Ridley's Believe It Or Not--This Day In History: 2018

Monday, December 31, 2018

December 31, 2018 Ridley's Believe It Or Not New Year's Eve

Ridley’s Believe It Or Not For December 31, 2018 Trump is fighting the Blues tooth and nail over the need for a border wall and was helped by the hypocrisy of one Barack Obama whose residence is well protected by a ten foot wall but the citizens of this country have to without (what a flaming hypocrite); Lindsay Graham who was a critic of Trump’s Syria withdrawal strategy emerged from a lunch with the president indicating he feels much better; Louis C.K. a standup comedian who faced allegations this year of sexual harassment is in the news unfavorably, caught on audible mocking survivors of the Parkland school mass murder (good way to ruin a career with a double whammy of sexual harassment and contempt for shooting survivors); it’s going to be a cold, wet miserable night in Time’s Square as a major storm is expected to hit the East Coast; Sanders campaign may be in derail mode before even starting as former staffers on his 2016 have written to him requesting a meeting to discuss the predatory nature of his campaign (he needs a sexual predatory charge like the proverbial hole in the head); on the sports front, the Colts with Andrew Luck humming on all cylinders came back from a 1-5 start at the season to beat the Titans and make it into the playoffs, only the second team in history to do that; on the space front NASA’s New Horizons probe which was launched ten years ago is set to fly past Ultima Thule a small planet 30 miles across that is a billion miles further past Pluto in the Kuiper belt within 2,000 miles (amazing feat of navigation); the minimum wage will rise in 20 states and 21 cities effective January 1 (it will be interesting to see whether the increase is offset by people being laid off); a federal district judge in Texas as issued a stay order while the decision outlawing it because of the repeal of the individual mandate (another casualty of the Republican Senate failing by one vote to repeal and replace); only one day left to see if Chicago death toll cracks 500 in 2018 as through December 29, 2018, 2948 people mostly of color have been shot by mostly people of color, of whom 493 have died (when will Chicago get serious about this carnage or is this the case of true racism as a Blue run city turns a deaf ear and a blind eye to the slaughter of mostly people of color by mostly people of color).

As always, I hope you enjoy today’s holidays and observances, a music link to Diana Ross and the Supremes, factoids of interest for this day in history, the fact that no dark clouds are obtenebrating over you and a relevant quote from Hahmet Murat Ildan on the New Year, secure in the knowledge that if you want to find a gift for any memorable events like college 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. New Years Eve—celebrating the end of the year, hopefully if driving to or from a celebration in a safe and sane manor.

2. National Champagne Day—appropriate holiday as champagne is toasted when the clock strikes midnight, “Auld Lang Syne” is sung and one’s date or spouse is kissed.

3. 1986 Number One Song— the number one song on this day in 1986 on a run of 1 week in that position was “Someday We’ll Be Together” by Diana Ross and the Supremes. Here is a recording of the song: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ixEOMB6jyEE

4. Word of the Day—today’s word of the day as we move from words beginning with “n” to words beginning with “o” is “obtenebrate” which means to cast a shadow over which is exactly what a major trade war with China will do to our economy.

5. Queen of Disco--celebrating the birth on this day in 1948 of noted and successful singer LaDonna Adrian Gaines better known as Donna Summer who sold over 100 million records and although a nonsmoker died at age 63 from lung cancer that she believed was caused by the smoke and ash she was exposed to on 9/11.

On this day in:

a. 1759 Arthur Guinness signed a 9000 year lease at £45 a year and began to the delight of beer lovers brewing Guinness beer.

b. 1907 the first New Year’s Eve celebration was held in Times Square (then known as Longacre Square).

c. 1951 the Marshall Plan was disbanded after distributing $13.1 billion of foreign aid to the devastated countries of Western Europe (worth $128.45 billion in today’s dollars).

d. 1983 the AT&T Bell System was broken up by the U.S. Department of Justice.

e. 2018 Valletta, Malta and Leeuwarden, the Netherlands became the European Capitals for Culture for 2018.

Reflections on New Year’s Eve: “The New Year is a painting not yet painted; a path not yet stepped on; a wing not yet taken off! Things haven’t happened as yet! Before the clock strikes twelve, remember that you are blessed with the ability to reshape your life!” Mehmet Murat ildan, noted contemporary playwright, author and thinker.

