Ridley's Believe It Or Not--This Day In History: August 2016

Wednesday, August 31, 2016

September 1, 2016 Ridley's Believe It Or Not Random Acts of Kindness (International)

Ridley’s Believe It Or Not For September 1, 2016 Only 68 waning days to go for Trump to pivot before we elect a new president and 269 days since hiding Hillary has held a formal press conference (where is the outrage of the press as she refuses to answer any questions from the press; what is this candidate trying to hide?); after meeting with the president of Mexico and holding a joint press conference with him, looking very presidential, Trump returned to Phoenix to give his long awaited immigration speech affirming the need to secure our borders with Mexico to prevent the flow of drugs and illegal aliens from crossing the border which Hillary wants to in essence open to any and all; he rejected the idea of amnesty, not deporting anyone who has been arrested for criminal conduct, sanctuary cities and not having e-verify systems in place; since the root of the illegal alien problem is economic it was refreshing to see Rudi in a hat with the logo “Make Mexico Great Again Also”; Hillary’s foreign policy speech which took second fiddle to the day’s events called on America to lead which she and Obama have completely failed to do; newly discovered emails not turned over to State include 30 on Benghazi which State is trying to slow walk their release; the pay for play scandal at the Clinton scandal continues to grow and questions of the Foundation being engaged in money laundering also continuing to grow; Clinton’s lead over Trump has evaporated to a statistical dead heat; on the weather front Hurricane Madeline approaching Hawaii has been downgraded to a tropical storm and tropical storm Hermine has formed in the Gulf of Mexico putting the coast of Florida on hurricane watch as tens of thousands of flooding victims in Louisiana are praying that its storm track does not soak the state; New York Administration of Child Services is investigating Weiner’s fitness as a parent due to sexting scandal; and the Brazilian Senate has convicted by a three to one margin Brazilian President Rousseff of impeachment.

As Trump is trying to become more presidential, going to www.lyingcrookedhillary.com is a great way to start your day along of course with www.alaskanpoet.blogspot.com and reading Clinton Cash would be a great read to understand the quid pro quo mentality of the Clintons.

As always, I hope you enjoy today’s holidays and observances, music links to Paula Abdul and the duet of Conway Twitty and Loretta Lynn, factoids of interest for this day in history, a relevant quote from Og Mandino, while looking forward to enjoying some gyros, 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. Wattle Day—celebrated in Australia to honor the first day of spring there by wearing a sprig of the Acacia flowers which will have just started to bloom.

2. Random Acts Of Kindness Day (International)—celebrated in a growing number of countries to promote random acts of kindness to friends or strangers.

3. 1989 Number One Song—celebrating the number one song in 1989 on a run of one week in that position “Cold Hearted” by Paula Abdul. Here is a link to Paula Abdul performing the song. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o7aShcmEksw

4. National Gyro Day—celebrating bits of meat roast on a vertical spit then mixed with onions, tomatoes and tsatxiki sauce and covered in a rolled up fashion by pita bread.
5. No Twit Here—celebrating the birth on this day in 1933 of Conway Twitty noted country western singer whose duets with Loretta Lynn were priceless. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tya6cUdiKwc

On this day in:

a. 1836 Narcissa Whitman became one of the first white women to settle West of the Rockies at present day Walla Walla, Washington where she and her husband established a mission to convert the Cayuse Indians to Christianity; unfortunately a measles epidemic hit later killing many of the Indians due to their lack of immunity which the missionaries had and the Indians attacked the mission making her one of the first white women to be killed West of the Rockies.

b. 1850 P.T. Barnum of circus ownership fame brought Jenny Lind aka the “Swedish Nightingale” to the United States for a 150 date tour whose stellar operatic voice produced fan mania not unlike what we experienced with the arrival of the Beatles.

c. 1939 Germany invaded Poland starting World War II in Europe with its disastrous consequences to the armed forces of the combatants and to the civilian population, especially Jews, of Europe.

d. 1983 KAL Flight 007 a 747 was shot down by Soviet interceptors after it had veered over Soviet territory killing all 269 aboard.
e. 1998 the U.S. mandated that all cars sold in the U.S. be equipped with an airbag which would deploy in the event of a collision.

