The Whydah Pirate Ship Found

"On April 26, 1717, the Whydah Gally went down off the coast of Cape Cod — taking her crew, her treasure, and her secrets to the bottom. She lay undiscovered for 267 years." -https://www.discoverpirates.com/expedition-whydah/

The Whydah Gally was crafted in London in 1715 with the intended purpose of transporting slaves. While on her maiden voyage south of the Bahamas, the ship was captured by notorious pirate Captain "Black" Sam Bellamy. Having recognized the ships potential for speed, firepower, and cargo capacity, Bellamy reimagined the Gally as his newest flagship.

Bellamy was an extremely successful pirate who amassed great wealth by capturing ships from all across the Atlantic. Though the Whydah's hold was loaded with unimaginable treasure, Bellamy never got the chance to enjoy it in retirement.

During one severe storm along America's New England Coast, the Whydah became hopelessly entrenched in a sandbank. All but two of the Whydah's crew members drowned. The rest of Bellamy's fleet didn't fare much better. Those who survived the battering of the storm, were ultimately taken into custody by New England authorities and sentenced to hang. 

Fortunately, the location of Whydah's wreckage was documented by Bay Colony Captain Cyprian Southack, who was also a reputable cartographer. Unfortunately for later treasure seekers, sandbanks tend to shift. This constant movement makes the rediscovering of objects even the size of ocean going vessels, extremely difficult. 

Deep sea explorer Barry Clifford and his team re-discovered the Whydah during an excursion off Cape Cod in 1984. It is the first truly authenticated pirate shipwreck ever discovered. (They can make this statement because they found both the Whydah's bell and a brass placard with the Whydah's name and maiden voyage date on it which serves to verify the ships identity. Other wreck sites, such as Black Beard's Queen Anne's Revenge off the coast of the Carolina's, can't boast of having that kind of verification.)

Priceless artifacts from the wreck are currently on display at Real Pirates Salem, a pirate themed museum in Salem, MA. Clifford Barry's exploration of the wreckage  and retrieval of artifacts is ongoing.

https://realpiratessalem.com/

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Though Bellamy saved the ship from its original dreadful purpose, it didn't save her from suffering a gloomy end. But then as fate would have it, the Whydah is enjoying fame in a new era. History is literally being made as we watch from the sidelines.

Three Times A Queen

If there was ever a woman who was born to be queen, it was Mary, Queen of Scots.

Mary Stuart was born to King James V of Scotland and Mary of Guise (France) at Linlithgow Palace, Scotland on Dec 8, 1542. Her  father died only 6 days later. As the King's only surviving legitimate heir, Mary was recognized as Queen of Scotland with her mother serving as Regent. (Queen x 1)

At the age of 5, Mary was sent to the court of King Henry II and his wife Queen Catherine de Medici of France for both her safety and to secure a future marriage that would result in an alliance between the Scottish and French nations. Mary's mother's family, the Guises, also supported her. Eventually, Mary did marry Prince Francis making her the Queen Consort of France, until Francis died. (Queen x 2)

Mary also had English Tudor blood which made her a legitimate heir to the English throne. At this time, there was much religious turmoil between Catholicism and Protestantism. Mary, being Catholic, was considered the next logical sovereign of England to the faithful Catholic believers over her protestant cousin Princess Elizabeth I (the future Queen Elizabeth I). (Queen x 3)

Unfortunately, being born with a great destiny doesn't mean your ending is a happy one. Mary's rule was plagued with hardships from the very beginning, but it was her unwise marriages and scandals that caused her downfall.

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On the run again after her latest scandal, Mary decided to evade her pursuers by trusting her life to her cousin Elizabeth in England. Naively, Mary believed the words of kindness in the letters sent to her. Unfortunately, Mary's very presence in England caused Elizabeth problems and so Elizabeth had little choice, but to imprison Mary. She couldn't leave Mary roaming free to encourage a Catholic uprising.

Mary was held prisoner for many years and was eventually implicated in a plot to assassinate Queen Elizabeth. It is possible that Queen Elizabeth's chief advisor set Mary up in order to win Elizabeth's approval to sentence Mary to death and be done with her.

History shows that Elizabeth was reluctant to grant Mary a death sentence, but it is not known if the hesitance was because of familial love (even though they never met in person) or because Mary was a Queen in her own right and Elizabeth didn't want to start a precedence of assassinating anointed Queens. It is probably a bit of both.

 

 

The Floating Dungeons of Wallabout Bay, NY

Brooklyn is not a typical city we think of when we think about the Revolutionary War. In reality, though, no colony escaped the perils of history at this time and that included all of NY. 

