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- October 19, 2025
- October in Transition 2025
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So we're two thirds through October, one of my most favorite months.
It's been this way since my earliest harvest festivals and Halloween parties at Irving School in Blackfoot, Idaho so very long ago.
It was there I had my fondest memories of Mrs Ilene Rowe, my first grade teacher whom I revered as an icon of learning.
This was well before I became jaded by gaining employment and working with a lot of woke idiot educators the democrats have cultivated in South Carolina who can't even manage to get their facts straight prior to judging their peers in public and who utterly lacked Mrs Rowe's integrity and pursuit of excellence.
It's said that October is a time of transition with the end of the harvest and the beginning of winter approaching. I for one look forward to the continuing progression of the year. It's been this way since I was a child in Blackfoot, Idaho and the anticipation of all that fall and winter presents.
Mrs Rowe and Mrs Stalker at Irving School guided those times in my budding school career. I am left wanting to revisit those times although I know this can never be. It's a difficult matter to simply discard those memories as they revisit me when I least expect them.
So happy October to you.
The best is yet to come.
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- October 18, 2025
- It's Jean-Claude Van Damme's Birthday
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In my mind, Jean-Claude Van Damme represents the innocence of my youth. I recall cheering then losing abruptly that martial arts talent named Bruce Lee. Others filled the void as one might expect but so many were simply lesser in my mind.
I was a big fan early on in the career of Jean-Claude Van Damme and I really continued to take the martial arts film as a serious art form whereas it might have waned in my interest otherwise.
Something about his performances just clicked with my inner redneck. All that ass kicking was simply appealing at a personal level.
This naturally diminished as career considerations came to the fore and yes indeed I was so worried I wasn't going to make it in the workaday world that I forsook Bruce Lee and Jean-Claude without a second thought. Unfortunately, the lure of the "almighty dollar" caused billable hours to become first and foremost in that limited focus of my mind.
Born Jean-Claude Camille François Van Varenberg on October 18, 1960 and known professionally as Jean-Claude Van Damme he is a Belgian martial artist and actor.
He has been married several times and has three children.
At the behest of his father he studied Shotokan and rose to second dan black belt.
He had a string of popular action film star and followed up with a number of commercially successful films. I think the last film I saw him in was Cyborg, which I enjoyed.
He is a conservationist and all round good guy and today is his birthday.
Happy birthday to you !
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- October 17, 2025
- OPEC Oil Embargo 1973
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In response to Western support for Israel during the Yom Kippur War, on October 17, 1973 Arab oil producing nations launched an oil embargo.
This resulted in significant shortages and long term economic consequences in the United States and Europe.
I had graduated high school the previous May 30th.
I recall the tall prices and long lines. I drove a VW Bug at that time so I was able to squeak by. However, it adversely affected training I was undergoing via distractions and a need to work instead of study.
I subsequently withdrew to the chagrin and incredible anger of my father, whom in retrospect I feel was totally justified.
Richard Nixon was president of the United States during this interim and he was entirely too preoccupied with his criminal behaviors to be involved in something so essential to The Republic as affordable fuel for the tax payer.
Suffice it to say that the weak leadership we have suffered as a nation has contributed greatly to the problematic nature of being an American citizen.
As hard as it is for me the grasp this concept, we've had even worse presidents than Nixon since that time.
God Bless America.
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- October 16, 2025
- Barbara Billingsley passed in 2010
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I was an early fan of the sitcom "Leave it to Beaver" and watched it for most of my childhood. Along with "Dennis the Menace" the two programs were the bulk of those staples I enjoyed outside of the de rigueur westerns which I watched as well.
Barbara Billingsley played Mrs June Cleaver. She was an actress who was born December 22, 1915 and passed on this day in 2010. Mrs Cleaver was a pillar of my childhood due to my television entertainment habits.
Ms Billingsley began playing uncredited roles and then appeared in serial roles as well. She will always be remembered as the mother of Beaver Cleaver from 1957 through 1963 — and I have fond memories of her since childhood.
