WHAT'S NEXT?!

   SATURDAY, JANUARY 2, 2022

               WHAT'S NEXT?!

     Well, it's here everybody! A brand

new year! 2022! At this point it's pretty

much a blank slate waining for each of

us to fill in those blanks! Who knows

what's ahead? Perhaps excitement, adventure,

challanges (we've always got a few of those),

and maybe even some miracles! I had a miracle

happen one New Year's Eve//Day many years

ago. My Dad was a projectionist and usually

had to spend his New Year's Eve in the

projection booth showing some holiday movie

for  the audience. But he always made sure he

called my Mom, my brother, and me right after

the ball dropped at midnight. As the year he

passed away came to an end our telephone rang,

seconds after midnight! I picked it up and said

"Hello" but there was no one on the other end.

At least no one I could hear. The Caller ID

read "Caller Unknown." But I know who it was.

It was my Dad calling to tell us Happy New Year

and that everything was, and would be, all right!

Make sure to watch for those exciting adventures,

and opportunities in this new year. And be aware

of the miracles too. They will be there but you'll

have to watch for them! Hope you do. Hope you

have a very happy 2022 and that your year is

filled with good NEWS!   

READY FOR TIME TRAVEL?!

     FRIDAY, DECEMBER 31, 2021

      READY FOR TIME TRAVEL?!

     It's December 31st. New Year's Eve, A

day for celebration and fun. And here's an

idea to make it extra special. Got a friend or

relation in Europe? England, Spain, France,

where ever. Call them a couple hours before the

ball drops at Times Square, say Hello, and ask

them what year it is. You;ll find you've\telephones 

time travled into the future. At our house we'll

wait till the ball coes down here then call family

in California, That, of course, will allow us to

time travel into the past! Of course whichever way

you call 2022 will eventually catch up with you

and everyone on your phone list. That said, have

a very Happy New Year and one in which all your

NEWS is good!

GETTING A HEAD START!

     THURSDAY, DECEMBER 39, 2021

           GETTING A HEAD START!

   

   OK. Look. I know New Year's Eve and
New Year's Day are big deals! I also realize
some of you are still enjoying your Christmas
holiday as the new year is about to begin.
   But I'm here today to make a case for another
one of those "unofficial holidays" that gets far
too little recognition.
   And it's today!!!!!!
   December 30th, just in case you didn't know,
is the.........."Festival Of Enormous Changes At
The Last Minute!"
   While that may be a mouthful and a bit big for
a Tee Shirt, this holiday seems to be for those
who think New Year's resolutions are supposed
to be put into action two days before the New
Year actually begins. That, of course, would give
you a head start on some of those well intentioned
changes you'd like to make for your life in 2022!
    You know. Things like getting more exercise,
losing a few pounds, perhaps making sure you're
always on time for appointments
     I'm beginning to understand why this "holiday"
may not be the most popular!
     But it is, after all, a "Festival Day" so if you're
celebrating by starting your diet or exercise program
today....more power to you!
     Most of us, however, will be just over here
enjoying our last gym-free, fatty food eating days.
     Hope it all works out for you and that all your
NEWS is good!

OR

TEMPUS FUGIT!

   WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 30, 2021

                TEMPUS  FUGIT!

    

       December is so great. So many special days
to celebrate.
   Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Year's
Eve, and Tick Tock Day!
    Yep! Tick Tock Day. It comes around every
29th of December. Two days before the end of
the year!
    The day is celebrated by completing tasks on
hand, like ensuring all holiday gifts are delivered.
Better make sure UPS and FEDEX are aware of
this "holiday!"
     It's a day to complete unfinished business so
nothing that should have been done is carried
over into the new year. In my case I may have
to apply for an extension. My unfinished
business may well take me into February!
      But back to Tick Tock Day.
      It's a perfect day to take stock of yourself
and your situation and to come up with those
New Year's Resolutions to improve your lot in
2018. Maybe I'll resolve to finish my unfinished
business. Well, some of it anyway.
      The "Tick tock" of course, is the sound of
this year's time running out. So get to it while
there's time to get things done!
      Hope your clock is on time and that all your
NEWS is good!

KEEPING CHRISTMAS!

    TUESDAY, DECEMBER 28, 2021

           KEEPING CHRISTMAS!

     These days Christmas comes early.

You begin seeing Christmas decorations

in many stores about the same time the

Halloween outfits are going on sale. And

by Thanksgiving the turkeys are being pushed

aside by bells and elves and Christmas trees.

       That said, by December 26th and 27th

some folks are looking at the 25th as the

ghost of Christmas past! I was disappointed

to tune ingto by XM radio yesterday and hear

an announcement from the channel I've been

listening to for holiday tunes that it's seasonal

programming has ended. Isn't the holiday

season that stretch of time generally between

Christmas eve and New Year's day? What 

about the "12 days of Christmas?" And how

about Orthodox Christmas in January? We're

too quick in some cases to ditch that Christmas

spirit that makes the world so much better.

I'm hanging on as long as possible. Hope you

do too and that all your NEWS is good!  

THE GIFT THAT KEEPS GIVING!

 

     MONDAY, DECEMBER 27TH., 2021
      THE GIFT THAT KEEPS ON GIVING!

   It is probably the most maligned gift of
Christmas yet one of the most historical. It's
the Fruitcake! And December 27th is
National Fruitcake Day!
    For those who may not know it is a cake
made with dried fruit, nuts and spices. If that's
not enough, some are soaked with spirits and
we're not talking about the kind of spirits
Dickens wrote about in "A Christmas Carol!"
     The earliest receipt come from ancient
Rome and there are those who suggest some
of the Fruitcakes being sold or served today
were probably made about that time.
      My wife enjoys a good Fruitcake and I'll
usually have a slice or two myself after she's
cut the first slice. There's no hurry! They tend
to last a long time.
       If you don't like them they're prefect as
a re-gift to someone else or keep them long
enough and use the as a door stop! Keep
those options in mind Iris! (Iris is one of
my regular Blog readers who has expressed
a dislike for Fruitcakes!)
        Hope you'll enjoy the "holiday" one
way or another and that all your NEWS
is good!

LET THERE BE LIGHTS!

   WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 22, 2021

             LET THERE BE LIGHTS!

   It's December 22nd, a date that changed

Christmas forever! Christmas trees, of course,

have been around since the 16th century. They

originated in Germany. They eventually made

their way into American Christmas tradition. But

a big change caame along in 1880! That's when

Thomas Edison an his associate, Edwatd Johnson

came in 1880 when they strung 80 red, white, and

blue electric lights around the Christmas tree in

front of their New Jersery laboratory. Passengers

traveling by train on a nearby rail line were thrilled

to see the sight! Of course electric lights on most

home Christmas trees didn't become popular till

many years later. Back in the 40's and 50's we

had light sets that offered a real challenge. If one

bulb burned out, the whole string went dark! You

had to get a new buld and try in in places of

others until you found the socket which allowed

the rest of the string to re-light! These days entire

strings seem to burn out between one Christmas

and the next. Still, when they're all working, it's

a beautiful sight! Hope you're lit up, and that

all your NEWS is good! 

 

HAPPY YULE DAY!!

