December 22, 2022

By lyle e davis

This is a difficult story to write. Won’t be easy to read, either. At fifteen seconds after 9:41 a.m., on September 11, 2001, a photographer named Richard Drew took a picture of a man falling through the sky -- falling through time as well as through space.

This was the infamous day the World Trade Center was attacked by terrorists. The day that over 200 human beings jumped to their deaths.

The first fireman killed was from being hit by a falling jumper who had recently left the 95th floor. As quoted by Tom Junod, in a story from Esquire Magazine: “He is in the clutches of pure physics, accelerating at a rate of thirty-two feet per second squared. He will soon be traveling at upwards of 150 miles per hour, and he is upside down.”

Of Richard Drew, the Associated Press photographer, Junod wrote:

“He started shooting pictures through a 200mm lens. He was standing between a cop and an emergency technician, and each time one of them cried, “There goes another,” his camera found a falling body and followed it down for a nine- or twelve-shot sequence. He shot ten or fifteen of them before he heard the rumbling of the South Tower and witnessed, through the winnowing exclusivity of his lens, its collapse.”

Junod goes on: “They began jumping not long after the first plane hit the North Tower, not long after the fire started. They kept jumping until the tower fell. They jumped through windows already broken and then, later, through windows they broke themselves. They jumped to escape the smoke and the fire; they jumped when the ceilings fell and the floors collapsed; they jumped just to breathe once more before they died. They jumped continually, from all four sides of the building, and from all floors above and around the building’s fatal wound. They jumped from the offices of Marsh & McLennan, the insurance company; from the offices of Cantor Fitzgerald, the bond-trading company; from Win-

dows on the World, the restaurant on the 106th and 107th floors -- the top. For more than an hour and a half, they streamed from the building, one after another, consecutively rather than en masse, as if

each individual required the sight of another individual jumping before mustering the courage to jump himself or herself.

They were all, obviously, very much

alive on their way down, and their way down lasted an approximate count of ten seconds. They were all, obviously, not just killed when they landed but destroyed, in body though not, one prays, in soul.

Far left: A Japanese officer, Yasuno Chikao, prepares to behead Australian Sergeant Leonard G. Siffleet, an Australian commando, at Aitape in New Guinea in 1943. The Japanese officer did not face a war crimes tribunal as he did not survive the war. Left: The Falling Man - never definitely identified, was one of approximately 200 who jumped to their deaths on 9/11/2001. Right: An ISIS jihadist, purportedly a Briton, delivers a warning to President Obama just moments before beheading the American journalist, James Foley. Two weeks later, another American journalist, Steven Sotloff, was also beheaded. Far right: Even innocent children are not immune from terror tactics. There are reports that women and children have been beheaded by ISIS.

This was an ending as unimaginable as it was unbearable: Americans responding to the worst terrorist attack in the history of the world with acts of heroism, with acts of sacrifice, with acts of generosity, with acts of martyrdom, and, by terrible necessity, with one prolonged act of -- if these words can be applied to mass murder -mass suicide.”

Was this the beginning of a different type of war?

Murder, slaughter of the innocents? Probably not.

Innocents have been slaughtered in every war since the beginning of time. Look it up.

You can start with the bible. Lots of slaughter recorded there. The facts and figures are there. You’ll spend hours on Google documenting the slaughter of innocents in wartime . . . complete with gory pictures.

The Japanese atrocities at Nanking are well documented, the Bataan Death March is well documented, the horrible atrocities of the Nazis against civilians and military alike are well known; the fact that American troops committed atrocities during World War II is not so well known but is also well docu-

Give Us This Day our

Daily Chuckle

mented if one wants to search.

The North Vietnamese and Viet Cong often would kill and torture village chiefs and villagersas an “object lesson” to not cooperate with Allied forces. And then there was our own My Lai atrocity.

After the Russians successfully beat back Hitler’s “Operation Barbarosa” and the Red Army headed west, into Germany, with revenge on its mind, one soldier recalled asking a general what they were allowed to do to the Germans. ‘Anything,’ the officer replied. ‘And so we did,’ the soldier said. ‘We shot unarmed civilians, we threw grenades into basements where women and children were sheltering.’

A tank commander knowingly ran over refugees. A fighter pilot admitted without any remorse strafing columns of fleeing civilians and turning thousands ‘into mincemeat’.

In one town, an old German rushed forward to greet the Soviet forces, brandishing proof of his membership of the Communist Party. He had risked his life to hang on to that card throughout the Nazi period. But a soldier smashed his skull in.

Millions of women were raped during WWII, particularly after Germany was occupied.

The majority of the assaults were committed in the Soviet occupation zone; estimates of the numbers of German women raped by Soviet soldiers ranged up to 2 million. In many cases women were the victims of repeated rapes, some as many as 60 to 70 times. At least 100,000 women are believed to have been raped in Berlin, based on surging abortion rates in the following months and contemporary hospital reports, with an estimated 10,000 women dying in the aftermath. Female deaths in connection with the rapes in Germany, overall, are estimated at 240,000. Antony Beevor describes it as the “greatest phenomenon of mass rape in history,” and has concluded that at least 1.4 million women were raped in East Prussia, Pomerania and Silesia alone. It is estimated that one out of every six German women raped who then died were a result of suicide.

Natalya Gesse states that Russian soldiers raped German females from eight to eighty years old.

In Taken by Force, J. Robert Lilly estimates the number of rapes committed by U.S. servicemen in Germany to be 11,040. As in the case of the American occupation of France after the D-Day invasion, many of the American rapes in Germany in 1945 were gang rapes committed by armed soldiers at gunpoint.

Atrocities were committed by both sides in Iraq and Afghanistan.

No one has clean hands during wartime. It’s an ugly business, war is. For military and civilians, but particularly for civilians who have no defenses against military might.

But somewhere along the line, there has become a different type of war. Whereas it used to be military machines sought to conceal their atrocities, modern day terrorist organizations boast about them. They provide stills and video coverage of beheadings and distribute it freely to the mainstream media so as to further intimidate the general public and the military forces and their sponsoring nations.

They’ve done a pretty good job of scaring me.

Islamic history provides plenty of precedent. In the late 19th century, Mahdists — Islamic millenarians — beheaded foes in Britishadministered Sudan. Nearly a millennium before, the Muslim conqueror Yusuf ibn Tashfin and his troops cut off the heads of the 24,000 Castilians they had killed in the Battle of Sagrajas in 1086, and then they piled up the rest of the bodies “to make a sort of minaret for the muezzins who, standing on the piles of headless cadavers, sang the praises

tried to mount the cow, the cow would move away.

No matter what approach the bull tried, the cow would move away from the bull, and he was never able to do the deed.

The people were very upset and decided to go to the vet, who was very wise, tell him what was happening and ask his advice.

