THIS WEEK'S DEAR JOHN LETTER!
Dear John,
I hope you had a Merry Christmas and if you choose my letter, it will be read on New Year Day, so have a safe and happy new year too! My family had a Christmas party recently. Everyone was there except for my brother. He was recently divorced. His adult children were at the party. They said he just wanted to be alone. I reached out to see how he was doing and he was drunk at the time. I'd like to offer to help, but I've been told to just mind my own business. What is the right thing to do? I don't want to butt my nose in where it does not belong, but I also want to be there for my brother. I tried to connect a few days later and it's just gone to voicemail. I live a few hours away from where he lives. I want to stop by to make sure he's good. My mother told me to leave him alone and just let him be. I'm concerned that he's not OK. I just want to make sure I'm there for him if he needs me. What are your thoughts on this?
Signed – Big Sister
We'll answer THIS Dear John Letter on Thursday's show.... and we can answer YOUR letter NEXT week! Simply send a message to our facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/JohnAndHeidiShow (your comments are welcome & wanted) or email it through our web form at JohnAndHeidiShow.com. Whether we use it on the air or not, EVERY Dear John Letter is answered. We offer advice and promise to keep your identity 100% anonymous. #DearJohnLetters #JohnAndHeidiShow #FreeAdvice
TODAY'S REASON TO PARTY! (special thanks to ListOfNationalDays.com)
New Years Day
https://mybartender.com/drinks/new-years-cocktails/
SURVEYS, STUDIES & SUCH
The people of WHICH country swear the most…or the best? A new study from University of Eastern Finland analyzed 7.8 billion words from more than 435,000 X users to see how often English-speaking countries drop the f-bomb. Americans came out on top as the most frequent users, with Brits close behind. But the real (bleeping!) prize goes to Australians…who were surprisingly found to swear the LEAST…but were also found to be the most creative when they do decide to use blue language. Aussies managed to come up with over 2,100 spelling variations for THAT word, far more than the US or UK. The study also found that people swear more on social media than on blogs or other media, and often use the f-word to vent, celebrate, or add extra punch to what they’re saying.
BIG SCREEN-LITTLE SCREEN
Hedda: A Bold Reimagining of a Classic Film. Tessa Thompson and Nina Hoss star in Hedda, a fresh, queer-oriented adaptation of Ibsen’s Hedda Gabler now streaming on Prime Video. Director Nia DaCosta brings social depth and a murder mystery spin to this vibrant reinterpretation of the classic play. https://ew.com/hedda-tessa-thompson
Weekend Streaming & Movie Picks Across Platforms. Forbes offers a weekend guide to new movies and shows on platforms like Netflix, Hulu, Prime Video, and Apple TV+. This includes recent releases and holiday selections you might want to catch up on during the year-end break. https://www.forbes.com/sites/
DID YA KNOW!?
DID YOU KNOW… Oxford University is older than the Aztec Empire. Teaching was already taking place at Oxford by the year 1096. The Aztec civilization was founded nearly 300 years later, in 1325.
JOKE
OF THE DAY
(FROM
HEIDI)
SCOOP
OF THE DAY
WHEN YOU SHOULD TAKE DOWN YOUR CHRISTMAS TREE
Whether you have a real or an artificial tree, here’s a look at the best time to take down your holiday decorations…and spoiler alert: There’s more than one right answer!
☆ January 5 or 6 (Twelfth Night/Epiphany): Many Christians traditionally take down decorations on Twelfth Night, which dates back to the 4th century, and marks the end of the Christmas season. Depending on how the days are counted, it falls on January 5 or 6, tied to Epiphany, commemorating the visit of the 3 Wise Men. Folklore warns leaving decorations up past this date brings bad luck.
☆ New Year’s Eve or New Year’s Day: Some people see January 1 as the clean break between holiday cheer and the New Year, making New Year’s Eve a practical time to pack everything away. And superstition says leaving your tree up into the New Year risks carrying last year’s “baggage” into 2025.
☆ When your tree starts dying: A drying or shedding tree is a fire hazard and should be removed as soon as possible. The US National Fire Protection Association reports most Christmas tree fires occur in January, especially once needles turn brown or the branches weaken. (So…ALSO bad luck!)
☆ There’s actually no “right” time: There’s no universal rule for when to take down your Christmas tree, despite traditions and superstitions. Whether it’s December 26, mid-January, or much later, the best time is simply when it works for you. After all, you’ve earned that sparkle.
THE MOVIE QUOTE OF THE DAY
If you have a favorite quote.... you can send it to us at the bottom of the page at JohnAndHeidiShow.com
"I'm the king of the swingers!" — The Jungle Book, King Louie, 1967
NEWS TO ME
(FROM HEIDI)
FUN
FACT FOR YOU:
Share
this with your friends... they'll think you're really smart!
