The 2021 A to Z mashup part two on the fly

 

Well, despite all currently ongoing disasters, I'm back to try and post the back half of my A to Z mashup- and actually got ambitious enough to lift the badge from Arlee Bird at his blog, which is a major step today!  See right now, Misty is at the hospital and we are awaiting results, and I decided to do Laurie's taxes while awaiting word...  I'll let you all know what we find out later.  Anyway, let's pick this up where we left off.

 

L on April 16- Peace on the Lakes

In 1818, the Rush-Bagot Treaty de-militarized Lake Champlain and the Great Lakes. Apparently, both the USA and Britain had had enough of beating each other silly for 13 of the last 43 years. 

M on April 17- A fine can of Worms

Which is where the trial of Martin Luther started in 1521- gee, 500 years ago this year!  They asked him if he was ready to take anything he said back that had disrupted the clergy of Europe or hurt the poor, corrupt Pope Leo X.  He asked for a day to pray about it.  Next day, he told the Wormers to go fish.

N on April 18th- Not like Almond Joy...

Negros were first considered 3/5ths of a person for tax purposes in 1783 in an attempt at compromise by Congress under the Articles of Confederation- also 1/2, or even 3/4ths.  In the end, this Congress shot it down, but James Madison- who had the idea in the first place- stuck it into the Constitution.

O on April 19th- Funny how it took that long....

In 1926, Mae West wrote and produced a play called Sex.  Panned by the critics, it nonetheless became a hit.  However, it suddenly became obscene after 375 performances and 325,000 paying customers, "including members of the police department and their wives, judges of the criminal courts, and seven members of the district attorney's staff."  Mae got ten days in a workhouse and a $500 fine.

"And, more popular!  Don't forget that part..."

P on April 20th- Girls get better mileage

In 2008's Indy Japan 300, everyone was trying to play the fuel mileage game for the last 50 laps.  But it was Danica Patrick who played it best, passing the all-but-empty Helio Castroneves with 2 laps to go and hanging on to become the first female to win a top level open wheel race.

Q on April 21- Happy Birthday to you!

On this day in 1926, the future King George VI of England received a bouncing baby girl he named Elizabeth Alexandra Mary Windsor, better known to us as Queen Elizabeth II.  No surprise she's still alive and kicking at 95; her Mom lived to 101 and an aunt to 102!

R on April 22- Play Ball!

The first true MLB Baseball game was played in 1876- with the Red Stockings of Boston (not the same as the current Bosox, but actually the linear descendants of the Atlanta Braves) winning in Philadelphia against the Athletics (Not the same as the Philadelphia-Kansas City- Oakland A's of today- this team had a crappy season, bagged the last road trip of the year, and got expelled) by an error strewn final of 6-5.  Winning pitcher was Joe Borden, who had just 28 games left in a 36-game baseball career; loser Lon Knight would pick up 10 of the Athletics' 14 wins and 22 of their 45 losses, which pretty much put paid to his career as well.

S on April 23- Smashdown

Soyuz I, launched in 1967, was a Politburo-inspired deathtrap from which Yuri Gagarin and Vladimir Komarov both tried to save each other from.  Komorov "won" the battle, and after the known defects (that the Politburo ignored to go for the media buzz) had not only crippled the I's mission and scrubbed that of the II which was supposed to link up with it, Komorov tried to land the beast but the parachute failed to open (with some thoughts that a last minute application of heat sealer glued it shut), the capsule made an approximately 154 mph dent in the landing field.  Good for Gagarin: the Hero of the Soviet Union was banned from any further space flights, so he didn't get killed as well.  Bad on Yuri: less than a year later he was killed crashing a MIG-15 on a test flight.

T on April 24- Someday, we'll be in a movie over this

Some 1,000 years after the fact, Eratosthenes of Cyrene- the same guy who just missed the circumference of the earth by about a percent and a half-  pegs the fall of Troy to this date in what we now call 1183 BC.  Give or take 70 years, if he stayed on the same error.

U on April 25- Long time to hold one's breath...

The USS Triton nuclear sub completes a circumnavigation of the globe underwater, following the above water path took by Ferdinand Magellan and his survivors, in 1960.  This crew managed the feat in 60 days, 21 hours. Or, roughly 18 times as fast as the elder expedition's two weeks shy of three years.

V on April 26- ...or, "Both were filled with gas"

Paul von Hindenburg became the first popularly elected President of Germany in 1925.  His two terms would last till his death in 1934.  His accomplishments were much like the zeppelin named for him, a picture of ponderous stateliness and power, until at the end they burst into flames and crashed.

