News of the Week: A Christmas Debate, Typewriter Trouble, and 90 Years of Snap, Crackle, and Pop

Artificial Intelligence

This is my statement: Artificial Christmas trees are better than real ones. Debate me.

I could give you the typical reasons – they look more realistic than ever, they’re safer, and you won’t be picking needles up off your floor on Valentine’s Day – but how about I appeal to your wallet? Artificial trees are cheaper than real trees.

You may think that a fake tree is expensive, and yes, a good one can be pricey, but not when you consider how many years you’ll use it. We had an artificial tree when I was a kid that lasted 25 years. That’s better than spending … how much are real trees these days? $75? $100? Maybe more the closer we get to December 25? And spending that much every single year?

Now, some people have said to me that there’s something more “Christmasy” and “nostalgic” about real trees, something that brings back memories of childhood. But doesn’t that depend on your childhood? To me, there’s something nostalgic about the artificial trees. They’re not only the trees of my childhood and teen years, but it also reminds me of walking through the impeccable Christmas decorations at Macy’s with my mom and all those perfectly decorated trees we see in TV shows and commercials. There’s even something cool about that retro color wheel you use with aluminum trees (you can still buy them).

They don’t smell like real trees? That’s why God made pine-scented candles.

And just think: you’ll never have to worry about watering a Christmas tree ever again.

Thanks, Grandma

Here’s a Christmas gift-giving tip: If you’re going to give your grandson a typewriter, maybe mail it to him, or at the very least tell him what’s inside the box before he goes to the airport. And if you’re the grandson, maybe insist she let you open it before you get on a plane?

The grandson was going home to California with the box when it was flagged by TSA agents. They asked him what was in this really heavy box and the grandson said…”I don’t know.”

I don’t fly that much, but I would guess that’s one of the least-favorite phrases that the TSA hears from passengers.

But everything worked out fine. In fact, he’s now using it (it’s a Smith Corona 250 electric, by the way).

Snap, Crackle, and Pop Turn 90

If these Rice Krispies characters were real and 90 years old, they actually would snap, crackle, and pop. Snap was the first one to appear on the box, and he was joined by the other two later in the year.

Uploaded to YouTube by Rice Krispies

Gift of the Week

Do you sometimes find yourself in need of a hug and there’s no one around? You need the Armbie. It also helps you hold your phone or a book in a more relaxed way, supposedly, though I don’t know how you would pick up those items once you put it on.

Christmas Song of the Week

Sixty-five years after its release, Brenda Lee’s classic song “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree” has hit number one on the Billboard charts! She was only 13 years old when she recorded it, and she still sings it (sometimes on a plane!).

Uploaded to YouTube by Brenda Lee

RIP Sandra Day O’Connor, Norman Lear, Denny Laine, Robert Precht, Sandra Elkin, and Edwin Yoder

Sandra Day O’Connor was the first woman on the Supreme Court. President Reagan nominated her in 1981, and she retired in 2006. She died last week at the age of 93.

Norman Lear was the legendary producer/creator/writer of TV shows such as All in the Family, The Jeffersons, Good Times, One Day at a Time, Maude, Sanford and Son, and many others. He also wrote movies like Cold Turkey, Come Blow Your Horn, and The Night They Raided Minsky’s and various TV episodes and specials. He died Tuesday at the age of 101.

Denny Laine was a guitarist and the co-founder of Wings (with Paul and Linda McCartney) and The Moody Blues. He died Tuesday at the age of 79.

Robert Precht was producer of The Ed Sullivan Show. He’s the one who coordinated the Beatles’ appearances on the show and told Jackie Mason he was fired. He also produced dozens of awards shows and variety specials. He died last month at the age of 93.

Sandra Elkin was the host of the groundbreaking PBS feminist talk show Woman. She died last month at the age of 85.

Edwin Yoder was a Pulitzer Prize-winning columnist for The Washington Star. He was also a columnist for The Washington Post for many years and the author of several books. He died last month at the age of 89.

This Week in History

Napoleon Crowned Emperor by Pope Pius VII (December 2, 1804)

Here’s the official painting of the coronation by Jacques-Louis David.

Lucy is Pregnant on I Love Lucy (December 8, 1952)

The episode’s title is “Lucy is Enceinte,” because they couldn’t say “pregnant” on the show (“enceinte” is French for “pregnant”). Interestingly, the next episode is titled “Pregnant Women Are Unpredictable.” That probably got by because they didn’t show the episode titles on air.

This Week in Saturday Evening Post History: Smith-Corona Typewriters (December 3, 1960)

 Any of these would make a fine gift (just make sure you mail it to them or deliver it yourself).

December is National Eggnog Month

I’ve been surfing around online to find different types of eggnog to make and I think I found a few.

Tastes Better from Scratch has a Homemade Eggnog that has a lot of great reviews (and has instructions for both alcohol and alcohol-free versions). Country Hill Cottage has a recipe for Chocolate Eggnog, and Food Network’s Nancy Fuller has an Ice Cream Eggnog, which is made by putting vanilla ice cream, milk, heavy cream, dark rum, and cognac in a blender. The comments say that it’s “easy” and “strong.”

By the way, last week I wrote “fruitcake” as one word because that’s how Merriam-Webster does it. It’s the same this week with “eggnog,” Also, I bought some Hood eggnog this week and that’s how they spell it on the carton, so it must be official.

Next Week’s Holidays and Events

Christmas Card Day (December 9)

This probably isn’t the very last day to get your Christmas cards in the mail but why chance it?

Army-Navy Game (December 9)

The annual football battle airs on CBS at 3 p.m. ET.