Things I Did Not Know

Perhaps the title of this week's blog should be "Interesting Things I Have Learned Recently" rather than "Things I Did Not Know"  Either way...  Hope you find them interesting as well.

• According to Erie, PA - City and County History:  "Of 300 theaters built by Warner Brothers in the 1930's, only SIX still stand. Erie's Warner Theatre is one of them."

• Interest in the phenomena of UFOs goes back a long way even to ancient Rome or perhaps further.  Maybe those odd carvings on the walls of caves are depictions of space ships and alien figures. Then much closer to us along the line of time was Project Blue Book, the name of the US Air Force office of investigation of UFOs from 1952-1969.  It was this department that handled the case of Valiant Thor a self-professed alien visitor from Venus who is said to have met with President Eisenhower as well as Fidel Castro after his landing in Virginia in 1957.  He apparently looked like a human being (Earthling) except for having six fingers on each hand. He also spoke hundreds of languages and had an IQ of 1200.  (Yikes)  Apparently, a serious VIP for several years, he left Earth to return to Venus in his space ship in 1960.   (Why am I just hearing about this now?) 

• Then there is QAnon.  QAnon seems to have disappeared ... totally silent since 2020. Hmm... Wonder where he/she/they went?

• Of local interest -- It is confirmed by a national historian that a Corry man, Charles Keating, played in integral role in the establishment of the Tomb of the Unknown Solder.  (See the historic marker at 117 N Center Street in Corry PA.)

• Two more ....  If the forest goes silent, Move. You have seven seconds to find safety.

• If the sky turns yellow.  Find shelter. Check for severe incoming storms or for incoming dust or smoke.... Get off the road as soon as possible if driving.

And finally....

• A.I. tells me that a "... 2026 study revealed that a single night's sleep can predict the onset of over 100 serious health conditions, including cardiovascular disease, dementia, and cancer, years before symptoms even appear."  (Hmmm.)

Ilya Kuryakin and Captain Kangaroo

Was watching Gutfeld  a while ago and one of the guests was a UFC Champion fighter whose first name was Ilya and for some reason every time his name was mentioned my brain came up with Kuryakin. I couldn't remember why I knew that name.  A bit of research and Ta DA -- Ilya Kuryakin was Napoleon Solo's partner on The Man from U.N.C.L.E.  Remember?  Ah ... David McCallum who later played Ducky on NCIS.  I miss him.  

So many old, let's call them "vintage" tv shows to consider while we are on the subject.  Some of them seem sort of hokey when you watch the reruns now, but they are still fun to watch now and then.  Gunsmoke,  Have Gun - Will Travel  .... blasts from the past. Others?

I think my faves in the oldies/vintage category are Perry Mason, and MASH.  More contemporary would be the infrequently run Sopranos and the seemingly ever present Big Bang Theory.  (I think I know the dialog for most episodes and still laugh at the story lines.)

Smart TVs and the streaming apps are changing everything though.  I am finding out that you can pretty much watch whatever you want at any time and binge watch season after season if so inclined.  I do still miss Stupid TVs though and the basic channels where I knew where and when to find my faves.  I get overwhelmed by all the new techy techy stuff.  

Then again, come to think of it, I might be able now with Smart TVs to find some of the ones I haven't seen in decades. I think I need to search for The Honeymooners.  I miss Jackie Gleason as a Brooklyn bus driver. I so remember that show, his wife Alice, and his neighbors -- Ed Norton and his wife, Trixie.  Hard for me to believe that it was only on for one year. Hard for me to believe that I remember it so well. Truth be told -- the best part of watching The Honeymooners was hearing my Dad laugh out loud. He found Ralph Kramden to be very, very funny. "To the moon, Alice."

I don't think my family had a television until the mid 1950's. It changed my life in so many ways.  I confess.  I enjoy TV. Probably watch too much of it these days. Am thinking that Yellowstone reruns and the new spinoff Dutton Ranch will be around for a while. I find them to be fundamentally American in that hard work and pulling oneself up by the boot straps still work and sometimes someone just needs to be punched in the face. Watching those should keep me out of trouble at least for a while.  We've come a long way since the first TV show that I remember.... I Love Lucy. (Must mention here that a Lucille Ball and I have in common that we were both born in Jamestown NY.  A big difference is that I don't have a statue there -- never will.)  

Oh! Almost forgot my first TV experiences with a children's shows ... the long running -- Captain Kangaroo and The Howdy Doody Show.  They were wonderful!  Ah ... memories... memories of back when the world was black and white (as my granddaughter once said after looking at old photos.)Those were some days.  You had to be there to "get it".

It will be fun, they said.

Thankful that English is my native language for many reasons, but today I am thinking once again, about how fun American English is and about why it is so hard to figure out why it is fun.  Certain expressions gain popularity for some unknown and unpredictable reason and whenever you hear them -- it brings a smile or a pause.  You notice the play on words or maybe get some sense of the "underneath" humor intended.  Can't explain why or how this even comes to be.  Consider...

