7am
The “Doomsday Clock” Is Getting Updated Today
We will find out today how close we are to the “end.”
The Doomsday Clock might move closer to midnight today as The Bulletin of Atomic Scientists update the symbolic clock. It's been at three minutes to midnight the past two years. That's the closest to world destruction the clock has been since 1984, during the Cold War.
The scientists will livestream the clock at 10 a.m. Eastern Time, when it’s expected to move us one minute closer to global annihilation. The Bulletin of Atomic Scientists has maintained the Doomsday Clock since 1947. Source: Telegraph
Speeding Driver Gives Police The Most Ridiculous Excuse “The Wind Was Pushing Me”
Don’t blame it on the sunshine, don’t blame it on the moonlight, don’t blame it on the good times ― blame it on the wind.
When police officers in Western Australia stopped a speeding Holden Rodeo pickup truck in Bootenal on Monday, the unidentified driver claimed to be exceeding the legal limit because “the wind was pushing me.”
Three Springs Police posted a photograph of the driver’s booking sheet on Twitter:
The motorist was fined $200 AUS (around $150 U.S.) for driving 10 mph over the 68 mph limit.
Today is National Peanut Brittle Day
January 26th is National Peanut Brittle Day! Brittle was one of the first types of candy ever made. Many ancient cultures that had access to molasses, honey, or sugar, produced some form of it.
The first peanut brittle recipe appeared in an American cookbook, but the exact origin of the confection is uncertain. According to one account, peanut brittle was a Celtic dessert. The Celts covered peanuts in sugar and baked them, and this eventually evolved into a caramel bark.
Peanut brittle can be a little tricky to make. Most recipes call for a candy thermometer to allow the baker to regulate the exact temperature, and the results can be affected by weather! If brittle is made on a humid day it will not hold its shape. Traditionally, a mixture of sugar and water is heated to the hard crack stage corresponding to a temperature of approximately 300-degrees Farenheit, although some recipes also call for ingredients such as corn syrup and salt in the first step. Nuts are mixed with the caramelized sugar. At this point spices, leavening agents, and often peanut butter or butter are added. The hot candy is poured out onto a flat surface for cooling, traditionally a granite or marble slab. The hot candy may be troweled to uniform thickness. When the brittle cools, it’s broken into pieces.
Today is Spouse's Day
January 26th is Spouse's Day! Not to be confused with Military Spouses Day, which is held the Friday before Mother's Day, this is a day to enjoy and appreciate your better half. You can use this day as a prelude or warm up to Valentine's Day, perhaps. But, don’t worry, it’s not as much of a gift giving event. What this day is, is an opportunity for you to show your spouse that you care and appreciate all of the things that he/she does for you and for the household.
Over the long years of a relationship, it’s easy to take for each other for granted – especially all the little things that your “other” does (even if it’s remembering to put the seat down or squeeze the toothpaste tube from the end “because you like it that way.” At the end of the day, he/she is always there for you. So, take today to notice and to say thanks. As for the "enjoyment" part of the day...we will leave that up to you to enjoy your spouse however the two of your desire...bow chicka wow wow…
8am
Mary Tyler Moore, Dead At 80
Looks like 2017 has claimed its first victim as the legendary Mary Tyler Moore has died. The 80-year-old suffered from a host of health problems, including Type 1 diabetes, but her family said that it was cardiopulmonary arrest and pneumonia that killed her yesterday. According to a statement released by her rep, she surrounded by her good friends and her husband of over 33 years, Dr. S. Robert Levine.
Mary got her start working in commercials, and went on to play Dick Van Dyke’s wife on “The Dick Van Dyke Show” fro 1961 through 1966. But it was her own show, “The Mary Tyler Moore Show,” that catapulted her to stardom and helped define a new vision of American womanhood. Mary produced the sitcom with her second husband, NBC exec Grant Tinker. Her Mary Richards character was one of first single, working women on television, and she inspired a generation of women.
In the wake of her passing, everyone from Ed Anser to Oprah to Dick Van Dyke took to social media to express their condolences.
Source: New York Times
Heinz Wants The Monday After The Super Bowl To Be Declared A Holiday
Whether they like football or not, most people will be getting together Super Bowl Sunday for some sort of party to catch the game or at least watch the commercials. And with all the beer likely consumed before, during and after the game, waking up for work the next day is bound to be tough. Well, one company wants to see that change.
Condiment company Heinz is actually giving their employees the day off after the Super Bowl and wants to see the practice to spread nationwide. In fact, the ketchup and mustard maker has just started a Change.org petition to get the day after the Super Bowl declared a national holiday and they plan to send it to Congress if they get over 100,000 signatures.
“We are trying to rally people around the idea that the day after the big game should really be a day to celebrate,” Nicole Kulwicki, head of Heinz brands, tells “USA Today.” “And in fact it should be a national holiday, which we have lovingly named ‘Smunday.’ ”
Reading the petition you may think it's a joke, with lines like, “sign it. For your sanity. For your family. For your country,” but the company swears their effort is serious, especially since about 16 million people skip work that Monday because of the game.
So far the petition has almost 1,000 supporters. Click here if you’re interested in adding your support, and check out an ad for the campaign to the right.
Source: USA Today
Female Driven Reboot Of “What About Bob?” Is In The Works
With Hollywood still not sure if female driven reboots are a great idea, NBC is taking a chance.
The peacock network has picked up the pilot for “What about Barb?” from writers Joe Port and Joe Wiseman from “The Odd Couple” and “New Girl” fame.
The original movie starred Richard Dreyfuss and Bill Murray, who were locked in a bizarre psychologist-patient relationship. The same theme will be in the new comedy, but no real details have been shared yet, including casting. Source: Hollywood Reporter
Tostitos “Party Bags” Will Get You Home Safely After Your Super Bowl Party
Doritos may have checked out from their long standing Super Bowl commercial spot, but sister brand Tostitos is taking its place with a cool idea.
Chip-maker Frito-Lay is partnering with Mothers Against Drunk Driving and Uber to create alcohol sensor bags they have dubbed “Party bags.” A sensor at the top of the bag measures your breath and if you register positive, a steering wheel logo on the bag lights up red with a "don't drink and drive" message underneath.
The front also flashes an Uber code you can use to get a discount for your ride home. Tap the bag with your cell phone and it will get an Uber for you.
Frito-Lay is giving out 25-thousand ten-dollar Uber discounts to people who buy its chips between now and the Super Bowl on February 5th. By simply entering a participating Tostitos UPC code in the Uber app, you get the discount.Source: Adweek