REVIEW POTPOURRI: Aaron Eckert

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Peter Catesby Peter Cates

Aaron Eckert

Aaron Eckert

I have recently viewed five movies, four of them centered on the CIA, one on a K9 unit in the Los Angeles Police Department. Aaron Eckhart stars in three of the movies, two of them relating to the CIA and the other as a LAPD K9 unit policeman.

First the two releases without Eckhart:

The Amateur, a 2025 release, stars Rami Malek as a CIA decoder, Charlie, who lives with his wife in the Virginia countryside not far from the Agency headquarters in Langley.

While on a business trip to London, his wife and several others at her hotel are taken hostage by terrorists shooting their way out of a weapons deal that goes bad. When she tries to escape, her kidnapper shoots her.

Charlie is told by his supervisors that the Agency will take care of the perpetrators but he smells a cover up, uses his own skills to figure out the names of the four key members and goes after them himself using a combination of computer and bomb making skills which he learned courtesy of the Agency.

Other cast members include Lawrence Fishburne as Charlie’s Agency handler and Caitriona Balfe as Inquiline, an independent computer operative based in Istanbul. They and others do good work while the story line is decently paced.

The film is based on Robert Littell’s 1981 novel of the same name which I read more than 40 years ago. Interestingly the movie is a major improvement on the book with substantial changes in the plot.

2019’s The Report is based on real events post 9/11 when the CIA was using torture in the interrogation of captured terrorists at black ops sites in other countries with the approval of the W. Bush administration, as a means of finding out about upcoming attacks in order to save lives. In most every situation, the upcoming attacks were stopped via other less violent means.

Yet Agency Directors and other administration members continued the approval of the Black Ops interrogations for roughly two to three years between 2003 and 2006, taking advantage of the national hysteria following 9/11.

Around 2009, a Congressional committee chaired by the late Senator Diane Feinstein began looking into these activities with a team of FBI investigators led by Dan Jones.

The movie depicts that investigation with harrowing moments of the interrogations, the attempts to cover it up and other stonewallings. Adam Driver portrayed Dan Jones, Annette Benning Feinstein. And it is one highly recommended viewing experience.

A woman operative who was involved in the interrogations is based on Gina Haspel who was appointed Director of the Central Intelligence Agency in 2019 by President Trump during his first term, even as those methods were declared illegal. Other participants also rose in the ranks at Langley.

The three Aaron Eckhart movies are 2023’s Muzzle; and Classified; and Station Chief, both from 2024.

Muzzle has Eckhart portraying a Los Angeles K9 police officer who is investigating a fentanyl criminal network with the help of an endearing canine, Socks. Eckhart conveys a presence strikingly similar in both looks and personality to Harrison Ford while avoiding the extremes of being a Ford wannabe, bringing considerable talent of his own.

Penelope Mitchell is superb as the policeman’s significant other.

And the movie, even with certain cliches of gun fire, snooping around abandoned warehouses and encountering sinister looking villains, moves along quickly and entertainingly.

For reasons of space, Classified and Station Chief will be covered in a future column.

QUINN MINUTE: Rodent health

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by Rix Quinn

Say, do you have rats at home? I’m talking about critters with fuzzy ears and whiskers who slither around the house after dark, pick up crumbs, and eat from the dog’s bowl.

If they live with you, this information can provide them a higher quality life.

See, rat researchers discovered that if you put older ones on a low-calorie diet for four weeks, it may keep them from aging. Therefore, if you want mice to live longer, reduce their intake.

Please follow these steps to ensure elderly mouse health:

1. First, summon the rats. Simply yell out, “Dang, I just spilled my corn flakes…and I can’t see a thing since we blew that fuse.”

2. Next, determine if your mice are pubescent, middle-aged, or old. Show them a standard trap. The old and middle-aged will flee. Younger ones will laugh at the dated technology.

3. OK, so now you’ve found the grown-ups. Which ones are older? Darn it, you just can’t tell! Here’s why…

4. Mice – and their larger cousins, rats – live on the lowest rungs of the food chain. Hawks, crows, and owls serve them at cookouts. Foxes, dogs, and cats dip them in hot sauce. So…

5. Hardly any of them reach old age. Therefore, any mice you find – and switch to a low-fat diet – should be able to ingest your groceries for months to come.

