50 Amateur Fencers vs 3 Olympians
A Japanese TV program pit three Olympians against 50 amateur fencers. You’ll be surprised who wins.
Or maybe not.
Category: AAA Off The Internet
Memes mostly
Napoleon Salvation
This Off the Internet for April 30 is by Bill Federer of American Minute and comes courtesy of Carris Kocher.
The size of the U.S. doubled on April 30, 1803, with the Louisiana Purchase.
Nearly a million square miles at less than three cents an acre – it was the greatest real estate deal in history!
The Louisiana Territory had belonged to France since 1699, being named after Louis XIV, ‘the Sun King’, the longest reigning monarch in European history.
Louis XIV had a global empire stretching from the Far East to the Caribbean, Africa to America.
Centralizing power, Louis XIV was reputed to have said “L’État, c’est moi” (“I am the state”) and “It is legal because I wish it.”
His grandson, Louis XV, lost the French and Indian War in 1763, leaving Britain to control of the French Territory east of the Mississippi.
As the war was ending, France ceded the Louisiana Territory west of the Mississippi to Spain in the secret Treaty of Fontainebleau, 1762, to keep Britain from getting it.
France’s next King, Louis XVI, sent his navy during the Revolutionary War to help America win the Battle of Yorktown and gain independence from Britain.
Ironically, France’s accumulated enormous war debt weakened the monarchy.
The French Revolution began in 1789, and on January 21, 1793, a mob beheaded 38-year-old Louis XVI.
A Reign of Terror began in France with 40,000 beheaded in Paris by the Committee of Public Safety, and hundreds of thousands killed across France who refused to embrace the new secular government.
Out of this chaos, Napoleon staged a coup d’état in 1799 and installed himself as First Consul of France.
Napoleon pressured Spain to sign the secret Treaty of San Ildefonso in 1800, giving the Louisiana Territory back to France.
In 1802, Jefferson sent James Monroe and Robert Livingston to France to purchase land in New Orleans to dock ships.
Needing cash to fight Britain and the other European countries, Napoleon offered to sell the entire 828,000 square miles of Louisiana Territory to the United States for $15 million dollars.
President Thomas Jefferson agreed to the purchase and sent Lewis and Clark to explore it.
Not everyone in America was happy. The State of Massachusetts threatened to secede from the Union, arguing that the adding of so large a territory would dilute the influence of existing States.
Jefferson brokered a compromise with Daniel Webster and Henry Clay, commenting in his Second Inaugural Address, March 4, 1805:
“I know that the acquisition of Louisiana has been disapproved by some from a candid apprehension that the enlargement of our territory would endanger the union, but who can limit the extent to which the Federative principle may operate effectively?”
The rush to turn the Louisiana Purchase into new States, either slave or free, was a factor leading up to the Civil War.
Another contributing factor to Napoleon selling the Louisiana Territory was the slave rebellion in Haiti.
Christopher Columbus discovered Haiti, calling the island Hispanola, with the capital city of Santo Domingo named for Columbus’ father, Dominic.
The French took half of the Island in the year 1660, and calling it Saint-Domingue, and later Haiti.
It was one of the wealthiest colonies in the world, producing sugar, indigo, cotton and coffee.
Plantations deplorably used slave labor.
While the French Revolution abolished slavery in France, they let it continue in Haiti.
Slaves revolted from 1791-1804, with tens of thousands of French, Mulattos, Blacks, and even Polish, dying with horrible brutality on all sides.
After losing Haiti, France wanted another tropical colony so Napoleon invaded Egypt, 1798-1801.
Napoleon’s fear that Haiti’s slave rebellion might spread to the Louisiana Territory was a contributing factor in his rush to sell it.
During his career, Napoleon fought in over 100 battles conquering large areas of Europe.
When Napoleon put his brother Joseph, a future resident of New Jersey, on Spain’s throne in 1808, Venezuela declared independence in 1810, followed by Central American countries of Chili, Argentina, and eventually Mexico.
On June 23, 1812, Napoleon invaded Russia with nearly a half million men. Six months later he retreated with less than 50,000.
This disastrous loss forced him to abdicate the throne and he was exiled to the Mediterranean Island of Elba.
Napoleon escaped February 26, 1815, and returned to rule France for 100 days.
After losing the Battle of Waterloo, June 18, 1815, Napoleon was permanently banished to the tiny island of St. Helena in the South Atlantic.
The Napoleonic Wars (1803-1815) had resulted in an estimated 6 million deaths from battle and related diseases, starvation and exposure.
On the island of St. Helena, Napoleon began to reflect on his life and even began reading the Bible.
A few years before dying at the age of 52, Napoleon commented to General H.G. Bertrand, as recorded in “On St. Helena,” 1816:
“The Gospel possesses a secret virtue, a mysterious efficacy, a warmth which penetrates and soothes the heart. One finds in meditating upon it that which one experiences in contemplating the heavens.