The Scottish Cow

The only cow in a small town in Ireland stopped giving milk.

Then the town folk found they could buy a cow in Scotland quite cheaply.

So, they brought the cow over from Scotland.

It was absolutely wonderful, it produced lots of milk every day and everyone was happy.

They bought a bull to mate with the cow to get more cows, so they’d never have to worry about their milk supply again.

They put the bull in the pasture with the cow but whenever the bull

“Whenever the bull tries to mount our cow, she moves away. If he approaches from the back, she moves forward. When he approaches her from the front, she backs off. If he attempts it from the one side, she walks away to the other side.”

The vet rubbed his chin thoughtfully and pondered this before asking, “Did you by chance, buy this cow in Scotland?”

The people were dumbfounded, since no one had ever mentioned that they had brought the cow over from Scotland.

“You are truly a wise vet,” they said. “How did you know we got the cow from Scotland?

The vet replied with a distant look in his eye: “My wife is from Scotland “

Diary of a Snow Shoveler

This is from a guy who retired down south and moved to his wife`s hometown in Minnesota. He was born and raised in Tyler, Tx. December 8 - 6:00 PM It started to snow. The first snow of the season and the wife and I took our cocktails and sat for hours by the window watching the huge soft flakes drift down from heaven.

It looked like a Grandma Moses Print. So romantic we felt like newlyweds again. I love snow!

December 9

We woke to a beautiful blanket of crystal white snow covering every inch of the landscape. What a fantastic sight! Can there be a more lovely place in the whole world?

Moving here was the best idea I’ve ever had! Shoveled for the first time in years and felt like a boy again. I did both our driveway and the sidewalks.

This afternoon the snowplow came

along and covered up the sidewalks and closed in the driveway, so I got to shovel again. What a perfect life!

December 12

The sun has melted all our lovely snow. Such a disappointment! My neighbor tells me not to worry- we’ll definitely have a white Christmas. No snow on Christmas would be awful! Bob says we’ll have so much snow by the end of winter, that I’ll never want to see snow again. I don’t think that’s possible.

Bob is such a nice man, I’m glad he’s our neighbor.

December 14

Snow, lovely snow! 8 inches last night. The temperature dropped to -20. The cold makes everything sparkle so. The wind took my breath away, but I warmed up by shoveling the driveway and sidewalks. This is the life! The snowplough came back this afternoon and buried everything again. I didn’t realize I would have to do quite this

This week, a compendium of wit, wisdom and neat stuff you can tell at parties. Enjoy!

of Allah,” wrote historian Paul Fregosi. Tashfin then sent packages of heads to every major city in North Africa and Spain. But the practice of beheading goes further back, to the Prophet Muhammad himself, who reportedly ordered the execution of 700 Jewish men in Medina on charges of conspiring against him. ISIS has launched another cyberwar campaign as they have uploaded a beheading of an American Journalist. There is, to all of this, a political element, of course. In every age and in every part of the world, heads of traitors and criminals have been impaled on stakes as warnings, and heads of enemies and oppressors hoisted aloft as prizes. Foley’s death was apparently a response to American air strikes on Islamic State positions, and the jihadists then took another American’s death to retaliate for the U.S. not refraining from further military action. In this political maneuvering, the killers have a counterpart:

Mexican drug-cartel members, who are also notorious for beheading opponents. In 2006, La Familia announced its presence by rolling the severed heads of five rivals onto the floor of a discotheque in Michoacán. Since then, beheadings have become a regular occurrence south of the border. That this ideology seeks to annihilate and tyrannize is clear from the jihadists’ beheading method: not a quick, clean blow, but a slow, agonizing sawing motion that keeps the victim alive to experience his own execution. This is not the guillotine: It is torture. And its perpetrators glory in it. Welcome to the Islamic State. ISIS not only does not try to conceal their atrocities . . . they celebrate them.

Videos of trucks loaded with ISIS troops indiscriminately firing at cars loaded with families, a father, his wife, and his children . . . machine gunned while driving on a local highway, for no reason at all. Cheers ring out from those who fired the fatal shots . . . and the scene is repeated, time after time. Civilians, men, women, and children are routinely and quickly killed . . . sometimes not so quickly. Sometimes ISIS wants their victims to suffer a slow and painful death. And they video it . . . to share with others of like sick minds. And to terrorize.

How to deal with this not really new but openly displayed form of warfare? Western sensibilities are such that “an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth” would not fly. At least not publicly. Not politically correct.

Yet one must wonder if Western leadership must not come to real-

ize that just as we had to be brutal and merciless in our relentless fight against wartime Japan and Germany, so we must do the same against terrorists such as ISIS.

War criminals from ISIS must be tracked down, captured, and made to pay the ultimate penalty . . . and without mercy. More often than not, this type of activity will be done by our Special Forces teams . . . SEALS, Green Berets, Delta Force, CIA operatives . . . all doing their work under the cloak of secrecy.

And most of us don’t really want to know what happens. We just want the bad guys to be repaid by the good guys. Which is us. It is said the wheels of justice move slowly. And they do. But they move a little less slowly when our Special Forces get involved. So, in the end, war hasn’t really changed all that much. The Good Guys (Us) still kill The Bad Guys (Them). It is still ugly, regardless of who does the killing, and how, and when.

Combat zones tend to not be pretty places. When you see a close friend blown to bits by an IED (Improvised Explosive Device) you want revenge. When you see your father tortured, then hanged and shot, when you see your mother and sister tortured, raped and then killed . . . you kinda sorta want to take revenge. Only eliminate the ‘kinda sorta.” Blood runs hot in a combat zone. Niceties are not always observed. Bottom line: Expect more, not less from ISIS in the way of beheadings and mass slayings. Expect retaliation by the U.S. and our allies, in various forms, some of which will not be, and perhaps should not be, publicized.

Not a lot will change because there really is not “a different type of war.” War is War. Weapons may change, strategy may change, but, in the end, war doesn’t really change all that much.

Peace . . . is not at hand.

Sources: Esquire Magazine, “Surviving the Fall,” Tom Junod, September 11, 2011.

www.pacificwar.org.au/WarCr imeIntro.html

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/ne ws/ article-2007072/Operation- Barbarossa-Orgy-rape-genoc i d e - l a u n c h e d - H i t l e r - Russia. html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/R ape_during_the_occupation_of _Germany

http://www.nationalreview.co m/ article/385882/isis-butchersbeheading- cause-ian-tuttle

Oodles!

Looking for things to do? Places to go?

Check out Oodles every week for listing of civic and service club meetings throughout the area.

Have an event you need publicized?

Email it to: Oodles.ThePaper@gmail.com

If you submit photos do not embed them. Send them as jpg, tif, or pdf attachments only.

Simple press releases are the best: who, what, where, when, why. Please no brochures or flyers. Keep it simple You’ll get more ink!

