Shoppers are stampeding local stores trying to find this new game!
Friday, November 28, 2008
Monday, November 24, 2008
Turkeys Run Amuck
Some fun and interesting facts about Thanksgiving.
*The pilgrims arrived in North America in December 1620.
*During the first winter in 1621, 46 of the 102 pilgrims died.
*By the fall of 1621 only half of the pilgrims, who had sailed on the Mayflower, survived. The survivors, thankful to be alive, decided to give a thanksgiving feast.
*They celebrated the first Thanksgiving Day in the fall of 1621.
*The feast was all prepared by the four women settlers and two teenage girls.
*52 Pilgrims attended the 'First Thanksgiving' in 1621 including: John Alden, William Bradford, Priscilla Mullins and Miles Standish
*The Pilgrim leader, Governor William Bradford, had organized the first Thanksgiving feast in the year 1621 and invited the neighboring Wampanoag Indians also to the feast.
*The first Thanksgiving celebration lasted three days.
*According to Edward Winslow, a participant in the First Thanksgiving, the feast consisted of: Corn, Barley, Fowl including Wild Turkeys and Waterfowl and Venison and the celebration lasted for three days and included games and food.
*Approximately 50 Native Americans attended the 'First Thanksgiving' including: Massasoit and Squanto - the Pilgrim's Translator.
*President George Washington issued the first national Thanksgiving Day Proclamation in the year 1789 and again in 1795.
*The state of New York officially made Thanksgiving Day an annual custom in 1817.
*Sarah Josepha Hale, an editor with a magazine, started a Thanksgiving campaign in 1827 and it was result of her efforts that in 1863 Thanksgiving was observed as a day for national thanksgiving and prayer.
*Abraham Lincoln issued a 'Thanksgiving Proclamation' on third October 1863 and officially set aside the last Thursday of November as the national day for Thanksgiving. Whereas earlier the presidents used to make an annual proclamation to specify the day when Thanksgiving was to be held.
*President Franklin D. Roosevelt restored Thursday before last of November as Thanksgiving Day in the year 1939. He did so to make the Christmas shopping season longer and thus stimulate the economy of the state.
*Congress passed an official proclamation in 1941 and declared that now onwards Thanksgiving will be observed as a legal holiday on the fourth Thursday of November every year.
*The National Turkey Federation estimated that 46 million turkeys—one fifth of the annual total of 235 million consumed in the United States in 2007—were eaten at Thanksgiving.
*The average weight of turkeys purchased for Thanksgiving is 15 pounds, which means some 690 million pounds of turkey were consumed in the U.S. during Thanksgiving in 2007.
*The first time the Detroit Lions played football on Thanksgiving Day was in 1934, when they hosted the Chicago Bears at the University of Detroit stadium, in front of 26,000 fans. The NBC radio network broadcast the game on 94 stations across the country--the first national Thanksgiving football broadcast. Since that time, the Lions have played a game every Thanksgiving (except between 1939 and 1944); in 1956, fans watched the game on television for the first time.
*3 is the number of places nationwide named after the holiday's tasty gobbler. Turkey, Texas, is the most populous, with 496 residents; followed by Turkey Creek, La. (357); and Turkey, N.C. (267). There also are 16 townships around the country named "Turkey," three of them in Kansas.
*690 million pounds - The forecast for U.S. cranberry production in 2007, essentially unchanged from 2006 and 11 percent more than 2005. Wisconsin is expected to lead all states in the production of cranberries, with 390 million pounds, followed by Massachusetts (180 million). New Jersey, Oregon and Washington are also expected to have substantial production, ranging from 18 million to 52 million pounds.
*Benjamin Franklin wanted the turkey to be the national bird of the United States. But it was Thomas Jefferson who opposed him. It is believed that Franklin then named the male turkey as 'tom' to spite Jefferson.
The First Thanksgiving
When the Pilgrims first gathered together to share
with their Indian friends in the mild autumn air,
they lifted the voices in jubilant praise
for the bread on the table, the berries and maize,
for field and for forest, for turkey and deer,
for the bountiful crops they were blessed with that year.
They were thankful for these as they feasted away,
and as they were thankful we're thankful today.
Author Unknown
Happy Thanksgiving to all of my friends, both in real life and virtual.
*The pilgrims arrived in North America in December 1620.
*During the first winter in 1621, 46 of the 102 pilgrims died.
*By the fall of 1621 only half of the pilgrims, who had sailed on the Mayflower, survived. The survivors, thankful to be alive, decided to give a thanksgiving feast.