    TUESDAY, DECEMBER 21, 2021

             HAPPY YULE DAY!

    It's December 21st! It's Yule Day! I

donn't know if you've heard of it before

or not. But you've certainly heard of the

12 days of Chrfistmas. Yule Day is the

start of that 12 day period. It's always on

the Winter Solstice. In years past farmers

would gather in their crops for the holiday

meals. And folks would begin trimming

their Christmas trees. It's the day you

begin gathetring presents for those 12 days

of Christmas. The first one could be the

hardest. A Partridge in a Pear Tree! Wait

a minute. I know where there's a Pear tree!

In fact it's right across the street frpom my

house. I've got myself a Pear tree. Now...

all I have to do is wait for a Partridge to

show up. I wonder what a Pafrtridge looks

like? This may be tougher than I thought!

Hope your 12 gifts are all ready and wrapped

and that all your NEWS is good!  

THE CHRISTMAS WRAP!

    MONDAY, DECEMBER 20, 2021

         THE CHRISTMAS WRAP!

    Don't get worried. This isn't a wrap

song or verse. It's an observation, and

suggestion for retailers out there. You

sell us these swell presents then send

us home with them in a bag! That leaves

guys, like me, to wrap them for Christmas.

I'm not a very good wrapper! I end up with

bits and pieces of wrapping paper and tape

on me. Lots all over the floor too! Why

don't you pre-wrap the presents? Let us see

a sample of the product then send us home

with an already wrapped present. It would

help guys like me a lot. Of course bad as my

wrapping is I'm certain my wife will 

appreciate the bright can of SPAM I've  

just wrapped up in red paper and.....oh....

wait! I want it to be a big surpise. Don;t

say anything! Hope you're all wrapped

up and that all yoru NEWS is good!  

NOT EXACTLY A HALLMARK CARD!

      SUNDAY, DECEMBER 19. 2021

NOT EXACTLY A HALLMARK CARD!

     

       For the past 13 years my wife and I have

been attempting some Christmas magic every
December. It's our annual card trick!
    Back in 2009 we went to Cleveland to see
the house used in the movie "A Christmas
Story." You know. It's the movie where little
Ralphie tries to convince everyone  why he
should get a Red Rider BB Gun for Christmas
only to be greeted with the admonition "You'll
shoot your eye out."
      We had our picture taken in from of the
famous Leg Lamp from that movie and
decided to use that photo as our Christmas
card that year.
       We also came up with the idea of trying
to replicate a scene from that hilarious holiday
feature every year as part of our Christmas
greeting.
        It's been a real challenge but we've
enjoyed doing it.
         Generally speaking those who know
the movie have loved the cards and many
look forward to them every year.
           There are a few, though that almost
seems unbelievable, that haven't seen the
movie or don't remember it well enough
to recall the scenes we've selected We
remind them that one networks runs it
all 24 hours Christmas Day and that it's
also been turned into a stage production.
If you haven't seen it....get moving!!!!
            It's based on the book "In God
We Trust. All Others Pay Cash" by the
late writer and humorous Jean Shepard.
             And so, as another Christmas
Day looms we present our "Christmas
Story" Christmas Card for 2021.
             Hope your Christmas in Merry
and all your NEWS is good!

SALUTING ALL THOSE FLAKES OUT THERE!

        SATURDAY, DECEMBER 18, 2021

SALUTING ALL THOSE FLAKES OUT THERE!

    Welcome to "Flake Appreciation Day!"  And, no,

I'm not refering to any of those "weird people"you

may know. This day is dedicated to the appreciation

of snowflakes! You know, water vapor that freezes

into those ice crystals that create a winter wonder

land around most of our area between December

and May. We've always been told that no two snow

flakes are identical but in 1998 Nancy Knight, a

scientist at the National Center for Atmosphere

Research in Boulder, Colorado, found two

identical samples while studying snow crystals

from a storm in Wisconsin. I always wondered 

who was checking all those snowflakes! In any

case, this is the day we are supppose to appreciate

each flake. It's probably a lot easier to do if you're

watching, rather than shoveling them. We haven't

had much snow around here (I'm not complaining)

so if you're in the same boat you may have to

spend the day appreciating some of your weird

friends! Hope you;ll appreciate one or the other

and that all your NEWS is good! 

OFF THE JOB JOHNNY!

    FRIDAY, DECEMBER 17, 2021

        OFF THE JOB JOHNNY!

  I've been trying to get at least a two mile

walk in every day although cold weather

and early darkness makes the task a little

more difficult. Another difficulty has

presented itself at the track where I usually

do my walking.  There's a convient rest

room on site. It's actually a Portapotty.

But, suddenly, it's not so convient. I found

a huge chain around the door the other day

attached to the side of the unit. I'm not sure

why. I can't believe anyone would want to

steal a Job Johnny let alone anything in it!

I mean, I could see it in March and April of

2020 when a Job Johnny was like a safe

holding a precious supply of toilet paper.

But there's plenty on the shelves these days!

Walkers and joggers occassional have

a need for a brief rest stop during their

routine. I'd discuss it more but I've got to

go now..........to my Blog post site that is!

Hope you're well and that all your NEWS

is good. 

A CAROL FOR CHRISTMAS!

   THURSDAY, DECEMBER 15, 2021

        A CAROL FOR CHRISTMAS!

      Imagine Christmas about 178 years ago!

   No block buster movies in theaters or on
TV! No Walmarts or Kmarts to shop for
gifts. Electric Christmas tree lights were
still 37 years off!
    But there was something new!
    And it showed up this week in 1843!
    It was a novella by a fellow named
Charles Dickens. It was titled....."A
Christmas Carol!"
     It's been one of my favorite stories for
many years! When I was just a kid my Mom,
Dad, and brother used to gather round our
combination radio/phonograph and listen
to the famous actor Lionel Barrymore read
Dickson's story on a set of 78rpm records
every Christmas Eve. That was our family
tradition. I always got a little scared at the
thought of ghosts showing up! Come to
think of it I'm still not big on ghosts!
      The story of Scrooge and his encounter
with four ghosts (don't forget his former
partner Jacob Marley) has been retold many
times. I've already caught three versions over
the past week!
       There have been at least 21 movies, 25
television adaptions, and more than a dozen
radio versions  of the story! And I've seen or
heard most of them. When you get to the
point where you can finish the line before
the actor you may have seen a few too many
versions!
        The term "Scrooge" has become
synonymous with a stingy, mean, uncaring
person. But that's actually unfair! If you
remember the whole story Ebenezer ends up
 "as good a friend, as good a master, and as
good a man as the good old city had ever
known."
        Kind of suggests there's hope for all of
us! Of course there's a few people out there
who may have to spend some time with a few
ghosts before they get the message! You
probably know a couple of them!
       Hope your "spirits" are high and that
all your NEWS is good!

 

A CHRISTMAS SURPRISE!

   WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 15, 2021

          A CHRISTMAS SURPRISE!

     Christmas season is a great time for

surprises and my wife and I got one

yesterday. We were headed to our favorite

movie theater, the Dietrich in Tunkhannock

to see the new version of "West Side Story."

