Three Killed in Celebrated Violence on American Street October 26, 2009

Stories May Differ, but End Result the Same

I always Wanted a Moustache Like Wyatt Earp

On This Date In History:  In the silver boom town of Tombstone, Arizona an event occurred that would be etched in western lore: The Gunfight at the OK Corral. Trouble is many historians say it didn’t happen at the OK Corral and it wasn’t much of a gunfight (here is one account).  The main protagonist in most of the tales was Wyatt Earp (see photo gallery).  This may be because the main story teller ended up being Wyatt Earp.   There had been many disputes between the Earps (Wyatt, Virgil and Morgan) and a group of ruffians known as the Cowboys. Five of the group gathered on this date in 1881 on a vacant lot near the OK Corral. Virgil was the town Marshall with Wyatt and Morgan as his deputies. Their friend and gambler, John (Doc) Holliday joined the Earps and the quartet went down the street to greet the Cowboys. At about 3 pm the gunfight began. About 30 seconds and 30 gunshots later, it was over.

You Don't Find Too Many Pictures of Doc Holliday

Unlike the movie versions, particularly Gunfight at the OK Corrall with Burt Lancaster and My Darling Clementine with Henry Fonda and Louisvillian Victor Mature, it apparently involved the Earps and Holliday walking up to the bad guys and gunfire breaking out. There is dispute about who fired the first shot but in the end, 3 of the 5 cowboys lay dead and all but Wyatt was injured, though one of the remaining Cowboys fled. There was a trial for the Earps but they were found not guilty with the judge saying they were “fully justified in committing these homicides.”

Wyatt Earp Later in Life

If you go and look this up, you will find all sorts of conflicting stories. The early movies were based almost solely on the reminiscences of Wyatt Earp, who spent his later years in Hollywood as a consultant to those making westerns. So, the stories tend to lean toward Wyatt’s heroics. Later films try to be more realistic. But there is no real clear cut truth. However, one interesting aspect to the Earp lore appears to be true. That is that Wyatt, through all of his gunfights and violent episodes never once was shot. The same can’t be said of those who rode with him or against him. Wyatt died in quietly in his sleep 1929 in Hollywood, CA. Many of the western movie stars of the day attended his funeral.

Great Fonda Waltz

Which is your favorite portrayal of Wyatt Earp in film? I kinda liked My Darling Clementine…Henry Fonda does a great dance.   Aside from Gunfight at the OK Corral, AMC lists ten films depicting Wyatt Earp.  The AMC list notes that the portrayal of Erroll Flynn in Dodge City (1939)  was of the character Wade Hatton, but claims the role was “clearly based on the gunslinger.”  Why would they not just use the name Wyatt Earp? AMC doesn’t say but maybe it was to protect the innocent.  But, it may have had to do with the fact that Randolph Scott had the role of Wyatt Earp in Frontier Marshal from the same year.        So popular is the lore of Wyatt Earp, Colleen Coughlin has an article on the Law in Popular Culture collection at the University of Texas’ Jamail Center for Legal Research called Law at the OK Corrall: Reading Wyatt Earp films.   

A Very Weird Film

One other thing about Victor Mature. He sorta retired in 1961 but he did appear in the Monkees last (and only) movie called Head. It was a really weird movie and was a sorta good-bye from the Monkees as their tv show either had been cancelled or if they made the film it would be cancelled. It’s really a psychedellic late 60′s film produced by Jack Nicholson and was totally un-Monkee like. Even Frank Zappa was in it. To give you an idea of how off the wall it was, the premise is that the Monkees are living in a world that is really a spot of dandruff on Victor Mature’s hair. See it if you can. There are really some pretty good songs(especially The Porpoise Song) that, again, are very un-Monkee-like.

Tuesday Evening

Weather Bottom Line:  The upper level disturbance associated with a surface low to our south is still out there, it’s just behind schedule.  A few days ago I was looking toward Monday for the clouds and maybe a shower but I thought it would be generally dry.  Well, the disturbance is still going to come through and will still bring clouds but most likely on Tuesday and I still think most of Tuesday will be dry but now indications are that Tuesday night we may see some showers.  Now, a vigorous storm system will be swinging through toward the end of  the week with a pretty deep trof in association.  Seems to me that Friday we will probably see rain and possibly some thunderstorms.  The SPC is looking more at the lower Mississippi Valley for strong storms on Thursday but it will be interesting to see how it shakes out around here.  There is a lot of low level convergence down there and the disturbance moving through is pretty robust.  The big stuff will probably get cut off down that way but, it will be of interest to see if some of that action moves up our way.   I say that the trof is deep but its more accurate to say its very pronounced.  By the time it comes our way, its already lifting up and out and damping.  Hence, we will get coolish but not too terribly cold for the weekend behind the cold front.

