Category Archives: commentary

Finding Silver Linings in Strange Places

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Sunset over Cadillac Mountain in Maine, with warm orange light spreading across layered hills and a forested foreground beneath a glowing sky.

When Life Hands You a Plot Twist

Sometimes life hands you a plot twist you never asked for. Not the kind you get when your plane is delayed and you’re stuck at the airport with a $12 sandwich and a dying phone battery. I mean the kind that knocks you sideways, steals your plans, and leaves you staring at a ceiling wondering what comes next.

And yet, every so often, those detours end up pointing us somewhere unexpectedly beautiful. You may have to dig a little to find the silver lining — sometimes with a shovel — but I really do believe it’s there if you look.

Little Richard Starkey and the Sanatorium Drum

I learned today that in 1953 Ringo Starr — yes, that Ringo Starr, the famous drummer for the Beatles — spent two years in a sanatorium after developing tuberculosis. Back then he was just little Richard Starkey, a kid from Liverpool whose world had suddenly shrunk to the size of a hospital ward. The staff tried to keep the children from sinking into boredom and loneliness, so they handed out simple percussion instruments. A triangle here, a drum there.

And that’s where Ringo first fell in love with drumming. A sick child, stuck in a hospital, discovers the thing that will carry him through the rest of his life. The thing that will make him famous. The thing that will make millions of people smile.

Stephen Hawking and the Two‑Year Diagnosis That Lasted 50 Years

It reminded me of another story — Stephen Hawking. Diagnosed with ALS at 21 and told he had two years to live. Instead, he lived more than five decades. His illness didn’t make him brilliant, but it forced him to think differently, to work differently, to focus on the kind of deep theoretical questions that don’t require a lab — just a mind sharp enough to wander the universe. And wander it he did.

Harrison Ford: Rejection, Carpentry, and a Chance Encounter

And then there’s Harrison Ford. Today he’s Indiana Jones, Han Solo, and a real-life hero who once flew a helicopter into Yellowstone to help rescue a missing boy. But before all that, he was told by a studio executive that he had no talent and would never make it in Hollywood. The exec even said, “When Tony Curtis walked into this office, I knew he was a star.” Ford’s reply? “I thought he was supposed to be a waiter.” Dry, sharp, and pure Harrison Ford.

He took the rejection, became a carpenter to support his family, and that detour put him in the right place at the right time. His carpentry work led him to George Lucas, who hired him to build cabinets… and then cast him in American Graffiti, and later Star Wars. The door slammed shut, and he climbed in through the workshop window.

The Quiet Truth Behind These Stories

All three stories hum with the same quiet truth: Bad things don’t magically become good. But humans are astonishingly good at finding light in dark places.

My Own Chapters and Silver Linings

And when I look at my own life, I see it as a series of chapters. When one ends, something else always seems to come along. Different decisions would have led to different results — who knows where I’d be today if I’d finished college and gotten my degree, or if I’d changed direction earlier and started writing sooner?

But my life today is good. It’s full. Everyday is an adventure, And as Elton John sings, I’m still standing — and as long as I am, there’s time for silver linings.

Deb’s Ready to Dive

 

The Daylight Saving Time Debate Continues

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Why Are We Choosing This Time?

Recently, our intrepid reporters at the Feline Desk   at WMEO brought you the news that Congress has moved a bill one step closer to making Daylight Saving Time permanent. No more springing forward or falling backward. No more fussing with the clocks that refuse to update themselves (looking directly at you, stove and microwave).

But I have a question… why DST? Why not make standard time permanent instead?

I’m not the one who has to get up in the middle of “it’s still dark out” to go to work, but millions of people — and schoolchildren — would have to do exactly that. I remember growing up (pre‑1966, before DST was enacted) and getting ready for school in the dark. All I can say is: yuck.

What’s Science Say?

Sleep scientists say permanent Daylight Saving Time might actually be bad for our health. Less morning light means fewer benefits for our mood, energy, alertness, and productivity. And more daylight later in the day could negatively affect sleep — and most Americans aren’t exactly getting enough of that as it is. Permanent DST would only make that trend worse.

Fun fact: In the 1970s, former President Richard Nixon briefly instituted permanent DST. It didn’t go well. People weren’t thrilled about pitch‑dark mornings.

I don’t know how true all the claims are, but I do know I won’t miss “springing forward” every March. The older I get, the less “spring” I have — and the longer it takes me to adjust. And the cats don’t like it either.

Daylight Saving Time or Standard Time… honestly, it makes no difference to me. Let’s just pick one and keep it all year ’round. Neither springing nor falling is good for us senior types.

“A cartoon person hangs onto the minute hand of a large clock pointing straight up, as if being lifted by it, humorously showing the struggle against Daylight Saving Time.”

 

 

Breaking News from the Feline Desk – Daylight Saving Time Moves Ahead

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Banner and Balboa perched in front of the TV, one orange and fluffy, one black and sleek, looking like feline news anchors.

DST Déjà Vu

Well… here we go again. The House has once more nudged a bill forward to make Daylight Saving Time permanent. It’s not a done deal — it would still need to pass the full House and Senate — but the committee pushed it to the next step. We’ve been down this road before, so consider this another lap around the track.

Critics say keeping time saving daylight as a permanent fixture would mean darker mornings, groggy commutes, and kids waiting for buses in the shadows. Proponents counter that lighter evenings mean fewer accidents and a little more sunshine in our day.

Banner and Balboa have weighed in, of course. They love springing forward — earlier breakfast is a win in their book. But as for the concept of Daylight and Saving Time, “falling back”? Absolute chaos. Too many delays. Too much waiting. Feline outrage everywhere.