*They celebrated the first Thanksgiving Day in the fall of 1621.
*The feast was all prepared by the four women settlers and two teenage girls.
*52 Pilgrims attended the 'First Thanksgiving' in 1621 including: John Alden, William Bradford, Priscilla Mullins and Miles Standish
*The Pilgrim leader, Governor William Bradford, had organized the first Thanksgiving feast in the year 1621 and invited the neighboring Wampanoag Indians also to the feast.
*The first Thanksgiving celebration lasted three days.
*According to Edward Winslow, a participant in the First Thanksgiving, the feast consisted of: Corn, Barley, Fowl including Wild Turkeys and Waterfowl and Venison and the celebration lasted for three days and included games and food.
*Approximately 50 Native Americans attended the 'First Thanksgiving' including: Massasoit and Squanto - the Pilgrim's Translator.
*President George Washington issued the first national Thanksgiving Day Proclamation in the year 1789 and again in 1795.
*The state of New York officially made Thanksgiving Day an annual custom in 1817.
*Sarah Josepha Hale, an editor with a magazine, started a Thanksgiving campaign in 1827 and it was result of her efforts that in 1863 Thanksgiving was observed as a day for national thanksgiving and prayer.
*Abraham Lincoln issued a 'Thanksgiving Proclamation' on third October 1863 and officially set aside the last Thursday of November as the national day for Thanksgiving. Whereas earlier the presidents used to make an annual proclamation to specify the day when Thanksgiving was to be held.
*President Franklin D. Roosevelt restored Thursday before last of November as Thanksgiving Day in the year 1939. He did so to make the Christmas shopping season longer and thus stimulate the economy of the state.
*Congress passed an official proclamation in 1941 and declared that now onwards Thanksgiving will be observed as a legal holiday on the fourth Thursday of November every year.
*The National Turkey Federation estimated that 46 million turkeys—one fifth of the annual total of 235 million consumed in the United States in 2007—were eaten at Thanksgiving.
*The average weight of turkeys purchased for Thanksgiving is 15 pounds, which means some 690 million pounds of turkey were consumed in the U.S. during Thanksgiving in 2007.
*The first time the Detroit Lions played football on Thanksgiving Day was in 1934, when they hosted the Chicago Bears at the University of Detroit stadium, in front of 26,000 fans. The NBC radio network broadcast the game on 94 stations across the country--the first national Thanksgiving football broadcast. Since that time, the Lions have played a game every Thanksgiving (except between 1939 and 1944); in 1956, fans watched the game on television for the first time.
*3 is the number of places nationwide named after the holiday's tasty gobbler. Turkey, Texas, is the most populous, with 496 residents; followed by Turkey Creek, La. (357); and Turkey, N.C. (267). There also are 16 townships around the country named "Turkey," three of them in Kansas.
*690 million pounds - The forecast for U.S. cranberry production in 2007, essentially unchanged from 2006 and 11 percent more than 2005. Wisconsin is expected to lead all states in the production of cranberries, with 390 million pounds, followed by Massachusetts (180 million). New Jersey, Oregon and Washington are also expected to have substantial production, ranging from 18 million to 52 million pounds.
*Benjamin Franklin wanted the turkey to be the national bird of the United States. But it was Thomas Jefferson who opposed him. It is believed that Franklin then named the male turkey as 'tom' to spite Jefferson.
The First Thanksgiving
When the Pilgrims first gathered together to share
with their Indian friends in the mild autumn air,
they lifted the voices in jubilant praise
for the bread on the table, the berries and maize,
for field and for forest, for turkey and deer,
for the bountiful crops they were blessed with that year.
They were thankful for these as they feasted away,
and as they were thankful we're thankful today.
Author Unknown
Happy Thanksgiving to all of my friends, both in real life and virtual.
Wednesday, November 19, 2008
Wednesday Follies
Just think...if the Indians had given the Pilgrim Fathers a donkey instead of a turkey we would all be having a piece of ass for Thanksgiving!
H/T: LaSal
=====
You know what they call the new brand of currying rags for donkeys? Asswipes.
The new competitor uniform for the donkey show event is the beret. It's an asshat.
=====
An old man, a boy & a donkey were going to town. The boy rode on the donkey & the old man walked. As they went along they passed some people who remarked it was a shame the old man was walking & the boy was riding.
The man & boy thought maybe the critics were right, so they changed positions.
Later, they passed some people that remarked, "What a shame, he makes that little boy walk."
They then decided they both would walk! Soon they passed some more people who thought they were stupid to walk when they had a decent donkey to ride. So, they both rode the donkey.
