Alone?

 

Look up in to the sky at night, especially if you are lucky enough to live in an area without lite pollution.  See all those little dots of light?  I've always believed there was life out there, somewhere.

But, I don't believe we've been visited.  Sightings never happen during the day.  Everyone is carrying a camera in their pocket.  Yet, there has never been a good photograph.

Congress held a hearing in to UFO's last week.  I guess all of the country's other problems have been solved.  Be that as it may, a former intelligence official says there is proof of  alien visits.  The government is covering it up.  Gee, that sounds familiar.

While I try to keep an open mind, I remain skeptical.  

I don't think the hearing really proved anything.  It was just a way for some Washington types to receive television face time.  It was bait to attract cable television viewers.  It was fodder for overnight radio loons.  It provided a plot for more movies and television shows, if the writers ever start writing again.

Prove me wrong.

Beam me up!

Andy's Angles: Pennsylvania

 

I've shot this engine and many similar to it over the years.

It's just an intimidating form-- tall, sleek.  The enormity scares me a little.

They are wonderful to see in motion, and this one was parked in Honesdale on a recent summer morning.

Andy's Angles: Back to the Diesels

 

Okay, it's back to trains for a weekend.

I do like steam engines.  They have a unique beauty and America wouldn't be America without them.  However, most are black with the occasional dark green paint job.

Diesels offer a little more variety.  Black and red is a great color combination, and I found evidence of that on a recent morning in Honesdale.

Friday Scrapple

 

I'm really leaning toward changing the name of this to "Scrabble."  A few loyal blog readers weighed in and want "Scrapple" to remain.  Maybe, I'll sneak in a "Scrabble" once in a while.

The shorter days are really becoming noticeable, and I really enjoy that.

Nanticoke last Friday night:  kids shooting kids.  It makes me sad.

Happiness is a computer keyboard you really like.

Time for another song you instantly remember the words to, even though you rarely hear it:  "Oh Babe, What Would You Say" by Norman "Hurricane" Smith.  That one goes way back to 1972, a lovely song.

As a kid, seeing back to school items in stores inspired a knot in my stomach.  Now, it's "Oh boy!  I wonder if they have the rollerballs I really like."

I'm reading a book about the television show "Barney Miller."  Yes, I need a life.  There will be a review here eventually.  It might be a while because it's a rather lengthy book.

The Orioles' recent success brings a smile to my face.

I should be interested in "Oppenheimer."  I'm not.

"Barbie" falls into the "overload" category, giving Taylor Swift some company.

"Jeopardy!" needs some new writers.

The new Twitter "X" does nothing for me.  They should have simply modernized the bird.

Angry

 

I have no problem with arguments.  This country was built on the fact that we disagreed with the British over oh so many things.

We fight in the newsroom all the time.  Healthy debate is good for a news organization, as all sides of an issue are aired.

Having established that foundation, it still dismays and saddens me that everything has become a fight these days.  Economic policy, foreign policy, the Department of Justice, immigration policy, education, even Jason Aldean.  That stuff really makes me sad.  

It's even on the state level.  As I write this, we still don't have a state budget.  It was supposed to be in place July 1.

There used to be a time when we compromised.  There was a give and take.  No one was totally happy when it was over, but each side received something.  I fear those days are gone, never to return.  It breeds depression, cynicism, pessimism, and even downright anger.

Still, it would be nice to reach a consensus on one issue.  Just one.  It's a start.

Vacation!

 

Sleeping Homer is back, and veteran blog readers that signals a vacation week has arrived.  Let's pray this one goes better than the last.

I usually take the same weeks off every year.  The end of July happens to be the hottest time of the year, so it will be nice to ditch the suits, dress shirts and ties for a little while.

As always, my plans include reading, sleeping, maybe a little shopping, and getting out with my camera.  I stay close to home and I like it that way.

Broadcaster and podcaster Tony Kornheiser had the best line about why he doesn't take extravagant vacations.  "I can get away from everything.  I can't get away from me."  Kornheiser and I have something in common-- an inability to relax.  Be that as it may, I'll try.

