Followers

Saturday, October 25, 2008

On this day in history: 1147 The Seljuk Turks defeat German crusaders under Conrad III at the Battle of Dorylaeum. 1936 Adolf Hitler and Benito Mussolini create the Rome-Berlin Axis. 1938 The Archbishop of Dubuque, Francis J. L. Beckman, denounces Swing music as "a degenerated musical system... turned loose to gnaw away at the moral fiber of young people", warning that it leads down a "primrose path to hell". 1944 Heinrich Himmler orders a crackdown on the Edelweiss Pirates, a loosely organized youth culture in Nazi Germany that had assisted army deserters and others to hide from the Third Reich. 1949 A major rent is torn in the fabric of spacetime or timespace (scientists are unsure of which) by the squalling of a red-faced infant democommie. 1962 Cuban missile crisis: Adlai Stevenson shows photos at the UN proving Soviet missiles are installed in Cuba. 1972 The Washington Post reports that White House Chief of Staff H.R. Haldeman was the fifth person to control a secret cash fund designed to finance illegal political sabotage and espionage during the 1972 presidential election campaign (see also Watergate scandal). Born on this day, in no particular order: Klaus Barbie (The Butcher of Lyon), James Carville (political strategerist--Bill Clinton's Rove), Father Charles Coughlin (Roman Catholic priest and pro-Fascist radio broadcaster--Bill O'Reilly in a cassock), Bobby Knight (winningest coach in D1-NCAA Men's Basketball--Bill O'Reilly in polyester slacks and a sweat shirt), Ed Powers (porn star with a number of "rough" sex videos), Richard F. Syron (CEO of Freddie Mac--not no more!) Good managers, all! The following subversives were born on the same day. Max Stimer (Existential German nihilo-anarchist), Minnie Pearl (Cheap hat, great comic), Nancy Cartwrigth (the voice of Bart Simpson), Johann Strauss (composer, "Blue Danube" waltz), Bobby Thompson (1951 home run brought Giants to the Series), Richard Byrd (American explorer), Billy Barty--nee William John Bertanzetti (small person, american actor), Milena Roucka(Canadian former model current professional wrestler of Czech and Costa Rican descent), Pedro Martinez (Dominican Major League Baseball player, former BoSox). Pablo Diego José Francisco de Paula Juan Nepomuceno María de los Remedios Cipriano de la Santísima Trinidad Martyr Patricio Clito Ruíz y Picasso (October 25, 1881 – April 8, 1973) was an Andalusian-Spanish painter, draughtsman, and sculptor. As one of the most recognized figures in twentieth-century art, he is best known for co-founding the Cubist movement and for the wide variety of styles embodied in his work. Among his most famous works are the proto-Cubist Les Demoiselles d'Avignon (1907) and his depiction of the German bombing of Guernica during the Spanish Civil War, Guernica (1937). And, of course, ME, YOURS TRULY; FUCKIN AY! I am happy to report that I'm typing this, which is a good thing. It means my arthritic fingers and my semi-nimble mind are still working, sort of. Unfortunately, I must also report that my character was formed more by those aforementioned subversives than by the true patriots and all around ubermenschen whose births I noted in the preceding paragraph. I will, somehow, live with it. In lieu of cards, flowers, candy, gift certificates, offers of whatever sort of sexual escapades you may be interested in--please simply send a small donation (a single Benjamin will do) to the address I will furnish to all who e-mail me. Your donations will help to defray the expense of my upcoming "OBAMAWINS,OBAMAWINS" party or, in the event that the GOP is able to engineer another electatheft, for funding my escape to Oz to live with a group of aboriginals who have maintained their culture (but DO think that cold beer is one white devil convenience that they can live with). I will be listening to jazz, by Matt Vacanti and ESP, this evening at Patz on the River in Oswego. If you're all going to come, I would suggest reservations. Tell them I sent you and maybe they'll give me a free drink or something. You know what I love, even more than my country? I love my friends--and that's really about all I need for my , your friendship. Well your friendship and some nice Dom, a couplea lobstahs, a few nice buds, the company of a winsome young lady (or one who thinks that way) and breakfast at Tiffany's. Ciao, for now. democommie

14 comments:

sharon said...

HAPPY BIRTHDAY! If you weren't 4 hours away, I'd be there, honest. Have a terrific evening.

SeattleDan said...

Happy, Happy, demo! Enjoy your day, you old fart, you.

democommie said...

Sharon:

I will.

Dan:

I have.

michael, claudia and sierra said...

loved every word

wish i coulda baked you that cake...

ENJOY!

happy birthday and many more...

Fran said...

Happy Birthday, you loveable curmudgeon, you!

democommie said...

Claudia:

Thank you. Just think; in about 10days I will be able to spend more time blogging about food and other stuff, once my head stops threatening to explode from the politics.

It's gratifying to have reached an age where "curmudgeon" has meaning, thank you fran.

I'm sure this is just the luck of the draw, but my word verification thingie gave me these letters, idevesxo. I immediately saw "sex video", honest.

Anne Johnson said...

May the bored gods shower you with blessings of a long, MRSA-free life in which you do constant battle with the forces of evil through your mighty blog!

democommie said...

anne johnson:

They have already done so; as well have the notgods.

My word verification thing now says "psycoat". Is that a garment with deep seated problems?

Richard said...

A couple of days and a couple of dollars short as usual, but happy birthday, Democommie! I don't know what I appreciate more, the wisdom you impart or the laughter you provide but I thank you for both. I can't say for sure that you've made the world a better place (I can't see how you haven't), but I know you've made my world a better place. Keep on rockin', etc...

Anonymous said...

Sorry for the delayed response, Demo, my friend. Happy, Happy and all that rot.

Hope you hoisted a few in your own honor. I believe the Mrs. hoisted a few, too. Though my memory’s a little fuzzy on that point.

Cheers!

mutzali said...

Happy belated birthday, demo. I'm only a few days late, which is early for me.
I swear I posted this hours ago, but the damn machine ate my message.

democommie said...

Richard, Dave von Ebers and Mutzali:

It's as nice to get kind words on any day, as it is on my birthday. Next year I will have a party, that means the house has to be at least livable by then!

Joe Visionary said...

Happy Birthday!!

democommie said...

Joe V.:

Thanks. As I've been wished a "Happy Birthday" by a candahoovian, may I NOW be the USeless ambassador to Torontostan?