I got a late start and wasn't sure if we'd get

there in time to see the beginning of the movie.

As it happens we didn't see any of the movie!

We showed up on the day the Dietrict was 

offering its annual showing of the classic "It's

A Wonderful Life!" The theater is all decked

out for the Christmas and the atmosphere is

beautiful. And to make matters even better,

the movie admission was free as was the

popcorn and a drink! There were three free

showing in all yesterday and that's in addition

toseveral other holiday related movies the

Dietrck, through local sponsors, offer free to

the public. There was total silence as the

audience watched the feature, which most

everyone has seen many times. Then, thunderous

applause as the movie ended and people showed

their appreciation for this wonderful Christmas

gift! We'll catch "West Side Story" another time.

Right now we're just smiling at what, for us, was a

delightful Christmas surprise! Hope you'll

enjoy many wonderful sirprises during the

holiday season and that all your NEWS is

good! 

A MONKEY'S UNCLE!

 

        TUESDAY, DECEMBER 14TH., 2021
                 A MONKEY'S UNCLE!

  Regular readers already know how fascinated
I am with unusual and bizarre "holidays." Most
not know let alone celebrated!. Well I've found
another!
   December 14th is "International Monkey Day!"
   It was created and popularized in 2000 by two
art students at Michigan State University. Their
art work spread the word around the world to the
extent this "holiday" is celebrated in at least 14
countries!
     My most unique experience with monkeys
came more than a few years ago when my wife and
I entered a drive through zoo in Canada. Half
way through the place we found our car nearly
over run with Baboons! They climbed all over
the vehicle and left a bit of a mess behind. Our
next stop was a Canadian car wash!
      My wife tells me her sister used to get a
stuffed monkey nearly every year for Christmas.
Once though my wife received one of the
cloth primates. We didn't learn, until this year,
that her sister was always annoyed by that
delivery. She believed the monkey was really
meant for her. So,three years ago, we got her
one from eBay. She seemed pleased but some
of her friends were wondering why a Senior
Citizen was so happy over a stuffed monkey.
      I never had the pleasure of owning a
monkey, stuffed or otherwise. But I do have
a six-year-old grandson who seems to be
a reasonable facsimile! He even likes
bananas!
      I'm not sure how you're suppose to observe
this "holiday" although Hallmark Cards
describes it as a day when Monkey business is
actually encouraged! Enough said!
      Hope you'll have fun monkeying around
and that all your NEWS is good!

GOOD DAY TO BE A DING A LING!

    SUNDAY, DECEMBER 12, 2021

GOOD DAY TO BE A DING A LING!

    It's December 12th. "Ding A Ling Day!

The same year that Chuck Barry released

the song "My Ding A Ling," Franky Hyle

established My Ding A Ling Day. It was

1972. Franky started a club asking members

to donate one dollar to join. Some 871 people

signed up. Now yjousands of people are on

board. Th whole idea is to thing about people

you haven't talked with in a long time, Then,

on December 12th, call them up to say Hi and

ket them know you;ve been thinking about

them. It's a ding a ling that will make you

both happy! Hope you get a call or two as

well and that all your NEWS is good!  

THE DENTIST'S MISSING TOOTH!

    SATURDAY, DECEMBER 11, 2021

   THE DENTIST'S MISSING TOOTH!

    Dr. Horace Wells probably pulled a lot\

of teeth during his years as a Dentist in

Connecticut. But it was his own tooth that

made history. And he had a friend pull it!

Dr. Wells had notixed that a number of

medical patients seemed to have less pain

when exposed to Nitrous Oxide. It was a

gas discovered by Joseph Priestly, that same

scidentist who isolated oxygen (and who

settled, by the way, near Sunbury, Pa.)!

Dr. Wells wondered if the gas might ease

the pain of tooth extractions. So, while

inhaling Nitrous Oxide, he had his friend 

John Riggs pull one of his teeth. He was

right! Dr. Wells felt no pain! That opened

the way for Nitrous Oxide to be used as

an anesthesia. A major development and

no LAUGHING matter! Hope you're well, 

have no need for an extration, and that all

your NEWS is good!  

REMEMBERING THE BULLDOGS!

   FRIDAY, DECEMBER 10, 2021

REMEMBERING THE BULLDOGS!

      One of our area High School Footballs

teams, Southern Columbia, plays in still

another State Championship game today.

But today I;m remembering another

Cha,pionship game which featured The

Bulldogs. Not the Berwick Bulldogs,

although they've certainly enjoyed thei

share of championships The Bulldogs I',

thinking about where from Ohio. And

with a record of 10 wins, no loses, and

two ties they won the first championship

in  what was the newly formed National

Football League. The Bulldogs were from the

city of Canton and their history was what led

the NFL to establish the Football Hall of Fame

in that community! The Bulldogs played that

championship game on this vety day, December

10th, of 1922!! Hope your team is winning and

that all your NEWS is good!

LOST AND FOUND!

   THURSDAY, DECEMBER 8, 2021

             LOST AND FOUND!

    December 9th is 'Lost and Found Day!"

Ever since humans first walked the face of

this earth they have been losing and finding

things! It's more a mattre of when it happens

to you as opposed to "if" it happens!

     The very first Lost and Found Department

opened in Paris under the order of Napoleon

Bonaparte! That gives you an idea how long 

people have been concerned about lost items.

     This is a day when you are encouraged to

make an extra effort to find those items you

have "missplaced" or actually "lost."

     I don't have the problem. I keep things

wwell organized. My wallet is always in my

right pocket and my keys are right here in

my,,,,,,hey.....that's funny. I thought I had 

me keys right here in this pocket. But they're

not here. I wonder if I put them on my desk.

No. Not there either. I wonder if Napoleon  

opened a branch anywhere near here! Oh well. 

hope you know where everything is and that

all your NEWS is good! 

A DAY OF APPRECIATION!

    WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 8, 2021

           A DAY OF APPRECIATION!

   This is an important day you may know

nothing about! December 8th is "Toilet

Paper Appreciation Day!" This date was

selected because it was on December 8th

of 1857 when Joe Gayetty first sold toilet

paper in the U,S. It should not be confused 

with a similar observance on August 26th

which is "Toilet Paper Day" marking the

date in  1871 when the Scott Company first

sold toilet paper on rolls! Today is strictly

a day to appreciate toilet paper. You may 

recall just how appreciated it was when the

pandemci began. It was hard to find any on

store shelves as everyone tried to stock up in

case they found themselves locked up in their

homes for an extended period! Well, it's in\

plentiful supply now so, no worries. Hope

you appreciate your supply and that all your

NEWS is good.

AND BINGO IS ITS NAME OH!

     TUESDAY, DECEMBER 7, 2021

     AND BINGO IS ITS NAME OH!