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 www.Alaskanpoethistory.blogspot.com for just This Day in History.

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Sunday, December 30, 2018

December 30, 2018 Ridley's Believe It Or Not Bacon Day

Ridley’s Believe It Or Not For December 30, 2018 On the securing the border front, outgoing chief of staff for Trump has contradicted Trump that it is a wall confirming the deterioration of the relationship between the two of them; Rudy Giuliani has charged that Mueller has deliberately covered up the destruction or misplacement of Strozk and Paige text messages showing bias and blaming the death of Singh on California Democrats’ passage of SB 54; Facebook is back in the news again with revelations that is banned Franklin Graham due to his 2016 post in support of North Carolina’s law basing bathroom access on biology as opposed to sexual orientation (Facebook has apologized, reposted his post kkand ended the ban but classifying opposition to sexual orientation as “hate speech” is troubling) on the white bias front, organizers of the Women’s March scheduled next month in Eureka, California have cancelled the event because the participants were overly white; Florida which overwhelmingly passed a proposition that restored voting rights to felons otgher than murderers or sex offenders who have completed their sentence and no longer under parole or probation is causing concern among the affected one million residents as politicians are raising questions on how to implement which may prevent eligible felons from voting in elections that will begin before the legislature returns in session; the blame game is in full force and effect in the Swamp over the partial shutdown (suggestion why not convene leaders of ICE and the Border Patrol to testify what they would like on the border and the GAO officials to report as to the cost of benefits being paid to illegal aliens and in so doing gut Pelosi’s argument a wall would be expensive and ineffective leaving her only with a claim that a wall would be immoral which is an utter crock); only two days left to see if Chicago death toll cracks 500 in 2018 as through December 29, 2018, 2942 people mostly of color have been shot by mostly people of color, of whom 493 have died (when will Chicago get serious about this carnage or is this the case of true racism as a Blue run city turns a deaf ear and a blind eye to the slaughter of mostly people of color by mostly people of color).

As always, I hope you enjoy today’s holidays and observances, a music link to Lionel Ritchie, factoids of interest for this day in history, the fact that no one is obtending bad conduct against you and a relevant delusional quote from Saddam Hussein on destroying America, secure in the knowledge that if you want to find a gift for any memorable events like college 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. National Sodium Bicarbonate Day—commemorating a product that has been produced in the U.S. since 1846 with a myriad of uses from unclogging drains to baking bread to relieving heartburn and indigestion.

2. Bacon Day—created by Danya Goodman and Meff leonard as a way to celebrate bacon and The Simpsons In The Simpsons episode “I Love Lisa” Homer asks, "Is it Bacon Day?"

3. 1985 Number One Song— the number one song on this day in 1985 on a run of 4 weeks in that position was “Say You, Say Me” by Lionel Ritchie. Here is a recording of the song: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nQTfu7uY1VM

4. Word of the Day—today’s word of the day as we move from words beginning with “n” to words beginning with “o” is “obtend” which means to put forward or allege which what both parties are doing in assigning blame to the other for the partial government shutdown.

5. Let Your Heart Not Be Troubled--celebrating the birth on this day in 1961 of Sean Hannity, noted conservative radio and TV show host on Fox Network.

On this day in:

a. 1812 British soldiers burned Buffalo, New York.

b. 1936 the United Auto Workers began its first sit down strike.

c. 1996 budget cuts proposed by Benjamin Netanyahu sparked protests by 250,000 workers across Israel.

d. 2005 tropical storm Zeta, the latest in the year tropical cyclone to be formed in the Atlantic Ocean and dissipated on January 6, but fortunately never approached land so no property damage.

e. 2006 former Iraqi President Saddam Hussein was executed by hanging.

