yule log

and speaking of......Yule Log. A Yule log is an enormous log that is typically burned during the Twelve Days of Christmas (December 25-January 6). Some scholars suggest that the word yule means 'revolution' or 'wheel,' which symbolizes the cyclical return of the sun. A burning log or its charred remains is said to offer health, fertility, and luck as well as the ability to ward off evil spirits. www.RandomHistory.com

our largest city

and speaking of......Facts. The largest city in area in the United States is Juneau, Alaska! With 2593.6 square miles it is much bigger than the second-largest, Anchorage (1697.6 square miles). The rest of the top ten are: Jacksonville, FL; Butte-Silver Bow, MT; Oklahoma City; Houston; Nashville-Davidson, TN; Los Angeles; Phoenix; and Suffolk City, VA. Provided by Reference.com

thanksgiving

and speaking of......Thanksgiving. As we gather around our Thanksgiving tables again this year, it is a fitting time to reflect on how the events of our rich history have affected those we care about and those who came before us. Thanksgiving has become a day when Americans extend a helping hand to the less fortunate. Long before there was a government welfare program, this spirit of voluntary giving was ingrained in the American character. Americans have always understand that, truly, one must give in order to receive. Wikiquote

the great depression

and speaking of......the depression. During the worst years of the Depression (1933-1934) the overall jobless rate was 25% (1 out of 4 people) with another 25% taking wage cuts or working part time. The gross national product fell by almost 50%. It was not until 1941, when WWII was underway, that unemployment officially fell back below 10%. Provided by RandomHistory.com

fast food

and speaking of......fast food. The rise in the fast food industry has been linked to rising cases of obesity. The CDC estimates that 248,000 Americans die prematurely due to obesity and considers obesity as the number two cause of preventable death in the US (the number one cause is smoking). Provided by RandomHistory.com

beware of the 'dear' deer

and speaking of......Deer. In North America, you might fear the grizzly, but it's white-tailed deer that kill an average of 130 Americans per year by causing auto accidents. Deer collide with cars more than 1.5 million times per year. Provided by The World Almanac 2011

the 'mighty' heart

and speaking of......the heart. Though weighing only 11 ounces on average, a healthy heart pumps 2,000 gallons of blood through 60,000 miles of blood vessels each day. And......Blood is actually a tissue. When the body is at rest, it takes only six seconds for the blood to go from the heart to the lungs and back, only eight seconds for it to go the brain and back, and only 16 seconds for it to reach the toes and travel all the way back to the heart. Provided by RandomHistory.com

kansas

and speaking of......Kansas. Kansas is the geographic center of the 48 states - marked in a pasture in Lebanon, by the Nebraska border. Forty miles away is the magnetic/geodetic center of North America - the reference point for all land survey in the U.S., Canada, and Mexico. Provided by: Reference.com

the proper way

and speaking of......the proper way. To do a proper place setting: large dinner fork to the left of the napkin, smaller salad fork to the left of the dinner fork, knife to the right with the cutting edge toward the plate, small spoon to the right of the knife, and soup spoon to the right of the small spoon. Provided by Reference.com

permanent move

and speaking of......permanent move. According to a recent Gallup poll three years in the making, 700 million people worldwide, or about 16% of the world's population would, if given the chance, leave their own country and move permanently to another one. A move to a country in Europe was the most popular choice among those polled (210 million), followed by America (165 million) and Canada (45 million). Source: The World Almanac 2010

sin

and speaking of ......sin. The worst sin towards our fellow creatures is not to hate them, but to be indifferent to them: that's the essence of inhumanity. George Bernard Shaw (1901)

calories

and speaking of......calories. Burger King's Double Whopper with cheese contains 923 calories. A man would need to walk for about nine miles to burn it off. Adding french fries and a large cola brings the total calories to an amazing 1,500 calories (2/3 of an adult man' s recommended daily caloric intake). Provided by RandomHistory.com

high and low

and speaking of......high and low. The highest world temperature ever recorded was 136 degrees fahrenheit at El Azizia, Libya, on September 13, 1922. The lowest was minus 129 degrees fahrenheit at Vostok Station, Antarctica, on July 21, 1983. Provided by The World Almanac

tomato

and speaking of......tomato. The tomato is technically a fruit, not a vegetable. It was also the first whole product to be genetically engineered, being first marketed in 1994. Since then, more than 50 other genetically engineered foods have been deemed safe by the FDA. And, it makes a mighty fine sandwich, whether with B & L or not. Provided by RandomHistory.com

hurricanes

and speaking of......hurricanes. The Hurricane of 1900 made landfall on the city of Galveston, Texas on September 8, 1900. It had estimated winds of 135 mph at landfall, making it a Category 4 storm. The hurricane caused great loss of life with the estimated death toll between 6,000 and 12,000 individuals; the number most cited in official reports is 8,000. At the time of the 1900 storm, the highest point in the city of Galveston was only 8.7 ft above sea level. The hurricane had brought with it a storm surge of over 15 ft, which washed over the entire island. The surge knocked buildings off their foundations, and the surf pounded them to pieces. This hurricane is to date the deadliest natural disaster ever to strike the United States. Lets all hope and pray for better results as Hurricane Irene barrels north toward the outer banks, New York City and New England at this very moment. (Note: This event was before the advent of storm names. Courtesy: Wikipedia)