Sunday, November 30, 2014

Ridley's Believe It Or Not December 1 History Cyber Monday


Ridley's Believe It Or Not—December 1, 2014:    Trust your Thanksgiving weekend was a great one and that you did not exceed 6,000 calories or if you did managed to take a very long bike ride. As always I  hope you enjoy the holidays and observances, factoids and an anonymous  quote on online shopping, with a smile on your sunscreened face, wondering if this is the day to enjoy some apple pie, blessed with a positive attitude even though you know you will have to wade through tons of spam in your inbox, and secure in the knowledge that if you want to find a gift for a memorable event or the coming Christmas, you know that the Alaskanpoet can provide you with a unique customized poem at a great price tailored to the event and the recipient.  You need only contact me for details.
       1. World AIDS Day—observing since 1988 one of the eight public health observances of the World Health Organization; creating awareness of a disease that has killed over 36 million people but with drugs people with AIDS no longer are subject to a quick death sentence.
       2. Cyber Monday Day—observed since 2005 to promote online shopping, a trend which continues to grow by leaps and bounds.
       3. Civil Air Patrol Day—celebrating the formation of the Civil Air Patrol on this day in 1941.
       4. 1966 Number One Song—celebrating the number one song on this day in 1966 Winchester Cathedral by the New Vaudeville Band.
       5. National Pie Day/ Eat A Red Apple Day—celebrating that that tasty desert a pie preferably ala mode and that fruit that is really good for you either alone or in pie format.
 On this day in
      a. 1824 for the first time in its history no candidate received a majority of the electoral votes and the House of Representatives per the 12th Amendment to the Constitution elected John Quincy Adams as President over Andrew Jackson.
      b. 1885 the first serving of Dr. Pepper occurred at a drug store in Waco, Texas. 
      c. 1913 the Ford Motor Company introduced the first moving assembly line, dramatically lowering the cost to produce its cars.
      d. 1969 the first draft lottery was held since World War II.
Reflections on online shopping:”Online shopping gives me another reason to live for another 3-5 business days.” Anon  Would hope there are more reasons than that to keep one wanting to remain on this planet.
Please enjoy the 140 character poems on events of interest on my twitter account below (if you like them, retweet and join almost 150 growing followers and please follow me) and follow my blogs. Always good, incisive and entertaining poems on my blogs—click on the links below. Go to www.alaskanpoet.blogspot.com for Ridley’s Believe It Or Not—This Day In History, poems to inspire, touch, emote, elate and enjoy and poems on breaking news items of importance. Go to Rhymes On The Newsworthy Times for comments on important and breaking news events that should be of interest. www.alaskanpoet.blogspot.com Ridley's Believe It Or Not  Rhymes On The Newsworthy Times
© December 1, 2014 Michael P. Ridley aka the Alaskanpoet
Alaskanpoet for Hire, Poems to Admire
Poet Extraordinaire Beyond Compare
Rhymes on the Memorable Times
The Perfect Gift, All Recipients to Receive a Lasting Lift

