NASCAR Quiz: Jeff Gordon just captured his 4th Winston Cup
title, meaning that only Richard Petty and Dale Earnhardt have
earned more, both with 7. How many of the four drivers who
won 3 can you name? Answer below.
A Little History on Thanksgiving
December 1621 was the earliest American harvest festival
celebrated by the Pilgrims in Plymouth, Mass.
February 22, 1631, the first public Thanksgiving, a fast day, was
celebrated by the Massachusetts Bay Colony. Gosh, pick a day
with better weather! When they broke the fast they all ate ice.
November 26, 1789, President Washington, at the request of
Congress, had Thanksgiving Day celebrated for the first time as a
national holiday, but it was really a day of thanksgiving for the
Constitution. Anti-Federalists then protested that Washington”s
proclamation violated states” rights. Jerks.
October 3, 1863, President Lincoln proclaims Thanksgiving Day
a national holiday to be observed on the last Thursday in
November. Then in 1939, President Franklin Roosevelt moved
Thanksgiving one week back to stimulate Christmas shopping.
Finally, in 1941, Congress adopted a resolution confirming the
fourth Thursday, not the last, as Thanksgiving Day. [Notice how
perhaps our 3 greatest presidents were the most intimately
involved in the establishment of this holiday?]
But back to 1620, while the Pilgrims were some of the bravest
folks in the history of mankind, they still had to eat. Their
situation in those years was grim, particularly because they
forgot to land in Miami instead of Massachusetts and they thus
had to deal with the New England winter. The Pilgrims” leader,
Governor William Bradford, remarked:
“If they looked behind them, there was the mighty ocean which
they had passed and was now as a main bar and gulf to separate
them from all the civil parts of the world.What could now
sustain them but the Spirit of God and His grace? May not and
ought not the children of these fathers rightly say: ”Our fathers
were Englishmen which came over this great ocean, and were
ready to perish in this wilderness; but they cried unto the Lord,
and He heard their voice and looked on their adversity,” etc. ”Let
them therefore praise the Lord, because He is good: and His
mercies endure forever.””
Half the company died the first winter, but when the Mayflower
set sail in April not one of the survivors returned in her. Around
mid-October 1621, after the gathering of the fall harvest and a
big wild turkey shoot, the Pilgrims had their first feast, with
Chief Massasoit of the Wampanoag and 90 of his subjects,
“whom for three days we entertained and feasted.” The Indians
contributed several deer, but the Pilgrims, with 35 new arrivals
on the ship ”Fortune,” were soon starving again.
As historian Henry Commager notes in his “The Growth of the
American Republic,” despite the constant battle with famine,
“they never lost heart or considered giving up and going home.
These simple folks were exalted to the stature of statesmen and
prophets in their narrow sphere, because they ardently believed,
and so greatly dared, and firmly endured. They set forth in acts
as in words the stout-hearted idealism in action that Americans
admire; that is why Plymouth Rock has become a symbol. For,
as Governor Bradford concluded his annals of the lean years:
“Thus out of small beginnings greater things have been produced
by His hand that made all things of nothing, and gives being to
all things that are; and as one small candle may light a thousand;
so the light here kindled hath shone unto many, yea, in some sort,
to our whole nation.”
Thoughts on 9/11
American Heritage magazine asked a few leading historians to
comment on the events of last September. I picked out some
disparate remarks.
From Richard Brookhiser, author of “Founding Father:
Rediscovering George Washington.” [A great, short read, by the
way.]
Brookhiser was at the impromptu shrine, which sprung up in
Union Square in New York City and noticed this note on
September 13. “Why is life such a bitch?” To which Brookhiser
mused, “Why indeed? It is a beauty and a marvel, but it is also
always a bitch. No one leaves alive. Let”s roll.”
From British historian John Lukacs, author of “Five Days in
London.” [Sitting in the ”to-be-read” pile of StocksandNews.]
“Sometime during the twenty-first century, the United States will
withdraw from the Middle East instead of expanding further.
Sometime during the twenty-first century, Americans will pay
much more for gas and oil and no longer depend on Middle
Eastern oil. Sometime during the twenty-first century,
Americans will begin rebuilding their railroads, instead of
building bigger and bigger airports. Sometime during the
twenty-first century, Americans will begin to guard their
frontiers seriously, instead of opening them indiscriminately.
“We can only hope that it”s not too late.”
From historian James McPherson, author of “Battle Cry of
Freedom: The Civil War Era.” [Best single volume on the Civil
War ever written.]
McPherson talks about the Battle of Antietam, the single
bloodiest day in American history, with over 6,000 deaths
(including those who died of their wounds in the days after).
After this pivotal battle, President Lincoln issued the
Emancipation Proclamation.
