Andy's Angles: Infinity

 

I was playing around with my camera phone, between live shots, recently at Wilkes-Barre Scranton International Airport, and this happened to catch my attention.  It is the covered sidewalk, leading from the terminal to one of the parking lots.

Yes, far from a perfect photo.  I could have done better with my good camera and a tripod, but you get the idea.

Follow Up Friday

 

I'll keep it short this morning.  I'm on vacation and a weekend is coming.

For some odd reason, I really enjoyed the NFL draft this year and I can't explain it.

The main reason for today's Follow Up Friday is Tuesday's election.  

Statewide turnout was 23 per cent.  23?  Are you kidding me?

Yes, the presidential nominations are sewn up.  Many candidates were running without opposition, which is disgusting in and of itself.  But, many races were contested.  There were ample reasons to get out and vote.  I'm sorry 77 per cent of the electorate missed them.

This is Pennsylvania.  Democracy started here!  Ben Franklin has always been one of my heroes.  I shudder to think at what Ben would say about that 23 per cent number.

Make it up to me and Ben.  Vote in November!  Please!!

Week One

 

Sleeping Homer is making his first appearance of 2024, and you know what that means.   I'm on vacation!

I've really become a home body in recent years.  I'm satisfied doing nothing, and considering planes have been falling apart in mid air, it's not a bad idea.

I'll get some rest, nibble away at some books I've stacked up, and walk the park.

I also hope to get some camera time.  I've been cursed in recent weeks.  The weather has been awful during my regular days off.  I have to get at least one pleasant day during my vacation.

The blog will be updated.  Maybe some social media, too.

The weekend morning broadcasts are in good hands.

I'll call you back later.

The Numbers

 Just some quick thoughts on yesterday's election...

It will be interesting to see the turnout numbers.  With few contested races and in a primary, I'm surmising turnout wasn't great.  I passed several polling places while working and on my drive home.  I didn't see a lot of activity.

In the presidential race, a lot of people voted for candidates who have already withdrawn.  Both remaining candidates should take note of that.  There is a protest vote and a lot of angry voters.

Eugene DePasquale wins the Democratic nomination for attorney general.  No surprise.  He's won state wide office and has name recognition.  By the way, the candidate who touted how much the gun lobby hates him finished last.  Dave Sunday wins on the Republican side.

Malcolm Kenyatta wins the Democratic nomination for auditor general.  Again, a candidate who entered the race with strong name recognition and a solid base.

Fern Leard easily gets the Democratic nomination in the 120th.  She did have a lot of signs out yesterday.  Signs don't vote, but they do indicate cash to spend and a strong organization.  Brenda Pugh gets the Republican nomination here.

We heard about some glitches in the morning, and it appears Luzerne County avoided yet another catastrophic election day failure!!!

On to November!

Vote 2024

 

Primary election day has finally arrived.

Let's just say it won't be a suspense filled evening.  Yes, there are some contested races, but, for the most part, plenty of candidates, especially incumbents have no opposition.  that makes me sad.  Always did.  Always will.  I do realize campaigns can be nasty and expensive, but someone has to do it.

Joe Biden's opposition for the Democratic presidential nomination, Dean Phillips, dropped out months ago, after a campaign that never really started.  Donald Trump's opponent, Nikki Haley, left the race after her Super Tuesday disaster.  Therefore, the case can be made to move up the Pennsylvania primary.  I was never really a fan of that.  Ask someone in the northern tier to vote on a cold, snowy, and icy day.  My opposition to an early primary lessened after main-in voting and drop boxes entered the picture.  You can vote from the comfort of your own home, without braving the elements.

Bob Casey and Dave McCormick will win their party's senate nominations easily today.  They have no opposition.  Both advertised heavily, anyway, to keep their names out there.  I'm sure there will be a little bit of a lull between today's primary and Labor Day.  After that, look out!  This will be a bruising contest, and that is putting it mildly.

I won't be voting today because I'm an Independent.  We have to sit out the primaries.  There have been attempts at change in Harrisburg.  There is strong opposition to opening primaries to Independents, and I doubt it will ever happen.

Regardless, I finished my election day preview stories weeks ago.  You'll see them on Newswatch 16 This Morning.

After work, it's home for a nap so I can see the numbers roll in tonight.

I'll try to squeeze in a little analysis here tomorrow.  

Please, vote if you can.

And one other note on how cameras are kept out of polling places when we should be celebrating freedom...  former Associated Press reporter Terry Anderson died over the weekend.  He was held hostage in Lebanon for seven years, just for doing his job.  It's a crime he was held so long.  Terry Anderson was 76.

Business Monday

 

This could have also fallen under the "Media Notes" banner, but business, it is.

Jimmy Fallon recently said that he wants to beat Johnny Carson's record 30 years hosting the "Tonight" show on NBC.

Sorry, Jimmy.  Not with those numbers.

All four late night shows are in the tank, and I'm including "The Daily Show" here.  Comedy Central recently lured Jon Stewart back to do one day a week, so the franchise doesn't die.

As I've said here, all four shows have the same political slant.  What business model calls for a general interest late night talk show to alienate half of its audience?  I don't care if you find the Colbert, Kimmel, Stewart and Fallon jokes funny or not, but night after night of the same thing gets tired, and tired fast.

