Yes, they are among us and "THEY DO BREED!"
Sorry about the earlier glitch! I didn't know that the title was tgoing to apply to me this morning!
Coffee out on the patio again this morning. How about some fresh cantalope?
Thursday, February 28, 2013
You Just Can't Fix Stupid...! UPDATED!!!
Let me show you what I mean!
Yes, they are among us and "THEY DO BREED!"
Sorry about the earlier glitch! I didn't know that the title was tgoing to apply to me this morning!
Coffee out on the patio again this morning. How about some fresh cantalope?
Yes, they are among us and "THEY DO BREED!"
Sorry about the earlier glitch! I didn't know that the title was tgoing to apply to me this morning!
Coffee out on the patio again this morning. How about some fresh cantalope?
Wednesday, February 27, 2013
Andersonville For Western Wednesday...
Often we forget just what a vast amount of human lives were lost during the period of the Civil War.
Many of the deaths suffered by both sides were not from battle, but from the horrid conditions that haunted the prison camps of both Union and Confederate control. There are no appropriate words to describe what despicable conditions existed in these places!
On this day in 1864, the first Union inmates begin arriving at Andersonville prison, which was still under construction in southern Georgia. Andersonville became synonymous with death as nearly a quarter of its inmates died in captivity. Henry Wirz, who ran Andersonville, was executed after the war for the brutality and mistreatment committed under his command.
The prison, officially called Camp Sumter, became necessary after the prisoner exchange system between North and South collapsed in 1863 over disagreements about the handling of black soldiers. The stockade at Andersonville was hastily constructed using slave labor, and was located in the Georgia woods near a railroad but safely away from the front lines. Enclosing 16 acres of land, the prison was supposed to include wooden barracks but the inflated price of lumber delayed construction, and the Yankee soldiers imprisoned there lived under open skies, protected only by makeshift shanties called "shebangs," constructed from scraps of wood and blankets. A stream initially provided fresh water, but within a few months human waste had contaminated the creek.
Andersonville was built to hold 10,000 men, but within six months more than three times that number were incarcerated there. The creek banks eroded to create a swamp, which occupied a significant portion of the compound. Rations were inadequate, and at times half of the population was reported ill. Some guards brutalized the inmates and there was violence between factions of prisoners.
Andersonville was the worst among many terrible Civil War prisons, both Union and Confederate. Wirz paid the price for the inhumanity of Andersonville; he was executed in the aftermath of the Civil War.
The loss of human lives from both sides affected the United States for many years beyond the actual conflict. We can only hope that our country never again has to go through anything like this again! Time to learn from history, don't you think?
Coffee out on the patio today. We'll take a chance on the weather and the wind. Maybe we won't get blown away!
Many of the deaths suffered by both sides were not from battle, but from the horrid conditions that haunted the prison camps of both Union and Confederate control. There are no appropriate words to describe what despicable conditions existed in these places!
Feb 27, 1864:
Federal prisoners begin arriving at Andersonville
On this day in 1864, the first Union inmates begin arriving at Andersonville prison, which was still under construction in southern Georgia. Andersonville became synonymous with death as nearly a quarter of its inmates died in captivity. Henry Wirz, who ran Andersonville, was executed after the war for the brutality and mistreatment committed under his command.
The prison, officially called Camp Sumter, became necessary after the prisoner exchange system between North and South collapsed in 1863 over disagreements about the handling of black soldiers. The stockade at Andersonville was hastily constructed using slave labor, and was located in the Georgia woods near a railroad but safely away from the front lines. Enclosing 16 acres of land, the prison was supposed to include wooden barracks but the inflated price of lumber delayed construction, and the Yankee soldiers imprisoned there lived under open skies, protected only by makeshift shanties called "shebangs," constructed from scraps of wood and blankets. A stream initially provided fresh water, but within a few months human waste had contaminated the creek.
Andersonville was built to hold 10,000 men, but within six months more than three times that number were incarcerated there. The creek banks eroded to create a swamp, which occupied a significant portion of the compound. Rations were inadequate, and at times half of the population was reported ill. Some guards brutalized the inmates and there was violence between factions of prisoners.
Andersonville was the worst among many terrible Civil War prisons, both Union and Confederate. Wirz paid the price for the inhumanity of Andersonville; he was executed in the aftermath of the Civil War.
The loss of human lives from both sides affected the United States for many years beyond the actual conflict. We can only hope that our country never again has to go through anything like this again! Time to learn from history, don't you think?
Coffee out on the patio today. We'll take a chance on the weather and the wind. Maybe we won't get blown away!
Tuesday, February 26, 2013
I Didn't Want To Do It...!
Because of the extreme amount of Spam I've been receiving as of late, I have started moderating the comments.
The whole time that I have been blogging I've never had to do this. I hate it, but because of all the bad stuff being passed on through links in some comments, links in e-mails, and in unknown links to programs in general I feel this is the thing to do.
I'm sorry if this causes any inconvenience for anyone, but I would feel really bad if any visitor became infected from a visit to my blog, ya know?
In other news, I recently had to replace my computer with another . The old one was using Windows XP while the replacement was loaded with Windows 7. There is a little bit of a learning curve, at least for me, but I think it will be OK. For one reason or another, I've been having some issues with FireFox, so I changed over to a different browser. I like Firefox, but one thing I won't tolerate is a browser that locks up or goes too slow. Too many other choices out there, ya know?
Believe it or not, one of the fastest browsers I tried is Safari (from Apple). I've never tried it before, but I like it! Too bad that it's made by Apple, but at least it isn't a Microsoft product. I really didn't want to start using IE, so Safari might just be the one to stay with.
Seems like it's always something with these computers, which is the main reason I keep two laptops for backup. That way I don't have to be without my daily fix of the Internet for long! Guess I'm addicted!
Monday, February 25, 2013
The Whistler Mystery...!
Often what at first seems like an annoyance can become a full blown mystery! A pretty scary one at that!
I think that the mysterys in life that play with your mind are by far the most disturbing, don't you? s your imagine can make things much worse than they may really be. I've heard it said that our imagination can be our biggest enemy! However, the imagination wasn't the only bad thing for this young girl. I'm sure that it only helped intensify the situation, though!
In February, eighteen year old Jacquelyn Cadow of Paradis, Louisiana began hearing wolf whistles outside her bedroom window at night. The home she shared with her mother was also broken into by an intruder. She reported the incidents to the authorities, but nothing came of it. Night after night, she heard the same whistles until she announced her engagement to State Trooper Herbert Belsom. The whistler changed his tune to a menacing funeral dirge.
Around this time, Jacquelyn also received telephone threats, the voice on the other end of the call promising to come to her home and stick a knife in her if she went ahead with her marriage. Her sleep continued to be broken by whistling dirges and bloodcurdling moans. Newspapers picked up the story, and hundreds of curiosity seekers began driving by the house in the hope of catching a glimpse of the phantom whistler or his victim.
Jacquelyn suffered a collapse when she, her mother, her aunt, and a New Orleans States-Item reporter heard the whistler at work. The reporter and Belsom searched the yard, but found no one. Investigations by the State police and the sheriff’s office turned up nothing. The harassed bride-to-be, her nerves shattered, tried staying with relatives. The whistler soon followed. And when she went to the home of Belsom’s parents, the whistler called her mother with a message: “Tell Jackie I know she’s at Herbert’s house.”
On October 1, she and Belsom married. Was the whistler at the wedding as he’d promised? If so, he never spoke up, nor did he carry out his threats. The local sheriff considered the case closed—a hoax by persons he declined to name. Who was the phantom whistler and why did he choose to terrify Jacquelyn Cadow? We’ll never know.
I do hope that this young girl was finally able to get on with her life. Maybe she was able chaulk this whole thing up to a very bad experience and move forward to a much more peaceful life.
We better have our coffee inside this morning. A little storm is bringing in some bad weather.
I think that the mysterys in life that play with your mind are by far the most disturbing, don't you? s your imagine can make things much worse than they may really be. I've heard it said that our imagination can be our biggest enemy! However, the imagination wasn't the only bad thing for this young girl. I'm sure that it only helped intensify the situation, though!
The Phantom Whistler
1950
In February, eighteen year old Jacquelyn Cadow of Paradis, Louisiana began hearing wolf whistles outside her bedroom window at night. The home she shared with her mother was also broken into by an intruder. She reported the incidents to the authorities, but nothing came of it. Night after night, she heard the same whistles until she announced her engagement to State Trooper Herbert Belsom. The whistler changed his tune to a menacing funeral dirge.
Around this time, Jacquelyn also received telephone threats, the voice on the other end of the call promising to come to her home and stick a knife in her if she went ahead with her marriage. Her sleep continued to be broken by whistling dirges and bloodcurdling moans. Newspapers picked up the story, and hundreds of curiosity seekers began driving by the house in the hope of catching a glimpse of the phantom whistler or his victim.
Jacquelyn suffered a collapse when she, her mother, her aunt, and a New Orleans States-Item reporter heard the whistler at work. The reporter and Belsom searched the yard, but found no one. Investigations by the State police and the sheriff’s office turned up nothing. The harassed bride-to-be, her nerves shattered, tried staying with relatives. The whistler soon followed. And when she went to the home of Belsom’s parents, the whistler called her mother with a message: “Tell Jackie I know she’s at Herbert’s house.”