W on April 27- The next reason to toss the UN

Kurt Waldheim, a two term (and almost a third) Secretary General of the UN and current President of Austria, was told by the US State Department in 1987 that they had (through the OSI) enough evidence of him being involved in holocaust-level atrocities that he was persona not grata in the USA, the first active head of state to earn that dubious distinction.  What actual level he was involved to is debatable; what his case really did was tie three entities that should have known better- the Mossad, Austria, and the Catholic Church- to the suspicions of helping former Nazis.

X on April 28- As in, "X him off"

Muhammad Ali was stripped of his titles in 1967 (actually the next day) for refusing to step forward at his draft induction today.  Three years later, a 5-year prison term was thrown out by the Supreme Court because the Draft Board had failed to come up with a good reason to refuse him conscientious objector status.  

Y on April 29- "...you know – can we all get along?"

 

Today in 1992, the officers in the Rodney King beatdown were acquitted, leading to the riots, and Rodney trying to stop the riots two days later with a statement that started with that quote.  In light of the lack of precautions at the start of this, which led to 63 dead in 6 days, the curfews in Minnesota this week seem a damn good idea.

And finally, (Whew!) Z on April 30- How not to throw a revolution

1671 saw the culmination of was was known as the "Magnates' Plot".  Essentially, the story goes:  The Ottomans were trying to extend their gains in the areas of Hungary and Croatia, but a combined force from Germany, France, the Habsburg lands (AKA Austria), and what was left of Hungary beat the Turks.  However, the War of the Spanish Succession- a largely Habsburg/Bourbon war- was brewing and Emperor of Germany Leopold (AKA Archduke of Austria) gave the Turks basically a status quo ante Treaty and promised to pay a small fortune for a 20-year truce.  Obviously, Hungary and Croatia felt fed to the dogs, and were willing to go to great lengths to kick the Habsburgs out for their treachery.  In Croatia, this was led by the provincial Ban (AKA Governor), Nikola Zrinski, his brother Petar, and Petar's Brother-In-Law.  Nikola was supposedly killed by a wild boar during a hunt, just after a bid to get the Croatian army to revolt fell through.  Petar and his co-conspirators then made the rounds of Europe trying to get someone, anyone, to help them get Hungary-Croatia a better deal.  This, unwisely, involved going to the Ottoman Sultan, promising allegiance for semi-autonomy and the removal of the Habsburgs.  The Sultan told Leopold... and Leopold let them off.  Finally, they came to Leopold seeking pardon- but not until they had tried to fight a war of pamphlets, including suggestions that the Emperor be harmed.

Final results:  2,000 nobles arrested, with many including Petar Zrinsky on April 30, 1671, executed; any self government in Hungary and Croatia lost; 41 Protestant pastors agitating against the Catholic Emperor executed, 800 churches closed, and 600,000 forced conversions to Catholicism; a new, more effective, Hungarian terrorist group called the Kurac, whose successes, after the bought and paid for armistice collapsed, caused a massive Ottoman invasion that was just stopped at Vienna by Poland's Jan Sobieski in 1688.  Nice job, everyone.

The Better Part, week #15

 

Here are this week's FB posts for your enjoyment and edification:

The Better Part, day #93:

 

For some, God's provision means one more day of safety from persecution. Others, just that word of encouragement. For me, on a day my back was screaming at me to go home at noon, and having a machine that fought me every step of the way for the last hour before noon, God's provision was David Jeremiah saying, "Calm is a word that really doesn't mean anything on its own. It only has meaning when the storm comes."

 

The Better Part, Day# 94:

 

Jas 4:6 But He gives more grace. Therefore He says, God resists the proud, but He gives grace to the humble.

Jas 4:7 Therefore submit yourselves to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 

 

The first of two things I heard in the middle of the night last night, not realizing they were part of the same word to me, was that second verse, with the teaching: "Note the order. To make the Devil flee from you, you must first submit to God, then God will make him flee."

But when you look at the whole passage, you note some things about submitting. It involves humbling yourself, drawing near to the Lord. It references Ephesians 6, and taking advantage of all the tools the Spirit gives, known as the Whole Armor of God. Notice this all involves emptying your hands of the battle, and giving it to God.

Not surprisingly, this joined with something John McArthur mentioned in thumbnailing the Prodigal Son parable: "...he was in a hurry to claim riches HE NEVER EARNED." Too many times we try to claim a promise from the Lord, without bothering to meet, or even learn, the requirements thereof.

 

 

The Better Part, Day #95

 

 

We find mission fields in unusual places. Last night, someone close to us had their father get hit by a driver going the wrong way on a four lane divided highway. In my prayers, I realized that to be heard for one, I have to pray for the other as well. I prayed this prayer: "Whatever goal Satan had in filling this person with hell, glorify Yourself and destroy the plan by filling them both with Heaven."