Cable news is a little different.  FOX goes after the conservative audience.  MSNBC goes after the liberals, and I'm sure General Sarnoff is spinning in his grave because something under the NBC banner is so one sided.  CNN isn't sure what it is.  Note to CNN:  Just do the news!

The late night talk shows go after the same crowd.

Remember the days when you'd hear someone say "Did you hear what Johnny said last night?"  or "How about that bit on Letterman?"  Tom Snyder, Craig Ferguson and even James Cordon were capable of generating a buzz.  CBS went cheap and stuck a game show,  filled with no-names,  in the time slot.

Yes, I realize the networks want internet interest, as much as they do people tuning in at 11:35 pm.  I know it's a brave new world.

I'm fond of telling our newspaper brethren that they are their own worst enemies.  Television, welcome to the party.

Andy's Angles: Nazareth Hall

 

This the student center at my alma mater, Marywood University in Scranton.  It was Marywood College back then.

Nazareth Hall!

I was a townie, so hanging out in the dorms was off limits back then.  The other choices included the library, that was actually a library.  It was a frequent destination.  I was also a radio rat, hanging out in the radio/tv/media center in the library's basement.  Even if I wasn't on the air, it was a magical place, with the teletype blasting out the news, and the newest music, mixed with classic rock coming out of the speakers.  It was also the place to throw the bull with your fellow communicators and it was a big department back then.  

Nazareth wasn't a big deal during my day-- the dining hall for dormies downstairs.  Couches, chairs, and tv's upstairs to help you kill time, the book store/merchandise store tucked in to a corner.

And, downstairs, my favorite part-- a little snack bar, and I forgot what it was called.  Blue and faux wood Formica everywhere.  Decent burgers, dogs, fries, and milkshakes, great staff, clean, reasonable prices.  I loved it and there was a communications table!  Believe it or not, I sat with the cool kids!  I'm sorry it was eliminated, at least after my time there.

It's to see the building updated a few times aver the years.  I'm not thrilled at the "Pacer Pub." going in, which the administration still won't address.

Andy's Angles: Almost

 

This almost became the April blog header, but I went with the buds.

I was passing the Times building in downtown Scranton recently-- and it all added up.  Windy morning, flag outstretched, beautiful blue sky.  I had the shutter at 1/2000 to freeze the flag.

By the way, what is the name of this building now?  The Times moved out and is now a block down Penn Avenue.  WEJL is still here.  Can it be the Scranton Times Building without the Times in it?

Friday Scrapple

 

I really want to get out with the camera, but the weather on my days off, every week, borders on awful.  I have some vacation time at the end of the month.  Let's hope the tide turns.

Outside of the news and "Barney Miller," I haven't been watching much television.  I did stumble across some old "Match Game" reruns.  Gee, Gene Rayburn made it look like hosting that show was a breeze, and it really wasn't.

Today's entry in "I recall the lyrics, even though I haven't heard the song in years...  Lobo's "Don't Expect Me to Be Your Friend."

Someone posts the "Final Jeopardy"" clue on You Tube every night, and I'll say it again.  Few things give more joy than nailing it when the contestants all miss it.  It happened again this week.

Bob Costas is calling for more sports journalism on television.  Good luck with that, Bob.  When the leagues pay the bills, they call the tune.

I can just imagine the relief of local law enforcement when Air Force One left the runway Wednesday morning.

The recent rash of mine subsidences is nothing short of frightening.  Considering our area's history, I'm surprised we don't have more.

It looks like Katie Couric is going through another round of grasping to be relevant.

I hope the new radio voice of the Yankees, replacing John Sterling, loves the team, the city, and more importantly, LOVES RADIO!  There is no better baseball sport than radio.

Salt Lake City is getting an NHL team?

Just about any old Glen Campbell song can make me smile.

We had another sports gambling scandal this week.  Tip of the iceberg, my friends.

Daily Double: First Person + #Sad

 

Let's establish something right from the beginning.  The following statements have nothing to do with any particular politician or political party.  It is merely an observation of the times in which we live.

Understand?

My Tuesday morning Newswatch 16 assignment was to do set up pieces for President Biden's visit to Scranton.  I was at the airport taking two angles.  One was Biden's history of visits.  The other was a look ahead to what was on the president's schedule.  Photographer Tim and I were at the airport before the major dome of security had descended.  It was a nice, quiet morning, with a fantastic sunrise.

After we wrapped up at 7:00 am, Tim and I had a couple of non presidential items on our list so we headed to the up valley and mid valley sections of Lackawanna County.  We wrapped up our tasks in an efficient manor, so I asked Tim to take the long way back to the office.  I was curious as to how Green Ridge and Downtown Scranton looked just before the president's visit.

North Washington Avenue was a "no parking" zone from Marywood University all the way to Lackawanna Avenue.  Downtown was where the real fun began.  Trash packmasters blocked the area near the Scranton Cultural Center.  What the garbage trucks didn't block, the dump trucks did.  Police and security were everywhere-- heavily armed.  It looked like a war had broken out.

I understand the need for security.  There are plenty of angry people out there, and protestors were everywhere.  Yes, the vast, vast majority of the protestors are peaceful people who have passion concerning their causes.  They're good people.  You can't take a chance.  I also understand the need for protest.  This country was built upon a protest.  It was called the American Revolution.

