Here's More Stuff I learned on the way to something else--You know, all those little tidbits of stuff you pick up when you were really browsing through a book, searching for the capital of some Banana Republic or for the root cause of the Spanish-American War-- Its stuff that isn't totally vital but nevertheless, nice to know. (And usable for the next time you get into a shouting match with Alex Trebek) Read More

It's time again for another thrilling episode of THINGS I LEARNED ON THE WAY TO SOMETHING ELSE..You know, its that stuff you pick up when you're really reading for another reason and you just "glom' onto valuable pieces of information. Read More

Here's another boatload of stuff we don't REALLY need to know but if I discover it on my way to learning something else--I feel compelled to share it with you. You can thank me later. :) Read More

So a few nights back I'm perusing through Fortune, Business Week, New Yorker, even USA Today seeking out all kinds of info about the fiscal cliff. I found LOTS of that BUT I'll save that for somewhere else. This column is dedicated to sharing all those scraps of information that must be shared or they will be banished to the far reaches of trivia purgatory. For Instance:

* The First School for professional Santa Claus' opened in 1937. (Business Week)
* 70 percent of people in Japan think women should be stay at home Moms (Fortune)
* Kent State once played Delaware in something called The Refrigerator Bowl in 1954.(USA Today Bowl Preview)
* Participation in the US National KUBB championships in Eau Claire increased 40 percent in 2012 (Volume One)
* The last time a team north of the Mason-Dixon Line won the National Championship was in 2002-Ohio State. (USA Today Bowl Preview) Read More

Another Month--Another endless stream of this and that --stuff I picked up while searching for something else--From the pages of my endless stack of magazines, to the library, to the new NOOK  I just picked up on Thanksgiving. If you can use it and you want to give me any kind of credit, fine by me.

The BatMobile is on the auction block.January 19th. Scottsdale. Barrett-Jackson auction house. Its adapted from a 1955 Lincoln Futura concept car. Holy Bat  Bucks--this will cost plenty !  (New York Post )

If we change exclusively to dollar coins from dollar bills it will take several years to catch up with the cost of the change but when we do, we will save $ 4.4 billion over 30 years. (New York Post )

A federal report finds only 7 percent of 8th graders can describe the three branches of government and only 27 percent of  4th graders are "proficient" in civics. ( AARP The Magazine--Uh,Huh--see what mailing list I'm on NOW )

More than Half a million people visit the L.E. Phillips Public Library in a year. ( Library Annual Report )

12/10 is Fed Ex's busiest day of the year--12/20 is UPS's  (USA Today)

CLOROX celebrates its 100th Anniversary next year (Fortune) Read More

Here's more of the random kind of information you snag while searching for something else. Read More

Time for another look at those interesting little things you find when you're searching for something else..for instance.. Read More

As we are facing the most contentious Presidential election in MY lifetime,  (Kennedy/Nixon and Truman/Dewey pre-date me a bit) I am trying to boil down what it is about this particular go round that has me in such a funk. I started to ask myself this question:  Who's DIS-ing who? Read More

Friday is another RED SHIRT FRIDAY for us at WAYY and throughout the nation. To support our veterans, our return war heroes, their families who have been sacrificing I wear a red shirt every Friday and set aside $ 5 to help Veterans Groups in this area like UNMET NEEDS, Operation Homefront, The Wounded Warrior Project,Trinity Equestrian Center, etc. Read More

Over at my place, we have 3 male cats. For the most part they get along and yet there is still plenty of preening, posturing, hissing, territorial marking,etc. More than enough. That's what Tuesday Night's smackdown in Long Island reminded me of. More stingers than zingers. There was prowling, pouncing, sniping, biting , a little clawing. All with Candy Crowley there to occasionally reach in to seperate the two of them.Respect was at a premium  ( Sit Down Governor !  Oh sit down, you'll get your chance,etc.) There was that one moment when Ms. Crowley was dangerously close to having to break up a chest bumping testosterone tussle. If only we knew enough to declaw them. Fact Checkers were working overtime into the night and I'm not sure if we ever really know what the real facts are--Its come down to: what facts do we start to accept? It may be even what facts we SETTLE for. The problem with getting into the middle of a cat fight is that those who try to intervene get bit, clawed, kicked, hissed at --It's unwinnable, unenviable, uncalled for and unacceptable. When the two of you are done chasing each other around the room, could you get back to the business of working on America's problems ? Read More