If we really want 2016 to be amazing, eliminating some of these horrible words and phrases from our collective vocabulary would be a great start.

Lake Superior State University in Sault Sainte Marie, Michigan just released its annual list of words that need to be banned. It’s based on thousands of nominations from people around the world. Here are their five best picks . . .

1. “Vape.”

2. “Price point.” Because you can just say “price.”

3. “Secret sauce.” It’s overused in business to explain why companies are successful.

4. “Manspreading.” It’s slang for when men sit with their legs wide open to take up two seats.

5. “Break the Internet.” The stupid phrase for how amazing a picture is, that’s now being overused.

You can see the full 2016 list here.

A video called “Baby’s First Bacon” has racked up about five million hits in the last week.  It’s a little kid from California on Christmas morning, trying bacon for the first time and loving it.  Then he just keeps yelling “bacon” over and over.

I hope these will make you fell better about your family… I know I feel better!!

Customers at six different Walmarts in Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Florida went to pay for Christmas presents they had on layaway this week . . . and found out they were already PAID FOR.

Someone in Ohio spent $106,000 on Tuesday to pay for all the layaway items at a store in Cleveland, and another one just outside the city.

A guy in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania did the same thing at two stores last week, and spent $79,000 at each one.  So $158,000 total.

And someone in Florida went to two Walmarts near Gainesville on Monday, and spent a total of $200,000.

So all totaled, that’s $464,000.  And that’s just the big ones we know about so far.

A weather girl in the U.K. named Sian Welby did a report on Tuesday, where she snuck in at least 12 “Star Wars” puns in less than 40 seconds.

A YouTube channel that does a series called “100 Years of Fashion” changed it up for the holidays, and posted a new one where they show you the most popular Christmas toys from every decade.

“Real Simple” posted a list of social media rules you should try to follow around the holidays. And a few are pretty good. Here are the top five . . . Read More »

The new “People Are Awesome” video has been blowing up on Facebook this week.  It’s the montage that comes out each year of the craziest stunts and tricks people have posted online.

This is some delicious irony right here. Way more delicious than tofu, at least.

A new study out of Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh found that vegetarians and vegans are actually bad for the environment. So while vegetarians are good for animals, they’re bad for the planet those animals live on.

Here’s why. It takes a lot more energy to produce the vegetables you need to make up for all those calories you’re not getting from meat.

For example, producing 1,000 calories worth of things like lettuce, celery, and cucumbers takes a hell of a lot more energy to raise and produce than 1,000 calories worth of chicken or pork.

Figgy pudding is made with figs and was popular as a Christmas pudding in the British Isles. The pudding may be baked, steamed in the oven, boiled or fried.

Figgy pudding dates back to 16th century England. Its possible ancestors include savory puddings, such as crustades, fygeye or figge (a potage of mashed figs thickened with bread), creme boiled (a kind of stirred custard), and sippets (croutons). In any case, its methods and ingredients appear in diverse older recipes. (Wikipedia)

INGREDIENTS
1/2 cup (1 stick) butter, at room temperature
2 eggs
1 cup molasses
2 cups dried figs (about 1 pound), stems removed, chopped fine
1/2 teaspoon grated lemon peel
1 cup buttermilk
1/2 cup walnuts, chopped
2-1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
Garnish: Whipped cream

PREPARATION

In an electric mixer, cream the butter until fluffy. Add the eggs and molasses and beat again. Add the figs, lemon peel, buttermilk, and walnuts. Blend 1 minute. Add the flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt, cinnamon, and nutmeg. Blend until everything is incorporated.

Grease and flour and 8 by 4-inch souffle dish and pour in the batter. Bake in a 325-degree F. oven for 1 hour, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.