Notes from around the Human Experience…

MINE’S BIGGER!: Fabulous. Our president is in a p*ssing contest with a dictator whose attention needs are every bit as enormous as his. At issue is the minor detail about whose country can better annihilate the other’s via nuclear weapons.

Way To Deescalate, Mr President: Stuff like this right up President Trump’s alley, of course. A man whose only real talent is drawing to attention to himself, he is completely in his element tossing rhetoric like this around, today promising that if North Korea didn’t stop this nonsense they could count on:

Fire and fury like the world has never seen…

LOL: For their part, the North Korean military said they were reviewing their plans for attacking Guam.

Dry, Technical Matter: Why those zany Koreans think Guam is strategically important is not immediately clear, even to us. Guam is located in the western Pacific and is over 2,000 miles from North Korea and you do not have to be General MacArthur to know that Guam would be about as useful as the moon as a staging area by the United States should we ever decide to attack them.

FunFact(s): Guam became a US possession when Spain forked it over after losing the Spanish-American War. It’s residents are American citizens and while Guamanians do not have votes in either the Congress or the Electoral College, they do elect their own governor and a 15-member senate.

Oh Jesus H: They do field their own national athletic teams, too, and have competed in the past eight Summer Olympics, as well as the 1988 Winter Games. They seldom have athletes advance past the first round, however.

Back On Message: Exactly what North Korea is capable of isn’t clear. They started their nuclear program in the early 1990’s and conducted their first nuclear explosion in 2006. It is believed they have can now put a small warhead on a long range missile, but who the hell knows for sure?

OTOH: Or maybe they can’t. During the 1950’s, when nuclear tensions between the US and the Soviet Union were rising, it was thought the Soviets were to be feared, especially when they refused treaties whose terms included inspections. History, however, has shown the Soviets feared any inspection would show how weak they really were.

The Bottom Line: Either way, the world is paying attention to, and fearing, North Korea right now, and that is a lot of what they are looking for.

ON THIS DATE! ON THIS DATE!: Walden; or, Life in the Woods by Henry David Thoreau is published by Ticknor and Fields on this date in 1854. Though now generally highly regarded, Walden did not receive universal acclaim, and it took a few years to sell even a couple of thousand books.

Yeah, This Is Interesting: Walden developed from 18 essays Thoreau had written about the two-year period in the mid-1840’s he had spent living in a cabin he had built near Walden Pond. Thoreau ultimately produced eight drafts before publication.

Some Philosophy Crap: If your only experience with Walden are some of its famous quotes, do yourself a favor and read the entire book. Walden is part memoir and part spiritual quest and Thoreau talks a lot about living simply and other exciting concepts. And while the terms “quaint” or “eccentric” – or even “whackjob” – might come to mind while reading it, Walden has rewards for those who make it all the way through.

Only You Can Prevent Forest Fires: One of America’s most iconic advertising symbols, Smokey Bear, debuts on this date in 1944, on posters released by the US Forest Service.

Designed to call attention to preventing forest fires, Smokey would later appear, among other places, on radio shows and in comic strips and cartoon.

Oh Yeah: Over the years Smokey has often been seen wearing a campaign hat, similar to those worn by some in the military and law enforcement. This led long haul truckers to call cops ‘smokies’ or ‘bears’.

That’ll Show ‘Em: Three days after bombing Hiroshima, the United States drops another atomic bomb on Japan, this time attacking Nagasaki on this date in 1945.

Uh, Gee, Thanks Guys: Mankind’s second nuclear bombing had originally been scheduled for Kokura a couple of days later, but some bad weather in the forecast necessitated the change.

“Moreover, The Enemy Now Possesses A New And Terrible Weapon…”: Between 129,000 and 225,000 are estimated to have been killed either directly or indirectly by the two bombings, but the entire total – which includes 20 allied prisoners of war – will never be known.