One thing that I find particularly interesting about the war in and around Brooklyn is that many people forget about the floating dungeons anchored off shore in Wallabout Bay, NY. The fact is that more people died on prison ships than they did in actual combat during the entire Revolution. 

One of the most notorious of these ships was the HMS Jersey, aka Hell. It was a wooden war ship that had been decommissioned and repurposed by the British. Thousands who were held captive on board  never again saw freedom. Wretched conditions such as overcrowding, lack of fresh water, spoiled food, rampant disease, and torture made prisoners wish for death. 

Yet even with so much suffering, it is significant to note that there is no record of any captive renouncing to fight for the revolution to gain his freedom. That was the measure of the American resolve. Unfortunately, the Battle of Brooklyn was a huge loss for the American Revolutionary forces.

Today a monument stands in Fort Green Park, Brooklyn in honor of those who died on board the ships. Remains of roughly 20 prisoners are buried in a crypt under the monument.

Reference

https://www.history.com/topics/american-revolution/the-hms-jersey

The Honjo Masamune

"The finest Japanese sword to ever have existed."

The Honjo Masamune is a traditional Japanese sword forged by the priest and legendary swordsmith Goro Nyudo Masamune. Masamune is believed to have actively made swords during the late 13th and early 14th centuries and is considered by many to have perfected the art. His blades are renowned for their superior quality and beauty in a time when metals were heavily impure.

Swords were often gifted their own name, including the name of their maker who also, in the process of their making, imparted them with a spirit of their own. It is not known for certain how the Honjo acquired its name, but it is thought that it is derived from the name of a General whose helmet was cleaved by the sword. But instead of dying the General rallied and later took the sword for himself.

The Honjo was carried by the Shogunate during battle in the Edo period and was handed down through the generations from one warrior to another. Eventually it found its way to the Tokugawa clan where it stayed until the end of WWII.

Unfortunately, a law was passed requiring Japanese citizens to hand their swords which were then melted down. The Honjo was turned in by its owner, but it's final fate is unclear.

Records show that the sword was handed over to an American soldier, but that is where the tale ends. It is possible that the sword was hidden away to avoid being melted down, but most feel that the a soldier, under a false name, took the sword home as a souvenir.

The Honjo is believed to be Masamune's finest sword and is revered to this day as a Japanese national treasure. I personally hope that the sword avoided destruction and that, even if  only a slight chance, it will be discovered again and returned to Japan.

The Doctor's Pit

Kaluakauka means "The Doctor's Pit"


Nineteenth century botanist Dr. David Douglas, whose name is synonymous with the Douglas Fir tree, traveled to many distant locations while on his search for new plant species. His last exploration in 1834 took him to the Hawaiian islands where, on Mt. Mauna Kea, his life came to a mysterious and tragic end.


It is known that Dr. Douglas stopped at the hut of a man named Edward "Ned" Gurney to ask for directions. It is not known exactly what was said between them, but Ned followed Douglas for a while and supposedly warned him to be careful of animal traps he had set on the mountain.


Later that day, villagers arrived at Gurney's hut to inform him that the Dr. had been killed. He had fallen into a wild bull pit and was trampled to death by a trapped bull. Ned went to the pit, shot the bull, and sewed Douglas's body up in a leather hide. Gurney paid locals to carry Douglas's body seven miles down the mountain to the village of Hilo where it was handed over to missionaries.


So far the whole thing sounds like an accident. The problem is Gurney's past history. His previous life had not been far above street urchin. He stole to survive. He was then convicted for stealing, and was sentenced to seven years in Botany Bay penal colony. On the way, however, he jumped ship and was able to survive on the slopes of Mauna Kea hunting and trapping wild animals.


The fact that there was a huge difference in social status didn't go unnoticed either. It was suggested that Gurney saw Douglas flash some money during their meeting at the hut. It was then that Gurney developed a plan to take it from him.


Even though the evidence supports Douglas's death as an accident rumors still spread that Gurney lead him into a trap and purposely killed him. Though Gurney denied the accusations and was never convicted of the crime, he was ridiculed and tormented about it for the rest of his life.


In 1934, one hundred years after his death, a monument was erected on the spot where Douglas died. The site is known as Kaluakauka, or "the Doctor's Pit."

Best Wishes Shelley

Shelley Duvall is an American actress whose career started when she was found by a scout working for director Robert Altman in 1969. She has played a series of roles ranging from Popeye's love interest Olive Oil in the fun loving movie Popeye opposite Robin Williams to the unfortunate wife in the movie The Shining along side Jack Nicholson. She is also known for her work in Faerie Tale Theater which brought to life twenty-six endearing classic bedtime stories.





