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Quote of the day:

A few years ago I read a book by Joseph Heller titled “Catch-22”. It is from this book that this term used to describe an unsolvable situation made its way into our lexicon. Here is the original “Catch-22” from the book:

"People who were crazy were not obliged to fly combat missions; but anyone who applied to stop flying was showing a rational concern for their safety, and was sane.”

Is it true that when you turn 65 your left turn signal comes on and stays the rest of your life?

A while back a 32 , 22 and a 16 year old males showed up at Jerika Rookard’s mobile home in Inman, SC where she lived with her two young children. She had a visitor in the person of 27 year old Daniel Landrum. The three men shot and killed Landrum with a series of pistol shots. The terrified kids ran to the next door neighbor for help. The neighbor was able to identify the three men from a photo array and all are in the joint looking at life without parole at the very least. The cops are going to try the 16 year old as an adult meaning his life is essentially over. What a damned waste. The other two men should get that pesky needle for ending a meaningful life that could have awaited the 16 year old.

                   This Date in History  December 14

1799   On this date the father of our country, George Washington, died at his Mount Vernon estate in Virginia. He was 67 years old. George died of acute laryngitis. I cannot recall ever hearing of anyone dying of that but there was no anti-biotics in those days. George was born in 1732 in Westmorland County and his first military experience was as a Lieutenant Colonel for the Virginia militia in a few forays against the French in the Ohio Valley in 1754. In 1756 he took command of the defense of the western flank of Virginia during the French and Indian War and when the battle moved elsewhere he resigned and returned to his farm and took a seat in Virginia’s House of Burgesses. For two decades he vehemently opposed Great Britain in the over taxation and repression of the colonists. When the Revolutionary War broke out for good, Washington was elected a Commander-in-chief of the military by the Continental Congress. Some of those in the congress were opposed to Washington but they felt that having a Virginian in command would have a better chance of uniting the southern states with the war in the northeast. Washington’s superb leadership and foresight was able to bring a rag-tag army into one that defeated the mightiest military on the planet. They were not alone however, the Continentals somehow persuaded France to contribute men, money and supplies to this fledgling country. In fact it was the French Navy blockades on the Chesapeake Bay which trapped British General Charles Cornwallis at Yorktown and forced him to surrender. This essentially ended the land war in the Revolutionary War. At Washington’s eulogy it was his friend Henry Lee that uttered those immortal words “He was first in peace, first in war and first in the hearts of his countrymen”.

1777   On this date Irish born Thomas Conway is selected as Inspector General of the United States. Conway was Irish born but fought for many years with the French army. He met Continental Representative Silas Deane in France and Deane invited him to join the Continental Army. Conway sailed over and met with George Washington who offered him a rank of Brigadier General and assigned him to the unit commanded by Major General John Sullivan. Conway fought admirably at Brandywine and at Germantown (been to both of these battlegrounds) and received glowing reports from Sullivan. Washington named him Inspector General. Soon thereafter the Continental army suffered a couple of defeats so General Conway sent a letter to US General Horatio Gates suggesting that General Washington should be replaced. Washington got a copy of the letter and read it to the Congress. The embarrassed Conway offered his resignation which was unexpectedly accepted and Conway was out of the army. His troubles were not over yet. Washington supporter John Cadwalder challenged Conway to a duel. Conway accepted and was severely wounded. After recovery he hauled butt back to France where he died in 1800.

1874  While asleep this night in New York, Holmes Van Brunt heard a commotion in the house next door. He gathered up three other men and they went next door each carrying a loaded shotgun. Upon arrival they encounter a group of men trying to kidnap Holmes’ neighbor. Holmes and his boys unload with their shotguns and cut down all of the kidnappers. On his deathbed, one of the kidnappers confessed that he was part of the Charlie Ross kidnapping also. About 10 years before little four year old Charlie Ross was playing on his front lawn when he was kidnapped. The parents received a ransom note for $20,000 and took the money to the drop point but the money was never picked up. Little Charlie Ross was never found.

Born today:

1546 Danish astronomer Tycho Brahe. He said “Now it is quite clear to me that there are no solid spheres in the heavens and those that have been devised by the authors for appearances exist only in their imagination.” Tycho, you were considered a genius during your time, but you should have contacted Galileo...he had a telescope.

1935 US actress Lee Remick. She said “I make movies for adults. When Hollywood starts making them again, I will start acting again.” Lee went to that great movie lot in the sky in 1991.

         Thanks for listening  I can hardly wait until tomorrow

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