Brotherly Love

Some of The Sweeties™ had a particularly busy weekend. Six-year-old Mack played his last flag football game of the season — looks like a little offensive and defensive holding going on there boys. Meanwhile one-year-old Reid has the ball.

 Holding the Ball Minute Men

Then, Saturday evening and Sunday, brothers Mack, Aidan and Reid visited the City of Brotherly Love where they were recruited into the Continental Army (note that the boys already have their tats). Later three-year-old Aidan replaced Alexander Hamilton on the $10 — with a much friendlier look than the first Secretary of the Treasury.

Aidan Hamilton

Click any of the images for a larger version.

Here’s some of the details as reported by Jill, mother of the brothers, and official oldest daughter of NewMexiKen:

We got to our seats [at Citizens Bank Park] just as Barry Bonds came up to bat in the first inning. I’d been worrying, ever since I made these plans, that he would take the night off when we came all that way to see him. So I was immensely relieved that he played, and that it didn’t rain. (The other game we considered was Sunday afternoon, and he sat that game out, so…whew.) It was a fun game, the Phillies won, and we saw Bonds hit a massive double, a single, and score. Just as fun, we saw him strike out with a runner in scoring position in the ninth, and drop a routine fly ball. The crowd went crazy heckling him, and Mack of course was immediately into that.

Mack was enraptured by the game and made close friends with the strangers sitting next to him. Aidan was more interested in lemonade, pretzels, and eating ice cream from a tiny helmet. …

On Saturday we toured the historic area for about six hours. The kids weren’t too impressed by the Liberty Bell. But they liked Independence Hall. Mack tried to answer all of the tour guide’s questions, and Aidan just wanted to know if Lincoln ever came here. Once he found out that Lincoln did in fact make a historic visit, he was happy.

We walked through some of the other historic streets and buildings, and then the boys were recruited into the Continental Army for about half an hour. They got pretty good with their muskets, but Mack got a bit nervous when the Captain marched them off and told them to wave goodbye to their parents, because they wouldn’t be back for at least six months.

The Compassionate Conservative — He’s Neither

Several mothers who have lost children at war in Iraq took part in a new talk show today [May 31st] on National Public Radio.

One of them, Elaine Johnson, recounted a meeting that she had with President Bush in which he gave her a presidential coin and told her and five other families: “Don’t go sell it on eBay.”

The Swamp – Chicago Tribune

The 19th amendment

The right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any state on account of sex.

Congress shall have power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation.

The Congress sent the 19th Amendment to the states for ratification on this date in 1919. By August of 1920, the necessary 36 states (of 48) had ratified the amendment and it went into effect.

It’s interesting to note the 12 states that had not yet ratified, including several that had rejected the amendment.

  • Connecticut ratified in September 1920.
  • Delaware rejected the amendment in 1920, but did ratify in 1923.
  • Maryland rejected the amendment in 1920, but ratified it in 1941.
  • Virginia rejected the amendment in 1920, but ratified it in 1952.
  • Alabama rejected the amendment in 1919, but ratified in in 1953.
  • Florida ratified in 1969.
  • South Carolina rejected the amendment in 1920, but ratified in 1969.
  • Georgia rejected the amendment in 1919, but ratified it in 1970.
  • Louisiana rejected the amendment in 1920, but ratified it in 1970.
  • North Carolina ratified in 1971.
  • Mississippi rejected the amendment in 1920, but ratified it in 1984.

Makes one proud to be a Yankee.

June 4th

Angelina Jolie is 32. So many men, so little time.

Doctor Carter — Noah Wyle — is 36.

Gordon Waller of Peter and Gordon (“World Without Love,” “I Go to Pieces”) is 62.

Chester Goode, Tom Wedloe and Sam McCloud were born on June 4th in 1924. That’s Dennis Weaver. Chester was from Gunsmoke, Tom Wedloe from Gentle Ben and Sam McCloud, of course, the Taos marshal in the NYPD. The best Weaver role though, was David Mann, the driver chased by the large truck in Steven Spielberg’s Duel.

The Battle of Midway was fought on June 4, 1942.

