Are firefighting rules going back to those of Colonial times? Firefighters in rural Tennessee watched a mobile home burn down in December and refused to help. In Colonial times, homeowners bought a firemark, a metal emblem nailed to the house to show they had paid for protection. Those with no firemark received no help. The Tennessee firefighters were working under similar rules. Pay $75 a year or get no help when your house is ablaze. Obviously, this policy is controversial. The International Association of Fire Fighters said it was “incredibly irresponsible.”

Paper U.S. saving bonds are no longer available. The last applications were accepted on Dec. 31, 2011. “Paperwork” for the bonds will now be electronic. Sounds like a savings bond will be a disappointing baby or birthday present from now on—a note on a computer screen, not even a fancy picture to go with it.

If you find a Cadbury Bournvita malted chocolate drink cup, buy it. It was made by England’s famous Wedgwood Pottery. In 1933 when Wedgwood, like others, was having financial problems, Cadbury ordered the cups as a giveaway. Send in four coupons cut from the package and get a cup. The buff-colored cup came with a saucer that could be used as a lid to keep the drink warm. Over a million cups were made and Wedgwood made money on them. It also helped the company develop cost-effective manufacturing methods and focus on new designs.

Teenagers are buying vintage clothes from the 1950s to ’70s because the styles are coming back. We saw a ruffled printed shirt on a 16-year-old who told us it was by Ship’n Shore. We remember that brand of cotton blouses. They had to be ironed.

Knit ties for men are back, too, as part of the retro look. Some new ones showed up in this year’s Christmas catalogs.
 

 

 

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