Monday, June 29, 2015

June 29 History National Camera Day

Ridley’s Believe It Or Not—June 29, 2015 Trust your weekend was a great one and your batteries were totally charged to meet the challenges of the week and as always, I hope you enjoy today’s holidays and observances which are somewhat meager, factoids of interest, a music video by Andy Gibb, a relevant quote by Tyler Durden, looking forward to enjoying a generous serving of almond crunch, 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 Camera Day—not sure where this came from but given the importance of cell phone video cams and the growing demand of body cams for police officers probably appropriate to celebrate.

2. Hug Holiday Day—another unknown holiday but one that is a great one commemorating a goal to visit senior centers, nursing care homes, and hospices to offer a hug to those residing there.

3. 1978 Number One Song—celebrating the number one song in 1978 on a seven week run, Shadow Dancing by Andy Gibb. Here is a link to Andy Gibb performing Shadow Dancing: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mcHlL6PR5NU

4. National Almond Crunch Day—celebrating another great way to enjoy almonds.

5. Pickens Were Never Slim—celebrating the birthday on this day in 1919 of the iconic movie actor and cowboy Slim Pickens who appeared in Blazing Saddles and is probably best remembered as the B-52 pilot who rode an atomic bomb to his destruction in the iconic movie Dr. Strangelove.

On this day in:

a. 1874 in a chilling prediction of the future as Greece defaults on its IMF loans sending financial markets into turmoil, Greek politician Charilaos Trikoupis published a manifestor in the Athens daily Kairoi entitled “Who’s to Blame?” laying out his complaints against the ruling monarch King George; he was elected Prime Minister of Greece the next year.

b. 1927 a U.S. Air Corps trimotor Fokker named the Bird of Paradise completed the first Transpacific flight from California to Hawaii.

c. 1956 the Federal Aid Act of 1956 was enacted which created the U.S. Interstate Highway System.

d. 1975 Steve Wozniak tested the prototype of the Apple 1 computer.

e. 2014 in a sad day for humanity and civilization ISIS self declared its caliphate which, notwithstanding our president’s vow to degrade and destroy it, is alive and well and growing.

Reflections on the Trojan Horses that are entering this nation in increasing numbers that will ultimately cause this nation to imitate Greece as it nears default: “For every 1.65 employed persons in the private sector, 1 person receives welfare assistance. For every 1.25 employed persons in the private sector, 1 persons receives welfare assistance or works for the government…the punchline: 110 million privately employed workers; 88 millionAndy welfare recipients and government workers and rising rapidly.” Tyler Durden.

Please enjoy the 140 character poems on events of interest on my twitter account below (if you like them, retweet and join 160 growing followers and please 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. Go to Rhymes On The Newsworthy Times for comments on important and breaking news events that should be of interest. www.alaskanpoet.blogspot.com Ridley's Believe It Or Not Rhymes On The Newsworthy Times

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Sunday, June 28, 2015

Greece Banks To Close

The siege in Greece has been waged for many a month, many a year

No political will for the needs of austerity for the Greeks to adhere

On Monday Greece will swallow the financial equivalent of a Trojan Horse

Failed attempts at bailout finally have run their course

Banks will be closed in Greece and concerns over the ripples of Greece’s collapse

A chilling reminder of the inevitable when controls over spending lapse

The lessons of Greece as our national debt soars have not been learned

A currency ultimately will collapse when basic principles politicians continue to spurn

At some point in time you have to spend less than you tax

At some point you have to step aside and let this economy get back on track

Who follows Greece and how soon?

Italy Spain, Portugal, who will be next to succumb from self induced fiscal wounds?

The world has become a very intertwined and interconnected place

A financial collapse in one country could spread faster than confidence the IMF might replace

Hard to believe that today’s Greeks are the descendants of those Macedonians who conquered most of the known world

Or held fast outnumbered hundreds to one at a narrow pass while the forces of Xerxes swirled

Cradles of democracy and enlightened thought

Laid low by the effects of overspending rot.

