Old Sailors' Almanac

THIS WEEK IN HISTORY

Week 09, 2019

Previous Week   February 25, 2019 - March 03, 2019  Next Week

Steve Fossett becomes the first person to fly an airplane non-stop around the world solo without refueling on March 03, 2005

Steve Fossett becomes the first person to fly an airplane non-stop around the world solo without refueling on March 03, 2005

Steve Fossett becomes the first person to fly an airplane non-stop around the world solo without refueling: On March 03, 2005, Steve Fossett completed his mission despite a fuel shortage, landing the Virgin GlobalFlyer at 1950 GMT in Salina, Kansas, where he took off.

The U.S. millionaire had considered aborting the trip and landing in Hawaii, but he decided to press on because of favourable tail winds.

“What a day”, he said as he emerged from the plane after a 67-hour journey.

Mr. Fossett has notched up more than 100 world records in five different fields of endeavour. In 2002, he became the first man to fly round the world in a balloon single-handed.

To achieve his latest feat, the pilot flew across the Atlantic, North Africa, Asia and the Pacific, before returning to the US.

He lived on chocolate milkshakes and slept for only a few minutes at a time.

The pioneering aircraft - the world's most efficient jet plane - was designed by aviation legend Burt Rutan, who also designed the SpaceShipOne rocket plane.

The structure of the plane is entirely made from composite material and is ultra-light, enabling the vehicle to fly 75% further than the range record for jet-powered planes.

The nine-day circumnavigation covered 42,420km (26,366 miles).

BBC / Wikipedia / Encyclopedia Britannica / Biography / Smithsonian / Steve Fossett becomes the first person to fly an airplane non-stop around the world solo without refueling (YouTube) video


Oil is discovered in Saudi Arabia March 03, 1938

Oil is discovered in Saudi Arabia March 03, 1938

Oil is discovered in Saudi Arabia: On March 03, 2005 - Finding the King's Fortune.

The king of Saudi Arabia, Abd-al-Aziz ibn Saud, had authorized a team of American engineers to explore the trackless desert bordering the Persian Gulf, an arid landscape marked only by the occasional palm-fringed oasis. He hoped they would find water. A tribal leader with precarious finances, Ibn Saud believed the Americans might discover places where he could refresh his warriors' horses and camels. But the team, from Standard Oil of California, had something else on its mind.

Oil had been discovered in other countries in the region, and the engineers thought they would find more in Saudi Arabia. Over several years, they drilled more than half a dozen holes without result. In desperation, they decided to dig deeper at well No. 7. They plumbed to a depth of 4,727 ft. and finally hit what would turn out to be the largest supply of crude oil in the world.

The King did not appear to appreciate the news fully at first. It was an entire year after the discovery when he and his retinue arrived in a caravan of 400 automobiles at the pumping station of Ras Tanura to witness the first tanker hauling away its cargo of Saudi crude. Henceforth the King would no longer rely for income on the pilgrims arriving in Mecca, Islam's holiest city. And his kingdom's petroleum wealth would emerge as a crucial factor in Middle East politics and the bargaining over global energy supplies.

TIME / Wikipedia / National Geographic / Business Insider / Oil is discovered in Saudi Arabia March 03, 1938 (YouTube) video


The Battle of Nassau - The First Mission for America’s Marines on March 03, 1776

The Battle of Nassau - The First Mission for America’s Marines on March 03, 1776

The Battle of Nassau - The First Mission for America’s Marines: On March 03, 1776 - “Less than a year into the revolution, a force of Continentals invaded and captured the island of New Providence in the Bahamas. Their target: a cache of military supplies that included 200 barrels of gunpowder.”

IN 1776, the burgeoning American independence movement faced an enormous problem - one that threatened to end the revolution before it even really began: the rebel army had no gunpowder.

George Washington demanded Congress provide him with no fewer than 400 barrels of gunpowder when he took command of the Continental Army in 1775. He got fewer than 40 - enough for about 20 rounds per solider. The rebels needed more powder! In fact, it was this critical shortage that led to America’s first offshore military operation history.

