January 5, 2024 The Sun Bay Paper Page 9 2023 Rearview Awards As the days begin to lengthen and 2023 is one for the history books, the time for the annual Rearview Awards is upon us. Books of the year: Drew Thomas Allen’s: “America’s Last Stand: Will You Vote to Save or Destroy America in 2024.” Allen pulls no punches and cuts through the partisan and bureaucratic chaos that plagues American politics. If you love America, this book is a tour de force and a must read as we enter into a presidential election year. “How Covid Enabled the Expansion and Abuse of State Power” by Ramesh Thakur is the most documented takedown of the COVID lockdown published. Nonagenarian Thomas Sowell’s “Social Justice Fallacies” breaks down the consequences of pursing equality at the expense of merit that is fundamental to the social justice agenda. Sign of the times: Maxim magazine named a biological male to their “Hottest 100 Women” list, while a transgender professor will teach a course on Taylor Swift at Harvard. The alarm has been sounded: The recent congressional testimony of the three college presidents should be a first-degree wake-up call for academia. How much more shame must universities endure before something is done? Ms. Bitter, USA: Megan Rapinoe calls playing for U.S. Team “Worst Job In The World” as she kneels for the National Anthem. Note to Rapinoe: It wasn’t a job but a privilege that paid well. Racist medal: Boston’s Mayor Michelle Wu. Wu invited only city council members of color that excluded whites to her yearend “holiday party.” Racial equity is becoming what it was bound to become – the return of racial segregation. Metaphors of the Year: The White House Christmas tree toppling over was followed by Jill Biden’s Christmas video that resembled The Nutcracker on crack. Endorsement: One financial analyst recommends we buy canned food and ammunition. You know one and they vote: An ABC News/Ipsos poll says more than 75 % believe the country is headed in the wrong direction. Only 25% believe the opposite and admittedly you know at least one of them. Time travel: After Paul McCartney released the Beatles’ final song: “Now and Then” the next day the Rolling Stones’ latest album topped the charts. When we turned the clocks back in November just how far back have we gone? Things that make you go hmm: It took the American Republic until 2007 to accumulate the amount of debt we have run up the last four years. Most flamboyant opening: The Las Vegas Golden Knights raised their 2023 NHL Stanley Cup banner to commence their season using a giant slot machine. With Vegas now a first stop destination of the professional sports’ leagues, the odds for the next great sports’ gambling scandal has increased exponentially. No pads or helmet needed: By 2027, NFL commissioner Roger Goodell’s career earnings will be more than double what any player has ever made in the history of the NFL. Snake bit: The New York Jets’ Aaron Rodgers Era ended after just four plays when Rodgers ruptured his left Achilles tendon. Rodgers is still collecting his $31million salary. Only Judge Judy gets paid more to sit on the bench. Most notorious envoy: Dylan Mulvaney rivals the late Lion of the Senate Ted Kennedy as alcohol’s most infamous spokesman. Charlatan cup: The Democrats ridiculed Sen. John Kennedy for reading pornographic material in a Senate hearing. Yet, they are the same books Democrats want in public schools. Best signage: Peddling on two wheels a bed and breakfast caught my attention: “We Do Not Provide Wi-Fi – So Pretend Like It’s 1980.” Worst Trade: The Biden administration’s release of billions dollars in sanctioned Iranian funds for the release of five wrongfully held U.S. hostages. Such diplomacy only emboldens our enemies to kidnap more Americans. A drive for the ages: Southern Columbia drives its way to seven-straight state Class 2A titles with a 21-20 win over Westinghouse going 99-yards on the team’s final drive of the season for the program’s 14th Pennsylvania state football title – the most in state history. There is so much more to grouse about, but space and ink are limited. However, don’t fret. In order to keep this New Year’s party going, part two is next week. Best wishes in 2024. Greg Maresca 6 Things You Will Regret Throwing Out Decluttering and reorganizing any space starts with the most diffi cult step: deciding what to keep and what to discard. Some items are easy to part with, but others much more diffi cult, especially if you don’t have a use for them. There are several vintage family heirlooms that I hastily sent off to a new home with distant cousins that I regret to this day. When simplifying your space, consider the value of each item and think about potential future uses. You can always store them, and if you change your mind, discard them later. NO. 1: BIG BABY ITEMS If you’re not absolutely sure you won’t have another baby, keep the crib, stroller and other big baby stuff . Getting rid of them might be costly if you end up needing them for another child. Check the condition of each item you want to keep; a fi ve-year-old stroller is fi ne if it’s still in good shape. Also, check recent recalls on baby items to make sure what you’re holding onto is safe and not on the recall list. NO. 2: VINTAGE CLOTHING AND FURNITURE Here, I’m speaking not retro things you bought at the thrift store but rather vintage items you inherited -- anything from old dinnerware to high-quality clothing to furniture pieces. It’ll never be out of style forever. And if you absolutely do have room to store, take them to a consignment store for evaluation. Making sure they are re-homed rather than sent to the landfi ll will give you peace of mind. NO. 3: AWARDS AND MEDALS Medals, trophies, certificates and other awards mark a signifi cant achievement in your life or perhaps your childrens’. They may seem like clutter right now, but they’re also irreplaceable. Someday, you will regret getting rid of them. These are not items that should you change your mind, you can just run into Walmart and pick up another. If you can’t decide about tossing out your athletic medals or other irreplaceable personal mementos, pack them away in a safe place. Then revisit them in a few months. If you’re still wanting to trash them, you’ll easily be able to do that without regret. NO. 4: PHOTOS Hold on to your photos. Even if you’re going to scan them into a digital format, keep physical copies of your favorites. Photos don’t have to cause clutter. You can put them in a memory box and then store the box in a closet, on a shelf or in another out-of-the-way spot. NO. 5: ELECTRONIC CABLES, ADAPTERS There are functional items you should keep -- electronic cables, adapters and cords. Take the time to label and then organize by type and use. Separate headsets from phone chargers: USB-A from USB-C, etc. The point is to store these items in a way that everyone in the house knows exactly what you have, and can actually fi nd it. NO. 6: APPLIANCE ACCESSORIES I’m referring to the extra shelves that came with the refrigerator or the attachments for the vacuum cleaner. If you own a specifi c appliance, it’s a good idea to keep all its parts -- especially the power supply, which easily becomes disassociated with its appliance if it’s something you use only occasionally. Even if you’re not using them right now, you might need these things in the future. Getting rid of a part for your dishwasher or vacuum cleaner could be a big hassle and possibly prevent you from selling or donating it later. Mary Hunt Never throw out old photos, even if you have a digital version of them!
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