The weekend morning broadcasts are in good hands.

I'll still post here and there during my time off.

Be safe, and I'll call you back later.

Book Review: "TV Inside-Out"

 

Here is the latest to come down off the shelf and in to my hands.  The title is just what it is-- a collection of inside TV, movie, and radio stories by Randy West.

West has been in the business for a long time-- acting, comedy, even game show announcing.  Many of the stories here do deal with the game show business, and I really enjoyed that.

However, I almost didn't get that far.  I nearly put the book down, for good, during an over long, over wordy, over tedious, over ponderous preface.  It improved markedly during the meat of the book.  There are some great stories here-- some I already knew, many, I didn't.

It's amazing how much bad behavior is tolerated if you bring in the money.

Even though the book is thoroughly enjoyable, it does touch on the sadness of addiction, and how we were forced to say good bye to soo many people way too fast.

He does write about the Rebecca Schaeffer story, a 1989 murder victim, and it's an incident that bothers me to this day.

I would quibble with West's characterization of radio as the show biz "ghetto."  As someone who worked in radio for a long time, and someone who still loves it, I found that remark insulting.

If you can overlook a few missteps on the writers' part, this is a fun read.

Lather, Rinse, Repeat

 

The names are withheld here to protect the innocent and I apologize, in advance, for the awkward phrasing, as I try to avoid naming names.

A fellow broadcaster and I were swapping texts the other day.  Superficial stuff.  Hi.  How are you?  What are you up to?  The messages turned into future assignments.

This person was questioning the desire to go back out on the campaign presidential cycle for the third time.  This person was already a veteran of 2016 and 2020.  I was surprised.  I know the travel, the deadlines,  and the logistics are tough.  I will add the hostility of the crowds, and the iron fists of the candidate handlers.  They do their best to limit access, and have their candidates give the same, tired, old scripted answers.  It's not as much fun as it used to be.

I offered that it's tough to turn your back on having a front row to history.  Every campaign is unique in its own way.  This person realizes that, but is still on the fence.  This person has the gift.  For your sake, for the viewers' sake, I hope this person soon packs a suitcase and gets out there.

On a similar note, I was on my way to cover the annual Solemn Novena to St. Ann last week in Scranton. 

I've covered more than two dozen novenas over the years, probably closer to thirty.  I had a knot in my stomach as we drove north on Main and made the turn on to St. Ann's Street.  What could I say that I haven't said before?  Can I make this interesting?  Relatable?   I grabbed the microphone and with photographer Tim at my side, we simply started talking to people.  Everyone has a story, and people attending the novena are happy to share theirs.  I didn't have to do the heavy lifting, or the heavy thinking.  Let the people talk.  Let the story breathe.  

When it was over, I had a pretty good story, and I walked out of the office that afternoon with my head held high.

St Ann's, I hope to see you again next year.

Andy's Angles: The View II

 

It is one of my favorite places here in our area-- the top of Irving Cliff in Honesdale.

On a clear day, you can see forever.  Well, I heard that somewhere.

This is another case where I used my widest lens and it still wasn't enough to capture the majesty.

I guess you had to be there.

Andy's Angles: The View I

 

I'm sure there are better places from which to shoot Lake Wallenpaupack, but it's a huge lake and I didn't have that much time.

This is the view from Route 507,  near the intersection with Route 6.  I screwed on my widest lens and it still wasn't enough to capture the beauty of the lake.

My feelings on water?  I like looking at it, from the shore.  I have no desire to get in or on.

#Happy

 

It's been quite a long time, a very long time,  since there has been a Hashtag Happy entry here.  I can thank our friends at the Scranton Times Tribune for this one.

This week, the paper did an update on the demolition of the fire ravaged Hull Avenue, Olyphant slaughterhouse complex and adjacent buildings.

While I watched the demolition earlier this year, I wondered and hoped an historic old Studebaker medallion above one of the entrances would be saved.  Below is one of my photos.

