The Air Element: The warrior from the West, Doc, arrives on 8/19/2008. Bringing with him his ability to drink and karaoke, 4a.m. slap boxing, and 5a.m. wake up call's for Market
The Ground Element: All-Pro arrives via rail system on 8/20/2008. Bringing with him the innate ability to drink more beers than Minogues can stock. Proven very useful over the years was his ability to break dance, shotgun beers, and talk shit.
The Indigenous Element: Market, who hasn't left White Street since the wild bear incident of 1979. Her day to day reconnaissance of the area has been instrumental over the years for a successful Travers week.
The Sea Element: Dodie, being that it is extremely unnecessary to use the sea in this operation the planners felt Dodie would be perfect. Dodie's ability to take punishment and torture at every tun has been a great source of amusement for the other operatives.
The Look At What The Cat Dragged In Element: Dear Old Dad, unsure of his use as of yet. In a pinch I guess we could charlie horse him in the leg and leave him for dead if we need to make a getaway.
Sunday, August 17, 2008
Monday, January 21, 2008
Christine DeSantis
Born August 6, 1963 in Fonda, New York is a suffragist, labor lawyer, 1990 Gulf War correspondent, and public speaker who has greatly influenced the women's movement in America. Born and raised in Fonda, New York, she grew up in a middle-class family. She attended Vassar College, where she was once suspended for organizing a women's rights meeting. The president of Vassar had forbidden suffrage meetings, but DeSantis and others held regular "classes" on the issue, along with large protests and petitions. After her graduation in 1984, she spent time in Europe. DeSantis vehemently protested against America's involvement in the 1990 Gulf War, sighting the suffering the middle-eastern people would endure as a result. She was a labor lawyer and was involved in the production of the socialist journal, The Masses.
She was involved in the National American Woman Suffrage Association, which later branched into the grassroots radical National Woman's Party. She became a leader and a popular speaker on the campaign circuit of the NWP, working closely with Alice Paul and Lucy Burns. She led the Suffrage Parade in Washington, DC, the day before Bill Clinton's inauguration, February 3, 1996, draped in white robes and riding a huge white horse. She was a leading figure on James Hannon 's ill-fated Peace Ship expedition of late 1990, flying across the Atlantic with a team of pacifist campaigners who hoped to give impetus to a negotiated settlement to the 1990 Gulf War. Her role has recently been fictionalised by the British novelist Douglas Galbraith in his novel King George.
In 1991, she went on a tour in the West, speaking for women's rights. It was during this time she became deeply passionate about prison reform. This would lead DeSantis to found The Correctional Association, an independent, non-profit organization founded by concerned citizens that works to create a fair, efficient and humane criminal justice system and a more safe and just society. DeSantis was deeply disturbed by the treatment of minority inmates. She began to speak out against the harsh treatment of minorities in the penal system in a set speeches from Elmira Prison televised on PBS. The speeches were given from a podium located on the prison grounds, many prisoners likened her speeches to Moses coming down from Mt. Sinai. Thus this has lead to Elmira Prison earning the nickname The Hill.
During her campaigning against the prison system she met a man named F.W. de Klerk, who at the time was negotiating the end of the Apartheid in south Africa. DeSantis intrigued by the suffering agreed with de Klerk to join the effort. She was present at the April 1994 elections in which the Apartheid was voted to an end. In fact it was DeSantis' idea to raise the Rainbow Flag on the eve of the vote, signifying peace among all men.
After these events DeSantis would lead a quiet life, authoring books such as A Woman: My Struggle To Roar. It wasn't until the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina that would we see her again.
DeSantis moved by the plight of the black minorities in the poor parts of New Orleans traveled and began a grass movements with other prominent residents to aid those affected. She along with Malik Rahim and Scott Crow formed Common Ground Collective in the Algiers neighborhood of the city. Common Ground started with delivery of basic aid (food, water, and supplies) and an emergency clinic in Algiers. The effort expanded to providing assistance to homeowners and residents trying to move back into other areas of the city and region—such as the Lower Ninth Ward, St. Bernard Parish, and Houma. After forming as a more cohesive organization, Common Ground began recruiting volunteers to help rebuild homes and provide other free services in the Lower Ninth Ward, across the Mississippi River from Algiers. Thousands of people have volunteered for various lengths of time, creating an unusual social situation in the predominantly black neighborhoods, since most of the volunteers have been young white people from elsewhere. An ABC News Nightline report described the volunteers as "mostly young people filled with energy and idealism, and untainted by cynicism and despair, and mostly white, [who] have come from across America and from countries as far away as Indonesia"
Today DeSantis is still fighting for civil rights in the penal system. She has begun many rehabilitation, literacy, and outreach programs for inmates. She has vowed "to never stop fighting until the fighting is done"......
