Good morning,
Quote of the day:
“I have decided to stop drinking. I developed an allergy to alcohol and narcotics. I break out in handcuffs.”
Robert Downey, Jr.
There was yet another dog attack up in Charlotte. A five year old little girl and her grandmother were walking around in their front yard when two Pit Bulls walked by and decided to attack. Both the grandmother and the little girl were severely mauled, the grandmother will survive, the little girl died. The cops came and the dogs were still there. They capped one of the dogs and the other one fled. The cops used one of their dogs to track the animal down and capped it also. When will people realize that Pit Bulls and Rottweilers have an inbred tendency to attack, “Daddy” notwithstanding.
Here is another incident in my hunting and fishing career. I went to visit with a friend named Joe in Columbia, South Carolina quite a while ago. He was a more devoted fisherman than I and suggested that we go to the river about a mile below the Lake Murray dam and fish for whatever ever is there. For those of you that are interested, we were fishing with a 1 ½ inch inch Rapala on a spinning rod with 8 pound test line. The river has a considerable current and wading around in the cataracts was a struggle. After a while we heard a klaxon horn blow three short blasts three times as I best recall. We did not know exactly what it was so we kept fishing. Very soon we saw the water rising very rapidly, about a foot a minute. I was on the side of the river where we had parked the car and I just stepped out on the bank and yelled at Joe to get his ass out of there. Joe was on the other side of the river (about 40 yards). He started back across and soon realized that the water would be at least up to his chest before he could get back across. He got out on the opposite bank, stripped naked, folded his clothes and shoes into a small bundle, put his fishing rod on top and put the bundle on top of his head and started wading across. We figure out that the klaxon was a warning that the dam operator was going to open the outlets. He got most of the way across with the water up to his neck. He threw his bundle onto the bank, grabbed an overhanging tree limb and pulled himself out. What a sight that was. He begged me not to tell his wife because she would be giving him crap about it for years. He was the ultimate outdoorsman but when he got the right amount of vodka in him, he was a wife beater. Joe drank himself to death several years ago.
The executives at CBS are about to pee their pants because of Charlie Sheen. Last weekend Charlie went on a vodka-soaked bender in Las Vegas accompanied by three porn stars. He almost did not show up for the shooting of Two and a Half Men, a very popular and profitable TV series for CBS and Charlie. Last year Charlie got into a squabble with his ex-wife and was arrested for domestic violence, and he did the same thing with the vodka and the porn stars in Vegas. The executives want Charlie to attend board meetings and Charlie refused saying that it was not in his contract. Charlie’s attorney has threatened to sue the pants off CBS if they try to kick Charlie off the show because of anything that is not is his contract. The way Charlie sees it is that all he has to do is show up on time for the shooting of the show and know his lines, Charlie is a free spirit, y’all.
I read about a Canadian soldier that was a sniper in Iraq. It has been confirmed that he made a kill with a .50 caliber sniper rifle at a range of 2,500 meters. That is about 1 ½ miles, y’all. It is estimated that the bullet was in the air for about 4 seconds, as incredible as it seems.
The new governor of South Carolina was inaugurated on Wednesday. It is the first woman and non-Caucasian governor in South Carolina history and her name is Nikki Haley. I don't know about her administrative skills but she has got some kick-ass legs, y'all. That goes a long way as far as I am concerned. By the way, she is the child of immigrants from India. Her father was a doctor that immigrated to Bamberg, SC. and did it legally. See, it can be done.
Last session in the South Carolina legislature there was a bill proposed to make every voter show a picture ID at the polls before they voted. The Democrats screamed bloody murder saying that it would discriminate against those that were new immigrants and were not familiar with the system. They also said that the voters that voted early should be exempt from the ID requirement. There was so much hell raised that the vote for the Amendment was delayed. After a reinforcement of Republicans in the South Carolina legislature in November, this state constitutional amendment was passed yesterday on the first vote and there was no exception for early voters. It looks like votes for the Democrats by illegal aliens are over. That is too damned bad….
This date in history January 14
1875 On this date one of the most perfect humans ever to walk this earth was born in Upper-Alsace, Germany. Albert Schweitzer was the son and grandson of ministers. He studied at the Universities of Paris, Strasburg and Berlin and gained degrees in philosophy and theology. Albert was also an accomplished musician and would play the organ in concerts to supplement his income. In 1905 he entered medical school in the hopes of becoming a medical missionary in Africa. In 1913 with M.D. degree in hand, he and his wife Helene Bresslau moved to the village of Lamberene’, Gabon in West Africa and established a medical treatment facility and hospital. Albert had his hands full at the hospital because Leprosy and African sleeping sickness was rampant in that area. Albert made long strides in the treatment of leprosy and the sleeping sickness and then World War I broke out. In spite of the obvious good works being done by Albert, the British arrested Albert and Helene and put them in a concentration camp simply because they were German. He and Helene were released in 1918 and eventually returned to Lamberene’ in 1924 and opened up the treatment facility and hospital again. For the next 30 years Albert ran his medical facility and hospital and frequently went to Europe to lecture on his philosophy of “a reverence for life”. (LISTEN TO THIS, JACI) This was the idea that all life is to be respected and loved and everyone should enter into a personal and spiritual relationship with the Universe and all its creations. He was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1952 which carried a monetary reward of $33,000. Albert returned to Lamberene’ and used that money to build a hospital dedicated to the treatment of leprosy. From the early 1950’s to his death in 1965 he wrote tirelessly about the evils of nuclear testing and nuclear weapons adding his voice to other Nobelists like Albert Einstein and Bertrand Russell. It was reported and verified that while Albert was walking around his facility he was on constant alert for any living thing like ants and spiders and would walk around them or carefully move them. Albert was in touch with the Universe.
1639 The first constitution written in the American colonies was signed on this day in Hartford, Connecticut. The Connecticut River valley had been discovered earlier by the Dutch in 1614 but it was the Puritans from the Massachusetts Bay Colony that moved in and established the settlements of Harford, Wethersfield and Windsor. They got together and came up with the “Fundamental Orders”. This document was the first that fostered the concept that “it is the welfare of the community that is more important than that of an individual” and also the idea of the “Orders” must be approved by those it governed. This document was superseded by another set of “Orders” written in 1662. However, some of the laws written in the original “Orders” were maintained until 1818.
1784 On this date the Second Treaty of Paris is signed and ratified. It was called the Second Treaty of Paris because there was a Treaty of Paris that ended the Seven Years war. This treaty ended the American Revolutionary War that had begun 8 years before. The Treaty designated the boundaries between the United States and British possessions in North America. It also designated who was responsible for what debts and what and where were the fishing rights for the United States. But the most important statement was that Great Britain recognized the United States as a free and independent nation. This simple statement was paid for by blood and tears of our ancestors and I for one will never forget them.
Born today:
1875 German physician Dr. Albert Schweitzer. He said “There are two ways of refuge from the miseries of life, music and cats.” Albert, serenity is discovered in the mind of the seeker, too.
1919 Italian Prime Minister Guilio Andreotti. He said “I understand my limitations but when I look around me I see that I am not in a land of giants.” Hey Guilio, quit looking around.
1920 US commentator Andy Rooney. He said “Computers make it easier to do a lot of things, but most of the things they make easier to be done don’t need to be done.” Andy is funny.
Died today:
1957 US actor Humphrey Bogart. His alleged last words were “I should have not switched from scotch to Martinis.” You are right Bogie, Martinis can be lethal.
Thanks for listening I can hardly wait until tomorrow
Saturday, January 15, 2011
Thursday, January 13, 2011
Daily history
Good morning,
Quote of the day:
“Sometimes I think that I am really indecisive, then other times I think that I am not."
Al Campbell
Last week I told y’all about a 77 year old man over in Greer, South Carolina that was missing. Last Thursday this young man left his house aboard his 1994 Lincoln Town Car as was not seen since. He had the early stages of Alzheimers and had left his prescription drugs at home. This man was found this Tuesday in Atlanta (about 150 miles from Greer). He had driven into a Laundromat near I-85 and handed a hand written note to the attendant stating that he was lost. The attendant called the cops and he was taken to a hospital to be examined. No mention was made as to where he had spent the last 5 days and nights and I doubt that he will remember where he was. It frightens me somewhat that I may be susceptible to Alzheimers because my mother passed away with it at the age of 90. However, my father had a sharp mind right up until the last minute; he was 89 when he passed. We never know, do we?
Over in Tucson the University Medical Center has reported that Gabby Giffords is off a respirator and breathing on her own. Not only that, she gave the nurses a “thumbs up”. If she fully recovers it will be a miracle. By the way, the doctors removed a “window” of her skull to relieve the pressure. They said that they will put it back in place when the swelling recedes and is expected to stay that way. I wonder how they save a piece of a human’s skull for an extended period and it still remain viable for replacement. Present day medicine is mind-boggling.
This is the third day that the Trailways and Greyhound busses have been grounded in the southeast because of the weather. I wonder what the atmosphere and aroma is like in the bus terminal waiting rooms where the riders were stranded.
This is the fifth day I have been trapped in my house because of the weather. I went out to try and start my car and quickly changed my mind. There was about 7 inches of snow with about ½ of ice on top of that. When you took a step the top crust of ice went to the bottom and immediately froze. The same was true where cars had passed. It was solid ice and I could barely walk on it. I knew that if I fell I would not be able to get back up because of the lack of traction. I have a bad hip anyway and I certainly do not want to make it worse. So I said to hell with it and came back in. It is supposed to get down to the high teens or low twenties for the next two nights so things will not get any better anytime soon. This is one of the times I wish I had a dog, especially a Lhasa Apso. If worse come to worse I understand they are very tasty…Just joking.
This date in history January 13
1776 The so-called Battle of Prudence Island happens on this day. Prudence Island is a barrier island off the coast of Rhode Island that had but one or two structures. It was primarily used as a pasture for sheep with the structure for the shepherds. The British troops had been eyeing the sheep across the waterway hungrily. One night the British decided to cross over to Prudence Island and make off with a couple of sheep, only the pretty ones of course. They rowed over and before they could get ashore they were met with musket fire from a fairly large detachment of militia led by Patriot Captain Thomas King and are turned back, The militia had learned of the planned sheep theft a day or two before and sitting there waiting for them in the dark. The militia just was not going to give up those lovely, sensual sheep.
1128 On this date Pope Honorius II names the Knights Templar, led by Frenchman Hughes de Payens, as the “army of God”. In the year 1118 the Knights was formed to protect the Christians that are on a pilgrimage to the Holy Land. They took their name from the Temple Mount in Jerusalem. In the beginning there were only 9 of them because of their very strict rules. They had to be of noble birth, take vows of poverty, obedience and chastity. By 1127 the grateful pilgrims had contributed considerable amounts of land and other valuables to the knights. Even though the knights had sworn a vow of poverty as individuals possession of lands by the organization was allowed and the Knights Templar became extremely wealthy. I’ll bet y’all can tell me what comes next. That’s right, in 1307 the Catholic Church led by Pope Clement V along with Philip IV of Spain lusted after these riches and they attacked the Knights Templar the only way they knew how and that was with religion. They dragged up the leader the Knights, Jacques DeMolay up on charges of heresy, sacrilege and Satanism. DeMolay denied these charges of course but with a little persuasion from the rack and hot irons, DeMolay acquiesced and was burned at the stake. That was pretty much the fate of the rest of the Knights. Their valuables and lands were given away to their closest rival, the Knights of Hospitaliers with a substantial chunk going to Phillip IV of Spain, Edward II of England and last but not least the Catholic Church. Later on the Catholic Church admitted wrong doing in this case and said that Pope Clement V was pressured by secular rulers to do what he did. Hey Clement V you jackass, what has the division of worldly possessions got to do with saving my soul? Thank God you have gone on to your reward. It was/is believed that the Knights Templar has possession of the Holy Grail, the Ark of the Covenant and a piece of wood from the true cross that Jesus was crucified on. It is the possibility of these objects still being in existence that has made for today’s legends and made Dan Brown, the author of “The Da Vinci Code” a zillionaire.