Now they passed some people that shamed them by saying how awful to put such a load on a poor donkey.
The boy & man said they were probably right, so they decide to carry the donkey. As they crossed the bridge, they lost their grip on the animal & he fell into the river and drowned.
The moral of the story?
If you try to please everyone, you might as well...Kiss your ass good-bye
=====
Q: What do you get when you cross a donkey with an onion?
A: Most of the time you simply get an onion with long ears, but every once in a while, get lucky and find a piece of ass that brings tears to your eyes.
=====
Ok...I'll stop now in the name of humanity.
Saturday, November 15, 2008
Bring Some Holiday Cheer
Old Toad started asking independent artists for songs to put on a compilation CD to support troops in 2004, they sent out 50 copies. The summer CD 2008 shipped 2580 copies. A lady in North Carolina with Soldiers Angels contacted Old Toad, this lady runs Operation Santa Claus with soldiers angels. She WISHED for 30,000 copies to send in packs to troops.
Our operating budget is our own money as we need to buy CD's. However 30,000 is way above our means financially BUT WE WILL TRY! They are asking anybody to send BLANK CDR PRINTABLE CD's, as many as they can to help. They are not asking for money, only CD's.
They are also trying to find a corporate sponsor but they are not incorporated as a non charitable organization so naturally they won't deal with them.
FREEDOM is not just a word , AND being THANKFUL, now that requires action.
They make the CD's in their basement with a Pioneer CD Duplicator and 2 printers. They accomplish these feats by themselves without asking for anything. Just like our troops, giving and not asking for anything in return. Have you ever spent a holiday away from home? No family or even a phone call? I have and its damn lonely. These CD's are a way to bring a moment of comfort from home.
Here are a few FAQ's:
CD's are NOT for sale, ever!
They are sent to the troops, free of charge.
CD's are also sent to artists who perform at Legion halls or Veteran organizations. Only stipulation to receiving these CD's is they must be given away for FREE.
We do not sell the music or make it available for download anywhere.
Artists retain all rights to their music they submit plus receive a free copy of the compilation CD.
We do not want any monetary rewards or special recognition for our effort
If you'd like to assist in the project, please send me an email at quietontheset01 at g mail dot com and I'll pass along your email to these folks. Or you can email them directly at meoldtoad at hot mail dot com
Our operating budget is our own money as we need to buy CD's. However 30,000 is way above our means financially BUT WE WILL TRY! They are asking anybody to send BLANK CDR PRINTABLE CD's, as many as they can to help. They are not asking for money, only CD's.
They are also trying to find a corporate sponsor but they are not incorporated as a non charitable organization so naturally they won't deal with them.
FREEDOM is not just a word , AND being THANKFUL, now that requires action.
They make the CD's in their basement with a Pioneer CD Duplicator and 2 printers. They accomplish these feats by themselves without asking for anything. Just like our troops, giving and not asking for anything in return. Have you ever spent a holiday away from home? No family or even a phone call? I have and its damn lonely. These CD's are a way to bring a moment of comfort from home.
Here are a few FAQ's:
CD's are NOT for sale, ever!
They are sent to the troops, free of charge.
CD's are also sent to artists who perform at Legion halls or Veteran organizations. Only stipulation to receiving these CD's is they must be given away for FREE.
We do not sell the music or make it available for download anywhere.
Artists retain all rights to their music they submit plus receive a free copy of the compilation CD.
We do not want any monetary rewards or special recognition for our effort
If you'd like to assist in the project, please send me an email at quietontheset01 at g mail dot com and I'll pass along your email to these folks. Or you can email them directly at meoldtoad at hot mail dot com
Tuesday, November 11, 2008
Veterans Day
On Veterans Day, November 11th, we pause to remember and to honor the men and women who selflessly and bravely served in America’s armed forces to keep our nation strong and our freedoms secure.
Veterans Day traditionally is a day of celebration when communities large and small demonstrate their respect and appreciation for the soldiers, sailors, airmen and marines who have sacrificed so much for the cherished causes of liberty and peace.
This Veterans Day, however, will be a more somber occasion as we pay tribute to not only those who served in past wars, but honor America’s sons and daughters on active duty in Iraq and in the war against terrorism being waged around the world.
Observance of Veterans Day – or Armistice Day as it was known then -- began 84-years ago, in 1919, when Americans gathered to celebrate the first anniversary of the peace agreement that ended the first world war – the war to end all wars.