The one time Hollywood star has retired from acting and avoids most social engagements for mental health reasons. Recently Shelley was interviewed by the Psychiatrist Dr. Phil on his talk show of the same name on November 18, 2016. The episode clearly shows Ms. Duvall in a severely deteriorated mental state for which Dr. Phil has received numerous letters expressing anger and disgust that he would use her sensitive condition as entertainment fodder. Whether this was his main intent we can only speculate.






During the interview Shelley gave us a glimpse into the degree of her issues. She does not believe that her friend Robin Williams is really dead. Rather, he is a shape shifter. The Sherriff of Nottingham is after her. And she has what she calls a "worry disc."






Co-star Jack Nicholson has said that he remembers clumps of  her hair falling out due to stress. Apparently her symptoms manifested as far back as when they were working on the movie The Shining.






As tragic as her condition is, she made it clear that she at least is aware of her problem and is now seeking help. Acknowledging the situation is the first step to overcoming any complication. I can't say that appearing on the Dr. Phil show would be my first choice for obtaining that help, but she should be credited for her courage in taking the next step...especially when you consider that she has lived the last decade of her life as a recluse due to fear that "entities" are out to get her.




The reveal of the tragic state of this beloved actor compounds for the rest of us the loss we feel for the passing of some of the world's most famous celebrities in 2016. This year we have said goodbye to such greats as John Glenn, Zsa Zsa Gabor, Debbie Reynolds, and Muhammad Ali.






For your remaining years, Ms. Duvall, I want you to know that you are still loved and I wish you the best of luck with the journey ahead of you.

Dr. Physick's Black Cherry Soda

In 1807 the pioneering Dr. Philip Physick of Philadelphia, Pa. introduced to the American people a carbonated beverage for which he believed would  aid in the relief gastric disorders. Later, flavoring was added to make the concoction more palatable and thus "America's First Soda" was born.

Today Dr. Physick's great-great-great grandson, J. Del Conner, share's his ancestor's legacy by bottling the original formula for the enjoyment of the public. Bottles of black cherry flavored soda can be purchased at Dr. Physick's historical home at 321 South 4th St., and other shops around the Independence Mall area.

I got my first sample while taking a carriage tour with my parents. As we were narrated on the history of the buildings surrounding us our driver curiously pulled over in front of the Physick House, wrapped on the door, and out popped a man in period costume with big bushy eyebrows. After a few seconds of whispering shared between the two, our guide continued with stories for our historical enlightenment.

A moment later out comes Mr. Connor, Dr. Physick's descendant, with three bottles of soda. After our thankyou's were exchanged we continued our expedition with a tasteful, old fashioned, and original souvenir that made our experience all the better. We drank happily while taking in the sights and I have to say I can't imagine a better way to experience Philadelphia for the first time!

Richard III Rages On

It's quite fascinating when you can match a skeleton to significant events that happened in history. It is especially true, for some reason, when in life that person had a truly terrible reputation. And the more mysterious the story surrounding the person the better.

The finding of King Richard III's skeleton under a parking lot in 2012 in Leicester, England is absolutely fascinating. This is a guy who participated in the Wars of the Roses, conspired against his nephew's, the tragic "Princes in the Tower," in order to steal the crown, and is the last English king to have died in battle, thus ending the Plantagenet dynasty introducing the Tudor's.

His severe scolioses left his back deformed, and although not entirely true, it is the reason modern cinema exaggerates his character by portraying him as a hunchbacked tyrannical monster.

Though, if you look further into his reign, you find evidence that he did have the welfare of his subjects in mind putting in place specific laws designed to protect them from nobles who would exploit them. Unfortunately, we will never really know if Richard III was as nasty as history tells us or if he was simply an unfortunate product of his time.

Currently, there is fierce dispute between the current members of the Plantagenet family and Leicester University over who has final authority over Richard's remains. His modern relatives exclaim that he should be brought back to his home in York and re-interred properly...with the dignity due a one-time-king of England. They fear that if left to the University Richard would only be used to promote the University's hidden agenda's leaving him unable to rest in peace.

The University, on the other hand, claims they would not use him so shamefully and that he would have all the honor and respect due him. And if it weren't for them, Richard would not have had this last chance for glory, having stayed forever forgotten under the black top of an insignificant car park on campus grounds.

The vote is still out.

