Zoey: Junior Special Agent

Here's the story about how Zoey earned her Junior Special Agent badge.

On August 16th some US Fish and Wildlife agents I know were working a case involving a couple of people trying to sell the pelt of an endangered tiger.  The sellers were extremely paranoid and wanted to meet with the undercover agent beforehand and suggested a 10pm meeting.  I suppose they were thinking that federal agents wouldn't want to work late on a weekday.  Zoey's dad happened to be the undercover agent and, when he came home for dinner before the scheduled meeting, Zoey volunteered to go along.  She figured her harmless physique and pink collar and leash set would help diffuse any suspicion and that she could use her nose and not-so-sharp vision to smell and see any tigers in the area.  Besides, she really loves an evening car ride!

Zoey's dad thought the idea was pretty good.  These sellers were very suspicious and were very knowledgeable of the law and the fact that undercover agents were out there looking for this sort of thing.  In addition to taking two additional agents for backup and additional cover, Zoey was selected as a member of the team.

Dressed smartly in her pink collar, black ninja harness, and pink leash, Zoey bravely trotted into the meeting with the suspects along with her two agent partners.  When the tiger pelt was layed out on the floor for the agents to inspect, Zoey marched onto it and sniffed it to be sure it was genuine.  As the suspects began to quiz the agents about their identity and challenge their cover, the agents referred to Zoey as sure evidence that they were cops.  After all, everyone knows that law enforcement relies on Shih tzu tiger sniffing K9 units.  Zoey did her part by looking at them with her googly eyes and round, muppet-like face.  The suspects were disarmed and confused and allowed the agents to change the subject.  They tried a few more times but, each time, the agents used Zoey as evidence that their cover story was true.  In the end, the suspects agreed to sell the tiger pelt to the agents.

The deal was struck the next day and both suspects were busted as they exchanged the pelt for cash.  One of the suspects thought that throwing the tiger pelt into the bushes as takedown agents approached would save him.  It didn't.

Announcing my Candidacy

Hello Ladies and Gentlemen!  Today I am pleased to announce my candidacy for President of the United States or, should I say, canidacy?  In the coming weeks and months, and over the next year, I will be presenting my platform, announcing a running mate, and generally speaking to you about important issues facing our country and the next President of the United States.  Which will be me.

- Charlie

Final Weekly Post

Happy Presidents' Day Weekend!  We've come full circle and it's been exactly one year since my first posting of a historical photo.  Remember the great photo of me and Abe Lincoln sharing secret mental communication on the topic of cookies?

A lot of people have commented that they really like the above graphic.  If you're so inclined, you can buy my officially licensed products by clicking on either of the links below.  T-shirts, postcards, note cards, stickers, and more!

Charlie's Stuff

Another Place to Buy Charlie's Stuff plus some other cool graphics including Bigfoot stuff.

Thanks for following the blog!

- Charlie

King Tut and Mummies

On February 16, 1923 -- 88 years ago this week -- archaeologists in Egypt opened the tomb of King Tut.  Whoa!  Scary!  I never would have opened the tomb for fear that a mummy might emerge and chase me down the block.  On the other hand, if I grabbed a loose piece of the mummy's outfit and ran like the wind, he would unwind like a roll of toilet paper.  That would be funny!  I'm not saying I've done that with the toilet paper but, if I had, it would have been funny.  Above, you can see one of the recently discovered tablets of the Egyptian Rosetta Stone.  The English translation for the distinctive symbol in the third column  means, literally, "totally awesome."

Can you believe we've already come to the end of one year since I started my weekly blog?  As promised, I've brought you interesting photos from history, or just photos I like, every week for one full year.  Next week will be the last of my weekly blogs.

- Charlie

Super Bowl XLV

Hi football fans!  Ugh!  I must say that although I like to run around at top speed, I am not much of a professional sports fan.  If there is any redeeming quality to it, aside from getting to run around at top speed, it's that it can be watched on TV while sprawled out on the couch.  Nonetheless, I thought this week's blog should note the victory of the Green Bay Packers over the Pittsburgh Steelers in this year's Super Bowl.  As you can see in the above photo, I briefly played for Green Bay but was cut because I couldn't resist darting into the middle before the snap, grabbing the ball, and taking off.  There might be some fast guys on the Green Bay team but no one could ever catch me.  No one!  I am fast.