 

 

The Better part, Day #96:

 

Michael Youssef has been touching on Jonah this week, including mentioning something I never thought about before: Instead of telling the sailors, "It's me, turn around and take me back," He was ready to be thrown in the sea and drown rather than do things God's way. Not only was he disobedient, he gave sailors the idea he served a powerful and wrathful God; if he'd told them to turn around, the storm would still have abated and they would have been much more interested in a merciful God.

Of course, that was the part of God Jonah didn't want to see. What part of God causes MY disobedience?

 

 

The Better Part, Day #97:

 

Eph 3:4 When you read this, you can perceive my insight into the mystery of Christ,

Eph 3:5 which was not made known to the sons of men in other generations as it has now been revealed to his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit. 

 

This passage- particularly v5- has a question mark from me in my p[ap[er and ink Bible, a New Open translation. And when I looked at it this morning, it had me confused then, too. However, when you look at it in this, the ESV- indeed in any other of the English translations I have on the e-Sword I use- it makes perfect sense. I don't remember what my Bible's version was that made it a bit obtuse, but what matters is: If the Bible you are using has a verse that confuses you, don't just shake your head- check other versions, check the commentaries, until you either have a grasp of it or a reason why it's confusing. Don't give up!

 

NOTE: After the fact, I realized the problematic verse was 10, not 5- but the point isn't affected by the error.  In fact, had I listened to myself... -C

 

 

 

The Better Part, day #98:

 

There is an old saying, and apparently evidence runs both for and against, that it takes more muscles to frown than to smile. No, I'm not switching to anatomy here, but if true it makes a point about something. Some things we do naturally, there's an easier way to do it that we just didn't realize; then when we see how much easier it is, we do it all the time. I think that believing in Jesus is this same way. 

 

Think on this: God is Father, Son, and Spirit. The great leaders of the New Testament were Paul, the cerebral, logical, step by step man; Peter, the human, full of love and mistakes, but always following in the footsteps; and John, the mystic, who was alone able to grasp the mysteries of Revelation- each one a reflection, Paul of Father, Peter of Son, John of Spirit. Likewise the OT is dominated by the teachings of three men: Abraham, the Father of believers; Moses, who led by his example; and David, in whose Psalms the intimacy of what Christ went through is shown.

 

Given that these strong reflections of Father Son and Spirit reside in BOTH testaments, I would think it would take a lot more "muscle" to deny and reject than to see them throughout history and believe.

 

Time Machine co-ordinates VIXXVII6714967

 

Today's noteworthy event- for what it's worth- was the inaugural flight of the Boeing 737.  Unlike most flight stories that seem to make TM, at least it didn't crash.

This week on the show, I have a couple of 6D themed features, perhaps (as close as I can figure without actually digging through back posts) the largest Panel in history, a 3-way tie for big mover, and a helluva close Panel race!  All this and the Righteous Bros!

Elvis:  Aw no, not the crazy idiots...

You're thinking the Everlys, bud!  Bobby and Bill are much more dignified...

"Hah, we've got one of them fooled!"

Oh, come on, dudes, compared to the Beatles and the Everlys on here, you're downright sedate!  Anyway, I have a couple, like I said, 6 D features that involve this week's victim, the Four Tops and Bernadette at #7.  It was written by that magical team of Dozier-Holland-Dozier, and that got me digging.  D-H-D had one of the greatest stable of writing hits of anyone, and I dug up this factoid:  They had 2 songs hit the US charts by 5 different acts, and 3 each by four acts and three acts!  So here's the game:  I give you the song, YOU guess which two had five different iterations on the hot 100- and which one, when you average out their peak positions, was the biggest!  Here, Bobby, Bill, you guys tell the audience which songs they get to choose from!

Bobby Hatfield:  But I wanna guess!

Bill Medley:  Don't be a baby, Bobby!  Just write your guesses down but don't tell anybody!

BH:  Well, fine, I guess... here, you read them so I can guess!

BM:  Fine.  In alphabetical order, the songs are...

Baby I Need Your Loving

How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved By You)

(Sugar Pie Honey Bunch) I Can't Help Myself

(Reach Out) I'll Be There

Stop In The Name Of Love

This Old Heart Of Mine

Where Did Our Love Go

and You Keep Me Hanging On. 

All right, nice job.  Bobby, you got your guess written down?

BH:  I sure do!

Good, now if you hit Bobby's guess, you get the first ever Righteous Guesser Award!  In the meantime, I have one new debut. It comes in at #10, new to the M10 list, here's Rogue Waves- which, BTW comes with this addendum:

 With the release of “Aesop Rock”, Rogue Wave is asking fans to donate to the Tipping Point Community - an Oakland-based organization raising money for families in need throughout the Bay Area.

You can see the link on YouTube if interested.  Without further ado:

********************************************

Ready for the Panel, boys?

