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