My ride home on Interstate 81 was uneventful.  I was about an hour ahead of the president.  Still, I could see the police at every overpass, at every cross over.  Penndot had big trucks waiting to block exits.  Again, I understand that.

It doesn't mean I have to like it.

I can still see that old newsreel film of John F. Kennedy's visit to the area-- the big crowds, free access.   Now, audiences are hand picked to ensure their friendliness.   During my broadcasting "career," I recall walking up to politicians and simply asking questions.  Governors, vice presidents, presidential and vice presidential candidates, people running for house, senate, and governor.  Now, reporters and photographers are kept in pens like animals because we might dare to ask a question.  And, there are places where we are threatened.  Serious threats.  Candidates and those already in office make announcements on web sites and You Tube because that is easier and safer than looking voters and journalists in the eye.

I respect the flag and I'm very proud of our Democracy (capital D).  I've voted in every election in which I've been eligible, and that will never change.

But...

We have to fix this.

John Sterling

 

John Sterling retired as the radio voice of the New York Yankees this week.  He is 85.

Regular readers know I was not a fan.

I respect his years of service the the fans loved him, even though I did not.

Sterling's home run calls were tedious and self serving.  Age caught up with him.  He was blowing too many plays.

John Sterling was around long enough that he earned the right to choose the time of his retirement.  I'm sorry that he did not realize that he stayed at the party too long.

Robert MacNeil

 

Robert MacNeil died last week.  93.

Most will remember him from the nightly news hour on PBS  Yes, it was on the dry side.  It wasn't for everyone, but if it was a topic that interested me, I was there.  MacNeil and Jim Lehrer made a great team.  they complimented each other perfectly, and believe me, I know how difficult that can be and how rare it is.

Do yourself a favor and read about MacNeil's life.  He was NBC's man in Dallas on November 22, 1963.  It's just an amazing story.

MacNeil was one of those people in the news business I really admire.  He perfectly illustrated the "it's not about me, it's about the news" way of thinking,  and that is sorely lacking these days.

We lost a giant.

Unfinished Monday

 

I wasn't going to comment on last week's passing of OJ Simpson, but I just have to offer a few thoughts here.  He was an awful person, who benefitted from defense attorneys who abused the system, incompetent prosecutors and a judge who lost control of his courtroom.  Enough!

It's sad to read about the financial problems at Keystone College and rumors of its impending demise.  I hope the rumors are false.  Keystone fills a need here in our area, and it's a beautiful campus.

I wouldn't want to live next door to one, but if there is one type of construction project around here that riles people up, it's a mini mart.  It can take years to get one built.

Today is the income tax filing deadline.  Mine were done long ago, and I hope this is a painless day for you.  By the way, there has to be a simpler and more fair way of doing this.

The woes of the newspaper industry have been noted here several times in the past, and here is the latest.  The Centre Daily Times will only publish two days a week, Wednesday and Saturday.  It will be delivered by mail-- no carriers.  Digital is now.

Andy's Angles: Growth

 Growth.  It seems like such a simple concept.  Yet, it is so elusive.

Always look to nature for inspiration.

Today, it's another spring time branch at Nay Aug Park in Scranton.

About the Cover: Buds

 

I'm lucky to have Nay Aug Park only a few miles away.  It's a great place to visit when I'm in need of some camera therapy.

When it comes to "sweeping vistas," there isn't anything here I haven't photographed before, so that means it's time to go tight.

I shot these buds in the back, near the former amusement ride area.  They are no doubt little leaves by now.

Mixed Messages

 

There is a new book on the life of Barbara Walters, and the cover is above.

She was a trailblazer and every woman in the news business today owes her a debt of gratitude.  Barbara Walters was a fascinating individual.

Here is where the problem comes in.  I've read excerpts, and the book savages Harry Reasoner and Howard K. Smith-- two of the ABC News old guard.  Maybe they deserve it, and the book does appear to be well-sourced.  But, I just hate hammering people who aren't around to defend themselves.

Walters and Reasoner co-anchored what was then called the "ABC Evening News" in 1976, and it was a disaster.  Reasoner didn't want her there, and let's face it, Barbara Walters wasn't a very good news anchor.  She excelled in reporting and interviews, where she was later shifted at ABC.

Will I read "Rulebreaker?"  There is a good chance.  I have a growing stack of books I intend to devour, possibly when I have some time off this summer.

Just remember, some people aren't as awful as they might appear.

Unfinished Thursday

 

What is with all the bizarre crimes recently?  Chopped up bodies.  Torture.  Bodies found in basements.  Bodies found along highways.  Gang shootings.  Places that used to be safe are now dangerous.  It is severely depressing and troublesome.  Our little area used to be an oasis away from those things, and those days are over.

People are going crazy because the women's NCAA basketball championship game drew more eyeballs than the men's.   Let's take a closer look at that.  First, it's great that women's sports are getting major recognition.  The women's game had a great story-- an unbeaten South Carolina team, and the great Caitlin Clark for Iowa.  The women's game was on ABC on a Sunday afternoon while the men played Monday night on TBS.  Plus, the men's game didn't start until well after 9 pm in the eastern time zone.  Other than the chance of a Connecticut repeat, the men's game didn't have any really compelling story.  And, ABC is in far more homes than TBS.