6. As you know, rat research led to discoveries that helped humankind. You save a mouse today, and it may save you tomorrow! But on the other hand…

7. Do you really want mice living with you? I don’t…but my dog might enjoy them.

GROWING YOUR BUSINESS: Your ideal customer

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by Dan Beaulieu
Business consultant

One of the most important aspects of growing a successful business is to have a complete understanding of who your customers are. You need to know everything possible about the people you are selling your products and services to.

Look, chances are you started a business because you saw a need, a need that had to be met. Most business starts that way. But the next thing you have to know is who has that need for your product and service, and why do they need it?

It’s your job as a business owner to develop a complete “Ideal Customer Profile” of who your customers are, what they look for in the type of business you have and what makes them prefer one company over another.

This means you have to study your current customers to discover why they are your customers, what pleases them and what doesn’t, and that will help you create the idea customer profile.

Let’s say, for example, you specialize in landscaping, especially stonework landscaping. To develop your ideal customer profile study, your past and current customers and ask these questions:

• What do they have in common?
• What types of projects are the most popular?
• Stone walls?
• Pool surrounds?
• Retaining walls?
• Patios?
• Flower beds?
• What projects are the most profitable?
• What are your customers demographics?
• Age?
• Income?
• Neighborhood?
• Type of home?
• Ask yourself what kind of customers do you like dealing with?
• Which value what you do?
• Which know what they want?
• Which trust you enough to take your suggestions?
• Which are you most successful with?
• Which appreciate and value what you do?
• Which are customers for life calling you year after year with new projects?

Once you have accumulated all of this data, you can compile it and have a very good profile of your ideal customer, and an even better idea of how to market to that ideal customer, including knowing:

• What kind of advertising you should be doing?
• Local newspapers?
• Which do they read?
• Television or radio?
• What do they watch or listen to?
• Websites and social media
• Are they online?
• Do they use Google?
• Door to door flyers?
• Will word of mouth work?
• Customer referrals?
• Direct mailing or emailing?
• Are they analog or digital when it comes to getting messages?

All of these things matter when you are trying to gain new customers. You have to create your ideal customer profile and use it for your marketing, to make sure you are targeting the right customers. For example, if you are selling landscaping or stone scaping you are wasting your time trying to sell to people who live in town houses or retirement communities. On the other hand, you might find out who has just had a pool put in and contact them about landscaping around that pool. Or find you might find who just bought a house in town; or had one built and contact them. Both of these are a matter of public record so it’s not that difficult to find these customers.

But whatever you do if you want to be successful you have to do your homework. Develop your ideal customer profile and then market to potential customers that fit that profile and you’ll always be growing your business.

MAINE-LY GARDENING: More Maine pines

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Red pine

by Jude Hsiang

Maine’s white pines are the most well known of our native pines and found all over our state and beyond, but there are three other native pines that add variety to our landscape and some valuable products to the economy.

The red pine is the “other tall one” growing up to 80 feet. The needles are in twos, which is another way to distinguish them from the five-needle bundles of white pines. Red pines are quite common, but tend to grow together in particular locations, unique white pines that can be found almost anywhere in Maine.These trees are very straight making them especially useful for utility poles and timber framing. Because of this growth habit, red pines are often planted as a crop in large stands. They must have full sun, but aren’t too fussy about soil. As red pines grow to maturity they shade out smaller trees and shrubs. This can make an easy walk through a grove on a hot summer day delightfully cool. The wood isn’t as desirable for woodworking, as cabinetmaking as it tends to dent more easily than some other woods.

Jack pine

Jack pines are most often seen on the coast where the strong winds cause them to sprawl and twist closer to the ground. This picturesque appearance attracts painters and photographers. However, they will also grow further north, in an area to the south and east of the town of Jackman. Up there, they can reach 60 feet tall. Their short needles grow in twos, and the cones form fairly early in the tree’s lifespan. These cones often remain on the trees for 15 years, but extreme heat will cause them to open and release their seeds. This can help begin the restoration of an area after a forest fire. The wood is generally used for paper pulp.