Reflections on the benefits of kindness: “Beginning today, treat everyone you meet as if they were going to be dead by midnight. Extend to them all the care, kindness and understanding you can muster, and do it with no thought of any reward. Your life will never be the same again.” Og Mandino noted American author whose books have sold more than 50 million copies. 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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August 31, 2016 Ridley's Believe It Or Not We Love Memoirs Day

Ridley’s Believe It Or Not For August 31, 2016 Only 69 waning days to go for Trump to pivot before we elect a new president and 268 days since hiding Hillary has held a formal press conference (where is the outrage of the press as she refuses to answer any questions from the press; what is this candidate trying to hide?); in the scandal that will not recede, the FBI whose integrity has been damaged by its refusal to recommend prosecution of HRC will be turning over its HRC interview notes as we await with baited breath the answers under penalty of perjury (which hasn’t deterred her in the past) to questions from Judicial Watch to be given by September 30; in an interesting development Trump will be meeting with the President Nieto of Mexico; McCain, Rubio and unfortunately rabid ideologue Debbie Wasserman Schulz won their primaries last night; September 26 and the first presidential debate is rapidly approaching; on the sports front Lochte has picked up another sponsor, Hope Solo has been terminated from U.S. Women’s Soccer for six months and Kaepernick is really taking heat for his refusal to stand for the national anthem (his newly discovered political awareness stems from dating BLM activist Nessa Diab); on the weather front, Hawaii is facing two side by side hurricanes; Florida is bracing for massive rainfall and in a what global warming moment, Colorado Springs has been buried under two feet of hail.

As always, I hope you enjoy today’s holidays and observances, a music link to George Michael, factoids of interest for this day in history, a relevant quote from David Frost, while looking forward to enjoying some trail mix, 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. Love Litigating Lawyers Day—given the public disgust with lawyers especially ambulance chasers and divorce lawyers hard to believe there is an observance to honor them but in the case of the lawyers for Judicial Watch who have exposed Hillary’s criminal performance in her use of a private email server lawyers can better society.

2. We Love Memoirs Day—created by authors Victoria Twead and Alan Parks in 2013 to form a Facebook community where writers of memoirs could exchange writing ideas.

3. 1988 Number One Song—celebrating the number one song in 1988 on a run of two weeks in that position “Monkey” by George Michael. Here is a link to George Michael performing the song. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CHb2XYeXcJI

4. National Trail Mix Day—don’t go hiking or camping without this lightweight high energy snack.
5. Where Are The Drones When You Need Them?—bemoaning the birth on this day in 1960 of Hassan Nasrallah, the current leader of the terrorist organization Hezbollah which has launched thousands of rockets against the state of Israel.

On this day in:

a. 1803 Meriwether Lewis and William Clark set out from Pittsburgh to explore the newly acquired Louisiana Purchase.

b. 1895 Count Ferdinand von Zeppelin received a patent for his airships which made the world a much smaller place until the Hindenburg on landing in New Jersey burst into flames.

c. 1897 Thomas Edison patented the kinetoscope, the first movie projector

d. 1920 the first radio news program was aired by Station 8MK in Detroit.
e. 1943 the first naval vessel to be named after an African American, the U.S.S. Harmon was commissioned. The ship was named after Leonard Harmon who was award the Navy Cross posthumously for heroism off of Guadacanal against the Japanese.

Reflections on the legal profession: “This is what has to be remembered about the law; beneath that cold, harsh, impersonal exterior beats a cold, harsh, impersonal heart.” - David Frost, British Journalist, TV Personality

