You think of leaping how you want to. I'll be thinking of it as in "tall buildings in a single bound".
Also - today is one of the many days listed as Superman's B-Day. So have a slice of cake in honor of The Man of Steel.
Film. Comics. Sci-Fi. Superheroes. Pulp. Noir. History. Superman. 20th Century Archaeology.
Showing posts with label holidays. Show all posts
Showing posts with label holidays. Show all posts
Wednesday, February 29, 2012
Happy Leap Day, People
You think of leaping how you want to. I'll be thinking of it as in "tall buildings in a single bound".
Also - today is one of the many days listed as Superman's B-Day. So have a slice of cake in honor of The Man of Steel.
Sunday, February 19, 2012
Signal Watch President's Day!: William Henry Harrison (Number 9)
This President's Day we talk our Nation's* 9th President, William Henry Harrison.
President Harrison was born in 1773 in Virginia, son of one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence. He would be elected President in 1840, and attain fame among generations of school children perusing their textbooks to be shocked at the dates next to Harrison's name, and the reputation as "the guy who died right after taking office".
Which, of course, is true. After an illustrious career as a member of the US Congress (from what was then called the Northwest Territory), Governor of the territory of Indiana and with an honorable military record, including his role as the General at the Battle of Tippecanoe with the Shawnee and his leadership during the War of 1812, Harrison would find himself nominated twice for the office of President.
During his second turn at running for office under the Whig banner, in 1840 Harrison successfully campaigned as a bit of a good old boy, played up the Tippecanoe angle, which you may recall from the "Tippecanoe and Tyler Too" campaign slogan, and did very well, especially in the electoral college.
March 4th of 1841 Harrison took office. By March 26th he fell ill with a cold which spiraled into pneumonia. Harrison died on April 4th, 1841.
For a full history of what befell Harrison and why, I invite you review this video:
In his short term in office, some which was spent ill, Harrison did not manage to achieve much other than to make appointments. He would be succeeded by his Vice President, John Tyler, most famous for being the first President to take office because the elected President had died, and for later joining and serving in the Congress of the Confederacy. He was also in office when Texas joined the United States.
Alas, poor William Henry Harrison. A colorful career as a servant to his country, repaid with a somewhat goofy campaign slogan you learned in Junior High and for becoming a cautionary tale as to why one should keep out of the rain.
*for those of us in the good 'ol US of A!
President Harrison was born in 1773 in Virginia, son of one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence. He would be elected President in 1840, and attain fame among generations of school children perusing their textbooks to be shocked at the dates next to Harrison's name, and the reputation as "the guy who died right after taking office".
Which, of course, is true. After an illustrious career as a member of the US Congress (from what was then called the Northwest Territory), Governor of the territory of Indiana and with an honorable military record, including his role as the General at the Battle of Tippecanoe with the Shawnee and his leadership during the War of 1812, Harrison would find himself nominated twice for the office of President.
During his second turn at running for office under the Whig banner, in 1840 Harrison successfully campaigned as a bit of a good old boy, played up the Tippecanoe angle, which you may recall from the "Tippecanoe and Tyler Too" campaign slogan, and did very well, especially in the electoral college.
March 4th of 1841 Harrison took office. By March 26th he fell ill with a cold which spiraled into pneumonia. Harrison died on April 4th, 1841.
For a full history of what befell Harrison and why, I invite you review this video:
In his short term in office, some which was spent ill, Harrison did not manage to achieve much other than to make appointments. He would be succeeded by his Vice President, John Tyler, most famous for being the first President to take office because the elected President had died, and for later joining and serving in the Congress of the Confederacy. He was also in office when Texas joined the United States.
Alas, poor William Henry Harrison. A colorful career as a servant to his country, repaid with a somewhat goofy campaign slogan you learned in Junior High and for becoming a cautionary tale as to why one should keep out of the rain.
*for those of us in the good 'ol US of A!
Tuesday, February 14, 2012
Dames Going Straight For the Heart
Don't worry, lonelyhearts. Some of our favorite Dames here at The Signal watch are here to wish you a happy Valentine's Day.