Sixty-five years ago today, the United States Navy gained the greatest victory in its history. Against overwhelming odds, it won the American equivalent of the defeat of the Spanish Armada and decisively reversed the strategic situation in the Pacific in a single day.

John Steele Gordon has the story at AmericanHeritage.com.

Tiananmen

The Chinese army crackdown on the protests in and around Tiananmen Square was 18 years ago today. According to estimates by the Chinese Red Cross (accepted at the time by the U.S. State Department) some 2,600 protesters and military were killed and another 7,000 wounded.

This declassified State Department cable (June 22, 1989) provides the account of a witness to the violence on the night of June 3-4. The students believed that the military would be firing rubber bullets. The witness tells that “he had a sickening feeling when he noticed the bullets striking sparks off the pavement near his feet.”

This second declassified cable provides an hour-by-hour chronology of the events of the night of June 3-4, 1989.

Tiananmen Square

While difficult to read, these documents tell the story as American diplomats reported it.

NewMexiKen took this photo in Tiananmen Square just three years after the historic events there. The building in the background is the Great Hall of the People. At left is the Monument of the People’s Heroes. (Click photo for larger version.)

Paul

The June 4th issue of The New Yorker has a remarkable profile of Paul McCartney by John Colapinto, “When I’m Sixty-Four.”

The article is not online, but you could spend $4.50 in worse ways than to pick up a copy of the magazine.

“That’s exactly it, and I am amazed,” he said. “How could I not be? Unless I just totally blocked it off. There were four people in the Beatles, and I was one of them. There were two people in the Lennon-McCartney songwriting team, and I was one of them. I mean, right there, that’s enough for anyone’s life. And there was one guy who wrote ‘Yesterday,’ and I was him. One guy who wrote ‘Let It Be,’ ‘Fool on the Hill,’ ‘Lady Madonna’—and I was him, too. All of these things would be enough for anyone’s life. So to be involved in all of them is pretty surprising. And you have to pinch yourself. That’s what that song [“That Was Me”] is about.”

June 3rd

Larry McMurtry is 71 today. The Writer’s Almanac had a good piece on McMurtry two years ago and NewMexiKen posted it here. About a year ago NewMexiKen and Dad visited McMurtry’s hometown of Archer City, Texas. Here’s my report.

Tony Curtis is 82. Curtis received a leading actor Oscar nomination for The Defiant Ones.

Dr. Zaius was born on June 3rd in 1901. That’s Maurice Evans, famed stage actor, two-time Tony winner, who is perhaps most remembered for playing the Minister of Science and Chief Defender of the Faith in Planet of the Apes.

Jefferson Davis was born on June 3rd in 1808.

Good enough

I have a theory that you can predict how happy people are – and perhaps how successful – by their ability to tolerate imperfection. The Golden Happiness Ratio is about 4/5ths right, also known as “good enough.”

Once you achieve about 80% rightness, any extra effort is rarely worth the effort.

Dilbert’s Scott Adams goes on to explain.

Knocked Up

A funny, hilarious at times, entertaining movie. And, though more than two hours long, never draggy. Not a classic by any means, but well worth $9.50.

Here’s Anthony Lane’s review from this week’s New Yorker. In one line, “Call it the taming of the Shrek.”

Romantic comedies have come a long way since Doris Day and Rock Hudson — or even since Meg Ryan and Tom Hanks.

June 2nd

Sally Kellerman is 70. Kellerman was Hot Lips in the movie M*A*S*H. She got an Oscar supporting actress nomination for the portrayal.

Charlie Watts, the Rolling Stones’ drummer, is 66.

That fine actor Stacy Keach is also 66.

Jerry “The Beaver” Mathers is 59 today.

Comedian Dana Carvey is 52.

Donatien Alphonse François de Sade was born on June 2nd in 1740. We know him as the Marquis de Sade.

Elizabeth was crowned Queen on June 2nd, 54 years ago.

Best line of the day, so far

For some reason, the most vocal Christians among us never mention the Beatitudes. But, often with tears in their eyes, they demand that the Ten Commandments be posted in public buildings. And of course that’s Moses, not Jesus. I haven’t heard one of them demand that the Sermon on the Mount, the Beatitudes, be posted anywhere.