On October 1, she and Belsom married. Was the whistler at the wedding as he’d promised? If so, he never spoke up, nor did he carry out his threats. The local sheriff considered the case closed—a hoax by persons he declined to name. Who was the phantom whistler and why did he choose to terrify Jacquelyn Cadow? We’ll never know.
I do hope that this young girl was finally able to get on with her life. Maybe she was able chaulk this whole thing up to a very bad experience and move forward to a much more peaceful life.
We better have our coffee inside this morning. A little storm is bringing in some bad weather.
Sunday, February 24, 2013
Blast From The Past-'Toon Style...!
Way back in the past, cartoon's were a lot different than they are now.
Seems to me that the character had more style! Why else would some of them still be remembered and watched after all these years, ya know? On top of that, the music wasn't all that bad!
I'd say that ol'Betty looks pretty good for a woman her age, wouldn't you?
Somehow I can relate to this situation a little. Guess anyone that has ever been in the kitchen of a farmhouse knows what it feels like!
Just imagine when not only most all of the cartoons, but the films as well, were done in black and white! Makes me realize just how spoiled we are now days with everything being done in color and HD!
Let's have our coffee out on the patio this morning. Looks good for right now...
Seems to me that the character had more style! Why else would some of them still be remembered and watched after all these years, ya know? On top of that, the music wasn't all that bad!
I'd say that ol'Betty looks pretty good for a woman her age, wouldn't you?
Somehow I can relate to this situation a little. Guess anyone that has ever been in the kitchen of a farmhouse knows what it feels like!
Just imagine when not only most all of the cartoons, but the films as well, were done in black and white! Makes me realize just how spoiled we are now days with everything being done in color and HD!
Let's have our coffee out on the patio this morning. Looks good for right now...
Saturday, February 23, 2013
This Just Ain't Right...!
Most of us have a pretty good idea of just how uncaring the big chemical and drug companies are, but there is a story that points that fact out better than most.
Not that we needed any more proof, but this story from Listverse is a good example of what I'm talking about!
In the four years between 1996 and 2000, companies in the US exported a little over a billion pounds of chemical pesticides to third-world countries. That’s not really a big deal, but this is: Most of those pesticides were banned in the US because they were known carcinogens—but through a loophole, it’s still legal to manufacture and export them, as long as they’re not being used in the country.
As a result, over 350 million agricultural workers in areas like Africa and Central America are put in contact with these chemicals, only, through another loophole, they’re not told about the small fact that without the proper gear they have a very good chance of dying. So you end up with a situation like this plantation in Costa Rica that was sold a pesticide called Counter by American Cyanamid Co.
A quick fact about Counter: The chemical in it is an organophosphate—that’s what they used to make nerve gas before WWII. Counter is only approved for handling if you’re wearing gloves, a face mask, and eye protection. The uninformed Costa Rican farmers, on the other hand, worked shirtless and spread the pesticide with their bare hands. Some of them even used full bags of Counter as pillows at night. After a few days, the workers were literally vomiting blood and foaming at the mouth from the toxins that had worked into their bodies.
And it’s still happening everyday. Companies like American Cyanamid and Chevron Chemical Co. export about 10 million pounds of these chemicals out of the country each month—to areas that provide approximately a quarter of the produce sold in America, freshly dusted with illegal pesticides.
It's really sad that some companies put the quest for profit far above human lives. You have to wonder how these folks sleep at night, ya know?
Coffee out on the patio this morning. Anyone want a bear claw?
Not that we needed any more proof, but this story from Listverse is a good example of what I'm talking about!
American Cyanamid Co.
In the four years between 1996 and 2000, companies in the US exported a little over a billion pounds of chemical pesticides to third-world countries. That’s not really a big deal, but this is: Most of those pesticides were banned in the US because they were known carcinogens—but through a loophole, it’s still legal to manufacture and export them, as long as they’re not being used in the country.
As a result, over 350 million agricultural workers in areas like Africa and Central America are put in contact with these chemicals, only, through another loophole, they’re not told about the small fact that without the proper gear they have a very good chance of dying. So you end up with a situation like this plantation in Costa Rica that was sold a pesticide called Counter by American Cyanamid Co.
A quick fact about Counter: The chemical in it is an organophosphate—that’s what they used to make nerve gas before WWII. Counter is only approved for handling if you’re wearing gloves, a face mask, and eye protection. The uninformed Costa Rican farmers, on the other hand, worked shirtless and spread the pesticide with their bare hands. Some of them even used full bags of Counter as pillows at night. After a few days, the workers were literally vomiting blood and foaming at the mouth from the toxins that had worked into their bodies.
And it’s still happening everyday. Companies like American Cyanamid and Chevron Chemical Co. export about 10 million pounds of these chemicals out of the country each month—to areas that provide approximately a quarter of the produce sold in America, freshly dusted with illegal pesticides.
It's really sad that some companies put the quest for profit far above human lives. You have to wonder how these folks sleep at night, ya know?
Coffee out on the patio this morning. Anyone want a bear claw?
Friday, February 22, 2013
Would You Drink This...?
I am changing "Friday travels" up just a bit. Instead, we'll be calling it "Crazy Friday!"
I can't think of anything more crazy to start today's version than this article I found over at Listverse! If this one isn't crazy, I don't know what is!
Let’s just go ahead and say it: Panda Tea is a drink made from panda poop, and it’s the single most expensive tea in the world—one dried kilo of the tea will run you about US $77,000. Why would anybody want to drink it? The theory is that pandas really only use about 30 percent of the bamboo they eat, eliminating the rest of the unprocessed bamboo in their fecal matter. It’s believed that, among other nutrients, bamboo contains antioxidants that can prevent cancer, so panda tea is marketed as an anti-cancer tonic and a weight loss aid.
The facility is located in the Sichuan Province, and the owner of Panda Tea, Yanshi An, started his company with 11 tons of dung that he bought from a nearby panda sanctuary.
When I read this story, the first thing I thought was that I am really glad I like plain ol' coffee a lot more than tea! Even if I was a big tea drinker, I couldn't afford any of this stuff, and that is fine by me! I wouldn't drink it even if I could afford it, believe me!
Let's have our coffee out on the patio this morning. It's shaping up to be a nice day, and the sun should feel pretty good!
I can't think of anything more crazy to start today's version than this article I found over at Listverse! If this one isn't crazy, I don't know what is!
Panda Tea
Let’s just go ahead and say it: Panda Tea is a drink made from panda poop, and it’s the single most expensive tea in the world—one dried kilo of the tea will run you about US $77,000. Why would anybody want to drink it? The theory is that pandas really only use about 30 percent of the bamboo they eat, eliminating the rest of the unprocessed bamboo in their fecal matter. It’s believed that, among other nutrients, bamboo contains antioxidants that can prevent cancer, so panda tea is marketed as an anti-cancer tonic and a weight loss aid.
The facility is located in the Sichuan Province, and the owner of Panda Tea, Yanshi An, started his company with 11 tons of dung that he bought from a nearby panda sanctuary.
When I read this story, the first thing I thought was that I am really glad I like plain ol' coffee a lot more than tea! Even if I was a big tea drinker, I couldn't afford any of this stuff, and that is fine by me! I wouldn't drink it even if I could afford it, believe me!
Let's have our coffee out on the patio this morning. It's shaping up to be a nice day, and the sun should feel pretty good!
Thursday, February 21, 2013
Looking Forward To Planting Stuff...!
I know it may seem impossible, but Spring is just around the corner!. REALLY!
Like many others, I am planning what I want to plant. With the weather holding in a good pre-Spring warming with lots of rain falling, I'm thinking that I should be able to grow just about anything. The reason I say "just about", is because the cats seem to be willing to offer themselves up for the cause! I'm just not sure if they are practicing here, or just napping!
Ol' "Buddy" does look pretty comfortable, doesn't he?
I'm thinking that "Kitty" definitely has the right idea! She, too, looks fairly comfortable, wouldn't you say?
For some reason, Buddy likes to climb around in the rose bushes! I'm thinking maybe he is using them for a back scratcher! As long as he's happy...that's OK by me!
Guess we will figure what else to plant, if I can keep the kitties from eating the seeds! They like to sleep in the garden and that could be a problem later!
Better have coffee inside this morning, as there is another rain storm on the way!
Like many others, I am planning what I want to plant. With the weather holding in a good pre-Spring warming with lots of rain falling, I'm thinking that I should be able to grow just about anything. The reason I say "just about", is because the cats seem to be willing to offer themselves up for the cause! I'm just not sure if they are practicing here, or just napping!
Ol' "Buddy" does look pretty comfortable, doesn't he?
I'm thinking that "Kitty" definitely has the right idea! She, too, looks fairly comfortable, wouldn't you say?
For some reason, Buddy likes to climb around in the rose bushes! I'm thinking maybe he is using them for a back scratcher! As long as he's happy...that's OK by me!
Guess we will figure what else to plant, if I can keep the kitties from eating the seeds! They like to sleep in the garden and that could be a problem later!
Better have coffee inside this morning, as there is another rain storm on the way!
Wednesday, February 20, 2013
Cherokee Print On Western Wednesday...!
Sometimes we take things for granted, like the printed word. How about if our language had no written alphabet?
Here is a piece of western history that shows just how far some folks are willing to go to help improve their people. It's pretty amazing when you think about it, having to first invent the written language, teach folks to read and understand it, then getting a press to print it! Here is the story as told by History.com.
