HAPPY HALLOWEEN from Oakland Cemetary, Atlanta

The above picture was taken last year in October at Oakland Cemetery in Atlanta.

It is a famous cemetary.  James Andrew of Andrews' Raiders ("THE GREAT LOCOMOTIVE CHASE") was hung on the edge of it; Margaret Mitchell and a bunch of governors and Atlanta mayors are buried on the grounds. 

Every year in October at Oakland a tradition has developed itself for people to come on a certain day to celebrate the cemetary, and well, party-down, so to speak.  There are shows, booths, food trucks, open-Cyrpts, you name it  The below video was made in October of 2011.

The Liberal Left Wing Press Did It Again!

I have heard several right wing talk show hosts say that these hurricanes are not nearly as bad as the liberal left wing presses claim; most of it is their fabrications.

Boy, those liberals really have a far-out imagination, but convincing.  But  I think they out did themselves this time.

Mitt Getting Milk and Batteries for Hurrican Sandy

Here is a news item picture of people in line stocking up on things to help brace them in the case Hurricane Sandy knocks out power sometime later today.

Of course the politicians are riding this storm for all it's worth.

I was looking at the above picture and thought what a great photo-op for Romney!  An AP or UP picture of common people lined up with their bread, batteries, and milk and in the middle of the the middle line is Romney holding  milk and batteries to buy.  He has been trying to show he is just an ordinary average guy - now is his chance!

HAPPY MOTHER-IN-LAW DAY!

"I like that cap!"

Yesterday when I was at the doctor's office  at the counter signing in  I overheard the receptionist say to the man standing next to me, "I like that cap!"

I looked up and the man was wearing a UGA cap.

It reminded me of my late father-in-law.  One time at Eckard's Drugstore he was wearing a Braves cap the cashier said to him, "I like that cap!".

I wasn't with him when she said that but he told me of that quote many times afterwards.  Somehow it burned into his mind and he took pleasure in telling people what the cashier had said. 

Several times we were in the same vehicle and as we passed Ekerds he would look over and tell me what the cashier said to him and smiled.   Apparently he had told so many people he forgot he told and who he had't told - he wanted t make sure everybody knew what she said.   Not only did that quote make his day but it made his week, his month, his year, the remaining of his life.

I wanted to ask him how did she say it to make it so memorable and quotable.  Did she say it in a flirtatious manner?  Did she wink when she said it?  Did she lick her upper lip when she said it? 

And by me making a blog post on it is still carrying that quote through time.

You never know what you say to someone that will be latched on and carried through time more sturdy than if it was carved in stone.

Me and Al Feldstein (Editor of MAD)

Yesterday in the Postal mail I received a package from my old friend Pappy.  Pappy and I go back years.  We have never met face to face, but we have a common admiration:  MAD comicbook and the artists and editor who created the package.  We have communicated for years sharing stuff.  Pappy had more knowledge and copies to share than I.  He got the short end of our sharing.

Pappy also has a great blog about comicbooks.  Check it out and you will see why it has had over a million visitors:

http://pappysgoldenage.blogspot.com/

I couldn't wait to rip the envelope open to see what was inside.  It was a big envelope and on the outside it said "Do Not Bend."

I opened it and it was an 8x10 picture of Al Feldstein and I at the Atlanta Dragon Con back around the year 2000 or 2001.  Al was editor of MAD magazine after editor/creator Harvey Kurtzman was fired when he demanded something like 51% of EC stock. 

Al was the editor of most other EC comics and wrote just about every story  in the horror and science fiction titles.  He has a very creative mind.  I just didn't think it was all that witty compared to Kurtzman's.

I remember our indept conversation about MAD well:

Me:  I like MAD.
Al:    I was the editor of MAD for 30 years.
Me:  I like MAD.
Al:    I retired, bought some land in Montana, and moved there and now I
         paint western landscaptes.
Me:   I like MAD.
Al:   Do you want your son to take our picture together?
Me:   I like MAD.

click!

Rules for a Lynch Mob?

A right-wing friend of mine forwarded me something that is sort of a joke, kind of, if you enjoy that kind of humor, which I don't, it is humor that a lynch mob might enjoy.  It is an unofficial rule book for miliary and ex-military personnel.  They are all corny right, but the first one is the only one I am concerned with:

1. The next time you see any adults talking - or wearing a hat -during the playing of the National Anthem - kick their ass.