Pitch pine

Pitch pines are the last of the four pine species native to Maine. Their cones are more rounded than some other pines and a favorite for decorating Christmas wreaths. The needles are in threes and are up to five inches long. As the name suggests, pitch pines produce a heavy sap that can be used to make turpentine. This sap was called “naval stores” and has many uses including paint, varnish, roofing materials, even shoe polish.

There are a number of other pines from around the world that can live happily in Maine’s climate and soils. Some are economically important, some can add beauty to our landscapes. If your yard would be enhanced by a few more evergreens, without towering over the house, local nurseries offer interesting selections. More on these plants to come.

© Judith Chure Hsiang
Jude Hsaing is a retired Extension Master Gardener instructor and member of the China Community Garden.

SCORES & OUTDOORS: Where do turkeys go in the winter?

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This photo of a large turkey was taken by Pat Clark, of Palermo.

Roland D. Halleeby Roland D. Hallee

Driving into work one morning this week, I noticed a “flock” of turkeys under a tree along Rte. 32, in Vassalboro. (By the way, a flock of turkeys is referred to as a “rafter”.) I hadn’t seen very many turkeys since the heavy snow started flying, which led to the next question: where do turkeys go in the winter, and what do they do?

Well, to settle things right from the start, they do not hibernate, and they don’t fly south. They stay put.

They spend their days in search of food, and the nights perched in trees away from predators and away from wind, snow and ice. With the first light, they glide down from their overnight roosts. They gather around tall pines, and assemble into flocks before beginning a new day.

Winter, for wild turkeys, is a matter of only one thing: survival.

Wild turkeys, in general, have a less difficult time in winter than other wild creatures. They are big, tough birds, able to not only withstand below-zero temperatures, but to subsist on a wide variety of foods.

Still, when snow is deep, finding enough to eat becomes a burden, especially if the snow’s surface is frozen. Then, the situation becomes critical, so critical that any accessible food is likely to draw all the turkeys in the area; separate flocks merging into one large, hungry flock.

The young males return to the same roost every night. Perching on the sheltering, horizontal pine limbs is safe and warm. When feeding, they will wander across the forest, often lingering beneath oak trees, and frequently walking down to swampy sections that provide water as well as bits of green vegetation.

There are times when turkeys will visit hayfields. In summer, those fields are terrific hunting grounds with great numbers of grasshoppers, crickets and other insects.

In winter, however, there is not much to eat in the fields, particularly when deep snow hides the weed seeds.

During mild winters, jakes will fly down from their roosts, a few spread their tail feathers and strut around, as if mimicking the courtship performances of toms. This behavior is more commonly seen in early spring, when mating takes place. Winter time strutting doesn’t mean much – merely practice, and is rarely done in stormy weather.

The second half of the winter is the toughest. By then, not only are most food sources depleted, or buried, but much of the birds’ built-up fat reserves are about gone. If crusted snow comes, it will bring hunger with it.

Turkeys will then strip the remaining fruit off the winterberry bushes and they’ll gulp the last shriveled wild grapes. They will fly up to dogwoods and snip buds. They will prowl the swamps and seeps for winter cress, ferns, even emerging shunk cabbages, if they’re not locked out by ice. Wild turkeys, once associated mainly with old-growth forests, also have learned that farms can mean food. In addition to knowing apple orchards, turkeys seek out cornfields, where they pick up any leftover grain not taken by geese.

Historically, wild turkeys existed in significant numbers in York and Cumberland counties, and perhaps lower portions of Hancock county. The reduction in forest land and unrestricted hunting are believed to be the two most important factors leading to the extirpation of native wild turkey in Maine in the early 1800s.

From the time of settlement until 1880, agricultural practices intensifed until farmland comprised about 90 percent of York and Cumberland counties. Since 1880, many farms have been abandoned and the land has reverted to forest. By 1970, only 15 percent of York and Cumberland counties remained farmland.

