News of the Week: Black Friday, Typewriter Repair, and Recipes from the Grave

Are You Going Shopping Today?

I was reading this terrific Post history of Black Friday and wondered: Do people really still participate in this day?

Probably not. At least not in the numbers they used to. Most people shop online now, and you can get deals all the time, not just on the day after Thanksgiving, so not as many people are getting in line at Target at 12:01 a.m. to fight over that last crockpot. And I’m seeing a trend (an annoying one) where stores and companies have Black Friday sales in October.

I don’t think they understand the concept. A sale in October is just a sale, not a Black Friday sale. That’s like having a Fourth of July sale in February.

There are some stores that are calling their sale days Black November, which is sort of admitting that Black Friday really isn’t even a thing anymore. This is right up there with radio stations that play Christmas music all-year-round.

But there will still be plenty of people at the mall today, which is why I’m staying home and working on my computer, eating leftovers.

How to Fix a Typewriter and Your Life

This is my favorite story of the week. Paul Lundy had gone as far as he could go in his job, and with retirement age approaching, he felt he needed a big change in his life. So he bought a typewriter repair shop.

Do You Use Closed-Captioning?

I don’t mean if you need it because you’re hearing-impaired. That’s a normal use. I mean, do you use it for other reasons?

According to a new poll, four in ten people under the age of 45 use subtitles when they’re watching television. What’s the main reason? MULTI-TASKING.

People are on their phones, they’re working, they’re playing with their dogs, they’re cooking, and sometimes they just can’t keep track of what’s happening on the screen! What else are they supposed to do?

I think people need to learn how to watch TV the correct way.

To Die For

Did you know that etching recipes on gravestones was a thing? CBS Sunday Morning has the story.

Uploaded to YouTube by CBS Sunday Morning

Hey, I Recognize That Voice!

Are you watching The American Revolution, the latest Ken Burns documentary series on PBS? It’s amazing how many famous people are doing voices on the show, in many cases more than one.

Paul Giamatti is the voice of John Adams, Josh Brolin is the voice of George Washington, Claire Danes is Abigail Adams, Jeff Daniels is Thomas Jefferson, and Tom Hanks, Craig Ferguson, Kenneth Branagh, and Laura Linney are all doing multiple voices.

Hey, When Is It’s a Wonderful Life On?

I link to these every year. There are so many Christmas movies and specials that it’s hard to keep track of them all. But Christmas TV Schedule and Mostly Christmas have all the info you need.

RIP Jimmy Cliff, Robert Stirm, Udo Kier, Michael DeLano, John Eimen, and Ellen and Alice Kessler

Jimmy Cliff was a Jamaican pop reggae legend who had such songs as “I Can See Clearly Now” and “Wonderful World.” He died last week at the age of 81.

Robert Stirm was the returning Vietnam War P.O.W. in a famous Associated Press photo. He died earlier this month at the age of 92.

Udo Kier was a German actor who appeared in an amazing number of films and TV shows. He died Sunday at the age of 81.

Michael DeLano was an actor and singer who had recurring roles on such shows as Rhoda, Supertrain, Flamingo Road, and Firehouse and appeared in the first two Ocean’s Eleven movies, Commando, and 9 to 5. He died in October at the age of 84.

John Eimen was a former child star who co-starred on McKeever and the Colonel. He also appeared on several episodes of Leave It to Beaver as well as The Twilight Zone, The Untouchables, and Petticoat Junction. He was also the kid in a popular Carnation “Milk Mustache” ad. He died last week at the age of 76.

Ellen and Alice Kessler were singing, dancing, and acting twins who performed on such TV shows as The Ed Sullivan Show, Perry Como’s Kraft Music Hall, The Hollywood Palace, and The Dean Martin Show. They also acted in several movies. They died last week at the age of 89.

This Week in History

Max Headroom Hijacks TV – Twice (November 22, 1987)

This is really one of the oddest events in TV history. A mysterious figure in a Max Headroom mask broke into the WGN news broadcast. That lasted for only a few moments, but the second interruption, on WTTW, was much longer (and is slightly NSFW near the end). The person has never been caught.

Andrew Carnegie Born (November 25, 1835)

And remember, the philanthropist’s last name is pronounced “Car-NEG-gee” not “Carna-gee.”

This Week in Saturday Evening Post History: Remington Quiet-riter (November 29, 1952)

If you’re going to give that as a gift, it should really be wrapped.

Leftovers!

Last week I linked to some Thanksgiving recipes that don’t involve turkey, so here are some recipes for leftovers that also don’t involve turkey.

You can make The Pioneer Woman’s Freezer-Friendly Shepherd’s Pie or Country Living’s Sweet Potato Spoon Bread with Caramel-Pecan Topping. Food52 has Stuffing Waffles, Food Network has Day-After Dip, and Serious Eats has Leftover Cranberry Sauce Cake.

If you have your own original recipe for something that involves leftovers, maybe you can put it on your headstone. No rush though.

Next Week’s Holidays and Events

National Fruitcake Month Begins (December 1)

Celebrate by not eating one!

Rockefeller Center Tree Lighting (December 3)

The big tree will be lit during NBC’s Christmas in Rockefeller Center, with host Reba McIntire and guests Michael Bublé, Kristen Chenoweth, and The Radio City Music Hall Rockettes. It airs at 8 p.m.