Free Republic

In an unprecedented move, President-elect Donald Trump has fired traditional inauguration announcer Charlie Brotman, replacing him with Steve Ray. Ray is a Washington, DC.-based freelance announcer, and formerly volunteered with Trump's campaign. Brotman, 88, has announced every inauguration parade since former President Dwight D. Eisenhower was sworn into office in 1957. In an interview with CTV News Channel on Thursday, Brotman said, "Devastated is a word that covers it all. Yes, I was really disappointed, to say the least... I’m asking, ‘Did I do something? Am I too old? What’s going on?" Brotman told CNN he "thought he was going...

President-elect Donald Trump's team decided not to call upon the services of the inauguration announcer who has worked every parade for the past 60 years, according to a local Washington station. Trump is choosing not to use Charles Brotman, 89, to announce his inaugural parade — breaking with decades of tradition that began with Brotman's first inaugural gig for Dwight D. Eisenhower in 1957. Brotman told ABC News’ D.C. affiliate he was “heartbroken” to learn he wouldn't be announcing what would have been his 12th inaugural parade. “I’ve been doing this for 60 years,” Brotman told WJLA. “I was destroyed,”...

After several years of shopping there, it looks like my days and evenings roaming the aisles of Costco are over. It’s a shame really. The closest Costco, the one in Bedford Park, takes longer to drive to than the local Sam’s Club. The extra travel time was almost always worth it. Costco has a larger variety of items. It’s well managed and rarely are there long lines as there often are at Sam’s. The store has an excellent electronics department and its spiral ham is out of this world. Holiday times are particularly good as you can always count on...