Grumpy Editor

WEATHER FORECAST WAS KEY ELEMENT IN PINPOINTING D-DAY

 

 

 

D-Day events in the past week reminded Grumpy Editor of the excellent, well documented writing by David Eisenhower, the grandson and namesake of Gen. Dwight Eisenhower with “Eisenhower at War 1943-1945,” originally published December, 1986.

 

Its 977 pages, a masterful work that reshapes thinking about World War II in Europe, was nominated for Pulitzer Prize for History. 

 

Along with media keeping mum --- something that would never happen these days --- on the planned landings on the beaches of France, the other major element was the weather, most important on an English Channel crossing, and how word from the Allies' meteorologists made the June 6 invasion a “go.”

 

The book pointed out that “on the strength of a weather forecast (Gen. Eisenhower) decided to launch the invasion on the sixth (of June) instead of postponing it until the nineteenth without having to clear that decision with higher authority,” adding “it was “one of the truly great decisions in military history.”

 

Adverse weather would have curtailed close support of gunships and aircraft.

 

The Germans, who expected bad weather conditions for an invasion, were victims of faulty intelligence.

 

The Luftwaffe was in charge of predicting weather patterns and did not detect the break in the weather charted by the Allies.  The Germans predicted unsettled weather would force at least a two-week delay on any Allied activity toward France.

 

Allies' daily weather analysis, as pointed out in the book, was prepared by a group headed by meteorologist Group Captain Dr. John Stagg, on loan to the Royal Air Force, along with American-British experts drawn from various U.S. and British military sections.

 

 

 

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BETTER THAN A HAMBURGER?  Justin Sun, 28-year-old founder of cryptocurrency platform Tron and CEO of BitTorrent, provided a record winning bid --- $4,567,888 --- for a three-hour lunch date at a New York steak house with Warren Buffet, Berkshire Hathaway chairman.  Every year, Buffett auctions off the expensive lunch that benefits Glide, a San Francisco charity that fights homelessness and addiction.  Last year's lunch with Buffet went for about $3.3 million.  The winner can invite up to seven friends for the lunch.

MAGAZINES CHANGE ISSUES.  Entertainment Weekly will no longer be a weekly magazine starting in August, when it starts publishing monthly as part of a larger "reimagining" of the brand.  The July 5 issue will be the last weekly.  Meanwhile, Newsweek — which started 80 years ago — will see its last print edition with the Dec. 31 issue.  Then it goes all digital.

MONSTER EYES SPIRITS.  California-based Monster Beverage Corp., leader in energy drinks, is considering branching into selling spirits, malt beverages and hard seltzers.  Coca-Cola owns 18.5% of Monster and distributes the brand through its beverage network. 

CONSUMER REPORTS GETS $6 MILLION DONATION. Consumer Reports received $6 million from Craig Newmark Philanthropies, allowing it to keep a closer watch over digital products and platforms, reported Chris Roush, Talking Biz News.

 

PLENTY OF DOUGHNUTS IN L.A.  National Geographic noted almost 1,500 independent doughnut shops dot the Los Angeles area.

 

TROUBLED NURSING HOMES LIST DUE. The U.S. government soon will start posting a list of about 400 troubled nursing homes and it'll be updated on a regular basis.

 

MARKETING CHIEFS TIME ON JOBS EBBS.  Average time chief marketing officers spent at their jobs at the 100 largest advertisers dipped to 43 months last year from 44 months the year prior, according to research firm Spencer Stuart.

WOULD TODAY’S MEDIA KEEP D-DAY PLANS A SECRET?

 

 

D-Day landing, 1944

 

 

With the 75th anniversary of the D-Day landing in France being observed on June 6, press action — or more precisely inaction at that time — on activity leading up to the event that led to liberation of Europe would never happen today, declares Grumpy Editor.

 

Those representing print and radio at that time were patriotically mum on the most heavily guarded secret on the planet:  Invasion of Normandy across the English Channel.  It was the major turning point in the war.

 

Nowadays most members of the media can't keep a secret, or even a rumor, without firing it off.

 

On that noteworthy day in 1944 surprise was crucial, especially with Germany’s 55 divisions in France.

 

Six parachute regiments, with more than 13,000 troops, flew from nine British airfields in more than 800 aircraft, part of a massive flight of more than 11,000 planes.

 

More than 300 aircraft dropped 13,000 bombs over coastal Normandy in advance of the invasion when more than 160,000 troops stormed the beaches.

 

The main Allied invasion force of almost 7,000 naval vessels carried troops, weapons and heavy equipment, including tanks.  The armada included 1,200 warships that transported the troops and nearly 30,000 vehicles.

 

Ships of various sizes dotted the 100 miles across the channel, stretching as far as the eye could see.

 

True journalists at that time kept the secret that resulted in a surprise landing in Normandy.

 

Most of today’s media, with many members holding political science rather than journalism degrees, simply wouldn’t abide by a top-secret label on a major event.

 

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NAVY UNIFORM PATCH UNDER REVIEW.  The federal government was reviewing Defense Department policy regulations on dress code after some service members wore a uniform patch with the words “Make Aircrew Great Again” along with a likeness of Donald Trump during the president’s visit to the USS Wasp in Japan.

WETTEST 12 MONTHS SETS RECORD.  The National Weather Service said there's never been a wetter 12 month period in the past 124 years. The continental U.S. averaged six inches of precipitation above average during the period.

 

PATRIOTIC PARADE GETS SLIM COVERAGE.  Outside of the nation’s capital, there wasn’t much coverage of the thousands of spectators who lined Constitution Avenue to pay tribute to the past and present U.S. military in the National Memorial Day Parade.  Parade participants wore uniforms dating back to the Revolutionary War.  Along with floats, vehicles carried the parade's grand marshals — World War II veterans — as well as Medal of Honor recipients and celebrities.

 

MAN SHOOTS PROWLERS, GETS ARRESTED.  A 64-year-old man was arrested for possession of an illegal handgun after he fatally shot a pair of prowlers burglarizing his home in Deerfield, N.Y.  He told the district attorney the weapon he used in self-defense was his late father’s.   He was charged with felony possession of an illegal handgun.

SINGLE PURCHASE BOOSTS STORE SALES.  Costco performed a price check after noting a nearly $400,000 purchase at one of its stores during its most recent quarter. The lofty price tag was linked to one item — a diamond ring.

 

CANINE RULES TOWN.  Maximus Mighty-Dog Mueller II (Max for short), has been Idyllwild, Calif.’s mayor since 2014. The non-incorporated community in the San Jacinto mountains has has been electing canines for its highest office since 2012.  

 

BANK ROBBER NABBED IN CASINO.  A suspect in at least four armed bank robberies in Massachusetts and Rhode Island was captured as he gambled at the Plainridge Park Casino in Plainville, Mass.

 

CHINESE COUNTERFEIT GOODS CITED.  Military Times reported military and government agencies plus others purchased more than $20 million worth of Chinese-made counterfeit goods designed to look like domestically produced gear from a company that defrauded the government and helped to orchestrate the counterfeiting process between January, 2013 and October, 2018. 

 

51ST STATE LOOMING?  A House committee will hold a hearing July 24 on a bill that proposes Washington , D.C. be recognized as the nation’s 51st state.  The bill calls for two senators and one representative for D.C.

RESTORED WORLD WAR II HISTORIC C-47 READIES FOR D-DAY CEREMONIES

 

WORLD WAR II C-47

 

A great sight few newspaper readers/TV viewers saw:  A vintage World War II aircraft flying over New York's Statue of Liberty the other day on the way to D-Day ceremonies next month, observes Grumpy Editor.

The restored C-47 troop carrier was discovered parked in a Wisconsin boneyard, in poor shape, but the Commemorative Air Force in Texas raised $250,000 to purchase and restore the plane, identified as That's All, Brother.

The twin-engine aircraft was identified as the one that led the main D-Day invasion in the air.

The aircraft returned to Europe following the same route it flew to reach Normandy, France in 1944 --- via Canada, Greenland and Iceland.

To commemorate D-Day, the C-47 will take off from England and fly over Normandy to commemorate D-Day 75th anniversary ceremonies on June 6.

On that day in 1944, more than 160,000 Allied troops landed along a 50-mile stretch of heavily-fortified French coastline, to fight Nazi Germany on the beaches of Normandy.  More than 5,000 ships and 13,000 aircraft supported the D-Day Allied invasion.

That's All, Brother dropped off paratroopers.

Some of those military veterans, now in their 90s, will be on the ground observing the distinguished warplane's flyover.

 

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CITY FROWNS ON LARGE U.S. FLAG.  Flags are out in force today, Memorial Day.  But in Statesville, N.C. there’s a controversy over a large American flag flying over Camping World.  The city has filed a lawsuit seeking removal of the flag, fining the company $50 a day going back to Oct. 15, 2018.  Many in the city are backing Camping World.

CHINESE REPORTERS RAISE EYEBROWS.  Germany’s military is investigating what information three Chinese reporters collected while Chancellor Angela Merkel visits a NATO unit.  The Xinhua reporters trigger suspicion by filming military equipment and interviewing soldiers about daily routines.

LAYOFFS IN MULTIPLE NEWSROOMS.   Newspaper giant GateHouse Media is making additional cuts in its U.S. newsrooms, following layoffs in January and February.  The action affects 45 local newsrooms in Florida, Pennsylvania, Texas, Ohio, California and Massachusetts. 

ONE DOG ENTERS CAR, EIGHT LEAVE.  A pregnant dog with a broken leg, left at a kill shelter in Georgia, is rescued by Rebecca Lynch, president of Poodle and Pooch Rescue of Florida.  She and her husband pick up the dog, noting the canine “very pregnant, afraid and confused.”  On route home, the rescued dog gives birth to seven pups in the back seat.  All is well.

 

BURGER KING PLANS AGGRESSIVE EXPANSION IN CHINA.  Despite trade tensions betwen the U.S. and China, Burger King plans to open 1,000 franchised outlets there over the next three years.  It follows 1,000 openings in China 13 years after it entered the country.

 

DOGS WATCH MOVIES, TOO.  Attracting attention is K9 Cinemas in Plano, Texas  allowing theatergoers to bring their dogs to watch movies, too.  Their masters get tickets that come with all the wine they can drink.

 

POLICE CHIEF RESIGNATION SOUGHT.  The San Francisco Police Officers’ Association calls for San Francisco’s police chief to resign after the chief apologized Friday for raiding the home of journalist Bryan Carmody, seeking to identify a confidential source.

U.S. REMAINS WITHOUT AN OFFICIAL LANGUAGE

This may come as surprise to many:  Although English is the primary language in the U.S., it is not the official language at the federal level, reminds Grumpy Editor.

 

However, most states and territories within the U.S. consider English as the official language.

 

People in this country have been speaking languages other than English since before the founding of the republic. 

 

Going back to the 13 colonies, common languages spoken at that time included English, Dutch, French and German, plus languages spoken by Native Americans.

 

Some lawmakers over the years have tried to ensure English is used above all other languages.

 

In 1981, U.S. Sen. S.I. Hayakawa of California introduced an amendment to do just that. But it failed to pass. The Senate tried again in 2006, passing an amendment to a comprehensive immigration bill that would have made English the official language. The bill never passed the House.

 

However, English remains the language of government documents, court proceedings and business contracts.

 

The U.S. is a melting pot of languages with at least 350  spoken.  After English, the top five in terms of native speakers are Spanish, Chinese (including Cantonese, Mandarin and other varieties), French/French Creole, Tagalog and Vietnamese.

 

 

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GRUMPY EDITOR SAD TO NOTE GRUMPY CAT DIES.  Grumpy Cat (real name was Tardar Sauce) died from complications from a recent urinary tract infection. The seven-year-old cat brought smiles to millions of people around the world. The feline, with 2.4 million followers on Instagram, inspired some of the most popular memes on social media after her permanent displeased expression was first shared on Reddit six years ago.

SHOOTING NEAR TRUMP RESORT GETS COVERAGE.  Because it was near President Donald Trump's resort in Florida, a shooting outside a rental car facility received broad coverage in U.S. newspapers.

OLDEST MEDAL OF HONOR RECIPIENT DIES.  Bob Maxwell, 98, the nation's oldest Medal of Honor recipient, died in Oregon more than seven decades after grabbing a blanket and throwing himself on a German hand grenade in France to save his squad mates. 

CBS'S KROFT RETIRES FROM 60 MINUTES.  Steve Kroft, 73, the longest-tenured 60 Minutes correspondent, retires at the end of his 30th season on the iconic CBS newsmagazine. His last piece, capping 50 years in journalism, aired on last night's 51st season finale.  His background includes serving in Vietnam and working as a correspondent and photographer for Stars and Stripes and the Armed Forces Network.