- Charlie

Constructing America and OSHA

Whoa!  Were these guys crazy or what?!  No hard hats, no safety lines, just a pair of coveralls and a metal lunchbox.  These were real men.  Real stupid men but real men nonetheless.

- Charlie

National Geographic

The original cover for the March 2008 issue of National Geographic magazine was supposed to look like this.  Unfortunately, "Where are my f-ing cookies?" was not what the blue bloods at Nat Geo considered 'world-class.'  So, instead, they found some border collie for the final cover.  Uh, yeah, if you want a guy who will do whatever you say and say whatever you want and pose for nothing then, sure, go ahead and get yourself a border collie.

Coincidentally, this week marks the 123rd anniversary of the founding of the National Geographic Society.

- Charlie

Prohibition: Just another word for No!

On January 16, 1919 the federal law prohibiting the sale and possession of alcohol took effect.  The law helped to create some of this country's greatest organized crime personalities and their equally great law enforcement foes.  Need I mention Al Capone and Eliot Ness?  Pictured above, two law enforcement officers look over confiscated distilling equipment while a small little scroungy dog, just recovering from pneumonia, chews on a rope toy among the stills.  Below, a team of stalwart law enforcement officers, and their steadfast pooch, stand in front of haul of confiscated illegal moonshine.

- Charlie



Charlie Strikes Back

I don't care that he came around at the last second, Darth Vader was a bad father.

- Charlie

Jailhouse Rockin ... at Camp

As you know, I missed last week's blog because of the holidays.  I spent them at 'camp.'  I love camp but sometimes my rowdy self gets a little carried away.  Funny story, while I was at camp I managed to get out of my kennel.  The next morning the camp counselors found me running around among the other kennels getting my fellow campers all riled up.  What they didn't know was that we were actually rehearsing for a little jail break number for talent night.  We based it loosely on this scene from the 1957 Elvis classic, Jailhouse Rock.  Note how one of the backup dancers for Elvis managed to sneak me a little scritch during one of the routines.

- Charlie

Vacation is Fun

As you can see, I missed this week's blog.  I'm enjoying the holiday vacation and, well, I forgot.  I'll be back next week to ring in the New Year and get back to the weekly updates.

- Charlie

'Twas the NIght Before Christmas

'Twas the night before Christmas and not a creature was ... sleeping.  My Buddy Austin and I plan to wait up all night for Santa to arrive.  Although we plan to eat all of his cookies ourselves, we will leave him an icy cold Coca-Cola to quench his thirst.

Did you know that historically Santa Claus was depicted wearing all different colors of suits?  It's true, sometimes he would be depicted wearing a blue suit.  Sometimes a green one.  Sometimes a red one.  Believe it or not, the red suited Santa Claus didn't become a fixture until Coca-Cola started featuring Santa Claus in its yearly Christmas advertising.  In keeping with its logo colors, Coke settled on a red suit for Santa in all of its artwork and promotional materials.  The first Coca-Cola print advertisements featuring a red suited Santa started showing up as early as 1936.  Ever since, Santa Claus has exclusively been depicted in the familiar red suit.  Product saturation at its finest!

- Charlie

Stayin Alive!

Thirty-three years ago this week, on December 14, 1977, the movie Saturday Night Fever premiered in theaters throughout the country.  The movie ushered in the era of disco music, leisure suits, polyester, and bell bottom pants.  'Nuff said.

The movie also catapulted John Travolta from TV sitcom star to instant movie star.  Unfortunately, it also typecast him and he really didn't find meaningful movie roles again until 1994, when he starred in Pulp Fiction.

So, to celebrate this milestone, break out a little Bee Gees or KC and the Sunshine Band on your iPod and don't forget that I'm your boogie dog.

- Charlie

Bumbles Bounce

Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer premiered on television on December 6, 1964.  Hard to believe it was so long ago but isn't it nice that this great show endures as an entertaining part of our holiday season so many years later?  Pictured here are Yukon Cornelius, his team of mighty sled dogs, and Hermey, the elf who wanted to be a dentist.  You might recall that Yukon Cornelius and his team valiantly took on the Abominable Snowman (aka The Bumble) and nearly lost their lives when the whole crew went over a cliff during a nail biting on-screen fracas.  Fortunately, as we have learned since, Bumbles bounce!

