alaskan poet: February 2016

Monday, February 29, 2016

Ridley's Believe It Or Not For February 29, 2016 Leap Day

Ridley’s Believe It Or Not For February 29, 2016. Unfortunately in this leap year, still 326 days to go in President Obama’s pathetic lame duck term but fortunately only 5 days until the start of and my daily updates on the Iditarod, the Last Great Race on Earth. Interesting theater today as the Reds and Blues gear up for Super Tuesday and the Reds frantically try to figure out a way to derail Trump in a primary that is getting uglier and uglier each day. I trust your Monday is proving to be a great one; and as always, I hope you enjoy today’s holidays and observances, a music link to Debbie Gibson, factoids of interest, an anonymous relevant quote while looking forward to enjoying a an appropriate surf and turf combo like steak and lobster, blessed with a positive attitude and secure in the knowledge that if you want to find a gift for any memorable events like birthdays, weddings, or anniversaries, 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. Bachelor’s Day—observing a day if a bachelor in Ireland and wanting to stay that way that one might want to avoid single women bent on marriage since this the day that women can ask men to marry them.

2. Leap Day—celebrating an employer’s best gift, an extra day of work without an extra day of pay.

3. 1989 Number One Song—celebrating the number one song in 1989 on a run of three weeks in that position Lost In Your Eyes by Debbie Gibson. Here is a link to Debbie Gibson performing with her trademark Liberace grand piano Lost In Your Eyes: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Ms3mJFkSeg

4. National Surf and Turf Day—celebrating a really great way to go off the diet and ramp up the cholesterol—steak and lobster or steak and shrimp in both cases with copious amounts of garlic so no one will get close enough to lecture you.

5. It Takes Heart—celebrating the birthday on leap day in 1972 of the lead singer for the Drowning Pool metal band, Dave Williams, who sadly died from an undiagnosed heart disease at the way too early age of 30.

On this day in:

a. 1796 the Jay Treaty which facilitated trade between the United States and Great Britain for the next ten years came into effect.

b. 1916 in a win for children, the minimum age in South Carolina to work in factories, mills and mines was raised from 12 to 14.

c. 1940 although the Oscars last night lacked any color diversity, Hattie McDaniel for her role of Mammy in Gone with the Wind became the first African American to win an Oscar.

d. 1940 due to the war in Europe Ernest Lawrence received the Nobel Prize for physics in Berkeley as opposed to Oslo.

e. 2008 in a royalty does have benefits even if you were born second moment the British Ministry of Defense pulled Prince harry out of Afghanistan after his deployment there had been leaked by the media. .

Reflections on Leap Day: “Happy Leap Day! Enjoy it while it's here...because like a Kobe Bryant pass, it only occurs once every four years." —Anon Now that he is retiring at the end of this season, the day will be even rarer.

Please enjoy the poems on events of interest on my twitter account below (if you like them, retweet and 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 or go to Ridley's Believe It Or Not for just This Day In History.

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Ridley's Believe It Or Not For February 28, 2016 Rare Disease Day

Ridley’s Believe It Or Not For February 28, 2016. Unfortunately, still 327 days to go in President Obama’s pathetic lame duck term but fortunately only 6 days until the start of and my daily updates on the Iditarod, the Last Great Race on Earth. Interesting theater today as the Reds and Blues gear up for Super Tuesday and the Reds frantically try to figure out a way to derail Trump. I trust your Sunday is proving to be a great one; and as always, I hope you enjoy today’s holidays and observances, a music link to George Michael, factoids of interest, a relevant quote by Julie Flygare looking forward to enjoying a bowl of chili, blessed with a positive attitude and secure in the knowledge that if you want to find a gift for any memorable events like birthdays, weddings, or anniversaries, 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 Tailors Day—observed to honor those artisans with needle and thread that create the suits, dresses and fine clothes that even in a world of business casual we often like to wear and without the tailors would not be able to buy off the rack without their alteration skills.

2. Rare Disease Day—no one ever wants to be informed he or she has a life threatening illness but a special woe to those who have a rare disease that does not affect enough people to attract research into potential life saving drugs and treatment. This is an observance observed since 2009.

3. 1988 Number One Song—celebrating the number one song in 1988 on a run of two weeks in that position Father Figure by George Michael. Here is a link to George Michael performing Father Figure: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m_9hfHvQSNo

4. National Chili Day—celebrating a really great way to beat the cold especially if you do not go easy with the jalapeno peppers in your recipe. Great day to get out the crock pot and experiment with creating a signature chili.