BILL PRESS WRAPS UP RADIO SHOW.  Talk radio host Bill Press is ending his daily morning show on May 31 after a 14-year run.  The liberal political commentator and author was chairman of the California Democratic Party from 1993 to 1996.  He’ll begin podcasting next month, focusing on Democratic primaries. 

ROYAL BABY'S FEET GRABS SPACE. A photo of Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex, cradling the feet of her newborn son with a bed of spring flowers in the background, makes the rounds in newspapers around the world.

 

ESPN BUILDING LAS VEGAS STUDIO.  ESPN is building a Las Vegas studio, expected to begin operating next year, for producing sports betting news and entertainment.

CRIME HEADLINES OFTEN INCLUDE 'VETERAN,' NOTES NEWSPAPER READER

Are news outlets giving veterans a slap, asks Grumpy Editor.

It seems whenever there are criminal acts by former soldiers, sailors and Marines, the person is identified in headlines and text as a veteran, observes a Nevada newspaper reader (a veteran) who points out the criminal veteran’s status has nothing to do with the story or the criminal act.

 

The reader adds, "I note suspects in many local and national crimes have Hispanic names,” yet he rarely sees the term “illegal” or “undocumented" linked to the perpetrator, especially in headlines.

 

He notes that news outlets seldom identify criminals as white, black, Asian, Hispanic or Native American, so why veteran?

 

“Do the media believe that veterans are somehow tainted because of their military service?” he wonders.

 

 

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WILL DROUGHT TALK CONTINUE?  Precipitation over the last year (May 2018 to April) in the United States sets a record. An average of 36.2 inches fall over the Lower 48, the first time it tops 36 inches during a 12-month period in more than 120 years of record-keeping.

 

COIN MYSTERY.  Two coins, one minted in Madrid in 1660 and the other made around the 1200s, are found on the ground at Glen Canyon National Recreation Area, Utah. Their presence in the desert remains unexplained while other artifacts could remain in the area.

 

TYPO ON 46 MILLION BILLS.  An Australian radio station notices a typographical error on 46 million $50 bills printed by the Reserve Bank of Australia last year.  Seems "responsibility" is incorrectly spelled on about $1.6 billion worth of currency.

 

WALMART PAYS ABOVE MINIMUM WAGES.  Walmart, the nation’s largest employer, pays its U.S. store managers an average of $175,000 a year.  A company report says its one-million-plus U.S. workers earn more than the federal minimum wage of $7.25 an hour, with the average wage for full-time hourly workers at $14.26.

 

MAJOR NEWSPAPER'S STAFF GONE WITH SALE.  The Times-Picayune, top newspaper in New Orleans --- founded in 1837 --- is sold to its major rival, the New Orleans Advocate. The deal results in the layoff of every member of the Times-Picayune staff.  But some of those may wind up at the Advocate.

BEVERLY HILLS PLANS BAN ON TOBACCO.  Beverly Hills, Calif., home to the rich and famous, may be the nation's first to outlaw the sale of tobacco products everywhere except a few cigar lounges and via concierge or room service in the city's luxury hotels. The Beverly Hills City Council is slated to vote on the measure May 21.

ALLIGATOR IN WOMAN'S PANTS.  A Florida woman pulls a small alligator out of her pants during a highway traffic stop in Punta Gorda. When an officer asks "Do you have anything else?" 42 striped mud turtles and one softshell turtle are found in the woman's vehicle.  Florida is home to more than a million gators, protected under state law.

WALL STREET JOURNAL BOOSTS POLITICAL TEAM.  Preparing for the 2020 elections, The Wall Street Journal is expanding its political team with the hiring of three reporters who will focus on national politics, the White House and Congress.

 

WAITER FINDS BIG CHECK ON TABLE.  Clearing off a table at Patsy’s Pizzeria in Manhattan's East Harlem neighborhood, a waiter finds an envelope containing a $424,000 cashier's check left behind by a customer. The restaurant's owner contacted the Daily News which helped locate the mystery woman, a 79-year-old retired social worker from Manhattan.  The waiter refused a tip for his efforts.

MORE MILLENNIALS LIVE AT HOME.  Zillow, a housing research firm, finds student loan debt, rising rents and stagnant wages result in more millennials living at home with their parents than at any other point this century.  It tallies 22% of millennial Americans are either staying home or returning to childhood bedrooms.

NEW REGULATIONS IN TV PITCHES.  In a move to improve transparency in health-care costs, new regulations will require TV pitches for prescription drugs to include list prices.  The disclosures will appear in TV commercials within a few months.  

REP. OMAR GRABS ATTENTION OF PRINT/BROADCAST MEDIA

With 535 members of Congress --- 100 in the Senate and 435 in the House of Representatives --- one member gets heavy coverage just about every day, observes Grumpy Editor.

That’s Rep. Ilhan Omar, a far-left, first-term Democrat from Minnesota’s 5th congressional district.

 

In her latest controversial comments, as reported  by CNSNews, she blames the U.S. for the problems in Venezuela.

 

"A lot of the policies that we have put in place has kind of helped lead the devastation in Venezuela,” says Omar.  “And we’ve sort of set the stage for where we’re arriving today. This particular bullying and the use of sanctions to eventually intervene and make regime change really does not help the people of countries like Venezuela, and it certainly does not help and is not in the interest of the United States."

In response, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo says “for a member of Congress, who, frankly, one who sits on an important national security committee, to make a statement blaming America first in this way, it’s not only ignorant, it’s disgusting."

The problems in Venezuela, adds Pompeo, “have been years in the making. It has been a socialist regime, first with Chavez, now with Maduro.”

 

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WORKERS' EFFICIENCY JUMPS.   Labor Department reports U.S. workers’ efficiency increased over the past year at the best pace in nearly a decade, pointing to stronger wage growth and further economic expansion.

POLL SHOWS BEST DAYS AHEAD.  The latest Rasmussen Reports survey finds 54% of likely voters say America's best days are in the future --- the first time a majority of voters has expressed this sentiment since November 2006.

SEXUAL ASSAULT IN MILITARY RISES.  The Defense ‘s Department’s 2018 report on sexual assault in the military finds 20,500 servicewomen experienced sexual assault within the past year, up 38% from 14,900 in fiscal year 2016.

SNAKE WITH EXTRA EYE.  Northern Australia wildlife authorities discover a three-eyed snake found on a highway.  Nicknamed Monty Python, the baby carpet python died weeks after it was found .  The snake's third eye was on top of its head.

WORSHIPERS FADE.  Gallup finds the percentage of Americans who belong to a church, synagogue or mosque is at an all-time low, averaging 50% in 2018. The past 20 years have seen an acceleration in the drop-off, with a 20-percentage-point decline since 1999 and more than half of that change occurring since the start of the current decade, adds Gallup.

HISPANIC UNEMPLOYMENT HITS RECORD LOW.  National seasonally-adjusted unemployment rate for Hispanics and Latinos in the U.S. labor force falls to a record low of 4.2% in April, finds the Bureau of Labor Statistics.  Last month, unemployment rate for Hispanics and Latinos, age 16 and up, was 4.2%, down from 4.7% in March.

IT'S TUITION OR DINNER.  A survey by Temple University’s Hope Center for College, Community and Justice indicates 45% of student respondents from over 100 institutions say they have been food insecure in the past 30 days.  Paying off student loans is taking much of their funds.

SINCLAIR BUYS SPORTS NETWORKS.  Sinclair Broadcast Group, in a deal valued at $10.6 billion, plans to buy 21 regional sports networks from Walt Disney Co.

KELLOGG SALES SINK.  Kellogg Co., with lofty prices for cereal boxes, reports first quarter North America earnings decline 36.5% on weaker demand.

 

 

MERRIAM-WEBSTER ADDS WORDS WITH NEW MEANINGS

Folks at Merriam-Webster remind that the "English language never sleeps and neither does the dictionary,” notes Grumpy Editor.

"The work of revising a dictionary is constant and it mirrors the culture’s need to make sense of the world with words," they point out.

Merriam-Webster last week adds 640 words, explaining what’s behind some old words with new meanings, such as:

 

• Tailwind and headwind: These words are now often used figuratively to refer to a force or influence that either helps or hinders progress.
• Peak: Metaphorically extended to mean “being at the height of popularity, use, or attention,” as in “peak television” (or maybe “peak word nerd”). 
• Goldilocks: Even a fairy tale can become a metaphor, and this new colorful definition, referring to the character whose preferred porridge is neither too hot nor too cold, has inspired astronomers to use it to describe “an area of planetary orbit in which temperatures are neither too hot nor too cold to support life.”
• Snowflake: Now used to mean both “someone regarded or treated as unique or special” and “someone who is overly sensitive.”
• Purple: Extending the blending of red and blue to the metaphorical level, purple can now refer to geographical areas where voters are split between Democrats and Republicans. 

Among new entertainment words: 

• Buzzy: Causing or characterized by a lot of speculative or excited talk or attention (that is, generating buzz).
• Bottle episode: An inexpensively produced episode of a television series that is typically confined to one setting. 
• EGOT: An entry in the dictionary seems like an appropriate award for the acronym that stands for the rare achievement of winning an Emmy, a Grammy, an Oscar, and a Tony.

The word compilers explain that “each word follows its own path at its own pace before its use is widespread enough to be included in a dictionary."

 

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SOURCE OF NORTH KOREA'S MERCEDES A MYSTERY.  Daimler AG, the German multinational automotive corporation, says it has no idea where North Korean leader Kim Jong Un got his armored Mercedes limousines since it has no business dealings with the communist nation. Kim used Daimler-branded stretch limousines at several very high-profile summits, including his meeting last week with Russian President Vladimir Putin and earlier in summits with President Donald Trump.

 

VATICAN AIDS MIGRANTS IN MEXICO.  Pope Francis provides assistance for food, lodging and basic necessities in donating $500,000 to help migrants in Mexico.

 

TRUMP PRAISES DRUG-DETECTING DOGS.  President Donald Trump praises drug-detecting canines at the U.S.-Mexico border during the Rx Drug Abuse & Heroin Summit, calling working canines "the greatest equipment in the world."

 

18 COLONOSCOPES STOLEN.  Three people broke into a medical facility in Wynnewood, Pa. and fled with 18 colonoscopes.  The devices, reportedly worth a total of about $450,000, are used for examining the health of patients’ colons.

 

CALL OUT FOR WWII CLICKERS.  So-called “clickers,” used in World War II ‘s D-Day Normandy landings to determine friend or foe, are being sought to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the landings.  Two clicks in response to one meant it was a friend.  About 7,000 of the devices were produced.

 

CALIFORNIA DINERS SUBJECT TO CLIMATE CHANGE SURCHARGE.  People eating at California restaurants may start to see an optional 1% surcharge added to their bill to fight climate change. The money will go to a public fund that helps farmers who use practices that reduce carbon in the atmosphere.

 

ECONOMY UP, YET STRESS UP.  A Gallup poll finds “even as the economy roared, more Americans were stressed, angry and worried last year than they have been at most points during the past decade.” In asking about their feelings the previous day, 55% mention they had experienced stress during the day, while 45% say they felt worried a lot and 22% reveal they felt anger a lot.

  

SOME AMERICANS PLAN TO SKIP VACATIONS.   More than one in four Americans have already decided to forgo a summer vacation this year and another 22% remain undecided, according to a Bankrate survey of almost 2,600 adults.  Biggest reason?  They can’t afford it.

 

3M TO CUT JOBS.  3M Co., a favorite with investors over the years since debut of Scotch tape, plans to eliminate 2,000 jobs and restructure its sprawling business.

 

MIDDLE CLASS SHRINKING.  An Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development report warns the middle class is shrinking while its economic power is fading in the U.S. and rich nations, thus threatening political stability and economic growth.

MONEY MAGAZINE PRINT VERSION ENDS AFTER 47 YEARS

Money magazine, which debuted in 1972, publishes its final print edition with the June/July issue, notes Grumpy Editor.

That is sad news to many readers, especially those who renewed subscriptions in recent days.

Money, with almost 2 million circulation, lures readers with articles covering personal finance topics, including investing, saving, retirement, home improvement, taxes and family finance.  It also attracts attention with its annual list of "America's Best Places to Live."

However, a digital version will be available.

Money outlasted competitor Smart Money, launched in 1992 by Hearst and Dow Jones, which printed its last edition in September 2012.

Meredith Corp. welcomed Money in a $2.8 billion acquisition of Time Inc. in January 2018. Then it put Money on the block a few months later along with Time, Fortune and Sports Illustrated.

Des Moines-based Meredith has been trying to sell Money, putting a $10 million price tag on the magazine.

 

IN CASE YOUR FAVORITE NEWS OUTLETS MISSED THESE...

