... Is that jokes or people? Hmmm!

How True!

World Wetlands Day The value of wetlands should be appreciated everyday, but only one day a year it's remembered on international level. February 2 is World Wetlands Day, the international day of awareness of wetlands.

The signing of the Convention of Wetlands (known as Ramsar Convention due to the name of city in Iran, where it was signed) on February 2, 1971 became the basis of creation of World Wetlands Day in 1997, when it was celebrated for the first time. Only 18 countries signed Ramsar Convention in 1971, but later 159 countries joined the convention. Over 2,000 sites are included into the Ramsar List of Wetlands of International Importance, covering more than 200,000,000 ha.

Annually government agencies, non-government organizations and groups of citizens act to raise public awareness of the importance and value of wetlands. More than 95 countries contributed into celebration of World Wetlands Day. Numerous activities were held during the time of the celebration: lectures, seminars, art contests, clean-up days, radio and television interviews, letters to newspapers. Everything was aimed to launch the wetlands protection policies.
World Wetlands Day The value of wetlands should be appreciated everyday, but only one day a year it's remembered on international level. February 2 is World Wetlands Day, the international day of awareness of wetlands.

The signing of the Convention of Wetlands (known as Ramsar Convention due to the name of city in Iran, where it was signed) on February 2, 1971 became the basis of creation of World Wetlands Day in 1997, when it was celebrated for the first time. Only 18 countries signed Ramsar Convention in 1971, but later 159 countries joined the convention. Over 2,000 sites are included into the Ramsar List of Wetlands of International Importance, covering more than 200,000,000 ha.

Annually government agencies, non-government organizations and groups of citizens act to raise public awareness of the importance and value of wetlands. More than 95 countries contributed into celebration of World Wetlands Day. Numerous activities were held during the time of the celebration: lectures, seminars, art contests, clean-up days, radio and television interviews, letters to newspapers. Everything was aimed to launch the wetlands protection policies.

is an annual campaign held on February 2. It was established in 2013 by the Rheumatoid Patient Foundation, a non-profit organization dedicated improving the lives of people suffering from rheumatoid diseases.

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a progressive inflammatory disease that primarily affects joints and often results in painful and deformed joints. It is a chronic autoimmune disorder the cause of which is not completely understood. RA affects between 0.5 and 1% of adults in developed countries. People of middle age are affected most often, but the condition can develop at any age.

RA cannot be cured. Existing treatments (medication, physical therapy, etc.) can only help slow the progression of joint destruction and relieve pain. The treatment focuses on minimizing symptoms, maintaining day-to-day functioning, and preventing bone deformation. For most patients, current treatments cannot assure a healthy future.

Rheumatoid Awareness Day was established to recognize people with rheumatoid disease and educate wide audiences about RA. The Rheumatoid Patient Foundation encourages people to get involved by promoting awareness messages, participating in relevant events, and sharing educational resources.

Just had a big clear out of the house while dad is in hospital I gave about a dozen black bags of stuff to the charity that collected yesterday. But I still have 35 full black bags that are for the rubbish collection. Plus about 10 flattened large boxes to go alongside the overfull paper box.
I don't think the bin men would appreciate me putting it all out at once, but how many would you put out?

Just had an email from bank to advise against using Windows 7 for banking - has anyone else received a message or just my bank. Advises using a different system (I'm presuming that means Window 10) or tablet - I do have a Fire tablet but feel 'safer' on desktop and don't have banking on my tablet - and would be even less happy having it on a phone (if I had a smart phone, which I haven't).

Today is our Independence Day! I shall be raising a glass to the future, whatever it may bring! WOO HOO!

Imbolc (Imbolg) is an ancient Gaelic festival that marks the beginning of spring. It is typically held on February 1 and is often associated with the feast of Saint Brigit of Kildare.

Imbolc is one of the four Gaelic festivals associated with the changing seasons, along with Beltane, Lughnasadh, and Samhain. Historically, it was widely observed in Ireland, Scotland, and the Isle of Man. After the introduction of Christianity, it merged with Saint Brighid's Day, just like many other pagan festivals transformed into Christian holidays.

The word “Imbolc” derives from the Old Irish expression which means “in the belly”. This refers to the pregnancy of ewes. In Gaelic Island, the festival of Imbolc marked the beginning of the lambing season and the onset of spring.

Imbolc is strongly associated with the Gaelic goddess Brighid, one of the Tuatha Dé Danann. She was honored as the patroness of cattle and other livestock, arts and crafts, sacred wells, smithing, medicine, poetry, and the arrival of early spring. People believed that on Imbolc eve Brighid blessed the inhabitants of virtuous households as they slept.