On Facebook the other day, I watched Fredrik Backman, one of my favorite authors, speaking at some gathering. He was self-deprecating and funny - making everyone laugh when talking about his feelings of standing up in front of them at the suggestion of his agent and others.  He brought the house down with something like - Take this speaking engagement, they said. "It will be fun,  they said".  I thought that was very funny  -  especially in combination with his facial expressions. Why though?  Why did I (and what seemed like everyone there) find that funny? How do these expressions come into being and spread like wildfire?  

In search of an answer, I asked my new friend AI (artificial intelligence -- that  I have come to think of as AL -- short for Alfred -- my personal nickname).  Although the exact origin seems to be a bit of an internet mystery, the phrase is a current popular Internet Meme. Al tells me that, interestingly enough, the concept's origin dates back to WWII with the classic military expression of frustration and complaint -- "See the world, they said".  Later on that phrase or a variation of it appeared in TV's MASH and more currently in video games in the 90's such as Warcraft 2.   Even more recently (in the memes of  2010-2012) it became the "go-to caption for images of people enduring miserable camping trips, DIY disasters, or chaotic family events" (AI Overview). "Build a pool, they said. It will be fun, they said."  Anyone who has ever taken care of a pool gets the humor in that.  Anyway ...

Next on my list to explore is:    Be afraid. Be very afraid.  Is this a threat one should take seriously? Or ... what about the origin of "Sh** eating grin"??? Perhaps I don't really want to know about this last one....

Do such things only appear in American English? Our language is chocked full of odd expressions that make sense perhaps only to us.  Personally  -- I think we Americans are an interesting and fun people. Unfortunately our language is difficult for non Americans. Try to figure out American expressions, they said.  It will be fun, they said.

I See You

Dear fellow Boomers...

There are a lot of wonderful things about being in our generation, but there are also some difficult bits and pieces. Every generation has them. Can't help here but think of that old expression -- We each have our own bag of rocks.... We need to remember, though, that we are in this together merely by living on this planet during the same time period. Shared experiences. We have grown up together -- seen the same things, face similar challenges.  We also have each other.  Perhaps we need to remember that once in a while and offer support to one another. Perhaps we even need to talk about the sad parts sometimes so that people realize they are not alone. The world can seem cold. Everything moves so quickly.

I hope that you all have the kind of joys and good things that I have and have had in my life.  Blessings too many to count.  But... that being said ... you know what? ... you don't get to the point where many of us are without loss. Some of life's blows are bone crushing.  Heart-rending loss is one of them. This is the process of life.  It's okay that we are sad to miss those who have passed on before us. It's okay that we have experienced the pain and struggles of various challenges.  We all have faced them. Too many types to even list.  We have made it this far and... we keep putting one foot in front of the other. Note... We have new challenges ahead.  Some of them will be hard as well.  We also have new joys ahead. Remember that.  

So if you find yourself crying at Hallmark commercials; it's okay.  If tears of joy are close to the surface; it's okay.  If watching kids play ... and try... and perform bring tears to your eyes; that's okay too. It's even okay to feel sorry for yourself once in a while. The phrase sentimental old fool is based on a real phenomenon. Maybe it helps to know that others are going through the same things. Maybe it helps to know that you are not alone in a sometimes indifferent world... a world that seems to be leaving you in the dust as it surges forward. It's hard to keep up. Yet... we are in this together. Perhaps we need to reach out to one another once in a while. I am reaching out in this blog. It's a Boomer support system.  You are not invisible even though it may feel like it sometimes. 

 I see you.

Trying Counts

Change can be a good thing ... but not always. Some things do not change/adapt well. I am one of those things. I admit it freely.  I am not always good with change or adapting.  I keep working on it.  The questions I am thinking about today are what happens if something cannot adapt to change?  Does that something just disappear? Should it? What all do I need to learn to function well in today's world? How do I manage? Where can I find help with all the new ways -- not just technology -- with change in general?

Changes. When was the last time you saw a Blockbuster Video, a Nokia phone, a Radio Shack?  Do you miss a paper folded map?  Do you even know where your camera is?  Ever wonder what people did with all their old encyclopedias?  Do you have/use a landline? When did all the phone booths disappear? Do you remember life without Apps?  "Stupid" TVs?  Studebakers? Do you have enough old newspaper to start a fire in a fireplace? Bet you can think of a lot more than these. Failure to adapt in many cases appears to be dangerous to survival.  We need to keep moving forward  in a positive direction. We need to cope with change and plot our future with care. Have to emphasize that.  We need to be especially careful and keep on trying. Noone wants to be put into the recycling bin or on a dusty shelf.

