Archive for the ‘Featured’ Category

The momentum of the #dontgo movement is picking up steam. More and more everyday people are showing up to watch the proceedings in the House.

Today was day #4 of the Republican “staycation” and there is still no sign of Nancy Pelosi in Washington, DC. There is no sign that the Democratic leadership has any intention to work on a bipartisan energy plan. I sure hope Mrs. Pelosi’s book is worth it.

Come back to Washington now Madame Speaker. We’re still discussing energy, without you. What are you doing anyway? Working on your CDL training or something? Come on, get with the program and get back to work!

Also posted to YouTube and DailyMotion.

On this day in 1983, Dave Winfield, an outfielder for the New York Yankees, was warming up and accidentally killed a seagull when he threw the ball. He was actually arrested for cruelty to animals after the game.

On August 4, 1983, Winfield, while warming up before the fifth inning of a game at Toronto’s Exhibition Stadium, accidentally killed a seagull with a thrown ball. He doffed his cap in mock sorrow. Fans responded by hurling obscenities and improvised missiles. After the game, he was brought to the Ontario Provincial Police station on charges of cruelty to animals and was forced to post a $500 bond before being released. Quipped Yankees manager Billy Martin, “It’s the first time he’s hit the cutoff man.” The charges were dropped the following day.[5] For years afterward Winfield’s appearances in Toronto were greeted with loud choruses of boos, but he later became a fan favorite due to his outstanding play once he joined the Blue Jays.

I remember 1983 quite well, it was my first year in college, time seemed to stand still. Now I have two Nautica watches just so I can keep up with reality, let alone the internet.

You can find out more about this day in history at the History Channel, Those Were The Days, and InfoPlease.

On this day in 1944, Anne Frank made the final entry in her diary.

Dearest Kitty,

“A bundle of contradictions” was the end of my previous letter and is the beginning of this one. Can you please tell me exactly what “a bundle of contradictions” is? What does “contradiction” mean? Like so many words, it can be interpreted in two ways: a contradiction imposed from without and one imposed from within. The former means not accepting other people’s opinions, always knowing best, having the last word; in short, all those unpleasant traits for which I’m known. The latter, for which I’m not known, is my own secret.

As I’ve told you many times, I’m split in two. One side contains my exuberant cheerfulness, my flippancy, my joy in life and, above all, my ability to appreciate the lighter side of things. By that I mean not finding anything wrong with flirtations, a kiss, an embrace, a saucy joke. This side of me is usually lying in wait to ambush the other one, which is much purer, deeper, and finer.

No one knows Anne’s better side, and that’s why most people can’t stand me. Oh, I can be an amusing clown for an afternoon, but after that everyone’s had enough of me to last a month. Actually, I’m what a romantic film is to a profound thinker – a mere diversion, a comic interlude, something that is soon forgotten: not bad, but not particulary good either.

I hate having to tell you this, but why shouldn’t I admit it when I know it’s true? My lighter, more superficial side will always steal a march on the deeper side and therefore always win. You can’t imagine how often I’ve tried to push away this Anne, which is only half of what is known as Anne – to beat her down, hide her. But it doesn’t work, and I know why.

I’m afraid that people who know me as I usually am will discover I have another side, a better and finer side. I’m afraid they’ll mock me, think I’m ridiculous and sentimental and not take me seriously.

I’m used to not being taken seriously, but only the “lighthearted” Anne is used to it and can put up with it; the “deeper” Anne is too weak. If I force the good Anne into the spotlight for even fifteen minutes, she shuts up like a clam the moment she’s called upon to speak, and lets Anne number one do the talking. Before I realize it, she’s disappeared.

So the nice Anne is never seen in company. She’s never made a single appearance, though she almost always takes the stage whem I’m alone. I know exactly how I’d like to be, how I am . . . on the inside. But unfortunately I’m only like that with myself. And perhaps that’s why – no, I’m sure that’s the reason why – I think of myself as happy on the inside and other people think I’m happy on the outside. I’m guided by the pure Anne within, but on the outside I’m nothing but a frolicsome little goat tugging at its tether.

As I’ve told you, what I say is not what I feel, which is why I have a reputation for being a boy-chaser, a flirt, a smart aleck and a reader of romances. The happy-go-lucky Anne laughs, gives a flippant reply, shrugs her shoulders and pretends she couldn’t care less. The quiet Anne reacts in just the opposite way.

If I’m being completely honest, I’ll have to admit that it does matter to me, that I’m trying very hard to change myself, but that I’m always up against a more powerful enemy. A voice within me is sobbing, “You see, that’s what’s become of you. You’re surrounded by negative opinions, dismayed looks and mocking faces, people who dislike you, and all because you don’t listen to the advice of your own better half.”

