History
Turkey at Thanksgiving? Try “pass the deer, ‘dear’”
Everyone associates turkey with Thanksgiving and vice versa, but despite our beliefs in traditions based on the origins of the event, it seems that the Pilgrims’ meal did not necessarily include turkey. Details are sketchy (I guess no one was tweeting their meal choice back in 1621), but from the few reports alive, it seems [...]
Last WWI doughboy dies
Today’s Dinner Topic probably isn’t one you’re already hearing about because it’s hardly front page news, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t an important AND interesting topic. This past Sunday, the last survivor of World War I died at the amazing age of 110. The last of the World War I doughboys, Frank W. Buckles [...]
Origin of Daylight Saving Time
Despite everything from natural disasters to thrilling football games that happened over the weekend, the hottest topic in most American offices Monday morning will probably be how early it got dark last night because of the time change. In most parts of the country, Daylight Saving Time (no “s” at the end of “Saving”) came [...]
Qantas flight makes emergency landing, keeps “safe” record safe
A Qantas flight had to make an emergency landing in Singapore because of engine trouble today, but thankfully all 459 people aboard were safely evacuated. Anytime Qantas is in the news, you can expect people to talk about the so-called perfect record by the airline. Popularized by a quote in the 1988 movie Rain Man [...]
What is NPR?
NPR has been in the news the past week because of the firing of Juan Williams after his questionable personal statements about seeing people on a plane who look like they might be Muslims. You can find the story here, but this post is to give you a little background on NPR itself. Often referred [...]
Oktoberfest: a 200-yr tradition!
It’s the weekend – what better time for a frosty cold one, and what better time of year to enjoy that cold one than during Oktoberfest? Today’s Dinner Topic tells you everything you want to know about Oktoberfest, including the age old question: why is Oktoberfest in September? Oktoberfest as defined by: Encyclopedia Britannica [...]
What is Ramadan?
August 11 is a big date for about a billion and a half people, but there’s just one problem: it doesn’t really show up on most calendars. It’s the beginning of Ramadan, the ninth month of the Islamic calendar. For those other five billion people who don’t practice Ramadan, this post will be a small [...]
Lutheran Church Ordains Noncelibate Gay Pastors
Religion and sexuality are rarely comfortable topics at the dinner table, but they are a couple of the most common subjects brought up by families and friends who love to debate. The following statement encapsulates the latest news regarding the hot topic of religion and homosexuality: “The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, known as the E.L.C.A., [...]
