Ahhhh, the enchanting month of December!

Winter is a fascinating season with its own unique characteristics and interesting facts. Here are some fun facts about winter:

• Snowflakes: Each snowflake is unique, and there are actually 35 main types of snow crystals. No two snowflakes are identical.

• Auroras: Winter is a great time to witness the auroras, also known as the Northern Lights (Aurora Borealis) in the northern hemisphere and the Southern Lights (Aurora Australis) in the southern hemisphere. These stunning light displays are caused by the interaction of charged particles from the sun with the Earth’s magnetic field.

• Winter Wildlife: Some animals, like the Arctic fox and the snowy owl, have adapted to the winter conditions by growing thicker fur or feathers that help them blend in with the snowy landscape.

• In 2022, the 60-to-69-year-old age group represented the largest share of people moving to Florida from other states, according to the data, taken from the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey. The second-largest age group moving to Florida was people ages 50 to 59.

• New York state is joining chip companies to invest $10 billion in a semiconductor research facility at the University at Albany that is set to include some of the most advanced chip-making equipment in the world. (WSJ)

• Pantone, best known for its Pantone Matching System, chose PANTONE 13-1023 Peach Fuzz as its 2024 Color of the Year, describing the color as a “velvety gentle peach whose all-embracing spirit enriches mind, body and soul,”……oh my, my, my, my my……take that CHAT GPT!

• Palm Springs was cited as the best place to retire in California. The Coachella Valley consists of 9 incorporated cities, from Palm Springs in the west to Coachella in the east and excellent healthcare facilities. While overall taxes are high in the state, the natural beauty and weather of California is undeniable…..and many can afford it. (Travel And Leisure)

• Recent data suggests that inflation may have had less to do with overspending than it did with pandemic-related disruptions. Surging inflation became a global issue starting in 2021 as the economy roared back to life: pent up demand – combined with lots of Covid-related savings (and government spending/stimulus) – fueled a level of demand that outstripped the planet’s capacity to meet supply. Some are predicting dis-inflation next…..in areas. Crude Oil was trading for $120 in June, 2022: Today its hovering around $70, down over 41% off a high mostly attributable to the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

• More than any other generation, millennials believe making it – truly making it – means buying a house, a Bank of America Homebuyer Insights Report has found. 58% of millennials surveyed felt homeownership is more important now than it was for their parents, and an even higher percentage (60%) of Gen Z agreed, while only 26% of Baby Boomers felt the same.

• Younger people are “disproportionately hurt” by spiking mortgage rates and older millennials (those who are currently 35 to 45) face a “bigger financial burden” than other age groups as a result of having the largest share of outstanding student loans and the fastest rise in credit card delinquencies, the report noted. (BOA)