“Shake Machine” Notice Taken Literally – Second Dumbest Thing in the Air Force – Nixon’s Plot to Cancel 1972 Elections

https://www.theadvocate.com/baton_rouge/entertainment_life/smiley_anders/article_a00826ec-5b43-11ea-b5e0-cb49fa504bf7.html

The Advocate [Baton Rouge, LA]

2 March 2020

Smiley: The 'Bravest Husband' award goes to

I don't know Al Ricketts, of Gonzales, but I have to admire him for his bravery. I don't know many husbands who would tell a story like this one: "Long ago, my wife, Christy, drove up to a Dairy Queen drive-thru. In the passenger seat, I saw she was shaking the speaker with both hands. 'What are you doing?' I asked in astonishment. She pointed to the sign attached to it that read: ‘Shake Machine Out of Order’ ”

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https://www.theadvocate.com/baton_rouge/entertainment_life/smiley_anders/article_5ca8084c-63d4-11ea-acbd-7765a853cd2c.html

The Advocate [Baton Rouge, LA]

13 March 2020

Smiley: When good breath's not enough

Dear Smiley: While I was serving in the Air Force in Keflavik, Iceland, the squadron commander would have a "commander's call" meeting once a month with enlisted personnel for informational purposes and to hear gripes. Usually the squadron commander was a captain or higher, but this time it was a first lieutenant because no one else was available. The first item concerned complaints about a brand-new second lieutenant, fresh from basic training, who demanded we wear shined boots, shirts always tucked in, fresh haircuts, and generally look like a bunch of raw recruits. The first lieutenant advised us to bear with the new lieutenant, because "there's nothing dumber in the Air Force than a second lieutenant." From the back of the room, an airman second class, who was leaving Iceland in a couple of days, asked, "Sir, what's the second dumbest thing in the Air Force?" The beet-red-faced squadron commander stormed out of the room. Commander's call was over! -- LOUIS LOMBARDO JR.

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https://www.politico.com/news/magazine/2020/03/18/could-trump-try-to-cancel-the-2020-election-134349

Politico

18 March 2020

Could Trump Try to Cancel the 2020 Election?

People thought Nixon would do the same in 1970. It was bunk, but there’s a reason the rumors swirled.

[…] That year, political violence, combined with the age-old suspicion that Nixon’s regard for the Constitution was less than sincere, spawned a rumor that he was planning to cancel the 1972 elections. […]

Needles in Playground Sand (Wigan) – Men Fear Mosquito Nets (Malawi) – Pete Buttigieg’s Foreign Language Count

https://www.wigantoday.net/news/crime/needles-found-sticking-up-through-sand-at-fire-wrecked-wigan-children-s-play-area-1-9734516

Wigan Today [UK]

26 April 2019

Needles found sticking up through sand at fire-wrecked Wigan children's play area

Needles have been found in the sand at a Wigan children's play area shut after being torched by yobs. Nine syringes were recovered from Norley Hall playground on Lamberhead Road by Wigan Council employees. Horrifyingly the needles were placed pointing upwards, suggesting they were placed there deliberately. […]

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http://www.maravipost.com/sleeping-under-net-contributes-to-infertility-myth-still-hunting-malaria-fight-in-malawi/

The Maravi Post [Malawi]

27 April 2019

Sleeping under net contributes to infertility’ myth still hunting Malaria fight in Malawi

MCHINJI-(MaraviPost)-The myth that says sleeping under mosquito nets contributes to infertility among men in rural Malawi remains a challenge in the fight against Malaria. […] Some women confessed that their husbands still shun mosquito nets for fear of being barren. […]

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https://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2019/04/pete-buttigiegs-polygot-magic/588169/

The Atlantic

29 April 2019

Pete Buttigieg’s Foreign-Language Count Is Only Going Up

Michael Erard

Peter Buttigieg, the mayor of South Bend, Indiana, and a Democratic presidential candidate, has become famous for speaking lots of languages. Depending on the day and the media outlet, the number rises and falls. […] One important key to the myth that tends to be built up around polyglots is the vaporous quality of numbers of languages. How many languages can Buttigieg actually speak? […]

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Snopak Kidney Cooler

Conan (TBS), 23 April 2019. Comic video: “You worked hard to illegally harvest that kidney. Don’t just put it into any cooler. The Snopak Kidney Cooler is specifically designed to keep human kidneys fresh and viable until the buyer meets your price. (Can also hold soda.)”

George Washington Smoked Dope

There were many reports in the American underground press in 1970-71 that the first Presidents smoked marijuana. These stories were soon debunked (see, for example, Ronald G. Shafer, “Presidents and Pot, Or, Were Washington and Jefferson Stoned?” The Wall Street Journal, 20 October 1971, p. 1; “Did Washington Smoke Rope?” Rolling Stone, 25 November 1971, p. 6), but images of Washington holding a joint were too good to give up.

Joint Issue (East Lansing, MI), vol. 2, no. 2, Feb. 14-28, 1971, front page.

Berkeley Tribe, vol. 5, no. 25, July 30-Aug 6, 1971, p. 12.

Mike Aldrich, “Acapulco Gold.” Ann Arbor Sun, no. 26, March 2-16, 1972, p. 12.

 

“Sixth Annual Fourth of July Smoke-In at the Ellipse, Washington, D.C.” A 1975 poster depicts Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Jefferson, and George Washington smoking joints.

 

 

Madison Kaleidoscope (WI), vol. 2, no. 21, 21 October 1970, p. 10.