two of the thirty five insance flavors featured in this Supercall article. While most are a little odd, but at least charming (bubble gum or cinnamon churros), there are others that are utterly terrible sounding -like tobacco or the naga chilli that measures in at 250,000 scovilles.

See the full list here

Retro Ads

You Could Voice a Dog in the New Wes Anderson Movie

Wes Anderson has recently announced that his next film will be an animated feature about dogs called "Isle of Dogs." To help promote the film and raise money for The Film Foundation, he's launched a crowd funding campaign where all money goes to the non-profit and contributors can win prizes like DVDs and books signed by the director. But that's nothing compared to the grand prize -a trip for two to London, a tour of the production and the opportunity to voice one of the dogs in the movie. If you've ever wanted to live forever in film but have a face for radio, this might just be your big chance.

Get the full details on the contest over at The Daily Dot.

Is the Media Normalizing the KKK?

After Trump, Is the Media Normalizing the KKK?

NSA Employee of the Month

A Gang Of Naughty Santas Raided And Robbed A Bar In NYC

In the last five years SantaCon NYC has gone from being a fun Christmas-themed costume party in the streets to a full blown night of drunken debauchery and mayhem that would make Krampus proud.
And this year the drunken SantaCon crowd took their crusade to ruin Santa Claus for all children to the next level- by raiding and robbing a bar in New York's East Village neighborhood.

According to Paul O'Sullivan, owner of the One and One pub, a group of bad Santas entered the pub's lower lounge area around 2 p.m. and "managed to storm in, rob all the booze, smash up all the glassware and steal all the Christmas decorations," causing $5,000 in damages.O'Sullivan said he came in to see half a dozen Santas standing on the bar drinking liquor straight out of the bottles, while "maybe a hundred more" passed around stolen booze and smashed glasses.
Sounds like somebody needs to start a KrampusCon in NYC so the disciples of Krampus can run all those bad Santas out of town!

Backpage.com hit with new pimping, money-laundering charges in California

Carl Ferrer, James Larkin, Michael Lacey

Cookies and Milk

Colo, The World's Oldest Gorilla, Just Turned 60

The lifespan of gorillas ranges from about 30-40, so when Colo celebrated her 60th birthday yesterday, it was kind of a big deal. The western lowland gorilla was actually the first gorilla born in human care all the way back in 1956.

When she was born, keepers knew little about the animal's pregnancy so she was born weeks earlier than expected. She was abandoned by her mom at birth, so keepers learned a lot about gorillas as they had to raise her by hand. Between giving birth to three babies and teaching keepers about gorillas' lifespan, she has helped gorilla conservation efforts considerably.If you want to see Colo in person, you can visit her at the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium in Ohio and if you want to learn more about her, you can read about her at Yahoo.

Xmas Fun for Big Cats

The cats of Big Cat Rescue get their Xmas treats just like house cats: trees, boxes, gift wrap, and even paper ornaments. What else could a cat want?

(YouTube link)

Watch tigers, cougars, bobcats, leopards, and a serval destroy the accoutrements of the holiday

Animal Pictures

Saturday, December 24, 2016

The Daily Drift

Welcome to Today's Edition of
Carolina Naturally

The 24th Xmas Tree ...!

Carolina Naturally is read in 210 countries around the world daily.

Santa is coming ... !

Today is - Xmas Eve

You want the unvarnished truth?

Don't forget to visit: The Truth Be Told
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The Pacific
Australia - French Polynesia - Guam - Marshall Islands - New Zealand - Papua New Guinea Philippines

Don't forget to visit our sister blogs Here and Here.

