Author: Lisa Mungovan

During the pandemic, many schools have been holding virtual classes. There are also virtual courtrooms, and they can experience the same technical difficulties as kids do. Texas lawyer Rod Ponton, accidentally turned on the Kitty filter during a Zoom court hearing, and had to assure the Judge he was not actually a cat.

In 20 19, astronomers spotted the most distant object ever identified in our solar system, and nicknamed it Far-Far-Out. It orbits the sun at a distance of 140 astronomical units, which is over 13,000,000,000,000 miles away! Scientists have been studying it, and learned it’s 250 miles across, and could take over 800 years, to orbit the sun!

Think about all the things you use every day. Someone invented them all, from light bulbs and televisions, to socks and forks. Today is Inventors’ Day, so look up the origins of your favorite objects. When was it invented? Try to make your own invention, and someday someone might be looking up your object!

Did you dump your drink and make a big mess? Don’t worry. It’s Don’t Cry Over Spilled Milk Day. Just calmly clean up the mess, and carry on with your day. It’s no big deal! It’s also Get Out Your Guitar Day, so play a few tunes today. Is your guitar electric or acoustic?

Today is Make A Friend Day. It’s fun to make new friends, but it can be hard to meet someone new when you’re shy. You’re in luck, because it’s also Peppermint Patty Day! Offering candy to someone is a great conversation starter, especially when it’s a chocolate covered mint!

A group of hockey players in Canada, is attempting to play the longest hockey game ever, although the extreme cold is making it harder. With temperatures at 58 degrees below 0, the pucks keep shattering! They started the game on February 4th, and plan to play until February 15th, for 252 consecutive hours. Players take 6-8-hour shifts.

After a big snowstorm, people get territorial about the parking spots they shoveled out. The call dibs on spaces, by marking them with cones, lawn chairs, or even pants. The frigid temperatures in Chicago Illinois, inspired one man to freeze his jeans, so they can stand guard. He plans to add a frozen shirt.

A museum in Pompeii Italy, has finally reopened, after 40 years. The Antiquarium was built in 18 73. It holds artifacts from the volcanic eruption of Mount Vesuvius, which destroyed the city nearly 2000 years ago. The museum had been severely damaged in an earthquake. Visitors are still limited to nearby residents, because of the pandemic.

Have you ever heard of an ice volcano? A hot spring in Kazakhstan, isn’t hot enough to keep it from freezing. As the hot water sprays into the air, it forms a hollow cone of ice. Visitors look forward to its formation every year. This year’s ice tower is already 45 feet high!

Today is Umbrella Day, and Cream Cheese Brownie Day. I wish it would rain delicious cream cheese brownies so I could use my bumbershoot, another name for umbrellas in the 19th century. James Smith and Sons is a London umbrella shop open since 1830. Umbrellas were invented more than 4000 years ago!