✓ The South Pole is colder than the North Pole.
✓ Forks, mostly being two-tined, used to known as “split spoons.”
✓ Air becomes liquid at about minus 190 degrees Celsius.
✓ Worldwide, about 20% of married couples are first cousins.
✓ The word “gymnastics” comes from a Greek word meaning “to exercise naked”.
WEIRD NEWS
A self-driving Waymo taxi in San Francisco gained an unexpected passenger when a pregnant rider gave birth during the trip. The woman was headed to the University of California, San Francisco Medical Center on Monday when her baby was born…in the back seat of the driverless car. Waymo said its rider support team noticed unusual activity, checked in with the passenger, and alerted emergency responders. The hospital confirmed the mother and newborn arrived safely. The taxi was later removed from service for cleaning. A spokesperson noted: “While it’s a rare occurrence … some of our newest riders just can’t wait to experience their first ride.”
QUESTION OF THE DAY
In a survey asking people to name the top ways they waste time, THIS came in at #4. What is it?
Answer: Sitting in traffic
SOMETHING SPECIAL WITH HEIDI SMALL
(FROM HEIDI)
THE LIST
The English language is well known for having complex rules about grammar and spelling, often loaded with exceptions and special use cases. But the quirks of English don't stop at confusing grammar—our language also happens to be a treasure trove of words so delightfully absurd, so wonderfully preposterous, that they sound like they were plucked straight from the pages of a Dr. Seuss book or improvised during a comedy sketch.
Here are 11 real words that sound made up
Bumfuzzle
A
verb meaning “to confuse, perplex or fluster.” It may be a
variation on dumfound.
Sample Sentence: This year’s corn maze was so complex, it bumfuzzled visitors.
Snickersnee
This
noun means “a large knife” but can also refer to a knife fight.
It ultimately derives from the Dutch words steken (“to thrust”)
and snijden (“to cut”).
Sample Sentence: Conventional wisdom suggests one should not bring a snickersnee to a gun battle.
Wabbit
The
etymology of this adjective, which comes from Scottish, is uncertain,
but it means “weary or exhausted”—as in, how Elmer Fudd
actually felt when he was trying nab Bugs Bunny.
Sample Sentence: Hunting rabbits all day without a catch left the predator feeling wabbit.
Collywobbles
Dates
back to the 1820s, refers to stomach pain or anxiety. A combination
of colic and wobble, it perfectly captures that unsettled feeling we
all know.
Sample Sentence: Speaking in front of a crowd gave Jane collywobbles.
Snollygoster
This
creative insult describes a shrewd, unprincipled person—especially
a politician—and is likely a variant of snallygaster, a fast-moving
monster or ghost.
Sample Sentence: In 1952, Harry S. Truman referred to his political opponents as snollygosters. (He really did!)
Quomodocunquizing
A
verb from the 1600s that combines the classical Latin word
quĊmodocunque with the suffix –izing, means “to make money by
any means,” even if they’re questionable.
Sample Sentence: Side gigs and hustles weren’t enough for Joe to make ends meet; it was time to start quomodocunquizing.
Taradiddle
This
word dates back to 1796 and describes pretentious nonsense or,
sometimes, a petty lie. Nobody is sure how or even when this word
came into being—a linguistic mystery!
Sample Sentence: You can’t blame the exhausted mom for telling her toddler the park was closed today—a forgivable taradiddle.
Borborygmus
Refers
to the rumbling sound made by gas moving through the intestines.
Sample Sentence: Eric skipped lunch and hoped his client couldn’t hear the borborygmus from across the conference table.
Kakorrhaphiophobia
This
noun describes a fear of failure or defeat.
Sample Sentence: I feel a strong sense of kakorrhaphiophobia when I think about trying to pronounce kakorrhaphiophobia.
Absquatulate
Absquatulate
is a slang term with two meanings: “decamp” (“to break down a
camp site”) and “abscond” (“to leave suddenly”).
Sample Sentence: The burglars decided to absquatulate when they heard police sirens approaching.
Slubberdegullion
This
17th-century noun is a delightful insult for a slovenly, dirty slob
or worthless person.
Sample Sentence: After living with three roommates who never washed a dish, Michael declared he would never again share an apartment with such slubberdegullions.
https://www.mentalfloss.com/language/words/real-words-that-sound-fake
GOOD NEWS
Basketball Ref Who 'Died' On The Court Reunites With The Women Who Saved His Life. https://www.sunnyskyz.com/good-news