The first printing press designed to use the newly invented Cherokee alphabet arrives at New Echota, Georgia.
The General Council of the Cherokee Nation had purchased the press with the goal of producing a Cherokee-language newspaper. The press itself, however, would have been useless had it not been for the extraordinary work of a young Cherokee named Sequoyah, who invented a Cherokee alphabet.
As a young man, Sequoyah had joined the Cherokee volunteers who fought under Andrew Jackson against the British in the War of 1812. In dealing with the Anglo soldiers and settlers, he became intrigued by their "talking leaves"-printed books that he realized somehow recorded human speech. In a brilliant leap of logic, Sequoyah comprehended the basic nature of symbolic representation of sounds and in 1809 began working on a similar system for the Cherokee language.
Ridiculed and misunderstood by most of the Cherokee, Sequoyah made slow progress until he came up with the idea of representing each syllable in the language with a separate written character. By 1821, he had perfected his syllabary of 86 characters, a system that could be mastered in less than week. After obtaining the official endorsement of the Cherokee leadership, Sequoyah's invention was soon adopted throughout the Cherokee nation. When the Cherokee-language printing press arrived on this day in 1828, the lead type was based on Sequoyah's syllabary. Within months, the first Indian language newspaper in history appeared in New Echota, Georgia. It was called the Cherokee Phoenix.
One of the so-called "five civilized tribes" native to the American Southeast, the Cherokee had long embraced the United States' program of "civilizing" Indians in the years after the Revolutionary War. In the minds of Americans, Sequoyah's syllabary further demonstrated the Cherokee desire to modernize and fit into the dominant Anglo world. The Cherokee used their new press to print a bilingual version of republican constitution, and they took many other steps to assimilate Anglo culture and practice while still preserving some aspects of their traditional language and beliefs.
Sadly, despite the Cherokee's sincere efforts to cooperate and assimilate with the Anglo-Americans, their accomplishments did not protect them from the demands of land-hungry Americans. Repeatedly pushed westward in order to make room for Anglo settlers, the Cherokee lost more than 4,000 of their people (nearly a quarter of the nation) in the 1838-39 winter migration to Oklahoma that later became known as the Trail of Tears. Nonetheless, the Cherokee people survived as a nation in their new home, thanks in part to the presence of the unifying written language created by Sequoyah.
In recognition of his service, the Cherokee Nation voted Sequoyah an annual allowance in 1841. He died two years later on his farm in Oklahoma. Today, his memory is also preserved in the scientific name for the giant California redwood tree, Sequoia.
I wonder if this is even taught in the public schools? Probably not! There seems to be a lot of important history that gets left out of the books and classrooms. That's really sad, I think!
Let's have our coffee out on the patio this morning. I want to catch some of the early sunshine!
Here is a piece of western history that shows just how far some folks are willing to go to help improve their people. It's pretty amazing when you think about it, having to first invent the written language, teach folks to read and understand it, then getting a press to print it! Here is the story as told by History.com.
Feb 21, 1828:
Cherokee receive their first printing press
The first printing press designed to use the newly invented Cherokee alphabet arrives at New Echota, Georgia.
The General Council of the Cherokee Nation had purchased the press with the goal of producing a Cherokee-language newspaper. The press itself, however, would have been useless had it not been for the extraordinary work of a young Cherokee named Sequoyah, who invented a Cherokee alphabet.
As a young man, Sequoyah had joined the Cherokee volunteers who fought under Andrew Jackson against the British in the War of 1812. In dealing with the Anglo soldiers and settlers, he became intrigued by their "talking leaves"-printed books that he realized somehow recorded human speech. In a brilliant leap of logic, Sequoyah comprehended the basic nature of symbolic representation of sounds and in 1809 began working on a similar system for the Cherokee language.
Ridiculed and misunderstood by most of the Cherokee, Sequoyah made slow progress until he came up with the idea of representing each syllable in the language with a separate written character. By 1821, he had perfected his syllabary of 86 characters, a system that could be mastered in less than week. After obtaining the official endorsement of the Cherokee leadership, Sequoyah's invention was soon adopted throughout the Cherokee nation. When the Cherokee-language printing press arrived on this day in 1828, the lead type was based on Sequoyah's syllabary. Within months, the first Indian language newspaper in history appeared in New Echota, Georgia. It was called the Cherokee Phoenix.
One of the so-called "five civilized tribes" native to the American Southeast, the Cherokee had long embraced the United States' program of "civilizing" Indians in the years after the Revolutionary War. In the minds of Americans, Sequoyah's syllabary further demonstrated the Cherokee desire to modernize and fit into the dominant Anglo world. The Cherokee used their new press to print a bilingual version of republican constitution, and they took many other steps to assimilate Anglo culture and practice while still preserving some aspects of their traditional language and beliefs.
Sadly, despite the Cherokee's sincere efforts to cooperate and assimilate with the Anglo-Americans, their accomplishments did not protect them from the demands of land-hungry Americans. Repeatedly pushed westward in order to make room for Anglo settlers, the Cherokee lost more than 4,000 of their people (nearly a quarter of the nation) in the 1838-39 winter migration to Oklahoma that later became known as the Trail of Tears. Nonetheless, the Cherokee people survived as a nation in their new home, thanks in part to the presence of the unifying written language created by Sequoyah.
In recognition of his service, the Cherokee Nation voted Sequoyah an annual allowance in 1841. He died two years later on his farm in Oklahoma. Today, his memory is also preserved in the scientific name for the giant California redwood tree, Sequoia.
I wonder if this is even taught in the public schools? Probably not! There seems to be a lot of important history that gets left out of the books and classrooms. That's really sad, I think!
Let's have our coffee out on the patio this morning. I want to catch some of the early sunshine!
Tuesday, February 19, 2013
He Said What...?
Sometimes the characters that are the most visible, including sports stars, are caught saying the most stupid things!
I'd like to think that some of these quotes were made by folks just trying to be funny, but I have the feeling that this was not the case! It is a little scary, if you know what I mean!
1. Chicago Cubs outfielder Andre Dawson on being a role model:
"I wan' all dem kids to do what I do, to look up to me. I wan' all the kids to copulate me.
2. New Orleans Saint RB George Rogers when asked about the upcoming season:
"I want to rush for 1,000 or 1,500 yards, whichever comes first.."
3. And, upon hearing Joe Jacobi of the 'Skin's say:
"I'd run over my own mother to win the Super Bowl,"
Matt Millen of the Raiders said: "To win, I'd run over Joe's Mom, too."
4. Torrin Polk, University of Houston receiver, on his coach, John Jenkins:
"He treat us like mens. He let us wear earrings.."
5. Football commentator and former player Joe Theismann:
"Nobody in football should be called a genius. A genius is a guy like Norman Einstein."
6. Senior basketball player at the University of Pittsburgh :
"I'm going to graduate on time, no matter how long it takes.." (Now that is beautiful)
7. Bill Peterson, a Florida State football coach:
"You guys line up alphabetically by height.."
And, "You guys pair up in groups of three, and then line up in a circle."
8. Boxing promoter Dan Duva on Mike Tyson going to prison:
"Why would anyone expect him to come out smarter? He went to prison for three years, not Princeton .."
9. Stu Grimson, Chicago Blackhawks left wing, explaining why he keeps a color photo of himself above his locker:
"That's so when I forget how to spell my name, I can still find my clothes."
10. Lou Duva, veteran boxing trainer, on the Spartan training regimen of heavyweight Andrew Golota:
"He's a guy who gets up at six o'clock in the morning, regardless of what time it is."
11. Chuck Nevitt , North Carolina State basketball player, explaining to Coach Jim Valvano why he appeared nervous at practice:
"My sister's expecting a baby, and I don't know if I'm going to be an uncle or an aunt.(I wonder if his IQ ever hit room temperature in January)
12. Frank Layden , Utah Jazz president, on a former player:
"I asked him, 'Son, what is it with you? Is it ignorance or apathy?'
He said, 'Coach, I don't know and I don't care.'"
13. Shelby Metcalf, basketball coach at Texas A&M, recounting what he told a player who received four F's and one D:
"Son, looks to me like you're spending too much time on one subject."
14. In the words of NC State great Charles Shackelford:
"I can go to my left or right, I am amphibious."
15. Former Houston Oilers coach Bum Phillips when asked by Bob Costas why he takes his wife on all the road trips, Phillips responded:
"Because she's too ugly to kiss good-bye."
Some of these quotes are funny and some of them are just downright sad, ya know? Some of these guys are supposed to be role models for the youngsters of the world. Doesn't speak too highly of our educational system, does it?
Coffee in the kitchen this morning. Looks like rain again!
I'd like to think that some of these quotes were made by folks just trying to be funny, but I have the feeling that this was not the case! It is a little scary, if you know what I mean!
1. Chicago Cubs outfielder Andre Dawson on being a role model:
"I wan' all dem kids to do what I do, to look up to me. I wan' all the kids to copulate me.
2. New Orleans Saint RB George Rogers when asked about the upcoming season:
"I want to rush for 1,000 or 1,500 yards, whichever comes first.."
3. And, upon hearing Joe Jacobi of the 'Skin's say:
"I'd run over my own mother to win the Super Bowl,"
Matt Millen of the Raiders said: "To win, I'd run over Joe's Mom, too."
4. Torrin Polk, University of Houston receiver, on his coach, John Jenkins:
"He treat us like mens. He let us wear earrings.."
