Things I learned lately 24 Dec

• Covid's resulting closure of movie theatres led to a massive surplus of corn.
• As part of winter solstice celebrations, Gaels and Celts burned logs decorated with holly, ivy, and pinecones to cleanse themselves of the past year and welcome the next one. They also believed the ashes would help protect against lightning strikes and evil spirits. The practice was scaled down over time, and eventually, it morphed into a more delicious tradition. Yule log cake! Parisian bakers really popularized the practice of creating yule log-shaped desserts during the 19th century, with various bakeries competing to see who could come up with the most elaborately decorated yule log.
  
  
  
• According to the Ugly Christmas Sweater Party Book, the ugly sweater party trend can be traced to a 2001 gathering in Vancouver. Yay Canada!
• Before Christianity was even conceived of, people used evergreen boughs to decorate their homes during the winter. The greenery reminded them that plants would return in abundance soon. As Christianity became more popular in Europe, and Germany in particular, the tradition was absorbed into it. Christians decorated evergreen trees with apples to represent the Garden of Eden, calling them "Paradise Trees" around the time of Adam and Eve's name day, December 24. Gradually, the tradition was subsumed into Christmas celebrations.
• You don't need antimicrobial soap. Soap is all you need because you're not after killing the micro-organisms, you're wanting to loosen them from your skin so they rinse off easy.
• It’s easy to imagine a T-Rex frolicking with a Stegosaurus. However, the Stegosaurus existed about 155-150 million years ago while the T-Rex existed about 68-66 million years ago. They would never have met.
• Dr. Phil lost his license to practise psychology in 2006. Therefore, all guests on his TV show must sign a contract stating they are only there to receive "advice" from an individual, not a psychologist.
• That 70s Show was originally supposed to be named Teenage Wasteland.
• Friends the TV show was originally supposed to be named Six of One.
• Married with Children the TV show was originally supposed to be named Not the Cosby Show.
• Happy Days the TV show was originally supposed to be named Cool.