St. Patrick's Day
by the Numbers.
Everyone can be
Irish for a day on March 17.
In the U.S., St. Patrick's Day
has evolved into a reason to
celebrate your Irish heritage.
On average, 13 million pints of Guinness
are served on March 17.
Chicago has a famous tradition
of dyeing its river green.
The tradition started in 1942,
and takes 40 pounds of dye.
Boston is a great place to
celebrate with its annual parade.
It is the most Irish city in the U.S.,
with 20.4% of its citizens are of Irish ancestry.
79% of celebrators plan to wear green.
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10 Things You May Not
Know About St. Patrick's Day.
1. The shortest St. Patrick's Day
parade only runs for 98 feet and
takes place in Hot Springs, Arkansas.
2. Saint Patrick’s birth name was actually
Maewyn Succat. He changed it to
Patricius after becoming a priest.
3. Shamrocks are said to have
been used by Saint Patrick as a
metaphor for the Holy Trinity.
4. Corned beef doesn’t actually contain corn.
It's name come from the use
of salt "corns" to cure meat.
5. Saint Patrick famously wore a
light shade of blue, not the traditional
green that is constantly seen.
6. Green became a significant color for
Ireland during its 1641 rebellion. Its importance
then carried over to St. Patrick’s Day.
7. St. Patrick’s Day used to be a strictly
religious and alcohol-free holiday in Ireland.
8. Saint Patrick wasn't actually Irish.
He was born in Britain and kidnapped
by Irish pirates at a young age.
9. In traditional Irish folk tales,
female leprechauns don’t exist.
10. The U.S. has 32 million people of
Irish descent, while Ireland’s total
population is only 4.7 million
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7 , St. Patrick's Day Traditions:, Explained.
Everyone is Irish on St. Patrick's Day,
but why are these traditions so significant?.
1. St. Patrick.
Patrick was an Irish missionary who
was kidnapped as a child and
brought to Ireland. March 17 is
believed to be the day of his death.
2. The Green River
in Chicago.
The Chicago River has been
traditionally dyed green for over 50
years. The color green is derived
from the green strip in the Irish flag.
3. Parades.
The first St. Patrick’s Day parade
in the U.S. was in 1762. They allow
people to proudly celebrate their
Irish-American identity.
4. Shamrocks.
Shamrocks used to be worn by the
Irish in defiance of the ruling British
class and to represent kinship
among the native people.
5. Drinking Guinness.
This Irish stout is the drink
of choice on St. Patrick's Day,
with about 13 million pints
consumed on the holiday.
6. Leprechauns.
These little green men come from
8th century Irish folklore. They were
said to make shoes and wreck
havoc on unsuspecting humans.
7. Corned Beef
and Cabbage.
This tradition was begun by poor
Irish-Americans of the 19th century.
Corned beef and cabbage were
the affordable option
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Harvey Weinstein has been hospitalized in New York City ... with his lawyer saying he's got a ton of health issues. Arthur Aidala -- Weinstein's attorney --.. TMZ.com
Donald Trump's hush money criminal trial in NYC could face an unfair playing field based on the jury -- but in terms of who it benefits, it's a crapshoot ... so.. TMZ.com
Harvey Weinstein’s Rape Conviction , Is Overturned.
New York's Court of Appeals
overturned the movie mogul's 2020 rape conviction by a vote of 4-3 on April 25.
According to the appeals court, trial judge James Burke "prejudiced Weinstein with 'egregious' improper rulings," AP reports. .
For example, he let women bring forth allegations against Weinstein that he wasn't charged with.
The action was an "abuse of judicial discretion," the appeals court said. .
Without question, this is appalling,
shameful, repulsive conduct that
could only diminish defendant’s
character before the jury, New York's Court of Appeals, via AP.
Although this conviction has been overturned, the 72-year-old will remain in prison due to a separate 2022 rape conviction in Los Angeles.
His lawyers have chosen to
appeal that conviction as well. .