1842 Early on this morning a British military doctor staggers into a British sentry post near Jalalabad, Afghanistan. He was the only survivor of a 16,000 British/Indian force that were attacked by extremely pissed off Afghani rebels at Khyber Pass. It seems that the ever Empirical England was attempting to expand their empire from India to include Afghanistan and blatantly interfered to the selection of the ruler of Afghanistan in that he was be a supportive of Great Britain. That 16,000 British/Indian Army was in Kabul to make sure of the transition but soon thereafter the pissed off Afghani warlords began gathering in Kabul and the British/Indian army had to choice but to withdraw. The combined warlords caught up with the British/Indian army at Khyber Pass and slaughtered them almost to a man. Only the doctor had escaped. This did not deter the British, however. They tried again and again were driven out but on the third try they were able make it stick. But not for long, the Afghanis love to fight; it is part and parcel of their makeup. The last total domination of that country was only when Alexander the Great passed through in the third century BC.
1958 Peter Manuel is arrested in a pub in Glasgow, Scotland. This maniac was born in America to British parents. He got an early start when he was arrested for burglary at the age of 12, then he moved up to assault at the age of 15 a little later he was convicted of sexual assault and did eight years of hard time. After getting out he resumed his life of crime by killing a mother, her two children and her sister during a burglary. A little later he broke into another house and killed the entire family. It is estimated that Peter Manuel had killed 15 people during his short life. They caught him by comparing bank notes that he had stolen form the family he had killed against the ones he used to buy beer in a Glasgow pub. He took the money from the father that had just been paid and the employer tracked the serial numbers of the bank notes used for salaries, shortly after Peter Manuel went to meet his maker wearing a hemp neck-tie. I don’t know what it is but sometime kids are just born with bad blood and insist on bad behavior in spite of the consequences.
I will tell ya’ll the brief history of a gang leader in the lower East side of New York. His gang did as most gangs; they raised money by selling drugs, extortion and occasional murder for hire. The leader’s name was “Yummy”. He got this name because he always had Oreo cookies close at hand. He was an uncompromising and insistent person that demanded complete loyalty among his soldiers. As was commonplace, there was a rival gang that Yummy and his boys had an ongoing turf war with, that frequently brought about large battles. During one of these battles, Yummy was captured by the rival gang, tortured for several days and then strangled. His body was thrown out in the middle of Harlem from a speeding car. Yummy was 12 years old.
1929 Nearly fifty years after his famous gunfight at the OK Corral in Tombstone, Arizona, Wyatt Earp dies peacefully in Los Angeles. A little while after the gunfight Wyatt’s Brother Virgil was ambushed riding along a trail and a shotgun blast took out his right arm permanently but he survived. A few days later Wyatt was playing billiards with his brother Morgan when a shot came through the window and hit Morgan in the head and he was dead before he hit the floor. Wyatt and Doc Holliday left Arizona headed to California. But on the way our they killed Frank Stillwell in a Tucson rail yard and Florendento Cruz out in the desert as revenge for the murder of Morgan. Wyatt knocked around the west an occasional bartender even up in Nome, Alaska and was a temporary movie consultant in his life when he passed. He was legend, ya’ll.
Born today:
1884 US entertainer Sophie Tucker. She said “From birth to 18 a girl need good parents, from 18 to 36 she needs good looks, from 36 to 55 she needs a good personality, from 55 on she needs good money, that’s why I am saving.” Sophie was known as “The last of the red-hot mamas.” I think we could give that title to Brittany Spears these days
Died today:
1929 US western legend Wyatt Earp. He said “Fast is fine, accuracy is everything.” Wyatt was familiar with firearms, to say the least.
1978 US politico Hubert Humphrey. “We should not allow the shortness of funds to prevent the cities from financing needed projects.” Hubert, shut the hell up.
Thanks for listen I can hardly wait until tomorrow.
Quote of the day:
“Sometimes I think that I am really indecisive, then other times I think that I am not."
Al Campbell
Last week I told y’all about a 77 year old man over in Greer, South Carolina that was missing. Last Thursday this young man left his house aboard his 1994 Lincoln Town Car as was not seen since. He had the early stages of Alzheimers and had left his prescription drugs at home. This man was found this Tuesday in Atlanta (about 150 miles from Greer). He had driven into a Laundromat near I-85 and handed a hand written note to the attendant stating that he was lost. The attendant called the cops and he was taken to a hospital to be examined. No mention was made as to where he had spent the last 5 days and nights and I doubt that he will remember where he was. It frightens me somewhat that I may be susceptible to Alzheimers because my mother passed away with it at the age of 90. However, my father had a sharp mind right up until the last minute; he was 89 when he passed. We never know, do we?
Over in Tucson the University Medical Center has reported that Gabby Giffords is off a respirator and breathing on her own. Not only that, she gave the nurses a “thumbs up”. If she fully recovers it will be a miracle. By the way, the doctors removed a “window” of her skull to relieve the pressure. They said that they will put it back in place when the swelling recedes and is expected to stay that way. I wonder how they save a piece of a human’s skull for an extended period and it still remain viable for replacement. Present day medicine is mind-boggling.
This is the third day that the Trailways and Greyhound busses have been grounded in the southeast because of the weather. I wonder what the atmosphere and aroma is like in the bus terminal waiting rooms where the riders were stranded.
This is the fifth day I have been trapped in my house because of the weather. I went out to try and start my car and quickly changed my mind. There was about 7 inches of snow with about ½ of ice on top of that. When you took a step the top crust of ice went to the bottom and immediately froze. The same was true where cars had passed. It was solid ice and I could barely walk on it. I knew that if I fell I would not be able to get back up because of the lack of traction. I have a bad hip anyway and I certainly do not want to make it worse. So I said to hell with it and came back in. It is supposed to get down to the high teens or low twenties for the next two nights so things will not get any better anytime soon. This is one of the times I wish I had a dog, especially a Lhasa Apso. If worse come to worse I understand they are very tasty…Just joking.
This date in history January 13
1776 The so-called Battle of Prudence Island happens on this day. Prudence Island is a barrier island off the coast of Rhode Island that had but one or two structures. It was primarily used as a pasture for sheep with the structure for the shepherds. The British troops had been eyeing the sheep across the waterway hungrily. One night the British decided to cross over to Prudence Island and make off with a couple of sheep, only the pretty ones of course. They rowed over and before they could get ashore they were met with musket fire from a fairly large detachment of militia led by Patriot Captain Thomas King and are turned back, The militia had learned of the planned sheep theft a day or two before and sitting there waiting for them in the dark. The militia just was not going to give up those lovely, sensual sheep.
1128 On this date Pope Honorius II names the Knights Templar, led by Frenchman Hughes de Payens, as the “army of God”. In the year 1118 the Knights was formed to protect the Christians that are on a pilgrimage to the Holy Land. They took their name from the Temple Mount in Jerusalem. In the beginning there were only 9 of them because of their very strict rules. They had to be of noble birth, take vows of poverty, obedience and chastity. By 1127 the grateful pilgrims had contributed considerable amounts of land and other valuables to the knights. Even though the knights had sworn a vow of poverty as individuals possession of lands by the organization was allowed and the Knights Templar became extremely wealthy. I’ll bet y’all can tell me what comes next. That’s right, in 1307 the Catholic Church led by Pope Clement V along with Philip IV of Spain lusted after these riches and they attacked the Knights Templar the only way they knew how and that was with religion. They dragged up the leader the Knights, Jacques DeMolay up on charges of heresy, sacrilege and Satanism. DeMolay denied these charges of course but with a little persuasion from the rack and hot irons, DeMolay acquiesced and was burned at the stake. That was pretty much the fate of the rest of the Knights. Their valuables and lands were given away to their closest rival, the Knights of Hospitaliers with a substantial chunk going to Phillip IV of Spain, Edward II of England and last but not least the Catholic Church. Later on the Catholic Church admitted wrong doing in this case and said that Pope Clement V was pressured by secular rulers to do what he did. Hey Clement V you jackass, what has the division of worldly possessions got to do with saving my soul? Thank God you have gone on to your reward. It was/is believed that the Knights Templar has possession of the Holy Grail, the Ark of the Covenant and a piece of wood from the true cross that Jesus was crucified on. It is the possibility of these objects still being in existence that has made for today’s legends and made Dan Brown, the author of “The Da Vinci Code” a zillionaire.
1842 Early on this morning a British military doctor staggers into a British sentry post near Jalalabad, Afghanistan. He was the only survivor of a 16,000 British/Indian force that were attacked by extremely pissed off Afghani rebels at Khyber Pass. It seems that the ever Empirical England was attempting to expand their empire from India to include Afghanistan and blatantly interfered to the selection of the ruler of Afghanistan in that he was be a supportive of Great Britain. That 16,000 British/Indian Army was in Kabul to make sure of the transition but soon thereafter the pissed off Afghani warlords began gathering in Kabul and the British/Indian army had to choice but to withdraw. The combined warlords caught up with the British/Indian army at Khyber Pass and slaughtered them almost to a man. Only the doctor had escaped. This did not deter the British, however. They tried again and again were driven out but on the third try they were able make it stick. But not for long, the Afghanis love to fight; it is part and parcel of their makeup. The last total domination of that country was only when Alexander the Great passed through in the third century BC.
1958 Peter Manuel is arrested in a pub in Glasgow, Scotland. This maniac was born in America to British parents. He got an early start when he was arrested for burglary at the age of 12, then he moved up to assault at the age of 15 a little later he was convicted of sexual assault and did eight years of hard time. After getting out he resumed his life of crime by killing a mother, her two children and her sister during a burglary. A little later he broke into another house and killed the entire family. It is estimated that Peter Manuel had killed 15 people during his short life. They caught him by comparing bank notes that he had stolen form the family he had killed against the ones he used to buy beer in a Glasgow pub. He took the money from the father that had just been paid and the employer tracked the serial numbers of the bank notes used for salaries, shortly after Peter Manuel went to meet his maker wearing a hemp neck-tie. I don’t know what it is but sometime kids are just born with bad blood and insist on bad behavior in spite of the consequences.
I will tell ya’ll the brief history of a gang leader in the lower East side of New York. His gang did as most gangs; they raised money by selling drugs, extortion and occasional murder for hire. The leader’s name was “Yummy”. He got this name because he always had Oreo cookies close at hand. He was an uncompromising and insistent person that demanded complete loyalty among his soldiers. As was commonplace, there was a rival gang that Yummy and his boys had an ongoing turf war with, that frequently brought about large battles. During one of these battles, Yummy was captured by the rival gang, tortured for several days and then strangled. His body was thrown out in the middle of Harlem from a speeding car. Yummy was 12 years old.
1929 Nearly fifty years after his famous gunfight at the OK Corral in Tombstone, Arizona, Wyatt Earp dies peacefully in Los Angeles. A little while after the gunfight Wyatt’s Brother Virgil was ambushed riding along a trail and a shotgun blast took out his right arm permanently but he survived. A few days later Wyatt was playing billiards with his brother Morgan when a shot came through the window and hit Morgan in the head and he was dead before he hit the floor. Wyatt and Doc Holliday left Arizona headed to California. But on the way our they killed Frank Stillwell in a Tucson rail yard and Florendento Cruz out in the desert as revenge for the murder of Morgan. Wyatt knocked around the west an occasional bartender even up in Nome, Alaska and was a temporary movie consultant in his life when he passed. He was legend, ya’ll.