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Richard III was born into a world of political turmoil, resulting from the ongoing feud between two branches of the ruling Plantagenet family. They were the York's (Richard III's line) and the Lancastrian's (Henry Tudor's line). Their skirmishes are legendary and are referred to as the "War of the Roses" because both their herald's were of roses, one white, one red... which symbolized their closeness to the English throne.

Richard was eight years old when his father, a brother, and an uncle were killed at the battle of Wakefield in 1460. As a result Richard essentially lived in hiding and was eventually forced to flee the country. The struggles he endured throughout his young life caused him to grow-up much faster than most children and may also explain his callous demeanor.

Richard's fortune changed for the better when his brother Edward seized control of the crown. He was created Duke of Gloucester and supported his brother vehemently. (Not so with another brother who tried Edward's patience once too often; George was executed as a traitor in 1478.) Richard's loyalty and skill with a sword earned him favor with his brother the king and was named Lord Protector of Edward's heir, Edward V. Richard would hold authority over the kingdom until Edward V was crowned.

On his way to London, Edward V and his escort, Earl Rivers, were intercepted by Richard (Gloucester) and the Duke of Buckingham. Edward was taken to the Tower of London where his younger brother Richard, Duke of York, joined him. The princes were initially told it was for their own safety, but this was a farce.

Intoxicated with the taste of absolute power, Richard (Gloucester)  schemed to take the crown for himself. He convinced the royal council to declare the marriage between his late brother King Edward IV and Elizabeth Woodville invalid...making Edward V illegitimate and unable to assume the throne. Richard, Duke of Gloucester, was now King Richard III.

The two princes, now clearly prisoner's in the Tower, mysteriously disappeared shortly thereafter. Though their exact fates are unknown, it is speculated that Richard had the boys murdered in order to prevent any future rivalry.

It may have been ruthless, but if you put yourself in his shoes...this kind of treachery Richard had known since since his early childhood; to him the act was logical and necessary.

Richard died in 1485 of a traumatic head injury at the battle of Bosworth Field. The victor, Henry Tudor, had Richard stripped naked,  carried off on the back of a horse, and buried without the customary honors of kingship. In fact, archaeological evidence suggests that he was hastily buried in a grave too small to fit the entire measure of his body.

His skull was smashed up against the back wall, his  bones are riddled with wounds intentionally placed there in order to humiliate him,  and his hands rest as if they were still bound together at the time he was interred. It is not known if he was taken to Grey Friars Church to begin with, but that is where he lay undisturbed for centuries. Over time, the church became ruin, and eventually the exact location of the church was lost to history...until it's re-discovery centuries later in 2012, underneath a car park Leicester.

The Earp-Clanton Scandal

With all great stories you tend to wonder what is real and what is not? For me, the gunfight at the OK Corral fits into the "do we even know the whole story" category.

A new theory suggests that what really ignited the fire between the two groups was a secret pact made between Wyatt Earp and Ike Clanton. Up until then their dealings had been entirely business (as far as we know). But when their plans are sabotaged by forces outside of their control, it leaves only dangerous secrets between them to linger on. Could they trust each other not to tell? As fear turned into paranoya, things became personal.

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Wyatt had wanted to be elected sheriff. So he thought that if he brought the "cowboys" (as cattle rustler's were called) to justice he would earn the majority of votes from the public. With this in mind he rendevued with Ike Clanton, whom Wyatt believed to be one of the cowboys leaders.

In this meeting Wyatt made an offer Ike couldn't refuse. If Ike would tell him when and where to find the main offenders he would give Ike all the reward money...which amounted to a small fortune back then. Ike couldn't walk away from such a sweet deal...especially in an area where life was harsh and money hard to come by. The only stipulation was that Wyatt had to keep this quiet...or Ike was a dead man.

The problem came when Wyatt's main targets were killed before he could catch them. The new turn of events left both Wyatt and Ike in a precarious predicament...because now the deal could not go through and the scandalous information they shared between them could destroy them if word ever got out. And this is the catalyst that changed the course of history!

After a while Ike began to lose his cool. He went from bar to bar drinking heavily and one night in a drunken stooper declared to everyone "he was going to kill himself an Earp." And it is from here that most people know the story.

I don't know if it is true or not, but that's a cool addition to the story.

One Master To Catch Another!

“O dear Sir, nobody can save me but you O God, my God. I shall be murdered unless you save me.” - William Chaloner to Isaac Newton.

Everyone knows that Sir Isaac Newton was a scientific genius. But very few people are aware of his appointment as head of England's treasury and the lengths he took to capture the conspirators responsible for the collapse of the currency system.