Are you ready for the holidays?  Keep your eye out for Bumbles.

- Charlie

A Very Brady Moment

Another television show I like a lot is The Brady Bunch.  The show, which has become a cultural icon of the 1970's, premiered in 1969 and ran until 1974.  It lives a long and continuous life in syndication.  As you know, I live in Los Angeles - home of movie stars and swimming pools.  Florence Henderson, who played Carol Brady on the show, was spotted by my parents at the Getty Museum on Saturday afternoon!  Although I was the original choice for the Brady dog, Tiger, it was soon evident to Sherwood Schwartz that my character would dominate.  As he said, "Charlie, the show's about the kids and we just can't have you stealing all the limelight."  Just like that, I was cut from the cast.

Watching The Brady Bunch was a fun thing to do back in the day when the family would gather around the television set to watch something on one of the three network channels.  There were no VCR's and no cable.  So, you had to be in front of the TV on the right night at the right time or you'd have to wait for reruns in the Spring.

- Charlie

Thanksgiving

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!  This is a great time of year to get together with people you love and have a good time with them over good food.  Even if you can't be with your family or friends this year, don't forget to think about them and be thankful that they are in your life.

- Charlie

A Golden Age

On November 17, 1553, Elizabeth I, daughter of Henry VIII, was crowned Queen of England.  Thereafter, Queen Elizabeth presided over what would become known as the Elizabethan Age.  During this time, England's power greatly increased after it defeated the Spanish fleet and an attempted invasion of England backed by the Pope.  Queen Elizabeth would go on to sponsor English exploration of the world, including North America.

Ack!  This turtle-neck itches like crazy!

- Charlie

The Original King

The original movie version of King Kong appeared in theaters in 1933!  In this scene, Kong comes out of the jungle to collect a sacrifice from the frightened island natives.  Scary!

- Charlie

Dewey Defeats Truman ... Not!

At the crack of dawn on November 3, 1948, in an effort to be the first newspaper to announce the defeat of President Harry S. Truman in the 1948 presidential election, the Chicago Daily Tribune (now just the Chicago Tribune) announced that New York Governor Thomas Dewey had won the presidential election.  There was only one small problem.  Truman won!  Oops.  Just as Harry held up the paper in a moment of presidential hilarity, I leaped up and grabbed it.  I had a sense that it might be a collector's item someday.

- Charlie

Decathalon

In 1976, Bruce Jenner won the Decathalon at the Olympics and set a new world record by scoring 8,176 total points after the ten events.  (I had 8,177 points but was disqualified when my routine urine sample returned positive for dog.)  The Decathalon consists of ten track and field events.  "Deca", meaning ten, and "thlon" meaning ... uh ... things.  Apparently, someone from General Mills was at the games and quickly painted this shot at the finish line of one of the events.

- Charlie

I Shall Return

On October 20, 1944, General Douglas MacArthur, a US five star general and Supreme Commander of the Allied Forces in the Pacific, triumphantly returned to the Island of Leyte in the Philippines after US forces retook the island from the Japanese.  Years earlier, in 1942, MacArthur was in charge of US military forces in the Philippines which, at the time, was part of the US Commonwealth.  As an invading force of Japanese soldiers overwhelmed MacArthur's defenses, he was ordered by President Franklin Roosevelt to leave the Philippines.  In a radio address to the Filipino people, MacArthur vowed that he would return to the Philippines.

Whether it's the waves of Southern California or on the beaches of the Philippines, its super fun to wade in the surf.

- Charlie

Man or Monster?

October 1967.  Roger Patterson and Bob Gimlin set out on horseback along the Bluff Creek drainage north of Eureka, California on a mission to capture images of Bigfoot on film.  As luck would have it, they found him or, er, her.  Forty-three years later, the short film captured by Roger Patterson remains some of the most controversial film footage ever produced.  Among those who have claimed the film is a fake -- a man in an ape suit -- no one has been able to reproduce the realism in the Patterson film.  Personally, I'm a believer.  Have you ever seen any movies made in the 1960's that included a gorilla or other monster that looked this real?  Personally, I'm hard pressed to believe that a couple of goofs with a rented 16 mm movie camera could have put together a gorilla suit that looked more realistic than what Hollywood was producing at the time.

