Social media affects children’s ability to concentrate, study reveals

Adults too. Maybe we should all be following Taylor Swift’s lead and ditching social media (See yesterday’s story)

One Million More U.S. Kids Became Obese During COVID Pandemic: Study

That seems less than idea

More Stories Below, but first some new content in the News Sidequest Podcast Universe…

Auditory Anthology

SCI-FI SHORT STORIES - NARRATED BY DARREN MARLAR & PRODUCED BY KEITH CONRAD

Flowering Evil by Margaret St. Clair - A lonely aunt’s pride in her exotic, gift-giving nephew turns to dread when his latest botanical offering—the Venusian “Rambler”—proves to be a massive, blood-sucking, mind-controlling carnivorous plant that begins feeding on local animals until it finally sets its sights on her.

Flowering Evil by Margaret St. Clair Keith Conrad / Darren Marlar Episode

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Also Worth A Look…

• Putin’s scientists launch chilling squadron of remote controlled spy pigeons fitted with brain implants - Who had “Spy Pigeons” on their Bingo card for December?

• Thieves Walk Out of Brazil Library with Eight Matisse Art Works - Apparently security guards just aren’t what they used to be these days. If you’re wearing an orange vest, people will let you in anywhere

• NASA spacecraft were vulnerable to hacking for 3 years and nobody knew. AI found and fixed the flaw in 4 days - Don’t tell anybody but I secretly used the Pioneer 6 spacecraft to watch Cubs games for free when I lived in Atlanta

• A zoo in Denmark asked patrons to donate their pets. Not as attractions, but for food- At least someone can get some joy out of the sad situation… even if it’s a hungry Cheetah

• Reporter smacked in the face by a bird while doing a piece to camera - That’s an embarrassing moment for any media professional… let’s watch it again

• China trade surplus tops $1 trillion for first time on non-US growth - Clearly the tariffs are doing the trick. They’ll come crawling back any day now

• Giant purple dinosaur caught fly-tipping on CCTV - Barney was unavailable for comment

• Count birds for science and fun for Audubon’s 126th annual Christmas Bird Count - Just in case you’re looking for something to do

• Stranger’s $1.7M Gift Means 88-Year-Old Cashier Can Retire - My America was always great

• Father and son earn world record for playing Hungry Hungry Hippos - Congratulations