WHICH WAY WOULD YOU GO?

 

  SUNDAY. DECEMBER 8TH., 2024
  WHICH WAY WOULD YOU GO?

    If you've ever been told you're
living in the past, or are ahead of
your time, this day may be for
you.
     This is "Pretend You're A
Time Traveler Day!" It was created
in 2007 by the Koala Wallop online
community.
     A lot of people fantasize about
the possibility and it's nothing new.
Charles Dickens envisioned it. In
his story  “A Christmas Carol”
Ebenezer Scrooge, is  transported
back and forth through time to witness
various events, leading to his eventual
change of heart towards Christmas.
     I'm not sure I want to envision the
future. I could look ahead and find I'm
not there! That could be a bit
unsettling! It would probably be better
to go back and relive some of my
better days. Or buy some stocks like
Amazon or Macintosh!
     Of course this is just "Pretend
You're A Time Traveler Day." I, as
I've reported before, have actually
done some Time Traveling. Several
times just after the New Year's ball
fell at Times Square I've called
family members in California
allowing me to speak to people in
the previous year!
     Since I haven't reset my Miata car
clock since we switched to Standard
Time, I'm an hour into the future
every time I go for a ride!
     So enjoy the day. Perhaps you
can pretend it's already Christmas...and
take the day off!
      Hope you get away with it and
that all you NEWS is good!
     

    

THE LAND OF COTTON!

 

       FRIDAY, DECEMBER 7TH, 2024
             THE LAND OF COTTON!     

   Sure. Everybody knows December 7th is

Pearl Harbor Day.
   But did you also know the date has been
set aside to celebrate one of your kids
favorite treats? It's true!
    Welcome to National Cotton Candy Day!
    Cotton Candy was originally called fairy
 floss. It is made from Floss (or Flossine) sugar.
    I have to admit I seldom buy Cotton Candy.
It's not that I dislike the stuff, although it's not
my favorite treat. I usually see it carried into
the stands at ballgames and the circus where
vendors push it to the kids at prices that would
cover a full dinner at some establishments!
     But to hear the folks who support this
concoction, adding it to your diet is not only
a taste treat....it's downright "healthy!"
     First, they point out that Floss is not actually
a sugar and is therefore safe for diabetics!
    The Cotton Candy machine was patented in
1899 by William Morrison and John C. Wharton.
They brought it to the St. Louis World's Fair in
1904, where is was quite popular.
     But even though the date is called a "National"
observance" there is no record of any
Congressional legislation honoring Cotton Candy
in any way. Wonder how they missed taking a
vote on that one?
     There's also no explanation as to why a
traditional summer time treat would or should be
recognized in December. But.....it is!
     So if you can find any Cotton Candy today, and
can afford it, you may want to enjoy some just to
join in the celebration!
     Hope you'll clean those sticky fingers and that
all of your NEWS is good!

A MAJOR MINER DAY!

      FRIDAY, DECEMBER 6TH, 2024

       A MAJOR MINER DAY!

     This is a day that should get a
lot of attention around these parts.
Yet I doubt most people even    
know about it.
      December 6th., is National
Miner's Day. And, by the way, it
is official! A resolution designating
the day was passed by the U.S.
Senate in 2009.
      Other than occasional visits to
the Lackawanna Coal Mine Tour
my only experience with mining
came as a reporter a few years
back. It was in Schuylkill County
where a team of brothers operated
a coal mine some 500 feet below
the surface.
      My photographer and I were
invited inside so, after putting a
set of coveralls over my business
suit, I joined my cameraman and
one of the brothers on a ride straight
down into the mine standing on a
ladder inside a giant coal bucket!
     There was a long tunnel at the
bottom with a set of tracks and a
small engine used to haul a sting of
coal cars. We road in one of the
cars and had to duck every few feet
so our head didn't smack a timber
or one of the light bulbs that provided
the only glow inside that long cave.
     Water dripped everywhere and
I couldn't help but notice the way we
came in seemed to be the only way
out. That's when I stated to wonder
if I really needed to be there.
      That thought hit me again when
the miner said he was about to set
off a charge! That's dynamite to us
lay people!
      I made it back out with a good
story and a much deeper appreciation
to those men who spent the better
part of their lives laboring in tunnels
like that to provide for their families
and our communities.
      Up till then I figured a "Beaker
Boy" was the kid that flipped the
switch to get the lights back on!
       I'd like to see today's minors learn
more about the miners we're suppose
to be honoring!
       Hope we all remember them and
that all your NEWS is good!

    

       
  

A LONG FORGOTTEN HOLIDAY!

   THURSDAY, DECEMBER 5, 2024

  A LONG FORGOTTEN HOLIDAY!

   Today I am recalling a long forgotten

"holiday" associated with Christmas. It was

known as Andisop and it ran from December

5th till Christmas Day. In the mid 19th century

on the Isle of Man, a group of fiddlers would

go door to door during the early morning

hours, playing a song called "Andisop", knocking

on doors, telling the hour, and reporting the

"state of the weather." They asked for a

gratuity in return. I suppose if they didn't

play well or knocked too early one would be

happy to give a gratuity just to get these

holiday musicians on their way. Of course

today we have an alarm clock to wake us

up at  the hour we chose and we can check

the weather on TV. But, lets admit it, a lot

of those TV Weather people "fiddle around"

a lot before they ever get to the forecast!

Hope you alarm is set, your weather great,

and that all your NEWS is good!  

 

THE CHRISTMAS LIST!

     WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 4, 2024

         THE CHRISTMAS LIST!

       Before you start jotting down a

numerical list of all the things "he" 

wants 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!) Hope you're

nice, well, and that all your NEWS is

good! 

DECK YOUR HALLS!

   TUESDAY, DECEMBER 3, 2024

          DECK YOUR HALLS!

   Santa's already showing up in towns

throughout our area and most communities

have all sorts of decorative Christmas light

strung up for people to enjoy. And most

people have already started to do the

work to deck their own halls inside and

outside their homes. My wife has been

doing that by herself for the last few

days and it's beginning to look a lot

like Christmas at our house! The center

piece for most folks is the Christmas

Tree. Many still head out to the woods

at this time of the year to select and cut

their own tree. Ours is artificial. But

it is "our tree." It's decorations reflect

years of family love. Ornaments, hand

made, by the children and  now the

grandchildren make this tree unique

to our family! This tree has character!

It doesn't matter whether you've got

a live tree or an artificial one. The

thing that really matters is that's

it's your tree with all the love and

memories that come with it. Hope

you're getting yours ready and that

you've got some "volunteer" like

my wife to do most of thr work!

Hope you do and that all your

NEWS is good!

  

SHOP OR SIP?

      MONDAY, DECEMBER 2, 2024

                  SHOP OR SIP?

    No, I haven't spelled it wrong. Read on.

Today is one of our nation's modern

"unofficial holidays." It is "Cyder Monday."

It's a day when you are encouraged to do

all your shopping on line. Small business

owners tried to lure shoppers into their

local store on Saturday. But they haven't

surrendered to those on line merchants

just yet. In fact they've countered Cyber

Monday with Cider Monday! Cider Monday

is the brainchild of bookstore owner

Willard Williams. He led a campaign to

get small business owners to offer cider

and donuts to customers who come into

their stores on Cyber Monday. It's your

choice of course. But cider and donuts

always appealed to me! Have a great

day. Hope all your NEWS is good!