5. Shoot the Three While Dunking the Sheepskin—celebrating the birthday on this day in 1931 of a coaching legend at UNC, Dean Smith who coached 2 NCAA championship teams and went to the Final Four 11 times but more importantly should be honored for the fact that almost 97% of his players graduated.

On this day in:

a. 1784 John Wesley founded the Methodist Church.

b. 1849 in what can only be described as snail sail, steamboat service between the east and west coasts is completed with passengers landing in San Francisco after leaving New York City four months and 21 days earlier. No wonder with times like that the U.S. was motivated to build the Panama Canal.

c. 1940 college basketball is televised for the first time in a game played at Madison Square Garden between Fordham and the University of Pittsburgh—thank God for the precedent as we are all anxiously awaiting March Madness.

d. 1953 James Watson and Francis Crick announced to friends that they had determined the chemical structure of DNA which was revealed to the public in the April issue of Nature that year.

e. 1983 the final episode of the award winning series M*A*S*H aired with a record setting viewing audience of 103 million, the largest number ever to watch the final episode of a TV series.

Reflections on rare diseases: “Rare diseases are the underdogs, so how is it that our community is at the FOREFRONT of patient engagement and health policy efforts? It’s because we’ve got ROAR. We’ve been pushed down and overlooked… which has sparked a great passion to stand back up again, united and stronger than ever, to tell the world WE ARE RARE & WE MATTER.” Julie Flygare, author and spokesperson for the National Narcolepsy Association
Please enjoy the poems on events of interest on my twitter account below (if you like them, retweet and 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 or go to Ridley's Believe It Or Not for just This Day In History.

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Saturday, February 27, 2016

Ridley's Believe It Or Not For February 27, 2016 Internatioal Polar Bear Day

Ridley’s Believe It Or Not For February 27, 2016. Unfortunately, still 328 days to go in President Obama’s pathetic lame duck term but fortunately only 7 days until the start of and my daily updates on the Iditarod, the Last Great Race on Earth. Interesting theater today as the Blues vote in South Carolina in which due to support of African American votes Hillary is expected to win and on the Red side former inept and reluctant Mexican President Vicente Fox lashed out at Trump and his proposed wall using the f word. I trust your Saturday is off to a great start and as always, I hope you enjoy today’s holidays and observances, a music link to Bon Jovi, factoids of interest, a relevant quote by John Steinbeck looking forward to enjoying a bowl of strawberries, blessed with a positive attitude and secure in the knowledge that if you want to find a gift for any memorable events like birthdays, weddings, or anniversaries, 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. International Polar Bear Day—observed to create awareness of the issues facing polar bears as their icy habitat may be shrinking due to climate change melting the arctic ice caps.

2. International Sword Swallowers Day--celebrating the rare art of swallowing a sword without gagging or slicing one’s esophagus or stomach in the process. Definitely and observance to watch but not try.

3. 1987 Number One Song—celebrating the number one song in 1987 on a run of four weeks in that position Livin’ On A Prayer by Bon Jovi. Here is a link to Bon Jovi performing Livin’ On A Prayer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lDK9QqIzhwk

4. National Strawberry Day—celebrating a really tasty berry that goes great with ice cream, cereal, pancakes and just about everything.

5. Smokes of Wrath—celebrating the birthday on this day in 1902 of Nobel Prize winning author John Steinbeck whose novels include the Grapes of Wrath and Of Mice and Men. Sadly like many lifetime smokers he died way too early with many more books left unwritten at the age of 66.

On this day in:

a. 1922 the SCOTUS in Leser v. Garnett upheld the ratification of the 19^th Amendment which granted women the right to vote.

b. 1951 the 22^nd Amendment limiting a president to two terms was ratified to the future dismay of our current president who touts that he would easily win if he were allowed to run.

c. 1964 Italy requested assistance to keep the leaning tower of Pisa from toppling over. Decades of stabilization studies and efforts followed culminating in the closure of the tower in 1989, followed by more studies and work and its reopening in 2001. In 2008 engineers announced that the tower had stopped moving for the first time in its history.

d. 1986 the U.S. Senate allowed television to cover its debates for the first time. Given the gridlock we have today a safe bet would be that the ratings are almost zero.

e. 2004 in one of the Catholic Church’s nightmare moments, the initial version of the John Jay Report, detailing the sexual predations of priests on boys was released. Reflections on the duty of a writer from Steinbeck’s Nobel Prize acceptance speech: “the writer is delegated to declare and to celebrate man's proven capacity for greatness of heart and spirit—for gallantry in defeat, for courage, compassion and love. In the endless war against weakness and despair, these are the bright rally flags of hope and of emulation. I hold that a writer who does not believe in the perfectibility of man has no dedication nor any membership in literature.”

