# 143 - December 31st, 2008

Greetings one and all…Are you sitting comfortably - then I shall begin…Hopefully you’re enjoying the spirit of the Holidays and may I wish you and yours the very best of health and happiness for 2009...Meanwhile, since you did so well with last week’s Holiday Quiz, how about one more before we begin 2009? Here we go with five more seasonal posers...Answers at the end of the column...
1. To within ten years when was “A Christmas Carol” by Charles Dickens published?
2. Although it first took place on New Year’s Day 1902, it did not become an annual event until 1916. To what am I referring?
3. Who or what is the link between actor George Clooney and the classis Christmas movie, “White Christmas”?
4. On what day do Eastern Orthodox Christians celebrate the birth of Jesus?
5. Who was President twenty years ago - on New Year’s Day 1989?
I read with interest the brief mention in last week’s Valley People of the A.V. Brewery Christmas Party thrown for his employees by owner ‘King’ Ken Allen. I feel as if I’ve perhaps ragged on Ken too much in the past, although it has always been justified of course. Nevertheless, he does keep sinking to new depths of avaricious behavior and now it would appear that the Valley’s own Anti-Santa has done it once again...A Pot Luck for god’s sake??? Good grief, man, get it catered. You and the business are worth millions and yet you expect your staff to contribute to this event? My investigative reporter on this story, The Poleeko Crow, reports that in some cases these contributions were not even covered by the miserable bonuses received and that at least one of these ‘gifts’ was returned by a disgruntled and insulted employee...Ken just doesn’t get it – well, I guess he does if making money is his sole aim. It’s too bad – I have been privy to a decent side of the man on occasions. However, until he begins to put the same value on his people and their sensitivities as he attaches to the value of money then he will no doubt continue to be regarded by many in these parts as EbKenezer Allen...Of course, none of this is really any of my business and all of it is only in my humble opinion – but I just felt like sharing...
But maybe, just possibly, Ken could still change his miserly ways and perhaps reverse the way many people think of him...With this in mind, for the Quote of the Week how about a few wise words taken from “A Christmas Carol” by Charles Dickens. Actually, a few from the mouth of the original Scrooge himself when near to the end of the book he says, “I will start anew; I will make amends and I will make quite certain that the story ends on a note of hope!”...How about it, Ken?
Moving on...I am not usually one of those Turkey Vultures who lavishes praise everywhere he or she goes, but in the past couple of weeks I have enjoyed the company of so many Valley folk at various holiday parties and gatherings that I feel I must give several very big “claws up” to our community, and in particular to the stimulating level of its conversation and, even more importantly, the quality of its food and drink! Delicious cheeses, homemade biscotti and breads; succulent hams, turkeys, hot chicken wings, and rib roasts; unique and zesty guacamole and bean dips, potato salads, garlic mashed potatoes, bacon wrapped asparagus, etc., etc., etc. Not to mention the wonderful local wines, and homemade beers and even grappa (thanks, Rob – wow!)...It has been a veritable Mother-of-all Feasts and Binges. We Turkey Vultures love to eat, drink, and make merry, and many thanks go out to all of you responsible for my general well-being and enjoyment of these important tasks at this time of year...
Talking of Turkey Vultures and our habits, it’s about time once again to share with you a little “interesting and informative” (well I like to think it is) ‘Jive Turkey’…Here we go…Did you know that along with all the goodies mentioned above we also like our ‘veggies’. Yes, folks, a recent study of almost 400 of our pellets collected in the Castro Valley and Livermore areas in California showed that plant material was the single most common ingredient of the Turkey Vulture's diet. The material consisted primarily of grass and leaves. Animal food items in the pellets included: shrew, mole, squirrel, gopher, mouse, rat, rabbit, bird, reptile, insect, muskrat, opossum, raccoon, skunk, badger, sheep, and coyote. If not consumed and sterilized by the TV's, these carcasses would have rotted on the ground and could have spread disease. We truly are nature’s garbage collectors and proud of it - as I’ve said many times before, “trust me on this - you can thank me later.”
Perhaps I should go now – I’ll get my coat shall I?...Be careful out there; think good thoughts; may your god go with you; and may 2009 be good to you and yours…Oh, and of course, one final request, “Let us prey”…Humbly yours, Turkey Vulture…
You can contact me with words of support/abuse by e-mail at turkeyvulture1 @ earthlink.net…
Hi, Silver Swan and Ducklips - have a wonderful 2009!
Quiz answers...
1. 1843.
2. The Rose Bowl college football game.
3. Rosemary Clooney – George’s aunt and one of the stars of the 1954 film.
4. They celebrate his birth and baptism on January 6th.
5. Ronald Reagan – just a few weeks before George Bush Sr. took office...