This madame sang to me at a dance hall in Old Tucson. At least I didn't have to go up on stage and dance with the younger dance hall girls like some of the audience did.
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I ran into a quotation the other day that made me reminisce: "War is God's way of teaching Americans geography." by Ambrose Bierce. The Korean War started when I was about 10 years of age, and I still remember wondering where in the world Korea was, enough so that I went to a world map to find out. Iran, Iraq, and Afghanistan have become familiar in recent years. Remember the line in a country song sung by Alan Jackson that he wrote and sung after 9-11, "And I can't tell the difference between Iran and Iraq." A few days ago Timbuktu entered the news, but where is it? Answer: Mali, North central Africa.
Now, it has so happened that our illustrious North Dakota legislature recently voted not to make World History a requirement for high school graduation. Sure, it can be offered as an elective, but World History is a close cousin to World Geography in my estimation, and, given the widespread illiteracy among many citizens of world affairs, this class seems appropriate to have been made a requirement. Oh, well...
Regarding Ambrose Bierce, he wrote a short story that really sticks with a reader. Called "Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge," it features a convicted traitor being marched by Union soldiers to a gallows constructed on a bridge spanning Owl Creek. The condemned man's mind conjures up pleasant scenes from his life, and makes the reader wonder just what is the outcome of this story. It can be found online and is well worth a read.
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A trip to the Heritage Center's archive library uncovered a couple interesting things. the collected papers of an early historian Fred Baguhn contain these items: Charley Banks was the leader of the Sheldon gang and it was tough on country boys. His father later sent him to military school, and when he came home got him a Stanley Steamer. With it he delighted in going down the farmers' corn rows and seeing the ears pop off.
And one more: James Holes said the country was entirely wild. Countless millions of grasshoppers swarmed everywhere. The woods were full of great owls and prairie wolves were sneaking around the prairies. The hooting owls and the barking wolves broke the monotony of the nights. The mosquitoes in summer and blizzards in winter did much to make life miserable, but notwithstanding we managed to get enough out of life so none of the first settlers committed suicide...
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... ... ...
I ran into a quotation the other day that made me reminisce: "War is God's way of teaching Americans geography." by Ambrose Bierce. The Korean War started when I was about 10 years of age, and I still remember wondering where in the world Korea was, enough so that I went to a world map to find out. Iran, Iraq, and Afghanistan have become familiar in recent years. Remember the line in a country song sung by Alan Jackson that he wrote and sung after 9-11, "And I can't tell the difference between Iran and Iraq." A few days ago Timbuktu entered the news, but where is it? Answer: Mali, North central Africa.
Now, it has so happened that our illustrious North Dakota legislature recently voted not to make World History a requirement for high school graduation. Sure, it can be offered as an elective, but World History is a close cousin to World Geography in my estimation, and, given the widespread illiteracy among many citizens of world affairs, this class seems appropriate to have been made a requirement. Oh, well...
Regarding Ambrose Bierce, he wrote a short story that really sticks with a reader. Called "Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge," it features a convicted traitor being marched by Union soldiers to a gallows constructed on a bridge spanning Owl Creek. The condemned man's mind conjures up pleasant scenes from his life, and makes the reader wonder just what is the outcome of this story. It can be found online and is well worth a read.
... ... ...
A trip to the Heritage Center's archive library uncovered a couple interesting things. the collected papers of an early historian Fred Baguhn contain these items: Charley Banks was the leader of the Sheldon gang and it was tough on country boys. His father later sent him to military school, and when he came home got him a Stanley Steamer. With it he delighted in going down the farmers' corn rows and seeing the ears pop off.
And one more: James Holes said the country was entirely wild. Countless millions of grasshoppers swarmed everywhere. The woods were full of great owls and prairie wolves were sneaking around the prairies. The hooting owls and the barking wolves broke the monotony of the nights. The mosquitoes in summer and blizzards in winter did much to make life miserable, but notwithstanding we managed to get enough out of life so none of the first settlers committed suicide...
... ... ...
Having been a blood donor several times in the past, this story bearing the title "Blood Donor" caught my eye when it crossed my desk. It seems an Arab sheik was admitted to a hospital in Fargo for heart surgery, but prior to the surgery the doctors needed to find a supply of his rare blood type in case the need arose. However, it couldn't be found locally, so the call went out. Finally, in the little town of Sheldon, a Norwegian was located who had the right blood type. The Norwegian, whose name was Ole, willingly donated his blood for the Arab.
After the surgery, the Arab sent Ole, as appreciation for giving for giving his blood, a new Ford pickup, a gold Rolex watch encrusted with diamonds, and a hundred thousand dollars.
Many days later, the Arab once again had to go through some corrective surgery. His doctor telephoned Ole who was more than happy to donate his blood again. After this surgery, the Arab sheik sent Ole a thank-you card and five pounds of lutefisk. Ole was quizzical that this time the Arab did not reciprocate with gifts similar to the first time.
He phoned the Arab and said, "I thought dat you vould be yenerous again, and dat you vould give me anudder bunch of nice things. But you only gave me a tank-you card and some lutefisk!
To this the Arab replied, "Ya, but now I haf Norvegian blood in my veins so I gotta tink tvice before I spend my money."