Early attempts (1942) to reintroduced the wild turkeys failed because the birds were imported from part wild and part game farm stocks. Poaching also is attributed to the failure.

However, in 1977 and 1978, Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife obtained 41 birds from Vermont and introduced them in York County. The birds have now spread to the point where they are present in 11 of Maine’s 16 counties, mostly in the southern part of the state, including Knox, Kennebec, Waldo, and Somerset counties. Snow depth is believed to be the major reason limiting the turkeys from spreading farther north in Maine.

In 1986, 500 hunting permits were issued and nine birds were taken. In 2009, 16,859 permits were distributed and 6,043 turkeys were harvested.

So, with the turkey flocks clearly well established in Maine, two challenges face wild turkey managers: accurately assessing the size of the population, and identifying the factors that limit the size of that population. Because, like they do at the onset of winter, the turkeys aren’t going anywhere, anytime soon.

Roland’s trivia question of the week:

What are the most points scored by a winning Super Bowl team?

Answer
55. San Francisco defeated Denver, 55-10, in Super Bowl XXIV in 1990.

Give Us Your Best Shot! for Thursday, February 5, 2026

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To submit a photo for this section, please visit our contact page or email us at townline@townline.org!

LANDING: Jayne Winters, of China, snapped this osprey making a landing in its nest last fall.

ALL IN LINE: Gary Mazoki, of Palermo, captured these kayakers on Sheepscot Lake, last summer.

HMMM GOOD: Lindy Sklover, of Vassalboro, photographed this bumble bee on a sunflower last summer.

REVIEW POTPOURRI: Richard Wagner & Kenneth Roberts

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Peter Catesby Peter Cates

Richard Wagner

Wagner: Tannhauser Overture, Venusberg Music and Act 3; Leopold Stokowski conducting the Philadelphia Orchestra. Victor Red Seal M-530, five 12 inch 78s, recorded January 15, 1936, and December 12, 1937.

Richard Wagner

Richard Wagner (1813-1883) threw himself for two to three years with such intensity into the composition of Tannhauser that it almost destroyed his health. The result, however, was an opera, admittedly long-winded yet loaded with beautiful music and the typical Wagnerian subject matter of sacrificial heroism and the spiritual redemption of love for a beautiful woman. Its world premiere was in 1845 and was part of a singularly rich decade that saw the creation of the Flying Dutchman and Lohengrin.

Leopold Stokowski (1882-1977) drew a performance of these excerpts from the opera that had bracingly balanced sonorities, rhythms of a highly intense quality and instrumental detail from an Orchestra that he spent the better part of 26 years, from 1912 to 1938, transforming it into one of the world’s finest both for live concerts and the dozens of recordings for Victor before he handed it over to Eugene Ormandy. And it can be heard on YouTube.

Kenneth Roberts

In his 1938 Trending into Maine, Kenneth Roberts (1885-1957) wrote the following about the diverse backgrounds of Maineiacs:

“Maine, like New York, Virginia, Georgia, Louisiana, New Mexico, and other states, was made up of several layers of society. Among these layers, for example, are the crossroads folk of southern Maine; the fishermen and lobstermen; the progressive potato farmers of Aroostook; the college graduates who practise law, operate mills and power companies, teach in Maine’s surprisingly large list of colleges and academies.

“If a brigade of State-of-Mainers were to pass in review before a jury of eminent New Yorkers, and all of them were to say a few words for the jury’s benefit, I suspect that the jury, in a majority of cases, would be at a loss to know from what section of America they came- barring, of course, the crossroads products, who are unmistakable. I can imagine how the jurymen would rack their brains over the Aroostook farmers, trying to decide whether they were natives of Arizona, Georgia, Massachusetts or California.”

Kenneth Roberts

A less attractive aspect of Kenneth Roberts’s world view, mentioned in the controversies of his Wiki biography was his virulent anti-Semitism, a story perhaps for another time.

Another subject which Roberts writes at some length about in this book and to be postponed for another week is the Quoddy Village next to Eastport , a huge white elephant project that turned into a major political embarrassment for FDR who originally spearheaded it. As I said, for another week, Maine history proving to be more and more intriguing in its infinite detail.

