News for Week Ending Friday, Nov 17, 2017

1.   In a recent survey, several celebrity chefs said that sweet potato casserole lacks substance, has no redeeming qualities and should never be included in a Thanksgiving dinner.   ***    I believe they said the same thing about in-laws.

2.   President Trump said that during a break between meetings in the Philippines he was “forced to watch CNN.”  ***  But he assured his supporters that he put his hands over his eyes and just peeked through his fingers.

3.   Charles Manson has been transferred from prison to a Bakersfield hospital and is reportedly near death.  ***  After a series of tests, doctors there concluded that he’s suffering from a terminal case of helter-skelter.

4.   After backlash from Keurig’s decision to pull its advertising from Sean Hannity’s show, the coffee machine company’s CEO said it was not their intention to “take sides” and escalate that emotionally charged issue.  ***   He said the situation could be resolved if everyone would just calm down, take a deep breath and switch to decaf. 

5.   Starbucks chairman Howard Shultz is denying rumors that he’s thinking of running for president.   ***   He said it’s just a coincidence that Starbucks’ newest drinks are the Oval Office Latte, West Wing Mocha and Rose Garden Macchiato.

6.   On this date in history:  Nov 17, 1977 – In the Miss World Contest, Miss UK wears a bikini made out of platinum and worth $9,500.  ***  But, she was upstaged by another contestant who wore a platinum bikini only worth half as much.

7.   On this date in history:  Nov 16, 1963 – The touch-tone telephone is introduced.  ***  It immediately doubled sales on the Home Shopping Network.

8.   On this date in history:  Nov 15, 1763 – Charles Mason and Jeremiah Dixon begin surveying between Pennsylvania and Maryland to establish the Mason-Dixon Line.  ***   Or, as it was first known, the Chuck & Jerry Line.

9.   On this date in history:  Nov 14, 1960 – Ray Charles' "Georgia On My Mind" reaches #1.   ***  In his senior years he recorded a second version, “Georgia Slipped My Mind.”

10.  On this date in history:  Nov 13, 1851 – The first settlers land at Alki Point, which would later become Seattle, Washington. ***  One of the settlers, a Mr. Starbuck, immediately brews a pot of coffee to celebrate and writes everyone’s name on their cup.