5. Football commentator and former player Joe Theismann:
"Nobody in football should be called a genius. A genius is a guy like Norman Einstein."
6. Senior basketball player at the University of Pittsburgh :
"I'm going to graduate on time, no matter how long it takes.." (Now that is beautiful)
7. Bill Peterson, a Florida State football coach:
"You guys line up alphabetically by height.."
And, "You guys pair up in groups of three, and then line up in a circle."
8. Boxing promoter Dan Duva on Mike Tyson going to prison:
"Why would anyone expect him to come out smarter? He went to prison for three years, not Princeton .."
9. Stu Grimson, Chicago Blackhawks left wing, explaining why he keeps a color photo of himself above his locker:
"That's so when I forget how to spell my name, I can still find my clothes."
10. Lou Duva, veteran boxing trainer, on the Spartan training regimen of heavyweight Andrew Golota:
"He's a guy who gets up at six o'clock in the morning, regardless of what time it is."
11. Chuck Nevitt , North Carolina State basketball player, explaining to Coach Jim Valvano why he appeared nervous at practice:
"My sister's expecting a baby, and I don't know if I'm going to be an uncle or an aunt.(I wonder if his IQ ever hit room temperature in January)
12. Frank Layden , Utah Jazz president, on a former player:
"I asked him, 'Son, what is it with you? Is it ignorance or apathy?'
He said, 'Coach, I don't know and I don't care.'"
13. Shelby Metcalf, basketball coach at Texas A&M, recounting what he told a player who received four F's and one D:
"Son, looks to me like you're spending too much time on one subject."
14. In the words of NC State great Charles Shackelford:
"I can go to my left or right, I am amphibious."
15. Former Houston Oilers coach Bum Phillips when asked by Bob Costas why he takes his wife on all the road trips, Phillips responded:
"Because she's too ugly to kiss good-bye."
Some of these quotes are funny and some of them are just downright sad, ya know? Some of these guys are supposed to be role models for the youngsters of the world. Doesn't speak too highly of our educational system, does it?
Coffee in the kitchen this morning. Looks like rain again!
Monday, February 18, 2013
Murder Mystery For Monday...!
Hey, that title sorta rolls off the tongue, doesn't it? Cool!
Actually, there's nothing funny about this mystery. In fact, the whole thing is pretty creepy, if you ask me. It takes a special type of individual to commit crimes like this. Somehow, the term insane doesn't come close to describing the killer, I think!
Most people think of Eliot Ness and immediately associate him with Al Capone. However, the famous American lawman was also involved in one of the most infamous and brutal serial murder cases in United States history, only this time Ness would not get his man. In fact, to this day the Cleveland Torso Murders, perpetrated by a man known as the Mad Butcher of Kingsbury Run, remain unsolved. In fact, his inability to find the murderer is said to have been the cause of his descent into alcoholism.
From 1934 to 1938, the Mad Butcher brutally murdered thirteen people, generally leaving only the torsos of the corpses behind. In all, seven men and six women were murdered, with only two victims ever having been identified. Two men were arrested in suspicion of being the Mad Butcher, but they were never convicted. The first suspect, Frank Dolezal, had originally confessed but later recanted, and died in custody. The second suspect, Dr. Francis Sweeney, failed a polygraph test but was released due to a lack of evidence. Ness’s journal hints that he knew who the killer was but could never prove it. And if the untouchable Eliot Ness was unable to prove who the killer was, that’s probably a pretty good indication that these are murders that will go forever unsolved.
I guess that we need to remember that this was during the time when murder and killing was pretty commonplace. There must have been no shortage of suspects, but the evidence and proof (which disappeared regularly, I imagine) was hard to come by.Makes today seem pretty tame, don't you think?
Another day nice enough to have coffee out on the patio, I think. I love this weather!
Actually, there's nothing funny about this mystery. In fact, the whole thing is pretty creepy, if you ask me. It takes a special type of individual to commit crimes like this. Somehow, the term insane doesn't come close to describing the killer, I think!
Cleveland Torso Murders
Most people think of Eliot Ness and immediately associate him with Al Capone. However, the famous American lawman was also involved in one of the most infamous and brutal serial murder cases in United States history, only this time Ness would not get his man. In fact, to this day the Cleveland Torso Murders, perpetrated by a man known as the Mad Butcher of Kingsbury Run, remain unsolved. In fact, his inability to find the murderer is said to have been the cause of his descent into alcoholism.
From 1934 to 1938, the Mad Butcher brutally murdered thirteen people, generally leaving only the torsos of the corpses behind. In all, seven men and six women were murdered, with only two victims ever having been identified. Two men were arrested in suspicion of being the Mad Butcher, but they were never convicted. The first suspect, Frank Dolezal, had originally confessed but later recanted, and died in custody. The second suspect, Dr. Francis Sweeney, failed a polygraph test but was released due to a lack of evidence. Ness’s journal hints that he knew who the killer was but could never prove it. And if the untouchable Eliot Ness was unable to prove who the killer was, that’s probably a pretty good indication that these are murders that will go forever unsolved.
I guess that we need to remember that this was during the time when murder and killing was pretty commonplace. There must have been no shortage of suspects, but the evidence and proof (which disappeared regularly, I imagine) was hard to come by.Makes today seem pretty tame, don't you think?
Another day nice enough to have coffee out on the patio, I think. I love this weather!
Sunday, February 17, 2013
Sunday Funnies...!
Sorry, but I just have to share some more 'toons today. It's gotten to be a habit, ya know?
Can't ever have too many 'toons, right?
You have to admit, the cartoons directed by Chuck Jones are better than the others. Plus, I like the sound effects better!
Watching all this action makes me think about taking a nap. Reckon I'll do that right after another cup of coffee!
The patio is a good place to have our coffee this morning. It's almost like Spring!
Can't ever have too many 'toons, right?
You have to admit, the cartoons directed by Chuck Jones are better than the others. Plus, I like the sound effects better!
Watching all this action makes me think about taking a nap. Reckon I'll do that right after another cup of coffee!
The patio is a good place to have our coffee this morning. It's almost like Spring!
Saturday, February 16, 2013
Saturday At The Lighthouse...!
Something a little different for this Saturday, OK? Let's do some ghost hunting!
Two main reasons I wanted to do this today. First, it's a chance for us all to go to Florida...and second, I like lighthouses! Never been to one, but I like them all the same!
This lighthouse in St. Augustine, Florida, was built in the 1600s by Spanish settlers. By 1824, it was an official US lighthouse, and was later replaced by the current lighthouse, located about a quarter mile away. The original suffered a tragedy when Mr. Andreu, the lighthouse keeper, fell to his death while painting the tower. When the lighthouse was being built there was a dispute over property and one of the parties involved, Dr. Ballard, is now rumored to haunt the place, along with the ghost of poor Mr. Andreu. Three girls are said to have drowned when the handcart they were playing in fell off the tramway, and now their spirits roam the grounds. The parade of lost souls doesn’t end there, however. When the Keeper’s House was being rented out for apartments, many tenants reported strange noises and seeing a young girl walking around. A keeper in the 1950’s even refused to live in the house, trading his living quarters to a Coast Guardsman stationed on-site. There is the mysterious Man In Blue who haunts the basement, and employees of a gift shop located in the house attributed objects being moved and noises being made to local poltergeist, Andrew. And the tower, itself, is rife with footsteps and disembodied voices. Be wary when you visit this lighthouse. Perhaps you will be its next tragedy!
Even with all the tragedy, I think this place would be fun to visit. I always thought I would like to live in a lighthouse. Just one of those dreams I've been chasing most of my life, I guess! Do you have any of those?
How about we have some coffee out on the patio this morning. I have some "mango cream" cookies. Not bad once you get used to 'em!
Two main reasons I wanted to do this today. First, it's a chance for us all to go to Florida...and second, I like lighthouses! Never been to one, but I like them all the same!
St. Augustine Lighthouse
Florida, United States
This lighthouse in St. Augustine, Florida, was built in the 1600s by Spanish settlers. By 1824, it was an official US lighthouse, and was later replaced by the current lighthouse, located about a quarter mile away. The original suffered a tragedy when Mr. Andreu, the lighthouse keeper, fell to his death while painting the tower. When the lighthouse was being built there was a dispute over property and one of the parties involved, Dr. Ballard, is now rumored to haunt the place, along with the ghost of poor Mr. Andreu. Three girls are said to have drowned when the handcart they were playing in fell off the tramway, and now their spirits roam the grounds. The parade of lost souls doesn’t end there, however. When the Keeper’s House was being rented out for apartments, many tenants reported strange noises and seeing a young girl walking around. A keeper in the 1950’s even refused to live in the house, trading his living quarters to a Coast Guardsman stationed on-site. There is the mysterious Man In Blue who haunts the basement, and employees of a gift shop located in the house attributed objects being moved and noises being made to local poltergeist, Andrew. And the tower, itself, is rife with footsteps and disembodied voices. Be wary when you visit this lighthouse. Perhaps you will be its next tragedy!
Even with all the tragedy, I think this place would be fun to visit. I always thought I would like to live in a lighthouse. Just one of those dreams I've been chasing most of my life, I guess! Do you have any of those?
How about we have some coffee out on the patio this morning. I have some "mango cream" cookies. Not bad once you get used to 'em!
Friday, February 15, 2013
Friday Travels to India...!
This is the story of a ghost town, India style!