Jennifer Bonjean, who helped free Bill Cosby from
prison, issued a statement about the development.
Jennifer Bonjean, who helped free Bill Cosby from
prison, issued a statement about the development.
A jury was told in California that
he was convicted in another
state for rape ... turns out he
shouldn’t have been convicted
and it wasn’t a fair conviction… , Jennifer Bonjean, Harvey Weinstein's attorney, via AP.
It interfered with his
presumption of innocence in
a significant way in California, Jennifer Bonjean, Harvey Weinstein's attorney, via AP.
On April 25, prosecutors said that "the legal issues identified by the New York Court of Appeal are
not present in the Los Angeles County Case.".
The Manhattan district attorney's office
said they will "do everything in our power to
retry this case, and remain steadfast in our commitment to survivors of sexual assault."
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Rose McGowan is slamming the fact Harvey Weinstein's NYC rape conviction was overturned ... and she's got an empowering message for all of his alleged victims... TMZ.com
How Religions , Around the World , View Solar Eclipses.
With the upcoming April 8 total solar eclipse quickly
approaching, Fox News offered readers an
overview of how religions traditionally view eclipses.
Buddhism, Tibetan Buddhism suggests that the karmic results
of positive and negative actions are magnified during
major astronomical events, including solar eclipses.
Christianity, Christian tradition connects eclipses with
a number of significant events, including
the death of Jesus and the "end times.".
Hinduism, In Hinduism, eclipses both solar and lunar
are generally regarded as bad omens.
Islam, Muslims see a solar eclipse as a time
for prayer and contemplating God.
The sun and the moon are two
signs amongst the signs of Allah
and they do not eclipse because
of the death of someone...
Whenever you see these
eclipses pray and invoke (Allah), Kaiser Aslam, Muslim chaplain at the Center for
Islamic Life at Rutgers University, via Fox News.
Judaism, Similarly to Hinduism, Judaism views
eclipses as "an ill omen for the world.".
Eclipses should be opportunities to
increase in prayer and introspection
— as opposed to prompting joyous
blessings. It is a sign that we really
could and should be doing better, Rabbi Menachem Posner, via Fox News.
Fox News reports that Rabbi Mordechai Becher cited Judaism's longstanding connections with astronomy
and the heavenly message eclipses deliver.
He created a system that would remind
us regularly that our choices can create
darkness, even at times when there
should be light. Our free will choices
can create a barrier between us and
the Divine light, but can also allow
Divine light to be seen here, Rabbi Mordechai Becher, via Fox News
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Warnock Calls GOP’s Criticism , of Trans Visibility Day , ‘Opposite of Christian Faith’.
This year, Trans Day of Visibility
coincidentally fell on Easter Sunday.
President Joe Biden was attacked by Conservatives for making a declaration about the day, as he does every year, because it fell on the Christian holiday.
One of Biden's critics, Speaker Mike Johnson, called Biden's declaration an "outrageous
and abhorrent" attack on the religion. .
One of Biden's critics, Speaker Mike Johnson, called Biden's declaration an "outrageous
and abhorrent" attack on the religion. .
Senator Raphael Warnock, a reverend,
has denounced GOP criticism, calling it the
"opposite of the Christian faith," 'The Hill' reports. .
Apparently, the Speaker finds trans
people abhorrent, and I think he
ought to think about that, Sen. Warnock, via interview with CNN's Dana Bash.
This is just one more instance
of folks who do not know how
to lead us trying to divide us, Sen. Warnock, via interview with CNN's Dana Bash.
This is the opposite of the
Christian faith. Jesus centered the
marginalized. He centered the poor, Sen. Warnock, via interview with CNN's Dana Bash.
And in a moment like this, we need
voices, particularly voices of faith,
who would use our faith not as a
weapon to beat other people down but
as a bridge to bring all of us together, Sen. Warnock, via interview with CNN's Dana Bash.
The White House also issued a statement.