Numbers can tell you a lot, but they don't reveal everything.

Here's to Erie!

 

It was great to see Erie in the spotlight, or the total darkness, Monday.  The northwestern Pennsylvania city was in the path of the total solar eclipse.  The clouds parted long enough for people there to get a great look at the eclipse.

I'm fond of the city.

My first visit was in the spring of 1994, and I was covering Tom Ridge's gubernatorial campaign.  A photographer and I took the long way out-- across Route 6.  It was a long drive, but one of the most scenic-- small towns, historic courthouses, trains...

As fate would have it, there was a near total eclipse on that first visit.

I became so fond of the Route 6 journey that I took it several times, recreationally, over the years.  

Erie has come a long way.  The area along the bay has been developed.  A lot of the old, grimy, industrial sites are gone and it's a lovely place to visit.

The only drawback is the nine month long winter.

I really wasn't into photography as much back then, so I don't have any photos to share, but if you ever get the chance, stop by.  You won't be sorry.

Friends tell stories that they had a great time in Erie Monday.  I saw the video.  The city is looking good.

I think Erie has turned the corner and no longer is the joke of Pennsylvania.

Follow Up Tuesday

 

I still haven't heard an explanation from the Scranton parking people as to why meters are enforced on MLK Day, but not Juneteenth.

While half of the staff was out chasing the solar eclipse yesterday, Ally Gallo and I held down our morning broadcast, which was great fun.  It's always nice to do a little something different during the week.

Speaking of the eclipse, I thought it was a great event, and I'm happy that people were "in" to something so positive.  However, I became sick of the hype weeks ago, and I'm thrilled its over.

I finally used up the last of those flavorless cellophane wrapped  jalapeno cheese slices.  I will say this.  I microwaved a pepperoni sandwich with a couple of those cheese slices on top.  It's a good melter!

We do keep a careful eye on the presidential and senate polls.  It should make for an entertaining fall.

Crazy weather lately, but that is to be expected at this time of year.

The Oakland Athletics will play in Oakland for one more year.  It's then off to Sacramento for three years, and finally Las Vegas.  Yes, the owner is a penny pinching scoundrel who is not investing n the team, but Oakland rarely supported the team.  The stadium is the worst in the league.  They weren't going to build a new one, so off they go.

A movie studio is in the running to buy CBS.  Conventional wisdom has the studio keeping the CBS property, Paramount, and selling off the network and the TV stations.  Friends, this is the beginning of the end.  

By the way, CBS just closed its Tokyo bureau.  Asia is one of the most volatile places in the world, and CBS will now rely on the BBC to tell it what's going on.

It seems like even more people are ignoring Pennsylvania's "wipers on, lights on" law.

EclipseWatch 2024

 

I realize that by the time many of you are reading this, the Great Eclipse of 2024 will be over.

My excitement level is severely lacking.

I did witness a near total eclipse back in the spring of 1994.  Erie was in the path, and it was there covering Tom Ridge's run for governor.  I will admit it was cool, but it did not live up to the hype.

Parents are taking their kids on trips into the path of totality, and that is absolutely fantastic.  This is a great shareable moment.  Other than that, I can do without the mayhem.  Warnings were posted about traffic issues.  Hotels in the path of the eclipse are charging outrageous rates.

View it, but do so carefully.  And, please, keep your sanity.

Andy's Angles: The Purple Thumb

 

I've always stood in awe of people who have the ability to grow things-- from the farmer with thousands of acres, to the backyard gardeners, with just a few square feet.

I don't have the skill.  I don't have the patience.  I don't have the tolerance to deal with fickle weather.

I was blessed with the ability to appreciate the talent of others and the simple majesty of nature.

There is just something about spring time.  New Growth.  Color emerging from the bleakness of fall and winter.

If you ever are feeling down, just take a walk around Nay Aug Park in Scranton.  A little color will do you good.

Andy's Angles: The Daffodil

 

Spring is a cruel time of year.  Sunny and warm one day, below freezing the next.

The daffodils came out early, during a warm spell last month, only to have their buds frozen off late in the month.

This is a shot from the flower garden on the Arthur Avenue side of Nay Aug Park in Scranton.

Better days are ahead.  At least, that's what I keep telling myself.

Harry and Joe

 Harry Smith retired from NBC News last week.  He'd been there for 12 years.  It was a long stay at CBS before that.  Smith started his career in local TV and radio.

I always loved the guy.  Smooth delivery, great writing, TV Guide once called him one of the best interviewers on morning television.

Smith handled the CBS morning show during a few of its many, many  incarnations.   He never seemed to be the guy CBS went to first, but they went to him eventually.  I can relate to that.

Smith will now teach at Central College in Iowa, and I hope his students realize how lucky they are.

Moving on...

Joe Flaherty died April 1.

His movie and television appearances are too numerous to list here.  I'll always remember Flaherty for all the side splittingly funny characters he did on SCTV.  If you're unfamiliar with the show, do yourself a favor and do a search.  SCTV is one of the most underrated series of all times.  Melonville lost one of the best.

Joe Flaherty was 82.

Just My Luck!

 

I had a medical check up last week.  Routine.  Nothing major.  It was my first in two years.  Yes, I know that's bad.