This reminded me of a story in EC's SHOCK comicbook in the 1950s.  I am skipping to the last 3 pages, because that is where the meat is, so to speak:


                                  Click on each image to be able to read it.

I don't know how true it is, but I heard this comicbook story was based on a true instance.

Wall Street Clients

True!  The customers buying stock through Wall Street Brokers have the inside secret nickname of "The Muppets"!*

*Source - THE TODAY SHOW, Oct 22, 2012

New Public Relation Ploy: Kill Messingers

On NPR yesterday I heard that the Taliban leaders are puzzled why the worldwide disaproval of them for shooting a 12 year old girl in the head for speaking up and demanding an education. Did they wonder why the general public thought it was such a big deal or what?

The leaders met to discuss how to improve their public relations. The solution was simple: Kill the journalists.

Now, that is progressive leadership!  If that doesn't get rid of the bad press nothing will.

Who Farted?

Tour Guides

We toured Asheville, North Carolina, Wednesday. Asheville is an interesting that a city that size could even exist nested in the mountains of North Carolina, cut off, in a way, from the hustle and bustle of other metros.

At the beginning of the tour the tour guide told us the set up:  There are ten stops on the tour.  At each stop she will tell you over the speaker what is so interesting about the stop, then open the door and you can leave the touring vehicle (what is that thing, a trolly?) and you can hop on the next tour bus, which will be alone in 30 minutes.  They had four buses operating.  She went on to say that that she recommended that you ride a complete ride without getting off, then take the next bus at the visitor's center (you have a little label on your shirt) and by then you will know what is worth your time getting out and looking more at.

Writers Thomas Wolfe and O'Henry were born in Asheville and both are buried in the same cemetary.  Writer F. Scott Fitzgerald lived in Asheville for years because his wife was an inmate in an insane asylum* in town.  Charleston Heston lived there a while before he became an actor.  Their medical center is one of the top ten quality heart care facilites in the nation.  The place is riddled with George Vanderbilt's and Edwin Grove's contribution to the city's growth.

* Fitzeral's wife died in a house fire a the asylum.

We went took a second bus and stopped a the Grover Park Inn and studied its building and grounds.  It is one of the top 20 luxurious stays in America.  Why not see how the 53% of the people live?

After we were finishd with poking around the Grove Park in we dutifully did as we were told and wait for the next bus. 

Since the Grove Park Inn was about the first stop we got to hear the touring lectures of three different tour guides.  We learned, other than the facts we were told, that humans being humans, tell their own version of the facts.  The bottom-line facts are the same but the verbage on each fact differed sharply between each guide.  Each guide ignore some things and dwelled on others.  I think if we have an opportunity to take a tour like that again, it would be more educational to here the same facts from at least two or more guildes.

I Still Have It!

We are in Asheville, North Carolina. On the way up yesterday we saw huge mountains in the far distance. Also we did not see a single bus. There bus stations in cities, ss where are the buses? Also just south of here we stopped yesterday at a well know bbq joint. The decor was charming cut the meat was not nearly as good as any bbq back home. In Ashville there are hills all over the place. You are either going up a hill or down a hill. In the evening we nibbled att the well known French Broad Chocolate Company. Not bad! Wouldn't I be a great writer for a travel magazine? Also we drove thru a Burger King service and the teenage girl with tattooed arms that took my money and said as she was handing me the COke, "Here Honey." As you can tell, I sill have what it takes to swoon the females.

Readers, I Am Proud of You!

Dear Readers,

You make me proud.  For weeks since I rebooted this blog my readership was 2.  Then it increased and increased, two-folded and so on. 

I no longer feel I am just talking to a couple of people.  My reader ship (you) hit ten people yesterday.*

Who knows, tomorrow, the world!

*Unlike my other blog chicken-fat.com  which as an average of 400 to 500 visites daily.

PS - The posting of this blog may be irregular for next few days.

Ex-Senator Arlen Specter Died Yesterday

This morning on NPR I heard a commentator review his notes on the late Senator Arlen Specter.

Specter spent 30 plus years as Republican Senator of Pennsylvania.   He voted his convictions more than loyalty to his party.  He voted for Obama's Stimulas Package which more or less ended his political career.

He said it was needed just like FDR's work packages were needed during the depression.

He said he would support his party when he could, but he had to vote his concious also.

It is a shame we have allowed partisan politics to rule.

A "Good Old Boys" Serious Business Meetng

William A. HUNTER/TRAMMELL & Emaline Ray

These are my great grandparents, William A. Hunter and Emaline Ray.

