From Africa and Asia to North America, this episode of Big Blend Radio's BIG DAILY BLEND podcast celebrates National Squirrel Appreciation Day (Every January 21st) with some fun facts about squirrels and their small rodent families.

SONG OF THE DAY: Ray Stevens, "The Mississippi Squirrel Revival": https://youtu.be/K16fG1sDagU?feature=shared

TRAVELING BIRD (SQUIRREL) FEEDER videos on YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@MovieSquirrels

This episode of Big Blend Radio's BIG DAILY BLEND podcast honors National Martin Luther King Jr. Day, observed every third Monday of January. Hear about some of this Nobel Peace Prize honored and civil rights movement leader's great acommplishments, plus a Big Blend Radio "From the Vault" excerpt from an interview with travel writer Debbie Stone about her experience on the Birmingham Civil Rights Trail (2017) in Alabama. Full interview and article here: http://tinyurl.com/59jz597t

QUOTE OF THE DAY: "Darkness cannot drive out darkness, only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate, only love can do that." Martin Luther King Jr.

SONG OF THE DAY: "Happy Birthday" by Stevie Wonder who wrote this song to advocate for the creation of National Martin Luther King Jr Day. Listen: https://youtu.be/RcVZfJO01NI?feature=shared

BOOK OF THE DAY: "Rosa Parks Beyond the Bus: Life, Lessons, and Leadership” by HH Leonards. Info & Podcast: http://tinyurl.com/cb4pt5ta

MOVIE SUGGESTIONS in honor of Martin Luther King Jr, from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences: http://tinyurl.com/58hcvmmm

On January 19, 1915, Georges Claude patented the neon discharge tube for use in advertising (U.S. Patent 1,125,476). In honor of his noteworthy and iconic invention, we're revisiting this "From the Vault" episode of Big Blend Radio featuring Route 66 experts, authors, writers and photographers, Joe Sonderman and Jim Hinckley. Hear about their book “Route 66 Roadside Signs & Advertisements” that showcases the colorful history of commercial signage along “America’s Most Famous Highway.” For more Route 66 and Neon Sign fun, check out our interview Jeroen & Maggie Boersma, a husband-wife photography and travel team from Amsterdam, who talk about their adventures exploring and documenting America’s historic highways, classic and neon signs, and National Parks. You can see some of their photography in the book “Route 66 Roadside Signs & Advertisements,” https://soundcloud.com/bigblendradio/jeroen-maggie-boersma-66-kicks-photography