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| the always effervescent Ann Miller |
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| Ms. Cyd Charisse and cellophane |
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| perhaps Clara Bow needed a running start |
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| Monroe takes the direct (and AMERICAN) approach |
St. Valentine's Day (Massacre)
It ain't all roses, hearts and chocolates.
On February 14th, 1929, 7 men of the "Bugs" Moran Gang were brutally murdered by what is now believed to have been possibly Capone's gang dressed up as cops. Prior to the Massacre, Chicago had been a bit loose with their gangsters, treating them a bit like celebrities who provided jobs and booze in the era of the Volstead Act.
A bizarre but telling detail of the incident: One victim (with 14 bullets in him) was still alive when found. Asked by the cops who had done the deed, he said "Nobody shot me".
Wikipedia has a phenomenal amount of info on the gruesome crime.
On February 14th, 1929, 7 men of the "Bugs" Moran Gang were brutally murdered by what is now believed to have been possibly Capone's gang dressed up as cops. Prior to the Massacre, Chicago had been a bit loose with their gangsters, treating them a bit like celebrities who provided jobs and booze in the era of the Volstead Act.
A bizarre but telling detail of the incident: One victim (with 14 bullets in him) was still alive when found. Asked by the cops who had done the deed, he said "Nobody shot me".
Wikipedia has a phenomenal amount of info on the gruesome crime.
Monday, February 13, 2012
Happy Valentine's Day!
Happy Valentine's Day to my best girl and our dog(s).
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| this probably captures our situation a bit better |
Monday, January 16, 2012
Sunday, January 1, 2012
Who was your New Years' Kiss?
A little Casiotone for the Painfully Alone to get you started on 2012.
Saturday, December 31, 2011
Happy New Year's Eve from Me and Cyd Charisse
60 years ago, Cyd Charisse helped bring in the New Year!
Here, Ms. Charisse dances her way into New Years.
May your New Years Eve be Cyd-worthy.
Here, Ms. Charisse dances her way into New Years.
May your New Years Eve be Cyd-worthy.
Friday, December 30, 2011
Ye Compleate Santor o' Yon 2011
A final Christmas gift from us to you this year. Collected here are the many videos Santor left us all behind. Watch in amazement as Santor warms each heart with the true meaning of Christmas.
Yon foretelling o' his'n arrival
The message of preparedethness
Yon foretelling o' his'n arrival
The message of preparedethness
Tuesday, December 27, 2011
Santor's Work Ends for another year...
Santor must say good-bye for another year...
Santor hath finished his merry work for another Christmas!
Do not worry, children. Santor is with us all the year through, so long as you keep him in your hearts and your dreams and think of him when you hear a noise in the house when you believed yourself all alone... (it might just be Santor checking up on you!)
Santor will return next holiday, and the holiday after that, always with us, always watching you.
Santor hath finished his merry work for another Christmas!
Do not worry, children. Santor is with us all the year through, so long as you keep him in your hearts and your dreams and think of him when you hear a noise in the house when you believed yourself all alone... (it might just be Santor checking up on you!)
Santor will return next holiday, and the holiday after that, always with us, always watching you.
Sunday, December 25, 2011
Saturday, December 24, 2011
Superman (and I) wish you a Merry Christmas Eve!
Merry Christmas, Signal Corps!
I can think of no finer sentiment to share on this Christmas Eve than the words of the Man of Steel.
Tonight, let's be grateful for those with whom we spend the holiday, loved ones or otherwise. And I hope you were able to help out your neighbors and fellow humans here on Planet Earth.
Here at Signal Watch, we're raising a glass to you! May your Christmas Day be merry and bright!
If you're out and about, come home safely. Tell your family I said "howdy", and let's look forward to 2012 as the year where we figure it all out.
MERRY CHRISTMAS! God bless us, every one.
SW Advent Calendar Day 24
Merry Christmas Eve, Signal Corps!
I hope you've had a chance to get out and enjoy the sights and sounds of the Holidays, however you celebrate them and however they look in your town.
Like Superman, here, I get to spend Christmas Eve with the lady for whom I'd make the world spin backward. That's all I need for Christmas this year.
Have a lovely silent night.
