Nov. 28, 2023
Christmas Stories: Operation Turkey, Christmas Eels and the dog ate the tree
Can you imagine your Christmas morning starting with a box of opened gifts not under your tree but in your backyard, thanks to your box of a puppy? Or how about getting pulled over by a police officer only to receive a turkey instead of a ticket?...
Can you imagine your Christmas morning starting with a box of opened gifts not under your tree but in your backyard, thanks to your box of a puppy? Or how about getting pulled over by a police officer only to receive a turkey instead of a ticket? Prepare to be amused, intrigued, and warmed as we bring you a special holiday edition, where we unravel such fascinating tales and incredible facts. Our guest Aster Ireland is joining us to add the perfect finish to these heartening holiday stories.
We kick things off with Mercy, the boxer puppy who sparks an unexpected twist on her family's Christmas celebration. Discover curious notions around the origins of Santa Claus and his flying reindeer possibly tied to shamanistic practices in Siberia. Hear about a remarkable act of generosity from Chad Rose of Michigan, who turned his surplus Christmas tree into a symbol of shared compassion.
We also spotlight an amusing initiative called Operation Turkey Warning where police officers swap tickets for turkeys.
Finally, let's light up your imagination as we share the innovation behind a Christmas tree in Kamakura, Japan, powered by electric eels. So, buckle up, listeners! It's time to deck the halls with tales of cheer, charity, and the unexpected.
This show is part of the Spreaker Prime Network, if you are interested in advertising on this podcast, contact us at https://www.spreaker.com/show/5747537/advertisement
WEBVTT
1
00:00:03.120 --> 00:00:10.640
Calarugashock Media. Hey I Am Johnny
Mack now through Christmas on Monday and Wednesday
2
00:00:10.679 --> 00:00:15.839
its normal episodes, and on Tuesday
and Thursdays its five Good News Christmas Stories.
3
00:00:15.880 --> 00:00:21.199
Here's Aster Ireland. A new boxer
puppy named Mercy joined a family,
4
00:00:21.679 --> 00:00:26.519
her name unknowingly predicting the grace she
would bring. As a vivacious creature,
5
00:00:26.879 --> 00:00:30.760
Mercy would leap out of bed at
the crack of dawn and remain spirited throughout
6
00:00:30.760 --> 00:00:35.799
the day. When a Christmas tree
graced the family home, expectations of playful
7
00:00:35.840 --> 00:00:40.840
disorder were high. Surprisingly, Mercy
showed no fascination with the tree or the
8
00:00:40.880 --> 00:00:45.759
gifts, even ignoring a box of
dog treats that lay underneath. The parents,
9
00:00:46.039 --> 00:00:51.079
accustomed to the typical canine curiosity,
waited for the impending seasonal chaos.
10
00:00:51.640 --> 00:00:56.960
Yet Mercy stayed curiously detached, unlike
their previous dogs, who had a penchant
11
00:00:57.039 --> 00:01:02.600
for holiday disruptions. As Christmas approached, the family was shocked to find their
12
00:01:02.640 --> 00:01:07.799
living room bereft of its festive decorations
save for the unscathed tree. Initial fears
13
00:01:07.799 --> 00:01:14.000
of burglary dissipated when a path of
shredded ribbons and paper led to the backyard.
14
00:01:14.400 --> 00:01:18.760
There, under the glow of the
porch light, was Mercy surrounded by
15
00:01:18.760 --> 00:01:25.159
a collection of opened presents, the
quiet culprit of a nighttime escapade. Remarkably,
16
00:01:25.640 --> 00:01:29.840
after her feast of various edibles,
Mercy was in good health. The
17
00:01:29.879 --> 00:01:34.480
family, though amused by the disarray, was left with the quandary of acknowledging
18
00:01:34.519 --> 00:01:38.000
gifts whose tags had been lost in
the fray. The answer came in a
19
00:01:38.040 --> 00:01:42.799
moment of inspiration, when Mercy was
found cuddling a half eaten doughnut. This
20
00:01:42.920 --> 00:01:49.079
scene was captured and transformed into thank
you cards, with the playful note thank
21
00:01:49.120 --> 00:01:53.480
you for thee and the full story
enclosed. It served as a whimsical reminder
22
00:01:53.680 --> 00:01:59.760
that the heart of the holiday season
lies in forgiveness and goodwill, a sentiment
23
00:01:59.799 --> 00:02:07.159
perfectly demonstrated by Mercy. The enchanting
tale of Santa Claus soaring through the sky
24
00:02:07.280 --> 00:02:13.639
with his team of reindeer has captivated
generations, yet its origins remain a topic
25
00:02:13.680 --> 00:02:17.919
of speculation. A hypothesis suggests that
the legend of Santa may trace back to
26
00:02:17.960 --> 00:02:23.520
the practices of shamans in Siberia and
the Arctic, who distributed hallucinogenic mushrooms during
27
00:02:23.560 --> 00:02:30.240
the winter Solstice celebrations. Reindeer native
to these frosty realms and the tribesmen who
28
00:02:30.240 --> 00:02:37.240
consumed these psychedelic fungi may have experienced
visions of the animals taking flight. According
29
00:02:37.280 --> 00:02:42.360
to a narrative shared by Donald Fister, a Harvard University biologist with expertise in
30
00:02:42.439 --> 00:02:46.560
fungi, in a twenty twelve Live
Science interview, not only are these reindeer
31
00:02:46.639 --> 00:02:52.319
known to ingest the mushrooms themselves,
but the shamans would also sometimes partake in
32
00:02:52.360 --> 00:02:58.680
the animal's urine during spiritual ceremonies.