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June 28 History National Ceviche Day

Ridley’s Believe It Or Not—June 28, 2015 Trust your weekend is proving to be a great and your batteries are charging and as always, I hope you enjoy today’s holidays and observances which are somewhat meager, factoids of interest, a music video by Bill Conti, a relevant quote by Virginia Postrel, looking forward to enjoying a generous serving of ceviche, 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 Log Cabin Day—created on June 28, 1986 by Virginia Handy, founder of the Log Cabin Society and the Bad Axe Historical Society (I kid you not) to promote the appreciation and preservation of log cabins.

2. International Body Piercing Day—commemorating since last year the art form of body piercing which if you have visited a Starbucks in California recently you will be treated to a never ending tapestry of incredible designs and jewelry.

3. 1977 Number One Song—celebrating the number one song in 1977 on a brief one week run, Gonna Fly Now (Theme from Rocky) by Bill Conti. Here is a link to Bill Conti performing Gonna Fly Now: www.youtube.com/watch?v=MR6FXpaECY8

4. National Ceviche Day—celebrating another great way to enjoy seafood on hot summer days.

5. Even Billionaires Can Have a Bad Day—celebrating the birthday on this day in 1971 of Elon Musk, founder of PayPal, Tesla and SpaceX, a company that just had its unmanned rocket with supplies for the international Space Station explode 2 and one half minutes after launch today from the Kennedy Space Center. With a net worth of more than 15 billion, a slight hit to his net worth.

On this day in:

a. 1709 Peter the Great of Russia defeated Charles XII of Sweden at the Battle of Poltava, marking Russia’s emergence as a major continental power.

b. 1894 Labor Day became an official U.S. holiday.

c. 1902 the U.S. Congress passed the Spooner Act, authorizing the U.S. to acquire rights to the Panama Canal from Columbia.

d. 1914 Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria-Hungary and his wife Sophie were assassinated in Sarajevo by Serbian nationalists which act within two months plunged the world into the carnage of World War I, misnamed “The War to End All Wars.”

e. 1994 in a chilling wakeup call on the dangers of terrorists using WMDs fanatics from the Aum Shinriyko sect released the nerve gas Sarin in Matsumoto, Japan, killing seven and injuring over 600 innocent Japanese.

Reflections on the horror of war, especially when the full weight of technology makes its debut on the battlefield. “European nations began World War I with a glamorous vision of war, only to be psychologically shattered by the realities of the trenches. The experience changed the way people referred to the glamour of battle; they treated it no longer as a positive quality but as a dangerous illusion.” Virginia Postrel, noted libertarian writer, author and blogger Unfortunately in the 21 years following the end of World War I despite all the vivid reminders of the disaster that befell Europe, the lessons were too soon quickly forgotton.

Please enjoy the 140 character poems on events of interest on my twitter account below (if you like them, retweet and join 160 growing followers and please 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. Go to Rhymes On The Newsworthy Times for comments on important and breaking news events that should be of interest. www.alaskanpoet.blogspot.com Ridley's Believe It Or Not Rhymes On The Newsworthy Times

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Thursday, June 25, 2015

June 25 History World Vitigilo Day

Ridley’s Believe It Or Not—June 25, 2015 Trust your Thursday is off to a great start and as always, I hope you enjoy today’s holidays and observances which are somewhat meager, factoids of interest, a music video by Captain and Tennille, a relevant quote by George Orwell, looking forward to enjoying a strawberry parfait, 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. World Vitigilo Day—can observance in the making since 2011 to create awareness at a global level including the UN of the skin disease vitigilo which afflicted Michael Jackson. The date of June 25 was chosen as it is the day Michael Jackson died in 2009.

2. Color TV Day— celebrating the first public color TV broadcast on this day in 1951 by CBS to a select number of viewers with television sets configured to receive color broadcasts in several cities in the East.