The paper reports the medallion was saved and it could be incorporated in to the apartments/townhouses planned for the site.  It made me happy, and if you value local history, it should make you happy too.

I can be a skeptical old oaf, and I really feared the smashed pieces of the Studebaker medallion would wind up in a landfill.  This is one case where I am very happy to say I was wrong.

Frank Reynolds

 

I loved Frank Reynolds.  The ABC News correspondent and anchor died 40 years ago today.  He was only 59 years old.

Reynolds' career showed perseverance.  He began in local radio, then Chicago television before hooking on at ABC.  Reynolds was a correspondent there before becoming anchor in the late 60's.  Demoted.  Promoted again when the ABC Evening News became World News Tonight in 1978.

The second trip to anchor was fascinating.  Barbara Walters had a contract that stipulated anchor status, even though she wasn't very good at it.  ABC News president Roone Arledge was a genius.  In revamping the news, he said they didn't have anchors.  They had "desks."  There was a Washington desk, a domestic desk in Chicago with Max Robinson, and an international desk in London, with Peter Jennings.  Walters was eased into the special correspondent role, and she was great at that.

ABC News went to the three anchor (or desk) format because Arledge never could land that star anchor he wanted.  Dan Rather turned it down.  Tom Brokaw turned it down.  He had to settle for Frank Reynolds, who did his part by hitting it out of the park.

The format was designed that the "desk" with the top story would lead the broadcast.  Old habits die hard.  It turned out viewers liked stability, so Reynolds was made the "most equal" of the three.  Reynolds became the first face you saw every night at 6:30.  ABC News was climbing out of the ratings cellar.

Was Frank Reynolds perfect?  No.  He was criticized for being too stiff, too formal, and on one occasion, too emotional.  It happened during the Reagan assassination attempt.  Reynolds became angry, on air, when some unconfirmed information was broadcast.  I can understand it.  Reynolds and Reagan, political opposites, were friends.  The two bonded in 1976, when Reynolds was assigned to the Reagan presidential campaign.

Reynolds was teamed with Ted Koppel for the 1980 election night.  No chemistry.  It was Reynolds and David Brinkley in 1982.  No chemistry.  Some people are better off working solo.

My favorite moment came during the 1980 Democratic National Convention.  Willie Nelson sang the national anthem one night-- dressed in torn jeans, a wrinkled tee shirt, and bandana.  In other words, the standard Willie Nelson uniform.  As Nelson approached the podium Reynolds said "I see he dressed for the occasion."  I fell on the floor.

Cancer cut Frank Reynolds' life short.  We lost a giant 40 years ago today.

The Craft

 

I know one thing about acting:  I can't do it.

It doesn't mean I haven't tried, or been forced in to it.

As you might remember, a few of my co-workers had small parts in "Designated Survivor" and "Quantico."  In fact, some made several appearances.

Don't ask me why, but I was selected.  I fought it and wanted no part of it.  I wasn't on a high journalistic moral and ethical horse.  After all, Walter Cronkite was on the "Mary Tyler Moore Show" in the 70's.  Several other network anchors and reporters appeared on "Murphy Brown."  It simply made me uncomfortable, and I knew others on the staff wanted a shot at it.  I gladly offered to step aside for them.

Be that as it may, a former manager strongly recommended that I do it, if you catch my drift.  I don't recall when the "Quantico" piece was recorded here and shipped off to Hollywood.  I do remember my part in "Designated Survivor" was recorded as the Blizzard of  '17 raged outside.  I spent the day in the snow, and I didn't bring dress clothes to the office.  I borrowed stuff from Scott Schaffer.  What's left of my hair looked worse than usual because of getting soaked and wearing ball caps all day.

I did it.  It didn't take long.  It really was no big deal.

Many here were surprised when I declined to play the game.  They shouldn't have been.  I don't need the validation and I never enter awards competitions.  I have no issues with those who do.  Once again, it's just not my thing.  I simply do the best job I can every day, and that satisfaction is enough for me.  I don't need a statue.