Ridley's Believe It Or Not November 30 History Computer Security Day


Ridley's Believe It Or Not—November 30, 2014:    Trust your Thanksgiving weekend was a great one and that you did not exceed 6,000 calories or if you did managed to take a very long bike ride. As always I  hope you enjoy the holidays and observances, factoids and a quote from Nicolas Thompson, with a smile on your sunscreened face, wondering if this is the day to enjoy some mousse, blessed with a positive attitude even though you know you will have to wade through tons of spam in your inbox, and secure in the knowledge that if you want to find a gift for a memorable event or the coming Christmas, you know that the Alaskanpoet can provide you with a unique customized poem at a great price tailored to the event and the recipient.  You need only contact me for details.
       1. St. Andrew’s Day—celebrating in Scotland a national day for the patron saint of Scotland.
       2. Computer Security Day—observed since 1998 to promote awareness of the need in an increasingly hacker prone world for computer security; definitely a good day to change your passwords.
       3. Partridge in a Pear Tree Day—celebrating the number one song on this day in 1970 I Think I Love You by the Partridge Family.  
       4. Perpetual Youth Day—celebrating the birthday on this day in 1929 of TV Host Dick Clark who seemed totally ageless until his final song announced in 2012.
       5. National Mousse Day—celebrating that light and airy desert made with egg whites.
 On this day in
      a. 1886 the Follies Bergere staged its first revue.
      b. 1982 the Michael Jackson’s album Thriller was released and subsequently became the largest selling album in history.
      c. 2004 after winning over $2,500,000 Jeopardy contestant Ken Jennings finally lost; his winnings were the largest total in any game show.
      d. 1990 John Sentamu became the first black archbishop in the Church of England.
Reflections on computer security:”Privacy snafus are to social networks as violence is to football. The whole point of social networks is to share stuff about people that’s interesting, just as the whole point of football is to upend the guy with the ball. Every so often, someone gets paralyzed, which prompts us to add padding to the helmets or set new rules about tackling. Then we move on.” — Nicholas Thompson , noted American journalist and editor of Newyorker.com
Please enjoy the 140 character poems on events of interest on my twitter account below (if you like them, retweet and join almost 150 growing followers and please follow me) and follow my blogs. Always good, incisive and entertaining poems on my blogs—click on the links below. Go to www.alaskanpoet.blogspot.com for Ridley’s Believe It Or Not—This Day In History, poems to inspire, touch, emote, elate and enjoy and poems on breaking news items of importance. Go to Rhymes On The Newsworthy Times for comments on important and breaking news events that should be of interest. www.alaskanpoet.blogspot.com Ridley's Believe It Or Not  Rhymes On The Newsworthy Times
© November 30, 2014 Michael P. Ridley aka the Alaskanpoet
Alaskanpoet for Hire, Poems to Admire
Poet Extraordinaire Beyond Compare
Rhymes on the Memorable Times
The Perfect Gift, All Recipients to Receive a Lasting Lift

Ridley's Believe It Or Not November 29 History Small Business Saturday


Ridley's Believe It Or Not—November 29, 2014:    Trust your Thanksgiving was a great one and that you did not exceed 6,000 calories or if you did managed to take a very long bike ride and managed to celebrate one’s Saturday by shopping in the neighborhood small businesses. As always I  hope you enjoy the holidays and observances, factoids and a quote from Bob Beauprez, with a smile on your sunscreened face, wondering if this is the day to enjoy some lemon cream pie, blessed with a positive attitude even though you know you will have to wade through tons of spam in your inbox, and secure in the knowledge that if you want to find a gift for a memorable event or the coming Christmas, you know that the Alaskanpoet can provide you with a unique customized poem at a great price tailored to the event and the recipient.  You need only contact me for details.
       1. Small Business Saturday—celebrating the backbone of our economy, the small businesses that provide most of the jobs, by today shying away from the big box retailers and shopping in the neighborhood small businesses. 
      2. Come Together Day—commemorating the number one song on this day in 1969 by the Beatles Come Together, a great tune for the dysfunctional members of our government to start humming when they return to D.C.
       3. International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People—a U.N. observance promoting an independent state in Palestine.  
       4. Blue Is The Color of Vocal Chords Day—celebrating the birthday on this day in 1927 of the voice of the Los Angeles Dodgers, Vin Skully.
       5. National Lemon Cream Pie Day—Now that one has digested the caloric excess of Thanksgiving, a great desert to compliment one’s meal.
On this day in
      a. 1877 Thomas Edison demonstrated his phonograph for the first time.
      b. 1902 the Pittsburgh Stars defeated the Philadelphia Athletics 11-0 to win the first professional football championship.
      c. 1972 Atari announced the release of Pong, the first successful video game.
      d. 1990 the U.N. passed two resolutions authorizing the use of military force if Iraq did not withdraw its forces from Kuwait and release all foreign hostages by January 15, 1991.
 Reflections on Small Business Saturday: “In America small business is a big deal.” Bob  Beauprez, unsuccessful Republican candidate for governor in Colorado. Amen to that observation!  
Please enjoy the 140 character poems on events of interest on my twitter account below (if you like them, retweet and join almost 150 growing followers and please follow me) and follow my blogs. Always good, incisive and entertaining poems on my blogs—click on the links below. Go to www.alaskanpoet.blogspot.com for Ridley’s Believe It Or Not—This Day In History, poems to inspire, touch, emote, elate and enjoy and poems on breaking news items of importance. Go to Rhymes On The Newsworthy Times for comments on important and breaking news events that should be of interest. www.alaskanpoet.blogspot.com Ridley's Believe It Or Not  Rhymes On The Newsworthy Times
© November 29, 2014 Michael P. Ridley aka the Alaskanpoet
Alaskanpoet for Hire, Poems to Admire
Poet Extraordinaire Beyond Compare
Rhymes on the Memorable Times
The Perfect Gift, All Recipients to Receive a Lasting Lift