She was born Barbara Lillian Combes on December 22, 1915, in Los Angeles, California. She was the daughter of Lillian Agnes and Robert Collyer Combes whow was a police officer.
She was married three times and had two children. She married Glenn Billingsley Sr in 1941 who was a restaurateur. They had two sons and divorced in 1947.
In 1953, she married British-born movie director Roy Kellino who passed of a heart attack in 1956. About six months later that she was handed the pilot for what would become Leave It to Beaver. Her third and final marriage was to William S Mortensen in 1959 they remained together until his death in 1981.
Barbara Billingsley died of polymyalgia rheumatica at her home in Santa Monica, California, on October 16, 2010, at age 94. She is interred at Woodlawn Memorial Cemetery, Santa Monica.
Rest in peace.
See Also:
Barbara Billingsley born this day
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- October 15, 2025
- Fortan is introduced to the World in 1956
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Back in the day I learned programming with a dialect of PL/1 called DUCHSS.
PL/1 is derived from elements of both Cobol and Fortan and as such I found the implementation very logical and fairly swift to acquire.
Fortan, like Cobol is a high level compiled programming language.
That which makes them "high level" are their dependence of a "low level software" to interface with and control the hardware and interoperational aspects of their work.
These low level elements are referred to as "system software".
Whereas Cobol is primarily business oriented, Fortan finds it's base in the realm of scientific and numerical computation.
My interests have always been first and formost scientific therefore it is fitting that I studied a smidge of Fortan during the course of my introduction to PL/1.
On this day in 1956 Fortran was introduced to the programmers of the world. It remains dear to my heart for all it allowed me to bring to the table in the technical realm.
Both languages remain in use today but I have moved on to the Fourth Generational Languages.
A Fourth Generation Language (4GL) is a high-level programming language designed to be closer to human language which enables more rapid development and utilizes precoded automation built into the compiler.
These languages are typically specific to the area in which they are utilized such as database query languages like SQL, report generators, and tools for data manipulation, analysis, and web development.
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- October 14, 2025
- National Day of Remembrance for Charlie Kirk
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A national day of remembrance is an annual observance for a country to officially commemorate and remember a significance in our midst.
The days are designated for a variety of reasons, such as honoring the military, memorializing victims of tragedy, or recognizing ongoing struggles and trauma faced by a community.
The observance can involve solemnity, ceremony, moments of silence, acts of service, or personal reflection.
The US Senate has unanimously passed a resolution designating National Day of Remembrance for Charlie Kirk to be held each October 14 annually.
Mr Kirk was speaking at a debate hosted by his nonprofit political organization.
Immediately before the shooting, Kirk was taking questions from an audience member about mass shootings and gun violence.
That irony has never been lost on me personally, and I am living for the day when 22-year-old Tyler Robinson faces the music for his horrific murder of someone whose only wish was public discourse and interpersonal understanding.
Rest in peace.
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- October 13, 2025
- Birthday of a Daughter of Satan 2025
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Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez was born on October 13, 1989.
She is a dumbass democrat libtard Member of the US House of Representatives from New York's 14th district.
She refers to her politics as Democratic Socialists of America.
Her politics include:
1 support for worker cooperatives,
2 Medicare for All,
3 tuition-free public colleges,
4 a jobs guarantee,
5 the Green New Deal scam,
6 abolishing US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)
She is a leader of the left-wing libtard faction of the stupid Democratic Party, and a member of the "Squad", a so-called "progressive" congressional bloc which is anything but that.
Today is her birthday.
I hope she and anyone and everyone who voted for or contributes funds to her dies today.
Boo !
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- October 12, 2025
- Dennis Ritchie passed in 2011
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One of my early heros was a computer scientist named Dennis Ritchie. He was born in Bronxville, New York. I had just read over Kernigan and Ritchie's treatise on his C Programming Language and I was young and impressionable and just took to him and his work without much in the way of coaxing.
Dennis MacAlistair Ritchie was an American computer scientist. He created Unix the operating system, the C programming language. The B programming language with collague Ken Thompson.
They won the prestigious Turing Award from the Association for Computing Machinery in 1983, the IEEE Richard W Hamming Medal from the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) in 1990, and the National Medal of Technology from President Bill Clinton in 1999.
