The Ohio Serpent Mound...!

Sometimes we forget that there are many ancient archeological wonders right here in the United States. This is one of those wonderful mysteries you may appreciate.

Great Serpent Mound

Photo via Ancient Origins

The Great Serpent Mound is an ancient earthwork discovered in Ohio. It’s an effigy mound, which is a mound in the form of an animal, in this case a giant snake. Archaeologists have been unable to figure out what culture built it, when it was built, or what its use was. Radiocarbon dating has suggested that the mound may have been built around AD 1000, while other studies have suggested it could be around 2,000 years old.

There are a number of theories as to what the effigy was used for. Some scholars believe it was used in religious ceremonies and possibly sacrificial offerings. Others believe it is some sort of calendar, due to its astrological alignments.

The main question I want to ask is...how has it lasted for so long without being plowed under?

Coffee out on the patio this morning, I think.

Camels In Texas For Western Wednesday...

I have heard a lot of pretty wild things about Texas over the years, but this may just take the cake.

I'm talking about the feral camels running around Texas with the blessings of the government!

Feral camels once roamed the plains of Texas.

One of the wackier ideas in American history, the U.S. Camel Corps was established in 1856 at Camp Verde, Texas. Reasoning that the arid southwest was a lot like the deserts of Egypt, the Army imported 66 camels from the Middle East. Despite the animals’ more objectionable qualities—they spat, regurgitated and defied orders—the experiment was generally deemed a success. As the Civil War broke out, exploration of the frontier was curtailed and Confederates captured Camp Verde. After the war, most of the camels were sold (some to Ringling Brothers’ circus) and others escaped into the wild. The last reported sighting of a feral camel came out of Texas in 1941. Presumably, no lingering descendants of the Camel Corps’ members remain alive today.

What makes this story even crazier is the fact that they actually had a U.S. Camel Corps established. Pretty wild stuff, huh?

Coffee out on the patio today. No camels are around, I promise!

You Got Splinters In Your...What ???

It's bad enough to get a splinter in your finger, but to get one in your backside must be a royal pain!

This was a real problem at one time, believe it or not. Thank goodness it seems to be a thing of the past now and I, for one, an really, really glad!

Doctor-Recommended Toilet Paper

Photo credit: Eli Duke

Scott Paper Company, a leading brand in the toilet paper industry, practiced one of the most effective ways to advertise their product: displaying images of consumers’ sore “bottoms” and insisting that people used the wrong toilet paper.

In 1929, the ads garnered enormous attention. They stated, “After 40 years of age, doctors say you have one chance in two of contracting some form of rectal disease. The cause: harsh or impure toilet paper.

”Although some may view this as inciting fear, perhaps the ads weren’t far from the truth. Prior to the 1930s, the manufacturing process couldn’t remove all the tiny wood slivers from toilet paper made from wood pulp. After discovering that cooking the wood pulp longer reduced the splinters to mush, Scott Paper advertised their product as “splinter-free” and assured that both doctors and plumbers recommended their toilet paper.

As an older person, the last thing I need is another pain in my body, especially in my backside! That would be a real pain in the ass (pun intended).

Coffee out on the patio this morning.

Murder For Monday Mystery...!

Sadly, every year there are more and more cases of unsolved crimes committed in the United States, murder is one of them.

Any murder is bad, but when children are involved, it's even worse. Don't you agree?

THE OAKLAND COUNTY CHILD KILLER

For 13 months between 1976 and 1977, an unnamed serial killer targeted and murdered at least four children—if not more. Dubbed the Oakland County Child Killer, this person was responsible for the grisly deaths of Mark Stebbins, 12; Jill Robinson, 12; Kristine Mihelich, 10; and Timothy King, 11. At least two of the murders included sexual assault.

Timothy King’s parents turned to the media. His father appeared on television to beg for his son’s safe return during his disappearance. His mother wrote a letter to the Detroit News and promised to serve him his favorite meal, Kentucky Fried Chicken, when he came home.

His body was found in a shallow ditch six days later. His skateboard, which he had been using when he went missing, was placed beside him. His clothes were neatly pressed and washed, and the worst part—postmortem analysis showed that Timothy had eaten fried chicken shortly before he was murdered.

The murderer was never found.

One thing that caught my eye right off is that the last child had the same last name as I do. Spooky!

Coffee out on the patio where it's nice and cool again today!

Cartoons From The 50s...

Cartoons have long played a part in propaganda and today I wanted to show some of those.







And one more...



So do you want to enlist now? Me either!

Coffee out on the patio!

What A Party...!

It's a wonder to me that the human species has made it this far, what with all the lack of common sense decisions we've made over the years.

Perhaps this article will help to show exactly what I mean. I can only shake my head and mutter "WTF" when I read about something like this, ya know?

Take The Family To Watch A Nuclear Bomb Explode

Photo credit: Las Vegas New Bureau via CityLab

In the 1950s, the United States had a Cold War to win, and the only way they knew to do it was blast the Nevada desert with nuclear tests.

You’d think people would have tried to steer clear of a nuclear test site, but it was actually the exact opposite. Casinos in Las Vegas capitalized on it and sold tickets. People around the country flocked out to their “dawn parties,” where gamblers would play until the night sky lit up with an atomic blast 121 kilometers (75 mi) away.

It was the biggest tourism boom Las Vegas had ever experienced. They worked into it every way they could, selling Atomic Cocktails and holding beauty contests to crown Miss Atomic Blast. Sure, thousands of people got radiation poisoning, and 1.6 trillion gallons of water were contaminated, but it was a great party.

I have to wonder if any family groups started glowing in the dark after the "nuclear vacation?" I got this article from over at Listverse, just so you'll know.

Coffee out on the patio this morning.

Old Folks Know Best...!

Gotta love the way some olders look at life, know what I mean?

Coffee out on the patio, if you are feeling up to it!