Saturday, November 29, 2014

China Bans Puns As Jihadists Kill Chinese


The news out of China ran the gamut of cracking down on puns
No longer allowed and all wordplay the media must shun
Not speaking Chinese the wordplay in the culture one is not aware
Is this language purity like the French or Chinese PC coming out of its lair?
On a more serious note China suffered another jihadist type attack
Muslims in a Western province are now striking back
It matters not whether you are Christian, Jew or in God do not believe
If not a faithful, too many Muslims want to your life relieve
We have had many summits, we have a UN
Yet we ignore the messages the jihadists continue to send
ISIS with its beheadings takes the headlines that Boko Haram tries to match
With killings and innocents it from schools it seeks to snatch
But this world is becoming a jihadist cesspool where no infidel is really secure
With more and more youths falling under the jihadist lure
With the moderate Muslims and the moderate mullahs infected more and more with the silence disease
While our PC trends in the U.S. drive us to this growing threat try to appease
When does the world deemed to be infidels with no rights other than to convert
Gather together to once and for all this radical jihadist ideology try to subvert
Even being a Muslim convert is not a guarantee to enable one to keep one’s head
The last American ISIS victim faith in Islam did not keep him from becoming dead.
© November 29, 2014 Michael P. Ridley aka the Alaskanpoet
Alaskanpoet for Hire, Poems to Admire
Poet Extraordinaire Beyond Compare
Rhymes on the Memorable Times
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Two Boys Saved by Police In Newburgh


Too often lost in the rancor and bitterness of police shootings of unarmed men
Is that the thin Blue Line puts its members’ lives on the line again and again
If not so threatened they also rise to the occasion to protect and serve
Sometimes with or without the accolades and gratitude they deserve
Case in point occurred on early Thanksgiving morn at around 2:00 a.m.
In the town of Newburgh where Mother Nature a six inch snow fall had just condemned
But boys will be boys and what better to way to celebrate the fresh snow
But rather outside to do what boys do best  to a site for a snow fort to go
They never returned and the police were called who started a search in the freezing cold
While a distraught mother could feel the chill of desperation begin to enfold
Combing the neighborhood most likely wet and chilled themselves two officers had the sense the boys were near
But with each passing minute their deaths was a growing fear
Officer Rola a seven year vet saw a shovel in the snow and faint small foot prints near  in a snow bank 8 feet high
Like a man possessed he began to dig hoping against all hope that if the boys were buried they had not died
One shovel was not enough and soon there were 10 neighbors roused from their beds
Digging like madmen to bring to the site not the coroner but rescue instead
Finally a boot attached to a foot that twitched and moved
Quickly more shovelfuls and from their icy tomb two boys alive were removed
An air pocket formed when a snow plow collapsed their fort kept them alive
And quick thinking a hunch by two officers enabled them to survive
Along with neighbors coming out into the wintery night
A great example about what this nation can do right
© November 29, 2014 Michael P. Ridley aka the Alaskanpoet
Alaskanpoet for Hire, Poems to Admire
Poet Extraordinaire Beyond Compare
Rhymes on the Memorable Times

