Pot Luck

Getting In Tune with July 8th (4.00 / 2)

On July 8, 1776, the first public readings of the Declaration of Independence was held in Philadelphia's Independence Square to the ringing of bells and band music.

Two Years Later on this day Vermont became the first colony to abolish slavery. Eighty-eight years later the the federal elected officials decided it was a good idea.

On This Day In 1839 a native New Yorker and son of a traveling salesman was born. John D. Rockefeller would become the richest man in the world. The Grand Monopolist and one of the founders of the American Super Economy would eventually become the grandest philanthropist, even giving away more than Andrew Carnegie.  Eventually from this fine example some descendants would register as Democrats.

"I was early taught to work as well as play,
My life has been one long, happy holiday;
Full of work and full of play-
I dropped the worry on the way-
And God was good to me everyday."

A Sign of the Times. On July 8th in 1871, one day after The New York Times rejects a $5 million bribe from the "Boss" the newspaper exposes the massive corruption of Boss Tweed's City Hall. On the same day in 1889 the first issue of The Wall Street Journal hits the stands at 2 cents a copy. Now The Washington Post know who the boss is, The Journal is owned by the King of Yellow Journalism and the Times is being forced to cut Boston loose.

As Justice Goes. On July 8, 1976 former President Richard M. Nixon was disbarred by the New York Bar Association. Nixon attempted to resign voluntarily, as he had from the California and U.S. Supreme Court bars, but New York refused to accept his resignation unless he acknowledged that he had obstructed justice during the Watergate coverup.

1986 was Fun as long as they could keep him away from the machine gun. Kurt Waldheim was inaugurated as president of Austria despite controversy over his alleged ties to Nazi war crimes.

In 1999 The Electric Chair Was Put To Bed. On July 8 when Allen Lee Davis was shocked to death by the state of Florida he was the last and the nation moved on to more  humane ways to kill Americans.  

An Historic Double Humping. On this day in 2004 Enron's founder Kenneth Lay pleaded innocent to charges related to the energy company's collapse and Adelphia Communications Corp. founder John Rigas along with his son Timothy were convicted in New York of looting the cable company and deceiving investors. Eventually Ken Lay came up with a way to worm out of the charges but the Rigas did better.

Back In 2005 Rock singer and campaigner Bob Geldof, to pressure global leaders put together the Live 8 concert, highlighting  the problem of poverty in the developing world. The concerts were staged in 10 cities around the world ahead of their G8 summit in Gleneagles and on this day G8 leaders agreed to a $50 billion aid boost. Also in the victory column, Progress American Style came when  Prime Minister Tony Blair said "An agreement had always been unlikely, but that the US now accepted global warming was an issue."

One Year Ago Today the Senate finally found something to fast track. H.R 6304: The FISA Amendment Act of 2008 got a bullshit debate and the following day they gave away OUR rights, privileges and liberties guaranteed by the Constitution that they took an oath to protect from all enemies, foreign AND domestic...!

Six Degrees Of Seperation. Happy birthday Kevin Bacon.

And the Doozy of The Day A recent study found that only 3.5 percent of Arizona traditional public high school students would be able to pass a U.S. citizenship test. That's teaching them!

This Is Odd. According to the tabloids Michael Jackson to be buried without his brain.

But always looking on the Bright Side.

Without druggist Edward Berner of Two Rivers, Wisconsin it wouldn't even exist. It seems that on this day, back in 1881, a patron came into Edward Berner's drug store and sat down at the soda-fountain counter. Since it was the Sabbath, the customer couldn't have the desirable, but scandalous, flavored, soda water. Mr. Berner compromised and put ice cream in a dish and poured the syrup on top (chocolate syrup was only used for making flavored and ice-cream sodas, at the time). Voila! An ice cream Sunday (the spelling was later changed to 'sundae'). The customer was happy; Mr. Berner was happy ... he just invented a dessert that he could serve on Sundays and remain morally correct; and we are happy 'cause we like ice-cream sundaes no matter what day of the week it is.

This is one time we can say, "Always on Sunday ... or is that sundae?"

Did you know that today is National Chocolate with Almonds Day?

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by: Eddie C @ Wed Jul 08, 2009 at 21:27:35 PM CDT

Ha! (4.00 / 1)

And the Doozy of The Day A recent study found that only 3.5 percent of Arizona traditional public high school students would be able to pass a U.S. citizenship test. That's teaching them!

Scary thing is, how many of them vote?

"Intelligent discontent is the mainspring of civilization." - Eugene V. Debs

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by: JayinPortland @ Thu Jul 09, 2009 at 00:05:46 AM CDT

[ Parent ]

Scary it is (4.00 / 1)

I got that from today's poll in Cheers and Jeers.

Bill asked " Should high school students be able to pass the test before they can graduate?" 11% of Kossacks voted "No" with 3% voting "Not sure/No opinion."

But that's the way our their government likes it.    

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by: Eddie C @ Thu Jul 09, 2009 at 00:30:55 AM CDT

[ Parent ]

Sundae (4.00 / 3)

sounds good. I'd like one of those, please.

"I can understand someone from Iowa promoting corn and soy, but we are not feeding the world, we are feeding animals and soft drink companies." - Jim Goodman

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by: Jill Richardson @ Thu Jul 09, 2009 at 06:16:46 AM CDT

[ Parent ]

And start your day of right with a peek at July 9th (4.00 / 2)

At 6 p.m. on July 9, 1776 the Declaration of Independence  was read by order of Gen. George Washington to the troops assembled on the Common in New York City that is now City Hall Park.

Workers United. Today is a big day in labor history. On this day in 1847 workers in the State of New Hampshire finally won a labor battle and a 10-hour work day was established.

