MIKE'S COMMENTARY AND BITS OF WISDOM: Wow, what a week. So many things happened, so much to write about. There were the deaths of Bob Keeshan and Jack Parr, two television icons of past and present. The weather remained a "hot" topic causing a lot of extra snow removal and class cancellations. There is Groundhog Day to discuss and Sue's birthday. The Super Bowl Hype and party preps are in full gear. Sue's car threw a "Check Engine" warning at us. Most importantly, this week, a lucky brother just happened to mention a chest pain to his doctor while being treated for a neck problem. They did an EKG and he failed. He was rushed to a hospital for further tests in which he did poorly. They identified and successfully surgically managed a blockage. Jim will be home soon and a "Happy Camper". Now, since all that has been said we'll do a Jackie Gleason and enthusiastically declare -- "AND AAAAWAY WEEEE GO!!!"
"Captain Kangaroo" debuted on CBS television in 1955 and ran for 30 years before moving to public television for six more.
Bob Keeshan, who delighted millions of children and their parents for three decades as television's gentle, patient Captain Kangaroo and before that as the original Clarabelle the Clown on the old "Howdy Doody Show," died yesterday in Vermont, his family said in a statement to The Associated Press. He was 76.
No cause of death was announced, but he had had heart problems since the 1980's.
Captain Kangaroo, a round-faced, pleasant, mustachioed man possessed of an unshakable calm, was both unique and welcome when his show premiered on Oct. 3, 1955.
"Not only does it keep little ones occupied by providing civilized and absorbing fun, but it also does so without being noisy," wrote John P. Shanley when he reviewed the show for The New York Times. He said that parents were finding their "weekdays more bearable because of the delightful artistry of a television performer named Bob Keeshan." Mr. Shanley declared that the show literally "charms the toddlers."
That charm never faded; Captain Kangaroo was one of the most enduring characters television ever produced. The program's roster also included Hugh (Lumpy) Brannum, who had been a successful string bass player in jazz bands and in the Fred Waring orchestra but who really came into his own as Mr. Green Jeans, who loved nature and got kids to understand and respect it; Cosmo (Gus) Allegretti, who gave voice to animal characters like Mr. Moose and Grandfather Clock; character actors like Debby Weems and Carolyn Mignini; Ruth Manecke, an expert on animal behavior who coached the cast; and the puppeteer Kevin Clash.
They were all part of the family that was an unrivaled success on the CBS Television Network for nearly 30 years. But the show always revolved around Mr. Keeshan, who began to call himself Captain Kangaroo after someone fashioned an outsized jacket for him, a preposterous affair with pockets rivaling the pouches that kangaroos have.
For much of its run, the show ran six days a week from 8 a.m. to 9 a.m., always drawing a large audience, even though from Monday to Friday, it ran opposite NBC's popular "Today" show. The Today show was formidable and had a loyal following of adults, but the kids knew it didn't have Mighty Manfred the Wonder Dog, the Banana Man and all the other characters Mr. Keeshan introduced.
Unlike his old boss, Buffalo Bob Smith of the Howdy Doody Show, Mr. Keeshan never played to a studio audience. There might have been a few kids in the studio from time to time, but Mr. Keeshan told his director, Peter Birch, that he primarily wanted to talk to the child at home, one on one. "The children should never be excluded from what I am doing and should never have the feeling of being part of an audience," he told Mr. Birch.
Asked once by Richard F. Shepard of The Times whether, given his success with children, he would fancy a future in adult television, Mr. Keeshan replied, "Not for me . . . just as actors are afraid of child audiences, because they're so honest, I would be scared stiff of going before the big folks."
And so for more than 9,000 performances, Mr. Keeshan stuck with children. When they grew up and had kids of their own, the new kids became Captain Kangaroo fans, too. And more often than not, the parents who had been kids watched the Captain with the new generation.
Mr. Keeshan never pretended to have any secret formula for dealing with children, except that he never patronized them, and always assumed they were bright and would appreciate him and what he was doing. And so they listened when he talked about taking care not to cross the street without looking and why it was important to respect animals as well as playmates.
"We have respect for our audience," he told The Times's Steven V. Roberts in 1965. "We operate on the conviction that it is composed of young children of potentially good taste, and that this taste should be developed."
He emphasized over the years that he disapproved of parents who used television as a baby sitter, especially when they let their children watch violent "adult" television, with the result that they really didn't talk very much with their children. Nothing could take the place of that, he insisted.