On Imbolc, people made bonfires, prepared special foods and attempted to predict weather. Although many of its customs died out, Imbolc is still observed by Celtic neopagans in some localities.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-51325192

4 years ago today we lost the lovely Terry Wogan. I had the pleasure of meeting Terry at a book signing in Windsor, such a kind and funny man and I miss his dulcet tones on Radio 2 every morning.
Have you memories of our Terry?

Easy ways to live well.
At first I thought not one of these boring remedy programs again but it was very interesting.

Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall is increasingly worried that he’s starting losing his mental sharpness and was advised to start--- knitting ---with improvement at the end of the trial.

Steph McGovern pregnant, apprehensive about exercising, so Dr Zoe Williams recommends that she try belly dancing – an exercise known by the Bedouin Arabs to ease labour and strengthen pelvic floor muscles.

Pain killers: A group is being prescribed 15 minutes of daily group singing, which has also been proven to reduce pain.
The amount of pain killers taken was drastically reduced.

Kids with fussy eating habits. Let them play with the food first making shapes and pictures.
This went too far with me. My kids ate what was given or went hungry.

Had a call this morning from a company doing yearly insurance on domestic appliances, they knew my name and address and even what appliances I have.
That said that last year I paid £118 but being a'loyal and valued customer' I get a reduction and this year would be only £98.
I have never taken out any of these sort of policies - do they think I wouldn't know ?

Sorry to steal your usual job Lonicera.....
"World Wetlands Day occurs annually on February 2, marking the date of the adoption of the Convention on Wetlands on February 2, 1971 when a small group of environmentalists signed an international agreement at the Ramsar Convention in Iran.[1]

Established to raise awareness about the value of wetlands for humanity and the planet, WWD was celebrated for the first time in 1997 and has grown since then. Each year, government agencies, non-governmental organizations, and groups of citizens at all levels of the community have taken advantage of the opportunity to undertake actions aimed at raising public awareness of wetland values and benefits such as conservation. Some of these benefits include: biologically diverse ecosystems that provide habitat for many species, serve as buffers on the coast against storms and flooding, and naturally filter water by breaking down or transforming harmful pollutants.[2]!
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_Wetlands_Day

Is there a noise that really upsets you?
What?
Why?
When?

If the USA want Prince Andrew, could we not have Anne Sacoolas who killed Harry Dunn.
What are your views?

See photo. We are trying to disconnect and drain our washing machine ready for move. We have turned the small blue lever off (we think). Having trouble detaching pipe but it doesn’t help that we don’t have a clue what we’re doing. We have unplugged. Do we only twist the grey bit or is it the blue and grey bit. It all seems a bit seized up. Assume complete stupidity on our part.

International Internet-Free Day Date in the current year: January 26, 2020

International Internet-Free Day It’s hard for a modern person to imagine their life without the Internet. We use it every day to find information, communicate and entertain ourselves. Without any doubt, the World Wide Web has made our lives so much easier, but have you ever thought that you rely on it too much and replace real-life communication with virtual one? To help you answer these questions, the creators of International Internet-Free Day suggest that you spend the last Sunday of January without using the Internet.

International Internet-Free Day was first celebrated on January 27, 2002. According to one version, it was initiated by the UK-based Institute for Social Inventions (now known as the Global Think Tank). Other sources claim that the observance was created by the non-commercial online project DoBe.org. Be that as it may, International Internet-Free Day was definitely conceived in the UK.

The main goal of its creators was to encourage people to turn off their computers for at least a day in order to break out of the social isolation caused by the prevalence of online communication. Instead of messaging your friends and relatives, isn’t it better to meet them in person? Instead of spending the day binge-watching another meaningless TV show, isn’t it better to go to a concert, visit a museum or just take a walk in the fresh air?

Of course, back in 2002, when International Internet-Free Day was invented, much fewer people had access to the Internet, and it was much easier to do without the World Wide Web for a day or two because it wasn’t so all-pervading as it is today. These days, when a lot of people have smartphones with mobile Internet access, they use Internet literally for everything, from communicating with other people (using a messenger is so much cheaper than texting when you don’t have an unlimited texting plan) and shopping to checking the weather forecast and public transport schedules. Naturally, going without the Internet even for several hours, let alone the
whole day, is much more difficult. But also much more useful!

Maybe you will find it hard not to use the Internet at all on International Internet-Free Day because of your job demands or for other objective reasons, but you can at least try to use it as little as possible. Skip the ritual of checking all the social media updates first thing in the morning, go to the movies instead of watching a film online, call your friend instead of messaging, leave your phone at home when you go for a walk and enjoy the scenery instead of catching Pokémon...

