The Queen of Diamonds. . . .

On By scottpetersenIn Queen of Spades, The Manchurian CandidateLeave a comment

The Manchurian Candidate.  The 1959 book by Richard Condon.   A 1962 movie of that title (released at the height of the Cuban Missile Crisis).  With a remake in 2004 . . . . . 

Major Bennett Marco, Sergeant Raymond Shaw and the rest of their infantry platoon are captured in 1952 – during the Korean War.  They are transported to Manchuria where all are brainwashed to believe that Shaw saved their lives in combat.  Shaw upon his return to the States is awarded the Medal of Honor for his courage. 

Years later, Marco – also back home – begins suffering a recurrent nightmare.  Of Shaw murdering two of his colleagues under the watchful eye of Chinese and Soviet intelligence officers.  Marco learns that another soldier from the platoon is suffering the same nightmare.  And Marco begins to investigate . . . . .

Marco learns that the Communists have been using Shaw as a sleeper agent – an assassin — who is subconsciously activated by the Queen of Diamonds.  Shaw’s handler turns out to be his mother – Eleanor.  The goal is to have Shaw assassinate a Presidential candidate – and to advance a puppet dictator — Senator Johnny Iselin.  Marco meets with Shaw.  Plays the Queen of Diamonds and gives Shaw instructions.  In the end, Shaw ends up killing his mother, Iselin and himself. 

In today’s political climate – with both candidates having such close sub rosa ties to Russia – one has to wonder.  Perhaps one is activated by Queen of Spades.  And the other by the Joker . . . . .   

Lady Be Good

On By scottpetersenIn Lady Be GoodLeave a comment

I’m not talking about the 1924 Broadway show that featured music and lyrics by George and Ira Gershwin. I’m talking about a B-24D Liberator that vanished after a bombing run over Naples during World War II. That fateful day was April 4, 1943.

When I was a kid, my parents subscribed to LIFE Magazine – the weekly news journal that was published from 1883 to 1972.  I couldn’t wait to get my hands on LIFE when it walked in the door.  Simple kid that I was – I loved the pictures.  And the armchair adventure.  And I remember with clarity a day in 1960 when I learned that a mysterious B-24 Liberator that had been spotted a year before deep in the Sahara had been identified as the Lady Be Good.

The Lady Be Good on that early April day – was staffed by a newbie crew of nine – just one week off the boat.  Their first mission was a big one.  A night bombing run over Naples harbor.  The Lady Be Good took off with 25 other bombers from Soluch Field in Libya.  Near Benghazi.  Most of the bombers returned to base within a few hours — because of high winds.  But the noble Lady pressed on.  And ended up dumping her bombs in the Med.  And the Lady with its nine souls – began the return trip – alone.  In the black of night, the plane overflew the base and continued on.  Deep into the Libyan Desert.   The pilot believed the desert below was the ocean.  So they continued.  Until they ran out of fuel.  And the crew bailed out. . . . . .

In February 1960, the U.S. Army visited the plane and conducted a formal search for the remains of the crew.  Eight of the nine were found.  And in August 1994 the remnants of the plane were removed from the site.  Only one member of the crew – S/Sgt. Vernon L. Moore of New Boston, Ohio – was never found.  His body still rests – where it fell – 73 years ago. . . . .  

Burning Leaves

On By scottpetersenIn Burning leaves1 Comment

For millennia, folks have been burning garbage and “stuff” with relative impunity.  The smoke was often choking.  And sometimes toxic.  

But. . . . as a kid, I remember my father – and other men in my neighborhood – raking leaves in the fall.  And ushering them out to the street – at the curb – and lighting them up.  Saturdays and Sundays in October were the optimal days for raking, gathering and burning leaves.  And the distinct smell of burning leaves was overpowering.  And – from my recollection – not so unpleasant.  Everyone burned their leaves.  I mean what were families supposed to do with them?  My dad would stand – smoking his pipe – and talking with the other men.  As the leaves burned. . . . .   

I tend to think it would be nice if for one day in the fall, everyone could spoon some dead leaves out to the street.  And burn them.  Like the “good old days” (did I really say that?).    I don’t need a “bad for the environment” speech.  Or “think of what it did to your lungs.”  Or “aren’t there regulations?”  Just think about sharing an indelible olfactory moment of those autumn afternoons long ago . . . . .   

Boko Haram

On By scottpetersenIn Boko Haram, Nigeria, Saudi ArabiaLeave a comment

In my post of June 12, 2016, I commented that much of the problem in Islam can be traced to Saudi Arabia.       

