By George, I think I’ve got it — some items from the news that aren’t designed to plunge you into the depths of despair. And from the regular daily news columns at that! Are you ready? Then let’s go . . .

For all you sports fans out there: An all-time record for women’s college volleyball was set last week when the Nebraska-Omaha game drew a crowd of 92,003 fans to Memorial Stadium in Lincoln. In fact, this officially broke the world record for attendance at any women’s sporting event, the previous record-holder being the 2022 UEFA Women’s Champions League match between Barcelona and Wolfsburg, with an attendance of 91,648. By the way, the Nebraska Huskers won this one, 3-0. Good job, ladies.

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And for the UFOlogists in the room: It appeared that someone had sent us a question from outer space a few days ago, when a large, bright question mark appeared in the night sky. Scientists have explained it as two or three separate galaxies caught by the James Webb Space Telescope in the act of merging, which apparently happens from time to time and creates oddly-shaped masses visible from Earth. Well, maybe so. But I have to wonder whether it wasn’t just E.T. asking for instructions on how to fix a malfunctioning GPS. If you’re still out there, little buddy, I suggest you phone home . . .

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In the “what are the odds?” category: One lucky lady from Manchester, New Hampshire (my home town, of all places!) bought a painting at a thrift shop for $4, because it reminded her of the work of the famous American artist N.C. Wyeth. She had been shopping for some frames she could reuse, and this painting was stashed against a wall with some mostly damaged prints and posters. In one of those twists of fate that most of us only read about, it turns out that it really is Wyeth’s oil painting “Ramona,” and is expected to bring the lady as much as $250,000 at auction this month. Good for you, ma’am; use it well.

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For a big “so what?” finish, how about a little unintended humor from The Donald . . . who is always at his funniest when he’s trying to be clever. This one is his newest marketing ploy, which almost everyone has seen by now: the t-shirt emblazoned with his mug shot (you know — the famous one of him scowling like a petulant child), and bearing the caption “Never Surrender!’ . . . for which he plans to charge $34, all proceeds to go into his PAC for the benefit of his 2024 campaign. The irony is that the picture was taken at the moment he was in the act of . . . care to guess? . . . surrendering to the authorities in Atlanta! It would be a lot funnier if he weren’t such an embarrassment to himself, his family, and the country; but it’s still good for a little sardonic chuckle.

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And finally, the best news of the day, though it didn’t make the headlines: I woke up again this morning. At my age, that’s truly something to celebrate.

Have a great day, everyone. 🥰

Brendochka
9/6/23