Know-It-All Tuesdays: New Year’s Eve Edition

Trivia 1 Minute

In what year did the ball-lowering celebration in Times Square first take place?

How much confetti drops in Times Square on New Year’s Eve?

In what country is it a tradition to jump off a chair at midnight on New Year’s Eve to avoid having bad luck in the new year?

Which city drops a giant chocolate kiss at midnight on New Year’s Eve?

    On which day do many people give up on their New Year’s resolutions?

    What are the triangles on the Times Square ball made of?

    In Italy, what color underwear do people wear on New Year’s Eve to bring good luck and love?

    Which city drops a giant peach instead of a ball to ring in the new year?

    In Greece, what object is baked into a New Year’s cake to bring good luck?

      In Spain, what fruit do people eat 12 of when midnight strikes?

       In what two years did the Times Square ball not drop?

      After Russians write down their New Year’s wish on a piece of paper, what do they do with it?

      How did you do?

      ANSWERS:

      1907

      More than 1 ton

      Denmark

      Hershey, PA

      The second Friday in January, informally known as Quitters Day

      Waterford crystals

      Red

      Atlanta Georgia

      A coin

       12 Grapes

      1942 and 1943 because of World War II light restrictions

      Burn it

      Till next time…stay sharp!

      Unknown's avatar

      Published by pat frederick

      Published

      101 thoughts on “Know-It-All Tuesdays: New Year’s Eve Edition”

        1. Good morning, Pat! Not windy so far this morning; temp is 22 but I can’t tell yet whether it’s cloudy. No Wheezer this morning again and he hasn’t eaten any dry food for a couple of days. Maybe do bright red or orange thread this year!

          This is something you will probably want to take to QTree…..

          “Smartmatic, Part 1: Venezuela – Election Fraud, Murders, the Carter Center, and the Open Society Foundation — Uncovering previously unknown details of this famous story”

          CIAgate, Dec 30, 2025

          April 28, 2008. A private aircraft departs from Maiquetía International Airport in Venezuela. On board is Alfredo José Anzola, co-founder and chief financial officer of the company Smartmatic. His flight to Curaçao is not routine – Anzola intends to share with the U.S. government a rather intriguing story of election fraud in Venezuela, disclosing in the United States certain documents related to illegal activities by Smartmatic.

          Shortly after takeoff, the aircraft crashed into a building near the airport. Anzola died immediately upon arrival at the hospital. The investigation into the incident was quickly closed.

          The Beginning of Hugo Chávez’s Political Career

          The end of 1998 marked a period of anticipation for major changes in Venezuela. The presidential term of 82-year-old Rafael Caldera was coming to an end – a period characterized by high levels of poverty, low living standards, and widespread corruption.

          The country needed systemic change in its domestic politics, and such change occurred – in 1999 Hugo Chávez became Venezuela’s leader for the next fourteen years.

          Chávez showed himself in opposition to the existing political system well before the presidential elections. Driven by a desire to bring about change in the lives of Venezuelan citizens, the young, charismatic military officer quickly gained popularity among his compatriots. In 1992, Chávez and his supporters within the military launched a coup attempt, justifying it as a struggle against poverty and the neoliberal policies of President Pérez. The coup failed, and its leader was imprisoned, but it significantly elevated the revolutionary stature of the military figure in the eyes of the public – among citizens, Chávez became the man who could lead the country and pull it out of its dire condition.

          In 1994, Caldera, who had succeeded Pérez as president, granted Chávez a pardon, after which the latter immediately launched his electoral campaign.

          Hugo Chavez and Rafael Caldera

          Skillfully exploiting the population’s suffering caused by economic hardship, widespread corruption, and social inequality, the former revolutionary set a course toward democracy and decentralization of power, thereby attracting a growing number of supporters. The 1998 elections in Venezuela became his triumph – Chávez had finally come to power.

          However, in 2002, an attempt was made to overthrow him.

          The root of Chávez’s problems lay in the domestic policies he pursued. Opposition unrest was triggered by the adoption of the 1999 Venezuelan Constitution, drafted by presidential loyalists, and perceived threats to Venezuelan democracy – particularly the abolition of the upper house of parliament, which critics viewed as Chávez’s attempt to impose authoritarian rule. The climax came with the 2002 military coup attempt, which initially appeared successful – Chávez agreed to resign and go into exile on Cuba at the recommendation of Fidel Castro. The interim president of Venezuela, Pedro Carmona, held office for 36 hours – mass protests forced him to resign, and Chávez was reinstated in power. Subsequently, the Venezuelan opposition capitalized on the resulting constitutional and political crisis to push for a referendum on the impeachment of the president.