Previously (December 9, 2012), I discussed tribal dynamics in Nigeria:  Ibo (nearly all Christian); Hausa (nearly all Muslim); and Yoruba (divided roughly 60% Christian and 40% Muslim).  While the Yoruba and Ibo get along pretty well (regardless of religious persuasion), it is the Hausa who cause much of the trouble in Nigeria.  Hausa are mainly uneducated.  They are Muslim in the Saudi (Wahabi) model.  And it is the Hausa – who (with Saudi influence) sponsor Boko Haram.

The boys of Boko Haram (means “Western education is forbidden“) are the Hausa hit men in Nigeria.  Since its founding in 2002, Boko Haram has executed tens of thousands of innocents and displaced 2.3 million.  While they are equal opportunity killers (butchering Christians in the north of Nigeria), the vast majority of their victims have been Muslim. 

The Bible is on my nightstand.  So is the Quran.  I’ve read both cover to cover (see 6/21/15).   I believe that Al-A’raf (Surah 7) foretells the prospects for those who join – or sponsor – Boko Haram.  ISIS.  Al-Shabaab.  Al-Qaeda.  Hamas.  Taliban.  And the others. . .     

179. We have destined for Hell multitudes of jinn [devils] and humans. They have hearts with which they do not understand. They have eyes with which they do not see. They have ears with which they do not hear. These are like cattle. In fact, they are further astray. These are the heedless.    

Hitchhiking

On By scottpetersenIn Hitch Hike by Marvin Gaye, HitchhikingLeave a comment

Does anyone hitchhike anymore?  I can’t remember the last time I saw someone standing on the side of the road.  Arm extended.  Thumb pointed up.   When I was at Augustana College in Rock Island, when I wanted to go home, my options were to take the train (to the tune of twenty bucks) or hitchhike.  I nearly always chose the latter option. 

My modus operandi was to Magic Marker a sign “Augie Student to Chicago.”  And on the back “Augie student to Mt. Prospect.”  And I’d stand on the street outside my dorm.  Hold up the sign.  And stick out my thumb.  And always got a ride.  And I lived to tell the tale. 

The first rides would usually cart me off to Interstate 80 and drop me off.  There, I’d stand at the entrance ramp looking forlorn and holding my sign.  And I was always picked up.

Once (Scout’s Honor) a big tractor trailer stopped.  I hustled up and climbed in.  The driver said “I’m sick and need to sleep.  If you wanna drive, I’m going to Route 47.”  Soooooo I traded places with the driver.  He shifted a few of the floor gears and off I went piloting this big rig.  The driver conked out instantly leaning against the door.  At Rte. 47, I slowed to a stop.  The driver took over and I hopped out, walked to the down ramp and held up my sign. 

Hitchhiking was so popular back in the day that Marvin Gaye wrote a song with the title “Hitch Hike.”  The song was released in 1962 in Gaye’s “That Stubborn Kinda Fellow” album.  In 1965 the Rolling Stones released their own version.  Listening to this music does bring back memories. . . . .   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vNMIkqS688o

 

On Being a Lawyer

On By scottpetersenIn Diamond shaped poem, On Being a LawyerLeave a comment

(A summer repeat from 12/26/2011)

I

D o

N o t

F i n d

E v e r y

D e t a i l

N o t a b l y

E x c i t i n g.

C o u r t r o o m

L  i  t  i  g  a  t  i  o  n

N o n e t h e l e s s

D e m o n s t r a t e s

U n a d u i t e r a t e d

S a t i s f a c t i o n

A d v e n t u r o u s

S t r a t e g i e s

A r g u m e n t s

S i d e b a r s

L e n g t h y

B r  i e f s

W i n d y

T a l k

A n d

M e

2

By Scott Petersen

As originally published in the Journal of the American Bar Association (February 1979)

Riding with Joe Miller

On By scottpetersenIn Camp Napowan, Joe Miller, Riding with Joe Miller1 Comment

(A summer repeat from 6/4/2013)

In my post of January 16, 2013, I wrote about Joe Miller’s Jests — the famous compilation of 247 numbered jokes published in 1739 by John Mottley. Well, there’s another “Joe Miller” that played a role in my life.

Fifty plus years ago, when I worked at Camp Napowan (the Boy Scout Camp in Wild Rose, WI), the chap who owned some of the property was Joe Miller (no relation to the joke book persona). Joe had an ancient olive drab pick up truck that (Scout’s Honor) had no doors. Floor stick shift. And of course there were no seat belts and no handle above the door to grab. His favorite line – while cruising, weaving and wobbling on the back roads of Wild Rose – was “If there’s no one coming around that bend, we’ll see the sun rise tomorrow.” I swear if we were driving with Joe, we’d grab under the glove compartment and hang on for dear life.