     The beginning of December has most

people focused on the countdown to
Christmas. Things get so busy it's easy
to forget some of the other special
occasions that show up in the weeks
and days leading to the 25th.
   For instance, December is "Bingo
Birthday Month.:
   That designation had me just a little
confused. My first thought was we were
celebrating that Farmer's dog all the kds
sign about. You know."BINGO was his
name oh."
     Not!
     December is considered the birth
month of the game BINGO!
     I'm surprised but I really shouldn't
be. There's so little I really knew about
the game.
     As a kid growing up in Hazleton I
always assumed BINGO was invented
by the Catholic church and that you had
to be 65-years-old or older to play.
      Now I come to find out BINGO has
been around for a very long time! It was
started in Italy in 1530. It was called
"LoGiucoc del Lotto D'Italia." That
must have been a very large BINGO
card!
      It's still a very big game in Italy
played almost every Sunday.
      The game showed up in the U.S.
in 1929 and was originally called
BEANO! I wonder if there's any
connection with the Stock Market Crash
that year!
       I got pulled into a game in Florida
during a visit a couple years ago. That's sort
of the "Big Leagues for BINGO down
there. I saw women playing ten cards
at one time and holding "lucky charms"
as they played!
        Anyway it's an appropriate day to
play a game or two and I understand
there's still a lot of places, including
churches, where this popular form of
gambling is readily available!
         Hope you're a winner and that
all your NEWS is good!
     


 

OLD SAINT NICK!

   MONDAY, DECEMBER 6, 2021

              OLD SAINT NICK!

     December 6th is "Saint Nicholas Day!"

Long before Santa came along there was a

very devoted priest who loved to give away

all his posessions in a true Christian way.

Most he gave to the poor and very often to

poor children. He, of course, became a Saint.

Saint Nicholas. Ironically December 6th marks

the day that he died. But his spirit lives on,

partly through Santa Clause,  as does a Christmas

tradition he accidentially started. One of his habits

was to toss gold coins through the open windows

of poor family's houses. One one occassion, as the

story goes, the coins he tossed ended up in a

child's stocking. Work got around and, since then,

a popular Christmas tradition is to hang up stockings

hoping some goodies will find their way into them!

I've got mine in place already...but I'm thinking of

mpving it close to the window.,,,,just in case.

Hope your stockings are up and that all yoru NEWS

is good! 

ATTRACTING THE CROWDS!

  SUNDAY, DECEMBER 5, 2021

  ATTRACTING THE CROWDS! 

   Tourist is big business these days.

People are anxious to travel again and

every state is anxious to attract visitors.

Pennsylvania recently even changed the

welcoming signs at its borders to read

"Pennsylvania. Purrsue Your Happiness."

Ironically December 5th marks the day

that probably began one of the greatest

migrations of people into any one state.

It happened in 1884 when then President

James Poke confirmed the discovery of

gold in California. Everybody headed

there!!! What a great "tourist promotion!"

I wonder in that would work again? All we

have to do is find some gold then tell

everybody! If we say it, they will come!

Hope you knlow where you're headed

and that all your NEWS is good!

A CHRISTMAS LIST!

   SATURDAY, DECEMBER 4, 2021

             A CHRISTMAS LIST!

    Time for another Re-run as I continue

my recovery from cataract surgery. This

one from a year ago this very day!

            Before you start jotting down a

numerical list of all the things you

want for Christmas or the things

you're considering buying, allow me

to explain that December 4th is  "Santa's

List Day," It's the day when Santa and

his elves begin their final review of

his "Naughty Or Nice list." Ironically

I mention it just after I've completed 

a lengthy afternoon drive taking my

wife to various spots she had or wanted

to visit. Which, by the way, comes after

last evening when I prepared her supper

and put all the tray tables away nicely.

Not that those efforts should put me on

his "Nice list." Although he may want

to consider them. (Might as well let

him know, just in case!) So make sure

you're doing yout brst to be good as

Santa completes the final draft of his

list for this Christmas! Hope you're

nice, well, and that all your NEWS is

good! 

   

A "SHOCKING RE-RUN!"

     FRIDAY, DECEMBER 3, 2021

        A "SHOCKING" RE-RUN!

   While I'm recovering from my second

cataract surgery I've reached into "Double

Dee;s Dusty Dungeon" for an oldie to keep

you entertained/ Here's one that still fits in the

headlines....

           PEDAL TO THE METAL!   

    There's a lot of talk about electric cars

becoming a big part of our future. But

electric cars are not new! In fact the very

first recorder speeding ticket was issued

on  May 20th., in 1899. And the speeder was

driving an electric car! Actually it was a taxi.

It was driven by cabbie Jacob German who was

"speeding" along a street in Manhattan!

He was acceding the speed limit by 4

miles an hour! The limit was 8. He was

doing 12! And, by the way, the officer

who pulled German over.......was riding

a bicycle!!! Drive safely! Hope all your

NEWS is good!

 

CUTTING YOUR COOKIES!

    THURSDAY, DECEMBER 2, 2021

        CUTTING YOUR COOKIES!

   December 2nd marks the start of Cookie

Cutter week." Remember those old cookie

cutters? Metal forms used to cut shapes our

of your roller cookie dough. Many were

shaped for the holidays.     Christmas trees.

Stars. Angles. Or, perhaps, animal shapes.

I'm not so sure the cookie cutters are used

as much as they used to be these days. Even

the big box stores offer pre shaped and pre

baked cookies of all shapes and sizes.

Still it's hard to beat a good home baked

cookie, what ever the occassion! And some

of those old cookie cutters are very rare

and quite valuable! This would be a great

week to get your old cuttie cutters out and

cut some holiday shaped cooklies to

celevrate the season! Hope you do and

that all your cookies, and NEWS, are and is

good!                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             

BUILD THEM AND FILL THEM!

   WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 1, 2021

      BUILD THEM AND FILL THEM!

    December 1st is a very big day in 

automotive history! On this day in 1913

Henry Ford introduced the automobile

assembly line to the world. The industry

would never be the same afterwords! 

And, on that very same day, Gluf Oil

Company oped the first drive up gas

station in the United States. It was in

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania! Ford is still

making cars and you can still get a

fill up in Pittsburgh! But some things

have changed. Ford's Model T sold

for 525 dollars! And gas at that first

service station went for 27 cents a gallon!

And, by the way, they sold 30 gallons

that day! Hope you're all filled up and

that all your NEWS is good!

BEGINNING TO LOOK A LOT LIKE CHRISTMAS!

    TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 30, 2021

BEGINNING TO LOOK A LOT LIKE 

                 CHRISTMAS!

   I was out for awhile yesterday and when

I returned I found the bulk of our annual

Christmas decorations all set out in place!

We don't have any elves around my house

but we didn't need them! My wife headed

the decorating team, My son helped lug in

some of the heavy boxes while our granddaughter

Mckenzie lent a very able helping hand to the

chore. Even little Anthony pitched in! As

usual my assignment was to plug in a remote

control on/off switch and to enjoy the fruits of

all their labors! I've always enjoyed decorations

but not so much the decorating! Now that they're

in place the outside lighting is about the only

thing left to do and we're hoping our other

grandson will help with that task. One up we

keep everything on display until "Russian

Christamas." It does help with the holiday

spirit! Hope you've got your decorations

in place or at the ready and that all your NEWS

is good!     

A FORGOTTEN HOLIDAY!

     MONDAY, NOVEMBER 29, 2021

         A FORGOTTEN HOLIDAY!