As a Christian who celebrates
Easter with Family, President
Biden stands for bringing people
together and upholding the dignity
and freedoms of every American, White House spokesperson Andrew Bates, via statement.
Sadly, it’s unsurprising politicians
are seeking to divide and weaken
our country with cruel, hateful,
and dishonest rhetoric. President
Biden will never abuse his faith for
political purposes or for profit, White House spokesperson Andrew Bates, via statement
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This Is Why We Eat
Chocolate Bunnies
for Easter.
Though Easter is
celebrated by Christians
remembering Jesus'
crucifixion and resurrection.
chocolate bunnies can be
found everywhere.
But according to the
'Encyclopedia of Religion,'
"the Easter bunny has never received
any specific Christian interpretation.".
That's because much of the Easter bunny
tradition is derived from Ostara, the
Germanic pre-Christian fertility goddess.
The word "Easter" stems
from her name, and it is said that
she used to have a pet rabbit.
Her name spawned a fictional
character, Oschter Haws, a rabbit
who gave children eggs on Easter.
During the Industrial Revolution,
smooth, solid chocolate
was developed.
Meanwhile, Germany started
perfecting chocolate molds,
including the form of rabbits.
It wasn't until the
late 1800s that the chocolate
bunny made its way to America.
One of the best-known first sightings was a
five-foot chocolate rabbit outside a drugstore
in Pennsylvania around 1890.
The trend
caught on, and the
rest — is history
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Manipur governor's decree for government offices to operate on March 30-31, coinciding with Easter, draws criticism from tribal groups, citing offense to Christian sentiments. With Manipur's significant Christian population, concerns are raised over the disregard for religious observance. This decision reignites tensions in the ethnically diverse state, exacerbating existing fault lines between tribal communities and the majority Meiteis.
#Manipur #Kuki #Meiti #Kukizo #Christians #Manipurnews #Manipurcrisis #Manipurupdates #Manipurp #Indianews #Politics #Oneindia #Oneindianews
~PR.152~ED.155~GR.125~HT.96~
O.J. Simpson's official cause of death has been revealed ... one of the most infamous, high-profile Americans of all-time died from prostate cancer, TMZ has.. TMZ.com
FTC to Decide , Whether Noncompete Agreements , Should Be Banned.
After receiving over 26,000 public comments about the issue, the Federal Trade Commission is set to deliver its verdict on April 30, NPR reports. .
The commission said that if approved, the
final rule "would generally prevent most
employers from using noncompete clauses.".
The commission said that if approved, the
final rule "would generally prevent most
employers from using noncompete clauses.".
Approximately one in five Americans, spanning minimum wage workers to CEOs, are subject to noncompete agreements, the FTC estimates. .
The Biden administration says that these types of agreements hurt workers by decreasing wages.
The White House also argues that these
agreements harm the U.S. economy because entrepreneurship isn't allowed to freely flourish. .
FTC Chair Lina M. Khan issued a statement when
the proposed ban was initially introduced.
The freedom to change jobs is
core to economic liberty and to
a competitive, thriving economy, FTC Chair Lina M. Khan, via statement.
Noncompetes block workers from
freely switching jobs, depriving
them of higher wages and better
working conditions, and depriving
businesses of a talent pool that
they need to build and expand, FTC Chair Lina M. Khan, via statement.
Businesses argue that noncompete agreements are essential for safeguarding investments and proprietary information.
Those businesses also question whether
the agency has the power "to regulate
such agreements," NPR reports. .
If the FTC votes to issue a final rule, enforcement wouldn't occur for 180 days,
and legal challenges would likely ensue.
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Millennials Want a 4-Day Workweek, , Poll Indicates.
Redfield and Wilton Strategies recently conducted a poll for 'Newsweek' to find
out how Americans feel about the idea of moving toward a four-day workweek.
4,000 U.S. voters were
surveyed between April 6 and 7.
63% were in favor of a four-day workweek.
46% think the model makes
employees more productive.
Out of all age groups surveyed,
millennials accounted for 74% of those
who want to work less hours.