Patterson went to his deathbed asserting that the film shows a real Bigfoot and, even today, Bob Gimlin claims that although it is possible that Patterson fooled him, he was never part of any hoax.

- Charlie

Hippies!

The Beatles released their album Abbey Road in October 1969.  "The Beatles."  "The Fab Four."  Whatever.  I know the perfect word to describe these characters ... Hippies!  Look at that guy I just passed.  He's not wearing any shoes or socks!

- Charlie

The Great Debate

The first televised debate between two candidates for US president took place on September 26, 1960.  Running as a Democrat, John F. Kennedy was considered the underdog against then Vice President Richard Nixon, who'd long served in Congress as a Republican and who spent eight years as vice president to the popular Dwight Eisenhower.  The debate demonstrated how awkward and impersonal Nixon was, especially compared to the charismatic Kennedy.  Interestingly, most people who saw the debate on television believed that Kennedy presented as the better candidate while most who listened to it on the radio felt that Nixon presented better.  That November, Kennedy narrowly defeated Nixon in, at the time, the closest presidential election in US history.  Of course, the drama and closeness of the 1960 election was later upstaged by the election of 2000 between George H.W. Bush and Al Gore.

Nixon was an all-around loser in the early 1960's.  After being defeated for the presidency, Nixon went home to California and attempted to run for governor in 1962.  He lost to Democrat Gerald Brown, Sr.  Although Nixon lost these two important elections, he would go on to win the US presidential election of 1968 and the rest, as they say, is history.

All I can say is that I have no idea how Nixon ever became president.  Seems like that's when a lot of our troubles, dirty conservative politics, and party rancor really got going.  If Nixon were alive today, I would not play with him.

- Charlie

Charlie's Island

Gilligan's Island is a hilarious show.  You know, if I am ever marooned on a deserted island, I really hope my buddy Austin is there with me.  The only bummer would be that we would always fight for the top hammock!

- Charlie

Escape from Berlin

In 1961, East Berlin, then under the firm grip of the Soviet Union and deeply involved in the Cold War with the West, closed the border between East Berlin (under Soviet control) and West Berlin (under the protection of the US, Great Britain, and France.)  The Soviets and East Germany, tired of their socialist citizens defecting to West Berlin and West Germany, decided to close the border and to start building a wall separating the divided city.  Many East Berliners wisely made a run for it.  Many were shot dead.  This famous photo was taken just a few days after the border was closed and construction on the wall began.  A 19-year old East German soldier drops his rifle and makes a run for it.  Like I've always said, "Running sets you free!"  Whee!

- Charlie

Uncle Sam = U.S.

As crazy as this might sound, it was on September 7, 1813 that "Uncle Sam" came to be synonymous with the United States.  How?  Well, according to my research, there was a character named Samuel Wilson, a meat packer who supplied beef to the US Army during the War of 1812.  Allegedly, Wilson would stamp "U.S." on the barrels of meat intending it to stand for "United States" but the soldiers in the field started to refer to it as "Uncle Sam's meat."  Voila!  A nickname for a whole country was born.  In September 1961, the US Congress recognized Samuel Wilson as the person responsible for creating the nickname that stuck.  I wonder if Wilson or any of those soldiers ever imagined that Uncle Sam would have an African American president.

- Charlie

Welcome to the Future

Can you believe that the first ATM was installed on September 2, 1969!?  I can't.  I didn't realize primitive societies used ATM's.  It must have been something less than an instant hit because the people I know don't recall using an ATM until around 1983 or 1984, which, as far as I know, is still a time when primitive peoples were hunting and gathering on their way to and from work.

I think I need my own ATM card.

- Charlie

Having a Dream

On August 28, 1963, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. gave his now famous speech in which he outlined his dream for a better America.  Look at all those people!