   It's a holiday few people ever heard of,

let alone remember, It's "Catterntide!" It

was a day to celebrate Saint Catherine as

the Patron Saint of Lacemakers. It was a

big celebration every November 29th up

until around 1890 when the Lace industry

began to decline. The annual celebration

featured spongy cakes and a pie made with

mincemeat covered with melted honey.

And then there was "Leap candle!" The

women lfted up their skirts and jumped

over a lighted candle! I was thinking of

reviving the holiday and even had a

candle picke dout for the occassion. My

wife declined the invitation and suggested

that I shoud,do the jumping......in a lake!  

Oh well. Hope you're well and that all

your NEWS is good!

AFTER THE TURKEY...SAUSAGE!

   SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 28, 2021

 AFTER THE TURKEY...SAUSAGE!

      Some of our gang headed for Unityville

yesterday for the annual pancake and
sausage breakfast at the Unityville Fire Company
not far off Route 118 in Lycoming County.
     This stop has become as much a part of my 

Thanksgiving tradition as Turkey on the day itself.
      I came across it quite by accident a few
years back. Usually from the day after Thanksgiving
until 9 Sunday night shifts of Fire Department
members and volunteers cook up hundreds of
pounds of delicious pork sausage and fantastic
buckwheat pancakes to a couple thousand
hungry customers who come, some at all hours
like our gang, to enjoy a meal and to support
their Fire Company. This year, however, the

eating ends at 10pm so everything can be

cleaned for protection against Covid. The

breakfast/dinner runs through tonight (Sunday) so

you've still got time to stop by, enjoy the

meal, and help a good cause!

       Members, their wives, their children, and
friends, help with preperations and clean up

afterwards. Trays of sausage wait in a
freezer to be formed into patties, an all night
job in anticipation of the crowds that show up
at "normal hours."
      It seems the smaller or more rural
the area the more people seem willing to
help each other out,
       The Company makes more money on
efforts like gun raffles but I think everyone
enjoys seeing people come together for the
Thanksgiving holiday "breakfast."
       Hope you'll put it on your calendar
for next year and that all your NEWS is
good!

   

A ROOM FULL OF WINERS!

      SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 27, 2021

           A ROOM FULL OF WINERS!

     There was plenty of chatter and laughts

at our Thanksgiving Day family get together.

So on Friday my wife and I decided a quiet

afternoon at the winery would be relaxing.

It was. However, it seems another hundred

or so people, including a large group of

young women celebrating a Birthday, had

the same idea! We were lucky enough to

walk in just as a couple at what seemed to

be the only available table were leaving.

Everyone was enjoying his or her wine

and in terms of laughter and chatting our

Thanksgiving celebration just seemed to

be continuing. It was a nearly perfect day.

Until we started home. By that time the

wet roads, now covered witha thin coating

of snow, had cars crawing up and down

the hills of Route 115 and, finally, forming

a traffic jam about 6 miles long. As our

usualy 70 minute trip turned into nearly

two and a half hours I did some wineing

of my own! Well, at least we got home

safely for which my thanksgiving continues!

Hope you're well and that all your NEWS

is good!

AFTER THE FEAST!

  FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 2021

         AFTER THE FEAST!

   It was our typical Thanksgiving

dinner, with the exception of missing

our granddaughter Kara who's spending

a semester in France. A very full and

filling menu including turkey, ham,

sweet potatoes, corn, amd stuffing. 

A big meal like that tends to make one

tired. At least I found myself tired. But

some of our gang had plenty of energy

which they redirected into cleaning off

the table and turning iton a gam board

for several different contests. I'm not

bih of games so I found myself wandering

around taking phoyos and videos. Then

I accidentially walked into the porch room

where I discovered the deserts had not

been packed away! All of those goodies

would take up far too much room in our

daughter's refrigerator! So I helped

lessen the load! You've got to help out

where you can! Hope you had a great

Thanksgiving and that all your NEWS

is good! 

TURKEY TOM?

    THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 2021

                    TURKEY TOM?

      Turkey has become the traditional

Thanksgiving dinner for most Americans.

Yet we're not really sure if it was a part of

the menu on that first Thanksgiving in 1621.

The only two know documents from the

period do indicate that turkey hunting was

good that year. But, chances are, the main

meal was fresh deer meat. We do know that

native Americans brought several to the feast.

There was fish as well. Cod from the nearby

shore. And "flint" a native American type of

corn. That Thanksgiving feast lasted three

days! But Thanksgiving didn't become an

annual holiday for many years afterwards.

Abe Lincoln declared it a holiday in 1863

but it didn't become an official Federal

holiday until 1941. By the way my idea of

getting a head start and cooking the bird

in my microwave was nixed by my wife.

I don't know  what she was worried about.

I had bread, strawberry jam, and peanut

butter set aside in case my plan didn't

work. I'll probably have some Thanksgiving

night when I'm hungrey again! Happy 

Thanksgiving Blog readers and I hope all

your NEWS is good!    

REMEMBERING OUR HERO!

        WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 24, 2021

              REMEMBERING OUR HERO

          It happened this week in 1984. The

Joe Palooka comic strip was published for

the very last time. Palooka was created by

Wilkes-Barre native Ham Fisher. A monument

at the base of Mount Palooka stands just off

route 309 in Hanover Township. I was a member

of a 4 man committee who raised public funds

for the monument which replaced a bronze 

marker stolen around the time of the Agnes

Flood. Palooka's character was so popular

that when that character joined the army at

the start of World War II, thousands of men,

inspired by the comic strip, joined up too!

Palooka was credited by the President with

helping the war effort. In the final comic

strip Joe and his wife "retired" back to his

hometown of Wilkes-Barre, PA. Joe's out

there somewhere yet I suppose. Hope his,

and your NEWS is good!  

A SHARP IDEA!

   TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 2021

                 A SHARP IDEA!

   Today we are remembering a man who

most of you have never heard of but who

had a major impack in the world of

education. He wasn't a professor. He was,

by trade, a carpenter! But he was also an

inventor! His name was John Lee Love.

 And on this day, in 1897, he

patened an invention that has been used

in the educational system ever since. It

was the hand cranked pencil sharpener!!

I've used one many a time. But I must

admit is was another invention, by

scientist Joseph Priestley, that helped

me get through school. It was on the other

end of those pencils. The eraser! Hope

you're sharp as ever and that all your

NEWS is good.

CAMELOT, REMEMBERED.

        MONDAY, NOVEMBER 22, 2021

           CAMELOT, REMEMBERED!

Sorry friends. I've got to be serious

today.
     If you were alive in 1963 and older
than 10 you probably remember just
where you were and what you were doing
on this day that November.
    Thanksgiving was just a few days away.
    Then came the news flash..
     President Kennedy had been shot while
riding in a motorcade in Dallas Texas!
     I was working as a DJ/Newsman at
WNAK in Nanticoke and was on my way
home when I heard the first report.
   MONDAY, NOVEMBER 22, 2021

       CAMELOT, REMEMBERED.  