I never saw the "Quantico" episode in which I appeared.  "Designated Survivor" was an embarrassment and I'm glad I didn't tell anyone in advance about my appearance.  I was a blurry image on a television, in the distance, in the home of some bureaucrat.  You might have recognized the voice.  My face was unrecognizable.  It didn't stop me from cashing the checks.

It wasn't that much off the top, and I still do receive tiny residuals when my episodes sell somewhere.   The envelopes come from the union, SAG-AFTRA.  I'm not a member, but I was invited to join.  I did consider it, until I saw the initiation fee and the dues.  Pass!

The initial fee was nice.  The residuals are what we used to call "hoagie money" when I was in radio.  It did complicate my yearly income tax filing.  Some of the money comes through New York, so I have to do some paperwork for Albany.  It's a major headache for something I never wanted to do in the first place.

I do feel sorry for the writers and the actors on the picket line.  Writing is tough.  Creative writing is even more difficult.  As far as acting goes, many are called.  Few are chosen.  For every actor making big money, there are a thousand others scraping by.  Plus, there is the collateral damage.  A lot of people in businesses that supply studios with food and everything else are hurting.

A big part of the dispute involves artificial intelligence, and how many actors' roles can be replaced by computers.  Good luck fighting emerging technology.  Buggy whips are gone because the automobile arrived.  It's a contest that's been waged for centuries.

I'm not sure how this all will end, but I do know it will be a much different business when it's over.

Tuesday Scrabble

 

I'm toying with changing the name of "Scrapple" to "Scrabble."  It's the same concept.  Scrapple is a mix of a bunch of different ingredients.  Scrabble is the same, only with letters and words.

I used the logo from the NBC show rather than the board game.  I had my fill of board games, with friends, when I was a kid.  The NBC game show was horribly underrated and was great fun.  A reboot would be fantastic.

You know things aren't going great when the happiest thing in your life is the outstanding performance of your new dehumidifier.

While I didn't watch it, I'm distressed Red died in the last episode of "The Blacklist."  I would have preferred that Red simply vanished off the face of the earth.  He always a mystery man.  Let it end that way.

Actors have joined writers on the Hollywood picket line.  I will acknowledge that a lot of people get rich from their work.  The actors are freaking over artificial intelligence and they want some protection.   Name one occupation on this planet that hasn't been affected by technology.  Actors, welcome to the club!  I'll have more to say on that later this week.

I have a horrible habit of turning off the air conditioner way too early.

Once in a while,  I mention I song that I haven't heard in a long time, and the words instantly come back to me.  Today's entry"  "Lonely Boy" by Andrew Gold.

A New York Post sports writer believes the MLB All Star Game has run its course, and he's right.  Play normal games that week and end the World Series before November.

Why do fast food chains keep messing with their recipes?  It's simple.  Get me a good sandwich.  Fast.  Reasonably priced.  And hire people who can get an order right. 

"Soap" episodes air on WNEP2.  The creation of the Chuck and Bob characters is sheer genius.

Tennis is a great game, and I regret not taking it up in college, when I had the chance.  However, I never thought it translated in to a good TV sport.

Regardless of your thoughts on religion, I always do enjoy wandering about St. Ann's Novena in Scranton, meeting the people, and telling their stories.

Summer is barbecue season, and I'm seeing a lot of brisket videos on the internet.  I never understood the fascination with that cut of meat.  Overwhelmingly fatty.

Half

 

I do this in the winter, so here is the summer version...

The three hottest months of the year are June, July, and August.  It's meteorological summer, and it's half over.  It makes me happy.

Summer is not my friend.  When you work all night and sleep all day, heat and light are the enemies.  Air conditioning and dark curtains help.  They are not perfect.  Plus, there is the noise of screaming children, lawn mowers and leaf blowers.

Give me a quiet winter day.

I should hasten to add that this is the life I have chosen, and I'm in the minority.  If you are a summer lover, please make the most of the time between now and Labor Day.

We have been lucky so far.  Other than a few tornadoes, it's been an average year-- some rain, some heat, no hurricanes.

