How many propane tanks do you need for your travel trailer? One more than you think, probably!

Immutable Laws of the Universe

Twitty of Como reports: “When you’re camping or traveling and it’s chilly enough that you need heat, the propane tank on the travel trailer will always go empty in the middle of the night.

“It’s 4 a.m. and 38 degrees outside. I just came in from replacing the empty tank with the spare full one — for the second time on this chilly, month-long trip. When the first tank went empty two weeks ago, it was 2 a.m. — and 38 degrees.

“Could be worse. It could be minus-21 degrees, like it was in Minnesota last week. And snowing. Or raining. It could be I didn’t have a spare full tank. (I’m counting my blessings here, not bragging.)

“I have a one-tank trailer. We’ve had so much cool weather this trip that, two weeks ago, on a hunch, I went out and bought a spare tank, just in case. I didn’t know how long one tank would last under near-constant use. That night, the original tank went empty. Good timing? Lesson learned: I’ll never leave home with just one tank again!”

Now & Then
Popular Music Division (cont.) (“Galway Bay” Subdivision)

John in Highland: “Enough with the bad versions of ‘Galway Bay.’ [Bulletin Board replies: If you say so, sir!] Johnny Cash had no business singing that song [Bulletin Board interjects: If you say so, sir!], and the Clancy Brothers may be Irish, but their comedic version is not in the true spirit of the song. [Bulletin Board says: We’ll grant you that one, John.]

“My dad, Ed, was a full-blooded Irishman, and he loved any Irish songs sung by an Irish tenor. John McCormack was his favorite. He was aghast when he saw Jerry Lee Lewis do a rock-and-roll version of ‘Danny Boy’ on television.

[Another version: https://vidmoon.co/video/QEWAxVWGMwBBsRH.]

“‘Galway Bay’ was one of his favorite songs, especially the version by John Gary. Gary’s singing ranged from baritone to high tenor, often in the same song. I don’t know how much of Gary’s heritage was Irish, but he certainly was a magnificent tenor.”

BULLETIN BOARD ADDS: And as he aged, he bore a striking resemblance to Alex Trebek (if you don’t mind our saying so)!

Life as we know it
Including: In memoriam (Our Community of Strangers Division) (responsorial)

Lucky Buck: “Thanks to D. Ziner for ‘Whispering Hope.’ Yesterday would have been Elaine’s 74th birthday, had she not succumbed to lung cancer in 2001. I have been thinking of her much the past couple of days. Hope, there is hope — not here maybe, but hope.”

Month at a glance

February having arrived, the time has come for our customary first-of-the-monthly report from The Stillwater Scouter: “February is Library Lovers Month, and February 11-17 is International Flirting Week.

“On February 1, 1884, the first portion, or fascicle, of the Oxford English Dictionary (OED), considered the most comprehensive and accurate dictionary of the English language, was published.

“New Amsterdam, now known as New York City, was incorporated on February 2, 1653.

“February 3 is Take Your Child to the Library Day.

“The Eleventh Amendment (Amendment XI) to the United States Constitution (approved by Congress on March 4, 1794) was ratified on February 7, 1795.

“It was on February 9, 1895, that the first college basketball game was played. The Minnesota State School of Agriculture defeated the Porkers of Hamline College, 9-3.

“The Pennsylvania Hospital opened as the very first hospital in America on February 11, 1752.

“On February 14, 1896, the Winnipeg Victorias won the Stanley Cup.

“On February 16, 1868, the Jolly Corks organization, in New York City, changed its name to the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks.

“Blondie Boopadoop married Dagwood Bumstead (three years after Chic Young’s popular strip debuted) on February 17, 1933.

“February 18, 1885, saw Mark Twain’s ‘Adventures of Huckleberry Finn’ published for the first time.

“February 22, 1630, is the date said to be when Quadequine introduced popcorn to English colonists at their first Thanksgiving dinner.

“On February 23, 1574, France began the fifth holy war against the Huguenots.

“Edward Willet displayed the first trained monkey act in the U.S. on February 25, 1751.*

“Early on February 26, 1852, H.M.S. Birkenhead sank. She had 638 people on board, including 20 women and children, 138 ship’s officers and crew, as well as 480 army officers and drafted men. Four hundred forty-five lives were lost. Because of good/brave/disciplined men, all women and children survived.**

“Journalist Upton Sinclair’s book ‘The Jungle’ was published February 28, 1906. The intent was to portray the life of the immigrant in the United States. The outcome was different.

“* It has been suggested that The Stillwater Scouter still performs Ed’s act . . . without the monkey.

“** Mariners know this story.”

Everyone’s a copy editor

Red’s Offspring, north of St. Paul: “Subject: Wanted: Profreeders. [Bulletin Board interjects: Very funny, Red’s Offspring.]

“In their Tuesday editions, both the STrib and the Pioneer Press had articles that didn’t agree with their headlines:

“Minneapolis: Page C8; headline: ‘Coach suspended for remark’; error: In the three paragraphs detailing an incident of a college tennis player’s making derogatory remarks to his opponent, which resulted in the offending player’s being suspended, there is no mention of any coach.

“St. Paul: Page 6A; headline: ‘Exxon to invest $50M from tax cut’; error: The beginning of the piece says ‘Exxon’s CEO says the oil company will invest more than $50 billion . . .'”

Fifteen nanoseconds of fame
Becoming Obsolete Division

Peggy T of Osceola, Wisconsin: “My oldest son and I were discussing relatives from our past. He had never heard about my Uncle Irvin. He was a hairdresser.

“This is one of the stories he liked to tell. When Irvin met Cedric Adams, he said: ‘You and I have something in common. We both get in your wife’s hair.’

“Of course this son had no idea who Cedric Adams was!”

BULLETIN BOARD SAYS: And here is some more of what Cedric Adams did.