The Gospel is not a book; it is a living being, with an action, a power, which invades everything that opposes its extension. Behold it upon this table, this book surpassing all others (here the Emperor solemnly placed his hand upon it):
I never omit to read it, and every day with new pleasure. Nowhere is to be found such a series of beautiful ideas, and admirable moral maxims, which pass before us like the battalions of a celestial army…The soul can never go astray with this book for its guide…”
Napoleon continued:
“Everything in Christ astonishes me. His spirit overawes me, and His will confounds me. Between Him and whoever else in the world there is no possible term of comparison; He is truly a Being by Himself. His ideas and His sentiments, the truth which He announces, His manner of convincing, are not explained either by human organization or by the nature of things.
Truth should embrace the universe. Such is Christianity, the only religion which destroys sectional prejudices, the only one which proclaims the unity and the absolute brotherhood of the whole human family, the only one which is purely spiritual; in fine, the only one which assigns to all, without distinction, for a true country, the bosom of the Creator, God.”
Napoleon concluded:
“Christ proved that He was the Son of the Eternal by His disregard of time. All His doctrines signify one only and the same thing-eternity. What a proof of the divinity of Christ! With an empire so absolute, he has but one single end – the spiritual melioration of individuals, the purity of the conscience, the union to that which is true, the holiness of the soul…
Not only is our mind absorbed, it is controlled; and the soul can never go astray with this book for its guide. Once master of our spirit, the faithful Gospel loves us. God even is our friend, our father, and truly our God. The mother has no greater care for the infant whom she nurses…”
Napoleon ended by telling General H.G. Bertrand: “If you do not perceive that Jesus Christ is God, very well: then I did wrong to make you a general.”
Visit BillLawrence Dittos for Napoleon Salvation
Ike Would Not Let Forget
This Off the Internet is courtesy of Patricia Keevill.
It is a matter of history that when the Supreme Commander of the Allied Forces, General Dwight Eisenhower, found the victims of the death camps he ordered all possible photographs to be taken, and for the German people from surrounding villages to be ushered through the camps and even made to bury the dead.
He did this because he said in words to this effect:
‘Get it all on record now – get the films – get the witnesses – because somewhere down the road of history some bastard will get up and say that this never happened’
Recently, the UK debated whether to remove The Holocaust from its school curriculum because it ‘offends’ the Muslim population which claims it never occurred It is not removed as yet.. However, this is a frightening portent of the fear that is gripping the world and how easily each country is giving into it.
It is now more than 60 years after the Second World War in Europe ended. This e-mail is being sent as a memorial chain, in memory of the, six million Jews, 20 million Russians, 10 million Christians, and 1,900 Catholic priests Who were ‘murdered, raped, burned, starved, beaten, experimented on and humiliated’ while many in the world looked the other way!
Now, more than ever, with Iran , among others, claiming the Holocaust to be ‘a myth,’ it is imperative to make sure the world never forgets.
Easter Liberty Message
These message regarding liberty for Easter 2014 comes from Len Ritchey of CitizenControlledTaxation.com and submitted courtesy of Carris Kocher.
Easter Symbolizes Liberty as much as any freedom movement ever promoted Liberty. Liberty is attacked in Earth’s four corners, while billions of people strive to have it foremost in their lives. People protest despotic authority; it responds with lawful force.
“We, the People . . . United States of America.”
U.S. Constitution
Liberty Connotes Choice. Despotic authoritarians use force of law to narrow people’s choices, to constrain their options within ideological boundaries. Easter’s message promises fruits from Liberty’s opportunities. Oppressors fear Liberty’s power.
“We, the American People” live under commonwealth, state, and federal Constitutions framed to extend Liberty to every American. These Constitutions are interpreted by power-seeking people as license to supervise their fellow citizens’ behavior, not protect their Liberty – ability to choose.
“The federal government is acknowledged by all to be one of enumerated powers.”
Chief Justice John Marshall
Liberty, As Epitomized By Easter’s message, is self-determination. Constitutions, while expressing Liberty, can’t be expected to deliver Liberty. No Constitution ever shouldered a weapon in Liberty’s defense. Resolute, freedom-minded, proactive sovereign citizens deliver Liberty.
“The chance of his being wiser than all his neighbors together is still smaller.”
Thomas Macaulay
People Intending To Live In Liberty do not allow legislators – or other public officials within These United States of America, to enact, impose, or increase taxes without securing a majority vote approval in all jurisdictions affected. They exercise sovereignty, not obedience.
http://www.brillig.com/debt_clock: Every American Citizen Now “Owes” “The (federal) State” $55,081.
Vid Tribute Demonstrates Dad’s Love
This epic work of love by Frans Hofmeester shows his daughter aging growing from an infant to a 14-year-old in four minute. It will bring tears to the eyes of the most callous heart.
Little Boy’s Performance, How Great Thou Art
Obama vs FDR
Courtesy of Donna Ellingsen
A little history for you from friends….