Today in History

1638		The Ottomans under Murad IV recapture Baghdad from Safavid Persia.
1812		Joel Barlow, aged 58, American poet and lawyer, dies from exposure near Vilna, Poland, during Napoleon’s retreat from Moscow. Barlow was on a diplomatic mission to the emperor for President Madison.
1814		A treaty of peace between the United States and Great Britain, ending the War of 1812, is signed at Ghent, Belgium. The news does not reach the United States until two weeks later (after the decisive American victory at New Orleans).
1861		The USS Gem of the Sea destroys the British blockade runner Prince of Wales off the coast at Georgetown, S.C.
1862		A Christmas present arrives a day early for the Federal troops at Columbus, Kentucky, in the way of artillery on board the USS New Era.
1914		Over 577,000 Allied soldiers are to spend Christmas as prisoners in Germany.
1917		The Kaiser warns Russia that he will use “iron fist” and “shining sword” if peace is spurned.
1943		General Dwight D. Eisenhower is appointed the Allied Supreme Commander, even though almost everyone believed the position would go to American Chief of Staff George C. Marshall.
1947		An estimated 20,000 communists, led by guerrilla General Markos Vafthiades proclaim the Free Greek Government in northern Greece. They issue a call to arms to establish the regime throughout the nation.
1956		African Americans defy a city law in Tallahassee, Florida, and occupy front bus seats.
1963		New York’s Idlewild Airport is renamed JFK Airport in honor of the murdered President Kennedy.
1964		The U.S. headquarters in Saigon is hit by a bomb killing two officers.
1966		A Soviet research vehicle soft-lands on the moon.
1967		The Greek Junta frees ex-Premier Papandreou.
1968		The first pictures of an Earth-rise over the moon are seen as the crew of Apollo 8 orbits the moon.
1970		Nine GIs are killed and nine are wounded by friendly fire in Vietnam.
1972		Hanoi bars all peace talks with the United States until U.S. air raids over North Vietnam stop.
1974		An oil tanker’s spill pollutes 1,600 square miles of Japan’s Inland Sea.
1974		Cyclone Tracy devastates Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia, destroying more than 70 percent of the city’s buildings, including 80 percent of its houses.
2005		Chad declares a state of war against Sudan in the wake of the Dec. 18 attack on the town of Adre, in which approximately 100 people were killed.

'A Big Pile Of Shit.'

Dame Helen Mirren Reviews 2016

It's better than the Queen!

What's The Point Of Revolving Doors?

Revolving doors are generally only found on the front of hotels and big buildings these days, so I'd always assumed they were there to help people with luggage or briefcases easily enter the building.

But they were created to be so much more than just a convenient way to enter a building- they're a clever way to regulate a building's air pressure and temperature, and thereby cut down on energy costs:

When revolving doors replace swing doors, they can save up to 30 percent in energy costs, or as Rockefeller University explains, “267 BTUs of heat energy, roughly equivalent to 1.3 hours of light from an incandescent lamp, 4.3 hours of light from a compact fluorescent bulb or .06 miles of fuel for an automobile.”

Creator of the revolving door Theophilus Van Kannel also saw them as a clever way to sidestep the issue of men opening doors for women, a social convention he greatly disliked.

Read What's The Point Of Revolving Doors? at mental_floss

Thanks President Obama: Manufacturing Jobs Hits Decade High

Thanks Obama: Manufacturing Jobs Hits Decade High

Wingnuts say the Democrats ignored manufacturing jobs, but the facts are just the opposite.

House Wingnuts Seek Destruction Of School Lunch Program Because They Hate Kids

The National School Lunch program that provides healthy free or reduced meals for children in need has joined Social Security, Medicaid, and Medicare as yet another program wingnuts want to gut in 2017.

Can Mouthwash Kill Gonorrhea?

Can Mouthwash Kill Gonorrhea?

Listerine just might.

Why women prefer men with tattoos as sex partners

Why women prefer men with tattoos as sex partners

Oh No! Not The Porn!

Sometimes you just gotta love the South Carolina Belles of Heaven Wingnut Women’s Cabal, if only because nobody else does.

Oklahoma Legislature used taxpayer dollars to settle wingnut’s sexual harassment complaint in secret

Oklahoma Legislature used taxpayer dollars to settle wingnut’s sexual harassment complaint in secret

Her termination was allegedly in retaliation for her reporting that the wingnut she worked for sexually harassed her at work. Now she's getting a payout thanks to taxpayers.

