Daniel E. Sickles

Daniel E. Sickles was acquitted of murder charges by reason of temporary insanity on February 19, 1859. The acquittal was the first time someone got off by reason of temporary insanity.

Daniel E. Sickles was a New York, Tammany Hall, politician and lawyer who rose through the political ranks until he was a United States congressman, this is all pre Civil War. While Daniel E. Sickles was being a Hot Shit politician he made a bunch of friends, hob nobbing with all the big names and having appointments to other countries. Then when Daniel E. Sickles is 33 his family decides that its time that he is married and they find a nice girl and make it happen. Problem is she is either 15 or 16, pre Civil War here, and they do not know or care for each other at all. Daniel E. Sickles is known for being a hard drinking man about town who is a tireless self promoter and he does not waste much time being faithful to his wife. Daniel E. Sickles has other appointments, one specifically to England where he brought a known Washington-area prostitute, her name was Fanny White, with him instead of his preggers at the time wife. Daniel E. Sickles may have presented Ms. White, Fanny to the Queen as his wife. Whilst Daniel E. Sickles was away on his appointments and infidelities his wife found other company.

Philip Barton Key was the son of Francis Scott Key, the Francis Scott Key. Philip was a district attorney and he was having an affair with the Mrs. Daniel E. Sickles. In early 1859 Daniel E.Sickles murdered Philip Barton Key in Lafayette Square, which is right across the street from the White House.

Daniel E. Sickles  turned himself in after the murder and was taken to the local jail. Whilst in jail Daniel E. Sickles received so many visitors that the main jailer set up Daniel E. Sickles Head Honcho Office so Daniel E. Sickles would have a suitable place to see his guests. President Buchanan did not come to visit, he did write a note though. Daniel E. Sickles had a few fellow Congressmen act as his defense, they came up with the temporary insanity defense, and it worked.

After the trial Daniel E. Sickles and the Mrs. reconciled. Daniel E. Sickles went on to join the Union Army at the outbreak of the Civil War. He spent the early part of his military career drumming up recruits and was successful enough to be promoted quickly rising through the ranks until he eventually was the only Union General who did not have a West Point education. At the Battle of Gettysburg Daniel E. Sickles directly disobeyed an order which he claimed won The Battle for the rest of his life. Gen. Daniel E. Sickles was ordered to take his troops over and onto a Hill and protect it, he decided to go over to it and not onto it staying at the bottom of The Hill.  Daniel E. Sickles lost the bottom of his leg to a cannon ball while protecting the bottom of the Hill during the The Battle and so as to not discourage his troops while being carried through the most deathly field ever he sat upright and smoked a cigar.

Historians still debate whether Daniel E. Sickles should have gone up The Hill or stay at the bottom.. In any event because Daniel E. Sickles was working with 1.5 legs They sent him home to Washington. This being 1863 news did not travel fast and when Daniel E. Sickles got home he went about spreading his version of The Battle. Where the Bottom of the Hill was obvs the place to protect and there was no reason to Court Marshall him or anything nothing like that. Daniel E. Sickles never fell out of favor with the Washington elite, lived until 1914.

Next time you stub your toe and rob a bank just remember Daniel E. Sickles and plead temporary insanity.

-jv
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Over the Cuckoo's Nest

One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest by Ken Kesey was first published fifty years ago today. I absolutely love The Book and everyone loves The Movie, The Play is pretty good too. I love that Ken Kesey wrote the book after working the midnight shift at a mental hospital while tripping. Randle P. McMurphy, a better protagonist name can not be found outside of The Outsiders. And Nurse Ratched is soo evil. Everyone should read The Wikipedia Page just to catch up on the story a little and maybe read about Ken Kesey who was super interesting beyond just writing this awesome book.

Also, what a great book cover.
-jv
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The Twinkie Defense

After Dan White assassinated Harvey Milk on November 27, 1978 his Lawyers successfully used "The Twinkie Defense" to get Dan White out of jail in a little more than five years.

Dan White's Lawyers explained to The Jurors that the night before The Murders (Dan White also killed the San Fransisco mayor in the same spree that left Harvey Milk dead) Dan White had ate a Large Amount of  Twinkies. Because, The Lawyers explained, Dan White usually kept an extremely healthy diet the Large Amount of Twinkies had diminished his capacity. That is The Twinkie Defense. Eat too many Twinkies and kill two people.

-jv
Very Amateur Historian
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JFK Death Day

I know very little about JFK and have done no additional research

Today is probably the 48th anniversary of what definitely is the day that John Fitzgerald Kennedy who was probably our 33rd President was shot in Dallas. Jackie O was definitely in the car which was a convertible. Either her dress was pink and the car was 50s blue or versa vice. Harvey Lee Oswald probably didnt act alone in the shooting of JFK.

Other than the shooting: JFK was sickly in some way. JFK was a babe magnet who didnt wear a hat to his innaugeration. The K family made their money in the depression by either selling oil or coal. JFK had an older brother who was being groomed to do all the stuff JFK did then the brother died in WW2. JFK asked what we could do for the country. JFK is on the Half Dollar Coin.



-jv
 Very Amateur Historian

Any additional information can be found on JFK's Wikipedia Page
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Ned Kelly's Last Wish

 Ned Kelly is the Australian Jesse James. Ned Kelly was born in June of either 1854 or 1855. He definitely died November 11, 1880. Ned Kelly was hung at the Old Melbourne Gaol, gaol being Australian for jail, and his last wish was to be buried in his family graveyard. To this the Aussies running The Gaol said things to the effect of "No" "No way mate" and "Not on my Barbie" and proceeded to throw Ned Kelly's body in a mass grave they had going at The Gaol.  Last year Ned Kelly's body was identified and just this last week Anthony Griffiths, Ned Kelly's Grand-Nephew, was granted permission to exhume and rebury Ned Kelly. Sometimes you need 131 years to make a wish come true.