- Charlie

Hawaii Five-O

This week marks the anniversary of Hawaii becoming the 50th state.  President Dwight Eisenhower signed the proclamation admitting Hawaii to the United States on August 21, 1959.  On July 4, 1960, the current US Flag, consisting of five rows of six stars and four rows of five stars, flew for the first time.  The US Postal Service issued this commemorative stamp in 2009.

Hawaii is well known for its friendly people, beautiful beaches, and great surfing.  I am something of a surfer myself and frequently visit local Southern California beaches for a little body surfing and sun worship.

Mahalo to Hawaii for joining the Union and, until next week ... Aloha!

- Charlie

Don't Let the Door Hit You on the Ass on the Way Out

On August 9, 1974, Richard Nixon left the White House after resigning the presidency of the United States.  All crooks eventually get their comeupance.  Good riddance!

- Charlie

Not Your Average Nautilus

In 1954, Walt Disney introduced the moviegoing world to the Jules Verne story 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea.  Unusually dark for a Disney movie, the story stayed true to the vengeful character Captain Nemo.  In this scene, Captain Nemo, Charlie, Ned Land, and Consiel, listen to Professor Aronnax explain something interesting over dinner aboard Nemo's submarine the Nautilus.  Little do Nemo's guests know that it was Nemo who deliberately sank the warship they were traveling on or that they would soon battle a giant squid.  Pictured from left to right are James Mason, who played Nemo, Charlie, Kirk Douglas, Peter Lorre, and Paul Lukas.

The Nautilus was a real submarine and was the first nuclear powered sub in the US Navy's fleet.  On August 3, 1958, the Nautilus became the first vessel to complete an undersea voyage to the geographic North Pole.  On that voyage, the captain was US Navy Captain Hyman Rickover.  Whether or not any squids were battled remains classified.

- Charlie

US Postal Service

The US Postal Service was created on July 26, 1775.  I hate them.

The USPS was created by the Continental Congress while the United States were still just a bunch of colonies rebelling against Great Britain.  Good old Benjamin Franklin was appointed the first Postmaster General.  Interestingly, Franklin had prior experience in the job as he previously served as postmaster general for the British colonies in North America.  He was fired by the British because of his revolutionary tendencies.

My postal carrier is named Rolanda.  I don't trust her and have been known to violently throw myself against the window when she comes to my house.  I can't stand the way the Postal Service has gotten away from a clean cut look and uniform.  Have you seen postal carriers lately?!  Untucked shirts, constantly on their cell phones, wearing iPods ... Sheesh!  Ben Franklin is probably rolling over in his grave.

Does anyone remember those cool little postal Jeeps that postal carriers drove in the 1960's and 70's?  They were true Jeeps, known as the "DJ-5".  They were not four-wheel drive and had right hand drive so the postal carrier could easily pop your mail into your box.

- Charlie

One Giant Leap!

That's one small step for man, one giant leap for a small dog.  I don't know why Neil Armstrong messed that up when, on July 20, 1969, he became the first human to set foot on the Moon and uttered a similar but slightly inaccurate statement over the radio to Houston.  This iconic photo was taken of Armstrong's boot print after he descended the ladder of the lunar lander.

Most people do not know that Neil Armstrong did, in fact, make a mistake in how he said those eternal words.  During the 240,000 mile trip to the Moon in Apollo 11, along with his fellow crew members Edwin Aldrin and Michael Collins, Armstrong had plenty of time to rehearse his planned speech.  It was supposed to go, "That's one small step for a man, one giant leap for mankind."  Armstrong later made fun of himself for the mistake and said that he was so excited about stepping on to the Moon's surface that he flubbed his lines.  No matter, though, the words were still profound and everyone knew what he meant.  Subsequent generations still know what he meant.

This week is also important because it will bring the birthdays of two of the beautiful ladies in my life who surround and pamper me.

- Charlie

Dam!

Eighty years ago this week, construction began on Hoover Dam.  It was completed by 1935, less than five years after the project was started.  The dam was named after Herbert Hoover, the President of the United States when construction of the dam began but it was Franklin Roosevelt who dedicated the dam upon its completion.  Huge public works projects, like Hoover Dam, played a major role in providing employment and economic stimulation during the Great Depression.

The view from the top of the dam is spectacular!

