History for August 23

History for August 23 - On-This-Day.com:

Birth anniversary of dancer, director, choreographer, actor Gene Kelly (1912-96).

Happy Birthday! Barbara Eden, Shelley Long, Vera Miles

1839 - Hong Kong was taken by the British in a war with China. 


1904 - Hard D. Weed patented the grip-tread tire chain for cars. 


 In 1927, Nicola Sacco and Bartolomeo Vanzetti were executed after being found guilty in a fatal armed robbery in Massachusetts.

1939 - Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union signed a non-aggression treaty. 

1973 -A botched bank robbery began in Stockholm, Sweden, that devolved into a hostage situation (Aug 23-28). The psychological state of the hostages identifying and sympathizing with their captors was later termed the “Stockholm Syndrome.”

1977 - First man-powered flight: Bryan Allen pedaled the 70-pound Gossamer Condor for a mile at a minimal altitude of two pylons at Schafter, CA.

1979 - Soviet dancer Alexander Godunov defected while the Bolshoi Ballet was on tour in New York City. 


1982 - The parliament of Lebanon elected Bashir Bemayel president. He was assassinated three weeks later. 


1998 - Protestors in Sudan carried a sign that bore the resemblance of Monica Lewinsky and the words "No War for Monika." The anti-U.S. demonstration was in Khartoum, Sudan.

They Refused to Host a Gay Wedding on Their Farm — and Now They’re Facing a Big Fine | TheBlaze.com

They Refused to Host a Gay Wedding on Their Farm — and Now They’re Facing a Big Fine | TheBlaze.com:
"Owners of a family farm in Schaghticoke, New York, are being fined $13,000 for refusing to allow a gay wedding ceremony to take place on their property in 2012, just one year after the state legalized same-sex nuptials."

Now, THAT's a fair contract!-----Hostess Twinkie plant in Schiller Park closes after 84 years

Hostess Twinkie plant in Schiller Park closes after 84 years - Chicago Tribune:
Hostess Brands said Wednesday it will close its Schiller Park bakery, where Twinkies and other iconic sweets have been produced for 84 years, affecting about 400 employees.
Union officials said they were notified of the closure on the same day they were set to start negotiating a new labor contract. 
About 280 of the workers had voted to unionize in May.
The plant, among only four remaining Hostess bakeries in the country and the last left in Illinois, is expected to close Oct. 19.
Twinkies were invented in the Chicago area in 1930."

BOOM! Mark Levin to Obama: ‘Get Your Ass Off The Golf Course, Act Like a President, or Get the Hell Out!’

BOOM! Mark Levin to Obama: ‘Get Your Ass Off The Golf Course, Act Like a President, or Get the Hell Out!’:
“You know, folks, an American is decapitated in the middle of the desert by some British-Islamo-Nazi puke,” Levin begins exhibiting righteous indignation. “This puke, this punk, ties one of our citizens up, his hands behind his back, lifts up his chin, and saws his head off!” Levin shouted.
“Is it too much to expect this pathetic president to spend more than five minutes on it?” Levin asked, referring to Obama hitting the links immediately after issuing his brief emotionless prepared statement regarding the barbaric beheading of photojournalist James Foley. "

These 9 Charts Show America's Coming Student Loan Apocalypse

These 9 Charts Show America's Coming Student Loan Apocalypse

Borrowers Struggling To Make Payments

Excludes loans in grace, in-school status. 51% of borrowers are not repaying loans on time, as expected. As of June 30, 2014.

Bankruptcy/Disability

Bankruptcy/Disability

Current on payments49%

Deferment18%

Delinquency/Default18%

15%

Forbearance

Bankruptcy/Disability (1%)

Total:
$506.6bn

Created wit

Report Says Bergdahl Prisoner Swap Violated Two U.S. Laws | TheBlaze.com

Report Says Bergdahl Prisoner Swap Violated Two U.S. Laws | TheBlaze.com:
"The U.S. Government Accountability Office released a seven-page report on Thursday saying the Obama administration’s Defense Department violated U.S. law by swapping five Guantanamo Bay detainees for Army Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl without giving congress advance notice of the transfer."

