I was looking at Google maps this morning.

Interesting to note that three of my most common destinations, Riverside Park, Gundersen Clinic and Festival, are just over a mile, each way, from my apartment.

HAPPY CHIMBORAZO DAY!

Today is the day we celebrate MOUNT CHIMBORAZO in Ecuador.

Because the earth bulges at the equator, Mount Chimborazo is actually farther from the center of the earth than Mount Everest.  This makes Chimborazo, technically, THE HIGHEST POINT ON EARTH. 

Another interesting fact is that, because of that bulge along the equator, New Orleans is six miles farther from the center of the earth than Lake Itasca which is the headwaters of the Mississippi.  You know what that means?

THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER FLOWS UPHILL!!!

A LITTLE TRASH NEVER HURT ANYONE

Everyone makes fun of me because I love watching "CHEATERS" every Saturday night.  Of course it's trash!  That's what makes it such fun.

 

I finally did a bit of research and found out that the host of the show, CLARK GABLE, is, indeed, related to the legendary star of the same name.

 

Our "Cheaters" host is the GRANDSON OF THE ORIGINAL CLARK GABLE.  Now, I know what you're going to say.  "Frankly, my dear, I don't give a damn."

C'MON. ADMIT IT. YOU GOOGLED "BEANIE bABIES', didn't you??

The website, ESTATELY, did a search of the subjects most searched on Google by each state.  This might scare you!

Some of the big searches from Wisconsin were:
Beanie Babies
Menthol Cigarettes
The Green Party
Oprah's Book Club

Searches from Texas turned up:
Are dinosaurs real?
Boogers
Do I have herpes
Rodeo

I won't comment.  I could comment.  But, I won't.

Except to say......

The stupidity of the American people speaks for itself.

It's a fact!

Starbucks spends more money on health insurance for its employees than on coffee beans.
— Facts (@TheFactsBook) April 23, 2014

No thanks. I'll walk.

The worlds fastest elevator will be installed in the new CTF Financial Center in Guangzhou, China.  It will travel at 45 MPH and will take just 43 seconds to reach the 95th floor.

PAINT RECIPE

This can't be right.....can it?

Make your own paint: 1 Cup Salt 1 Cup flour 1 Cup water Food coloring.
— Facts (@TheFactsBook) April 12, 2014

WHICH WILL DISAPPEAR FIRST?

Did you know that MEXICO CITY is sinking 10 times faster than VENICE?  That's what happens when you build a city on a lake bed and then pump the water out.

FAST FOOD

Another fun fact from the book I'm reading.  Guess what fast food chain is the most popular in China....BY FAR.  It's Kentucky Fried Chicken!  I'll bet the colonel is smiling.

HOLIDAY

SOME FUN FACTS FOR GARLIC DAY

Did you know that 66% of all the garlic, in the world, is produced in China?  The U.S.A. produces 3%.

Garlic is mentioned in the Old Testament and is pictured in Egyptian tombs.

And, here's a fun fact I'll bet you didn't know.  The city of Chicago got its name from the wild garlic that grew around Lake Michigan.  The Indians called it "Chicagaoua".



HERE'S A FUN WEB PAGE I FOUND

10 SYMBOLS WHOSE ORIGINS HAVE BEEN FORGOTTEN

We're very sure that Jesus was born in the spring of the year so why do we celebrate it in the middle of winter?  Where did the military Salute come from?

CLICK HERE TO FIND OUT THE ANSWER TO THESE AND OTHER SYMBOLS

WHERE DID THE PINEAPPLE COME FROM?

Were you going to say Hawaii?  No way, Jose! In fact, the name for Pineapple in Hawaiian is HALAKAHIKI which means "foreign fruit".

The pineapple is actually indigenous to South America, spacifically, an area between Brazil and Paraguay.

The pineapple is called "pineapple" because it resembles a pine cone but I like halakahiki better.

Who knew?

You know those Gideon bibles you find in hotel rooms?

Did you know that whole GIDEON MOVEMENT STARTED IN BOSCOBEL, WISCONSIN and it's a very interesting story.  READ THE STORY HERE

SOME DELIGHTFUL FACTS YOU DON'T REALLY NEED TO KNOW

• The average human body contains enough iron to make a 3 inch nail.
• Neanderthal's had bigger brains than we do.
• Apples are more effective for waking you up than coffee is.
• The only food that doesn't rot is honey.
• The film "Titanic" cost more to make than it cost to build the original Titanic.
• Bananas share about 50% of DNA with humans.  (But bananas taste better).

ONE OF MY FAVORITE HOLIDAYS

The forecast calls for dense fog this morning so if the little fellow pokes his head out early this morning he won't see his shadow which will mean spring is right around the corner.  On the other hand, if he sleeps in late, the fog will burn off by 10 and bring sunny skies.  So if he sleeps in late he'll see his shadow and we'll be in for six more weeks of winter.

I just have this feeling that we've got to get one big snow storm before this mild winter is over.  I hope I'm wrong but I'm not wrong very often.

By the way, the groundhog is also known as the woodchuck or whistle pig.  They're the largest member of the squirrel family (if you don't count me).  Their front teeth keep growing for life so they have to keep chewing to wear them down or face serious health issues.

They are true hibernators who burrow into the ground, as deep as five feet, and go to sleep in late fall after setting the alarm clock for early spring.

Click here for the Punxsutawney-weather cam

EVERYTHING YOU WANTED TO KNOW ABOUT THE BEAN

THIS SHOULD SET YOUR MIND AT EASE

A FEW FACTS DONNIE PICKED UP TODAY

"Intercontinental appears to have more hotels in China than in the USA

Intercon room rates are the same for Austin and Panama.

The weather today is the same in Dripping Springs, La Paz, and Istanbul."

A GLOOMY LA CROSSE MORNING

This reminded me more of San Francisco in December rather than La Crosse.  I'm beginning to wonder if we'll have any snow, for the holidays,this year.

Thinking about San Francisco in December reminded me of the Christmas I spent in the city by the Golden Gate.  Aunt Jessie and Ted were living in Oakland at that time so I went over there and spent Christmas day.  That was nearly 50 years ago.  Lot's of changes in all those years.  I think San Francisco has held up better than I have.