Absolutely any technology can do both good and harm. While acknowledging all the benefits of the Internet, it is important to keep in mind that an overabundance of information and tendency to escape into the virtual world from real problems won’t do you any good. That is why it is highly recommended that you give yourself a kind of “digital detox” at least once a year in order to take a break from the Internet and figure out whether you need it as much as you think.

In addition to International Internet-Free Day, there’s also World Day Without Wi-Fi designed to raise public awareness about the possible health risks of the wireless connection.

Saw a post about this on Next Door...the guy's looking for business. Says he's only been in business for a week and can't find anyone who needs help.

https://www.firstcall4care.com/

Elgetec Professional Salon Style Hairdryer 2200W

For full details, including affected model numbers and manufacturer’s advice, click here.

Reason for recall:

The live pins of the mains supply plug are too close to the outer edge. As the hairdryer does not have an earth wire, a consumer may receive an electric shock when (un)plugging the hair dryer. The product does not comply with the requirements of the Low Voltage Directive.
What should you do next?

Electrical Safety First recommends that anyone who discovers they have an electrical item that has been recalled should stop using it immediately
Check the product recall notification for details of what to do next
If no details are shown, you should contact either the seller or Citizens Advice on 03444 111 444 or visit them at www.citizensadvice.org.uk
More information on returning recalled products can be found here.

Checking your other electrical products

Our product checker contains the details of electrical products that have been recalled since 2007. If you have searched for a product that you own and it is not listed, this means that it has not been recalled and should be safe to use. However, if you do have concerns about its safety, contact the retailer or manufacturer to alert them to a potential problem.

This email was sent by Electrical Safety First

Disorder In The Court
These are supposed to be true exchanges that have occured in various United States' Courts of Law. But who cares if they're true, as long as they're funny...
Q: What is your date of birth?
A: July fifteenth.
Q: What year?
A: Every year.

Q: What gear were you in at the moment of the impact?
A: Gucci sweats and Reeboks

Q: This myasthenia gravis - does it affect your memory at all?
A: Yes.
Q: And in what ways does it affect your memory?
A: I forget.
Q: You forget. Can you give an example of something that you've forgotten?

Q: How old is your son - the one living with you?
A: Thirty-eight or thirty-five - I can't remember which.
Q: How long has he lived with you?
A: Forty-five years

Q: What was the first thing that your husband said to you when he woke that morning?
A: He said "Where am I, Cathy?"
Q: And why did that upset you?
A: My name is Susan.

Q: And where was the location of the accident?
A: Approximately milepost 499.
Q: And where is milepost 499?
A: Probably between milepost 498 and 500.

Q: Sir, what is your IQ?
A: Well, I can see pretty well, I think.

Q: Did you blow your horn or anything?
A: After the accident?
Q: Before the accident.
A: Sure, I played for ten years. I even went to school for it.

Q: Do you know if your daughter has ever been involved in the voodoo or occult?
A: We both do.
Q: Voodoo?
A: We do.
Q: You do?
A: Yes, voodoo.

Q: Trooper, when you stopped the defendant, were your red and blue lights flashing?
A: Yes.
Q: Did the defendant say anything when she got out of her car?
A: Yes sir.
Q: What did she say?
A: What disco am I at?

Q: So the date of the conception of the baby was August 8th?
A: Yes.
Q: And what were you doing at that time?

Q: You say the stairs went down to the basement?
A: Yes.
Q: And these stairs, did they go up also?

Q: Mr. Slattery, you went on a rather elaborate honeymoon, didn't you?
A: I went to Europe, sir.
Q: And you took your new wife?

Q: How was the first marriage terminated?
A: By death.
Q: And by whose death was it terminated?

Q: Can you describe the individual?
A: He was about medium height and had a beard.
Q: Was this a male, or a female?

Q: Is your appearance here this morning persuant to a deposition notice which I sent to your attorney?
A: No, this is how I dress when I go to work.

Q: Doctor, how many autopsies have you performed on dead people?
A: All my autopsies are performed on dead people.

Q: All your responses must be oral, OK? What school did you go to?
A: Oral.

Q: Do you recall the time that you examined the body?
A: The autopsy started around 8.30pm.
Q: And Mr. Dennington was dead at the time?
A: No, he was sitting on the table wondering why I was doing an autopsy.

Q: Are you qualified to give a urine sample?