So what do you think? Would you want to keep Saving Time Daylight all year: good idea, bad idea, or “haven’t we talked about this every few years since the dawn of time”?

And finally, as Daylight Saving changes come up yet again, inquiring minds want to know your opinion.

Why We Celebrate the 4th of July

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A rectangular 4th of July cake decorated like the American flag, with blueberries and small white star-shaped frosting in the top-left corner and alternating rows of raspberries and white frosting forming the stripes. The cake sits on a wooden surface with patriotic napkins and red, white, and blue striped straws in the background.

Hooray for the Red, White, and Blue!

The 4th of July always sneaks up right when summer starts feeling real — flags on porches, parades gearing up, cookouts firing, and someone in the neighborhood already testing fireworks like they’re running quality control. It’s festive, it’s loud, and it’s very American. But behind all the fun, there’s a real story about why we celebrate this day.

The Declaration of Independence

July 4th marks the anniversary of the Continental Congress adopting the Declaration of Independence — the moment the colonies officially said, “We’re done here,” to British rule. Thomas Jefferson wrote most of it, and the delegates spent time editing and debating before approving the final version.

What Actually Happened on July 4, 1776

Here’s the twist: the vote for independence happened on July 2nd, not the 4th. John Adams even predicted July 2nd would be the holiday we celebrated every year. Only two men signed the Declaration on July 4th — John Hancock and Charles Thompson. Hancock famously signed his name large enough for King George to read without his spectacles, which is how we ended up with the phrase “put your John Hancock on it.”

The big parchment with all 56 signatures didn’t come until August 2nd.

Early Independence Day Celebrations

The very first celebrations included mock funerals for King George III. (Americans have always had a flair for dramatic symbolism.) George Washington marked the first anniversary by giving his soldiers extra rum — probably the most popular tradition of all.

The First Fireworks

By 1777, Boston and Philadelphia were lighting up the sky with cannons and fireworks. Boston, of course, claimed another “first,” because that’s just what Boston does.

 

How the Holiday Grew

After the War of 1812, Independence Day really took off. It became a federal holiday in 1870 and a paid one in 1941. From there, the celebrations got bigger, louder, and more delicious.

A few fun facts:

  • Three presidents died on July 4th: John Adams, Thomas Jefferson, and James Monroe.
  • Americans spend about $1.5 billion on fireworks every year.
  • Around 150 million hot dogs get eaten on the 4th.
  • Fireworks send roughly 10,000 people to the ER annually — so maybe don’t stand too close to Uncle Bob’s “custom” firework setup.

A Modern American Tradition

Today, the 4th of July is a blend of history, community, food, and things that go boom in the sky. It’s imperfect, messy, and uniquely ours — a celebration of choosing our own future.

So enjoy the parades, the parties, the cookouts, and all the red‑white‑and‑blue desserts your heart desires. Just be safe around those fireworks.

Happy 4th of July!

“And They Walk Among Us” — Featuring Bizmanic

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“Red wheelbarrow with wooden handles next to a caution sign reading ‘Not intended for highway use,’ highlighting a humorous and unnecessary product warning label.”

Proof That Common Sense Isn’t Common

Have you ever heard the expression “And they walk among us” — usually said with that tone of marvelous disbelief? Then we laugh and shake our heads. How could anyone be so stupid!

Well, I’ve found a creator who has built his entire brand around calling out these moments. His name is Bizmanic, and he has perfected the art of showcasing the everyday absurdities of the human race.

Some of his greatest hits include:

• Are You Smarter Than the Average Customer

• Top 20 Complaints

• Top 10 Entitled Customers

• Top 10 Dumbest Reasons Someone Got Fired

• Complaints From Entitled People Who Went on Vacation

• And the best of all: a list of ridiculous product warning labels

There are probably more, but honestly… aren’t these enough?

Let me give you a few examples of the kinds of stories he tells — and yes, these things really do happen.

Story Box 1 — The Comcast Call

Let me give you an example. This is a story about being a call center helpline representative for Comcast aka Xfinity. You know, that company we all love to hate. Callers are mad before you even have a chance to pick up the phone. I’ve even answered this very same question.  So here it is

I can assure you this really happens. I spent nine years at Comcast, several of them in that same tech‑support queue, and I have personally answered this exact question more times than I can count. Back then, before everyone switched to streaming, the cable box was the only clue people had. Now your smart TV just taps into Wi‑Fi — but if the power is out, nothing works anyway.

Story Box 2 — The Blockbuster Puppy Incident

Do you remember Blockbuster Video? Rows and rows of VHS tapes and DVDs lining the walls.

A customer once walked in, looked around at all the movie cases, and asked:

“So… where do you keep the puppies?”

I still don’t know what movie they thought they were renting, but I sincerely hope they didn’t leave disappointed.

Story Box 3 — The Grocery Store Beef Revelation

Then there was the customer who was shocked — genuinely shocked — to learn that beef comes from cows. This was brand‑new information to them.

Please, for the love of all that is holy, do not let this person do my grocery shopping.

But like I said, the warning labels post was the best. These are the ones that make me question Darwin. Survival of the fittest? If you need these warnings, how are you still walking among us?

A few gems:

• “Do not iron clothes while wearing them.”

• “Not for contact with eyes or genitals.”

• “Remove child before folding stroller.”

So folks, if you want a good laugh and don’t mind someone poking fun at the absurdities of life, you have to check out Bizmanic on Facebook. He’s proof that common sense isn’t common — but at least it’s entertaining.