Bastille Day Celebration? Bankrupt Businesses Up 240% Since ’06 July 14, 2009

As we amble into the second half of 2009, we hear stories of how the economy may be recovering.  However, consider that business bankruptcies are up 240% since 2006.  This recession didn’t get started overnight, it was a long time coming.  When you think about it, oil prices really began to spike in 2006, reaching over $140 a barrell in 2008.  Oil is the key to everything as it is the commodity that affects every person and every business.  Costs for business grew rapidly but, consumers felt the pinch and with a gradual decline in buy power by consumers businesses didn’t have much pricing power.  So, business profits declined.  Some major brand names are in bankruptcy, including the president’s maker of his suits.  All of this does not lead one to believe that there will be a quick turnaround.

Bastille Storming May Not Have Been This Dramatic

 

Louis XVI lost his head

In late 18th century France, The Estates-General was a political body made up of the nobility, the clergy and the commoners.  The commoners were the 3rd Estate.  The commoners petitioned in June 1789 for a new constitution in France and the other estates soon joined in.  Louis XVI went and fired the Finance Minister and the people were afraid that they would be attacked by the military.  So, the stormed the Bastille, which was a fortress that also served as a prison for many political prisoners. It was symbolic of the tyrannical power of the crown. When they got to the gate, the guy in charge let them in, fearing a blood bath, so I don’t think that the paintins, like the one above, of great mayhem associated with the storming are entirely accurate.    There were only 7 prisoners in the Bastille and there really weren’t all that many armaments but the occasion has stood as a symbol of French Rebellion that eventually led to Louis and Marie Antoinette losing their heads and eventually to a French Republic. which was promptly usurped by Napoleon Bonaparte, which was good for the US since he sold us much of the United States in the Louisiana Purchase.  The day is known in France as Fête Nationale or La Fête de la Bastille or La Fête Nationale.  In English it is commonly referred to as Bastille Day.

It’s not foot, its Fête and Fête Nationale means “national holiday” in french. I know many Americans think “national holiday” and France are synonymous but try to get beyond that and think of your high school English class and Charles Dickens’ A Tale of Two Cities. If you were paying attention in class and still remember, Dickens’ classic was set in the time of the French Revolution and the storming of the Bastille. On this date in 1789, when the French peasants stormed the notorious French they had been partially inspired by the new Americans who had gained independence from England just 8 years earlier with the essential help of the French. Remember, it was the French Navy that bottled up Cornwallis’ army at Yorktown while George Washington, with the assistance of Lafayette, locked up the Redcoats by land.

Marie Antoinette's Final Moments

So, it took the French a few years but eventually they got fired up. One of an assortment of grievances was a taxation system that really stuck it to the third estate…the peasants which made up about 98% of the French citizenry. The fact that first estate of the clergy and the second estate of the nobles made up but two percent collectively held more power than the majority of the people made it a system that was ripe for revolution, especially when you consider that ultimate power was held by the King.  Just about every time that such a huge majority of the people are suppressed, a revolt eventually will result.   Anyway, they stormed the Bastille, Marie Antoinette and the King lost their heads and the first French Republic eventually came into being. Didn’t last too long because Napoleon named himself emperor not too far down the road so it took them awhile before Democracy really took hold. In this country we declared independence in 1776 and won it in 1781 but never got a good Constitution until 1787 and not a President until 1789.  Even then, the British didn’t respect it too much as exhibited by the war of 1812, which lasted through 1814.  So it takes time. Remember that next time you watch the news. Democracies don’t spring up instantly.

Napoleon Took Advantage of the Fledgling Democracy

Besides, if the French had gotten their act together sooner, the US may not have ever stretched from sea to shining sea. If you recall, that big old land acquisition by Thomas Jefferson, which by the way he admitted may not have been Constitutional, was called the Louisiana purchase and was done by slipping Napoleon a few greenbacks. Talk about selfishness. Napoleon needed the money to fund his latest war so he gave up what became the breadbasket of the world and the bulk of what would be the greatest nation the world has ever seen for $15 million. He ended up exiled and the US went to superpowerdom. Anyway, if you see a Frenchman today, wish him happy Bastille Day, or Fête Nationale as it is officially, although less commonly, known today. By the way, its interesting, is it not, that our media is referred to as the “third estate”. I suppose its because the press is supposed to be the voice of the people. However, I know that the press doesn’t always speak for me. I mean, think about it….do you really want me speaking for you?