BM: Yes, sir!

Well, we had 29 songs from a possible-record 123 stations!  Just to give everyone a leg up, why don't you read off where Panelists finished in the years top 100 before giving us the finalists?

BH:  But there's so many!

BM:  Bobby, don't be a baby! Just read them!

BH:  Okay... in order of ranking:

The Five Americans, Western Union, #82

Hollies, On A Carousel, #79

Baby I Need Your Loving- say, that was on that game!- Johnny Rivers, #73

Buffalo Springfield, For What It's Worth, #52.

The Royal Guardsmen, Snoopy and the Red Baron, #50.

Bill, you do some!  I need some water.

BM:  All right, we have

Martha and the Vandellas, Jimmy Mack, #48

The Beatles, Penny Lane...

Elvis:  NOOOOO!

BM: ...#45

Engelbert Humperdinck, Release Me, #42

Mitch Ryder and the Detroit Wheels, Sock It To Me Baby, #40

Petula Clark, This Is My Song, #39... say, this is a lot!  Bobby, you ready?

BH:  Yeah, where we at?

BM:  Right here... see?
BH:  Got it!  The Mamas and Papas, Dedicated To The One I Love, #37

Herman's Hermits, There's A Kind Of Hush, #35

The Monkees, A Little Bit Me, A Little Bit You, #30

The Supremes, The Happening, #23

Frank and Nancy Sinatra, Somethin' Stupid, #13

Tommy James and the Shondells, I Think We're Alone Now, #12

and finally, The Turtles, Happy Together at #6!

And aren't you glad I don't make you guess from the whole list!  Four Songs make the final this week, will it be:

A Little Bit Me, etc, by the Monkees at #4 this week;

Something Stupid by Frank and Nancy, #3;

I Think We're Alone Now, Tommy and the band, #5;

or the week's #1, Happy Together?

*********************************************************

So the other thing I did was go through the list of charting D-H-D compositions and come up with my personal top ten songs of theirs.  Here's MY list:

10- Stop In The Name Of Love, Supremes, #1/1964

9- You Keep Me Hanging On, Supremes, #1/1966

8- Nowhere To Run, Martha Reeves and the Vandellas, #8/1964

7- How Sweet It Is, James Taylor, #5/1975

6- Heat Wave, Martha and the Vandellas, #4/1963

5- You Keep Me Hanging On, Kim Wilde, #1/1986

4- (Sugar Pie Honey Bunch) I Can't Help Myself, the Four Tops, #1/1965

3- It's The Same Old Song, the Four Tops, #5/1965

2- Take Me In Your Arms (Rock Me A Little While), the Doobie Brothers, #11/1975

EP: Hee Hee...

What's so funny?

EP:  It just came to me...

These are your brothers...

These are your brothers on drugs...

Any questions?

OMG, that was bad, dude!

Now, we'll save my favorite for the finale, but right now, Bobby, Bill?

BM:  Yes, sir?

How about you let us in on who the TWO songs for D-H-D were that charted five times each- without naming the winner by best average- and then picking up the Overseas If You Please?

BM:  You bet!  The two songs that charted five time each were... (Reach Out) I'll Be There, and You Keep Me Hanging On!

BH:  Shoot, Bill, that means my pick- This Old Heart Of Mine- didn't get it!

BM:  No, but it DID get 4 times, along with Baby I Need Your Loving and Where Did Our Love Go.  Don't feel so bad, here, do the Overseas thing...

BH:  Well, okay... Canada had A Little Bit Me... Australia and New Zealand had Penny Lane...

EP:  NOOOOO!

Now cut that out!

BH: South Africa had Sandy Posey and Single Girl... and England had Release Me.

BM:  Go ahead, Bobby, do the big movers!

BH:  But there's so many!

EP:  Gimme that, you baby!  Three songs moved up 34 spots this week.  they were Simon and Garfunkel's At The Zoo (to #30), Peter and Gordon's Sunday For Tea (to #35), and Nancy Sinatra's Love Eyes (to #34).  Hey, boss, howsabout the M10?

Don't mind if I do...

9- Pale Waves slides from 5 with You Don't Own Me...

8- Har Mar Superstar up one with Where We Began...

7- Elton John holds here with Big Man In A Little Suit...

6- Maddie and Tae up 4 with Woman You Got...

5- back down one for the Fratellis and Action Replay...

4- one more down for American Pie... Home Free and Don McLean in week #10 now just one point out of first all time...

3- Squeezing up 3 through the cracks is Dami Im and Lonely Cactus...

2- Holding here, The Explorers Club and Don't Waste Her Time...

And with a second week at the top...

...Matthew Sweet and Blown Away!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

EP:  Hey, my turn!  The Boss's favorite Dozier-Holland-Dozier song....