By order of the king, Newton applied his talent for deduction in successfully apprehending members of numerous counterfeiting rings. He employed a vast network of spies to haunt taverns and prowl less desirable establishments. Newton himself searched the more dismal streets of London looking for clues, and on one occasion, by mere chance, overheard a man whose bragging led to the arrest and conviction of the most talented counterfeiter of the age... Newton's own nemesis William Chaloner.

By all respects William Chaloner was as much a genius in the science of metallurgy as Newton. In his youth Chaloner apprenticed as a blacksmith which is undoubtedly where he developed his early interest and skill in manipulating metal compounds. As his techniques advanced, so did the amount of false coins put into circulation. (Which ultimately resulted in the devaluing of metal currency across the kingdom.) The effect hurt every gentleman's pocket, except for his own.

Newton understood the complexities of chemically binding metal to metal and the skill it took to arrive at the ideal consistency with every batch. He too was impressed by Chaloner's work. But to be compared with another man, criminal or otherwise, was more than he could bare. Newton's spite went beyond anything to do with the Mint.

By the time Newton became involved with the treasury Chaloner already had a long history of talking his way out court convictions. But now he was up against Newton. Chaloner put up his customary good fight, but Newton had an ace in the whole...or three to be exact. He tracked down and enlisted the aid of witnesses whom Chaloner had, at one time or another, double-crossed. They happily obliged Newton giving testimony of Chaloner's offenses against them.

The testimonies  ultimately clinched the win for Newton and Chaloner was sentenced to hang. Chaloner exclaimed his innocense, but those who had authority to change his fate turned him a deaf ear, including Newton. This time his silver tongue could not save him.

Chaloner was taken to Newgate prison to await his punishment. After taking the sacrament he was led to the Tyburn Tree (gallows) where, to every spectator's amusement, he dangled and danced the "hangman's dance" for several minutes before finally succumbing to suffocation. Though, many a man attended the event... Newton did not show. It was his final bitter way of saying Chaloner was never his equal.

Note: In those days wealthy men paid the hangman to make their death come quickly. Ironically for him, Chaloner now had no money to pay him.

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In the late 1600's certain scientific experiments were seen as witch craft and banned by the church. Alchemy at that time was one of those practices and Newton was obsessed with it. Had he been careless, Newton could have hung just as easily as Chaloner did.

One other theory as to why Newton was so resolute in finding and convicting Chaloner was so that he could legally confiscate Chaloner's notes on metallurgy. Newton had secretly been trying to turn various metals into gold, but had failed.

Beyond the gold, though, was an even greater prize which Newton coveted; immortality. The turning of a metal into gold was thought to be the next to the last step necessary for achieving a concoction called "the elixir of life." Legend boasts that it could make a man immortal.

Many of Newton's notes on the subject are written in code. Some have been deciphered, but largely the meaning of the notes written in symbols remains elusive. The one about the lion is thought to be the key to solving Newton's formula for the "elixir."

Newton died in old age. And, though not through any potion, he eventually did became immortal through his legacy as the father of physics and as one of the greatest minds that ever lived.

An ER Dr.'s Perspective on the Health Care Crisis

A friend posted this on Facebook and I thought it was worthy enough for a spot on my blog. This is a letter sent to the White House by an E.R. Dr. offering his perspective on the Health Care Crisis. And it is SO TRUE!

Dear Mr. President:
During my shift in the Emergency Room last night, I had the pleasure of evaluating a patient whose smile revealed an expensive
Shiny gold tooth, whose body was adorned with a wide assortment of elaborate and costly tattoos, who wore a very expensive
Brand of tennis shoes and who chatted on a new cellular telephone equipped with a popular R&B ring tone. While glancing over her
Patient chart, I happened to notice that her payer status was listed as "Medicaid"! During my examination of her, the patient informed
Me that she smokes more than one costly pack of cigarettes every day and somehow still has money to buy pretzels and beer.
And, you and our Congress expect me to pay for this woman's health care? I contend that our nation's "health care crisis" is not the
Result of a shortage of quality hospitals, doctors or nurses. Rather, it is the result of a "crisis of culture", a culture in which it is perfectly
Acceptable to spend money on luxuries and vices while refusing to take care of one's self or, heaven forbid, purchase health insurance.
It is a culture based on the irresponsible credo that "I can do whatever I want to because someone else will always take care of me".
Once you fix this "culture crisis" that rewards irresponsibility and dependency, you'll be amazed at how quickly our nation's health care
Difficulties will disappear.

Respectfully,
STARNER JONES, MD

The Healing Properties of Silver

The therapeutic properties of silver have been known for thousands of years. When Hippocrates wrote about its healing and anti-infective properties, the Phoenicians began storing their water and wine in silver containers. Silver compounds were used to prevent infections during WWI, and were widely used right  up to the introduction of antibiotics prior and during WWII.

