Interesting Things with JC #508: “Ellis Island” - On January 1, 1892, Ellis Island officially opened its doors to immigrants from around the world. During its 62 years of operation, an estimated 12 million immigrants passed through Ellis Island in search of a better life in the United States.

Interesting Things with JC #507: "New Year's Danish Plate Smashing" - The tradition of plate-smashing on New Year's Eve is a popular and beloved custom in Denmark, where people throw unwanted plates and dishes at the front doors of friends and family for good luck. The tradition is believed to have originated in the 19th century as a way to let go of old grudges and start the new year with a clean slate, and has evolved from an older tradition of ringing bells on New Year's Eve to ward off evil spirits.

Interesting Things with JC #506: "Fat Dogs" - Overweight dogs are more likely to become obese, which can lead to inflammation and disease. Overweight or obese dogs account for 59% of dogs in the United States and 63% of dogs in the United Kingdom.

Interesting Things with JC #505: “The Buddha Tooth Relic Temple” and Museum in Singapore is a popular tourist destination known for its intricate design and displays of Buddhist art and history. The temple is named after the left canine tooth of the Buddha, which is considered a symbol of his teachings and is believed to have special powers.

Interesting Things with JC #504: The ".38 Special" was developed in 1898 as an improvement on the .38 Long Colt, and is known for its accuracy, moderate recoil, and superior means of self defense.

Interesting Things with JC #503: "38-Minute War" - was a brief but decisive conflict between the United Kingdom and the Zanzibar Sultanate, lasting just 38 minutes

Interesting Things with JC #502: "Largest Recorded Snowflake" fell in Montana in 1887 and was reportedly 15 inches wide and 8 inches thick. (38x20cm)!!!

Interesting Things with JC #501: "Candy Canes" - The candy cane was created in the 17th century in Germany and popularized in the early 1900s with added red stripes.

Interesting Things with JC #500: "Silent Night" - First performed on Christmas Eve 1818 at the St. Nicholas parish church in Oberndorf, written as a collaboration between Father Joseph Mohr and Organist Franz Xaver Gruber, in Mariapfarr, Austria.

Interesting Things with JC #499: "Holiday Garland' - Deck the Halls and Hang the Garland! Just be careful where you put your baubles!!

Interesting Things with JC #498 - The Theatre Royal Drury Lane has been in operation for over 350 years. It has seen famous premieres, shows that stole the show, and its own dramas, both on and off stage!

Interesting Things with JC #497: "World's Largest Schnitzel" - 3,700 gallons of oil were needed to fry the huge meat mound.

Interesting Things with JC #496: "Microwaved Grapes" - grapes literally explode in the microwave.

Interesting Things with JC #495: "Sled Dog Racing" - Sled dogs are bred and trained for racing, and different breeds are better suited to different racing conditions. Alaskan Huskies, Siberian Huskies, and Samoyeds are among the most popular breeds for sled dog racing.

Interesting Things with JC #494: "Genomics and AI" - An exciting development in genomics has been the use of artificial intelligence (AI) to analyze and interpret large amounts of genomic data.

Interesting Things with JC #493: "Nutrition and the Aging Process" - proper nutrition is an important factor in reversing the aging process and improving the overall health of our bodies. By making healthy eating choices and incorporating a variety of nutrient-rich foods into our diet.

Interesting Things with JC #492: "Telomeres and Aging" - We might be able to control aging through gene therapy in the near future.

Aguado J, d'Adda di Fagagna F, Wolvetang E. Telomere transcription in ageing. Ageing Res Rev. 2020 Sep;62:101115. doi: 10.1016/j.arr.2020.101115. Epub 2020 Jun 18. PMID: 32565330.

Interesting Things with JC #491: "New Caledonia" is a beautiful archipelago located in the South Pacific. It's the ideal place to get a "break from the ads" and enjoy nature.

Interesting Things with JC #490: "Heart Disease and Gray Hair" - An observational study found that the amount of gray hair in adult men is associated with an increased risk of heart disease.

Ref - https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ehj.2017.07.001

Interesting Things with JC #489: "Fortune Cookies" - the fortune cookie is technically not from China!