.... Linda Ronstadt's Heat Wave, #5 in 1975!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

And the winner between the five time charting D-H-D songs...

BH:  Hey, give me that microphone...

EP:  Beat it, punk...

BH:  WAAAAH!  Bill, he called me a punk!!!!

EP:  Geez, what a baby!  The winner, averaging 39.2....

photo by steve ullathorne

Kim Wilde's song, You Keep Me Hanging On!  Besides her an' the Supremes hittin' the top, Vanilla Fudge took it to 6, Wilson Pickett to 92, and Jackie DeShannon to 96!  ROIBT had hits from the Tops, plus Diana Ross (29), Gloria Gaynor (60), Michael Bolton...

NOOOOOO!!!

...at 73, and Merilee Rush at 79!  Issat all?

All but the Panel picks!  If you took:

I Think We're Alone Now, you got 10.5%...

A Little Bit me, you got 15.44%...

Frank and Nancy got you 21.9%...

But the winner, by a 28-27 vote, with 22.7%...

...the Turtles and Happy Together!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

So if that was the most stations ever, then a win by .813 is the closest race ever!  And since that is a LOT of votes to count up, let's hope that we are just a bit farther apart next week in 1968!

Wednesday Bible Study: The Ascension

 

Today we take a break from the homestretch of the "Ends of all things" series and reflect on the Ascension of Christ.  During Holy Week just past, David Jeremiah reflected there as well, challenging people to remember if they had ever heard a sermon preached on the Ascension.  Growing up Catholic, I had to raise my hand and admit I'd heard a few.  And I'm going to stitch some verses together, so I can share with you 6 lessons from the event.

1- Mat 28:18  And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, All authority is given to Me in Heaven and in earth. Mat 28:19  Therefore go and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,
Mat 28:20  teaching them to observe all things, whatever I commanded you...

Now, Jesus was THE BOSS.  And He had a job for them- and us- to teach and reach the world.  Obedience and service were to be their- and our- new watchwords.

2- Act 1:8  But you shall receive power, the Holy Spirit coming upon you. And you shall be witnesses to Me both in Jerusalem and in all Judea, and in Samaria, and to the end of the earth. 

Note the exponential growth of their- and our- reach, beyond the comfort zone and into the vast unknowns.  Here, they needed two more watchwords- faith and trust.

3-Mat 28:19  Therefore go and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,
Mat 28:20  teaching them to observe all things, whatever I commanded you... 

 

In essence, they have now become Jesus's sales force, doing appointments and cold calls everywhere, the product being His example and His teachings, the value added being salvation.

 

4-  Mat 28:20   ...And, behold, I am with you all the days until the end of the world. Amen. 

Jesus had already taught them about the end of the age- wars and rumors of war, pestilence, family against family- and the great falling away.  This is a promise for us right now- no matter how messed up things get before He brings us home, He's with us!

5- Luk 24:50  And He led them out as far as Bethany. And lifting up His hands, He blessed them.
Luk 24:51  And it happened as He blessed them, He withdrew from them and was carried up into Heaven.

It was no longer Jesus's job to do.  Like any good manager, He withdrew to let His fully-trained staff do the job.

6- Act 1:10  And while they were looking intently into the heaven, He having gone, even behold, two men in white clothing stood beside them,
Act 1:11  who also said, Men of Galilee, why do you stand gazing up into the heaven? This same Jesus who is taken up from you into Heaven, will come in the way you have seen Him going into Heaven. 

So don't just stand there, get to work!  He'll be watching how you do!

 

 

 

The 2021 A to Z mashup part one on the fly

 As you know, I avoid the longer work of the April A to Z blogging challenge by doing a two part Mash-Up post, with mini A to Z stories half on one post, half on another.  This year, I totally blanked on a topic, when I came upon the idea of doing events that happened in April.  As I made the decision and brought up my blog, I suddenly realized that I had an idea that was ignoring the A toZ nature of the event- and would have to do some fine-tuning on the fly.  So, here we go...

A on April 1st- the sinking of the RMS Atlantic

Why not start with the White Star Line record holder for disaster until the Titanic.  This was in 1873.  This luxury liner of the time, powered mainly by steam, was heading for NYC when a headwind made for a rough ride.  As the ship's engineer had been under-reporting their coal level (to give them a 'safety stock') and never bothered to tell the Captain, the Cappy thought they would run out before reaching the Big Apple.  Thusly, and because the winds prevented them from raising the backup sails, he decided to divert to Halifax.  Problems:  No one in the crew had made the trip to Halifax before, and no one bothered to take proper precautions; they ended up 12 miles off course in fog, the Captain was left to sleep without being notified, and they hit an underwater rock.  She partially capsized, the lifeboats were smashed against the hull by waves, and 535 people died.