Born today:
1884 US entertainer Sophie Tucker. She said “From birth to 18 a girl need good parents, from 18 to 36 she needs good looks, from 36 to 55 she needs a good personality, from 55 on she needs good money, that’s why I am saving.” Sophie was known as “The last of the red-hot mamas.” I think we could give that title to Brittany Spears these days
Died today:
1929 US western legend Wyatt Earp. He said “Fast is fine, accuracy is everything.” Wyatt was familiar with firearms, to say the least.
1978 US politico Hubert Humphrey. “We should not allow the shortness of funds to prevent the cities from financing needed projects.” Hubert, shut the hell up.
Thanks for listen I can hardly wait until tomorrow.
Wednesday, January 12, 2011
Daily history
Good morning,
Quote of the day:
“My grandfather was killed at Custer’s Last Stand. He was camping in the next field and went over to complain about the noise.”
Joey Adams
Last week I told y’all about a 77 year old man over in Greer, South Carolina that was missing. Last Thursday this young man left his house aboard his 1994 Lincoln Town Car as was not seen since. He had the early stages of Alzheimers and had left his prescription drugs at home. This man was found this Tuesday in Atlanta (about 150 miles from Greer). He had driven into a Laundromat near I-85 and handed a hand written note to the attendant stating that he was lost. The attendant called the cops and he was taken to a hospital to be examined. No mention was made as to where he had spent the last 5 days and nights and I doubt that he will remember where he was. It frightens me somewhat that I may be susceptible to Alzheimers because my mother passed away with it at the age of 90. However, my father had a sharp mind right up until the last minute; he was 89 when he passed. We never know, do we?
Over in Tucson the University Medical Center has reported that Gabby Giffords is off a respirator and breathing on her own. Not only that, she gave the nurses a “thumbs up”. If she fully recovers it will be a miracle. By the way, the doctors removed a “window” of her skull to relieve the pressure. They said that they will put it back in place when the swelling recedes and is expected to stay that way. I wonder how they save a piece of a human’s skull for an extended period and it still remain viable for replacement. Present day medicine is mind-boggling.
This is the third day that the Trailways and Greyhound busses have been grounded in the southeast because of the weather. I wonder what the atmosphere and aroma is like in the bus terminal waiting rooms where the riders were stranded.
This is the fifth day I have been trapped in my house because of the weather. I went out to try and start my car and quickly changed my mind. There was about 7 inches of snow with about ½ of ice on top of that. When you took a step the top crust of ice went to the bottom and immediately froze. The same was true where cars had passed. It was solid ice and I could barely walk on it. I knew that if I fell I would not be able to get back up because of the lack of traction. I have a bad hip anyway and I certainly do not want to make it worse. So I said to hell with it and came back in. It is supposed to get down to the high teens or low twenties for the next two nights so things will not get any better anytime soon. This is one of the times I wish I had a dog, especially a Lhasa Apso. If worse come to worse I understand they are very tasty…Just joking.
This date in history January 13
1776 The so-called Battle of Prudence Island happens on this day. Prudence Island is a barrier island off the coast of Rhode Island that had but one or two structures. It was primarily used as a pasture for sheep with the structure for the shepherds. The British troops had been eyeing the sheep across the waterway hungrily. One night the British decided to cross over to Prudence Island and make off with a couple of sheep, only the pretty ones of course. They rowed over and before they could get ashore they were met with musket fire from a fairly large detachment of militia led by Patriot Captain Thomas King and are turned back, The militia had learned of the planned sheep theft a day or two before and sitting there waiting for them in the dark. The militia just was not going to give up those lovely, sensual sheep.
1128 On this date Pope Honorius II names the Knights Templar, led by Frenchman Hughes de Payens, as the “army of God”. In the year 1118 the Knights was formed to protect the Christians that are on a pilgrimage to the Holy Land. They took their name from the Temple Mount in Jerusalem. In the beginning there were only 9 of them because of their very strict rules. They had to be of noble birth, take vows of poverty, obedience and chastity. By 1127 the grateful pilgrims had contributed considerable amounts of land and other valuables to the knights. Even though the knights had sworn a vow of poverty as individuals possession of lands by the organization was allowed and the Knights Templar became extremely wealthy. I’ll bet y’all can tell me what comes next. That’s right, in 1307 the Catholic Church led by Pope Clement V along with Philip IV of Spain lusted after these riches and they attacked the Knights Templar the only way they knew how and that was with religion. They dragged up the leader the Knights, Jacques DeMolay up on charges of heresy, sacrilege and Satanism. DeMolay denied these charges of course but with a little persuasion from the rack and hot irons, DeMolay acquiesced and was burned at the stake. That was pretty much the fate of the rest of the Knights. Their valuables and lands were given away to their closest rival, the Knights of Hospitaliers with a substantial chunk going to Phillip IV of Spain, Edward II of England and last but not least the Catholic Church. Later on the Catholic Church admitted wrong doing in this case and said that Pope Clement V was pressured by secular rulers to do what he did. Hey Clement V you jackass, what has the division of worldly possessions got to do with saving my soul? Thank God you have gone on to your reward. It was/is believed that the Knights Templar has possession of the Holy Grail, the Ark of the Covenant and a piece of wood from the true cross that Jesus was crucified on. It is the possibility of these objects still being in existence that has made for today’s legends and made Dan Brown, the author of “The Da Vinci Code” a zillionaire.
1842 Early on this morning a British military doctor staggers into a British sentry post near Jalalabad, Afghanistan. He was the only survivor of a 16,000 British/Indian force that were attacked by extremely pissed off Afghani rebels at Khyber Pass. It seems that the ever Empirical England was attempting to expand their empire from India to include Afghanistan and blatantly interfered to the selection of the ruler of Afghanistan in that he was be a supportive of Great Britain. That 16,000 British/Indian Army was in Kabul to make sure of the transition but soon thereafter the pissed off Afghani warlords began gathering in Kabul and the British/Indian army had to choice but to withdraw. The combined warlords caught up with the British/Indian army at Khyber Pass and slaughtered them almost to a man. Only the doctor had escaped. This did not deter the British, however. They tried again and again were driven out but on the third try they were able make it stick. But not for long, the Afghanis love to fight; it is part and parcel of their makeup. The last total domination of that country was only when Alexander the Great passed through in the third century BC.
1958 Peter Manuel is arrested in a pub in Glasgow, Scotland. This maniac was born in America to British parents. He got an early start when he was arrested for burglary at the age of 12, then he moved up to assault at the age of 15 a little later he was convicted of sexual assault and did eight years of hard time. After getting out he resumed his life of crime by killing a mother, her two children and her sister during a burglary. A little later he broke into another house and killed the entire family. It is estimated that Peter Manuel had killed 15 people during his short life. They caught him by comparing bank notes that he had stolen form the family he had killed against the ones he used to buy beer in a Glasgow pub. He took the money from the father that had just been paid and the employer tracked the serial numbers of the bank notes used for salaries, shortly after Peter Manuel went to meet his maker wearing a hemp neck-tie. I don’t know what it is but sometime kids are just born with bad blood and insist on bad behavior in spite of the consequences.
I will tell ya’ll the brief history of a gang leader in the lower East side of New York. His gang did as most gangs; they raised money by selling drugs, extortion and occasional murder for hire. The leader’s name was “Yummy”. He got this name because he always had Oreo cookies close at hand. He was an uncompromising and insistent person that demanded complete loyalty among his soldiers. As was commonplace, there was a rival gang that Yummy and his boys had an ongoing turf war with, that frequently brought about large battles. During one of these battles, Yummy was captured by the rival gang, tortured for several days and then strangled. His body was thrown out in the middle of Harlem from a speeding car. Yummy was 12 years old.
1929 Nearly fifty years after his famous gunfight at the OK Corral in Tombstone, Arizona, Wyatt Earp dies peacefully in Los Angeles. A little while after the gunfight Wyatt’s Brother Virgil was ambushed riding along a trail and a shotgun blast took out his right arm permanently but he survived. A few days later Wyatt was playing billiards with his brother Morgan when a shot came through the window and hit Morgan in the head and he was dead before he hit the floor. Wyatt and Doc Holliday left Arizona headed to California. But on the way our they killed Frank Stillwell in a Tucson rail yard and Florendento Cruz out in the desert as revenge for the murder of Morgan. Wyatt knocked around the west an occasional bartender even up in Nome, Alaska and was a temporary movie consultant in his life when he passed. He was legend, ya’ll.
Born today:
1884 US entertainer Sophie Tucker. She said “From birth to 18 a girl need good parents, from 18 to 36 she needs good looks, from 36 to 55 she needs a good personality, from 55 on she needs good money, that’s why I am saving.” Sophie was known as “The last of the red-hot mamas.” I think we could give that title to Brittany Spears these days
Died today:
1929 US western legend Wyatt Earp. He said “Fast is fine, accuracy is everything.” Wyatt was familiar with firearms, to say the least.
1978 US politico Hubert Humphrey. “We should not allow the shortness of funds to prevent the cities from financing needed projects.” Hubert, shut the hell up.
Thanks for listen I can hardly wait until tomorrow.
Quote of the day:
“My grandfather was killed at Custer’s Last Stand. He was camping in the next field and went over to complain about the noise.”
Joey Adams
Last week I told y’all about a 77 year old man over in Greer, South Carolina that was missing. Last Thursday this young man left his house aboard his 1994 Lincoln Town Car as was not seen since. He had the early stages of Alzheimers and had left his prescription drugs at home. This man was found this Tuesday in Atlanta (about 150 miles from Greer). He had driven into a Laundromat near I-85 and handed a hand written note to the attendant stating that he was lost. The attendant called the cops and he was taken to a hospital to be examined. No mention was made as to where he had spent the last 5 days and nights and I doubt that he will remember where he was. It frightens me somewhat that I may be susceptible to Alzheimers because my mother passed away with it at the age of 90. However, my father had a sharp mind right up until the last minute; he was 89 when he passed. We never know, do we?
Over in Tucson the University Medical Center has reported that Gabby Giffords is off a respirator and breathing on her own. Not only that, she gave the nurses a “thumbs up”. If she fully recovers it will be a miracle. By the way, the doctors removed a “window” of her skull to relieve the pressure. They said that they will put it back in place when the swelling recedes and is expected to stay that way. I wonder how they save a piece of a human’s skull for an extended period and it still remain viable for replacement. Present day medicine is mind-boggling.
This is the third day that the Trailways and Greyhound busses have been grounded in the southeast because of the weather. I wonder what the atmosphere and aroma is like in the bus terminal waiting rooms where the riders were stranded.
This is the fifth day I have been trapped in my house because of the weather. I went out to try and start my car and quickly changed my mind. There was about 7 inches of snow with about ½ of ice on top of that. When you took a step the top crust of ice went to the bottom and immediately froze. The same was true where cars had passed. It was solid ice and I could barely walk on it. I knew that if I fell I would not be able to get back up because of the lack of traction. I have a bad hip anyway and I certainly do not want to make it worse. So I said to hell with it and came back in. It is supposed to get down to the high teens or low twenties for the next two nights so things will not get any better anytime soon. This is one of the times I wish I had a dog, especially a Lhasa Apso. If worse come to worse I understand they are very tasty…Just joking.
