Silence can be golden

All last week I anticipated the TV writers strike. Headlines suggested the walkout could "silence" the late-night comedy talk shows.

I found it ironic because I think one of the funniest lines ever on TV was silence.

Remember Jack Benny, the masterful comic writer and beloved actor who played a passionately petty, self-applauding skinflint?

Remember how Benny's deadpan and impeccably timed pregnant pauses were as funny as his lines?

Though I have little recollection of Benny's radio skits, I distinctly remember the ones recycled on "The Jack Benny Program," a TV show I watched religiously on Sunday evenings in my youth.

In one particular skit, tightwad Benny was accosted by a gun-toting mugger who offered him a choice: "Your money or your life?"

When Benny failed to respond, the mugger forcefully repeated, "Your money or your life?"

After a long silence, prompted by a third demand for an answer, Benny replied, "I'm thinking it over."

Reminiscing about that episode reminds me how much TV comedy and my viewing habits have changed.

You could say I'm culturally illiterate when it comes to TV. I'd dread if someone were to demand, "Name the scheduled time for 'Grey's Anatomy' or your life?"

Other than news broadcasts and city council meetings, I couldn't tell you what's on when.

I also couldn't believe 33 years have passed since Jack Benny died, having celebrated his 39th birthday 41 times.

Ketchup

After last week's column about this year's longer growing season, our robust tomato crop, recycling and Red Gold squeeze-bottle ketchup, I received an explanation of how "catsup became ketchup."

"Ketchup comes from a Malaysian word for a sauce that was originally used for fish," e-mailed Red Gold's consumer relations coordinator. "The first part of this long Malaysian word begins with the letters c-a-t-s-u-p… pronounced phonetically 'ketchup.' "

And in the past 20 years, she said most companies have changed their catsup labeling to ketchup. Now you know.

"Your story about plastics and ketchup bottles brought back lots of memories," said 91-year-old Chet Rybicki.

"I enjoyed your 'tomatoey' column," e-mailed Lynette Klingbeil, who is less than half Rybicki's age. "I, too, remember the refillable ketchup bottles. My Grandma K. had a red one with a waitress on it. Plastic containers and grocery bags … it's crazy how overused they are. I'm trying to reuse, recycle or make my own individual portions so all the packaging doesn't end up in landfills."

Climate change

A pest manager who didn't want to be identified -- especially as an exterminator -- credits climate changes with the success of his pest-control business.

"Changing weather patterns, along with the comeback of the Indianmeal moth, cockroaches and bed bugs and new restrictions on pesticides and treatment-resistant insects have created an environment for pest-management companies to grow," he wrote.

According to the National Pest Management Association, with some 5,000 members, getting rid of unwanted crawlers has bred a $6.7 billion industry, up 28 percent since 2000.

Late-night comedy?

Listening as our thoughtful Naperville City Council members met at a recent workshop to keep the city's property tax levy down, I could only imagine how challenging their job could be next year, especially in light of strategic planning and visions that could use funding.

But collectively -- and a credit to their stewardship -- our councilmen agreed that the city will tighten its belt when anticipated revenues are down.

It's not funny that I dreamed about Tuesday's city council workshop Thursday night. Why not dream a little dream of me?

Instead, I must have had the Rotary Sunrise Winter Coat Drive or collecting items for Operation Support Our Troops on my mind.

In spirited fashion, in my dream, Naperville service clubs planned an awareness-raiser at city hall that included collecting belts.

Used-belt collection boxes were strategically placed around town. Residents donated belts, ultimately filling a corner of the municipal center parking lot with some 55,000 belts in all widths and sizes.

Residents then buckled the belts together, and surrounded Naperville's 35 square miles to symbolize tightening our belts this next fiscal year. And Naperville took first place in the Guinness Book of Records. Go figure!