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, August 30, 2016

August 30, 2016 Ridley's Believe It Or Not International Day Of The Disappeared

Ridley’s Believe It Or Not For August 30, 2016 Only 70 waning days to go for Trump to pivot before we elect a new president and 267 days since hiding Hillary has held a formal press conference (where is the outrage of the press as she refuses to answer any questions from the press; what is this candidate trying to hide?); as the rhetoric on both sides escalates (Mika Brzezinski on Morning Joe should be fired for her insane observations that Trump should be examined by mental health professionals and David Plouffe a lackey for Obama should never be allowed on MSNBC again for alleging without any medical grounding that Trump is a psychopath) , more and more emails released show HRC knew her email server was not secure; in a chilling reminder of the barbarism of radical Islam, mass graves being uncovered on territory liberated from ISIS (when will this president condemn radical Islam); Kaepernick is being condemned for his refusal to stand and the NFL is once again exposed for hypocrisy for its banning of Dallas football players who want to display helmet decals supporting the Dallas Police after five were gunned down; after the U.S. has admitted 10,000 Syrian refugees most of whom have not been vetted, Britain is reviewing its policy and may restrict the influx of unvetted Muslims that ISIS has vowed to infiltrate; in a we want a bigger bite out of the Apple, the EU is seeking billions of taxes from Apple; on the immigration front here is the photo of an illegal alien from Honduras bus driver with no drivers license who killed two people and injured 30 (gives you an idea of why a secure border might have appeal)

As always, I hope you enjoy today’s holidays and observances, a music link to Los Lobos, factoids of interest for this day in history, a relevant quote from Thurgood Marshall, while looking forward to enjoying a some toasted marshmallows, 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. International Day Of The Disappeared—created to create awareness of the plight of thousands who are arrested by repressive regimes devoid of the rule of law, like Iran, and disappear or more likely than not are executed.

2. National Beach Day—created by Colleen Paige in 2009 not to celebrate the waning days of summer at the beach but rather to create awareness of dangers to marine birds and sea life due to pollution caused by humans.

3. 1987 Number One Song—celebrating the number one song in 1987 on a run of three weeks in that position “La Bamba” by Los Lobos. Here is a link to Los Lobos performing the song. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YicJPLT1dWU

4. National Roasted Marshmallows Day—in the waning days of summer, hard to find a better way to celebrate that to head to the beach to make a fire at the nearest fire pit and roast some marshmallows.
5. Life Can Be Short Not Long—celebrating the birth on this day in 1893 aka the Kingfisher, former governor and Senator from Louisiana who after announcing he was going to run for president was assassinated at the age of 42.

On this day in:

a. 1914 in perhaps the most decisive double envelopment battle since Cannae, the Germans totally crush the Russians at Tannenburg.

b. 1963 in a move to ease tensions and the threat of nuclear war the hotline between Washington, D.C. and Moscow was installed.

c. 1967 Thurgood Marshall was confirmed as the first black Supreme Court Justice.

d. 1992 after his wife and baby son were shot and killed by federal agents who escaped any criminal liability Randy Weaver surrendered at Ruby Ridge, Idaho and thereby ended an 11 day standoff.
e. 2003 in a bad example of Russian seamanship, the decommissioned Russian nuclear submarine being towed across the Barents Sea sank taking nine of its crew to their death and 800kgs of spent nuclear fuel to the bottom of the ocean.

Reflections on equality of rights: “A child born to a Black mother in a state like Mississippi... has exactly the same rights as a white baby born to the wealthiest person in the United States. It's not true, but I challenge anyone to say it is not a goal worth working for.” Thurgood Marshall 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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Monday, August 29, 2016

August 29, 2016 Ridley's Believe It Or Not International Day Against Nuclear Test

Ridley’s Believe It Or Not For August 29, 2016 Only 71 waning days to go for Trump to pivot before we elect a new president and 266 days since Hillary has held a formal press conference (where is the outrage of the press as she refuses to answer any questions from the press); on a leopard can’t change his spots note, pervert Anthony Weiner caught again in a testing scandal (finally his wife Huma Abedin will no longer emulate her boss and has separated from this pervert); on the political bias reporting front CNN blasted AP for publishing its report that over half of people representing private interests contributed $156 million to the Clinton foundation and received private meetings with her; while HRC cowers in her hide from the press bunker, Trump will be going to Detroit to reach out to African Americans and has unleashed a $10 Million ad buy; in yet another example of why illegal immigration is an issue, an illegal alien from Honduras without a driver’s license driving a bus of good Samaritan volunteers to help with flood recovery in Louisiana lost control and killed two people and injured more than 30 others; in a bad day for reindeer in Norway, news that lightening strikes have killed over 300 reindeer at a Norwegian National Park; on the sports front 49er quarterback Kaepernick who has lost his starting job, defended his refusal to stand for the National Anthem on the grounds of police brutality against people of color(since the team was unable to trade him, safe bet is that he will be released).