Shine A Light On Seniors

ElderHelp provides personalized services and information that help seniors remain independent and live with dignity in their own homes.

Please consider a year-end gift to help a senior age with dignity in their home. Thank you for making life better for older adults!

Seniors need us now more than ever. Your donation provides vital services like grocery delivery, rides to the doctor, daily check-in calls, advocacy, and more--all to help seniors live independently and with dignity in their homes.

We are so very grateful for each and every gesture of support that moves our mission forward. Thanks to a generous donor, all year-end gifts will be matched up

to $25,000.That’s double impact! Here’s what you make happen:

• $60 provides 2 MONTHS of daily check-in calls

• $300 coordinates 2 MONTHS of vital care services

• $1,000 delivers groceries to 40 SENIORS

Go to https://elderhelpofsandiego. networkforgood.com/

Don’t miss your chance to help twice the animals in our San Diego community.

Now through Dec. 31, your gift will be matched up to $500,000, thanks to a generous gift from the Resource Partners Foundation. You’ll make twice the difference for animals like Freddie Mercury!

A Word from Escondido Mayor Dane White

ended up spending time living on the streets. Going from a young person experiencing homelessness in Escondido, to becoming a productive community member, school board trustee, and now serve as Mayor of Escondido, is just incredibly meaningful and special for me. It also represents the opportunity of our community and the importance of giving everyone a second chance.

First and foremost, I owe the residents of Escondido a thank you. Thank you for putting your trust in me to lead Escondido for the next four years and work on the difficult issues facing our community. This year’s election results clearly show that Escondido residents agree the status quo is not working and it is time for a new generation of leadership.

Since concluding our campaign in November, I have spent time reflecting on my personal journey. As I shared on the campaign trail, growing up in Escondido was not easy for me. I struggled with drug and alcohol addition and

Our major focus during our campaign was championing innovative, commonsense homelessness solutions. My first priority as Mayor will be to build additional emergency shelter space and safe camping locations to help those experiencing homelessness get off the streets and into the substance abuse, vocational, and mental health services they need.

I am so grateful to our campaign team, donors, volunteers, and most of all, my family, who have been with me for this wild ride. I look forward to getting to work on the key issues facing our community and working everyday to make Escondido a community we can all be proud of.

Oodles

The Union Trinune is reporting second and final round of grants San Diego County is awarding to local cities will help expand or continue shelter programs in San Diego, Carlsbad, Chula Vista and Escondido.

With the number of homeless people living without shelter increasing throughout the county, the Board of Superviso rs in May offered $10 million for cities to fund shelters, safe camping sites, cabins or other progr ams that would help get people off the street.

The grants announced Thursday will provide $2 million to expand Catholic Charities’ La Posada de Guadalupe shelter in Carlsbad, $1.8 million for pallet houses in Chula Vista, $736,000 for a family shelter in Escondido, $393,000 for a 34-room senior shelter in San Diego and $350,000 for a 42-bed family shelter, also in San Diego.

Oceanside received $3.3 million to help fund a 50-bed shelter, Vista received $65,000 for a safe parking lot and San Diego received $1 million for a safe parking lot.

Catholic Charities CEO Appasw amy “Vino” Pajanor agreed that the funding will make a significant impact on the Carlsbad shelter, which will expand its services and add up to 50 beds at La Posada de Guadalupe, which now has 100. “We have been looking at expanding La Posada for the past couple of years,” he said. “When the

county opportunity came about the city said, ‘You’ve been talking about this for a long time. This is a great idea.’”

In Escondido, a $736,000 grant will fund Interfaith Community Services’ plan to convert the Hawthorne Veteran and Family Resource Center into a family shelter.

Interfath CEO Greg Anglea said the money will add more beds to the 32-bed facility and fund capital improvements. “Unfortunately, we’re seeing a significant increase in families who have lost their housing,” he said.

The county funds will pay to reconfigure the small rooms to accommodate larger families, expand the kitchen, add a playground and an outdoor recreation area.

Anglea said because government funding for shelters is decreasing, Interfaith projects to lose $800,000 out of its $26 million budget.

“We need this kind of support in order to do this type of work,” he said about the county grant.

***

San Diego Humane Society Christmas Holiday Closures

San Diego Humane Society will be closing early on Saturday, Dec. 24, at 2 p.m., and will be closed on Sunday, Dec. 25 for the Christmas holiday.

To report an in progress animal emergency from 4 a.m. on Dec. 25 to 7 a.m. on Dec. 26, please contact your local law enforcement. At all other times, please call 619299-7012 (press 1) to report animal emergencies.

***

Man About Town

Daddy wants to sleep, lil’ Miss Puppy wants to play. Guess who wins? Every single time!

Old Mr. Grumpy Face awakens to deal with a new day and is greeted with dozens of itty-bitty kisses from lil’ Miss Playful Puppy. Who winds up smiling and then chuckling? Ever single time?

Yep, you guessed it. Lil’ Miss Playful Puppy has stolen my heart.

We call her Cindi and she is one of two rescue pups we have in our lives. The other is Trixie (whom Evelyn insists on calling “Amber.) Cindi is a “Chug” (chihuahua/pug mix) and Trixie is a Chihuahua and, we think, Terrier mix. We don’t care. All we know is they love us and we love them. Two of the finest daughters a couple ever had. •••••

While dwelling here in the animal kingdom, it pains me to report that my good friend and brilliant writer, Mark Carlson, has lost his companion, Musket.

Musket was a guide dog for Mark, who is legally blind (yet manages to write some brilliant commentary on aviation and aviation history).

In a note to his friends, Mark writes:

“For those of you who knew him, you will always remember his big heart and playful spirit, his sloppy kisses and wagging tail. He was a wonderful Guide Dog,

Mobile

clinic arrives to provide healthcare to homeless people in Oceanside

A TrueCare mobile clinic is at Brother Benno’s in Oceanside every Monday morning. On alternate days, the clinic provides either health care or dental services.

***

Court dates in swim instructor’s child sex abuse case pushed to January

The next court dates in the case of a swim instructor charged with molesting two children in San Marcos and Rancho Santa Fe have been continued to January to allow for continuing discovery, the San Diego County District Attorney’s Office confirmed.

***

The Master Speaks

Thoroughly enjoyed Tom Di Roma’s masterful cover story in The Paper titled “Tales From Alaska” (12/15/22 issue).

Tom Di Roma delivers with an unfiltered, earthy style that is remarkably refreshing with his organically powerful prose!

No matter what your preference in subject matter, Tales From Alaska is an “across-the-board” triumph -- and a most enjoyable reading experience!

I truly wonder if Mr. Di Roma realises just how deceptively talented he really is. Looking forward to more of his work. --

Friedrich Gomez, North San Diego County.

well-behaved and friendly to all those he met. He cheered sad people and made children laugh.