Excellent readings about the life and times of Bob Keeshan - One of the best!! http://www.charliethejugglingclown.com/Keeshan.htm http://www.clown-ministry.com/History/BobKeeshan.html http://www.museum.tv/archives/etv/K/htmlK/keeshanbob/keeshanbob.htm http://www.snopes.com/military/keeshan.htm
What events are planned? A lot of great events are on the schedule -- there's something for everyone! Be sure to click the dates below. The event schedule is subject to change and evolve. February 1 February 2
My birthday falls on Groundhog Day... is anything special planned? Yes Sue, special events. You bet! You can meet many other people who share this special day at an event planned just for you. Click here for details.
Where the heck is Punxsutawney? Punxsutawney is in Western Pennsylvania, about 80 miles northeast of Pittsburgh. Click here for directions and airport information.
Where can I stay? The Chamber of Commerce has compiled a list of recommended lodging -- just click here. We recommend booking as early as possible -- rooms nearest to town book far in advance of Groundhog Day. You may need to book a room in a neighboring town like Brookville, Dubois, Indiana or Clarion (all are about a little over a half-hour drive from Punxsutawney). We are unable to provide day-to-day availabilities or rates of various accommodations -- please use the lodging page to call establishments to seek rooms. Hotels nearest to town tend to book quickly -- so be warned!
Can I stay in the Bed & Breakfast featured in the movie? Well, I'm afraid it doesn't technically exist. That was a bit of Hollywood fiction. There really is a Cherry Street, but there is no bed & breakfast there. You could stay at the Pantall Hotel, which is where Bill Murray stayed when he visited Punxsutawney in 1992. The hotel tends to book up quite early, though. Speaking of the movie, check out our photos and interesting facts about it!
When should we arrive at Gobbler's Knob? Early! It is important to know that everyone attending the events at Gobbler's Knob will need to take a shuttle bus from one of a number of locations in town. There is no parking for visitors at the Knob. Arrive as early as possible so that you can scope out the location of the shuttle bus locations. The buses will begin transporting people to the Knob at 2:30 a.m. IMPORTANT: Phil's prediction is indeed at about 7:30 a.m... but don't plan on arriving in town at 7:00 to be on time for it! We recommend being at a shuttle bus location prior to 6:00 a.m. to be sure you'll make it to the Knob in time. See a map of the shuttle bus locations here.
Isn't that awfully early? Well, yes, but there's plenty of fun waiting for you at Gobbler's Knob! The music will be playing, and fireworks will light up the sky before Phil's prediction. And with the festivities taking place on a Saturday, you can count on a HUGE crowd to keep you company!
How long will it take to get back to town after Phil's prediction? The key here is to be patient. Dozens of shuttle buses will be running continually to take people back to their parking lots after Phil's prediction... but it can take a bit of time to get 30,000+ people back into town. If you're up to it and the weather isn't too demanding, you might consider walking into town from Gobbler's Knob... it is about a 2-mile trek.
Where can we eat? We welcome you to eat at any number of establishments downtown after Phil's prediction. See a list of area restaurants at Punxsutawney.com.
Is alcohol permitted at the Knob? Nope. The Groundhog Club (and police) have been cracking down on alcohol over the past couple years. It was simply getting out of hand. We intend for the festivities to be fun and family-oriented.
How cold is it going to be? Well, the conditions at Gobbler's Knob vary tremendously from year to year. In the past decade we have experienced temperatures as warm as the 50s and as cold as -12. Dress in layers and buy a couple of those hand-warmer doodads.
How often is Phil's prediction correct? Phil is always correct! Really? You bet! How many "Phils" have there been over the years? One! C'mon... really? Of course there has only been one Phil. How many Santa Clauses have there been!?! Every summer the Groundhog Club gives Phil a special elixir called Groundhog Punch. The punch extends his life for an extra seven years with each sip.
Where can I get a cute, cuddly stuffed groundhog? Visit the Chamber of Commerce's Official Souvenir Catalog. You'll find all kinds of items there to help you celebrate the holiday even if you're not planning to visit in person!
What is the scientific name for groundhogs? Marmota monax. Wouldn't "Marmota monax" be a cool name for a rock band? Yes.
How did Groundhog Day begin? And who are the dudes with the top hats? The Groundhog Club's official web site is www.groundhog.org. You'll find all sorts of history and other important information there! You'll also find the history of Phil's predictions there.
Some interesting Groundhog Day related sites. http://www.groundhog.org/ http://www.punxsutawneyphil.com/ http://www.csh.rit.edu/~jones/ghd.html http://www.stormfax.com/ghogday.htm
Groundhog Day Background, Maybe It Should Be Called Underground?