As always, I hope you enjoy today’s holidays and observances, music links to Steve Winwood and Michael Jackson, factoids of interest for this day in history, a relevant quote from John F. Kennedy, while looking forward to enjoying a serving of chop suey, 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. International Day Against Nuclear Tests—created by unanimous resolution of the UN General Assembly in 2009 to protest against nuclear testing and advance the cause of a nuclear weapons free world (doubt that Iran and North Korea voted in favor). August 29 was chosen as the date to celebrate since on that date in 1991 the Soviet’s Semipalatinsk Nuclear Test Facility was closed down.

2. National Swiss Wine Growers Day—celebrating in a could have fooled me moment viniculture in Switzerland that has been producing wine since the Roman era despite all its mountains and glaciers.

3. 1986 Number One Song—celebrating the number one song in 1986 on a brief run of one week in that position “Higher Love” by Steve Winword. Here is a link to Steve Winword performing the song. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gwuHtbcvTh8

4. National Chop Suey Day—celebrating a Chinese dish that originated in China, not the gold fields of California or the transcontinental railroad work camps; the name means assorted pieces of meat and vegetables served over rice or to become chow mein, served over noodles—fire up you wok and enjoy.
5. Can’t Beat Drugs—celebrating the birth on this day in 1958 of the King of Pop, Michael Jackson, one of the most successful recording artists of all time who sadly died way too early just as he was preparing his comeback tour from massive and prolonged doses of prescription drugs at the age of 51. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ym0hZG-zNOk

On this day in:

a. 1758 in a read the handwriting on the wall moment, the first American Indian Reservation consisting of 3284 acres was established at Indian Mills, New Jersey; the community of Delaware Indians settled there were soon relocated to out of sight out of mind Western reservations.

b. 1831 Michael Faraday discovered the principle of electromagnetic induction, the creation of electro motor forces due to the interaction with a magnetic field.

c. 1949 thanks to the efforts of espionage to steal American nuclear weapons technology, the Soviet Union detonated its first atomic weapon at Semipalatinsk which was closed down in 1991 due to the dissolution of the Soviet Union.

d. 2005 Hurricane Katrina slammed the U.S. Gulf Coast and New Orleans killing almost 1900 people and causing over $100 billion in damages and exposed the inadequacies of FEMA to handle a crisis of such magnitude.
e. 2007 in a real oops moment six cruise missiles with nuclear warheads without authorization were loaded onto a bomber and flown from Minot Air Force Base to Barksdale Air Force Base. Reflections on security in the nuclear weapons world: “ While it may be theoretically possible to demonstrate the risks inherent in any treaty… the far greater risk to our security are the risks of unrestricted testing, the risks of a nuclear arms race, the risks of new nuclear powers….“We will not prematurely or unnecessarily risk the costs of worldwide nuclear war in which even the fruits of victory would be ashes in our mouth.” John F. Kennedy 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, August 28, 2016

August 28, 2016 Ridley's Believe It Or Not National Bow Tie Day

Ridley’s Believe It Or Not For August 28, 2016 Only 72 waning days to go for Trump to pivot before we elect a new president and 265 days since Hillary has held a formal press conference (where is the outrage of the press as she refuses to answer any questions from the press); on a sad note Charles Osgood known as the “Poet in residence” at CBS is retiring from CBS’s Sunday Morning after 22 years as a host (the Alaskanpoet stands ready to replace him); Trump may be doing the right thing by taking his message of the total failure of Obama to assist black communities in terms of jobs to black communities as opposed to rallies discussing the same appeal in largely white communities; Donna Brazille the head of the DNC confirmed with ABC what all of we mere mortals have known that donors to the Clinton Foundation in exchange for donations would expect to receive access to government officials to press their case for favorable resolution of their issues; in maybe a way too unfriendly sky moment for United Airlines, two UA pilots were arrested for intoxication before they were able to fly passengers from Scotland to the U.S.; in just another small example of the magnitude of the drug invasion of this country from Mexico due to our porous border, two men (one of whom was a Mexican illegal) were arrested for trying to smuggle $ 3 million back into Mexico; the number one rabid ideologue Debbie Wasserman Schulz is in a tight Blue primary race in Florida which votes next Tuesday (the world will be a far better place if she is forced to try to find a job in the private sector); in a non humorous celebrity roast Ann Coulter a noted conservative commentator and one of the roaster was called a transvestite whore and told to kill herself (so much for Hollywood civility); in yet another example of the failure of Blue majors to protect black lives one of the killers of Dwayne Wade’s cousin described as a “career gun offender” was on parole but with his ankle monitoring bracelet turned off so he could “look for work”; in a really chilling video that shows what the civilized world is facing with respect to radical Islam, ISIS Cubs are shown executing Kurdish prisoners.