I knew my doctor would order blood work.  I saw that coming.  Yes, I know it's routine.  As a preemptive strike, I fasted before my medical appointment, so I wouldn't have to go back for the blood work.  Easy.  I finished with the doctor on the second floor.  Next stop:  the first floor lab.  After a quick jab, I was out the door.  

Life is not without complications.  The doctor also wanted a urine sample.  I didn't have to go!  We skipped that and rescheduled for Monday afternoon, right after work.  I didn't have to go all the way to the lab in the same building as my doctor.  I could drop by the lab a just couple of miles from home.

Sounds like a plan!

I drank my body weight in Diet Pepsi while I was at the office Monday morning.  Water, too.  I came tearing in to the lab's parking lot at 12:40, twenty minutes before my appointment.  My bladder couldn't hold another drop.

Imagine my horror when I saw the sign on the door:  the lab staff would be out to lunch until 1 pm.  I had to hold it!

In case I couldn't, there were several stores and restaurants within running distance.  Fate smiled on me.  The old bladder can still get the job done.

The lab reopened at exactly 1 pm, and I jumped out of my car, bolting for the lab's door.

I was doing the "I really have to pee" dance as the attendant asked all the required questions.  I asked her to hurry up because I really had to go.  I was never as happy as I was when she handed me the cup.  

I could have filled a dozen of them.

At least, I don't have to go through that ordeal for another six months.

Wednesday Scrapple

 

Today's entry in the "you know the lyrics, even though you haven't heard the song in eons" is "Count Me In" by Gary Lewis and the Playboys.

It's a cold and rainy week, and I don't really mind.  It will be unbearably hot and humid before you know it.

I know I say this every year, but the opening week of Major League Baseball did nothing for me.

Billion dollar lottery jackpots are tempting, but I'll keep my dollar in my pocket.

I've seen a solar eclipse before.  The upcoming one really doesn't thrill me.

Why do four local newspapers, in different cities, look almost identical?

GMail is now 20 years old.  Yawn.  It's no better or worse than the others out there.

April Fool's Day jokes were never funny.

No great stories coming out of the NCAA basketball tournament this year, but I always liked the speed in which this thing starts and stops, unlike the NHL and NBA playoffs.

Soup is great, even after the weather turns warm.

The Master

 

Peter Marshall, the first host of "The Hollywood Squares" turned 98 over the weekend, and he appears to be doing great.

There are several "Hollywood Squares" episodes on You Tube.  Watch carefully,  and observe how Marshall runs the show.

After Kenny Williams introduces the nine celebrities and then the host, Marshall simply says hello to the audience, the stars, and has a quick chat with the contestants.  Then, it's on to the game.  In an interview, Marshall said he knew his job was to ask the questions, get out of the way, and let the celebrities do their thing.  It was all about the game, not him.

I also saw an interview with series regular, Rose Marie.  She commented on how Marshall knew when to work a line, and more importantly, when to back off.

Watch our weekend morning broadcasts.  After three quick headlines, I say hello and toss it to Ally for a quick shot of weather.  It's then right in to the news.  I never believed in wasting your time, and it's all about the news, not me!  Beware those types who think they are bigger than the news, and they are everywhere.

Happy birthday, Peter Marshall, and thank you for the inspiration.

Business Monday

 

Some widely varied items today...

Every engineering expert says there is no bridge in the country that would have survived a hit like the one the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore took last week.

Once again, it shows the fragility of the American infrastructure.  The last time I checked, the country is surrounded by water.  Yet, the loss of the port of Baltimore inflicts a major blow to the American economy.  If it's in your home, there is a good chance it came through that port.  That fact simply amazes me.

Shifting gears...

In a major plus for both companies, McDonalds announced it will have Krispy Kreme donuts in all of its stores by the end of 2026.  Recent testing proved to be a major success.  McDonald's will carry only a few varieties, and they will be available all day.  While McDonald's has a great track record of inventing new products, there is nothing like taking something already a hit and bringing it in to your orbit.

Sports gambling is a huge business.  The Dodgers, its star pitcher and his interpreter are currently trying to spin their way out of a betting scandal.  Good luck with that, and get used to it.  There will eventually be something involving gambling that will shake professional and college sports to its core.

And, speaking of "getting used to it,"  the NFL will be selling more exclusive games to streaming services.  Two points of blame.  One is the greed of the NFL.  The other is all the people who bought the Peacock playoff game in January, proving to the league that its fans can be fleeced.

Andy's Angles: Roaring Brook

 

Roaring Brook in Scranton and Dunmore has been in the news quite a bit recently, and for the wrong reasons.  An upstream construction project dumped tons of dirt and silt into the water.  I can't wait to see whose feet are held to the fire over that one.

The water was running clear when I visited on a recent early spring morning.  It was sunny and cold, but still a beautiful day.

The shot was taken near Richter and Ash, just across from the East Scranton Little League fields.

Andy's Angles: Holding on to Yesterday

 

I always liked oak trees.  Big.  Majestic.  And acorns!

Another of the plusses, is the mighty oaks hang on to their leaves, sometimes until the new growth arrives in the spring.

Yes, the leaves can be brown and nasty, crispy, crinkled, and curled...  but they survive through the harshest of times, and there is a lot to be said for that.