Johnny Ringo

On This Date in History: Outlaw Johnny Ringo had already gained his independence before the French on this date in 1882. He was a member of the infamous “cowboys” of Arizona. He was found in Turkey Creek Canyon near Tombstone, AZ with a fatal gunshot wound to the head. It was thought that he killed himself or was killed by “Buckskin” Leslie or “Johnny behind the Deuce.” Then Wyatt Earp claimed to have killed him when he was writing about his life as a lawman. I guess since Wyatt Earp spent much of his later years in Hollywood and because the story was better cinema than perhaps the truth, Hollywood chose Earp’s account and in all the films about Earp, Ringo meets his demise at the hands of Earp…except in Tombstone in which Val Kilmer does the deed instead of Kurt Russell.

The Real Home Run King

In baseball history, Hank Aaron hit his 500th homerun in 1968 exactly one year after Eddie Matthews hit his 500th. In 2004, the Houston Astros fired manager Jimy Williams not long after Williams was booed roundly at the All-Star game which was played in Houston. The Astros, under Phil Garner, staged a big come back in the second half of the season and ended up in the playoffs then made the World Series the following year for the first time in club history. Perhaps the day should be known as Astros Independence from Jimy Williams Day!

 

 

 

 

Weather Bottom Line:  We’re still looking good for today.  Warm temps…upper 80′s…relatively low humidity.  Someone may get to the low 90′s.  Stage is set for a fairly significant cold front Wednesday.  That will probably bring rain with the potential for some strong storms, particularly if the boundary comes through in the afternoon and evening.  Markedly cooler conditions will follow…another few days of below average temperatures and a chance to rest the AC..especially at night.

SPC Convective Outlook July 15 - July 16

 

 

DAY 2 CONVECTIVE OUTLOOK 
   NWS STORM PREDICTION CENTER NORMAN OK
   1230 PM CDT TUE JUL 14 2009
  
   VALID 151200Z – 161200Z
  
   …THERE IS A SLGT RISK OF SVR TSTMS OVER PORTIONS OF THE MID MS AND
   OH VALLEYS…
  
   …THERE IS A SLGT RISK OF SVR TSTMS OVER A PORTION OF THE SRN HIGH
   PLAINS AND SRN PLAINS…
  
   …SYNOPSIS…
  
   BELT OF PROGRESSIVE UPPER FLOW WILL PERSIST ACROSS THE NRN HALF OF
   THE COUNTRY WEDNESDAY. VORT MAX NOW MOVING THROUGH THE NRN PLAINS
   WILL CONTINUE ENEWD THROUGH THE GREAT LAKES AND SRN ONTARIO. ANOTHER
   UPSTREAM IMPULSE IS FORECAST TO DROP SEWD INTO BASE OF UPPER TROUGH
   AND INTO THE NRN PLAINS BY WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON/EVENING. UPPER RIDGE
   WILL REMAIN SUPPRESSED ACROSS SRN THIRD OF THE COUNTRY. PRIMARY
   SURFACE LOW ASSOCIATED WITH LEAD VORT MAX WILL REMAIN OVER ONTARIO.
   HOWEVER…TRAILING COLD FRONT WILL ADVANCE SEWD AND EXTEND FROM THE
   GREAT LAKES SWWD TO NEAR THE KS/OK BORDER AND INTO SERN CO BY
   WEDNESDAY EVENING.
  
  
   …MID MS THROUGH OH VALLEY…
  
   CLUSTER OR TWO OF STORMS WILL LIKELY BE IN PROGRESS EARLY WEDNESDAY
   OVER THE MID MS AND OH VALLEYS WITHIN ZONE OF WARM ADVECTION AND
   LIFT ON NOSE OF SWLY LOW LEVEL JET. SOME OF THIS ACTIVITY COULD
   PERSIST INTO THE AFTERNOON AS IT ADVANCES EAST. CONVECTIVE DEBRIS
   FROM ONGOING STORMS WILL LIKELY LIMIT INSTABILITY OVER PORTIONS OF
   THIS REGION. THIS IN CONJUNCTION WITH TENDENCY FOR LOW LEVEL JET TO
   GRADUALLY VEER AND WEAKEN IN WAKE OF SHORTWAVE TROUGH EJECTING
   THROUGH THE GREAT LAKES AND ONTARIO INCREASES UNCERTAINTY REGARDING
   EXTENT OF SEVERE THREAT IN THIS AREA.
  
