Science & Technology Snippets – April 30th 2008

Interesting news in the world of science …

• Black Hole Expelled From Its Parent Galaxy, Space Daily, a black hole performs as predicted and the General Theory of Relativity by Albert Einstein has been scientifically confirmed …

By an enormous burst of gravitational waves that accompanies the merger of two black holes the newly formed black hole was ejected from its galaxy. This extreme ejection event, which had been predicted by theorists, has now been observed in nature for the first time. The team led by Stefanie Komossa from the Max Planck Institute for Extraterrestrial Physics (MPE) thereby opened a new window into observational astrophysics.
The discovery will have far-reaching consequences for our understanding of galaxy formation and evolution in the early Universe, and also provides observational confirmation of a key prediction from the General Theory of Relativity (Astrophysical Journal Letters, May 10, 2008).
When two black holes merge, waves of gravitational radiation ripple outward through the galaxy at the speed of light. Because the waves are emitted mainly in one direction, the black hole itself is pushed in the opposite direction, much like the recoil that accompanies the firing of a rifle or the launching of a rocket. The black hole is booted from its normal location in the nucleus of the galaxy. If the kick velocity is high enough, the black hole can escape the galaxy completely.

SITREP – America, George Soros, and the Shadow Party

Donald Farr submitted this information and a comprehensive essay concerning a rich and powerful man whose agenda is to weaken America and change its course in history – with the help of the Shadow Party – George Soros IS responsible for the Shadow Party existing and is steering events to his liking.

What is the Shadow Party? Who is George Soros?

Inflation and More Flagellation from the Prophet of Doom – Rev. Al Gore

No one needs to be reminded that a full-blown inflation process is underway in America and according to media reports in other areas of the world as well. The price rise for this year shows an average across the board by more than 8%. Flower and rice is up 13% and climbing. Milk, cheese, bananas, peanut butter up 10%; while eggs have jumped up 30% this year. Beef prices are up 4.8% and chicken, traditionally the more affordable meat is up 5.4%. And the bad news is that this inflation will not pass, and economic reports state that instead it will be accelerating. Usher in from inflation to recession, the prelude of depression, which occurred in 1896 [depression], 1930 [depression], and 1980 [recession]. I know, you don’t need to hear this statement of doom with the doomsday climate “experts” hitting the headlines constantly, but this is actually causing problems economically as well as other factors, and the primary cause indicates the government itself.

Myth Blaster – Google Feature

Diane S., Wisconsin, Friend of LPJ, sent this for Myth Blaster and states she already tried it and it works …

The issue is concerning that by entering a phone number into the Google search engine one can produce a home address and a map with directions to that address. The email circulating about …

 

Beware the New Google Feature!
Type your home telephone number into Google’s search bar and click the search button … MapQuest returns with a physical location of your phone number.
People could use this feature to locate your home address, and receive explicit directions on how to get there from anywhere in the country.
You can remove your name off this database. To do this: Type in your full phone number – using dashes – like this: 555-123-4567. If your number appears in the mapping database, an icon resembling a telephone will appear to left of the entry on the results page. Click on this icon and it will take you to a page containing a description of the service, and a link to request your number be removed! …

Myth Blaster Verdict: TRUE.

Myth Blaster – Australian Great White Befriends Fisherman

Joan B., Illinois, Friend of LPJ sent some pictures with captions about a female White Shark that befriended Arnold Pointer, a professional fisherman from south Australia … a story that has been circulating in cyberspace:

The French Magazine “Le magazine des voyages de pêche” in its 56^th edition, brought up an amazing news: An astonishing love story.
Arnold Pointer a professional fisherman from south of Australia set free from a certain death a big female White Shark that was caught in his fishing nets. Now the fisherman has a problem: He says: “It’s been 2 years and she doesn’t leave me alone. She follows me everywhere I go and her presence scares all the fishes. I don’t know what to do anymore.”
It is hard to get rid of an almost 17 feet long shark since the White Sharks are protected by the wildlife conservation, but a mutual affection established between Arnold and “Cindy”. Arnold says: “Once I stop the boat she comes to me, she turns her back and let me pet her belly and neck, she grunts, turn her eyes, and move her fins up and down hitting the water happily …”