This date in history January 13
1776 The so-called Battle of Prudence Island happens on this day. Prudence Island is a barrier island off the coast of Rhode Island that had but one or two structures. It was primarily used as a pasture for sheep with the structure for the shepherds. The British troops had been eyeing the sheep across the waterway hungrily. One night the British decided to cross over to Prudence Island and make off with a couple of sheep, only the pretty ones of course. They rowed over and before they could get ashore they were met with musket fire from a fairly large detachment of militia led by Patriot Captain Thomas King and are turned back, The militia had learned of the planned sheep theft a day or two before and sitting there waiting for them in the dark. The militia just was not going to give up those lovely, sensual sheep.
1128 On this date Pope Honorius II names the Knights Templar, led by Frenchman Hughes de Payens, as the “army of God”. In the year 1118 the Knights was formed to protect the Christians that are on a pilgrimage to the Holy Land. They took their name from the Temple Mount in Jerusalem. In the beginning there were only 9 of them because of their very strict rules. They had to be of noble birth, take vows of poverty, obedience and chastity. By 1127 the grateful pilgrims had contributed considerable amounts of land and other valuables to the knights. Even though the knights had sworn a vow of poverty as individuals possession of lands by the organization was allowed and the Knights Templar became extremely wealthy. I’ll bet y’all can tell me what comes next. That’s right, in 1307 the Catholic Church led by Pope Clement V along with Philip IV of Spain lusted after these riches and they attacked the Knights Templar the only way they knew how and that was with religion. They dragged up the leader the Knights, Jacques DeMolay up on charges of heresy, sacrilege and Satanism. DeMolay denied these charges of course but with a little persuasion from the rack and hot irons, DeMolay acquiesced and was burned at the stake. That was pretty much the fate of the rest of the Knights. Their valuables and lands were given away to their closest rival, the Knights of Hospitaliers with a substantial chunk going to Phillip IV of Spain, Edward II of England and last but not least the Catholic Church. Later on the Catholic Church admitted wrong doing in this case and said that Pope Clement V was pressured by secular rulers to do what he did. Hey Clement V you jackass, what has the division of worldly possessions got to do with saving my soul? Thank God you have gone on to your reward. It was/is believed that the Knights Templar has possession of the Holy Grail, the Ark of the Covenant and a piece of wood from the true cross that Jesus was crucified on. It is the possibility of these objects still being in existence that has made for today’s legends and made Dan Brown, the author of “The Da Vinci Code” a zillionaire.
1842 Early on this morning a British military doctor staggers into a British sentry post near Jalalabad, Afghanistan. He was the only survivor of a 16,000 British/Indian force that were attacked by extremely pissed off Afghani rebels at Khyber Pass. It seems that the ever Empirical England was attempting to expand their empire from India to include Afghanistan and blatantly interfered to the selection of the ruler of Afghanistan in that he was be a supportive of Great Britain. That 16,000 British/Indian Army was in Kabul to make sure of the transition but soon thereafter the pissed off Afghani warlords began gathering in Kabul and the British/Indian army had to choice but to withdraw. The combined warlords caught up with the British/Indian army at Khyber Pass and slaughtered them almost to a man. Only the doctor had escaped. This did not deter the British, however. They tried again and again were driven out but on the third try they were able make it stick. But not for long, the Afghanis love to fight; it is part and parcel of their makeup. The last total domination of that country was only when Alexander the Great passed through in the third century BC.
1958 Peter Manuel is arrested in a pub in Glasgow, Scotland. This maniac was born in America to British parents. He got an early start when he was arrested for burglary at the age of 12, then he moved up to assault at the age of 15 a little later he was convicted of sexual assault and did eight years of hard time. After getting out he resumed his life of crime by killing a mother, her two children and her sister during a burglary. A little later he broke into another house and killed the entire family. It is estimated that Peter Manuel had killed 15 people during his short life. They caught him by comparing bank notes that he had stolen form the family he had killed against the ones he used to buy beer in a Glasgow pub. He took the money from the father that had just been paid and the employer tracked the serial numbers of the bank notes used for salaries, shortly after Peter Manuel went to meet his maker wearing a hemp neck-tie. I don’t know what it is but sometime kids are just born with bad blood and insist on bad behavior in spite of the consequences.
I will tell ya’ll the brief history of a gang leader in the lower East side of New York. His gang did as most gangs; they raised money by selling drugs, extortion and occasional murder for hire. The leader’s name was “Yummy”. He got this name because he always had Oreo cookies close at hand. He was an uncompromising and insistent person that demanded complete loyalty among his soldiers. As was commonplace, there was a rival gang that Yummy and his boys had an ongoing turf war with, that frequently brought about large battles. During one of these battles, Yummy was captured by the rival gang, tortured for several days and then strangled. His body was thrown out in the middle of Harlem from a speeding car. Yummy was 12 years old.
1929 Nearly fifty years after his famous gunfight at the OK Corral in Tombstone, Arizona, Wyatt Earp dies peacefully in Los Angeles. A little while after the gunfight Wyatt’s Brother Virgil was ambushed riding along a trail and a shotgun blast took out his right arm permanently but he survived. A few days later Wyatt was playing billiards with his brother Morgan when a shot came through the window and hit Morgan in the head and he was dead before he hit the floor. Wyatt and Doc Holliday left Arizona headed to California. But on the way our they killed Frank Stillwell in a Tucson rail yard and Florendento Cruz out in the desert as revenge for the murder of Morgan. Wyatt knocked around the west an occasional bartender even up in Nome, Alaska and was a temporary movie consultant in his life when he passed. He was legend, ya’ll.
Born today:
1884 US entertainer Sophie Tucker. She said “From birth to 18 a girl need good parents, from 18 to 36 she needs good looks, from 36 to 55 she needs a good personality, from 55 on she needs good money, that’s why I am saving.” Sophie was known as “The last of the red-hot mamas.” I think we could give that title to Brittany Spears these days
Died today:
1929 US western legend Wyatt Earp. He said “Fast is fine, accuracy is everything.” Wyatt was familiar with firearms, to say the least.
1978 US politico Hubert Humphrey. “We should not allow the shortness of funds to prevent the cities from financing needed projects.” Hubert, shut the hell up.
Thanks for listen I can hardly wait until tomorrow.
Tuesday, January 11, 2011
Daily history
Good morning,
Quote of the day:
“My reaction to my first pornographic movie is as follows: After the first 10 minutes I wanted to go home and have sex, after the first twenty minutes I never wanted to have sex again for as long as I live.”
Erica Jong
By now all of you know about what happened in Tucson over the past weekend. There were six killed including a Federal District judge and a nine year old girl. Critically wounded was US Congresswoman Gabrielle “Gabby” Giffords who took a 9mm bullet in one temple. She was the object of the attack. I don’t care about one person’s politics or not but I do not wish death on innocent people especially an elected official. That is not what we as Americans are about. The lunatic that did the shooting said that he could not trust the present government, did not like the present American currency, he thought we should be on the gold or silver standard and he was disappointed in the literacy of the 8th district (Tucson) of Arizona. Is this guy a lunatic or what?
Oh, by the way, down in Acapulco, Mexico over the weekend there were 26 people murdered with 14 of them beheaded in less than a day. A drug lord brazenly took the credit saying that some people were moving in on his extortion racket in the tourist areas. Do we want to tighten the border with Mexico to prevent vermin like this into our country? Well, do we?
Another event occurred over the weekend that will stir more crap with the left wing gutless. The cadets at the military university of South Carolina known as the Citadel did a reenactment of the artillery bombardment of a supply ship coming to the Union detachment stationed at Fort Sumter in Charleston, SC harbor in 1860. The supply ship was The Star of the West sent by President Buchanan and reversed course and left the harbor to escape the barrage. As usual the left wing gutless is screaming that the reenactment actually celebrates South Carolina’s secession from the Union to preserve slavery, according to their interpretation. Why is there no objection to the reenactment of the Battle of Gettysburg? After all, both the bombardment of the supply ship and the Battle of Gettysburg were actual historical events. The reason that there is no objection by the left wing gutless to the reenactment of Gettysburg is because the side that they favor won. Who the hell do they think they are? Everyone has a right to an opinion about what is important and what is not important and it is a right guaranteed by the Bill of Rights, not the left wing gutless. Nobody and I mean nobody will ever make me feel guilty about what I think about or what I believe.
Here is a tidbit of trivia. During the McCarthy hearings where this bastard thought everyone in the entertainment industry was a Communist and leaned heavily on them ruining some innocent people’s careers by innuendo. McCarthy called actor Joseph Cotten to testify. Cotten was asked if he or anyone in his family had ever advocated the overthrow of the United States. Cotten said that a member of his family did indeed advocate the overthrow of the United States. When McCarthy almost shouted “And who was that?” Cotten said that his great-grandfather was a Captain in “Stonewall” Jackson’s cavalry. McCarthy was almost laughed out of the room.
This date in history January 11
1775 On this date the first Jew elected in the Americas takes his seat on the South Carolina Provincial Congress. Francis Salvador came from a family deeply involved in the English East India Company. His father was the director of operations in the Portugal division. The Salvador family was also very high up in the Jewish Sephardic community in London. A severe earthquake virtually destroyed all the East India Company warehoused goods in Portugal which bankrupted the Salvador family. Francis decided that he would come to the colonies and try to recoup his family’s fortunes and sailed to Savannah, Georgia in spite of the fact that Jews were not permitted in the state of Georgia. I am going to repeat that, Jews were not permitted in the state of Georgia. He quickly headed into South Carolina to take control of 7,000 acres that had been given to him by his uncle. Salvador turned out to be a firebrand Patriot and was deeply involved in the movement of independence of the colonies from Great Britain. He was known as the “Southern Paul Revere” when he rode 30 miles on horseback to warn the people of Charleston, South Carolina that there was a British fleet approaching that he had spotted from his plantation. The city of Charleston was able to pre-arm Sullivan’s Island in the mouth of Charleston Harbor and when the British fleet under the command of Admiral Peter Parker arrived, the artillerists on Sullivan’s Island opened up and handed Admiral Parker his ass and sent the British fleet askew. On another occasion he was scouting in the South Carolina foothills with a squad under command of Colonel John Wilkinson. Recent raids by the Cherokees on villages in the upstate sent Colonel Wilkinson looking for the renegade Cherokees. The renegades found them first and unleashed a wicked ambush near present day Seneca, South Carolina. Francis Salvador was knifed and scalped but he did not die right away. Colonel Wilkinson found him and assured Salvador that the victory was theirs, and then Salvador died. He was the first Jewish soldier killed in behalf of the colonies in their search for peace and independence. We needed more like him.
1937 Eleven days into a sit-down strike by the United Auto Workers at the General Motors Plant #2 in Flint, Michigan, on this date the General Motors “Security Forces” and the Flint Police showed up to evict the strikers inside the plant. It eventually became a pitched battle with the strikers holding their own with fire hoses and jury rigged slingshots while the Flint PD and the GM Security responded with gunfire and tear gas. The people on the picket line did what they could by blocking the entrances so heavy equipment could not be brought in and they threw rocks and bottles to break the windows to allow the tear gas to escape. Eventually Governor Frank Murphy got fed up and sent in the National Guard to put a stop to the violence. After 44 days the strike ended with General Motors conceding to the demands of the UAW. This is the first time that any of the “big three” auto manufacturers had ever set down and negotiated with a union. I previously mentioned the GW “Security Forces”. This outfit was nothing short of a militia to use force if necessary to apply the will of management. On more than one occasion these guys would see a group of GM workers standing around a recruiter for the union and would rush out and beat the hell out of everybody present with nightsticks whether on plant property or not. This contract put a stop to that bullshit everywhere.