Mussolini Tried To Abolish Pasta

Mussolini Tried To Abolish Pasta - KnowledgeNuts:
"When Mussolini started his domestic campaign to make Italy a self-sufficient country, he took aim at one of Italy’s most beloved foods—pasta.
He raised the fees associated with importing grains and insisted that Italians begin eating rice instead of pasta. He even had the support of the art movement known as the Futurists, who derided pasta as not being modern enough.
Needless to say, the campaign didn’t work."

...The dictator even went so far as to write a poem on the matter, bidding his subjects to love bread but not to consume too much of it—and then, only eat what was made in the country. 
He also pushed the Italian people to turn their back on a longtime staple—pasta. 
He wanted farmers to devote their fields to raising rice instead, and he had a huge base of supporters in the Futurist movement.
The Futurists were an up-and-coming art movement that derided anything that wasn’t on the cutting edge of modern. 
They wanted Italy to be on the front lines of the future, and they saw one thing holding the entire country back—its love of pasta.

Karen Lewis' campaign treasurer says making government smaller is racist [video]

Karen Lewis' campaign treasurer says making government smaller is racist [video] - Illinois Review
CHICAGO - The conservative principle of making government smaller is a racist concept that targets black families, according to Karen Lewis' trusted advisor and campaign committee treasurer Brandon Johnson.

"When you talk about making government smaller, that is code ... for eliminating black people from jobs," Johnson, from the Chicago Teacher Union's Black Caucus, said at a meeting of teachers in April 2013.

....."This move to eliminate this entire class of people is not just an issue for the people who are impacted, but also for the world around us." 

Eric Holder to Ferguson: I was harassed by cops | WashingtonExaminer.com

Eric Holder to Ferguson: I was harassed by cops | WashingtonExaminer.com:
"Holder’s role in Ferguson is somewhat limited in that his office can’t pursue murder charges against Wilson — that’s a local matter.
“Our investigation is different,” Holder said in a separate meeting with local officials. “We’re looking for possible violations of federal civil rights statutes.”"

‘A Subtle Message to ISIS’ From a Ticked Off Military Veteran Should Send a Chill Down the Spine of Every Terrorist | TheBlaze.com

‘A Subtle Message to ISIS’ From a Ticked Off Military Veteran Should Send a Chill Down the Spine of Every Terrorist | TheBlaze.com:
"The powerful response from Nick Powers, identified as a Marine Corps veteran by one website, comes after terrorists beheaded American photojournalist James Foley and posted the propaganda video online for the world to see.
The main, undeniable point of his message to ISIS terrorists is this: You really don’t want to pick a fight with America’s veterans."

Emanuel stands pat on CPS hiring preference, despite (teacher union boss!!!) Lewis blast

Emanuel stands pat on CPS hiring preference, despite Lewis blast | Early & Often:
Mayor Rahm Emanuel on Tuesday stood firm in his decision to give graduates of Chicago Public Schools a leg up on city jobs — including Chicago firefighters — despite surprise opposition from Chicago Teachers Union President Karen Lewis.

“We want everybody from all parts of the city to be able to participate and work for the city. I want to make sure the doors of opportunity are open to all — that everybody feels they have a fair shot. That did not exist before,” the mayor said.

.....In a full-page op-ed in the Chicago Sun-Times, Lewis denounced the mayor’s plan as a “meaningless stunt” that will have “zero impact” on raising the quality of public safety and do “nothing whatsoever” to raise CPS graduation rates.

“It does, however, foster religious and racial divisiveness and invites significant legal challenges that could cost taxpayers millions,” wrote Lewis, who is considering a race for mayor against Emanuel.

