Thursday

Good morning,

Quote of the day:

“There is a tide in the affairs of men, which when taken at the flood, leads on to fortune; Omitted, all the voyage of their life is bound in the shallows and in miseries.”

A quote by Julius Caesar in a play by the same name written by “The Bard” William Shakespeare.

Back in the mid 1600's there was a Civil War in England. It was between the “Roundheads” (those in favor of Parliament) and the Royalist (those favoring the King and that being Charles I). One of the best cavalry leaders for the Roundheads was a Oliver Cromwell. The Roundheads won and Cromwell was elected to Parliament. He and several others in Parliament signed am order of execution and Charles I was beheaded. Charles I had a son that went into exile and he would have been Charles II but Cromwell was named as Lord Protector of England. He could not be king because he was not of royal blood. A few years later Cromwell died and his son Richard tried to take over but the English people, being used a person of royal blood being in control, brought Charles II back and put him on the throne of England. Charles II was a witness to his father's beheading and remembering that Oliver Cromwell was the instigator, sought revenge. Even though Cromwell had been in the ground over 11 years, Charles II had Cromwell's remains exhumed and hanged as a traitor on the lawn of the Tower. Revenge indeed, but ain't that a bit over the top?

I suppose some of you have read about critics bitching about Carrie Underwood playing the lead in the most recent version of “The Sound of Music” because she is a “country music” star. Who do these elitists think they are? Did any of you ever read any bad things about Dolly Parton playing the lead in “Best Little Whorehouse in Texas”? This girl is from a dirt poor family from the mountains of Tennessee and has a drawl that you can cut with a knife. How about Reba McIntyre playing the lead in “Oklahoma” on Broadway. Both Dolly and Reba are “country music” stars...as far as I am concerned you critics that determine the success or failure of entertainment based on what the lead stars do can kiss my ass. Judge the performance if you can keep your feeble minds focused that long.

Several years ago I was working in Charlotte and a severe ice storm befell us and took out a lot of power lines, including those to my apartment complex. A hell of a lot of airline passengers were stranded and were seeking a place to sleep. I went to a very large hotel in downtown Charlotte seeking shelter until the power came back on. As you might expect the lobby was packed with people of all shapes, sizes, ages, genders and denominations. The hotel staff and nearly everyone else was doing the best they could considering the circumstances..except one. This jackass yelled in a very loud voice that he wanted “immediate” service ahead of little kids that were asleep in various corners of the lobby. He kept saying “I am from New York and I want service.” I just could not help myself and moved in close proximity of his face and said “What about those kids, jackass?” He would not look me in the eye and then I knew he was a blowhard. I was ready for whatever came next...he wasn't and backed off. I never will understand the attitude that where you live is supposed to impressive to others. Without question there are those that believe that the sun rises on the East River and sets in Hoboken and the center of the universe is between the Verrazano Narrows bridge and 140^th street. That is too shallow of thinking for me, y'all...way too shallow. To Russ and Bob...I said “there are those”....not all. All of this being said, sometimes I wish I had a better control of my temper.

I have some questions for y'all. Would any of you allow your children to stand facing into a 50 mph gale with no eye protection? How about you riding a motorcycle at any speed with no eye protection? How about you sticking your head out of a car window looking the direction of travel without eye protection? The obvious answer in not no, but hell no because you know the air is absolutely full of debris and the pits on the windshield and headlights of your car prove it. Then why the hell do people allow their dogs to ride with their heads sticking out of a moving car window? A dog has as sensitive of eyes as a human...maybe even more sensitive because of the relative size of them. Don't be stupid...take care of your dogs eyes as well as the rest of him/her.

This Date in History December 11

1777 On this date Patriot General George Washington ordered his army of 12,000 to leave their encampment at Whitemarsh, New Jersey and cross the Schuylkill River and go into winter quarters in Valley Forge, Pennsylvania. As his troops began crossing, who should show up but British General Charles Cornwallis and a large contingent of Redcoats and Loyalists. Washington ordered his troops to retreat back across the river and they retreated back to their previous encampment at Whitemarsh. The Patriots cooled their heels until December 19 and they tried to cross again and did it successfully. The overall British commander of that area General William Howe was informed about Washington and the Patriots being encamped at Valley Forge but Howe was too warm and comfy in Philadelphia and failed to pursue. For this failure, General Howe was relieved and British General Sir Henry Clinton assumed command. Fortunately for us several professional military men from Europe came over to help Washington whip his army into shape and whip them into shape they did because the next spring a professionally trained and disciplined army arose out of the misery and death from disease and starvation that was apparent in Valley Forge. What amazing ancestors we had, y'all.

1985 On this date the legendary man known as the “Unabomber” killed his first victim. This was by no means the first of his bombs but it was the first murder. A man named Hugh Scrutton was killed by a mail bomb in his computer store in Sacramento. California. There were two other deaths by mail bombs sent by this lunatic. The very first bomb from this man was in 1978 was exploded on the campus of the University of Chicago on May 25. There were a series of bombs either laid on the ground or sent through the mail to what appeared to be random locations for the next fifteen years which made it very difficult for the FBI to track down. In fact the FBI did not track down the Unabomber; he was ratted out by his brother. The Unabomber threatened to bomb a plane flying out of Los Angeles which really gave the FBI the tight ass and he became their first priority. The Unabomber sent letters to different newspapers stating that he would stop these acts of terrorism if they would print his “manifesto”. The Los Angeles Times and the New York Post agreed and did indeed print his manifesto which essentially called all the major industries in America as traitors and worthy of killing. The brother of Ted Kaczynski contacted the FBI and told them that the theme and the phrasing in the manifesto looked like something his brother would write. The FBI found out where Ted was living and surrounded his cabin in the wilds of the Rocky Mountains in Montana. Ted was arrested without a struggle and bomb making materials were found inside his cabin. Ted’s lawyer wanted Ted to plead insanity but he refused and plead guilty in return for not receiving the death penalty. He was given life without the possibility of appeal or parole. There are crazy people everywhere, isn’t there?

Born today:

1803 French composer Hector Berloitz. He said “Time is the best teacher but it kills all of its students.” That’s depressing, y,all.

1810 French writer Alfred de Musset. He said “How glorious it is, and also how painful, to be an exception.” I think he is talking about Al Gore.

1882 German physicist Max Born. He said “The belief that there is only one truth and that is known to only oneself is the deepest root of all evil in the world.” That sounds like Al Sharpton to me.

Died today:

1757 English actor Colley Cibber. He said “There is no fiend in hell can match the fury of a woman scorned, slighted, dismissed or disappointed.” I think I know this woman.

Thanks for listening I can hardly wait until tomorrow