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Santa's helper delivering Chriftmas cheers. 🎄
The Good, the Bad & the Ugly is a Council Chronicle series that offers a glimpse at unusual stories in the news around the world. They are intended to provoke thought, inform and elicit a range of emotions from joy, outrage, anger, amusement to hope. These are a summary of stories worth knowing. Each month we will feature a story of the Good, the Bad & the Ugly around the globe. If you come across a news item that falls into any of these categories, please email it to me for possible inclusion in the monthly e-newsletter.
THE GOOD
JEWELRY STORE EMPLOYEES DELIVER LOST AMAZON PACKAGES FOR CHRISTMAS
In a touching display of Christmas spirit, local Davis Jewelers employees decided to deliver lost Amazon packages after the boxes fell off the Amazon delivery vehicle near their store.
A container with a eight packages fell off the back of an open Amazon truck in an alley behind the jewelry store right before Christmas. The delivery driver was unaware of the incident and continued on their route, leaving the packages on the ground.
The good Samaritans called Amazon to report the packages they found, but they were informed that the company wouldn’t be available to pick up the packages until after Christmas.
Imagining the disappointed customers going without their Christmas gifts, the employees decided to play Santa's helpers and deliver the packages themselves! Despite the holiday season being the busiest time of the year, they went door to door, personally delivering all eight packages to the intended recipients.
This amazing act of kindness by these employees personifies the true meaning of the spirit of Christmas. They went above and beyond to spread joy to others this holiday season. Their actions are commendable and their employer should be extremely proud of the kindness of the people they employ.
CALEB HOWARD 1/3
AARON HORNER 1/8
JOHN TORSKY 1/11
BRIANNA WRIGHT 1/19
BETSY RUHE 1/23
STEVE HAAG 1/26
HAPPY BIRTHDAY!
Eww. Never.
TRUTH BOMBS are described in the urban dictionary as surprising but true statements. A fact or piece of knowledge that, when told to a listener, is devastating to the listener's argument or world view.
New Yorker Seth Phillips has gained a cult following for his truth bombs that protest anything from loud engines, phones that shatter easily, “x” in espresso, and other very specific, small things that add up to our daily lives. He has a over 7.5 million followers on social media. Phillips has gone mainstream enough that fashion brands are selling "Dude with Sign" shirts in their collections.
And, of course, there’s always something new to protest. Such as, hot coffee in summer or verifying you’re not a robot online. Those of us who have had enough of everything will get a chuckle out of this series.
WINTER WEATHER SAFETY TIPS
When you are outside, frostbite and hypothermia are possible, so you need to protect yourself.
1. Wear layers of loose-fitting, lightweight, warm clothing.
2. Wear a hat. Try to stay dry and out of the wind.
3. Cover your mouth to protect your lungs from extreme cold.
4. Mittens, snug at the wrist, are better than gloves.
ICE SAFETY
To keep pipes from freezing on an outside wall:
1. Let hot and cold-water trickle or drip at night from a faucet.
2. Open cabinet doors to allow more heat to get to un-insulated pipes under a sink or near an outer wall. 3. Make sure heat is left on and set no lower than 55 degrees.
3. If you plan to be away: (1) Have someone check your house daily to make sure the heat is still on to prevent freezing, or (2) drain and shut off the water system (except indoor sprinkler systems).
IF PIPES FREEZE
1. Make sure everyone in the home knows how to shut off the water, in case a pipe bursts.
2. NEVER try to thaw a pipe with an open flame or torch. Use a hair dryer instead.
3. Always be careful of the potential for electric shock in and around standing water.
CARBON MONOXIDE POISONING SAFETY
Carbon monoxide poisoning is a silent, deadly killer claiming about 1,000 lives each year in the United States.
1. Install a carbon monoxide detector.
2. NEVER run generators indoors.
3. Open a window slightly when using a kerosene heater and follow the manufacturer’s instructions.
4. NEVER use a gas oven to heat your home.
5. If your heat goes out, you can keep warm indoors by closing off rooms you do not need, dressing in layers of lightweight clothing, and wearing a cap.
Wood-burning stoves, fireplaces and heaters
1. Always keep a screen around an open flame.
2. NEVER use gasoline to start your fireplace.
3. NEVER burn charcoal indoors.
Follow these tips to keep your family safe and warm this chilly winter season.