No matter what the season, it's amazing how quickly they pass.

Andy's Angles: Real Time

 

Same Honesdale fountain as yesterday, but with a major difference.  I speeded up the shutter so every drop of water is frozen in time.

America doesn't have enough fountains!

Andy's Angles: The Best Laid Plans

 

This was my intended header for July.  It's the fountain in the middle of Central Park in Honesdale.

I screwed on my filter, like sunglasses for your camera, and slowed down the shutter to get the blurred, milky effect.

It's good.  It should have been better.  The exposure is still a little hot.  The framing was off because I was dealing with a harsh morning sun angle.

I learn from my mistakes and I'll be back.

Media Friday

 Some disturbing things are happening in the newspaper industry...

The Los Angeles Times recently sold its printing plant.  The southern California real estate boom rendered the land more important than what happens inside.  The newspaper will be printed, along with other papers, down the coast.  Now, you have to factor in mileage and traffic.  According to FOX Sports Radio, the print deadline will now be 3:00 PM.  Are you kidding me!  Why would anyone buy a print edition where the news is more than 12 hours old by the time it hits your front door or the corner mini mart?  Of course, fewer people will by the print edition, and the paper spirals down the path to irrelevance.   This week, the LA Times announced the sports section is evolving into a daily magazine rather than hard news.

Good luck with that.

Of course, there is the digital edition.  Editor & Publisher reports the LA Times has 550,000 digital subscriber.  The goal for the end of 2022, yes 2022, was one million.

On the other coast, the NY Times offed its sports department.  A web site called The Athletic will provide the content.  The NY Times also owns The Athletic.  Management says jobs will not be lost.  It's just a shift.  Some greats came through the NY Times sports department over the years.  It carried quite a cachet.   Those days are gone.

As always when I write about print, I note that I cut my teeth as a radio pup watching some of the local newspaper greats work.  I still get a thrill hearing the paper land on the front porch in the morning, and who doesn't glance at the headlines when they are standing in line at the corner store?

Speaking of my radio pup days, David DeCosmo was a huge help as I was starting, and again, when we became WYOU coworkers in 1990.  David had his appendix removed this week, and I hope David is back on his feet quickly.  He is one of local broadcasting's class acts.  I wonder if the surgeon looked at the appendix and said "Get out.  Get out now!"

Tuesday night's MLB All Star Game rating hit a record low.  Sports Media Watch reports the game has hit record lows in five of the last seven years.  Seven million people watched.  In 1976, the number was 28 million, but things were different then.  The stars bigger, the channel choices fewer.

The Emmys always elicit a major yawn from me, but I did check out the nominee list, especially comedies and game shows.  I haven't seen any of the comedy nominees.  None.  Not one.  I'd vote for "Jeopardy!" for best game show, even though the show is muddling through a rash of clumsily written clues.

How did "The Daily Show with Trevor Noah" get nominated?  The show has been hemorrhaging viewers, and that's a sign it wasn't very good.  Noah has moved on.  Guest hosts are filling in.

"The Blacklist" ended its run last night.  Nearly 220 episodes.  James Spader is a hugely underrated talent.   Spader improves everything he touches.   I loved the first couple of years, but then "The Blacklist" became too dark, too bloody, and too hard to follow.

Even though I didn't attend, it was nice to see the old WARM 590 remembered during a program last night at the JCC in Kingston.  I worked at WARM for ten and a half years, from 1981 to 1991.   I will always be honored to be a very small part of WARM history, and I will be forever grateful to have worked alongside some great people.

Thursday Scrapple

 

Why does frying look so easy on television, but when you do it, you're cleaning up grease for weeks?

This year's small town, amateur fireworks weren't as bad as recent years, but still intolerable.

I was ready for fall months ago.

I have zero interest in "Threads."  In fact, I'm more interested in reducing my social media footprint than expanding it.

Geezer moment:  in the year I was born, it cost four cents to mail a letter.  Now?  66.

As a kid, I would have been happier with a public park splash pad rather than a pool.