What The Hell’s Going On Here: Tired of constant bickering and racial tensions, Malaysia kicks Singapore out the country on this date in 1965. Despite the troubles, Singapore didn’t really want this, and they remain the only country in history to gain independence unwillingly.

I  Do Solemnly Swear…: Gerald Ford becomes the 38th president of the United States on this date in 1974, following the resignation of Richard Nixon. Ford would serve the remaining two-and-a-half years of Nixon’s term and would lose to Jimmy Carter in the 1980 presidential election.

Quotebook: I went to the woods because I wished to live deliberately, to front only the essential facts of life, and see if I could not learn what it had to teach, and not, when I came to die, discover that I had not lived. – Henry David Thoreau, Walden

Answer To The Last Trivia Question: Andrew Johnson and Bill Clinton are the presidents other than Richard Nixon to have impeachment charges against them considered by the House of Representatives. Unlike Nixon, both were actually impeached by the House before being acquitted at trial in the US Senate.

Today’s Stumper: The Trivia feature will return.

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AND IN THIS CORNER: Good seats are still available for the Floyd Mayweather/Connor McGregor fiasco in Las Vegas on August 26. Roughly one-third of the arena is available, either directly from the arena or on the secondary market.

One-third is a lot for an event of this magnitude, even if the magnitude is more manufactured than anything.

Fly In The Ointment: There are a couple of reasons for this. One, few are expecting anything other than Mayweather to name the score.

Part of it is the fact nothing, really, is on the line. Except a spectacle, of course. Sure the World Boxing Council (WBC) will provide a commemorative trophy for the winner, but that’s it. While the bout is regulated by the Nevada State Athletic Commission, it is sanctioned by nobody and has no official status, as athletically relevant as this week’s upcoming NFL exhibitions games.

Dry, Technical Matter: It will be a lot more expensive, though, which is also part of the problem because fans like something to be on the line when they take it in the shorts to pay for tickets. Since the fight has no athletic relevance, it is nothing more than an attempt to make some money.

Running The Numbers: Which it is doing a good job of because the promoters are doing their work well. Despite the fact it is not sold out, the gate has already surpassed $60 million, nearing the $72 million live gate record of Mayweather/Pacquiao. Face value ranges from $500 to $10,000, and the secondary market is commanding anywhere from $1,800 for the opportunity to bang your head on the roof to $150,000, where you can fist bump each fighter and offer best wishes before the opening bell.  

Oh Yeah: It isn’t particularly difficult to find a place to stay, either. Most major hotels have rooms available for less than $500 a night, a downright bargain for a fight weekend.

Crystal Ball Me: McGregor has no chance. Regardless of his MMA championships, it is silly to think anyone can make their professional boxing debut against one of the best there’s ever been and compete. This is not going to be close. The only question will be how much of a show Mayweather wants to put on before retiring for the evening.

Crystal Ball Me II: Mayweather has no chance. Fighting is fighting, and McGregor will easily be able to channel the fury of the MMA octagon to the boxing ring and give Mayweather, 40 and past his prime, something he has both never seen and is unable to handle. This is not going to be close. The only question is how long Mayweather can withstand the onslaught.

FunFact: While farting around the Nevada State Athletic Commission website we found this tidbit:

The Commission regulates all contests and exhibitions of unarmed combat…

Maybe It’s The Defense Department: Which left us wondering who in the hell in Nevada regulates contests and exhibitions of armed combat? Street gangs?

ON THIS DATE! ON THIS DATE! What History now refers to as The Great Train Robbery takes place in southern England on this date in 1963.

Striking at 3am, a gang of 15 robbers, part of an overall crew of 17, stop a Royal Mail train and get away with £2.6 million, about $63 million in today’s money.

They were pretty thorough. They had, among other things, cut all telephone lines in the area and they stopped the train by covering a green light and using a battery to power the red light. Though most of the money was never recovered, arrests begin within a week and 12 robbers ended up serving time, the last one being released in 1978.

