Legend has it St. Nicholas once broke up a cannibal scam serving kidnapped children to patrons of an inn (they were told it was pork).

Clement Clarke Moore wrote “A Visit From St. Nicholas,” better known as “‘Twas the Night Before Christmas,” first published in December 1823. In 1750, his grandfather bought a Dutch farm called Chelsea in Manhattan. In the 1830s, Moore became its fabulously wealthy
developer, selling off lots for residential use.

According to writer Michele Lent Hirsch, experts estimate that 3,054 to 3,176 languages are endangered – 43-46% of all known languages on Earth, in addition to the hundreds that are already extinct.

Electrolux has built five vacuums made in part with plastic reclaimed from trash whirlpools.

The Audubon Society started shooting birds (their Christmas bird hunt). Later they realized counting might be better for the birds.

This article appears in December 27 • 2013.

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