LYING AND WASHINGTON GO TOGETHER.  "Lying is the word that I would use to describe this town (Washington).  I don't know if it will ever stop.  It's gotten worse rather than better, and both sides do it.  You've got to listen very carefully to what they're saying," C-Span founder Brian Lamb tells The Wall Street Journal.  Lamb, 77, signs off from that cable channel on May 19.

UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS FILINGS DROP.  The number of Americans filing for initial unemployment benefits falls to a 50-year low in the week ended April 13 while the unemployment rate last month reaches a low 3.8%.

NO END IN SIGHT FOR AFGHANISTAN WAR.   Deaths of three U.S. Marines in Afghanistan reminds Americans that after almost 18 years of fighting there, no end is in sight.  

TRUMP PLANS JAPAN VISIT NEXT MONTH.  President Donald Trump and his wife, Melania, plan a state visit to Japan May 25 to 28 to visit the newly enthroned emperor.  

GROCERY STRIKE AFFECTS NANTUCKET.  Two Stop & Shop grocery stores on Nantucket, 30 miles off the Massachusetts coast, are involved in a company-wide strike, making food shopping difficult for the island’s 11,000 year-round residents. 

 TWO CLASSIC SITCOMS RETURN FOR ONE NIGHT.  In a live, one night only event, a 90-minute ABC-TV special on May 22 brings back two updated classic sitcoms:  All in the Family and The Jeffersons. 

CROWLEY JOINS TREASURY DEPARTMENT.  Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin plans to hire Monica Crowley, a regular Fox News guest, as assistant secretary for public affairs.

 

 

 

 

 

  

 

ASSOCIATED PRESS NOW ALLOWS USE OF % WITH FIGURES

Over the years, one word --- percent --- triggers much confusion, and continues to do so, notes Grumpy Editor.

Is it percent, % or per cent?

It causes copy editors to grumble.

The Associated Press, in updating its stylebook, is allowing use of % with figures such as income rose by 14% rather than 14 percent.

That makes headline writers happy.

As Merrill Perlman at Columbia Journalism Review points out, "Thus continues the evolution of  ‘percent.’ In the early part of the 20th century, a common rendering was ‘per cent,’ two words with a period after the “cent,” possibly because it was abbreviating the Italian ‘per cento’.”

Perlman adds, “The first formal AP stylebook, in 1953, called for “per cent,” and that stuck at least through the 1970 stylebook. By 1977, though, it had come together as ‘percent.’ That’s common in the United States, though British English leans towards ‘per cent’.”

However, some confusion continues.

Perlman mentions The Chicago Manual of Style says, “In nontechnical contexts, the word percent is generally used; in scientific and statistical copy, the symbol % is more common.”

One wonders what % of readers care about the change.

 

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GASOLINE PRICES SOAR IN CALIFORNIA. Four-dollar a gallon gasoline is the average in two California counties -- San Luis Obispo and Mono. In San Francisco, the average price is $3.98. Average price in the Golden State is up 20 cents a gallon to $3.83 just in the past week — and heading higher this week.

FREE ONLINE MAGAZINE FOR WRITERS. The spring 2019 issue of Writers Tricks of the Trade, a free magazine, is unveiled online today. Produced by Las Vegas-based Morgan St. James, author of 16 books, the 40-page issue provides information and news of interest to freelance writers. View it at http:bit.ly/WTTSpring2019.

CHRIS MATTHEWS BLASTS TRUMP.  Fox News reports MSNBC host Chris Matthews blasts President Donald Trump for playing the "political sidekick" of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

 

B OF A RAISES MINIMUM WAGE.  Bank of America is raising its minimum wage starting pay to $17 an hour effective May 1, on the way to reaching $20 an hour in 2021.

NETFLIX PLANS TO ADD FAMOUS HOLLYWOOD THEATER.   Netflix is in talks to buy the historic Egyptian Theatre in Hollywood. The Egyptian’s price tag is said to be in the tens of millions of dollars.

PARADE OF HIGHER TAXES LOOMS IN GOLDEN STATE. Democrats in the California legislature introduce bills that hike taxes on residents who use or buy firearms, tire changes, oil/gas and water.

LAST OF WORLD WAR II DOOLITTLE RAIDERS DIES. Retired Lt. Col. Richard (Dick) Cole, 103, last of the 80 Doolittle Tokyo Raiders who carried out a U.S. attack on Japan during World War II, died last week in a San Antonio military hospital.

TOP BABY NAMES OF YEAR.  Nameberry, a baby-naming site, tallies the top baby names making the rounds this year.

  

Girls

1. Posie
2. Isla
3. Olivia
4. Aurora
5. Maeve
6. Cora
7. Amara
8. Ada
9. Amelia
10. Charlotte

Boys

1. Milo
2. Jasper
3. Atticus
4. Theodore
5. Asher
6. Silas
7. Jack
8. Finn
9. Henry
10. Felix

 

BILLIONS OF ROBOCALLS REACH 'EPIDEMIC' STAGE IN U.S.

Robocalls affect any person who possesses a telephone.  Yet, most media somehow ignore the big and growing problem that irks millions of Americans, notes Grumpy Editor.

About 26.3 billion robocalls were directed at Americans last year, up 46 percent from 2017.

While people can register with the National Do Not Call Registry, illegal robocalls --- many from foreign locations --- grow like a fungus.  It's not unusual for some people to receive 10 or more robocalls a day, the largest source of consumer complaints to the Federal Trade Commission.

The May issue of Consumer Reports terms robocalls "epidemic."

CR mentions "the telecom industry has promised to roll out new technology that, though not stopping robocalls on its own, would identify calls as potentially fraudulent so that consumers can decide whether to answer."

Grumpy Editor finds it interesting that when some nabbed robocallers go to court, they get off easy.

Examples CR cites:  One outfit that blasted millions of unlawful robocalls was ordered to pay $2.2 million.  But the Federal Trade Commission suspended that judgment upon payment of $65,000 --- based on inability to pay. Another operation that engineered billions of illegal robocalls was ordered to pay $2.7 million by the FTC, growing to $9.9 million when factoring in other people in the scheme.  But this was cut to $510,000 because of inability to pay.

There may be hope ahead.

Introduced in Congress in January is a bill called Telephone Robocall Abuse Criminal Enforcement and Deterrence Act.  It would make robocall fines bigger and easier for the Federal Communications Commission to obtain.

 

IN CASE YOUR FAVORITE NEWS OUTLETS MISSED THESE...

 

GEORGIA SEEKS JOURNALISM ETHICS BOARD.  Republicans in the Georgia House file a bill that proposes a "Journalism Ethics Board" to oversee news coverage in the state.  The bill calls for the creation of an "independent" board --- housed at the University of Georgia's journalism and communications school --- to make "canons and ethics" and "rules and regulations" for journalism in the state.

UNEMPLOYMENT CLAIMS DECLINE.  Initial claims for state unemployment benefits decline 10,000 to a seasonally adjusted 202,000 for the week ended March 30, lowest level since early December 1969, reports the Labor Department. 

 

BIG SHAKER "OVERDUE" IN GOLDEN STATE.  California is in an earthquake drought, proclaims the Los Angeles Times in a periodic, lengthy, illustrated feature.  The latest, in a series of efforts to shake up readers, mentions it has been almost five years since the state experienced its last earthquake of magnitude 6 or stronger.

 

WIND TURBINES CAUSE CANCER?  The White House is refusing to explain why President Donald Trump claims, falsely, that the noise from wind turbines causes cancer, notes CNN.

 

BULLETPROOF VEST AT BORDER MOCKED.  Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D., N.Y.) mocks Lawrence Jones for wearing a bulletproof vest while reporting for Fox News at the southern border.  Jones says border patrol agents advised him to wear the protective garment, because “we control this side of the border, but the cartel controls the other side of the border. There’s been gun fights.”

 

MEASLES CASES RISE.  More people are sickened by measles in the first three months of 2019 than for all of 2018.  It's the second-highest number reported since U.S. health officials declared the highly contagious and sometimes deadly disease “eliminated” in 2000.

 

12-YEAR-OLD TO ADDRESS COLLEGE GRADUATES.   University commencement speaker is added to 12-year-old Hilde Kate Lysiak’s accomplishments that include crime reporter, publisher, author and subject of a television series.  She is scheduled to address graduates of West Virginia University’s Reed College of Media next month in Morgantown, W.Va. Hilde first came to national attention at age 9, when she covered a homicide in her hometown of Selinsgrove, Pa., and for her self-published newspaper and website, Orange Street News.

13-YEAR-OLD BUYS CAR FOR MOM.  A 13-year-old boy surprises Krystal Preston, his single mother in Nevada, by presenting her with a white 1999 Chevrolet Metro, earned by mowing yards and clearing yards.

TRUMP AGAIN NIXES CORRESPONDENTS DINNER.  President Donald Trump says he's got better things to do than attend the "boring" and "negative" White House Correspondents' Association dinner April 27.  He will be holding a rally at that time, skipping the dinner for the third year in a row.

 

 

MEDIA SHOULD REFRAIN FROM NAMING MASS SHOOTERS, SAY EXPERTS

Grumpy Editor agrees with the growing movement for print and broadcast media to refrain naming mass shooters because it fuels celebrity-style coverage that encourages more violence.

Too many news outlets go into detail with biographical material on trigger-happy gunmen, often anxious to see that information along with photos that sometimes go back to high school days.

A recent Associated Press story by Lisa Marie Pane, mentions Adam Lankford, a criminologist at the University of Alabama who studied the influence of media coverage on shooters, saying it’s vitally important to avoid focusing excessive attention on gunmen.

“A lot of these shooters want to be treated like celebrities," adds Lankford. "They want to be famous. So the key is not to give them that treatment."

The criminologist argues attackers are trying to outdo previous shooters with higher death tolls and media coverage encourages copycats.

James Alan Fox, a professor at Northeastern University who has studied mass shootings, tells AP's Pane that naming shooters is not the problem but it's over-the-top coverage that includes details about the killers, such as their writings and their backgrounds, that “unnecessarily humanizes them.”

Fox adds, “We sometimes come to know more about them --- their interests and their disappointments --- than we do about our next-door neighbors."

Pane reminds that “late last year, the Trump administration’s federal Commission on School Safety called on the media to refrain from reporting names and photos of mass shooters. It was one of the rare moments when gun-rights advocates and gun-control activists agreed."

 

IN CASE YOUR FAVORITE NEWS OUTLETS MISSED THESE...

 

MARINES MIXED TRAINING ENDS.  The Marine Corps experiment integrating female recruits into an all-male unit in boot camp ended Friday.  It lasted three months.

MANY SPORTS EDITORS SNUB BASEBALL.  While many newspaper sports pages curb baseball coverage with the season opener Thursday, the Wall Street Journal on Friday runs a four-column front-page photo spotlighting the Milwaukee Brewers - St.Louis Cardinals game, with additional baseball coverage inside the first section.

DODGERS BELT EIGHT HOMERS IN GAME.  Speaking of baseball, first game of the season sees Los Angeles Dodgers players belting eight home runs, setting a major league record for opening day in a 12-5 thrashing of the Arizona Diamondbacks.

TAXPAYERS FOOT $25 MILLION PROBE.  The two-year probe by special counsel Robert Mueller that finds President Donald Trump and his campaign did not collude with the Russians cost American taxpayers $25 million.

SCHUMER CALLS TRUMP UNIFORMED.  CNSNews notes Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D.-N.Y.) on the Senate floor calls President Donald Trump "the least informed president we have ever had in American history."

WHITE REPORTERS BANNED BY CHURCH.  Breitbart reports white members of the press barred from entering the Bolton Street Baptist Church for a community event highlighting black mayoral candidates in Savannah, Ga.  Sign on the church door: "No media (T.V., Radio, etc.). Black Press Only!" 

IWO JIMA BATTLE REMEMBERED.  A dozen of the dwindling number of U.S. World War II veterans of the February 1945 Battle of Iwo Jima are among those allowed onto the island last week for an annual remembrance ceremony.

MEMOIR ON TRACK TO SET RECORD.  Michelle Obama's memoir "Becoming" sells nearly 10 million copies around the world since its November release.  It could set a sales record in its genre.

MELTED SNOW LEAVES OFFENSIVE SHAPE.  A Tennessee woman claims her homeowners association is fining her $100 because heat from her parked car's engine melted snow underneath resulted in "displaying offensive images or slogans."

BEWARE: COFFEE, EGGS ARE BAD FOR YOUR HEALTH

One way to shake up print readers or TV listeners is to spotlight things that are bad for their health, finds Grumpy Editor.

During the past week it was tea and eggs.

The World Health Organization advises to wait for tea to cool a bit to decrease risk of getting cancer of the esophagus. 