Don't ask me why, but the "survival" aspect hit me hard a couple of weeks ago, while I was walking toward my car, after photographing a creek in east Scranton.  We often overlook that.  

They might be unsightly, but give credit to the oak leaves for weathering the storms.

60

 

The TV game show "Jeopardy!" turns 60 years old tomorrow.

There was a long original run, until January of 1975, with the man you see above, Art Fleming, as host, and he really was the master.  Watch the few episodes that are on YouTube.  Fleming slows down if he gets an ultra smart and cocky contestant.  He picks up the pace when the show lags.  Watching him work was a thing of beauty.

Fleming had another short run with the for about five months in 1978 and 1979.  It wasn't the same.  They screwed with the format and added a cumbersome bonus round.

There are still plenty of other fond memories.  I remember walking home from my elementary school for lunch with my mom.  NBC had a killer line up of game shows back in the day.  Campbell's vegetable soup and "Hollywood Squares" were frequently on my menu.  Mom and I had the opportunity to see more games during summer break.  There was still plenty of time to play outside.

I should add, I knew nothing as a tot, but I was amazed at the big mechanical game board, the brilliant contestants who were lightning fast, and the way Fleming handled the game.

"Jeopardy!" came back in daily syndication in the fall of 1984.  The local station ran it at 5:30 in the afternoon at first, before it really took off and moved to the "prime access hour.".  I would sit and watch in the WARM newsroom in Avoca, and compete with fellow broadcaster Guy Randall.  We were both surprised at how easy the questions had become.   By the way, Guy was really good.  It seems like the show eventually found a groove and the questions, or more accurately, the answers, became a little more difficult.

As I said when he passed, I was never really much of an Alex Trebek fan, until "Jeopardy!."  He did a few other game shows, and I thought he was rather wooden, but "Jeopardy!" fit like a glove.  On top of that, the producers had the great sense not to mess with the format.

If I can't watch in its entirety, I do catch the highlight clips on the internet.

60 years of "Jeopardy!" is an amazing broadcast success story.  It was good when I was a kid.  It's still that good.

45

 

It was one of my "where were you when..." moments and it happened 45 years ago today.

We had a warm spell a few days prior.  A friend and I blew off school for the day, believing a day at Lackawanna State Park was better than a day inside a smelly and soul crushing high school.  We were right.  It was our senior year, and by then, I knew all I needed to know.

I was driving out of the Dunmore Shopping Center and on to the O'Neil Highway, fresh from picking up some photos from one of those tiny film developing booths that were so revolutionary at the time.  Yes, not only did I blow off school, but I had the photos to prove it.  The news came on the radio.  There was an accident at the nuclear power plant in Middletown, just outside of Harrisburg.  And for you youngsters out there, there really was a time when you could get news on local radio.

That late afternoon newscast sounded serious, but not catastrophic.  The story was just beginning and the worst was yet to come.

I vividly remember actually going to school the next day, and hearing a teacher discuss that plans were being made to evacuate the city of Harrisburg.  This was getting real!

Local TV news was all over it, and a huge portion of Walter Cronkite's "CBS Evening News" was dedicated to the TMI story, including detailed explanations of how nuclear power worked, what happened at the plant, and all the horrible possibilities if the situation wasn't contained.

As we know by now, the leak was fixed.  The meltdown was averted.  It either shows the system worked, or it didn't, depending on your point of view.

It did make for an unforgettable week for a high school senior.

Bridges

 

If you're been reading this blog for any length of time, you will know that one of my phobias is driving over big bridges that cross large bodies of water.

I remember those terror filled moments on the Tappan Zee bridge over the Hudson River as a kid.  We'd make family trips to visit relatives in Bridgeport, CT.  As if Bridgeport wasn't bad enough, you had to cross that bridge to get there.

As I matured and started taking vacations on my own, I became very fond of the Baltimore/Annapolis area.  It's beautiful.  Unfortunately, using bridges and tunnels are a must.

I've driven the Bay Bridge.  I've driven the Key Bridge, the one that collapsed Tuesday morning, when a barge hit a support.  It fell down in a heap.  My stomach sank when I saw the amazing video.  My heart went out to the drivers and passengers on the bridge.  At least, it happened in the middle of the night.  I can imagine the death and injuries if the collapse happened in the middle of the morning or afternoon rush.

I should add that being in a newsroom is an amazing place when a major news story hits.  Buzzers and alarms go off.  The Associated Press and ABC News start popping with closed circuit advisories.  It's non stop action and activity.

I don't mean to be insensitive.  People lost their lives.  The loss of the bridge will have a huge economic impact.

My only hope is we've learned something about ship traffic and bridge construction.

Tuesday Scrapple

 

I've never played a team or individual sport.  We had three high school basketball teams here in our area go to the state championships last week, and all three came up a little short.  Our reporters interviewed some of the kids, and they all had the best attitudes.  I thought it was great.

Today's entry in "You remember the words, even though you haven't heard the song in eons..." belongs to Gene Cotton's "Before My Heart Finds Out."  1978.

I've been in a solar eclipse.  Interesting.  Not thrilling.  They don't excite me.

I have a blog entry coming up on the 45th anniversary of the Three Mile Island accident.  Believe me, that story did make an impact.

