Ridley's Believe It Or Not--This Day In History: April 2016

Saturday, April 30, 2016

April 30, 2016 Ridley's Believe It Or Not National Honesty Day

Ridley’s Believe It Or Not For April 30, 2016 Unfortunately still 265 days to go in President Obama’s pathetic lame duck term; political theater in high gear as protestors tried to block Trump’s appearance before a Republican gathering it Sacramento but failed; the photos of the dead Americans killed by illegal aliens was powerful even more so with the news that ICE has released last year almost 20,000 illegal alien rapists, killers, robbers, assaulter and other convicts back on to our streets as opposed to deporting: http://alaskanpoet.blogspot.com/2016/04/more-walls-to-build-one-to-destroy.html Indiana’s governor gave the weakest endorsement for Cruz yet seen while Boehner offered his dead body to block Cruz; Hillary is not on the campaign trail by at a NAACP dinner but the “First Man” looking very old and frail; and despite the dislike many on the non left have for this president, expect he will be doing some great comedy tonight at the annual Press Club Dinner. Leaving the political theater, as always, I hope your weekend is off to a great start and that you enjoy today’s holidays and observances, music links to Cutting Crew and Johnny Horton, factoids of interest, a relevant quote from James E. Faust, while looking forward to enjoying a large slice of raisin pecan pie, blessed with a positive attitude and secure in the knowledge that, if you want to find a gift for any memorable events like birthdays, weddings, or anniversaries, you know that the Alaskanpoet can provide you with a unique customized poem at a great price tailored to the event and the recipient. You need only contact me for details.

1. National Honesty Day—since the first day of the month started with a celebration of falsehoods what better way to celebrated the end of the month with a day to promote honesty in relationships, business and in government ( don’t hold your breath on that with politicians like HRC, Obama, and Cruz and the culture of deception and obfuscation within the Beltway).

2. National Adopt a Shelter Pet Day—celebrating an act that brings out the best in humans, reaching out to a discarded or unwanted pet in an animal shelter and in the process saving an animal life and hundreds of dollars by not buying from a pet store.

3. 1987 Number One Song—celebrating the number one song in 1987 on a brief run of two weeks in that position (I Just) Died In Your Arms by Cutting Crew. Here is a link to Cutting Crew performing (I Just) Died In Your Arms: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rrJky8YuTr4

4. National Raisin Day—celebrated first in 1909 in California since California produces most of the world’s raisins (sundried or dehydrated grapes) which are tasty, low in fat, and are packed with nutrients including iron (who can forget Gregory Peck in Pork Chop Hill with his omnipresent box of raisings?) Here is a link to pecan raisin pie that looks delicious: http://www.thenibble.com/reviews/main/cookies/pastry/raisin-pie.asp

5. Sing a Saga Song For Me—celebrating the birthday on this day in 1925 that great singer of such hits as North to Alaska, Battle of New Orleans, Sink the Bismarck and When it’s Springtime in Alaska, It’s Forty Below, Johnny Horton who was killed in 1960 by a 19 year old drunk driver. Here is a link to one of my favorite songs: North to Alaska: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JSt0NEESrUA :

On this day in:

a. 1863 65 soldiers from the French Foreign Legion while patrolling fought for ten hours to almost the last man an attack of 2,000 Mexican soldiers at Hacienda Cameron, Mexico.

b. 1885 New York Governor David B. Hill signed legislation creating Niagara Reservation, New York’s first state park which insured that to the joy of future honeymooners in the Northeast that Niagara Falls would not developed exclusively for industrial and commercial use.

c. 1927 in a move for gender equality, the Federal Industrial Institute for Women, the nation’s first federal prison was opened in Anderson, West Virginia. d. 1939 NBC began in New York City regular TV broadcasts by broadcasting President Franklin Roosevelt’s opening address at the New York City World’s Fair.

e. 2009 Chrysler filed for Chapter 11 Bankruptcy.

Reflections on the multifaceted aspects of honesty: “Honesty is more than not lying. It is truth telling, truth speaking, truth living, and truth loving.” James E. Faust, noted American religious leader for the Mormon Church. Perfect although I would add the greatest untruth and the one hardest to detect is the untruth of omission; Faust must be rolling in his grave today knowing that the most dishonest candidate we have every known is leading the Blues and unless indicted will be the Blue candidate—God help us.

Please enjoy the poems on events of interest on my twitter account below (if you like them, retweet and follow me) and follow my blogs. Always good, incisive and entertaining poems on my blogs—click on the links below. Go to www.alaskanpoet.blogspot.com for Ridley’s Believe It Or Not—This Day In History, poems to inspire, touch, emote, elate and enjoy and poems on breaking news items of importance or go to Ridley's Believe It Or Not for just This Day In History.

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Friday, April 29, 2016

April 29, 2016 Ridley's Believe It Or Not International Dance Day

Ridley’s Believe It Or Not For April 29, 2016 Unfortunately still 266 days to go in President Obama’s pathetic lame duck term; in the Pacific Amphitheater in Costa Mesa, before a cheering capacity crowd of 18,000 Trump shed his “presidential” posture to slam “Ly’n” Ted and “Crooked” Hillary with his mantra of “Make America Great Again” while outside a couple thousand protestors gathered many waving Mexican flags but after event ended they tried to block supporters from leaving, assaulted a Trump supporter and damaged a police car, resulting in 20 arrests. Cruz still whining about Boehner’s caricature of him as “Lucifer in the flesh” but hoping the endorsement of Indiana’s governor will help while ICE gets lambasted for releasing almost 20,000 convicted illegal aliens, including almost 2,000 violent felons into this country instead of being deported—look for more Trump rallies to begin with banners showing the faces of Americans killed by illegal aliens. Not to be totally dwarfed in the news HRC is now sending out a “Woman’s Card” to her supporters. Leaving the political theater, as always, I hope you enjoy today’s holidays and observances, music links to Robert Palmer and the duo of Tammi Terrell and Marvin Gaye, factoids of interest, a relevant quote from Dave Barry, while looking forward to enjoying a large serving of shrimp scampi (recipe included), blessed with a positive attitude and secure in the knowledge that, if you want to find a gift for any memorable events like birthdays, weddings, or anniversaries, you know that the Alaskanpoet can provide you with a unique customized poem at a great price tailored to the event and the recipient. You need only contact me for details.

1. International Dance Day—observed since 1982 to promote the appreciation and enjoyment of dancing from ballet to waltzing and everything in between. Today would be a good day to take in a performance or put on your best dancing shoes and head out to the nearest place that has live music or a DJ and a dance floor.

Whether the music is fast or slow

A chance for a couple to meld or skills to show

Children have ears like adults but they are needed not

Music not needed for this young dancing lot

And those in the winters of their lives they can still in rhythm tap their feet

As from those dancing memories of youth they begin their slow, shuffling retreat

2. National Zipper Day—celebrating that usual invention that enables us to close up suitcases, backpacks, tents, pants, boots, sleeping bags and a whole host of items and when it’s a race to the bathroom, just a few seconds more to successfully use it—the zipper which after failed attempts by Elias Howe in 1831 and Whitcomb Judson in1873, was invented in its modern form by Gideon Sundback in 1913 under the lifeless marketing name of “Separable Fastener,” which was relegated to the advertising trash heap when in 1923 B.F. Goodrich started using the term “zipper” for its boots and pouches.

3. 1986 Number One Song—celebrating the number one song in 1986 on a brief run of one week in that position Addicted to Love by Robert Palmer. Here is a link to Robert Palmer (with four females on guitars that look like clones) performing Addicted to Love: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XcATvu5f9vE

4. National Shrimp Scampi Day—celebrating one of this highly evolved omnivore’s seafood dishes either as a main course or as a side dish complete with a link to an easy recipe you should enjoy although a little light of the garlic: http://blog.thenibble.com/2015/04/29/recipe-national-shrimp-scampi-day/ If you are lucky enough to live or work near a Red Lobster good chance they will have a special on this dish.

5. There Can Be a Mountain Too High to Climb—celebrating the birthday on this day in 1945 of the Motown singer Tammi Terrell who thrilled us with Ain’t No Mountain High Enough and six other top forty hits and would have thrilled us with many more had not she run into Mt. Tumor Cancer in her brain in 1967 and despite a struggle of 3 years and seven surgeries died in 1970. Here is a link to Tammi Terrell and Marvin Gaye performing Ain’t No Mountain High Enough:

On this day in:

a. 1910, a date which must be forever holy to Socialist Bernie Sanders, the British Parliament passed the 1909/1910 People’s Budget, the first budget in British history aimed at the redistribution of wealth and income.

b. 1916 after six days of fighting against British forces in Dublin, the Irish who risen up against British rule were forced to surrender superior numbers and artillery ending the Easter Rising but not the execution by the British of many of the ring leaders and the internment of close to 2000.

c. 1945 with the consent of German forces the RAF started Operation Manna which was joined on May 1 by the USAF in Operation Chow Hound to drop food supplies into German occupied Holland to prevent famine; in the days before Germany’s surrender on May 7, 1945 the combined operations dropped 11,000 tons of food—the bombers finally were running out of targets to destroy and civilians to kill but not starving civilians to feed. d. 1953 the first experimental 3D Television broadcast of Space Patrol occurred in Los Angeles on ABC’s KECA-TV.

e. 2015 the Baltimore Orioles and the Chicago White Sox played a Major League Baseball Game with the lowest attendance in history of the league—0 as the Stadium was closed due the riots in Baltimore linked to the death of Freddie Gray while being transported in a police van.

Reflections on International Dance Day if your are watching others but not doing: “Nobody cares if you can’t dance well. Just get up and dance” Dave Barry, noted Pulitzer Prize winning American author.

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Thursday, April 28, 2016

April 28, 2016 Ridley's Believe It Or Not Read Great Poetry Day

Ridley’s Believe It Or Not For April 28, 2016 Unfortunately still 267 days to go in President Obama’s pathetic lame duck term; I am not sure whether Cruz’s naming of Carly Fiorina was a sign of desperation or after hearing her speech a brilliant move in the political theater that is the hallmark of this campaign season but one this is for certain it has shifted the focus on Trump’s Tuesday sweep and Trump’s first attempt at delivering a “presidential” foreign policy speech. If you live in Orange County Trump will be holding a rally at the Orange County Fairgrounds. On the Blue side Sanders is cutting staff and Hillary is ramping up the gender card to play with a vengeance. As always, I hope you enjoy today’s holidays and observances, a music link to USA for Africa, factoids of interest, a relevant quote from Harper Lee, while looking forward to a large slice of blueberry pie (recipe included), blessed with a positive attitude and secure in the knowledge that on this Read Great Poetry Day, if you want to find a gift for any memorable events like birthdays, weddings, or anniversaries, you know that the Alaskanpoet can provide you with a unique customized poem at a great price tailored to the event and the recipient. You need only contact me for details.

1. International Workers’ Memorial Day—promoting awareness of the need to promote and improve workers’ safety and to commemorate those workers who have died or been injured at work.

2. Read Great Poetry Day—here is a day to pay homage to all those poets either living or dead by reading some of their works, good or bad; by going to my blog www.alaskanpoet.blogspot.com or by writing a poem yourself. Since it is also Kiss Your Mate Day try writing a romantic one to your mate—Like the oak that starts as acorn so small/Slowly grows so majestic, sturdy and tall/Love of you can start with a gaze/ A smile to you amaze/Followed by a gentle kiss/ In holding you I would be remiss/ If my heart did not pound/ With romantic notions to abound/ As we walked along the beach hand in hand listening to the waves’ crashing sounds/ Strolling together barefoot on the sand heading slowly back into town.© April 28 Michael P. Ridley aka the Alaskanpoet

3. 1985 Number One Song—celebrating the number one song in 1984 on a run of four weeks in that position We Are The World by USA for Africa. Here is a link to USA for Africa (see how many of this incredible ad hoc group of talent who checked their egos at the front door to raise money for famine relief you can recognize) performing We Are The World: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M9BNoNFKCBI

4. National Blueberry Pie Day—celebrating one of this highly evolved omnivore’s favorite pies; here is a link to an easy recipe you should enjoy if you want to avoid going to the bakery:http://www.blueberrycouncil.org/blueberry-recipe/blueberry-pie/?gclid=CPrlhvnfsMwCFQ6maQodjZcFmQ

5. Royalties and Copyrights Are a Writer’s Best Friend—celebrating the birthday on this day in 1926 of Harper Lee, the author of To Kill a Mockingbird which is estimated to have sold over 40 million copies. She never wrote another novel and the book Go Set a Watchman published in 2015 before her death on February 19, 2016, originally thought to be a sequel, was in fact the first draft of To Kill a Mockingbird.

On this day in:

a. 1789 the crew on the HMS Bounty mutinied against Captain Bligh putting his in an 18 foot boat with 17 loyal crew members and in perhaps one of the greatest feats of seamanship Bligh was able to navigate the boat to Timor, the closet European settlement some 4100 miles away with the loss of only one man. To be expected from a man who joined the British Navy at the age of seven.

b. 1932 a vaccine for Yellow Fever was announced for use in humans; the vaccine has made cases of Yellow Fever almost nonexistent in the U.S. but it still infects some 200,000 people annually and causes 30,000 deaths, mostly in Africa.

c. 1986 high levels of radiation are detected in Sweden, forcing the Soviets to disclose the nuclear disaster at Chernobyl which had occurred two days earlier and which in typical Soviet fashion had been concealed from their own citizens and the rest of the world. d. 1988 in a don’t leave home without your parachute moment an Aloha Airlines 737 over Maui, a flight attendant was blown out of the plane and falls to her death when a large chunk of the fuselage separates from the plane. Fortunately for the other members of the crew and the terrified passengers, the pilot was able to land the plane safely.

e. 2001 in what has to rank as the ultimate bucket list achievement for a 60 year old, Dennis Tito, the founder of Wilshire Associates and a billionaire, paid the Russians $20 million to be a space tourist on one of their launch vehicles to spend 8 days aboard the International Space Station.

Reflections on attempts of a Virginia School Board to remove To Kill a Mocking Bird from its school libraries: “Recently I have received echoes down this way of the Hanover County School Board's activities, and what I've heard makes me wonder if any of its members can read. Surely it is plain to the simplest intelligence that To Kill a Mockingbird spells out in words of seldom more than two syllables a code of honor and conduct, Christian in its ethic, that is the heritage of all Southerners. To hear that the novel is 'immoral' has made me count the years between now and 1984, for I have yet to come across a better example of doublethink. I feel, however, that the problem is one of illiteracy, not Marxism. Therefore, I enclose a small contribution to the Beadle Bumble Fund that I hope will be used to enroll the Hanover County School Board in any first grade of its choice.” Harper Lee. Great writing style to expose fools.

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Wednesday, April 27, 2016

Ridley’s Believe It Or Not For April 27, 2016 Unfortunately still 268 days to go in President Obama’s pathetic lame duck term; the fat lady sang last night on the Red side as Trump won in a landslide in all five states and sang on the Blue side with less volume as HRC won four out of five states; Trump used a teleprompter this morning to deliver a major foreign policy address which outlined his goals in a coherent and presidential fashion, including telling ISIS their days are numbered though he would not tell them when or how which is basic military science 101 and rightfully slammed Obama and Clinton for their foreign policy disasters. As always, I hope you enjoy today’s holidays and observances, a music link to Phil Collins, factoids of interest, a relevant quote from Scott Adams, the creator of Dilbert, while looking forward to a large serving of prime rib for lunch or dinner, blessed with a positive attitude and secure in the knowledge that if you want to find a gift for any memorable events like birthdays, weddings, or anniversaries, you know that the Alaskanpoet can provide you with a unique customized poem at a great price tailored to the event and the recipient. You need only contact me for details.

1. National Administrative Professionals’ Day—celebrating the contributions to the work force and reduction in an executive’s stress level of administrative professionals.

2. Tell a Story Day—here is a great way to get children from playing video games or watching TV; tell them a story from memory or a book or to further the appetite for reading, take them to a library that has story telling hours.

3. 1984 Number One Song—celebrating the number one song in 1984 on a run of only three weeks in that position Against All Odds by Phil Collins. Here is a link to Phil Collins performing Against All Odds: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uVjEcIANv1o

4. National Prime Rib Day—celebrating one of the world’s greatest ways to enjoy beef, especially with horseradish at Steven’s Steak House in the city of Commerce, California.

5. ... .- -- ..- . .-.. / -- --- .-. ... . / -... .. .-. - .... -.. .- -.--—celebrating the birthday on this day in 1791 of the inventor of the single wire telegraph system and, as the title for this gives it away, the Morse Code—Samuel Morse. The Morse Code combined with radio telegraphy was absolutely critical in World War II and its fast moving armies but now is rarely used except by Ham Radio enthusiasts.

On this day in:

a. 711 Moors under the command of Tarig ibn Ziyad land at Gibraltar to begin the Islamic conquest of the Iberian Peninsula which the Moors would rule until January 2, 1492 when Spanish forces united by the marriage of King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella forced the Moors to surrender Grenada. One could only imagine the chaos Europe would be facing today with the rise of radical Islam if the Moors still occupied Spain. b. 1861 President Abraham Lincoln suspended the writ of habeas corpus.

c. 1936 the United Auto Workers left the American Federation of Labor.

d. 1974 ten thousand marched on the White House calling for the impeachment of Richard Nixon which he would have been and almost with certainty convicted by the Senate had he not later resigned as President of the United States on August 9, 1974.

e. 2006 construction began on the Freedom Tower (later renamed One World Trade Center) and was completed in July of 2013.

Reflections on administrative professionals on this Administrative Professions’ Day: “Someday, people who know how to use computers will rule over those who don’t. And there will be a special name for them – Secretaries.” Scott Adams, noted cartoonist and creator of Dilbert. How true his observation is.

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Tuesday, April 26, 2016

April 26, 2016 Ridley's Believe It Or Not World Intellectual Property Day

Ridley’s Believe It Or Not For April 26, 2016 Unfortunately still 269 days to go in President Obama’s pathetic lame duck term; fight In political theater continues unabated with five Northeastern states voting this today with Trump in double digit leads and Kasich and Cruz according to Trump colluding (look up the word—not secret, not illegal) and no one should vote for Kasich because of his slob-like eating habits; even as Sanders continues to attract huge crowds and hammer HRC for pandering to Wall Street, this could be his swan song as she is predicted to win all five states. I trust your Tuesday is proving to be a great one also; and as always, I hope you enjoy today’s holidays and observances, a music link to a young looking Michael Jackson, factoids of interest, a relevant quote from the Ambassador from Tripoli in 1786 while looking forward to munching on some pretzels, blessed with a positive attitude and secure in the knowledge that if you want to find a gift for any memorable events like birthdays, weddings, or anniversaries, you know that the Alaskanpoet can provide you with a unique customized poem at a great price tailored to the event and the recipient. You need only contact me for details.

1. World Intellectual Property Day—created by the World Intellectual Property Organization to foster awareness of the importance of patents, copyrights, trademarks, designs and trade secrets to our society and economic well being and to bring awareness of the contributions of inventors and innovators.

2. Hug a Friend Day—here is an observance that should be observed daily as nothing beats the power of a hug and here is a bonus—if the hug lasts more than 20 seconds one’s body releases a bonding hormone called oxytocin which lowers blood pressure, lowers heart rate, and helps the body remove the stress hormone cortisol.

3. 1983 Number One Song—celebrating the number one song in 1983 on a run of only three weeks in that position Beat It by the one and only Michael Jackson. Here is a link to Michael Jackson performing Beat It: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ym0hZG-zNOk

4. National Pretzel Day—celebrating one of the world’s oldest snacks first introduced in 610 A.D. in Southern France where monks baked thin strips of dough folded over like a child in prayer. This highly evolved omnivore recommends a box of Snyder’s hard pretzels.

5. Now Here’s a First Lady That Do To Putin What Jackie Kennedy Did de Gaulle—celebrating the birthday on this day in 1970 of Melanie Trump, one very attractive and poised woman who the Donald needs to listen to on the campaign—Putin might even stop the nonsense he is causing in Ukraine for the privilege of sitting next to her at a state dinner at the White House.

On this day in:

a. 1777 16 year old Sybil Ludington rode 40 miles in the night in the rain and mist to warn the Connecticut militia that the British were on their way; brave young woman was she and her ride was twice as long as the famous ride of Paul Revere.

b. 1805 a force of 8 Marines led by ex-consul William Eaton and First Lieutenant Presley O’Bannon captured the eastern port of Derna in what is now known as Libya. The heroic action resulted in the rulers of Tripoli in the west to enter into a peace treaty with the U.S. that terminated the practice of the Barbary Pirates of attack U.S. vessels and selling their crew into slavery and gave us “to the shores of Tripoli” in the Marine Corps hymn.

c. 1937 the German and Italian Air Forces during the Spanish Civil War bombed Guernica in the first use of modern air forces bombing innocent civilians. The bombing inspired Pablo Picasso to create in protest one of his iconic works of art known as “Guernica.”

d. 1956 the SS Ideal X, the world’s first successful container ship left the Port of Newark bound for Houston, Texas.

e. 1986 a nuclear accident occurred at the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant in the Soviet Union (now, assuming Putin encouraged by Obama’s perceived weakness has not marched troops in) resulting in the complete destruction of Reactor Number 4 and the release of vast amounts of radiation into the air as far away as Norway and into the soil.

Reflections on Muslims’ attitudes toward Americans which apparently have not changed in 230 years: “It was written in their Koran, that all nations which had not acknowledged the Prophet were sinners, whom it was the right and duty of the faithful to plunder and enslave; and that every mussulman who was slain in this warfare was sure to go to paradise. He said, also, that the man who was the first to board a vessel had one slave over and above his share, and that when they sprang to the deck of an enemy's ship, every sailor held a dagger in each hand and a third in his mouth; which usually struck such terror into the foe that they cried out for quarter at once." Sidi Haji Abdrahaman, Ambassador from Tripoli in response to Jefferson’s and John Adams’ trying to negotiate an end to the Barbary Pirates' seizing American vessels and selling their crews into slavery 1786. ISIS is selling the same idea that the way to paradise with its mythical virgins is to die fighting the West, Christians and any Muslim who disagrees with their radicalized views.
Please enjoy the poems on events of interest on my twitter account below (if you like them, retweet and follow me) and follow my blogs. Always good, incisive and entertaining poems on my blogs—click on the links below. Go to www.alaskanpoet.blogspot.com for Ridley’s Believe It Or Not—This Day In History, poems to inspire, touch, emote, elate and enjoy and poems on breaking news items of importance or go to Ridley's Believe It Or Not for just This Day In History.