Today, there’d be a lot of “tsk tsking.” There would be newspaper articles.  There’d be an “inquiry.” Joe would be criticized. Maybe tossed in the clink. Unsafe vehicle. Endangerment. Et cetera. The usual assortment of money-grubbing plaintiff’s lawyers would sue anyone and everyone to scam a buck.

You should know — I would definitely not want – or allow – my child or grandchild to be one of Joe’s passengers. But looking back on it — I’m privately glad that I rode with Joe Miller . . . . .

Gabriel

On By scottpetersenIn GabrielLeave a comment

(A summer repeat from January 30, 2012)

There are three archangels in religious tradition: Michael, Raphael and Gabriel. Of the three, Gabriel is the one who curiously keeps popping up — not just in Christianity but in other faiths as well.  Gabriel is not just a divine messenger from God, he is an uber messenger. . . . .

In the Jewish tradition, Gabriel was a holy messenger who in the Old Testament book of Daniel offers an explanation of Daniel’s visions. In Christianity, it is Gabriel who foretells the birth of John the Baptist and Jesus. It was Gabriel who visits Mary to deliver the good news of her new role.

In the Mormon faith, Gabriel ministered to Joseph Smith.  In his earthly life, Gabriel was believed to be Noah. Some say, Gabriel continues to serve as a divine messenger having visited earth as recently as 1954.

In Islam, it was Gabriel (Jibril) who revealed the Qur’an to Muhammed. And in the Bahai faith, Gabriel is referenced in their holy texts (Baha’u’llah‘s mystical work Seven Valleys).

With Gabriel’s positive and influential involvement in so many religious traditions, one has to wonder why religious strife focuses so much on differences. Perhaps Gabriel, the Messenger, is trying to tell us something. . . . .

“Nice Mustache”

On By scottpetersenIn Nice mustache, Shave it don't save it2 Comments

Donna and I will take off in the summer and go up to Wisconsin. Or somewhere.  Long weekends.  Getaway.  These are the times when I tend to be lazy about shaving.   As I’ve said before, I have no strong inclination to shave.  Given my druthers, I’d probably look like Billy Gibbons.  Or Dusty Hill.  I shave to look neat.   Presentable.   But most importantly I shave to please a certain member of my family.  If you get my drift . . . .  (see 9/14/2014).  Over the last few weeks, I have left the caterpillar on my upper lip grow.  And expand.  Maybe it’s the manly levels of testosterone that pulse through my body.  My “stash” is looking quite cool.  At least I think it does when I look at myself in the mirror.  I give the edge a little twirl.  Smirk.  “Nice stash Studly.”

For people who haven’t seen me for a few weeks, I get a quizzical look.  As if to say “what the. . . .”  Time skips a beat or two.  They recover and blurt out the words  “nice mustache!”  Nice mustache.   At first I would do a fist pump and think yeahhhh. . . .  But I have come to realize that “nice mustache” is really the only civil observation a friend might offer when confronted by someone with mangy-looking facial hair.   And I have come to the conclusion that “nice mustache” probably translates to – “Petersen you look like a #%&*X! idiot.” 

That has been the conclusion of everyone in my family who now – led by my granddaughter – routinely chant “Shave it Popi, shave it!”  My hearing isn’t so good lately.  So all I hear is “Save it, Popi, save it!” 

So the guy who wanted a brownie. . . .

On By scottpetersenIn The Last BrownieLeave a comment

(A summer repeat from 12/2/2012)

So the guy who was on his deathbed in the previous post called his three best friends together – a priest, a doctor and a lawyer. “My friends,” he said “I’ve decided that I want to take my money with me. I’m giving each of you an envelope containing $300,000 in cash. Just before they close my coffin, I want you to throw in the envelope. I will be happy because I’m taking my money with me.“

The friends solemnly agreed and a short time later the man passed away. At the funeral, each of the friends stepped up and tossed his envelope into the coffin — just as it was being closed. Following the funeral, the three friends gathered to have a drink. After a moment, the priest broke down and tearfully said “I have a confession. I took $50,000 out of the envelope to give to a homeless shelter.” With that, the doctor broke down and sobbed “I have a confession — I took $100,000 to help fund the children’s hospital.”

The lawyer’s eyes narrowed. His stoic face turned to a frown. “I am ashamed of you. Ashamed! Taking money like that. I want you to know that I put my personal check in that envelope for the full $300,000. . . . .”