The winter solstice is one of the two times each year that the Sun is at its farthest point from the equator and appears to stand still. The word solstice is derived from the Latin sol, or “Sun,” and stitium, or “stoppage.”
The Halcyon Days also occur around this time. According to ancient legend, a grieving wife named Halcyon threw herself into the sea upon discovering the drowned body of her beloved husband, Ceyx. The gods took pity on the pair, transforming them into kingfishers, or halcyons, with the power to still the stormy seas for 14 days near the time of the winter solstice while they hatched their young.”
Is there anything I can do to stop the stairs in my house from squeaking?
There is. Find the offending step (or steps) and sprinkle some talcum powder into the noisy joint between the tread and the riser. For a more permanent solution, if you can get at the back of your stairs, you can repair them by driving nails from underneath through the riser and into the tread at an angle; this will make them hold better.
Advice of the Day
To defeat sleepless nights, try as hard as possible to stay awake; you’ll soon be asleep.
Home Hint of the Day
If you’re nailing into knotty or tough wood, first make a pilot hole. Drill a hole slightly smaller in diameter than the nail before inserting and hammering it in.
Word of the Day
Homichlophobia
The fear of fog or clouds
Puzzle of the Day
Why is a dog dressed more warmly in summer than he is in winter?
Because in winter he wears a fur coat, and in summer he wears a fur coat and pants.
Died
Giovanni Boccaccio(poet)–
Marc Connelly(playwright)–
Born
Phil Donahue( talk show host)–
Jane Fonda(actress)–
Samuel L. Jackson(actor)–
Ray Romano(comedian & actor)–
Kiefer Sutherland(actor)–
Events
Mackenzie Bowell became Canada’s 5th Prime Minister –
The first crossword puzzle was printed in a NY newspaper –
Pianist Vladimir Horowitz wed Wanda Toscanini –
Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs premiered at the Carthay Circle Theater in Hollywood, California. It was the first animated feature-length film with sound and color –
Weather
A four-day snowstorm began in Portland, Oregon –
A storm in Texas, Arkansas, and Louisiana brought 26 inches of snow to Hillsboro, Texas –