How the Nazis co-opted Xmas

How the Nazis co-opted Xmas

In 1921, in a Munich beer hall, newly appointed Nazi party leader Adolf Hitler gave a Xmas speech to an excited crowd. According to undercover police observers, 4,000 supporters cheered when Hitler condemned “the cowardly Jews for breaking the world-liberator on the cross."

Black piano player used music and friendship to reform 200 white supremacists

Black piano player used music and friendship to reform 200 white supremacists

Actor and blues musician Daryl Davis brings a whole new meaning to the adage "you get more flies with honey."

Colts cheerleader blames ‘Dumbass Trump effect’ after white teen apologizes for calling her a ‘nigger’

Colts cheerleader blames ‘Dumbass Trump effect’ after white teen apologizes for calling her a ‘nigger’

An Indianapolis Colts cheerleader blames the “Dumbass Trump effect” for a teenager insulting her with a racial slur on social media.

‘Pharma bro’ responds to scathing Senate findings by bragging about women and money

‘Pharma bro’ responds to scathing Senate findings by bragging about women and money

A new U.S. Senate report detailed how “Pharma Bro” Martin Shkreli and his company targeted a drug as a potential moneymaker and jacked up prices — and the disgraced businessman responded to critics with petty taunts.

Black Woman Reports White Man For Choking Her Son, Cop Shows Up And Attacks Her

Black Woman Reports White Man For Choking Her Son, Cop Shows Up And Attacks Her

Walmart may be discontinuing the sale of Black Lives Matter t-shirts because a police union whined that the shirts hurt their precious little fee-fees,...

Mississippi man pleads guilty to first federal hate crime for killing transgender ex

Mississippi man pleads guilty to first federal hate crime for killing transgender ex

A Mississippi man pleaded guilty Thursday to a federal hate crime for killing an Alabama transgender teenager whom he had dated.

Foiled Again! Wacky KKK Guy Wants MAGA Death Ray, Gets Jail

All a member of the Ku Klux Klan wanted was to take his country back with his anti-Muslim Death Ray. Is that too much to ask? The FBI said yes it is.

Meek dinosaur revealed to have been born with teeth but lost lost them in adulthood

Meek dinosaur revealed to have been born with teeth but lost lost them in adulthood

Three new species of 'monstrous' parasitoid wasps discovered

Three new species of 'monstrous' parasitoid wasps discovered

Animal Pictures

Friday, December 23, 2016

The Daily Drift

Welcome to Today's Edition of
Carolina Naturally

The 23rd Xmas Tree ...!

Carolina Naturally is read in 210 countries around the world daily.

Let your light shine ... !

Today is -The Human Light Celebration

You want the unvarnished truth?

Don't forget to visit our sister blogs Here and Here.

Today in History

1861		Lord Lyons, The British minister to America presents a formal complaint to secretary of state, William Seward, regarding the Trent affair.
1900		The Federal Party, which recognizes American sovereignty, is formed in the Philippines.
1919		Great Britain institutes a new constitution for India.
1921		Harding frees Socialist Eugene Debs and 23 other political prisoners.
1933		Pope Pius XI condemns the Nazi sterilization program.
1937		London warns Rome to stop anti-British propaganda in Palestine.
1939		The first Canadian troops arrive in Britain.
1940		Chiang Kai-shek dissolves all Communist associations in China.
1941		Despite throwing back an earlier Japanese amphibious assault, the U.S. Marines and Navy defenders on Wake Island capitulate to a second Japanese invasion.
1944		General Dwight D. Eisenhower confirms the death sentence of Private Eddie Slovik, the only American shot for desertion since the Civil War.
1947		President Harry S Truman grants a pardon to 1,523 who had evaded the World War II draft.
1948		Japan’s Prime Minister, Hideki Tojo and six other collaborators are hanged for war crimes.
1950		General Walton H. Walker, the commander of the Eighth Army in Korea, is killed in a jeep accident. Lieutenant General Matthew B. Ridgeway is named his successor.
1967		U.S. Navy SEALs are ambushed during an operation southeast of Saigon.
1974		The B-1 bomber makes its first successful test flight.
1986		The Voyager completes the first nonstop flight around the globe on one load of fuel. The experimental aircraft, piloted by Americans Dick Rutan and Jeana Yeager, landed at Edwards Air Force Base in California after nine days and four minutes in the sky.
1990		In a referendum on Sovlenia’s independence from Yugoslovia, 88.5% vote in favor of independence.
2002		An Iraqi MiG-25 shoots down a US MQ-1 Predator drone.