LOL: Despite their precautions, news of something gone wrong was broadcast within a few minutes of the train being stopped, though initial reports had the entire train being stolen.

Well, Yeah, I  Was A Crook: President of the United States Richard Nixon announces his resignation on this date in 1974. For better or worse, Nixon held on to the bitter end, resigning only after fellow Republicans made it clear he would be convicted and removed from office when tried by the United States Senate. Impeachment proceedings had already begun in the House of Representatives.

Please Pass The Dry, Technical Matter: Nixon’s resignation letter was addressed to Secretary of State Henry Kissinger and his resignation was effective at noon the following day. Nixon became the ninth and most recent president not to complete the term he was elected for and he remains the only president to resign. The other eight – starting with William Henry Harrison in 1841 and ending with John F Kennedy in 1963 – had died in office.

Let There Be Light: Wrigley Field comes kicking and screaming into the modern age, becoming the last major league stadium to host a night game on this date in 1988. The Cubs had actually planned to install lights in the 1940’s, but instead donated the materials to the war effort.   

Fly In The Ointment: Unfortunately, rain ended the game against the Philadelphia Phillies after three innings, so a regulation game wasn’t played. The first regulation night game at Wrigley Field came the following night, when the Cubs beat the New York Mets 6-4.

Quotebook: Nothing can be added by you or me to what has been said by others and will be said in every age. – Thomas Jefferson

Answer To The Last Trivia Question: John F Kennedy is the only president of the United States to earn the Purple Heart, for wounds received on the boat he commanded, PT 109, in World War II.

Today’s Stumper: Two other presidents of the United States had impeachment charges considered by the House of Representatives. Name them. – Answer next time!

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ON YOUR MARK…GET SET…RETIRE: One of sport’s greatest careers – Usain Bolt running the 100 meters – came to a close this past weekend, with Bolt coming in third place in that event at the World Track and Field Championships in London.

The blemish on Bolt’s legacy will barely be noticeable. Bolt retires from the 100 meters holding both the current and previous two world records and as a six-time Olympic and World Championship gold medalist.

Oh Yeah: Bolt is also the world record holder in the 200-meters, having held the record since 2008, the only person to hold both records simultaneously. He is also on the current world record 4×100 meter relay team.

Some Philosophy Crap: Bolt retires, his life’s work done. He was put on the planet to be the world’s fastest human and he identified, accepted and met the challenge. He is 30-years-old. This is both good and bad. On the plus side, he did what he was put on this planet to do, which is all any of us can do. On the downside, he now has, more or less, 60 years to kill.

Back To The Future: It’s not surprising a 30-year-old finished third in a race he used to dominate. 30 is not young by sprinter standards. What is surprising is the gold medal was won by a 35-year-old, American Justin Gaitlin.

For whatever reason, this was not a fast race. This is not a knock on Gaitlin. He was the first one across the finish line. Hard earned and well done, as we like to say. Seven other men, including the best ever, had their shot and couldn’t get it done. 

But boy, you could’ve timed the 2017 100 meter world championship race with a sundial. Gaitlin’s winning time of 9.92 seconds was almost two-tenths of a second off his own personal best and was .34 seconds – almost an eternity in sprinting – off of Bolt’s world record of 9.58 seconds.

Dry, Technical Matter: In fact, 9.92 seconds is so slow it hasn’t been the world record since 1998.

USA! USA!: Bolt not only lost to sprinting’s past, he lost to its future, too, as America’s Christian Coleman, 21, beat Bolt by a couple of inches for the silver medal.

“THE ROAD TO GLORY IN A PATRIOT ARMY AND A FREE COUNTRY IS OPEN TO ALL”: George Washington authorizes what would eventually become the Purple Heart on this date in 1782.

Known then as the Badge of Military Merit, it was awarded to soldiers who exhibited “unusual gallantry, extraordinary fidelity and essential service”. While never abolished, it was not awarded all that often after the Revolution, and the current Purple Heart was established in 1932 and was designated the successor to the Badge of Military Merit. 