Hasn’t law enforcement become more dangerous, justifying the United States of SWAT? No, it’s actually safer than ever

Hasn’t law enforcement become more dangerous, justifying the United States of SWAT? No, it’s actually safer than ever | AEIdeas:

Dispatches from the CNN Style Guide

Ed Driscoll » Dispatches from the CNN Style Guide:
"Having been corrected, what Lemon should have said was, “you’re right, I meant ‘semi-automatic.’” 
But he didn’t. 
Instead, he said:
“For me, that’s an automatic weapon.”
What?

It does not especially matter that Don Lemon doesn’t know the difference between ”automatic” and “semi-automatic” rifles.
Lots of people don’t.
But it really does matter that, having been told he was wrong on national television, Lemon contended that his prior ignorance — and not objective physical and legal reality — should prevail.
Legally and functionally, the item that the panel is discussing was a semi-automatic weapon.
There is no “dispute” over this.
This is not an ongoing “debate.” It’s not a matter of “opinion.”
It’s not an issue on which we can “agree to disagree.”
It’s not an “altercation” that can give way to “compromise.”
It’s a fact.
An undisputed fact.
And yet, for some reason, Lemon seemed to believe that he could talk his way out of his mistake.
“Let’s call this LemonSplaining,” John Nolte quips at Big Journalism.
And CNN wonders why it long ago lost the trust of a nation."

Can't fix what folks don't want fixed-----A strong spirit: 'Save Our City' hosts health screenings, prayer sessions in Muskegon Heights

A strong spirit: 'Save Our City' hosts health screenings, prayer sessions in Muskegon Heights | MLive.com: "First Ladii joined forces with other religious leaders as part of an 11-day campaign called "Save Our City."
"A lot of people are ill and don't know that they are ill because they can't afford insurance," she said. "This way, they can find out if they need to go to a doctor right away."
The event attracted about a dozen people, who had the option of being screened for depression, HIV, AIDS, as well as get vision, diabetes, pulmonary function and blood pressure tests.
According to the First Ladii, God gave her the vision to hold the campaign, as well as the intent to return to Muskegon. The reaction has been anything but a surprise for the Atlanta resident.
"People have been happy about what we are doing," the First Ladii said. "When we first came, a guy came up and he wanted prayer. He said after we prayed for him, he felt the lift come off of him. That's what we are doing this for. We want to pray over people."
Some may not know how to get the help they need. We offer them God, we offer them Jesus Christ. -- Senior Pastor Johnnie L. Brown Jr.
Others within the community have begun to see the impact this 11-day campaign has had on willing participants."

What the Former Deputy Director of the CIA Told a CBS Anchor Had Her Calling It ‘Really Scary to Hear’ | Video | TheBlaze.com

What the Former Deputy Director of the CIA Told a CBS Anchor Had Her Calling It ‘Really Scary to Hear’ | Video | TheBlaze.com:
"On Thursday’s “CBS This Morning,” former CIA Deputy Director Mike Morell made a claim about the Islamic State terror group ravaging Iraq that had anchor Norah O’Donnell calling it “really scary to hear.”

Parents: Reading survey given to students 'questionable'

Parents: Reading survey given to students 'questionable':
"TAMPA --
Parents at Ben Hill Middle School were taken back when they saw a questionable reading survey come home with their sixth graders.
 The school's reading coach sent home a questionnaire asking the students what types of books they like to read.
Sean Phillips was shocked when he and his son noticed question number 19.
It read, "List the subjects you would like to read about. (teen pregnancy, rape, gangs, etc.)
Phillips' son Morgan told his dad he wasn't sure what those words meant.
"His second day of middle school and they introduce him to the word 'rape,'" said Phillips.
"I just stared at it for five minutes before
I could react.
I was in shock.
It's something you don't expect an 11-year-old to bring home."