Researchers (maybe while drinking hot coffee or hot chocolate) suggest waiting for tea to cool, mentioning the danger zone comes when the beverage temperature passes the 140 degrees Fahrenheit mark.

Grumpy Editor asks:  Why just tea?  How about hot coffee?  Or hot soup?

Meanwhile, eggs are getting fried again in another periodic warning.  This time in a study published in JAMA, a medical journal.

It puts an omelette in peril.

Each large egg contains about 180 milligrams of cholesterol.

Those who dine on two eggs each morning are the most in danger, based on the study.

Thus, eating 300 milligrams of cholesterol (via about two egg yolks), according to the study, puts the eater at a 17 percent higher risk of developing cardiovascular disease.

WebMD reminds that the average egg contains 200 milligrams --- more cholesterol than in most fast-food double cheeseburgers.

Well, there go eggnogs in holiday festivities.

 

IN CASE YOUR FAVORITE NEWS OUTLETS MISSED THESE...

 

KEEP OPINIONS OUT OF NEWS STORIES. Fox News senior political analyst Brit Hume says his former ABC News colleague Ted Koppel’s comments that the “establishment press” is out to get President Trump are true and that the blurring of lines separating commentary and coverage is a problem for outlets like the Washington Post and the New York Times. “We come out of the same tradition, which is neutrality in news coverage, opinion is reserved for columnists and editorial writers,” he emphasizes.

NORTH KOREA WITHDRAWS LIAISON STAFF.  North Korea, under instructions from "higher-level authorities" withdraws its liaison staff for South Korea from an office in Kaesong, a North Korean border town.

GLOBAL GROWTH SLOWS, WORRYING INVESTORS.  Investor anxiety about the global economy is blamed for sending the Dow down a steep 460 points to 25,502 on Friday.

L.A. TIMES TAKES TO TV.  Los Angeles Times readers get an option for television news with “L.A. Times Today," produced by the Times for Charter Communications.  The  hour-long program airs Monday through Thursday at 7 p.m. 

MOST FEEL PAYING TOO MUCH TAXES.   A Rasmussen Reports survey finds 57 percent of Americans believe they are paying more than their fair share of taxes.

RATTLESNAKE STEALS TV SCENE.   A TV reporter for NBC affiliate KMIR, Palm Springs, Calif., reports at an outdoors location while a scene-stealer ---a  rattlesnake ---  slithers behind her.  Alerted, the reporter moved.

 

IS YOUR STATE HERE?  WalletHub compares the 50 states and the District of Columbia across 24 key metrics.  The results:

 

Most Innovative States			Least Innovative States
1	Massachusetts		42	Nebraska
2	Washington		43	South Dakota
3	District of Columbia		44	Kentucky
4	Maryland		45	Hawaii
5	Colorado		46	North Dakota
6	California		47	Tennessee
7	Virginia		48	Iowa
8	Utah		49	West Virginia
9	Delaware		50	Louisiana
10	Oregon		51	Mississippi

 

LOSS OF NEWSPAPER ALSO MEANS LOSS OF COMMUNITY WATCHDOG

More than 1,400 towns and cities across the nation have lost newspapers over the past 15 years, sadly notes Grumpy Editor.

Those figures --- leaving some towns and entire counties without local news coverage --- are from an Associated Press analysis of data compiled by the University of North Carolina.

 

As AP writer Michael Casey points out:  “The loss of a reliable local news source has many consequences for the community. One of them is the inability to act as a watchdog over the actions of government agencies and elected officials.”

Adds Casey: “Newspapers typically have played the lead role in their communities in holding local officials accountable. That includes filing requests to get public records that shine a light on government action – or inaction – or even filing lawsuits to promote transparency.”

Absence of a local newspaper that plays watchdog in a community can translate into real costs to a community and its taxpayers, Casey points out.

“When investigative scrutiny declines, stories go untold, which means waste, fraud, and abuse will be less likely to be discovered,” says James Hamilton, director of the Stanford University’s journalism program.

In an earlier AP story, focusing on Waynesville, Missouri (population about 5,000), residents say loss of their newspaper left a hole in the community. 

“Losing a newspaper,” says Keith Pritchard, 63, chairman of the board at the Security Bank of Pulaski County and a lifelong resident, “is like losing the heartbeat of the town .”  He tells AP about scrapbooks of news clippings about his three daughters and wonders: How will young families collect such memories?

"Other residents talk with dismay about church picnics or school plays they might have attended but only learn of through Facebook postings after the fact," AP notes. 

“I miss the newspaper, the chance to sit down over a cup of coffee and a bagel or a doughnut … and find out what’s going on in the community,” says Bill Slabaugh, a retiree. Now he talks to friends and “candidly, for the most part, I’m ignorant.”

 

IN CASE YOUR FAVORITE NEWS OUTLETS MISSED THESE...

 

CHASE TO ADD BRANCHES.  JPMorgan Chase & Co. plans to add 90 branches by the end of the year along with hiring up to 700 employees.  New branches will be in cities such as Kansas City, St. Louis, Nashville, Providence and Pittsburgh.

 

CATHOLICS MULL LEAVING CHURCH.  A Gallup poll finds more than a third of U.S. Catholics say sexual abuse scandals have made them consider leaving the church.

 

MAGAZINE RETURNED AFTER 51 YEARS.  The Cuyahoga (Ohio) County public library receives an apology from a borrower who returned a 1968 copy of Life magazine with the Beatles on the cover.  He gave $100 to cover late fees.

 

FOX NEWS MOST WATCHED.  Fox News Channel continues as the most-watched cable network in total day viewers, averaging 1.33 million.  FNC first became No. 1 in total viewers at the end of the Nielsen month in January 2002.

 

RISK SEEN WITH SEVERAL EGGS A WEEK.  Research from Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine finds adults who eat several eggs (high in cholesterol) a week have significantly higher risk of cardiovascular disease.  The findings suggest it may be time to re-evaluate the current U.S. dietary guidelines.

 

USS WASP WRECK FOUND IN CORAL SEA.  The wreck of World War II aircraft carrier USS Wasp, sunk on Sept. 15, 1942 during the Guadalcanal campaign, is found two-and-a-half miles down in the Coral Sea.  The carrier was hit by four torpedoes from a Japanese submarine. Of the ship’s crew of 2,162, 176 were killed in the attack.

 

EXOTIC TURTLES FOUND IN BAGGAGE.  More than 1,500 live exotic turtles wrapped in duct tape, in a flight from Hong Kong, are found in four pieces of luggage at Manila airport in the Philippines.

LONG-LOST CAT RETURNS HOME.  An Essex, Massachusetts family says a pet cat that went missing in August, 2013 is back home via reading of a microchip by an animal rescue shelter in nearby Salisbury.  The feline is healthy but missing part of a paw.

 

L.A. LEADS WITH AGGRESSIVE DRIVERS.  GasBuddy analysts tally the top 10 U.S. cities with the most aggressive drivers, based on  frequency of speeding, hard braking and swift acceleration:

1. Los Angeles
2. Philadelphia
3. Sacramento
4. Atlanta
5. San Francisco
6. San Diego
7. Orlando
8. Detroit
9. Austin
10. Las Vegas

 

BUSY GUY IN PRINT AND BROADCAST.  Bi-coastal, talk radio host Larry O’ Connor, heard mid-mornings on KABC, Los Angeles and in afternoon drive on WMAL-AM/FM, Washington, D.C., is expanding to the Washington Examiner where he is launching a regular print column and audio podcast.  

 

 

 

NO DROUGHT TALK IN CALIFORNIA --- THIS MONTH

Heading into spring, California soon will be concerned (an annual ritual) about its water supply, especially with the influx of millions of new residents since the last reservoir was constructed in 1979, observed Grumpy Editor.

Since that last reservoir --- New Melones in Calaveras County --- went operational, California has added 15 million people.

An upcoming reservoir, the Pacheco Reservoir in southeast Santa Clara County, is in the works but completion is more than a decade away.

The Sierra Nevada snowpack, source of about one-third of California’s water supply, last week was up 161 percent from its historical average for that date and up from just 69 percent on New Year’s Day.

Every major reservoir in California is at or above its historic average, and some, like San Luis, east of Gilroy, were full.

The 10 largest reservoirs in California were built between 1927 and 1979.

Shasta Lake, the massive inland sea on the Sacramento River, was completed in 1945. Oroville, the tallest dam in the country at 770-feet on the Feather River in Butte County, was finished in 1968.

Until more reservoirs are built, much California water runoff continues to flow into the Pacific Ocean.

 

IN CASE YOUR FAVORITE NEWS OUTLETS MISSED THESE...

SOME STATES EYE DUMPING DST.  With daylight saving time kicking in yesterday, some states were mulling joining Hawaii and most of Arizona to opt out of a system established more than 100 years ago. Considering staying permanently on standard time: California, Michigan, Pennsylvania, Texas and Wisconsin. 

NORTH KOREA NUKE SITE BACK IN ACTION.  In the wake of summit talks last month between President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, North Korea appeared to restore normal operations at a long-range rocket launch site it partially dismantled last year as part of what was claimed to be disarmament steps, declared U.S. analysts. 

 

TORNADO SENDS BILLBOARD 20 MILES.  A fierce tornado with 170 m.p.h. winds that blasted southeastern Alabama were so strong a billboard sign was sent flying 20 miles into neighboring Hamilton, Georgia.

 

GOAT NAMED HONORARY MAYOR.  Fair Haven, Vermont elected a three-year-old Nubian goat named Lincoln that edged out a victory over Sammie the dog.  As the town's first honorary pet mayor, Lincoln will attend special events throughout the year. 

 

NEW JERSEY CITY FROWNS ON BARKING. Saddle River, N.J. seeks to clamp down on excessive dog barking, proposing an ordinance that would prohibit loud, continuous barking for over 20 minutes from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m.  It would be stricter at night, with penalties kicking in for barking lasting more than 15 minutes from 10 p.m. to 7 a.m. (Officials didn't say how they plan to muzzle barking canines.)

 

DNC NIXES FOX NEWS ON DEBATES.  The Democratic National Committee nixed Fox News hosting any 2020 Democrat primary debates, citing the network's "inappropriate relationship with President Donald Trump."

 

RECORD WET WINTER.  The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration said from December to February (what it calls winter), the lower 48 states received 9.01 inches of rain and snow --- 2.22 inches more than the 20th century normal. Record or almost record rain and snow fell in the West, Tennessee Valley and parts of the Great Lakes. 

 

MILWAUKEE GREETS NEW SPORTS EDITOR.    Louisa Boardman has been named the third sports editor in the history of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. She started her career with Milwaukee newspapers in 1985.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

U.S.-NORTH KOREA TALKS PROVIDE LITTLE ACTION --- AGAIN

Grumpy Editor observed "there wasn’t much action coming out of the latest U.S. talks with North Korea focusing on nuclear disarmament."

Was that line from last week's two-day summit in Hanoi?

No, it was from Grumpy Editor's posting on Feb. 27, 2012 under the headline:  LATEST U.S.-NORTH KOREA TALKS PROVIDE LITTLE ACTION.

So, exactly seven years later, there has been no change in North Korea stringing the U.S. along in talks such as the meeting last week between President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un.

Also, North Korea continues the threat that it is ready for war.  

Mentioned as one of the upcoming highlights during the two-day summit was a joint signing ceremony that would officially end the Korean War.  But that was cancelled.

Few in media seem to be aware that the Korean War, which started 69 years ago --- before most people in media were born --- remains open-ended.  A peace treaty was never concluded.

Also labeled "The Forgotten War,” the Korean War erupted when 135,000 communist North Korean troops crossed the 38th parallel into South Korea in pre-dawn hours of June 25, 1950. Battles, many involving Chinese soldiers, ended with a cease fire on July 27, 1953. 

For the U.S., that war resulted in 33,739 military lives lost and 103,284 wounded in action.  More than 7,500 U.S. troops  remain unaccounted.

So we'll see what happens at the next two-day summit.

 

IN CASE YOUR FAVORITE NEWS OUTLETS MISSED THESE…

 

 

L.A. RECORDS COLD FEBRUARY.  Last month turned out to be the coldest February in downtown Los Angeles since 1962, with the average high temperature at 60.6 degrees, eight degrees below normal, tallied the National Weather Service.  Snow fell in some parts of the city.

 

VETS WITH PURPLE HEARTS GET FASTER ACTION.  In efforts to provide faster claims decisions, the Department of Veterans Affairs starting next month will give priority consideration to combat veterans with Purple Hearts when processing claims.

 

ACCUWEATHER'S ABRAMS RETIRES.  AccuWeather’s popular meteorologist Elliot Abrams retired, marking the end of a 51-year broadcasting career for one of America’s most highly regarded weather forecasters. He said he knew he wanted to be a weatherman when he was five years old.