Less than a year into the revolution (and four months before the Declaration of Independence), a force of Continentals invaded and captured the island of New Providence in the Bahamas. Their target: a cache of military supplies that included 200 barrels of gunpowder. The stockpile had been transferred there from Virginia only weeks earlier, specifically to keep it out of rebel hands.

Although a small, and largely bloodless affair, the March, 1776 invasion of New Providence would net the rebel cause a pittance of gunpowder. Yet the mission would be remembered as the debut operation of the American navy (such as it was at the time) as well as the first amphibious landing of the newly formed Continental Marines.

At noon that March 03, 200 marines, along with 50 sailors, waded ashore near Fort Montague.

The English guns at the fort opened fire on the Americans, but then fell silent. Still, a wary Captain Nicholas ordered his men to hold beyond the range of the cannon.

After some time, an officer from the local militia approached the American lines to discuss their objective. The talks went on for rest of the afternoon. Nicholas assured the British commander that the shore party was only there for the gunpowder and did not intend to pillage the town or fight the militia if at all possible. The locals gave up the fort and retired to the town enabling the marines to take Montague without a shot.

The next morning, the American marines set off towards Nassau. A delegation of locals intercepted them on the road and surrendered the town. The marines soon discovered that the bulk of the powder was gone. Browne was later arrested by the Americans, who were incensed by his efforts to deny them the supplies. The governor was clapped in irons and confined to the Alfred’s brig. The marines reportedly also raided his liquor cabinet for good measure.

The invaders did manage to net the rebellion several dozen cannons and mortars, as well as the nearly 40 barrels of powder that couldn’t be smuggled out.

The American marines would continue to serve throughout the Revolution, only to be completely disbanded at war’s end in 1783. The United States Marine Corps would be formed 15 years later in 1798. Despite this, November 10, 1775 is still considered to be the “birthday” of the United States Marines.

Military History Now / Wikipedia / Encyclopedia Britannica / The History Junkie / The Battle of Nassau - The First Mission for America’s Marines on March 03, 1776 (YouTube) video


Understanding Military Terminology: Scout of Many Trails (Sea Scout and Boy Scout look at globe with old sailor) ~ Norman Rockwell

Understanding Military Terminology - Movement plan

(DOD) In amphibious operations, the naval plan providing for the movement of the amphibious task force to the objective area. See also amphibious operation; amphibious task force.

Joint Publications (JP 3-02) Amphibious Operations


“A Perfect Storm”

The Old Salt’s Corner

“A Perfect Storm”


Beyond the bay the sun peeked over waves.

The calm belied what destiny would tell.

A statue peers where young men served and gave,

so far from Gloucester shores where seagulls yell;

so far from sheltered harbor's gentle swells,

undaunted sailors dared the Flemish cap,

too far, as nature mixed a hopeless trap.


Like hungry beasts tempt fate to catch their prey

and stray beyond their tribal hunting grounds,

the George's Bank was left to stern that day

to go where surely greater catch abounds,

but while their hold was filled with bounty found,

two angry storms swirled in a deadly dance

and left the Andrea Gail without a chance.


Her captain turned for port but could not know

such wrath of nature blocked their pathway home

and all the crew on wings of angels glowed

the face of God to trust, and not to roam.

Though oft in tumult's grasp they will bemoan

and think to sell their souls in Devil's waves,

yet safe in Heaven's grasp they will be brave.


~ Craig Cornish


“I’m Just Sayin’”

“I’m Just Sayin”

“Our task must be to free ourselves…

by widening our circle of compassion

to embrace all living creatures

and the whole of nature and its beauty.”

~ Albert Einstein


“Thought for the Day”

“Thought for the Day”

“Tricks and treachery are the practice of fools,

that don’t have brains enough to be honest.”

~ Benjamin Franklin


“What I Have Learned”

“What I Learned”

“For every action there is an equal and opposite government program”

“Government philosophy: If it ain't broke, fix it 'til it is.”

“Anarchy may not be the best form of government, but it's better than no government at all.”