Your Hit Parade 1952; and 1953. Time Life Music, 2 cassettes, released 1989. Leased from different record labels such as Columbia, RCA, Coral, Capitol, Dot, Mercury, Decca, Cadence.

For 1952, the following selections ­­—The Mills Brothers – The Glow-Worm; Kay Starr, Wheel of Fortune; Perry Como and Eddie Fisher, Maybe; Rosemary Clooney, Half as Much; Pee Wee King and his Golden West Cowboys, Slow Poke; Jo Stafford, You Belong to Me; and Jambalaya; Eddie Fisher, Lady of Spain; Wish You were Here; and Any Time; Percy Faith, Delicado; Georgia Gibbs, Kiss of Fire; Don Cornell, I’m Yours; Johnnie Ray, The Little White Cloud that Cried; Peggy Lee, Lover; Doris Day and Frankie Laine, Sugarbush; Leroy Anderson and his “Pops” Concert Orchestra Blue Tango; Patti Page, I Went to your Wedding; Tex Ritter, High Noon (Do not Forsake Me); Les Paul and Mary Ford, Tiger Rag; The Four Aces, Tell Me Why; Doris Day, A Guy is a Guy; Al Martino, Here in my Heart; and Vera Lynn, Auf Wiederseh’n Sweetheart.

For 1953, Perry Como, Don’t Let the Stars Get in your Eyes; and No Other Love; Kay Starr, Side by Side; The Ames Brothers, You You You; Les Baxter, April in Portugal; and I Love Paris; Les Paul and Mary Ford, Vaya con Dios; Eddie Fisher, I’m Walking Behind You; and Many Times; Teresa Brewer, Ricochet; and Till I Waltz Again with You; Pee Wee Hunt and his Orchestra, Oh!; Leslie Caron and Mel Ferrer, Hi-Lili, Hi-Lo; Tony Bennett, Rags to Riches; Patti Page, Doggie in the Window; and Changing Partners; Ray Anthony, Dragnet; Percy Faith, Song from Moulin Rouge; Jo Stafford, Keep It a Secret; Richard Hayman, Ruby; Julius La Rosa, Eh, Cumpari; Nat King Cole, Pretend; Peggy Lee, Baubles, Bangles and Beads; and the Hilltoppers, P.S. I Love You.

Many of these 48 hits are already around my house on dusty old 45s and 78s and included in other anthologies on LPs but these Dolby noise reduction cassette transfers freshen up the fidelity of more than 70 years ago. Of course, the quality of music is variable but these records evoke the early years of my basically happy childhood growing up in East Vassalboro and that fantastic Silvertone radio/record player console my parents had in the apartment over the Cates Country Store.

FOR YOUR HEALTH: Make 2026 the Year You Quit Tobacco for Good

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You can get free help quitting tobacco this year.

by Lacoadia Burkes, Acting Bureau Chief, Tobacco Free Florida

(NAPSI)—New Year’s resolutions often focus on health, finances, and fitness, but quitting tobacco might be the one change that unlocks them all. According to recent research, nearly four in five New Year’s goals involve improving health. Other perennial favorites include things like having a better financial outlook and being more active. One thing these and many other self-improvement goals have in common is—quitting tobacco is one of the best and most impactful ways to achieve them.

Connection Between Resolutions and Quitting Smoking

When you quit smoking, your body will start to reward you almost immediately. Within days, your sense of taste and smell improves. Within weeks, your breathing becomes easier, and your circulation improves. And over time your risk of heart disease, stroke, and cancer drops significantly.

Financially, the impact is equally dramatic. A pack-a-day smoker in Florida spends over $2,000 a year on cigarettes. Think about what that money could mean for your family – a vacation, a down payment on a car, simply more breathing room in your monthly budget. If saving money is part of your resolution, keep a visual reminder of your goal, like a picture of that dream vacation or new car, in your wallet or on your mirror to stay motivated.

