July 8, 2016 Ridley's Believe It Or Not SCUD

Ridley’s Believe It Or Not For July 8, 2016.  Finally only 196 more days to endure President Obama’s pathetic lame duck term which HRC wants to extend another four years and will be helped by Obama who is now on the campaign trail and twisting Bernie Sanders’ arm to endorse her; a sad and tragic day in Dallas when gunmen opened fire on police officers  protecting a peaceful protest march on the recent police killings  of blacks in Louisiana and Minnesota, killing 5 and wounding seven; what is also tragic is Obama who had prior to the attack railed against police bias against minorities, like a Pavlovian dog, before the dead officers were even in the morgue and the 7 wounded were being treated with 3 in critical condition, without any facts on what guns were used and how they were acquired, or the affiliation of dead shooter and the three suspects, renewed his crusade for gun control while Trump and Clinton at least had the decency to cancel their campaign. Sad day for tolerance and understanding in this nation and yet another stain on a failed president who was elected on hope and change and the promise to unite when his record has been to divide.

         Although providing no solace to the victims of these shootings in Dallas and their families and loved ones, the markets have continued to rally and are now trading above the levels just prior to the Brexit vote.

        As always I trust your Friday is off to a great start and that you will enjoy today’s holidays and observances, a music link to the Beatles, factoids of interest, a relevant quote from Theodore H. White,  while  looking forward to enjoying a large slice of German chocolate cake (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 FATHERS’ DAY, GRADUATIONS, 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. SCUD—commemorating not those short range mobile SCUD missiles used by Iraq against the U.S. and Israel in Desert Storm but rather an acronym for  a great observance since 2009 Savor the Comic Unplug the Drama Day--laughter trumps drama any day of the week!        

2. Video Games Day—celebrating the fun and exciting video games bring to our youth and adults who are kids at heart but bemoaning the increasing obesity among players who burn up few calories in front of a game console instead of activities involving physical exertion.          

3. 1994 Number One Song—celebrating the number one song in 1994 on a long, long run of eleven weeks in that position “I Swear” by All-4-One. Here is a link to All-4-One performing the song: 

4. National Chocolate With Almonds Day—celebrating a great chocolate candy bar or almond nut clusters coated in chocolate.

5. Bring Home The Bacon To Keep Not To Lose—celebrating the birthday on this day of actor Kevin Bacon whose acting career started with Animal House and really took off with Footloose but lost a lot of bacon by investing in Bernie Madoff’s Ponzi scheme.

On this day in

a. 1889 the first edition of the Wall Street Journal was published.

b. 1898 gangster Soapy Smith (so named for the prize soap bar racket) was killed on the Juneau Wharf in Skagway, Alaska releasing the town and the nearby prospectors from his iron criminal grip.

c. 1932 the Dow Jones Average during the Great Depression closed at its lowest point in history 41.32; although almost like comparing oranges to apples, the Dow is trading today at above 18,100 to the joy of investors who did not panic when the market fell after Brexit.

d. 1960 Francis Gary Powers was charged with espionage after being shot down in his U-2 spy plane over the skies of the Soviet Union, convicted and sentenced to three years in prison and seven years in a labor camp; after serving 1 year, 9 months and 10 days he was exchanged of Russian spy Rudolph Abel.

e. 2011 in a sad passing of an era the Space Shuttle Atlantis lifted off into space for the last Space Shuttle Mission—it currently is on display at the Kennedy Space Center.  Demonstrating how far this country under Obama has fallen in terms of space exploration, we now have to pay Russians millions to put astronauts into space to reach the International Space Station.   

Reflections on the culture of video games: “Every age has its storytelling form, and video gaming is a huge part of our culture. You can ignore or embrace video games and imbue them with the best artistic quality. People are enthralled with video games in the same way as other people love the cinema or theatre.” Andy Serkis, noted English actor and voice artist.
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© July 8, 2016, Michael P. Ridley aka the Alaskanpoet 
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