~ Anonymous


Second Hand News

Second Hand News (Links to Articles from Week 9 - February 25, 2019 - March 03, 2019)

Top News Stories - Photos (Washington Examiner) Trump says Michael Cohen hearing may have sabotaged North Korea summitRepublicans seek to 'stop the bleeding' in California as millennial Hispanic mother takes helmIlhan Omar amplifies Israel dual loyalty charge, dismissing Democratic rebukesFears for Juan Guaido as he returns to VenezuelaRand Paul sets up Trump for his first presidential veto in fight over national emergency on the border

Editor's Picks: Devin Nunes sniffing out 'chain of custody' of dossier and Clinton ties with 32-person listNewsrooms that rushed to report tax refunds were smaller this year go silent on IRS data showing refunds have increasedToo little, too late: Washington Post admits it screwed up big in the Covington Catholic storyTrump to sign executive order requiring colleges, universities to support free speech on campus Washington Examiner

Top News Stories - Photos (Daily Mail) 23 people killed by tornadoes that ripped through Alabama and Georgia, destroyed hundreds of homes and have left over 40,000 without powerTrump says Cohen's testimony made him 'walk' from the Kim summit: President blames the Democrats and not a 'bad deal' for the failed talks because they 'hit a new low' and 'interviewed' a 'convicted liar and fraudster' while he was in Vietnam Huawei CFO Meng Wanzhou SUES Canada over her arrest as the US continues bid to get her extradited to face charges she violated sanctions on Iran

Rand Paul becomes fourth Republican in Senate to rebel against Trump and help vote down his state of emergency at the border, in move President pledges to vetoTrump loyalist Stone could have violated his gag order by posting an Instagram picture suggesting Robert Mueller set him up'I am an innocent man being persecuted', Donald Trump rails at investigations against him being run by 'very bad, conflicted & corrupt people'Trump confirms U.S.-South Korean military drills canceled as olive branch to Kim Jong Un, arguing 'reducing tensions' is 'a good thing'

The tiny shed in New Mexico surrounded by trash bags with deplorable conditions where ICE found 67 illegal immigrants living togetherI'm just 'living in the world': AOC responds to accusations she is a hypocrite for calling for a Green New Deal while her campaign spent $29,365.70 on car services - as she is seen leaving a parade in a 17mpg minivan'We are living through a full-fledged crisis in our democracy:' Hillary issues grave warning at Selma civil rights event as Jesse Jackson says Trump would probably have been 'with the storm troopers' on 'Bloody Sunday' Daily Mail UK

Top News Stories - Photos (South China Morning Post) China keeps lid on military spending for fourth year in a row Submarine arms race seen heating up in Indo-Pacific amid ‘great threat’ from China Inside Apple’s high-stakes diplomacy in the U.S.-China trade warWhy U.S. Navy’s South China Sea operations tighten squeeze on Southeast Asian nations caught between Washington and BeijingHuawei CFO Meng Wanzhou sues Canada over detentionChina turns Muslim detainees into cheap labour, group claims

North Korea Nuclear Crisis: Trump-Kim failed, but can Abe reach North Korea through China?

Most Read: Otto Warmbier: what happened in the North Korean jail that led to American’s death?Foxconn, a tale of slashed salaries, disappearing benefits and mass resignations as iPhone orders dry up‘Like pulling teeth’: In trade talks, China and U.S. said to be far apart on structural changes by BeijingThe complex reality of China’s social credit system: hi-tech dystopian plot or low-key incentive scheme?Riding out the storm: will China change course when its elite meet? South China Morning Post

Top News Stories - Photos (Times of Israel) Analysis: Why Netanyahu and Gantz bicker most over the policy they most agree onTwo soldiers wounded in West Bank car-ramming; 2 attackers killedAfter car-ramming, Netanyahu vows to quickly demolish attackers’ homesPalestinian suspect in Israeli teen’s murder to be indicted in coming daysIsrael strikes Hamas post in response to Gaza border riot

Most Read: Boston’s Jewish community stunned by allegations against Robert KraftPoll shows two-thirds of Israelis think Netanyahu should resign if indictedIran hails chess player who refused to face IsraeliIn Rome, spectacular ancient Jewish catacomb’s opening haunted by delaysFrench city’s rabbi says half of his congregants have left over anti-Semitism Times of Israel

CORRUPTION CHRONICLES - Mainstream Media Scream: (Watch Dog On-Line Publications) CORRUPTION CHRONICLES: The Michael Cohen hearings, Clinton email update...Congress Abuses President Trump (Cohen’s Testimony against Trump Was Plainly Unethical)702,000 Overstay Visa Nearly Two Decades after Terrorists Did it to Execute 9/11

Highway of Tears (The Murders in Indian Country)Illegal Aliens Arrested in Workplace Raid Sue Fed Agents for Racial Profiling Clinton Collusion Judicial Watch


What Factors That Determine Whether or Not You Remember Your Dreams?