During the 3-1/2 years of World War II that started with the Japanese bombing of Pearl Harbor and ended with the surrender of Germany and Japan in 1945, the U.S. produced:
22 aircraft carriers,
8 battleships,
48 cruisers,
349 destroyers,
420 destroyer escorts,
203 submarines,
34 million tons of merchant ships,
100,000 fighter aircraft, 98,000 bombers,
24,000 transport aircraft,
58,000 training aircraft,
93,000 tanks,
257,000 artillery pieces,
105,000 mortars,
3,000,000 machine guns,
2,500,000 military trucks.
We put 16.1 million men in uniform in the various armed services, invaded Africa, invaded Sicily and Italy, won the battle for the Atlantic, planned and executed D-Day, marched across the Pacific and Europe, developed the atomic bomb and ultimately conquered Japan and Germany.
During almost the exact amount of time . . . the Obama administration couldn’t build a working web site.
First Time Woman Hears
For some mid-morning good news hear is a video of Jo Milne hearing for the first time after her bilateral cochlea implants were fitted.
She suffers from Usher’s syndrome and was deaf from birth.
Ultimate Weather Forecast
Below is yesterday’s (March 12) forecast from the National Weather Service for the Baltimore/Washington D.C. area as per Wired.com.
It’s a keeper.
WE SOMETIMES SAY THE FORECAST HAS SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE. I THINK WE CAN
TAKE THAT LITERALLY AT THE MOMENT . . . AS THIS FORECAST HAS ALMOST
EVERY POSSIBLE WEATHER TYPE/HAZARD . . . IN THE FIRST 36 HOURS. STRONG
TO SEVERE STORMS . . . SNOW . . . WIND CHILLS. . . STRONG WINDS . . .
UNSEASONABLY WARM TEMPS . . . UNSEASONABLY COLD TEMPS . . . POTENTIAL
FIRE WEATHER CONCERNS . . . MINOR COASTAL FLOOD POTENTIAL . . . THERE IS
NOT MUCH LEFT.
Church Ring Bears With Other Stories
Church Ring Bears With Other Stories is courtesy of Cathy Craddock
A little boy was in a relative’s wedding.
As he was coming down the aisle, he would take two steps, stop, and turn to the crowd.
While facing the crowd, he would put his hands up like claws and roar.
So it went, step, step, ROAR, step, step, ROAR, all the way down the aisle.
As you can imagine, the crowd was near tears from laughing so hard by the time he reached the pulpit.
When asked what he was doing, the child sniffed and said, “I was being the Ring Bear.”
* * *
One Sunday in a Midwest City ,
A young child was “acting up” during the morning worship hour.
The parents did their best to maintain some sense of order in the pew
but were losing the battle.
Finally, the father picked the little fellow up
and walked sternly up the aisle on his way out.
Just before reaching the safety of the foyer,
the little one called loudly to the congregation,
“Pray for me! Pray for me!”
* * *
One particular four-year old prayed,
“And forgive us our trash baskets, as we forgive those who put trash in our baskets.”
* * *
A little boy was overheard praying:
“Lord, if you can’t make me a better boy, don’t worry about it;
I’m having a real good time like I am.”
* * *
A Sunday School teacher asked her little children, as they were on the way to church service,
“And why is it necessary to be quiet in church?”
One bright little girl replied, “Because people are sleeping.”
* * *
A little boy opened the big and old family Bible with fascination,
Looking at the old pages as he turned them.
Then something fell out of the Bible.
He picked it up and looked at it closely.
It was an old leaf from a tree that has been pressed in between the pages.
“Mama, look what I found,” the boy called out..
“What have you got there, dear?” his mother asked.
With astonishment in the young boy’s voice he answered,
“It’s Adam’s suit”.
* * *
The preacher was wired for sound with a lapel mike, and as he preached, he moved briskly about the platform, jerking the mike cord as he went.
Then he moved to one side, getting wound up in the cord and nearly tripping before jerking it again.
After several more circles and yanks on the mike cord, a little girl in the third pew leaned toward her mother and whispered,
“If he gets loose, will he hurt us?”
* * *
Six-year old Angie , and her four-year old brother, Joel , were sitting together in church.
Joel giggled, sang and talked out loud.
Finally, his big sister had had enough.
“You’re not supposed to talk out loud in church.”
“Why? Who’s going to stop me?” Joel asked.
Angie pointed to the back of the church and said,
“See those two men standing by the door?
They’re hushers.”
* * *
My grandson was visiting one day when he asked, “Grandma, do you know how you and God are alike?”
I mentally polished my halo, while I asked, “No, how are we alike?”
“You’re both old,” he replied.
* * *
A ten-year old, under the tutelage of her grandmother, was becoming quite knowledgeable about the Bible.
Then, one day, she floored her grandmother by asking, “Which Virgin was the mother of Jesus ? The Virgin Mary or the King James Virgin ?”
* * *
A Sunday school class was studying the Ten Commandments.
They were ready to discuss the last one.
The teacher asked if anyone could tell her what it was.
Susie raised her hand, stood tall, and quoted,
“Thou shall not take the covers off the neighbor’s wife.”