B on April 2- the Bread Riot

In 1863, Mary Jackson led a group of 300 women armed with anything they could lay their hands on- and after informing the aide to the Virginia governor that confronted them, "We want bread, and bread we will have or die," they raided toe city of Richmond's shops, stealing "tens of thousands of dollars" (not sure if this is US or Confederate money) of supplies- including, from one shop owner, 500 pounds of bacon.

C on April 3- Cooper

Motorola's Martin Cooper makes the first mobile phone call.

D on April 4- Here's one they've missed so far...

The song Dixie is debuted in 1859 by a blackface group called Bryant's Minstrels.  Imagine the uproar this one'll cause...

E on April 5- Only appropriate considering the date

Since I'm typing this up late on Easter Sunday, it's only fair to post that Easter Island was discovered by Dutch explorer  Jacob Roggeveen.  Of course, he was shooting for what we would one day call Antarctica, so...

F on April 7 (skipping a day because I can)- Fernando's boo-boo

Fernando Magellan in the 1521 leg of his trip around the world, was led to the island of Cebu, in what is now the Philippines, by it's leader, whom he had baptized and named Don Carlos after his current king back home.  20 days later, this leader would ask him to fight for him against a neighboring chief, and it would not end well for Ferdy. 

G on April 8- Another small step

In 1964, the Gemini I- and the first Titan II launching system- surpassed expectations, taking the USA's first 2-man craft for a 4 lap ride.  No humans inside, just dummies.  No really, plastic people, not Wal-Mart shoppers.

H on April 9- Hooray for Henry

Henry V is crowned King of England in 1413.  Nine years later, a double case of dysentery and heatstroke combined to kill him.  Had he lasted another 52 days, he may well have been crowned King of France as well. 

I on April 11- Didn't expect this struggle

Had a hard time finding a good fit here; the 1979 deposition and exile of Ugandan dictator Idi Amin was as good as I found.

J on April 12- Even a blind man can do it

Way back in 1012, what must have seemed the final battle for the throne in Bohemia came when Oldrich blinded Jaromir, who fled to Poland.  But 21 years later, Jaromir comes back and kicks Oldrich out again.  But Oldrich's son booted him the next year; all indications are that Jaromir never saw it coming.

K on April 13- Perhaps a bit premature

Lajos Kossuth in 1849 read off the declaration of Hungarian independence from the Austrian Empire during the revolution of 1849, after a string of victories against the Austrians and their Russian allies.  However, that "independence" lasted exactly 4 months, as his successor surrendered to the Russians on August 13th.

L on April 15- the circle closes...

In 1861, President Abraham Lincoln calls for 70,000 volunteers to face the rebellion of the slave states; the same day in 1865, he dies from the shot fired by John Wilkes Booth.

Stop in in a few weeks for part two!

The Better Part, week #14

 

Happy Resurrection Sunday!  Here's this week's posts:

The Better Part, Day #87:

 

I just happened to notice that almost everything that I have underlined in my Bible (from 5-6 years or more ago) involved verses I could apply to others; a quiver of arrows. Kind of shocked me how little I knew how to use God's Word, and how perfect I must have thought I was....

 

 

The Better Part, Day #88:

 

Pro 30:5 Every word of God is pure; He is a shield to those who put their trust in Him.

Pro 30:6 Do not add to His Words, lest He reprove you and you be found a liar.

Yesterday, a friend posted that someone "famous and should have known better" said that "Jesus would have backed vaccinations".

My reply: "I don't see why He wouldn't. Don't see why He would, either." My thoughts went to Luke 13:

Luk 13:1 And some were present at the same time reporting to Him of the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mixed with their sacrifices.

Luk 13:2 And answering, Jesus said to them, Do you suppose that these Galileans were sinners above all the Galileans because they suffered such things?

Luk 13:3 I tell you, No. But unless you repent, you will all likewise perish.

Luk 13:4 Or those eighteen on whom the tower in Siloam fell and killed them, do you think that they were sinners above all men who lived in Jerusalem?

Luk 13:5 I tell you, No. But unless you repent, you will all likewise perish. 

 

The topical news was NEVER his concern- only the souls of men. My guess is, if you asked Him about vaccinations, He MIGHT say something along the lines of, You may die sooner, you may die later, but unless you repent, you will likewise perish- meaning the SECOND death.

 

 

The Better Part, day #89:

 

 

Yesterday, I told myself it would be okay if I didn't post because, well, I just hadn't felt drawn to anything. Big mistake, translate to, "Didn't feel like putting in the effort." On a day where I already took myself to task for not being appreciative when the usual daily trials eased a bit, that was incredibly stupid.