   I turned around and headed back to the
station as fast as possible.
     We had no network. Just an Associated
Press teletype machine set up in a closet.
      I found an extra long microphone
cable and ran it into the closet where I read
every word as it was printed in front of me.
      That included the official announcement
that President Kennedy was dead.
       Much of the world as we knew it
changed on that day.
       A lot of us, around the so-called "Baby
Boomer Generation", saw our image of
"Camelot" come crashing down on November
22nd and in the immediate days and weeks
that followed. Many of the images will be
with us forever!
        We saw the alleged assassin shot down
on live TV as he was being escorted through
a Police Station.
         We saw a beautiful first lady standing
by her late husband's successor as he was
sworn into office. The blood stains were
still on her dress.
           And we saw a young boy, too little
to have any real understanding of what had
happened, stand at attention and salute as
the flag draped casket of his father came
by in the funeral procession.
            The country was not without its
problems in 1963.
             But we had a lot of hope for the
future! Many of us really believed we
were living in a sort of  "Camelot"
and that right would prevail!
             A lot of that hope was dashed on
November 22nd., 1963.
             A lot of younger people today
don't know much about that "Camelot"
             And that's too bad!
             I hope you're sharing your memories
 of that time with those that didn't live through
 it........and that all your NEWS is good.

FACE TO FACE-BOOK!

   SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 2021

          FACE TO FACE-BOOK!

   A funny thing happened to me while

we were dining out the other night. I

received a Facebook message which

included a phot of me.....at our table!

I didn't take it so someone sitting nearby

must have. And, sure enought, the gentelman

at the closest table to us waved his hand and

said "Hi Dave." It turned out to be Bill Hizny,

one of my many Facebook friends. Now Bill

had the advantage. He, like many of you, see

me everyday on my Facebook Blog or remember

me from my many years in television. I'd say

it's likely I've never actually met some 90%

of the people on my "Friends list." So don't

be shy. Be like Bill. If you happen to see me

come over and introduce yourself. It's nice to

have friends and even better when you actually

get to know them. It's Thanksgiving week. A

great time to appreciate friends. I hope you do,

and that all your NEWS is good!   

THE STRANGE TALE OF THE ESSEX!

       SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 20, 2021

   THE STRANGE TALE OF THE ESSEX!

    The story began 201 years ago today. November

20th., 1820. It was the day the sailing vessel Essex

sank in the South Pacific. There were, initially, 20

survivors/ But only 8 lived to be rescued. And they

survived, in part, by turning to cannibalism! Even

if you never heard of the Essex you likely know

the basics of the story. You see the Essex was

sunk after being rammed by a Sperm Whale. It

was the inspiration for Herman Melville's novel

"Moby Dick!" And it happened on this day 201years

ago! Hope you're well and that all your NEWS is

good. 

 

RE-RUN "DINING OUT!"

  While my wife and I continue to

recover from cataract surgery my

BLOG lives on through Re-runs! 

Here's another from last November

when I took my wife out for some

fine dining!

                      DINING OUT!

  Romantic and big spender that I am I

took my wife out to dinner Sunday. We

had plush and heated seats for our

dining experience. We were in my Chevy

Suburban! You see I took her to a Food

Truck famous for its cheese steaks! Since

the adjoining trailer was selling cheese

cake we got some of that too! Eating in

the car is nothing new to us but this is

the first time I was confronted with a

very large cheese steak that was both

too hot and too bulky to hold without

dumping 50% of the contents over my

lap, trousers and the floor. Being

innovative I used the fork designed

for my cheese cake as a utensil and

the bun holding the cheese and steak

as a bowl and pretty much are the

whole thing. I think my wife enjoyed

the outing although she may have

questions the next time I suggest 

"dining out."  Maybe MacDonalds!!!

Hey, the cheese cake was good!

 Hope you're well and that all your

 NEWS is good! 

A RE RUN FROM NOVEMBER 2020

   Since my eye surgery demands I "take

it easy" for awhile I've decided to do what

the networks do......have a Re run! With

Thanksgiving just a week away I thought

this would fit the bill,,,,as well as being 

helpful!

                NOVEMBER, 2020

              CHEF BOY OUR DAVE!

    I've decided to help out with the Thanksgiving

meal preparations this year. My "new school

thinking" can speed up things a bit! For instance,

that old fashion thermometer my wife uses to

check the turkey. I plan to replace it with one of

those new ones you just point at the subject and

get a reading. But then I got to thinking. Why

check the bird's temperature? It's not sick! It's

dead! It fact its frozen. And guess where I found

it? In the refrigerator!!! You shouldn't try to

defrost it in the fridge, It's cold in there! I plan

to just toss it into the microwave for an hour or

two and it will be all ready to reheat for

Thanksgivng!!!!

Yes indeed. I'll probably get the Household

Helper of the Yer Award. Don't you think?

Hope you're helping too and that all your NEWS

is good! 

 

I'LL BE SEEING YOU!

    WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 17, 2021

              I'LL BE SEEING YOU!

   I may be taking a short break from my

Blog friends. I've got to address some

medical issues. When visiting my doctor

recently he asked about my two Cadillacs.

I tried to explain that I had a Miata and a

Suburban. That's when we discovered the

first issue. My hearing is going. He was

asking about my two cataracts! Today I'll

be in surgery having one of them removed.

We are using the usual "DeCosmo" approach

to medicine. My wife and I are each having

the surgery. I suggestsed, since each of us

have one eye that will not be involved in

today;s operation, we could probably drive

ourselves using our shared vision. That plan

was rejected so my daughter has agreed to

get us to and from the surgical center. In a

couple weeks we'll be back to get our second

eye done. That's a lot of expensive medical 

procedures so I suspect somebody will get a

Cadillac out of the deal! Not sure just how

much it will all cost. I couldn't hear the answer

when I asked about it! In any case, I'll be seeing

you soon. Till then...hope all your NEWS is

good!

but 

BACK IN MY DAY!

   TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 16, 2021

           BACK IN MY DAY!

   I found myself remembering and

longing for the "good old days" last

week. Seems my wife's car finally

reached the 100,000 mile mark. All

happy motoring. No complaints there.

But I recalled the days when I first

started driving when, if you were

lucky enough to reach 100,000 miles,

you got "a new car." Not really of course.

But odometers back then only displayed

5 digits. You went from 99,999 miles to

00000 on your display. I realize it was

only an illusion. But it was a pleasant one!

You got the feeling you were starting all

over again! It's a nice feeling. Well, I hope

you're doing well, no matter how many

miles you've logged, and that all your NEWS

is good. 

THIS KING WAS SHARP!

    MONDAY, NOVEMBER 15, 2021

          THIS KING WAS SHARP!

    His name was King. And I suppose you

could say because of his invention he actually

became a king... of sorts. The year was 1904 

King had a sharp idea and on November 15th,.

he secured a patent for his invention. That invention,

by the way, bears his name. Gillette! King Cole

Gillette. Inventor of the Gillette razor blade!

Hope you're clean shaven and feeling well and

that all your NEWS is good!

IN A PICKLE!

    SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 14, 2021

                    IN A PICKLE!