Antietam was in September of 1862, but that June, when things
were looking particularly grim for the Union, Lincoln declared
his intention “to maintain this contest until successful, or till I
die, or am conquered, or my term expires, or Congress or the
country forsake me.” McPherson adds:
“He did maintain the contest until successful, but he also died at
the very moment of success. It was left for an Englishman to
spell out the consequences of that success. After Appomattox,
Edward Beesly, a liberal political economist at University
College in London, declared that ”our opponents told us that
republicanism was on trial” in the American Civil War. ”They
insisted on our watching what they called its breakdown. They
told us that it was forever discredited in England. Well, we
accepted the challenge. We staked our hopes boldly on the
result. Under a strain such as no aristocracy, no monarchy, no
empire could have supported, republican institutions have stood
firm.””
—
Thank you, Newfoundland
These good people up north deserve a ton of credit for the way
they handled the events of September 11. The New York Times
recently had a nice piece on how the 10,000 inhabitants of
Gander, and other surrounding towns, opened up their homes to
the 6,600 passengers whose flights from Europe to the U.S. were
diverted to Newfoundland when the airports were shut down
following the attacks. Ten weeks later, what has come out is that
the incredible acts of kindness displayed by the “Newfies” (as
they are called in the rest of Canada) have given the province a
new sense of confidence that was probably lacking. A nice
thought for Thanksgiving. God bless ”em.
Ty Tryon
Tryon is the 17-year-old high school junior out of Orlando who
has announced he is turning pro and joining the PGA Tour. Back
in March, Ty became the youngest player to make a cut in a PGA
event since 1957 and then later in the year, at the B.C. Open, he
shot a 65 and briefly held the lead.
But as he attempts to become the next Tiger Woods, the PGA
itself was none too pleased that he was joining the tour at such an
early age so they instituted a new rule whereby you have to be 18
to be a member. Tryon, however, will be able to compete next
year until he turns 18 in June by playing on sponsors”
exemptions. He did say he would graduate from high school.
Why bother? Business Week reported that he already has $1
million in endorsements lined up for next year, primarily with
Callaway and Target.
Tiger
Speaking of Woods, Golf Digest had a story on how Tiger, after
the attacks of 9/11, drove the 1,000 miles from an event in St.
Louis to his home in Orlando. He just hopped in a courtesy car
and drove by himself for over 13 hours. I only mention this
because he says he stopped four times for gas, and such, and no
one recognized him. I imagine he could afford to have the
courtesy car shipped back.
Knicks
I grew up a New York Knicks fan but the past few seasons I
really couldn”t have cared less because, well, I just didn”t like the
players. Anyway, this year they are off to a dreadful start and
are absolutely painful to watch, but I had to make note of this
statistic. Coach Jeff Van Gundy, a good guy, was complaining
about the team”s lack of aggressiveness on defense; a point borne
out by the fact that in the first 11 games they have taken just 6
”charges.” Compare that to a game against Houston last year
when they took 8 in one half.
Big-12 Championship
Mark your calendars for the Game of the Century, Part II, as
Oklahoma should square off against Nebraska in a rematch,
December 1st. Both still need to win their final regular season
game.
Tidbits from High Plains Journal
I am probably the only subscriber in New Jersey to this farming
publication (I receive the Texas-Oklahoma edition), and every
now and then there are a few tidbits which I feel obligated to
pass along. For example:
–3 Vodka Distilling Co. (yes ”3”), a Chicago outfit, is producing
a soy-based vodka (hey, this is Bar Chat, after all) that is being
sold initially in Illinois and Florida. But with the great reviews
that are flowing in, look for distribution to increase beyond these
two. Comments such as “very smooth” and “no alcohol bite”
seem to be the norm. However, a spokesman for the Illinois
Soybean Association said they have been trying to come up with
a soy-based beer but the taste just isn”t there.
–Don”t ever say I never give you a recipe or two. Ahem. One of
the joys of High Plains Journal is simply reading the recipes of
Beverly Barbour, though it”s easy to drool like Homer Simpson
when he sees donuts. So here is Beverly”s recipe for Rum Sauce
(perfect for puddings, cakes, pumpkin pie and Wheat Chex).
2 ounces cream cheese
1 tablespoon soft butter
Half cup sifted confectioners sugar
1 tablespoon rum.I”d make it 3.
Half cup heavy cream, whipped.
Beat cream cheese and butter together. Gradually beat in
softened confectioners sugar. Beat in rum. [Sprinkle in more.]
Fold whipped cream into the cream cheese mixture. Cover and
chill until serving time. And when is it a good time to serve this?
Why any time, of course.
–After processing, the average turkey yields 82-83% of its
weight in meat. The average American eats 18 pounds of turkey
a year.
Top 3 songs for the week of 11/20/71: #1 “Theme From Shaft”
(Isaac Hayes.he”s a bad mutha—.shut your mouth.I”m
talkin” ”bout Shaft!) #2 “Gypsys, Tramps & Thieves” (Cher.
ugh) #3 “Imagine” (John Lennon Plastic Ono Band)
NASCAR Quiz Answer: Four drivers with 3 titles – Lee Petty,
David Pearson, Cale Yarborough and David Pearson.
Next Bar Chat, Monday (we”re taking Friday off). Bronko
Nagurski!