 

 

 

The Better Part Day#90:

 

 

Today, I was reading a David Jeremiah article, among whose bullet points was, "Stay Consistent", mentioning that we need to show the same walk to others, no matter the stress level. I literally had JUST said, "Boy, I suck at that!" and 2 minutes later, I got job-switched and went on a tirade. But Satan didn't get the clear win- when I apologized, I showed my boss the section I had just read, and told her, "I hate pop quizzes." Witness opportunity 1, devil 0!

 

 

The Better Part, Day # 91:

 

Deut. 21:23 his body shall not remain all night on the tree, but you shall bury him the same day, for a hanged man is cursed by God. You shall not defile your land that the Lord your God is giving you for an inheritance. 

 

If you go by timeline, here were Satan's plans to defeat Jesus directly: Plan A was to murder Him as a child- for though as God He is immortal, as man He was mortal, one place, one time. When that failed, Plan B was direct temptation, probably not starting and certainly not ending with the incident in the desert. Plan C was the most diabolical and most well planned- he would get man to hang Him from a tree- thus making Him cursed to God. Along the way, he would have man refine "the tree" into the most exquisite torture device imaginable, thus getting the most revenge he could on God.

But guess what? It was all part of God's plan, and what Satan may have thought was his sweet victory was indeed his lasting defeat.

 

 

The Better Part, Day #92:

 

As the sun rose on the empty tomb, there were a variety of reactions about it from those involved in the stories told in the Gospels and by Paul. The Pharisees told themselves what they knew to be lies, to maintain their lifestyle and power base; Mary Magdalene couldn't grasp and so acted as if she didn't hear what was told her. Peter likely cursed himself for not responding to what he had known for a long time; James, the Lord's brother, likely reacted in profound amazement. And Thomas, he said, "Prove it!"

Perhaps this is why I identify with Peter; I always had the bones, took a while to put flesh on them, longer still to make it breathe. Where are you before the empty tomb?

Time Machine co-ordinates VIXXVI6704266

 

As today was a lot of Asian commie crap on April 2, 1966, let's do this instead.  Yesterday was April Fools Day, and so I looked through the list of songs that were #1 ON April Fools Day, as released by Cashbox and Billboard.  Now, there were 8 times at least one of them had a chart on release date April 1st from 1945-96 (the "Cashbox Era").  One of those times was messed up because CB didn't start putting their charts out on Saturday until, after a 12-day absence, they switched to Saturday on November 8, 1947.  As a result, they had an April Fooler in 1946 (Oh, What Seemed To Be by Frankie Carle and orch.), while BB had theirs in 1944 (Jimmy Dorsey's Besame Mucho).  The other seven times, they even matched the song every time- EXCEPT for one year BB switched to Mondays for about 6 years, which meant they missed an April Fools that CB didn't.  So, here's your opening contest:  Which one of these songs got lost in Billboard's Monday shuffle, and did not make a BB April 1st chart?

1950- Music! Music! Music! by Teresa Brewer;

1961- Blue Moon, Marcels;

1967- Happy Together, Turtles;

1972- A Horse With No Name, America;

1978- Night Fever, Bee Gees;

1989- Eternal Flame, Bangles;

or 1995- Take A Bow, Madonna!

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Hi, fellas!  Ready to try this again?

John:  Whatever gets our names on the marquee, wot?

That's the attitude!  So this week, we had 20 contestants from 89 stations, and...

Ringo:  Hey, wait!  Where's Parsley?

Well, as usual, he took a week off with you all coming in, and...

Paul:  That's rather a poor showing!  And after we did his Christmas thing!

John:  What to expect from a bloke who thinks Bologna Casserole is haute cuisine...

George:  For God's sake, DON'T Mention that stuff!  My stomach still growls...

Perhaps we could get on with it, despite MR Petty Pants and his ill-timed vacations.  Anyway, after we take out the three that never charted, the one that hit here last year, and the two that haven't debuted yet, it left us with what started out to be a real close 9-way battle... and ended up a tight five way battle for second, and a runaway winner!  Gentlemen, who's first?

Paul:  Well, I don't see as Richard should go at all, considering he snuck in here last week...

Ringo:  An' whose fault was that that I didn't receive notice of the change in plans?

John: We taped a note to your bloody bedroom door!

Ringo: Which fell off, and me mom popped it in the rubbish!  You couldn't have got me on the phone...

George:  Oh, your line is connected this week?

Guys!  I think what I will do is have our attorney dope this out!  Horace...

HB:  Good heavens, you lot!  This is how you behave in public?

Ringo:  Generally it's how we behave here...

While they get this on track, I believe we'll watch one of this week's two M10 debuts! At #10 this week, here's brand spanking new Maddie and Tae...

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Okay, have we got it hashed out?

HB: I believe it will go swimmingly from here. Oldest first, please...