As always, I hope you enjoy today’s holidays and observances, a music link to Huey Lewis and the News, factoids of interest for this day in history, a relevant quote from Warren St. John, while looking forward to enjoying some cherry turnovers, 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. National Bow Tie Day—celebrating that unique contribution to men’s fashion which for many like the Alaskanpoet is next to impossible to tie.

2. National Radio Commercial Day—celebrating or bemoaning as the case may be of the advent of radio commercials, the first of which aired in 1922 when Queensboro Realty in New York City purchased 10 minutes of radio time for $100; the radio ad market has since grown to $17.4 billion.

3. 1985 Number One Song—celebrating the number one song in 1985 on a run of two weeks in that position “The Power of Love” by Huey Lewis and the News. Here is a link to Huey Lewis and the News performing the song. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KCkgYhtz64U

4. National Cherry Turnover Day—celebrating another great pastry.
5. More Than a Pretty Face—celebrating the birth on this day in 1969 who is now the Chief Operating Officer of Facebook and worth more than a billion dollars.

On this day in:

a. 1833 in a better to avoid the killing and devastation of property moment the Abolition of Slavery Act 1833 received Royal Assent and slavery was abolished throughout the British Empire.

b. 1845 the first issue of Scientific American was published.

c. 1957 Strom Thurmond set the record for a filibuster by a single senator, speaking on the floor of the Senate for 24 hours and 18 minutes to prevent a vote on the Civil Rights Act of 1957 but to no avail as the bill was enacted on September 9, 1957.

d. 1963 at the culmination of the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom, Martin Luther King gave his I Have a Dream Speech.
e. 1968 10,000 demonstrators gathered in Grant Park to protest the Democratic National Convention and the War in Vietnam and rioting broke out when the police charged the demonstrators; needless to say the police received a lot of criticism for what many commentators claimed were Gestapo like tactics. Reflections on bow ties: “To its devotees the bow tie suggests iconoclasm of an Old World sort, a fusty adherence to a contrarian point of view. The bowtie hints at intellectualism, real or feigned, and sometimes suggests technical acumen, perhaps because it is so hard to tie. Bow ties are worn by magicians, country doctors, lawyers and professors and by people hoping to look like the above. But perhaps most of all, wearing a bow tie is a way of broadcasting an aggressive lack of concern for what other people think.” Warren St. John noted American reporter and editor in chief of Patch.
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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Saturday, August 27, 2016

August 27, 2016 Ridley's Believe It Or Not National Petroleum Day

Ridley’s Believe It Or Not For August 27, 2016 Only 73 waning days to go for Trump to pivot before we elect a new president and 264 days since Hillary has held a formal press conference (where is the outrage of the press as she refuses to answer any questions from the press); the State Department in a we need to save our jobs moment will not release the remainder of Hillary’s calendar which will most likely reveal the pervasive pay to play scandal of her dealings with private interests; Trump once again is being blown off message by the issue of medical records and the failure to release his tax returns; Hillary has aired a preposterous ad linking Trump to the Klu Klux Klan as the main stream media’s best kept secret has not revealed that members of the Klu Klux Klan have contributed $20,000 to her campaign and the Grand Dragon of the KKK in California has endorsed her (HYPOCRISY THY NAME IS POLITICS); in a really chilling video that shows what the civilized world is facing with respect to radical Islam, ISIS Cubs are shown executing Kurdish prisoners while the proponent of a tolerant and nonsecular Islam the cleric Gulen now living in the U.S. is facing extradition requests; Europe is finally waking up to the problem of open borders as Syrian refugees have been flooding in to join the millions of non assimilated Muslims now living there with protests on top of the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin; on a just when you thought it was safe to drink the water moment a new study reveals contamination of streams feeding Baltimore’s water system with amphetamines; in another reminder of the spreading of the Zika virus while Congress plays the fiddle and the Blues in the Senate blocked an antiZika virus funding bill, the FDA is now advising blood donation centers to test for the virus; and finally in yet another chilling reminder of black on black violence that BLM seems to be silent on, Dwayne Wade’s cousin was caught in the crossfire and killed while pushing her stroller on Chicago’s South Side—another example of how Blue leadership in our major cities has failed the black community and why Trump is right “what do you have to lose?”