1908 Earlier in the year 1540 one of the troops exploring with Coronado named Don Garcia Lopez de Cardenas wandered upon a huge canyon in what is now southern Arizona. As far as history tells us this man was the first European to lay eyes on what is now known as the Grand Canyon. For three hundred years afterward this wonder of nature was virtually unknown to all but the Native Americans who had been living in the canyon for many centuries. Anyone that took one look at the twisting pathway leading down into the mile deep canyon thought that it appeared to be too foreboding, not to mention the torrential Colorado River in the bottom. Finally in 1869 a brave soul named John Wesley Powell and eight others drifted down the Green River in Wyoming to where it joined the Colorado. Then he decided to drift the mighty Colorado and off they went. Somehow he was able to take his flimsy wooden boats most of the length of the Grand Canyon through some of the wildest rapids in North America. In fact three of his crew abandoned him and crawled out of the canyon saying it was too dangerous. A week later these three were captured, tortured and killed by a group that was probably Apache. I suppose they guessed wrong as to what was dangerous and what was not. As you might suspect, different money seekers built some flimsy hotels on the south edge to take advantage of the spectacular view. It became worse when the Santa Fe Railroad built a rail line close by. Soon the visitors reached 100,000 and the trashing of the terrain became rampant. On this date In1906 one of the greatest environmentalists ever, Theodore Roosevelt, declared the Grand Canyon a National Monument and eventually a National Park saving forever the splendor of this great wonder.
Born today:
1755 US Patriot Alexander Hamilton. He said “I cannot expect perfect work from imperfect men.” Hey Alex, what about women, Hillary in particular?
1842 US writer Will James. He said “How pleasant is the day when we stop trying to be young....or slender.” I can identify with both.
1873 US statesman Dwight Morrow. He said “When one party takes claim for the rain, they must also take blame for a drought.” Come on Dwight, that ain’t fair.
1934 Canadian Prime Minister Jean Chretien. He said “A proof is a proof. What is a proof? It’s a proof. A proof is a proof. And when you have proof, it is because it is proven.” Jean, you’re an idiot.
Thanks for listening I can hardly wait until tomorrow
Quote of the day:
“My reaction to my first pornographic movie is as follows: After the first 10 minutes I wanted to go home and have sex, after the first twenty minutes I never wanted to have sex again for as long as I live.”
Erica Jong
By now all of you know about what happened in Tucson over the past weekend. There were six killed including a Federal District judge and a nine year old girl. Critically wounded was US Congresswoman Gabrielle “Gabby” Giffords who took a 9mm bullet in one temple. She was the object of the attack. I don’t care about one person’s politics or not but I do not wish death on innocent people especially an elected official. That is not what we as Americans are about. The lunatic that did the shooting said that he could not trust the present government, did not like the present American currency, he thought we should be on the gold or silver standard and he was disappointed in the literacy of the 8th district (Tucson) of Arizona. Is this guy a lunatic or what?
Oh, by the way, down in Acapulco, Mexico over the weekend there were 26 people murdered with 14 of them beheaded in less than a day. A drug lord brazenly took the credit saying that some people were moving in on his extortion racket in the tourist areas. Do we want to tighten the border with Mexico to prevent vermin like this into our country? Well, do we?
Another event occurred over the weekend that will stir more crap with the left wing gutless. The cadets at the military university of South Carolina known as the Citadel did a reenactment of the artillery bombardment of a supply ship coming to the Union detachment stationed at Fort Sumter in Charleston, SC harbor in 1860. The supply ship was The Star of the West sent by President Buchanan and reversed course and left the harbor to escape the barrage. As usual the left wing gutless is screaming that the reenactment actually celebrates South Carolina’s secession from the Union to preserve slavery, according to their interpretation. Why is there no objection to the reenactment of the Battle of Gettysburg? After all, both the bombardment of the supply ship and the Battle of Gettysburg were actual historical events. The reason that there is no objection by the left wing gutless to the reenactment of Gettysburg is because the side that they favor won. Who the hell do they think they are? Everyone has a right to an opinion about what is important and what is not important and it is a right guaranteed by the Bill of Rights, not the left wing gutless. Nobody and I mean nobody will ever make me feel guilty about what I think about or what I believe.
Here is a tidbit of trivia. During the McCarthy hearings where this bastard thought everyone in the entertainment industry was a Communist and leaned heavily on them ruining some innocent people’s careers by innuendo. McCarthy called actor Joseph Cotten to testify. Cotten was asked if he or anyone in his family had ever advocated the overthrow of the United States. Cotten said that a member of his family did indeed advocate the overthrow of the United States. When McCarthy almost shouted “And who was that?” Cotten said that his great-grandfather was a Captain in “Stonewall” Jackson’s cavalry. McCarthy was almost laughed out of the room.
This date in history January 11
1775 On this date the first Jew elected in the Americas takes his seat on the South Carolina Provincial Congress. Francis Salvador came from a family deeply involved in the English East India Company. His father was the director of operations in the Portugal division. The Salvador family was also very high up in the Jewish Sephardic community in London. A severe earthquake virtually destroyed all the East India Company warehoused goods in Portugal which bankrupted the Salvador family. Francis decided that he would come to the colonies and try to recoup his family’s fortunes and sailed to Savannah, Georgia in spite of the fact that Jews were not permitted in the state of Georgia. I am going to repeat that, Jews were not permitted in the state of Georgia. He quickly headed into South Carolina to take control of 7,000 acres that had been given to him by his uncle. Salvador turned out to be a firebrand Patriot and was deeply involved in the movement of independence of the colonies from Great Britain. He was known as the “Southern Paul Revere” when he rode 30 miles on horseback to warn the people of Charleston, South Carolina that there was a British fleet approaching that he had spotted from his plantation. The city of Charleston was able to pre-arm Sullivan’s Island in the mouth of Charleston Harbor and when the British fleet under the command of Admiral Peter Parker arrived, the artillerists on Sullivan’s Island opened up and handed Admiral Parker his ass and sent the British fleet askew. On another occasion he was scouting in the South Carolina foothills with a squad under command of Colonel John Wilkinson. Recent raids by the Cherokees on villages in the upstate sent Colonel Wilkinson looking for the renegade Cherokees. The renegades found them first and unleashed a wicked ambush near present day Seneca, South Carolina. Francis Salvador was knifed and scalped but he did not die right away. Colonel Wilkinson found him and assured Salvador that the victory was theirs, and then Salvador died. He was the first Jewish soldier killed in behalf of the colonies in their search for peace and independence. We needed more like him.
1937 Eleven days into a sit-down strike by the United Auto Workers at the General Motors Plant #2 in Flint, Michigan, on this date the General Motors “Security Forces” and the Flint Police showed up to evict the strikers inside the plant. It eventually became a pitched battle with the strikers holding their own with fire hoses and jury rigged slingshots while the Flint PD and the GM Security responded with gunfire and tear gas. The people on the picket line did what they could by blocking the entrances so heavy equipment could not be brought in and they threw rocks and bottles to break the windows to allow the tear gas to escape. Eventually Governor Frank Murphy got fed up and sent in the National Guard to put a stop to the violence. After 44 days the strike ended with General Motors conceding to the demands of the UAW. This is the first time that any of the “big three” auto manufacturers had ever set down and negotiated with a union. I previously mentioned the GW “Security Forces”. This outfit was nothing short of a militia to use force if necessary to apply the will of management. On more than one occasion these guys would see a group of GM workers standing around a recruiter for the union and would rush out and beat the hell out of everybody present with nightsticks whether on plant property or not. This contract put a stop to that bullshit everywhere.
1908 Earlier in the year 1540 one of the troops exploring with Coronado named Don Garcia Lopez de Cardenas wandered upon a huge canyon in what is now southern Arizona. As far as history tells us this man was the first European to lay eyes on what is now known as the Grand Canyon. For three hundred years afterward this wonder of nature was virtually unknown to all but the Native Americans who had been living in the canyon for many centuries. Anyone that took one look at the twisting pathway leading down into the mile deep canyon thought that it appeared to be too foreboding, not to mention the torrential Colorado River in the bottom. Finally in 1869 a brave soul named John Wesley Powell and eight others drifted down the Green River in Wyoming to where it joined the Colorado. Then he decided to drift the mighty Colorado and off they went. Somehow he was able to take his flimsy wooden boats most of the length of the Grand Canyon through some of the wildest rapids in North America. In fact three of his crew abandoned him and crawled out of the canyon saying it was too dangerous. A week later these three were captured, tortured and killed by a group that was probably Apache. I suppose they guessed wrong as to what was dangerous and what was not. As you might suspect, different money seekers built some flimsy hotels on the south edge to take advantage of the spectacular view. It became worse when the Santa Fe Railroad built a rail line close by. Soon the visitors reached 100,000 and the trashing of the terrain became rampant. On this date In1906 one of the greatest environmentalists ever, Theodore Roosevelt, declared the Grand Canyon a National Monument and eventually a National Park saving forever the splendor of this great wonder.
Born today:
1755 US Patriot Alexander Hamilton. He said “I cannot expect perfect work from imperfect men.” Hey Alex, what about women, Hillary in particular?
1842 US writer Will James. He said “How pleasant is the day when we stop trying to be young....or slender.” I can identify with both.
1873 US statesman Dwight Morrow. He said “When one party takes claim for the rain, they must also take blame for a drought.” Come on Dwight, that ain’t fair.
1934 Canadian Prime Minister Jean Chretien. He said “A proof is a proof. What is a proof? It’s a proof. A proof is a proof. And when you have proof, it is because it is proven.” Jean, you’re an idiot.
Thanks for listening I can hardly wait until tomorrow
Monday, January 10, 2011
Daily history
Good morning,
Quote of the day:
“A nymphomaniac is a woman as obsessed with sex as the average man.”
Mignon McLaughlin
Up near Charlotte, NC a 31 year old woman was arrested for allowing her boyfriend to beat her 4 year old daughter with an extension cord. The little girl was allowed to carry a 5 month old baby around and accidentally dropped it causing no injuries. The mother examined the little girl and saw many bruises and abrasions consistent with a beating with an extension cord and did nothing. The boyfriend called his ex-wife to come over and babysit while he and the mother went out on the town. The ex-wife asked why the little girl was walking peculiarly and got no response. After the couple left the ex-wife examined the child more thoroughly and immediately took her to the emergency room. The ER personnel took one look and called the cops. The mother was arrested along with her boyfriend. The mother is facing a larger penalty than the boyfriend. I can assure you, if I was given 10 minutes with either one or both of them they would never touch a child in anger again. That little girl depends on her mother to love and protect her and not to be fodder for her boyfriend’s decadence. My attitude remains resolute to this day when it comes to my children. Anyone that physically hurts my kids will have to deal with me; they can hold their own with anyone mentally. I hope no one tests me.
Up in a Junior High School in Greenburg, Indiana a 14 year old boy was kicked off the basketball team because the coach did not like his hair cut. The coach decreed that his boys could not have hair below their eyebrows, ears and collar. The boy was also told that if he or his parents objected he would be kicked off the team. The parents objected and sure enough he was ejected. The parents sued saying it was his son’s right to play basketball, hair notwithstanding. The coach responded with it was the kid’s right to get an education but extracurricular activities was a “privilege” and subject to a different set of criteria. He mentioned the “Steinbrenner rules” that were established for players on the New York Yankees. Steinbrenner declared that there could be no facial hair nor outlandish haircuts, etc. The parents said that this man paid his player’s extraordinary salaries and they were professionals. Then the parents hit them with a bombshell that put them in an untenable position. They asked if the same rules applied to the girl basketball players. They have not responded as yet.