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Friday, November 28, 2014

More Gitmo Detainees To Be Released


As so often is the case Obama’s policy on terror is fundamentally flawed
From failing to notify Congress of the Bergdahl Taliban swap clearly in violation of the law
To the failure to confront ISIS when it was in the open, convoys of sitting ducks
To the failure to recognize jihad as terror and to show in the fight a bit more pluck
Now this administration is in a full court press
To a flawed campaign promise to address
More detainees will soon from Gitmo be released
Even though their desire to kill Americans has not diminished or ceased
These fanatics have but one purpose in their lives which still remains
Martyrdom through killing Americans is throughout their fiber ingrained
Just as an alcoholic cannot stop after the first drink or the addict after the first high
A jihadist having tasted blood will want more even if it means he dies
Why would any sane person release die hard combatants so to the struggle they can return?
How many more suicide bombings or IEDs does it take for that lesson to be learned
The only way a Gitmo detainee should ever be allowed to leave
Would be a not guilty at a military tribunal trial so achieved
Once again the emperor around Congress is making an end run
With no more detainees in custody closing Gitmo is as good as done.
© November 28, 2014 Michael P. Ridley aka the Alaskanpoet
Alaskanpoet for Hire, Poems to Admire
Poet Extraordinaire Beyond Compare
Rhymes on the Memorable Times
The Perfect Gift, All Recipients to Receive a Lasting Lift

Ridley's Believe It Or Not November 28 History Black Friday


Ridley's Believe It Or Not—November 28, 2014:    Trust your Thanksgiving was a great one and that you did not exceed 6,000 calories or if you did managed to take a very long bike ride and for those bargain hunters trust you survive the chaos of Black Friday. As always I  hope you enjoy the holidays and observances, factoids and four quotes from unknown sources on Black Friday, with a smile on your sunscreened face, wondering if this is the day to enjoy some French Toast, blessed with a positive attitude even though you know you will have to wade through tons of spam in your inbox, and secure in the knowledge that if you want to find a gift for a memorable event or the coming Christmas, you know that the Alaskanpoet can provide you with a unique customized poem at a great price tailored to the event and the recipient.  You need only contact me for details.
       1. Black Friday—celebrating the day after Thanksgiving and the official of the Christmas gift buying season and the day in which most retailers have turned the corner for the year and are in the black ink as opposed to red. Black is a little grey today as many big box retailers actually broke rank and opened Thursday evening for shopping.
      2. Native American Heritage Day—observed since 2008 to commemorate the many contributions of Native Americans to this nation.
       3. National Flossing Day—celebrating the peace of the mouth, gained by flossing all those food particles from too many plates of food consumed on Thanksgiving that the trusty tooth brush missed.   
       4. Mo Day—celebrating not the birthday of Mo Udall a liberal Blue Presidential candidate who briefly had some “Momentum” before fading fast to Carter but rather the birthday on this day in 1929 of Gordy Berry, Jr. the founder of Motown Records that gave us Diana Ross and the Supremes, Stevie Wonder and the Jackson Five, to name but a few.
       5.  Loved Those Birds Day—commemorating the number one song this day in 1965 Turn! Turn! Turn! by the Byrds.
       6.  National French Toast Day—Nice light breakfast as your stomach starts to return to its preThanksgiving normal size.
On this day in
      a. 1814 The Times was printed for the first time on automatic steam powered printing presses which opened up mass newspaper circulation and dissemination of the news.
      b. 1895 in a distant precursor to NASCAR events the first American automobile race was held from Jackson Park, Chicago to Evanston, Illinois, a 54 mile course won by Frank Duryea in a blistering pace of 10 hours.
      c. 1925 the Grand Ole Opry began broadcasting in Nashville, Tennessee as WSM Barn Dance.
      d. 1942 the Cocoanut Grove nightclub fire in Boston, Massachusetts killed 492 persons attending the evening performances; it was the second deadliest fire in U.S. history. The owner was convicted of manslaughter and numerous safety violations, such a bricking up exits to prevent customers from leaving without paying and hiding others with drapes.
Reflections on Black Friday which puts most retailers in the black due to Christmas shopping while at the same time Christmas is becoming an endangered word replaced by the ubiquitous and bland Holidays: 1. “Because only in America, people trample others for sales exactly one day after being thankful for what they already have."  Anon 2. "The day I can finally jump on the Christmas Bandwagon with the rest of the nuts who started on Halloween." Anon 3. "Wouldn't it be nice if retail therapy was covered by health insurance?" Anon 4. "I miss the good old days when Black Friday was actually on Friday." Anon Shop safe it is a brutal world for a few pennies of savings for gifts that may be quickly forgotten as opposed to a poem which is eternal!  
Please enjoy the 140 character poems on events of interest on my twitter account below (if you like them, retweet and join almost 150 growing followers and please follow me) and follow my blogs. Always good, incisive and entertaining poems on my blogs—click on the links below. Go to www.alaskanpoet.blogspot.com for Ridley’s Believe It Or Not—This Day In History, poems to inspire, touch, emote, elate and enjoy and poems on breaking news items of importance. Go to Rhymes On The Newsworthy Times for comments on important and breaking news events that should be of interest. www.alaskanpoet.blogspot.com Ridley's Believe It Or Not  Rhymes On The Newsworthy Times
© November 28, 2014 Michael P. Ridley aka the Alaskanpoet
Alaskanpoet for Hire, Poems to Admire
Poet Extraordinaire Beyond Compare
Rhymes on the Memorable Times
The Perfect Gift, All Recipients to Receive a Lasting Lift