Carl Ruck, a Boston University classics professor,
33
00:02:59.120 --> 00:03:05.120
humorously noted in his conversation with Live
Science flying Reindeer, it seems that
34
00:03:05.159 --> 00:03:09.080
the common awareness is shifting towards the
idea that Santa's journey with his reindeer is
35
00:03:09.159 --> 00:03:15.800
more of a psychedelic experience. Despite
this, some scholars dismissed the theory as
36
00:03:15.840 --> 00:03:23.240
fanciful and without merit. In Michigan, a simple act of kindness transformed the
37
00:03:23.280 --> 00:03:28.800
holiday season for many families. Chad
Rose, finding himself with an extra Christmas
38
00:03:28.840 --> 00:03:34.599
tree, decided to post a free
giveaway on Craigslist. The tree, originally
39
00:03:34.639 --> 00:03:38.439
a festive prop for a parade float, became a symbol of generosity as stories
40
00:03:38.479 --> 00:03:45.159
poured in revealing the financial struggles faced
by many during the holidays. Moved by
41
00:03:45.199 --> 00:03:50.120
their plight, Rose acquired an additional
forty trees, determined to ensure that no
42
00:03:50.240 --> 00:03:55.000
family would go without. Meanwhile,
and Poisson's offer to provide ornaments and trimmings
43
00:03:55.039 --> 00:04:01.199
for these trees exemplified the spirit of
community and shared kindness, showcasing how one
44
00:04:01.240 --> 00:04:06.199
person's thoughtful gesture can inspire others to
contribute to a cause that brings joy and
45
00:04:06.280 --> 00:04:13.400
warmth to many. During the festive
season, some police officers spread holiday cheer
46
00:04:13.439 --> 00:04:17.800
in an unexpected way. Instead of
issuing traffic tickets, they are surprising motorists
47
00:04:17.839 --> 00:04:24.279
with turkeys. The initiative, dubbed
Operation Turkey Warning, was the brainchild of
48
00:04:24.319 --> 00:04:28.680
Alan Lake, a retired Air Force
colonel, in collaboration with the local police
49
00:04:28.680 --> 00:04:32.800
department. Drivers expecting a ticket were
instead sent off with a frozen turkey,
50
00:04:33.240 --> 00:04:39.120
a dollar twenty five gift certificate,
and just a warning. Shorewood Police Chief
51
00:04:39.160 --> 00:04:44.959
Phil Arnold noted the community's positive reaction, with many expressing gratitude for the gesture
52
00:04:45.360 --> 00:04:51.759
touched by the kindness and the spirit
of the holidays. And our final story
53
00:04:51.800 --> 00:04:58.240
today is about some Christmas trees with
a surprising power source. Creative holiday displays
54
00:04:58.240 --> 00:05:02.439
at zoos and aquariums are not a
common, but a particularly innovative one emerged
55
00:05:02.439 --> 00:05:08.600
from an aquarium in Kamakura, Japan. Here visitors were charmed by a Christmas
56
00:05:08.639 --> 00:05:14.759
tree which was uniquely illuminated using the
power harnessed from electric eels. Within the
57
00:05:14.800 --> 00:05:19.519
eel's habitat, two aluminum panels were
installed and the eel's movements were converted into
58
00:05:19.560 --> 00:05:25.319
electrical energy. This energy was sufficient
to light up a string of twinkling white
59
00:05:25.399 --> 00:05:30.279
lights adorning a Christmas tree that stood
six point five feet tall. Electric eels
60
00:05:30.279 --> 00:05:35.560
possess specialized organs filled with cells capable
of storing power akin to miniature batteries.