Q: You were shot in the fracas?
A: No, I was shot midway between the fracas and the navel

Q: Doctor, before you performed the autopsy, did you check for a pulse?
A: No.
Q: Did you check for blood pressure?
A: No.
Q: Did you check for breathing?
A: No.
Q: So, it was possible that the patient was still alive when you began the autopsy?
A: No.
Q: How can you be so sure, doctor?
A: Because his brain was sitting on my desk in a jar.
Q: But could the patient have still been alive nevertheless?
A: It is possible that he could have been alive and practising law somewhere.

... And I've just had a bee checking out the daffodils in my garden!!!

... Please add yours.








LIFE




Summary of Life

GREAT TRUTHS THAT LITTLE CHILDREN HAVE LEARNED:

1) No matter how hard you try, you can't baptize cats..
2) When your Mum is mad at your Dad, don't let her brush your hair.
3) If your sister hits you, don't hit her back. They always catch the second person.
4) Never ask your 3-year old brother to hold a tomato.
5) You can't trust dogs to watch your food.
6) Don't sneeze when someone is cutting your hair..
7) Never hold a Dust-Buster and a cat at the same time.
8) You can't hide a piece of broccoli in a glass of milk.
9) Don't wear polka-dot underwear under white shorts.
10) The best place to be when you're sad is Grandpa's lap..

[]

GREAT TRUTHS THAT ADULTS HAVE LEARNED:

1) Raising teenagers is like nailing jelly to a tree....
2) Wrinkles don't hurt.
3) Families are like fudge...mostly sweet, with a few nuts
4) Today's mighty oak is just yesterday's nut that held its ground...
5) Laughing is good exercise. It's like jogging on the inside.
6) Middle age is when you choose your cereal for the fiber, not the toy.



GREAT TRUTHS ABOUT GROWING OLD

1) Growing old is mandatory; growing up is optional..
2) Forget the health food I need all the preservatives I can get.
3) When you fall down, you wonder what else you can do while you're down there.
4) You're getting old when you get the same sensation from a rocking chair that you once got from a roller coaster.
5) It's frustrating when you know all the answers but nobody bothers to ask you the questions.
6) Time may be a great healer, but it's a lousy beautician
7) Wisdom comes with age, but sometimes age comes alone.


THE FOUR STAGES OF LIFE:

1) You believe in Santa Claus.
2) You don't believe in Santa Claus.
3) You are Santa Claus.
4) You look like Santa Claus.


SUCCESS:

At age 4 success is . . . . not piddling in your pants.
At age 12 success is . . . having friends.
At age 17 success is . . having a driver's license.
At age 35 success is . .. .having money.
At age 50 success is . .. . having money.
At age 70 success is . ... . having a drivers license.
At age 75 success is . . . having friends.
At age 80 success is . . . not piddling in your pants..

Always remember to forget the troubles that pass your way;
BUT NEVER forget the blessings that come each day.

Have a wonderful day with many *smiles*

Take the time to live!!!
Life is too short.
Dance naked. woo-hoo

Can anyone advise on best bird boxes please, for suburban garden?

Regular visitors here are blue tits, great tits, long-tailed tits, goldfinches, wrens, and others.
Which box works best?

Recommended suppliers?

Placement?

All other comments gratefully received!

Should he be considered for a peerage?

Transportation Changes and Threat Levels
These are strange times with weird things occurring in the air travel and the international transportation industries. Most nations are making restrictive changes. Here is a summary:

The English are feeling the pinch in relation to recent terrorist threats and have raised their security level from "Miffed" to "Peeved." Soon, though, security levels may be raised yet again to "Irritated" or even "A Bit Cross." The English have not been "A Bit Cross" since the blitz in 1940 when tea supplies all but ran out. Terrorists themselves have been re-categorized from "Tiresome" to "A Bloody Nuisance." The last time the British issued "A Bloody Nuisance" warning level was during the Great Fire of 1666.

The Scots raised their threat level from "Nicked Off" to "Get the Bastards." They don't have any other levels. For this reason they have been used on the front lines of the British army for the last 300 years.

The first four Canadian threat levels are still “Contented,” “Awake,” “Alert” and “Worried.” Alone among western nations, they remain at “Contented.” They say it’s because the recent episode missed them so they don’t want to offend anyone by increasing Canadian security alertness. Their highest level, by the way, is “Time to visit the aunt in Fargo, North Dakota again. Eh?”

The French government announced yesterday it has raised its terror alert level from "Run" to "Hide." The only two higher levels in France are "Surrender" and "Collaborate." The increase was precipitated by a recent fire that destroyed France's white flag factory, effectively paralyzing the country's military capability. It's not only the commonwealth and the French who are on a heightened level of security awareness, though.