Myth Blaster Verdict: FALSE. Unhappily so, because the story would have been a great tale to tell. Some of the email passing around just show still shots (one image shown above), while some have the PowerPoint format presentation below: [or view Snopes page]

| View | Upload your own

 

Myth Blaster – Great White Shark Attacks Helicopter Personnel in San Francisco Bay

Photograph composition or alteration has been used to fool the public into thinking that a depiction is real or adding graphic representation to a particular email hoax for the amusement of themselves and the disillusion of others. Some can be easily discerned to be a hoax, while others take some good old fashion research to discover the truth or rather the untruth.

Shark attacks helicopter is just one of those things that is a composite photograph used to create a phony story.

Myth Blaster Verdict: Classic HOAX.

Raptor Relative to Modern Birds?

New York Times, John Noble Wilford writes in his article Tests Confirm T. Rex Kinship With Birds …

In the first analysis of proteins extracted from dinosaur bones, scientists say they have established more firmly than ever that the closest living relatives of the mighty predator Tyrannosaurus rex are modern birds.
The research, being published Friday in the journal Science, yielded the first molecular data confirming the widely held hypothesis of a close dinosaur-bird ancestry, the American scientific team reported. The link was previously suggested by anatomical similarities.
In fact, the scientists said, T. rex shared more of its genetic makeup with ostriches and chickens than with living reptiles, like alligators. On this basis, the research team has redrawn the family tree of major vertebrate groups assigning the dinosaur a new place in evolutionary relationships.
… Dinosaur paleontologists were not surprised by the findings. An accumulation of fossil evidence in recent years had given them increasing confidence that birds descended from certain dinosaurs.

Also see article by Rick Weiss of the Washington Post.

Links:

Dinosaur – Wikipedia
Zoom Dinosaurs – Enchanted Learning
Walking With Dinosaurs – BBC
Dinosauria – University of California
Dinosaurs – National Museum of Natural History
List of Dinosaurs – Wikipedia
Types of Dinosaur – Dinosaur Jungle
Dinosaur Facts, Fossils and Information – dinosaurfact.net
Dinosaurs: Facts and Fiction – US Geological Survey General Interest Publication
Dino Directory – Natural History of Museum
Profiles of over 300 Dinosaurs – Dino Dictionary
Dinosaur Names – University of California
Strangest Dinosaur Names – NeatORama

Myth Blaster – Absolut Vodka Ad Shows Map Depicting Mexico Taking Over US

Recently word has been going around about the Absolut vodka ad – and although I had published something about it, it was embedded in another article – so I added it to Myth Blaster entries …

Myth Blaster Verdict – TRUE.

The Iron Lady – Tribute to Lady Margaret Hilda Thatcher

Margaret Hilda Roberts (Thatcher) was born on October 13^th, 1925 in Grantham, Lincolnshire, England. Her father, owner of two grocery stores was active in local politics and the local Methodist Church as an Alderman and lay preacher. Her father was from a liberal family, but in local government he was independent. Margaret was brought up as a Methodist and remained a Christian throughout her life. She is a British politician who served as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1979 to 1990 and Leader of the Conservative Party from 1975 to 1990. She is the first and to date only woman to hold either post.

The Iron Lady – Tribute to Lady Margaret Hilda Thatcher

Margaret Hilda Roberts (Thatcher) was born on October 13^th, 1925 in Grantham, Lincolnshire, England. Her father, owner of two grocery stores was active in local politics and the local Methodist Church as an Alderman and lay preacher. Her father was from a liberal family, but in local government he was independent. Margaret was brought up as a Methodist and remained a Christian throughout her life. She is a British politician who served as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1979 to 1990 and Leader of the Conservative Party from 1975 to 1990. She is the first and to date only woman to hold either post.

