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

Monday, February 8, 2016

Ridley's Believe It Or Not For February 8, 2016 Tet

Ridley’s Believe It Or Not For February 8, 2016, 347 days to go in President Obama’s pathetic lame duck term. Interesting theater on the political and sport fronts this weekend with Cam Newton being crushed by the Denver Bronco defense and Payton not playing one of his best games but enough to potentially ending his career with a second Super Bowl ring. Trust your Super Bowl 50 Party was a great one (great public service by Uber to provide free rides for two hours after the end of the game); and, as always, I hope you enjoy Monday’s holidays and observances, a music link to Love Is Blue, factoids of interest, a relevant quote by Warren Buffet, looking forward to enjoying a few molasses bar, blessed with a positive attitude and secure in the knowledge that if you want to find a gift for any memorable events like Valentines’ Day 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. Propose Day—celebrating the second day of Valentine Week by proposing to one’s desired spouse with a rose and to seal the proposal encase the rose with a customized poem from the Alaskanpoet.

2. Clean Out Your Computer Day—commemorating the need not to be a computer pack rat by deleting files and programs that are no longer used or needed but which clog one’s computer and slow it down.

3. 1968 Number One Song—celebrating the number one song in 1968 on a run of five weeks in that position Love Is Blue by Paul Muriat. Here is a link to Claudine Longet singing in French with English subtitles L’Amour est Bleu: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LNLWIswKIw0

4. Molasses Bar Day--celebrating a really great way to enjoy dates and nuts in an easy to eat snack.

5. A Career More Than 48 Hours—celebrating the birthday on this day in 1941 of Nick Nolte who is still with us and who appeared in such movies as 48 Hours, Cape Fear, and Down And Out In Beverly Hills.

On this day in:

a. 1837 Richard Johnson became the first Vice President to be elected to the office by the U.S. Senate. He proved to be such a liability that Martin Van Buren running for his second term elected to run without a vice presidential running mate.

b. 1915 D.W. Griffith’s controversial and racially charged film The Birth of the Nation premiered in Los Angeles.

c. 1946 the first portion of the Revised Standard Version of the Bible, the first serious challenge to the Authorized King James Version, was published.

d. 1971 the NASDAQ opened for the first time.

e. 1993 GM sued NBC after NBC Dateline allegedly rigged two crashes of GM pickup trucks to show they would catch fire if hit in certain places. NBC settled the next day.

Reflections on the stock market, even more germane as markets like the NASDAQ are tanking today: “I never attempt to make money on the stock market. I buy on the assumption that they could close the market the next day and not reopen it for five years.” Warren Buffet, noted and successful investor

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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Sunday, February 7, 2016

Ridley's Believe It Or Not For February 7, 2016 National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day

Ridley’s Believe It Or Not For February 7, 2016, 348 days to go in President Obama’s pathetic lame duck term. Interesting theater on the political front in New Hampshire last night as Rubio was in the cross hairs of all on the stage. Finally with the Super Bowl happening today, we can focus on something other than politics. Trust your Super Bowl 50 Party plans are set and, as always, I hope you enjoy Sunday’s holidays and observances, a music link to The Monkees, factoids of interest, a relevant quote by Magic Johnson, looking forward to enjoying a plate of fettuccine Alfredo, blessed with a positive attitude and secure in the knowledge that if you want to find a gift for any memorable events like Valentines' Day, 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. Please contact me for details.

1. National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day—commemorating the need to promote awareness of steps needed to prevent infection by the HIV virus which has infected and continues to infect disproportionately the Afro-American community.

2. Rose Day—commemorating the beginning of Love Week culminating on Valentines’ Day. To celebrate buy some roses for a loved one but better yet hire the Alaskanpoet to compose a customized poem for your Valentine as flowers always wilt but a poem lasts forever.

3. 1967 Number One Song—celebrating the number one song in 19676 on a run of seven weeks in that position I’m A Believer by The Monkees. Here is a link to The Monkees performing I’m A Believer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XfuBREMXxts

4. National Fettuccine Alfredo Day--celebrating that pasta creation of Alfredo di Lielo in 1914 at his Rome restaurant which laced with cream and butter and is a tasty way to up your cholesterol level.

5. Twist A Career Away—celebrating the birthday on this day in 1812 of Charles Dickens, iconic 19^th English author whose works included such classics as Oliver Twist, A Tale of Two Cities and The Christmas Carol.