Thursday, November 27, 2014

Ridley's Believe It Or Not November 27 History Thanksgiving


Ridley's Believe It Or Not—November 27, 2014:   Please enjoy a Thanksgiving poem for your reading enjoyment which can be found on my blog:  http://alaskanpoet.blogspot.com/2014/11/thanksgiving-thoughts-end-black-friday.html  Trust your Thanksgiving is proving to be a great one; we despite all of the chaos in this nation have a lot to be thankful for. As always I  hope you enjoy the holidays and observances, factoids and quote from Todd Stocker, with a smile on your sunscreened face, wondering if this is the day to enjoy some cake, blessed with a positive attitude even though you know you will have to wade through tons of spam in your inbox, and secure in the knowledge that if you want to find a gift for a memorable event or the coming Christmas, you know that the Alaskanpoet can provide you with a unique customized poem at a great price tailored to the event and the recipient.  You need only contact me for details.
       1. Thanksgiving Day: Since 1863 a national holiday to be enjoyed with family and friends and between the vast quantities of food a chance to reflect on the blessings bestowed upon us. 
      2. National Day of Mourning—observed since 1970 as a day of protest by Native Americans over the loss of lands and lives due to the immigration of Europeans to this nation.
       3. Game in the Refrigerator Day—celebrating the birthday of the iconic play by play announcer for the Los Angeles Lakers, Chick Hearn, on this day in 1916.
       4. Temp Day—celebrating not the workers who because of Obamacare are forced into part time jobs but the birthday in 1701 of Anders Celsius who devised the temperature scale named after him where 0 is freezing and 100 is the temperature water boils.
       5.  Bavarian Cream Pie Day—why pumpkin pie or mince meat pie or turkey or sweet potatoes did not make the list is beyond this mere poet’s comprehension; enjoy a slice anyway and forget the calories as you have overloaded to the max anyway.
On this day in
      a. 1924 the first Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade was held in New York City.
      b. 1968 Penny Ann Early at five foot three became the first woman to play in a professional basketball game, inserted for one play by the Kentucky Colonels of the ABA against the Los Angeles Stars.
      c.  1973 Gerald Ford was confirmed by the Senate as Vice President to replace Spiro Agnew who had resigned due to tax fraud.
      d.  1978 San Francisco mayor George Moscone and openly gay supervisor Harvey Milk were assassinated by former supervisor Dan White who avoided a first degree murder conviction with what became known as the “Twinkie Defense.” He served five years of a seven year sentence for manslaughter and after being released committed suicide.
Reflections on Thanksgiving: “If one forgets the language of gratitude, it will be difficult to speak of happiness.” Anon Today is a day to be grateful for one’s blessing however small or large and to try to give of one’s self as a way to express that gratitude.  
Please enjoy the 140 character poems on events of interest on my twitter account below (if you like them, retweet and join almost 150 growing followers and please follow me) and follow my blogs. Always good, incisive and entertaining poems on my blogs—click on the links below. Go to www.alaskanpoet.blogspot.com for Ridley’s Believe It Or Not—This Day In History, poems to inspire, touch, emote, elate and enjoy and poems on breaking news items of importance. Go to Rhymes On The Newsworthy Times for comments on important and breaking news events that should be of interest. www.alaskanpoet.blogspot.com Ridley's Believe It Or Not  Rhymes On The Newsworthy Times
© November 27, 2014 Michael P. Ridley aka the Alaskanpoet
Alaskanpoet for Hire, Poems to Admire
Poet Extraordinaire Beyond Compare
Rhymes on the Memorable Times
The Perfect Gift, All Recipients to Receive a Lasting Lift