   SOME POTENTIAL WILL EXIST FOR DESTABILIZATION AHEAD OF THE FRONT
   FROM THE MID MS VALLEY INTO WRN PARTS OF THE OH VALLEY WHERE REMNANT
   EML WILL LIKELY ADVECT EWD ABOVE AXIS OF MOIST ADVECTION. ADDITIONAL
   STORMS MAY DEVELOP ALONG THE FRONT AS ATMOSPHERE DESTABILIZES…BUT
   VEERING AND WEAKENING OF THE LOW LEVEL WINDS AND POTENTIAL FOR SOME
   CAP ASSOCIATED WITH ERN EXTENTION OF THE EML COULD POSE A PROBLEM
   FOR STORM INITIATION/COVERAGE ALONG FRONT. WHERE STORMS
   DEVELOP…SUFFICIENT WNWLY UNIDIRECTIONAL BULK SHEAR WILL EXIST TO
   SUPPORT ORGANIZED STORM STRUCTURES WITH ISOLATED DAMAGING WIND AND
   LARGE HAIL THE MAIN THREATS.
  
   …CNTRL HIGH PLAINS THROUGH SRN KS/NRN OK AREA…
  
   COLD FRONT WILL SETTLE SWD INTO SERN CO THROUGH SRN KS OR NRN OK
   WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON. A MOIST ELY UPSLOPE COMPONENT WILL LIKELY
   DEVELOP ACROSS ERN CO IN POST FRONTAL ZONE. DIABATIC HEATING AND
   STEEP MID LEVEL LAPSE RATES WILL RESULT IN FURTHER DESTABILIZATION
   WITH 1500-2000 J/KG MLCAPE LIKELY FROM ERN CO EWD ALONG FRONTAL
   BOUNDARY ACROSS SRN KS. THESE AREAS WILL REMAIN ALONG SRN PERIPHERY
   OF BELT OF 25-35 KT MID LEVEL WINDS ABOVE ELY LOW LEVEL FLOW
   RESULTING IN 35-45 KT BULK SHEAR. PRESENCE OF EML AND WEAK LARGE
   SCALE FORCING COULD LIMIT STORM COVERAGE. HOWEVER…A FEW STORMS
   COULD DEVELOP OVER THE HIGHER TERRAIN OF CO AND SPREAD SEWD DURING
   THE EVENING. OTHER STORMS MAY DEVELOP ALONG AXIS OF FRONTAL
   CONVERGENCE OVER SRN KS AS PEAK HEATING WEAKENS CAP. LARGE HAIL AND
   ISOLATED DAMAGING WIND WILL BE THE MAIN THREATS WITH ANY STORMS THAT
   DEVELOP.
  
   ..DIAL.. 07/14/2009

Effective Cop Fired April 19, 2009

Replicas of Wyatt Earp Guns...Cool and Intimidating

On This Date in History:  What a great moustache.  I always wanted to grow a moustache like Wyatt Earp.  But alas, nature did not make that possible.  I looked ridiculous with a moustache.  Earp, known for his moustache and infamy as a US Marshall in Tombstone, Arizona was fired on this date!  He was a deputy sheriff in Wichita, Kansas which was a rough and rowdy cowtown.  It took a lawman with meddle to control the ruffians that came  through town.  Earp was proficient with a long barrelled Remington.  Part of the reason he liked the Remington was that it had a strap on it from which he could sling the weapon as a club.  It is interesting to note

Bat Masterson(left) and Wyatt Earp

that historians, antique collectors and gun collectors have never been able to find Earp’s gun.  Anyway,  Wyatt preferred whacking his adversaries with his gun rather than use it as designed.  The sheriff whom he worked for was up for re-election and the opponent said some unsavory things about the sheriff.  Wyatt took umbrage and beat up the prospective candidate, most likely bopping him a few times with his pistol.  The sheriff won the election but the town council found Wyatt too violent so they fired him on this date in 1876. 