Though silver has taken a back seat to antibiotics, it is still widely used in the development of medicines in the equine world including skin disorders all the way to respiratory infections.

Ballew, Mickey. Breathing Silver: Healing properties of silver used for equine respiratory disease. Holistic Horse, issue 81. Oct/Nov. 2012.

Victoria as Bait!

HM Queen Victoria of England wasn't always popular. She survived eight assassination attempts. On one such occasion on May 29th, 1842 a man stepped out in front of Victoria's carriage and aimed a pistol at her. His gun was poorly charged and the attempt failed. No harm came to Victoria, but her would be assassin escaped.

Victoria's Prime Minister, Sir Robert Peel, offered his suggestion. Lure the man out by riding down the same path at the same time and see if he tries again. Surprisingly enough Victoria agreed. The plan worked. Undercover policemen apprehended John Francis as he was getting ready to step out of the crowd. He was arrested and exiled to Australia (initially Victoria wanted him hanged).

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Some people close to the queen was afraid that this lighter sentence would encourage other would-be-assassins to try their hand at it and that a harsher punishment was required to deter them. Prince Albert came up with the Treason Act of 1842 where a man, if convicted, would be flogged and serve up to seven years in jail. Though, a few men did serve jail time, not one was ever flogged.

Not as American as we thought.

Here is a list of popular American icons that are actually foreign owned (as listed by CNBC):

1. Budweiser and Bud-Light Beer: owned by Anheuser-Busch InBev N.V. of Belgium and Brazille. They even sponsor a "made in America" festival in Philadelphia.

2. Alka-Seltzer: Bayer, AG of Germany.

3. Good Humor: Bought by Unilver of Britian and Netherlands. They also own Lipton, Klondike, and Popsicle.

4. 7-Eleven: Seven and I Holdings, Co. of Japan.

5. Gerber: Bought by Nestle of Switzerland.

6. Firestone: Bought by Bridgestone Corp. in Japan. It started out in Akron, Ohio, though.

7. John Hancock Life Insurance: Picked up by Manulife Financial Corp. in Toronto, Canada.

8. Frigidaire: Originally from Ft. Wayne, Indiana is now owned by Electrolux of Sweden.

9. The Chrysler Bldg.: 90% of the bldg. is now owned by Abu Dhabi Investment Council.

It is sometimes hard to know what is American and what is not. For the sake of America, our people, and our economy, please try to buy American owned products or at least from companies that employ Americans.

She Has the Look - Go Mickenna!

 

 Disney acting ‘Event’

By Sandy Scarmack Herald Staff Writer The Sharon Herald Mon Aug 20, 2012, 12:00 PM EDT

JACKSON CENTER — Calling herself both dramatic and shy, 14-year-old Mickenna Ansell hopes landing a spot at The Event, a Disney-based forum for combining talent scouts and aspiring actors, will give her some solid experience if she opts to pursue a career on stage.

Well, that and the one-in-a-million chance to co-star in a movie with Johnny Depp, she said.

The youngest daughter of Sherry and Donald Ansell of Jackson Center had “the look” that scouts were searching for, her mother said, and the teen was called back for a second day of tryouts in Cleveland, where screeners worked with nearly 200 teens on the last weekend in July.

“We ditched my niece’s bridal shower to drive two and a half hours to Cleveland, twice in two days,” said Sherry Ansell. Her older daughter, Katie Engstrom, tagged along with them. “They called us the second day and asked us to come back, because Mickenna had the look they wanted,” she said.

The prize for having been chosen to participate in The Event, she said, is traveling to Florida in March when she will audition for various parts by doing dramatic readings, some stand-up comedy, a commercial and some sitcom lines. Mickenna will work with other teens who work with the youth-based Nickelodeon channel and has the chance to be called for future roles on television shows. Sponsors of The Event will pay for her lodging at Disney World, but travel is at the family’s expense.

“We’re looking at it as a nice vacation. Even if nothing comes of it, she will have had a chance to learn something. I don’t see a downside,” said Mrs. Ansell.

She made multiple phone calls to Disney and other sponsors to make sure it was a valid offer. “I confirmed that they do have talent agents who will be there and they do have classes to work with the young actors,” she said.

Mickenna has already taken singing lessons at Lakeview High School, tap, jazz and ballet lessons privately and participates routinely in an academic decathlon that involves public speaking. She said she has loved acting since she was a little girl because “all the characters I can play are so different from me. I get to be somebody different,” she said.

