January Seventeenth in History

Chevrolet Corvette Debut
    On January 17, 1953, the Corvette prototype was unveiled at the GM Motorama at the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel in New York City.  The 500,000th Corvette was built in 1977; the millionth in 1992; the millionth-and-a-half in 2009.

Paula Jones vs "Slick-Willie"
    On January 17, 1994, Paula Jones--an Arkansas state file clerk--filed suit against President "Slick-Willie" Clinton in Federal Court, Little Rock, Ar., asking for $700,000 in damages.  Investigation into the Jones allegations discovered that "Slick-Willie" was boinking Monica Lewinsky in the Oval Office.  The Jones allegations eventually led to "Slick-Willie's" impeachment; He was later acquitted.

Eisenhower's Farewell
    On January 17, 1961,  President Eisenhower made his last speech to the American people.  The President--despite his sadness that peace had not prevailed worldwide--offered the following prayer: 
"We pray that people of all faiths, all races, all nations.... will come to live together in a peace guaranteed by the binding force of mutual respect and love."

Gilmore: "Let's Do It!"
    On January 17, 1977, double-murderer Gary Gilmore was executed by firing squad at the Utah State Prison, Draper, Utah.  Mr Gilmore was convicted of murdering an elderly couple because they wouldn't give him their car.  Gilmore's final words on this earth were: "Let's Do It!"

Where's The "Mushroom Seeds?!?"
    On January 17, 1966, the United States Air Force lost a total of four hydrogen bombs ('mushroom seeds') over and around Palomares, Spain.  The Air Force B-52 collided with the refueling boom of an Air Force KC-135 tanker aircraft.  The collision ripped open the top of the bomber and fuel exploded in both the bomber and the tanker.  All four souls in the tanker and three souls in the bomber died; the remaining four bomber crewmen were able to parachute to safety.
Til Nex'Time....

This'n'That; January Tenth #3; Military Presidents

The Presidents In Their Uniforms:

From left to right; top to bottom:
(U.S. Army) General-of-the-Army Dwight D. (Ike) Eisenhower
(U.S. Navy) Lieutenant John F. Kennedy
(U.S. Navy) Commander Lyndon B. Johnson
(U.S. Navy) Commander Richard M. Nixon
(U.S. Navy) Lt Commander Gerald R. Ford
(U.S. Navy) Lieutenant Jimmuh Cahtah
(U.S. Army) Captain Ronald "Ronaldus-Magnus" Reagan
(U.S. Navy) Lieutenant George H.W. Bush (41)
(U.S. Air Force) 1st Lieutenant George W. Bush (43)
(High School Band) "Slick-Willie" Clinton
(Street Agitator; Closet Muslim) "Clown Prince ZERO-bama, the Narcissist"
Til Nex'Time....

This'n'That; November Eleventh #1; Veterans' Day

Did'ja Know....?
    Veterans Day--as we know it--is fairly young as holidays go; signed into law by President Eisenhower on May 26, 1954.  This happened after a campaign by one Alvin King of Emporia, Kansas, to include all veterans.  Originally, November Eleventh of each year since 1919 was called "Armistice Day" in observance of the armistice signing that officially ended World War One.
    The original holiday began as an 'unofficial observance' on November 11, 1919, and became official by an act signed into law by President Franklin Roosevelt on May 13, 1938, proclaiming November 11th each year to be a legal holiday; "a day to be dedicated to the cause of world peace and to be thereafter celebrated and known as 'Armistice Day.'"
    Another little tidbit: ravioli is the un-official meal of Veterans Day.  In the waning days of World War One, President Woodrow Wilson helped the White House kitchen staff prepare and serve ravioli to some 2,000 war returnees President Wilson invited to a 'home cooked' meal.  Incidently, ravioli was served due to it's becoming an American kitchen mainstay because of advancements in commercial canning practices.
    Go fly your American Flag as I do.  If you have them, fly the flags of each service branch you served in, again as I do.  I fly an American Flag, an Air Force flag as well as an Army flag!!
Til Nex'Time....