Squeezin’ the stuffins out
That’s what it looked like to me – the Buckeyes maybe ate too much Thanksgiving turkey and stuffing. Brilliant at times, lethargic when it mattered. Apparently TTUN just wanted it more. Serious fans have already crunched all the numbers and know that the Buckeyes still have an outside chance to make the four-team playoff – all they need is for Utah to knock off the leading Heisman candidate and the USC Trojans in the PAC12 championship game this Saturday.
If you’re counting down the days, there are only three full shopping weekends before Christmas – that’s right – only three. You can’t count the Sunday of Christmas – and many stores and businesses will close early on Christmas Eve. You better make that list and start checking it off! (I am writing to myself).
It would be nothing short of a Christmas miracle if several trouble spots around the world calm down – or even better – are fully resolved before the holidays – the protests over COVID-19 shutdowns in China would be one. This is probably a lot more serious than we are being told. University students – and many others – have had enough of the total lockdown approach in the country of over one billion people. Should we prepare for more shortages?
The other major trouble spot is in Iran – where thousands of citizens are protesting the current regime. This has now spun up to the FIFA World Cup – as the U.S. briefly removed an emblem from the Iran flag on social media to show support for protestors. The current spate of protests is due to the death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini, who had been arrested by the “Guidance Patrol” for wearing an improper hijab – which is in violation of Iran’s mandatory hajib law while visiting Tehran from Saqqez.
As you might guess, neither country tolerates protests very well. According to Wikipedia, as of Nov. 22, 2022, 416 people have been killed in Iran, including over 50 minors.
Wishing, hoping, and praying for Peace on Earth is something that all of us can do. We all know that our own nation is suffering from a surge in violence. Solving this problem – at least in our own country – will require a deep dive into the multitude of reasons why this exists. Of course, very few will want to face the truth or reality of when things started changing. Social media is just the tipping point, the problems existed many years before the popularity of social media grew to its current level.
The annual Christmas Candlelighting Ceremony will be held in Roscoe Village at the main stage on Saturday, Dec. 3 and Saturday, Dec. 10 beginning at 6 p.m. Admission and parking for the event are free. This is always a wonderful way to start the holiday and many families make it an annual tradition and destination. You can find out more about this event and the many special holiday opportunities at www.roscoevillage.com. This event is one way to add a sense of wonder and the spirit of Christmas to your holiday. And let’s remember to shop local!
Category: Mark's Musings, Opinion
