The LuLac Edition #3045, October 12th, 2015

COLUMBUS DAY

A statue of Chris. (Photo: history.org).

To all those celebrating, Happy Columbus Day. The celebration is focused on Christopher Columbus’ arrival in America on this day in 1492. The holiday has become contentious because the European settlements essentially wiped out the culture of native Americans.
Parades throughout the United States celebrate Columbus and his arrival. Most of those festivities happen in communities with a strong Italian population.
To those celebrating Native Americans' Day/Indigenous People's Day, a special shout out to you.
Other countries celebrate the day with different names. It is Discovery Day in the Bahamas, ("Day of the Race") in many countries in Latin America, Day of the Americas) in Belize and Uruguay, (Day of Respect for Cultural Diversity in Argentina.
Columbus Day became an official holiday here in 1937.

THANKSGIVING IN CANADA

To our neighbors and readers to the North, Happy Thanksgiving Day. Since 1957, Thanksgiving Day has always been held on the second Monday in October. Thanksgiving Day in Canada is linked to the European tradition of harvest festivals. A common image seen at this time of year is a cornucopia, or horn, filled with seasonal fruit and vegetables. The cornucopia, which means "Horn of Plenty" in Latin, was a symbol of bounty and plenty in ancient Greece. Turkeys, pumpkins, ears of corn and large displays of food are also used to symbolize Thanksgiving Day.
Sources: (Wikipedia, LuLac). 

SISTER ADRIAN BARRETT

Sister Adrian Barrett. (Photo: Times Tribune)

Sister Adrian Barrett passed away this morning at the age of 86. Sister Adrian was front and center in the latter part of the 20th century in Scranton and Lackawanna County as the face of compassion for those less fortunate. She was tough, fair, friendly and just wonderful to converse with. I had the opportunity to interview her when I worked for WVIA. While she has been in a lower profile since her retirement, she has always been on the top of the mind of those who she aided in their time of need. She had the nickname “Sister Sneakers”. Finally,  that footwear that walked in the footsteps of the Lord’s work are now hanging up in a permanent place of honor in the great beyond somewhere.

IF YOU HAVE ANY DOUBT…

…..that the Republicans running Congress are dysfunctional, you have to take a look at this exchange on NBC’s Meet The Press. Representative David Brat who took down House Minority Leader Eric Cantor last year had this exchange with Pennsylvania Republican Charlie Dent who has become my new hero followed by Hugh Hewitt.
Brat said he might consider Paul Ryan if he follows Brat’s 5 points on his website.
Look at this and see how sorry the Brat wing of the party is. There are some like him who just want to break things, there are others who want to lead. If I were Paul Ryan, I’d head for the hills.