Italy has increased its alert level from "Shout Loudly and Excitedly" to "Strike Elaborate Military Poses." Two more levels remain: "Ineffective Combat Operations" and "Change Sides."

The Germans also increased their alert state from "Disdainful Arrogance" to "Dress in Uniform and Sing Marching Songs." They also have two higher levels: "Invade a Neighbour" and "Proudly Lose."

Belgians, on the other hand, are all away on their usual holidays, and the only threat they are worried about is of NATO pulling out of Brussels.

The Spanish are excited to see their new class of submarines ready to deploy. These beautifully designed futuristic subs have glass bottoms so the new Spanish navy can get a really good look at the old Spanish navy.

Americans, meanwhile, besides asking for underwear checks on all inbound flight passengers, are scheduling pre-emptive full-blown Air Force One presidential visits to all their allies, mostly just to keep everybody else busy and pre-occupied.

New Zealand has raised its security levels from "baaa" to "BAAAA!" Due to continuing defence cutbacks (their Air Force being a lot of spotty teenagers flying paper airplanes and the Navy some lads with toy boats in the Prime Minister's bath), the Kiwis only have one more level of escalation, which is "Australia Will Probably Come and Rescue Us Again."

Australia, meanwhile, has raised its security level from "No Worries" to "She'll Be Right, Mate." Three more escalation levels remain: "Crikey", "I Think We'll Need to Cancel the Barbie This Weekend" and "The Barbie is Cancelled." So far no situation has ever warranted use of "The Barbie is Cancelled."

HOW MEN AMUSE THEMSELVES IN TESCO

Proof of what can happen if a wife or girlfriend drags her husband or boyfriend along shopping

This letter was actually sent by Tesco's Head Office to a customer in Oxford :


Dear Mrs. Murray,

Whilst we would like to thank you for your valued custom and use of the Tesco Loyalty Card, the Manager of our store in Banbury is considering banning you and your family from shopping with us, unless your
Husband stops his antics.

Below is a list of his actions over the past few months all verified by our surveillance cameras:

1. June 15: Took 24 boxes of condoms and randomly put them in people's trolleys when they weren't looking.

2. July 2: Set all the alarm clocks in Housewares to go off at 5-minute intervals.

3. July 7: Made a trail of tomato juice on the floor leading to feminine products aisle.

4. July 19: Walked up to an employee and told her in an official tone, 'Code 3' in housewares..... And watched what happened.

5. August 14: Moved a 'CAUTION - WET FLOOR' sign to a carpeted area.

6. September 15: Set up a tent in the outdoor clothing department and told shoppers he'd invite them in if they would bring sausages and a Calorgas stove.

7. September 23: When the Deputy Manager asked if she could help him, he began to cry and asked, 'Why can't you people just leave me alone?'

8.. October 4: Looked right into the security camera; used it as a mirror, picked his nose, and ate it.

9. October 10: While appearing to be choosing kitchen knives in the Housewares aisle asked an assistant if he knew where the antidepressants were.

10. November 3: Darted around the store suspiciously, loudly humming the Mission Impossible' theme.

11.November 6: In the kitchenware aisle, practised the 'Madonna look' using different size funnels.

12. November 18: Hid in a clothing rack and when people browsed, yelled' PICK ME!' 'PICK ME!'

13. November 21: When an announcement came over the loudspeaker, assumed the foetal position and screamed 'NO! NO! It's those voices again.'

And; last, but not least:

14. November 23: Went into a fitting room, shut the door, waited a while; then yelled, very loudly, 'There is no toilet paper in here.'

These were (ALLEGEDLY) posted on an Australian Tourism Website and the answers are the actual responses by the website officials, who obviously have a great sense of humour (not to mention a low tolerance threshold for cretins!)

__________________________________________________
Q: Does it ever get windy in Australia ? I have never seen it rain on TV, how do the plants grow? ( UK ).

A: We import all plants fully grown and then just sit around watching them die.
__________________________________________________
Q: Will I be able to see kangaroos in the street? ( USA )
A:Depends how much you've been drinking.
__________________________________________________
Q:I want to walk from Perth to Sydney - can I follow the railroad tracks? ( Sweden)

A: Sure, it's only three thousand miles, take lots of water.
__________________________________________________
Q: Are there any ATMs (cash machines) in Australia ? Can you send me a list of them in Brisbane , Cairns , Townsville and Hervey Bay ? ( UK)
A: What did your last slave die of?
__________________________________________________
Q:Can you give me some information about hippo racing in Australia ? ( USA )

