Jay Kersting's Blog

Let me open up this entry by saying "Happy Anniversary" to my wife Kathleen.  Thirteen years ago, she made this a date worth noting in my life.  Thank you Kathy.

Now, besides that Monday morning in 1995, a lot of other interesting things happened on this 15th day of May throughout history.

Back in 1756, the Seven Years War, also known as the French and Indian War in North America, began as the United Kingdom declared war on France.  Yeah, the French lost.

Then in 1776, the Virginia Convention to the Continental Congress proposed a resolution of independence from the United Kingdom.  This led to a proposal that was penned on 4 July of that year, and signed by most on 2 August 1776.  I think you know what I am talking about.  And no, there is not a secret map on the back.  Or is there?

Fast forward one hundred and twenty nine years, to 1905, and move west to a Nevada meadow.  The city of Las Vegas was founded when 110 acres of land was auctioned off.  Gambling came much, much later.  Really.  There was NO gambling there until it became legal in 1931.  None at all.  And the mob never ran the town either. 

Six years later, the Supreme Court of the United States declared that Standard Oil was an "unreasonable" monopoly.  The company was ordered to divest itself.  This is good news today because competition is still keeping fuel prices low.

In 1918, the Finnish Civil War was finished.  Or is that Finnished? 

In 1940, the health of our nation took a hit when the McDonald brothers opened their restaurant in San Bernadino, California.  Of course, the McDonalds chain really took off after milkshake mixer sales man Ray Kroc came out to see the operation.  Billions of burgers, and a song by Mark Knopfler, have been served since then.

A year later, Joe DiMaggio started his 56 game hitting streak.

Then in 1948, just days after the forming of the Jewish state of Israel, everyone gets pissed and attacks the young nation.  OK, OK, not everyone, but every bording nation attacked them.  Egypt, Transjordan (now Jordan), Lebanon, Syria, Iraq and Saudi Arabia all jumped on Israel.  Guess who won?

Back to baseball for just a second, my favorite baseball player of all time, George Brett, was born on this date in 1953.  Happy Birthday to Mr. Brett!!

Richard Nixon did some bad things in his life, but in 1970 he did a good thing by appointing the first two female U.S. Army Generals.  Anna Mae Hays and Elizabeth Hoisington were the first.

In 1995, Kathleen Marie Shelton made a decision, while sober believe it or not, to actually follow through on that promise to marry me.  Don't be too hard on her, she is still kicking herself.

Then in 2003, there was this incident. 

The last two are personal, but I found the rest to be quite interesting.

Besides, it is better than talking about the Ambulance Chaser endorsing Barack Obama.

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A slight controversy is being stirred up and I do not know if this has any legs under it or not.

Recently, the tax returns of the various Presidential candidates were released.  The biggest attention went toward Bill and Hillary Clinton over how much they have made.  But little else was made of it.

Now, some are wanting to draw attention to the tax returns of a candidate's spouse.  Or the lack of public release of the tax returns of this spouse.

Cindy McCain does not file join tax returns with her husband.  Some are saying that her income, sources of income and financial interests could impact his decision making in the White House.

This brings up an interesting discussion, but I am not sure if this is worthy of controversy.  I have seen few others bring it up, but I did see it mentioned on the blog section of the Los Angeles Times website.

I do know that Cindy McCain has sold mutual funds, to the tune of $2 Million, that had financial interests in Sudan.  Good move.

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The Kansas City Royals have a three game winning streak.  Luke Hochevar got his third win of his major league career.  They are back to .500 for the month of May. 

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Have a GREAT Thursday!