HAPPY GROUNDHOG DAY!
• The tradition can be traced to Candlemas, an early Christian holiday. Those who celebrated Candlemas decided that clear skies on the holiday meant a longer winter.
• The Germans eventually began to believe that if the sun made an appearance on Candlemas Day, a hedgehog would cast a shadow — predicting six more weeks of winter.
• When German immigrants arrived in Pennsylvania, they found a large number of groundhogs. So they decided that the groundhog, which resembles the European hedgehog, could predict the weather.
• The Punxsutawney Groundhog Club was founded in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, in 1887 by a group of groundhog hunters. The editor of the Punxsutawney newspaper was a member of the club, and he claimed that Punxsutawney Phil was the only true weather-predicting groundhog. Eventually, the furry Pennsylvania rodent — known as Punxsutawney Phil — became famous.
LAUGHTER CAN HELP EASE DAILY STRESS _ There’s an old saying: Sometimes you have to laugh to keep from crying. When it comes to the stressors that build up every day, laughter may be just what the doctor ordered. Researchers (University of Basel) found that laughing can serve as a source of relief when it comes to dealing with stress. Their study finds even cracking a smile can help ease the negative effects of stress. The study’s authors estimate people laugh about 18 times a day. Typically, it’s during interactions with others or experiences that bring them pleasure. Using a phone app, participants answered questions eight times a day for a 14-day stretch. Using the results, researchers examined the connection between laughter, stress, and psychological and physical symptoms they cause. Their findings revealed that when participants frequently laughed, stressful events were more related to minor symptoms of personal stress.
THIS ONE THING IN YOUR KITCHEN IS DIRTIER THAN YOUR TOILET SEAT _ Ask anyone what the grossest spots in their home are and they’ll likely answer with one of the following: the toilet, the dish sponge, or the grimy stovetop. But according to a study, your appliance handles could be even more disgusting. Researchers studied the amount of bacteria on 14 common sites in your home and found that the kitchen was the most contaminated spot. And appliance handles — like that of your oven door — were some of the worst offenders. The current grime rankings:
1. Dish sponges/cloths
2. Kitchen sinks
3. Cutting boards
4. Appliance handles (e.g., oven door, refrigerator)
5. Spice and condiment jars
6. Toothbrush holders
7. Faucet handles
8. TV remotes and game controllers
9. Carpets
10. Pet food bowls