          It was precisely at this moment that the mysterious story of the previously little-known company Smartmatic began.

          The Rise of Smartmatic…..”

          https://ciagate.substack.com/p/smartmatic-part-1-venezuela-election

          Liked by 1 person

          Reply

          1. Awwwwwww so sorry!
            I made a trip to Hershey Pa when my kids were small is the only reason I knew that one.
            (I have pictures to keep my memory fresh!)
            The whole town smelled deliciously of melted chocolate, and the street lights were all shaped like kisses!!

            Liked by 1 person

            Reply

            1. My Mom and I spent a week-end at a B&B in Amish country and toured the area….I still have those pics from waaaay back in the early 1980’s!!! LOL – of course, we had to watch the Cornhuskers play on Saturday but got thrown out of one bar for being too loud….it’s a family trait!

              Liked by 1 person

              Reply

      9. sums it up well!

        BuckNutGuy

        December 30, 2025 7:30 am

        Let me see if I understand how this works: An H1B visa is issued to some low tech worker from some third world sh!thole taking an American job away from an American worker, likely a recent college graduate. That H1B visa holder brings their spouse, 7 “children” and aging parents with them. The aging parents enroll in Medicaid. The spouse sets up two LLCs. The first one gets paid thousands a month to provide “home health care” to the aging parents employing some of the “children”. The second gets paid thousands a month for the aging parents to provide “daycare” to some of the children.

        They all live in the same house with a $500k govt supported mortgage that is easily paid from the Medicade and Childcare grift.

        A young self supporting American loses out on a job opportunity and I, as a US taxpayer, pay tens of thousands of dollars towards this scam because…. Diversity is our strength. Do I have this correct?

        Liked by 1 person

        Reply

      10. Just The News: “The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services announced Monday that it was launching its $50 billion initiative to help rural communities nationwide, which was created through the One Big Beautiful Bill Act in July. All 50 states will receive monetary assistance that will go to rural areas starting next year, with the first wave of awards ranging from $147 million to $281 million. 

        The awards are expected to be used to bring more resources to Americans in rural areas, including by expanding preventive, primary, maternal, and behavioral health services; strengthen and sustain the rural clinical workforce; and modernize medical technology in rural areas.

        “More than 60 million Americans living in rural areas have the right to equal access to quality care,” Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. said in a statement. “This historic investment puts local hospitals, clinics, and health workers in control of their communities’ healthcare. 

        “Thanks to President Trump’s leadership, rural Americans will now have affordable healthcare close to home, free from bureaucratic obstacles,” he added.

        The highest award goes to Texas, which will receive $281 million, while the smallest goes to New Jersey, which will receive $147 million in fiscal year 2026. States like California and Montana will receive $233 million each.  

        The Rural Health Transformation Program’s $50 billion will be allocated to the approved states over the span of five years, with $10 billion available each year from 2026 through 2030.” 

        Liked by 1 person

        Reply

      11. Like

        Reply

      12. Jake

        December 30, 2025 8:27 am

        Reply to  PPS

        Kickbacks to Politicians :

        Perhaps the most interesting twist in the Great Minnesota Grift is how money bounced out of the various social service fraud operations into the coffers of Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party politicians. State Attorney General Keith Ellison collected donations totaling around $10,000–$15,000 from multiple defendants or affiliates shortly after a 2021 meeting where future fraudsters discussed state oversight issues. His son, Minneapolis City Council Member Jeremiah Ellison, pulled in up to $9,000 at a 2021 fundraiser from multiple future defendants. Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey accepted roughly $9,000 from nine defendants or affiliates. (His office later vowed to return or donate the funds.) Rep. Ilhan Omar got her beak wet for $7,000. There may be much more “smurf” donation grifting behind those via the political action committee ActBlue’s straw donor schemes. Stand by on that one.