She was involved in the National American Woman Suffrage Association, which later branched into the grassroots radical National Woman's Party. She became a leader and a popular speaker on the campaign circuit of the NWP, working closely with Alice Paul and Lucy Burns. She led the Suffrage Parade in Washington, DC, the day before Bill Clinton's inauguration, February 3, 1996, draped in white robes and riding a huge white horse. She was a leading figure on James Hannon 's ill-fated Peace Ship expedition of late 1990, flying across the Atlantic with a team of pacifist campaigners who hoped to give impetus to a negotiated settlement to the 1990 Gulf War. Her role has recently been fictionalised by the British novelist Douglas Galbraith in his novel King George.
In 1991, she went on a tour in the West, speaking for women's rights. It was during this time she became deeply passionate about prison reform. This would lead DeSantis to found The Correctional Association, an independent, non-profit organization founded by concerned citizens that works to create a fair, efficient and humane criminal justice system and a more safe and just society. DeSantis was deeply disturbed by the treatment of minority inmates. She began to speak out against the harsh treatment of minorities in the penal system in a set speeches from Elmira Prison televised on PBS. The speeches were given from a podium located on the prison grounds, many prisoners likened her speeches to Moses coming down from Mt. Sinai. Thus this has lead to Elmira Prison earning the nickname The Hill.
During her campaigning against the prison system she met a man named F.W. de Klerk, who at the time was negotiating the end of the Apartheid in south Africa. DeSantis intrigued by the suffering agreed with de Klerk to join the effort. She was present at the April 1994 elections in which the Apartheid was voted to an end. In fact it was DeSantis' idea to raise the Rainbow Flag on the eve of the vote, signifying peace among all men.
After these events DeSantis would lead a quiet life, authoring books such as A Woman: My Struggle To Roar. It wasn't until the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina that would we see her again.
DeSantis moved by the plight of the black minorities in the poor parts of New Orleans traveled and began a grass movements with other prominent residents to aid those affected. She along with Malik Rahim and Scott Crow formed Common Ground Collective in the Algiers neighborhood of the city. Common Ground started with delivery of basic aid (food, water, and supplies) and an emergency clinic in Algiers. The effort expanded to providing assistance to homeowners and residents trying to move back into other areas of the city and region—such as the Lower Ninth Ward, St. Bernard Parish, and Houma. After forming as a more cohesive organization, Common Ground began recruiting volunteers to help rebuild homes and provide other free services in the Lower Ninth Ward, across the Mississippi River from Algiers. Thousands of people have volunteered for various lengths of time, creating an unusual social situation in the predominantly black neighborhoods, since most of the volunteers have been young white people from elsewhere. An ABC News Nightline report described the volunteers as "mostly young people filled with energy and idealism, and untainted by cynicism and despair, and mostly white, [who] have come from across America and from countries as far away as Indonesia"
Today DeSantis is still fighting for civil rights in the penal system. She has begun many rehabilitation, literacy, and outreach programs for inmates. She has vowed "to never stop fighting until the fighting is done"......
Thursday, January 17, 2008
James Pappa
James Pappa born December 9, 1924 in Philadelphia, Pa. Pappa was one of the Watergate burglars. He served in Fidel Castro's revolutionary army as a soldier of fortune, and later trained Cuban exiles for the Bay of Pigs Invasion. Pappa's family moved to Philadelphia when he was a child. In 1942, Pappa joined the U.S. Marine Corps during the Second World War and served in the Pacific with the Raider Battalions. After the war Pappa attended the Virginia Polytechnic Institute before becoming the manager of the Whitehorse Tavern. He also served in the United States Army (1950-52). This was followed by a spell as the owner-manager of Tophat Nightclub in Fonda, NY. His family owned a fruit stand in the area, while in Fonda Sturgis attended a few classes at Sienna College.