Reflections of a delusional dictator before his army’s destruction during Desert Storm: Baghdad is determined to force the Mongols of our age to commit suicide at its gates.
Saddam Hussein

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Saturday, December 29, 2018

December 29, 2018 Ridley's Believe It Or Not National Pepper Pot Soup Day

Ridley’s Believe It Or Not For December 29, 2018 On the FLOTUS fashion front Michelle Obama basking in her new ranking as the most admired woman trouncing long time occupant of that role Hillary Clinton and sporting $4,000 thigh length designer boots on her book tour was fawned over by the fashion media while former model Melania Trump was mocked for wearing Timberlake boots on her visit to Iraq (just another symbol of how divided this country has become); on the infectious disease front a passenger contagious with measles from Brussels arrived at Newark’s International Airport and may have exposed numerous passengers on the plane and in the terminal to the disease and in New York City a measles outbreak has prompted school officials to ban children who have not been vaccinated from attending school; on the what to give someone who has everything front, Kanye West surprised his wife Kim Kardashian with a $14 million condo in Miami as a Christmas gift; on the Syrian front the Defense Department is defending the withdrawal of U.S. forces is well thought out and organized; on the political correctness front, the town of Hempstead on Long Island has organized a toy exchange encouraging kids to exchange their toy guns for safer alternatives; New Years Eve Times Square Celebration organizers have announced that they will honor journalism and the free press; Maine’s outgoing governor added the comment that the Democratic winner of a House seat had stolen the election due to Maine’s preference voting where second and third choice preference are reallocated if no one initially garnered more than 50% of the vote; Richard Overton at age 112 the oldest veteran of World War II and a lover of ice cream, whiskey and cigars has just died; Emanuel’s announcement that he will not seek reelection has not curbed the gun violence as through December 28, 2018, 2938 people mostly of color have been shot by mostly people of color, of whom 493 have died (when will Chicago get serious about this carnage or is this the case of true racism as a Blue run city turns a deaf ear and a blind eye to the slaughter of mostly people of color by mostly people of color).

As always, I hope you enjoy today’s holidays and observances, a music link to Madonna, factoids of interest for this day in history, the fact that you are not an obsequious person and a relevant quote from an unnamed Khmer Rouge official on genocide justifications, secure in the knowledge that if you want to find a gift for any memorable events like college 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. National Pepper Pot Soup Day—commemorating the serving of pepper pot soup to the soldiers of the Continental Army ten days after arriving in their winter encampment of Valley Forge, Pennsylvania on this day in 1777.

2. Still Need to Do Day—celebrating a lull in work and the holidays by accomplishing what you want to accomplish in the waning days of 2018.

3. 1984 Number One Song— the number one song on this day in 1984 on a run of 6 weeks in that position was “Like a Virgin” by Madonna. Here is a recording of the song: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s__rX_WL100

4. Word of the Day—today’s word of the day as we move from words beginning with “n” to words beginning with “o” is “obsequious” which means to fawn over which is what the MSM is doing 24/7 when it comes to liberal politicians and celebrities.

5. Justice Moves Slowly But It Moves--celebrating the birth on this day in 1923 of Doctor Sam Shephard who was convicted of killing his wife, sentenced to life in prison but released to face a retrial thanks to the efforts of F. Lee Bailey and was acquitted at the retrial; sadly saddened by the loss of his wife, he turned to alcohol and died of liver cancer in 1970. His case prompted the TV series The Fugitive and the movie of the same name.

On this day in:

a. 1934 in a march to war moment, Japan renounced the Washington Naval Treaty of 1922 and the London Naval Treaty of 1930..

b. 1949 Station KC2XKA in Bridgeport, Connecticut became the first Ultra high frequency TV station.

c. 1975 a bomb exploded in LaGuardia Airport, killing 11 and injuring 74. The perpetrators were never caught.

d. 1997 Hong Kong began the slaughter of all of its 1.25 million chickens to halt the spread of the deadly bird flu.

e. 1998 in a better late than never moment, leaders of the Khmer Rouge apologized for the genocide in Cambodia that claimed over a two million lives but only two leaders of the Khmer Rouge have been convicted of genocide and are serving life sentences.

Reflections on the Cambodian genocide: “To build a democratic Cambodia by renewing everything on a new basis, to do away with every reminder of colonial and imperial culture… To rebuild a new Cambodia, one million men is enough. Prisoners of war, people expelled from the cities and villages controlled by the government, are no longer needed, and local chiefs are free to dispose of them as they please.” An unnamed Khmer Rouge official, January 1976 Sadly the world like too many genocides stood idly by.