On this day in:

a. 1812 in a chilling reminder that earthquakes can be found everywhere, the strongest of a series of earthquakes hit New Madrid, Missouri.

b. 1935 the board game Monopoly was invented.

c. 1962 the U.S. banned all imports from Cuba, including the iconic product from the island, cigars.

d. 1997 NeXT merged with Apple Corporation, starting the path toward the creation of Mac OS X.

e. 2014 the opening ceremony for the Winter Olympics was held at Sochi, Russia.

Reflections on HIV from one of the spokesmen trying to create awareness: “The important thing is this Just because I'm doing well doesn't mean that they're going to do well if they get HIV. A lot of people have died since I have announced. This disease is not going anywhere…II am not cured, but the HIV is deep asleep in my body.” Magic Johnson, great Laker basketball player whose career cut short by his publicly announcing that he had been infected.

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Ridley's Believe It Or Not For February 6, 2016 Pay-a-Compliment Day

Ridley’s Believe It Or Not For February 6, 2016, 349 days to go in President Obama’s pathetic lame duck term. Interesting theater on the political front in New Hampshire as the Red front runners continue to pound each other as opposed to Sanders and Clinton and the RNC caves to ABC’s decision to exclude Carly Fiorina from the debate stage tonight. Trust your Super Bowl L Party plans are set and, as always, I hope you enjoy Saturday’s holidays and observances, a music link to Petula Clark, factoids of interest, a relevant quote by James Suroweicki, looking forward to enjoying frozen yogurt, 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. Take Your Child To A Library Day—commemorating the usual effect of taking your child or grandchild to a library to introduce them to the joys of reading.

2. Pay-a-compliment Day—commemorating an observance that should be celebrated each day of the year—paying a a compliment to a stranger, friend, relative, or co-worker will bring great dividends.

3. 1966 Number One Song—celebrating the number one song in 1966 on a run of two weeks in that position My Love by Petula Clark. Here is a link to Petula Clark performing My Love: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IuNCZfd93bc

4. National Frozen Yogurt Day--celebrating a great way to enjoy yogurt especially topped with fruit or berries.

5. Sunscreen Should Be Your Favorite Song—celebrating the birthday on this day in 1945 of one of the most popular artists of all time, Bob Marley, who sadly died from melanoma under his great toe nail at the far too early age of 36.

On this day in:

a. 1856 the Tasmanian Colonial Parliament passed the Electoral Act of 1856 which provided for the first time in the world election by secret ballot.

b. 1918 Britain granted the right to vote to women over the age of 30.

c. 1959 Jack Kilby of Texas Instruments filed the first patent for the integrated circuit.

d. 1976 the president of Lockheed Corporation admitted before a Senate committee investigating corruption that Lockheed had paid a $3 million bribe to Japanese Prime Minister Tanaka who was tried and sentenced to four years

In prison but died before his appeals were decided.

e. 1988 Michael Jordan made his signature slam dunk from the free throw line, creating the Air Jordan line of Nike Shoes.

Reflections on bribery as a cost of doing business: “Until the nineteen-seventies, Western countries paid little attention to corruption overseas, and bribery was seen as an unpleasant but necessary part of doing business

there. In some European countries, businesses were even allowed to deduct bribes as an expense.” James Surowiecki, noted journalist for the New Yorker

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Friday, February 5, 2016

Ridley's Believe It Or Not For February 5, 2016 World Weatherperson's Day

Ridley’s Believe It Or Not For February 5, 2016, 350 days to go in President Obama’s pathetic lame duck term. Interesting theater on the political front in Iowa as Hillary Clinton, dogged by the never ending email scandal with the FBI hot on her heels and with the DNC protecting her back, eked out a very narrow win over Bernie Sanders in Iowa and Cruz was alleged to have used dirty tricks against Doctor Ben Carson. Not sure if last night Night was a debate between Hillary and Bernie as opposed to a love festival. As always, I hope you enjoy Friday’s holidays and observances, a music link to The Righteous Brothers, factoids of interest, a relevant quote by anon, looking forward to enjoying some chocolate fondue, 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 Weatherperson’s Day—commemorating the efforts of weatherpersons to forecast and predict the weather and celebrated on this day in honor of the birthday of one of America’s first meteorologists, John Jefferies, on this day in 1744.

2. Wear Red Day—commemorating not the need to support Red candidates but rather to create awareness of the danger to women of deaths caused by strokes and heart attacks.