On the sports front it was revealed that Katie Ledecky who will be swimming for Stanford this year and will years in the future when she retires from the pool be regarded as the best woman swimmer in history never got out of the wait list for Little Falls Swim Club near Washington, D.C.

As always, I hope you enjoy today’s holidays and observances, a music link to Tina Turner, factoids of interest for this day in history, a relevant quote from Richard Lamm, while looking forward to enjoying a pot de crème (killer reicipe below), 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. National Petroleum Day—celebrating the creation of America’s petroleum industry when on this day in 1858 William Drake in Titusville, Pennsylvania struck oil 70 feet below the surface; a sure bet is that the greenies at EPA and the Obama administration will not be celebrating this day.

2. Speak Kind Words Saturday—as most Americans cringe over the vitriolic epitaphs being hurled by Hillary and Trump at each other, perhaps they should turn done the spiteful rhetoric and observe this holiday not just on Saturday but each and every day of the week.

3. 1984 Number One Song—celebrating the number one song in 1984 on a run of three weeks in that position “What’s Love Got To Do With It?” by Tina Turner. Here is a link to Tina Turner performing the song. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oGpFcHTxjZs

4. National Pot de Creme Day—celebrating a lower calorie variation of a pie, one without crust; here is a recipe for a key lime crustless pie. http://www.thenibble.com/REVIEWS/MAIN/cookies/pastry/key-lime-pie-recipe3.asp
5. Alcohol Is Always The Low Note—celebrating the birth on this day in 1909 of Lester Young noted saxophonist nickname the Prez for his leadership and innovation in jazz but had his music stopped due to alcoholism at a way too early age of 49.

On this day in:

a. 1883 on Krakatoa a massive volcanic explosion destroyed most of the island and the tsunamis created killed some 36,000 people and the ash cloud spewed into the atmosphere lowered temperatures worldwide for years.

b. 1896 in a war may be hell moment but a short war is a gift from God, Great Britain declared war on Zanzibar which after suffering 500 casualties to one wounded British sailor surrendered after 38 minutes, the shortest war on record.

c. 1928 in a good intentions ultimately are trumped by reality 15 nations signed the Kellogg-Briand Pact outlawing war as a means to resolve differences; even though 60 nations ultimately became signatories, World War II broke out 11 years later.

d. 1939 the Germans test flew the Heinkel 178, the world’s first jet airplane; fortunately for the allies the Germans expecting a short war did not concentrate their efforts on producing jet aircraft until it was too late for the operational Me 262 to be put into the sky in sufficient numbers late in 1944 to impact the war.
e. 1955 the Guinness Book of Records was published for the first time. Reflections on why even though gas prices are low, buying that SUV gas guzzler is not a good idea:”The approaching exhaustion of domestic reserves of petroleum and the rapid depletion of world reserves will have a profound effect on Americans in the cities and on the farms.” Richard Lamm, former governor of the state of Colorado
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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Friday, August 26, 2016

