Ridley’s Believe It Or Not For April 29, 2017  Another day another failed ICBM missile test by North Korea in defiance of the civilized world and more importantly China which must be very tired of the fat madman who rules North Korea; despite Maxine Water’s predictions and threats and the rabid obstruction by Schumer and Pelosi and their lackeys, Trump has survived his first 100 days and the “golden wrecking ball” is still moving forward at high speed demolishing Obama’s failed and pathetic legacy;  troubling news that the agency that oversees pipeline construction no longer has a quorum which means some $10 billion in projects are in limbo which means Trump has to ASAP bring candidates to the Senate to face the scathing criticisms and attacks by Schumer’s lackeys; in a hopeful sign that democratic ideals are not completely dead in Russia rallies albeit small were held urging Putin not to run for a 4^th term in 2018 (too bad Russia does not have a prohibition of a third term like we do); for those early risers on May 6 between 3:00 a.m. and 5:00 a.m. they will be treated to the Eta Aquarid meteor shower of up to 30 per hour; almost like a stuck record or a remake of Groundhog Day, Chicago style,  the carnage in Chicago continues unabated with total shootings in 2017 through April 28 increasing  to 1035 and the death toll increasing to 181 (God help those poor minorities being shot mostly by minorities when the weather gets warmer and the shooters’ aim gets really better and there is more daylight to find and shoot victims) and yet nothing, absolutely nothing, appears to be occurring to address this blight on blacks and minorities which is what racism from a black mayor really looks like who appears to care only about the rights of illegal aliens in his sanctuary city  (when will Chicago residents through the city council try to impeach this pathetic, inept mayor?). 

    As always, I hope you enjoy today’s holidays and observances, a music link to Janet Jackson, factoids of interest for this day in history, a relevant quote from Terry Glavin, noted Canadian author and journalist, hoping your behavior does not portray you in a pavonine manner, 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. Day of Remembrance of All Victims of Chemical Warfare—another UN observance since 2005 which after seeing Assad’s use of chemical weapons against his own people is merely a piece of paper, words not backed by action except in the case of Trump and cruise missiles. Interesting to note that North Korea is not a party to the agreement banning the use of chemical weapons but given the unstable nature of its fat leader that should no surprise anyone.

2.  Independent Bookstore Day—always celebrated on the last Saturday in April in an era when nondigital books are becoming an endangered species.

3. 2001 Number One Song—celebrating the number one song in 2001 on a run of 7 weeks in that position “All for You” by Janet Jackson. Here is a recording of Janet Jackson performing the song: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZFnPBiAk5JA

4. Word of the Day—today’s word of the day is “pavonine” which means of or like a peacock.

5. Who Do You Trust?—bemoaning the birth on this day in 1938 of Bernard Madoff, the perpetrator of the largest Ponzi fraud in American history who is now serving a 150 year term in a federal prison where he will die.

On this day in:                                                                                   

a. 1968 the play Hair opened for the first of its 1750 performances at the Biltmore Theater on Broadway.

b. 1986 in a Fahrenheit 451 like moment a fire in the Los Angeles Central Library destroyed some 400,000 books.

c.  1992 after the police officers charged with beating Rodney King were acquitted, riots broke out in Los Angles and over the next three days 53 people were killed and hundreds of buildings were destroyed.

d. 2011 Prince William and Kate Middleton were married in Westminster Cathedral in a televised ceremony watched by millions around the globe.

e. 2015 a baseball game between the Baltimore Orioles and the Chicago White Sox set the record for the all time low number of fans in attendance—0 as the stadium was closed to the public due to rioting in Baltimore prompted by the death of Freddie Gray while in police custody.    

Reflections on chemical weapons and a legacy of complete failure: “In the three years since Obama invited Russia to help him renege on his 'red line' on the use of chemical weapons in Syria, the Syrian Network for Human Rights has documented 136 occasions in which the Assad regime has deployed poison gas in its war on the Syrian people.Terry Glavin, noted Canadian author and journalist. 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.

© April 29, 2017, Michael P. Ridley aka the Alaskanpoet 

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