History for March 19

History for March 19 - On-This-Day.com

Birth anniversary of Wyatt Earp (1848-1929), railroad hand, saloon keeper, gambler, lawman, gunslinger, miner, real estate agent.

Birth anniversaries of  William Jennings Bryan, the “Silver-Tongued Orator” (1860-1925); missionary/explorer David Livingstone (1813-73)

Happy Birthday! Ursula Andress, Brent Scowcroft, Bruce Willis

1644 - 200 members of the Peking imperial family/court committed suicide. 


1687 - French explorer La Salle was murdered by his own men while searching for the mouth of the Mississippi River, in the Gulf of Mexico. 


1831 - The first bank robbery in America was reported. The City Bank of New York City lost $245,000 in the robbery. 


1903 - The U.S. Senate ratified the Cuban treaty, gaining naval bases in Guantanamo and Bahia Honda. 


1918 - The U.S. Congress approved Daylight-Saving Time. 

1920 - The U.S. Senate rejected the Versailles Treaty for the second time maintaining an isolation policy. 


1931 - The state of Nevada legalized gambling. 


1945 - About 800 people were killed as Japanese kamikaze planes attacked the U.S. carrier Franklin off Japan. 


1945 - Adolf Hitler issued his "Nero Decree" which ordered the destruction of German facilities that could fall into Allied hands as German forces were retreating. 


1977 - The last episode of "The Mary Tyler Moore Show" aired. 


1987 - Televangelist Jim Bakker resigned from the PTL due to a scandal involving Jessica Hahn. 

Scotland vote threatens to derail 2015 election

Scotland vote threatens to derail 2015 election - Telegraph:
"The 2015 general election will be thrown into turmoil if Scotland votes for independence in September’s referendum, according to government legal advice.
An election is scheduled to be held on May 7 next year but by then Scotland could already be preparing to separate from the rest of the United Kingdom.
The leading lawyer who wrote the Westminster government’s legal advice on Scottish independence is now warning that a “Yes” vote in the referendum would have major ramifications for the election, and could destabilise the next British government.
Cabinet ministers fear that if Alex Salmond’s independence campaign succeeds, the general election would be in grave doubt, plunging Britain into an unprecedented “constitutional crisis”."

Democrats’ policies make income inequality worse

George Will: Democrats’ policies make income inequality worse - The Washington Post
Someone who is determined to disbelieve something can manage to disregard an Everest of evidence for it. 
So Barack Obama will not temper his enthusiasm for increased equality with lucidity about the government’s role in exacerbating inequality.
In the movie “Animal House,” Otter, incensed by the expulsion of his fraternity, says: “I think that this situation absolutely requires a really futile and stupid gesture.”
Such thinking gives us minimum-wage increases that do very little for very few.
Meanwhile, there arefarm bills, like the one Obama signed last month at Michigan State University.

MSU was one of the models for the land-grant colleges created under the 1862 Morrill Act, whose primary purpose was to apply learning to agriculture. 
Today, we apply crony capitalism to agriculture. 

The legislation Obama lavishly praised redistributes wealth upward by raising prices consumers pay.
Vincent Smith of Montana State University says small non-farm businesses are almost 30 times more likely to fail than farms, partly because the$956 billion farm legislation continues agriculture’s thick safety net.
The geyser of subsidies assures that farm households will continue to be 53 percent more affluent than average households.
Certain payments are, however, restricted.
People making more than $900,000 annually are ineligible.
Seventy percent of Agriculture Department spending funds food services.
Nearly 48 million people — almost as many live on the West Coast (in California, Oregon and Washington) — receive food stamps.
This dependency, inimical to upward mobility, is assiduously cultivated by government through “outreach initiatives” to “increase awareness” and “streamline the application process.”