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Friday, February 26, 2016

The Fat Lady Is Singing For Trump?

Game Over For The Other Four?

Ronald Reagan was known as the President coated with Teflon

Scandals like Contragate and Irangate hit him and without staying moved on

Compared to Trump in this season or righteous voter anger he now looks like he was coated with Super Glue

Trump’s actions, proposals, blusters, insults and record get hardly any critical review

Last night at the debate on the eve of International Standing Up to Bullying Day

His brash, demeaning, insulting and bullying personality were on display

A symbol of someone observing Standing Up to Bullying Day is the wearing of a pink shirt

As Trump with personal attacks tried to his record and beliefs divert

Clinton has been given another set of clips to against any of the Reds in the fall use

From Rubio as a “Choke Artist,” to Cruz as a dishonest liar to Trump with illegal workers on Trump Towers abuse,

To fraud at Trump U, to only the erasing of lines, to the withholding of tax returns on a flimsy excuse

The Clinton dogs of war are straining at their leashes to against the Red nominee be set loose

Watching the Donald is like watching a show hosted by Jerry Spring

With the guests and their sordid stories flinging theatrical zingers

Romney may have it right that although Trump has hit among the angry voters, a responsive chord

The 600 pound gorilla that is pounding his chest and has loudly roared

He has been thoroughly vetted and what if “bombshells” do exist?

Unless Hillary is indicted, her landslide may be hard for the Reds to resist

The establishment wing of the Reds is now being to crumble

Chris Christie has just joined the endorsement parade eager to cause Hillary’s coronation into the pit of loss tumble

The Red establishment put too many eggs in the Bush basket

The RNC bowing to the media as who would be on the debate stage caused the only woman and other successful private sector maven to be sealed in a casket

Kasich might have been for the establishment the better choice

At least a record both in and out of Washington and the private sector and delivered with a positive voice

If time heals all wounds against the evil of Hillary it is now time for the others to drop out

Start uniting against Sanders or Hillary in the fall’s so crucial to the fate of this nation championship bout

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Thursday, February 25, 2016

Ridley's Believe It Or Not For February 26, 2016 International Stand Up To Bullying Day

Ridley’s Believe It Or Not For February 26, 2016. Unfortunately, still 329 days to go in President Obama’s pathetic lame duck term but fortunately only 8 days until the start of and my daily updates on the Iditarod, the Last Great Race on Earth. Interesting theater at last night’s Red debate with the troika going at each other nonstop while Kasich and Carson put positive spins of their plans and on the Blue race Hillary is pulling out as many race cards as she can and lambasting Obama’s early pick for Supreme Court Justice who wisely wanted no part of what will be polarized process. I trust your Friday is off to a great start and as always, I hope you enjoy today’s holidays and observances, a music link to Mr. Mister, factoids of interest, a relevant quote by Henry Ford looking forward to enjoying a handful of pistachios, blessed with a positive attitude and secure in the knowledge that if you want to find a gift for any memorable events like birthdays, weddings, or anniversaries, 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. International Stand Up To Bullying Day—observed on the last Friday in February since 2008 to protest bullying in our schools although given the bullying personality of Donald Trump evidenced last night, the other candidates and members of audience should have worn the symbol of those who protest bullying, a pink shirt.

2. Levi Strauss Day- celebrating the birthday on this day of Levi Strauss, born at Buttenheim, Bavaria, Germany on February 26, 1829 who immigrated to the United States and created the world’s first jeans, complete with metal rivets for California gold miners in 1850.

3. 1986 Number One Song—celebrating the number one song in 1986 on a run of two weeks in that position Kyrie by Mr. Mister. Here is a link to Mr. Mister performing Kyrie: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9NDjt4FzFWY

4. National Pistachio Day—celebrating a tasty delicious nut, especially when it already has been shelled.

5. Honeymoon Cut Short By the Big C—celebrating the birthday on this day in 1916 of Jackie Gleason, that overweight four packs a day smoker noted for the iconic TV Series The Honeymooners and such movies as the Hustler of cancer at the age of 71.