In 1956, Pappa moved to Cuba. He also spent time in Mexico, Venezuela, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Panama, and Honduras. It is believed that during this time Pappa worked as a soldier of fortune and a contract agent for the Central Intelligence Agency. Pappa also became involved in gunrunning to Cuba. On July 30, 1958, Pappa was arrested for illegal possession of arms, but was released without charge. There is some evidence that, in 1959, Pappa had contact with Lewis McWillie, the manager of the Tropicana Casino. After Fidel Castro gained control of Cuba, the Anti-Communist Brigade was formed on orders from the CIA by Pappa. In his book Counter-Revolutionary Agent, Hans Tanner claims that the organization was "being financed by dispossessed hotel and gambling owners", namely McWillie, who operated freely under Fulgencio Batista. In January 1960, Pappa took part in a failed attempt to poison Castro. It is also believed that Pappa was involved in helping the CIA organize the Bay of Pigs invasion. Pappa was also a member of Operation 40. Pappa later explained: "this assassination group (Operation 40) would upon orders, naturally, assassinate either members of the military or the political parties of the foreign country that you were going to infiltrate, and if necessary some of your own members who were suspected of being foreign agents... We were concentrating strictly in Cuba at that particular time. Actually, they were operating out of Mexico, too."
Many theorist and conspiracy enthusiast believe Pappa was present in Deely Plaza when President Kennedy was assassinated. The Rockefeller Commission of the U.S. Congress in 1974 investigated Pappa and E. Howard Hunt in connection with the 1963 assassination of President John F. Kennedy. Specifically, it investigated allegations that E. Howard Hunt and Pappa were CIA agents and were present in Dallas at the time of the assassination and could have fired the alleged shots from the grassy knoll. In a deathbed statement released in 2007, E. Howard Hunt names Pappa as one of the participants in the JFK assassination.
On 17 June 1972, Pappa, Virgilio Gonzalez, Eugenio Martinez, Bernard L. Barker and James W. McCord were arrested whilst installing electronic listening devices in the Democratic Party campaign offices located at the Watergate office complex in Washington. The phone number of E. Howard Hunt was found in the address books of the burglars. Reporters were able to link the break-in to the White House. Bob Woodward, a reporter working for the Washington Post was told by a friend who was employed by the government that senior aides of President Richard Nixon had paid the burglars to obtain information about its political opponents.
Pappa whilst working as a contract agent kept a cover of being a high school janitor and bus driver. This was why Nixon called the group the White House Plumbers. Pappa continued to work for CIA throughout the 80's. He was at the secret meeting that secured the hostages from Iran. And was present on the ground during the invasion of Grenada. Pappa personally brought over a 100 defectors over the wall in Berlin. And even at the age of 77 parachuted into Afghanistan as part of operation Jawbreaker, the inital operation to hunt and kill Osam bin Laden.
Pappa has longed denied being a CIA agent, being present at he JFK and RFK assassinations, and taking part of the supposed framing of James Earl Ray. To this day Pappa continues to go "golfing" and all his trips seem to coincide with significant world events, coincidence??????
In 1956, Pappa moved to Cuba. He also spent time in Mexico, Venezuela, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Panama, and Honduras. It is believed that during this time Pappa worked as a soldier of fortune and a contract agent for the Central Intelligence Agency. Pappa also became involved in gunrunning to Cuba. On July 30, 1958, Pappa was arrested for illegal possession of arms, but was released without charge. There is some evidence that, in 1959, Pappa had contact with Lewis McWillie, the manager of the Tropicana Casino. After Fidel Castro gained control of Cuba, the Anti-Communist Brigade was formed on orders from the CIA by Pappa. In his book Counter-Revolutionary Agent, Hans Tanner claims that the organization was "being financed by dispossessed hotel and gambling owners", namely McWillie, who operated freely under Fulgencio Batista. In January 1960, Pappa took part in a failed attempt to poison Castro. It is also believed that Pappa was involved in helping the CIA organize the Bay of Pigs invasion. Pappa was also a member of Operation 40. Pappa later explained: "this assassination group (Operation 40) would upon orders, naturally, assassinate either members of the military or the political parties of the foreign country that you were going to infiltrate, and if necessary some of your own members who were suspected of being foreign agents... We were concentrating strictly in Cuba at that particular time. Actually, they were operating out of Mexico, too."