A: A-Fri-ca is the big triangle shaped continent south of Europe ...
Aus-tra-lia is that big island in the middle of the Pacific which does not
... Oh forget it. Sure, the hippo racing is every Tuesday night in Kings Cross. Come naked.
__________________________________________________
Q:Which direction is North in Australia ? (USA )
A: Face south and then turn 180 degrees. Contact us when you get here and we'll send the rest of the directions.
_________________________________________________
Q: Can I bring cutlery into Australia ? ( UK )


A:Why? Just use your fingers like we do...
__________________________________________________
Q:Can you send me the Vienna Boys' Choir schedule? ( USA )

A: Aus-tri-a is that quaint little country bordering Ger-man-y, which is
Oh forget it. Sure, the Vienna Boys Choir plays every Tuesday night in Kings Cross, straight after the hippo races. Come naked.
__________________________________________________

Q: Can I wear high heels in Australia ? ( UK )


A: You are a British politician, right?
__________________________________________________

Q:Are there supermarkets in Sydney and is milk available all year round? ( Germany )
A: No, we are a peaceful civilization of vegan hunter/gatherers.
Milk is illegal.
__________________________________________________

Q:Please send a list of all doctors in Australia who can Dispense rattlesnake serum. ( USA )

A: Rattlesnakes live in A-meri-ca which is where YOU come from.
All Australian snakes are perfectly harmless, can be safely handled and make good pets.
__________________________________________________

Q:I have a question about a famous animal in Australia , but I forget its name. It's a kind of bear and lives in trees. ( USA )
A: It's called a Drop Bear. They are so called because they drop out of Gum trees and eat the brains of anyone walking underneath them.
You can scare them off by spraying yourself with human urine before you go out walking.
__________________________________________________

Q:I have developed a new product that is the fountain of youth. Can you tell me where I can sell it in Australia ? (USA)

A: Anywhere significant numbers of Americans gather.
__________________________________________________

Q:Do you celebrate Christmas in Australia ? ( France )

A: Only at Christmas.
__________________________________________________

Q: Will I be able to speak English most places I go? ( USA )
A: Yes, but you'll have to learn it first

Do you use it? Any good? ….and of course it's not free, we all pay for the library service, so is it worth it?

......I can feel the warmth of the Sun through the window.........but deffo a bit nippy outside !!!
when do you reckon the snow will arrive ?

Currently hibernating but had a nightmare about missing out on being "woke".
What is wokefulness?
Is ignorance bliss??

If you're fed up with your usual gym routine, have a look at this.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fAEBNEscL0c

Are we on strike??????

Spectacular

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NelX3Tp3ijg

Ice weddings.

Cheap and cheerful Christmas lights could start a fire in your home.

Almost 50% of Christmas lights we bought from third-party sellers through online marketplaces were unsafe. AliExpress, eBay and Wish each sold products that could electrocute you or cause a fire, the potentially devastating consequences of which are shown here.

After repeatedly finding serious safety concerns across a range of products we’ve tested, we’re calling for an urgent strengthening of consumer protections for online marketplaces.

Read more about our calls and check whether you’ve purchased these dangerous lights.
https://conversation.which.co.uk/money/online-marketplace-regulation/?utm_source=whichcouk&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=christmaslights161219

in the current year: January 17, 2020
Kid Inventors' Day Kid Inventors' Day is annually celebrated on January 17. The holiday honors all kids inventors around the world, who invented different things, that are common today.

Kid Inventors' Day is celebrated on the birthday of Benjamin Franklin, one of the most influential politician in the history of the USA. The history of the holiday dates back to 1718, when young Ben stood on the edge of water and wished (like all boys do) he could swim faster. Ben didn't forget his dream and invented the first pair of swimming flippers. Back then Ben was only 12 years old, but his invention is a gift for all scuba and snorkeling divers.

Braille system was also invented by a kid. The blind Louis Braille, 15, was frustrated with the “night system” of letters available to blind. He decided to improve the system and his new reading and writing system was named after him.

There are lots of inventions, that were made by kids. Encourage kids to solve problems of their environment by different inventions. This is the reason why Kid Inventors' Day exists.

It was mentioned they kept it very quiet. Your personal data might be compromised incl. pass words and account numbers.
The foreign currency specialist Travelex is reportedly being held to ransom by hackers who launched a cyber-attack a week ago that forced the firm to take down all of its global websites.7 Jan 2020

On grey cold dismal days do you feel like sleeping right through to Spring?
Wouldn't fancy being a hedgehog though!
What animal would you choose to be?