I hope you've had a chance to get out and enjoy the sights and sounds of the Holidays, however you celebrate them and however they look in your town.
Like Superman, here, I get to spend Christmas Eve with the lady for whom I'd make the world spin backward. That's all I need for Christmas this year.
Have a lovely silent night.
Friday, December 23, 2011
Tuesday, December 20, 2011
SW Advent Calendar December 20
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| Merry Christmas from (left to right) McSteans, Santa and The League |
Santa is taking one for the team, indeed.
Also - the beard and mustache were totally real. I like to think we met the real Santa. He's at The Galleria in Houston.
Monday, December 19, 2011
It is remarkably hard to write a non-trite Christmas story
I had an idea that I would try something new this year and try to write a Christmas story. It turns out that, in the short story format, this is very hard.
Of course, the short story format is an enormous challenge to begin with, but add in the complication of the sentiment and sentimentality of Christmas, you can either go sweet and twee, or you can go dark and maybe just end up wallowing in an obvious bit of cynicism or horror that really doesn't get anyone anywhere.
One of the challenges that Hollywood faces, that I've become acutely aware of, is that the message of Christmas is a generic "believe" or "fill yourself with the spirit of Christmas", but what one is to believe, or how one defines the spirit of Christmas (or what that spirit should then encourage one to do), is never really explored.
Of course, the short story format is an enormous challenge to begin with, but add in the complication of the sentiment and sentimentality of Christmas, you can either go sweet and twee, or you can go dark and maybe just end up wallowing in an obvious bit of cynicism or horror that really doesn't get anyone anywhere.
One of the challenges that Hollywood faces, that I've become acutely aware of, is that the message of Christmas is a generic "believe" or "fill yourself with the spirit of Christmas", but what one is to believe, or how one defines the spirit of Christmas (or what that spirit should then encourage one to do), is never really explored.
Monday, December 5, 2011
SW Advent Calendar December 5: It's Krampus Day!!!
Forget Black Friday or Cyber Monday. Your Holiday season can officially begin with Krampus Day! Yes, that merry old emobdiment of terror is here for your children, just in time to remind them that being "naughty" may have grave consequences beyond making your parents buy you the XBox Santa refuses to deliver.
It's Krampus! Keepin' Christmas REAL.
Friday, December 2, 2011
Holiday Helping Hand
Hey! It's the Holidays!
It's the time of year when movies and TV tell us we learn important life lessons about the real meaning of Christmas.
This can mean family, giving, whatever TV and movies seem to say, I suppose. In the case of Die Hard, it means blowing up Alan Rickman in a spectacular fashion.
Things are rough out there, of course. Nobody is saying it isn't. But it can also be a time to step back from buying that one more $15 present and putting that money toward something that will help somebody who actually needs the money more than you need one more package under the tree to make things symmetrical.
If you give to any charity this year in the spirit of the Holidays, why not send me a message so I know what you've been up to, and I'll post a Signal Watch Holiday Honor Roll. You don't have to say how much you gave, but we'd love your name, who you gave to, and if you feel like saying so, why you gave to that organization.
You can also mention any groups that you regularly give to, especially if you have someone you give to monthly.
I'll give an example:
It's the time of year when movies and TV tell us we learn important life lessons about the real meaning of Christmas.
This can mean family, giving, whatever TV and movies seem to say, I suppose. In the case of Die Hard, it means blowing up Alan Rickman in a spectacular fashion.
Things are rough out there, of course. Nobody is saying it isn't. But it can also be a time to step back from buying that one more $15 present and putting that money toward something that will help somebody who actually needs the money more than you need one more package under the tree to make things symmetrical.
If you give to any charity this year in the spirit of the Holidays, why not send me a message so I know what you've been up to, and I'll post a Signal Watch Holiday Honor Roll. You don't have to say how much you gave, but we'd love your name, who you gave to, and if you feel like saying so, why you gave to that organization.
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| Superman helps out with more than a donation |
You can also mention any groups that you regularly give to, especially if you have someone you give to monthly.
I'll give an example:
I give monthly to Capital Area Food Bank, which provides food to local families in need.If you have an organization you give to (that I won't find creepy), just send it our way via our email or click the contact tag on this website.
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