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On December 13, 1958, I was born. Also on that day, a monkey was shot into space. I bet he was bald and grumpy.

Starbright Village

One of Odessa's most spectacular Christmas displays, which we like to visit, is called Starbright Village. Each year the city decorates McKinney Park, on the south side of town right by interstate 20, with lighted Christmas scenes. Some of the scenes include a Nativity, a Gingerbread House and a fountain of animated water made of lights. Some displays are as tall as 22 feet and span more than 200 feet. One of the best sights at Starbright Village is the City of Odessa Christmas Tree. It stands 50 feet tall with 600 separate boughs and is adorned with more than 3,500 lights. This year there is a driving tour of the park as well as a walking tour.

More info: http://www.heritageholiday.org/

All Too True

Holiday News

Santas Warned "ho ho ho" offensive to women
Wed Nov 14, 11:04 PM ET

Santas in Australia 's largest city have been told not to use Father Christmas's traditional "ho ho ho" greeting because it may be offensive to women, it was reported Thursday.

Sydney 's Santa Clauses have instead been instructed to say "ha ha ha" instead, the Daily Telegraph reported.

One disgruntled Santa told the newspaper a recruitment firm warned him not to use "ho ho ho" because it could frighten children and was too close to "ho", a US slang term for prostitute.

"Gimme a break," said Julie Gale, who runs the campaign against sexualising children called Kids Free 2B Kids.

"We are talking about little kids who do not understand that "ho, ho, ho" has any other connotation and nor should they," she told the Telegraph.
"Leave Santa alone."

A local spokesman for the US-based Westaff recruitment firm said it was "misleading" to say the company had banned Santa's traditional greeting and it was being left up to the discretion of the individual Santa himself.

December 7, 2007

Manhattan grocery store advertises hams as Hanukkah food

by the ASSOCIATED PRESS
NEW YORK - Here's a food ad that REALLY wasn't kosher.

A grocery store in Manhattan is apologizing after touting its hams as "Delicious for Chanukah."

Chanukah - an alternate spelling for Hanukkah - is the eight-day Jewish holiday that began Tuesday evening.

Hams - as well as pork and other products from pigs - can't be eaten under Jewish dietary laws.

A woman who saw the mistake over the weekend at the Balducci's store on 14th Street took pictures of the signs and posted them on her blog.

Jennifer Barton, director of marketing, told The Associated Press on Thursday that the signs were changed as soon as the food faux pas was noted.

She issued an apology on the company website, saying Balducci's would be reviewing its employee training.

Answers

1. The third room. Lions that haven't eaten in three years are dead. That one was easy, right?

2. The woman was a photographer. She shot a picture of her husband, developed it, and hung it up to dry (shot; held under water; and hung).

3.. Charcoal, as it is used in barbecuing.

4. Sure you can name three consecutive days, yesterday, today, and tomorrow!

5. The letter e, which is the most common letter used in the English language, does not appear even once in the paragraph.

(From Shroyers Time in Salmon)

Riddles

1. A murderer is condemned to death. He has to choose between three rooms. The first is full of raging fires, the second is full of assassins with loaded guns, and the third is full of lions that haven't eaten in 3 years. Which room is safest for him?

2. A woman shoots her husband. Then she holds him under water for over 5 minutes. Finally, she hangs him. But 5 minutes later they both go out together and enjoy a wonderful dinner together. How can this be?

3. What is black when you buy it, red when you use it, and gray when you throw it away ?

4. Can you name three consecutive days without using the words Wednesday, Friday, or Sunday?

5. This is an unusual paragraph. I'm curious as to just how quickly you can find out what is so unusual about it. It looks so ordinary and plain that you would think nothing was wrong with it. In fact, nothing is wrong with it! It is highly unusual though. Study it and think about it, but you still may not find anything odd. But if you work at it a bit, you might find out. Try to do so without any coaching!



Next time: The Answers!

For the Person Who Has Everything

Now that you've gone out and bought a Stay Away Law Candle for everyone on your list, here's another great gift idea. From a blog called J-wild:

"Who doesn't need a Wine Glass Holder from Wine Enthusiast for parties and the like. Who hasn't been at a party and wished they had both hands free. I mean it's such a distraction to pick up and put down your wine. If you can just wear it around your neck then you can cut out the awkwardness right!?"

And while you're at it, check out this wine blog.