Restoration of the Nicholson train station gives me a kick, and I hope to be there with my camera soon.

You don't realize how humid your home is until you buy a dehumidifier.

The college football conference realignment baffles me, and it wears me out.  It looks like the days of the Atlantic Coast Conference are numbered, my favorite conference.  I liked the regionality and it includes some really good schools.

I'm not sure freshly sliced meat at Subway will make much of a difference.  Vegetables need more improvement.

While I hate to see people lose their jobs, the demise of Christmas Tree Shops doesn't bother me.

I realize I'm not in her target demographic, but I really don't understand Taylor Swift.

Shotei Ohtani is simply amazing.

Fred Williams

 

Cartoonist and author Stan Lee popularized the phrase "With great power comes great responsibility."  A Google search reveals a lot of people said something similar long before Lee.

Regardless...

Fred Williams had great power.

Fred died late last month.  For a few years, in the 90's, Fred had a talk show on one of the local radio stations.  We met a few times.  I liked him.  He was charming and entertaining.

Sadly, Fred occasionally misused that great power, and I will bring up one example that illustrates the point.

One day, Fred based his morning show on a horribly written and flawed newspaper story.  A local district justice threw out a drunk driving case against a man who happened to work on the dj's political campaign.  I was working at another television station at the time, and I was sent in to clean up the mess.

In an on-camera interview, the district justice told me he threw out the case because of an incorrectly drafted affidavit of probable cause and criminal complaint.  The justice told the arresting police officer where the problem was, and how to correct it, so it could be refiled.  In retrospect, the district justice should have declared a conflict and handed the case off to someone else.

Be that as it may, the newspaper, and in turn Fred, went off half cocked.  The newspaper should have been more careful, and Fred should have been more responsible.

Fred Williams was also the voice of the "Arena No" crowd, a misunderstood role.  Fred was never against the Wilkes-Barre Township arena.  He was simply opposed to using public money to pay for it.  Fred's reasoning was that arenas notoriously run in the red, and if it was such a great investment, the private sector should pony up the cash.  The arena referendum failed on election day.

You can always tell when Fred was having problems generating phone calls.  I have to add that I've been through it.  Like many things in broadcasting, doing a radio talk show isn't as easy as it might seem.  When the phones were slow, Fred would start bashing teachers and teachers unions.  The phones would light up.  It was  predictable and very sad there were many days the low hanging fruit was so appealing.

Fred was what we in the business call a "flame thrower."  More heat than light, and that's okay.  In the business, the greatest sin of all is to be dull.

Fred Williams was never dull.

Major Minor

 

The Major League Baseball All Star Game is set for tonight in Seattle.  As I've done a few times in recent years,  the half way point of the season seems to be a good time to pass along a few thoughts on the state of the game.

I'll begin with the minor league operation here in our area.

Above is a picture of the Moosic ballpark taken from a restaurant parking lot high above.  This used to be a great place from which to shoot, but as you can see, the trees now obscure the view.  I used to love this vantage point, but I do like trees, so I won't complain.

However, I will complain about this...  The last time I saw a game here was ten years ago.  I'm sure it's still a fun experience, but I understand a night at the stadium has become rather pricey-- from the parking, to the tickets, to the food and drink.  I get that.  On the other hand, this is minor league baseball in a small town, and the team appears to be pricing itself out of the market.

I do wonder about attendance.  There was a time I dreaded heading in to work when the "crowd" from a game was leaving.  Now, it's a breeze.

On to the majors...  

I didn't like the enlarged bases, and I still don't.  I don't think it's made much of an impact on the game.  I do like the pitch clock.  The game moves faster, and that is something baseball badly needed.

There are still some problems.  The owner of the Oakland A's refuses to field a competitive team.  I don't know why that's tolerated.  The sorry state of the once great Kansas City Royals bothers me.  It's nice to see the Pittsburgh Pirates and the Baltimore Orioles doing better, a pair of legendary franchises.  You can find games on television on several channels.  While the availability is nice, finding a game to watch can be maddening at times.  Baseball now has some fine young stars, and that's great.