Issues Concerning Prisoner of War Detainees

Trust is important. But when it comes to government it must be guarded trust, which means that those we select to serve the people in government must have character and integrity. It is up to the American citizen to keep track of this and speak out against any transgressions, while it is up to committees and specially designated bodies of government to investigate and provide a verdict if found guilty.

Secrets in government is required for security; however those secrets must never break the code of conduct established, especially a nation that such as America, traditionally a world leading nation and a symbol of freedom and liberty.

The news recently that has released documents and interviews with military personnel have brought up yet another subject in which to enact impeachment proceedings towards President Bush and Vice President Cheney – of which if such proceedings ended with a guilty verdict would make Nancy Pelosi President of the United States until the election of 2008. Historically speaking, it is rare when any cause or request to impeach BOTH the President and the Vice President, which makes one wonder how much of this is political on the part of the Democratic-Progressive crowd. However, there are important points to be made about a government that goes against its own code of conduct for military personnel and justifies torture, no matter how “mild” it may seem or is professed to be.

Letters to the Editor: Taxes and Spending by Donald Farr

Donald Farr, Friend of LPJ writes about conditions before the 2006 general election:

Consumer confidence stood at a 2-1/2 year high;
Regular gasoline sold for $2.19 a gallon;
The unemployment rate was 4.5%
Since voting in a Democratically controlled Congress in 2006 we have seen:
1) Consumer confidence plummet;
2) The cost of regular gasoline soar to over $3.50 a gallon;
3) Unemployment is up to 5%.
4) American households have seen $2.3 trillion in equity value evaporate (stock and mutual fund losses);
5) Americans have seen their home equity drop by $1.2 trillion dollars;
6) 1% of American homes are in foreclosure.
America voted for “change” in 2006 and we got it!
Remember, it’s Congress that makes the law … not the President. He has to work with what’s handed him.
Quote of the Day: “My friends, we live in the greatest nation in the history of the world. I hope you’ll join me as we try to change it.” – Barack Obama

Taxes. Whether Democrat or Republican you will find these statistics enlightening and amazing. www.taxfoundation.org/publications/show/151.html
Taxes under Clinton 1999:
– Single making 30K = $8,400 tax
- Single making 50K = $14,000 tax
- Single making 75K = $23,250 tax
Taxes under Bush 2008:
Single making 30K = $4,500 tax
Single making 50K = $12,500 tax
Single making 75K = $18,750 tax
Taxes under Clinton 1999:
Married making 60K = $16,800
Married making 75K – $21,000
Married making 125K – $38,750
Taxes under Clinton 2008:
Married making 60K = $9,000
Married making 75K = $18,750
Married making 125K = $31,250
Both democrat candidates will return to the higher tax rates.
It is amazing how many people who fall into the categories above think Bush is harming them and Bill Clinton was the greatest President ever. If Obama or Hillary are elected, they both say they will repeal the Bush tax cuts and a good portion of the people who fall into the categories above can’t wait for it to happen. …

 

SITREP: Politics of Presidential Campaign 2000, April 22nd 2008

Jonathan Martin’s blog, Politico, announced that Ron Paul has not given up in the fight against the McCain machine. His congressional record has been more impressive than Senator John McCain, yet with media help and others the senator from Arizona jumped ahead of other candidates.

Israel and the Malaise of Democracy – Prof. Paul Eidelburg

Tom Carew, Friend of LPJ and guest writer, sent me this written by Professor Paul Eidelberg with this note:

The latest Hamas aggression only confirms Paul’s analysis for me.

Here is the transcript …

Obama: No Change, Politics As Usual

Senator Obama raced out of the starting gate in the primaries gaining fans, or should I say, adulators, but now his true colors are showing and like I warned Americans, there was something just too good about a man who is affiliated with “reverse” discriminatory characters, shady business men, and the favorite among the underground organizations. Maybe the latter is because of his name. Or is it something else? Don’t know for sure, but the following is right on the money.

Senator Obama is acting like the politician I had expected all the while, and speaking like one too. In fact, he is looking more dangerous than Hillary Clinton – who could have figured?