August 26, 2016 Ridley's Believe It Or Not National Dog Day

Ridley’s Believe It Or Not For August 26, 2016 Only 74 waning days to go for Trump to pivot before we elect a new president and 263 days since Hillary has held a formal press conference (where is the outrage of the press as she refuses to answer any questions from the press); the rhetoric from Hillary and Trump on the issue of race is way over the top and if anything is probably fueling a growing attraction for the Libertarian Party which will not be part of the debates unless it rises to above 15 percent in the polls; Wikileak founder promises release of more Hillary emails which will be toxic to her campaign and will most likely bolster a realization that she committed perjury in her testimony to Congress; in yet another example of decline of American prestige and standing in the Middle East, the US Navy was harassed again by Iranian patrol boats and had to fire warning shots (when will Obama become a true commander in chief and draw a real red line and sink these boats the next time and level the base they embarked from); Italian death toll from the earthquake keeps rising; Mylan (which pays no dividends to its shareholders) and its CEO Heather Bresch (whose salary in 5 years has risen by almost 700 percent to $18.9 million) are being slammed by the press and Congress over the increase of life saving EpiPen to $600; in yet another example of Obama’s total failure in terms of the VA, a 76 year old naval vet depressed over the fact he could not receive care committed suicide in the parking lot of a VA facility; as Turkish tanks and troops attack ISIS positions in Syria with US Air Force support there was another reminder of how complicated the Middle East is as Kurdish separatists in Turkey detonated a truck packed with explosives near a police checkpoint in Turkey, killing 11 and wounding 78; the siege at American University in Kabul has finally ended but the wildfires in the West continue to burn. On the sports front Rio police have charged Ryan Lochte with filing a false police report but Pine Brothers signed him to an endorsement deal his first after all sponsors dropped him (theme of the cough drop maker is “forgiving on your throat” which seems appropriate for someone seeking forgiveness after apologizing).

As always, I hope you enjoy today’s holidays and observances, a music link to The Police, factoids of interest for this day in history, a relevant quote from Mother Teresa, while looking forward to enjoying a cherry popsicle, 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. National Dog Day—celebrating man’s best friend from pure breed to mutt and creating awareness of the need to adopt dogs in shelters and pounds and to spay or neuter dogs to prevent the increase in the number of potential victims of euthanasia therein.

2. Women’s Equality Day—celebrating the day in 1920 when the 19^th Amendment granting women the right to vote was certified into law and a reminder that this Sunday which is the Sunday closest to this date is also Go Topless Day celebrated by parades across the nation including one in Venice, California.

3. 1983 Number One Song—celebrating the number one song in 1983 on a long run of eight weeks in that position “Every Breath You Take” by The Police. Here is a link to The Police performing “Every Breath You Take”. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OMOGaugKpzs

4. National Cherry Popsicle Day—celebrating another great way to beat the summer heat. 5. The Noblest Nun Of Them All—celebrating the birth on this day in 1910 of Agnes Gonxha Bojaxhiu, aka. Mother Teresa, winner of the Noble Peace Price and to be canonized by the Catholic Church on September 4 of this year.

On this day in:

a. 1346 at Crecy, France 13,000 English infantry and longbow men commanded by King Edward III defeated 8,000 heavily armored French knights and 4,000 crossbow men commanded by King Philip VI in a battle that marked the beginning of the end for armored knights and cost the English only 100 dead compared to 4,000 on the French side.

b. 1498 Michelangelo was commissioned to carve the Pieta.

c. 1789 The Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen, influenced by Thomas Jefferson was approved by the French National Constituent Assembly; the document establishes the principal that certain rights are universal and are to be protected by law.

d. 1996 President Clinton signed into law the Personal Responsibility and Workforce Opportunity Act which constituted a major reform of America’s welfare system.
e. 2013 Boeing’s 787 Dreamliner received certification from the FAA. Reflections from an about to be canonized saint, Mother Teresa:

“If you judge people, you have no time to love them.

There are no great things, only small things with great love. Happy are those.

If we have no peace, it is because we have forgotten that we belong to each other.”