3. 1975 Number One Song—celebrating the number one song in 1975 on a four week run, Love Will Keep Us Together by Captain and Tennille. Here is a link to Captain and Tennille performing Love Will Keep Us Together: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xjloX_EvYiI

4. National Strawberry Parfait Day—celebrating another great summer treat.

5. All Writers Are Not Equal—celebrating the birthday on this day in 1903 Eric Blair aka George Orwell, noted literary critic and author of Animal Farm and 1984.

On this day in:

a. 1910 Congress passed the Mann Act which prohibited the transportation of females across state lines for immoral purposes; the ambiguity of what constituted immoral purposes resulted in years of selective prosecution.

b. 1947 The Diary of a Young Girl (better known as the Diary of Anne Frank).

c. 1950 North Korea invaded South Korea plunging the United States into the Korean War.

d. 1998 the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in Clinton v. City of New York that the Line Item Veto Act of 1996 was unconstitutional.

Reflections on past, present and future: “Who controls the past controls the future. Who controls the present controls the past.” George Orwell Wise observation.

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Wednesday, June 24, 2015

June 24 History International Fairy Day

Ridley’s Believe It Or Not—June 24, 2015 Trust your Hump Day is off to a great start and as always, I hope you enjoy today’s holidays and observances which are somewhat meager, factoids of interest, a music video by Gordon Lightfoot, relevant quotes by Ali and Dempsey, looking forward to enjoying a few pralines, 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. Day of the Carbolco (Brazil)—celebrating the intermarriages of white young males of Portuguese descent with the native population.

2. International Fairy Day— celebrating the Fair Folk such an integral part of Celtic culture and a chance to be a child again thrilled by the magic of fairies such as Tinkerbelle.

3. 1974 Number One Song—celebrating the number one song in 1974 on a brief one week run, Sundown by Gordon Lightfoot. With an apology for another inane ad, here is a link to the soundtrack of Gordon Ligthfoot performing Sundown: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s8rR7E6NfY4

4. National Pralines Day—celebrating another great treat, ground or whole pecans covered in sugar syrup—no wonder an increasing number of us are obese.

5. Three to Eight Seconds to Kiss a Championship Goodbye—celebrating the birthday on this day in 1893 of Jack Dempsey, former heavy weight champion of the world, famous for not retreating to a neutral corner and thereby giving Gene Tunney longer than a ten second count to get up after Dempsey knocked him to the mat in the seventh round of their rematch which Tunney won to retain his championship.

On this day in:

a. 1374 hundreds of people in the town of Aachen were suddenly afflicted with St. John’s Dance, causing them to twitch uncontrollably and dance until they collapsed from exhaustion.

b. 1812 Napoleon’s Grand Armee crossed the Neman River to begin his ill-fated attempt to invade Russia that ended in complete disaster and the loss of most of his soldiers.

c. 1916 Mary Pickford became the first female motion picture star to sign a million dollar contract.

d. 1957 the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in Roth v. United States that obscenity is not protected by the First Amendment.

e. 1973 in the French Quarter in New Orleans at the Upstairs Lounge, a gay bar, an arsonist never caught started a fire which killed over 30 people.

Reflections on the essence of a champion from two real ones: “Champions aren´t made in the gyms. Champions are made from something they have deep inside them - a desire, a dream, a vision.” Muhammad Ali

“Nobody owes anybody a living, but everybody is entitled to a chance.” Jack Dempsey, the Manassas Mauler

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Tuesday, June 23, 2015

June 23 History UN Public Service Awards Day

Ridley’s Believe It Or Not—June 23, 2015 Trust your Taco Tuesday is off to a great start and ready to enjoy bargains on a plethora of tacos or better yet the leg and thigh special for a $1.49 at Popeyes Louisiana Fried Chicken. As always, I hope you enjoy today’s holidays and observances which are somewhat meager, factoids of interest, a music video by Paul McCartney and the Wings, a relevant quote by Wilma Rudolph, looking forward to enjoying a few pecan sandies, blessed with a positive attitude and secure in the knowledge that if you want to find a gift for any memorable event like Fathers’ 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. UN Public Service Awards Day—another UN observance honoring world wide the contributions of those who have chosen public service as opposed to the private sector.