“Blessed are the merciful” in a courtroom? “Blessed are the peacemakers” in the Pentagon? Give me a break!

Kurt Vonnegut

Pat Boone

. . . is 73 today. Boone had grandchildren at the same school NewMexiKen’s children attended about 30 years ago. He showed up at “Back to School Night” once or twice, and I have to admit he was about the handsomest, youngest looking grandpa you’d ever see. Of course, he was only 41 or 42.

It’s hard to believe I was ever so young I thought 41 was old enough that someone could “look good” for 41?

Only Elvis sold more records than Pat Boone in the late 1950s.

Meow

George W. Bush is out jogging one morning, and notices a little boy on the corner with a box. Curious, he runs over to the child and says, “What’s in the box kid?”

The little boy says, “Kittens, they’re brand new kittens.”

George W. laughs and says, “What kind of kittens are they?”

“Republicans,” the child says.

“Oh that’s cute,” George W. says and he runs off.

A couple of days later George is running with his buddy Dick Cheney and he spies the same boy with his box just ahead. George W. says to Dick, “You gotta check this out,” and they both jog over to the boy with the box. George W. says, “Look in the box, Dick, isn’t that cute? Look at those little kittens. Hey kid tell my friend Dick what kind of kittens they are.”

The boy replies, “They’re Democrats.”

“Whoa!” George W. says, “I came by here the other day and you said they were Republicans. What’s up?”

“Well,” the kid says, “Their eyes are open now.”

I’m Reasonably Confident I Would Beat Ken Jennings in These Jeopardy! Categories

Owen Morris says he Would Beat Ken Jennings in These Jeopardy! Categories.

Read his list, then come back and list your winning categories.

NewMexiKen’s list:

  • The Sweeties
  • I-25 exits between Albuquerque and Denver
  • Location of Albuquerque’s Red Light cameras
  • I-25 exits between Albuquerque and Hatch
  • Costco
  • Peeps

NewMexiKen has corresponded with Jeopardy! champion Jennings by the way, and he really deserves to be beaten.

Via Avelino, who has his list at Live From Silver City.

We’ll take Manhattan

Legend and a number of historical accounts have it that on this date in 1626, Manhattan Island was purchased from the Canarsee Delawares by the Dutchman Peter Minuit. Most accounts state that Dutch beads were part of the deal.

The only known document specifically relating to the acquisition was written in Amsterdam late in 1626 as a report to the board of the West India Company. It said, in part:

They [the crew and passengers of a returning ship] report that our people are in good heart and live in peace there; the women have also borne some children there. They have purchased the Island Manhattes from the Indians for the value of 60 guilders; ’tis 11,000 morgens (about 22,00[0] acres) in size.

60 guilders has been estimated as worth from $24 to $300. Manhattan is actually about 15,000 acres, not 22,000.

The late bead historian Peter Francis argued in his prize-winning 1986 article “The Beads That Did Not Buy Manhattan Island” that, because this contemporary report does not mention beads, we cannot assume that beads were part of the transaction. According to Francis, beads were added to the story by Martha J. Lamb in her History of the City of New York (1877). It was only from then on that Dutch beads became part of the story. And, as a result, making the Delawares seem even more ignorant in light of Manhattan’s growing importance and wealth.

NewMexiKen however, wonders whether “for the value of 60 guilders” does not imply trade goods rather than coin. What use would Dutch money have been to the Delawares? And, if the transaction was strictly for money, why not report “for 60 guilders” rather than the vague “for the value of 60 guilders”? Trade goods were used in the purchase of Staten Island in August 1626 according to a copy of the deed – “Some Diffies, Kittles, Axes, Hoes, Wampum, Drilling Awls, Jew’s Harps, and diverse other wares” [Diffies are cloth]. What does “Wampum” mean in this Dutch account if not beads? The word “Wampum” comes from the Narragansett word for white shell beads.

More than likely the Delawares assumed they were “leasing” the use of the land. Permanent title would not have occurred to them. And $24 to $300 for a lease (whether in cash or goods) would not have been unattractive.

