The song may refer to a white Christmas, but snow can also be pink and is sometimes called watermelon snow. The coloration is caused by a species of ice-loving algae, Chlamydomonas nivalis. This organism contains chlorophyl (green), but also has a carotenoid, which is reddish (think carrots). When the snow melts, the algae activates the… Continue Reading Were you dreaming of a pink Christmas?
Some people are afraid of snakes, others are afraid of clowns. But people suffering from christougenniatikophobia are afraid of Christmas. A specific type of heortophobia (fear of holidays), the word stems from Greek, meaning “Christ-birth-related-fear.” It is often rooted in childhood trauma, financial stress, or negative associations with traditions like Santa or family gatherings, causing… Continue Reading What is Christougenniatikophobia?
While in Paris in 1891, Tchaikovsky discovered a newly invented instrument, the celesta. He had it shipped to Russia and used it in The Nutcracker Ballet’s Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy. It has been used in recordings by artists from Fats Waller and the Beatles to Pink Floyd and Fiona Apple. And it is… Continue Reading What does a sugar plum fairy sound like?
Chilly air means sniffly noses. When we breathe in, our noses warm the air and add moisture to it as it travels down into our lungs. Cold, dry air irritates your nasal lining, and as a result, your nasal glands produce excess mucus to keep the lining moist. That can cause those drops that drip… Continue Reading Why does your nose run when it’s cold?
In 1972, the first American commercial product sold in the Soviet Union was Pepsi. Because the ruble was essentially worthless, Russia paid for Pepsi with Stolichnaya vodka. In 1989, there was a sanction against Russian products, so they paid for the soft drink with part of their naval fleet, including 17 decommissioned submarines, a cruiser,… Continue Reading Which soft drink company was once a naval power?
When the curtain rose on Act 2 of a premiere of The Daughter of the Regiment by Donizetti in 2016, a tiny woman was barely visible in a large dome chair with her back to the audience. Suddenly, she swiveled around, and there was Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg. When her character asked whether another woman… Continue Reading In what opera did Justice Ruth Bader Ginsberg make her debut?
In international law, condominium refers to territory that is governed by multiple sovereign powers who formally share duties without necessarily dividing the area into national zones. Pheasant Island (Konpantzia) is an uninhabited landmass on the Bidasoa River separating France and Spain. Stewardship of this 1.69-acre island alternates every six months: it falls under Spanish rule… Continue Reading What island is the world’s smallest “condominium?”
Having gained legions of fans through their television show, Monty Python’s Flying Circus, the troupe ventured into film. Traditional financiers were wary, but Pink Floyd, Led Zeppelin, Jethro Tull and other artists, along with their record companies, provided much of the funding for the low-budget film, Monty Python and the Holy Grail. (How low budget?… Continue Reading What classic comedy film was funded by rock groups?
Soldiers can act as valets for officers, cleaning uniforms, running errands, and scrounging for any personal items their officer might need. They might end up swiping things from enlisted men and women so that higher ups have whatever they want/need. New recruits are sometimes referred to as “dog faces” (think “dog tags” and “pup tents”).… Continue Reading Should you worry about dog robbers?
Unitarian Universalist Church of Delaware County – UUCDC
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