The Miller Report 01222026

 Miller's Mysteries Blog

   Greetings and Welcome! 
Welcome to Miller’s Mysteries Blog, where winter has transformed Southington into a snow globe with attitude. 
 

The cats stare out dramatically, the wildlife strolls by casually, and the neighbor’s goats act like unpaid security. It’s the season for layering, laughing, and planning escape missions to AMC Movies. Restaurant dinners and shopping trips are already penciled into the calendar. Until then, the mystery unfolds right here.

 

   • Across my Desk!!

There once was a fund in CT,
Claimed to help folks like you and me.
But the rules were so sly,
And the forms stacked sky-high,
It helped mostly the paperwork, see?

John Winthrop documented the first known unidentified flying object (UFO) sightings in North America
Two lights formed a manlike shape and arose out of the water in Boston, 1644

Can twinkling stars tell you about the weather?
https://www.almanac.com/why-do-stars-twinkle-and-why-planets-dont

Sun Sign
January 22nd babies are bold visionaries with a rebel streak and a heart full of caffeine-fueled ambition. ♒☕
Ruled by Aquarius energy, they think ten steps ahead of the room and three dimensions outside it.
Their personality chart shows high creativity, low tolerance for nonsense, and a mysterious ability to survive on sarcasm and snacks.
Destiny forecast: destined for leadership, laughter, and at least one dramatic eye-roll per day. 😄✨


New Artemis Lunar Science Payloads Selected
NASA has chosen three new scientific payloads to fly under its Artemis program’s Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) initiative. These instruments are designed to deepen understanding of the Moon’s surface, interior, and radiation environment and will launch no earlier than 2028 aboard commercial landers.

Weekend weather forecast for Southington, Ct.
Expect very cold temperatures this weekend, with highs mostly in the teens or low teens and lows well below freezing. Snow chances ramp up by late Saturday and remain through Sunday, with a meaningful snow (6" to 12") event possible depending on how the weekend storm evolves.

 

 • Math of the Week

1) Snowshoe Distance (Linear Equations)

Michele and Bob are snowshoeing on a frozen trail in the winter woods. Michele walks at a constant speed of 2.5 mph, while Bob walks at 3.5 mph. Bob starts 30 minutes later than Michele but follows the same trail.
Question: How long after Bob starts will he catch up to Michele, and how far from the trailhead will they meet?

2) Ice Fishing Shelter Setup (Systems of Equations)

They are setting up two portable ice-fishing shelters on a frozen lake. Shelter A costs $120 and Shelter B costs $180. Michele and Bob spent a total of $600 on shelters and bought 4 shelters total.
Question: How many of each type did they buy?

3) Sledding Hill Geometry (Trigonometry)

They go sledding down a snowy hill that makes a 28° angle with the horizontal. The length of the hill is 90 meters.
Question:
a) What is the vertical drop of the hill?
b) How far horizontally do they travel from the top to the bottom?

4) Hot Cocoa Cooling Model (Exponential Decay)

After building a snow fort, Michele pours Bob a cup of hot cocoa at 85°C. The outside temperature is −10°C, and the cocoa cools according to the model

T(t)=−10+95e−0.12t


where 
t is in minutes.
Question: How long will it take for the cocoa to cool to 50°C?

5) Snow Drift Volume (Geometry + Algebra)

Michele and Bob measure a snow drift shaped like a triangular prism after a winter storm. The triangular face has a base of 6 meters and a height of 2 meters, and the drift extends 10 meters along the fence line.
Question:
a) Find the volume of the snow drift.
b) If each cubic meter of snow weighs 250 kg, what is the total weight of the drift?

 

  • Now, This Week's Exciting Story

Tumble Time

The coldest January morning of the year had arrived, and the Miller family braved it like frost-bitten heroes armed with sleds and questionable coordination. The hill behind their house sparkled under a sharp, white sun, promising speed, thrills—and guaranteed tumbles.

“Straight lines, people! No zig-zags!” Dad warned, but gravity and sibling rivalry had other plans. Michele shot down first, arms flailing, whooping like a tiny avalanche, only to spin sideways and embed herself in a snowbank. Bob, determined to outdo her, launched after—and spectacularly somersaulted head over heels, landing in a heap that looked more like abstract art than a winter sport.

Mom and Dad attempted heroics of their own, sliding, skidding, and occasionally crawling as if negotiating a frozen obstacle course designed by mischievous snow spirits. By the fifth run, it was impossible to tell who had sledded properly and who had simply been tossed around stylishly by fate. Laughter, groans, and the occasional muffled yelp filled the crisp morning air.

Retreat finally became the most rational option. At the bottom of the hill, steaming thermoses of hot chocolate awaited, marshmallows piled so high they defied gravity—and tastebud sanity. Bob solemnly declared, “Marshmallows are a safety requirement. They cushion your fall… from the couch… or a sled.”

Mugs in hand, snow-matted hair sticking at wild angles, the family settled into a sticky, chocolatey bliss. Nose-red, teeth chattering, yet hearts warm, they sipped and laughed at the snowy chaos surrounding them. The hill was littered with tracks, footprints, and marshmallow flecks—the remnants of a morning perfectly conquered by tumbles, chocolate, and joy.

By the time the sun climbed higher, everyone agreed: sledding wasn’t about sliding smoothly. It was about tumbling gloriously, laughing uncontrollably, and justifying every marshmallow as a “safety measure.”

===========SHADOW
The cow had vanished from the barn, but a faint moan echoed from the cornfield.
He ran through the stalks to find a green shimmer hovering above the soil.
His blood turned to ice as the shimmer pressed against his chest.
Something from above was rewriting the rules of his body.
  
SHADOW by Joseph Miller
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0B4Z36PS3
Get your hands on a copy now and read for yourself the amazing testimonies entrusted to us for the record!

 

 Visit and enjoy my Author Page 🍂📜 ♣️❤️♠️♦️
https://warlockpublishing.com/author-joseph-miller.html
📚📖📘📙📗📕📔📒📓📔📒📓📚 ✨🌙💥👣️👽️🛸🚀☁️ 🕵️‍♀️💕

  Warlock
============ Sponsor

KelDel Creations
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100090364412851

When you’re walking through the craft fair, let your curiosity guide you to Kelly’s booth. Her handmade items instantly brighten the space around them. She puts great care into designing pieces that feel warm, useful, and full of joy. Shoppers love the relaxed atmosphere she creates at her table. You’re welcome to touch, explore, and take your time choosing something that speaks to you. Every item is crafted thoughtfully, making each one a little treasure. Kelly would love for you to stop by and say hello.

3-15-2026 Psychic, Oddities and Steampunk Expo at Ocean Beach Park, New London, Ct.


============

 • Thank you for stopping by! 

Thank you for visiting and taking the time to linger. Winter roads can be rough, but shared warmth makes them easier to face. Hot black coffee sits nearby, dark and dependable. The firepit snaps softly, telling old stories in sparks. Hot soup waits like a promise kept. Come back anytime—there’s always room.


 • Please do write a comment.  You could, if you dare, ask me a question. If I like it, I'll publish it right here in Miller's Mysteries Blog!
[send to mindmyst@yahoo.com]

Until next Thursday,    
Happy January!!! 

Joe Miller 🍻🎃️🦃 🌲️

  Joe