        One special outrage that flew under the radar this holiday season surfaced after Christmas: In November, Minnesota Judge Sarah West (DFL Party) tossed out a jury’s unanimous guilty verdict against one Abdifatah Yusuf of Promise Health Services, convicted of masterminding a $7.2-million Medicaid fraud. She based her reversal on the prosecution failing to exclude other reasonable, rational inferences inconsistent with Yusuf’s guilt. That’s rich. Is the prosecution obliged to provide alibis for the guy they’re prosecuting?

        https://www.kunstler.com/p/above-average

        Like

        Reply

      13. Just The News: “A California judge on Monday approved the Los Angeles Police Department’s request to place a security hold on the murder of Hollywood director Rob Reiner and wife Michele Singer Reiner, including blocking the release of their autopsies. The LAPD made the request last week, citing the ongoing investigation. The couple were stabbed to death in their Brentwood-area residence earlier this month, and their son, 32-year-old Nick Reiner, has been charged in the murder. 

        The order, signed by Judge Deirdre Hill, bars the public release of “any investigative information, notes, reports or photos” related to the murder investigation, according to the Los Angeles Times. The Los Angeles medical examiner’s office previously confirmed the case was a homicide, listing the cause of death as “multiple sharp force injuries” in its public database, but the information has since been removed.

        “Due to the court order, the information is no longer available,” the medical examiner’s office wrote. “No other case information or records, including the Medical Examiner report, can be released or posted on the website until further notice.”

        The police department said the security hold request was not made to “undermine transparency,” but to ensure that detectives in the case receive information before the public.

        Investigators have also sought security holds in other high-profile cases, such as the deaths of Whitney Houston and actor Paul Walker, who died in a traffic collision in 2013.” 

        Liked by 1 person

        Reply

      14. EXCERPT: “The U.S. Supreme Court will head into 2026 with numerous high-profile decisions to issue. Transgender athletes, birthright citizenship, presidential firing power, tariffs and redistricting are several issues that hang in the balance of the high court’s decision-making.

        The Center Square compiled many of the key cases that could have widespread ramifications depending on how the court rules……”

        https://justthenews.com/nation/states/center-square/tariffs-transgender-athletes-scotus-cases-watch-2026

        Liked by 1 person

        Reply

      17. H/T M

        Gives me goose-bumps!!! All those gadgets that you see on their helmets, hanging on their uniforms, and in their hands —- hell, even the uniforms & boots! I shipped ’em all to our guys in Afghanistan back then. Makes me feel good to have helped in at least that small way.😊😉😁🤗

        Liked by 1 person

        Reply

      18. I put 2 banana breads in the oven–they’re almost done. We had 5 bananas getting soft, so I made one with chopped walnuts and one with chopped pecans. I’ll be putting one in the freezer…and since I used identical pans–I won’t know till we cut the one i’ll leave out which one that is.

        Liked by 1 person

        Reply

      21. Liked by 1 person

        Reply

        1. Full Text:

          “I’ve noticed that some people have mistaken my criticism of the GOP not holding people accountable… …as some sort of a lagging indicator I would vote for a Democrat Let me be very clear: I would crawl over BROKEN GLASS to vote for a RINO Republican over any liberal Democrat. We should be able to hold 2 thoughts in our head at the same time: 1) The GOP in Congress are a lazy bunch of goons who clearly do not value accountability, investigating fraud, or what Elon / Nick Shirley have sacrificed to make all of it known, and they should be called on their bullshit. 2) If liberal Democrats were in power, there would not even BE a DOGE, no deportations, huge increases in fraud, and mass crackdowns on free speech The only way anything changes is to hold our public officials accountable for their actions (or inactions). The beauty of X is that anyone can say anything to, or ask any question of, any elected representative. You can move the conversation of important topics forward by just using your voice on X. If you don’t think the GOP feel under immense pressure to hold people accountable after all of us on the X platform started asking them why the hell they haven’t investigated or defunded the Minnesota / Somali daycare fraud yet… …then this is all for nothing You have a voice. Use it to push the conversation forward. X is a magical place where anything is possible, you just have to SAY IT and then keep fighting for it. If we the people don’t start fighting for real change, for common sense, for accountability, for mainstream positions… …then tell me Who the hell will? It’s up to us. Elon can’t fix it all on his own, he tried. The GOP certainly can’t. Neither can Trump on his own. The only way things change, is a massive, collective scream for decency and common sense.”