According to the old English saying: If Candlemas be fair and bright, Winter has another flight. If Candlemas brings clouds and rain Winter will not come again.
From Scotland: If Candlemas Day is bright and clear, There'll be two winters in the year.
From Germany: For as the sun shines on Candlemas Day, So far will the snow swirl until May. For as the snow blows on Candlemas Day, So far will the sun shine before May.
And from America: If the sun shines on Groundhog Day; Half the fuel and half the hay.
If the sun made an appearance on Candlemas Day, an animal would cast a shadow, thus predicting six more weeks of Winter. Germans watched a badger for the shadow. In Pennsylvania, the groundhog, upon waking from mid-Winter hibernation, was selected as the replacement. Pennsylvania's official celebration of Groundhog Day began on February 2nd, 1886 with a proclamation in The Punxsutawney Spirit by the newspaper's editor, Clymer Freas: "Today is groundhog day and up to the time of going to press the beast has not seen its shadow." The groundhog was given the name "Punxsutawney Phil, Seer of Seers, Sage of Sages, Prognosticator of Prognosticators, and Weather Prophet Extraordinary'' and his hometown thus called the "Weather Capital of the World.'' His debut performance: no shadow - early Spring. The legendary first trip to Gobbler's Knob was made the following year.
HOW 'BOUT SOME OTHER BUSINESS THIS WEEK.
LET'S NOT FORGET THE ADS
Other Super Bowl Ad stats:
http://www.superbowl.com/ https/www.superbowlxxxviii.org/ http://football.about.com/blsuperbowl.htm http://www.nfl.com/fans/forher/sb_partytips.html http://www.nfl.com/
KCNET CLASSES: Internet and Email 4 session course Topics include using the browser to find information on the Internet, web and email addresses, sending and receiving email, forwarding and replying to email, bookmarks, using the address book, and more. There is always time for questions and general exploration.
Beginner Windows 9x/XP 4 session course Topics include an introduction to all parts of the computer, learning about the desktop, mouse features and operation, and features and operation of the keyboard. Also creating shortcut icons, using recycle bin, wallpaper and screen savers, toolbars and taskbars, drag and drop, using window features (minimize, maximize, resize, etc), control panel, accessing the different drives, and more. There is always time for questions and general exploration.
Intermediate Windows 9x/XP 4 session course Topics include organization of windows programs, creating and organizing folders, file extensions, saving files from Internet, folder and file views, formatting floppy disks, installing programs, download programs from Internet, HTML email, uninstall vs delete, scandisk and defrag, email attachments, and more. There is always time for questions and general exploration.
Advanced Windows 9x/XP 4 session course Topics include a review of the management of folders and files, an introduction to photo manipulation, introduction to web page creation, using the sound recorder, attaching recordings to emails, introduction to eyeball cams and Internet transmission, and an introduction to burning your own CDs. There is always time for questions and general exploration.
KCnet Users Group: (formerly know as "Senior Net Learners" most recently called "Advanced Class"). I wanted to call this class "The Abusers Group", but Sue would not hear of that. Attendees are persistent in their search for computer knowledge. They ask great questions and present interesting challenges. The cost for this class is $0.00 for members of KCnet and $2.00 per session for non KCnet members. There is no set format for the sessions. Occasionally we will take a specific subject and do a detailed study over a period of successive weeks. Don't be afraid to ask questions. The folks that have been attending for awhile are always happy for a review and in most cases new or better ways to do things will surface. Questions stimulate in-depth exploration with the usual result being an understanding of how and why. We welcome new attendees from the Advanced sessions and our forever growing KCnet membership. This is an advanced group and we cover a lot of territory. We are kind of free flowing. You never know what will transpire. It is not necessary for attendees to have their own computers but it sure helps with the learning curve. KCnet Advanced Class computer knowledge and Advanced Class computer skills are necessary.
OTHER CLASSES: CLICK HERE FOR ORIENTATION - BEGINNERS - INTERMEDIATE - ADVANCED CLICK HERE FOR SCANNING - MAC- GENEALOGY - WEB PAGE - EXCEL - WORD - DIGITAL PHOTOGRAPHY - PHOTO MANIPULATION - OTHER SPECIALTIES
THIS WEEK'S CLASS SCHEDULE: Web Page (Beginners) Final Session February 2 - 12:00 - 2:00 pm Instructor: Mike Foust (You won't believe the creations these folks are putting together.)
