Category: True Stories

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.]

It’s Time To Dry Your Cow Intestines

[Found here, via here. More here.]

Hot Links of the POGO

Linda never listens.

Riding a Paternoster.

Thermostat Repair 101.

How to brush your teeth.

Best team mascot trick ever.

Here’s a map of pubs in the UK.

I watched this, and I’ve got nothing. Honest.

This Seattle trucker had balls of steel. Had.

Two hundred and seventy white garbage bags.

Little Red Riding Hood makes another observation.

Walt Kelly sings “I Go Pogo.” More musicalness here. Related post here.

This guy is good, but he can’t do it without the black felt. Watch full screen.

Dating advice for males only: The Universal Hot vs. Crazy Matrix. [h/t Octopus]

Miles Davis was amazing, at least until 25:37 when he suddenly becomes Smiles Davis.

[Top image from 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.]

Saturday Matinee – Stop-Motion Pumpkin Carving, Dangerous Dinner, The Growlers & Bite The Buffalo

Stop-motion pumpkin carving is awesome. Many gourds sacrificed their lives [via].

“If you steal the kill, and nobody is hurt, that’s when you can relax.”

Hunting without killing is ballsy as all get out. Psych out the predators and steal their stuff before they figure out what’s going on and they kill you [via].

The Growlers is an excellent name for an excellent semi-retro band. I love ’em.

Bite The Buffalo is an excellent name for an excellent semi-retro band. I love ’em.

Have a great weekend, folks, and we’ll do something different tomorrow. Or not.

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

Mr. Hamburger, Huntsville, Texas

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.]

New Kitchen Lighting Gripes

The electricians finally showed up this morning, installed 8 LED fixtures with new conduit, j-boxes, wiring and wall switches with dimmers. The Missus told them she also wanted two pendants over the island.

I came home to find this. 😀

Not only that, the new LEDs are so yellow that our neighborhood will be rid of moths for the next 20 years. 😦

[Image source: Bunk’s kitchen.]