Musket gave more than he ever took. The world will be a sadder and grayer place without him. But for nearly fourteen years he made a difference to the lives of many people.

I had to go blind to have Musket enter my life. It was well worth it.

Rest In Peace, Little Buddy.

•••••

Was both pleased at some outstanding police work that allowed the Escondido Police Department to arrest a suspect in the scam trying to collect money in support of the Escondido police officer who was recently murdered, allegedly, by her husband; at the same time, however, I felt a sense of total revulsion for anyone who would be that low grade of a human being to even consider doing such a heinous crime. If convicted, it’s my hope this individual does some really hard time in prison.

Well done, Escondido PD; your fellow officer would have been proud of you and your efforts to bring to justice a piece of scum like this.

•••••

Consider that the news is that solid police work succeeded in identifying suspects, victims, and potential suspects.

With law enforcement in North County being so efficient we can all sleep a little better knowing we have some top professionals covering our streets and cutting into crime.

•••••

Remember that heart-wrenching story about a puppy named Flynn? What began as a tragic case of animal abuse has transformed into an uplifting story with a fairytale ending - which is fitting, since the Humane Society named this spunky Chihuahua puppy after Flynn Rider from Disney’s

New Laws for the New Year

Bills passed by the Legislature and signed by the Governor usually go into effect on January 1st of the following year. For better or worse, here are just a few new laws that go into effect New Year’s Day:

Laws impacting businesses include an increase in the minimum wage to $15 per hour for businesses with less than 25 employees. Previously, only larger companies were required to pay the increased amount.

Another new law requires California businesses with more than 15 employees to make pay scales for each job publicly available to all employees.

Still another law prevents companies from checking most potential new employees’ felony records, since many individuals will now be able to have their criminal records sealed.

Homelessness and mental illness will be impacted by new Community Assistance, Recovery and Empowerment (CARE) Courts to be established in 7 counties, including San Diego, allowing the courts to order persons suffering from severe mental illness into treatment. The program begins in October for

the 7 counties, and in all counties by December 2024.

Among other new laws:

Pedestrians will no longer be cited for jaywalking in most situations; police won’t be allowed to arrest/ cite persons they believe to be loitering to solicit for prostitution; the sale and manufacture of new fur clothing and accessories will be banned; toxicity testing for certain pesticides, chemical substances or food additives using household pets will be banned; the Lunar New Year will be recognized as a holiday for state employees; housing construction in strip malls or industrial parks could be fast-tracked in many cases.

These are just a few new laws that may have slipped under many people’s radar.

The Legislature reconvenes on January 4th, and over 2,000 bills are likely to be introduced.

Assemblymember Marie Waldron, R- Valley Center, represents the 75th Assembly District in the California Legislature, which includes the cities of Poway, Santee, portions of the City of San Diego, and most of rural eastern and northern San Diego County.

5th District Supervisor Jim Desmond

A Major Groundbreaking

When I was elected Supervisor four years ago, I made behavioral health a top priority. Behavioral health and homelessness go hand and hand and unfortunately, many of the people who end up living on our streets, are suffering mentally and aren’t given the proper medicine or care to help stabilize them.

Four years ago, North County was at a crossroads when it came to behavioral health. The suspension of the 22 inpatient beds and 12 crisis stabilization unit chairs, coupled with Palomar Hospital’s behavioral health services stopping meant we did not have adequate services.

I’m pleased to say that since then, North County is leading the way when it comes to helping the most vulnerable. Last week, we took another major step forward by breaking ground on a new Psychiatric Health Facility.

The new 13,560-square-foot psychiatric health facility will be a 16bed inpatient facility located at the western edge of the Tri-City Medical Center campus. It will serve

those experiencing a mental health emergency by providing them a safe environment.

North County has become a hub for behavioral health services. Three of the region’s six Crisis Stabilization Units are located along the State Route 78 corridor in Oceanside, Vista, and Escondido. One Safe Place, which serves women and families experiencing domestic violence, human trafficking, and elder abuse is making a huge difference for our region. And these psychiatric beds that are now coming to Tri-City Medical Center will be another asset to help those suffering.

There is a mental health crisis in our county and we need to do all we can to address it. This facility will do exactly that by saving lives!

North County Office by appointment only 325 S. Melrose Ave., Suite 5200 Vista, CA 92081

Monday-Friday 8am-5pm www.supervisorjimdesmond.com

Travel Troubleshooter

by Christopher Elliott

When Linda Brucia tries to change her American Airlines flight to tend to her ailing father, she inadvertently books the wrong airport. How can she fix this mistake?

Q: I had a ticket to fly home from San Francisco to New York on American Airlines this summer. A day before my flight, I learned that my father had a stroke.

Because I have macular degeneration, I had to call American Airlines to change my flight. I spoke with three different representatives. They were unhelpful and gave me misleading information.

But after much back and forth, I changed my ticket for an additional fee of $1,149. Between the chaos of my father’s condition and the rude agent, I realized I had booked the wrong flight. I was flying back from the wrong airport -- San Jose instead of San Francisco. It was much too far from where I was, and I wouldn’t be able to get there on time.

I immediately called American Airlines to explain my mistake and advised the agent I would not be on the San Jose flight.

The representative indicated that the airline could not refund me at that time but that I should follow up with the customer service department for a refund. I saw a seat online from San Francisco to New York and asked him to book it. He did, but it cost an extra $1,648.

Because of these events and my disability, I paid $2,797 in change fees to move up my flight one day. I want a refund for these charges.

-- Linda Brucia, New York

A: I’m so sorry to hear about your father. I hope he is well on his way to recovery. There’s so much that went wrong with this case, it’s hard to know where to start.

Airlines strongly prefer that you make your flight changes online. Remember how they used to charge an extra fee for making a reservation by phone to encourage customers to book through their site? American dropped that surcharge during the pandemic, but that shows its aversion to accepting reservations by phone.

American Airlines should have

been accommodating because of your disability and your state of mind, having just learned of your father’s stroke.

I don’t know if American believed your story. For example, you said you had to call the airline because of your macular degeneration but later checked the flights online. That might have made the representatives question your narrative. (And for the record, I believe you.)

You asked for a ticket change, but I think the representative misunderstood you and put in for a refund.

American should have changed your ticket from San Jose to San Francisco. But it looks like you purchased an entirely new ticket. That should have left you with a ticket credit for your original flight from San Jose to New York.

But more to the point, you had a complicated interaction with the reservation agents. And that’s understandable. You were under a lot of stress at the time. You would have been better off asking someone who can use a computer to make the ticket changes for you. That way, you would have had time to consider all the options instead of feeling rushed -- and maybe being misunderstood -- by a phone agent.