Today, many wars and conflicts later, we continue this tradition of paying tribute to those who have worn the uniforms of our armed forces. Our servicemen and women have freely given of themselves throughout our history to preserve the precious liberties and freedoms enjoyed today by Americans and people worldwide. We are the fortunate beneficiaries of their vigilance and determination.
The courage of America’s veterans has been passed down from generation to generation. Our veterans have proudly and bravely battled tyranny and oppression in the world wars, Korea, Vietnam, and the Middle East.
And, today, our men and women in uniform once again are at war, bringing freedom to the people of Iraq and standing vigilant against brutal and ruthless terrorists who kill innocent people in their blind hatred of America and our special way of life.
Through their service, today’s veterans have joined a long line of patriots willing to risk all to preserve our freedom and the American way of life.
To the families of others who have made the supreme sacrifice – we extend our heartfelt gratitude, acknowledging we cannot measure the value of the freedoms secured by their supreme sacrifice. Their losses, however, will not be in vain, as our nation will emerge victorious in these wars and the world will be a better and safer place.
We are a nation blessed with an abundance of citizens willing to take up arms to secure, defend and maintain the principles put forth by our forefathers. Since the founding of our nation, nearly 50 million men and women have served America in uniform.
Half of them – some 25 million – are living today. They are our grandparents, parents, sons and daughters, co-workers, friends and neighbors – ordinary citizens who have served in extraordinary ways to preserve the greatness of America.
It is our duty as citizens of this great nation to remember the service of our veterans, their sacrifices and their commitment to America and its citizens. We should do so, not just on Veterans Day, but every day of the year.
That is the least we can do in recognition of the inestimable debt we owe for what they have done for us, and continue to do to make a better and safer tomorrow for generations of Americans, who will enjoy the promise of freedom and happiness as the legacy of the selfless service of countless patriots.
A few years after the end of World War I, President Calvin Coolidge cautioned Americans that “The nation which forgets its defenders will itself be forgotten.” The admonition is as timely today as it was then.
On Veterans Day 2006 let us join together in remembering our veterans and giving thanks for all they have done for us and our great nation. And, let us pray for the safety and well being of our men and women in uniform, and wish them success as they fight for the cause of freedom and peace.
Two little words that mean a lot, "THANK YOU." Remember November 11th is Veterans Day.
"It is the soldier, not the reporter,
Who has given us freedom of the press.
It is the soldier, not the poet,
Who has given us freedom of speech.
It is the soldier, not the campus organizer,
Who has given us the freedom to demonstrate.
It is the soldier,
Who salutes the flag,
Who serves beneath the flag,
and whose coffin is draped by the flag,
Who allows the protester to burn the flag."
Father Denis Edward O'Brien, USMC
For those of you who follow this blog, you may remember my buddy "Smoke" is currently serving in Iraq. Unofficial rumor has it "Smoke" is on his way home! God speed Smoke, God Speed.
Monday, November 10, 2008
When Pump Priming Sucks
The Federal Reserve is refusing to identify the recipients of almost $2 trillion of emergency loans from American taxpayers or the troubled assets the central bank is accepting as collateral.
Pretty scary opening paragraph.
Total Fed lending topped $2 trillion for the first time last week and has risen by 140 percent, or $1.172 trillion, in the seven weeks since Fed governors relaxed the collateral standards on Sept. 14. The difference includes a $788 billion increase in loans to banks through the Fed and $474 billion in other lending, mostly through the central bank's purchase of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac bonds.
Oh this is a money quote here:
``I talk to Geithner and he was pretty sure that they're OK,'' said Frank, a Massachusetts Democrat. ``If the risk is that the Fed takes a little bit of a haircut, well that's regrettable.'' Such losses would be acceptable, he said, if the program helps revive the economy.
This has a potential of not only reducing our economy to lows not seen in 70 some years but also to allow other foreign interests to take-over our economy.
The Fed has lent at least $81 billion to American International Group Inc., the world's largest insurer, so that it can pay obligations to banks. AIG today said it received an expanded government rescue package valued at more than $150 billion.
When will the bleeding stop? When is enough bailouts enough? Who and HOW are we going to pay for all this? I'm not suggesting a conspiracy is at hand (as some have emailed me in the past)nor am I advocating anything other than keeping you informed. It's sad that while we give our government an allowance we have to babysit them like a 5 year old. This is all being done in the name of GREED folks.
I'd appreciate hearing your comments and ideas on this topic.
Source
Something to ponder: As late as 1938, after almost a decade of governmental "pump priming," almost one out of five workers remained unemployed.
Wednesday, November 05, 2008
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