It's the culture, stupid-----Oberlin College Allows Muslim Prof to Violently Threaten Female Professors

Oberlin College Allows Muslim Prof to Violently Threaten Female Professors | FrontPage Magazine
Last spring, Oberlin College canceled classes after claims that someone dressed in a KKK robe was seen walking outside.
It apparently turned out to be a woman in a blanket.
But Oberlin, which is affiliated with CAIR, does overlook some far more serious threats when they come from Muslims.

EunJung An, associate professor of French and cinema studies, is seeking at least $25,000 in damages from the college, which she said did nothing to protect her.
She filed papers in Lorain County Common Pleas Court saying fellow professor Ali Yedes crossed a line with women who work in the French and comparative literature department.

During a 45-minute tirade, Yedes told An that “in his culture, he could have had the female department chair killed because of his perceived mistreatment by her in postponing his tenure,” the lawsuit claims.
The Oberlin College website identifies Yedes as a “Muslim religious life affiliate” with the Islamic Center of Cleveland.
An said she felt physically threatened and when she complained to a senior department member, she was told she “needed to develop a thicker skin.”

E.P.A. Set to Reveal Tough New Sulfur Emissions Rule

E.P.A. Set to Reveal Tough New Sulfur Emissions Rule - NYTimes.com:
"E.P.A. officials estimate that the new regulation will raise the cost of gasoline by about two-thirds of one cent per gallon and add about $75 to the sticker price of cars.
But oil refiners say that it will cost their industry $10 billion and raise gasoline costs by up to 9 cents per gallon."

Physician terminated after Facebook comment sues Spectrum

Physician terminated after Facebook comment sues Spectrum | MLive.com:
"Puetz says she saw a picture Aug. 5, 2013, posted by an emergency department nurse that showed the backside of a woman. Believing she recognized the woman as someone she had seen in public and in the emergency department, Puetz posted a comment on the photo: “OMG. Is that TB?”

According to the lawsuit, the Facebook post and comments were investigated by Spectrum, and some employees were fired and some were not.

Puetz said a nurse who posted “I like big butts and I cannot lie …” – an apparent nod to the popular Sir Mix-A-Lot song - was only reprimanded, not fired.

Puetz worked as an employee of Emergency Care Specialists, an independent contractor that provides emergency department staff to Spectrum Health.

After the Facebook comment was made, she says she submitted an apology to the nursing director. She also says she was assured by the chief medical officer that her job was not in jeopardy."

Good news about a suicide bomber - he had success (now read below)

Good news about a suicide bomber - he had success (now read below) | Gretawire:

"MOGADISHU, Somalia (AP) — A Somali police officer says a suicide car bomber accidentally detonated his explosives near a popular hotel in the Somali capital."

New York, Chicago, and the war on charters

New York, Chicago, and the war on charters - chicagotribune.com

"They're charter schools. They're on their own now."

— New York Schools Chancellor Carmen Farina, on the city's move to deny classrooms to students of a high-performing charter school

New York Mayor Bill de Blasio has launched a war against charter schools. 

His administration's hostility is summed up by the comments of Farina, his choice to run the city's schools. 

She sent a chilling warning to thousands of parents and schoolchildren.

In recent weeks, de Blasio has:

• Canceled plans for three high-quality Success Academy Charter Schools to be co-located in public schools. One of those endangered is among the city's highest-performing middle schools, Success Academy Harlem 4. You'll remember the Success Academy schools from the terrific documentary "Waiting For Superman" and the hundreds of desperate low-income students (and parents) who sought a precious charter seat via an annual city lottery.

• Diverted $210 million earmarked for charter school construction to other education programs.

• Moved to fulfill his most significant charter-choking pledge: To charge the schools rent, based on a sliding scale, extracting the most money from the schools with the greatest cash reserves. That's a major reversal of Mayor Michael Bloomberg's policy of allotting free space to charters in public schools. New York charters receive no state funding, and if they're suddenly charged rent, particularly with Manhattan's exorbitant rates, many will struggle. The Manhattan Institute for Policy Research recently estimated that charging charter schools significant rents would create budget deficits for 7 in 10 of the city's charters. Want to kill charters? Bleed them financially.