3. 1965 Number One Song—celebrating the number one song in 1965 on a run of two weeks in that position You’ve Lost That Lovin Feelin by The Righteous Brothers. Here is a link to The Righteous Brothers performing You’ve Lost That Lovin Feelin: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xHKb_cFv5XQ

4. National Chocolate Fondue Day--celebrating a great way to enjoy your chocolate.

5. Rodger The Dodger Day—celebrating the birthday on this day in 1942 one of the Cowboys’ better quarterbacks, Roger Staubach.

On this day in:

a. 1852 the New Hermitage Museum, a definite place on anyone’s bucket list opened to the public.

b. 1869 the largest alluvial gold nugget called the “Welcome Stranger” and weighing in at 71 kilograms was found at Moliagul, Victoria, Australia.

c. 1917 over President Wilson’s veto the Congress passed the Immigration Act of 1917 which effectively banned immigration from most of South and Southeast Asia.

d. 1937 President Franklin Delano Roosevelt attempted to pack the U.S. Supreme Court with additional appointees favorable to his “New Deal.” Fortunately, the attempt failed.

e. 1976 the Swine Flu Fiasco commenced at Fort Dix, New Jersey, prompting a nationwide vaccination and panic only to have one person die and the vaccine cause 25 deaths and 500 cases of severe neurological problems and an

expenditure of some $138 million.

Reflections on weatherperson: The weatherperson’s forecast is like the government usually wrong and if an outdoor event is being promoted like a concert unduly influenced by the promoters who need to sell tickets.” Anon

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Thursday, February 4, 2016

Ridley's Believe It Or Not For February 4, 2016 Wold Cancer Day

Ridley’s Believe It Or Not For February 4, 2016, 351 days to go in President Obama’s pathetic lame duck term.

Interesting theater on the political front in Iowa as Hillary Clinton, dogged by the never ending email scandal

with the FBI hot on her heels and with the DNC protecting her back, eked out a very narrow win over Bernie

Sanders in Iowa and Cruz was alleged to have used dirty tricks against Doctor Ben Carson. As always, I hope you enjoy Thursday’s holidays and observances, a music link to The Beatles, factoids of interest, a relevant quote by Edward Steiglitz, looking forward to enjoying a some stuffed mushrooms, 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 Cancer Day—creating awareness of the need of early detection and research to reduce the number of cases of this deadly disease.`

2. Liberace Day—commemorating the death on this day in 1987 of a singer and piano player whose career spanned 50 years and who was best known for his gaudy attire and flamboyant life style.

3. 1964 Number One Song—celebrating the number one song in 1964 on a run of seven weeks in that position

and the beginning of Beatlemania I Want To Hold Your Hand by The Beatles. Here is a link to The Beatles

performing I Want To Hold Your Hand: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=46_yYR6tGOI

4. National Stuffed Mushroom Day--celebrating a great way to enjoy your favorite fungi.

5. How To Escape the Rat Trap—celebrating the birthday on this day in 1997 if Andre Benz whose Trap Nation

on UTube was adding 250,00 new subscribers a month.

On this day in:

a. 1846 the first band of Mormon pioneers began their exodus to Salt Lake City from Nuovoo, Illinois.

b. 1941 the United Service Organization (USO) was formed to entertain U.S. Troops.

c. 1969 Yasser Arafat was named Chairman of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO).

d. 1974 the Symbionese Liberation Army kidnapped heiress Patty Hearst in Berkeley, CA.

e. 2004 Facebook was founed by Mark Zuckenberg.

Reflections on facing cancer: The important thing is not how many years in your life but how much life in your years.” Edward J. Stieglitz, noted American 20^thCentury Photographer

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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Tuesday, February 2, 2016

Ridley's Believe It Or Not For February 2, 2016 Groundhog Day

Ridley’s Believe It Or Not For February 2, 2016, 353 days to go in President Obama’s pathetic lame duck term.

Interesting theater on the political front in Iowa as Hillary Clinton, dogged by the never ending email scandal with the FBI hot on her heels and with the DNC protecting her back, eked out a very narrow win over Bernie Sanders in Iowa. As always, I hope you enjoy Tuesday’s holidays and observances, a music link to The Roof Top Singers, factoids of interest, a relevant quote on Groundhog Day, looking forward to enjoying a bowl of heavenly hash, 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.Groundhog Day—celebrating the fact that Punxsutawney Phil, that noted groundhog forecaster from the

great state of Pennsylvania with blizzards roaring across the Great Plains did not see his shadow today which means for those fed up with winter snows an early spring:

http://alaskanpoet.com/2016/02/punxsutawney-phil-early-spring-in-2016-html

2. International Wetlands Day—celebrating since 1971 the importance of wetlands to our ecosystem, especially to waterfowl.