Recently he has pledged never to raise taxes if elected. Yet how does he expect to pay for all those entitlement programs he has been promising Americans of this generation of voters who ask what their country can do for them, and not seek what they can do for their country. Hardly an indication of the ideology of the Democratic icon, John F. Kennedy and that Obama is supposed to emulate, ya think?

Jihadist’s War Against Free Nations and Peoples – Subversive Methods

One truly wonders if people have a memory farther than a few months to one year. And other times one wonders where in the devil people get the information that governs their opinions and their ideology on many things: life, politics, foreign policy and military strategies. But if one digs deep in research and investigates backgrounds – the realization of where the aforementioned comes from becomes clear.

Another problem is that too many people do not understand, for one reason or another, what is really going on in terms of the war against Islamic extremism and the US military operations in progress. It seems too many are complaining about Iraq, when it is part of the battle (or has become part of the battle since the initial success of overthrowing the rogue tyrant Saddam Hussein) in the global war against terrorism (Islamic extremist-fascism), along with Afghanistan and diplomatic warnings against aggressive Iranian leadership. One commentator at another site stated:

Iran is next. Wasn’t Iraq enough?

 

Snippets – In the News – April 17th 2008

• Christian Science Monitor, Supreme Court Upholds Lethal Injection [April 17^th 2008] …

Lethal-injection procedures in Kentucky do not violate the Eighth Amendment’s prohibition against cruel and unusual punishment. In a 7-to-2 decision announced on Wednesday, the US Supreme Court upheld the injection procedures used by Kentucky officials to execute condemned prisoners. The majority justices ruled that the existing procedures do not pose a ‘substantial risk of serious harm.’ The action opens way for an end to a de facto national moratorium on lethal injection executions that has been in place since the fall. In deciding the case, Baze v. Rees, the high court established a new, more rigorous constitutional test of execution methods under the Eighth Amendment. But the justices declined to embrace a significantly stricter constitutional test that lawyers for death-row inmate Ralph Baze had urged.

 

SITREP – Presidential Election 2008 – April 15th 2008

Today is April 15th – it should be just another day, and it would be if Americans would vote for senators and representatives who perform their job FOR the people and the American nation. Just thought I would remind folks about the Fair Tax Act and how it still languishes in committee.

I haven’t written much about Senator Barack Obama lately. The media certainly covers that issue enough, although mostly in his praise, but not so much so since the hateful words spoken by his “mentor” and friend. I really wanted to wait until that all blew over before making comments about that and other things. In this way I could write with a “cool head”, so to speak. When it comes to considering who the leader of our nation is – we should all have “cool heads”. It is important, like purchasing a new vehicle or a home. Important – and you want to get a good deal. In the last two presidential elections, although I was not willing to have GW for President – he was the best of the worst from the choice available. That’s not saying much for our primary election process, and this one proves that there isn’t much to say good about the primary election, since the media and the political elite seems to make the minds up for Americans anyway. Popularity seems to be a “virtue” in their decision, along with other factors that are strictly physical and shallow. I have already gone into detail about McCain, and since his latest action concerning disobeying the very legislation that he co-produced – a legislation that is against freedom of speech, the very foundation of our Constitution – he is off my radar completely, especially with his vote that concerns doing American veterans right with a GI Bill as aptly and correctly pointed out by Ken Renner, Tennessee, occasional guest writer and commentator here in a personal email sent to me. He has my utmost support in this matter, unlike his stance on the Iraq operation issue. I was afraid I had lost my “Colmes” nemesis at LPJ over that particular discussion/argument. I still would sit in a pub somewhere and have a beer with him – as long as we don’t talk about why we should or shouldn’t remain in Iraq until the job is complete.

SITREP America – Nanny State and Do Good Laws

The Nanny State, a growing cancer in America that has already set in to practice in Europe, and while the rule of law was the principles of the origination of the American republic; it has been misused and overused.

In an article written by a blogger named BODH1 at his Newsvine blog, Purely Political whose caption states: “Either write something worth reading or do something worth writing.”