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Friday, December 28, 2018

December 28, 2018 Ridley's Believe It Or Not Holy Innocents Day

Ridley’s Believe It Or Not For December 28, 2018 While Pelosi rants about a wall being immoral, police in California have arrested the illegal alien scumbag who shot and killed a Newman, California police officer (Pelosi’s fondness for illegal aliens is what is really immoral and the shutdown and the blood of residents killed or maimed by illegals is on her hands); Trump totally frustrated with Democrats’ opposition to the wall is threatening to cut off aid to Central America and close the border with Mexico (he really needs to stop tweeting and speak to the American people from the Oval Office on why our porous borders and sanctuary cities laws are a national security threat); the notably biased cack network, NBC was caught with its journalistic pants down for slamming Trump for not visiting the troops during Christmastime while Air Force One was in the air heading overseas to visit troops in Iraq while the cack news network CNN with biased hacks like Don Lemon actually criticized him for visiting (the comment by the network pundits that signing MAGA hats handed to him by some soldiers violated military rules is totally wrong and ridiculous and reeks of fake news bias); Angelina Jolie in an interview with the BBC indicated she may consider going into politics; the opioid crisis claimed another apparent victim KTLA anchor Chris Burrous who died of an apparent overdose; Russia plans to deploy a new hypersonic missile that is designed to evade anti-ballistic missile systems in 2019; Emanuel’s announcement that he will not seek reelection has not curbed the gun violence as through December 27, 2018, 2933 people mostly of color have been shot by mostly people of color, of whom 493 have died (when will Chicago get serious about this carnage or is this the case of true racism as a Blue run city turns a deaf ear and a blind eye to the slaughter of mostly people of color by mostly people of color).

As always, I hope you enjoy today’s holidays and observances, a music link to Michael Jackson and Paul McCartney, factoids of interest for this day in history, the fact that you are not being obsecrated to do the right thing and a relevant quote from Denzel Washington on making intelligent decisions, secure in the knowledge that if you want to find a gift for any memorable events like college 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. Pledge of Allegiance Day—commemorating the passage by Congress recognizing the Pledge of Allegiance on this day in 1942.

2. Holy Innocents Day—commemorating the slaughter of male babies in and near Bethlehem by Herod the Great.

3. 1983 Number One Song— the number one song on this day in 1983 on a run of 6 weeks in that position was “Say, Say, Say” by Michael Jackson and Paul McCartney. Here is a recording of the song: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aLEhh_XpJ-0

4. Word of the Day—today’s word of the day as we move from words beginning with “n” to words beginning with “o” is “obsecrate” which means to implore which is what we need to do to our political leaders to end gridlock in the swamp.

5. Glory--celebrating the birth on this day in 1954 of noted actor and director Denzel Washington who won Oscars for his roles in Glory and Training Day.

On this day in:

a. 1912 the first municipally owned street cars took to the streets in San Francisco.

b. 1944 Maurice Richard became the first player to score eight goals in a game.

c. 1958 the Baltimore Colts defeated the New York Giants in the first sudden death National Football League game at Yankee Stadium.

d. 1967 Muriel Siebert became the first woman to own a seat on the New York Stock Exchange.

e. 1973 the Endangered Species Act was signed into law by President Nixon.

Reflections on how to make an intelligent decision: “I'm not a liberal or a conservative completely. Who is? Or why do you have to be? You assess the pros, the cons, of both sides and you make an intelligent decision.” Denzel Washington

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Wednesday, December 26, 2018

December 26, 2018 Ridley's Believe It Or Not First Day of Kwansaa

Ridley’s Believe It Or Not For December 22, 2018 Ocasio-Cortez, the darling poster child for the left is back in the news claiming Jesus was a refugee and angling for a position on the House Ways and Means (putting this incompetent anywhere near tax legislation would be a disaster); at a time when many Americans are having a hard time making ends meet, Instagram is flush with photos of kids of the rich and wealthy enjoying lavish vacations, expensive and a total disdain for their fellow American citizen mere mortals; the $1.5 Billion Mega Lottery was not won and will continue to grow Bezos and Trump are in a mutual snit fit over Trump’s charge that Amazon is getting a sweetheart deal over the 62% of its packages that the Post Office delivers; Trump is digging in his heels over the failure of the Blues in the Senate to appropriate funds for the wall and has vowed the government will not reopen if the wall is not funded (Pelosi on this with her inane comment that the wall is immoral, ineffective and expensive is coming across as total partisan hack willing to sacrifice national security due to her animus against Trump); after suffering the largest Christmas Eve loss ever, equity futures are trending higher to the relief of investors; President Trump has accelerated James Mattis’

departure date has been accelerated from February 28 to January 1; Lebron James suffered a groin pull in the third quarter of the Lakers’ game with the Warriors and will be undergoing an MRI to determine the extent of injury; Emanuel’s announcement that he will not seek reelection has not curbed the gun violence as through December 23, 2018, 2921 people mostly of color have been shot by mostly people of color, of whom 490 have died (when will Chicago get serious about this carnage or is this the case of true racism as a Blue run city turns a deaf ear and a blind eye to the slaughter of mostly people of color by mostly people of color).