They were both born in Macon County, North Carolina.  Their compact history in a nutshell is that William was born to Rebecca Trammell.  Rebecca died within a few years after William's birth and his grandpaents Jacob and Polly Hogshead Trammell raised him.  He grew up with he last name Trammell, enlisted with the name Trammell, and married Emalline Ray as William Trammell.

He fought for the CSA and was wounded during the Battle of Kennesaw Mountain, right here in this county.  He recouperated in a private home in nearby Woodstock.  He was still there when the war was over.  He walked home.  A year or so later he and his uncle Van Trammell was charged in the murder of a Lambert man.   They both fled the state.

William changed his last name to Hunter which he had every right to do, for he was the bastard son of Jason Henderson Hunter.  He and his family went to Texas for a while, where my grandfather was born, then they returned to Woodstock, where William made friends while recouperating.  They spent the rest of their lives there.

So Who Won The VP Debate?

I think, again, it is according to which side you are on.  I think when Joe Biden made a good point, and if you for him, you would think WHAMO!  On the other hand, when Paul Ryan made a good point you would ball your fist up and jump like a cheerleader, maybe even do a cartwheel or a few hand springs.

Although, we must be truthful with ourselves and remember each is only a puppet for their boss.  Also, we should keep in mind that one of these men is only a heartbeat away from being the President.

Keeping the above paragraph in mind, I think Joe should have asked Paul what did he think about John Galt.

I have to hand it to both of them.  Their debate was more exciting than their bosses.

TREME & NASHVILLE on TV

We watched the new TV series NASHVILLE last night.  It had the makings of DALLAS and your run-of-the-mill soap opera.  What I liked about it was its real locations scenes.  Much of the show took place at the Blue Bird Cafe' in Nashville.  We spent an evening at the Blue Bird several years ago and either they used the actual cafe' or they did an excellent job of duplicating the place.

TREME on HBO is a story of the people of New Orleans rebuilding after Hurricane Katrinia.  You, the viewer, get to be an invisible voyeur right up in the faces of the players.  It is a study of people from all walks of life in the city but paying particular attention to the music and restaurant industry.  The week before last they went to the famous Preservation Hall, which I have visited on all three of my visits there.  It is a city like non-other and the HBO group is doing an excellent job  portraying its people.

My younest  son Adam  is going to that grand city today to attend a wedding.

Whatever Happened to Linda Blair?

Just yesterday, I was asking that exact quetion.  I am always nosily curious to see how people aged and what they developed into.

The Gods must have heard me ask that question and arrange for  a story to be on THE TODAY SHOW this morning to show what happened to Linda Blair:

Appearance wise she is a pleasant looking middle age woman.  Interest and career wise are rolled into one - Linda is in charge of a dog rescue and adoption outfit in the hills near Las Angeles.

She has given all her money to chairty.

As THE TODAY SHOW punned in so many words she turned from being the Devil to an Angel.

Happy FIRE PREVENTION DAY!!

HAPPY COLUMBUS DAY!

Actually, Columbus didn't set foot or even knew about the North American Continent.  Many years before a Norwegian, Leif Erikson, and his extended familly discovered North America and even lived here for about 10 years.

Shouldn't this be Erikson Day?  And shouldn't it be the Knights of Erikson?

On Thlis Date In History, October 8...

1860 Telegraph line between LA and  San Francisco  opened.


1869 Franklin Pierce 14th president of US, died in Concord, NH


1890 Eddie Rickenbacker aviator "Ace of Aces" (WW I)  was born.  A couple of interesting relations concerning Eddie Rickenbacker: (1)  An airfield in Marietta, Georgia (my hometown) was named afer Eddie Rickenbacker, which later was the center of Bell Bomber, Lockheed Aircraft, and Dobbins Air Force Base operations.  (2)  In WW II my uncle Jack Hunter saved Eddie Rickenbacker's life.  Jack was in a PT boat and Rickenbacker's plane went down a couple days before and he was adrift.


1918 Sgt Alvin York single-handedly kills 25, captures 132 Germans.

Charles Loy Foster (1909-1964)

I think this is an interesting picture and thought I would share it.  It is of my wife's Anna's 1st cousin, once removed, if I calcualted right.  Loy's parents were Edgar Bell and Sophie Lackie Foster.

Loy was born in the Alpharetta-Roswell area, the picture was taken in the same area and he died in Roswell.  It appears he spent his whole life in the same vicinity.