Easter was always one of my favorite holidays.

My stomach tightens every time I pass a gas station.  It's going to be a long summer.

Former Kingston Mayor Jim Haggerty lost his battle with cancer last week.  I met him a few times over the years, and I can't say I really knew him.  We do have a close mutual friend, and Haggerty really did seem like a great guy.  My sympathy to his family and friends.

A ton of old "Match Game/Hollywood Squares Hour" episodes from 1983 and 1984 have turned up on You Tube.  They also run on the Buzzr network.  While the show had its moments, I can't believe such a flawed concept made it on the air.

I haven't whined about this for a while, but it's time for Walmart to go back to 24/7 operation.  I know it's a lost cause.

The mass shooting in Russia made major headlines over the weekend.  The world is a scary place.

The pace at which we repair old bridges here in Pennsylvania is appalling.  

I'm still waiting for this year's magic "March Madness" story to appear.

Chickened Out

 

I was tooling about on the internet the other day, making a stop at You Tube.  Someone uploaded a ton of "The French Chef" episodes from the early 60's. and they are a primitive thing of beauty.

The video is black and white.  It's grainy, and it shows every bit of Julia Child's awkward charm.  You can see her straining to read the cue cards.  You can see her rush through recipe elements.  You can see she is never totally comfortable on television.  I guess that's what made Julia great.  She was real.

However, the focus of today's entry is sanitation.

There has been a chicken phobia in recent years-- fears of bacteria and cross contamination.  If a chicken so much as looks at something, out comes the hot, soapy water and bleach.

Julia Child is tossing around chickens and chicken parts like there is no tomorrow in the episode I watched.  She wasn't a clean freak because we just didn't care about that stuff back in the day.  I checked the archives.  Julia Child never killed anybody.

I know.  You can never be too careful, especially these days.

But, there are times I wonder if we are being too darned fussy.

Andy's Angles: The Rail Yard

 I'm thrilled Reading and Northern made its Pittston operation more accessible.  It makes sense.  This is the arrival and departure point for weekend excursions to Jim Thorpe.  I know all railroad people worry about having photographers and sightseers wander into potentially dangerous places.

This is an opportunity to get close, without getting too close.  All you have to do is stay in the designated parking area, and you should be fine.

I really look forward to that return visit.

Andy's Angles: Caboose Day

 

I have a few more train photos to blow off here before we move on to other things, and today, it's a couple from my recent trip to the Reading and Northern yard in Pittston.

As a kid, I thought the caboose was the coolest part of the train.  As the years piled on, I learned to appreciate the power and majesty of the engine, but I can appreciate the end of the train.

I know there is no longer a need for a caboose, but I'm happy some are still around.

Let's Do Shots Before Philosophy Class!

 Let me tell you about the Marywood College of my my era.

There were no dorms for men back then.  No worries.  I lived two miles from campus, and there was plenty of apartment space around the city if I wanted to make a move.  Many of my classmates did.

At the dorms for females, men weren't allowed past the lobby.

There was a strict anti alcohol policy.  In fact, dorm girls weren't even allowed to use an empty beer or wine bottle as a vase!

Hey, those were the rules.  They were clearly advertised.  If you didn't like them, there were plenty of other colleges or universities willing to take your money.  If you were old enough to drink, Scranton had plenty of bars back then.  It still does.  As opposed to my era, every mini mart now has a liquor license, and some are just a few blocks from campus.

Imagine my shock and surprise when I read on the student news web site that the the company that has the university's food service contract applied for a liquor license.  Yes, "The Wood Word" clued me in, but the photos are mine.  Welcome to the "Pacer Pub."  It seems destined for the student center, called Nazareth Hall.

Nazareth Hall is already home to Marywood's E Sports center, another move that leaves me shaking my head, but that is another story for another time.

I'm a traditionalist.  I'm old school, pardon the pun.  I'm not a Neanderthal.  I know colleges and universities have to compete for the higher education dollar, an increasingly competitive industry.  You need the latest and the greatest.  You need to stay with the times.  There is still much we don't know about the operation of the "Pacer Pub."  It seems to me to be an effort to show Marywood is more than that quiet nunnery on the hill, that it is a modern institution.  I also have no problem with the responsible use of alcohol.  

However, this seems to be the wrong place at the wrong time.

{Brackets}

 

The annual NCAA Basketball Tournament is underway, also known as "March Madness."  It's a great event-- a single elimination tournament, lasting three weeks, ending with the crowning of a national champion.

The tournament always draws solid television ratings, and tons of interest-- from simple office pools to hard core gambling.  Picking the games, or the brackets, is good, clean fun.

There are always first round upsets, and a team or two that hangs on much longer than expected.  The moments after the final buzzer, of the final game, are sheer magic-- an unforgettable experience for players and fans.

And, I could not possibly care less.

A Hero

 

Regular blog readers know the astronauts of the 60's and 70's were among my heroes.  We lost one this week.

Thomas Stafford was aboard Apollo 10 in the spring of 1969.  That mission was the dress rehearsal for the Apollo 11 moon landing that summer.

I've grown to appreciate these men even more, even though we stopped going to the moon long ago.  They made it look so easy, but as we've learned, the space program was anything but easy.  There was no guarantee any of this stuff would work.  There was no guarantee they would get there, and clearly, there was no guarantee they were coming home.