BODH1 is really Duane Lester who co-publishes the All American Blogger with Andrew Riley. Duane identified himself as a “conserva-tarian”, which matches pretty much my political ideology – a cross between conservatism and libertarianism. He reads everything from Adam Smith to Larry Elder to Thomas Sowell and his blog is on my list of “Fellow Patriots”.

Myth Blaster – The Shroud of Turin

Myth Blaster Verdict: Overall, undetermined, but so far undisputedly authentic as the following will explain. Personal research shows that there is more accurate information that proves the Shroud’s authenticity than those who have been trying to disapprove it; and because of this, I believe it is up to the skeptics to disapprove the authenticity because those who have investigated the Shroud through the scientific process should not have to prove anything further. The fact that the Shroud is an natural image of a crucifixion victim is without question – the only question that may remain by skeptics is if it is truly the Jesus of Nazareth that changed the western world, inspired a new religion that developed into the most powerful Church organization in world history.

Nothing is Truly "Free" – Especially From Government

CJ, Wisconsin, Friend of LPJ, sent this email, she received, I thought I would pass on as food for thought …

There was a Chemistry professor in a large college that had some exchange students in the class. One day while the class was in the lab the Professor noticed one young man (exchange student) who kept rubbing his back and stretching as if his back hurt.
The professor asked the young man what was the matter. The student told him he had a bullet lodged in his back. He had been shot while fighting communists in his native country who were trying to overthrow his country’s government and install a new communist government. In the midst of his story he looked at the professor and asked a strange question. He asked, ‘ Do you know how to catch wild pigs?’
The professor thought it was a joke and asked for the punch line. The young man said this was no joke. ‘You catch wild pigs by finding a suitable place in the woods and putting corn on the ground. The pigs find it and begin to come everyday to eat the free corn. When they are used to coming every day, you put a fence down one side of the place where they are used to coming. When they get used to the fence, they begin to eat the corn again and you put up another side of the fence. They get used to that and start to eat again. You continue until you have all four sides of the fence up with a gate in the last side. The pigs, which are used to the free corn, start to come through the gate to eat; you slam the gate on them and catch the whole herd. Suddenly the wild pigs have lost their freedom. They run around and around inside the fence, but they are caught. Soon they go back to eating the free corn. They are so used to it that they have forgotten how to forage in the woods for themselves, so they accept their captivity.
The young man then told the professor that is exactly what he sees happening to America. The government keeps pushing us toward Communism/Socialism and keeps spreading the free corn out in the form of programs such as supplemental income, tax credit for unearned income, tobacco subsidies, dairy subsidies, payments not to plant crops (CRP), welfare, medicine, drugs, free medical, etc. while we continually lose our freedoms – just a little at a time.
One should always remember ‘There is no such thing as a free Lunch! Also, a politician will never provide a service for you cheaper than you can do it yourself.
‘A government big enough to give you everything you want, is big enough to take away everything you have.’ ……..
Barry Goldwater

[Editor’s Note: The original email attributed the quoted phrase to “Thomas Jefferson”, which is incorrect – it was Barry Goldwater and also used by President Gerald Ford and misattributed to Ronald Reagan. Senator Barry Goldwater was an advocate of limited government.]

In my effort to encourage fellow Americans to push their representatives and senators to enact the Fair Tax Act and rid Americans of the burden, unfairness and intrusive policy of the income tax system, I have read and written much about it. During my research of another subject, I discovered that the income tax system, as it is used today was suggested and sort of invented by Karl Marx, considered to be the “Father of Communism”. This last tidbit of fact should speak for itself in the argument against the income tax system.

As Robert Longley writes:

If you thought the Flat Tax was a good idea that failed, you’re going to utterly love the FairTax.

Energy Independence and the Fair Tax Act

The following is a message from my representative concerning the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 (HR 6) and basically the importance of becoming self sufficient in terms of crude oil and its refining, which in turn will keep the price of fuel down, which in turn will keep the cost of everything else from going up.

