Tuesday, August 22, 1978

Real communism

Image result for lenin marx labels

We are having a debate about socialism among some of our young people.  From Alejandra Ocasio-Cortez to Bernie Sanders, we’re hearing that some are inspired concerning socialism.  
The Democrats are even running candidates who claim to be “democratic socialists“!  I guess that means that they will take a vote before taking your property away or something like that.
Well, two recent anniversaries will remind the young what real communism is all about.
First, Warsaw Pact tanks marched into Prague this week in 1968.  They were there to crush a freedom movement, as we remember from our history:   
On the night of August 20, 1968, approximately 200,000 Warsaw Pact troops and 5,000 tanks invade Czechoslovakia to crush the “Prague Spring” — a brief period of liberalization in the communist country. Czechoslovakians protested the invasion with public demonstrations and other non-violent tactics, but they were no match for the Soviet tanks. The liberal reforms of First Secretary Alexander Dubcek were repealed and “normalization” began under his successor Gustav Husak.
By the way, the confused young must be reminded what Mr. Husak meant by “normalization”.  It meant shut up or we will throw you in prison.  And your family won’t know what happened to you, either.  In other words, no “habeaus corpus” or right to a speedy trial under communism.
The second anniversary is less known but very important.  It shows how communists deal with those they disagree with.  I am talking about the killing of Leon Trotsky on August 21, 1940:  
Exiled Russian revolutionary Leon Trotsky is fatally wounded by an ice-ax-wielding assassin at his compound outside Mexico City. The killer – Ramón Mercader –was a Spanish communist and probable agent of Soviet leader Joseph Stalin. Trotsky died from his wounds the next day.
This is the real story of communism, along with a health care system that stinks in Cuba, or people eating grass in North Korea, or people risking their lives to jump over the Berlin Wall.
Let’s remember communism, and its convenient mask called socialism.  In both cases, they take your property and freedom.  
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Sunday, November 06, 1977

We remember Walter Johnson (1887-1946)


We remember Walter Johnson who was born on this day in 1887.   He died in 1946.

Check out these awesome statistics:  417 wins, 2.17 career ER, 3509 Ks, 531 complete games and 110 shutouts.   


He also lost 279 games!


Johnson had a .599 winning pct.   In other words, he lost 40% of his games.  


How do you lose 40% of your games with a 2.17 career ERA?   He must have had a lot of 1-0 or 2-1 complete game losses.

 P.S.  Check out my blog for posts, podcasts and videos. If you like our posts, please look for ”Donate” on the right column of the blog page.



Wednesday, May 25, 1977

May 25, 1977: "Star Wars" was released

Image result for star wars 1977 images
“Star Wars” opened across the US in 1977.    The characters quickly became known from coast to coast:
Mark Hamill as “Luke Skywalker”, “Han Solo” (Harrison Ford) “Princess Leia” (Carrie Fisher) and “Darth Vader” (James Earl Jones).      
Stars mania began years ago!     Soon, “Star Wars” hit the music charts too. 

P.S.  Check out my blog for posts, podcasts and videos. If you like our posts, please look for ”Donate” on the right column of the blog page.


Saturday, May 07, 1977

Gary Cooper and so many great movies

Gary Cooper was born on this day in 1901. 

He made some great movies.   My favorite are "Pride of the Yankees" from  1942 and "High Noon" from  1952.

A great actor, an American original.

P.S.  You can listen to my show.  If you like our posts, please look for ”Donate” on the right column of the blog page.




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Friday, February 25, 1977

1964: Clay beat Liston for his first heavyweight crown





By February 1964, Cassius Clay was a 22-year old Olympic gold medalist (1960) and looking for first title.   

On this day in 1964, he got it with a technical knockout of Sonny Liston.   

It was the beginning of the legend of Ali.

Saturday, February 05, 1977

February 1977: Fleetwood Mac released "Rumours"


Fleetwood Mac's "Rumours" was released in early February 1977.     It became one of the top LP's of the 1970's.      My guess is that most fans did not know that the group was going through some serious conflicts during the recording of this album.

It sounds good 40-something years later.   There were great songs like "Go your own way"!

P.S.  You can listen to my show.  If you like our posts, please look for ”Donate” on the right column of the blog page.




Wednesday, January 19, 1977

1977: Ernie Banks selected to the Hall of Fame

Ernie Banks was selected to the Hall of Fame on this day in 1977.   

Banks was a three-time .300 hitter and retired with a .274 average,  2,583 hits, 1,305 runs scored, and 1, 636 RBI.    He won the NL MVP in 1958 and 1959 despite playing for some bad Cubs' teams.

On May 12, 1970, Banks hit # 500 and finished with 512.   He died in 2015.

P.S.  Check out my blog for posts, podcasts and videos. If you like our posts, please look for ”Donate” on the right column of the blog page.

 


Saturday, January 08, 1977

Flipping channels and I found Elvis and "Wild in the country"


Flipping channels and then I find Elvis and "Wild in the country".

It's another of those serious movies that Elvis made, like "Flaming Star", the one I that I mentioned a few days ago.

Elvis is a troubled young man who needs a bit of "tough love".   He wants to be a writer and Hope Lange plays his counselor.    Tuesday Weld and Millie Perkins are the two ladies in the movie.

It's a good movie.  There were no hit songs from this movie.   Two tunes did end up as B-sides for other big Elvis hits.   

P.S.  You can listen to my show (Canto Talk).  If you like our posts, please look for ”Donate” on the right column.

Thursday, July 08, 1976

A word about Ron Silver (1946-2009)




We remember that Ron Silver was born July 2, 1946.    He died March 15, 2009 after fighting cancer for a few years.

Like many of us, Ron Silver got a big wake up call on 9-11.

Silver understood that there were people in the world determined to blow up one of our cities and kill thousands of innocent people.  Let's not forget that they'd cut your head off if you disagree with them, too.

On top of that, he was a great actor.

A few years agp, my friend Rick Moran wrote about Silver.

In fact, Silver did not change. He was always a liberal on social issues.

Silver understood that the terrorists were opposed to everything that liberals believed in, from women's rights to any kind of tolerance.

Silver concluded that you couldn't do business with people who think that we should live under some kind of 12th century justice.

We take a minute this weekend to remember Ron Silver! It's a shame that there aren't more people like Ron Silver in Hollywood!
  
Last, but not least, make sure you watch "Fahrenhype 9-11", a response to Michael Moore.

P.S.  You can listen to my show.  If you like our posts, please look for ”Donate” on the right column of the blog page.




Sunday, July 04, 1976