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Overnight Briefing & General Reality Check - Nov 26, 2014
November 26, 2014
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A Poem for Thanksgiving:
I Am Thankful
By Eleanor Campbell
(clear throat here)
I am thankful for many things,
For the flowers that bloom,
For the birds that sing.
But, when November skies grow murky,
I'm most thankful I'm not a turkey.
Editor's note: Thanks and a tip of the RBR's fedora to Donald Funk for the poem!Turkey health tip:
The CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) in Atlanta says there are two things you don't want to do as you cook your gobbler this Thanksgiving:
1. put raw eggs in the stuffing, or
2. undercook the turkey.
They say the stuffing should be at least 165 degrees and the bird's thighs should reach 180 degrees to kill any bacteria present. Otherwise, you're looking at a potential for food poisoning.
PS: Salmonella KILLS 500 people a year.Factoid:
The National Turkey Federation says 95 percent of Americans eat turkey on Thanksgiving --average weight of the family bird: 15 pounds. Yeah, that's nearly 700 million pounds of turkey will be eaten tomorrow.
Factoid:
Frazee, MN, is home to the world's largest turkey. It's 22 feet high. It's a statue.
Turkey Quotable:
"I wish the bald eagle had not been chosen as the representative of our country; he is a bird of bad moral character... The turkey is, in comparison, a much more respectable bird, and withal a true original native of America... He is, though a little vain and silly, it is true, but not the worse emblem for that, a bird of courage, and would not hesitate to attack a grenadier of the British guards." (BENJAMIN FRANKLIN, in a letter dated January 26, 1784)
Five holiday tips from Dr Phil:
Every year, Dr PHIL McGRAW shares some holiday advice on how not to only survive the holiday season, but enjoy it as well.
1. Are your expectations realistic? What gets people upset is not what actually happens, but having their expectancies violated. If you want everything to be perfect, from dinner starting on time to all the kids behaving, you're probably setting yourself up for disappointment. Based on results, are your expectancies realistic? Lower them so you're not frustrated year after year.
2. Remember what the holidays are really about --family togetherness, spiritual enlightenment and camaraderie with friends often times get lost. It's easy to get caught up in all the details of shopping, cooking and entertaining, but what's really important is being with the ones you love.
3. Lighten up and go with the flow. Take a step back and relax. When your family gets on your nerves, laugh it off.
4. Remember that the Thanksgiving meal is not a problem-solving session. Deal with your family issues another time.
5. If the holidays make you feel empty, give to others who are less fortunate --the best way to get is to give.Taking everything much too seriously:
Animal rights activists in California held a funeral for a frozen chicken.
The California-based group Direct Action Everywhere showed up at a Berkeley grocery store to conduct their "funeral". In a video of the incident, a man is seen selecting a frozen chicken from the freezer section before yelling "It's not food, it's violence." Mourners in black suddenly appear carrying flowers as the chicken in lowered into a casket. The group has organized similar protests before. (Still)Grace notes:
There was a major music star in the crowd of protestors Monday night in Seattle after no charges were filed against the cop who shot and killed MICHAEL BROWN. TMZ.com says MACKLEMORE was marching and joining in the chant of "Don't Shoot! Hands Up!" When a photographer asked Macklemore why he was there, the rapper repeated more than a few times that (quote), "It's all about Mike Brown." The protests in Seattle did get violent, but there's no word on whether or not Macklemore got involved with any of that. (Marino)
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