When you’re trying to solve a consumer problem, it helps to remember the three P’s -- patience, persistence and politeness. I have more strategies on how to fix any airline problem in my free guide to booking an airline ticket. I also publish the names, numbers and emails of American Airlines’ executives on my consumer advocacy site.

I contacted American Airlines on your behalf to see if we could get this sorted out. It looks like you already disputed the charges for your first ticket on your credit card. American said that it would not fight the dispute as a goodwill gesture, so you will get your money back.

Christopher Elliott’s latest book is “How To Be The World’s Smartest Traveler” (National Geographic). Get help by contacting him at http://www.elliott. org/help

Historically Speaking

by Tom Morrow

Whatever Happened To …

The march of time takes its toll on the things many of us grew up with from household products to beer, sports franchises, and automobiles.

Some of the most remembered names come from household items Mom used in her everyday housework. Handy tools such as “Old Dutch Cleanser,” “Bon Ami,” “Ajax, “Rinse-O White,” and “The Gold Dust Twins,” to name a few. For those who remember “The Twins,” the front of the box had a picture of two identical Black cherubs That washing powder probably was taken off the store shelf as the politically incorrect age came upon us. Up until the 1950s white entertainers wore “black-face” in minstrel shows and little was thought about it, except maybe black folks. Today minstrel shows are a thing of the past, except in old Al Jolson movies.

Did you brush your teeth after every meal with “Ipana” toothpaste? And who could forget having their mouth washed with a bar of “Lava” soap. I was 4-years old when I had that experience … for saying “damn.”

There still is “Uncle Ben’s Rice” along with “Aunt Jemima’s” pancake mix on the grocers’ shelf.

Most large cities had their own beer. In Kansas City it was “Müehlbach,” Hawaii hula danced with “Primo,” and Arizona cowboys drank Phoenix-brewed “A-1.” La Crosse, Wisconsin was the home of “Heilman’s Old Style Lager.”

A number of guzzlers back East drank “Jax” beer. In Chicago it was “Meisterbrau,” (brewed somewhere in nearby Wisconsin, and in Detroit it was “Stroh, and in Omaha, Nebraskans drank “Storz.”

Interesting story about Chicago’s Meisterbrau which was one of the first breweries to develop a lowcalorie beer. As it rose in popularity across the nation, Miller brewing company bought out the company

but saved the label of “Lite” and today is one of America’s most popular beers.

Those U.S. troops and sailors in the Pacific were quite familiar with “Lucky Lager” and “Olympia.” The troops overseas drank “Lucky,” “Olympia” and “Carling’s Black Label.” It was the water of Tumwater, Washington that provided “Olympia” its distinct taste. Seattle may still brew “Rainier” and San Francisco has “Anchor Steam Beer” brewed since the 1800s, only it’s hard to find outside of the Bay area. The whole state of Texas is or was represented by “Lone Star.” Milwaukee had “Blatz,” but for the more discerning palettes it was “Grain Belt” brewed in Minneapolis. Back in my younger days the original “Grain Belt” was only good if it was served ice cold. If it wasn’t a temperature near freezing, most any other beer was better. The label is still regionally available as “Grain Belt Premium.”

Most of those old breweries were bought by bigger companies such as Miller’s, Schlitz, Coors-Molson and Budweiser.

A number of automobiles have fallen by the wayside in the past 60 or 70 years. Chrysler dumped its mid-range DeSoto, as did General Motors’ Pontiac and Oldsmobile. Ford did away with the Mercury. Studebaker of South Bend, Indiana was the oldest of the American vehicle manufacturers. They provided horse- and oxen-drawn prairie schooners for pioneers in the 1800s heading across the great plains, deserts and mountains to California and Oregon. Other car makes in the ‘50s and 60’s like Hudson, Nash, and Packard merged their logos to form “American Motors,” which no longer exists.

Some cars never made it off the showroom floor … the “Tucker” was one of the biggest and most advertised post-World War II flops. Jeep made it from the battlefield to the American roads and outback. Shipbuilder Henry J. Kaiser’s two brands: “Kaiser and Frazer” were popular for a short time in the late ’40s and early ‘50s. They were followed by the “Henry J,” but all are gone now..

The professional sports franchises have changed since the mid-fifties. Fort Wayne, Indiana gave up its pro basketball franchise to Detroit, the Syracuse Nationals moved to become the Philadelphia 76ers. The Philadelphia Warriors moved to San Francisco, the Minneapolis Lakers went west to become the Los Angeles Lakers, (and you always wondered what LA lake the team was named for.

I booked the wrong airport -- can I get a refund for my American Airlines ticket?

© 2022 Christopher Elliott.

Fees Waived For Adult Dogs Thanks to Generous Donation

its campuses in Escondido, El Cajon, Oceanside and San Diego. To view animals currently available for adoption, visit sdhumane.org/adopt.

When you adopt from San Diego Humane Society:

• You help create space in the shelter for other animals in need.

• You get an animal who has been assessed and cared for.

• Your pet has been spayed/neutered and vaccinated.

• San Diego Humane Society offers an adoption guarantee, training advice and educational information for the life of the animal.

rehoming tools that allow them to find their animal’s new family themselves — skipping a trip to the shelter. Visit sdhumane.org/rehome.

• Reuniting stray animals directly with their owners. By searching for the lost pet’s family in their own neighborhood and on social media. Visit sdhumane.org/found for tools and resources to help a lost pet find their owner.

Thanks to a generous $10,000 donation from Randy Spicer, a local animal lover, San Diego Humane Society can waive adoption fees for adult dogs (7 months and older) for the rest of the year. The shelter is currently at capacity for its dog population, after an unprecedented year with many incoming stray animals who have not been reclaimed by their owners.

Out of nearly 700 animals available

for adoption at San Diego Humane Society, 260 are adult dogs. “This donation to support adoptions could not have come at a better time,” said Dr. Gary Weitzman, president and CEO of San Diego Humane Society. “By waiving fees, we are hoping to get these dogs into new homes for the holidays.”

San Diego Humane Society is open for walk-in adoptions Tuesday – Sunday, 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. at

Members of the community who are unable to adopt a pet can still make a difference and help San Diego Humane Society create space in their shelters by:

• Fostering a pet. By becoming a foster volunteer, you give an animal a temporary break from the shelter and create space for other animals with nowhere else to turn. Sign up at sdhumane.org/foster.

• Using rehoming resources. If a person needs to give up their pet, San Diego Humane Society offers

• Planning ahead. Due to limited space, an appointment may be necessary to relinquish your pet. If you know you will need to give up your pet due to a move or other planned situation, make arrangements with San Diego Humane Society as early as possible to ensure space remains available for animals in urgent need.