While the letter does mention one aspect of the problem – burdensome regulations and “undue taxes” – Rep. Steve Kagen has overlooked the gist of the problem of the matter of crude oil and foreign purchases, as well as the fact that Congress continues to refuse to build another refinery, the upgrade of present refineries, and the exploration of new American oil reserves as well as drilling known reserves in Alaska, Nevada and other locations, including offshore sites. Here is Rep. Kagen’s response to my letter:

Tom Carew, LPJ Guest Writer – Interview On Trans-Atlantic Radio

Tom Carew is an honored guest writer here at Lighthouse Patriot Journal, and, if you have read his biography, is a learned man in foreign affairs, specifically concerning the plight of the Israelites and Islamic culture.

[Photo left: John Loftus]

Tom reports to me via email that he was a guest on a trans-Atlantic radio broadcast Wednesday, April 9^th and interviewed on the Loftus Report, produced by Talkline Communications Network, a Jewish service since 1981, which is broadcasted at (a) WSNR 620kz AM/MW in New York City, Northern New Jersey and South Connecticut, and (b) at WKAT 1360kx AM/MW, which broadcasts from South Florida to the Bahamas. Mr. Carew writes:

SITREP America – Snippets April 10th 2008

• After seeing the videos and the pictures of aircraft hitting the Word Trade Center towers and play-by-play coverage of that fateful day when so many died on September 11^th, 2001, there are still those in their blind hatred for President George W. Bush (for whom I believe has been a dysfunctional president, but not what certain folks perceive or make him out to be) that believe there was some kind of conspiracy – staged event – concerning the incident. At George Washington’s Blog, an unlikely place to read that 14 structural engineers claim that the WTC twin buildings were brought down by “controlled demolition” considering the name of the blog. The accountant who publishes the blog is an American. What shame on George Washington’s name. Excerpts from April 9^th entry:

Obituary of the late Mr. Common Sense – submitted by PJ, California

Pam, “PJ” M. from California sent this circuit email:

Obituary of the late Mr. Common Sense

Today we mourn the passing of a beloved old friend, Common Sense, who has been with us for many years. No one knows for sure how old he was, since his birth records were long ago lost in bureaucratic red tape. He will be remembered as having cultivated such valuable lessons as:
Knowing when to come in out of the rain; why the early bird gets the
worm; Life isn’t always fair; and maybe it was my fault.
Common Sense lived by simple, sound financial policies (don’t spend more than you can earn) and reliable strategies (adults, not children, are in charge).
His health began to deteriorate rapidly when well-intentioned but
overbearing Regulations were set in place. Reports of a 6 -year-old boy
charged with sexual harassment for kissing a classmate; teens suspended from school for using mouthwash after lunch; and a teacher fired for reprimanding an unruly student, only worsened his condition.
Common Sense lost ground when parents attacked teachers for doing the job that they themselves had failed to do in disciplining their unruly  children.
It declined even further when schools were required to get parental consent to administer sun lotion or an Aspirin to a student; but could not inform parents when a student became pregnant and wanted to have an abortion.
Common Sense lost the will to live as the churches became businesses; and criminals received better treatment than their victims.
Common Sense took a beating when you couldn’t defend yourself from a burglar in your own home and the burglar could sue you for assault.
Common Sense finally gave up the will to live, after a woman failed to
realize that a steaming cup of coffee was hot. She spilled a little in
her lap, and was promptly awarded a huge settlement.
Common Sense was preceded in death by his parents, Truth and Trust; his wife, Discretion; his daughter, Responsibility; and his son, Reason. He is survived by his 4 stepbrothers; I Know My Rights, I Want It Now,
Someone Else Is To Blame, and I’m A Victim.
Not many attended his funeral because so few realized he was gone.
If you still remember him, pass this on. If not, join the majority and do nothing.

SITREP – Medal Of Honor Recipient, Iraq, Mexican Invasion

April 9^th, Wednesday, marks the fifth anniversary of the Fall of Baghdad. It will also be in honor of Petty Officer 2^nd Class Mike Monsoor who will receive the Medal of Honor posthumously.

On the morning of September 29, 2006, PO Mike Monsoor was on duty with three other Navy SEALs on a rooftop in Ramadi.