FunFact: The first American military award was the Fidelity Medallion, established in 1780 and awarded only three times, to the soldiers who captured British spy John Andre, who was complicit in Benedict Arnold’s attempt to turn an American fort over to the British.

Washington, not for the first time, was blazing new trails, the Badge of Military Merit being the first military decoration in modern history to be awarded to common soldiers. In the past, only high ranking, victorious officers had been awarded medals.

Great Moments In Redesigning The Penny: The Lincoln Memorial design of the US penny goes into circulation on this date in 1959, with the Memorial replacing some wheat sheaves on the reverse side. In 2009, the bicentennial of Lincoln’s birth, the mint produced four designs featuring Lincoln and in 2010 the current Union shield began appearing on the penny’s reverse side.  

Some Places Have Interns For This: It costs about 1.5 cents to make a penny, meaning the government loses about $44 million a year producing them. The government also loses money on the nickel, thought the dime and quarter are produced for less than their value. 

Thanks For The Memories: The Washington Star, a Washington, DC afternoon paper, publishes its final edition after 128 years on this date in 1981. It’s first edition had run on December, 16, 1852.

Extra, Extra, Read All About It: The Star’s lead story that day was the Washington Star ceasing operations.

That’ll Show Those Evil American Bastards: Two coordinated attacks result in truck bombs exploding outside of US embassies in Tanzania and Kenya on this date in 1998. 224 people die, though only twelve are American.

Hi Boys!: The attacks are credited with bring Osama Bin Laden and his terrorist group al-Qaeda into the American consciousness.

Way To Go UN, Way To Go!: The United Nations passed a resolution condemning the attacks, which were so strongly worded Bin laden immediately and for good ceased all terrorist activities.

Going…Going…Gone: Barry Bonds of the San Francisco Giants becomes major league baseball career home run leader on this date in 2007, hitting his 756th home run against the Washington Nationals. Bonds broke Henry Aaron’s record, which had stood since 1974 and he would retire after the 2007 season with 762 home runs.

Quote Book: For every person who sees, thousands may think. And for the thousands who think, millions may act. – Donald T. Phillips, The Founding Fathers on Leadership

Answer To The Last Trivia Question: The electric chair was last used in the United States on January 16, 2013 when Virginia executed Robert Gleason, Jr., who had selected electrocution over lethal injection.

Today’s Stumper: How many US presidents have won the Purple Heart? – Answer next time!

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TO UNIONIZE OR NOT UNIONIZE, THAT IS THE QUESTION: Last week workers at a Nissan plant in Mississippi voted against joining the United Auto Workers (UAW). The vote wasn’t particularly close with a bit less than two-thirds of workers voting no.

Now, the Deep South has never been a union stronghold, but still, the UAW’s rejection is telling, because it is hardly the only time they’ve been told no in recent years.

Get Your Official Daily Dose Policy Right Here: OK, great, don’t unionize. We would have said OK, great if they had voted to unionize. We don’t really care. It’s the free market, and American labor law, at work.

Dry, Technical Matter: The disappearance of the private sector American labor union is one of the great stories of the American economy the past couple of generations. To deny it is one of the reasons profitable businesses are able to keep wages low is folly.

But you know what? If American workers are content to take what employers are offering without – either individually or collectively – standing up for themselves then so be it. Besides, all of us are free to identify a job that does pay what we want, and then put the work in that is required to get that job. It’s the American way.

Back On Message: Walmart is a great example of the decline of the American union. They are the world’s largest private employer and supremely profitable and like any other business it doesn’t pay anymore than it has to to get the work it needs done.

Brother Can You Spare A Dime: It isn’t that much, of course, and it’s a big reason why between two-thirds and three-quarters of Walmart employees don’t make it to Year Two. Those that do stick around do so either because they genuinely enjoy working for Walmart – there are opportunities for those willing to work, like there are anywhere – while others shrug their shoulders and say it’s not that bad.