- Charlie

Independence Day - 1776

July 4, 1776, a long time ago, the 13 British colonies in North America declared independence demanding, in part, that they have the right to enjoy bar-b-ques without interference from the crown.  Very few people know that the middle drummer in this painting, an older gent who'd lost most of his hearing firing muskets at the French during the French and Indian War, could never stay on beat with the other drummer and the fifer.  If you look closely, you can see the frustration on the younger drummer's face.

Happy 4th!

- Charlie

Thank you. Thank you very much. For kicking me in the head!

Elvis was the King of Rock and Roll, we all know that.  Most of us know that he also loved Cadillacs.  But, did you know that he dabbled in the martial arts?  That's right, Elvis 'The Pelvis' Presley studied martial arts and eventually earned a black belt.  His training started in the US Army, when he was stationed in Germany.  After returning to the US, his martial arts interests continued and he eventually started studying American Kenpo Karate under the tutelage of martial arts legend Ed Parker.  Eventually, Elvis even earned additional black belt degrees but his ultimate lasting skills are debatable.  You can see Elvis in action on YouTube so I'll let you be the judge.  Regardless of just how good, or not good, Elvis was at Kenpo, he did put his own mark on the traditional martial arts uniform, or "gi".  He wore some of the most outlandish karate uniforms ever seen in Memphis!

I know some people who do martial arts and I'm all for it as long as it's done outside.  If I catch anyone doing martial arts inside the house, like when Elvis went crazy on his entourage in his stocking feet, I bark until they stop.  Check out the guy on the far right.  He looks less than impressed.

- Charlie

Trains, Planes, and Automobiles

Given the current situation in the Gulf of Mexico, where thousands of barrels of crude oil are spewing  from the ground on a daily basis, seemingly unchecked, I thought I'd take a moment to reflect on the completion of the Transcontinental Railroad.  Completed in 1869, the transcontinental railroad was a monumental task that resulted in a continuous rail link across the United States from east to west.  What, you ask, does that have to do with oil spewing into the Gulf of Mexico?  Well, I'm glad you brought that up.  I can't help but wonder how this country might have been different if we had continued to invest in efficient regional and national railroads instead of embracing the carfurious lifestyle.  (Carfurious.  I just made that word up.)  Can you imagine the excitement and ease of a 'US Rail Pass' a-la Europe's 'Euro Pass?'  I hate to knock cars because gosh knows I love them but if the last 70 years had not been so car-centric, we might not have gotten ourselves into so much trouble by being tempted to drill baby drill!

- Charlie

Va-Va-Va-Voom!

Reading in a cozy bed.  It doesn't get much better than that!

- Charlie

Just 'Twain You and Me

Mark once wrote, "A man who carries a cat by the tail learns something he can learn in no other way." Truer words were never put to paper. Sometimes I run into cats on my nightly walks and when they stand their ground in front of me, I bark like a girl and run away.

Mark Twain had a great moustache!

- Charlie

Memorial Day

Happy Memorial Day!  A nice three-day weekend to honor US veterans like these valiant Marines raising the Stars and Stripes over Iwo Jima on February 23, 1945.

National Bike Month

Ha-ha!  If only Albert could have multiplied the mass of his bicycle by the speed of light squared, he might have had the energy to escape me!!

- Charlie

Together and Equal

On May 17, 1954, the US Supreme Court unanimously rejected its previous ruling that public school education could be separate and equal.  In deciding Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka the highest court in the land mandated that schools throughout the nation be desegregated.  After initial turmoil in the reluctant southern states (surprise, surprise) the public school systems throughout the US began massive efforts to integrate public education.  I, for one, think that mandatory busing was one of the greatest endeavors this nation ever undertook.  Only by sharing daily experiences and visiting different neighborhoods will our children learn not to fear or hate other people simply because of the color of their skin.

Thurgood Marshall was the lead attorney who argued the case on behalf of a group of children who had been denied enrollment in certain public schools based on their skin color.  Oliver Brown, of Topeka, Kansas, was one of the appellants.  Interestingly, Thurgood Marshall would go on to become one of the most influential and celebrated justices on the US Supreme Court.  To boot, he was the first African American to serve on the Supreme Court.

-- Charlie

Happy Mother's Day!