    Veteran's Day has passed and Thanksgiving

is still over a week away but don't fret! There's
plenty of reasons to celebrate!
     November 14th., is "National Pickle Day!"
     Cucumbers, which came from India, were
first pickled  way back in 2030 B.C.,  I
suspect they'd be pretty tart if you could find
one of those!
      Still there are plenty of pickles to be
found. According to the people who should
know  Americans eat about 9 pounds of pickles
per person every year. Of course they sneak
some of those to you in little pieces hidden
under the buns at places like McDonalds.
      I nearly had a pickle, well a quarter of
a pickle, with my Ruben on Sunday but my
grandson thought it looked good enough to
eat, so he did!
       Cleopatra ate pickles because she believed
they helped make her beautiful. Caesar and
Napoleon thought they built muscle. I only
know they have been known to make you
burp!
        But get this! During a hot game in Texas
in 2000, when temperatures on the field reached
109 degrees, Philadelphia Eagle players drank pickle
juice and credited the briny solution for their 41-14
win!. They may be drinking it again this season
from the look of things!
        Baseball fans certainly know what it means
to "get in a pickle." They may not know, however,
that the phrase came from Shakespeare who used
it to refer to finding oneself in a difficult position
in The Tempest. 
         So before you get yourself in a pickle, eat
one, get strong, look good, and put a dent in your
9 pound yearly quota!
          Hope your pickle and all your NEWS is
good!


   

FLYING HIGH!

    FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 2021

                FLYING HIGH!

  It's November 12th, an historic day in

the world of entertainment. It was on this

day in 1859 that a crowd of onlookers

saw the worlds very first Trapeze act!

A preformer, high above the audience,

swinging from one trapeze to another

with "the greatest of ease!" Or so he

made it look! The place was Paris, France.

And since that day the Trapeze act has become

a standart thrill with circus acts all around

the world. The man who did it first all

those years aho was Jules Leotard! And,

yes, the clothing you can still buy today

is named for him! He wore the first set!

Hope you're flying high and that all your

NEWS is good!  

VETERAN'S DAYS!

   THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 11, 2021

               VETERAN'S DAYS!

       This is Veteran's Day. A day to honor

the men and women who served and are

serving our country by their military service.

The day was originally known as "Armistice

Day" marking the date in 1919 when World

War I came to an end. It became a national

holiday in1938. In 1954 it was officially

renamed "Veterans Day."

     And here's a bit of trivia tied to the

date. The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier

was dedicated on November 11th., 1921.

And on November 11th of 1938, Kate Smith

sang Irving Berlin's "God Bless America"

for the first time on national radio. Most

folks have the day off today. Take a moment

to reflect on those who served and are

serving our nation. Hope you do and that

all your NEWS is good.  

TIME TO HAM IT UP!

   TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 9, 2021

         TIME TO HAM IT UP!

    This is one of those unusual "holidaays"

I'll wager you don't have on your calendar.

November 9th is "National Scrapple Day!"

Scrapple is recognized as the first pork

product invented in America. In fact, it

was created by German immigrants who

settled in Pennsylvania. It is, traditionally,

a mush of pork scraps and trimmings

combined with cornmeal, wheat flour and

spices. The mush is then formed into a semi-

solid loaf, sliced and pan fried. Seems there's

no "half way" when it come to Scrapple. You

either like it or hate it! My wife and some of

her sibblings love it. Me, I'd prefer something

more substantial. Give me Spam any day!

Hope you;re well, whatever's on your menu,

and that all your NEWS is good!  

READING IS FUNDAMENTAL!

      MONDAY, NOVEMBER 8, 2021

      READING IS FUNDAMENTAL!

    November 8th kicks off a very important

week in the world of literature! There's

nothing like sitting back and taking in a good

book. I realize it's easy to enjoy a story on TV

or taking in a great motion picture. But there's

something very satisfying in allowing your

mind to paint the pictures as you did into a

great novel. Like the one I'm reading right

now. It's filled with excitement, adventure,

and some very colorful characters. It's called

"The Little Engine That Could." Oh, did I mention

this is "Children's Book Week?" But, you know,

there are some reall great stories written with

kids in mind. I'm still wondering if this little

engine will be able to pull those cars filled

with toy sna dgood things to eat over the

mountain! I think he can. I think he can!

Hope he does, and that all your NEWS is

good!

THE FASHION POLICE!

 

        SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 7, 2021

            THE FASHION POLICE!

   One of our granddaughters is studying

in France this semester. She's been to Paris

a couple to times already. France. Paris.

Considered by many women to be the

Fashion capitol of the world! Yet on this

very day in 1800 a law went into effect

that prohibited women from wearing

trousers unless they first obtained a

Police permitt! That law, as you might expect.

was eventually repealed. But not till 2013!

Glad our granddaughter us there now! Hope

you're well, watching your wardrobe, and

that all your NEWS is good!                                                                                                                                                                                                            

TIME TRAVEL!

    SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2021

                  TIME TRAVEL!

   Saturday is your big chance to be a Time

Traveler! Technically you're suppose to

wait till 2am Sunday morning to adjust

your clocks to Standard Time. You know,

:Spring forward, Fall back." But I say, why

wait? Anytime through the day today, as

far as I'm concerned, you can relive your

favorite "last hour." If you've spent some

time reading a good book, extend it. Turn

the clock back and read some more. That's

just one example. The point is, most of us

"use" that extra hour by sleeping an extra

60 minutes. You'll get more use out of those

minutes if you pick the time. Hope you

enjoy that hour somehow and that all your

NEWS is good!

THE CAR STARTER!

    FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2021

            THE CAR STARTER!

   Before you read too far this isn't

about the electronic unit that starts your

can. This is about the guy who started

cars. At least herein the United States. 

And it isn't about Henry Ford, although

he does play a big part in the car starter

story! You see it was 126 years ago this

week that Attorney George Selden obtained

the first U.S. Patent for a gasoline powered

motor car! Carl Benz actually got the first

patent for a gasoline car in 1886. But that

was in Germany. Selden's patent allowed him

to collect royalities from all U.S. Car manufactures

for 16 years. Henry Ford, I told you he'd show up, 

took Selden to court and eventually won the case!

Selden's patent still covere his own car....except...

he never built one! He was happy enough to let

others build the cars and collect the royalities,

until Henry Ford showed up! Hope you're enjoying

your driving and that all your NEWS is good! 

CURSES!

      THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2021

                       CURSES!

      I know we're just past Halloween, but

today marks the anniversary of a Halloween-

like story that lingers on. It's the Curse of King

Tut! It was on November 4th of 1922 that a

team of archaeologists lead by Howard Carter

discovered the tomb of Egypt's "Boy King,"

Tutankhamen. There was a belief that those

who dared defile a pharaoh's grave would 

die for their actions. In fact the man who

financed the expedition and was there

with Carter for the discovery, Lord Carnarvon,

was dead within two months from an insect

bite that became infected. He died from blood

poisoning! So did his half brother who was

also a member of the team. Another member

died from some mysterious illness as well!

But Carter himself lived on and died at age 64

suggesting that all curses have their "limit!" 

Just ask the Boston Red Sox! Hope you're

well and that all your NEWS is good

CALLING FOR HELP!

   WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 3, 2021

            CALLING FOR HELP!

