Tuesday

                           Musings and History

Quote of the day:

“The eyes are open and the mouth moves but Mr. Brain has long since departed.”

W.C. Fields when speaking of Mae West

Trivia question of the day:

Who was the first European to step foot on North America that we know of? Answer at the end of the blog. (It ain't Christopher Columbus)

                        This Date in History April 23

1934 On this date the FBI thought they had the John Dillinger gang cornered at Little Bohemia Inn in central Wisconsin. As you might suspect, there was the mother of all shoot outs when the gang chose to fight their way out. Among the gang was George “Baby-Face” Nelson. Nelson had a pistol in each hand when he ran from the Inn toward a car he was going to use for escape. Two agents tried to intercept Nelson and he yelled “I know you wear bullet-proof vests so I will shoot high and low” and fire away he did. He was successful in reaching the car after killing FBI agent H. Carter Baum along the way. Nelson led what would be called a “normal” childhood but upon reaching adulthood he decided on the ways of the gun. He started of as a member of Al Capone’s gang in Chicago. The only problem here was that Nelson was so mean and brutal that he scared other members of the gang and he was kicked out. Can you imagine being too mean for Al Capone? He preferred to be called “Big George” Nelson but because of his juvenile appearance he was called “Baby Face” but not to his face. You would risk annihilation if you did. This man hated to be called “Baby Face”. Anyway after splitting with Capone he joined with some California bootleggers then he met his mentor, John Dillinger. He accompanied Dillinger on two bank robbing trips to Iowa and South Dakota with Nelson killing a bank employee in each. Dillinger perfectly understood Nelson’s rage and said nothing to him about it. However with Nelson killing someone at every stop, Dillinger finally had to put a stop to it. When Dillinger was killed in an ambush by the FBI in Chicago, Nelson became # 1 on the FBI’s most wanted list. Nelson was spotted in Illinois and two FBI agents cornered him on a remote dirt road. Nelson hid behind his car and the agents hid behind theirs and they blazed away at each other. Finally Nelson got fed up and jumped out from behind his car, Tommy gun in hand, and charged the two agents like John Wayne. He was successful in killing both of the agents and staggered back to his car. The next morning the FBI found the dead agents and the body of George “Baby Face” Nelson in a ditch beside his car. He had 17 bullet wounds. I guess the agents called him “Baby Face”.

1002 In 963 Brian Boru from southern Ireland wrests away control of the Irish throne. By 1002 he had amassed all of the control in Ireland much to the chagrin of the Irish Vikings. King Sitric of the Dublin Norse gathered together other Vikings from Ireland, the Hebrides, the Orkney Islands and Vikings from Scandinavia and formed them up into an army to take control of Ireland by force. On this date Brian sent an army led by his son Muchan to meet Sitric and his Vikings. The Vikings were destroyed by Muchan’s army almost to the point of annihilation. There was just a handful of Vikings left. By some strange coincidence these few Vikings stumbled upon the tent of King Brian and killed his guards and the elderly King. The loss of commanding leadership plunged Ireland into anarchy for several years.

1564 It is on this date and on this same date in 1616 that most historians name as the date that William Shakespeare was born and died. Shakespeare was born in Stratford-on Avon, England. When he was 18 he got married to Anne Hathaway and 6 months later a daughter was born. It appears that William was doing more than writing plays. Anyway, he wrote most of his comedies in his younger days and his tragedies in his later years. In any event he became a member of one of the most envied acting troops called “Lord Chamberlain’s Men” and moved to London and acted and wrote many plays. He did the greatest majority of his acting in the Globe Theatre (been there) in London. There was a move afoot that it was impossible for a man of less than noble birth such as Shakespeare to have authored so many gems of plays and sonnets. They suggest it was a man of more noble birth like Sir Francis Bacon that chose to remain anonymous. The elitists can kiss my ass; I will take the beloved Bard of Avon every time.

Born today:

1524 English playwright William Shakespeare. He said “Many a good hanging stops a bad marriage.” William, methinks thee are a bit harsh.

1791 US President James Buchanan. He said “I like the noise of a democracy”. Me too, like “Off with his head!”

1818 English historian Edward Froude. He said “The superstition of science scoffs at the superstition of faith.” Hey Ed, how can science be a superstition, it does not require a leap of faith.

1834 US senator Chauncey Depew. He said “I get my exercise acting as pallbearer to my friends that exercise.” Me too.

1897 Canadian Prime Minister Lester Pearson. He said “Politics is the skilled use of blunt objects.” I felt that was the case.

1928 US actress Shirley Temple Black. She said “I quit believing in Santa Claus when I was six. My mother took me to a department store to see Santa and he asked for my autograph.” Notoriety is a heavy burden.

1936 US musical legend Roy Orbison. He said “I may be a living legend but that does not help when changing a flat tire.” See item above.

1954 US film maker and political activist Michael Moore when speaking of President George “Dubya” Bush he said “When the Pope and The Dixie Chicks are against you, your time is up.” Michael Moore is full of shit.

Died today:

1616 English playwright William Shakespeare. He said “I am basically not an honest man, but I am that way sometimes by mistake”. I love you, Bill

Answer to the trivia question:

The first European to step foot on North America was Leif Ericcson. Leif was a Norwegian Viking born in Iceland and the son of Eric the Red. Leif established a village in present day Newfoundland in about 1,000 AD. The National Historic site is known as L'Anse aux Meadows, Newfoundland

         Thanks for listening I can hardly wait until tomorrow