“I’m not afraid to speak in public because I’m not speaking for myself. I’m playing someone else,” she said.

She has acted in two productions, she said, and played the lead in “A Walk to Remember” and “Happily Never After.” A fan of Facebook, romance novels and watching movies, the high school freshman said she is excited about a chance to audition, but doesn’t rule out a career outside of acting. “I also thought about psychiatry,” she said.

Still, her mother cautions, this isn’t anything more than an opportunity to find out if she likes acting.

“We are looking at this as a fun family vacation. If she gets a part in some show or a commercial, that is great. If she doesn’t, that’s great too. We are going so she can learn something. We’re not approaching this like ‘hey we can sell the house and quit our jobs because we’re going to be rich’, said Mrs. Ansell, who for the last 35 years has worked as a hairdresser. Mickenna’s father is a blasting supervisor at Allegheny Mining.

Requirements for participation in the program include not changing how Mickenna looks.

“No weird hairdos or dramatic changes,” she said. She is required to have specific outfits, including a black and white outfit and some semi-formal attire.

“We’ll be waiting till after homecoming season until we can buy a dress cheaper. My sister will take the photos she has to have, instead of us hiring a photographer. We aren’t going to run out and spend a fortune buying her a whole wardrobe. We do things as cheaply as we can here,” said Mrs. Ansell.

**I copied this verbatem from an email that was forwarded to me by my mom. I don 't know Mickenna personally, but she is a relative of mine and I wish her the best of luck! I am very excited for her and her story deserves a special place on my blog. Go Mickenna!

Sixty Seven Years Since Hiroshima

"I was praying for the souls lost in Hiroshima and trying to imagine what must have happened on a beautiful August day." - Harry S. Truman

“We’re going to kill a lot of people, but we’re going to save a lot of lives too. We won’t have to invade.” - Paul Tibbets, pilot of the Enola Gay.

“The world of the dead is a different place from the world of the living and it is hardly possible to visit there. That day in Hiroshima the two worlds nearly converged.” - Richard Rhodes

A moment of silence for all who perished, suffered, or lost family members in WW II........................

Sixty seven years ago on this day, 6 August 1945, U.S. President Harry Truman gave an order that forever changed history. The United States was engaged in the throws of WWII and in a desperate attempt to prevent any more American casualties the atom bomb, Little Boy, was unleashed on Hiroshima, Japan. The devastation was catastrophic and resulted in the immediate deaths of estimated 80,000 people. In the coming months injury and radiation brought the death toll upward to 140,000. And when Japan still refused to surrender a second bomb was dropped on Nagasaki. Thus began the nuclear age.

Since then the world has been in a race over arms; it is what led to the notorious Manhattan Project and the cold war between the U.S. and Russia. Can't we learn from history? Nuclear war could mean the end of humanity...so thought Einstein and other visionary scientists who signed a document stating their position against the use of such horrific weapons. Even General Eisenhower (later President Eisenhower) admitted that he questioned the morality of using the cruel device.

After Hiroshima's reconstruction, the city has been a leader in the quest for peace. Every year on the anniversary of the bombing, the city mayor reaches out to countries around the world to unite in prayer.

God be with us and with those who have died before us. Let us know peace between nations.

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The oleander is the official flower of the city of Hiroshima because it was the first to bloom again after the explosion of the atomic bomb in 1945.

"Agnes Darling" - Wild Bill's Eerie Letter

"Agnes Darling, if such should be we never meet again, while firing my last shot, I will gently breathe the name of my wife---Agnes---and with wishes even for my enemies I will make the plunge and try to swim to the other shore." - Wild Bill Hickok to his new wife Agness.

Wild Bill wrote these words in a letter to his wife the day before his death in Deadwood, SD, in 1876. He was shot in the back of the head by a disgruntled man who had lost money to him playing poker just the day before.

Bill had always sat with his back against the wall when he played cards. However, on this occasion his spot had already been taken and the man occupying it refused to move. Instead of causing a ruccous, Bill went against his own rule to never sit where someone could sneak up behind him.  It was the one and only time he would make this mistake.

Agnes received the letter a month later in the mail.

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Friends said that Hickok wrote the letter because he was now in his late 30's and felt that he was losing his edge. After many decades of fame he was still very much sought after by the public and young men used him to test their metal. Hickok knew he wasn't as fast as he used to be and that his days were numbered.

 

It is interesting to note that "Everyday Paranormal", a paranormal research group who supposedly uses scientific methods to capture evidence of the paranormal, supposedly caught an "EVP" of a "spirit" who seemed to answer their questions as Hickok might have. When asking:

- what his last words would be if he had a chance to voice them... a voice responded, "tell my wife I love her."