Bill Whittle: Ferguson and the Real Race War

Bill Whittle: Ferguson and the Real Race War | Truth Revolt:

History for August 22

History for August 22 - On-This-Day.com:

In 1942, the Battle of Stalingrad began. During the five-monthlong battle, the city of 500,000 dwindled to a population of 1,515.

Anniversary of the beginning of the Vietnam conflict: a team of Free French parachuted into southern Indochina in response to a successful coup by a communist guerilla named Ho Chi Minh in the French colony (1945).

Birth anniversary of  author and friend of libraries Ray Bradbury (1920-2012).

Birth anniversaries of Claude Debussy (1862-1918), Samuel Pierpont Langley (1834-1906), and Leni Riefenstahl (1902-2003).

Happy Birthday! Valerie Harper, Bill Parcells, Cindy Williams

1485 - The War of the Roses ended with the death of England's King Richard III. He was killed in the Battle of Bosworth Field. His successor was Henry V II. 


1770 - Australia was claimed under the British crown when Captain James Cook landed there. 


1865 - A patent for liquid soap was issued to William Sheppard. 


1906 - The Victor Talking Machine Company of Camden, NJ began to manufacture the Victrola. The hand-cranked unit, with horn cabinet, sold for $200. 


1910 - Japan formally annexed Korea. 


1941 - Nazi troops reached the outskirts of Leningrad during World War II. 


1950 - Althea Gibson became the first black tennis player to be accepted into a national competition. 


1973 - Henry Kissinger was named Secretary of State by U.S. President Nixon. Kissinger won the Nobel Peace Prize in the same year. 


1984 - The last Volkswagen Rabbit rolled off the assembly line in New Stanton, PA. 


1986 - Kerr-McGee Corp. agreed to pay the estate of the late Karen Silkwood $1.38 million to settle a 10-year-old nuclear contamination lawsuit. 


1996 - U.S. President Clinton signed legislation that ended guaranteed cash payments to the poor and demanded work from recipients. 

Mexico Is Complaining, But Rick Perry Just Showed Them Who's Boss On The Border

Mexico Is Complaining, But Rick Perry Just Showed Them Who's Boss On The Border:
"Texas deployed about 1,000 guardsmen Thursday to aid in stopping the flow of illegals across the most porous sections of the border.
Reiterating his defense of the bold move, Perry said he went ahead with the deployment after repeatedly calling on the federal government to secure the border and enforce the nation’s immigration laws."

Border Officials Say They Don’t Know Who’s Actually Crossing Into the U.S.: ‘We’re Struggling to Determine Who Is Really Who’ | TheBlaze.com

Border Officials Say They Don’t Know Who’s Actually Crossing Into the U.S.: ‘We’re Struggling to Determine Who Is Really Who’ | TheBlaze.com:
"The same U.S. border sector that’s seen tens of thousands of Latin American immigrants illegally stream into the United States has also been the site of crossings by people from nations with links to terrorism, raising serious national security concerns among Border Patrol agents who say they are ill-equipped to handle them."

Fire all union employees who interact with children!-----High school student says he was arrested for killing dinosaur in

High school student says he was arrested for killing dinosaur in - NBC12.com - Richmond, VA News: "SUMMERVILLE, SC (WCSC) -
A 16-year-old Summerville High School student says he was arrested Tuesday morning and suspended after writing about killing a dinosaur using a gun.
Alex Stone said he and his classmates were told in class to write a few sentences about themselves, and a "status" as if it was a Facebook page.
Stone said in his "status" he wrote a fictional story that involved the words "gun" and "take care of business."
I killed my neighbor's pet dinosaur, and, then, in the next status I said I bought the gun to take care of the business," Stone said.
Stone says his statements were taken completely out of context.
"I could understand if they made him re-write it because he did have "gun" in it.
But a pet dinosaur?" said Alex's mother Karen Gray."I mean first of all, we don't have dinosaurs anymore.
Second of all, he's not even old enough to buy a gun."
Investigators say the teacher contacted school officials after seeing the message containing the words "gun" and "take care of business," and police were then notified on Tuesday.
Summerville police officials say Stone's bookbag and locker were searched on Tuesday, and a gun was not found.
According to Gray, Stone was suspended for the rest of the week. Gray says she is furious that the school did not contact her before her son was arrested."