Probably every country in the world has a ghost town or two, but what makes this one special is the government's attitude toward it. That always seems to increase the weirdness of a place, ya know?
While the abandoned town of Bhangarh in the state of Rajasthan, India, has become something of a tourist attraction, you’ll notice there are no photos of it at night. That is because setting foot in the place at night is strictly forbidden, and apparently the Indian government is pretty serious about it. Even though government rules state that the Archaeological Survey of India must have an office at every historical site—and this is one—there is no ASI office here. Tourists are let in during the daytime grudgingly, but the general attitude of the government seems to be, “this is a great place to stay the hell away from.”
Why? Legend goes that a heartbroken magician cursed the place in the 16th century after being rejected by the kingdom’s princess, and all who lived within it with death- without the possibility of rebirth, which is kind of part and parcel of the Hindu religion. So people living here are cursed not just with death, but with super-permanent-we’re-serious-game-over-for-you death.
A prominent sign outside the little town reads, “Entering the borders of Bhangarh after sunset is strictly prohibited,” and while they do not explicitly promise paranormal activity, we think following the rule is probably a good idea.
Maybe it's just me, but I don't want to even think of spending the night in this place, so the warnings are not necessary! Looks creepy enough in the daylight!
Let's have our coffee out on the patio this morning. It's cool enough for a sweater, but the sun is shining!
Probably every country in the world has a ghost town or two, but what makes this one special is the government's attitude toward it. That always seems to increase the weirdness of a place, ya know?
Bhangarh, India
While the abandoned town of Bhangarh in the state of Rajasthan, India, has become something of a tourist attraction, you’ll notice there are no photos of it at night. That is because setting foot in the place at night is strictly forbidden, and apparently the Indian government is pretty serious about it. Even though government rules state that the Archaeological Survey of India must have an office at every historical site—and this is one—there is no ASI office here. Tourists are let in during the daytime grudgingly, but the general attitude of the government seems to be, “this is a great place to stay the hell away from.”
Why? Legend goes that a heartbroken magician cursed the place in the 16th century after being rejected by the kingdom’s princess, and all who lived within it with death- without the possibility of rebirth, which is kind of part and parcel of the Hindu religion. So people living here are cursed not just with death, but with super-permanent-we’re-serious-game-over-for-you death.
A prominent sign outside the little town reads, “Entering the borders of Bhangarh after sunset is strictly prohibited,” and while they do not explicitly promise paranormal activity, we think following the rule is probably a good idea.
Maybe it's just me, but I don't want to even think of spending the night in this place, so the warnings are not necessary! Looks creepy enough in the daylight!
Let's have our coffee out on the patio this morning. It's cool enough for a sweater, but the sun is shining!
Thursday, February 14, 2013
An Impressive Persian...!
Sometimes just one man can make some very impressive contributions to us all!
Until recently I had never heard of this man, but the list of things he brought to us is very important...at least in my opinion! He certainly deserves more than a casual study, I think!
Ziryab (789-857 AD) was a Persian polymath: a poet, musician, singer, cosmetologist, fashion designer, celebrity, trendsetter, strategist, astronomer, botanis, geographer and former slave. Most people have never heard of Ziryab, yet at least two of his innovations remain to this day: he introduced the idea of a three course meal (soup, main course, pudding) and he introduced the use of crystal for drinking glasses (previously metal was the primary material). He introduced asparagus and other vegetables into society, and made significant changes and additions to the music world. He had numerous children, all of whom became musicians, and spread his legacy throughout Europe. He could perhaps be considered an ancient Bach.
The list of societal changes Ziryab made is immense – he popularized short hair and shaving for men, and wore different clothes based on the seasons. He created a pleasant tasting toothpaste which helped personal hygeine (and longevity) in the region, and also invented an underarm deodorant. He also promoted bathing twice daily.
Quite a list of changes brought to society by this gentleman, would'nt you say? We might have to dig into his history a little more!
Coffee in the kitchen again this morning. I'll set out the Girl Scout cookies!
Until recently I had never heard of this man, but the list of things he brought to us is very important...at least in my opinion! He certainly deserves more than a casual study, I think!
Ziryab
The Slave Who Changed Society
Ziryab (789-857 AD) was a Persian polymath: a poet, musician, singer, cosmetologist, fashion designer, celebrity, trendsetter, strategist, astronomer, botanis, geographer and former slave. Most people have never heard of Ziryab, yet at least two of his innovations remain to this day: he introduced the idea of a three course meal (soup, main course, pudding) and he introduced the use of crystal for drinking glasses (previously metal was the primary material). He introduced asparagus and other vegetables into society, and made significant changes and additions to the music world. He had numerous children, all of whom became musicians, and spread his legacy throughout Europe. He could perhaps be considered an ancient Bach.
The list of societal changes Ziryab made is immense – he popularized short hair and shaving for men, and wore different clothes based on the seasons. He created a pleasant tasting toothpaste which helped personal hygeine (and longevity) in the region, and also invented an underarm deodorant. He also promoted bathing twice daily.
Quite a list of changes brought to society by this gentleman, would'nt you say? We might have to dig into his history a little more!
Coffee in the kitchen again this morning. I'll set out the Girl Scout cookies!
Wednesday, February 13, 2013
Western Wednesday With Silver...!
No, not the horse ridden by the Lone Ranger, but the silver in our coins!
To be more exact, the silver dollar! Interesting history concerning the use of silver in our coinage. Some folks like it and some folks don't, but it makes for an interesting read anyway!
Strongly supported by western mining interests and farmers, the Bland-Allison Act—which provided for a return to the minting of silver coins—becomes the law of the land.
The strife and controversy surrounding the coinage of silver is difficult for most modern Americans to understand, but in the late 19th century it was a topic of keen political and economic interest. Today, the value of American money is essentially secured by faith in the stability of the government, but during the 19th century, money was generally backed by actual deposits of silver and gold, the so-called "bimetallic standard." The U.S. also minted both gold and silver coins.
In 1873, Congress decided to follow the lead of many European nations and cease buying silver and minting silver coins, because silver was relatively scarce and to simplify the monetary system. Exacerbated by a variety of other factors, this led to a financial panic. When the government stopped buying silver, prices naturally dropped, and many owners of primarily western silver mines were hurt. Likewise, farmers and others who carried substantial debt loads attacked the so-called "Crime of '73." They believed, somewhat simplistically, that it caused a tighter supply of money, which in turn made it more difficult for them to pay off their debts.
A nationwide drive to return to the bimetallic standard gripped the nation, and many Americans came to place a near mystical faith in the ability of silver to solve their economic difficulties. The leader of the fight to remonetize silver was the Missouri Congressman Richard Bland. Having worked in mining and having witnessed the struggles of small farmers, Bland became a fervent believer in the silver cause, earning him the nickname "Silver Dick."
With the backing of powerful western mining interests, Bland secured passage of the Bland-Allison Act, which became law on this day in 1878. Although the act did not provide for a return to the old policy of unlimited silver coinage, it did require the U.S. Treasury to resume purchasing silver and minting silver dollars as legal tender. Americans could once again use silver coins as legal tender, and this helped some struggling western mining operations. However, the act had little economic impact, and it failed to satisfy the more radical desires and dreams of the silver backers. The battle over the use of silver and gold continued to occupy Americans well into the 20th century!
You can always count on the fine folks at History.com to carry these little educational bits of information! I enjoy visiting there!
We better have our coffee inside again this morning. Pretty cloudy and cool on the patio.
To be more exact, the silver dollar! Interesting history concerning the use of silver in our coinage. Some folks like it and some folks don't, but it makes for an interesting read anyway!
Silver dollars made legal
Strongly supported by western mining interests and farmers, the Bland-Allison Act—which provided for a return to the minting of silver coins—becomes the law of the land.
The strife and controversy surrounding the coinage of silver is difficult for most modern Americans to understand, but in the late 19th century it was a topic of keen political and economic interest. Today, the value of American money is essentially secured by faith in the stability of the government, but during the 19th century, money was generally backed by actual deposits of silver and gold, the so-called "bimetallic standard." The U.S. also minted both gold and silver coins.
In 1873, Congress decided to follow the lead of many European nations and cease buying silver and minting silver coins, because silver was relatively scarce and to simplify the monetary system. Exacerbated by a variety of other factors, this led to a financial panic. When the government stopped buying silver, prices naturally dropped, and many owners of primarily western silver mines were hurt. Likewise, farmers and others who carried substantial debt loads attacked the so-called "Crime of '73." They believed, somewhat simplistically, that it caused a tighter supply of money, which in turn made it more difficult for them to pay off their debts.
A nationwide drive to return to the bimetallic standard gripped the nation, and many Americans came to place a near mystical faith in the ability of silver to solve their economic difficulties. The leader of the fight to remonetize silver was the Missouri Congressman Richard Bland. Having worked in mining and having witnessed the struggles of small farmers, Bland became a fervent believer in the silver cause, earning him the nickname "Silver Dick."
With the backing of powerful western mining interests, Bland secured passage of the Bland-Allison Act, which became law on this day in 1878. Although the act did not provide for a return to the old policy of unlimited silver coinage, it did require the U.S. Treasury to resume purchasing silver and minting silver dollars as legal tender. Americans could once again use silver coins as legal tender, and this helped some struggling western mining operations. However, the act had little economic impact, and it failed to satisfy the more radical desires and dreams of the silver backers. The battle over the use of silver and gold continued to occupy Americans well into the 20th century!