3. 1963 Number One Song—celebrating the number one song in 1963 on a run of two weeks in that position Walk Right In by The Roof Top Singers. Here is a link to The Roof Top Singers performing Walk Right In:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8hpPuFnq85A Check out the suits!

4. Heavenly Hash Day--celebrating not a breakfast dish to die for but rather a fruit salad with enough sour cream to clog even the youngest of arteries.

5. Even An Angel Cannot Wing Away From Cancer—celebrating the birthday on this day in 1947 of the ultimate pin up and Charlie’s Angel, Farrah Fawcett who died in 2009 of colon cancer but as a performer to the very end produced Farrah’s Story involving her struggle with cancer and received her fourth Emmy posthumously for the work.

On this day in:

a. 1887 in Punxsutawney, PA, the first Groundhog Day was observed, a tradition that continues today with Phil having celebrity status.

b. 1925 diphtheria serum brought by dog sleds relays originating from Nenana some 674 miles away arrived in Nome thereby putting an end to the epidemic that was threatening to decimate the town and now celebrated by the Iditarod race.

c. 1935 Leonarde Keeler tested the world’s first polygraph machine.

d. 1964 Hasbro launched the iconic toy G.I.Joe.

e. 1990 F.W. de Klerk announced the lifting of the ban on the African National Congress and promised to release

Nelson Mandela.

Reflections on Groundhog Day and thank God Phil did not see his shadow: Finally, a holiday animal we can relate to

While holidays and magical animals go hand in hand, most holiday creatures are downright demented.... Punxsutawney Phil is different. He's just a simple groundhog that pops out of his dwelling from time to time to see his shadow. He's one of the guys. ~Flying LlamaFish, "7 Reasons Groundhog Day is the Ultimate Holiday," 2010, PunIntended.com

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Monday, February 1, 2016

Ridley's Believe It Or Not For February 1, 2016 Start Of Black History Month

Ridley’s Believe It Or Not For February 1, 2016, 354 days to go in President Obama’s pathetic lame duck term. Interesting theater on the political front in Iowa as Hillary Clinton dogged by the never ending email scandal with the FBI hot on her heels may do a déjà vu in Iowa and lose. As always, I hope you enjoy Monday’s holidays and observances, a music link to Joey Dee and the Starliters, factoids of interest, a relevant quote from Carter Woodson, looking forward to enjoying a slice of Baked Alaska, blessed with a positive

attitude and secure in the knowledge that if you want to find a gift for any memorable event 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 Freedom Day—celebrating the execution on this day in 1865 by Abraham Lincoln of the joint resolution by Congress approving the 13^th Amendment ending slavery and paving the way to send it to the states for ratification.

2. Black History Month—celebrating since 1970 the achievements of and contributions to our culture of Afro-Americans in this county.

3. 1962 Number One Song—celebrating the number one song in 1962 on a run of three weeks in that position Peppermint Twist by Joey Dee & the Starliters. Here is a link to Joey Dee and the Starliters performing Peppermint Twist: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7WIvZu4dPQQ Check out the suits and narrow ties!

4. National Baked Alaska Day--celebrating an incredible desert—combination of cake covered with meringue with an ice cream core, baked for four minutes and served flambé style.

5. 44 Trumps Kung Fu—celebrating the birthday on this day in 1965 of Brandon Lee, son of Bruce Lee, who was tragically killed in a firearm discharge while filming the Crow.

On this day in:

a. 1884 the first volume A-Ant of the Oxford English Dictionary was published, starting a 44 year process to complete the OED in 1928.

b. 1942 the Voice of America began broadcasting aiming its programs at areas occupied by the Axis.

c. 1930 1960 four black students staged the first lunch counter sit-ins in Greensboro, North Carolina to protest segregation.

d. 1968 Saigon police chief Nguyễn Ngọc Loan executed Viet Cong officer Nguyễn Văn Lém with a pistol shot to head. The execution was captured by photographer Eddie Adams and became an anti-war icon.

e. 2003 the Space Shuttle Columbia disintegrated on reentry, killing all seven astronauts on board.

Reflections on Black History Month: “We should emphasize not Negro history, but the Negro in history. What we need is not a history of selected races or nations, but the history of the world void of national bias, race

hate, and religious prejudice." Carter Woodson, noted Afro-American author and historian and one of the first scholars to study Afro-American history

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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