Wednesday, November 26, 2014

Federal Judge Hits EPA with Preliminary Injunction Over Bias


We all know that when it comes to the feds they rarely play fair
IRS for sure and now the EPA with its own emails ensnared
Caught conspiring with opponents of a massive gold and copper open pit mine
To use bogus “science”  to be able to an approval of the project decline
A federal judge in Anchorage slapped the EPA with a preliminary injunction
Preventing their efforts to derail the project—another example of the agency’s dysfunction
The prospectors in the gold rush of 98 were a hardly and robust lot mining for nuggets of gold
In 40 below weather in falling snow, not a job for the faint of heart only the brave and the bold
But the EPA when it gets a project in its cross hairs to try to block
Throws away impartiality and unbiased science and bias and deception unlocks
Somewhere off the grid there is an employee of the EPA who has fled
To avoid being called into court to reveal the deception and bias efforts he led
Philip North a biologist for the EPA has disappeared
Leaving behind a trail of emails showing bogus science as the bias the EPA would adhere
© November 26, 2014 Michael P. Ridley aka the Alaskanpoet
Alaskanpoet for Hire, Poems to Admire
Poet Extraordinaire Beyond Compare
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No One Wants Hagel's Job--Can You Blame Them


Hagel was forced to resign as Secretary of Defense
When it came to ISIS with Obama he was on the different side of the fence
The Secretary of Defense is too important to be held by yes men sycophants
Who would paint the world in Obama’s unreal slants
Hagel may not get his wish as filling his shoes will not be an easy job
Who would want it as defense cuts our fighting ability continue to rob
Panetta and Gates two patriots who served with independence and honor
Telling the President how the world is certainly not a yes man fawner
The party line is that morale in the Pentagon has never been better
Highly suspect when this Administration when it comes to jihad has the military in strict fetters
It is hard to say no to a President when he asks for you to the nation serve
Especially at Defense where the new Secretary will be waging a war to the military preserve
If Obama picks a successor noted for his or her ability to follow the Obama line
As opposed to a Defense Secretary not lacking in backbone and spine
The Senate after investigation of the nominee should reject and not confirm
National Security is too important for a yes man viewing his job as to Obama’s views rubber stamp and affirm.
© November 26, 2014 Michael P. Ridley aka the Alaskanpoet
Alaskanpoet for Hire, Poems to Admire
Poet Extraordinaire Beyond Compare
Rhymes on the Memorable Times
The Perfect Gift, All Recipients to Receive a Lasting Lift