You can always count on the fine folks at History.com to carry these little educational bits of information! I enjoy visiting there!
We better have our coffee inside again this morning. Pretty cloudy and cool on the patio.
Tuesday, February 12, 2013
Something Secret For Tuesday...!
This isn't like Monday mysteries, but instead it's pretty strange.
Yeah, there’s no way the clothes worn by something called the False Face Society aren’t terrifying. Don’t worry, they’re not a band of psychos forcing people to re-enact Face/Off; it’s an Iroquois medicinal society. The masks are worn during healing rituals, presumably with the intent of scaring the disease out of the patient.
The more you know about the masks, the eerier they get—they’re carved from live trees in the belief that they represent a living spirit, so in a sense they’re literally putting someone else’s face on. We’d tell you more, but knowledge of the masks is secretive, which again, is creepy. Many Iroquois argue against the sale or exhibition of False Face masks, and some even believe that information about the Society shouldn’t be spread to the general public. That essentially makes it a secret society, and when are those not unnerving?
If all the masks look like that, we’re okay with them being secretive.
See? I told you it was a little strange, right? Trust me to find interesting stuff for your morning coffee! If you want to see more about these folks, you can go here!
Speaking of coffee, let's stay in the kitchen this morning. Might rain again soon!
I found this little gem over at Listverse, and I thought you might find it interesting! So...here it is!
False Face Society
Yeah, there’s no way the clothes worn by something called the False Face Society aren’t terrifying. Don’t worry, they’re not a band of psychos forcing people to re-enact Face/Off; it’s an Iroquois medicinal society. The masks are worn during healing rituals, presumably with the intent of scaring the disease out of the patient.
The more you know about the masks, the eerier they get—they’re carved from live trees in the belief that they represent a living spirit, so in a sense they’re literally putting someone else’s face on. We’d tell you more, but knowledge of the masks is secretive, which again, is creepy. Many Iroquois argue against the sale or exhibition of False Face masks, and some even believe that information about the Society shouldn’t be spread to the general public. That essentially makes it a secret society, and when are those not unnerving?
If all the masks look like that, we’re okay with them being secretive.
See? I told you it was a little strange, right? Trust me to find interesting stuff for your morning coffee! If you want to see more about these folks, you can go here!
Speaking of coffee, let's stay in the kitchen this morning. Might rain again soon!
Monday, February 11, 2013
Messy Monday Mystery...!
Nothing like a good mystery to start the week off right!
I guess that I like these mysteries that remain unsolved the best. They allow plenty of room for the imagination to run wild!
In Atlanta, Georgia, just prior to midnight on September 8, seventy-seven year old Minnie Winston found what appeared to be blood splattered on her bathroom floor and fetched her seventy-nine year old husband, William. Further searching by the couple revealed more spots of red, blood-like fluid on the bathroom’s lower walls, the kitchen, living room, bedroom, hallways, and basement. Blood was also found in a crawlspace and under a television set.
Nothing like this had ever happened in their rented house before and the couple were understandably alarmed. They owned no pets and lived alone together. Unable to come up with a satisfactory explanation, and with blood continuing to come out of the floors and walls, Minnie and William called the police.
At first, their concern wasn’t taken seriously. William regularly underwent dialysis at home, but he and his wife insisted the blood belonged to neither of them. On police investigation, laboratory results showed the liquid was human blood, Type O. Both William and Minnie were Type A. Once detectives ruled out evidence of wrongdoing, they were at a loss to explain the phenomena and dropped the investigation.
Was the “bleeding house” a hoax perpetrated on the Winstons? Or evidence of poltergeist activity? We’ve been unable to discover what happened to the couple following the events in 1987. Current records indicate the house at 1114 Fountain Drive is occupied.
Kinda makes you wonder what is going on, doesn't it? This would be an interesting place to spend the night, ya know?
Coffee in the kitchen this morning. It might rain and why take the chance?
I guess that I like these mysteries that remain unsolved the best. They allow plenty of room for the imagination to run wild!
The House of Blood
1987
In Atlanta, Georgia, just prior to midnight on September 8, seventy-seven year old Minnie Winston found what appeared to be blood splattered on her bathroom floor and fetched her seventy-nine year old husband, William. Further searching by the couple revealed more spots of red, blood-like fluid on the bathroom’s lower walls, the kitchen, living room, bedroom, hallways, and basement. Blood was also found in a crawlspace and under a television set.
Nothing like this had ever happened in their rented house before and the couple were understandably alarmed. They owned no pets and lived alone together. Unable to come up with a satisfactory explanation, and with blood continuing to come out of the floors and walls, Minnie and William called the police.
At first, their concern wasn’t taken seriously. William regularly underwent dialysis at home, but he and his wife insisted the blood belonged to neither of them. On police investigation, laboratory results showed the liquid was human blood, Type O. Both William and Minnie were Type A. Once detectives ruled out evidence of wrongdoing, they were at a loss to explain the phenomena and dropped the investigation.
Was the “bleeding house” a hoax perpetrated on the Winstons? Or evidence of poltergeist activity? We’ve been unable to discover what happened to the couple following the events in 1987. Current records indicate the house at 1114 Fountain Drive is occupied.
Kinda makes you wonder what is going on, doesn't it? This would be an interesting place to spend the night, ya know?
Coffee in the kitchen this morning. It might rain and why take the chance?
Sunday, February 10, 2013
Sunday, So You Know What's Coming...!
You got it! Time for the weekly cartoons!
When you were kids did you grab the Sunday funnies and see what happened to all your favorite characters? At my house, Dad was in full control of the Sunday paper. When he was all done, then we got to read the fun stuff!
At least here at the Hermit's, we get to share the 'toons together! Much better than having to wait around, let me tell ya!
Nice thing is, we each can control the volume for ourselves! Ain't technology great?
Getting another cup of coffee before the next one...anyone want a refill?
Coffee out on the patio this morning! I have some vanilla pudding cake I'll share!
When you were kids did you grab the Sunday funnies and see what happened to all your favorite characters? At my house, Dad was in full control of the Sunday paper. When he was all done, then we got to read the fun stuff!
At least here at the Hermit's, we get to share the 'toons together! Much better than having to wait around, let me tell ya!
Nice thing is, we each can control the volume for ourselves! Ain't technology great?
Getting another cup of coffee before the next one...anyone want a refill?
Coffee out on the patio this morning! I have some vanilla pudding cake I'll share!
Saturday, February 9, 2013
Armed Machines? Really...?
This story really caught my attention. I mean, when machines start taking guns away from the law, what is going on?
This sure does bring on thoughts of Terminator type MRI machines, ya know?
Police on Friday were investigating what they called a bizarre incident following an overnight burglary at a Carol Stream doctor's office.
An officer responding to the burglary walked into an MRI room at the office on the 600 block of East St. Charles Road Friday morning, the building's owner said. The MRI machine's magnetism pulled away the officer's gun, which became stuck in the machine. Because there is no way to turn off the magnetism, the gun remained in place and no one was allowed inside the building.
Carol Stream police said no injuries were reported, and the MRI manufacturer has been called to assist, the building owner said.
Police said the burglary also is under investigation.
Source: http://www.nbcchicago.com/news/local/Cops-Gun-Stuck-In-MRI-Machine-In-Carol-Stream-190395261.html#ixzz2KNWGl15z
Sorry, but the idea of having the machines of the world suddenly arming themselves just strikes me as funny! I wonder if the arms confiscation plans include MRI machines?
Coffee out on the patio today! OK with you?
This sure does bring on thoughts of Terminator type MRI machines, ya know?
Cop's Gun Stuck In MRI Machine In Carol Stream
Officer was investigating an overnight burglary
Friday, Feb 8, 2013
Police on Friday were investigating what they called a bizarre incident following an overnight burglary at a Carol Stream doctor's office.
An officer responding to the burglary walked into an MRI room at the office on the 600 block of East St. Charles Road Friday morning, the building's owner said. The MRI machine's magnetism pulled away the officer's gun, which became stuck in the machine. Because there is no way to turn off the magnetism, the gun remained in place and no one was allowed inside the building.
Carol Stream police said no injuries were reported, and the MRI manufacturer has been called to assist, the building owner said.
Police said the burglary also is under investigation.
Source: http://www.nbcchicago.com/news/local/Cops-Gun-Stuck-In-MRI-Machine-In-Carol-Stream-190395261.html#ixzz2KNWGl15z
Sorry, but the idea of having the machines of the world suddenly arming themselves just strikes me as funny! I wonder if the arms confiscation plans include MRI machines?
Coffee out on the patio today! OK with you?
Friday, February 8, 2013
Again, Friday Travels To Texas...!
Long before modern patriots were considering succeeding from the Union, one county in Texas did more than just talk about it!
Guess the majority of true Texans have always been a little rebellious, to say the least!
Van Zandt County in east Texas was once called the Free State of Van Zandt, an independent state once in conflict with the United States. Following the Civil War, federal troops were stationed in many Texas towns. Fed up with martial law, the citizens of Van Zandt voted to secede not just from Texas, but from the United States as well. The government wasn’t going to stand for any shenanigans, so US Army soldiers led by General Sheridan were sent to put down the uprising. Fortunately, the Van Zandt army had celebrated their new freedom a little too heartily and the drunks were rounded up without too much fuss. Later, many of the men escaped custody. Seceding from the US was no longer in the cards, though the resolution made by the county to separate was never formally withdrawn.