2. Typewriter Day— celebrating the issuance of a U.S. Patent to Latham Sholes on this day in 1868 for a typewriter and the keyboard that doomed us to lower keyboard typing speeds.

3. 1973 Number One Song—celebrating the number one song in 1973 on a four week run, My Love by Paul McCartney and the Wings. With an apology for another inane ad, here is a link to the soundtrack of Paul McCartney and the Wings performing My Love: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qGStwcniqyI

4. National Pecan Sandy Day—celebrating another great cookie with a very tasty high protein nut as a bonus.

5. Speed May Be a State of Mind Day—celebrating the birthday on this day in 1940 of Wilma Rudolph, the first American athlete to win three gold medals at a Summer Olympics who wore braces on her legs until the age of nine and overcome infantile paralysis—fastest woman alive after the 1960 Rome Olympics.

On this day in:

a. 1860 in a moment rued by trees, the U.S. established the U.S. Government Printing Office.

b. 1894 the International Olympic Committee was founded at the Sorbonne in Paris, France.

c. 1960 the FDA approved the sale of Enovid as the first oral contraceptive pill.

d. 1969 IBM announced that effective January 1, 1970 it would price its hardware and software separately, a move that was credited with creating the modern software industry.

e. 1972 Title IX of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 was amended to prohibit gender based discrimination in any school receiving federal funds which is why we can now enjoy watching NCAA women’s sports equally with men’s NCAA sports.

Reflections on how to succeed from a woman who left her braces behind to sprint to Gold Medals in Rome: “Winning is great, sure, but if you are really going to do something in life, the secret is learning how to lose. Nobody goes undefeated all the time. If you can pick up after a crushing defeat, and go on to win again, you are going to be a champion someday.” Wilma Rudolph Great words to live by!

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Monday, June 22, 2015

June 22 History Teachers Day (El Salvador)

Ridley’s Believe It Or Not—June 22, 2015 Trust your Fathers’ Day Weekend was a great one and you are charged and amped up to face the issues of the week. As always, I hope you enjoy today’s holidays and observances which are really meager and may require you to travel great distances to celebrate, factoids of interest, a music video by Sammy Davis Junior, a relevant quote by Franklin Delano Roosevelt, looking forward to enjoying a serving of fried onion rings, blessed with a positive attitude and secure in the knowledge that if you want to find a gift for any memorable event like Fathers’ 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. Teachers’ Day (El Salvador)—celebrating the role of teachers in this Central American nation which unfortunately has been sending far too many illegal immigrants to this country.

2. Global Smurfs Day— celebrating the opening of the Smurfs Movie in 2011 (as stated tough day for holidays and observances).

3. 1972 Number One Song—celebrating the number one song in 1972 on a three week run, The Candy Man by Sammy Davis, Jr. With an apology for audio only and another inane ad, here is a link to the soundtrack of Sammy Davis, Jr. performing The Candy Man: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zakTRnOB1Oc

4. National Onion Ring Day—celebrating a great way to enjoy onions.

5. Laughter May Not Self Medicate Day—celebrating the birthday on this day in 1954 of standup comedian Freddie Prinze who died tragically way too soon at the age of 22 by suicide.

On this day in:

a. 1870 the U.S. Congress created the U.S. Department of Justice.

b. 1941 in a move that would result in over 20 million deaths and its total destruction, Germany invaded the Soviet Union in Operation Barbarossa.

c. 1944 President Roosevelt signed into law the Servicemen’s Readjustment Act of 1944, known as the G.I. Bill which financed the college education of millions of veterans once the war ended.

d. 1969 in a moment that led to the passage of the Clean Water Act and the creation of the Environmental Protection Agency and made Cleveland the laughing stock of the nation, the Cuyahoga River that flows through Cleveland caught fire.

e. 2015 in a victory for struggling artists, Apple folded to the outrage of Taylor Swift over Apple’s plans to not pay artists royalties during the first three month free trial period for Apple’s music streaming.

