Sunday, September 16, 2007

Mexican Independence Day

[1810 - Father Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla calls peasants to arms to fight for Mexico's independence from Spain]

[1823 - Francis Parkman, author, born in Boston, Massachusetts]

[1854 - US Navy establishes Mare Island Navy Yard at Vallejo in San Francisco Bay]

[1875 - J.C. (James Cash) Penney, merchant and entrepreneur, born near Hamilton, Missouri]

[1908 - General Motors is founded in Flint, Michigan]

[1960 - Coach Amos Alonzo Stagg announces retirement from college football]

How The Smelt Felt

Consider the plight of the Delta Smelt.
He is not large, but he sure is svelte.
He breeds in sloughs downstream from Hood.
The bed is muddy, but the action is good.

Now human need for more potable water,
May leave the Smelt without a daughter.
Construction of a new peripheral canal,
Could stop him breeding and affect morale.

Comes the Government to the rescue.
The humble Smelt becomes an issue.
Preserve the fish at any cost.
Who cares if human lives are lost.

Of this fact you may be certain,
Before Smelt take a final curtain:
The more we mess with Mother Nature,
Fewer Smelt will live to see the future.

William's Whimsical Words:

Three Cheers for the Law of Unintended Consequences, boys!

to Summer 2007

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