Christmas Walk
This big time and fun event is this coming Saturday, December 9th. The hours are from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Actually, the Jingle 5K Run starts with registration from 7:30 to 8:30 a.m. There are a ton of events with way too many to list here. Just go to: Geneseo Current.com for a complete listing. If it’s cold, which it will be, warm your hands at our Civil War camp fire just north of the museum, on the corner. I have to give credit to Zack Sullivan, Valerie Kline, and the Chamber of Commerce Executive Board, Board of Directors and many volunteers that worked hard to make it all come together. An outstanding job they do!
Wind Turbines
I read recently about the concern over birds and bats hitting the blades of wind turbines. If the blades go fast enough insects will keep away and that in turn will keep bats away. Studies have shown that increasing the speed of the blades to six meters per second reduces bat deaths significantly. In the European Union it is now a legal requirement to curb wind farms during times of peak bat activity in the migration season. In Norway, whitetail eagles were being killed until it was found by painting one of the blades black it reduced the mortality rate by 70%. I think those big fans are ugly to the countryside, but they are an excellent source of renewable energy. They also put a few thousand bucks a year in farmers pockets if built on their property. I wonder how many dead bats and birds in Henry County have died flying into the turbine blades? Hopefully, very few, if any.
Argo
This little hamlet east of Eldridge, IA, is rather unique. It has a restaurant which has great food at reasonable prices. Still, that is not what makes it unusual. When the waitress takes your food order, it is by memory, no writing down your order. Not only that, but when you go to pay at the register you tell them what you had to eat. It’s on your honor. We go there twice a year when Lorna’s relatives are in town. A lot of nearby farmers frequent the place.
Take Your Skates
If any of you decide to fly down to Caracas, Venezuela, for Christmas, bring your roller skates. It is traditional to roller-skate to church on Christmas morning.
Achilles Heel
The Achilles tendon is at the back of the foot. A fellow named Achilles was said to have been held by his heel when dipped in the Styx River. His heel was the only dry part of his body. Thus, the term, “Achilles Heel.”
Outer Space Humor
Why did the Martian leave the Mars party? Ans: He didn’t like the atmosphere!
How does the man on the moon trim his hedge? Ans: Eclipse it! How do spacemen hold up their pants? Ans: With asteroid belts! What did the alien say to the tree? Ans: Take me to your cedar!
Us Older Folks
Wrinkles? My face has more lines than the Illinois Driver’s License facility! Speaking of wrinkles, they say wrinkles tell a story. If that’s true, my forehead is a mini-series. I have bags under my eyes. It is nice that Southwest Airlines lets you bring the two on board for free.
Quotation Of The Week
An old proverb: “To speak kindly does not hurt the tongue!”