I'm sorry that baseball is no longer considered America's Pastime.  It seems like it's just filling time until college football and the NFL begin their new seasons.

WNT 45

 

The network TV news game changed 45 years ago today.  It was the first broadcast of ABC's World News Tonight.

I'll have more to say on this later this month, in a blog entry about one of the original 1978 anchors, Frank Reynolds.

Long story short...  ABC News president Roone Arledge had to pull the network out of the Harry Reasoner/Barbara Walters disaster.  Harry went back to CBS.  Barbara became a special correspondent for the new World News Tonight.

Arledge tried and failed to get Tom Brokaw and Dan Rather.  Without a major "star" anchor, he decided on three "desks" rather than anchors.  Frank Reynolds had the Washington news.  Max Robinson anchored the national news from Chicago, and Peter Jennings handled the international news from London.

Brilliant!

The three "desk" thing received most of the attention, but ABC led the way with better video, better visual story telling, and better graphics to help illustrate a story.  The other networks looked archaic in the process and they were left to play catch up.

I remember watching that first night, dazzled by the production.  The half hour flew by.  It was a huge change from the old presentation, and much more interesting than the other networks.

According to Dan Rather, Walter Cronkite saw ABC on the rise and he decided to retire in 1981, while he was still on top.

Network news became better July 10, 1978.

Andy's Angles: More Monochrome

 

Line yesterday's historic church in Honesdale, farms occasionally scream "monochrome."

This one also screams "lunch" to some cattle.

I spotted these near the road that leads to Irving Cliff in Honesdale.  

I'm not sure if you agree, but this scene looked better in black and white to me.

Andy's Angles: Monochrome Weekend

 

Admittedly very weak framing here, but this is one of my favorite buildings in Honesdale.  It's the Crosspoint Bible Church on 10th Street.  It's one of the best steeples in the area.

I wanted to give it the vintage look, so I went for monochrome.  Something about it just screamed to give it a historical look.

In case you're wondering, here is what the block looks like in color.

Why?

 

It's the end of a holiday week, so let's give the heavy duty stuff a break for a little while.  This has to be the least productive week on the business calendar.  Independence Day fell on a Tuesday this year.  Everybody took Monday off.  Why bother to come back for the rest of the week?

Be that as it may, I occasionally get questions on my fascination with trains.  This slow day gives me the opportunity for a quick answer.

Trains just remind me of a more simple, care free time.  Trains under the Christmas tree, getting stopped by a train while on a Sunday family drive, counting the cars, waiting for the cute little caboose to pass, watching the crossing arms drop and then lift, the glowing lanterns...

There is something else, and it was triggered when I took a look at this old LIRR passenger car in Honesdale.  I apologize for the bad sun angle here.  The view from the other side wasn't very good.

If I saw a freight train, I wonder where it's been, where it's going, what it's hauling, the places it's seen.  It kind of reminds me of Arlo Guthrie's "City of New Orleans."  Listen carefully to the lyrics.

If it's a passenger car, of course, it's all about the people.  Commuters?  Long distance?  Who on board was having a great day?  A rotten day?  Family waiting at home?

You see, trains are more than machinery.  They are stories on wheels.

Business Thursday

 

I am now able to tell a few friends, "I told you so."  During a rare few minutes to kill last week, I did something I hadn't done in a while-- walked through Christmas Tree Shops in Moosic.  The company filed for bankruptcy protection earlier this year, and a handful of stores closed.  The sign on the store in Moosic said it was staying open.

I walked inside, and it was different.  What was once a quirky and fun place to shop looked dead.  Empty shelves.  Empty floor space.  A boring merchandise mix with nothing special, nothing interesting, and nothing you couldn't get anywhere else.  This just didn't look like a healthy business.

The word came down the other day.  Unless there is a last minute White Knight, the company is going out of business.  One stroll through the store told you that was inevitable.

By the way, the Shops at Montage is like a lot of other shopping center, here in our area and across the country.  There is a lot of empty space, and now that empty square footage is about to get much larger.

