My Daily Smile

Life is short - begin every day with a smile!

Did you know the North Star is actually (at least) three stars?

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Most everyone is familiar with the North Star.

After all, it’s been guiding mariners across the seas and travelers across the continents for ages.

And if you were paying attention in science class you probably know the official name of the North Star is Polaris.

But here’s something you probably don’t know: Polaris isn’t just the one star that we see when we gaze at the night sky and see the North Star…  [Read more…]

Ever wonder why scratching an itch makes you start itching somewhere else?

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Have you ever scratched an itch and felt relief, only to immediately start itching someplace else?

It happens all the time, right? Well, it isn’t your mind playing tricks on you.

Scratching an itch really does cause you to itch in other places.

And to add insult to injury, you’ve probably noticed how scratching an itch can cause the itching sensation to quickly return, only stronger.   [Read more…]

Video: This is how storm chasers stay safe (even when inside an actual tornado)

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I’m sure you’ve heard of storm chasers, the brave (and some would say off-their-rocker) individuals who seek out tornadoes instead of hunkering down and hoping they pass them by.

These folks capture both breathtaking video and important scientific data every time they encounter a twister, and the closer they can get to the action the better (at least from their perspective).

Most storm chasers know to remain a safe distance away from the funnel cloud, and for the most part they manage to do so. But if the tornado decides to take a sudden and unexpected turn in direction the results can be catastrophic.  [Read more…]

Could this be the perfect way to cut a watermelon?

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Note: The links in this post are affiliate links.

In my humble opinion, there are very few material things in life as awesome as an ice cold watermelon on a hot summer day.

If you love a good cold watermelon too, have you perfected the art of cutting it to your satisfaction?

A great watermelon knife certainly helps, but technique makes a huge difference as well.  [Read more…]

Time-lapse video: “Dance of the Northern Lights”

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The colorful auroras must surely be among the most magnificent phenomena in all of nature.

The night skies above the far northern and far southern regions of our amazing planet put on some rather spectacular shows that really must be seen in person in order to fully appreciate their beauty.

But sadly, a trip to one of the poles simply isn’t in the cards for most folks.

Fortunately, we have numerous time-lapse videos that can bring the beauty of the auroras right into our homes.  [Read more…]