Modern Day Jackie O

Merry (almost) Christmas!

T-minus 2 days, y’all! Let’s start this morning with a few Christmas facts:

• In Japan, Christmas KFC orders must be placed months in advance because there was a very successful 1974 KFC “Kentucky for Christmas” marketing campaign

• Christmas trees were originally decorated with edible foods like apples, candies, and pastries in 16th century Germany. A bad harvest in 1858 propelled the rise in use of glass ornaments.

• In Greenland, traditional Christmas dinner includes raw whale skin with blubber which they call “mattak”

• In England, the wealthy used to eat peacock before turkey became their traditional Christmas meal.

Bonus: watch giant pandas in Hong Kong, An An and Ke Ke, eat Christmas treats as they celebrate their first Christmas. 🎄🎄🎄 

Note: I made updates to my newsletter’s domain. So to keep it arriving in your inbox as expected, please move this email to your primary folder and/or add my from contact to your address book. Thank you! 😊 

Art

Associated Press' 100 photos of humanity in 2024.

Sergei Polunin, one of the world's most prominent ballet dancers with 3 tattoos of Putin's face, has unexpectedly announced his departure from Russia after making a sympathetic Ukrainian remark.

A rare terracotta military officer was discovered- one of only 10 high-ranking terracotta warriors discovered of 2,000+ in China.

Politics

China has warned the U.S. after Biden approved $571 million in defense materials for Taiwarn that "dangerous moves" are being made.

Texas congresswoman Kay Granger had been "missing" since her last vote on July 24th until a reporter received a tip that she has been living in a memory care facility.

Malaysian government reaches agreement with US-based Ocean Infinity to reopen the search for Malaysian Arlines Flight MH370.

Biz/Tech

Apple is reportedly developing a Face ID doorbell.

Party City made a brief comeback from bankruptcy in September but as of last Friday, has abruptly closed all stores.

Older AI chatbots show "digital aging" similar to dementia in humans.

Starbucks and Amazon workers are on strike.

Health + Science

35 skyscrapers in Miami are sinking up to 8 cm into the sand.

A new study in Archaeology International finds Stonehenge may have been made to unite farming communities.

Researchers at Queensland University of Technology have developed a film that converts body heat to electricity for powering tech wearables.

Speaking of Cindy Lou Who, her bestie, the Grinch, arrested suspected drug traffickers over the weekend in Peru.

I’m not sure what compelled Peru’s national police to make a video of this new operation into such a production, but it’s fabulous.

The Lima police unit is known for their costumes and arrested alleged drug dealers in a teddy bear suit on Valentine’s Day earlier this year.

May your Christmas be free of drug dealers and full of joy this year! I’ll be back in your inbox in the New Year. 💃💃💃

XOXO,

Jackie