 

CONDUCTOR ANDRE PREVIN DIES.  Pianist, composer and conductor Andre Previn died, age 89, in his Manhattan home. Once married to actress Mia Farrow, Previn went overseas during the Korean War as a member of  the 40^th Infantry Division, which contained many California National Guard members. 

 

G.E. TRIMS 30,000 FROM PAYROLL.  General Electric disclosed that last year in let go 30,000 workers as the conglomerate sold some of its operations.   About 283,000 workers remain.

 

BRYCE HARPER IN RECORD BASEBALL DEAL.  Baseball player Bryce Harper, a star outfielder, signed a record $330 million, 13-year contract with the Philadelphia Phillies, marking the largest such financial deal in baseball history. 

 

MERRILL LYNCH NAME FADING.  Bank of America said it would phase out the Merrill Lynch name from its family of operations. However, it will rename most of its wealth management operations Merrill.  BofA acquired the investment bank, founded in 1914, 11 years ago.

 

BLOOMBERG EXPANDS IN BEIJING, SHANGHAI.  Bloomberg Television is opening a studio in its Beijing bureau while constructing another studio at its Shanghai bureau that will be operational soon.

 

VINYL DISCS COMEBACK CONTINUES.  Recorded music retail revenues in the U.S. last year increased about 12 percent, to $9.85 billion.  Sales of the old favorite, vinyl, continued a comeback, up 7.9 percent, at $419.2 million. 

WARNING ISSUED ON BAHAMAS.  U.S. State Department issued a level 2 travel advisory warning for the Bahamas, triggered by crime, including burglaries, robberies, sexual assault and risks associated with using unregulated recreational watercraft.

EX-BUSH SERVICE DOG JOINS NAVY.  Sully H.W. Bush, the former service dog to late President George H.W. Bush, started a new job with the Navy at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center outside Washington. The yellow Labrador was appointed to the rank of hospital corpsman second class.

CALIFORNIA SOLAR REQUIREMENT COULD ADD $10,000 TO NEW HOME PRICE

Little has been said about it nationally, but home buyers in California, already facing some of the highest prices in the nation, will be paying a bit extra next year when the Golden State makes solar mandatory for new houses, notes Grumpy Editor.

The requirement could easily add $8,000 to $10,000 to the home’s price, according to the California Energy Commission (CEC).

The solar addition will increase the average monthly mortgage payment by $40, figures CEC.  But, it adds, new home buyers will save an average $80 a month on  heating, cooling and lighting bills.

Danielle Hale, chief economist at Realtor.com, tells CNBC's "On the Money" that the new solar requirement could undermine a segment of the real estate market that's struggled to add to new homes relative to demand.

Added costs could hit "the affordable side of the market," she mentions, where prices on available homes have been under pressure.

"It's a very different perspective depending on if you're looking for affordable homes, or pricier homes," she adds.  “It's already difficult for builders to build, and I think this is just going to exacerbate that problem."

 

IN CASE YOUR FAVORITE NEWS OUTLETS MISSED THESE…

 

RUSSIAN INTERFERENCE REPORT DELAYED.  Robert Mueller’s final report on the two-year investigation of the so-called Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election, which media were awaiting this week, won’t be out after all, leaving print and broadcast outlets in suspense.

DOW POSTS NINTH STRAIGHT WEEKLY GAIN.  The Dow rose above 26,000 again on Friday, gaining 181.18 points to close at 26,031.81 for the first time since Nov. 8 in posting its ninth consecutive weekly gain --- longest streak since May 1995.

MILLENNIALS TARDY ON AUTO LOAN PAYMENTS.  A record seven million Americans are more than 90 days late on auto loan payments and millennials are clearly leading delinquency rates, finds the New York Fed. It notes the number of new auto loans and leases appearing on credit reports last year reached the highest level in 19 years.  Researchers note there was a “sharp worsening” in the number of delinquent auto loans held by borrowers under 30. 

FOUR TERM MINNESOTA DOG MAYOR DIES.  Duke the four-term ceremonial canine mayor of Cormorant Township, Minn., went to "doggy heaven" last week.  The Great Pyrenees, 13 years old, made national news for being elected the dog mayor, acting as the village's ambassador to the public.

 

SEN. SCHUMER QUESTIONS HEDGE FUND WITH EYES ON GANNETT.  Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer wants to know how many journalists hedge fund Alden Global Capital intends to lay off if it manages to take control of Gannett, publisher of USA TODAY.

 

SMOLLETT REAPS HEAVY COVERAGE IN MEDIA.  Actor Jussie Smollett, gaining more media coverage than the President over the past week, was cut from this season’s final two episodes of Fox’s “Empire” after Chicago police charge him with filing a false report for allegedly staging a hate crime attack on himself.

SNOW HITS HOLLYWOOD.  Last week's snow in the Hollywood Hills area of Los Angeles is the first such dusting since 1962.

NBC SITS ON 'RUSSIA' EXCLUSIVE GOING AIRBORNE

Imagine this:  A major broadcast network grabs an exclusive in reporting (on the web) that the Senate Intelligence Committee has found no material evidence of collusion between the Trump campaign and Russia, notes Grumpy Editor.

But in the two following days, the news does not yet go airborne.

 

Under a Washington dateline, NBC’s Ken Dilanian wrote, “After two years and 200 interviews, the Senate Intelligence Committee is approaching the end of its investigation into the 2016 election, having uncovered no direct evidence of a conspiracy between the Trump campaign and Russia, according to both Democrats and Republicans on the committee.”

 

Bill D'Agostino, a research analyst for Media Research Center's News Analysis Division, points out “yet none of the three major broadcast networks (ABC, CBS and NBC) have given it even a single second of coverage in their evening newscasts.  Considering these networks have given the Russia probe a massive 2,202 minutes of airtime, their silence on this major development is deafening."

 

He adds, “MRC analysts examining all coverage on ABC’s World News Tonight, the CBS Evening News and the NBC Nightly News found that those 2,202 minutes spent on the Russia investigation accounted for nearly 19 percent of all Trump-related reporting between January 21, 2017 and February 10, 2019.”

Through Sunday, meanwhile, media continue to report special counsel Robert Mueller is close to wrapping up his investigation into possible collusion between Trump's campaign and the Russian government.  Example:  CNN's Reliable Sources with Brian Seltzer Sunday kept the investigation alive with a segment on "Russia Mueller Probe Rolls on."

IN CASE YOUR FAVORITE NEWS OUTLETS MISSED THESE…

 

PIECE OF AMERICANA FADES.  Minor league baseball stadium for the Hartford Yard Goats, a Double-A affiliate of the Colorado Rockies, says fans will not be buying peanuts or Cracker Jack (made famous in the lyrics of the famous, "Take Me Out to the Ball Game") to make the venue safer for people with food allergies.

NO FEDERAL TAXES FOR AMAZON.  Amazon, which doubled its profits and made more than $11 billion in 2018, won't pay any federal income taxes for the second year in a row, reports the Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy. 

 

SNOW FALLS LOWER IN HAWAII.  While snow usually falls in Hawaii a few times a year in winter on the state's highest peak, Mauna Kea --- the dormant volcano on the island of Hawaii, rising 13,803 in feet --- the white stuff is rarely seen at elevations below 9,000 to 10,000 feet.  But that's what happened on Maui's 10,000-foot Haleakala that received a rare thick dusting of snow that accumulated at 6,200 feet in Polipoli State Recreation Area.   

CHICAGO RANKS AS MOST CORRUPT.  Information from the Justice Department ranks the Chicago metropolitan area  as the most corrupt U.S. city.  Meanwhile, Los Angeles tops the list of the most public corruption convictions in America, based on the number of federal corruption convictions between 1976 and 2017. 

 

STOP THE PRESSES.  Grabbing space in U.S. newspapers was the earth-shaking report from Toronto about a 19-year old woman who tossed two chairs from a 45th floor balcony onto a busy street in front of her condo building's entrance.  No one was injured. 

DIRTY MONEY.  The typical Manhattan ATM is more bacteria-ridden than a wide range of other heavily-used objects, including a subway pole and the handle of a public toilet at Penn Station, reports the New York Post.

STUDY: MILLENNIALS PREFER GOLDEN OLDIES IN MUSIC

A study, not covered by most U.S. media, finds millennials prefer golden oldies in music --- from the 1960s to 1990s --- rather than the relatively bland, homogenous pop of today, notes Grumpy Editor.

 

Golden oldies proved to be much more memorable than tunes released in the 21st century, according to the study that appeared in Metro, Britain’s highest circulation newspaper in tabloid format.

 

Metro explains that “scientists tested a group of millennials on their ability to recognize hit records from different decades. The 643 participants, typically aged 18 to 25, maintained a steady memory of top tunes that came out between 1960 and 1999. In contrast, their memory of 21st-century songs from 2000 to 2015 – while higher overall – diminished rapidly over time.”

 

The newspaper adds, researcher Dr. Pascal Wallisch, from New York University, said: “The 1960s to 1990s was a special time in music, reflected by a steady recognition of pieces of that era-even by today’s millennials. During this period songs reaching the top of the U.S. Billboard charts were significantly more varied than they were between 2000 to 2015, or the 1940s and 1950s.”

Certain songs were far more memorable than others, according to the study, with “well known examples including ‘When a Man Loves a Woman’ by Percy Sledge (1966), ‘Baby Come Back’ by Player (1977) and ‘The Tide is High’ by Blondie (1980). Others, including ‘Knock Three Times’ by Dawn (1970), ‘I’m Sorry’ by John Denver (1975) and ‘Truly’ by Lionel Richie (1982).”

 

IN CASE YOUR FAVORITE NEWS OUTLETS MISSED THESE…

 

TWO-DAY SUMMIT IN HANOI  SET.  President Donald Trump will hold his second summit with North Korea’s Kim Jong Un Feb. 27 and 28 in Hanoi. A key goal: Continuing efforts to persuade Kim to give up nuclear weapons. 

OVERLOOKED BY MOST MEDIA. White-garbed Nancy Pelosi and many similar dressed female Democrats refused to stand or applaud when President Donald Trump, in the State of the Union address, mentioned taking care of veterans.

BUSINESS NEWS SITES THRIVE.  Crain’s New York ran an article pointing out some business news web sites are thriving at a time when general news sites are struggling, coupled with layoffs.

POLICE HANDCUFF PHOTOGRAPHER, DISCIPLINED.  The Denver Police Department disciplined two officers who handcuffed and detained a journalist who was photographing them as they were dealing with a man sitting naked on a public sidewalk. The department determined the officers were in violation of police policy for detaining the journalist for recording an officer in a public place.

JEWISH LEADERS BEHIND PRO-TRUMP AD.  More than 50 leading American Jewish leaders took out a full-page ad in the New York Times to thank President Donald Trump for his efforts to combat anti-semitism across the globe and criticize Democrats for their open embrace of causes advocating the destruction of Israel.

TSA CONFISCATES RECORD NUMBER OF FIREARMS.  The Transportation Security Administration confiscated 7 percent more firearms last year than in 2017, revealed the agency. Of the record 4,239 guns discovered, 3,656 were loaded — an average 10 per day.

NEWSPAPER PROFESSIONALS TO GATHER IN LAS VEGAS.  The Key Executives Mega-Conference in Las Vegas Feb. 25 to 27 is expected to draw about 800 newspaper professionals.  The event is hosted by Inland Press Association, Local Media Association, Southern Newspaper Publishers Association and News Media Alliance, in association with the Nevada Press Association. “Growing digital subscribers is the top priority across the industry, but we know the reason is to reduce the risk of the declining print advertising business,” said Jay Horton, the show’s executive producer.  

BUT DID ANYONE YELL B-I-N-G-O?  A bingo session at a nursing home in Rideau Lakes, Ontario, near the New York border, turned ugly when two women (aged 79 and 86) got into a “physical altercation” over a seat. Others in the room got involved, turning the situation into somewhat of a brawl.

SUPER BOWL SUNDAY LEADS TO SLUGGISH DAY TODAY

Work productivity takes a big slide today following the Super Bowl and one study estimates companies will lose $484 million as a result, notes Grumpy Editor.

"Some white-collar workers --- particularly men, Millennials and senior managers --- will be a little sluggish the day after the big game between the New England Patriots and Los Angeles Rams," according to Captivate’s Office Pulse, which offers marketers timely analysis and insights from a proprietary panel of upscale professionals. 

 

One so-called positive result, says Office Pulse, is "more than one in five senior managers are going to be hungover or tired, so they’ll probably leave you alone.”

 

The survey also indicates "more than one in 10 business professionals (12 percent) confessed that they’ll show up to work hungover and/or extra tired the day after the Super Bowl.”  

