- A team of astronomers from the European Southern Observatory (ESO) has discovered a black hole lying just 1,000 light-years from Earth. The black hole is closer to our Solar System than any other found to date and forms part of a triple system that can be seen with the naked eye. They say this system could just be the tip of the iceberg, as many more similar black holes could be found in the future.

- Although dog owners believe a smiling dog is a happy one, researchers (Bristol University) say the idea is a myth. Researchers say while it is common for dogs to grin, when a dog grins it is more likely that it is a confused gesture because it is unsure what is expected of it.

- Many may already see France as a nation of grumblers, and a survey shows the French agree. The poll found that 93 percent of French people think their compatriots grumble often, although only 37 percent admit they tend to complain. Men were the grumpier of the two sexes, said 43 percent of respondents, with around one in five men saying they moaned to get what they wanted compared with 16 percent of women. One in four said carping was a way of relaxing.

-A South Carolina man had trouble convincing his wife that his $250,000 lottery win was legitimate. The man and his wife told South Carolina lottery officials they don’t normally play the lottery, but they won $10 on a ticket they received as a Christmas gift and used the money to buy another ticket, which was also a winner. The couple kept their winning streak going until the man stopped for take-out and bought a scratch-off that turned out to be a $250,000 winner. The man had a difficult time convincing his wife the win was real, and for good reason — he had previously pranked her with a fake winning ticket.

CAMPING TIPS

When the pandemic subsides, get out of the house and get back to nature. For maximum enjoyment and minimum mishaps, observe these camping tips:

• When using a public campground, a tuba placed on your picnic table will keep the campsites on either side vacant.

• Unwrap and leave a few chocolate bars out in the hot sun. When the evening comes, you can have chocolate covered ants.

• Lint from your navel makes a handy fire starter. Remove lint from navel before applying the match.

• Take this simple test to see if you qualify for solo camping. Shine a flashlight into one ear. If the beam shines out the other ear, do not go into the woods alone.

• Bear bells provide an element of safety for hikers in grizzly country. Wait until the bears are resting before applying the bells.

THINGS YOU’LL NEVER WANT IN YOUR HOME AFTER COVID-19?

The website BestLifeOnline.com says we’ll never want these things in our homes again after COVID-19. Do you agree?

USED TOYS – While you may have grabbed a used swing set from a friend or brought home a secondhand puzzle from a discount store, that’s unlikely to remain true going forward.

CASH – A recent study (published in The Lancet) found that coronavirus could be detected on banknotes for up to four days. And that’s not even accounting for other germs like MRSA bacteria and E.coli.

SECONDHAND CLOTHING – While shopping secondhand may save you money, your thrift store habit may be put on the back burner after the pandemic passes.

GIFT BASKETS – Getting a gift basket from a friend or family member may have once been a happy occasion, but after the pandemic subsides, you may be second-guessing those presents. Why? According to the website: “People will have to be especially careful with these as they could have been in multiple homes and areas, thus having more chance of holding virus particles on their surfaces and promoting further spread of infection.”

HOMEMADE MEALS – Restaurants are held to relatively high standards when it comes to their cleanliness. Your friend’s kitchen? Not so much — and that’s why accepting a homemade lasagna or batch of brownies from a pal may never be as appealing again.

THE THINGS WHICH MAKE A HOUSE A HOME

A study of 2,000 homeowners has revealed what transforms four walls into a homely space.

• Sleeping in your own bed
• Family photos
• Your own spot on the sofa
• The memories made in the home
• A fridge full of food
• A bookshelf filled with your books
• The smell of freshly cooked food
• Freshly washed bed sheets
• The location of the house
• Natural light
• Plants
• Your children in the house
• Fresh towels
• Flowers in vases
• Candles
• A fireplace
• Hosting dinners for friends and family
• Shoes by the front door
• Children’s toys in the house
• Newly painted walls
• A certain air freshener scent

WACKY-BUT-TRUE: POLICE CATCH DRUNK DRIVER GOING 192 MPH ON WAY TO BREAKFAST _ Police in Snohomish, Washington, arrested a drunk driver early Sunday morning after he was caught going 192 mph on a mostly two-lane highway where the maximum speed limit is 60. Police tweeted that the 31-year-old told the arresting officer that he was on his way to get breakfast. The man was behind the wheel of a 2008 Chevrolet Corvette and was charged with DUI and reckless driving.