As always, I hope you enjoy today’s holidays and observances, a music link to Daryl Hall and John Oates Newton-John, factoids of interest for this day in history, the fact that you are seeking to accomplish your goals with obnixely and a relevant quote from Maulana Karenga on Kwansaa, secure in the knowledge that if you want to find a gift for any memorable events like college 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. Boxing Day—celebrated the United Kingdom and countries that are or were part of the British Empire since the 17^th Century marked by the wealthy giving their servants a Christmas box containing gifts and a Christmas bonus.

2. The First Day of Kwansaa--celebrating in the African Diaspora to honor African culture and traditions culminating on January 1.

3. 1982 Number One Song— the number one song in 1982 on a run of 4 weeks in that position was “Maneater” by Daryl Hall and John Oates. Here is a recording of the song: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yRYFKcMa_Ek

4. Word of the Day—today’s word of the day as we move from words beginning with “n” to words beginning with “o” is “onixely” which means strenuously which in the game of life often differentiates between success or failure.

5.Play With Explosives and Die--celebrating or bemoaning depending on your political views the birthday on this day in 1943 of William Ayers an anti-war activist and founder of the Weathermen who advocated violence as a means of getting the U.S. out of Vietnam and who lost three members when a bomb they were working on exploded prematurely. He is still active in the academic world exposing college students to his leftist ideology.

On this day in:

a. 1919 the owner of the Boston Red Sox sold Babe Ruth to the New York Yankees giving rise to the curse of the Bambino Superstition.

b. 1963 the Beatles two hit records “I Want to Hold Your Hand” and “I
Saw Her Standing There” were released in the U.S. sparking Beatlemania.

c. 1991 the Supreme Soviet met and voted to dissolve the Soviet Union bringing an end to the Cold War which under Putin has been heating up.

d. 1998 a Iraq announced its intention to fire upon U.S. and British planes patrolling the no-fly zones put in place to to protect the Kurds in Iraq following the end of Desert Storm.

e. 2009 China opened the world’s longest high speed rail line linking Beijing and Guangzhou.

Reflections on Kwanzaa: “The [Kwanzaa] holiday, then will of necessity, be engaged as an ancient and living cultural tradition which reflects the best of African thought and practice in its reaffirmation of the dignity of the human person in community and culture, the well-being of family and community, the integrity of the environment and our kinship with it, and the rich resource and meaning of a people's culture.” Maulana Karenga who as chair of the Black Studies Department at Cal State University Long Beach created the celebration in 1966.

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Friday, December 21, 2018

December 21, 2918 Ridley's Believe It Or Not Winter Solstice

Ridley’s Believe It Or Not For December 21, 2018 As the rancor over a looming government shutdown heats up, the nation enters the first day of winter with it looking more and more likely that there will not be enough senators in town to give Republicans funding for a wall (are there any Democrats left who will put the security of this nation ahead of Chuck Schumer’s personal animus against Trump and vote for wall funding?); Rep. Gutierrez, a partisan biased political hack, berated for his questioning time Secretary of Homeland Security Kirstjen Nielsen then left the hearing room when she attempted to respond (what a rude pathetic idiot); disgraced former Governor of New York Eliot Spitzer who resigned due to his use of high priced prostitutes has been hit with a charge by high priced Russian prostitute that he used a suitcase to smuggle her in to his apartment; Filipina immigrant Jessica Arong O’Brien who became the first Filipina female judge in Cook County has been sentenced to a year in jail for her role in a $1.4 mortgage fraud scheme; 85 year old Justice Ruth Ginsburg who looks like she is on life support has had two cancerous lumps removed from her lungs (wish her a speedy recovery but the left should be in panic mode that she will not be long on the bench, giving Trump the right to appoint another conservative judge); Rob Reiner, a total leftist has gone off the rails, in a profane tweet claiming Trump is committing treason (a little civility Rob would be appreciated); Sanders and Ocasio-Cortez ought to take notice of the economic disaster in Venezuela as its failed socialist policies are forcing women into prostitution to make ends meet; Emanuel’s announcement that he will not seek reelection has not curbed the gun violence as through December 20, 2018, 2880 people mostly of color have been shot by mostly people of color, of whom 488 have died (when will Chicago get serious about this carnage or is this the case of true racism as a Blue run city turns a deaf ear and a blind eye to the slaughter of mostly people of color by mostly people of color).