Ya know, I'm thinking that the folks in Texas back then were almost as crazy as they are today! Some things just never change!
Coffee out on the patio this morning. I'll tell you all about how my day went from bad to worse yesterday!
Guess the majority of true Texans have always been a little rebellious, to say the least!
Free State of Van Zandt
Van Zandt County in east Texas was once called the Free State of Van Zandt, an independent state once in conflict with the United States. Following the Civil War, federal troops were stationed in many Texas towns. Fed up with martial law, the citizens of Van Zandt voted to secede not just from Texas, but from the United States as well. The government wasn’t going to stand for any shenanigans, so US Army soldiers led by General Sheridan were sent to put down the uprising. Fortunately, the Van Zandt army had celebrated their new freedom a little too heartily and the drunks were rounded up without too much fuss. Later, many of the men escaped custody. Seceding from the US was no longer in the cards, though the resolution made by the county to separate was never formally withdrawn.
Ya know, I'm thinking that the folks in Texas back then were almost as crazy as they are today! Some things just never change!
Coffee out on the patio this morning. I'll tell you all about how my day went from bad to worse yesterday!
Thursday, February 7, 2013
No Post Today...!
My main computer blew up, so I've been lining up one of my laptops.
It may take a while, so I will be out of touch for the day! Sorry about that!
I hope to be back tomorrow.
It may take a while, so I will be out of touch for the day! Sorry about that!
I hope to be back tomorrow.
Wednesday, February 6, 2013
Dalton Gang On Western Wednesday...!
What would a Wednesday be without some good ol' Western history?
Some of the outlaws of the old days had a start in law enforcement. Seems a bit strange, doesn't it? Still, not many made a successful change from law enforcer to law breaker! Some ended up like the Dalton Gang!
The members of the Dalton Gang stage an unsuccessful train robbery near Alila, California--an inauspicious beginning to their careers as serious criminals.
Bob, Emmett, and Grat Dalton were only three of Lewis and Adeleine Dalton's 10 sons. The brothers grew up on a succession of Oklahoma and Kansas homesteads during the post-Civil War period, when the region was awash in violence lingering from the war and notorious outlaw bands like the James-Younger Gang. Still, the majority of the Dalton boys became law-abiding citizens, and one of the older brothers, Frank, served as a deputy U.S. marshal.
Ironically, Frank's position in law enforcement brought his younger brothers into lives of crime. When Oklahoma whiskey runners murdered Frank in 1887, Grat took Frank's place as a deputy marshal and recruited Emmett and Bob as assistants. Disillusioned by the fate of their older law-abiding brother, the three Dalton boys showed little respect for the law and began rustling cattle and horses to supplement their income. The brothers soon began to use their official law enforcement powers for their own ends, and in 1888, they killed a man for pursuing Bob's girlfriend.
Such gross abuses of authority did not escape attention for long. By 1890, all three men were discredited as lawmen, though they managed to escape imprisonment. Taking up with some of the same hardcore criminals they had previously sworn to bring to justice, the Daltons decided to expand their criminal operations. Bob and Grat headed to California, leaving Emmett behind in Oklahoma because they felt he was still too young for a life of serious crime. In California, they planned to link up with their brother Bill and become bank and train robbers.
The Dalton Gang's first attempt at train robbery was a fiasco. On February 6, 1891, Bob, Grat, and Bill tried to rob a Southern Pacific train near Alila, California. While Bill kept any passengers from interfering by shooting over their heads, Bob and Grat forced the engineer to show them the location of the cash-carrying express car. When the engineer tried to slip away, one of the brothers shot him in the stomach. Finding the express car on their own, Bob and Grat demanded that the guard inside open the heavy door. The guard refused and began firing down on them from a small spy hole. Thwarted, the brothers finally gave up and rode away.
The Daltons would have done well to heed the ominous signs of that first failed robbery and seek safer pursuits. Instead, they returned to Oklahoma, reunited with young Emmett, and began robbing in earnest. A year later, the gang botched another robbery, boldly attempting to hit two Coffeyville, Kansas, banks at the same time. Townspeople caught them in the act and killed Bob, Grat, and two of their gang members. Emmett was seriously wounded and served 14 years in prison.
Of all the criminal Dalton brothers, only Emmett lived into old age. Freed from prison in 1907, he married and settled in Los Angeles, where he built a successful career in real estate and contracting.
I guess the lure of quick and easy riches was just as strong in the old days as it is now. Difference is, now days we don't call them "outlaws" but politicians! Sometimes the lines get a bit blurry, ya know?
Coffee out on the patio again! I'll make some cinnamon toast with homemade bread!
Some of the outlaws of the old days had a start in law enforcement. Seems a bit strange, doesn't it? Still, not many made a successful change from law enforcer to law breaker! Some ended up like the Dalton Gang!
Feb 6, 1891:
Dalton Gang commits its first train robbery
The members of the Dalton Gang stage an unsuccessful train robbery near Alila, California--an inauspicious beginning to their careers as serious criminals.
Bob, Emmett, and Grat Dalton were only three of Lewis and Adeleine Dalton's 10 sons. The brothers grew up on a succession of Oklahoma and Kansas homesteads during the post-Civil War period, when the region was awash in violence lingering from the war and notorious outlaw bands like the James-Younger Gang. Still, the majority of the Dalton boys became law-abiding citizens, and one of the older brothers, Frank, served as a deputy U.S. marshal.
Ironically, Frank's position in law enforcement brought his younger brothers into lives of crime. When Oklahoma whiskey runners murdered Frank in 1887, Grat took Frank's place as a deputy marshal and recruited Emmett and Bob as assistants. Disillusioned by the fate of their older law-abiding brother, the three Dalton boys showed little respect for the law and began rustling cattle and horses to supplement their income. The brothers soon began to use their official law enforcement powers for their own ends, and in 1888, they killed a man for pursuing Bob's girlfriend.
Such gross abuses of authority did not escape attention for long. By 1890, all three men were discredited as lawmen, though they managed to escape imprisonment. Taking up with some of the same hardcore criminals they had previously sworn to bring to justice, the Daltons decided to expand their criminal operations. Bob and Grat headed to California, leaving Emmett behind in Oklahoma because they felt he was still too young for a life of serious crime. In California, they planned to link up with their brother Bill and become bank and train robbers.
The Dalton Gang's first attempt at train robbery was a fiasco. On February 6, 1891, Bob, Grat, and Bill tried to rob a Southern Pacific train near Alila, California. While Bill kept any passengers from interfering by shooting over their heads, Bob and Grat forced the engineer to show them the location of the cash-carrying express car. When the engineer tried to slip away, one of the brothers shot him in the stomach. Finding the express car on their own, Bob and Grat demanded that the guard inside open the heavy door. The guard refused and began firing down on them from a small spy hole. Thwarted, the brothers finally gave up and rode away.
The Daltons would have done well to heed the ominous signs of that first failed robbery and seek safer pursuits. Instead, they returned to Oklahoma, reunited with young Emmett, and began robbing in earnest. A year later, the gang botched another robbery, boldly attempting to hit two Coffeyville, Kansas, banks at the same time. Townspeople caught them in the act and killed Bob, Grat, and two of their gang members. Emmett was seriously wounded and served 14 years in prison.
Of all the criminal Dalton brothers, only Emmett lived into old age. Freed from prison in 1907, he married and settled in Los Angeles, where he built a successful career in real estate and contracting.
I guess the lure of quick and easy riches was just as strong in the old days as it is now. Difference is, now days we don't call them "outlaws" but politicians! Sometimes the lines get a bit blurry, ya know?
Coffee out on the patio again! I'll make some cinnamon toast with homemade bread!
Tuesday, February 5, 2013
A Little Extra Cash...!
From time to time, I find myself wanting something beyond my budget. That's when having a second source of income comes in handy!
As you can imagine, I use the Internet for making money for my "toys!" Now, by toys I mean anything from extra preps to extra computers. Heck, sometimes I even make enough to cover Christmas and birthdays! That's a good thing! I'm on the Internet a lot of the day anyway, so by being selective and choosing only proven programs...I can make the best of my work day!
Yes, I said work! Making money on the web is like any other job, in the fact that you do have to work at it! The payoff can be well worth it, though! I don't talk about this aspect of my programs. I used to, but for one reason or another, I stopped! Today, I wanted to tell you about a couple of my favorite programs. These are the ones that I use the most, and so far have been the most consistent for both profit and reliability!
You may or may not ever want to use any of these, but if you have any questions, you can certainly let me know and I'll answer any questions that I can!
Clixsense has always been a site I visit off and on all day. I use the tool bar to always be informed when new ads are available, and there are many ways to earn here! It's been around a long time and that's important! This is a good one!
NeoBux is another site that can pay off in a big way. Earnings can come quickly and they seem to be stable. I've never had any problems and I enjoy the extra money that come regularly! Another good one!
I have one more to tell you about, but other than skim over it I'll tell you about it in more detail Thursday! It's a passive program and has the ability to be a very, very good one for me! However, if you want to just look it over before then, feel free! It's called RicanAdFunds and you can find it here!
Coffee is all set up out on the patio this morning. It feels just like Spring!
