Song of the day:
Thankful Thursday
Here on Birthday Eve I’m thankful for…
Making it through another year in the midst of a global pandemic and still feeling relatively sane (relatively being the key word here)
Parents who raised me to be honest and kind, and to value all people
The resurgence of good sitcoms on network TV (see: The Wonder Years, Abbott Elementary and Grand Crew)
Black History Month / Meet Otis Boykin
Otis Boykin patented 28 electronic devices during his career including resistors for electronic components that made the production of televisions and computers much more affordable, but Boykin became best known for improving the pacemaker. The pacemaker uses electrical impulses to help people maintain a regular heartbeat. Boykin came up with a control unit that regulated the pacemaker with more precision. (Source: Everyday Health)
Lunar New Year / Taboos
Giving people mirrors or pears as gifts is taboo. Pears, for example, are taboo because the Chinese word for 'pears' (梨 lí /lee/) sounds the same as the word for leaving or 'parting' (离 lí). Mirrors are a terrible gifting idea throughout much of Asia, not just China, as they are believed to attract malicious ghosts. They are also easily broken, and anything that breaks is considered a bad omen. (Source: China Highlights)
Video of the day: