Tuesday, May 31, 2016

May 31, 2016 Ridley's Believe It Or Not World No Tobacco Day

Ridley’s Believe It Or Not For May 31, 2016 Finally only 234 days to endure President Obama’s pathetic lame duck term. Political theater in really high gear with Hillary watching Sanders surge leaves New Jersey in a panic mode and heads back to California and Sanders basks in the adulation of the fans at a Warrior game but has a rally disrupted by of all people animal rights supporters; national polls continue to show Trump gaining ground and in a tit for tat moment Sanders endorsed Debbie Wasserman Schultz’s primary opponent. On the day after Memorial Day another VA hospital, this one in Tacoma, is slammed by its own IG, prompting more Senate hearings—when will this mess ever be fixed? As always I trust your Tuesday is off to a great start and that you will enjoy today’s holidays and observances, a music link to the Everly Brothers, factoids of interest, a relevant quote from Adrienne Herron, while looking forward to enjoying a few macaroons (killer recipe below), 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 No Tobacco Day—created by the World Health Organization in 1987 to promote abstinence of the use of any tobacco for at least 24 hours to promote awareness of the 6,000,000 deaths at least caused tobacco use, including some 600,000 victims who are exposed to second hand smoke. Great observance but should be observed daily, one day at a time until tobacco use is eradicated from the globe.

2. National Meditation Day—here is another observance that should be observed each and every day not just on May 31. Why limit the benefits of meditation—achievement of a higher state of consciousness, greater focus, awareness, creativity and a relaxed and tranquil state of mind to only one day in the year?

3. 1960 Number One Song—celebrating the number one song in 1950 on a run of five weeks in that position Cathy’s Clown by the Everly Brothers. Here’s a link to the Everly Brothers performing the song on a very young looking Dick Clark: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UonBS_mvW-E

4. National Macaroon Day—celebrating those tasty cookies using egg whites as opposed to flour that have been a staple of Italian and French cooking for centuries. Here is a failsafe recipe complete with photos for a coconut macaroon that even someone who can barely boil water would master. http://www.onceuponachef.com/2014/12/coconut-macaroons.html bon appétit!

5. Democracy Is Always Served By Its Own Bard—celebrating the birthday on this day in 1819 of Walt Whitman, one of America’s most influential poets best remembered for Leaves of Grass and known as the “Bard of Democracy.”

On this day in:

a. 1790 to the joy of authors, including poets, the U.S. enacted its first copyright statute, the Copyright Act of 1790 which provided copyright protection for 14 years with a right to renew for an additional 14 years.

b. 1889 a private dam above the town of Johnstown, Pennsylvania failed, releasing a flood of water that equaled briefly the water flow of the Mississippi River which destroyed the town and killed over 2,200. The public outcry over the failure of the legal system to punish the owners was instrumental in moving our tort system from fault based to strict liability.

c. 1929 the first talking Mickey Mouse cartoon, the Kartoon Kid was released. D.C.

d. 1971 in accordance with the Uniform Monday Holiday Act passed in 1968, Memorial Day was observed for the first time on this day as opposed to the traditional May 30th.

e. 1977 after nine years following the discovery of oil in Prudhoe Bay, the Trans-Alaska Pipeline was completed over the objections of environmentalists which in the pipeline’s construction and operation have largely proven to be unfounded just as the same objections in the case of Keystone XL assuming we elect a president who will take his or her climate change blinders off will prove to be.

Reflections on smoking and secondhand smoke “Secondhand smoke is the third leading cause of preventative death in the United States. For every eight smokers that die, they take one non-smoker with them.” Adrienne Herron

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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Perfect Gift, All Recipients to Receive a Lasting Lift

Monday, May 30, 2016

May 30, 2016 Ridley's Believe It Or Not Memorial Day

Ridley’s Believe It Or Not For May 30, 2016 Finally only 235 days to endure President Obama’s pathetic lame duck term. The Balkanization of politics continues with the Libertarian Party nominating the duo of Larson and Weld and rumors flying of another independent candidate floating about; hopefully Sanders will run also as an independent which would guarantee with five candidates the election would most likely be decided by the House which has not occurred since 1824 when it selected John Quincy Adams over Andrew Jackson—what a nightmare but it might block a real disaster of four years of the most nontransparent, dishonest and as Trump would say crooked president we have ever had. The Reds continue to self destruct as prominent political figures are skipping the Red Convention and the schism in the Blues gets larger and larger. Not wonder this is the year of the outsider as many feel our government no longer works. As always, I hope your Memorial Day is proving to be a great one and that you enjoy today’s holidays and observances, a music link to Wilbert Harrison, factoids of interest, a relevant quote from Thomas William Parsons with a poetic footnote by the Alaskanpoet, while looking forward to enjoying a mint julep, 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. Memorial Day—once the barbecue grills are cleaned, the beer and wine bottles tossed into the trash, the volleyball nets taken down, the picnic gear stowed and notes of taps and all the patriotic speeches have faded away, a fervent wish that sacrifices of vets not be forgotten and the outrage over the abysmal treatment by the VA sweep this country to force the solving of the long wait times causing deaths and suicides and the firing of incompetent administrators.

2. Water A Flower Day—even though Trump is stating there is no drought in California, only the diversion of water to fish as opposed to farms, today might be the day as the summer season is now officially upon us.

3. 1959 Number One Song—celebrating the number one song in 1959 on a run of two weeks in that position Kansas City by Wilbert Harrison. Here’s a link to Wilbert Harrison performing the song on a very young looking Dick Clark: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UonBS_mvW-E

4. National Mint Julep Day—celebrating the cocktail that is synonymous with the running of the Kentucky Derby; why celebrated today defies logic until one realizes that mint juleps were being consumed on plantations long before the Kentucky Derby was run and the drink did not become the signature drink at the Kentucky Derby until 1938.

5. If You Drink Like A Fish Swim Don’t Drive Day—celebrating or bemoaning depending on whether you are a probable DUI candidate and all the risk to others and yourself that implies, the birthday on this day in 1946 of Cindy Lightner who after her daughter Cari was killed by a drunk driver in 1980 founded Mothers Against Drunk Drivers; sadly despite all the efforts of MADD drunk driving still claims far too many deaths and carnage on our streets and highways.

On this day in:

a. 1806 future president Andrew Jackson at a border town in Kentucky (dueling in Kentucky was permitted but outlawed in Tennessee where both duelists resided) killed Charles Dickinson in a duel despite being hit in the chest.

b. 1911 Ray Haroun won the first Indy 500 with a blistering at that time speed of 74.59 miles per hour.

c. 1922 the Lincoln Memorial was dedicated in Washington, D.C.

d. 1958 the remains of two unidentified servicemen, one from WWII and the other from the Korean War, are buried at the tomb of the unknown soldier at Arlington National Cemetery.

e. 2013 Nigeria banned same sex marriage; not a place a same sex couple would want to be with penalties for homosexuality of 14 years but if in Sharia controlled areas the penalty is death.

Reflections on Memorial Day “On thy grave the rain shall fall from the eyes of a mighty nation!" — Thomas William Parsons, noted 19^th Century American dentist and poet Thanks to all veterans who have served/For their patriotism to our way of life preserve/ Tell Obama and Congress they are not getting the care they deserve/ Those warriors who stepped into harm’s way without reserve

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Perfect Gift, All Recipients to Receive a Lasting Lift

Sunday, May 29, 2016

May 29, 2016 Ridley's Believe It Or Not International Day of UN Peacekeepers

Ridley’s Believe It Or Not For May 29, 2016 Finally less than 236 days to go in President Obama’s pathetic lame duck term. The political theater remains hot and heavy as even the leftist mouthpiece the New York Times is reporting a growing concern the Hillary is not finding her footing and now Sanders is finally now raising her private email controversy by reminding voters and the superdelegates to review the IG’s report; Trump continues to hammer home the fact she is crooked and the smoking gun which has not yet been produced but one have to believe given her ego and success rate in dodging scandals are emails that were wiped but may be recoverable by the FBI will provide a clear electronic trail link between Bill’s speeches and Foundation contributions; the latest Blue to weigh in on the race is Diane Feinstein, who once was outraged about being lied to by the potential First Predator over Monica Lewinsky, who is now telling Bernie Sanders that his race is almost over and in no uncertain terms suggesting he drop out—watching the campaign of HRC a better conclusion might be she is so flawed that even with all his warts, Trump will clean her clock; the Indy 500 is being run today for the 100^th time and Trump is appearing at Rolling Thunder in D.C. honoring our vets. As always, I hope your Sunday is proving to be a great one and that you enjoy today’s holidays and observances, a music links to the Everly Brothers, factoids of interest, a relevant quote from Ban Ki-moon, while looking forward to enjoying a generous serving of coq au vin (tasty recipe below) hamburger or two, 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 Digestive Health Day—initiated by the World Gastroenolgy Organization to promote awareness of gastrointestinal diseases and problems and to provide education to prevent such issues as ulcers, colitis and obesity.

2. International Day of UN Peacekeepers—celebrating the efforts and sacrifices of UN Peacekeepers who were first used on this day in 1948 in the Middle East and who service in numerous conflicts around the globe.

3. 1958 Number One Song—celebrating the number one song in 1958 on a run of four weeks in that position All I Have to Do Is Dream by the Everly Brothers. Here’s a link to the Everly Brothers performing the song: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lTYe9eDqxe8

4. National Coq Au Vin Day—celebrating the perfect meal to spice up and otherwise boring chicken as long as the chef does not drink too much of the wine. Here is a killer recipe that will make you and your guests wanting to speak French. http://www.thenibble.com/REVIEWS/MAIN/meats/coq-au-vin-recipe.asp

5. Thanks for the Memories--celebrating the birthday on this day in 1903 of comedian and actor Bob Hope who, patriot that he was performed for the USO for over fifty years; many of the veterans of WWII, Korea and Vietnam buried at Arlington or other military cemeteries more like than not would have been entertained by him and his troupe of actors, actresses and singers. Bob quipped his last joke on July 27, 2003.

On this day in:

a. 1790 in a what took you so long moment, Rhode Island became the last of the original colonies to ratify the U.S. Constitution and become the 13^th State.

b. 1852 Jenny Lind, the Swedish Nightingale, after a two year concert tour in the United States returned to Europe. The tour commenced due to an invitation from P. T. Barnum.

c. 1932 WWI veterans began to assemble in Washington, D.C. to demand payment of sums promised for their service which were originally supposed to be paid in 1945. In another glaring example of how an ungrateful nation treats its vets, in July the Attorney General ordered shanty town on public lands be torn down and the 43,000 vets and their family member removed; vets refused and General MacArthur with 6 tanks forcibly evicted them. Fortunately for the vets Congress in 1936 over President Roosevelt’s veto authorized immediate payment some nine years earlier.

d. 1964 the Arab League met to discuss the situation in Palestine, leading to the formation of the Palestine Liberation Organization.

e. 2004 in another what took you so long moment, the National World War II Monument was dedicated in Washington, D.C.

Reflections on UN Peacekeeping: “The U.N.'s impartiality allows it to negotiate and operate in some of the toughest places in the world. And time and again, studies have shown that U.N. peacekeeping is far more effective and done with far less money than what any government can do on its own.” Ban Ki-moon UN Secretary General
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.

Poet Extraordinaire Beyond Compare
The Perfect Gift, All Recipients to Receive a Lasting Lift

Perfect Gift, All Recipients to Receive a Lasting Lift

Saturday, May 28, 2016

May 28, 2016 Ridley's Believe It Or Not Amnesty International Day

Ridley’s Believe It Or Not For May 28, 2016 Finally less than 237 days to go in President Obama’s pathetic lame duck term. The political theater is heating up violently in the case of another mini riot of a 1,000 against a Trump campaign rally in San Diego yesterday complete with at least 35 arrests, Mexican flags flying and stones and bottles being thrown at the police( are we looking at a repeat of the 1968 Democratic Convention at the Republican Convention in Cleveland?); HRC continues to insist that the IG’s report will have no impact on the election; Trump alleging that the DNC has rigged the system against Sanders and will not allow him to become the nominee withdrew his debate offer—too bad it would have been nice to expose Sanders’ socialist ideas to ridicule. On the medical front, the dreaded “super bug,” bacteria resistant to any existing antibiotic has made its first appearance in the U.S. and the WHO is calling for moving the Summer Olympics to another venue due to the Zika virus. As always, I hope your Saturday is proving to be a great one and that you enjoy today’s holidays and observances, music links to Elvis and Credence Clearwater Revival, factoids of interest, a relevant quote from Peter Benenson, while looking forward to enjoying a hamburger or two, 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. Menstrual Hygiene Day—initiated by WASH United in 2014 to promote menstrual hygiene globally and is sponsored by some 270 organizations.

2. Amnesty International Day—always celebrated on May 28 to advance and promote the cause of human rights and political prisoners around the world.

3. 1957 Number One Song—celebrating the number one song in 1957 on a long run of eight weeks in that position All Shook Up by Elvis Presley. Here’s a link to Elvis performing All Shook Up: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JJ0K_DC9rUg

4. International Hamburger Day—celebrating the perfect meal for a Memorial Day Weekend, especially if you marinate your burger and cook it to your taste on a barbecue.

5. Good Songs Rising--celebrating the birthday on this day in 1945 of John Fogerty who formed the band Credence Clearwater Revival at the age of 14 whose songs included such hits as Bad Moon Rising and Proud Mary. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zUQiUFZ5RDw

On this day in:

a. 1588 the Spanish Armada with 130 ships and 30,000 set sail for its rendezvous in the English Channel with disaster against the English and storms.

b. 1830 President Andrew Jackson signed the Indian Removal Act resulting in the removal of southern Indian tribes to federal lands west of the Mississippi River and marked the beginning of decades of treachery and breaking of numerous treaties by the U.S.—not a period of high morality on our part.

c. 1892 in San Francisco John Muir founded the Sierra Club. d. 1996 President Clinton and Hillary Clinton who managed to escape indictment in typical Clinton fashion watched their business partners in the Whitewater Land Scandal, Jim and Susan McDougal, and Arkansas governor Jim Guy Tucker be convicted of fraud. In a real war on women so typical of the Clintons, Susan McDougal spent 22 months in jail as a result of her refusal to answer three questions on whether Bill Clinton lied to the grand jury. At least he pardoned her in the remaining hours of his term showing he still possessed a very minute sense of conscience.

e. 2002 NATO declared Russia to be a limited partner in the western alliance—amazing how far relations have changed under the Obama/Clinton “leadership” with Putin announcing that Romania and Poland are now in Russias’s “crosshairs.”

Reflections on Amnesty International from its founder: “Those who today still feel a sense of impotence can do something: they can support Amnesty International. They can help it to stand up for freedom and justice.” Peter Benenson, British journalist who founded Amnesty International
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.

Poet Extraordinaire Beyond Compare
The Perfect Gift, All Recipients to Receive a Lasting Lift

Perfect Gift, All Recipients to Receive a Lasting Lift

Friday, May 27, 2016

May 27, 2016 Ridley's Believe It Or Not Sunscreen Protection Day

Ridley’s Believe It Or Not For May 27, 2016 Fortunately less than 238 days to go in President Obama’s pathetic lame duck term; political theater in high gear as the Libertarian Party holds its convention this weekend with its likely nominee Gary Johnson polling at 11 percent and raising great speculation whether he will siphon more votes from Trump or Clinton (assuming she wins the nomination which given the IG’s report and the continuing FBI investigation is looking less and less likely; HRC is still in denial that she has done anything wrong but look for her unfavorability numbers to increase; on a non political theater note this weekend in Orange County is the annual Highland Games and Scottish Festival at the Orange County Fairgrounds. As always, I hope your Friday is off to a great start and that you enjoy today’s holidays and observances, a music link to Elvis, factoids of interest, a relevant quote from Olivia Wilde, while looking forward to enjoying a grape popsicle, blessed with a positive attitude and plenty of sunscreen 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. Sunscreen Protection Day—as summer officially begins with the Memorial Day Week, a reminder of the need to use sunscreen to protect one’s skin from the harmful effects of UV radiation.

2. Heat Awareness Day—in addition to the need for sunscreen, the onset of summer the need to be aware that excessive heat is deadly and to be aware of the need to stay hydrated and to know the symptoms of excessive heat.

3. 1956 Number One Song—celebrating the number one song in 1956 on a run of eight weeks in that position Heartbreak Hotel by Elvis Presley. Here’s a link to Elvis performing Heartbreak Hotel: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e9BLw4W5KU8

4. National Grape Popsicle Day—celebrating a great way to stay cool on a hot summer day.

5. Raising Caine—celebrating the birthday on this day in 1915 Herman Wouk, noted Pulitzer Prize winning author of the Caine Mutiny and Winds of War who celebrated his 101^st birthday today.

On this day in:

a. 1907 an epidemic of the Bubonic plague broke out in San Francisco.

b. 1927 Ford ceased manufacturing the Model T and began tooling up to manufacture the Model A.

c. 1933 to the joys of lawyers present and in the future the Securities Act of 1933 was signed into law.

d. 1965 the U.S. Navy began bombarding Viet Cong targets in South Vietnam.

e. 1997 in a portent of the embarrassment this nation may face if Bill Clinton occupies the White House as the First Man, SCOTUS ruled that Paula Jones could pursue her sexual harassment suit against President Clinton while he was still in office.

Reflections tanning: “In a thousand years, archaeologists will dig up tanning beds and think we fried people as punishment.” -Olivia Wilde, noted American actress and activist.

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Thursday, May 26, 2016

May 26, 2016 Ridley's Believe It Or Not National Paper Airplane Day

Ridley’s Believe It Or Not For May 26, 2016 Finally less than 239 days to go in President Obama’s pathetic lame duck term with him visiting Japan and Vietnam as China expands its presence in the South China Sea. The political theater is heating up violently in the case of another mini riot against a Trump campaign rally in Anaheim yesterday complete with arrests, Mexican flags flying and stones and bottles being thrown at the police; HRC was slammed by the State Department’s IG for failing to follow rules on emails while not appearing before the IG and forbidding her top aides to do likewise and by Sanders for her refusing to debate him before the all important California primary (Trump offered to debate him with proceeds going to charity an offer which Sanders immediately accepted); while she was slamming Trump for making a profit when the real estate bubble fueled in large part by actions of her husband burst. The new attack dog Elizabeth Warren who has been attacking Trump for his real estate deals has now been exposed as a typical political hack hypocrite by flipping six houses and making large profits. Doubtful theater will not end before the election. As always, I hope your Thursday is proving to be a great one and that you enjoy today’s holidays and observances, a music link to Perez Prado, factoids of interest, a relevant quote from an anonymous source, while looking forward to enjoying a your favorite cherry desert (killer recipe for cherry tiramisu below), 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. Red Nose Day—celebrated since 2015 and devoted to raising money for children in need and to fulfill the hidden desires of the clowns that reside within us all; today is the day to buy a red nose at Walgreens and watch NBC’s star studded performance from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. and open your wallets.

2. National Paper Airplane Day—always celebrated on May 26 as a means to gather to make and fly paper airplanes (what better to germinate a love of aeronautical engineering than to introduce your children or grandchildren to art of making paper airplanes to see how long they will remain in the air or how far they will fly.

3. 1955 Number One Song—celebrating the number one song in 1955 on a long run of ten weeks in that position Cherry Pink and Apple Blossom White by Perez Prado. Here’s a link to Perez Prado performing Cherry Pink and Apple Blossom White: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zj64NlRnpDY

4. National Cherry Desert Day—celebrating a fruit that has been around and enjoyed for thousands of years and contains more antioxidants than apples, oranges, plums, raspberries and strawberries combined but always remember to be careful of cracking a crown or filling by biting down on a pit you failed to remove. Here is a recipe for a cherry tiramisu that has perfect timing as cherries are hitting the markets in increasing quantities with reduced prices. http://www.thenibble.com/REVIEWS/main/fruits/cherry-facts4.asp

5. The Duke of Cinema--celebrating the birthday on this day in 1907 of an aspiring Trojan football player, Marion Morrison aka John Wayne who became an iconic actor but unfortunately was a heavy chain smoker and died of cancer in 1979; in our PC world our pathetic left leaning Assembly refused to name today as John Wayne Day so Newport Beach and Orange County put the proverbial saddle on the horse and designated today as John Wayne Day. On this day in:

a. 1896 Dow Jones created an index of 12 companies trading on the New York Stock Exchange of which only General Electric is still on the Dow today; today the Dow Jones Average will open near 18,000 and closed its first day in 1896 at 40.94.

b. 1908 the first major commercial oil strike in the Middle East was made at Masjed Soleyman in Persia (Iran).

c. 1937 the Golden Gate Bridge opened to traffic.

d. 1998 SCOTUS ruled that Ellis Island the main entry point for immigrants was located mainly in New Jersey and not New York.

e. 2012 in a scene from The Walking Dead, Rudy Eugene aka the Miami Zombie falsely accused a homeless man, Ronald Poppo, of stealing his Bible, attacked him under the MacArthur Causeway in Miami and then proceeded to bite off huge chunks of flesh on his face rendering him blind and disfigured. Eugene was shot and killed by police after he stopped eating only long enough to snarl at them.

Reflections on fears and paper airplanes: “She folded up her fears like paper airplanes and flew them into the wind, never to return again.” anon. Nice image of fears leaving.
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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The Perfect Gift, All Recipients to Receive a Lasting Lift

Perfect Gift, All Recipients to Receive a Lasting Lift

Wednesday, May 25, 2016

May 25, 2016 Ridley's Believe It Or Not National Missing Children's Day

Ridley’s Believe It Or Not For May 25, 2016 Unfortunately still 240 days to go in President Obama’s pathetic lame duck term. The political theater is heating up violently in the case of a mini riot against a Trump campaign rally in New Mexico yesterday complete with Mexican flags flying and stones and bottles being thrown at the police—Trump will be here in Anaheim this afternoon leading many to question will there be more of the same. HRC was slammed by the State Department’s IG for failing to follow rules on emails and she was slamming Trump for making a profit when the real estate bubble burst. One of her lap dogs, Terry McAuliffe is under investigation for illegal campaign contributions; the can of worms of the First Dude being the First Sexual Predator continues to muddy the campaign trail and evidence of the fracturing of the Blues very evident as rumor has it that one of the more divisive ideologues Debbie Wasserman Schultz may be removed from her position as head of the DNC. When if ever will the theater end? As always, I hope your Wednesday is proving to be a great one and that you enjoy today’s holidays and observances, a music link as we have fled rap to Perry Como, factoids of interest, a video link to Hands Across America while looking forward to enjoying a your brown bag lunch with or without some wine, 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 Missing Children’s Day—commemorating the proclamation by President Reagan in 1983 of National Missing Children’s Day to create awareness of the problem of child abduction and the lack of plans to fight this for parents the worse gut wrenching stressful moment no parent should ever have to endure.

2. National Tap Dance Day—always celebrated on May 25, the birthday of Bill “Bojangles” Robinson, a leading contributor this unique American art form.

3. 1954 Number One Song—celebrating the number one song in 1954 on a long run of eight weeks in that position Wanted by Perry Como. Here’s a link to Perry Como crooning Wanted: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G6jefE26X8g

4. National Brown Bag Day/ National Wine Day—celebrating a way to cut down on your lunch costs at work while with a little panache adding a split of wine to wash down your dry sandwich or cold chicken.

5. Waking Through Depression--celebrating the birthday on this day in 1908 of a poet/professor who fought depression and was committed to sanitariums several times but was awarded the Pulitzer Prize for poetry in 1954 for The Waking.

On this day in:

a. 1878 Gilbert and Sullivan’s comic opera H.M.S. Pinafore opened at the Opera Comique in London.

b. 1914 the House of Commons passed the Home Rule Act aimed at creating devolution in Ireland; unfortunately World War I intervened in August putting Irish Independence on hold.

c. 1953 the United States conducted at the Nevada Nuclear Test Site its first and only test (thank God!) of a 155 millimeter artillery piece firing a tactical nuclear shell. Can you imagine the proliferation and escalation chaos that we would have experienced had we used nuclear artillery shells in combat not to mention the radiation poisoning dangers faced by our troops in cases of winds blowing the radiation cloud back in their faces?

d. 1977 in a Force Be With You Moment, Star Wars was released in theaters in the United States.

e. 1986 over six million Americans participated in Hands Across America by holding hands and singing on over 4,152 miles of streets, roads, highways and bridges to raise funds for the homeless and the hungry for fifteen minutes at 3:00 p.m. Eastern Time.

Reflections on the day to help our fellow human beings America stood united as one, under one flag and a common purpose. Here is a video link to open and scroll down to see video of over 6 million of your fellow citizens singing and holding hands. http://www.catholicreview.org/blogs/god-is-in-the-clouds/2013/05/27/looking-back-to-1986-hands-across-america
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.

Poet Extraordinaire Beyond Compare
The Perfect Gift, All Recipients to Receive a Lasting Lift

Perfect Gift, All Recipients to Receive a Lasting Lift

Friday, May 20, 2016

May 20, 2016 Ridley's Believe It Or Not World Metrology Day

Ridley’s Believe It Or Not For May 20, 2016 Unfortunately still 245 days to go in President Obama’s pathetic lame duck term. Still too early to call the downing of EgyptAir flight 804 as a terrorist act but Trump has already thrown down the gauntlet over Obama’s and HRC’s inability to identify radical Islam while HRC, the architect of a failed Libya policy and who put or national security at risk with her private email server, claims Trump is unfit to be president. At least Trump has a sense of humor indicating at a fund raiser for Chris Christie that Chris should boycott Oreos due to Nabisco’s moving facilities to Mexico which would be a plus for his diet. Political theater in high gear as HRC has not committed to another debate with Bernie Sanders—given her unlikeability and perception of complete dishonesty, it is easy to see why she would want to avoid another debate. As always, I hope your Friday is proving to be a great one and that you enjoy today’s holidays and observances, a music link as we have fled rap to Percy Faith, factoids of interest, a relevant quote from Loretta Lynch while looking forward to enjoying a generous serving of quiche Lorraine (recipe below), 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 Metrology Day—commemorating the execution by representatives of 17 nations of the Metre Convention which provided the framework for universal standards of measurement in science and business.

2. Endangered Species Day—always celebrated on the third Friday of May to promote awareness of the harmful effects on plants and animals by humans in their destruction of habitat needed by plants and animals to survive.

3. 1953 Number One Song—celebrating the number one song in 1953 on a long run of ten weeks in that position Where Is Your Heart? by Percy Faith. Here’s a link to Percy Faith performing Where Is Your Heart?: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LPDF2ORPOFQ

4. National Quiche Lorraine Day—celebrating a dish that is welcomed at breakfast, lunch, dinner or even as a snack at a cocktail party. Here is an easy recipe to follow and enjoy. http://www.thenibble.com/reviews/main/cheese/cheese2/cheese-quiche-recipe2.asp

5. I Got You Babe--celebrating the birthday on this day in 1946 of Cher who has evolved from her duo status with Sonny to become an accomplished singer and actress in her own right.

On this day in:

a. 1570 Cartographer Abraham Orbelius issued his Theatrum Orbis Terrarum, the world’s first modern atlas although most of the globe had not yet been discovered by Europeans.

b. 1862 President Abraham Lincoln signed the Homestead Act into law, opening up the American West for settlement and marking the beginning of the end of the American Indians’ way of life.

c. 1882 the volcano Krakatoa began to erupt culminated three months later with a massive eruption that killed 36,000 people.

d. 1927 Charles Lindbergh at 7:52 a.m. took off from Roosevelt Field in Long Island to attempt the world’s first solo flight across the Atlantic, touching down at Bourget Field in Paris at 10:22 p.m. the next day.

e. 1996 SCOTUS in the case of Romer v Evans struck down a Colorado statute that barred any governmental entity from passing legislation or taking any action that would have protected the rights of gays and lesbians.

Reflections on our obligations as humans to protect endangered species: “We all have a responsibility to protect endangered species, both for their sake and for the sake of our own future generations.” Loretta Lynch, U.S. Attorney General
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