MISSISSIPPI ROAST
Crock pot cooking is my favorite way to cook. I love using the crock pot, also known as a slow cooker, for Fall and Winter meals. I get up in the morning, put my ingredients in the crock pot, set it and forget it. The house is filled with the most amazing aromas as you go about your day.
It's an easy, hands-off way to cook healthy, filling, flavorful meals. An added bonus to crock pot cooking is the easy clean up. There's not a lot of pots and pans to clean after dinner is done. These meals are also great for those days when you get home in the evening, your lunch is a distant memory, and your stomach is letting you know it’s ready to be filled ASAP! All you have to do is plate your food, maybe toast some bread or throw together a salad to accompany your meal and dig in!
MISSISSIPPI ROAST
INGREDIENTS
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1 boneless chuck roast or top or bottom round roast, 3 to 4 pounds
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2 teaspoons kosher salt, plus more to taste
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1½ teaspoons freshly ground black pepper, plus more to taste
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¼ cup all-purpose flour
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3 tablespoons neutral oil, like canola
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4 tablespoons unsalted butter
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8 to 12 pepperoncini
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2 tablespoons mayonnaise
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2 teaspoons apple cider vinegar
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1/2 teaspoon dried dill
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1/4 teaspoon sweet paprika
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1 teaspoon buttermilk, optional
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Chopped parsley, for garnish
DIRECTIONS:
1. Place roast on a cutting board and rub the salt and pepper all over it. Sprinkle the flour all over the seasoned meat and massage it into the flesh.
2. Heat the oil in a large sauté pan set over high heat until it is shimmering and about to smoke. Place the roast in the pan and brown on all sides, 4 to 5 minutes a side, to create a crust. Remove roast from pan and place it in the bowl of a slow cooker. Add the butter and the pepperoncini to the meat. Put the lid on the slow cooker, and set the machine to low.
3. As the roast heats, make a ranch dressing. Combine the mayonnaise, vinegar, dill and paprika in a small bowl and whisk to emulsify. Add the buttermilk if using, then whisk again. Remove the lid from the slow cooker and add the dressing. Replace the top and allow to continue cooking, undisturbed, for 6 to 8 hours, or until you can shred the meat easily using 2 forks. Mix the meat with the gravy surrounding it. Garnish with parsley, and serve with egg noodles or roast potatoes, or pile on sandwich rolls, however you like.
1. The first New Year’s celebration dates back 4,000 years. Julius Caesar, the emperor of Rome, was the first to declare Jan. 1 a national holiday. He named the month after Janus, the Roman god of doors and gates. Janus had two faces, one looking forward and one looking back. Caesar felt that a month named after this god would be fitting.
2. Eat leafy greens on New Year’s. Tradition says that the leafier greens a person eats, the more prosperity he or she will experience (a good incentive for staying healthy!). Tradition also says that legumes bring prosperity because beans and peas look like coins. That's why so many people eat black eyed peas on January 1st.
3. The famous Times Square New Year's Eve Ball was first dropped in 1907. About 1 million people gather in New York City’s Times Square to watch the ball drop.
4. According to statistics from the National Insurance Crime Bureau, vehicles are stolen on New Year’s Day more than any other holiday.
5. Many people ring in New Year’s by popping open a bottle of champagne. Americans drink close to 360 million glasses of sparkling wine during this time. The bubbly stuff dates back to the 17th century, when the cork was invented.
6. More than 90% of all New Year's resolutions end in failure.
7. In Italy, people wear red underwear on New Year’s Day to bring good luck all year long.
8. The new year is the most important holiday in Japan and is a symbol of renewal. In December, various Bonenkai or "forget-the-year parties" are held to bid farewell to the problems and concerns of the past year and prepare for a new beginning. Misunderstandings and grudges are forgiven, and houses are scrubbed. At midnight on Dec. 31, Buddhist temples strike their gongs 108 times, in an effort to expel 108 types of human weakness.
9. It’s good luck to eat foods like black eyed peas, ham and cabbage because it is thought they bring prosperity. But if you want to have a happy new year, don’t eat lobster or chicken. Lobsters can move backward, and chickens can scratch in reverse, so it is thought these foods could bring a reversal of fortune.