Moving on...

An analysis by Spotlight PA, done by talking to several state legislators, says fireworks in Pennsylvania is here to stay.   The overwhelming reason is that fireworks companies invested in their facilities here in Pennsylvania, after Harrisburg foolishly okayed the fireworks expansion.

Really?  Hey, your product kills people, burns houses, and causes a major nuisance for the elderly, veterans, and pets.  Every police fire department and police department is against it.  Police this week are chasing down fireworks complaints, and spending a lot of time when they can be doing other things, but hey, since you have a nice building, you can stay.

That reasoning is ludicrous.  

Once again, Harrisburg favors tax revenue and dollars over public safety.

I'm not heartless.  Throw the fireworks people a bone when you outlaw their product.  Give them some tax breaks when you shut them down.  Offer grants and loans to get in to another line of work.

This shouldn't be happening.

One more...

You have to stand in awe of the genius of Sheetz.  The company halved gas prices on Independence Day.  Swamped stores.  Extra traffic.  Just about everyone who stopped in to gas up went in to the store to buy drinks, sandwiches, and more.  That's where Sheetz made the real money, the big money.  There is more.  Sheetz dominated social media.  There were stories on TV.  Translation:  free advertising.  

The bottom line:  KA-CHING!

Book Review: "Pageboy"

 

There has been a lot on my plate recently, and it was time to focus and regain my attention span.  This book was a perfect way to do it.  I devoured it in two days.

This is the story of trans actor Elliot Page, who starred as Ellen Page in "Juno," one of my favorite movies.

This is a story about a journey-- a long and difficult one.  Parts are not easy to read.  Other parts are rather adult and graphic.

This is an important book, and I'm glad I read it.

Independence Day

 

Picnics and parties are important.  You can never spend enough time with family and friends.

But the holiday is more than that.

Celebrate independence!

And, please do it safely.

We'll talk tomorrow.

Monday Scrapple

 

I love watching old newscasts on You Tube, and I wish I was one per cent as talented as Brinkley, Chancellor, Cronkite, and Jennings.

Why do we continue to praise public officials for spending our money?

Several awful roads in our area have been repaved.  We've only just begun.

For third shift people, this is perhaps the worst week of the year.  Too much light, too much heat, too much noise.

Geraldo Rivera left FOX News after 23 years.  Say what you want about the guy, he always produced compelling television.

I had to deal with my cable company last week.  In person?  Great.  Phone?  Hideous.

Happiness is a quality stapler.

Fine ballpoints have always been my favorites.  Rollerballs have caught up.

Some supermarkets in our area have become a nightmare.  Bad layouts.  Bad traffic flow.  they try to fit too much in to limited spaces.

I don't watch "Wheel of Fortune."  The choice of a new host inspires nothing but indifference.  but, Ryan Seacrest?   The guy's "talent" is a mile wide but an inch deep.

Actor Alan Arkin passed last week.  89.  I loved "The Slums of Beverly Hills."

I must have passed a dozen fireworks law violations on the way to work Saturday night.  How are those new laws working out?

ESPN laid off a bunch of people last week.  Suzy Kolber's dismissal defies analysis.  I guess she was simply making too much money for the folks at Disney to stomach.

Andy's Angles: All American

 

Independence Day is approaching.  Because the 4th of July falls on a Tuesday, I suspect most people are taking a four day weekend, if not longer.  I salute you!

To celebrate the long weekend, what is more American than a steam engine?

This shiny beauty is part of the Steamtown collection in Scranton-- a photograph in the roundhouse,  from a sunny, late spring morning.

About the Cover: On the Beach

 

It is an expedition in serendipity when it comes to this month's blog header.

Another scene was in my mind, but when I loaded these shots in to the computer, I called an audible.

My goal was "summer."

Palmyra Beach at Lake Wallenpaupack was, thankfully, empty when I showed up one  early morning.  It wasn't quite "golden hour," but the sun was at an appealing angle.

I'll share my intended blog header in the weeks to come.