Of that 74%, 44% "were strongly in favor of a shorter working week," 'Newsweek' reports.
50% of people born in 1964 and before supported a four-day workweek.
The results come as more companies are adopting shorter workweeks, and politicians are pushing to advance the trend in Congress.
The results come as more companies are adopting shorter workweeks, and politicians are pushing to advance the trend in Congress.
The sad reality is, Americans now
work more hours than the people
of most other wealthy nations, Bernie Sanders, via March 2024 health committee hearing.
Lisa Countryman-Quiroz, CEO of non-profit JVS, called a 5-day, 40-hour workweek outdated.
The five-day workweek was created in a
different time. It served its purpose, but
today's world is more fast-paced and
technology-driven than our workplace
predecessors could have imagined, Lisa Countryman-Quiroz, CEO of non-profit JVS, via 'Newsweek'.
Since implementing a
four-day workweek, our
results have been incredible. , Lisa Countryman-Quiroz, CEO of non-profit JVS, via 'Newsweek'.
We've found our employees are more
productive, report better work-life balance,
and experience less burnout. Incredibly, our
turnover rate has been cut nearly in half, Lisa Countryman-Quiroz, CEO of non-profit JVS, via 'Newsweek'
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Biden Looks to Energize , Young Voters With Earth Day , Solar Energy Grants.
Biden Looks to Energize , Young Voters With Earth Day , Solar Energy Grants.
NBC reports that President Joe Biden will mark
Earth Day with the announcement of $7 billion
in federal grants for residential solar projects.
NBC reports that President Joe Biden will mark
Earth Day with the announcement of $7 billion
in federal grants for residential solar projects.
The grants will bring solar energy
to over 900,000 households in both
low- and middle-income communities. .
According to senior administration officials, the
projects receiving additional funding will reduce emissions
by 30 million metric tons and save $350 million every year. .
According to senior administration officials, the
projects receiving additional funding will reduce emissions
by 30 million metric tons and save $350 million every year. .
NBC reports that solar power has gained
traction as a clean energy source that could
help reduce U.S. reliance on fossil fuels.
However, the high cost of initial installation
makes solar energy inaccessible
for many households in the U.S.
However, the high cost of initial installation
makes solar energy inaccessible
for many households in the U.S.
49 of the new grants will be awarded at
the state level, six more will serve Native American
tribes and another five are multi-state awards.
The grants will be used for renewable
investments that include rooftop solar
and community solar gardens. .
The grants will be used for renewable
investments that include rooftop solar
and community solar gardens. .
Officials say that the latest environmental
announcements are part of an effort to energize
young voters ahead of his upcoming reelection campaign.
Biden also reportedly plans to expand the
American Climate Corps green jobs training program,
which was created last year by executive action. .
Biden also reportedly plans to expand the
American Climate Corps green jobs training program,
which was created last year by executive action. .
The corps, which will offer nearly 2,000 positions across
36 states, is meant to offer young Americans the chance
to help enact the Biden administration's climate agenda. .
The corps, which will offer nearly 2,000 positions across
36 states, is meant to offer young Americans the chance
to help enact the Biden administration's climate agenda.
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March Retail Sales , Exceeded Expectations.
New Commerce Department data surprised
some analysts on April 15, 'The Hill' reports. .
The agency's latest estimates indicate
that March retail sales increased by 0.7%.
They were only expected
to rise 0.3% last month.
While sales exceeded estimates for March, the jump
was still below the 0.9% increase in February.
Compared to the same time last year, total sales
for the first three months of 2024 were up 2.1%.
On April 10, the Labor Department released data showing that inflation rose last month. .
The consumer price index (CPI)
increased 0.4% in March and 3.5% annually.
In February, consumer prices
increased 3.2% year-over-year. .
Still, the newest Commerce Department data suggests that Americans continue to spend despite prolonged inflation, 'The Hill' reports.
Credit: Wibbitz Top Stories Duration: 01:30Published