On this day in:

a. 1616 Galileo Galilei was formally banned by the Roman Catholic Church from teaching that the Earth revolved around the Sun as opposed to vice versa.

b. 1917 the first jazz records, Dixie Jazz Band One Step and the Livery Stable Blue, were recorded by the Original Dixieland Jazz Band for the Victor Talking Machine Company.

c. 1971 Secretary General for the UN U Thant issues a proclamation designating the vernal equinox as Earth Day.

d. 1993 in a chilling precursor to 9/11 jihadists parked a van loaded with explosives in the parking garage of the North Tower of the World Trade Center which detonated, killing 6 and wounding over a 1,000 but failed as planned to topple the North Tower into the South Tower and bring both crashing to the ground.

e. 1995 Barings Bank, the U.K.’s oldest investment banking institution collapsed after securities trader Nick Lesson lost $1.4 billion in speculating in futures on the Singapore International Monetary Exchange.

Reflections on why Nick Lesson should have read more writings of Henry Ford: “Speculation is only a word covering the making of money out of the manipulation of prices, instead of supplying goods and services.” Henry Ford
Please enjoy the poems on events of interest on my twitter account below (if you like them, retweet and 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 or go to Ridley's Believe It Or Not for just This Day In History.

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Not Super-Predator BLM Crashes Hillary Fund Raiser

BLM To Hillary I Am Not A Super-Predator

Of all segments of the population under Obama, it is the Afto-Americans who have suffered the greatest raw deal

After decades of voting like lemmings for Blues, BLM may expose Hillary’s Achilles’ heel

Black Caucus endorsement notwithstanding of a candidate who wants to with Obama policies align

Blacks in terms of poverty have increased and incomes compared to whites have continued to decline

Despite her recent complaints about the need for criminal justice reform, she is linked with Bill’s crackdown of crime

With inner city black neighborhoods decimated as more and more young black males began serving time

In a “what difference does it make moment” that will haunt her leading up to the fall that maybe her true feelings reveal

Hillary in 1996 in addressing the problem of black gangs demanded we have to bring these super predators to heel

While Hillary was a fund raiser seeking cash

Two BLM protesters with that sign did her fundraiser crash

Hillary did not look pleased to have her raking in dollars interrupted

When will the blacks realize that always voting Blue is practice totally corrupted?

If a politician as Hillary does as she doubles and triples down the tired scenario of the race card

Takes the black vote for granted, keeping the Obama coalition together will be very hard

Income inequality is just another of her phrases for the Clintons to shake down millions in speaking fees

While being a Secretary of State going on a quid pro quo granting spree

Racism is just another word for her getting paid for a not for public short speech by Goldman Sachs

Same amount that over 20 years of labor at the median income earned by a family that is black

Dishonest, untrustworthy to her innermost core

Yet damage by Obama and her policies, black voters keep coming back for more

When blacks like most voters want politicians for their votes, ideas and policies really compete

Good things start to happen instead of always voting Blue like a flock of sheep

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PC Greater Threat To Learning Than Packing Heat

Texas has passed a law allowing students to on public universities guns carry

In classrooms and dorms but at the University of Houston, Academic Senate fears academic discussion may be buried

Rational and challenging discourse on issues and views should be a college’s ultimate goal

Closing down free speech or enforcing PC discourse is not a proper academic roll

Another academic debate

Will a student packing heat in a classroom or dorm discourse intimidate

Or does it send a sign to those bent on terrorist or deranged attacks?

If you open fire on innocents, some of the innocents may be shooting back

When it comes to the suppression of academic freedom and free speech and the closing of young minds

There is a far greater threat represented by fanatic professors like Melissa Click to the PC slant completely aligned

Too many college campuses with administrations devoid of any academic backbone

Have been turned into a conservative thought or speech free zones

From commencement speakers like Condi Rice who a rabid handful of faculty and students arose in protest

To Cal State LA whose feckless president chose to a conservative speaker’s appearance suppress

Our colleges are turning out legions of PC robots unable to independently think and burdened with debt

Their ability to think and discuss ideas and be receptive to opposing views—a closed mindset

It’s like with the micro aggressions and the BLMs, we have become a nation of thin skinned crabs and lobsters in perpetual molt

So thin skinned and eager to take PC offense that with their intellect never challenged have become a generation of robotic dolts

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Wednesday, February 24, 2016