What In Thee Hell Is Going On Here?: What we’ve always found interesting is American unions are not fighting tooth and nail to get into Walmart because Walmart employees are ripe for unionization. Relatively low pay, not the best benefits and irregular schedules are just some of the things a good union would have taken care of before anybody could say Jimmy Hoffa.

But we have some experience in these matters and unionizing is not a big topic among Walmart employees. They will, as employees everywhere do, gripe about this and that, but whining is one of the privileges of punching a clock.

The Bottom Line: You can say this about Walmart’s anti-union policies and you can say that, but if the worker it ain’t interested, nothing is going to happen.

GREAT MOMENTS IN KILLING OTHER PEOPLE: The electric chair is used to execute a prisoner for the first time when the state of New York puts William Kemmler to death for murdering his common-law wife on this date in 1890. 

We have always found it funny that accounts of Kemmler’s last day begin with him being woken up at 5am because if we were getting executed first thing in the morning we think we would probably have trouble getting some shut-eye. And we’re sure he ate breakfast mostly out of habit.

Whoops, Our Bad: It actually took two jolts to kill Kemmler because the initial jolt of 1,000 volts for 17 seconds wasn’t enough.

“We Live In A Higher Civilization From This Day!” The electric chair had been invented in Buffalo, New York by, of all things, a dentist named Alfred Southwick. Inspired by a story where a drunk died instantly after touching a generator, he first tried his theory out on stray dogs. Over the next several years several botched hangings got people talking about newer methods of killing criminals, and from concept to execution the electric chair took about ten years to implement.

Great Moments In Killing Lots Of Other People: Mankind uses nuclear weapons for the first time when the United States drops an atomic bomb, code named Little Boy, on Hiroshima, Japan on this date in 1945.

The bomb was dropped at 8:15am local time from an altitude of 31,000 feet and Little Boy fell 44 seconds before detonating about 1,900 feet above the city.

Though the Japanese knew something had happened because Hiroshima’s television station, telegraph and military communications had ceased, they didn’t know exactly what had happened, though some railroad stations had reported an explosion. A junior army officer was flown south to see what in the hell was going on, but the smoke cloud prevented his getting too close and the Japanese weren’t completely certain they had been bombed by a new type of weapon until President Harry Truman announced it to the world 16 hours after the fact.

Fly In The Ointment: Due to wind, the bomb missed its target by 800 feet, detonating over a surgical clinic instead of a bridge in central Hiroshima.

Fly In The Ointment II: Despite the damage, Little Boy was considered very inefficient, as only 1.7% of its material fissioned. We don’t know what this means, either.

Quote Book: If a man will begin with certainties, he shall end in doubts; but if he will be content to begin with doubts, he shall end certainties. – Francis Bacon

Answer To The Last Trivia Question: Freddie “Boom Boom” Cannon appeared the most times on American Bandstand, 110.

Today’s Stumper: When was the electric chair last used in the United States? – Answer next time!

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HIGHER…FASTER…LATER: We don’t usually like to start a column off with a disclaimer – we prefer to bore you in other ways, first – but today we must:

We are unabashed fans of the Summer Olympics in Los Angeles here at the Daily Dose. We are from LA, attended the 1984 Games and have always taken great pride in Los Angeles’ Olympic heritage, even if the Olympics have at times been more deserving of scorn than pride.

In Case You Missed It: The International Olympic Committee (IOC) announced this week they reached an agreement with Los Angeles Olympic organizers for LA to host the 2028 Summer Games. LA, along with Paris, had bid for the 2024 Summer Games. With LA out of the 2024 picture, the 2024 Games will be hosted by Paris. +

Oh Hell: The IOC was in a box. They had two cities of demonstrated Olympic quality bidding for the 2024 Games with no guarantee the loser – or anyone else, for that matter – would be interested in putting on another song and dance for the 2028 Summer Games.

