The LuLac Edition #2243, October 26th, 2012

Our “Maybe I’m Amazed” logo 

MAYBE I’M AMAZED 

MAYBE I’M AMAZED…….that after what seems like a very long time, Campaign 2012 is in the last gasps of a very long, contracted race. With less than two weeks to go, the ads are going to increase, the passions are going to soar and the cable news shows will be relentless in the prognostications. Strap yourself in for the wild ride. 
MAYBE I’M AMAZED…….that there are more species of fish in the Amazon River than there are in the Atlantic. 
MAYBE I’M AMAZED……..that the St. Louis Cardinals won a World Series last year and got into the playoffs this year because of the new rules set up by Commissioner Bud Selig regarding the Wild Card. If Selig had not put these “reforms” into play, and things had remained the same, St. Louis wouldn’t even be near post season play this year. 
MAYBE I’M AMAZED…….that the new TV season this year makes me kind of nostalgic for some of the old TV shows. I look at some of the dramas on “Me TV” and am impressed with the quality. To be sure some of the newer shows are just as good but there is a lot of junk on commercial TV that passes for quality. So I guess it isn’t any wonder that Cable, HBO and others win the Emmys. 
MAYBE I’M AMAZED………that as Luzerne County closes out there are some little skirmishes going on. There is a new budget, there still needs to be managers hired as well as a plan to pay off the debt. Already there have been political threats against those up for re=election next year by one of the Urbans but we knew that was coming. The road has been bumpy but so far no big detours. But then again, the year isn’t over. 
MAYBE I’M AMAZED………….at the morons who vandalize churches and little league fields with spray paint and physical force. These are crimes that need to be punished. Not with a fine, and not with a slap on the wrists. And I can tell you the punishments I’d have in mind if I ran the world would be very unChristianlike. 
MAYBE I’M AMAZED……..at the blow back I’m getting from the defenders of the board that manages the Luzerne County Transit Authority. I have never seen so many people get more defensive than these guys. One guy who is not hiding from it is Luzerne County Councilman Edd Brominski. In an e mail, Brominski said that Patrick Conway is not going to be a fall guy and that Brominski himself helped shed the light on the ridership issue this summer. We appreciate the communication from Mr. Brominski. 
Dave: Pat Conway will not be booted off the board as long as I have a say in the matter. And I do!! The County Council names that board and no motion to remove or appoint can be done by the LCTA Board. Only in cases of complete criminality by a board member can they be removed. There has been no criminal activity by Pat , maybe by others. If you recall , I brought up the subject at a council meeting, after being apprised by Pat of the possibility of extra riders added. Given time this matter will be resolved , and Pat Conway will not be the fall guy but rather the man responsible for looking out for the public good as all board members should. Edd Brominski  
MAYBE I’M AMAZED………….that the other side of the coin of open communication is being seen in the race for State Representative in the 116th District. Tarah Toohill has been avoiding some members of the press standing up L.A. Tarone on “Topic A” Wednesday and not responding to Steve Corbett on WILK the other day. If you ask me she could get ahead of these issues that are casting aspersions on her character. But she has to engage broader media than You tube to get her message out. 
MAYBE I’M AMAZED……at just how well Vice President can deliver a eulogy. Biden knocked it out of the park Thursday night at a service for the late George McGovern at the 1972 Democratic nominee’s funeral. 
MAYBE I’M AMAZED……that Indiana Republicans rejected a statesman like Richard Luger this summer and nominated Richard Mourdock in the primary to replace him. Replace him after nearly thirty years of distinguished service Te scary thing about Mourdock was this, he looked and sounded normal. But then he said this about rape, telling voters he opposes abortion for rape victims because “even when life begins in that horrible situation of rape that it is something that God intended to happen.” Where do they get these guys from? And I guess a better question is this, what type of women marries a guy like this??? 
MAYBE I’M AMAZED…………that Colin Powell, former Secretary of State has come out for President Obama one more time. The bigger news would be if Powell didn’t endorse at all. What impact will it have? Might help galvanize some moderates but I don’t think this is going to win the President any swing states. 
MAYBE I’M AMAZED………at how much candy is bought in America on Halloween. How much is how much? We're talkin' 600 million tons of candy purchased every Halloween, which accounts for a $1.9 billion haul, or $44 per household! Candy corn is, by volume, America's most popular candy (followed by Snickers, Reese's Peanut Butter Cups, Kit Kats, and M&Ms, in that order). Halloween accounts for 75% of all candy corn's annual production. About 35 million pounds of the stuff — or roughly nine billion pieces — are produced each year, which translates to about 27 individual corns for each and every American. In fact, if you laid each little candy out end-to-end, they would circle the Moon four times. Of all the common individual candies handed out at Halloween, Mr. Goodbar is the least healthy of the chocolate bunch. A 49-gram Mr. Goodbar has 250 calories, 17 grams of fat, and 23 grams of sugar. According to myhealthnewsdaily.com, who rated the sweets, the next least-healthy candies are Nutrageous, Snickers, Baby Ruth, and Mounds. Meanwhile, the (relatively) "healthiest" candies were Jolly Ranchers (70 calories, no fat, 11 grams of sugar), followed by Blow Pops; Gobstoppers; Pixy Stix; and our old standby, candy corn