Why Resolutions Fail – and How to Succeed

Of course, we all know that even the most well-intended New Year’s resolutions often fail. Studies show that nearly half of people abandon their resolutions by the end of January. But here’s the important part: when it comes to your resolution to quit tobacco, you don’t have to go it alone – there is help.

Quitting without help can be extremely difficult, and for many people it takes several attempts to succeed. The good news is that evidence-based tools like nicotine replacement therapy – including gum, patches, and lozenges – can significantly improve your chances of keeping your resolution.

Set Yourself Up for Success

Beyond using proven quit tools, there are practical steps you can take to help your resolution stick. Set a specific quit date and mark it on your calendar. Tell friends and family about your plan – their support and understanding can make a real difference. Remove triggers from your environment by getting rid of ashtrays, lighters, and any other items associated with smoking. Keep your “why” front and center. Whether it’s your health, your finances, or your family, remind yourself daily why you’re making this change.

Learning from Slip-Ups

Finally, remember that a slip-up doesn’t mean your resolution has failed. Just as many people restart their exercise or diet resolutions after a setback, you can get back on track with quitting tobacco. Use slip-ups as learning opportunities. What led to the slip-up? Do you always crave a cigarette in a certain place or while doing a certain activity? Understanding your triggers allows you to develop better strategies for your next quit attempt. Each attempt brings you closer to success.

With the right tools, support, and mindset, your 2026 resolution to become tobacco free can be the one that finally sticks. You can do it.

MAINE-LY GARDENING: What’s in the house? Maine pines

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White pine

by Jude Hsiang

The Pine family has over 200 members worldwide, over 60 in North America, and 4 that are native to Maine. The family includes other species such as spruces and firs and other plants important economically as well as establishing rich ecosystems.

Here in Maine, the White Pine is the most widespread and best known of our pines. Its cones and tassels (needle bundles) are a symbol of our state and we can choose an artist’s rendering on our license plates. Mainers grow up learning that the English navy sought these large straight trees for the masts of their tall ships, as England’s population had grown to displace many trees of sufficient size. Right from the beginning of European settlement of the territory that became the State of Maine, white pines were the reason people settled here. We learned about the Broad Arrow marking white pines that were at least 24 inches in diameter and no more than three miles of the water for easy transport as property of the King. The fight for this resource led to one of the earliest acts of rebellion in the American colonies.

By 1850 most of the virgin white pines had been harvested, but they continue to be planted for use by the lumber industry. They grow throughout the state as they are adaptable to almost any soil. Young trees are fast growing with a conical shape. We often see mature white pines with a trunk that has a “step” breaking what would be a straight trunk. This appearance is caused by a pest, the white pine weevil that bores into the top of the shoot. When this “leader” is killed, another branch will take over and head for the sky, but eventually the tree may have several major branches and have a rounded top If an affected pine is a small one in your garden, you can select one of the branches around the original leader, and tie it to a small stick to guide it upward.

People sometimes plant a row of white pines to mark their property line. The look very uniform as they grow, however as they begin to reach a good height, they naturally begin to drop their lower branches. The privacy hedge that the owners wanted becomes a see-through fence.

Our beautiful state tree can grow to be 100 feet tall, but more commonly they’ll reach 70 to 80 feet with a diameter of one to three feet.

Our other natives are the red pine, pitch, and jack pines, each with its own characteristics and uses. In addition to those, there are a number of pines that grow happily in Maine, including the Scots pine, whose name tells us where it originated. The relatives of our most famous tree include dwarf types that can fit in the smallest garden, several interesting shapes, and even some with curvy needles.

© Judith Chute Hsiang
Jude Hsiang is a retired Extension Master Gardener Program instructor and member of the China Community Garden.

SCORES & OUTDOORS: Woody calls for a mix of weather until spring

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Roland D. Halleeby Roland D. Hallee

Huhhhh!

It’s time again to bundle up and make my trek through the snow fields of center Vassalboro in search of my old friend, Woodrow Charles. As folklore goes, Woody is a weather prognosticating groundhog. With Groundhog Day coming on February 2, I always visit him a little early to give our readers a head start on the possibilities of the weather for the next couple of months.