Digital Camera First session of four February 2 - 5:30-7:30 Instructor Kerry Clausen
KCnet Users Group: Every Wednesday The starting time is 9:00 AM on this Wednesday February 04. We meet in Computer Lab 1 (The Big Room). The leader is Mike Foust and anyone that wants to jump into the fray. Darn that snow. We had just slightly reduced attendance. Some of the diehards just couldn't get out of the driveway or find decent parking downtown. I told the group that we got renamed from "Senior Users" to the "Advanced Users Group" a couple of months ago. At that time there were those that thought "Abusers Group" was more appropriate. Now I think we might call this bunch "The Crazies". You kinda had to be that to brave the weather and driving elements this past week. Regardless of the name we sure enjoy the company and sharing of computer information. The food ain't all that shabby either. We spent some time on the newest and most damaging virus called Mydoom A and Mydoom B. Nasty guys these two are. See the Tech page Virus section for information. We also explored some dandy scripting programs. Address include: http://www.gifworks.com/ http://mediabuilder.com http://www.3dtextmaker.com/ and http://www.flamingtext.com/ We also explored the Microsoft program, "Word Art" packaged with Microsoft Word, Front Page and Power Point. You get there in Word by accessing "Insert" - "Picture" - "Word Art". Create and then save as a gif. We will try again this week to get Kerry's last session of CD Burning done.
MAC User Group First Wednesday each month 4:30 PM $5.00 per session Instructor: Clair Falls
Other KCnet Classes Starting Soon: Orientation to KCnet One-Session Class – No Charge for KCnet Members Third Wednesday of Every Month 6:00 – 8:00 pm Instructor: Ron Fenton
Internet and Email Monday & Wednesday - 12:00 - 2:00 pm February 16, 18, 23, & 25 Instructor: Wayne Smith
Intermediate (Windows all versions) Tuesday and Thursday - 9:00 -11:00 am February 10, 12, 17, & 19 Instructor: Wayne Smith
Beginner (Windows all versions) Tuesday and Thursday 5:30-7:30 pm February 24, 26, March 2 & 4 Instructor: Tim Snyder
Genealogy Starting Soon Instructor: David Wallace
For more class details and to register visit: http://www.kcnet.org/class/ Registration can be done online, simply click on the course you are interested in and enter the information requested. Registration can be done via phone 893-8111.
NEWS AND NOTES WITH SUE FOUST: Happy Birthday Sue!
If only we COULD get this fixed. We’re doing what we can. For instance, our virus filter refused to deliver 6,379 viruses on Thursday, January 29! These were virus-laced messages addressed to our members from other ISPs. The viruses were deleted before being delivered.
Microsoft and SCO have each offered $250,000 to anyone who identifies the culprit that created MyDoom, which is the most recent virus.
Bryan Brusman is a new employee of KCnet. Bryan is a college sophomore who is working in our web design department. He’ll be here through April; if you want to see what we can do for your business through the use of a web page, give us a call and Bryan will stop by your business to show you. You may be surprised at the low cost and ease of effort on your part. Our Business Mall is in the process of being overhauled, but to visit our current business mall with listings of the local businesses that we know have web pages, go to http://www.lhev.com
If you know of a business or organization that is not listed in the business mall, please let us know. Send the information to webmaster@kcnet.org or give us a call with the web address of the page. The only requirement is that the business be appropriate for our family audience. We would hope that we could get all local businesses in our mall.
Don’t forget: We offer a nation-wide dialup service to our members that will enable you to dial in, toll-free, to locations even in Alaska. Using this service, E-mail accounts will remain exactly the same, so it will be easier than letting friends know a new address, setting up a new one, etc. There are now over 12,000 different dialup numbers in the USA. We can also offer new memberships anywhere in the USA, so if a family member or friend of yours wants a good Internet Service, please help them subscribe to KCnet. You can sign them up on-line at https://web.kcnet.org/secure/application/membership.html
Another reminder: If you’ve updated your Windows Operating System by going to the Microsoft site and downloading the updates, it could be that your dialup settings have been changed to “hang up after sending and receiving.” If it seems like you are being disconnected every time after getting your mail or after sending your mail, it may be true. Check your settings.
Call our office for help, if you need it. 893-8111.
And, if your account is due, you can pay on line at https://web.kcnet.org/secure/payment/payment.html
Ray McGill, owner of Nittany Travel, is the President of KCnet; William Raco is Vice-President; Judy Yoho is Secretary and Donald C. Miller of North Bend is Treasurer. Other members of the board are Fred Bierly, Donna Gebhardt Lannan, Earl Keen, R. Keith Kelly, Amy Lapriola, Paddy O’Hara-Mays, Bob Rolley, and Rich Wykoff.
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