News of the Week: Monkey Mayhem, Hall of Fame Toys, and It’s Time to Treat Yourself a Round of Sausage

Random Notes

Notes jotted down during a week where I once again was not named People’s Sexiest Man Alive.

I already told you a couple of weeks ago about the Norway Spruce that was chosen to be this year’s Rockefeller Center Christmas tree, and I don’t want to turn this into an all-Christmas-tree column, but I would like to point out that it has arrived in New York City! (And here’s the backstory on why this tree is special.)

I had to go to the hospital for a few hours for a minor procedure last week, and is it weird that I actually kind of enjoy being at the hospital? Everyone there is so nice and they wait on you hand and foot! Would you like a warm blanket? Would you like some ginger ale? How about some comfortable slippers? Another pillow? Would you like a magazine to read? Press this button if you need anything! It’s probably the closest I’ll get to staying in a five-star hotel.

I told myself that I wasn’t going to watch Wheel of Fortune anymore, but I still catch it here and there. And I’m glad because otherwise I wouldn’t have seen “Treat Yourself a Round of Sausage.”

Two things showed up at the supermarket this week that I look forward to every year: Ghirardelli Peppermint Bark and Christmas-themed Kleenex boxes!

I don’t know how this is possible, but the grandson of our tenth president, John Tyler — who became president in 1841 when William Harrison died after only a month in office — is still alive!

If you live in Massachusetts and someone gives you a $70,000 engagement ring — or even a $70 one — you no longer get to keep it.

You pretty much know how exhilarating my life is by the fact that I get excited by the arrival of new Kleenex boxes.

43 Monkeys

That’s the number of monkeys that escaped from a research facility in South Carolina last week.

And just as I was typing that sentence, I found out that 30 of them have been caught. The other 13 are on their way to NYC for the tree lighting.

In other simian news, researchers have concluded that monkeys wouldn’t be able to type the works of Shakespeare after all, contrary to a popular theory.

Barrel of Monkeys Isn’t in the Toy Hall of Fame Yet

But this year’s inductees are My Little Pony, Transformers, and the Phase 10 card game.

I have never heard of Phase 10.

They induct more toys and games every year. Are they running out? I mean, in 2021 they inducted sand into the Hall of Fame. Sand!

The toys that didn’t make the cut this year include the trampoline, balloons, and the Choose Your Own Adventure series of books.

Two World War II Mysteries Solved

A beautiful story from CBS Sunday Morning, as a woman finally discovers what happened to her dad in World War II, thanks to the people of France.

Uploaded to YouTube by CBS Sunday Morning

In related news, the USS Edsall, which sank in 1942 with 200 servicemen aboard, was recently found in the Indian Ocean.

Something I Learned This Week

I can’t remember how I came across this — it was a link in a story that led to another link which led to another link which led to another link which led to Wikipedia — but did you know that Albert Einstein invented a type of refrigerator? It was called the Einstein-Szilard Refrigerator, co-invented with his former student Leó Szilárd. It was an “absorption refrigerator” and had no moving parts.

RIP Elwood Edwards, Bobby Allison, Tony Todd, Dorothy Allison, Ted Olson, Timothy West, Jim Hoagland, and Bruce Degen

Elwood Edwards was the “You’ve got mail!” voice for AOL. He died last week at the age of 74.

Bobby Allison was a Hall of Fame NASCAR champ. He died Saturday at the age of 86.

Tony Todd was best known for starring in the Candyman films and also appeared in The Crow, Platoon, The Rock, and the Final Destination films, as well as TV shows like The Flash, 24, Chuck, and Star Trek: The Next Generation. He died last week at the age of 69.

Dorothy Allison wrote the novel Bastard Out of Carolina. She died last week at the age of 75.

Ted Olson was a respected conservative lawyer who later join forces with liberals to overturn the ban on gay marriage. He died Wednesday at the age of 84.

Timothy West was an acclaimed British stage and screen actor. He died last week at the age of 90.

Jim Hoagland was a veteran writer and reporter for The Washington Post who won two Pulitzer Prizes. He died last week at the age of 84.

Bruce Degen illustrated the Magic School Bus series of books by Joanna Cole. He died last week at the age of 79.

This Week in History

Spiro Agnew Born (November 9, 1918)

The man with one of history’s great political names resigned the office of vice president in October 1973.

First Photo of the Loch Ness Monster (November 12, 1933)

I’m not exactly sure what we’re supposed to see, but this is the first known photo of the Loch Ness Monster.

By the way, the most famous photo of Nessie, the “Surgeon’s Photo,” turned out to be a hoax. Sorry!

This Week in Saturday Evening Post History: GE Refrigerator (November 13, 1954)

You don’t see many fridges with those turntables anymore, but it’s a clever idea. I wonder if Einstein invented it?

Saturday Is National Fast Food Day

I could just tell you to “go out and buy some fast food” to celebrate, but where’s the fun in that? Instead, why don’t we try to recreate some of those famous meals at home?

Taste of Home has their version of KFC’s Crispy Fried Chicken recipe, while Delish has a Copycat Wendy’s Chocolate Frosty. The appropriately-named CopyKat Recipes site takes on the Burger King Whopper and the McDonald’s McGriddle, and Top Secret Recipes has Domino’s Loaded Tots and Cheesecake Factory Original Cheesecake.

And maybe one of these mornings you can treat yourself to a round of Sausage McMuffins.

Next Week’s Holidays and Events

Have a Bad Day Day (November 19)

Not sure why you’d want to celebrate this day but here it is.

Great American Smokeout (November 21)

The best way to quit smoking is to never start. But if you did, here’s how you can quit.