 

Other predictions:

 

• 9 percent of men will take the day after the Super Bowl off from work, another 5 percent will show up late. That’s compared to 3 percent and 2 percent, respectively, for female professionals.
• 7 percent of Millennials will take Monday off. That’s more than Gen Xers (5 percent) and Boomers (3 percent).
• 13 percent of senior managers will take the day after off from work;  7 percent will show up late.

Even if they’re not taking the day off, a considerable amount of professionals (30 percent) feel that the Monday after the Super Bowl should be a national holiday.

 

Office Pulse points out "the real winner will be the commercials” — the most popular topic of discussion today.

 

 

IN CASE YOUR FAVORITE NEWS OUTLETS MISSED THESE…

 

 

 

JOBS BLOOM IN JANUARY.  Job growth last month shattered expectations, with nonfarm payrolls surging by 304,000 despite a partial government shutdown that was the longest in history.  Noting the "sunny results" for January from the Labor Department, a Saturday Wall Street Journal editorial under the headline, "Sorry for the Good News," takes a poke at some media that overlooked the economic news with "Friday was a bad day in certain media and political precincts as the labor market turned in another gangbuster performance in January.  The recession may not be imminent after all, and more people are working and making more money."

 

MOST ECONOMISTS SEE NO RECESSION THIS YEAR. Two thirds of business economists see no recession this year but predict a slowdown of growth, finds a survey by the National Association for Business Economics, the largest international association of applied economists, strategists, academics and policy-makers.

 

TYPHUS HITS L.A., RATS IN CITY HALL.  There are rats living in Los Angeles City Hall, says Deputy City Attorney Liz Greenwood who believes she contracted typhus from fleas in her office there.  Fleas often live on rats, which congregate in the many heaps of trash that are visible across L.A. and are a breeding ground for typhus.

 

NEWSPAPER CHAIN OFFERS BUYOUTS.  McClatchy Co. says about 10 percent of the newspaper chain's employees would be offered voluntary buyouts.

 

POSTAGE STAMPS TO HONOR MILITARY DOGS.  Look for postage stamps this year that will recognize military working dogs. Spotlighted:  German shepherd, Labrador retriever, Belgian Malinois and Dutch shepherd breeds.

 

PIONEER FEMALE NAVAL AVIATOR DIES. Rosemary Mariner, one of the first group of female Navy aviators who broke barriers, died at 65.  In 1973, she was one of the first eight women chosen to fly Navy aircraft and was the Navy’s first female jet pilot to fly the A-4C and the A-7E Corsair II. In 1990, she became the first woman in the military to command an operational air squadron. During her 24 years of service, Mariner logged more than 3,500 flight hours in 15 types of aircraft.

 

BEN & JERRY'S GOES FOR WOODEN SPOONS.  Ben & Jerry's is joining a growing list of companies phasing out single-use plastic. The ice cream vendor says by April it plans to phase out plastic straws and spoons in 600 stores worldwide, shifting to wooden spoons.

 

SURE IT'S HOT DOWN UNDER.  With a record cold period in the U.S. over the past few days, media, in discussing climate change, point to record heat in Australia --- failing to mention that it's summer there and January is like July in the U.S.

 

L.A. OFFICIALS PLAN TO CHARGE MOTORISTS BY THE MILE

Los Angeles officials, always with grabbing more taxes on their minds, have come up with a nifty (they think) idea: charge motorists more to drive, noted Grumpy Editor.

 

L.A. County politicians claimed they have no choice but to contemplate charging motorists more to drive in efforts to relieve congestion.

 

Terming it “congestion pricing,” among moves being considered are converting carpool lanes to toll lanes, taxing drivers based on the number of miles traveled and charging a fee to enter certain neighborhoods and business districts.

 

The Metropolitan Traffic Authority (MTA) figured getting more drivers off the road would allow freeing up space for better bus service, while incoming billions of dollars in revenue could fund a major expansion of the transit network.

 

But how does charging to drive, with daily commuters motoring to work and others with necessary tasks that require them to get behind the wheel, result in getting more vehicles off the roadways?  For example: How will driving a pregnant woman to a hospital be treated, especially with using a popular road?

 

How will merchants in targeted business districts feel about curbing potential customers?     

 

To avoid road fees, will there be more use of recently-developed flying cars?  That would lead to more flight control personnel.

 

MTA’s board of directors next month will be asked to approve a study and assemble a panel of experts to examine how congestion pricing would work.

 

 

IN CASE YOUR FAVORITE NEWS OUTLETS MISSED THESE…

 

 

GANNETT SLASHES JOBS.  Poynter reported Gannett Co., Inc. began slashing jobs across the country Wednesday in a cost-cutting move that was anticipated even before recent news that a hedge-fund company was planning to buy the chain that includes USA Today, Indianapolis Star, Cincinnati Enquirer, Des Moines Register, Arizona Republic and many others.

 

DAILY WHITE HOUSE PRESS BRIEFINGS SHELVED  President Donald Trump directed White House press secretary Sarah Sanders not to hold traditional daily briefings because "most (reporters) will never cover us fairly and hence, the term, Fake News!"  Last press briefing was on Dec. 18.  But there is no lack of media accessibility.  Sanders reminded that "I take questions from reporters every single day." 

 

MOST ADULTS DON'T BUY NEWSPAPERS.  A Rasmussen Reports survey tallied 63 percent of adults rarely or never buy a print version of their local newspaper, up from 57 percent last May and 30 percent 10 years ago.

 

FINE PRINT DISTRACTS WITH APPEALING AD.  A Wells Fargo half-page ad under the headline “Give your money a raise,” with an appealing savings account interest figure, also has 23 page-wide lines in hard-to-read tiny type on “to qualify for this offer...”

 

BRITISH PAPER APOLOGIZES TO FIRST LADY.  The Telegraph newspaper in Britain apologized and paid undisclosed damages to First Lady Melania Trump after publishing a Jan. 19 cover story it said contained many false statements.

DOG RETURNS HOME WITH TWO PALS.  A Concordia, Kansas, family thought their dog was lost when it did not return home from the back yard.  But the dog did return much later accompanied by another dog --- and a goat.

BERKELEY TO CHARGE FOR DISPOSABLE CUPS.  Patrons of Berkeley, California restaurants and coffee shops who don't bring reusable beverage cups, will need to pay a 25-cent fee for a disposable cup starting next January. The Disposable-Free Dining ordinance also will require eateries to provide takeout containers that are compostable by mid-2020 and to use only reusable plates and utensils for those eating in.

RUNAWAY EMUS CAPTURED IN GALVESTON.  Police in Galveston, Texas captured a pair of runaway emus ---not permitted in the city --- that had been loose after escaping from their owner's backyard.  Its owner said the large, flightless birds were brought in after the death of his mother who owned them at her Houston home.

 

DRUNK ON RUSSIAN PLANE MAKES HEADLINES IN U.S.  Must have been a dull news day when U.S. newspapers carried a story on an intoxicated passenger  threatening the crew of a Russian passenger plane flying from a Siberian city to Moscow, forcing  it to land shortly after takeoff.

WILL ARMY GIVE CURRENT FOOTWEAR THE BOOT?

With military editors mostly gone from major newspapers, there’s an absence of news on everyday developments focusing on men and women in uniform, observed Grumpy Editor.

An example:  The U.S. Army is testing new combat boots that are lighter and more comfortable.

Stars and Stripes writer John Vandiver revealed the Army Research, Development and Engineering Command Soldier Center in Natick, Mass., has developed prototypes that soldiers will wear at three basic training and active duty sites during the next four months.

The general-purpose prototypes being tested are the first significant change to basic Army combat boots in 30 years.

Vandiver quoted an overseer of the new footwear saying, “Soldiers live in their boots and many will tell you that there is no piece of equipment more important to their lethality and readiness.  A bad pair of boots will ruin a soldier’s day and possibly result in injuries, so we really believe that each of these prototype boots have the potential to improve the lives of soldiers.”

The prototypes --- up to 1.5 pounds lighter per pair than those issued today --- utilize more flexible types of leather and lighter outsoles and will be field tested on 800 recruits at Fort Leonard Wood, Mo. and Fort Jackson, S.C.

Another 900 pairs will go to soldiers at Fort Bliss, Texas, said Vandiver, adding the Army’s soldier center team will custom-fit each pair and collect solider surveys on boot performance in the spring.

 

IN CASE YOUR FAVORITE NEWS OUTLETS MISSED THESE…

 

BANKS CONTINUE TO SNUB HIGHER RATES FOR DEPOSITORS.  While growing higher interest rates have boosted income for banks, allowing them to make more money on their loans, not widely reported is that customers are starting to demand higher interest rates on deposits.

GANNETT TARGET OF TAKEOVER.  MNG Enterprises Inc. — better known as Digital First Media — made a takeover bid for Gannett Co., publisher of USA Today, Detroit Free Press, Cincinnati Enquirer, Des Moines Register, Arizona Republic and many others as the nation's largest newspaper publisher measured by total daily circulation.

VINYL SEES RESURGENCE.  Music industry consumption figures show that CDs, as expected, are declining in popularity but vinyl is experiencing a resurgence, particularly for classic albums, noted Fortune, which added cassettes also are experiencing sales growth. 

FREE ONLINE MAGAZINE FOR WRITERS.  The winter 2019 issue of Writers Tricks of the Trade, a free magazine is now online.  Produced by Las Vegas-based Morgan St. James, author of 16 books, the 37-page issue provides information and news of interest to freelance writers.  View it at  https://joom.ag/aNTa 

SEARS STILL HANGING IN.  Sears Holding Corp. received another reprieve, a bankruptcy auction win for the company’s chairman Eddie Lampert.  However, experts pointed out problems that got the retailer into trouble in the first place continue with little hope for change. 

SURVEY FINDS TRUMP APPROVAL RISES WITH LATINOS.  President Donald Trump’s approval rating among Latinos jumped almost 20 points from December to January in a NPR/PBS NewsHour/Marist Poll.

FIRST FEMALE EDITOR OF CRAIN’S CHICAGO BUSINESS.  Veteran Chicago journalist Ann Dwyer, 54, will become the first female editor of Crain’s Chicago Business in its 41-year history.  She joined Crain’s from the Chicago Tribune in 1995 as a copy editor, reported Chris Roush, of Talking Biz News.

RUNAWAY DOG SHAKES UP LAX.  A runaway German Shepherd, named Cashmere, created a headache on the tarmac at Los Angeles International Airport Thursday afternoon when she escaped while being loaded onto a plane for an international flight.  Nine officers responded and after a half hour Cashmere was secured and loaded back onto the aircraft.

 

POSSIBLE MATE FOUND FOR LONELY FROG.   A Sehuencas frog, named Romeo, thought to be the last of its kind, and alone in a tank at an aquarium in Bolivia for a decade while scientists tried to find him a mate, finally may have a friend.  Scientists from a museum in Cochabamba City have found five more, first to be seen in the wild for 10 years.

GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN CURTAILS U.S. FOOD INSPECTIONS

The current partial government shutdown has dramatically curtailed routine food inspections by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, observed Grumpy Editor.

 

The FDA oversees the nation's food supply and regularly investigates foodborne illness outbreaks. 

 

The shutdown concerns many because not getting a close look are risky foods such as produce, cheese and infant formula.

 

However, according to the FDA, efforts were being made to bring back about 150 FDA workers this week to focus on riskier food items.

 

The agency usually conducts about 160 domestic food inspections a week.

 

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said each year 48 million people get sick from a foodborne illness, 128,000 are hospitalized and 3,000 die.

 

CDC researchers have identified more than 250 foodborne diseases. Most of them are infections, caused by a variety of bacteria, viruses, and parasites.

 

A Wall Street Journal report said the FDA, during the shutdown “has continued to conduct inspections at foreign food facilities, and it is still inspecting imported goods coming into U.S. ports.”

 

IN CASE YOUR FAVORITE NEWS OUTLETS MISSED THESE...

 

 

GOLDEN STATE EYES BANNING PAPER RECEIPTS.  The California State Assembly proposed a bill that would ban paper receipts by Jan. 1, 2022, replacing them with digital receipts.

 

MILDER FLU SEASON AHEAD?  While earlier reports saw a big flu season ahead, the latest from U.S. health officials predicted a "gentler" flu period, based on a milder flu strain, compared to last winter's "unusually brutal one."   

 

SURVEY FINDS CONSERVATIVES OUTNUMBER LIBERALS.  A Gallup survey revealed conservatives outnumber liberals in the U.S.  Thirty-five percent of adults said they were "very conservative/conservative." Twenty-six percent said they were "liberal/very liberal." Thirty-five percent said they were "moderate."

 

TESLA  MODEL 3 BEST SELLER.  CNBC reported Tesla's Model 3 was the best-selling luxury car of 2018.  It pointed out Tesla sold more cars in the U.S. last year than it did in every previous year of the electric automaker's existence combined.