Tombstone,AZ 1881 Looking SE

What is interesting is that most of the movies and popular culture don’t really get Earp’s life correct.  It seems Wyatt went on to Dodge City, KS where he joined the police force in late May 1876.  He was there off and on through 1879.  The newspapers reported that he was well liked by the public.  He had stints in Texas and was absent for a time with speculation ranging that he had taken some time to go to Deadwood, SD to he was riding shotgun protecting stage coaches.  While he

Tombstone 1881 Allen St. Where did the trees come from?

got into some scrapes along the way with his pals Jim and Bat Masterson, he apparently had not yet established a reputation as a tough lawman in the west.  So, when the movies portray him as already having a reputation when he goes to Tombstone, AZ, it is not correct. He apparently established his legacy in Arizona.

Earp went on to fame, infamy and not much fortune though he ultimately found success as a consultant to moviemakers in Hollywood. When he died in 1929, his pallbearers included western stars Tom Mix and Hopalong Cassidy.  They say Mix wept during the funeral.

Weather Bottom Line:  It would appear that the overly aggressive GFS has backed off its severe threat a bit for Sunday regarding the tornadic threat.  However, both the GFS and NAM have vertical profiles that indicate a potential for some strong storms.  While there may be a few tough storms with gusty winds and maybe hail, this looks to be a pretty good rain event.  The NAM is throwing out almost and inch and a half by Sunday afternoon and then continues with off and on rain through Tuesday bringing a total of nearly two inches.  That secondary short wave that the models were picking up on is not really looking to be too menacing for Tuesday.  What I suspect is going on is that on Sunday that there will be clouds and rain before the afternoon when the severe threat would be the greatest and all of the clouds and rain will rob some of the energy, thus decreasing chances.  Also, the same will hold true on Tuesday.  But, Sunday afternoon is still worth keeping an eye on.  As of midday Saturday, the SPC did what I thought that they would do and revise the slight risk area. It’s not in our area but has been expanded much closer, putting us right on the edge.  Bottom line is it’s going to be wet on Sunday.  Good thing Thunder Over Louisville was not on Sunday.

Midday Sat SPC Convective Outlook for Sunday

DAY 2 CONVECTIVE OUTLOOK 
   NWS STORM PREDICTION CENTER NORMAN OK
   1230 PM CDT SAT APR 18 2009
  
   VALID 191200Z – 201200Z
  
   …THERE IS A SLGT RISK OF SVR TSTMS SRN KY/TN VALLEY SWD TO
   CENTRAL/ERN GULF COAST STATES…
  
   …SYNOPSIS…
   CLOSED MID/UPPER LEVEL LOW…VERTICALLY STACKED WITH H85/SURFACE
   LOWS…AND EMBEDDED WITHIN A CENTRAL/SRN PLAINS TROUGH…IS EXPECTED
   TO EVOLVE INTO AN OPEN WAVE REACHING ERN KS/OK AND THE OZARKS REGION
   BY 12Z SUNDAY.  MEANWHILE…MODELS CONTINUE TO INDICATE AN
   AMPLIFICATION OF THE POLAR WESTERLIES WITH AN UPPER RIDGE BUILDING
   ACROSS THE WRN U.S. INTO THE CANADIAN ROCKIES…AND DOWNSTREAM
   TROUGH DEVELOPING ALONG AND E OF MS RIVER VALLEY ON SUNDAY.  THE
   LATTER FEATURE WILL BE THE RESULT OF THE PHASING OF A SHORTWAVE
   TROUGH CURRENTLY LOCATED OVER CENTRAL CANADA WITH THE AFOREMENTIONED
   CENTRAL/SRN PLAINS TROUGH.  A SHORT WAVE TROUGH CONCURRENT WITH THE
   CLOSED LOW IS EXPECTED TO ACCELERATE ENEWD ACROSS AR/TN VALLEY AND
   REACH THE UPPER OH VALLEY BY 12Z MONDAY.
  
   IN THE LOW LEVELS…A SURFACE LOW IS EXPECTED TO DEEPEN AS IT TRACKS
   NNEWD FROM THE UPPER PART OF THE LOWER MS VALLEY TO WRN OH BY SUNDAY
   EVENING.
  