61
00:05:36.319 --> 00:05:41.399
These cells release a sudden charge of
around six hundred volts when the eels need
62
00:05:41.439 --> 00:05:45.879
to hunt or defend themselves, delivering
a jolt with five times the energy of
63
00:05:45.920 --> 00:05:50.519
a typical US wall outlet. And
those are your five good News Christmas stories
64
00:05:50.560 --> 00:05:55.399
for today. Thanks to Johnny Mack
for letting me sit in. I'm Master
65
00:05:55.519 --> 00:06:00.519
Ireland, wishing you a great day,
1
00:00:03.120 --> 00:00:10.640
Calarugashock Media. Hey I Am Johnny
Mack now through Christmas on Monday and Wednesday
2
00:00:10.679 --> 00:00:15.839
its normal episodes, and on Tuesday
and Thursdays its five Good News Christmas Stories.
3
00:00:15.880 --> 00:00:21.199
Here's Aster Ireland. A new boxer
puppy named Mercy joined a family,
4
00:00:21.679 --> 00:00:26.519
her name unknowingly predicting the grace she
would bring. As a vivacious creature,
5
00:00:26.879 --> 00:00:30.760
Mercy would leap out of bed at
the crack of dawn and remain spirited throughout
6
00:00:30.760 --> 00:00:35.799
the day. When a Christmas tree
graced the family home, expectations of playful
7
00:00:35.840 --> 00:00:40.840
disorder were high. Surprisingly, Mercy
showed no fascination with the tree or the
8
00:00:40.880 --> 00:00:45.759
gifts, even ignoring a box of
dog treats that lay underneath. The parents,
9
00:00:46.039 --> 00:00:51.079
accustomed to the typical canine curiosity,
waited for the impending seasonal chaos.
10
00:00:51.640 --> 00:00:56.960
Yet Mercy stayed curiously detached, unlike
their previous dogs, who had a penchant
11
00:00:57.039 --> 00:01:02.600
for holiday disruptions. As Christmas approached, the family was shocked to find their
12
00:01:02.640 --> 00:01:07.799
living room bereft of its festive decorations
save for the unscathed tree. Initial fears
13
00:01:07.799 --> 00:01:14.000
of burglary dissipated when a path of
shredded ribbons and paper led to the backyard.
14
00:01:14.400 --> 00:01:18.760
There, under the glow of the
porch light, was Mercy surrounded by
15
00:01:18.760 --> 00:01:25.159
a collection of opened presents, the
quiet culprit of a nighttime escapade. Remarkably,
16
00:01:25.640 --> 00:01:29.840
after her feast of various edibles,
Mercy was in good health. The
17
00:01:29.879 --> 00:01:34.480
family, though amused by the disarray, was left with the quandary of acknowledging
18
00:01:34.519 --> 00:01:38.000
gifts whose tags had been lost in
the fray. The answer came in a
19
00:01:38.040 --> 00:01:42.799
moment of inspiration, when Mercy was
found cuddling a half eaten doughnut. This
20
00:01:42.920 --> 00:01:49.079
scene was captured and transformed into thank
you cards, with the playful note thank
21
00:01:49.120 --> 00:01:53.480
you for thee and the full story
enclosed. It served as a whimsical reminder
22
00:01:53.680 --> 00:01:59.760
that the heart of the holiday season
lies in forgiveness and goodwill, a sentiment
23
00:01:59.799 --> 00:02:07.159
perfectly demonstrated by Mercy. The enchanting
tale of Santa Claus soaring through the sky
24
00:02:07.280 --> 00:02:13.639
with his team of reindeer has captivated
generations, yet its origins remain a topic
25
00:02:13.680 --> 00:02:17.919
of speculation. A hypothesis suggests that
the legend of Santa may trace back to
26
00:02:17.960 --> 00:02:23.520
the practices of shamans in Siberia and
the Arctic, who distributed hallucinogenic mushrooms during
27
00:02:23.560 --> 00:02:30.240
the winter Solstice celebrations. Reindeer native
to these frosty realms and the tribesmen who
28
00:02:30.240 --> 00:02:37.240
consumed these psychedelic fungi may have experienced
visions of the animals taking flight. According
29
00:02:37.280 --> 00:02:42.360
to a narrative shared by Donald Fister, a Harvard University biologist with expertise in
30
00:02:42.439 --> 00:02:46.560
fungi, in a twenty twelve Live
Science interview, not only are these reindeer
31
00:02:46.639 --> 00:02:52.319
known to ingest the mushrooms themselves,
but the shamans would also sometimes partake in
32
00:02:52.360 --> 00:02:58.680
the animal's urine during spiritual ceremonies.
