Demand for scotch eggs is through the roof. England’s pubs must serve a “substantial meal” alongside all alcoholic drinks—helping drive up orders for the 18th-century snack. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/dec/06/making-a-meal-out-of-it-scotch-egg-sales-soar-in-tier-2

I rarely give one star to a cookbook. This one deserved it.

https://amzn.to/36PHjJ6

The first commercial Christmas card is up for sale again. Produced in 1843, it depicted an English family toasting the recipient with glasses of red wine—and caused some controversy at the time. https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2020/dec/04/first-commercially-printed-christmas-card-up-for-sale

Everything you wanted to know about bloodletting (which to be fair may not be very much) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j_Pk2k70KqY&t=2s

textfiles.com: An archive of various files from the 1980's http://textfiles.com/

Tips on choosing telescopes and binoculars for beginners https://earthsky.org/astronomy-essentials/how-to-choose-1st-telescope-binoculars

Divers clearing out a sprawl of abandoned fishing nets stuck in the Baltic Sea discovered more than they bargained for when they spotted an Enigma Machine, a device that encrypted secret messages used by the Germans in World War II.
https://www.theregister.com/2020/12/04/marine_archaeologists_enigma/

TIL Harry Harrison, known for the beloved Stainless Steel Rat series of science fiction novels, as well as his book Make Room! Make Room! (the inspiration for Soylent Green), wrote the Flash Gordon strip for six years https://www.saturdayeveningpost.com/2020/12/flash-gordon-saving-every-one-of-us-since-1934/

Astronauts Harvest First Radish Crop on International Space Station.
More than 180 sensors in the chamber allow researchers at to monitor the plant growth as well as regulate moisture levels, temperature, and carbon dioxide concentration.
https://www.nasa.gov/feature/astronauts-harvest-first-radish-crop-on-international-space-station

"Released in December 1970, Gimme Shelter is really two movies in one. The first half is the Stones wrapping up their U.S. tour, from Madison Square Garden to Muscle Shoals. The second half is Altamont." https://www.rollingstone.com/movies/movie-features/gimme-shelter-50th-anniversary-rolling-stones-1097079/

"In these disorienting times, [Colbert] has righted himself—and his audience—by becoming part comic first responder, part neighbor next door who can’t believe this shit is happening." https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2020/11/stephen-colbert-on-trump-trauma-leadership-and-loss

The FBI has a webpage detailing almost 100 of its most famous/interesting cases and criminals https://www.fbi.gov/history/famous-cases

Ireland’s travel restrictions have a notable exemption. Santa Claus has been cleared to enter the country without a visa, Covid test, or quarantine. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZTa4m0AMcEY

Test your knowledge on some of the topics from American history and government that prospective new citizens have to answer. https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2020/12/03/us/citizenship-quiz.html

H. G. Wells reviews "Metropolis" (1927) https://erkelzaar.tsudao.com/reviews/H.G.Wells_on_Metropolis%201927.htm

"There are various aspects to assess: how the trees are grown, how many years they are used for, and how they are disposed of or recycled. For artificial trees, we also need to consider what they are made of and how and where they are manufactured." https://thenextweb.com/syndication/2020/11/30/how-to-check-your-christmas-trees-carbon-footprint/

Child poverty in the United States plummeted in the last decade. In 2019, 14%, or 10.5 million children, were living in poverty, down from 22%, or 16.3 million, in 2010. All major racial and ethnic groups have seen declines, with the greatest gains coming for Black and Hispanic children.

The pandemic is likely to reverse some of that progress - but shouldn't take away from the achievement.

https://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2020/11/30/prior-to-covid-19-child-poverty-rates-had-reached-record-lows-in-u-s/

"Earther has pulled together ideas and actions federal agencies can take to address climate change, based on conversations with dozens of experts who know the federal government’s levers of power and how to pull them." https://earther.gizmodo.com/how-biden-can-ensure-every-federal-agency-is-fighting-c-1845701534