Tuesday

Good morning,

Quote of the day:

“For it was not in my ear that you whispered but into my heart, it was not on my lips that you kissed me but on my soul.”

                                                                  Judy Garland

What is your worst peeve? One of mine is those people that are trying to convince themselves and everybody else that they are something other than what they really are. For instance: They will show up at a bar with everybody wearing “Harley” tee shirts and sporting a menage of tats on their arms...mostly the right arm for some reason. Most of them are shaved bald with a little facial hair. I saw that last Thursday evening. The place I was in was relatively quiet and peaceful...them we all heard a loud sound of throbbing motorcycles. They came in in their predictable array of tats and tee shirts demanding immediate service in a loud and obnoxious voice. These dumb-asses apparently believe that if they have something to say that the they believe is funny the louder they say it the more funny it is. Not only that the teller laughs harder than anyone else. They ended up no further than 2 feet apart and were yelling at each other in raucous laughter. How stupid can you be? None of you are funny and you are no Hell's Angels or Mongols...just shut the hell up, drink your beer and get the hell out. I found out that three of them work on the assembly line at BMW and the other two others work in a Michelin tire production plant. There is nothing wrong with these jobs, but their appearance to try to be what they are not is disgusting. I will not describe nor discuss the “Motorcycle Momas” that were present.

I still will not understand women. I have this female acquaintance that has been planning for a month to go for a one week vacation in Myrtle Beach. There will be two women and two teenaged girls. This woman had to rent an SUV to be able to carry all the luggage. I asked her why there was so much luggage. She said “Well, all of us will need at least two outfits a day, one in the morning and a different one for the evening, and a different bathing suit every day along with our make up, sleepwear, underwear and shoes.” Then she said then “I have to go grocery shopping before I go, too.” I was stunned. I told her the are several Publix grocery stores down there. She said for me to shut up, this is her vacation. When I go to Florida for a MONTH I take two pair of shorts, two pair of jeans, thirty pair of underwear, a shaving kit, seven different tee shirts and socks and two pair of tennis shoes. The condo I stay in has a washer and dryer, why take a lot of clothes with you? I go down there for the fun and seafood not to model clothes...but I ain't a woman.

As all of you know American Independence Day has come and gone but my mind is still on what our ancestors decided to do for us. They were the one of the only people in history to defeat the British in pursuit of independence. In this great statement of resolve, our ancestors were dragged out of the misery of sickness and defeat by being reminded of the “American Dream” as described in the Declaration of Independence and the US Constitution and related Amendments. They fought on in spite of it all and prevailed...and gave us all the greatest gift of all...freedom and liberty. Yet I here words spoken that the US Constitution is no longer relevant. Do not, I repeat, do not utter that bilge in my presence. I know what price has been paid and I will deliver the most blistering tirade I can think of...do not test me. I am a teary-eyed Patriot that is still capable. I am not as lean or fast as I used to be but there is still a patriotic fire that will not be extinguished.

Very quickly after the end of the Revolutionary War Americans began moving west led by those like Daniel Boone. This land was part of America on paper but in reality it was the land of the Cherokee, Creek, Shawnee among others and they did not take kindly to this invasion. In fact Daniel Boone's son James was captured by the Shawnee and tortured to death. After the land was relatively under control to the Mississippi River, the greatest movement of humanity in history occurred when wagon trains formed up in places like St. Josephs and St. Louis, Missouri and head west for a new life and land. It was not easy, in ratio there is about 10 graves per mile from St. Joseph and St. Louis to the west coast. It was mostly disease but the plains Indians got their share. Think about the bravery and courage from those powdered wig politicians in Philadelphia in 1776 on up to the great cities that we have and what we are to the world. It is a gift from those that gave their lives to ensure the survival of human rights described in the Constitution and the Declaration of Independence...It is a gift, it is yours, to not let them die in vain.

For some reason I thought of this event and thought I would share it: I was working on an engineering job near Slidell, La. Right after arriving and a design team was assembled the team leader got us together to tell us how to live in Cajun country. There was several dos and don’t but the major one was if you are stopped while driving do NOT resist a Cajun cop. One night one of our group went out and got a snoot full and a cop car fell in behind him and eventually turned on the blue light. Our guy tried to outrun the cop for a couple of blocks but decided that this was not a good idea so he pulled over and got out of the car. The cop told him to put his hands on top of the car and spread his feet. Our guy and the Jack Daniels he was full of decided to resist the handcuffs. The next morning he called from jail for us to come and get him, he had made bail. We went to get him and he looked like he had been in a blender with an alligator. Moral: Do not resist a Cajun cop.

