Day: November 21, 2012

Pa. Police Plan To Be Aggressive This Thanksgiving

The Pennsylvania State Police have announced that with the increased traffic expected this Thanksgiving holiday they will be aggressively enforcing traffic laws especially DUI, speeding and seat belt violations.

They also note that if windshield wipers are operating, drivers must turn on headlights.

This campaign will last until Dec. 2.
A child seat event featuring certified car seat technicians will be held 3- 7 p.m,, Monday, Nov. 26, at the State Police Media Barracks, 1342 Baltimore Pike, 19064. Call 610-558-7074 for information.
Hat tip Kate Rainey.

Should She Be In her Tree?

Well, tis the day before Thanksgiving and all through the house…well, at least all through the kitchen…my wife is running around like a chicken, er…turkey with her head cut off. You see, we have Thanksgiving at our home every year—always have had—and that means Barbara runs the show.
Daughters will be here…sons-in-law, grandchildren, and this will be the first year we entertain a great-grand-child — 13-month-old Andrew. So his gifts from Turkey Claus are already under the Thanksgiving Tree, which, anyone who has ever visited our house can tell you, is a staple in the Vanore Home. As is an Easter Tree, Valentine Tree, St. Patrick Tree, Summer Tree, Halloween Tree…and, oh yes, we also have a Christmas Tree.
Lest you think that our home is a veritable forest…you should know that they are all the same tree, re-decorated for every season. My wife has done this for more years than I can remember, and although there are probably others who decorate their home in this fashion, I’ve certainly never seen another.
By next weekend, while we’re having cold turkey sandwiches with turkey soup, the Christmas tree will no doubt be in some process of final assembly. And before you ask, yes, my wife has finished her Christmas shopping, which should come as no surprise, since she started in August, while the Summer Tree was still prominent in our living room.
But even so, we do not rush the seasons. We don’t want to hear Christmas music until at least Thanksgiving. When I heard carols being played in the local WalMart last week, I remarked to the saleswoman that it was not yet Thanksgiving. She very wearily told me that if I thought it was too early, I should be thankful that I didn’t work there, because the store started Christmas before Halloween this year.
“They’ve taken all the enjoyment out of the holidays,” she complained. She told me that she had spent many years in retail sales, and always enjoyed the Christmas season, with people showing an advancing Christmas spirit as the holiday approached. “But they start too early now,” she sighed.  “Everyone’s tired and fed-up by the time Christmas week arrives. And …they spend far more than they can afford!”

Lucky Elsie’s Thanksgiving Pumpkin Pie

I’m  Lucky Elsie and I want to share my holiday favorites with you and my first will be my Thanksgiving pumpkin pie.

Ingredients for Pie Crust

3/4  Cup sifted flour

1/2  Tsp salt

1/3 Cup vegetable shortening

2-3 Tbls ice water

Mix flour and salt in bowl. Cut in shortening until mix looks like large peas.  Mix in the water until the mixture holds together. Dough should not be wet or slippery though. Roll the dough out to fit an 8-inch pie pan.

Ingredients for Filling

1 1/2 Cups cook, strained pumpkin

1 Cup milk

3/4  Cup sugar

1/4  Tsp salt

1/2  Tsp nutmeg

1/2  Tsp ginger

1 1/2  Tsp cinnamon

2 Eggs slightly beaten

1 Tb melted butter

Place pumpkin in bowl and gradually add milk, stirring constantly. Add the ingredients in the order above. Beat with a mixer until smooth and pour  into the pie crust. Bake at 400 degree F until a kitchen knife inserted into the pie draws out clean. The baking should take between 35-45 minutes.

Lucky Elsie’s Thanksgiving Pumpkin Pie

When Saturday Mattered Most

Army no longer plays Navy the Saturday after Thanksgiving but with the holiday looming it remains a good time to praise Mark Beech’s book When Saturday Mattered Most: The Last Golden Season Of Army Football. The book involves Army’s 1958 football season when the team dominated the nation’s sports pages and was the last time it reached a number one ranking. It ended the season ranked third with the only blemish on its record a 14-14 tie against Pitt.

Springfield’s Bill Carpenter, the famous Lonesome (or Lonely as he preferred) End is prominently featured in it.
The book is well-written with many historical tidbits and will easily capture and hold the interest of those  who care little about sports.
I fully expect a movie or mini-series based on it.
When Saturday Mattered Most
When Saturday Mattered Most

PennDOT’s Yellow Dot

The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) has launched two new voluntary programs aimed at saving the lives of Pennsylvanians in emergency situations, says State Rep. Jim Cox (R-129). Participation in the Yellow Dot program and the Emergency Contact Information program is free. 

Participants in Yellow Dot fill out the program form with an emergency contact, medical contact and medical information; insert it in the program’s folder; and then place it in their vehicle’s glove compartment. A yellow dot sticker affixed to the rear window alerts emergency responders to the availability of information to help them provide better care to crash victims. 

The Emergency Contact Information program offers Pennsylvania driver’s license and PennDOT-issued ID holders the opportunity to log into a secure database and list two emergency contacts. Participants can update the information as needed, but only law enforcement officials can view the information in the system. In the event of an emergency, law enforcement can use a participant’s ID to find his or her emergency contact information. 

The Yellow Dot program is used only in vehicle crashes, but the Emergency Contact Information program can be used in other emergencies as well as crashes. 

For information on the programs, visit Cox’s website and look under the “State Programs and Services” link on the left-hand side. 

Cryptowit

By William W. Lawrence Sr

Rolk oy g rutm rkyyut ot nasoroze.

Pgsky S. Hgxxok
Answer to yesterday’s puzzle: He only earns his freedom and existence who daily conquers them anew. Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

Elmo Not Penn State, Um, Really

Penn State has removed from its Flickr feed the below photo of Elmo receiving a PSU t-shirt last march.

Kevin Clash, the actor who portrayed Elmo on Sesame Street, resigned from the role today, Nov. 20, amid allegations he molested underage boys.
Elmo Not Penn State
Sesame Workshop said “the controversy surrounding Kevin’s personal life has become a distraction that none of us want.” It’s a statement worthy of a PSU athletic director. Or president even.


Is Obama Going Take Private Retirement Savings?

Old friend Tom Flocco sent this link alleging that Barack Obama has a plan to confiscate private retirement savings. Guess we will have wait to see if this bubbles up.