Mr Ritchie was instrumental in the development of Multics (Multiplexed Information and Computing Service), a pioneering mainframe time-sharing operating system developed in the 1960s and 1970s by MIT, General Electric, and Bell Labs. It is said that Unix was strongly influenced from Multics with it's VM constructs, strong security, and access controls.
Upon his retirement in 2007 Mr Ritchie was in charge of the Lucent Technologies System Software Research Department.
Dennis Ritchie was the son of a Bell Labs scientist who wrote a circuit switching book called The Design of Switching Circuits. Mr Ritchie graduated from Harvard University with degrees in physics and applied mathematics in 1963.
Mr Ritchie was found dead on October 12, 2011, at the age of 70 at his home in Berkeley Heights, New Jersey, where he lived alone. The news of his passing was overshadowed by the death of Steve Jobs who comparatively speaking was a lightweight mouth piece for Apple Computer and not worthy to overshadow anyone of the stature of Dennis Ritchie.
Any thus ended the life of one of my personal icons in life and I am glad I had that small exposure to his work which I was afforded by a particular colleague whom I have missed over the years as well.
See Also:
Programmers Day 2018
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- October 11, 2025
- Happy Birthday Daryl Hall 2025
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Back in the late 70s I became a fan of the duo Hall and Oates.
I enjoyed their 'Philadelphia sound' and I committed many of their pieces to memory and could sing along with the radio or record player with wild abandon.
Yes, Daryl Hall and John Oates were to dominate my musical tastes for an extended period and I don't recall ever "not" liking them or their music.
Daryl Franklin Hohl is known professionally as Daryl Hall and works in American rock, R&B, and as a soul singer. Blue eyed soul.
Now there's a concept ! He was the co-founder and principal lead vocal front man of Hall & Oates, with guitarist and songwriter John Oates during the years from 1972 to 1984. Yes, those were the days.
I have watched a number of the television programs in the musical series Live from Daryl's House and I really took a trip down memory lane during many of them.
Daryl Hall was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2004 and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in April 2014.
Daryl Franklin Hohl was born October 11, 1946 making today the 79th anniversary of his birth.
Happy birthday to you !
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- October 10, 2025
- Founding of the US Naval Academy
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When I was on active duty in the Navy I interacted with several officers who were Naval Academy graduates.
Some of them were very interactive and entertaining in their comportment but all business from a standpoint of command.
I have known of the various service academies since childhood.
I have never sought candidacy nor wished to be an officer.
Selectees for Naval and Marine Corps officers may attend the US Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland. It is a route involving recommendations and the submission of credentials.
Other candidates apply of their own accord without any particular recommendations and submit their credentials for consideration.
It is said that the most viable option is the recommendation route. Normally this is handled by the congress person in the candidates voting area.
The US Naval Academy institution was created by the historian, educator, and Secretary of the Navy one Mr George Bancroft who sought to improve what was viewed by many as unsatisfactory instruction of midshipmen.
The facilities were founded on this day in 1845.
The United States Naval Academy is a federal service academy in Annapolis, Maryland, founded in 1845 to train future officers for the US Navy and Marine Corps.
It provides a four-year undergraduate education, developing midshipmen morally, mentally, and physically to serve as leaders.
Graduates are awarded Bachelor of Science degrees and are commissioned as ensigns in the Navy or second lieutenants in the Marine Corps.
They incur a service commitment of at least five years.
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- October 9, 2025
- What a nothing X is
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I just deactivated my very short duration X account. I left the place because it really is feature poor and moneygrubbing to the core.
You would think the richest man on the earth would have more character than to be this kvetch penny pincher but alas, that is what he is. Besides, I would just as soon not be in a place where I would be tempted to throttle SO MANY people.
It's simply loaded with great gross masses of libtards. What a seemingly attractive place for the totally unskilled.
Some say the moniker 'Libtard' is both lazy and offensive. I say lazy and offensive characterizes liberals perfectly.
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- October 9, 2025
- Ageism Awareness Day 2025
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Ageism is said to be prejudice or discrimination against a person or group of people based on their age.