Hey, What About Us?: LA organizers were in a box, too, though not as big a box as the IOC. LA organizers knew Paris would be the favorite in September’s vote for the 2024 host and when the IOC started making noises about either LA or Paris hosting the 2028 Games, LA didn’t didn’t dismiss the matter out of hand. After the failures of New York City and Chicago to land past Olympics, plus the fiasco of Boston, coming away with the 2028 Games would be a satisfactory prize.

Show Us The Money: So they cut a very favorable deal – worth at least $1.8 billion – with the IOC, no easy task when dealing with a group that is as greedy as they are corrupt.

Crystal Ball Me: This could mark a turning point in how future Olympics are awarded. Cities are seeing the unused facilities and financial havoc inflicted on host cities the past generation or so and are more and more reluctant to bid.

Get Your Official Daily Dose Policy Right Here: As The Daily Dose has proposed before, why not hold them all over the world, the same events in the same place every four years?

The Opening Ceremonies, and several other events, can be held in Athens the first week. Marquee events can be held in Europe and North America and perhaps the biggest events can alternate continents. Events people only really care about every four years can be held where they have a long history: team handball in central Europe, field hockey in India and wrestling and modern pentathlon in Greece.

Let’s Make This The Biggest Logistical Nightmare Ever: The Olympics can last for an entire month and when it’s all over everyone can meet in Los Angeles for the marathon, the basketball and baseball gold medal games and the Closing Ceremonies.

Memo To The IOC: The Daily Dose has solved your problem. You’re welcome.

ON THIS DATE! ON THIS DATE! The Mayflower, carrying 102 British in search of religious freedom, gets underway from Southampton on this date in 1620. Their companion ship, the Speedwell, kept springing leaks and needing repairs, and they lost month before ultimately deciding to sail without the Speedwell.

After a voyage that is generally regarded as miserable, the Pilgrims, who were trying to get to Virginia, anchored off Cape Cod, Massachusetts on November, 11.

The Post Game Show Is Brought To You By…Hey, Wait, The Post Game Show Hadn’t Been Invented Yet: The first radio broadcast of a major league baseball game airs on this date in 1921, as Harold Arlin announces the Pittsburgh Pirates 8-5 win over the Philadelphia Phillies at Forbes Field on KDKA, Pittsburgh.

KDKA had become the first commercially licensed station the previous November, and Arlin, an engineer with Westinghouse at the time, was hired as the world’s first radio announcer. The first broadcast was Arlin reading returns from the 1920 presidential election, where Warren Harding defeated James Cox.

Oh Yeah: The day after the first baseball broadcast, Arlin became the first tennis announcer, announcing the quarterfinals of the Davis Cup – then known as the International Lawn Tennis Challenge – being held in Pittsburgh.

Hut, Hut Hike: In October Arlin would become the first football announcer, announcing the Pitt/Wet Virginia game from Forbes Field.

It Has A Good Beat And You Can Dance To It: American Bandstand debuts nationally on ABC on this date in 1957. Already hosted by Dick Clark, it had debuted in Philadelphia in 1952, would move to Hollywood in 1964 and would run until 1989.

Take That: President Ronald Reagan fires over 11,000 striking air traffic controllers who refused to return to work on this date in 1981. The Professional Air Traffic Controllers Organization (PATCO) had, in violation of Federal law, gone on strike on August 3.

FunFact: The loss of over 11,000 trained air traffic controllers was profound. Initially, using supervisors, the few controllers who did return to work, military controllers and others, about 50 percent of flights were able to take off and it would take almost ten years before staffing levels returned to normal.

Quote Book: Buy the ticket, take the ride. – Hunter S Thompson

Answer To The Last Trivia Question: The April, 2007 Virginia Tech Massacre, with 32 deaths, is now the deadliest shooting on a college campus in American history.

Today’s Stumper: What act appeared the most times on American Bandstand? – Answer next time!

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