This is an incident that has become all too common. A 77 year old man over in Greer, SC was last seen on this past Thursday leaving his home and driving away in his light blue 1994 Lincoln Town Car. He is in the first stages of Alzheimer’s and is without his medication. There is no way of knowing where this unfortunate man is by now. What a damned shame.
The cops were called to a convenience store in northwest Greenville, SC because of a fight between a man and woman outside the store. The cops arrived and saw a woman and man in an embrace and the woman was crying. The cops tried to separate the two so they could find out what was happening. The man unleash a right cross and knocked one of the cops unconscious and then turned on the other and sprained his wrist. Then the woman joined the fray and jumped on the cops back screaming “He is really a good man!” Finally reinforcements arrived and the two were subdued and taken to the joint. I am sure that both of them will do time for assaulting a police officer.
I think all of you out there should read a short biography of the new Speaker of the House, John Boehner. You will be impressed. John is a very emotional man especially when the subject of Patriotism arises, he sheds tears…so do I.
This date in history January 10
1776 On this date the Governor of North Carolina, Josiah Martin, speaking from exile aboard the British warship HMS Cruiser anchored near Cape Fear, North Carolina, implores the Loyalists to gather an armed force and fight the Rebels (Patriots). Governor Martin was not elected by the people of North Carolina; he was placed in that position by the British. In his message Governor Martin stated that everyone knew what an honor it was to be a British subject and enjoy the freedom and blessings from the King. Well, the people could not relate to that message because Governor Martin had allowed government employees known as “Regulators” to go throughout the countryside and levy taxes at their discretion and put that money in their pockets. Anyway, the Loyalists were supposed to meet British General William Howe at the waterfront and he was supposed to supply the Loyalists better arms and ammunition plus additional troops. The Loyalists were only able to gather but 1,500 troops and when they arrived at the waterfront, it wasn’t General Howe waiting on them; it was an army of Patriots. The commander of the Loyalists, British General Donald McDonald, knew that he could not engage the heavily armed Patriots with a Loyalist army that was nearly unarmed. But McDonald fell ill and the command of the Loyalists fell to British General Donald McLeod. McLeod did not see a problem with attacking with the army as presently armed and attack they did. The Patriots were prepared and delivered a major ass-kicking. They killed 80 of the Loyalists and captured 880 while suffering only 2 killed. Martin had fled to the umbrella of a British warship after the Patriots burned his house down. After this defeat of the Loyalists, Josiah Martin made two more attempts to gain his power back was both attempts were turned back. He then sailed to Long Island and then to London where he died in 1786.
1901 On this date on a small hill named Spindletop near Beaumont, Texas at 10:30am a deep rumble was heard under the oil drilling derrick. A few seconds later the drill string began backing out of the hole and it was followed by oil gushing out of the well to a height twice as high as the derrick. This “gusher” ran wild for nine days at a rate of an estimated 100,000 barrels per day before it was brought under control. This was the first discovery of a major oil field in United States history. Earlier oil was found in Pennsylvania but not in the quantity of this oil field. Oil is still being extracted from this oil field to this day. Had this oil field and others like it had not been found, it is unlikely the internal combustion engine as we know it today would have ever developed. There is speculation that automobile would have continued to develop but the power would have been steam or electricity.
1987 Connecticut police continue their search for Helle Crafts. She was a Pan Am flight attendant and had been missing since December 1. Everyone thought that her husband Richard had killed Helle and disposed of the body but no body was found. The police had interviewed him several times but Richard claimed that he never left the house on the day of the supposed disappearance. The police crossed checked his credit cards and found that the day after the disappearance; he had bought a new mattress, a chain saw and had rented a wood chipper. A witness came forward and said that he had seen a person using a wood chipper on the banks of the Housatonic River. But the area where the person saw the wood chipper in use was feet deep in snow. The police thawed the snow and began a search for evidence and they sent divers in the river also. The divers found a chain saw in the river. The chain saw had tiny scraps of human tissue in the teeth of the saw and the police sent them off for analysis. It was found that the blood type of the tissue was consistent with that of Helle but that was not enough evidence for a conviction. After the police had gathered all the evidence from the riverbank that they could they had 2,660 hairs, one fingernail, one toenail, a scrap of tissue with two teeth embedded, two tooth caps and three tiny drops of blood. After obtaining a few hairs from Hell’s hair brush at her house and comparing her dental records, it was confirmed that the hairs and tooth caps they found on the riverbank belonged to Helle. This was enough evidence for the police and they arrested Helle’s husband Richard and charged him with murder. Richard first trial ended with a deadlock but at his second trial he was convicted and sentenced to 50 years. This was one of the rare times that a murderer is convicted without a corpse. But with forensics what they are today, getting away with murder ain’t as easy as it used to be.
1941 On this date US President Franklin Roosevelt signs a “lend-lease” with Great Britain. It was called a “lend-lease” but what it really did was promise Great Britain that the US would provide them with the “tools of war”. The United States was not yet involved in WWII. England had been taking a beating from the Germans who had been stockpiling armaments for years and England was severely outgunned. This program was to help even the odds. But it did not matter that much because the United States declared war on Germany, Japan and Italy on December 8 of this year, the day after the Japanese raid on Pearl Harbor. After this, the United States went full bore into the most devastating war in history.
Signs you are on a bad date:
She seems to know a hell of a lot about your shower routine.
Her multiple personalities began arguing after dinner about splitting the check.
You spend an inordinate amount of time lifting her head out of the soup.
After two beers she starts calling you “Daddy.”
Every place you mention for dinner she says “Nah, there might be cops in there.”
Y’all can substitute he/him for she/her at your discretion.
Eye opener:
No matter how great you become or how much good you do for mankind, the number of people that attend your funeral is determined by the weather
Thought to remember: Too bad that there are more horse’s asses than there are horses.
Thanks for listening I can hardly wait until tomorrow.
Quote of the day:
“A nymphomaniac is a woman as obsessed with sex as the average man.”
Mignon McLaughlin
Up near Charlotte, NC a 31 year old woman was arrested for allowing her boyfriend to beat her 4 year old daughter with an extension cord. The little girl was allowed to carry a 5 month old baby around and accidentally dropped it causing no injuries. The mother examined the little girl and saw many bruises and abrasions consistent with a beating with an extension cord and did nothing. The boyfriend called his ex-wife to come over and babysit while he and the mother went out on the town. The ex-wife asked why the little girl was walking peculiarly and got no response. After the couple left the ex-wife examined the child more thoroughly and immediately took her to the emergency room. The ER personnel took one look and called the cops. The mother was arrested along with her boyfriend. The mother is facing a larger penalty than the boyfriend. I can assure you, if I was given 10 minutes with either one or both of them they would never touch a child in anger again. That little girl depends on her mother to love and protect her and not to be fodder for her boyfriend’s decadence. My attitude remains resolute to this day when it comes to my children. Anyone that physically hurts my kids will have to deal with me; they can hold their own with anyone mentally. I hope no one tests me.
Up in a Junior High School in Greenburg, Indiana a 14 year old boy was kicked off the basketball team because the coach did not like his hair cut. The coach decreed that his boys could not have hair below their eyebrows, ears and collar. The boy was also told that if he or his parents objected he would be kicked off the team. The parents objected and sure enough he was ejected. The parents sued saying it was his son’s right to play basketball, hair notwithstanding. The coach responded with it was the kid’s right to get an education but extracurricular activities was a “privilege” and subject to a different set of criteria. He mentioned the “Steinbrenner rules” that were established for players on the New York Yankees. Steinbrenner declared that there could be no facial hair nor outlandish haircuts, etc. The parents said that this man paid his player’s extraordinary salaries and they were professionals. Then the parents hit them with a bombshell that put them in an untenable position. They asked if the same rules applied to the girl basketball players. They have not responded as yet.
This is an incident that has become all too common. A 77 year old man over in Greer, SC was last seen on this past Thursday leaving his home and driving away in his light blue 1994 Lincoln Town Car. He is in the first stages of Alzheimer’s and is without his medication. There is no way of knowing where this unfortunate man is by now. What a damned shame.
The cops were called to a convenience store in northwest Greenville, SC because of a fight between a man and woman outside the store. The cops arrived and saw a woman and man in an embrace and the woman was crying. The cops tried to separate the two so they could find out what was happening. The man unleash a right cross and knocked one of the cops unconscious and then turned on the other and sprained his wrist. Then the woman joined the fray and jumped on the cops back screaming “He is really a good man!” Finally reinforcements arrived and the two were subdued and taken to the joint. I am sure that both of them will do time for assaulting a police officer.
I think all of you out there should read a short biography of the new Speaker of the House, John Boehner. You will be impressed. John is a very emotional man especially when the subject of Patriotism arises, he sheds tears…so do I.
This date in history January 10
1776 On this date the Governor of North Carolina, Josiah Martin, speaking from exile aboard the British warship HMS Cruiser anchored near Cape Fear, North Carolina, implores the Loyalists to gather an armed force and fight the Rebels (Patriots). Governor Martin was not elected by the people of North Carolina; he was placed in that position by the British. In his message Governor Martin stated that everyone knew what an honor it was to be a British subject and enjoy the freedom and blessings from the King. Well, the people could not relate to that message because Governor Martin had allowed government employees known as “Regulators” to go throughout the countryside and levy taxes at their discretion and put that money in their pockets. Anyway, the Loyalists were supposed to meet British General William Howe at the waterfront and he was supposed to supply the Loyalists better arms and ammunition plus additional troops. The Loyalists were only able to gather but 1,500 troops and when they arrived at the waterfront, it wasn’t General Howe waiting on them; it was an army of Patriots. The commander of the Loyalists, British General Donald McDonald, knew that he could not engage the heavily armed Patriots with a Loyalist army that was nearly unarmed. But McDonald fell ill and the command of the Loyalists fell to British General Donald McLeod. McLeod did not see a problem with attacking with the army as presently armed and attack they did. The Patriots were prepared and delivered a major ass-kicking. They killed 80 of the Loyalists and captured 880 while suffering only 2 killed. Martin had fled to the umbrella of a British warship after the Patriots burned his house down. After this defeat of the Loyalists, Josiah Martin made two more attempts to gain his power back was both attempts were turned back. He then sailed to Long Island and then to London where he died in 1786.
1901 On this date on a small hill named Spindletop near Beaumont, Texas at 10:30am a deep rumble was heard under the oil drilling derrick. A few seconds later the drill string began backing out of the hole and it was followed by oil gushing out of the well to a height twice as high as the derrick. This “gusher” ran wild for nine days at a rate of an estimated 100,000 barrels per day before it was brought under control. This was the first discovery of a major oil field in United States history. Earlier oil was found in Pennsylvania but not in the quantity of this oil field. Oil is still being extracted from this oil field to this day. Had this oil field and others like it had not been found, it is unlikely the internal combustion engine as we know it today would have ever developed. There is speculation that automobile would have continued to develop but the power would have been steam or electricity.
