Thanksgiving 2018

Food, football, and…oppression. That’s what Thanksgiving has come to mean to many Americans. Back in 2007, Seattle public school officials made national news by describing the holiday as a “time of mourning” and a “bitter reminder of 500 years of betrayal.” This new narrative describes the Pilgrims as arrogant oppressors who fled persecution only to become persecutors themselves, depriving Native Americans of their land and their lives. But this is wrong on every count.

Should Americans celebrate Thanksgiving as a day of gratitude? Or should they mourn it as a day of guilt? Michael Medved, author of The American Miracle, shares the fascinating story of the first Thanksgiving.

This is kinda fun, too.

Have a great Thanksgiving, folks, and remember to pray that we may always celebrate this important Holiday. – Bunk Strutts

[More Thanksgiving-themed posts here.]

Saturday Matinee – Boop, Bongos, Bass & Bob, Gatemouth Brown and RIP Roy Clark

In 1932, Franklin Roosevelt ran against incumbent President Herbert Hoover for the presidency, hence the caricatures, and there are hints about the repeal of Prohibition in this cartoon. Hoover first shows up at 0:45. “Mr. Nobody” (1:12) probably refers to the other six candidates, including 3rd runner-up Socialist Party candidate Norman Thomas. Roosevelt’s nose and chin appear at 2:12.

The depiction of Congress at 2:28 is relevant today (as is Betty Boop twerking, promising everything for free). [Video found via here.]

Yep. That’s Penn Gillette (of Penn & Teller) on bass ca 1991. I first saw it in a movie theater as part of “Animation Celebration” or something, but I couldn’t find a link.

Clarence Gatemouth Brown (1924-2005) didn’t use a pick, and his calluses were tougher than woodpecker lips. Here’s his take on Bill Doggett‘s classic 1956 hit “Honky Tonk.” Brown was a speed blues artist as well. (If you doubt me, check out “Pressure Cooker.“)

RIP Roy Clark (1922-2018) What a great musical talent.

See you back here tomorrow for more extraneous arbitrary extrapolations.

Pray for those who lost loved ones, homes and businesses in the California fires, and don’t fall for the soulless scammers asking for donations. Donate directly to trusted charities only.

WWI – Navy Aircraft deployed to Nova Scotia

– A Curtiss HS-2L at U.S. Naval Air Station Halifax, circa 1918. Crates containing the first two HS-2L flying boats arrived at the station on 17 August 1918. The first aircraft was assembled and successfully test flown two days later.

The second-oldest military airfield in Canada, the Shearwater air station at Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, has been home to Canada’s naval or RCAF maritime air squadrons since its inception in 1918.

[Image & caption found here.]

Armistice Day – The 11th Hour of the 11th Day of the 11th Month 1918

100 YEARS AGO

Celebration of the end of WWI, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Photograph shows crowds filling streets surrounding City Hall in celebration of Armistice Day, November 11, 1918, with replica Statue of Liberty.

[Image from here. Related posts here.]

Burgers, Chicken, Shakes and a Creepy Head on a Stick.

Opened in 1959, Mr. Hamburger is still in business. From their website:

“Situated across from the famous downtown Huntsville “Walls” prison unit, Mr. Hamburger has literally been the first taste of freedom for thousands of released inmates waiting for their bus ride out of town. This influence can be seen in the uniquely named burgers fitting the prison theme.”

[Found here.]

A Da Vinci Bridge – 15th Century Engineering

Okay 1502 AD is technically the 16th Century, but the engineering was already in existence.

VERY cool – You can build it on the spot if there’s available timber, no connectors required, and you can knock it down and take it with you once your army has crossed the stream, arroyo, ravine or ditch. Here’s one in use (with planks installed):

This kid constructed one without notches or connectors, using friction and compression only.

[Top image from Da Vinci. 2nd image from here, video from here, links found in here.]

Everyone Knows It’s Windy Hot Links

Volleysoccer.

Good day to go fishing.

No racism here. Nope. None at all.

No Twitter bias here. Nope. None at all.

No Google bias here. Nope. None at all.

Tom Waits’ 20 favorite albums (as of March 2005).

Ken Nordine’s “Colors” was the basis for an artistic game using paint.

Democrat Senator Dick Durbin blames Republicans for Chicago’s horrific gun violence, but there’s just one little problem. Chicago’s last Republican Mayor was William Hale Thompson (who served from 1927-1931). James Woods begins his reply with “Dear Nimrod.”

16-1/2 minutes of “celebrities” gossiping about ex-SNL cast member Norm Macdonald.

Why are “celebrities” gossiping about ex-SNL cast member Norm Macdonald?

You guessed it. Frank Stallone.

Ernie Kucera (1920-2007)

Ernie Kucera at the Starlight Ballroom in 1992 – his band’s 50th Anniversary.

From the You Get What You Pay For Department: In construction, you can only pick two of the following three:
(A) Low-cost, (B) High quality and (C) Fast completion. Brad Pitt’s well-meaning charitable foundation chose A and C, and the houses are falling apart after less than a decade.

From the Bad Acting Department: Weather reporter can barely stand up to the winds of Hurricane/Tropical Storm Florence while other pedestrians were immune. Reminds me of the classic Today Show blowzit.

A private message to The Weather Channel.

[Top image culled from the absurd The Weather Channel video.]

Remembering Triggly Puff.

Stuff I never knew about petticoats.

Cats during an earthquake in Japan [via].

The Dancing Plague of 1518 killed hundreds of peasants in Strasbourg Germany.

The Laughing Epidemic of 1962 affected hundreds of people in Tanganyika (now Tanzania).

Got a critter trapped under the kitchen counter? It might not be what you think it is.

In the past six years (2002-2018) there have been three recorded deaths in the US from snake bites during religious services. Pastor Cody Coots survived a bite to the face. Jamie Coots, Cody’s father was bit on the hand and died in 2014. (Pinkard and Bowden addressed this practice in 1984.)

About Hollerin’. Wanna hear some? Leonard Emanuel was one of the best.

Petticoat Junction trivia – Edgar Buchanan (aka Uncle Joe Carson) was a dentist in real life. He’s pictured above with Irene Ryan (aka Daisy Mae “Granny” Moses) on the set of The Beverly Hillbillies, 1968.