I am not a “Reality TV” fan but took special interest in Survivor this year. I had a Bates College student stay with me in the late 1990s and he was from Gabon. Other than Rommel, I have never heard anything about this small African country until now. Secondly, a physics teacher from South Portland, Maine, Bob Crowley, was among the finalists. So in typical dramatic fanfare, those voted off during the season got to be the judge and jury and “pay back” the 3 finalists. In the end, Bob was the winner and recipient of $1,000,000. This has to be an exciting morning for his class. How he kept quiet since last summer is amazing!
My heart goes out to all impacted by last week’s ice storm. The 1998 ice storm destroyed tress and homes from Portland (Me.) north. This time it was south of Portland, N.H. and Mass. with Worcester getting the worst of it. I can only imagine that after the ’98 storm, tree limbs were cut from lines and this time, the areas hit were not the same as 10 years ago. What an opportunity for neighbors to help neighbors and to pull together to overcome the difficulties in the days ahead. I again salute the line workers who put in long, long days and nights under difficult conditions. They are the true heroes in this storm.
Speaking of weather, the Dakotas have been clobbered with snow and cold. I think I saw freezing into Southern California and last it snowed in Houston, New Orleans and Mississippi. What a start to (almost) winter!! Winter officially begins December 21st at 7:04am (Eastern). Get ready.
In anticipation of blizzards this year, go to our home page and click on “Historic Blizzards”. Get’s you in the mood for what might come.
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Historic Blizzards, Survivor, Official Start of Winter, Ice Storm
Peter Geiger is the Editor of the Farmers' Almanac. 
If you notice a hole in the upper left-hand corner of your Farmers' Almanac, don't return it to the store! That hole isn't a defect; it's a part of history. Starting with the first edition of the Farmers' Almanac in 1818, readers used to nail holes into the corners to hang it up in their homes, barns, and outhouses (to provide both reading material and toilet paper). In 1910, the Almanac's publishers began pre-drilling holes in the corners to make it even easier for readers to keep all of that invaluable information (and paper) handy.