          Liked by 1 person

          Reply

      22. Full text:

        “You know what,
        @Sec_Noem, this is why stuff takes forever. Literally all you need to do is ask who the contracted food service provider is (Sysco? Local vendor?) then ask for invoicing and proof of service. If there is none, then obviously the kids are not being fed (Violation of State and Federal law) or there simply isn’t any kids. I could have this determined in less than 30 minutes per location based off logistics and operational concept alone. Stop overcomplicating things and get to the arrests already.”

        Liked by 1 person

        Reply

      23. Wow! Just watched our forecast from last night – mid-to-high 30’s into the 40’s for a full week w/little to no precip!!! No complaint can possibly be found!!!! Yessss!!!

        Liked by 1 person

        Reply

      24. “Proof positive you can’t fix stupid…

        It would be easy enough to assume that this happened in any one of our major cities here in the States, but it’s actually a perfect example of universal, no-matter-where-you-live kinda stupid. Cell phone video footage shows the woman dancing with the death angels as she stands – on a chair – on a narrow ledge of the 16th floor outside a Gold Coast apartment block in Australia.

        The resident of Peninsula Apartments on Clifford Street – a residential building in Surfers Paradise, Australia – appeared determined to clean her windows despite the obvious and immediate danger. The jackass can be seen climbing out the window, placing a chair on the ledge and casually stepping on top of it. Seemingly unfazed, she then proceeds to carefully wipe down the glass. The person filming said they could not believe what they were witnessing and quickly called police to report the incident. 

        Stupid is as stupid does, no matter where you are…”

        Liked by 1 person

        Reply

      28. The Tetons?

        Long Drop To The Beach

        “Skateboard down this hill,” they said. “It’ll be fun,” they said.

        Ready for Winter

        The Blue Crew and Blowing Snow

        Liked by 1 person

        Reply

      32. MAZE
        @mazemoore
        During the VP debate last year Tim Walz bragged about making it easier for people to get into the childcare business.

        Walz: “We have to make it easier for folks to be able to get into that business and then to make sure that folks are able to pay for that. We were able to do it in Minnesota.”

        Yes Tim, you sure did make it easy for people to open childcare businesses. They don’t even need to provide childcare to get paid.

        Liked by 1 person

        Reply

      33. WTF? this person from POLITICO is saying that Nick Shirley knocking on a door is grounds to shoot him? he trying to incite violence?

        Like

        Reply

      36. FloridaFredOutWest

        December 30, 2025 3:33 pm

        Less than five minutes on this site and I’ve already found over $32M in SBA 7(a) loans to eight Indian gas stations in Texas.

        Such highly skilled human capital that they need to run gas stations with our tax-backed loans. All they do is commit fraud, bleeding us dry.

        Liked by 1 person

        Reply

      43. “2025’s Political Apocalypse: The Top 10 Democrat and RINO Losers Who Got Absolutely Demolished”

        Michael T. Flynn LTG USA (RET), Dec 30, 2025

        EXCERPT: “In 2025, the political landscape wasn’t just business as usual; it was a complete upheaval. This was a decisive effort to remove the phonies, elitists, and deep-state operatives who arrogantly thought they controlled America. They believed they could manipulate our institutions and trample on our freedoms without the American people noticing.

        As we stand on the threshold of a new dawn, charging into the final days of this historic year, it’s time to stand tall and reflect not with timid hesitation, but with the fire of truth burning in our hearts on the monumental setbacks these enemies of the Republic have suffered. The Democrats and their RINO accomplices, those spineless “Republicans” who bend like reeds whenever the swamp blows their way, have finally collided head-on with a tidal wave of investigations, exposures, and raw, unfiltered American outrage that has left them humiliated, exposed, and broken.

        What they called “challenges” we know as divine justice in motion.

        Allow me to share a refined Top 10 reflection on those who faced the most significant difficulties. It promises to engage you thoroughly, with just the right touch of insight, and leave you quietly appreciating the virtues of accountability.

        10. Christopher Wray – The FBI Director Who Got Fired Before He Could Quit

        The former FBI Director thought he could ride out the storm, but 2025 turned his tenure into a terminal tailspin. Resigning amid a barrage of scandals from botched January 6 probes to shielding intel on Chinese election meddling, Wray turned out to be the GOP’s enemy number one……”

        https://genflynn.substack.com/p/2025s-political-apocalypse

        Liked by 1 person

        Reply

      Leave a comment