Reflections on the GI Bill: "In a world growing increasingly white-collar-oriented, the G.I. Bill of Rights gave a generation of returning vets greater access to the middle class, and even higher. Slightly less than a quarter of American military personnel even had high-school diplomas; just 3 percent had college degrees. With the help of the act, 2.2 million veterans pursued undergraduate or graduate degrees, and 5.6 million attained vocational or on-the-job training.” Franklin Delano Roosevelt

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Sunday, June 21, 2015

June 21 History Fathers' Day

Ridley’s Believe It Or Not—June 21, 2015 Trust your Fathers’ Day is proving to be a great one. As always, I hope you enjoy today’s holidays and observances, factoids of interest, a music video by the Carole King, relevant quotes by Euripides and Kent Nerburn, looking forward to enjoying a bowl of peaches and cream, blessed with a positive attitude and secure in the knowledge that if you want to find a gift for any memorable event like 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. If you want to give another unique gift that has this omnivore seal of approval order some Kelli’s Cookies: http://www.kelliscookies.com/index.php/shop-by-product/fathers-day-specials.html
1. International Yoga Day—celebrating since 2014 a form of exercise and spiritual connection that has been practiced for over 6,000 years.

2. World Hydrography Day— celebrating by the UN since 2005 to promote international charting standards to assist in safe navigation.

3. 1971 Number One Song—celebrating the number one song in 1971 on a five week run, It’s Too Late/ I Feel the Earth Move by Carole King. With an apology for audio only and the brief ad to endure, here is a link to the soundtrack of the Carole King performing Tit’s Too Late/ I Feel The Earth Move:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wbQ4m-NqeF8

4. National Peaches and Cream Day—celebrating a great way to end a Fathers’ Day Brunch.

5. Garage Sales Are So Blasé—celebrating the birthday on this day in 1967 Pierre Omidyar, billionaire founder of eBay in 1995; the first item sold on eBay was a broken laser printer.

On this day in:

a. 1900 in a bad move, China declared war against France, Germany, Great Britain, Japan, and the United States; an international force from the five nations that marched on Peking ending the in a humiliating defeat for the Chinese.

b. 1915 the U.S. Supreme Court in the case of Guinn v. United States struck down as unconstitutional an Oklahoma statute that grandfathered certain voters from the state’s literacy requirement on the grounds that it discriminated against the state’s black citizens.

c. 1964 three civil rights workers Andrew Goodman, Mickey Schwerner and James Chaney were murdered in Neshoba County, Mississippi by members of the Klu Klux Klan. Although Mississippi in shameful display racism refused to prosecute, President Johnson did and 18 members of the Klu Klux Klan were prosecuted with 7 convicted, 8 found not guilty and three had a hung jury. In a long arm of the law moment Edgar Ray Killeen, the ringleader who was subject to a hung jury was tried again in 2005 and convicted and sentenced to 60 years for manslaughter.

d. 1982 John Hinckley was found not guilty by reason of insanity of his attempt to assassinate President Reagan.

Reflections on this Fathers’ Day: “To a father growing old nothing is dearer than a daughter.” Euripides, noted ancient tragedian in Athens, Greece.

“Until you have a son of your own... you will never know the joy, the love beyond feeling that resonates in the heart of a father as he looks upon his son.” Kent Nerburn, noted American author of 16 books on Native American spirituality and American culture.

Please enjoy the 140 character poems on events of interest on my twitter account below (if you like them, retweet and join 160 growing followers and please 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. Go to Rhymes On The Newsworthy Times for comments on important and breaking news events that should be of interest. www.alaskanpoet.blogspot.com Ridley's Believe It Or Not Rhymes On The Newsworthy Times

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