Also, Ned Kelly has the best hair in history.

-jv
Happy Ned Kelly Day

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Picasso, My Dude.

When Picasso was little his Dad was an artist who showed little Picasso the ropes. When Picasso was seven he surpassed his Dad. As he grew older Picasso took art classes and really honed his skill. Picasso had skill. Once Picasso began to get more abstract with his art other artists would occasionally insinuate that Picasso didn't have the skill to do realist art. And Picasso would challenge them to art-offs, AND ALWAYS WIN. Picasso is my dude. Today would have been his 130th birthday.

This picture is "Nude Green Leaves and Bust" and in 2010 it sold for 106.5 MILLION DOLLARS, my dude.

-jv
former art history major
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Where Were You?

I was in Mr Carpenter's math class. And after the initial loudspeaker announcement we really didn't talk about it anymore, so I absolutely did not understand what was going on, until later in Ms. Gutteridge's gym class and that was probably when I heard about the Pentagon and the other plane that crashed in Pennsylvania.Then after lunch there were enough TVs on that you could be watching the news. And then we went home and watched the news. It was definitely a little scary.  I remember that KISS 108 didnt play any music that day just more news.

Where were you?

-jv
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Usain Bolt DQs

In 2010 the rule on false starts in track were changed to a "one and done" rule. One false start and you are DQ'd. Usain Bolt jumped the gun today at the IAAF World Championships, you can see it at 1:05 real good, and ended his three year strangehold on the 100m dash. The IAAF will definitely have to change this before the Olympics. Let them try as many times as it takes to get Usain Bolt in the race, he is the best Olympics t.v. next to Michael Phelps.


-jv
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Save Pluto

On January 19, 2006 New Horizons the NASA robotic discovery laboratory spacecraft was launched at the planet Pluto. New Horizons will be as close to Pluto as its going to get on July 14,  2015. The plan is to turn on the science five months before the closest New Horizons will get to Pluto.

On August 24, 2006 the International Astronomical Union (IAU), Mother Fuckers, decided they hated everyone and declared Pluto was no longer a planet. This accomplished nothing and wrecked the mnemonic planet thing.  My Very Excellent Mother Just Served Us Nine Pizzas became My Very Excellent Mother Just Served Us Nothing, the IAU suck.

If  the IAU had waited for New Horizons to be five months away from Pluto and had revved up the science and realized that Pluto was in no way at all like any other planet even a little bit things would be different. Because that was the plan, to go out where nobody had gone before and learn a bunch of new and interesting things about Pluto. Mother Fuckers jumped the gun.

Pluto is a planet until at least Valentine's Day 2015.


Also, if anything let's loosen up the definition of a planet. We should have Ceres, Eris, and Makemake. We should add them because it is better to have a planet named Makemake.

-jv
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Even More Exciting British News

The UK is exciting, especially these last couple weeks. Posh and Becks added beautiful daughter Harper Seven to their unfairly good looking family and The News of the World put out its last issue on July 10th. Hugh Grant took down News of the World. On July 28th the Opening Ceremony of the 2012 Summer Olympics in London were a year away, as of today we are 348 out. The London Riots started on August 6th following a march protesting the death of Mark Duggan. Austin Powers 4 was announced on August 12th, yeah baby.

This is the best picture from the London Riots. A hooligan trying to kick a Bobbie in the Johnson.

This picture from the London Riots is crazy.

-jv
British Admirer

Rockstars die at 27

When Amy Winehouse was found dead today, after gasping aloud, our first thought was "Was she 27?" because rockstars die when they are 27.

My favorite Jimi Hendrix song is "The wind cries Mary."

No one sings Summertime better than "Janis Joplin," with a little help from Jimi.

 I can't think of a Doors song I don't like; everyone loves "Alabama Song," obviously.

I always knew I liked Nirvana, as far back as I can remember. I could only get to them through the radio for the longest time. Until I finally got a hold of their greatest hits album freshman year of high school. My favorite song is "Lithium."

 
And ever a rockstar, Amy has joined the infamous 27 club. It's songs like "Me and Mr Jones" that make me really sad about this.

- V
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Gangs of New York Riots

On July 13, 1863 riots broke out in New York City. The rioters were protesting the draft of citizens into the Union Army to fight in the Civil War.  The riot lasted for four days and included the burning of the Colored Orphan Asylum, the children were evacuated before the fire was set, and the lynching of at least twelve African Americans.

More information can be found here and here.

-jv
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Red Hirst Chili Peppers

Damien Hirst is wicked cool and so are the Red Hot Chili Peppers. Damien Hirst designed the cover for the new Red Hot Chili Peppers album, titled "I'm With You", that comes out August 30th. 

  

Also, Happy Birthday to the bikini.
-jv
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We Miss Heath Ledger

Today is the third anniversary of Heath Ledger's tragic death. It was a terrible day. Alice had to sit through an endless hair cut, while the hair dressers talked nonchalantly about his death. John watched Lords of Dogtown and drank every time Heath came on screen, which turned out to be impossible, frankly he's the star of the movie. John passed out halfway through. We wish he was still making great movies and looking totally babelicious.

Here are two of our favorite Heath moments. We couldn't include the entirety of Brokeback Mountain or his transformative performance in Lords of Dogtown, or his turn as William as Ulrich von Lichtenstien in A Knight's Tale. What is your favorite Heath moment?


10 Things I Hate About You
1999


The Dark Knight
2008


Heath, we never wanna quit you,

-the V's