As always, I hope you enjoy today’s holidays and observances, a music link to Olivia Newton-John, factoids of interest for this day in history, the fact that you are not acting in a way that merits an obloquy and a relevant quote from George R.R. Martin on winter, secure in the knowledge that if you want to find a gift for any memorable events like college 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. Winter Solstice—celebrating at 2:23 p.m. the official start of winter and the shortest day of the year as tomorrow more sunshine will daily greet us.

2. National Crossword Puzzle Day—celebrating that great game and anti dementia pastime, the crossword puzzle, which first appeared in England in the 19^th Century and are now a staple feature of any newspaper.

3. 1981 Number One Song— the number one song in 1981 on a run of 10 weeks in that position was “Physical” by Olivia Newto-John who is fighting her third diagnosis of cancer, this time at the base of her spine. Here is a recording of the song: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vWz9VN40nCA

4. Word of the Day—today’s word of the day as we move from words beginning with “n” to words beginning with “o” is “obloquy” which means censure or disgrace which describes what the behavior of Paul Ryan merits on the issue of border security as the government faces a partial shutdown.

5. Triple AAA on Display--celebrating or bemoaning depending on your political views the birthday on this day in 1937 of Hanoi Jane Fonda vilified for her visit to North Vietnam in support of the regime in its war against the U.S. to be captured in a classic photo sitting in a triple AAA gun in Hanoi while American airmen were rotting and being tortured in the Hanoi Hilton:

On this day in:

a. 1620 The Mayflower landed at Plymouth Rock, Massachusetts to disembark William Bradford and the Mayflower Pilgims.

b. 1937 Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, the world’s first animated full length feature, premiered at the Carthay Circle Theater in Los Angeles.

c. 1967 Louis Washkansky the first human to receive a human heart transplant from a girl rendered brain dead from a collision with a drunk driver died 18 days after the surgery in Cape Town, South Africa.

d. 1998 a bomb planted by Libyan operatives exploded on Pan Am Flight 103 over Lockerbie, Scotland killing all aboard and 13 people on the ground.

e. 1995 the city of Bethlehem passed from Israeli control to Palestinian.

Reflections on winter: “My old grandmother always used to say, 'Summer friends will melt away like summer snows, but winter friends are friends forever.” — George R.R. Martin, noted American author who has been called the American Tolkien.

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Thursday, December 20, 2018

December 20, 2019 Ridley's Believe It Or Not Go Caroling Day

Ridley’s Believe It Or Not For December 20, 2018 Secretary of Defense Jim Mattis at odds over President Trump’s decision to withdraw our forces from Syria has resigned effective February 28, 2019 another example of the insanity in California of its sanctuary city policies as a twice deported scumbag illegal alien Gustavo Garcia who went on a crime spree killing one person, injuring five others and leading police on a dangerous car chase that started because sheriffs were prohibited from cooperating with ICE to detain and deport this dangerous illegal (fortunately this scum bag crashed and died in a truck he had stolen); Secretary of Homeland Security has announced an agreement with Mexico that asylum seekers will be detained in Mexico till their asylum petitions are heard (great news but Congress needs to act to curtail asylum seekers seeking asylum based on economic considerations); in an et tu Brute moment Republican leaders like McCain evidently leaked the false anti-Trump dossier to Buzz Feed; in another reason to subject Silicon Valley to some scrutiny over its bias against conservative thought, Linkedin cofounder Harry Reid is suspected of contributing $100,000 to a disinformation program designed to link falsely link failed Republican Senate Candidate Judge Moore to the Russians; the Cack News Network is in the spotlight with revelations that a journalist of the year named by it, Claus Relotius, a writer for Der Spiegel was guilty of fabricating a large number of his stories; Acting Attorney General Whitaker will not recuse himself from the Russian Special Counsel Probe (also known as the Mueller partisan witch-hunt); Trump may veto the continuing resolution since it contains no funding for his wall (read my lips déjà vu if Trump wants to have a second term he needs to veto the funding bill since there are no funds for a wall but Ryan should be thoroughly castigated for not passing appropriations months earlier); Emanuel’s announcement that he will not seek reelection has not curbed the gun violence as through December 19, 2018, 2880 people mostly of color have been shot by mostly people of color, of whom 486 have died (when will Chicago get serious about this carnage or is this the case of true racism as a Blue run city turns a deaf ear and a blind eye to the slaughter of mostly people of color by mostly people of color).