10. At the New Year's Day Mummers Parade in Philadelphia, 10,000 participants step through City Hall and perform in unique costumes. The parade dates back to mid-17th-century, incorporating elements from Irish, German, English, Swedish and other European heritages.
The annual Mummers Parade in Philadelphia.
CONGRATULATIONS, Dr. McCraney!!!
Luna, After her rescue from a Puppy Mill. ❤🐾
Before & After Rescue Dog Transformation
Who can resist a heartwarming makeover, especially when it involves a sweet dog? Whether they were abandoned, lost or mistreated, these down-on-their luck dogs were in dire need of a loving presence in their lives. That's where caring animal shelters, pet rescues and foster parents come into the picture. With lots of love and much-needed TLC, these rescue dogs started thriving — inside and out. These before-and-after transformation pictures speak for themselves. Hopefully, it will inspire you to adopt a rescue pup of your own.
Luna, Before her rescue from inhumane conditions.
This poor baby, a Maltese named Luna was rescued from a puppy mill in Georgia that had over 700 dogs. After three hours of grooming that included cutting matted fur and multiple medicated baths, she was transformed into this little cuddle buddy.
Luna deserves two lifetimes worth of love, belly rubs, toys and treats after what she suffered at the hands of the monsters at the puppy mill. I pray she lives a long, happy life in her new home.
Please consider adopting a pet from your local animal shelter or a pet rescue if you have room in your home and heart for a new furry family member. Trust me, you'll be so glad that you did. 🐾❤️
NATIONAL SPAGHETTI DAY 1/4
NATIONAL TRIVIA DAY 1/4
WORLD BRAILLE DAY 1/4
HUMAN TRAFFICKING AWARENESS DAY 1/11
MARTIN LUTHER KIND, JR. DAY 1/15
RELIGIOUS FREEDOM DAY 1/16
NATIONAL POPCORN DAY 1/19
NATIONAL HUG DAY 1/21
NATIONAL PIE DAY 1/23
NATIONAL PEANUT DAY 1/24
NATIONAL SPOUSES DAY 1/26
DATA PRIVACY DAY 1/28
NATIONAL CROISSANT DAY 1/30
NATIONAL HOT CHOCOLATE DAY 1/31
WALK YOUR PET MONTH
NATIONAL BLOOD DONOR MONTH
CERVICAL CANCER AWARENESS MONTH
NATIONAL EYE CARE MONTH
1. Would you rather be compelled to high five everyone you meet or be compelled to give hugs to anyone wearing black?
2. Would you rather hiccup loudly or burp after every meal?
3. Would you rather have super sensitive taste buds or super sensitive hearing?
4. Would you rather be a TikTok influencer or an internet meme?
5. Would you rather have a completely automated home or a self-driving car?
An Automated Home.
6. Would you rather have spaghetti hair or cheesy curl fingers?
7. Would you rather wear a clown wig or clown shoes every day?
8. Would you rather lose all your money and valuables or lose all the pictures you have ever taken?
9. Would you rather wear a clown wig or clown shoes every day?
10. Would you rather cook in a restaurant that serves food you can’t eat or work as a bartender where you can’t drink alcohol?
An Upscale Bar
JANUARY 1ST
CHANNEL SMITH
JANUARY 2ND
MARILYN PARKER
BRIAN POWELL
SCOTT REED
JANUARY 4TH
JECOREY ARTHUR
BRIANNA WRIGHT
JANUARY 5TH
BRENT ACKERSON
JEFF NOBLE
JANUARY 6TH
STUART BENSON
RICK BLACKWELL
KIP EATHERLY
ROBIN ENGEL
MADONNA FLOOD
STEVE HAAG
KEVIN KRAMER
BARBARA SHANKLIN
JANUARY 7TH
CINDI FOWLER
PAULA MCCRANEY
TONY PIAGENTINI
DONNA PURVIS
MARKUS WINKLER
JANUARY 20TH
SCOTT HARRINGTON
CHERYL WOODS
HAPPY WORK ANNIVERSARY TO ALL!!!
I pray for equality, unity and peace in every city in our country. Equality for all people everywhere. I pray for justice for all those who have lost their lives needlessly and unjustly. I pray that all people, regardless of race, religion, sexual orientation or socioeconomic status be treated with the dignity and respect we all deserve. I pray for change so that healing can begin in this country and around the world.
Amen.
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