Author: Lisa Mungovan

Yesterday, Americans spent over $10,000,000,000 shopping online on Cyber Monday. Today is meant to give something back! It’s Giving Tuesday, named in 2012 when two organizations wanted to designate one day for global charity. Last year, generous people around the world donated more than $511,000,000 to help others! Donate time, money, or goods to your favorite cause.

2 weeks ago, a 10-foot-tall metal object was discovered in Utah, in the middle of the desert. Now, the mysterious 3-sided beam has disappeared. Was the monolith simply an art installation? Did aliens leave it? People are having fun, trying to figure out what it was, and where it went. What do you think?

Scientists have captured video footage, of a new species living at the bottom of the ocean. The creature, named Duobrachium sparksae, is a type of ctenophore, and looks like a gelatinous blob with 2 tentacles, that stretch up to 22 inches long. The Deep Discoverer R-O-V, or remotely operated vehicle, observed it 2.5 miles deep, near Puerto Rico.

Did you know today, is Computer Security Day? Update your operating systems, and install security updates to catch spyware and malware. Most importantly, use strong passwords. Try using random words, and definitely don’t use 1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8 or PASSWORD for your password. And remember, never give out your personal information to anyone online, including nosy online quizzes.

Enjoy celebrating Mousse Day, by eating chocolate mousse. I mean the delicious dessert, not the animal! It’s also Mason Jar Day, the jar that’s perfect for preserves, drinks, or crafts. Then learn to spell m-i-s-s-i-s-s-i-p-p-i, for Mississippi Day. The state’s western border, is the winding Mississippi River, flowing into the Gulf of Mexico.

First comes Thanksgiving, then Black Friday. Well, today is Cyber Monday. It first started back in 2005, when people went back to work after the Thanksgiving holiday and shopped online using their fast internet connections. It’s the best day to buy gifts online because there are lots of special discounts. Did I tell you how much I love hats?

12-year-old Caleb Anderson, wants to work at NASA or SpaceX, and go to Mars, when he grows up. He’s already been accepted to Georgia Tech, to study aerospace engineering next fall. He’ll finish high school this year, while also taking college courses. What’s Caleb’s advice for success? Learn to fail, and always try.

Hunters in the Czech Republic had better watch out. A man who was out hunting deer, had the tables turned, when a startled deer ran into him. The deer snagged the strap of the man’s rifle, and he bolted into the woods with the gun caught in his antlers. Now it’s a fair fight!

There’s a Santa Claus in California that’s looking a little green, but it’s not because he’s sick. He’s a giant green Tyrannosaurus rex, that’s wearing a Santa suit! You can visit the 65-foot-tall dinosaur sculpture, at Cabazon Dinosaurs. Santa Claws Rex also has a sleigh, pulled by a Velociraptor. Shouldn’t he use a Pterodactyl?

Today is Throw Out Your Leftovers Day. I think what it really means, is throw the leftover food in your mouth, and eat it, before it gets moldy in the fridge. You can always combine leftovers, into a big pot of soup. Save room for dessert, because it’s also Lemon Cream Pie Day.