As the result of war, the Dutch traded New Amsterdam to the English in 1667 for what is now Suriname (Dutch Guyana).

May 24th

Victoria was born on May 24, 1819. She was the daughter of Edward, Duke of Kent, the fourth son of George III. None of her uncles had legitimate children who survived, so when her uncle William IV died in 1837, she became queen at age 18. Her reign lasted until 1901; the longest of any British monarch. She had nine children and is Elizabeth II’s great great grandmother.

The first passenger railroad in the U.S. began service between Baltimore and Ellicott’s Mills, Maryland, on May 24th in 1830. That’s 13 miles.

The first telegraph message was transmitted by Samuel F. B. Morse on May 24th in 1844. Sent from Washington to Baltimore it said, “What hath God wrought!”

The Brooklyn Bridge opened on May 24th in 1883. Click here for every fact you ever needed to know about this landmark.

The first Major League Baseball night game was played in Cincinnati on May 24, 1935. The Reds beat the Phillies 2-1. The Reds played seven night games that year (one against each National League opponent).

Tommy Chong, he’s Chong of Cheech and Chong, is 69.

Walter “Radar” O’Reilly, that is Gary Burghoff, is 67.

Priscilla Presley is 62.

Alfred Molina is 54.

Rosanne Cash is 52. She was born a month before her father released his first record, “Cry, Cry, Cry.”

John C. Reilly is 42.

Robert Allen Zimmerman was born in Duluth, Minnesota, on May 24th 66 years ago. That’s Bob Dylan, of course.

From the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame:

Bob Dylan is the pre-eminent poet/lyricist and songwriter of his time. He re-energized the folk-music genre, brought a new lyrical depth to rock and roll when he went electric, and bridged the worlds of rock and country by recording in Nashville. As much as he’s played the role of renegade throughout his career, Dylan has also kept the rock and roll community mindful of its roots by returning often to them. With his songs, Dylan has provided a running commentary on a restless age. His biting, imagistic and often cryptic lyrics served to capture and define the mood of a generation. For this, he’s been elevated to the role of spokesmen – and yet the elusive and reclusive Dylan won’t even admit to being a poet. “I don’t call myself a poet because I don’t like the word,” he has said.

Angels and Ages

A fascinating survey of recent Lincoln literature by Adam Gopnik in this week’s New Yorker. He begins:

This all began on a very long plane ride, East Coast to West, when I was reading Doris Kearns Goodwin’s “Team of Rivals,” her book about Abraham Lincoln and his political competitors, and how, in the course of the Civil War, he turned them into a collegial Cabinet. It is a well-told, many-sided story, which attempts to give context to Lincoln without diminishing him, to place him among his peers and place him above them, too.

Coming to the end of the book, to the night of April 14, 1865, and Lincoln’s assassination, I reached the words that were once engraved in every American mind. At 7:22 A.M., as Lincoln drew his last breath, all the worthies who had crowded into a little back bedroom in a boarding house across the street from Ford’s Theatre turned to Edwin Stanton, Lincoln’s formidable Secretary of War, for a final word. Stanton is the one with the long comic beard and the spinster’s spectacles, who in the photographs looks a bit like Mr. Pickwick but was actually the iron man in the Cabinet, and who, after a difficult beginning, had come to revere Lincoln as a man and a writer and a politician—had even played something like watchful Horatio to his tragic Hamlet. Stanton stood still, sobbing, and then said, simply, “Now he belongs to the ages.”

Or did Stanton say, as others have claimed, “Now he belongs to the angels”? Read the article and . . .

For all the talk about global warming

It hasn’t hit 100° F. in Albuquerque officially since July 15, 2003.

Think we’ll hit triple digits this year?

An aside: In Tucson, when it first hits 100° each spring they say, “The ice has broken on the Santa Cruz [River].” (Made all the funnier by the fact that there is seldom water in most of the Santa Cruz, let alone ice.) The ice broke on the Santa Cruz this year on May 11th.

100° Fahrenheit = 37.7777778° Celsius