Ridley's Believe It Or Not November 26 History Tie One On Day


Ridley's Believe It Or Not—November 26, 2014:   Posted last Friday morning a Thanksgiving poem for your reading enjoyment which can be found on my blog:  http://alaskanpoet.blogspot.com/2014/11/thanksgiving-thoughts-end-black-friday.html  Trust your Wednesday is proving to be a good one  and that if you are traveling to be with family on Thanksgiving the trip will be a safe one. As always I  hope you enjoy the holidays and observances, factoids and quote from Todd Stocker, with a smile on your sunscreened face, wondering if this is the day to enjoy some cake, blessed with a positive attitude even though you know you will have to wade through tons of spam in your inbox, and secure in the knowledge that if you want to find a gift for a memorable event or the coming Christmas, you know that the Alaskanpoet can provide you with a unique customized poem at a great price tailored to the event and the recipient.  You need only contact me for details.
       1. Tie One On Day: commemorating not an excuse to go on a bender before spending tomorrow with the in-laws but a tradition of putting a note of encouragement or friendship in a new apron and giving it to one’s neighbor so the person will have a fresh apron to wear while making the Thanksgiving meal.
      2. National Cake Day—celebrating another great desert immortalized in the line of Marie Antoinette that contributed to her sudden weight loss ala guillotine, “Let them eat cake.”
       3. Peanuts Day—celebrating the birthday of Charles Schultz on this day in 1920, one of the great cartoonists of all time. 
       4. Hughes Of Different Colors Day—celebrating not the various hues but the birthday on this day in 1983 of Chris Hughes, the co-founder of Facebook.
On this day in
      a. 1789 a national day of Thanksgiving was observed as proclaimed by President George Washington and the request of Congress.
      b. 1825 at Union College in Schenectady, New York, the first college fraternity, Kappa Alpha Society, was formed and is still operating today on nine college campuses.
      c. 1922 Howard Carter and Lord Carnavon became the first persons in 3000 to enter the tomb of King Tutankhamen.
      d. 1922 the first two tone Technicolor movie, The Toll of the Sea was released to the general public.
      e.   2003 the Concorde made its last flight, ending supersonic passenger jet travel.  
 Reflections on Thanksgiving: “Thankfulness creates gratitude which generates contentment that causes peace.” Todd Stocker, executive pastor at Trinity in Hudson, WI.   
Please enjoy the 140 character poems on events of interest on my twitter account below (if you like them, retweet and join almost 150 growing followers and please follow me) and follow my blogs. Always good, incisive and entertaining poems on my blogs—click on the links below. Go to www.alaskanpoet.blogspot.com for Ridley’s Believe It Or Not—This Day In History, poems to inspire, touch, emote, elate and enjoy and poems on breaking news items of importance. Go to Rhymes On The Newsworthy Times for comments on important and breaking news events that should be of interest. www.alaskanpoet.blogspot.com Ridley's Believe It Or Not  Rhymes On The Newsworthy Times
© November 26, 2014 Michael P. Ridley aka the Alaskanpoet
Alaskanpoet for Hire, Poems to Admire
Poet Extraordinaire Beyond Compare
Rhymes on the Memorable Times
The Perfect Gift, All Recipients to Receive a Lasting Lift

Monday, November 24, 2014

Ferguson Grand Jury Will Not Indict--Buildings Burn


In a rush to judgment an unarmed 300 pound black youth was killed
Not by a gang member ala Chicago but by a white cop; so tonight justice was “unfulfilled”
A grand jury after hearing all the evidence elected not to indict
Now shots fired, looting, buildings burning, lighting up the Ferguson night
None of us since cameras were not rolling on that August day will know all the facts
Unlike Rodney King’s beating on tape whether Officer Wilson committed an illegal lethal attack
There is not trust between the blacks and the police dominated by the whites
Already violence is seizing the freezing Missouri night
Sharpton thank God has not weighed in to what in his mind should have been a decision to convict
An officer who may have been fearful for his life against a bigger man who injury wanted to inflict
It is tragic a young man has been cut down
But in tragedy there may be a chance to rebound
Lesson learned should be as to the victim never charge an officer gun drawn to put him in fear of lethal harm
He will have no choice, protected by law, to protect himself to discharge his firearm.
Lesson two for the protestors who wanted to lynch,  let the grand jury work
Cheapen them and the rule of law may digress into the lynching quirk
Lesson three is that there must never be a chasm between those to protect and serve
And those men and women in blue who the peace try to preserve
Lesson four is that whatever it takes to make sure a person is not judged by the color of his skin
Any amount of money so spent to insure is well spent and views otherwise into the trash bin!
Regardless of lessons, this poet’s heart goes out to the family to lose a son at just 18
Is a pain and sorrow that should never be part of for their child his parents’ dream
© November 24, 2014 Michael P. Ridley aka the Alaskanpoet
Alaskanpoet for Hire, Poems to Admire
Poet Extraordinaire Beyond Compare
Rhymes on the Memorable Times
The Perfect Gift, All Recipients to Receive a Lasting Lift