The SEALs’ job was to protect the coalition troops clearing the streets below their rooftop position. When they experienced automatic weapon and rocket-propelled grenade fire, Monsoor and his fellow soldiers stayed at their post. During this time a grenade fell onto the roof. It hit Monsoor in the chest and bounced onto the floor. He yelled “Grenade!” but it was too late to escape the rooftop. So Monsoor threw his body on the grenade and absorbed the blast. His three fellow SEALs survived. Michael Monsoor did not because he died of his wounds thirty minutes later.

General Petraeus will provide a testimony this week as well.

Historical Footnote – Year of 1968

It has been a while since I wrote an historical footnote. This one is about the year 1968, which seems to be considered by historians as the year that introduced turbulence and while Europe was turning to socialist welfare state domestic policies and experiencing its own social change, the American youth protested against the “establishment” of which one day they would be a part of. I was 18 and registered with the local draft board, as required upon reaching 18 years old. I was into motorcycles, cars, stock car racing and girls (not necessarily in that order, although the vehicles seemed to attract the “chicks”). I could purchase gasoline for 32-cents per gallon, had a beefed up 1964 Ford Fairlane convertible painted (with help of Bobby Williams from Tennessee who was dating my sister) midnight blue with silver metal flake and on the left and ride side of front fenders was scripted writing painted that read: “Blue Rebel”. (Sorry, no photo of my Fairlane, but a cool 1968 Mercury Cougar at left) The engine was from a Lincoln I salvaged that was 389 cubic inches bored and stroked to 400 cubic inches by W.A.R. Engines, Eldebrock manifold with 3-barrel carburetor, wide street slick tires on the read and standard highway on the front with a wheelie bar on the back bumper that wasn’t just for looks. It also had exhaust dumps to allow through a cable mechanism on the dash to run straight exhaust from the customized engine manifold – used for illegal quarter-mile Saturday midnight racing on Army Trail Road (when it was a rural community). The only vehicle that could beat that machine was a Studebaker driven by the daughter-in-law of the senior racing and auto show family who specialized in Studebakers whose national name was “Mr. Studebaker”. The other vehicle that could beat that souped-up Ford was a Barracuda driven by my best friend, Bobby Williams, the hillbilly from Tennessee.

Elvis was still my favorite, but I enjoyed the music of The Beatles, Doors, and others of the time. Elvis had a TV special in 1968 that introduced his circuit comeback away from the films that took over his musical tours, appearing in all-leather attire. The Cold War was in its prime. Vietnam was in its fourth year and escalating. …

 

May Day – Just Another Spring Day?

May Day will soon be here, and with it the labors of spring – vegetable gardens started, at least here on the Peninsula between weekends of May 1^st to the Memorial Day weekend, May 26^th this year. Budded plants will begin to show greenery, and of course there will be festivals. But in other parts of the nation this tranquility of April showers bringing forth May flowers may be broken with the demonstrations by people who have come to America uninvited coinciding their protestations with the Mexican celebration day of Cinco de Mayo – a holiday/remembrance that has nothing to do with American history. Richie Collins writes at her blog False Arguments of Illegal Immigration …

Charlton Heston Dead at 84

Charlton Heston, world renowned actor, ex-President of the National Rifle Association died on Saturday, April 5^th 2008 at his home in Beverly Hills. His wife, Lydia, whom he married in 1944, was at his side. [BBC News] + [Chicago Tribune]

Frank Herbert’s Dune to Be Adapted to Film

Paramount has been seeking the rights to Frank Herbert’s science fiction classic novel series that began with Dune and is now in the ready to be produced. Peter Berg will be directing this adaptation of Frank Herbert’s Science Fiction series which will be full of special effects with giant worms and the battles of the Great Houses. The first film adaptation was in 1984, not worth watching. Then in 2000, a better version, was directed by John Harrison and starred William Hurt, Alec Newman and Saskia Reeves; however this time writers are being sought that will create a screenplay true to Frank Herbert’s novel series instead of mangling the original plot.