Carl Ruck, a Boston University classics professor,
33
00:02:59.120 --> 00:03:05.120
humorously noted in his conversation with Live
Science flying Reindeer, it seems that
34
00:03:05.159 --> 00:03:09.080
the common awareness is shifting towards the
idea that Santa's journey with his reindeer is
35
00:03:09.159 --> 00:03:15.800
more of a psychedelic experience. Despite
this, some scholars dismissed the theory as
36
00:03:15.840 --> 00:03:23.240
fanciful and without merit. In Michigan, a simple act of kindness transformed the
37
00:03:23.280 --> 00:03:28.800
holiday season for many families. Chad
Rose, finding himself with an extra Christmas
38
00:03:28.840 --> 00:03:34.599
tree, decided to post a free
giveaway on Craigslist. The tree, originally
39
00:03:34.639 --> 00:03:38.439
a festive prop for a parade float, became a symbol of generosity as stories
40
00:03:38.479 --> 00:03:45.159
poured in revealing the financial struggles faced
by many during the holidays. Moved by
41
00:03:45.199 --> 00:03:50.120
their plight, Rose acquired an additional
forty trees, determined to ensure that no
42
00:03:50.240 --> 00:03:55.000
family would go without. Meanwhile,
and Poisson's offer to provide ornaments and trimmings
43
00:03:55.039 --> 00:04:01.199
for these trees exemplified the spirit of
community and shared kindness, showcasing how one
44
00:04:01.240 --> 00:04:06.199
person's thoughtful gesture can inspire others to
contribute to a cause that brings joy and
45
00:04:06.280 --> 00:04:13.400
warmth to many. During the festive
season, some police officers spread holiday cheer
46
00:04:13.439 --> 00:04:17.800
in an unexpected way. Instead of
issuing traffic tickets, they are surprising motorists
47
00:04:17.839 --> 00:04:24.279
with turkeys. The initiative, dubbed
Operation Turkey Warning, was the brainchild of
48
00:04:24.319 --> 00:04:28.680
Alan Lake, a retired Air Force
colonel, in collaboration with the local police
49
00:04:28.680 --> 00:04:32.800
department. Drivers expecting a ticket were
instead sent off with a frozen turkey,
50
00:04:33.240 --> 00:04:39.120
a dollar twenty five gift certificate,
and just a warning. Shorewood Police Chief
51
00:04:39.160 --> 00:04:44.959
Phil Arnold noted the community's positive reaction, with many expressing gratitude for the gesture
52
00:04:45.360 --> 00:04:51.759
touched by the kindness and the spirit
of the holidays. And our final story
53
00:04:51.800 --> 00:04:58.240
today is about some Christmas trees with
a surprising power source. Creative holiday displays
54
00:04:58.240 --> 00:05:02.439
at zoos and aquariums are not a
common, but a particularly innovative one emerged
55
00:05:02.439 --> 00:05:08.600
from an aquarium in Kamakura, Japan. Here visitors were charmed by a Christmas
56
00:05:08.639 --> 00:05:14.759
tree which was uniquely illuminated using the
power harnessed from electric eels. Within the
57
00:05:14.800 --> 00:05:19.519
eel's habitat, two aluminum panels were
installed and the eel's movements were converted into
58
00:05:19.560 --> 00:05:25.319
electrical energy. This energy was sufficient
to light up a string of twinkling white
59
00:05:25.399 --> 00:05:30.279
lights adorning a Christmas tree that stood
six point five feet tall. Electric eels
60
00:05:30.279 --> 00:05:35.560
possess specialized organs filled with cells capable
of storing power akin to miniature batteries.
61
00:05:36.319 --> 00:05:41.399
These cells release a sudden charge of
around six hundred volts when the eels need
62
00:05:41.439 --> 00:05:45.879
to hunt or defend themselves, delivering
a jolt with five times the energy of
63
00:05:45.920 --> 00:05:50.519
a typical US wall outlet. And
those are your five good News Christmas stories
64
00:05:50.560 --> 00:05:55.399
for today. Thanks to Johnny Mack
for letting me sit in. I'm Master
65
00:05:55.519 --> 00:06:00.519
Ireland, wishing you a great day,