San Diego Humane Society’s scope of social responsibility goes beyond adopting animals. They offer programs that strengthen the human-animal bond, prevent cruelty and neglect, provide medical care, educate the community and serve as a safety net for all pet families. Serving San Diego County since 1880, the have campuses in El Cajon, Escondido, Oceanside, Ramona and San Diego.

For more information, visit www.SDHumane.org.

By Charles Carr

Like most people, there are certain things over which I have precisely zero will power. Junk food, for example. If it’s anywhere in the house, I’ll sniff it out like a Mangalitsa pig rooting truffles. Nearly three-quarters of a century ago some very wise lawmakers realized that America had a something of junk food problem of its own: the fact that people tend to believe that the opinions they already hold are correct and will not go far out of their way to subject them to scrutiny. It’s only human nature.

To deal with it, just after WWII in 1949, our nation implemented a Federal Communications Commission (FCC) rule called the Fairness Doctrine. The Fairness Doctrine stated that all holders of broadcast licenses would be required to present controversial issues of public importance in a manner that was, in the FCC’s language, “honest, equitable, and balanced.” Older readers may remember watching local news broadcasts in which editorial segments were immediately followed by a spokesperson presenting an “opposing viewpoint” -- almost unthinkable in today’s largely all-junk-news-all-the-time buffet.

Reinstate the Fairness Doctrine!

They did it, but they sure didn’t like it and in 1987 pressured the FCC to eliminate it. It didn’t take the ad boys and girls in TV and radio land to realize that its repeal could provide a massive revenue windfall. And those are pretty much the only two dots you need to connect to create the picture we’ve got today: 1) repeal the Fairness Doctrine 2) start capitalizing on people’s basest instincts. Don’t believe me? Here are just a few of the terms I pulled off of supposedly balanced political websites TODAY: smackdown, eviscerates, destroys, annihilates, slaughters, pulverizes, murders, and on and on... I only get a thousand words here.

In the three decades since its repeal, there have been many attempts to reinstate the doctrine, so far without success. And, not coincidentally, over pretty much that exact period the severe ideological polarization in which America currently finds itself has increased dramatically. A recent Gallup poll revealed that, “Polarization in presidential approval ratings began to expand under Reagan and has accelerated with each president since Clinton.” It has vaulted from a record 70 point gap under Barack Obama to 77 points under Donald Trump. News as sport.

Opinion unfettered by correction. And dump trucks of bucks from a viewership kept too het up to risk turning away from the screen -- a legislatively determinative number of people which has cocooned itself within a false reality so deep, so convincing, so perfectly -- if cynically -- crafted that they are unable to see what they believe to be a perfect window into the world is, in fact, a mirror.

Reinstating the Fairness Doctrine, or something much like it, would again require that opposing views be presented at the key moment viewers are being asked to make a decision. Keep your biases if you want, but only after someone with a different way of looking at the issue has had a shot at making their best pitch to you. Sort of like the nutrition label on that candy bar. You don’t have to read it, but it’s there. No wonder the food industry is always trying to get them removed.

Reinstatement of the Fairness Doctrine would deliver a 9.9 shock directly to the tender bits of the news-as-sport industry and go a long ways to returning us to the days of Murrow, Cronkite, Sevareid, and the like -- a world almost everyone purports to miss but

hasn’t the slightest idea how to get back to. A world where the word “news” would no longer be what it has become in many quarters today -- a four-letter-word.

It would be fair to ask, if the Fairness Doctrine couldn’t survive way back in 1987 when the nation was far less polarized than it is now, what are the odds that it could ever be reimplemented in the hyper-partisan environment in which we currently find ourselves? Not great, I’ll concede. But perhaps we can at least begin the conversation. Perhaps, as our nation continues toward 100% polarization, conversation will turn to action. Perhaps.

In the meantime, there’s a lot we can do individually to create our own personal Fairness Doctrines of a sort. Modern online news aggregators have developed the uncanny ability to tailor web results to our exact tastes and opinions. We can show their smart-alecky AI we’re not so easy to peg by going out of our way to visit a wider range of news and opinion sites than we have in the past. Before long their

Fairness continued on page 14

Keep Your Pets Safe During Holiday Celebrations!

Know which foods, decorations and plants may be hazardous to prevent unexpected emergencies

Too much fatty or rich food can lead to digestive problems. Some foods, such as onions, grapes/raisins and chocolate, can be toxic. If your pets ingest alcohol, contact your veterinarian.

2. Indulge your pets by providing safe treats in meaningful ways -- such as in an enrichment toy or game, which can provide hours of entertainment, or by preparing sealed snack bags and letting your guests reward your furry friend.

SAN DIEGO — With the holiday season upon us, San Diego Humane Society reminds pet owners to remember their pets’ safety. Decorations, seasonal plants and festive treats can sometimes be harmful for pets.

To keep everyone safe, here are tips to keep in mind:

1. Only share safe foods. Sharing certain holiday foods with your animal companion can be dangerous.

3. Christmas trees can be hazardous, particularly for climbing cats, so make sure your tree is secure, preferably in a corner. Keep dangerous ornaments such as glass and tinsel (which can be a choking hazard) on high branches, out of the reach of little paws. Dangling tree ornaments can seem like great toys to cats and dogs. Cords from lights should be taped down or otherwise secured to prevent pets from chewing on them.

4. Keep an eye on items under the tree, too! Don’t let pets drink water from the base of a live tree as it

may be stagnant and contain bacteria. Ribbons and bows can be a choking hazard, and any packages filled with edible gifts are likely to be discovered.

5. Holiday season plants can be toxic to pets. Amaryllis, Christmas cactus, Christmas rose, evergreens, holly, ivy, juniper, lilies, mistletoe and poinsettias are just a few examples of plants that can cause digestive upset or more severe toxicity to pets if eaten.

6. Place burning candles high, out of your pet’s way. A dog’s tail wag or a cat’s curiosity could be devastating. Homes with fireplaces should use screens to avoid accidental burns.

7. Give your pet a quiet, secure place to escape the commotion. Our pets can get stressed with noise and activity and want somewhere safe to relax. Make sure they have their bed, favorite toys, food, water, and a litter box for cats.

8. Keep your pet on their regular schedule for feeding and exer-

cise. Pets thrive on routine and increased activity during the holiday season can upset that routine. Be sure they get plenty of love and attention from you!

9. Keep your pets safely indoors and always make sure they’re wearing current ID tags with a phone number. Holiday distractions may make it easier for pets to escape through open doors. Make sure their microchip information is up to date If your pet is not microchipped, San Diego Humane Society offers $25 microchips at its El Cajon, Escondido, Oceanside and San Diego Campus locations.

Schedule an appointment at sdhumane.org/microchip.

10. Not all pets enjoy costumes. Holiday sweaters may seem irresistible, but if your furry friend does not enjoy dressing up, let them be themselves.