A while back I went to a concert by Harry Connick, Jr. here in Greenville, SC. In spite of being located in the piney woods of northwestern South Carolina, Greenville has one of the fanciest venues for the performing arts in the southeast. It is known as the Peace Center. It was named after a newspaper publisher here in town named Roger Peace. He was the major contributor to this facility. This place has a bar named “Genevieve” that is superbly decorated, lighting included. This place is huge but includes extra long sofas and glass tables. As you might suspect, the drink prices indicated the opulence. To put it in a nutshell, Harry and his orchestra (13 pieces) ripped the audience to pieces. The highlight of the show, as far as I am concerned, was when Harry was telling us how he got his singing timing and awareness of the lyrics from his father who was a District Attorney in New Orleans but was a singer around the house. Harry said that he was still in prime shape at the age of 83. Then he suddenly introduced him and his father came out on stage and blew us away singing “Bye, Bye Blackbird.” This man got a standing ovation when he came on stage and when he left. His tonal quality and timing was perfect as was Harry's. Harry told us that he was a songwriter, composer and arranger in addition to his performing talents...what can I say?. It was a great show. It wasn't just a show, it was an event that will be long remembered.

I have a question. Why did the Zimmerman/Martin trial in Sanford, Fl. seem more interesting than a military coup in Egypt? The trial was obviously a gerrymander invented by the media to sell advertising on TV or what is printed. I do not see how a military coup in a major city in the middle east that may be the beginning of Armageddon is less interesting considering that race-against-race murders occur daily in many cities in this nation and the world. Blacks and Latinos killing each other for the drug trade is common. So what is exceptional about Zimmerman and Martin? It is all baloney, y'all. Don't be stupid and taken in by these obvious scams.

There is more of the same in the Catholic Church. Up in Waterbury, Connecticut Reverend Kevin Gray was arrested for embezzling about $1.3 million over a seven year period. He used the money for male escorts (why not female?), fancy clothes, expensive restaurants and clubs, etc. How is it possible that a person is able to steal an average of about $185,000 thousand a year for seven years and not be detected? They need a better auditor not to mention the failure to realize that everybody is human including Catholic priests.

Down here in Greenville, SC we have discovered yet another scam involving kids. It seems that a female with two kids younger than 12 went shopping in a Target store. The woman finished her shopping and entered a check-out aisle. She started a conversation with the check-out clerk while the youngest of the kids continues to push the shopping cart out the door with the contents unchecked. The woman told the clerk that she had to go the bank and get more money and walked out. She met up with her kids outside and went to her car, loaded the goods and left. I have a message for this woman; The pictures from the inside surveillance cameras that identified you plus the pictures from the outside camera that captured your auto tag number are ready.

Down in the tiny town of Pelion, South Carolina the Little League team is coached by Brian Holderness. Brian has been to Afghanistan once already because he is a member of the South Carolina Marine Reserves. He found out a while back that his unit was being deployed. He broke the news to his team and it was not taken lightly. The kids decided that they needed to honor Brian and his commitment. They held yard sales and car washes trying to raise enough money to get custom made jerseys. They raised $650 and ordered jerseys that were the color of desert camouflage with the words “Defending Freedom” across the back above the numbers. They also got Marine style haircuts. Brian knew nothing about all of this and when his team showed up wearing the jerseys and looking like Marines, he was touched. I would have been also.

A while back the former sheriff of Lee County, South Carolina E.J. Melvin has received his court date. Melvin and six of his deputies were arrested for selling powder and crack cocaine out of the evidence room in the jail. What was these jackasses thinking? Sooner or later the people that were arrested with the dope would have a day in court and the DA would want the evidence for the trial. Melvin and his deputies are looking at a possible 20 years in a South Carolina prison. Can you imagine their life in there knowing there are criminals in there that they arrested?

In the past I have taken a lot of time studying different civilizations, such as the Maya, the Egyptians, the Carthaginians, etc. I have decided to continue my detailed research on the Comanche Empire that reached its peak from about 1750 to 1890. I have a book that is written by a novel writer. The book is titled “Empire of the Summer Moon” and focuses on the branch of the Comanche that gave us Quanah Parker, one of the most fierce Indian warriors in history and I have another book titled “Comanche Empire” which is a college text book from SMU and San Diego State that covers all of the branches of the entire Comanche nation. These books were courtesy of “The Book Store” in Marble Falls, Texas, (thanks Dotty) but she has sold the store and is now cooling her heels in retrement. I have been sending out a vignette on occasion about this erstwhile most powerful people on the great plains.