Now whereas I should likely be offended getting on like I am I find the notion humorous instead.
I do not seek age-inclusive anything. Not in my community nor my society.
I am comfortable in my own skin because I have had a successful career and retain skills far beyond those of most others in my midst.
Today is Ageism Awareness Day.
It is observed annually on October 9th since 2022 under the auspices of the American Society on Aging.
The complaints regarding ageism revolve around it impacting health, well-being, and the economy.
It is said that there is an unconscious biases towards people of other age groups called "implicit ageism".
We are encouraged to take action against ageism in its various forms, from stereotypes and prejudice to discrimination.
I suppose were I in need of employment or other things being kept from me this would be my concern as well.
However, I am pretty much self sufficient and confident in my role in retirement.
While I don't feel ageism is an especially "nice" thing it is just another one of those little nasty games people like to play with each other.
Personally, I remain unaffected by ageism and that's the way I like it.
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- October 8, 2025
- National Hero Day 2025
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Today is National Hero Day. It is a day to recognize real life heroes in your life. By honoring those who go above and beyond to help others we raise them in the collective consciousness of the nation and the world.
This holiday is celebrated annually on October 8th. It encourages us to express gratitude for the acts of courage, kindness, and self-sacrifice demonstrated by individuals such as Charlie Kirk — who gave overwhelmingly of himself to others only to suffer death by assassination as direct result of his concern for us, conservatism, faith, and The Republic.
IMHO the left has mischaracterized his public career at every turn and have exhibited multiple varieties of that crass shallow unfeeling existence their politics require.Charlie Kirk was shot in the neck during audience participation regarding mass shootings in the United States. He was formally pronounced dead at a nearby hospital. Investigators stated the gunman was positioned on the roof of a building approximately 142 yards from where he was speaking.
These selfish austere malefactors flaunt a distinct lack of raising and comportment at every turn. This young man should still be here with his family engaging public discourse and living his life.
His wife should not have been widowed. His young children should not have lost their daddy — particularly in the violent senseless manner of Charlie Kirk's passing.
Rest in peace.
BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
A PROCLAMATION
As a mark of respect for the memory of Charlie Kirk, by the authority vested in me as President of the United States by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, I hereby order that the flag of the United States shall be flown at half-staff at the White House and upon all public buildings and grounds, at all military posts and naval stations, and on all naval vessels of the Federal Government in the District of Columbia and throughout the United States and its Territories and possessions until sunset, September 14, 2025. I also direct that the flag shall be flown at half-staff for the same length of time at all United States embassies, legations, consular offices, and other facilities abroad, including all military facilities and naval vessels and stations.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this tenth day of September, in the year of our Lord two thousand twenty-five, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and fiftieth.
DONALD J. TRUMP
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- October 7, 2025
- National Taco Day 2025
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I don't know when I became a fan of eating tacos, but it overcame me sometime in my later past and has stuck with me. I think what nailed eating tacos into my likes was my beloved late stepfather and his facility with making a plate full of toasted hard shell tacos in two shakes.
I tell you, I miss him, his presence, and his innumerable talents every day.
A taco is a Mexican dish consisting of a corn or wheat tortilla, typically folded, filled with various mixtures, such as seasoned meat, beans of varying varieties, lettuce, tomatoes, and onions.
The main parts of the taco experience consist of the tortilla and its filling, with those specifics of the tortilla's firmness (being soft or crispy) and the nature of the filling can and do vary widely.
The soft vis-à-vis the hard shell are the most common distinction between various tacos and their indigenous regions. Soft, pliable tortillas are typically wheat and those cripsy hard-shell tacos result from frying the shell. I am partial to both varities, just ask any of the three local Taco Bell establishments.
I can down a half dozen taco supremes made with either crispy or soft shells before you can bat an eye.
In the United States National Taco Day is celebrated on the first Tuesday in October.
This makes it October 7 this year.
So if it floats your boat you should go on down to your favorite taqueria ... even if it is the highly americanized Taco Bell and grab yourself a few tacos for a near future meal.
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