   …LWR OH/TN VALLEYS…CNTRL AND ERN GULF STATES…
   MODELS CONTINUE TO INDICATE THAT FORCING ASSOCIATED WITH THE PRIMARY
   MID-LEVEL IMPULSE…EMBEDDED WITHIN THE REMNANT SRN PLAINS
   TROUGH…WILL GENERALLY TURN EAST OF THE OZARK PLATEAU THROUGH THE
   TN VALLEY/NORTHERN GULF STATES REGION FROM MID DAY SUNDAY THROUGH
   EARLY SUNDAY EVENING.  HOWEVER…MODELS CONTINUE TO INDICATE THAT
   THIS WILL BE RATHER CLOSELY PRECEDED BY FORCING ASSOCIATED WITH
   ANOTHER IMPULSE…WHICH SHOULD SUPPORT CONSIDERABLE CONVECTIVE
   DEVELOPMENT AND CLOUD COVER…AS LOW-LEVEL GULF MOISTURE RETURNS
   NEWD.  THE BULK OF THIS INITIAL ACTIVITY PROBABLY WILL BE BASED IN
   AN ELEVATED WARM ADVECTION REGIME…FROM THE NORTHERN GULF STATES
   THROUGH THE LOWER OH VALLEY.  HOWEVER…MODELS CONTINUE TO INDICATE
   LARGE CLOCKWISE CURVED LOW-LEVEL HODOGRAPHS NEAR A 30-50 KT SLY 850
   MB JET COULD CONTRIBUTE TO TORNADO/WIND DAMAGING POTENTIAL WITH
   STORMS FORMING NEAR THE LEADING EDGE OF BOUNDARY LAYER MOISTURE
   RETURN…ACROSS PARTS OF CENTRAL AND SRN MS/AL.  THIS THREAT APPEARS
   MOST LIKELY TO OCCUR AT THE START OF DAY 2…WITH SOME POTENTIAL
   THAT THIS ACTIVITY MAY BE ONGOING FROM THE END OF THE DAY 1 PERIOD.
   THIS MORNING THREAT SHOULD DIMINISH AS THE UPPER IMPULSE PIVOTS
   NORTHEASTWARD TOWARD THE OHIO VALLEY…AND THE LOW-LEVEL JET CORE
   BEGINS TO SHIFT OFF TO THE NORTH/EAST BY EARLY AFTERNOON.
   HOWEVER…THE SRN EXTENT OF THE LLJ MAY LINGER FOR A PERIOD ALONG
   THE GULF COAST…AND MAINTAIN A THREAT FOR SEVERE STORMS INTO THE
   AFTERNOON.
    
   THE INCREASING LIKELIHOOD OF WEAKENING AND VEERING OF LOW-LEVEL FLOW
   FIELDS IN THE WAKE OF THIS INITIAL IMPULSE CONTRIBUTES TO UNCERTAIN
   SEVERE POTENTIAL WITH THE STRONGER MAIN IMPULSE THROUGH THE
   REMAINDER OF THE PERIOD.  THE WINDOW OF OPPORTUNITY FOR SUBSTANTIAL
   SURFACE HEATING MAY BE LIMITED…BUT IT STILL SEEMS PROBABLE THAT
   BOUNDARY LAYER MOISTENING COUPLED WITH STEEPENING LAPSE
   RATES…ASSOCIATED WITH STRONG MID-LEVEL COOLING…WILL CONTRIBUTE
   TO WEAK TO MODERATE DESTABILIZATION.  THIS INSTABILITY …AND COOL
   THERMODYNAMIC PROFILES…IN THE PRESENCE OF STRONG DEEP LAYER SHEAR
   SHOULD BE SUFFICIENT TO SUPPORT STORMS CAPABLE AT LEAST OF PRODUCING
   LARGE HAIL/DAMAGING WINDS…AS FAVORABLE MID-LEVEL FORCING
   OVERSPREADS THE TN VALLEY/NRN GULF STATES REGION SUNDAY AFTERNOON
   AND EVENING.
  
   ..PETERS/KERR.. 04/18/2009

http://alphainventions.com/

alphainventions

Three Killed in Arizona Street Gun-Battle; Take Advantage of Sunday While You Can October 26, 2008

Famous Gunfight was Near the OK Corral and wasn

Our weather: The clouds built in by midday in Louisville on Saturday but gave way to sunshine in the afternoon but the mercury only got to the upper 50′s. Okay, it was 60 at the airport but no one lives there. Sunday at the airport it will probably get to around 72 but in your backyard upper 60′s to low 70′s will work out just fine. It will be breezy ahead of the next front which will bring down some cold air. Most likely many people will not get out of the 40′s on Monday afternoon so take advantage of the nice Sunday while you can. We’re running out of days like this as we move through the calendar. First freeze of the season area wide, perhaps Tuesday morning but certainly Wednesday morning. Then we warm up as the week progresses. At this point, I don’t see much chance for rain though a little upper feature will wander through on Thursday night that may bring a shower or two.

