Motley Moose – Archive

Since 2008 – Progress Through Politics

The Daily F Bomb, Monday 2/18/13

Happy President’s Day! Whether there is a good President or a bad President, it is always good to take a Monday off work.

Interrogatories

What was the bravest moment in your life? What was the scariest moment in your life? What would be the title of your memoirs, if you were to actually write them? Are you outgoing or reserved? How susceptible to tears are you when watching/reading about/etc. touching things? What is scarier, heights or caves?

The Twitter Emitter

On This Day

In 1885, “The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn” by Mark Twain was published.

In 1930, Pluto was discovered in a photograph by Clyde W. Tombaugh at Lowell Observatory in Flagstaff, AZ.

In 1970, five of the Chicago Seven defendants were found guilty of intent to incite a riot at the 1968 Democratic National Convention. (The convictions were later overturned.)

In 1972, the California Supreme Court struck down the state’s death penalty (temporarily).

In 1988, Anthony M. Kennedy was sworn in as a justice of the U.S. Supreme Court.

In 2001, veteran FBI agent Robert Hanssen was arrested, accused of spying for Russia for more than 15 years. (Hanssen pleaded guilty and is serving life in prison without parole.)

In 2006, American Shani Davis won the men’s 1,000-meter speedskating in Turin, becoming the first black athlete to win an individual gold medal in Winter Olympic history.

In 2006, a Hamas-dominated Palestinian parliament was sworn in.

In 2010, software engineer A. Joseph Stack III crashed his single-engine plane into a building containing IRS offices in Austin, Texas, killing one person besides himself.

Born on This Day

1404 – Leon Battista Alberti, Italian architect and philosopher (d. 1472)

1609 – Edward Hyde, 1st Earl of Clarendon, English historian (d. 1674)

1780 – Alexey Venetsianov, Russian painter (d. 1847)

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1815 – Henri Leys, Belgian painter (d. 1869)

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1838 – Ernst Mach, Austrian physicist (d. 1916)

1844 – Willem Maris, Dutch landscape painter (d. 1910)

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1848 – Louis Comfort Tiffany, American glass artist (d. 1933)

1859 – Sholom Aleichem, Russian Yiddish humorist (d. 1916)

1860 – Anders Zorn, Swedish painter (d. 1920)

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1890 – Edward Arnold, American actor (d. 1956)

1890 – Adolphe Menjou, American actor (d. 1963)

Don't leave me alone with this creep again, he's a total wingnut!

1892 – Wendell Willkie, American politician (d. 1944)

1905 – Queenie Leonard, American actress (d. 2002)

1906 – Hans Asperger, Austrian pediatrician (d. 1980)

1915 – Phyllis Calvert, British actress (d. 2002)

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1919 – Jack Palance, American actor (d. 2006)

1927 – John Warner, American politician, 61st United States Secretary of the Navy and American politician

1930 – Gahan Wilson, American cartoonist

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1931 – Toni Morrison, American writer, Nobel laureate

1933 – Yoko Ono, Japanese-born American singer and performance artist

1933 – Mary Ure, Scottish actress (d. 1975)

1941 – Herman Santiago, American singer and songwriter (The Teenagers)

1941 – Irma Thomas, American singer

1950 – John Hughes, American film director (d. 2009)

1952 – Randy Crawford, American jazz and R&B singer

1953 – Robbie Bachman, Canadian drummer (Bachman-Turner Overdrive)

1954 – John Travolta, American actor

1964 – Matt Dillon, American actor

1964 – Paul Hanley, British musician (The Fall and Tom Hingley and the Lovers)

1965 – Dr. Dre, American record producer and rapper (World Class Wreckin’ Cru and N.W.A)

1968 – Molly Ringwald, American actress

Died on This Day

1294 – Kublai Khan, Mongol Emperor (b. 1215)

1455 – Fra Angelico, Italian artist (b. 1395)

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1478 – George, Duke of Clarence, brother of Kings Edward IV of England and Richard III of England (b. 1449)

1546 – Martin Luther, German religious reformer (b. 1483)

1564 – Michelangelo, Italian artist and sculptor (b. 1475)

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1683 – Nicolaes Pieterszoon Berchem, Dutch painter (b. 1620)

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1967 – J. Robert Oppenheimer, American physicist (b. 1904)

1978 – Maggie McNamara, American actress (b. 1928)

2001 – Balthus, Polish-born painter (b. 1908)

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2001 – Dale Earnhardt, American race car driver (b. 1951)

2012 – Matt Lamb, American painter (b. 1932)

Today is

Crab-Stuffed Flounder Day

Drink Wine Day

National Battery Day

President’s Day


34 comments

  1. blue jersey mom

    Enjoy your day off. Here are a few answers:

    What was the bravest moment in your life? I don’t think I have ever been particularly brave.

    What was the scariest moment in your life? I don’t think I have ever been particularly scared either.