Here's the thing -- please think about these things as we get closer to November elections.  We need to adapt thoughtfully and carefully to our fast changing world. We need to move forward ... to keep on moving in a positive direction.   At the same time, we need to maintain control over our own lives, not hand them over to those who wish to control us and keep us in our place. We need to continue to support a government that puts us first -  not one that seeks power to make themselves rich and powerful as so many have at our expense.  Check out the exposure of recent fraud throughout the country that is now coming to light. It's everywhere. The swamp is draining.

We need to pay attention in each step we take. Please find someone running for office who has definite goals and a plan to reach those goals.Please find candidates who know how to cope with a fast changing world and how to make it a safer place for us and future generations. Please don't vote for someone whose focus is whining, criticizing and hating.  We need strength and a knowledgeable team at every level of government.  We do not need dancing frogs.

Keep on trying.  I tell myself this every day as I struggle to keep up with technological stuff (and the world in general).  I am so not good at it, but I keep trying.  Trying counts. Always.

Shakin' My Head

 C-Span circa 3:45 AM April 26  .... I was checking the coverage of the aftermath of the shooting at the White House Correspondents' Dinner on various "News" channels and had planned to stay a few minutes with C-Span.  Here's what happened...

Two moderators  -- or it may have been one moderator and the other an interviewee who was at the dinner -- were seeking reaction responses from viewers.  It was a Call-in "block" with a drop down window that covered a large portion of the TV screen.  C-Span had set up three different (800) phone numbers for incoming calls:

         one for Republicans

         one for Democrats

         and one for all Others

I asked myself why differentiate?  Are we not all Americans concerned about yet another act of violence? Can we not unite in response to this -- against this violence? Once again an obviously left leaning commentator was trying to fit everyone into separate neat little boxes. I am so tired of that.  

When asked by a caller if the C-Span moderator(s) felt that the media was in any way responsible for contributing to the atmosphere of conflict and rage leading to violence in our United States of America  -- there was an immediate and blatant refusal to answer -- instead -- the one moderator immediately turned the question back on the caller saying that obviously the caller had an opinion on the matter implying that the caller thought the media was guilty of doing just that... thus throwing up lines of division once again. It was a total unwillingness to even discuss a possibility that might lead to an improvement of a bad situation.

I turned off the TV.  I had had enough.  Sometimes it is hard not to just give-up hope that our wonderful country might find a way to unify. Hatred and intolerance are real. Once again -- wish I had a magic wand to make things better for all Americans. The key word in that sentence is all.  What's it going to take?

The Best Medicine?

Not sure if this is a world wide phenomenon, or if it is just in the United States, but there has emerged a frowny sort of subcultural that just seems to love being angry.  Ouch!  It hurts to watch.  I have watched them swear -- cringe worthy. I have watched them sing - painful. Now I am watching them yell -- surprisingly odd. Sad really.  It seems to me that this disjointed, and often unkempt group, hardly notice anything but their own reflection in a mirror and they are getting better at being angry as each day passes.  Along with that is an increase in intolerance and hatefulness on their part toward others. They seem to have become their anger. That's what happens when you practice.  The question I keep asking myself is why? Are some of them paid to act this way and to incite others to behave so badly and sadly? I don't understand. There have been lots of Presidents in the past that I found insufferable, but I didn't let that cast a ugly angry spell over my entire life.  I didn't let that dissatisfaction make me destructive or intolerant of others.  Like I said before -- sad really.  

Here's the thing.  There are single moments in life that one comes to cherish. In contrast to the above, they are moments of pure joy. There is no way to explain these moments.  They just happen.  Some of them -- few and far between -- are moments of sudden and spontaneous bursts of laughter. You never forget them.  They are healthy and restorative. Laughter from deep inside -- maybe from the soul.  You are really fortunate if you share a moment like this with a friend(s).  Then you can both/all recapture that moment in memories shared.  Gifts all.  Rare gifts. Personally -- I love to laugh.  I find it healing...a blessing. I have even been known to laugh uncontrollably at a funeral -- spontaneously. That one is hard to explain -- you sort of had to be there. It was a long time ago.  My friend sang at his own funeral. How often do you hear of that happening?  True story....    

Laughter is contagious too.  Bonus. Then again sometimes you have to let it in. Give it permission. My wish is that some of these frowny faces could have such moments. Is it possible to shift gears in some way to be able to find something positive at least once in a while?  I have thought about asking a couple of these perpetually negative people that very question, but I really don't want to get my face bitten off. Oh how I wish I could make them laugh -- or at least smile. Positive is more constructive...always.  It's healthier as well.

Some really smart person once wrote  -- "We are all responsible for the energy we bring into a room."  I wish I could remember who it was and where I read it.  It sounds like something Joseph Campbell would say.  I do know it was long before Oprah made it a topic on one of her shows.  That I do remember.  Anyway - all this being said....

I wish you laughter... the kind that makes your stomach hurt for a moment as you continue to laugh.  That kind.