Friday Edition

Good morning

Good morning ladies and gentlemen, and welcome to another fantastic Friday! Can you believe it's finally December 23rd? We can hardly contain our excitement here at the SDC. This will be my (Vella) last newsletter of the year, and I must admit that I will miss all of you dearly while I’m away for a bit. But don't worry – our special holiday edition newsletters will be in your inbox until January 3, so you can stay up-to-date with all the latest news and events.

As we inch closer to Christmas, we know that many of you may be feeling a mix of emotions. For some, this time of year is filled with joy and excitement as we come together with loved ones to celebrate. But for others, the season of joy is often a season of sorrow as they prepare for their first Christmas without a beloved spouse, parent, sibling, or child. That's why we want to remind everyone to be extra kind, generous, and helpful this holiday season. Whether through small acts of kindness or larger acts of support, let's bring love and joy to those around us who may be struggling.

One important thing from us before we dive into today’s newsletter, we wanted to bring to your attention a sophisticated scam after Maddie received a fake text message about a supposed ‘number change’. The text was extremely convincing, with no errors in spelling or grammar, so we wanted to remind you to be vigilant and not click on any links in messages or texts unless you're 100% certain they're legitimate. Click here to learn more about this scam so you can be on the lookout.

Now, let's move on to this week and this year's final riddle!

What do you have left when all the Christmas gifts have been opened?

Oh, this is a fun one! We can't wait to see how you all do. You know the drill, folks. If you think you've got the answer, head over to our forum here. If you get the answer correct, we will give you a shout-out in tomorrow's newsletter!

So, what's happening across Australia and around the world today?

• URGENT PRODUCT RECALL: A popular grocery item sold at Coles stores has been recalled over bacteria contamination that could cause serious illness. Do you have this item in your fridge?
• SCAM ALERT: Aussies are being warned about the latest version of a popular scam with a nasty twist designed to steal your money. Be careful, members!
• Chocolate lovers, rejoice! Mars Wrigley has unveiled an amazing new product set to hit the shelves soon!
• Shoppers are raving about this $15 item from Kmart that looks exactly like a $2500 version by a luxury brand.
• Woolworths has surprised shoppers with an email revealing ‘disturbing’ insights into their shopping habits. Did you receive their email?
• WATCH: A dry cleaner conducted an experiment with this laundry product, and the frightening results will stop you from using it for good.
• This supermarket chain paid a whopping $270 million in taxes, and it’s not Woolies or Coles!
• ALDI is finally providing customers with alternative checkout options as the public outcry over a frustrating detail continues.
• Are you struggling to find the perfect gift for your loved ones? A gift card is the way to go! Here’s a list of the best (and worst) Christmas gift cards.
• A Jetstar flight attendant shared her ‘worst trip ever’, and you won’t believe what she had to go through! WARNING: This will make your stomach churn!
• Have you heard of the latest cleaning hack that involves using an unusual garden item to clean your oven racks? One cleaner put it to the test.
• Make your dinner extra special this holiday season with this delicious Pull-Apart Christmas Tree!
• Finally, how many wives can a man have? Read a little boy’s answer in this hilarious joke shared by member @Cheb.

How’s that for a wrap of your Friday news? It’s been a busy morning, hasn’t it? But there’s still plenty more in store for you below, including a brilliant joke from member @Skipton and a hilarious yet heart-warming Christmas memory in our ‘Yesterday’s Australia’ segment courtesy of member @Iggydi. Also, did you know that on this day, Vincent Van Gogh cut off his ear? Read more about it in our ‘On this day’ segment below.

Oh, and don’t forget to check out all our games, including our newest 3x3 Word Thread! We also have our Word Pairs and Abbreviation Games for some fun brain training. And our beloved classic games, including Word Association Game, Rearrange, Add or Subtract Word Game! Keep a Word, Drop a Word Game, and Can you name 5? As well as our Sudoku puzzles, OzGrid and OzWord. And our card games, including Solitaire and Blackjack.

As always, members, stay safe and happy reading!

- Jonathan, Vella, Sean, James, Sethia, April, Jarred, Ally & Maddie.