Sunday, July 13, 2014

July 13 History history National French Fries Day



Ridley's Believe It Or Not—July 13, 2014:  Still a meager day for holidays that taxes even the most creative mind of the Alaskanpoet as one is in the last day of  the weekend. Found these dubious gems to enjoy, with a smile on your face, coated with sun screen, and a mouth full of fries and a hot dog, along with the factoids and quotes from Nixon on the IRS and lying.
           1. Nadaam—if you are one of the fortunate ones or unfortunate ones as the case may be who chose Mongolia as your destination this is the last day of the three day festival of Nadaam—three sports archery, horseback riding and wrestling.
           2. Bon Day (Feast of Lanterns)—celebrated in Japan but now making inroads in the U.S. to say farewell to the spirits of the dead—drums, flutes, dancing and paper lanterns.                                            
           3. Beans n’ Franks Day—celebrating that great picnic meal but do not forget the condiments.    
           4. National French Fries Day—what better way to clog your arteries in a tasty manner than French fries which date back to the 17th century in Belgium where if the weather was too dangerous to go fishing for small fish to fry with meals (at Blue Water Grill in Newport Beach the tradition continues with Fries with Eyes—smelt) the locals cut up potatoes to imitate the fish not available.                  
On this day in:
           a. 1863 in a foretaste of opposition to the Vietnam War, opponents of conscription began three days of rioting in New York City leaving at the end 120 killed and 2,000 wounded. Riots were provoked over the anger of the working poor being drafted and unable to pay $300 ($5400 in 2014 dollars) to be exempt from the draft.
           b. 1923 the “Hollywood Sign” was completed (originally “Hollywoodland” until 1949 when “land” was dropped.)   
           c. 1973 Alexander Butterfield revealed the existence of the Nixon tapes to the special Senate committee investigating the Watergate break in. We can only hope there is a modern day equivalent of Butterfield in the IRS who can come forward with the “missing due to computer crash” Lois Lerner tapes.
Now we know where Obama may have come up with the idea of using IRS to go after conservative groups and how with a straight face and “period” he can lie to the American people: "I want to make sure he is a ruthless son of a bitch, do what he's told, that every income tax I want to see I see, that he will go after our enemies and not our friends. Now it's as simple as that. If he doesn't he doesn't get the job." —President Richard Nixon, on tape on appointing an IRS commissioner “I was not lying. I said things that later on seemed to be untrue.” President Richard Nixon, reflecting on the Watergate scandal in 1978.  Sounds so déjà vu when one watches Obama.   
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© July 13, 2014 Michael P. Ridley aka the Alaskanpoet

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