For more information, visit sdhumane.org/holidaysafety.

The Computer Factory

845 W. San Marcos Blvd. 760-744-4315

thecomputerfactory.net

We’re staying open until 2 PM Christmas Eve and we have a large stock of late model Windows 10/11 PCs. These have new SSDs (solid state drives) fresh Windows 10 or 11 and they’re ready to rock and roll. We just finished processing a shipment of late model fifteen inch notebooks and “Micro” PCs. The notebooks are mostly 7th and 8th generation i-7s. The Micros weigh about a pound and a half and are fully configured with powerful i56500 CPUs, 8GB DDR IV RAM and brand new SSDs. We also have fourteen and seventeen inch notebooks, a half dozen All-in One PCs and lots of desktop/tower work-

stations at all levels. Prices range from $150 to $695 depending on configuration. Nearly everyone knows what notebook and desktops are, but many of our customer are unfamiliar with All-in -One and Micro PCs. The All-in-Ones look like ordinary twenty-two to twenty-four inch monitors but they are much more.

All the components and features of a PC are built into its monitor housing. The CPU, memory, camera, DVD, SSD, motherboard and all the interface connections are in built in. The power cord is the only external connection required. The All-in-Ones are great in businesses as reception and customer interface workstations. At home they are convenient and comfortable as general purpose PCs that require minimal desk space and no messy cords and cables.

The micro PCs are only a bit over six inches square and an inch and a half high. They have all the features of a desktop PC except a DVD.

There is no practical limit to their speed, size or amount of CPU, storage, or memory. They are particularly useful where space is at a premium or where portability is critical. One of our business customers carries it in her purse between multiple business location and her home. All she needs is access to a monitor at each location.

One of the important features of “commercial” PCs is that they are

much higher in quality and durabil ity t han their “retail” cousins. Commercial (also called enterprise) workstations and notebooks cost nearly twice as much as their retail counterparts. The standard and special application PC workstations we design and manufacture here at The Computer Factory are “enterprise style” in that we also build with the high-end professional grade components.

These days much of our work here at The Computer Factory involves upgrading existing PCs to contemporary standards for home and business. The process of upgrading a ten year old PC to the performance level of a brand new PC usually requires some combi-

nation of increasing RAM count, upgrading the opera ting system a nd/or installing a new SSD (solid state drive). The price to upgrade the typical ten year old PC runs between $120 and $220, a fraction of the purchase price for a new PC. When purchasing a new or refurbished PC at The Computer Factory, a trade in allowance for your old PC can cover the cost of file transfers or some of the cost of your new or refurbished PC.

With twenty seven-years at our location here on San Marcos Blvd we are San Diego County’s oldest and biggest PC shop. We also like think we’re the best and the friendliest PC shop anywhere but we’ll leave that judgment to you.

Saved In America is a group of volunteers who assist parents and law enforcement to locate missing, runaway and exploited children – the groups most vulnerable to sexual trafficking. For victims of sexual exploitation, we assist in procuring legal representation, safe housing, and rehabilitative therapy. We also provide assistance to high risk juvenile shelters to protect children from further exploitation by pimps and predators.

Saved In America is a California Non-Profit Organization of current and former Police Officers and Navy SEALs/ Marine Raiders turned Licensed and Insured Private Investigators who, without charge, assist parents and law enforcement in locating runaway, missing & exploited children. SIA’s staff also includes social networking investigators, case managers, and attorneys. All SIA staff and operators are Certified Missing & Exploited Child Investigators (CMECI)

Since December 2014, SIA has assisted in the investigation and locating more than 260 children nationwide. 60% of all recovered children were found before being trafficked.

Saved In America

Saved In America cases are structured in 6 steps, R.E.S.C.U.E.

Step 1: RECORD

SIA receives cases in one of two different ways; either a member of the public informs SIA or a parent/s or guardian will contact SIA. From this point, SIA contacts parents for information on missing children from NCMEC (The National Center for Missing & Exploited Children). Additionally, SIA conducts missing children investigations by geographical location by searching the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children website, MissingKids.org

Once the parent /guardian is contacted, an application for services and power of attorney (POA) is received. The POA allows the SIA team to coordinate with law enforcement, other government agencies, and rehabilitation services in relation to the missing person.

Step 2. EXAMINE

After collecting the requested information from the parent/s, the case is then forwarded to a Social Networking Investigator, a specially trained Saved In America investigator collects and processes digital information looking for leads.

The Social Networking Investigator targets leads from social networking sites for workable intelligence. The Case Manager then combines all intelligence to find workable leads. The Law Enforcement Liaison contacts local law enforcement to advise them of the case findings.

Step 3. SUMMARIZE

Saved In America’s Workable Intelligence Investigators confirms leads from social networking and parental/ witness information and tips received from the public. The intelligence is then given to an SIA Team consisting of former law enforcement agents, or the Workable Intelligence Investigators. The Team will work to confirm or discredit the leads. Once confirmed, the intelligence goes to the Case Manager.

4. COORDINATE

The Saved In America Case Manager collects all evidence from SIA investigation teams and organizes reports, photos, video and other investigative intelligence. The Case Manager assists the Social Network Investigator and maintains the Investigative Case Package.

Step 5. UNITE

TheActionable Intelligence Investigators

consist of SIA’s former military special operators (majority Navy SEALs, Raiders, and British SAS). When the Workable Intelligence Investigators have identified the victim(s), suspect(s), or an immediate associate, they pass the information on to the Actionable Intelligence Investigators. The teams will use the workable intelligence, verified by the Case Manager, to locate the child. Once located, the team immediately coordinates with law enforcement for the rescue of the child and the arrest of the predator(s).

Step 6. EQUALIZE

The Actionable Intelligence Team, made up of Actionable Intelligence Investigators, will transport the child to a pre-approved rehabilitation center, police station, or return them to their home/family, in coordination with the parent/guardian(s).

The Case Manager will continue to accumulate follow up intelligence to supply to law enforcement for criminal prosecution and to SIA attorneys for civil action.

Saved In America www.SavedInAmerica.org • info@ SavedInAmerica.org

When a sweet cream-colored kitten was found on a community member’s front porch, they brought him straight to our Escondido Campus for care.

And it’s a good thing they did, because Freddie Mercury desperately needed medical treatment.

Our medical team discovered that he had a persistent right aortic arch — which means that when he was an embryo, his heart did not develop normally. As a result, the food Freddie ate was being trapped in his esophagus, rather than moving down into his stomach.

Our medical team performed lifesaving surgery for Freddie. After the procedure, Freddie’s food could successfully make its way to his stomach! He also captured the heart of an adopter, and is now celebrating the holidays in a loving home.