This Date in History July 8

1960 Two months earlier an American CIA espionage aircraft called a U-2 is shot down over central Russia. This US aircraft was capable of flying at altitudes about 80,000 feet and the CIA believed that the Russians had no defense against such a high flying plane. In fact, the CIA had been flying these missions since 1956 with no ill effects but apparently the Russians had perfected a missile that could reach that altitude. On this date the pilot of that aircraft who survived a bailout, Francis Gary Powers, went on trial in Russia for espionage. There was little defense for Powers because he indeed was caught in the act of espionage. He was sentenced to 10 years but only served two. He was traded for Soviet spy Rudolph Abel. After returning to the US he was given a cold shoulder by the intelligence community because he failed to arm the bomb in the aircraft that would have blown it to smithereens and it would have been unlikely that the Russians could have identified it as American. But as it was, large pieces of the aircraft crashed to earth and were reassembled and identified. Also, Powers had a cyanide capsule in his flight suit and was supposed to have committed suicide but he didn’t. In typical government fashion they wait until Powers died years later before acknowledging his contribution to US intelligence. He had flown over Russia several times before being shot down. His family was given several medals and ribbons that Powers was due, too little, too late.

1776 On this date the beloved symbol of our freedom, the Liberty Bell is rung in Philadelphia. The bell was rung to summon all the people in Philadelphia to Independence Hall where the Declaration of Independence is read to all present by John Nixon. The Congress had decided to wait until the document came back from the printers before reading it in public. If y'all were to take the time to read this beloved document you will see how revolutionary and hostile it is written. It is an all out attack on King George III, but it is one that stirs one’s heart and spirit, especially mine.

1928 On this date Rose Booher, her son Fred and two transient workers are found shot to death on the Booher ranch in Manville, Ontario, Canada. The RCMP (Mounties) cannot find a clue as to the identity of the murderer. They do find that the victims were shot with a rifle of the caliber of one that was stolen a month or two earlier from an adjoining ranch. They bring in Rose’s oldest son named Vernon for questioning but got nowhere. So they resort to witchcraft. They employ a renowned French psychic named Max Langsner from Vienna, Austria. Max claimed he could “read” the mind of criminals. Well, Max showed up and has a chat with Vernon that apparently went no where. Then Max suddenly went to the Mounties and told them where the murder weapon was hidden. The Mounties went to the spot designated and found a rifle that turned out to be the stolen rifle. When confronted with this Vernon confessed. He said that he despised his mother and wanted to leave no witnesses so he killed them all. He said the only one he regretted was killing his younger brother Fred. Vernon went to meet his maker wearing a hemp necktie.

1918 On this date future author Ernest Hemingway is severely wounded trying to rescue a soldier on the battlefield and bring him to his ambulance. Hemingway volunteered to be a Red Cross ambulance driver for the Allies in the WWI. After a recovery time Hemingway was sent home. After the war he married a rich woman named Hadley Richardson and moved to Paris. While there he met F. Scott Fitzgerald, Gertrude Stein and Ezra Pound and they fed on each other artistically. Hemingway was encouraged by the others and delivered to us “The Sun Also Rises” which was both a critical and financial success. It was from his experiences while when wounded during WWI that he gave another of his blockbuster novels in “A Farewell to Arms”. Both of these books were made into movies. I remember watching “A Farewell to Arms” starring Jennifer Jones and Gary Cooper a long time ago. It was a love story but I liked it anyway. As y'all may or may not know, Ernest Hemingway blew is own brains out on his ranch in Ketchum, Idaho. I don’t get it, y'all. Here you have admired and successful writers in Ernest Hemingway and Hunter “Gonzo” Thompson and they both blew their brains out. What’s up with that?

1898 Earlier Jefferson Smith is born in Georgia a natural “con” man. He loved to run scams on people and his first one was in Creedmoor, Colorado. He somehow got possession of a 14’ statue of a man and secretly buried it. A few months later he “discovered” the corpse of a pre-historic giant and started charging a fee to see this wonder. He was soon found out and was run out of town. His next scam was when he wrapped some bars of soap in blue tissue and proclaimed that some of the wrappings had a $100 bill underneath. The very first bar of soap he sold the buyer opened it up and sure enough he found a $100 bill. Of course the buyer was a plant, it was a scam. From then on he was known as “Soapy” Smith. He made his way to the Yukon during the gold rush and was a major settler of the town of Skagway. Skagway was perfect for Soapy with very little law enforcement and men with pockets full of gold. Soapy became a very wealthy man in Skagway but he could never get a handle on his greed and a vigilante committee was formed to see what they could do about Soapy and his scams and swindles. Soapy found out about the meeting and tried to break in and persuade them that he was no threat to the community. The doorman named Frank Reid told Soapy to take a hike but he tried to force his way in anyway. On this date Frank Reid and Soapy Smith exchanged pistol fire. Soapy was killed instantly but it took 12 days for Frank to expire from the shot from Soapy. Soapy is buried in Skagway and his legend made his grave site a tourist attraction.

Born today:

1621 French writer Jean de la Fontaine. He said “Everyone believes very readily in what they fear or desire.”

1908 US zillionaire Nelson Rockefeller. He said “The problem with lower income farmers is poverty”’ Nelson, shut up and quit ruining my life.

1913 US critic Walter Kerr. He said of an actor in a play he recently reviewed “He had delusions of adequacy.”

Thanks for listening I can hardly wait until tomorrow.