Category: History

6 JUNE 1944 – The Fallen

D-Day 1944 Tribute -The-Fallen-25

“The objective was to make a visual representation of 9000 people drawn in the sand which equates the number of Civilians, Germans Forces and Allies that died during the D-day landings, 6th June during WWII as an example of what happens in the absence of peace.

“There will be no distinction between nationalities, they will be known only as ‘The Fallen’. It does not propose to be a celebration or condemnation, simply a statement of fact and tribute to life and its premature loss.” [via]

The creators’ motives appear to be honorable. Although the work was temporary, it’s stunning – a visual example of the thousands of lives sacrificed in the name of Freedom. As bloody and violent as it was, this particular D-Day and H-Hour was the beginning of the end to violent warfare in Europe.

Was there fear on 6 June 1944? With out a doubt, yet the men who selflessly stormed the beaches and cliffs of Normandy had amazing courage and unimaginable fortitude to fight for what they believed in against incredible odds.

And they won.

[Archive for our D-Day tributes  here.]

Ibi Da?

Andy Kaufman

Sure looks like Andy Kaufman to me, but it’s really this guy.

[Found here.]

Ellen Church 15 May 1930

Ellen Church Stewardess 1930

“Okay you idiots, get in, sit down, strap in, have a beer.
We’re goin’ to Chicago and it’ll only take 20 hours.
Now STFD and STFU.”

First female Flight Attendant Ellen Church 1930.

Church became the first stewardess to fly (though not the first flight attendant, as German Heinrich Kubis had preceded her in 1912). On May 15, 1930, she embarked on a Boeing 80A for a 20-hour flight from Oakland/San Francisco to Chicago with 13 stops and 14 passengers.

That works out to a potty break about every 90 minutes en-route. In those days, synchronization was everything.

[Found here.]

1920s Jazz Band – Who were they?

Early Jazz Band Unknown

Anyone know who these guys were? I’m guessing mid-late 1920s, tried to identify the trumpet player with no luck. The clarinet/baritone sax player is the only one wearing spats, so he may be the band leader.

[Found here. Click to enlarge.]

Saturday Matinee – Mock Lobster, Mountain Of Dinosaurs & Spirit Family Revival

Mock Lobster by the Bit52s is very cool [via].

Mountain of Dinosaurs [Rasa Strautmane, USSR 1967] was an anti-soviet propaganda film. Watch it for the nuances before you read the following.

The short warns about what happens if powerful stewards meant to care for individuals actually stifle those they are charged to protect. Dinosaurs didn’t die because of climate change, the short says, but because their eggs became so thick-shelled in response to colder temperatures that the baby dinosaurs couldn’t hatch. The shells (yes, the eggshells speak) mindlessly drone that they are doing their “duty,” but by growing thicker and thicker they kill the nascent sauropods. The scene is the saddest dinosaur cartoon I’ve ever seen, and it seems to be a metaphor for the Soviet government suppressing the rights of individual citizens. Indeed, the death of dinosaurs was not only used by Americans to issue dire warnings — they are an international symbol of extinction.

Brian Switek

Heavy stuff is neither to be ignored nor swept under the rug, IMO.

So let’s lighten it up a tad instead.

The Spirit Family Reunion plays “Come On/Anna” in a bus. Nice roadtrip music, even if they play it at 11.

Have a great weekend, folks, and be sure to hug your mother on Sunday.

May 4 1970 – Kent State

Kent State 4 May 1970

Remember Always that this atrocity was planned and choreographed, not by students of Kent State University, the City of Kent Police Department, the Ohio National Guard, or the Nixon administration.

KSU was chosen.

[Related posts with links here.]

May Day 2014 – It CAN Happen Here.

Russia May Day

And it IS happening here.

Fight communism, socialism, fascism and other forms of liberalism wherever you find it – if not for yourselves, then do it for your children,  grandchildren and future generations who don’t deserve to live a life of serfdom beholden to government wonks of any political party that aims to control every aspect of your life, including, but not limited to, rescinding the 1st and 2nd Amendments.

Always remember that the 2nd Amendment was written to protect the 1st.

Stand up for your principles and speak your mind before it’s too late. The clock is ticking…

Bunk Strutts

“Hi Honey, I’m home. Did you remember to feed the cats?”

Man Eaten By Cats

The Illustrated Police News, 19th century

[Found here.]

Jimi, Che, what’s the difference.

Jimi or Che Whats the diff

One was a left-handed guitar player, the other was a mass-murdering terrorist.

Apparently it’s difficult for some to tell them apart.

[Found here.]

Cross-Stitched Hot Links

Cross Stitch RuPaul

Cross stitch + .gif animations + transvestites =  The RuPaul Cross Stitch Animation Workshop.

“We met over 4 Wednesday nights to learn cross stitch, view experimental animation, celebrate local drag, and discuss GIF culture.”

18 Owls [via].

“Cookin’ With Aunt Ethel” as sung by Linda Hopkins is great and bizarre at the same time. Apparently it’s from a 1985 satirical play entitled “The Colored Museum.”

Google this and read it.

Congressional Record–Appendix, pp. A34-A35
January 10, 1963
Current Communist Goals
EXTENSION OF REMARKS OF HON. A. S. HERLONG, JR. OF FLORIDA
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Thursday, January 10, 1963

Posted verbatim sans commentary here.

The Tee-Tones are awesome.

Q: What happens if a fire breaks out where firearms ammunition is stored?
A: Not much [via].

Émile Cohl’s Fantasmagorie (1908) is regarded as the first cartoon animation [via].