Wyatt Earp Later in Life

I always Wanted a Moustache Like Wyatt Earp

On This Date In History:

In the silver boom town of Tombstone, Arizona an event occurred that would be etched in western lore: The Gunfight at the OK Corral. Trouble is many historians say it didn’t happen at the OK Corral and it wasn’t much of a gunfight. There had been many disputes between the Earps (Wyatt, Virgil and Morgan) and a group of ruffians known as the Cowboys. Five of the group gathered on this date in 1881 on a vacant lot near the OK Corral. Virgil was the town Marshall with Wyatt and Morgan as his deputies. Their friend and gambler, John (Doc) Holliday joined the Earps and the quartet went down the street to greet the Cowboys. At about 3 pm the gunfight began. About 30 seconds and 30 gunshots later, it was over. Unlike the movie versions, particularly the one with Burt Lancaster and My Darling Clementine with Henry Fonda and Louisvillian Victor Mature, it apparently involved the Earps and Holliday walking up to the bad guys and gunfire breaking out. There is dispute about who fired the first shot but in the end, 3 of the 5 cowboys lay dead and all but Wyatt was injured, though one of the remaining Cowboys fled. There was a trial for the Earps but they were found not guilty with the judge saying they were “fully justified in committing these homicides.”

If you go and look this up, you will find all sorts of conflicting stories. The early movies were based almost

You Don't See Many Photos of Doc Holliday

solely on the reminiscences of Wyatt Earp, who spent his later years in Hollywood as a consultant to those making westerns. So, the stories tend to lean toward Wyatt’s heroics. Later films try to be more realistic. But there is no real clear cut truth. However, one interesting aspect to the Earp lore appears to be true. That is that Wyatt, through all of his gunfights and violent episodes never once was shot. The same can’t be said of those who rode with him or against him. Wyatt died in quietly in his sleep 1929 in Hollywood, CA. Many of the western movie stars of the day attended his funeral.

Which is your favorite portrayal of Wyatt Earp in film? I kinda liked My Darling Clementine…Henry Fonda does a great dance.

A Very Weird Film

One other thing about Victor Mature. He sorta retired in 1961 but he did appear in the Monkees last (and only) movie called Head. It was a really weird movie and was a sorta good-bye from the Monkees as their tv show either had been cancelled or if they made the film it would be cancelled. It’s really a psychedellic late 60′s film produced by Jack Nicholson and was totally un-Monkee like. Even Frank Zappa was in it. To give you an idea of how off the wall it was, the premise is that the Monkees are living in a world that is really a spot of dandruff on Victor Mature’s hair. See it if you can. There are really some pretty good songs(especially The Porpoise Song) that, again, are very un-Monkee-like.

Not Much of a Gunfight Near the OK Corral October 27, 2007

You people wanted rain and we got it. From a drought situation to the wettest October of all time. The upper low that got cut off from the rest of the world and wandered about the southern plains and then the southeast and then back to the lower Mississippi Valley is traversing north, passing us to the west. It will then accelerate out toward the northeast. Look for a cloudy, breezy and cool day on Saturday before the sun breaks out with avengence Sunday. It will be dry toward midweek when another front drops down. Until then, a cool Sunday will lead to moderating temperatures toward midweek.

On This Date In History: In the silver boom town of Tombstone, Arizona an event occurred that would be etched in western lore: The Gunfight at the OK Corral. Trouble is many historians say it didn’t happen at the OK Corral and it wasn’t much of a gunfight. There had been many disputes between the Earps (Wyatt, Virgil and Morgan) and a group of ruffians known as the Cowboys. Five of the group gathered on this date in 1881 on a vacant lot near the OK Corral. Virgil was the town Marshall with Wyatt and Morgan as his deputies. Their friend and gambler, John (Doc) Holliday joined the Earps and the quartet went down the street to greet the Cowboys. At about 3 pm the gunfight began. About 30 seconds and 30 gunshots later, it was over. Unlike the movie versions, particularly the one with Burt Lancaster, it apparently involved the Earps and Holliday walking up and gunfire breaking out. There is dispute about who fired the first shot but in the end, 3 of the 5 cowboys lay dead and all but Wyatt was injured, though one of the remaining Cowboys fled. There was a trial for the Earps but they were found not guilty with the judge saying they were “fully justified in committing these homicides.”