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Monday, April 25, 2016

April 24, 2016 Ridley's Believe It Or Not Fashion Revolution Day

Ridley’s Believe It Or Not For April 24, 2016 Unfortunately still 271 days to go in President Obama’s pathetic lame duck term; political theater continues unabated with five Northeastern states voting this Tuesday with Trump in double digit leads and quickly shedding his pledge to be more presidential; Sanders continues to hammer HRC for pandering to Wall Street and despite increasing pressure from more and more Blues, HRC refuses to release transcripts of her speeches that generated millions of dollars of fees most likely for access and future favors. This woman with her husband is the epitome of quid pro quo corruption and one would hope the FBI probe will recommend her indictment and put this nation out of its misery of having a potential felon running for president. I trust your Sunday is proving to be a great one; and as always, I hope you enjoy today’s holidays and observances, a music link to Hall and Oates, factoids of interest, a relevant quote from Leon Kass while looking forward to enjoying a plate of pigs in a blanket (recipe included), blessed with a positive attitude and secure in the knowledge that if you want to find a gift for any memorable events like birthdays, weddings, or anniversaries, you know that the Alaskanpoet can provide you with a unique customized poem at a great price tailored to the event and the recipient. You need only contact me for details.

1. Fashion Revolution Day—first observed in 2014 to commemorate the 2013 Rana Plaza Building collapse in Bangladesh that killed 1130 garment workers and injured another 2,500 making it the deadliest garment factory disaster in history.

2. World Day for Laboratory Animals—observed since 1979 to protest the use of animals in research and to promote humane treatment of animals while research is being performed on them.

3. 1981 Number One Song—celebrating the number one song in 1981 on a run of three weeks in that position Kiss on My List by Hall and Oates. Here is a link to Hall and Oates performing Kiss on My List: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lsHld-iArOc

4. National Pigs in a Blanket Day—celebrating one of the more popular cocktail fare—cocktail franks wrapped in dough and then baked and here is a recipe to make it easy to enjoy this great snack that will spice up any cocktail party: http://blog.thenibble.com/2012/04/24/food-holiday-national-pigs-in-blankets-day-recipe/

5. Funny Girl, Great Voice, Lousy Politics—celebrating the birthday on this day in 1942 of Barbara Streisand who won a an Oscar for Best Actress in the move Funny Girl and who has sold almost 250 million records but whose politics might be to the left of Bernie Sanders.

On this day in:

a. 1704 the first regular newspaper in the American colonies, The Boston News-Letter was published for the first time; it was in continuous publication until the British evacuated Boston in 1776.

b. 1800 the Library of Congress was established when President John Adams signed legislation authorizing the federal government to spend $5,000 to acquire books.

c. 1895 Joshua Slocum sailed out of Boston Harbor to begin a solo circumnavigation of the world which he completed on June 17, 1898 by returning to Newport, Rhode Island.

d. 1980 in a really bad day for the U.S. Military, eight servicemen were killed in the Iranian dessert during Operation Eagle Claw which was a failed attempt to rescue American Embassy personnel being held hostage in Tehran.

e. 2005 Snuppy, an Afghan hound was cloned by a team of 45 South Korean scientists. Time Magazine called the cloning the “Most Amazing Invention of 2005.”

Reflections on cloning: “Cloning represents a very clear, powerful, and immediate example in which we are in danger of turning procreation into manufacture.” Leon Kass, noted American physician, educator and scientist and opponent of cloning.
Please enjoy the poems on events of interest on my twitter account below (if you like them, retweet and follow me) and follow my blogs. Always good, incisive and entertaining poems on my blogs—click on the links below. Go to www.alaskanpoet.blogspot.com for Ridley’s Believe It Or Not—This Day In History, poems to inspire, touch, emote, elate and enjoy and poems on breaking news items of importance or go to Ridley's Believe It Or Not for just This Day In History.

