Welcome to Thursday Things! If you enjoy this edition, please click the heart icon in the heading or at the end of the post to let me know. You can also comment by clicking the dialogue bubble next to the heart.
“I don’t know anything about UFOs.” Photo by Jon Finlay on Unsplash
The Truth is Out There. We don’t cover politics here at Thursday Things, but I’m filing this under UFOs, because Congress is close to funding a permanent office at the Pentagon to investigate unidentified flying objects: CONGRESS QUIETLY WANTS TO CREATE A NEW UFO OFFICE1
Congress may take steps to ramp up investigations of UFOs — UAPs, in the new terminology — following a Department of Defense report to Congress over the summer recognizing the reality of these “Unidentified Aerial Phenomena,” but found no evidence of extraterrestrial involvement.
Or at least no evidence they want us to know about…
Those hoping for a full-throated Congressional hunt for technologically advanced aliens of UFO lore may be disappointed, however. The bills appear driven more by entirely Earthly national security and safety concerns than little green men in hypersonic lozenge-shaped vessels.
Or so they want us to think…
Hey, I watched The X-Files.2 I know exactly which Cigarette-Smoking Man will be in charge of this new UFO office at the Pentagon …
“I don’t know anything about Shetland Ponies.” Photo by Albert Antony on Unsplash
If Shang Chi whet your appetite for kung fu film action, then check out these Free Kung Fu & Martial Arts Movies Online - Because why not? Including such possible classics as Legend of the Eight Samurai, Master of the Flying Guillotine, Ninja Death Trilogy (Four hours of non stop action!), and Return of Kung Fu Dragon.
“Who’s the UFO now?” Photo by SOON SANTOS on Unsplash
Kings (and Queens) of the Road. Throughout the pandemic there were many paeans to healthcare workers, who have certainly played an important role. But another group of workers perhaps gets overlooked by many — Truckers! Without truckers, the grocery store shelves are empty, along with every other kind of store shelf. Oh, you’ll just order from Amazon instead? Truckers again. Even the heroes of the hospitals get all their supplies, one way or another, via trucks. Truckers are out there on the road 24/7, keeping America going. So I thought it would be good to learn a little more about the vital trucking industry: Trucking in America: 5 fascinating truths about how your stuff gets to you
What would happen if all the 3.5 million truck drivers in the US stopped working for just three days? It wouldn't take long for America to resemble a sci-fi dystopia: Grocery store shelves would go bare, hospitals would run out of medical equipment, computer and vehicle parts would dry up, fuel tanks would go empty. Consider some of the shortages we witnessed through early COVID-19 times, like meat and cleaning supplies, but in an exponential ripple.
"The world would come to a stop," said Ricky Rodriguez, a flatbed truck driver who works 12 to 14 hours a day hauling steel, aluminum and lumber through the Midwest. Paul Marhoefer, aka "Long Haul Paul," a veteran trucker and host of the eight-part Over the Road podcast, was equally blunt in response: "The biggest effect would be on the psyche of the nation."
Trucks are the linchpin of the economy, responsible for moving 72% of all the goods we consume.
It’s a long, informative article I couldn’t begin to summarize here. And you may not have time to read it all. But give it a skim and say a word of thanks for truckers!
Someone otter investigate this. Otters are mysteriously attacking people and dogs in Alaska's largest city: "Unusual behaviors"
The Alaska Department of Fish and Game says river otters have attacked people and pets in some of the city's most popular outdoor areas.
Officials are asking people to be extra careful when they are around rivers, creeks and lakes along the city's greenbelt.
The long-feared River Otter Uprising has begun!
River otters generally travel in groups, according to a profile of the animal on the agency's website.
"They travel over a wide area, and apparently there are no exclusive territories," Fish and Game said. "Fighting among otters is extremely rare, although they are wary of strange individuals. "
Because we don’t have enough to worry about, the adorable, playful river otters have broken bad.
This picture looks a lot more ominous now, doesn’t it? Photo by John Yunker on Unsplash
But at least the loveable Shetland Ponies are still on our side. For now. Hot to trot: Shetland ponies prove popular during pandemic
The animals, named after the unforgiving northern archipelago in the North Sea, have long drawn attention for their distinctive shape, size and rough hair.
But during the coronavirus pandemic they saw their value soar to new highs, prompting hopes of another bumper year as the islands' annual sale approaches.
"People had more money because they stayed at home and couldn't go on holiday, and a pony is a very nice way to spend your time," Sheena Anderson, chair of the Pony Breeders of Shetland Association, told AFP.
While demand for Shetland ponies has fluctuated over the last 12 months, prices in 2020 hit records of more than £3,000 ($4,100, 3,500 euros) for one of the tiny horses.
“Spike in demand for Shetland Ponies” is not something I would have predicted as a consequence of the global pandemic.
Thank you for reading Thursday Things. Please click the hearts, comment, and use the share button to send this issue to a friend who might enjoy it. See you next Thursday!
So quietly that there are dozens of news articles about it.🙄
Even that awful second X-Files movie that you’ve probably forgotten about.