1987 Connecticut police continue their search for Helle Crafts. She was a Pan Am flight attendant and had been missing since December 1. Everyone thought that her husband Richard had killed Helle and disposed of the body but no body was found. The police had interviewed him several times but Richard claimed that he never left the house on the day of the supposed disappearance. The police crossed checked his credit cards and found that the day after the disappearance; he had bought a new mattress, a chain saw and had rented a wood chipper. A witness came forward and said that he had seen a person using a wood chipper on the banks of the Housatonic River. But the area where the person saw the wood chipper in use was feet deep in snow. The police thawed the snow and began a search for evidence and they sent divers in the river also. The divers found a chain saw in the river. The chain saw had tiny scraps of human tissue in the teeth of the saw and the police sent them off for analysis. It was found that the blood type of the tissue was consistent with that of Helle but that was not enough evidence for a conviction. After the police had gathered all the evidence from the riverbank that they could they had 2,660 hairs, one fingernail, one toenail, a scrap of tissue with two teeth embedded, two tooth caps and three tiny drops of blood. After obtaining a few hairs from Hell’s hair brush at her house and comparing her dental records, it was confirmed that the hairs and tooth caps they found on the riverbank belonged to Helle. This was enough evidence for the police and they arrested Helle’s husband Richard and charged him with murder. Richard first trial ended with a deadlock but at his second trial he was convicted and sentenced to 50 years. This was one of the rare times that a murderer is convicted without a corpse. But with forensics what they are today, getting away with murder ain’t as easy as it used to be.
1941 On this date US President Franklin Roosevelt signs a “lend-lease” with Great Britain. It was called a “lend-lease” but what it really did was promise Great Britain that the US would provide them with the “tools of war”. The United States was not yet involved in WWII. England had been taking a beating from the Germans who had been stockpiling armaments for years and England was severely outgunned. This program was to help even the odds. But it did not matter that much because the United States declared war on Germany, Japan and Italy on December 8 of this year, the day after the Japanese raid on Pearl Harbor. After this, the United States went full bore into the most devastating war in history.
Signs you are on a bad date:
She seems to know a hell of a lot about your shower routine.
Her multiple personalities began arguing after dinner about splitting the check.
You spend an inordinate amount of time lifting her head out of the soup.
After two beers she starts calling you “Daddy.”
Every place you mention for dinner she says “Nah, there might be cops in there.”
Y’all can substitute he/him for she/her at your discretion.
Eye opener:
No matter how great you become or how much good you do for mankind, the number of people that attend your funeral is determined by the weather
Thought to remember: Too bad that there are more horse’s asses than there are horses.
Thanks for listening I can hardly wait until tomorrow.
Friday, January 7, 2011
Daily history
Good morning.
Quote of the day:
“Richard Nixon was a purposeless man. But I had great faith in his cowardice.”
Jimmy Breslin
Early Thursday morning a Spartanburg County Sheriff’s Department narcotics unit arrived at a house on Owens Street to serve a drug search warrant. They were met with a hail of gunfire from inside and a deputy was hit in the hip. Needless to say the gunfire was returned and the both occupants inside the house were hit as well. The report said that the injured police officer was in good condition and the wound was non-life threatening. No mention was made of the condition of the shooter(s).
Elizabeth Edwards left her husband John out of her will. I wonder why.
An 11 year old James Island, SC boy has been arrested by the Charleston PD and charged with two home burglaries on January 4th and 5th. They saw the kids face on a home security camera more than once. He has been released to the custody of his parents awaiting a hearing in Family Court. The only other kid that young that I have read about doing burglaries was the infamous David “Peewee” Gaskins also of South Carolina. Peewee was sent to meet his maker medium rare after a visit with “Old Sparky”. Peewee had killed at least 50 people. He said that he tortured and killed some of them for “recreation” and the others he was hired to execute. It is hard to believe but true.
Here is another episode of my hunting and fishing adventures. A friend and I went duck hunting in Alaska. We learned our lesson about hunting on mud flats and this time we were in the muskeg (swamp) not affected by the tide. I was in my trusty hip waders once more. We waded out into the muskeg to a point that was relative clear of trees so we could see the birds coming. We sat down on a log and waited. A short while later a woman waded out and took a seat on another log on our right front. She was so close we could tell what type of shotgun she had. It was a Fox 16 gauge double barrel. Soon after we saw a duck coming right at us. The woman saw it too. The duck was going to fly between us and the woman and the duck was no higher than four feet off the water. We decided to let this one go by because of the danger of hitting the woman. The woman did not see it that way and drew down on the duck and pulled a lead and began a track. My friend and I looked at each other and said to each other “Nah, she ain’t going to shoot knowing we were here since she walked right beside us to get to her log.” Then we heard her click off the safety and we just slid off into the water and hid behind the log with our shotguns (12 Gauge Ithaca Featherweight) held above the water. She indeed fired and the blast went over our heads by inches. There were a few chips in the fore grips of our guns. The duck landed less than three feet from us and the woman came after it. When we rose up, she acted startled and said “I did not know you were there.” We said “That’s OK, we were just leaving.” By the way, when we went walked into or out of the muskeg we had three slugs loaded instead of duck shot just in case a Grizzly should appear. They were normally bedded down for the winter by then but why take a chance?
This date in history January 7
1776 On this date super patriot Samuel Adams writes a letter to his friend James Warren stating that the hope for a confederation amongst the American Colonies is not dead,”but sleepeth”. He also said that neither he nor James needs to worry about it happening because their enemy, England, would force it upon them. The next day Samuel’s cousin, John Adams, wrote a letter to James Warren’s wife Mercy inquiring if she would prefer an American Monarchy (king) or a republic (what we have now). He regaled her with the virtues of a republic but he said ”There is so much rascality, so much venality and corruption, So much avarice and ambition, such a rage for profit and commerce among all ranks levels of men even then I doubt there is enough virtue to support a Republic.” That statement was made by one of our founding fathers over 220 years ago. Does it sound familiar? There was a meeting in Philadelphia soon after this where the core of the designers of this great nation met to determine what form of government we would pursue. After the meeting, Ben Franklin walked out and a woman waiting outside said “What is it going to be Mr. Franklin.” Ben said “It will be a republic, madam, if we can hold it.”
1901 In November of 1873 a man named Alfred Packer led a group of 21 men out of Bingham Canyon, Utah acting as a guide headed for the gold fields near Breckenridge, Colorado. The winter of 1873-1874 was an exceptionally harsh one and the men eventually staggered into the camp of Ute Chief Ouray. Ouray graciously welcomed the men and fed them and allowed them to rest. He also encouraged them to wait until the grip of winter was broken before proceeding. After being refreshed by food and rest, Packer and five others decided to head out in spite of Ouray’s warning. As you might expect, these six men eventually ran out of food and energy and made camp. Two months later Alfred Packer walked into the Las Pinas Indian Agency alone looking surprisingly healthy considering the story he told about his ordeal. Packer said that the men he was guiding began to die from starvation and exposure and the others ate them for survival. Packer further said that eventually there were only he and a man named Shannon Bell left. He said the Bell went crazy as hell and attacked with a hatchet and Packer had no choice but to shoot in self defense. The story sounded plausible until an investigation showed 5 corpses in a small area, not strung out as stated by Packer. Packer went on trial and was convicted of manslaughter and served 18 years. On this date Packer was released. He told yet another tale after he got out. He said that He had left the camp to go find the trail and after he returned he was faced with Shannon Bell holding a bloody hatchet and the others dead and a pot on the fire was boiling with a human roast inside. When Bell saw Packer he charged with his hatchet aloft and Packer shot him twice in the stomach killing him. Packer admitted that after killing Bell he cut off some selected parts and took them with him for survival. This version seemed the most palatable (pardon the expression). If I am not mistaken, the students at Harvard vote for the worst restaurant in Cambridge every year and give it “The Alfred Packer Award”.
1953 In his final “State of the Union” address President Harry Truman announces that United States has developed a hydrogen bomb. The development of a hydrogen bomb had been allowed because of the detonation of a nuclear device by the Russians in 1949 and the arms race was under way. Finally, a treaty was reached whereby atmospheric testing of nuclear devices was banned. Then everybody went to underground testing. The scorpion was out of the bottle y’all. Now everybody has a nuclear weapon including Pakistan and India, for crying out loud.
Born today:
1800 United States President Millard Fillmore. He said “May God save our country for it is obvious the people will not.”
1891 US writer Zora Hurston. She said “Those that don’t have it can’t show it. Those that have it can’t hide it.”
1957 US television journalist Katie Couric. She said “If I were to come on the air in the morning and announce that the planet was going to explode in three hours, we would get calls about my hair.” People are shallow, Katie.
Died today:
1981 US writer William Feather. He said “An indictment against civilization is that happiness and intelligence is seldom found in the same person.”
Thanks for listening I can hardly wait until tomorrow
Quote of the day:
“Richard Nixon was a purposeless man. But I had great faith in his cowardice.”
Jimmy Breslin
Early Thursday morning a Spartanburg County Sheriff’s Department narcotics unit arrived at a house on Owens Street to serve a drug search warrant. They were met with a hail of gunfire from inside and a deputy was hit in the hip. Needless to say the gunfire was returned and the both occupants inside the house were hit as well. The report said that the injured police officer was in good condition and the wound was non-life threatening. No mention was made of the condition of the shooter(s).
Elizabeth Edwards left her husband John out of her will. I wonder why.
An 11 year old James Island, SC boy has been arrested by the Charleston PD and charged with two home burglaries on January 4th and 5th. They saw the kids face on a home security camera more than once. He has been released to the custody of his parents awaiting a hearing in Family Court. The only other kid that young that I have read about doing burglaries was the infamous David “Peewee” Gaskins also of South Carolina. Peewee was sent to meet his maker medium rare after a visit with “Old Sparky”. Peewee had killed at least 50 people. He said that he tortured and killed some of them for “recreation” and the others he was hired to execute. It is hard to believe but true.
Here is another episode of my hunting and fishing adventures. A friend and I went duck hunting in Alaska. We learned our lesson about hunting on mud flats and this time we were in the muskeg (swamp) not affected by the tide. I was in my trusty hip waders once more. We waded out into the muskeg to a point that was relative clear of trees so we could see the birds coming. We sat down on a log and waited. A short while later a woman waded out and took a seat on another log on our right front. She was so close we could tell what type of shotgun she had. It was a Fox 16 gauge double barrel. Soon after we saw a duck coming right at us. The woman saw it too. The duck was going to fly between us and the woman and the duck was no higher than four feet off the water. We decided to let this one go by because of the danger of hitting the woman. The woman did not see it that way and drew down on the duck and pulled a lead and began a track. My friend and I looked at each other and said to each other “Nah, she ain’t going to shoot knowing we were here since she walked right beside us to get to her log.” Then we heard her click off the safety and we just slid off into the water and hid behind the log with our shotguns (12 Gauge Ithaca Featherweight) held above the water. She indeed fired and the blast went over our heads by inches. There were a few chips in the fore grips of our guns. The duck landed less than three feet from us and the woman came after it. When we rose up, she acted startled and said “I did not know you were there.” We said “That’s OK, we were just leaving.” By the way, when we went walked into or out of the muskeg we had three slugs loaded instead of duck shot just in case a Grizzly should appear. They were normally bedded down for the winter by then but why take a chance?
This date in history January 7
1776 On this date super patriot Samuel Adams writes a letter to his friend James Warren stating that the hope for a confederation amongst the American Colonies is not dead,”but sleepeth”. He also said that neither he nor James needs to worry about it happening because their enemy, England, would force it upon them. The next day Samuel’s cousin, John Adams, wrote a letter to James Warren’s wife Mercy inquiring if she would prefer an American Monarchy (king) or a republic (what we have now). He regaled her with the virtues of a republic but he said ”There is so much rascality, so much venality and corruption, So much avarice and ambition, such a rage for profit and commerce among all ranks levels of men even then I doubt there is enough virtue to support a Republic.” That statement was made by one of our founding fathers over 220 years ago. Does it sound familiar? There was a meeting in Philadelphia soon after this where the core of the designers of this great nation met to determine what form of government we would pursue. After the meeting, Ben Franklin walked out and a woman waiting outside said “What is it going to be Mr. Franklin.” Ben said “It will be a republic, madam, if we can hold it.”
