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Welcome, my fellow merrymakers, to the wacky wonderland of Festivus! This offbeat holiday originated in the sitcom Seinfeld, and boy, did it strike a chord with the anti-Christmas crowd.

Picture this: it’s December 23rd, and instead of decking the halls with boughs of holly, you’re airing your grievances with Uncle Bob’s questionable fashion choices. Festivus encourages us to unleash our inner grumps, letting loose a torrent of complaints that would make even the Grinch proud.

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The Story Of Festivus | Seinfeld

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But wait, there’s more! Prepare for the “Feats of Strength,” where you can prove your dominance in a wrestling match against Aunt Mildred. Who knew family gatherings could double as a WWE smackdown?

Despite its fictional origins, Festivus has somehow clawed its way into reality, gaining a cult following of merry misfits. In a world of reindeer sweaters and fruitcake disasters, this holiday offers a refreshing alternative—no tree decorating, no excessive gift-giving, just pure, unadulterated weirdness.

So, this December 23rd, don your Festivus pole, gather your loved ones, and let the grievances flow like a broken faucet. Embrace the absurdity, revel in the laughter, and remember: Festivus isn’t just a holiday; it’s a state of mind. Happy Festivus, you magnificent oddballs!

When the 1997 disaster film Volcano depicted lava erupting along Wilshire Boulevard and referenced blasting during Red Line subway construction, it delivered gripping cinema — but not accurate engineering.

In reality, Los Angeles Metro did not rely on large-scale blasting to construct subway tunnels beneath Wilshire Boulevard and the Miracle Mile. Instead, engineers used tunnel boring machines (TBMs) specifically to avoid the very risks Hollywood dramatized.

Why Blasting Was Avoided

The Wilshire Corridor sits atop historic oil fields, making methane gas pockets a known and serious concern. A deadly methane explosion near Fairfax Avenue in 1985 led to heightened scrutiny of underground construction in the area. Blasting in such conditions could have caused unpredictable gas releases, ground instability, or damage to surface structures.

As a result, Metro engineers chose pressurized, closed-face tunnel boring machines, which allow for:

• Controlled excavation in dense urban environments

• Continuous ground support to prevent settlement

• Integrated gas detection and ventilation systems

These machines grind slowly through soil and rock while installing precast concrete tunnel linings, creating a sealed, gas-resistant structure as they advance.

The Real Engineering Feat

Although Volcano took creative liberties for dramatic effect, the true story of tunneling under Wilshire is no less impressive. Advances in TBM technology and methane mitigation ultimately allowed the Metro D Line (formerly the Red Line/Purple Line) to safely pass through one of Los Angeles’ most geologically complex corridors — without explosions, collapsing streets, or cinematic chaos.

Bottom Line

Volcano remains a memorable piece of 1990s disaster cinema, but its portrayal of subway construction is fiction. The real achievement lies in decades of careful planning, modern tunneling technology, and engineering solutions that quietly reshaped Los Angeles beneath its busiest boulevard.

Related Links:

• LA Metro – D Line (Purple Line) Extension Project
• Engineering News-Record: Tunneling Through Gas and Tar in LA
• Los Angeles Times Archive: Methane Risk and Subway Construction

Dreambreaker: A Pickleball Story — A Closer Look at the Documentary and Its Uncredited Voice

Link: https://stmdailynews.com/dreambreaker-a-pickleball-story-a-closer-look-at-the-documentary-and-its-uncredited-voice/

What Was the Cause of Michael Jackson’s Death?

On June 25, 2009, the world lost one of its most influential entertainers when Michael Jackson died at the age of 50. The Los Angeles County Coroner determined that Jackson’s death was caused by acute propofol and benzodiazepine intoxication. The powerful anesthetic propofol—administered in a home setting—combined with sedatives created a fatal mix that stopped his breathing.

Jackson’s personal physician, Dr. Conrad Murray, was later found guilty of involuntary manslaughter for administering the drugs without proper monitoring or medical safeguards. The ruling underscored the dangers of using hospital-grade anesthesia outside a controlled environment.

Michael Jackson’s passing remains one of the most discussed celebrity deaths in modern history, marking a tragic end to the life of a groundbreaking artist whose music still shapes global culture.

Related Links

• LA Times – Coroner Rules Michael Jackson’s Death a Homicide
• New York Times – Michael Jackson Dies at 50
• CNN – Dr. Conrad Murray Found Guilty
• BBC – Understanding the Drugs Involved in Jackson’s Death
• Biography.com – The Final Days of Michael Jackson
• Rolling Stone – Timeline of the Death Investigation
• NBC News – Why Propofol Is So Dangerous Outside Hospitals

Dreambreaker: A Pickleball Story — A Closer Look at the Documentary and Its Uncredited Voice

Link: https://stmdailynews.com/dreambreaker-a-pickleball-story-a-closer-look-at-the-documentary-and-its-uncredited-voice/