    What would be the title of your memoirs, if you were to actually write them? Nothing will happen if I only go to Egypt for two weeks.

    Are you outgoing or reserved? A bit of both.

    How susceptible to tears are you when watching/reading about/etc. touching things? Yes.

    What is scarier, heights or caves? Heights, no question about that.

  2. DeniseVelez

    What was the bravest moment in your life?

    Facing down armed Feds and NYC police who broke my door in in 1973 (who had shoot to kill in mind)



    What was the scariest moment in your life?

    Same as above

    What would be the title of your memoirs, if you were to actually write them?

    “Changes” was the title Dial Press was using when they were going to publish my book years ago. Never finished it. One day I will – perhaps.

    Are you outgoing or reserved?



    How susceptible to tears are you when watching/reading about/etc. touching things?

    I cry watching cartoons and commercials and when moved by scenery and photographs. I cry reading novels. I’m a weeper.



    What is scarier, heights or caves?

    Heights. Hated living in a high rise.  I like caves.  

  3. What was the bravest moment in your life?

    I don’t know.

    What was the scariest moment in your life?

    Once, I was on the subway when four guys were standing near me talking about who they wanted to kill.

    What would be the title of your memoirs, if you were to actually write them?

    I am actually working on a book which will be partly memoirs. It is called “Screwed up somehow, but not stupid”. Mostly it’s about being learning disabled.

    Are you outgoing or reserved?

    Some of each, but I do talk a lot.

    How susceptible to tears are you when watching/reading about/etc. touching things?

    Not at all.

    What is scarier, heights or caves?

    Depends on the height and the cave.  

  4. That sounds awesome. I am going to find a place that serves it and have a long lunch (sans wine, though).

    Is the battery the kind where you beat someone up or the kind that always runs out on your cell phone just as you are about to play the ULTIMATE 150 point word on Words with Friends?

  5. wordsinthewind

    for today I have to leave the first question unanswered, the come to Jesus meeting with the lawyer made an impression that’s lasted a long time.

    What would be the title of your memoirs, if you were to actually write them? My working title is West of the Dry Line

    Are you outgoing or reserved? I think I’m reserved but I can and will perform if it’s important.

    How susceptible to tears are you when watching/reading about/etc. touching things? not very but that’s been changing lately and while startling I’m beginning to enjoy it.

    What is scarier, heights or caves? definitely heights although I’ve had some scary moments in caves.

  6. What was the bravest moment in your life? What was the scariest moment in your life?

    – at 18 going to meet my future father in law the thick-necked military man, have dinner at his house and tell him I was the long-hair dropout who was going to take his last daughter – the spitting image of his dear departed wife – and live in sin together

    What would be the title of your memoirs, if you were to actually write them?

    – “Are You Serious?”

    Are you outgoing or reserved?

    – blabbermouth

    How susceptible to tears are you when watching/reading about/etc. touching things?

    – I’m crying now…

    What is scarier, heights or caves?

    – caves

  7. What was the bravest moment in your life? Skiing down an icy mountain for the first time.

    What was the scariest moment in your life? Skiing down an icy mountain for the first time.

    What would be the title of your memoirs, if you were to actually write them? A Geek Woman

    Are you outgoing or reserved? Outgoing

    How susceptible to tears are you when watching/reading about/etc. touching things? Let’s just say Pixie doesn’t sit on my lap during certain movies because I “drip” on her.

    What is scarier, heights or caves? caves I’m claustrophobic

  8. ever, but it didn’t make the Flojalist.

    #YouMightBeARepublican if you think the government should make it harder to love each other but easier to kill each other.  

  9. slksfca

    Used to joke that my life story would be called Born To Do Back-up, or, Leave ‘Em Wanting More.

    Now I think I’d just go with the more utilitarian Untitled Memoirs.

    Scariest moment was on a camping trip with a friend back in high school. This was during the time that the infamous Zodiac killer was roaming Northern California and rumors were rampant.

    My buddy and I had just settled into our sleeping bags for the night when there was the crunch of footsteps approaching us in the pitch dark. Then silence, followed by a low macabre laugh. I remember thinking my life was about over.

    Then a flashlight pierced the darkness, and a normal voice called out, “How’s it going, guys?”

    It was another friend, to whom I’d made the mistake of telling about our intended camping spot earlier in the week and who took a midnight hike alone just to scare us. I’ve never been so terrified.

  10. freedapeople

    What was the bravest moment in your life? Running for political office. I’m outgoing (see below) but not that outgoing.

    What was the scariest moment in your life?
    Looking down the barrel of a hunting rifle aimed at me by a counter-demonstrator at a women’s peace march in upstate NY.

    What would be the title of your memoirs, if you were to actually write them? Out there on her own

    Are you outgoing or reserved?Outgoing  

    How susceptible to tears are you when watching/reading about/etc. touching things? Somewhat

    What is scarier, heights or caves? heights

  11. Via Chicago

    Just back from a trip ski trip out west. Fantastic snow and a great time!

