Friday

                         Musings and History

Quote of the day:

“Politicians are like diapers. They need to be changed often and for the same reason.”

                                                Harold Wilson

Trivia question of the day:

Who played John Kennedy in the movie “PT-109”?

A while back an Asian man flew into Sydney, Australia from Beijing to visit his girlfriend that he had broken up with the year before. She met him at the airport and took him to her apartment for a bite to eat. As you might suspect, she made some soup... Asians are big on soups. Without his knowledge, she loaded four sleeping pills into his soup and very soon he was taking a nap that was close to a coma. She took off all of his and her clothes and sat down straddle of his chest facing his head. She produced a butcher knife and stabbed him in the jaw just nicking the aorta and again in the upper arm. She then turned around facing his feet and exorcised any and all appendages below his crotch. She was not done yet. She remained seated until this man bled out and was arrested. I have heard that “hell hath no fury” statement before, but girl, lighten up, it had been a year for crying out loud. Now you are going to spend life without parole in the joint for premeditated murder, at least that is what it would be here in the land of the free and the home of the brave.

84 year old Carol Knight was opening up her restaurant in Johnston, South Carolina (been there, farming community) when a 55 year old man that was a convicted sex offender walked into the restaurant and told Carol that this was a hold up. Carol made the mistake of not believing him and laughed. This enraged the intruder and he began beating the crap out of Carol yelling “give me the money”. Carol knew that she did not have a chance but she began fighting back the best she could. She took several blows that cost her black eyes and cut lips. I am sure she will heal physically, but not mentally. She still says that she has nightmares about the intruder. Eventually an employee came to work and saw the blood and called 911. The intruder was arrested and is spending much time in the Saluda County Jail with no bail available. I want all of you to close your eyes and imagine your mother or grandmother trying to scratch out a living with her restaurant in small town South Carolina and this happening to them. What would you do if you got to this animal first? I don’t want to think about it….yes I do.

           This Date in History   February 23

1778 On this date the Prussian Baron Frederich von Steuben joined General George Washington in Valley Forge, Pennsylvania. The Baron had been recommended by the French minister of war to Benjamin Franklin. Franklin, in turn recommends him to George Washington. Baron von Steuben was the son of a famous Prussian General and became an officer in the Prussian army himself at the age of 17. Frederich proved to be an able officer and distinguished himself in combat more than once and was promoted rapidly from the infantry to the general staff of the King of Prussia, Frederick the Great. For reasons unknown, after reaching the rank of captain he was discharged from the army. I might be able to shed some light on this event. He was a flaming homosexual albeit a brilliant military commander and would hold staff meeting on a regular basis that was attended by all the younger officers. Toward the end of the meeting the King would walk by and drop a handkerchief in one of his younger officer’s lap. This officer had the duty to stay an extra hour with the King after the meeting was ended. Perhaps Frederich von Steuben finally resisted the advances of the King, who knows. Anyway, almost immediately after arriving at Valley Forge he began intensive training of the troops emphasizing rock-hard discipline. He also educated the troops on simple hygiene. The American troops knew nothing about this and therefore many troops were lost to disease. He insisted that the latrines be on the opposite side of the camp than the eating facility. But in fact, the troops had no latrines at all; they just took care of business wherever they felt like it. Frederich also insisted that the latrines be on a down slope away form the camp. Eventually the American troops departed Valley Forge a proud and competent fighting machine. Frederich did not speak English but did speak French so Alexander Hamilton and Nathaniel Greene interpreted his French into English. He authored a handbook for the American military parts of which are still in use to this day. The arrival of this man into the America army was none too soon. The American army had been having its ass handed to it for two years and the morale was very low. But now the pendulum began to swing the other way and our independence was finally on the horizon.

1940 After years on the back roads and railroads of America during the grinding depression of the 1930’s, on this date Woody Guthrie wrote the song This Land is Your Land. Woody was born in Okemah, Oklahoma in 1912. When the depression came in 1929, Woody and millions of others hit the road looking for work and whatever they could find to stay alive. It was during this time that Woody wrote many, many songs about the poor and downtrodden during this trying time. In 1937 he went to California to try to become a country/western singing star. He appeared on a few radio programs singing traditional folk songs. But eventually he was able to do some of his own songs and that put him on the charts. He became the chronicler of the people that had been through the depression and his words and music showed that he had been there and done that. His success took him to New York City but WWII broke out and his career was put on hold while he was in the Merchant Marine. After the war he returned to NYC and tried to resurrect his career and again he was on his way up when in 1954 he was struck down with Huntington’s disease. This was the same illness that took his mother’s life. While bedridden he was visited by many musicians among which was Bob Dylan. Woody died in 1967 in New York City and was cremated with his ashes being spread across New York City. His home town of Okemah, Oklahoma put up a headstone with his name on it anyway. Many have tried to copy Woody’s style and music, few if any have succeeded.

Born today:

1824 US writer George William Curtis. He said about one of his rivals “He is so old his blood type has been discontinued.” I am A+ and don’t y'all forget it.

1914 US actor Zachary Scott. He said “As you grow older the only things you regret is the things you didn’t do.” This is why I am burning the candle at both ends, y’all.

1928 US writer Michael Harrington. He said “Clothes make the poor invisible. America has the best dressed poverty the world has ever known.” I have never thought of that. Get picture in your mind of the people in poverty in India and how they dress.

Died today:

1998 US comic Henny Youngman. He said “I read where drinking shortens your life, so I gave up reading.” I miss Henny...George Burns too.

Answer to the trivia question:

Cliff Robertson played John Kennedy in the movie PT-109.

           Thanks for listening   I can hardly wait until tomorrow