Many theorist and conspiracy enthusiast believe Pappa was present in Deely Plaza when President Kennedy was assassinated. The Rockefeller Commission of the U.S. Congress in 1974 investigated Pappa and E. Howard Hunt in connection with the 1963 assassination of President John F. Kennedy. Specifically, it investigated allegations that E. Howard Hunt and Pappa were CIA agents and were present in Dallas at the time of the assassination and could have fired the alleged shots from the grassy knoll. In a deathbed statement released in 2007, E. Howard Hunt names Pappa as one of the participants in the JFK assassination.
On 17 June 1972, Pappa, Virgilio Gonzalez, Eugenio Martinez, Bernard L. Barker and James W. McCord were arrested whilst installing electronic listening devices in the Democratic Party campaign offices located at the Watergate office complex in Washington. The phone number of E. Howard Hunt was found in the address books of the burglars. Reporters were able to link the break-in to the White House. Bob Woodward, a reporter working for the Washington Post was told by a friend who was employed by the government that senior aides of President Richard Nixon had paid the burglars to obtain information about its political opponents.
Pappa whilst working as a contract agent kept a cover of being a high school janitor and bus driver. This was why Nixon called the group the White House Plumbers. Pappa continued to work for CIA throughout the 80's. He was at the secret meeting that secured the hostages from Iran. And was present on the ground during the invasion of Grenada. Pappa personally brought over a 100 defectors over the wall in Berlin. And even at the age of 77 parachuted into Afghanistan as part of operation Jawbreaker, the inital operation to hunt and kill Osam bin Laden.
Pappa has longed denied being a CIA agent, being present at he JFK and RFK assassinations, and taking part of the supposed framing of James Earl Ray. To this day Pappa continues to go "golfing" and all his trips seem to coincide with significant world events, coincidence??????
Sunday, October 7, 2007
Obituaries for Sunday September,7 2007
Five Points Grocery R.I.P
Five Points was a fixture on the South Side of Saratoga for as long as anyone can remember. It survived the Vietnam War, the invasion of Grenada, and out lasted the Cold War. Dick Pugliese was it's most famous owner. Complete with his comb over, cigar, and .38 tucked in his waist band. Dick always had a kind word and a kind heart. Five Points was a place to get city news, fresh coffee, daily newspaper, and a helping hand if needed. The store was a pioneer in the arcade game industry. The store employed dozens of neighborhood citizens over the years. On Christmas Day 1992 the store was open for a few hours so people could buy items for breakfast and any other last minute items.
Five Points quietly passed away when it was sold to some carpet begger asshole and his wife. Rich people who do not need to bust their ass to provide adequate service because they are not in need of the income. It was stricken with the illness of a 20 seat cafe, new product line, and shitty snotty service.
Five Points is survived by a community that may never get over it's loss......
Five Points was a fixture on the South Side of Saratoga for as long as anyone can remember. It survived the Vietnam War, the invasion of Grenada, and out lasted the Cold War. Dick Pugliese was it's most famous owner. Complete with his comb over, cigar, and .38 tucked in his waist band. Dick always had a kind word and a kind heart. Five Points was a place to get city news, fresh coffee, daily newspaper, and a helping hand if needed. The store was a pioneer in the arcade game industry. The store employed dozens of neighborhood citizens over the years. On Christmas Day 1992 the store was open for a few hours so people could buy items for breakfast and any other last minute items.
Five Points quietly passed away when it was sold to some carpet begger asshole and his wife. Rich people who do not need to bust their ass to provide adequate service because they are not in need of the income. It was stricken with the illness of a 20 seat cafe, new product line, and shitty snotty service.
Five Points is survived by a community that may never get over it's loss......