Ridley's Believe It Or Not For February 25, 2016 Quiet Day

Ridley’s Believe It Or Not For February 25, 2016. Unfortunately, still 330 days to go in President Obama’s pathetic lame duck term but fortunately only 9 days until the start of and my daily updates on the Iditarod, the Last Great Race on Earth. Interesting theater on the Red race as Governor Romney has suggested that past tax returns that Trump still has not released may contain “bombshells” and on the Blue race, the federal court judge appointed by Bill Clinton indicated the need for subpoenas of Hillary and her top aides as this scandal will not go away. I trust your Thursday is off to a great start and as always, I hope you enjoy today’s holidays and observances, a music link to Wham!, factoids of interest, a relevant quote by John Burroughs looking forward to enjoying a bowl of clam chowder, blessed with a positive attitude and secure in the knowledge that if you want to find a gift for any memorable events like birthdays, weddings, or anniversaries, 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. Pistol Patent Day—honoring the issuance of a patent for a revolver with chambers for six bullets to Samuel Colt on this day in 1836.

2. Quiet Day—another observance that should be observed daily as opposed to once a year especially if observed by 20 minutes of meditation which will lower stress, blood pressure and bathe the participant with large amounts of serenity and tranquility.

3. 1985 Number One Song—celebrating the number one song in 1985 on a run of three weeks in that position Careless Whisper by Wham! Here is a link to Wham! performing Careless Whisper: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CDKn5BGTGMM

4. National Clam Chowder Day—celebrating a great way to enjoy those tasty mollusks whether in be in Manhattan form (red) or New England form (white) but whatever you do, do not skimp on the clams and if white don’t forget the bacon and go easy on the potatoes.

5. X Marks the Spot—celebrating the birthday on this day in 1954 of singer, songwriter, actor and poet who founded the punk rock band X who is still performing at the ripe age of 61.

On this day in:

a. 1862 paper currency was introduced in the United States by President Abraham Lincoln.

b. 1919 Oregon became the first state to place a sales tax on the sale of gasoline at the rate of one cent per gallon.

c. 1928 Charles Jenkins Laboratories was granted by the Federal Radio Commission (precursor to the FCC) the first television commercial broadcast for Station W3XK which operated for six years, going out of business with the death of Charles Jenkins.

d. 1987 SMU’s football team received the death penalty from the NCAA for maintaining a slush fund to funnel booster contributions to SMU football players and was banned from playing any games in the 1987.

e. 1991 the Warsaw Pact, a counterpart to NATO was disbanded. Reflections on the currency which has and retains value: “For anything worth having one must pay the price; and the price is always work, patience, love, self-sacrifice - no paper currency, no promises to pay, but the gold of real service.” John Burroughs, noted 19^th Century American essayist and pioneer in the conservation movement.

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Uber Thy Name Is Innovation

When it comes to game change concepts like Uber and Lyft

Really have been bestowed with a surplus of the innovation gift

Cab companies will become the dinosaurs of the transportation world

As the forces of technology have around them swirled

No more waiting for a driver for hours to pay an outrageous fare in cash

Terrified that your non English speaking driver may quickly crash

No more filthy cabs lacking GPS

Finally arriving by a fare adding route only to be depressed

With Uber and Lyft you see on your phone the car symbols moving your way

ETA of the closest on your phone to display

A photo of the driver with his name and description of his car

A chance to rank your ride from one to five stars

News today is that in Thailand a rider will be treated to a new thrill

Motorcycles to speed you in and out of traffic, chances of delay almost nil

Great idea and wonder when it will hit the roads of the Golden State

Wind through one’s hair and in one’s face with a sense of freedom to which we can relate

Poet Extraordinaire Beyond Compare
The Perfect Gift, All Recipients to Receive a Lasting Lift

Monday, February 29, 2016

Ridley's Believe It Or Not For February 29, 2016 Leap Day

Ridley's Believe It Or Not For February 28, 2016 Rare Disease Day

Saturday, February 27, 2016

Ridley's Believe It Or Not For February 27, 2016 Internatioal Polar Bear Day

Friday, February 26, 2016

The Fat Lady Is Singing For Trump?

Thursday, February 25, 2016

Ridley's Believe It Or Not For February 26, 2016 International Stand Up To Bullying Day

Not Super-Predator BLM Crashes Hillary Fund Raiser

PC Greater Threat To Learning Than Packing Heat

Wednesday, February 24, 2016

Ridley's Believe It Or Not For February 25, 2016 Quiet Day

Uber Thy Name Is Innovation

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