There are three types of people out there:  Those who can take care of houseplants . . . those who will kill houseplants . . . and those who will kill houseplants immediately. A new poll asked Americans if they could keep a houseplant alive for at least six months, and 33% of people are confident they could.  Another 33% said that they probably could. 10% said there's NO CHANCE it lasts six months . . . and another 14% said it's "not very likely." Growing plants are really simple. Just add water, but not too much, and allow it to get sun, [...]

Is this brilliant, or are pet owners nuts?  Like here and everywhere else, it's been hot in Japan this summer.  And it's causing a new trend to take off. People are now strapping portable FANS to their cats and dogs.  (???)  They're called "Cool Dog" vests, and a company in Tokyo is selling them. The owner came up with the idea when she saw how hot and exhausted her chihuahua was when she took him on walks. Each fan weighs three ounces, and it's attached to a mesh vest they have to wear.  The vest itself probably makes them a little warmer, [...]

Dr. James Bellini is a futurologist in England.  Which apparently is a real thing.  "Futurologist," not "England."  We know England is a real thing. He's talking about things that he expects to be "mainstream" by 2050 . . . which means they'll be accessible to everyday people, not just super rich techies.  His list includes: 1.  Households will be using drones to stock the fridge. 2.  We'll grow food in vertical farms, where fields stretch upwards not outwards. 3.  Kitchens will operate almost entirely without water, using ultrasonic waves to clean surfaces.  Also, washing machines will use high-tech beads to destroy [...]

Private jets are the new fur:  That silly extravagance that celebrities are being pressured more and more to give up on.  And now there's a Twitter account that's helping to apply that pressure. It's called Celebrity Jets, and it tracks famous people's private jet flights . . . revealing how long the flights were and how much jet fuel was used.  And it's pretty eye-opening. You may have heard that Kylie Jenner took a 17-minute flight recently, from Camarillo to Van Nuys, California.  The trip would have taken her about 45 minutes by car, depending on traffic. Well, she's not the only offender.  Not by a [...]

Thursday's History Lesson:  July 21st is the 202nd day of the year. There are 163 days remaining until the end of the year Today is National Junk Food Day There are 46 days left until Labor Day There are 102 days left until Halloween There are 108 days left until Daylight Saving Time ends On this date in 1873,  The first successful train robbery occurs in Adair, Iowa when Jesse James and the James-Younger Gain rob the train  On this date in 1899, Ernest Hemingway, American novelist, short story writer and journalist, was born (d. 1961) On this date in 1925, John [...]

An old song from 1985 has sored up the charts of late. Kate Bush's single "Running up That Hill" is the hit song in the popular Netflix show Stranger Things. Season 4 was released a few days ago, and the whole world heard Kate Bush's song. "Kate Bush is selective when it comes to licensing her music," Wendy Crowley, Sony Music Publishing's SVP of creative marketing, film and tv said to Variety. Due to that they had to get script pages and clips to show Kate of how her song would be used in the show. "I have a running expression [...]

Mother's Day Survey A new Mother's Day survey by One Poll reveals that 86% of people say their mother is the hardest-working person they know. Other findings: - 69% of people say their mother doesn't get enough credit for all she does - 70% of people say their mom is their best friend - 63% of people would classify their mother as a superhero who can take on any challenge and resolve it with grace - the average person plans to spend $300 on their Mother's Day gift Top Mother's Day Presents ... According to a new survey by One Poll photo [...]

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — State corrections officials are looking to launch a prison tattoo program in hopes of curbing bloodborne diseases as inmates ink themselves with homemade tools. The Corrections Department is searching for an experienced tattoo artist to oversee tattoo studios in state prisons. The aim is to slow the spread of diseases like Hepatitis C which can spread when inmates try to tattoo themselves or each other with unsterilized tools like electric motors and ballpoint pens and share contaminated needles. Officials hope to make tattooing safer by placing it in a controlled setting. RESOURCE: Southern Minnesota News

On Saturday, April 16, 2022, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration said that it is investigating Lucky Charms cereal after dozens of customers complained of illness after eating the product. The FDA said Saturday it has received more than 100 complaints related to Lucky Charms so far this year. Several hundred people have also posted on a food safety website, iwaspoisoned.com, complaining of nausea, diarrhea and vomiting after eating Lucky Charms! General Mills Inc., the Minneapolis-based company that makes Lucky Charms and other cereals, said it’s taking those reports seriously. But the company said its own investigation has not found evidence [...]

Today is International Waffle Day, National Medal of Honor Day and National Bridesmaid Day There are 23 days left until Easter There are 41 days left until Cinco de Mayo There are 44 days left until Mother's Day -- On this date in 1668, the U.S.'s first official horse race took place -- On this date in 1863, The first Army Medal of Honor awarded -- On this date in 1942, Aretha Franklin was born -- On this date in 1954, RCA introduced the color TV -- On this date in 1965, the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. led 25,000 marchers [...]