R.I.P. – ‘Pioneer Cabin’ Sequoia Tree

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As reported by East County Today,

The Pioneer Cabin Tree, one of California’s oldest tourist attractions and a beloved specimen of a rare California native species, fell Sunday in Calaveras Big Trees State Park.

A combination of trunk and root decay and storm water runoff appears to have brought the giant sequoia down at its base, shattering it and a nearby cedar tree. No one was hurt. The trees fell when the trail to the giant sequoia was closed.

Cats – No ‘Effing Pussy Men Here

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Appropriated from the Caveman Circus, “Taxidermist Carl Akeley posing with the leopard he killed with his bare hands after it attacked him, 1896″.

 Not wanting to end up stuffing the cat with his own entrails, Akeley raised his rifle and fired twice, but he missed both times. On his third shot, the bullet grazed the leopard, sending the feline into a frenzy. Enranged, the big cat screamed and charged the American, all teeth and bad attitude, ready to take his revenge.

Terrified out of his mind, Akeley pulled the trigger a fourth time, only to realize that he was out of bullets. Downright desperate, Akeley tried to flee, loading cartridges into his rifle as he ran. Working the bolt, he turned to shoot, only to see the leopard flying through the air, fangs bared. Fortunately, Akeley’s first shot had wounded one of the cat’s back paws. Thanks to the bullet, the leopard’s jump was a bit off, giving Akeley enough time to throw up his hands. The cat sank its jaws into the man’s forearm, and the two started wrestling back and forth, fighting for their lives. Eventually, the man and cat grew weak and tumbled to the ground. Finally, he managed to strangle the leopard with his left hand while ramming his right arm down the leopard’s throat. 

Chiraq – New Year’s Cemetary Field Trips

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That Graceland Cemetery and Arboretum Tour last week was exciting.  The folks at HeyJackass.com recommend it as your final stop in absorbing Chicago culture.

Free, self-guided theme tours through Graceland Cemetery can focus on Chicago’s great architects and their influence, the city’s turbulent history, its powerful and inventive citizens, or the Cemetery’s natural beauty. A road map is available at the Graceland office, near the historic entrance.

2016 Chiraq Murder Statistics from HeyJackass.com.

 

Vlad ‘The Influencer’ Putin – On Immigration

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The Democratic meltdown over “Russian Hacking” has given Vladimir Putin near super-human powers of influence in the US political system.  I’d expect him to be offered the ‘cold open‘ for Saturday Night Live or a least a guest host slot on TBS’s Conan soon.  As a matter of fact, we’ve set up his own “Vlad – The Influencer” category to keep track of all things Putin.