GOT MILK FRIENDS?

     SATURDAY, JANUARY 11, 2025

                         GOT MILK?

         January 11th is "National Milk Day!"

I like milk! I've been drinking it since I

was a babu. As it happens the first home

delivery of milk in glass bottles took place

on this very day in 1878. Milk has changed

a bit throught the years. You can still find

it in glass bottles. But you're most likely

see it in plastic containers at most stores

these days/ You'll also find a choice of 1%, 2%, 

and whole milk. I like whole milk. But our

grandson has pretty much grown up on

Almond milk. (I still haven't learbed how

one milks an almond!  But my favorite

milk product only comes around a couple

times of year. I just picked up a bottle

yesterday. It's called Egg Nog and it's

probably good that it isn't available

all the time. It's got about as many

calories in one glass as a double cheeseburger!

Think I'll have a sip right now! Hope you've

"got milk" and that all your NEWS is good! 

THIS MAY COME AS A SHOCK TO YOU!

 

    THURSDAY, JANUARY 9TH., 2025
THIS MAY COME AS A SHOCK TO YOU!

    Christmas is over!
    Russian Christmas is over.
    New Year's Eve has come and gone.
    But don't despair. There's always a
holiday to be celebrated. And that
includes today.
     Just in case you didn't know January
9th is "National Static Electricity Day!"
I thought you'd get a charge out of that
shocking fact!
     It's a day to recognize, if not
celebrate, that sudden little electrical
zap you get when reaching for the door
knob after dragging you feet along the
carpet.
     Or that interesting hairdo that
develops after rubbing a balloon over
your curly locks.
     Winter is prime time for static
electricity.
      There's a scientific reason for the
creation of static electricity. It involves
atoms and protons and neutrons.
       If I could explain it I wouldn't
have spent all those days on the road
as a reporter standing outside in the
cold or rain or snow chasing bad
guys or describing horrible driving
conditions. Or writing a blog!
        Since I can't I just thought I'd
make you aware of this holiday.
        I can tell you you'd be wise to
ground yourself before you kiss your
significant other goodbye!
        Hope I've sparked your interest
and that all your NEWS is good!

NO NEWS ISN'T ALWAYS GOOD!

    WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 8, 2025

     NO NEWS ISN'T ALWAYS GOOD!     

    The title to my daily blog presentation

is taken from an old saying.."No news is

good news." But that's not always true.

And this very date in history proves my

point/ It was on January 8th of 1815 that

then General Andy Jackson led a force

of Americans, and volunteer pirates,

against the British in what has become

know as the Battle of New Orleans! Johnny

Horton did a song about that epic fight in

the War of 1812. The Americans won the

day but both sides lost a lot of men during

the battle. And here;s the thing, the battle

was fought on January 8th of 1815. But the

war actually ended in December of 1814!

The soldiers never got the news about the

end of the war until after their battle had

ended. In their case, no news was basically

a disaster for those who lost their lives! It;s

far better t know my friends! Hope you're

top on things and that all your NEWS is

good!

HAIL CAESAR AND MERRY CHRISTMAS!

            TUESDAY, JANUARY 7, 2025

  HAIL CAESAR, AND MERRY CHRISTMAS

     Julius Caesar was a pretty important guy

in Rome back in the day. How many other

people lived over 2000 years ago and still

have a salad named after them?

    He's remembered on coins and even in

famous works of literature.

    But what's important today is the fact

that this guy had his own calendar! It was

used by everybody up until 1582 when this

other guy, Pope Gregory XIII decided to

change things around!

     But Caesar's calendar wasn't complete

discarded. The Eastern Orthodox Church

still uses it and, in it's book, that makes

today CHRISTMAS! Many refer to the

day as "Russian Christmas." At least I do!

     Now most of us have already observed

the big day back in December. But my

take on the whole thing is....what's wrong

with celebrating twice?!

      So, although my closest connection to

Russia is an occasional visit to Moscow

in Lackawanna County and an old James

Bond movie, my wife and I welcomed

Santa once again with some

small gifts for immediate members of our

family none of whom are Russian!

     And I heard him exclaim as he drove

out of sight, Merry Christmas to all, and

may all your NEWS be good!

HE WHO LAUGHTS LAST!

      MONDAY, JANUARY 5, 2025

            THE LAST LAUGH!      