1901 In November of 1873 a man named Alfred Packer led a group of 21 men out of Bingham Canyon, Utah acting as a guide headed for the gold fields near Breckenridge, Colorado. The winter of 1873-1874 was an exceptionally harsh one and the men eventually staggered into the camp of Ute Chief Ouray. Ouray graciously welcomed the men and fed them and allowed them to rest. He also encouraged them to wait until the grip of winter was broken before proceeding. After being refreshed by food and rest, Packer and five others decided to head out in spite of Ouray’s warning. As you might expect, these six men eventually ran out of food and energy and made camp. Two months later Alfred Packer walked into the Las Pinas Indian Agency alone looking surprisingly healthy considering the story he told about his ordeal. Packer said that the men he was guiding began to die from starvation and exposure and the others ate them for survival. Packer further said that eventually there were only he and a man named Shannon Bell left. He said the Bell went crazy as hell and attacked with a hatchet and Packer had no choice but to shoot in self defense. The story sounded plausible until an investigation showed 5 corpses in a small area, not strung out as stated by Packer. Packer went on trial and was convicted of manslaughter and served 18 years. On this date Packer was released. He told yet another tale after he got out. He said that He had left the camp to go find the trail and after he returned he was faced with Shannon Bell holding a bloody hatchet and the others dead and a pot on the fire was boiling with a human roast inside. When Bell saw Packer he charged with his hatchet aloft and Packer shot him twice in the stomach killing him. Packer admitted that after killing Bell he cut off some selected parts and took them with him for survival. This version seemed the most palatable (pardon the expression). If I am not mistaken, the students at Harvard vote for the worst restaurant in Cambridge every year and give it “The Alfred Packer Award”.
1953 In his final “State of the Union” address President Harry Truman announces that United States has developed a hydrogen bomb. The development of a hydrogen bomb had been allowed because of the detonation of a nuclear device by the Russians in 1949 and the arms race was under way. Finally, a treaty was reached whereby atmospheric testing of nuclear devices was banned. Then everybody went to underground testing. The scorpion was out of the bottle y’all. Now everybody has a nuclear weapon including Pakistan and India, for crying out loud.
Born today:
1800 United States President Millard Fillmore. He said “May God save our country for it is obvious the people will not.”
1891 US writer Zora Hurston. She said “Those that don’t have it can’t show it. Those that have it can’t hide it.”
1957 US television journalist Katie Couric. She said “If I were to come on the air in the morning and announce that the planet was going to explode in three hours, we would get calls about my hair.” People are shallow, Katie.
Died today:
1981 US writer William Feather. He said “An indictment against civilization is that happiness and intelligence is seldom found in the same person.”
Thanks for listening I can hardly wait until tomorrow
Tuesday, January 4, 2011
Today's history
Good morning,
Quote of the day:
“The metric system never caught on in the United States except for the popularity of the 9 millimeter bullet.”
Dave Barry
A good friend of mine said that she will not continue to attend the “Four O’clock” club meetings at our new venue. I asked why and she said that the owners of the bar have not bought her favorite type of whiskey yet. I asked her if I understood her correctly; she wanted the bar owner to buy her favorite type whiskey (blended Canadian) and sell it to her at happy hour prices? She said that was correct. I am going to expect the same. I want Maker’s Mark at happy hour prices or I am going to stop going there in spite of some of the best Italian food north of the 35th parallel. After all, I have my pride. Just joking Annie.
A Republican representative hinted that the GOP is approaching having enough support to repeal Obamacare. You know, when we Americans find ourselves in real trouble we forget our squabbles and get down to business. Without question the worst condition this country has ever been in was between 1860 and 1865. Ten of our states seceded from the Union and formed another nation called the Confederacy. Texas already had a Constitution in place and was called the Republic of Texas. They probably would have seceded from the Confederacy sometime in the future had the Confederacy won the War. The same can be said about California. It took a bloody Civil War to resolve this issue but we are still together. There is a man up in Charlotte that vehemently disagrees with my philosophy as we have discussed in the past, but we are still friends.
I saw an obviously ignorant but well known news analyst on a program a few days ago. The moderator pointed out that some of the changes that he suggests are clearly a violation of several Bill of Rights Amendments and promotes the change from a democratic republic form of government that we now have as described in the US Constitution. The US Constitution and the Declaration of Independence are the two most important documents in the history of western man. This jackass said that the Constitution was out of date and hard to understand and should be abolished and another form of government examined. I cannot tell you how outraged I was. I had to go take another high blood pressure pill and another Lexapro. I thought I had control of my temper a lot better lately, I was wrong. A group of very intelligent men and women got together and hammered out a way to live in freedom and guaranteed it with the Bill of Rights and this jackass want to change it because it is adverse to what he wants. I will tell y’all something in metaphor. This great ship of State known as The United States was carved out of the bones of the bones of our ancestors and is afloat on a sea of their blood from the deep past and present day military heroes that die every day in YOUR behalf to preserve YOUR freedom. All of this is glued together with a love and faith of our founding fathers and the faith and love we have for each other. We all sail along on this ship designed by Thomas Jefferson and friends. Then some arrogant bastard says that the Constitution should be trashed. He should go read any Medal of Honor citation and find out what being an American is all about because he certainly is not. The Constitution and the Declaration of Independence are the most treasured documents ever written and will stay that way as long as this old, grey-haired Patriot is alive. It makes me teary eyed to think on it. To all that are interested, I am armed to the teeth and I am not bashful.
I was watching TV about how dangerous moose can be, especially during the rut and right after giving birth. I got to thinking about the scariest situations I have ever been in. All of them involve either hunting or fishing. Here they are: (1) I was wading across a bunch of muskeg (swamp) up in Alaska headed toward a creek that was full of trout. I was wearing hip waders and carrying an 8 foot fly rod and a fly box. I DID NOT have a weapon (.357 Mag. or better) on me like the laws of the state dictate. I got about half way to the creek when a cow moose stormed out of the woods to my left and headed right toward me. She could have killed me with one stroke of her hooves. But I was not going down without a fight so I waved my fly rod at her and called her bad names. I could not stomp around too much because the water in the muskeg was only about two inched below the tops of my boots. It I had started running, my boots would have filled up and I would have probably drowned or fell and the moose would have stomped me into Tapioca. So I did the best that I could, I stood my ground and yelled at the top of my lungs and finally I hooked my rod together to its full eight feet and waved it with a fly known as a Royal Coachman tied at the end of the fly line leader. She finally stopped about 20 yards away and retreated to the woods. I am sure she had a calf hidden somewhere close. I don’t know why she stopped. She had me, but on second thought she must have been afraid of the Royal Coachman. I will tell some more adventures later.
This date in history January 4
1999 On this date for the first time since Charlemagne in the 10th century most of Europe adopts a common currency and named it the “Euro”. The only nations that refused to go along were Great Britain and Denmark. At first it was only used in internal banking and stock and bonds then they came out with paper and coin currency. When I was in Europe in ’04 the Euro was worth about $1.20. The value of the Euro varies a lot but right now it is about the same as it was in ’04.
1964 On this date a young lady named Mary Sullivan is found dead in her Boston apartment raped and strangled. There was a business card leaning against her foot with the words “Happy New Year” written on it. This girl was the last victim of the serial killer Albert DeSalvo also known as “The Boston Strangler”. Mary was his 13th victim. Albert started a life of crime at an early age and there was a reason for it. His father would bring prostitutes home and have sex with her in front of the entire family and then he would finish off the evening by beating the hell out of each and every one of them. His father sold little Albert and two of his sisters to become farm laborers. Albert acquired several nicknames. When very young he would knock on doors and proclaim himself as representative of a modeling agency and that he needed to take some “measurements” and then crudely fondle them. The cops labeled him “Measuring Man” and sent him to the slammer for a year. When he got out he kicked it up a notch and began to break into apartments, tie up and rape any women he ran across. He was always in a green handyman’s coveralls so the cops named him “Green Man”. In 1962 he began killing women after raping them. He always left a “signature”. He tied whatever he used to strangle his victims into a bow. In 1964 for reasons known only to Albert, he raped a woman but did not kill her and the cops were on his ass like a swarm of locusts and threw him in jail. Albert told his cellmate about his killings and his cellmate told the cops. The famous lawyer (and Marine Captain) F. Lee Bailey took Albert’s case and through a series of brilliant negotiations with the Boston District Attorney he got Albert’s case condensed to just the rapes he committed while in his “Green Man” phase. These charges would put Albert away for life without parole instead of death. It didn’t help though, Albert had a shank (homemade knife) driven into his liver and killed by another inmate in the Walpole Prison in 1973. What goes around......
1847 On this date, when within a hairs breadth of bankruptcy, Samuel Colt gets a contract to sell 1,000 of his .44 caliber revolvers to the US army. During this time handguns were not very popular in America because they were expensive and inaccurate. There was one exception and that was dueling pistols. In this formalized ceremony very well made and ornate pistols were used but again very expensive and inaccurate due to them being smoothbores. Most people preferred knives for personal protection especially the deadly Bowie knife. Mr. Colt’s .44’s had rifled barrels making them much more accurate but cost was still a problem. The .44 also was a revolver meaning it could be preloaded with 5 or 6 shots and be fired in rapid succession whereas guns like the dueling pistols had to be reloaded after every shot as did many of the rifles of the day. Anyway, Mr. Colt’s .44 proved to be very popular with the US troops and they made several more orders which allowed Colt to gather the advice of other industrialists like Eli Whitney and other inventors who helped him get a production line going and helped him design interchangeable parts which vastly lowered the price of his weapons. Although never really cheap, by 1850 the cost had reached a point that it could be afforded by many Americans that were headed west to settle new lands. Between 1860 and 1880 he sold nearly 270,000 pistols to the pioneers.
1965 On this date the giant broadcasting company CBS bought the Fender Guitar and Amplifier Company from the ailing Leo Fender. In 1940 Fender starting manufacturing sweet-singing Telecaster and Stratocaster guitars, along with a large variety of amplifiers and kick-ass bass guitars. Fender felt he had to get rid of the business because of failing health. CBS held onto Fender until 1985 when they decided to divest themselves of any non-broadcasting entity. The company was bought by a small group of employees and a few investors led by William Schultz. They still have some of the best “axes” out there.
Born today:
1896 US Senator Everett Dirksen. He said “I am a man of fixed and unbending principles, the first of which is to remain flexible at all times.” It was also Everett that said “In the Senate we spend a million here and a million there but sometimes we get into real money.”
1922 US journalist Phyllis Batelle. She said “A broken heart is what makes life so wonderful five years later, when you meet him in an elevator and he is fat, bald and smoking a cigar and says “Long time, no see”.
1930 US football coach Don Shula. He said “Luck is a big part of football. Not having a good quarterback is bad luck.” Shula used to be the head coach with the Miami Dolphins.
1937 US actress Dyan Cannon. After meeting Albert Einstein she said “He made me think differently....besides his smile made my tummy warm.” Dyan was Johnny Carson’s girl friend when he was between wives.
Died today:
1960 French writer Albert Camus. He said “People do not realize that some people struggle mightily just to remain normal.” I know some of these people.
Thanks for listening I can hardly wait until tomorrow
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