On July 9, 1850 the 12th president of the United States, died in Washington, D.C.  Zachary Taylor only served 16 months in office and Millard Fillmore was unlucky 13 for the Whig Party. Becoming the 13th President of the United States he was  the last member of that defunct party to hold that office.

In 1868 "All Men Are Created Equal" took one step forward. The 14th Amendment to the United States Constitution is ratified guaranteeing African Americans full citizenship and all persons in the United States due process of law.

Today is Police Officer Appreciation Day. On this day in 1872 New England sea captain, John F. Blondel of Thomaston, Maine patents the doughnut cutter.

Back In 1896 at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago William Jennings Bryan delivered his Cross of Gold speech.

At the conclusion of the speech, Bryan stretched out his arms in a Christ-like manner for five seconds, while the crowd remained quiet. According to the New York World, at that point everyone seemed to go mad at once and shrieked and rushed the stage. The New York Times commented "A WILD, RAGING, IRRESISTIBLE MOB""

In 1918 the Distinguished Service Cross was established. Many notable recipients over those years in too many wars. It was also the day of the Worst Train wreck in American history.

In 1943 Allied forces perform an amphibious invasion of Sicily Operation Husky.

In 1944 British and Canadian forces captured Caen, France while the Americans took Saipan in the Battle of Saipan.

1969 Was A Very Good Year but on this day that year Tom Seaver must have been miserable. Pitching for The Miracle Mets he retired the first 25 Chicago Cubs he faced but with just two outs to go for a perfect game, Seaver gave up a single to Jimmy Qualls. They won the game, they even won the Series that fine year but still no perfect game, not even a no hitter.

July 9, 1974 marked the end for a great man. On this day in 1974 the three time governor of California and probably the most important jurist of the 20th century Chief justice Earl Warren passed away. Back when Republicans were sane and President Eisenhower's politics were to the left of Barack Obama's it is claimed  that Eisenhower once remarked that nominating Warren for the Chief Justice seat was "the biggest damned-fool mistake I ever made."   In the in the 1946 running for governor of California  he won the nominations of both the Democratic and Republican parties but the conservative's Wanted Poster form the 1960's was proof enough of Earl Warren's greatness.

July, 9 1986, your tax dollars at work as the fuckers investigate the fuckees. After spending a full year investigating, the Attorney General's Commission on Pornography releases their two-volume, 1960 page final report. This wasn't even the first time the government got their jollies studying porno. The  Meese Report was an expansion of  the 1970 Presidential Commission on Pornography.

A Sad Day For Music in 1995. Because of the death of Jerry Garcia the following month The Grateful Dead played their last concert, at Soldier Field in Chicago.

Ten Years Ago: Resulting from a demonstration in protest to the banning of the pro-reform newspaper Salâm, at least ten people died after Iranian police broke into the dormitories of Tehran University, slashing, busting, burning and throwing some students out of windows. On that same day a jury in Los Angeles ordered General Motors Corp. to pay $4.9 billion to six people severely burned when their Chevrolet Malibu exploded in flames in a rear-end collision. A judge later reduced the punitive damages to $1.09 billion. That still was not the end, GM settled the lawsuit for an undisclosed amount  in July 2003. But don't fret General Motors fans, government will soon own 60 percent.

In 2001 Scientists discover why we are here. The only problem is that they can't figure out a way to explain it to us.  

Five Years Ago: The final report of the US Senate Intelligence Committee states that the Central Intelligence Agency had provided unfounded assessments of the threat posed by Iraq that the Bush administration had relied on to justify going to war. Ya think?

Two Years Ago: David Vitter lost his moral high ground and said "I'm Sorry." after the brothelmister's name is found on a list associated with an escort agency operated by the so-called D.C. Madam. Jeanette Maier, the madam of a high-priced brothel that was shut down by federal authorities in 2002, came to his defense and called  him "One of the nicest and most honorable men I've ever met."

One Year Ago: When Sen. Edward M. Kennedy, battling a brain tumor, walked into the Senate to cast a dramatic vote in favor of long-stalled Medicare legislation, he received a well deserved thunderous applause. Senator Kennedy did not vote when the rest of them voted on H.R. 6304, giving one to the phone companies and screwing the people who elected them.

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by: Eddie C @ Wed Jul 08, 2009 at 21:37:02 PM CDT

What was everything doing during the historic second? (4.00 / 2)

12:34:56 on 7/8/9

I don't expect to see that one again. Although 127 is not an impossible age to live to...

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by: Curtis Abbey @ Thu Jul 09, 2009 at 01:17:10 AM CDT

I was... (4.00 / 2)

missing history!

Damnit!

Heh...

"Intelligent discontent is the mainspring of civilization." - Eugene V. Debs

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by: JayinPortland @ Thu Jul 09, 2009 at 01:43:30 AM CDT

[ Parent ]

The Europeans amongst us... (4.00 / 2)

Will have the chance next month!  August 7 - 7.8.9. in Europe, isn't it?

"Intelligent discontent is the mainspring of civilization." - Eugene V. Debs

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by: JayinPortland @ Thu Jul 09, 2009 at 01:48:06 AM CDT

[ Parent ]

First Urbane Termaters of the Year! (4.00 / 1)

Yea! The biggest of the volunteer plants' flowers have set fruit. They appear to be some kind of grape termaters. There are little hands of five or seven fruit in each bunch. And these are as locavorian as can be. The seeds traveled from the compost pile to the garden.

They're not ripe yet, but I didn't even see them until yesterday, so I don't know if they'll be yellow, red or purple. We had all types last year.

Yankee Frugality: use it up, wear it out, make it last, or do without.

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by: Anonymous Bosch @ Thu Jul 09, 2009 at 17:06:14 PM CDT