As I headed out on that day, it was a pleasant start to the day, clear skies with the temperature in the low 30s. Really balmy for the last week in January.

As I walked through the fields, I couldn’t help to think that until last weekend, when we got an old-fashioned-Maine snowstorm, we hadn’t really had that much snow so far this winter.

As I approached his lair, I spotted the usual smoke billowing from the chimney above the stump, and the glow of lights through the only window he has. There were many tracks outside with groundhog footprints headed in every direction.

I arrived at the door, knocked and waited for an answer. I noticed things were a little different from last year.

In the past, Woody was known to get off the grid. He has given up all his electronics, given away his 60-inch TV, had his electricity turned off, and basically went all natural with everything. Sustainability, they call it.

But today, I see an electric light on inside.

I knocked again.

Silence.

“What is going on,” I think to myself.

I knocked a third time. Apparently, he’s out. I didn’t notify him that I was coming today.

Suddenly, I heard something behind me.

It’s Woody, waddling through the snow, carrying a bag.

He stopped, looked at me, and said, “Oh, I didn’t know you were coming today. You should have called first. I’ve been out foraging”

“Well,” I responded. “The reason I didn’t call is because, as of last year, you were off the grid, and swore you were in it for the long haul.”

He had a strange look on his face. “It didn’t work out. I was out of touch with everything. Couldn’t talk to my budies, Frank, Butch and Slim. I didn’t know what was going on in the world with no TV. It just wasn’t working.”

He continued, “luckily, Slim gave the TV back to me, but I had to promise to invite him to everyone of my Super Bowl parties.”

That got me to thinking. “Hey, the Super Bowl is coming up. Any predictions?”

I don’t know how he does it, but he’s usually correct.

“If you remember last year I predicted the Eagles would beat the Chiefs.”

“OK,” I responded, “you nailed it! Let’s see how you do this year.”

Woody rubbed his chin, and said, “This one is a little tough.

“From what I have read and heard, Seattle’s offense is generally unstoppable, and the Patriots have one of the top defenses in the league. I usually like to go with defense. So, here goes, New England by four points, as long as Drake Maye can put up enough points against a stellar Seattle defense.”

Finally, I remembered. I was here to get a weather prediction, and somehow it always turns to Super Bowl picks.

“What about the weather?” I asked. “It’s been a pretty mild winter so far.”

Woody looked at the floor, then looked up, scratched his head, and spoke: “Less intense cold and lower precipitation combine for a lighter-than-average snow season. Good news for winter travelers, but gardeners may need to watch for an early thaw.Temperatures will be above normal with the coldest periods December, and early January, which as you know we’ve already gone through.

“Precipitation will be below normal and snowfall will also be below normal; snowiest period will be early February.”

That being said, Woody turned to me and said, “Cup of coffee?”

“Sure,” I replied, “I have a little time on my hands.”

So, for the next hour, we had coffee, and talked about many different subjects. I didn’t realize he was so well informed.

In all, everything he had a couple of years ago was back in its place, including his cell phone, WiFi, weather equipment, even Alexß.

“Cost me a bit,” he said embarrassingly. “I needed to get everything out of hawk.”

So, what about Alexa? “Gives me someone to talk to,” he said. “She knows a lot about a lot. It gets lonely here during winter.”

“So, you’re fairly well connected,” I asked.

“That’s what happens when you have communication with the outside world,” Woody said. “It’s amazing what you can learn with Google. And on television, there is the Home Shopping Network, CNN, FoxNews, Home and Garden Network, and my favorite, Animal Planet.”

Coffee finished, I got up, put on my coat, hat and gloves, and headed to the door. Once there, I turned, and wished my host a good day.

“Stay warm, and I’ll see you next year,” I said.

“Be safe, my friend,” Woody responded.

With that, I began my journey back home.

Roland’s trivia question of the week:

The San Francisco 49ers have appeared in six Super Bowls, winning five. Who defeated them in Super Bowl XLXII, in 2012?

Answer
The Baltimore Ravens, 34-31.