   November 3rd may well be considered

an historic date in the relm of emergence

communications. It was on this date in 1908

when an international conference adipted

the mores code signal "S O S" as the world's

official distress call! A lot of people believe

the call was first used when the Titanic struck

the iceberg in 1912. But that isn't the case. The

first official recorded use of the S O S call came

on June 10th of 1909 when RMS Salvonia wrecked

in the Azores.  There were more than 400 people on

board and all were saved. These days, of course, a

cell phone call to 911 cam summon help immediately

from almost anywhere. But S O S remains a standard

signal if distress. It's easy to make out in code and

reads the same even upside down when spelled out

with rocks or wood for a stranded hunker or hiker

anywhere in the world. It's always good to know how

to call for help f you need it, where ever you may be! \

Hope you don't need help right now and that all your

NEWS is good!

  

    

   

YEA TEAM!!!!

    TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 2, 2021

                    YEA TEAM!

         November 2nd is a very big day\

in the history of football! But its git nothing to

do with an impressive score or the forward

pass. It was on this day in 1898 that Johnny

Campbell led an organized team of Cheerleaders

to cheer on the University of Minnesota! There

were, of course, cheers before that time, but never

an organized cheerleading squad. And, by the way,

Campbell's team was all male! If you've ever

noticed today's cheerleaders at the NFL games

you'll know things have change a bit! I'm OK

with that!!! Hope your team is winning and that

all your NEWS is good!

DO YOU REALLY HAVE TO DO IT?

    MONDAY, NOVEMBER 1st, 2021

    DO YOU REALLY HAVE TO DO IT?             ?

  I had just completed a couple errands

and was thinking about other things that

need to be done when I realized it was

November 1st. This marks the annual

"Give Up Your Should Of Day!" The idea

is simple. You give up things like "I should go

to the gym. I should lose weight. I should help

clean up the house." Toss them all out the window!

After last year's 2nd annual "Give Up Your Should

Of Day" participants reported feeling a lot better

about themselves! Some of them felf so much

better they gave up their "Should of''s" for the

following day too! I think it's a great holiday

that we should celebrate more often. And one

we shouldn't put off! Hope you're well and that

all your NEWS is good. 

AWAITING HIS RETURN!

   SUNDAY, OCTOBER 31, 2021

      AWAITING HIS RETURN!

  One of the stories closely associated

with Halloween is true! World renouned

magician and escape artist Harry Houdini

died on Halloween day in 1926, For years

after his dearh his wife held a seance every

Halloween in the hope of  ringing his spirit

back. She eventually stopped but Houdini

fans continue the practice. They're hoping he

can pull off his greatest trick and escape

the grave! In reality, his spirit lives on wach

Halloween. Let me know if he visits you!

Hope all your NEWS is good! 

CHECKING FOR GHOSTS!

    SATURDAY, OCTOBER 30, 2021

        CHECKING FOR GHOSTS!

       Halloween is still a day away. But you don't have to wait

for a good scare!
   You may have a chill in store tonight...IF....you observe a
bizarre "holiday" that's scheduled for this pre-Halloween Eve!
   So you're thinking "Mischief Night". right?
   Wrong!
   The chill tonight will be coming from something lurking
right in your own house! It may be behind you as you read
this essay!
    You see October 30th is "Haunted Refrigerator Night!"
     Ruth and Thomas Roy came up with this unusual
observance.
     They suggest there's no need to go out to one of those
"Haunted Houses" when you could have the scare of a
lifetime waiting right there in your Fridge or Freezer!
      You may or may not have been keeping your
refrigerator closed just in case there's a power outage
in your neighborhood.
      But even if you occasionally reach in for a snack or
a beverage there's a good chance it's been quite awhile
since you really checked all of the items buried inside
that cold vault!
      So here's the plan.
      Turn out the lights.  Perhaps a couple of candles
 would be appropriate.
      Gather around your refrigerator this night…open the door
slowly and take in a deep breath…slowly move things around
and see what is lurking in that container or box buried in there!
      With a little luck you're discover a forgotten treat that's
been safely maintained in its cold surroundings.
       Of course there's also the chance you may be growing
your own penicillin on some leftover that's been forgotten
far too long ago. And that, my friends, is SCARY!
       Either way this is a great setting (and excuse) for a
Haunted Refrigerator Party!
       And mark the date on your calender for next year so
you don't miss it!
       Hope that little light inside is working and that all
your NEWS is good!








































 

LOG ON!

   FRIDAY, OCTOBER 28TH, 2021

                     LOG ON!

  October 29th is "Internet Day!"  It has

been celebrated since 2005 which marked

the first transmission over the internet. Of

course the internet has come under a lot of

fire lately. Them are some who want to see

strick regulations put in place over internet

providers like Facebook. I think the majority

of internet users use in wisely. It has certainly

helped a lpot of people keep in touch with

one another, especially families separated by

great distance. It sure came in handy when

the pandemic hit and the internet provided

one of the only safe ways to provide education

when most schools were closed. And, of course,

the internet provided my forum for this blog 

so, there alone, it proves its worth. Hope you

use it, and wisely, and that all your NEWS is

good.

NO TOAST FOR 10/28!

   THURSDAY, OCTOBER 28, 2021

           NO TOAST FOR 10/28!

   Wewon't be raising a glass to this date

in history. The Volstead Act was published 

on this day in 1919, essentially beginning

Prohibition oin the United States! A few

years later, on October 28th of 1929, a lot

of people were looking for a drink! That was

the beginning of the stock market crash! Of

course prohibition was repelled in 1933. But

people faced another serious "drinking problem"

in 1942 when the government announced plans

to ration coffee! Of course the effective date

for that decision wasn't until a month later on

November 28 so at least folks had some warning.

Maybe the best way to mark the day is with a

quick nip........of coffee of course! Hope you're

well and that all your NEWS is good!   

AND THEN CAME CHEESESTEAK!

    WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 27, 2021

    AND THE CAME CHEESESTEAK!

      Well I am back from our Travelworld Leaf

Peekers Tour of New England. Back home again

in Pennsylvania! Home of the Phillies and the

Eagles...thanks, in part, to William Penn! You

see Penn not only took his massive "new world"

land grant and founded what became the

Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. And, on this day 

in 1682 in founded a city! It's still there. We call

it Philadelphia! Where they say they have the best

cheesesteakes! Hope you've tried one, that you're

well, and that all  NEWS is good!

RIDING THE RAILS! NEW ENGLAND TOUR DAY 2

            SATURDAY, OCTOBER 23, 2021

RIDING THE RAILS! NEW ENGLAND TOUR DAY 2

    Our Travelworld adventure to New England continued

Friday with a stop in and tour of the old Bennington area.

Here's you'll find noted poet Robert Frost's grave as well

as an outstanding collection of Grama Moses' paintings.

They are part of the vats collection in the Bennington

museum. And that collection also includes a 1924 Wasp.

The only car ever manufactures in Vermont. And only

16 were made! Then is was on the road for a few hours

and into NH where we boarded the Lake Winnipesaukee

Scenic Railroad for a turkey dinner and all the trimmings

as we road the rails along the beautiful lake shore with

colorful leaves everwhere. There's smething extra 

special about New England in the fall. Hope you're

enjoying the trip through my photos and video blog

and that all your NEWS is good!