He married Lucille Hanson  and they had two sons, charles and Billy.

I estimate the picture was taken about 1913.

If Romney is Elected

A Modern Fable

Once upon a tilme there were the people of a village who felt strongly they were paying too much taxes and also in water bills.

Just the other day someone saw Mable the water meter lady talking sociably to someone and not doing her job.

The townspeople sat around at their tea parties and talked about how Mable had waisted at least 10 to 15 minutes that day.  They felt they were not getting their money's worth.

The more talk over cups of tea the more angry people became.  They demanded a townhall meeting.

Old John Dooly, the town's engineer said good, he had something he would like to share also.

John wanted to speak first but the people that called the meeting that since they were the ones who called the meeting, they had  priority of speaking first.  Which they did.

They demanded if the officials wanted to keep their job they would make it a law not to raise taxes for any reason what so ever.

To make the no tax increase admendment stronger they tacked on a second law saying to propose a tax increase would be a criminal act punishable by 12 months of hard labor at the county prison compound.

Old John Dooly, the engineer,  raised his hand and asked that he be allowed to speak before what they proposed was voted on.  They denied his request.

They made a law no new taxes what so ever and if any one even proposed an increased in taxes it was punisable by 12 months of hard labor.  And the law was made in a such a way, there would be no way to side-step it.

They had it embedded in the laws that there was no way taxes could be raised.

Then the key speaker, very courteous now, that the townspeople got what they wanted told Old John Dooly, the engineer that he could speak then, if he still wanted to.

Old rose and told the people of the meeting that  the tunnels and sewage lines under the street structures were beginning to corrode and cave in.  It would cost much more money to repair and replace the pipes than the town has in the treasury.  A lot more money was needed.

He added, "I'll leave it to you people decide what to do."

BIG BIRD Demands Equal Time!

This clip was sent to me.  The Big Bird story just keeps on going

If Elected Romey Will Fire BIG BIRD! OH NO!

During the 1st Presidental Debate last night Mitt Romney said he likes Big Bird but he said he would have to ask himself is Public Television worth borrowing money from China for?

If the same non-productive congresspeople are still there if Mitt takes office will he look at them and ask "I like you but...".

GOP and Voter Fraud Clailms

Remember not long ago the Republicans, being civic minded like they are, were concerned about voters fraud and wanted everybody to have a picture identification card to prove they are who they say they are on election day?

Isn't that honest and fair of them of trying to do what is right - I mean really RIGHT!

Here are some facts I heard:  The thousands of people who are unlikely to have an idenfication card are those who can't afford a car, so need no drivers license.  These people  are more likely to vote the Democratic ticket.

I think some agency did do research on checking out voters fraud and out of thousands or millions of people they checked, they found 7 frauulent voters.

What the picture identification will mean that thousands of pro-Democratic voters will be de-franchised from voting with only 7 actually frauds.

WAIT!  More voter fraud evidence has just been uncovered:

http://www.minnpost.com/christian-science-monitor/2012/10/potential-voter-registration-fraud-florida-gop-s-own-acorn-scandal


And it was found in the Republicans' own back yard.  Har-dee Har har har!

Whole Hog BBQ & Music Last Sunday

Sunday the 30th downtown Marietta had the WHOLE HOG & MUSIC FEST.

We went and listened to music and ate bbq.  We even bought more bbq and carried it home for dinner.

The next morning (Monday)  I had to have blood work done for an upcoming doctor's appointment.  If it is true you are what you eat I'm sure the doctor will get a breakdown from the lab technician that I am 90% whole hog and 10% barbecue sauce.

About the below video.  As I was videoing the band playing blues up danced a man in a suit and a mask.  I couldn't resist videoing him too - he put on a good show.  I think he was promoting an upcoming show at The Strand.
Also, the end of the video is Sam Huff giving barbecuing tips.  Sam Huff own's Barbecue #1 and is a well known lawyer, and I think a judge too. 

HAPPY BIRTHDAY ROCKY!

Our oldest son Rockwell Tyson Hunter was born 37 years ago today. 

Rocky is a very sincere thoughtful individual who wants to what is right.  He also holds facts in his brain like he has his own mind-i-cloud.

When he was born I wanted to check to make sure he had ten fingers and ten toes - I let  the medical staff handled the rest.

Rocky is married to the lovely and beautiful Sabrina and they  live in Atlanta.