Poet Extraordinaire Beyond Compare
The Perfect Gift, All Recipients to Receive Lasting Lift

Thursday, August 25, 2016

August 25, 2016 Ridley's Believe It Or Not Thankful Thursday

Ridley’s Believe It Or Not For August 25, 2016 Only 75 waning days to go for Trump to pivot before we elect a new president and 262 days since Hillary has held a formal press conference (where is the outrage of the press as she refuses to answer any questions from the press); Hillary is still in the bunker hiding from the pay to play controversy surrounding the Clinton Foundation while Bill mounts the lame excuse that the Foundation did good work (very familiar to Lance Armstrong defending his doping because of his foundation’s good work); growing demands even from the liberal pro Hillary media to hold a press conference and for the FBI to release its notes on its interview with HRC after Bill and Loretta Lynch breached all semblances of ethical conduct with their tete a tete on her private jet (mind boggling that no transcript or tape of the interview exists); if you believe Comey and read the 15,000 emails recovered it is clear Hillary perjured herself before Congress under oath but unless there is a special prosecutor appointed (as demanded by Trump and the RNC) will be protected by Obama and Lynch from prosecution (really troubling); death toll in Italy from the earthquake above 240; Iranian patrol boats buzz a US Navy destroyer in the Gulf of Hormuz in a very provocative and threatening manner because they know after receiving a $400 million ransom that they are dealing with a feckless, weak president; the carnage at American University in Kabul from an Islamist terrorist attack rose to 12 dead and 36 wounded; the West is on fire with 35 major wildfires uncontained and another 115 in early stages (time to hire some Native Americans to perform rain dances); Jane Stanford must be clapping in her grave as Stanford banned the use of hard liquor at undergraduate parties on campus; Oregon became the first state to ban the production of coal effective 2020.

On the medical front, Zika infections are spreading in Florida while the Congress dithers (when will the Blues stop trying to block the House passed funding bill?) and on the sports front Katie Ledecky threw out the first pitch at the Nationals-Orioles game (since she is going to Stanford watch for total dominance by Stanford in NCAA swimming) and Hope Solo the goalie for USA women’s soccer was suspended for six months for calling the Swedes cowards after beating the US in Rio (words have consequences).

As Trump is becoming more presidential, going to www.lyingcrookedhillary.com is a great way to start your day along of course with www.alaskanpoet.blogspot.com and reading Clinton Cash would be a great read to understand the quid pro quo mentality of the Clintons.

As always, I hope you enjoy today’s holidays and observances, a music link to Survivor, factoids of interest for this day in history, a relevant quote from Ralph Marston, while looking forward to enjoying a banana split, 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. Liberation Day—celebrated in France to mark the liberation of Paris on this day in 1944 from German occupation that had lasted since 1940.

2. Thoughtful Thursday—celebrating more than a catchy phrase in the same week as National Be An Angel Day but an idea that has lasting merit—be thoughtful of the needs of your fellow human beings and reach out with acts of kindness and support during their times of crisis or needs.

3. 1982 Number One Song—celebrating the number one song in 1982 on a long run of six weeks in that position “Eye Of The Tiger” by Survivor. Here is a link to Survivor performing “Eye Of The Tiger”. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=btPJPFnesV4

4. National Banana Split Day—celebrating a great way to break your busy day with an ice cream treat.
5. Art Of The Deal—celebrating not the birthday of Donald Trump the author of The Art of the Deal but rather the birth on this day in 1921 of Monty Hall noted game show host whose show Let’s Make a Deal aired for 23 years on TV.

On this day in:

a. 1609 in a make the universe closer moment, Galileo Galilei demonstrated his telescope to Venetian lawmakers.

b. 1916 to the joy of wildlife and nature enthusiastics, the U.S. National Park Service was founded.

c. 1945 ten days after the end of World War II, armed supporters of the Chinese Communist Party killed U.S. Army intelligence officer John Birch; members of the right consider his death to be the first fatality in the Cold War.

d. 1950 in order to avoid a national rail strike as the country was mobilizing to fight the Korean War, President Harry S. Truman ordered the U.S. Army to seize control of the nation’s railroads.
e. 1967 George Lincoln Rockwell, the founder of the American Nazi Party, was assassinated by a former member of that organization as he was leaving a laundromat. Reflections on being thankful on this Thankful Thursday: “Make it a habit to tell people thank you. To express your appreciation, sincerely and without the expectation of anything in return. Truly appreciate those around you, and you'll soon find many others around you. Truly appreciate life, and you'll find that you have more of it.” Ralph Marston, publisher and editor of the Daily Motivator 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.

Poet Extraordinaire Beyond Compare
The Perfect Gift, All Recipients to Receive Lasting Lift