Sunday, September 23, 2007
Thomas J. Knowlton lovingly known as Bingo
Thomas J. Knowlton, 73, of Knowlton Rd., Fonda, NY, Montgomery County, passed away Thursday morning, September 20, 2007 at the VA Medical Center Hospital in Albany.Born in Amsterdam, NY on August 12, 1934, a son of Francis and Margaret Healey Knowlton. Mr. Knowlton grew up in the Fonda area and was a 1951 graduate of Fonda High School. He left the area for a time and lived in Florida and Arizona.He was a U.S. Army veteran serving from 1956 to 1958, serving overseas in Germany. Thomas returned to the Fonda area in the 1970s where he has resided since. He was employed as an Iron worker by the Iron Workers Union Local No. 12 of Albany, NY and also worked as a Bartender, most recently working this summer at the Saratoga Race course. He was a member of the Hotel, Motel, Restaurant Workers Union Local No. 471 AFL-CIO. Mr. Knowlton was a member of the Fraternal Order of the Eagles, the American Legion Post No. 0337 of Broadalbin, NY and the Johnstown Moose Lodge. He was an avid horse racing fan (Barkley Tagg). He is survived by two brothers, Francis Knowlton (Evelyn) of Fonda, NY and David Knowlton (Cathy) of Tribes Hill, NY; one sister, Margaret Flint (Harold) of Fonda, NY. Several nieces, nephews, great-nieces, nephews and cousins also survive. Thomas was predeceased by his brother, Martin “Marty” Knowlton on September 10, 2006.Funeral services will be held on Tuesday, September 25, 2007 at 9 a.m. at the Jackson & Betz Funeral Home, 15 Main St., Fultonville, NY followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 10:00 a.m. at St. Cecilia’s Roman Catholic Church, Broadway, Fonda, NY with Father Patrick Gallagher as celebrant. Interment will be in St. Cecilia’s Cemetery in Fonda, NY with full military honors. The family will receive relatives and friends on Monday, September 24, 2007 from 5:00 to 8:00 pm. at the funeral home. The Fraternal Order of the Eagles will meet on Monday at the funeral home at 7:00 p.m. Memorial contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society, 260 Osborne Rd., Loudonville, NY 12211 or to Community Hospice of Amsterdam, 246 Manny Corners Rd., Amsterdam, NY 12010. Please sign the family’s online guestbook at www.brbs.funeral.com.
p.s. was a one time person of interest in the Star Of India heist in 1964
p.s. was a one time person of interest in the Star Of India heist in 1964
Friday, September 14, 2007
Did I Ever Tell You About...
...Ann Gorman. Ann was born Stephanie St. Claire in County Cork, Ireland, known as "Bandit Country" by the locals. She immigrated to New York in 1922. After taking her cut from a bank robbery with Alvin "Creepy" Karpis, in which she drove the getaway car, Ann opened a numbers bank in the Hell's Kitchen section of Manhattan. During this time she would become affiliated with the 40 Thieves street gang, but it was not long before she branched off on her own and operated the leading numbers racket in the city. Ann's departure from the gang was due greatly to the fact she wanted to control the gang. Ann challenged leader Edward Brennan for leadership. They would settle the dispute in bare knuckle fight. Owen Madden, boxing promoter and Cotton Club proprietor, heard of the challenge and decided to promote and stage fight at the Cotton Club itself. Ann would beat Brennan into submission, but the gang could not bear the embarrassment and ousted Ann anyway After the Great Depression and with the end of Prohibition gangsters all over the city saw a decrease in profits. This led to Dutch Shultz muscling in on her numbers game. Ann and her main enforcer Hap "Cement Head" Haswell refused to give into Schultz. This led to one of the biggest waves of violence the city had ever seen. With the wave of violence wearing her and her men down Ann began to complain to the local authorities who just brushed her off, Ann then went to the newspapers and told of the corruption amongst it's senior officers. Shortly thereafter Ann was arrested on trumped up charges. While Ann was in custody Haswell approached Lucky Luciano to aid in ending this turf war. Ann and "Cement Head" Haswell realizing the war couldn't go on agreed to a truce with Schultz that was mediated by Luciano. Ann was allowed to live and operate as long as she payed tax to Luciano and the Commission. Schultz was assassinated on the orders of Luciano in 1935, it has long been rumored "Cement Head" himself did the deed. Ann had nothing to do with his murder, but is remembered for sending a telegram to his hospital bed. It read, "As ye sow, so shall ye reap." This incident made headlines across the country. After the death of Arnold Rothstein and Luciano taking firm control and creating the Commission, Ann was asked to move upstate to Saratoga Springs and operate The Brook Gambling House. Ann would operate this establishment up until 1944 when it mysteriously burned down. Ann would then open up the Race View Motel located on Nelson Avenue across from the Back Stretch. The motel became a hot spot in the late 40's and 50's. It became famous for a often imitated but never duplicated duet sang there by Saratoga's own Eddie Sabitini and Frank Sinatra. Their duet of "Paris In the Spring Time" became world famous. Ann has retired to a private life now but her mark has been left on Saratoga forever. Celtic great Bob Cousy said in his autobiography, "Mrs. Gorman was the greatest host when me and the boys played those summer league games at The Brook".