Catalytic Convertor Theft Alert
We have seen an increase in theft of catalytic converters (part of car exhaust) across Chiltern & South Bucks police area over the last 3 months in comparison with the same period last year.
The most targeted vehicle (depending on model year) are Toyota Prius, Toyota Auris, Honda Jazz, Lexus RX400. Manufacturers are working to reduce the risk by relocating them in engine bays rather than under the vehicle however some older models remain vulnerable to this type of theft (please check with your manufacturer / garage).
Thieves target these types of car due to the higher content and therefore value of precious metal within the converter itself.
Aftermarket products such as ‘CatClamp’ or ‘CatStrap’ are available (we cannot endorse any individual product so please carry out your own research).
When leaving your vehicle for periods of time, please try to park where there is CCTV coverage and secure car parks if possible.
If you are a victim of this type of theft, report it and take photos of the location within the car park or street
Message Sent By
Ian Stacey (Police, Neighbourhood Policing Administrator, Chiltern & South Bucks)

When introduced some yrs ago it was a good account to have 3% interest paid Monthly so compounded, Cash back on Utility bills, ok paid £3 a month fee now £5, 2017 cut to 1.5%
From Ist May 2020 dropping to !% so time to ditch move to Ford Money or Marcus paying 1.45%

How can this despicable activity continue and why can't it be banned? Our Wildlife is diminishing rapidly and I cannot see what pleasure those that participate get out of it! Seeing their grinning faces over their latest 'kill' makes me sick to my stomach!

Cheap security cameras could be leaving your home exposed to hackers and snoopers.

We found critical security flaws on six wireless cameras, despite all of them having thousands of apparently positive reviews and earning a coveted “Amazon’s Choice” recommendation.

One security flaw included strangers being able to remotely take control of the camera to spy into homes. When reading through the comments on Amazon reviews, one father said he had chills down his spine after hearing a mysterious voice coming from a camera next to his child’s crib after it was apparently hacked.

There appears to be little to no quality control with these substandard products. Amazon and other online marketplaces must improve the way they scrutinise products. Find out more about other security flaws and what you can do to protect your home.

Wikipedia Day Wikipedians know January 15 as Wikipedia Day. On this day in 2001 Wikipedia was launched by Jimmy Wales and Larry Sanger.

Wikipedia's name was coined by Larry Sanger. He combined words wiki (from the Hawaiian “quick”) and pedia (from encyclopedia). The project initially was to be only English, but it became multilingual very quickly through the launch of different versions. All versions of Wikipedia are similar, though important differences exist, which concern editing practices and content. However English Wikipedia remains as the largest one.

Today Wikipedia is one the biggest non-profit projects in the Internet. It is the sixth most popular website. It had got about 500 million unique visitors each month and boasted 18 billion pages as of February 2014.

For several years Wikipedia Day was celebrated both online and offline. 2011 was the year of a big worldwide celebration. This tradition continued and Wikipedia Day is observed with diverse local meetings and wiki-events.

Did you know, that January 15 is the date when WikiHow was founded? This day was chosen to honour Wikipedia Day.

I've just received a message via LInkedIn from someone I don't know in California.
It was written in slightly broken English and says that she's seen my profile and wants to talk to me about a job opportunity. She included a link which is supposed to lead to a job spec.
BUT
It raises a lot of red flags in my mind. I don't click on unsolicited links and if it is genuine wouldn't want to discuss job opportunities with someone with such poor IT security skills.
I suspect it's a phishing message.
Beware if you use LinkedIn - This is the first time I've heard of possible phishing on the site but I'm sure it won't be the last.

Now we know who the 5 candidates are who out of the 5 do you think will become the leader.Keir Starmer,
Rebecca Long Bailey, Lisa Nandy
Jess Phillips
Emily Thornberry

Is it only me that has noticed that there have been at least 3 events in the last few weeks that could have precipitated us into World War Three, but all people are interested in moaning and commenting on is what Harry and Megan are doing !!!!

Review on an item-----Excellent 77% -----
Great 13%----
Average4%-----
Poor2%----
Bad5%----

KAMAREE JEFFREY
Missing From: Croydon
Date: 10/01/2020 09:00
Circumstances of Disappearance:
Missing Reference – 3801109/20 He was last on WELLESLEY ROAD, CROYDON having ran away instead of going to school. He is considered vulnerable due to learning needs. He is from the NEWHAM area with links to HACKNEY and DAGENHAM
Child

KAMAREE JEFFREY
Age 15 Years
Height 5'3
Ethnic Appearance
Gender Male
5'3, slim build, with short black afro style hair, and brown eyes. He is wearing a black coat with fur around the hood, black trousers, a white shirt and black school uniform jumpe

St. Knut’s Day Date in the current year: January 13, 2020
St. Knut’s Day In different cultures, the end of the Christmas and holiday season in marked with different holidays. While in some countries celebrations cease after New Year’s Day, others continue with the festivities until Epiphany or some other holiday. In Sweden and Finland, for example, the festive season ends on St. Knut’s Day, celebrated on January 13.