Your gift to the Year-End Matching Challenge will DOUBLE to save even more animals like Freddie. That means you can help TWICE as many cats, dogs and other animals in our community who are still in need! Make a donation today at www.sdhumane.org

Tangled, a retelling of the classic Rapunzel fable.

In early June, Flynn was found at a gas station in Oceanside with severe injuries to his muzzle, which appeared to have been caused by rubber bands having been wrapped tightly around it. Fearful and in pain, with bone exposed, his injuries were grave and required immediate medical attention, including reconstructive surgery.

After treating and stitching his wounds and getting Flynn into stable condition, questions were asked. Who would do this to a two-month-old puppy? Why would they? How could they? And how could we find these people and get justice for Flynn? Unfortunately, the people who brought Flynn to us in the first place left us with inaccurate contact information, making it impossible for us to reconnect with them.

In football, the Dallas Texans of the fledging American Football League became the Kansas City Chiefs. The Chicago Cardinals became the Arizona Cardinals by way of St. Louis.

In baseball, the Philadelphia Athletics moved to Kansas City before moving on to Oakland. The Boston Braves moved first to Milwaukee and then settled in Atlanta. The St. Louis Browns became the Baltimore Orioles. The Washington Senators moved to Minneapolis to become the Minnesota Twins. A second Senators team moved to Dallas in 1971 to become The Texas Rangers. Montreal Expos were developed from a Canadian team and later moved to Washington to become today’s Nationals. The Toronto Blue Jays became an expansion team and has survived. Time marches on and many of the logos and products of our lives have gone with it.

Nearly two months after he was brought to us, Flynn’s wounds are virtually healed and he has developed into a happy, loving puppy despite the abuse he endured. This lucky pup has even found his forever home! His foster mom, Katherine, fell in love with him and decided to adopt him permanently. Flynn, now named Wiley, has two dog siblings, a loving family that dotes on him, His future couldn’t be brighter.

Just one more reson to support the Humane Society and other Rescue Organization. Consider donating some cash today to help other dogs who are also in desperate need of help.

Man About Town from page 4

Historically Speaking from page 7

The Mighty Mojo Page

Fairness from page 10

much shoveling, but I’ll certainly get back in shape this way. I wish I wouldn’t huff and puff so.

December 15

20 inches forecast. Sold my van and bought a 4x4 Blazer. Bought snow tires for the wife’s car and 2 extra shovels. Stocked the freezer. The wife wants a wood stove in case the electricity goes out. I think that’s silly. We aren’t in Alaska, after all.

December 16

Ice storm this morning. Fell on my ass on the ice in the driveway putting down salt. Hurt like hell. The wife laughed for an hour, which I think was very cruel.

December 17

Still way below freezing. Roads are too icy to go anywhere. Electricity was off for 5 hours. I had to pile the blankets on to stay warm. Nothing to do but stare at the wife and try not to irritate her. Guess I should’ve bought a wood stove, but won’t admit it to her. God I hate it when she’s right. I can’t believe I’m freezing to death in my own living room.

December 20

Electricity’s back on, but had another 14 inches of the damn stuff last night. More shoveling! Took all day. The damn snowplough came by twice. Tried to find a neighbor kid to shovel, but they said they’re too busy playing hock-

ey. I think they’re lying. Called the only hardware store around to see about buying a snow blower and they’re out. Might have another shipment in March. I think they’re lying. Bob says I have to shovel or the city will have it done and bill me. I think he’s lying.

December 22

Bob was right about a white Christmas because 13 more inches of the white crap fell today, and it’s so cold, it probably won’t melt till August.

Took me 45 minutes to get alldressed up to go out to shovel and then I had to pee. By the time I got undressed, peed and dressed again, I was too tired to shovel. Tried to hire Bob who has a plough on his truck for the rest of the winter, but he says he’s too busy. I think the butthole is lying.

December 23

Only 2 inches of snow today. And it warmed up to 0. The wife wanted me to decorate the frontof the house this morning. What is she, nuts?! Why didn’t she tell me to do that a month ago? She says she did but I think she’s lying.

December 24

6 inches - Snow packed so hard by snowplough, I broke the shovel. Thought I was having a heart attack. If I ever catch the SOB who drives that snow plough, I’ll drag him through the snow by his ears and beat him to death with my broken shovel. I know he hides around the corner and waits for me to finish shoveling and then he comes down the street at a 100 miles an hour and throws snow all over where I’ve just been! Tonight the wife wanted me to sing Christmas carols with her and open our presents, but I was too busy watching

for the damn snowplough.

December 25

Merry Christmas! 20 more inches of the damn slop tonight - Snowed in. The idea of shoveling makes my blood boil. God, I hate the snow! Then the snowplough driver came by asking for a donation and I hit him over the head with my shovel. The wife says I have a bad attitude. I think she’s a, idiot. If I have to watch “It’s A Wonderful Life” one more time, I’m going to stuff her into the microwave.

December 26

Still snowed in. Why the hell did I ever move here? It was all HER idea. She’s really getting on my nerves.

December 27

Temperature dropped to -30 and the pipes froze; plumber came after 14 hours of waiting for him, he only charged me $1,400 to replace all my pipes.

December 28

Warmed up to above -20. Still snowed in. My WIFE is driving me crazy!

December 29

10 more inches. Bob says I have to shovel the roof or it could cave in. That’s the silliest thing I ever heard. How dumb does he think I am?

December 30

Roof caved in. I beat up the snow plough driver, and now he is suing me for a million dollars, not only the beating I gave him, but also for trying to shove the broken snow shovel up his BUTT. The wife went home to her mother. Nine more inches predicted.

December 31

I set fire to what’s left of the house. No more shoveling

algorithms will begin to a more diverse range of choices. And let’s face(book) it, the way social networks have been shown time and time again to value profit over the welfare of their users, these sites are not our friends. Refusing to click on faux news stories, political ads, and divisive news stories will quickly make the pages unprofitable for the scammers who own them. Better yet, we can flag them as offensive, just as we would porn. In key ways, they are.

When it comes to our junk news addiction, America needs an intervention. Let’s return to the Fairness Doctrine and a true diversity of opinion. It will be like tasting something divinely fresh food after a long diet of nothing but junk food.

Alright, that’s it for this time. I’ve got to go; I think I figured out where my wife hid that Christmas box of Harry and David chocolate truffles!

Charles Carr is a multiple awardwinning, nationally published author (Eldridge, Heartland, Bedford). His op-ed column, Southpaw, which recently received back-toback Press Club awards, has appeared in newspapers across the country and in college textbooks including America Now (Macmillan) and The American Writer (St. Martin’s Press and Bedgor). Charles has written thousands of newspaper articles, magazine stories, and columns for the San Diego Union-Tribune, The Orange County Register, The Reader, San Diego Magazine, The Californian, and dozens more. Contact him at charlescarr.com.

Chuckles from page 2

LEGALS