If you go and look this up, you will find all sorts of conflicting stories. The early movies were based almost solely on the reminiscences of Wyatt Earp, who spent his later years in Hollywood as a consultant to those making westerns. So, the stories tend to lean toward Wyatt’s heroics. Later films try to be more realistic. But there is no real clear cut truth. However, one interesting aspect to the Earp lore appears to be true. That is that Wyatt, through all of his gunfights and violent episodes never once was shot. The same can’t be said of those who rode with him or against him. Wyatt died in 1929 in Hollywood, CA. Many of the western movie stars of the day attended his funeral.

Fête Nationale July 14, 2007

It will be relatively dry Saturday but the mercury will move to the upper 80′s. A front of sorts will move in on Sunday bringing a risk of a few thunderstorms. Don’t cancel your plans though, in fact, perhaps you will want to extend your celebration of Fête Nationale.

So….whats all this foot stuff. It’s not foot, its Fête and Fête Nationale means “national holiday” in french. I know many Americans think “national holiday” and France are synonymous but try to get beyond that and think of your high school English class and Charles Dickens’ A Tale of Two Cities. If you were paying attention in class and still remember, Dickens’ classic was set in the time of the French Revolution and the storming of the Bastille. On this date in 1789, the French peasants stormed the notorious French prison that held many political prisoners at the behest of King Louis XVI. The French were inspired by the new Americans who had gained independence from England just 8 years earlier with the essential help of the French. Remember, it was the French Navy that bottled up Cornwallis’ army at Yorktown while George Washington, with the assistance of Lafayette, locked up the Redcoats by land.

So, it took the French a few years but eventually they got fired up. One of an assortment of grievances was a taxation system that really stuck it to the third estate…the peasants which made up about 98% of the French citizenry. The first estate was the clergy and the second estate was the nobles. Anyway, they stormed the Bastille, Marie Antoinette and the King lost their heads and the first French Republic eventually came into being. Didn’t last too long because Napoleon named himself emperor not too far down the road so it took them awhile before Democracy really took hold. In this country we declared independence in 1776, won in 1781 but never got a good Constitution until 1787 and not a President until 1789. So it takes time. Remember that next time you watch the news. Democracies don’t spring up instantly.

Besides, if the French had gotten their act together sooner, the US may not have ever stretched from sea to shining sea. If you recall, that big old land acquisition by Thomas Jefferson, which by the way he admitted may not have been Constitutional, was called the Louisiana purchase and was done by slipping Napoleon a few greenbacks. Talk about selfishness. Napoleon needed the money to fund his latest war so he gave up what became the breadbasket of the world and the bulk of what would be the greatest nation the world has ever seen for $15 million. He ended up exiled and the US went to superpowerdom. Anyway, if you see a Frenchman today, wish him happy Bastille Day, or Fête Nationale as it is officially, although less commonly, known today. By the way, its interesting, is it not, that our media is referred to as the “third estate”. I suppose its because the press is supposed to be the voice of the people. However, I know that the press doesn’t always speak for me. I mean, think about it….do you really want me speaking for you?

On This Date in History: Outlaw Johnny Ringo gained his independence before the French. He was a member of the infamous “cowboys” of Arizona. He was found in Turkey Creek Canyon near Tombstone, AZ with fatal gunshot wound to the head. It was thought that he killed himself or was killed by “Buckskin” Leslie or “Johnny behind the Deuce.” Then Wyatt Earp claimed to have killed him when he was writing about his life as a lawman. I guess since Wyatt Earp spent much of his later years in Hollywood and because the story was better cinema than perhaps the truth, Hollywood chose Earp’s account and in all the films about Earp, Ringo meets his demise at the hands of Earp…except in Tombstone in which Val Kilmer does the deed instead of Kurt Russel.

In baseball history, Hank Aaron hit his 500th homerun in 1968 exactly one year after Eddie Matthews hit his 500th. In 2004, the Houston Astros fired manager Jimy Williams not long after Williams was booed roundly at the All-Star game which was played in Houston. The Astros, under Phil Garner, staged a big come back in the second half of the season and ended up in the playoffs then made the World Series the following year for the first time in club history. Perhaps the day should be known as Astros Independence from Jimy Williams Day!