 

SUBSCRIPTION RATES VARY.  Fortune magazine still continued with different subscription renewal rates, baffling subscribers.  With the mailed magazine, an “Act Now  and Save!” message offered a one year renewal for $59.95.  Then via mail to the same subscriber, a “Last Issue!” offer for one-year print and digital showed just $10.

 

51 STAFFERS USED ON FORTUNE REPORT.  On the positive side, the latest Fortune issue’s special report on the shrinking middle class, according to editor-in-chief Clifton Leaf, “brought together the talents of 19 writers, five editors, three copy editors, 12 photographers (in 12 different cities), three photo editors, four video producers, two illustrators, two designers and one data visualization artist --- 51 people in all.”

 

NEWSPAPER LAYOFFS CONTINUE.  As the newspaper industry struggles to stem a decline in revenue, The Dallas Morning News laid off 43 employees in its newsroom and other parts of the company.

 

HUNGRY MOOSE ENTERS HOSPITAL.  Staff and patients at Alaska Regional Hospital in Anchorage were surprised to see a large moose wander inside for a quick snack on some greenery near an entrance.

TV ANCHORS ANNOUNCE BREAKING NEWS.  Two popular Cincinnati on-air TV personalities on WLWT announced they are joining forces beyond the anchor desk.  Co-anchors Sheree Paolello and Mike Dardis said they are engaged and expect to marry in late spring or early summer.

STOCK MARKET GOES ON ROLLER COASTER RIDE HEADING INTO 2019

Seems no one in Washington, which thrives on investigations, has raised an eyebrow on the stock market’s big up-and-down gyrations in the past three months, noted Grumpy Editor.

 

Heading into the new year, many investors said they reined in their optimism as investment experts warned 2019 will be another volatile year.

 

The Dow on Friday closed at 23,433.16. up a whopping 747 points from Thursday when the Dow plunged 660 points.

 

Reason for the Thursday drop was attributed to technology companies suffering their worst loss in seven years and health of the global economy.

 

The plunge, peppered with warnings of recession on the horizon, threatened to shake up confidence and spending plans of U.S.  businesses and consumers.

 

Then the next day’s rebound came with hopes for progress in the U.S.-China dispute, a strong report on the jobs market (with 312,000 positions added last month) and encouraging comments on interest rate policy from the head of the U.S. central bank.

 

“We expect a bear market rally to develop over the coming weeks, and we expect a new bull market to develop over the coming months to quarters,” said Ari Wald, a technical analyst at Oppenheimer & Co.

 

Meanwhile, the latest Rasmussen Reports national survey finds 54 percent of adults think 2019 will be at least a good year. That includes 15 percent who expect it to be one of the best years ever, 18 percent who feel it will be an excellent year and 21 percent who say it will be a good year. Only 19 percent expect 2019 to be a poor year.

 

 

IN CASE YOUR FAVORITE NEWS OUTLETS MISSED THESE…

 

MOST MANUFACTURING JOBS ADDED SINCE 1997.   Bureau of Labor Statistics said the economy added 284,000 manufacturing jobs last year, the largest increase since 1997 which saw a 304,000 gain in that category.

 

U.S. MILITARY PERSONNEL SENT TO AFRICA.  The U.S. has deployed military personnel to Central Africa to protect U.S. assets from possible “violent demonstrations” in Congo.

 

QANTAS AIRLINES NAMED SAFEST IN 2018.  Qantas was nominated as the world’s safest airline for 2019 by AirlineRatings.com, a product rating website. Others in the top 20: Air New Zealand, Alaska Airlines, All Nippon Airways, American Airlines, Austrian Airlines, British Airways, Cathay Pacific Airways, Emirates, EVA Air, Finnair, Hawaiian Airlines, KLM, Lufthansa, Qatar, Scandinavian Airline System, Singapore Airlines, Swiss, United Airlines and the Virgin group of airlines (Atlantic and Australia).

 

INMATES EAT WELL IN FRONT OF DISGRUNTLED NON-PAID STAFFERS.  The partial government shutdown created “a delicious irony at federal prisons — inmates dining on lavish holiday meals in front of disgruntled staffers forced to work without pay,” pointed out NBC News.  The news network added that "inmates at FCI Pekin in Illinois enjoyed a fancy meal of steak and shrimp on Jan. 1. Cornish hen and Boston Creme pie were on the menu at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn. And the prisoners at a federal institution in Minnesota munched on heaping plates of chicken wings."

NEW JERSEY BIDS FAREWELL, VERMONT WELCOMES. A United Van Lines study found more people moved out of New Jersey than any other state in 2018 while more people moved to Vermont.   The moving company found 66.8 percent of moves in New Jersey were outbound while more people moved to Vermont than any other state, with a rate of 72.6 percent for inbound migration.

 

BIG TUNA SELLS FOR BIG BUCKS IN JAPAN.  A 612-pound bluefin tuna sold for a record $3 million at auction at Tokyo’s Tsukiji market.

FOREIGN VIRUS AFFECTS NEWSPAPERS AROUND THE COUNTRY

A suspected malware computer virus from overseas caused thousands of newspaper readers around the nation to miss their Saturday print editions, observed Grumpy Editor.

Especially hit hard was the Southwest U.S. where silent presses affected readers of the Los Angeles Times, Wall Street Journal, San Diego Union-Tribune, New York Times and others. 

The virus caused problems at the downtown Los Angeles Times production facility that also prints regional editions of the Wall Street Journal and New York Times. 

The Times said the problem was first detected Friday and technology teams made progress but were unable to clear all systems before press time.

All publications within The Times’ former parent company, Tribune Publishing, had problems with print production Saturday.

The Los Angeles Times and San Diego Union-Tribune, which were previously owned by Tribune Publishing still share some production technology with the company.

Tribune Publishing said malware affected its ability to print newspapers across its chain of outlets, including the Chicago Tribune,  New York Daily News, Baltimore Sun and Orlando Sentinel.

The computer malware was detected Friday and "impacted some back-office systems which are primarily used to publish and produce newspapers across our properties," said a Tribune spokesperson.

 

IN CASE YOUR FAVORITE NEWS OUTLETS MISSED THESE...

 

NO EYEBROW RAISING WITH STOCK MARKET GYRATIONS?  While Washington thrives on investigations, nothing is being mentioned about checking into the wild ups and downs of the New York stock market in recent days.

JOURNALISTS FEATURED TONIGHT IN TIMES SQUARE.  Ringing in 2019 will be a group of journalists appearing on stage with the Committee to Protect Journalists. The journalists will push the crystal button that signals lowering of the New Year’s Eve ball in Times Square, New York.

PELOSI SPOTTED AT HAWAII RESORT.  Top House Democrat Nancy Pelosi was spotted at Hawaii’s Fairmont Orchid resort that charges $899 a night for a standard room and up to $4,899 for the presidential suite. 

PLAIN DEALER TO CUT STAFF.  The Cleveland Plain Dealer plans to lay off 29 union employees, mostly copy editors, page designers and illustrators, after March 2019 and outsource most of those jobs.

MSNBC BEATS FOX NEWS.  MSNBC beat out Fox News in key ratings for the first time in 17 years.  MSNBC averaged 1.56 million total viewers during the "sales day" (6 a.m. to 2 a.m.) between Dec. 17-21, making it the top cable news network in the key 25-54 age demographic.

NO EVIDENCE OF FOREIGN OBSTRUCTION.   Dan Coats, director of National Intelligence, said his agency found no evidence of foreign direct interference in the midterm elections.

MLB AVERAGE SALARY DIPS…JUST A BIT.  Average salary for major league baseball players in 2018 was $4,095,686.  It made headlines in some sports sections because it dropped $1,436 from the prior year.

‘JUSTICE’ PICKED AS WORD OF YEAR.  Merriam-Webster selected “justice” as its 2018 word of the year.

GRUMPY EDITOR, AWAITING SANTA, TAKES TIME OFF

 

With Santa and his sleigh on the way, Grumpy Editor is taking time off and will return on Dec. 31.

CALIFORNIA CONSIDERS FEE FOR TEXT MESSAGING

As if Californians aren't being taxed enough --- with the highest state income tax rate in the nation along with lofty sales and gasoline taxes --- Sacramento wants to charge a fee for text messaging on mobile phones, notes Grumpy Editor.

Funds from that would go to subsidize wireless services for lower income residents.

The proposal, frowned on by wireless industry and business groups, is slated for a vote next month by the State Public Utilities Commission.

Jim Wunderman, president of the Bay Area Council business group calls it "a dumb idea," adding, “This is how conversations take place in this day and age, and it’s almost like saying there should be a tax on the conversations we have.”

Wunderman says he is unaware of any local or national program that taxes texting.

An editorial on the subject in the Wall Street Journal signs off with:  "On the bright side, California's tax on texting should give millennials a lesson in rapacious progressive government."

IN CASE YOUR FAVORITE NEWS OUTLETS MISSED THESE...

WHITE HOUSE PRESS HOLIDAY PARTY SCRATCHED.   President Trump canceled the White House Christmas holiday party for the media, a decades-old tradition that attracted those covering the White House, as well as other Washington reporters, anchors and commentators plus New York media executives who would fly in for the occasion. The invitation-only event grew so large that there were two back-to-back events, one for broadcast outlets and one for print.

HEART TROUBLE CHANGES FLIGHT.  A Southwest Airlines flight traveling from Seattle to Dallas was forced to turn around mid-flight after officials realized a human heart had been left onboard.  The heart was intended for delivery to a Seattle hospital after a previous flight from Sacramento.  In covering the event, media fail to report the exact location of the heart on the aircraft --- in an overhead bin or in the cargo hold.

CBS SELLS TELEVISION CITY IN L.A.  Television City, a 25-acre site on the western side of Los Angeles where many famous TV shows originated, is being sold for $750 million to Hackman Capital Partners.  CBS will continue producing shows at the site for at least five years. CBS originally bought the property in 1950. But since 2008, the company’s primary studio facility has been the 40-acre CBS Studios Center in Studio City with 18 sound stages and more than 210,000 square feet of office space.

WWI WARSHIP SINKING SOLVED.  It took 100 years for the finding, but a mysterious explosion that resulted in the sinking of the USS San Diego just miles outside New York City finally is solved.  The Navy believes the only major U.S. warship to sink in World War I hit an underwater mine planted by a German submarine.  The 500-foot armored cruiser sank in less than 30 minutes on July 19, 1918.

 

VENEZUELA NEWSPAPER STOPS PRESSES.  With a 75-year run, El Nacional, Venezuela’s last nationally-circulated newspaper, published its last print edition on Friday.  It continues with an online version.

 

MONEY MAGAZINE REMAINS UP FOR SALE.  Meredith Corp. continues to seek a buyer for personal finance magazine Money, once part of Time Inc.  One source says the publication is expected to sell for $10 million to $15 million.

 

WEEKLY STANDARD ENDS RUN.  Final edition of Washington-based The Weekly Standard will be published today.  It ends a 23-year run for the conservative publication.

 

CBS ELEVATES MAJOR GARRETT.  CBS News names Major Garrett as its chief Washington correspondent.  He has served as CBS's top White House correspondent. The new title makes him a prominent player in the network's coverage of the 2020 presidential election.

BY PHONE, TRY TO REACH A LIVE BODY AT YOUR LOCAL POST OFFICE

Even without the busy Christmas season, guarded closer than Pentagon secret telephone numbers are those leading to live personnel at postal facilities, observed Grumpy Editor.

A look under U.S. Postal Service listings in the latest CenturyLink telephone directory comes up with this: “Postal representatives are available to respond to your questions & or concerns 24 hours per day---7 days a week.  Please call---”

Yeah, try.

In Grumpy Editor’s phone book there are 34 Post Office locations listed --- NONE with a telephone number.

A call to the regional postmaster brings a recorded voice, that includes information on passports.  But that’s it.  No live postal workers.

A Web search turns up some telephone numbers.  But dialing them produce no live action.

The main phone number unearthed for the area, automatically disconnects about a minute after dialing.

Listed separately in the phone book with businesses beginning with the letter “U” is “United States Postal Service Office of Inspector General” with the address. 

What this leads to is standing in line at your nearby postal facility to get an answer to a question.  

Dial a regional postmaster and get another recorded voice.

Also, not being able to connect immediately with a postal authority makes it easier for thieves who break into mail boxes, especially cluster versions, and making off with contents.

Perhaps some of the extra funds from the five cents per stamp increase upcoming next month can be used for live personnel to man Post Office phones.

 

IN CASE YOUR FAVORITE NEWS OUTLETS MISSED THESE...