As always, I hope you enjoy today’s holidays and observances, a music link to Kenny Rogers, factoids of interest for this day in history, the fact that you do not suffer from oblivesence and a relevant quote from Suzy Kassem on honor killings, secure in the knowledge that if you want to find a gift for any memorable events like college 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. International Day of Solidarity—created by the UN to promote solidarity and the eradication of poverty and disease.

2. Go Caroling Day—celebrating that great event during the Christmas season—getting a group of friends and neighbors to go caroling in the streets or to a nursing home or assisted living center.

3. 1980 Number One Song— the number one song in 1980 on a run of 6 weeks in that position was “Lady” by Kenny Rogers. Here is a recording of the song: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZYRfUoR9Q4Y

4. Word of the Day—today’s word of the day as we move from words beginning with “n” to words beginning with “o” is “oblivescence” which means forgetfulness which is a trait more and more baby boomers are experiencing.

5. Even a Bullet Can’t Outrun Alcohol--celebrating the birthday on this day in 1942 of Robert “Bullet Bob” Hayes noted Olympic sprinter and wide receiver for the Dallas Cowboys who battled alcohol abuse after retirement from football and was sentenced to 5 years in prison for selling drugs to an undercover narcotics agent and whose sprinting speed ended forever at the age of 59 due to prostate cancer.

On this day in:

a. 1957 the world became a much smaller place with the first flight of the production run of the Boeing 707.

b. 1971 the international aid group Doctors Without Borders was founded by Bernard Kouchner and a group of journalists in Paris, France.

c. 1989 the U.S. invaded Panama to depose its dictator Manuel Noriega.

d. 1991 a Missouri court sentenced Muslim fanatics Zein Isa and his wife Maria to death for the honor killing of their daughter Palistina who had committed the sin of listening to R&B music, getting a job without their permission and dating an African-American; the father died from diabetes while awaiting execution and the mother had her sentence change to life without parole and died in prison.

e. 1999 Macau was handed over to China by Portugal.

Reflections on the despicable practice of honor killings: “Cultural and religious traditions that forbid cross-cultural unions prevent peace on earth. Instead of rejoicing that our sons and daughters are heart-driven and love other humans outside of their familiar religious, social or cultural domains, we punish and insult them. This is wrong. Honor killings are not honorable by God. They are driven by ignorance and ego and nothing more. The Creator favors the man who loves over the man who hates. If you think God will punish you or your child for allowing them to marry outside of your tribe or faith, then you do not know God. Love is his religion and the light of love sees no walls. Anybody who unconditionally loves another human being for the goodness of their heart and nothing more is already on the right side of God.” ― Suzy Kassem, Rise Up and Salute the Sun: The Writings of Suzy Kassem Asture observation on the problems facing Western societies facing Muslim immigration and the difficulties of assimilation of immigrants.
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 www.Alaskanpoethistory.blogspot.com for just This Day in History.