WACKY-BUT-TRUE: ROAD IN BULGARIA HAS WOODEN POLE OBSTACLE _ Think that pothole on your street is dangerous? Drivers along a road in Bulgaria had to deal with a power pole in the middle of the road. Even worse: the pole had no reflectors or signs that made it stand out. The road was expanded, but since the pole was owned by the electric company the municipality didn’t have the right to remove it or move it. So they simply poured the road around it.

WACKY-BUT-TRUE: SCIENTISTS DISCOVERED ‘STRANGE SIGNALS’ _ Strange signals detected by a telescope in Australia were not signals from outer space. Instead, the signals were emissions escaping from a microwave in the telescope site’s kitchen.

WACKY-BUT-TRUE: GERMAN ZOMBIE HUNTERS STOPPED IN HUMMER FULL OF WEAPONS _ A German couple have been arrested after allegedly rolling up to the Swedish border in a Hummer belonging to a “Zombie Response Team.” Owning such a tricked-out Hummer isn’t illegal, but having it full of weapons is. Sweden’s customs agency released pictures of the seized vehicle, which was ominously emblazoned with biohazard signs and a warning that reads: “Infected people will be shot.” It is believed the pair may belong to a role-playing organization that acts out doomsday scenarios.

WACKY-BUT-TRUE: MAN ALTERS CHECK _ Police in Florida arrested a man on fraud and grand theft charges for allegedly trying to deposit a $10 check altered to show a much greater amount. Police say the man tried to deposit a check for almost $270,000.

WACKY-BUT-TRUE: SOME MEN NEED LADDER TRAINING _ A handyman at a hotel in the UK was asked to prune a tree. He put a ladder up against a branch, climbed up, and sawed it off. Yes, he sawed off the branch his ladder was leaning on. The injuries resulting from his 14-foot fall required a 10-day hospital stay and surgery. The man sued the hotel, saying management should have given him training on where to put the ladder.

WACKY-BUT-TRUE: TEEN CAUGHT WITH BUD LIGHT, MARIJUANA AFTER PLOWING DOWN MAILBOX _ Florida deputies (Charlotte County) said 19-year-old Ryan Johnson allegedly drove drunk right off the road, took out a mailbox and drove right through several palm trees. When deputies showed up Johnson told them, “I’m not going to lie I should’ve not been driving.” Deputies found a 20 pack of Bud Light beer in his car. Ten of the bottles were missing. Deputies also found marijuana on him.

WACKY-BUT-TRUE: AIRPORT DIDN’T PAY ITS BILL _ An airport in Russia had to close for four hours because the local weather service stopped providing forecasts until the airport paid its overdue bill.

WACKY-BUT-TRUE: MAN ARRESTED AFTER FIGHT OUTSIDE BANK OVER LACK OF SOCIAL DISTANCING _ A fight outside a Boston-area bank that began over a lack of coronavirus social distancing led to weapons charges against one man. Police were called to the Citizens Bank Tuesday afternoon. They spoke to several people who said that while they were in line, an argument started with another customer who refused to adhere to social distancing policies. When the man was asked to move away, he allegedly flashed a gun and pointed it at others in line. The man and another woman drove off before police arrived. After receiving a description of the car, officers were able to find the driver and woman. Officers searched the vehicle and found a loaded gun.

WACKY-BUT-TRUE: COP DEMOTED FOR MORON TICKET _ A traffic cop in Romania was demoted after he gave a driver a ticket for “having a face like a moron.”

WATER COOLER QUESTION

Question: To paint this landmark requires 52,000 gallons of paint. (Golden Gate Bridge)

Alright, let’s end the podcast and start your day with a DEEP THOUGHT: The most reliable way to predict the future is to create it