We are DOOMED!-----Americans Think Kids Need Constant Supervision

Lenore Skenazy: Americans Think Kids Need Constant Supervision - Hit & Run : Reason.com:
"A whopping 83 percent of Americans think that 9-year-olds should not be allowed to play at the park unsupervised. 
In fact, they would like to see a law prohibiting it.
And 62 percent feel the same way about 12-year-olds: Kids can be old enough for the seventh grade but not for unsupervised play time, according to most Americans.
Those are the results of a Reason/Rupe poll confirming that we have not only lost all confidence in our kids and our communities—we have lost all touch with reality, writes Lenore Skenazy.
"I doubt there has ever been a human culture, anywhere, anytime, that underestimates children's abilities more than we North Americans do today," says Boston College psychology professor emeritus Peter Gray, author of Free to Learn, a book that advocates for more unsupervised play, not less."

Biggest bag for your buck?

Screenshots | [H]ard|OCP:

The Interesting American History Lesson With a ‘Common Core Twist’ | TheBlaze.com

The Interesting American History Lesson With a ‘Common Core Twist’ | TheBlaze.com:
"Speaking to about 500 juniors at Enochs High School in California, social studies teacher Janeen Zambo read from a breakup note to the students about how the writer needed space and that it was best to part ways."

The Meltdown

« The Meltdown Commentary Magazine:
"The president, according to the infatuated view of his political aides and media flatterers, was supposed to be playing o jogo bonito, the beautiful game—ending wars, pressing resets, pursuing pivots, and restoring America’s good name abroad.
Instead, he crumbled.
As I write, the foreign policy of the United States is in a state of unprecedented disarray. In some cases, failed policy has given way to an absence of policy.
So it is in Libya, Syria, Egypt, Iraq, and, at least until recently, Ukraine.
In other cases the president has doubled down on failed policy—extending nuclear negotiations with Iran; announcing the full withdrawal of U.S. forces from Afghanistan.

Sometimes the administration has been the victim of events, such as Edward Snowden’s espionage, it made worse through bureaucratic fumbling and feckless administrative fixes.
At other times the wounds have been self-inflicted: the espionage scandal in Germany (when it was learned that the United States had continued to spy on our ally despite prior revelations of the NSA’s eavesdropping on Chancellor Angela Merkel); the repeated declaration that “core al-Qaeda” was “on a path to defeat”; the prisoner swap with the Taliban that obtained Sergeant Bowe Bergdahl’s release.

Often the damage has been vivid, as in the collapse of the Israel–Palestinian talks in April followed by the war in Gaza.
More frequently it can be heard in the whispered remarks of our allies.
“The Polish-American alliance is worthless, even harmful, as it gives Poland a false sense of security,” Radek Sikorski, Poland’s foreign minister and once one of its most reliably pro-American politicians, was overheard saying in June.
“It’s bullshit.”"

14,646 duplicate voters flagged in Fairfax, Maryland

14,646 duplicate voters flagged in Fairfax, Maryland « Watchdog.org:
"FAIRFAX, Va. — An election-integrity group is challenging the status of nearly 15,000 voters reportedly registered in both Fairfax County and Maryland.
Virginia Voters Alliance on Wednesday urged Fairfax’s electoral board to do what state officials have so far not done across the commonwealth: Purge those duplicate voters.
VVA President Reagan George complained the state Department of Elections is classifying all duplicate registrations as “inactive voters.”
That means 43,896 voters alleged to be registered in both Virginia and Maryland would stay in Virginia’s statewide database — and remain eligible to vote — until 2019."