Useless news

Now that the election is over, it's on to find other stories that have me scratching my head as to how and why they make the news. This one appears in the news every stinkin' year!

'12 Days of Christmas' items would cost $86,609

PITTSBURGH -- At a price like this, it would have to be true love.

PNC Wealth Management says it'll cost you $86,609 to buy everything in "The Twelve Days of Christmas" song this year.

That's up more than $8,500, or nearly 11 percent, from last year, and includes everything from the single partridge in a pear tree to the 12 drummers drumming, purchased repeatedly as in the song.

While the price of the whole package is up, some things are actually cheaper than last year. Jim Dunigan, a PNC Wealth Management spokesman, notes how the price of five golden rings is down about 11 percent. Three French hens and six geese-a-laying also cost less this year.

But increases in the big items like eight maids-a-milking, 10 lords-a-leaping, 11 pipers piping and 12 drummers drumming is where you'll pay, thanks to a general wage increase.