It's September - Let Sipping Season begin!  Wine, beer, and cider lovers unite. September is the perfect month to get out there and sample the best that the harvest season has to offer. For those living close to the Canada-US border, check out the renowned Niagara Grape and Wine Festival or the Monticello Wine Trail.  Cheers!  In this issue, you'll find: 

• Roy's Chateau on the Go  
• Nick's Back-to-School Blues  
• Space Happenings
• Recommendations ... and so much more! 

John Moore, host of The Morning Show at Toronto's Newstalk1010, has a lot of serious political and economic news to talk about every day. But, from time to time, he likes to pepper his show with some totally useless and ridiculous stuff, too. 

About two years ago, my wife and I purchased an R.V.  We had never had one before. My wife wasn't as enthusiastic as I was, but she went along with it because it was a bucket list item for me.

We received our Class B R.V. which is a 20-ft. van that has beds, a bathroom, and a kitchen all inside of 120 sq.ft.

Our adventures began with small trips. Florida is full of amazing things to do and see on the weekends. We stayed at vineyards, state parks, and r.v. parks, but the most fun was boondocking which is pretty much off-grid exploring of small towns or amazing beaches. We covered so much of what Florida has to offer. 

Then, came the big trip: a 3-week vacation to Maine, with stops in Georgia, Virginia, New York, Rhode Island, Massachusetts, and New Hampshire. I could go on for hours talking about this road trip, but I'll bring it down to just one word ... AWESOME. 

If you've ever thought of doing something like this, don't hesitate. Do it! 

Traveling is wonderful, and you will be amazed at how many unbelievable adventures await within driving distance. Having a Class B (van type R.V.) gives you the mobility to use it for a day, a week, or months. It has given us a new perspective on our wonderfully-diverse country.  Adventure truly awaits you if you take advantage of your free time.  Stop to smell the roses; watch a sunset, or just sit by a fire and spent some quality time together. That is what RV'ing has done for us.  If you want to hear more stories about our R.V. adventures, send us an email. 

Oktoberfest, the world's greatest beer festival, starts in mid-September every year, and it runs for 16-18 days consecutively. So, what gives?  Why name it Oktoberfest? 

According to Oktoberfest.de, the annual Bavarian feast evolved from a Royal wedding between Crown Prince Ludwig and Princess Therese of Saxony-Hildbergausen that took place from October 12, 1810 to October 17, 1810. The celebration was so successful that it became an annual event. The dates were pushed back because the days were longer and the nights warmer. This translated into more ... "oans, zwoa, drei, g'suffa!" [one, two, three - drink!"]

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Pictured:  Nick's childhood Emergency! lunch box and thermos.

The last two weeks of August were always tough for me as a kid. It wasn't the return to elementary school that troubled me;  it was the thought of going on the annual pilgrimage in search of school supplies that triggered an emotional response.  

Walmart stores were not around yet, so at the time, the three "go-to" places for inexpensive school supplies in New York were Woolworths, Korvette's, and K-Mart.  We lived in the Bronx - two hours away from these stores - and my dad didn't have a car. 

This meant that every year in mid-August, four adults (my parents and my aunt and uncle) and five children would pile into my uncle's Plymouth station wagon for the trek into the city.  My uncle would almost always unintentionally take the scenic route. 

Once we got to the store, I found what I wanted in 10 minutes.  Then, I had to wait around for everyone to wade through mounds and mounds of pencils, pencil cases, markers, crayons, and paper supplies for what they wanted. It would take F-O-R-E-V-E-R for my sisters and cousins to make up their minds. A one-hour shopping trip turned into an exhausting, all-day event.  My ten-year-old brain couldn't wait to get out of there.  

When we made our final exit from the last store, I often thought that an adult might strap me onto the top of the station wagon for the long haul back home. They didn't do that, but I did get put at the back of the car with all the supplies.

One good thing came out of those annual pilgrimages, though - my Emergency! lunchbox with thermos. I never left home without it.  

Here are some wacky - but true - news stories that Nick and Roy collected this month, but didn't make the cut for the show:   

• A New Frontier: Self-cleaning underwear!
• Beer made from shower run-off water? 
• Cannibalistic Snails in PEI
• World's First Pencil Sharpener Museum 

Heads up, amateur astronomers.  There will be a lot of dazzling celestial events happening in the night sky this month.   

September 18-19th - Neptune, the giant blue planet, will be at its closest approach to Earth and will be illuminated by the Sun. This is the best time to view and photograph Neptune. 

September 22nd - Mercury, the smallest planet in our solar system and the closest to the Sun, reaches its greatest western elongation from the Sun.  This will be one of the best times to view Mercury. 

September 23rd - The Sun will shine directly on the equator and there will be nearly equal amounts of day and night throughout the world. This is the first day of fall in the northern hemisphere and the first day of spring in the southern hemisphere. 

September 29th - The moon will be located on the opposite side of the Earth which means that the sun will be fully illuminating it. This moon is called the Super Moon, Full Corn Moon, or the Harvest Moon. 

Listener Amanda Shanks from Raleigh, North Carolina writes: 

Dear Nick and Roy, We love listening to your show every week. My family and friends now make it a game when we discuss your show on the weekends.  You guys claim to be useless, but we don’t believe you. We learn so much from your show.  Here’s my question:

I was visiting a friend in a hospital and wondered why doctors wear white coats when visiting patients in their rooms, and blue scrubs when they are in surgery.  Keep up the great work and we look forward to hearing your answer.

Response: 

Thanks for taking the time to email us, Amanda. Your question is a good one. There's a really interesting article that goes a long way to answering your question.  It's called: A brief history of medical uniforms: from ancient history to the COVID-19 time. 

The authors say that white lab coats were only introduced at the end of the 19th century because of a greater emphasis on hygiene and sanitation - both in and out of the operating room. But, the bright lights and all-white environment of the "operating theatre" began to cause eye strain for surgeons.  By the 1960s and 1970s, most surgeons were wearing green uniforms to provide greater contrast.   

Thanks for reading. 

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