Ringo:  That would be me.  BUT, they have convinced me to step aside so the lads can evenly divide the finalists between them, in return for doing the Overseas, If You Please.

Okay, but that usually goes after the Finalists and the next video...

Ringo:  Which I have also magnanimously agreed to, in lieu of not having to divide last week's paycheck four ways, as the contract may have required...

May have?

HB:  It could be fought on circumstances, but the gentlemen know how fair I am...

John:  Which is why we let him come to you when you gave him that job offer...

Fine.  Finalists, please?

John:  As second oldest, I will start the rotation.  Choose from...

These Boots Are Made For Walkin', Nancy Sinatra, #7 on CB this week...

Paul: It is my honor to introduce OUR tune, Nowhere Man, at #3 this week.

George:  I have the Lovin' Spoonful with Daydream, at #5...

John:  Me again, with the Righteous Brothers with Soul And Inspiration at #8...

Paul:  It is again my honor to introduce NOT our tune, but Cher with Bang Bang (My Baby Shot Me Down) at #15...

George:  And lastly, the Mamas and Papas with California Dreamin' at #4.

Thanks, guys, thanks, Horace!  And your dubious assist this week:  Where the full Panel placed on 1966's year end chart:

79- Slim Harpo, Baby You Can Scratch My Back

69- Yardbirds, Shapes of Things

60- finalist, Nowhere Man

50- BJ Thomas, I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry

46- finalist, Bang Bang (My Baby Shot Me Down)

37- Rolling Stones, 19th Nervous Breakdown

27- finalist, Daydream

26- finalist, These Boots Are Made For Walkin'

17- finalist, Soul And Inspiration

10- Rascals, Good Lovin'

1(tie)- finalist, California Dreamin'

1 (tie)- SSgt Barry Sadler, Ballad Of The Green Berets

And now, here's the debut at #9.  I have heard the news items about this guy recently- you can find them on your own if you like.  I have seen his apology, I believe it to be sincere.  I am not a cancel culturist, and this is all I will say on that subject.  Coming in at #9, brand new stuff from Har Mar Superstar:

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You may not know the face, but you probably know the voice- game show announcer, Charlie O'Donnell, the main voice until his death on Wheel Of Fortune (1975-80, 1989-2010).  And why is he on the 6D?  Because his was the voice on a song-collage of 1966 news events read as a nightly news broadcast, with the Christmas hymn Silent Night woven through them as a counterpoint, not surprisingly called, Seven O'Clock News/Silent Night.  This was on the lp Parsley Sage Rosemary and Thyme lp, which you might guess correctly was the Simon and Garfunkel disc that featured the song Scarborough Fair.  It also held the 6D victim this week, sitting at #6 without a Panel vote- Homeward Bound.

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Okay, Ringo, let's have the OIYP!

Ringo:  The which?

Overseas If You Please....

Ringo:  Oh, yes, it looks so different when you spell it!  Anyway, both South Africa and Australia were playing These Boots Are Made For Walking; New Zealand had Herman's Hermits, with A Must To Avoid; those wonderful and tasteful Canadians were playing Nowhere Man; and back home, we were grooving to the Walker Brothers and The Sun Ain't Gonna Shine Any More.

Also, our agreement allows me to tell you that this week's biggest mover was Paul Revere and the Raiders with Kicks, up 45 from 86 to 41.

Thank you, R-I-N-G-O!

Ringo:  Excuse me?  Oh, oh right, yes, very droll.  Ha ha!

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So which year was it that Billboard did their "let's try Mondays" experiment?  Well, it was between April 29th of 1957 and January 6th of 1962, so if you took Blue Moon by the Marcels, you're a winner!

And now, the rest of the M10:

8- Weezer spends its 8th week on at #8, down a pair, with Grapes of Wrath.  Anyone else catch that line I love, "Hanging with your Yossarian/He's kind of just like me/We fight 'til we get free" ?

7- Elton John up 3 with Big Man In A Little Suit.

6- Dami Im up one with Lonely Cactus.

5- Pale Waves on the way back down, 3 to 5 with You Don't Own Me.

4- The Fratellis up one with Action Replay.

3- In its ninth week, Home Free and Don McLean's American Pie slips one more back- and takes over 2nd all time.  Holding this spot would tie it for first next week.

2- Only one week at the top for The Explorer's Club and Don't Waste Her Time, sliding back one.

Which means the new #1-

,,,Matthew Sweet and Blown Away!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

And the Panelists...

California Dreamin' got you 5.6%...

These Boots gets 6.7%...

Daydream and Bang Bang get you 7.8%...

Nowhere Man got you 8.9%....

So yer winner, with 30.33%....

...The Righteous Bros  with Soul And Inspiration!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Join me and the Brothers, Lord willing, next time for 1967!