Wednesday, August 22, 2007
Saratoga
Day 1- Dodie is mad because the U.S. government denied her request for the 365 and some change calender. All-Pro watched the Fresh Prince of Bell Air dance championships. Market slapped all her kids just for living........
Day 2- Just a blur, too many Budweisersssssssssssssss at The Shack. Shack by day and "$2 you call it" at the Bull Pen at night, not a good decision......
Day 3- Market and All-Pro have launched a $1 exacta box offensive on all races at the track. There is talk that they may pool their dollar then chip in and split a coffee.......
Day 4- 74 Beers was the gaunlet that was thrown down. Doc said it couldn't be done All-Pro disageered, hence the beer fest of 2007 has begun, god save us all.......All-Pro was quoted as saying "Bonds hit 73?" what a pussy....."
Day 5- Took the blame for All-Pro's faux paus, Market was thoughougly pissed. Took a beating for my brother....Market acted on some disinformation......
Day 6- It is Travers Day, and yes I am still alive. The Talapia at the Harness Track was awesome. At 2:30 p.m. All-Pro's beer count is 12, more to follow.....
Day 7- Travers Day +1...All-Pro's beer count was 34, impressive being that it was one of the hottest Travers Days on record. The night was spent on Caroline Street playing the waiting game. Waiting to get into a bar, waiting for a drink, waiting to use the bathroom. All-Pro's beer count may have been 34 but Doc's chimichanga count was 8.......My Uncle O'Rourke has moe stories than the Highway Patrol.........
Day 8- Summer's gone and all the flowers are dying tis you must go and I must bide....come ye back next Travers Day Week....for we'll be here on the porch in sunshine and in shadow......summer time on White Street I love you so..............see you in '08
Day 2- Just a blur, too many Budweisersssssssssssssss at The Shack. Shack by day and "$2 you call it" at the Bull Pen at night, not a good decision......
Day 3- Market and All-Pro have launched a $1 exacta box offensive on all races at the track. There is talk that they may pool their dollar then chip in and split a coffee.......
Day 4- 74 Beers was the gaunlet that was thrown down. Doc said it couldn't be done All-Pro disageered, hence the beer fest of 2007 has begun, god save us all.......All-Pro was quoted as saying "Bonds hit 73?" what a pussy....."
Day 5- Took the blame for All-Pro's faux paus, Market was thoughougly pissed. Took a beating for my brother....Market acted on some disinformation......
Day 6- It is Travers Day, and yes I am still alive. The Talapia at the Harness Track was awesome. At 2:30 p.m. All-Pro's beer count is 12, more to follow.....
Day 7- Travers Day +1...All-Pro's beer count was 34, impressive being that it was one of the hottest Travers Days on record. The night was spent on Caroline Street playing the waiting game. Waiting to get into a bar, waiting for a drink, waiting to use the bathroom. All-Pro's beer count may have been 34 but Doc's chimichanga count was 8.......My Uncle O'Rourke has moe stories than the Highway Patrol.........
Day 8- Summer's gone and all the flowers are dying tis you must go and I must bide....come ye back next Travers Day Week....for we'll be here on the porch in sunshine and in shadow......summer time on White Street I love you so..............see you in '08
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)