    We' e all been so busy with the

holidays it's easy to overlook some

of the lesser known reasons for having

a celebration. This week, for instance,

is "Someday We'll Laugh About This

Week." I'm sure you get the idea. We've

all done something that was pretty much

a disaster at the time it happened. But

when we look at it years later it becomes

the subject of humor. It's a week to

forget those mistakes and turn them 

into a reason to smile. In my case, for

instance, there was the time I put Dish

washing detergent in the dish washing

machine only to find the kitchen floor

covered in soap suds minutes later.

Best part is...I repeated the mistake

several month later. I look back on

it now and I laugh. Ironically, for

some reason, my wife still doesn't think 

it's funny! Maybe if I try it again she'll

see the humor? Hope so, and that all

your NEWS is good!

DO NOT PASS GO!

       SUNDAY, JANUARY 5th, 2025

               DO NOT PASS GO!

   It's January 5th, 2025. It's Monopoly Day!

Who hasn't, at one time or another, been caught

up in a game of Monopoly? You may be surprised

to learn the game was the creation of a young

lady. Elizabeth Magie came up with the game

as a way to teach the economy. She called it

"The Landlord Game" and got a patent for it

on this date in 1904. Of course the game eventually

became Monopoly. It's been customized a bit 

over the years, including special versions for

communities that wished to have their own

shops included on the board. But, basically,

it's the same game that "Lizzy" came up with

all those years ago. Might be a good day to get

your version out and play a round. Just don't

get the GO TO JAIL card like me!!!! Hope

you're well and that all your NEWS is good!

 

YOU ARE GROIWING SLEEPY!

 

   SATURDAY, JANUARY 4TH., 2025
     YOU ARE GROWING SLEEPY!

   Look into my eyes! Oh wait. You can't.
This is an essay. Not a telecast. Too bad.
   January 4th is "World Hypnotism Day."
   I have never been hypnotized. Well,
not by a hypnotist anyway.
   I have had a number of teachers over
the years who put me into a deep trance
unintentionally.
    Some politicians have had the same
effect as have a few television programs
I should never have tuned in.
     Supporters of the "science" of
Hypnotism insist it can help people in
many ways.
      I know there have been a number
of local seminars that promised to help
people lose weight or stop smoking
by way of Hypnotism.
       I sincerely hope it has helped
people beat those addictions.
       I'm still from the "old school."
The thought of hypnosis brings to
mind visions of Count Dracula
and even though I could truly use a
good sleep I think I'll stick with a
sip of Amaretto.
        I tried self hypnosis the other
day. I don't think it worked but my

wife insists she had me take out the

garbage before she work me up!!!

        So, look into my eyes. You

and growing sleepy and will have

a great day with all your NEWS

being good! 
   

LET THE CELEBRATIONS BEGIN!

     FRIDAY, JANUARY 3, 2025

LET THE CELEBRATIONS BEGIN!

   For those of you who thought the fun

was all over, think again. We have two big,

but unofficial, "holidays" to celebrate on

January 3rd. This is the day for the annual

Fruit cake toss. Some communities 

actually hold contests to see which

contestant can throw that unwanted Fruit

cake over the longest distance. It's a perfect

day fort those who don't appreciate that

gift that often accompanies the Christmas

holidays. Since my wife and I have

already consumed her holiday Fruit cake

we couldn't participate in the celebration

even if we wanted to. The other "holiday."

however, is a different story. It was created

with the realization that we have all been

very busy getting prepared for, first

Thanksgiving, then Christmas, then New

Year's eve and day. That's why January 3rd

is also "Festival of Sleep Day." It's a day

to get some rest. Take a cat nap or even

sleep in. I like the idea of this "holiday"

and plan to be observing it all day long!

Hope you're celebrating something and

that all your NEWS is good!   

CHECK YOUR MENU

    TUESDAY, JANUARY 2, 2025

         CHECK YOUR MENU! 

  As I scanned my list of unusual "holidays"

for 2025 I was shocked to see this listing for

January 2nd. "No Spam Day!" I was quickly

relieved to learn the date has to do with email

Spam and not the luncheon meat which I

enjoy from time to time. Social media Spam 

has become a real problem but there are

things you can do about it. First, check with

your internet provider for filters it may

offer/ If you're making a purchase on line

check all the boxes carefully. Many have

you signing up for email you don't really

want to receive. And, of course, check

your email lists to see if you're getting

Spam from providers from which you

can unsubscribe. That way you can get

rid of your Spam problems while allowing

me to acquire the Spam I enjoy fried on

the stove. Hope you're well and that all

your NEWS is good!