 

VETERANS HIT BY HOSPITAL STAFF SHORTAGES.  Staff shortages at military hospitals have forced some to discontinue services, refer patients to private providers and send others to Veterans Affairs hospitals for treatment, a government watchdog has found, reported Stars and Stripes, adding "in some cases, lack of civilian personnel could threaten the accreditation of hospital programs."

NUNS VISIT CASINOS.  Two nuns from a Catholic school in Torrance, Calif.  over a decade allegedly stole more than $500,000 from their school which they spent in casinos and on vacations.

HELLO, ANYONE HOME?  A moose awakened a couple in Anchorage by ringing the doorbell.  A video showed the large moose backing its caboose into the doorbell.

ANOTHER NORTH KOREA “SURPRISE.”  A think tank reported North Korea is expanding facilities near the Chinese border thought to house long-range miissiles that can reach the U.S.

GAIN IN GOLDEN STATE SOLAR USE SET.  California last week became the first state requiring homes built in 2020 and later to be solar powered. The new provisions are expected to boost the number of rooftop solar panels in the Golden State.  Builders last year took out solar permits for more than 115,000 new homes.

NEWS WORKFORCE FACES CUTS.  Thomson Reuters Corp. said it plans to cut its workforce by 12 percent, or 3,200 positions, by 2020 as part of a push to reduce spending.

CALIFORNIA LEADS WITH WELFARE PROGRAMS.  The Center for Immigration Studies said about 72 percent of households headed by noncitizens and immigrants use one or more forms of taxpayer-funded welfare programs in California, the top immigrant-receiving state in the U.S.  This compared with about 35 percent of households headed by native-born Americans using welfare in that state.

END OF THE RUN?  Fate of The Weekly Standard is uncertain, Editor-in-Chief Stephen Hayes informed staff last week, according to CNN.  Ryan McKibben, chairman of MediaDC, publisher of the conservative magazine, asked to meet with Hayes this week.

BOOST FOR SEARS, KMART?  Sears chairman and former CEO Eddie Lampert has, via his ESL Investments hedge fund, bid $4.6 billion to buy around 500 Sears and Kmart stores from the bankrupt operation. The bid included Diehard battery and Kenmore appliance brands. 

U.S. MOVIE FLOPS IN CHINA.  The film, Crazy Rich Asians, may have been a surprise hit in the U.S., but it hasn't gone down well in China where it flopped on its opening weekend, reported South China Morning Post.  Social media users there indicated the Cinderella-esque plot was "bland" and reminiscent of typical Chinese TV plotlines, said the newspaper, adding some also took offense at the title. 

SOME RETAILERS RATED 'NICE' IN USING CHRISTMAS IN ADVERTISING

Some retailers during the holiday season refrain from using the word “Christmas” in advertising and the American Family Association (AFA) notes them on its list of "naughty" companies while branding "nice" another list of firms that use Christmas, observes Grumpy Editor.

The AFA, headquartered in Tupelo, Miss., placed these companies on its “nice” list:

1-800-Flowers.com, Ace Hardware, AFA Online Store, Banana Republic, Bass Pro Shops, Bath & Body Works, Bed Bath & Beyond, Belk, Big Lots, Books-A-Million, Cabela's, Cracker Barrel, Dick's Sporting Goods, Dillards, Do-It-Best Hardware, Dollar Tree, Fred's, H.E.B. Stores, HSN.com, Hallmark, Harbor Freight, Harris Teeter Stores, Hobby Lobby, Home Depot, Hy-Vee Stores, JCPenney, JoAnn Fabrics, Kirkland's, Kmart, Kroger, L.L. Bean, Lowe's, Macy's, Marshalls, Meijer, Menard's, Michael's Stores, Neiman Marcus, Pier One Imports, ProFlowers.com, Publix, QVC.com, Rite Aid, Sam's Club, Scheels Sporting Goods, Super D Drug, TJ Maxx, Toys R Us, True Value, Wal-Mart and Zappos.com.

The AFA evaluates five areas to decide whether a retailer is "Christmas-friendly" in its advertising: print media (newspaper inserts), broadcast media (radio/television), website, social media (Facebook, Twitter) and/or personal visits to the store.

“If a company has items associated with Christmas, but did not use the word ‘Christmas,’ then the company is considered as censoring Christmas, pointed out AFA.

The list is continually updated, added AFA, and only national companies are evaluated “naughty” or “nice.”

 

IN CASE YOUR FAVORITE NEWS OUTLETS MISSED THESE…

 

FEDEX DRIVER SAVES FLAG.  An unidentified FedEx driver in Maryland saw an American flag on the ground from a wind-blown broken flag pole, made a quick unscheduled stop on his delivery route to work the flag in the proper triangular fold and place in on the porch of the home.  The action was captured on video.

 

RADIO STATION BANS CLASSIC SONG.  FM radio station WDOK in Cleveland pulled the 1940s classic song, "Baby It's Cold Outside," from its lineup after one listener expressed concern over the lyrics. In the tune, which has been spotlighted by many artists since its debut, a female sings: "I really can’t stay,” to which a man responds: "But baby, it’s cold outside.”

 

JERRY SPRINGER TO BECOME JUDGE JERRY.  Jerry Springer, best known as host of “The Jerry Springer Show” and who started his career as a lawyer, next fall will debut as “Judge Jerry,” where he will hear testimony and render verdicts before a studio audience on NBC.

"MISINFORMATION" RATED TOP WORD IN 2018.  “Misinformation,” judged word of the year from Dictionary.com, was selected to serve as a “call to action” in the battle against fake news.

WHAT’S AHEAD: GLOBAL WARMING --- OR BIG CHILL?

Two news stories last week take opposite positions on climate change, observed Grumpy Editor.

One details how global warming from burning of coal, oil and gas is hurting each region of the U.S. and how it impacts different sectors of the economy, including energy and agriculture.

“Climate change is transforming where and how we live and presents growing challenges to human health and quality of life, the economy and the natural systems that support us,” said the report, which garnered coverage on most Sunday morning shows.

It added that worsening air pollution was causing lung and heart problems, more diseases from insects, the potential for an increase in deaths during heat waves and more allergies.

David Easterling, director of the Technical Support Unit at the NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, emphasized climate change the Earth is experiencing is unlike any other, mentioning, “the global average temperature is much higher and is rising more rapidly than anything modern civilization has experienced, and this warming trend can only be explained by human activities.”

On the other hand, Investor’s Business Daily pointed out “NASA data show that global temperatures dropped sharply over the past two years. Not that you'd know it, since that wasn't deemed news.”

The publication cited an expert who noticed something surprising with the official NASA global temperature data:  From February, 2016 to February, 2018 "global average temperatures dropped by 0.56 degree Celsius --- the biggest two-year drop in the past century.”

“Isn't this just the sort of man-bites-dog story that the mainstream media always says is newsworthy?” asked Investor’s Business Daily, adding “in this case, it didn't warrant any news coverage.”

 

IN CASE YOUR FAVORITE NEWS OUTLETS MISSED THESE...

 

SEVERANCE PAY SPOTLIGHTED.  Much coverage was given to White House Deputy Chief of Staff for Communications Bill Shine receiving $8.4 million in severance pay from 21st Century Fox after he left the organization in May, 2017 — with more payments upcoming.   Nothing sinister about that.  Meanwhile, news outlets were not as stirred up over word that Megyn Kelly will walk away from NBC News with a reported more than $30 million, the value left on her three-year $69 million contract.

CHARLIE BROWN CALLED RACIST.  Despite smooth sailing over the years, turns out cartoon character Charlie Brown is a racist, said critics.  In a repeat of the classic last week on ABC, “A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving” brought growls for seating its only black character, Franklin, alone on one side of the holiday table while Charlie Brown and his white friends, including Peppermint Patty, Sally and Snoopy, were seated across from him.  The special debuted Nov. 20, 1973.

TEENAGERS STEAL PLANE, FLY 15 MILES.  Two Utah boys, 14 and 15, were arrested, accused of stealing a fixed-wing, single engine light sport aircraft and flying it 15 miles before safely landing at a local airport in Uintah County.

DOG STEERS TRUCK INTO FARMER.  An inquest Friday determined that a British dairy farmer was crushed to death when his Jack Russell dog pushed a lever inside a forklift truck, causing it to drive into him. The farmer left the vehicle in neutral and didn't set the handbrake when he got off to open a gate.

ARMY UNIFORMS TO TURN GREEN.  The Army is finalizing green throwback uniforms inspired by soldiers’ World War II attire, but only recruiters should expect to don the new duds for the time being. Official title of the new garb:  Army greens. About 200 prototypes will be fielded primarily by recruiters.

TROOP COST NOT QUESTIONED.  No reporter or editor questioned the announced $72 million cost of using 5,900 active duty troops at the Southwest border.  That figure was conveyed to Congress by the Pentagon.  Apparently the Pentagon, which should know about such things, was unaware that with those on active duty --- whether on a base, in a recruiting office or in Washington --- their monthly pay in the U.S. is the same.

DOG BIDS FAREWELL TO STAGE.  Archie, a 19-year-old Yorkshire Terrier is retiring from show business after more than 125 performaces in  “The Nutcracker” in Providence, R.I.  The ballet will be holding auditions Dec. 2 for other canine performers, looking for “a pup with an elegant prance, regal coat of fur and charming smile."  

THOUSAND OAKS NEWSPAPER TACKLES DUAL TRAGEDIES

With shootings and massive fire striking Thousand Oaks, Calif., within days, the local newspaper --- Thousand Oaks Acorn --- certainly jumped in to tackle coverage of the events in a city that was ranked third safest in the U.S., observed Grumpy Editor.

Under publisher Jim Rule, managing editor John Loesing and editor Kyle Jorrey, it operated much like a major city daily in getting the word out.

 

With a circulation of almost 40,000, serving the communities of  Thousand Oaks, Newbury Park, North Ranch and Westlake Village, the 44-page weekly tabloid did a commendable job in reporting the shooting at Borderline Grill & Bar along with a raging fire, the most destructive in Conejo Valley history, that consumed about 500 homes in its circulation area.

 

For a paper of its size, it has a photo editor and two photographers and eight editorial staff writers, all highly active during the week.

 

Its opinion page last week carried an editorial, "A community in mourning tries to heal."

 

It mentioned, "Never in the history of our community has there been such a terrible one-two punch to the gut:  a mass murder followed by massive destruction from fire.

 

"People need to be heard.  If your life was inconvenienced for a few days, seek out and comfort the neighbor whose life was destroyed during those same few days.

 

"Look for ways to console, to donate and to volunteer --- not just in the immediate aftermath of the horrible past week but throughout the year when recent events are no longer in the headlines or trending on social media.  Those who have suffered great loss will need our help."

 

IN CASE YOUR FAVORITE NEWS OUTLETS MISSED THESE...

 

PRESS PASSES NOT EASY TO GET.  Amazing about the heavy coverage given to the yanking of CNN's Jim Acosta's White House press pass.  It's been Grumpy Editor's observation that over the years before a press pass is issued, via police department or city hall, as examples, the issuing authority screens the applicant thoroughly and can nix or pull issuance for any reason.

SURPRISE!  MORE NORTH KOREA MISSILE SITES.  There shouldn't be any surprise that tricky North Korea was found --- via satellite imagery --- to have 13 secret missile development sites, making it tougher to formulate an arms control agreement.

 

MACY'S CUTS STAFF.  Macy's, where it's already difficult to locate a store employee for guidance, plans to reduce the amount of merchandise and number of workers while walling off sections of stores, leaving the space vacant.

LONG COLD WINTER AHEAD?  Global warming folks will find it hard to agree, but NASA scientist Martin Mlynczak, declared a long, cold winter could see temperatures across the planet plunge to depressing lows stemming from sunspot activity on the surface of our star dropping so low that it could herald the arrival of a "uniquely grim Ice Age."  Mlynczak at Langley Research Center, warned "our atmosphere is losing heat energy."

JAL SEEKS TO KEEP PILOTS SOBER.   Japan Airlines, facing a problem with pilots showing up for work drunk, introduced a breathalyzer system at foreign airports.  Japan does not set alcohol limits for pilots, so it's up to airlines to keep them sober, reported BBC.

TOSS THE RAZOR BLADES.  Men who have full beards are more attractive than those who are clean-shaven, according to a study published in the Journal of Evolutionary Biology. Researchers asked more than 8,500 women to rate men on their attractiveness as a long-term romantic partner.  Heavy stubble (10 days worth) topped the list, followed by full beards and light stubble, with clean shaven at the bottom.

PIG FEVER SWEEPS CHINA.  An outbreak of African swine fever over the last three months has spread to over half of China's provinces.  China has labelled the epidemic "very serious," reported Asia Times. The virus doesn't affect humans but it is fatal to pigs.