State of Michigan Debt Clock

State of Michigan Debt Clock:

Saudi Cleric Issues Fatwa Against All-You-Can-Eat Buffets

Saudi Cleric Issues Fatwa Against All-You-Can-Eat Buffets:
"A Saudi cleric named Saleh al-Fawzan has issued fatwa against all-you-can-eat buffets in Saudi Arabia. He made the statement on a Saudi Quranic TV station.
Fawzan said the value and quantity of the food sold should be pre-determined before hand.
"Whoever enters the buffet and eats for 10 or 50 riyals without deciding the quantity they will eat is violating Sharia (Islamic) law," Fawzan was quoted on al-Atheer channel."

: The MXT135 Equalizer by Alliant Tech systems

: The MXT135 Equalizer by Alliant Tech systems....... - skipper12383's Blog - Blogster:
""With this weapon system, we take away cover from [enemy targets] forever.
Tactics are going to have to be rewritten.
The only thing we can see [enemies] being able to do is run away." 
 Experts say the rifle means that enemy troops will no longer be safe if they take cover.
The MXT135 appears to be the perfect weapon for street-to-street fighting that troops in Afghanistan have to engage in, with enemy fighters hiding behind walls and only breaking cover to fire occasionally."

Russian Deputy PM Laughs at Obama’s Sanctions

Russian Deputy PM Laughs at Obama’s Sanctions - ABC News:
"MOSCOW – Russia’s deputy prime minister laughed off President Obama’s sanction against him today  asking “Comrade @BarackObama” if “some prankster” came up with the list."

So there is a Cruise Ship where Residents Permanently Live as it Travels the World

So there is a Cruise Ship where Residents Permanently Live as it Travels the World | Messy Nessy Chic: "The World is a private residential cruise ship serving as a residential community, owned by its residents who live on board as the ship travels the globe. It has 165 residences (106 apartments, 19 studio apartments, and 40 studios), all owned by the ship’s Residents who can decorate with their own furniture, art, books and personal touches. There’s a deli and supermarket onboard and six restaurants if you didn’t feel like doing the washing up in your own kitchen. Before I start sounding like a salesperson for the residential cruise ship, I’ll just let you check out their promotional video."

History for March 18

History for March 18 - On-This-Day.com:

Birth anniversary of 22^nd and 24^th US president Grover Cleveland (1837-1908).

Birth anniversaries of George Plimpton (1927-2003) and John Updike (1932-2009).

Happy Birthday! Irene Cara, Charley Pride, Vanessa Williams

0037 - The Roman Senate annuls Tiberius’ will and proclaims Caligula emperor. 


1813 - David Melville patented the gas streetlight. 


1818 - The U.S. Congress approved the first pensions for government service. 


1881 - Barnum and Bailey's Greatest Show on Earth opened in Madison Square Gardens. 


1891 - Britain became linked to the continent of Europe by telephone. 


1905 - Franklin Roosevelt and Eleanor Roosevelt were married. 


1916 - Russia countered the Verdun assault with an attack at Lake Naroch. The Russians lost 100,000 men and the Germans lost 20,000. 


1931 - Schick Inc. displayed the first electric shaver. 


1940 - Adolf Hitler and Benito Mussolini held a meeting at the Brenner Pass. The Italian dictator agreed to join in Germany's war against France and Britain during the meeting. 


1945 - 1,250 U.S. bombers attacked Berlin. 


1963 - The U.S. Supreme Court handed down the Miranda decision concerning legal council for defendants. 


1968 - The U.S. Congress repealed the requirement for a gold reserve. 


1970 - The U.S. Postal Service experienced the first postal strike. 


1986 - Buckingham Palace announced the engagement of Prince Andrew to Sarah Ferguson. 


1992 - Leona Hemsly was sentenced to 4 years in prison for tax evasion. 


1994 - Zsa Zsa Gabor filed for bankruptcy.