‘Britain’s Atlantis’ found at bottom of the North sea

‘Britain’s Atlantis’ found at bottom of the North sea – a huge undersea world swallowed by the sea in 7000BC

Doggerland was an area of land, now lying beneath the southern North Sea, that connected Great Britain to mainland Europe during and after the last Ice Age. It was then gradually flooded by rising sea levels around 6,500–6,200 BCE.

More

The Mystery of Why Chattanooga Raised Its Downtown

The oldest buildings in downtown Chattanooga, Tennessee, have strange things underground. Basements have windows and doors that go nowhere. Most are bricked up, but you can tell what they were. Construction workers have found cut tree stumps eight feet down. Sometime between 1875 and 1905, the entire downtown area was raised up a floor, and the buildings' second floors became their first floor. Unlike some other such towns, you can't explore the abandoned level, because the roads between the buildings were filled in, and the spaces are private property anyway. The strange thing is, city records do not tell us when it happened, or why- although they had reasons. The city had occasional floods and a drainage problem, and then there was yellow fever.

More motivation arrived in the summer of 1878, when yellow fever spread across the Mississippi River basin, striking its victims with jaundiced skin and black vomit, and killing thousands. In Chattanooga, 140 people in the city of 12,000 died.
People at the time didn’t know the true carrier of the disease, Aedes Aegypti mosquitoes, which can spread the Zika virus of today. But Chattanooga’s then-Registrar of Vital Statistics, J. H. Vandeman, was onto something when he wrote: “The more filth, the more yellow fever; the lower the ground, the poorer the drainage and water supply, there you would find this disease the worst.”

Whenever it happened, changing the ground level helped with flooding, sewer function, and general swampiness. Read what we know about Chattanooga's mysterious urban redesign at Atlas Obscura.

Pregnancy Changes Your Brain

New Study: Pregnancy Changes Your Brain So You Can Be a Better Mom

McDonald's 'Value Meals' Lack Value

McDonald's Could Be Forced to Issue Refunds If Lawsuit Proves 'Value Meals' Lack Value

It's McDonald's, of course there is no 'value' in their "value meals".

Missouri students who fight at school could soon receive prison time no matter how old they are

Missouri students who fight at school could soon receive prison time no matter how old they are

According to the ACLU, “zero-tolerance” policies — such as a felony charge for fighting — lead to the criminalization of students for infractions that should be dealt with in the school rather than by the legal system.

‘Get my work off your walls’

‘Get my work off your walls’: Artists are horrified to be in Ivanka Trump’s art collection

Ivanka Trump is so proud of her status as an art collector that she's made it part of her personal brand. Some of the artists in that collection, however, are less than eager to be used as aesthetic window dressing for the 35-year-old heiress and her Instagram feed.

‘The dark days of the 1930s’

‘The dark days of the 1930s’: Prince Charles decries religious persecution — and issues a veiled warning about Dumbass Trump

Prince Charles delivered a public address this week where he decried the rise in religious persecution — and many in the U.K. see a thinly veiled swipe at Dumbass Trump in his remarks.

***

Veiled? Thinly veiled our sweet arse, it is bold and upfront. Prince Charles has a brain unlike the Dumbass and he just put the Dumbass in his place.

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Sunday, December 25, 2016

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