Thomas Stafford was 93.

According to NASA, there are only eight remaining astronauts from the lunar program.

Action News

 

courtesy:  New York Post

Bill Jorgensen is the man you see here on the left, in a photo from his days at WPIX in New York City.  Jorgensen died last week at the age of 96.

He came over to WPIX after helping establish the news operation at cross town WNEW, now WNYW.

Let me back up a bit, and do what I usually do here-- inflict myself in to the story.

WPIX revamped its news in the mid 70's.  New title:  "Action News."  Great theme.   Fantastic set.  Solid anchors-- Pat Harper in the center and Steve Bosh on the right.  It was a perfect mix of reporters-- Kamen, Bloom, Casey, Witker, Ferer, Malloy, Scott...  Some were great at features.  The others were intrepid investigators.  You can't forget about Jerry Girard on sports.  Jeffrey Lyons did movie and Broadway reviews.  I had occasional access to WNEW, but I couldn't see the major network affiliates on my cable system, so this is likely an unfair judgement, but I loved Action News and thought it was the best newscast in the city.  It was informative, visual, fun, interesting...  My joy was only amplified when they added a 7:30 pm version to the 10 pm edition.

There are a handful of major influences on my television "career, " and many minor ones.   The two biggest are WNEP and WPIX of the 1970's.

Okay, foundation established.

Harper and Bosh handled most of the anchoring chores, until 1979, when Bill Jorgensen joined the crew.  Jorgensen was just about the perfect anchor-- great voice and delivery, tight writer.  The man dripped gravitas.  If Bill Jorgensen said something, you believed it.

Unfortunately...  there was no chemistry with Bosh and Harper.  The three anchor arrangement just didn't work and the newscast lost its luster.  It just seemed awkward and uncomfortable.  You can sense something was amiss.

Let me branch off for a moment, and how much I hate talking about "chemistry."  It's television.  If the chemistry is a little off, no one dies.  On the other hand, a newscast is much more watchable and easier to handle if the people on the screen like and respect each other.  You can't teach that.  You can't fake that, and I have been so fortunate over the last several years.  One day, I will tell "the rest of the story."

Harper eventually defected for WNBC.  Bosh made a couple of other stops, including Dallas and San Diego.  You might find this story semi humorous.  I had a friend working at Bosh's San Diego TV station.  We were messaging one day, and I said "Tell Steve Bosh I said he is a God."  My friend replied "He's standing right here."  I nearly dropped my phone.

Jorgensen stayed at WPIX for eight years, until his retirement.

I'm searching for a clever way to wrap this up, and looking for the moral of the story.  Bill Jorgensen was a great anchor, but I never thought WPIX was a good fit.  He informed millions for decades, and I hope his contributions to journalism are never forgotten.

Hurry Up and Wait

 

Once upon a time, ABC hired a young reporter out of Canada.  It was the mid 60's.  The kid showed great promise and he was handed the evening news anchor job.

He bombed.

Bigly.

It didn't help that ABC had a station line-up that was far inferior to CBS and NBC, but the kid wasn't ready for the evening news anchor gig.  Awkward.  Chilly.  The audience didn't warm up to him and he was soon replaced.

The new former anchor became a correspondent for ABC, traveling the country, and then the globe.  There were assignments in Europe and the Middle East.  He did great.

The correspondent was installed as the news reader on a new ABC network morning show.

It flopped.

It lasted less than one year.

It was back to Europe and the Middle East.

When ABC needed an anchor in the mid 70's, This man was given another shot.  He was ready this time.  It was the best newscast on network television.

You might remember the correspondent/anchor:  Peter Jennings.

For some bizarre reason, Peter Jennings came to mind when the Pittsburgh Steelers traded Kenny Pickett to the Philadelphia Eagles Friday.

Pickett was handed Pittsburgh's starting quarterback job.

He bombed.

Bigly.

The Steelers decided to go with the now journeyed Russell Wilson, who will be 36 when the season starts.  Pickett pouted.  Rather than sit on the bench for a while and learn from a player who will be in the Hall of Fame one day, Pickett wanted a move.

Now, he'll sit on the bench in Philadelphia.

This should have turned out differently.

Andy's Angles: Ft. Jenkins

 

You can't put a picture of the Water Street Bridge on the blog without a photo of its companion span.  This is the Fort Jenkins Bridge over the Susquehanna River.  Pittston is on the left.  West Pittston is on the right.

Unlike Water Street, this bridge is still open.

This photo begged to be cropped, at least a little.  I didn't.  I wouldn't.  I couldn't.  I like the blue sky and the reflection on the water in the left part of the shot.

Andy's Angles: Again?!

 

Outside of the trains at Steamtown, this has to be one of the most photographed things in my catalog.  This is the Water Street Bridge over the Susquehanna River.  Pittston is on the right.  West Pittston is on the left.

In a blog post about one of my favorite songs, "Baker Street," I mentioned that I notice something different each time I hear the song.  The same is true when I have this bridge in my viewfinder.

The bridge is old and it closed a few years ago.  There is a plan to replace it.  We'll see if the politicians follow through after the election.

A look at its companion bridge tomorrow.