Believe me, I’d like to listen, but it doesn’t work, because if I’m quiet and serious, everyone thinks I’m putting on a new act and I have to save myself with a joke, and then I’m not even talking about my own family, who assume I must be ill, stuff me with asprins and sedatives, feel my neck and forehead to see if I have a temperature, ask about my bowel movements and berate me for being in a bad mood, until I just can’t keep it up any more, beause when everybody starts hovering over me, I get cross, then sad, and finally end up turning my heart inside out, the bad part on the outside and the good part on the inside, and keep trying to find a way to become what I’d like to be and what I could be if . . . if only there were no other people in the world.

Yours, Anne M. Frank

I have seen most of this movie, not all of it. I was out of town on business at the time, and I got so caught up in it, I walked for 90 minutes on the treadmill at the hotel while this was playing on the television. Not a real motivator for walking, but I was focused on it, that’s for sure.

On this day, in 1956, Brenda Lee recorded her first big hit.

On this day, in 1868, the 14th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution was ratified. Do you remember what it said?

Section 1. All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the State wherein they reside. No State shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States; nor shall any State deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws.

Section 2. Representatives shall be apportioned among the several States according to their respective numbers, counting the whole number of persons in each State, excluding Indians not taxed. But when the right to vote at any election for the choice of electors for President and Vice President of the United States, Representatives in Congress, the Executive and Judicial officers of a State, or the members of the Legislature thereof, is denied to any of the male inhabitants of such State, being twenty-one years of age, and citizens of the United States, or in any way abridged, except for participation in rebellion, or other crime, the basis of representation therein shall be reduced in the proportion which the number of such male citizens shall bear to the whole number of male citizens twenty-one years of age in such State.

Section 3. No one shall be a Senator or Representative in Congress, or elector of President and Vice President, or hold any office, civil or military, under the United States, or under any State, who, having previously taken an oath, as a member of Congress, or as an officer of the United States, or as a member of any State legislature, or as an executive or judicial officer of any State, to support the Constitution of the United States, shall have engaged in insurrection or rebellion against the same, or given aid or comfort to the enemies thereof. But Congress may by a vote of two-thirds of each House, remove such disability.

Section 4. The validity of the public debt of the United States, authorized by law, including debts incurred for payment of pensions and bounties for services in suppressing insurrection or rebellion, shall not be questioned. But neither the United States nor any State shall assume or pay any debt or obligation incurred in aid of insurrection or rebellion against the United States, or any claim for the loss or emancipation of any slave; but all such debts, obligations and claims shall be held illegal and void.

Section 5. The Congress shall have power to enforce, by appropriate legislation, the provisions of this article.

Many people in our country pay no attention to our Constitution. I really don’t think enough emphasis is placed on learning it in schools either. More people know how to get a passport than know anything about the Bill of Rights or many other amendments to the Constitution.

On this date in 1946, Jerry Lewis and Dean Martin teamed up and became one of the most famous comedy teams ever.

Classic.

One day after Jerry Lewis and Dean Martin performed together for the last time, the movie “Pardners” was released.

Their final performance took place exactly ten years after they began performing together, and the nightclub, condo hotel, and movie industry has never been the same. Then again, by the time they stopped performing together I’m not sure too many people would have been interested in producing another movie with them, although I think it would have been good, as I am a huge fan.

On this day in 1973, Jim Croce’s hit, “Bad, Bad, Leroy Brown” hit number one on the Billboard pop-singles chart. Ahh, 1973. An era where everything was simpler. No iPods, no internet, just good books, acne products, and good music. Those were the days.

He died two months later.

On this day in 1976, Nadia Comaneci became the first gymnast to get a perfect score of 10 on the uneven parallel bars.

Man, how time flies. Since Nadia captured our hearts we have seen a massive change in the world.
Computers are a million times faster, we have energy efficient lightbulbs, moving pods make it easier to move your stuff, heck, we’re even moving farther and more than back then. So what hasn’t changed since Nadia took the gold?

Not much.

Ruby Stevens was born on this day in 1907. Who was Ruby Stevens you ask? Why, she was one of the best actresses Hollywood has ever seen.

Of course, you know her as Barbra Stanwyck. Of course, I grew up watching her on “The Big Valley” and other shows. One of my favorite things to do, whether I am at home on a Sunday afternoon or sitting in a hotel room on vacation on the Outer Banks, is finding old reruns of shows like “The Big Valley”. They sure take me back.