    *What was the bravest moment in your life?

    *What was the scariest moment in your life?

    I’ll answer these with the same story.

    One night I got off the Chicago El at the Sedgwick stop back when it still wasn’t the greatest neighborhood. Two guys got up from their seats just before the doors of the train closed and followed me off. I should have followed my instincts and just ran off right away, because I knew I was going to be robbed.

    When they followed me down the stairs of the deserted station was the scariest moment. At the bottom of the stairs one of them grabbed me and pushed me against the wall as the other one drew a gun.

    This was the bravest moment. I had never experience anything like this and was overcome by a complete sense of calm. I spoke to them calmly and said they could have whatever they want, but that I didn’t have much. I described each movement, “I’m going to reach into my back pocket for my wallet.” “My checkbook is inside my coat pocket.” “There is a bottle of wine in this bag.”

    And, lastly I said, “There’s no reason the police have to be involved.” It was one of those slow-motion moments in life when everything slows down everything is starkly clear. I could see them relax as I spoke.

    And I wasn’t even going to call the police but they happened to push me up against a wall right next to a pay phone. (Before the age of cell phones.) So after they said, “call the cops and you die” and ran off, I dialed 911, said “robbery” and “gun” and gave my location, and heard the police sirens within fifteen seconds. The dispatcher took a description and within a couple of minutes the police pulled up with the offenders in back of the car.

    I actually felt badly about it, after telling them I wouldn’t call the cops. But they both had pretty long records of violence and were on parole for attempted murder already. They had all my belongings on them and plead guilty and went to jail. (I’ve been unlisted ever since.)

    *What would be the title of your memoirs, if you were to actually write them?

    Spooky action at a distance.

    *Are you outgoing or reserved?

    Mostly reserved. I used to use alcohol to get past it sometimes, but don’t drink anymore.

    *How susceptible to tears are you when watching/reading about/etc. touching things?

    Mildly so.

    *What is scarier, heights or caves?

    Heights

  12. Gee

    The Waltz that Carried Us Away and then a Mosquito Came and Ate Up My Sweetheart.  Just wanted you to know.

    Answers:

    What was the bravest moment in your life? What was the scariest moment in your life? What would be the title of your memoirs, if you were to actually write them? Are you outgoing or reserved? How susceptible to tears are you when watching/reading about/etc. touching things? What is scarier, heights or caves?

    I don’t know if I’ve ever had a brave moment!

    The scariest was being present at an act of violence in a store.  That one had the potential for bravery on my part, but it didn’t work out that way.

    The Birth of a Skeptic

    I’ve become much more outgoing in later life, but I still play my cards close to my vest.  I’m friendly, but my heart isn’t on display.

    I get choked up pretty easily.

    Heights are bad enough, but just the idea of exploring a cave is terrifying.

  13. cassandracarolina

    Bravest moment? Nothing epic, just little instances of standing up for myself and others when people made the mistake of equating my petite stature with a desire to be pushed around.

    Scariest moment? Telling my ex-husband (who wanted a divorce 10 years earlier) that I was leaving him.

    Title of memoirs? Dinosaur Extinction Update: Cassandracarolina

    Outgoing or reserved? Outgoing, a skill I learned in my career, where I began as a virtual science nerd recluse.

    Susceptible to tears? Not as much now as in my younger years, but music really gets to me, like the theme to Newsroom.

    Heights or caves? I’ve hiked to the tops of many mountains and visited many caves; neither one is a problem. I hate crowds and people jostling me. Any place I can avoid that, I’m good to go.  

  14. Floja Roja

    What was the bravest moment in your life?

    Anger sometimes makes me brave. The only occasion I can think of is one day when I was walking down Pierce Street in San Francisco and saw a large man beating up on a much smaller woman on the other side of the street. It was clear from what I heard that they were having a domestic dispute. There were lots of other people on the street, but nobody did anything. I got so angry I screamed at the guy to leave her alone. Like magic, suddenly everyone else on the street acted, and suddenly the man found himself surrounded by angry people who berated him for his treatment of the woman. Sadly, I am sure he probably picked up where he left off (if not with renewed anger) later on.

    What was the scariest moment in your life?

    Waiting for the results of a biopsy? Listening to wingnuts talk among themselves?

    What would be the title of your memoirs, if you were to actually write them?

    Irrelevant Revelations

    Are you outgoing or reserved?

    A little of both. It depends on mood and the company.

    How susceptible to tears are you when watching/reading about/etc. touching things?

    Terribly. I cry at commercials. I cry at reading of acts of kindness.

    What is scarier, heights or caves?

    Heights are the one I know (I lived 28 floors up, did not like it).  But I have a feeling that if I were to try to explore Leguchilla or any other deep caves I may start to feel the same about them.

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