Canute Lavard (Knud Lavard in Danish and Knut Levard in Swedish) was a chivalrous and popular Danish prince and the first Duke of Schleswig. He was assassinated by his cousin Magnus (who would later be crowned King Magnus I of Sweden) who wanted to usurp the Danish throne. Canute’s death provoked a civil war which was won by Canute’s posthumous son Valdemar, who was crowned King Valdemar I of Denmark.

Canute’s fate and his son’s triumph lead to his canonization in 1170. The day of his death, January 7, became St. Knut’s Day. As St. Knut’s feast day roughly coincided with Epiphany celebrated on January 6, the two holidays became conflated to some degree. To prevent further conflation, St. Knut’s Day was moved to January 13 in 1680.

Although Canute Lavard was a Danish prince, St. Knut’s Day is mostly celebrated in Sweden and Finland. In Sweden, the holiday is referred to as “Twentieth Day Yule” (Tjugondag jul) and marks the end of the holiday season. It is celebrated by taking down Christmas tree and organizing the so-called Knut’s parties.

A Knut’s party or Knut’s dance is a Swedish tradition when the Christmas tree is stripped of decorations and taken out so that children can dance around the tree and eat the cookies and candies that decorated it. It has been observed since the end of the 19th century. In Swedish, the tradition is called Julgransplundring (“Christmas tree plundering”) or Julgransskakning (“Christmas tree shaking”).

Knut’s parties are held mainly for children, both in private homes and in schools, kindergartens, churches, and other places. Activities include singing and dancing around the Christmas tree, stripping it of decorations, opening Christmas crackers, eating the gingerbread house, partaking in treasure hunts and various games. In many towns, outdoor Knut’s parties are held for the community near the public Christmas tree.

During the 20th century, many people literally threw Christmas trees out of the window and onto the street once they had been stripped of ornaments. In recent years, local authorities have designated areas for dumping the trees, but illegal dumping still remains a problem.

In Finland, St. Knut’s Day is known as Nuutinpäivä. Its most popular tradition, Nuuttipukki, is a type of mummers’ play. It originally involved young men dressed in inverted fur jackets and horned masks who went from house to house and demanded food and leftover alcoholic beverages from the household. Unlike Santa Claus, Nuutipukki was a scary character somewhat similar to Krampus. Today, the Nuuttipukki tradition is still preserved in some parts of Finland but it mostly involves children, reminding of Halloween trick-or-treating.

Kiss a Ginger Day is an informal holiday celebrated on January 12. It was created by Derek Forgie in opposition to “Kick a Ginger Day”. The main idea behind the observance is that it is much better to spread the love than to spread the hate.

The South Park episode “Ginger Kids”, where Cartman delivers a hate speech against people with red hair, supposedly inspired “Kick a Ginger Day”. In 2008, a 14-year old student from Canada started a Facebook group dedicated to the idea of promoting November 20 as “National Kick a Ginger Day”. Some people took the idea literally, which resulted in redheaded students being assaulted based on their hair color. After Kick a Ginger Day was picked up on social media, similar incidents have happened in other parts of the world.

The Kiss a Ginger Day campaign was launched in 2009 to combat bullying and to promote a much more peace-loving activity aimed towards gingers. Celebrating this amazing holiday is really easy! All you need to do is find one of this rare individuals (red hair occurs naturally in 1–2% of the human population) and offer them a kiss as an appreciation for their unique hair color. Of course, you must make sure first that you have their permission because consent is important. Or you can just tell them how amazing and stunning they are.

International Thank You Day Every year people all over the world celebrate International Thank You Day that falls on January 11. This celebration is the ideal opportunity to show your gratitude to people who make your days what they are.

The origin of International Thank You Day is unclear. No one knows who established it and when. There is an opinion that greeting cards companies promoted this holiday to increase their sales. But this doesn't make the concept of International Thank You Day less appealing.

Celebrate this day by showing your appreciation to people who make your life better and more beautiful. One single word can make people who surround you happier, isn't it great?

Unfortunately we often forget to show gratitude to others. We think only about ourselves and don't notice all the things that relatives and friends do for us. Be polite, think of others and then simple “thank you” will make their day better.

This day is considered as one of the most polite days. But don't forget thank all people who deserve it during the rest of the year.