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Wednesday, December 19, 2018

December 19, 2018 Ridley's Believe It Or Not Holly Day

Ridley’s Believe It Or Not For December 19, 2018 Vogue is toeing the attack FLOTUS line by slamming her taste which is awesome in decorating the White House; the Fed playing the role of the Grinch raised interest rates 25 points while indicating only two rate hikes will be targeted in 2019 (Grinch is right term as the market was up over 200 points only to fall back in the red after the announcement); Judge Sullivan who could not control his anmus for Flynn has seen it fit to order the Trump Administration to bring back asylum seekers that had been deported (another example of the open border mantra that seems to be infecting the judiciary in addition to the Blues and the MSM); Amy Schumer, the leftist comedian who is not funny, is patting herself on the back for getting fellow leftist celebs to boycott the halftime show for this year’s Super Bowl to protest the NFL’s treatment of players who take a knee; during the National Anthem; it looks like the government will not shut down but Trump continues to insist he will find a way to fund the construction of a wall (shame on Schumer and Pelosi for their insane opposition to securing the border); Paul Ryan who was more like a lamb than a lion in his farewell address as a pathetic Speaker of the House lamented in his farewell address on the failed nature of politics with its diviseness (if he thinks it is failed today watch what happens when the “wall is immoral” Pelosi takes the helm and unleashes her minions to investigate Trump as opposed to legislating); that noted anti-Semite purveyor of hate the Nation of Islam is on the federal trough soaking up thousands of dollars to teach federal inmates “religious” studies; Johnson and Johnson has lost its appeal to set aside an over $4 billion punitive damages verdict in a law suit brought by women who claimed their ovarian cancer was caused by baby powder contaminated with asbestos; Emanuel’s announcement that he will not seek reelection has not curbed the gun violence as through December 18, 2018, 2876 people mostly of color have been shot by mostly people of color, of whom 484 have died but none in the past three days which must be a record as cold weather makes aiming more difficult (when will Chicago get serious about this carnage or is this the case of true racism as a Blue run city turns a deaf ear and a blind eye to the slaughter of mostly people of color by mostly people of color).

As always, I hope you enjoy today’s holidays and observances, a music link to Rupert Holmes, factoids of interest for this day in history, the fact that you are not experiencing obluctation today and a relevant quote from Charles River Editors on the sinking of the General Slocum, secure in the knowledge that if you want to find a gift for any memorable events like college 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. Holly Day—celebrating the plant which along with the poinsettia is the symbol of Christmas.

2. Look for an Evergreen Day—celebrating the Christmas tree which are sold by the millions to be decorated and serve as a magnet for wrapped presents beneath its boughs.

3. 1979 Number One Song— the number one song in 1979 on a run of 3 weeks in that position was “Escape (Pina Colada Song)” by Rupert Holmes. Here is a recording of the song: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TazHNpt6OTo

4. Word of the Day—today’s word of the day as we move from words beginning with “n” to words beginning with “o” is “obluctation” which means resistance which describes the game plan of the Blues to a tee.

5. All That Jazz—celebrating the birth on this day in 1918 of Henry Byrd better known to his fans as Professor Longhair, noted New Orleans jazz pianist who died too early from a heart attack at the age of 61.

On this day in:

a. 1912 President Taft pardoned Captain William Van Schaick, the captain of the steamship General Slocum which caught fire, killing 1,000 people, after he had served 3½ years in Sing Sing Prison in New York.

b. 1974 Nelson Rockefeller was sworn in as Vice President under the provisions of the 25^th Amendment.

c. 1984 Margaret Thatcher and Deng Xioaping signed the Joint Sino-British Declaration providing that Hong Kong would revert to China on July 1, 1997.

d. 1998 President Bill Clinton became the second president to be impeached by the House of Representatives but was acquitted on a straight party line vote by the Senate.

e. 2016 Anis Amri, a Tunisian failed asylum seeker, drove a truck into a Christmas market in Berlin killing 12 and wounding 56; he was shot and killed 4 days later in Milan, Italy.

Reflections on heroism by a survivor of the General Slocum disaster: “Louise Galling was on board the Slocum as a baby nurse caring for her employer’s young children, and she survived on basic instinct: "I had no thought, of what might happen to me. I had never swum a stroke in my life, and I didn't know the slightest thing about how I should begin. I only knew one thing, and that was that I must save the babies. So I took one in each arm and jumped overboard and kicked out with my feet and held them up as best I could. I did not care whether I could swim or not. I only knew that if I didn't I would not save the children. I struggled on through the water and got to the shore. I didn't know how, and I guess I never will, but I saved the babies.” ― Charles River Editors, The Sinking of the General Slocum: The History of New York City’s Deadliest Maritime Disaster

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 towww.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 www.Alaskanpoethistory.blogspot.com for just This Day in History.

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Poet Extraordinaire Beyond Compare