As you can imagine, I use the Internet for making money for my "toys!" Now, by toys I mean anything from extra preps to extra computers. Heck, sometimes I even make enough to cover Christmas and birthdays! That's a good thing! I'm on the Internet a lot of the day anyway, so by being selective and choosing only proven programs...I can make the best of my work day!
Yes, I said work! Making money on the web is like any other job, in the fact that you do have to work at it! The payoff can be well worth it, though! I don't talk about this aspect of my programs. I used to, but for one reason or another, I stopped! Today, I wanted to tell you about a couple of my favorite programs. These are the ones that I use the most, and so far have been the most consistent for both profit and reliability!
You may or may not ever want to use any of these, but if you have any questions, you can certainly let me know and I'll answer any questions that I can!
Clixsense has always been a site I visit off and on all day. I use the tool bar to always be informed when new ads are available, and there are many ways to earn here! It's been around a long time and that's important! This is a good one!
NeoBux is another site that can pay off in a big way. Earnings can come quickly and they seem to be stable. I've never had any problems and I enjoy the extra money that come regularly! Another good one!
I have one more to tell you about, but other than skim over it I'll tell you about it in more detail Thursday! It's a passive program and has the ability to be a very, very good one for me! However, if you want to just look it over before then, feel free! It's called RicanAdFunds and you can find it here!
Coffee is all set up out on the patio this morning. It feels just like Spring!
Monday, February 4, 2013
Monday Mystery In Massachusetts...!
It's always nice to find a good mystery right here in the U.S., don't you think?
Some of you guys living up north might have heard of this place before. If so, maybe you could tell us a little more about it. I love a good Monday mystery, ya know?
The Bridgewater Triangle is an area of about 200 square miles (520 km2) within southeastern Massachusetts in the United States. Since colonial times the area has been a site of alleged paranormal phenomena, ranging from UFO and “black helicopter” sightings (including many with multiple points of corroboration including police and a local news team), to poltergeists and orbs, balls of fire and other spectral phenomena, various “bigfoot” sightings, giant snakes and ‘thunderbirds’, as well as the mutilation of cattle and other livestock. Central to the area is the mysterious and largely untouched Hockomock Swamp, which means “the place where spirits dwell”, and which was called “The Devil’s Swamp” by early settlers. The Triangle also has been known to house several Indian burial grounds.
One of the most common phenomena reportedly observed in the area is “spooklights” or what otherwise matches the description of will-o’-the-wisp, sometimes known as ghost lights which are typically seen in boggy or swampy areas. The behavior of this phenomenon is consistent with mysterious lights allegedly observed within the Bridgewater Triangle, including those which are said to appear along train tracks every January.
It sure would be nice if anyone has any personal knowledge about this place. I love first hand stories about this sort of area!
How about coffee on the patio? I got a bag of mandarins (seedless oranges) that would sure go good for an early snack!
Some of you guys living up north might have heard of this place before. If so, maybe you could tell us a little more about it. I love a good Monday mystery, ya know?
The Bridgewater Triangle
The Bridgewater Triangle is an area of about 200 square miles (520 km2) within southeastern Massachusetts in the United States. Since colonial times the area has been a site of alleged paranormal phenomena, ranging from UFO and “black helicopter” sightings (including many with multiple points of corroboration including police and a local news team), to poltergeists and orbs, balls of fire and other spectral phenomena, various “bigfoot” sightings, giant snakes and ‘thunderbirds’, as well as the mutilation of cattle and other livestock. Central to the area is the mysterious and largely untouched Hockomock Swamp, which means “the place where spirits dwell”, and which was called “The Devil’s Swamp” by early settlers. The Triangle also has been known to house several Indian burial grounds.
One of the most common phenomena reportedly observed in the area is “spooklights” or what otherwise matches the description of will-o’-the-wisp, sometimes known as ghost lights which are typically seen in boggy or swampy areas. The behavior of this phenomenon is consistent with mysterious lights allegedly observed within the Bridgewater Triangle, including those which are said to appear along train tracks every January.
It sure would be nice if anyone has any personal knowledge about this place. I love first hand stories about this sort of area!
How about coffee on the patio? I got a bag of mandarins (seedless oranges) that would sure go good for an early snack!
Sunday, February 3, 2013
Sunday With The Roadrunner...!
I got a late start this morning, but maybe if I was as fast as the roadrunner I could catch up, ya think?
Actually, we haven't seen the coyote and roadrunner in a while, so I figured that now was a good time! I need to take some pointers on speeding up, especially on Sundays.
Always find something new in these things, ya know? How about another?
I reckon I should be spending my time more productively, but why bother? After all, I'm retired!
Well, guess that's enough for now. I gotta go be productive with something...I just haven't figured out what yet!
Coffee out on the patio this morning. I have a little potato bread left, OK?
Actually, we haven't seen the coyote and roadrunner in a while, so I figured that now was a good time! I need to take some pointers on speeding up, especially on Sundays.
Always find something new in these things, ya know? How about another?
I reckon I should be spending my time more productively, but why bother? After all, I'm retired!
Well, guess that's enough for now. I gotta go be productive with something...I just haven't figured out what yet!
Coffee out on the patio this morning. I have a little potato bread left, OK?
Saturday, February 2, 2013
Silly Or Not, It Works...!
Sometimes the most surprising uses for unlikely items can even save lives!
When ever you can find a story like this, it's hard not to share it. Kinda makes us rethink what we might otherwise call silly or useless! Good things can come from little packages!
Leonard A. Fish and Robert P. Cox teamed up in 1972 to create an aerosol spray-on cast for broken limbs. They failed miserably. What they ended up with was a substance they patented as a “foamable resinous composition,” and after months of apprehension, Wham-O decided to distribute it.
Fast forward to 2006: stationed in Iraq, Spc. Todd Shriver and the rest of his unit were devoid of any practical way to clear buildings of trip wires that trigger IEDs, so they were forced to improvise. Silly String could be sprayed from more than ten feet away and was lightweight enough to remain suspended by the tripwires without detonating the explosive. Today, more than 120,000 cans of silly string have been shipped to Marines on the front lines.
Makes ya more than just a little proud of the toy industry, doesn't it?
Coffee out on the patio. How about some fresh potato bread, toasted?
When ever you can find a story like this, it's hard not to share it. Kinda makes us rethink what we might otherwise call silly or useless! Good things can come from little packages!
Silly String
Leonard A. Fish and Robert P. Cox teamed up in 1972 to create an aerosol spray-on cast for broken limbs. They failed miserably. What they ended up with was a substance they patented as a “foamable resinous composition,” and after months of apprehension, Wham-O decided to distribute it.
Fast forward to 2006: stationed in Iraq, Spc. Todd Shriver and the rest of his unit were devoid of any practical way to clear buildings of trip wires that trigger IEDs, so they were forced to improvise. Silly String could be sprayed from more than ten feet away and was lightweight enough to remain suspended by the tripwires without detonating the explosive. Today, more than 120,000 cans of silly string have been shipped to Marines on the front lines.
Makes ya more than just a little proud of the toy industry, doesn't it?
Coffee out on the patio. How about some fresh potato bread, toasted?
Friday, February 1, 2013
Travels To The Valley Of Flowers...!
Since so many of us are still caught in the firm grip of Winter, I figured a trip to the Valley of Flowers in India would be nice!
Let's face it...for most folks reading this, Spring seems to be long off. Maybe it is, but part of getting through these days of snow, ice, rain, fog, and cold is just being able to take a mental trip to a more pleasant place! That's why many of us spend so much time during the Winter months reading seed catalogs, working on arts and craft projects, and reading books. Just taking small mind trips to a more enjoyable place. Well, today I'm gonna help!
The Valley of Flowers is an outstandingly beautiful high-altitude Himalayan valley that has been acknowledged as such by renowned mountaineers and botanists in literature for over a century and in Hindu mythology for much longer. Its ‘gentle’ landscape, breathtakingly beautiful meadows of alpine flowers and ease of access complement the rugged, mountain wilderness for which the inner basin of Nanda Devi National Park is renowned. Valley of flower is splashed with colour as it bloomed with hundreds different beautiful flowers, taking on various shades of colours as time progressed. Valley was declared a national park in 1982, and now it is a World Heritage Site. The locals, of course, always knew of the existence of the valley, and believed that it was inhabited by fairies.
It's nice enough that we can have coffee on the patio. Even have a little sunshine!
Let's face it...for most folks reading this, Spring seems to be long off. Maybe it is, but part of getting through these days of snow, ice, rain, fog, and cold is just being able to take a mental trip to a more pleasant place! That's why many of us spend so much time during the Winter months reading seed catalogs, working on arts and craft projects, and reading books. Just taking small mind trips to a more enjoyable place. Well, today I'm gonna help!
Valley of Flowers
India
The Valley of Flowers is an outstandingly beautiful high-altitude Himalayan valley that has been acknowledged as such by renowned mountaineers and botanists in literature for over a century and in Hindu mythology for much longer. Its ‘gentle’ landscape, breathtakingly beautiful meadows of alpine flowers and ease of access complement the rugged, mountain wilderness for which the inner basin of Nanda Devi National Park is renowned. Valley of flower is splashed with colour as it bloomed with hundreds different beautiful flowers, taking on various shades of colours as time progressed. Valley was declared a national park in 1982, and now it is a World Heritage Site. The locals, of course, always knew of the existence of the valley, and believed that it was inhabited by fairies.
It's nice enough that we can have coffee on the patio. Even have a little sunshine!
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