- what was the fifth card in Hickok's hand when he was shot, the spirit replied "nine diamonds."

The arrangement of cards Hickok last held while playing poker are famously known as "The Dead Man's Hand." He held a pair of eights, and pair of aces; the fifth card was lost to history.

One version of the trial: Hickok's murderer, Jack McCall, was found not guilty in a court of law (due to the false testimony that Hickok had previously killed McCall's brother), but was taken back to court a second time  and was tried again. It was found that McCall didn't even have a brother to begin with. The coward hung.

ALY DARLING!

Alydar, the famous chestnut throughbred racehorse who is best known for dueling with his rival Affirmed in all three legs of the 1978 Triple Crown, was named by the owner of Calumet Farms, Lucille Markey, after her close friend the Aga Khan of Islam. His name was Aly Khan and she addressed his royal highness as "Aly darling!" Alydar is a contraction of Aly darling!

Alydar was born March 23, 1975 at Calumet Farm and also died there of mysterious causes on Nov. 15, 1990.

Alydar had no trouble beating any of his adversaries by a huge gap, except for the impressive Affirmed.

Alydar finished his career with 14 victories -- and nine seconds -- in 26 starts and earned $957,195, while Affirmed, who was Horse of the Year at age 3 and 4, won 22 of 29 races and $2,393,818. sportsillustrated.cnn.com /horse_racing/news/2003/04/26/affirmed_alydar_ap  

Interesting tidbit: The Aga Khan was once married to one of America's own on-screen royalty, Rita Hayworth.

A "Toast" to Eighteenth Century England

It was considered appropriate for aristocratic men in eighteenth century England to say a few words at the banquet table. They enjoyed the tradition to such an extent that they did so without pausing to "relieve" themselves.

In a footnote of Amanda Foreman's book, Georgiana: Duchess of Devonshire, p. 25, she writes, "The practice of proposing and replying continued throughout the dinner and with even more vigour after the women had left. Toasting the ladies, toasting the food, each other, and whatever else came to mind went on for so long there were chamber pots in each corner, and the person who has occasion to use it does not even interrupt his talk during the operation." It was a quote taken from Frenchman Andre Parreaux's, Daily Life, p.36.

Lack of ethics destroyed Challenger space mission.

"We all knew if the seals failed, the shuttle would blow up!" - Roger Boisjoly.

Roger Boisjoly was an engineer working for the Morton Thiokal company which supplied parts for NASA at the time of the Challenger space shuttle disaster back in January 1986. Months before the disaster he, along with three other employees, remembers speaking to the managers of his company about his belief that the elastic seals on the rocket booster (SRB) were faulty.

The outermost seal, also known as an O-ring, had been designed to seat itself and then flex along with the joint where two individual parts of the SRB came together. It was discovered, however, that instead of staying seated in its place during periods of flexion the ring would often shift out of position allowing exhaust to escape. This hot gas would then damage the ring.

Cold temperature was also noted to be a safety concern. Engineers working on the project knew that freezing temperatures would cause the rings to stiffen. Once they were incapable of flexing, gas was bound to escape. One spark is all it would take cause the SRB to explode, as well as the shuttle itself. This is what Boisjoly had tried so hard to warn everyone about.

At around this same time, the Morton Thiokal company were in the middle of negotiating with NASA on the renewal of their contract. Ethical or not, it is believed that the company's plan was to keep Boisjoly's warnings low key until after the new deal was "sealed."

NASA evidently was aware that there was a problem. A day before the scheduled launch NASA and Morton Thiokal held a teleconference to decide once and for all if the shuttle was flight worthy. After one last debate the managers of the company gave the okay to proceed as planned.

Boisjoly was alarmed upon hearing this! This January had been the coldest on record in Florida; he knew the rings were sure to fail. Behind the scenes he made attempt after attempt to cancel the flight. Only moments into the flight, the shuttle was lost. The company managers had gambled on the other people's lives and lost.

Unfortunately Boisjoly was branded a "whistle blower" by his colleague's and was ostracized by the engineering community at large. I, however, believe there should be more people out there like Boisjoly who will step up and do the right thing even when you stand alone. You are a hero in my book.

Others also have acknowledged his bravery before the disaster. He was given the Award for Scientific Freedom and Responsibility by the American Association for the Advancement of Science in 1988.

Mr. Boisjoly, you will be remembered for your honesty and integrity. May you rest in peace. April 25, 1938 – January 6, 2012.