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April 25, 2016 Ridley's Believe It Or Not Parent Alienation Day

Ridley’s Believe It Or Not For April 25, 2016 Unfortunately still 270 days to go in President Obama’s pathetic lame duck term; in what can only be described as a mouse that roared moment, dragged kicking and screaming President Obama announced that he is sending 250 special ops forces to Iraq to fight ISIS which has to be too little, too late, not enough and some really incredible patriotic Americans by this feckless president placed in harm’s way without sufficient support; fight In political theater continues unabated with five Northeastern states voting this Tuesday with Trump in double digit leads and Kasich and Cruz trying to tag team him into a loss; Sanders continues to attract huge crowds and hammer HRC for pandering to Wall Street and despite increasing pressure from more and more Blues, HRC refuses to release transcripts of her speeches that generated millions of dollars of fees most likely for access and future favors. This woman with her husband is the epitome of quid pro quo corruption and one would hope the FBI probe will recommend her indictment and put this nation out of its misery of having a potential felon running for president. I trust your weekend was a great one and that your Monday is proving to be a great one also; and as always, I hope you enjoy today’s holidays and observances, a music link to Joan Jett and the Blackhearts, factoids of interest, a relevant quote from Steve Maraboli while looking forward to enjoying a slice of warm zucchini bread (recipe included), blessed with a positive attitude and secure in the knowledge that if you want to find a gift for any memorable events like birthdays, weddings, or anniversaries, you know that the Alaskanpoet can provide you with a unique customized poem at a great price tailored to the event and the recipient. You need only contact me for details.

1. World Malaria Day—a World Health Organization observance created in 2007 to create awareness and raising funds for the eradication of one of the deadliest killers on the planet which plagues Africa, Latin America and parts of Asia and which kills hundreds of thousands each year, mostly children.

2. Parent Alienation Awareness Day—observed since 2005 to promote awareness of and combat the collateral damage in a divorce in which the victims are the children and the villains and they are true villains to be despised and castigated, the parents, usually the custodial ones, who go to any lengths to alienate the children of a marriage from the other parent. A special place in Hell should be reserved for them.

3. 1982 Number One Song—celebrating the number one song in 1982 on a long run of seven weeks in that position I Love Rock ‘n Roll by Joan Jett and the Blackhearts. Here is a link to Joan Jett and the Blackhearts performing I Love Rock ‘n Roll: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xL5spALs-eA

4. Zucchini Bread Day—celebrating one of food movements of the “hippie days” of the 60’s; here is a recipe to enable you to go back into the past and enjoy a healthy alternative to Wonder Bread: http://www.thenibble.com/reviews/main/cookies/cakes/zucchini-bread-recipe.asp

5. Life Should Be a Game—celebrating the birthday on this day in 1971 of the iconic and famous game developer and designer Todd Howard, creator of such classics as Fallout 3, Oblivion, and Skyrim.

On this day in:

a. 1859 French and British engineers broke ground for the construction of the Suez Canal.

b. 1901 New York became the first state in the nation to require automobile license plates.

c. 1953 James Watson and Francis Crick published their study describing the double helix structure of DNA.

d. 1954 the first practical solar cell was demonstrated by Bell Labs.

e. 1961 Robert Noyce was issued a patent for his integrated circuit and the computer age was off and running.

Reflections parent alienation syndrome: “Parental Alienation is an emotional act of violence that is aimed at an adult, but critically wounds a child.” Steve Maraboli, noted American author and motivational speaker and if anyone has been through a bitter divorce with children involved his quote has to strike a responsive chord.
Please enjoy the poems on events of interest on my twitter account below (if you like them, retweet and follow me) and follow my blogs. Always good, incisive and entertaining poems on my blogs—click on the links below. Go to www.alaskanpoet.blogspot.com for Ridley’s Believe It Or Not—This Day In History, poems to inspire, touch, emote, elate and enjoy and poems on breaking news items of importance or go to Ridley's Believe It Or Not for just This Day In History.

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