I know, it's technically a Hallmark Holiday but this is one that is well deserved.  After all, without our moms, where would we be?  This is a photo of my favorite mom at Lakeside Amusement Park in Denver during the summer of 1964.  What a fun mom!

-- Charlie

VE Day!

That's right, this week will mark the 65th anniversary of "VE Day!" Victory in Europe, on May 8, 1945, brought an end to the fighting against Nazi Germany during World War II. At the time, Dwight Eisenhower was the Supreme Allied Commander in Europe and he is seen here examining artwork plundered by the Nazi's during their invasion and occupation of their neighbors on the European continent. Also with "Ike" are General Omar Bradley (left) and General George Patton (center, just behind Ike and me.)

-- Charlie

Washington Becomes President!

On April 30, 1789, George Washington took his oath of office as the first President of the United States. He captured his thoughts on becoming the first president when he wrote, "As the first of every thing, in our situation will serve to establish a Precedent, it is devoutly wished on my part, that these precedents may be fixed on true principles."

President Washington retired from politics after his second term in office. As with many departing presidents, I often wish we had followed their advice. In his farewell address, Washington urged his countrymen to forswear excessive party spirit and geographical distinctions.

Although they were fashionable in his day, Washington never liked powdered wigs and rarely, if ever, wore one. I don't like wigs on men either.

Thanks to Molly for another great suggestion!

-- Charlie

Buffalo Bill

Buffalo Bill Cody (center), what a character! He got his name as just one of many who participated in the mass slaughter of our nation's wild bison herds. These herds once numbered over 100 million animals and they roamed the west in great north-south migrations. The herds and their activities supported a complex chain of life that included prairie roaming wolves and grizzly bears. Unfortunately, by the late 1800's, people like Buffalo Bill had nearly wiped them out.

Bill was also a famous scout for the US Army and received the Congressional Medal of Honor for his service in 1872. While a scout, Bill cautioned the government to never make a promise to Native Americans that it did not intend to keep. (Too bad the government didn't listen.) In his later years, Buffalo Bill formed a traveling "Wild West" show. Understanding the folly of his ways with the buffalo, he purchased some of the last remaining bison, included them in his show, and, thus, protected them from slaughter. (But, don't be fooled, it was really the formation of Yellowstone National Park that saved the wild American bison.) Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show gave starts to notable performers of the day such as Annie Oakley. The show also provided odd jobs for some washed up western heroes including "Wild Bill" Hickock. Hickock was so bad at delivering lines on stage that he was quickly dropped from the show but parted with his friend Buffalo Bill on good terms.

Buffalo Bill died in 1917 and is buried near Golden, Colorado.

-- Charlie

Thank Goodness for FDR!

On April 12, 1945, Franklin Delano Roosevelt, 32nd President of the United States, died. "FDR" served as President of the United States beginning in 1933 and won four consecutive reelections. He's best known, of course, for guiding the United States through both the Great Depression and World War II but he did other great things for this nation. FDR was also a champion of Social Security and survived accusations that he was a socialist simply because he wanted all Americans to have a secure and happy life all the way through and beyond retirement.

Roosevelt was also a polio survivor but went to great lengths to conceal his disabilities from the American public. He was almost always photographed sitting down, either in a chair or in a vehicle. This was because he normally used leg braces and crutches, or a wheelchair, to get around. Yes, he was related to Theodore "Teddy" Roosevelt, the 26th President of the United States. Teddy was FDR's fifth cousin.

Many people do not know that FDR loved riding in cars, just like me! He actually owned one of the first cars modified to operate with hand controls specifically for the disabled.

-- Charlie

Surrender! I Bring You Indoor Plumbing.

On April 9, 1865, General Robert E. Lee (center right) surrendered his Confederate Army to General Ulysses S. Grant (center left) at Appomattox Courthouse, Virginia. The actual surrender took place inside the McClean House. Thus would end the US Civil War -- with over 630,000 casualties, one of America's most deadly conflicts. The casualty rates from some Civil War battles have never been exceeded, even in the United States' modern history.

The McClean House did not have indoor plumbing so one had to make do. All that talking, chivalry, pomp and circumstance! My bladder just wouldn't hold out any longer.

Special thanks to Molly for suggesting this week's blog entry!

-- Charlie