Mr. Answer Man Please Tell Us: What Factors That Determine Whether or Not You Remember Your Dreams?

Within the scientific community, dreams are still something of a mystery. Many experiments have been conducted and many theories have been put forth, but researchers still don’t fully understand why or how we dream. Further complicating matters is the fact that everyone dreams, but some people never remember their subconscious escapades.

However, improvements in brain imaging and recent physiological studies have brought us one step closer to answering the question of why some people remember their dreams more than others. There’s no simple, definitive explanation, “but there are a number of things that correlate”, Dr. Deirdre Leigh Barrett, a psychology professor at Harvard Medical School tells. Barrett shares a few of the factors that can affect your dream recall.

What Factors That Determine Whether or Not You Remember Your Dreams?

1. SEX

Women, on average, recall more dreams than men. Researchers aren’t exactly sure why, but Barrett says it could be a biological or hormonal difference. Alternatively, women might be more cognizant of their dreams because they tend to be more interested in dreams in general. However, Barrett notes that differences between men and women in regard to dream recall are “modest” and that there are greater differences within each sex than between the sexes. In other words: There are plenty of women with low dream recall and plenty of men with high dream recall.

2. AGE

As we get older, it often gets harder to recall our dreams. Your ability to remember dreams improves in late childhood and adolescence, and tends to peak in your twenties, Barrett says. After that point, people often experience a gradual drop-off in dream recall. However, there are exceptions, and people sometimes experience the opposite.

What Factors That Determine Whether or Not You Remember Your Dreams?

3. PERSONALITY

Again, this is by no means a prescriptive rule, but there seems to be a correlation between certain personality traits and high dream recall. “More psychologically-minded people tend to have higher dream recall, and people who are more practical and externally focused tend to have lower recall”, Barrett says. In addition, better dream recall has a “mild correlation” with better recall while completing certain memory tasks during waking hours, according to Barrett.

4. AMOUNT OF SLEEP

The amount of sleep one gets on average is one of the most important factors related to dream recall. People dream every 90 minutes during the REM (rapid eye movement) sleep cycle. However, those REM periods get longer throughout the night, meaning that you’re doing the most dreaming toward the morning - generally right before you wake up. If you only sleep four hours instead of eight, you’re only getting about 20 percent of your dream time. For this reason, some people report remembering more of their dreams on the weekend, when they have the chance to catch up on sleep.

What Factors That Determine Whether or Not You Remember Your Dreams?

5. BRAIN ACTIVITY

Thanks to brain imaging, scientists now have a better idea of which parts of the brain are associated with dreaming. A part of the brain that processes information and emotions is more active in people who remember their dreams more often, according to a 2014 study. This region toward the back of the brain, called the temporo-parietal junction (TPJ), may help people pay more attention to external stimuli. In turn, this may promote something called instrasleep wakefulness.

“This may explain why high dream recallers are more reactive to environmental stimuli, awaken more during sleep, and thus better encode dreams in memory than low dream recallers”, Dr. Perrine Ruby told the International Business Times. “Indeed, the sleeping brain is not capable of memorizing new information; it needs to awaken to be able to do that.”

More recently, in 2017, researchers discovered that high dream recall is also linked to higher activity toward the front of the brain. The pre-frontal cortex is the part of the brain that deals with abstract thinking, so it makes sense that it has been linked to dream recall and lucid dreaming (being aware that one is dreaming), Barrett says.

What Factors That Determine Whether or Not You Remember Your Dreams?

6. RESPONSE TO EXTERNAL STIMULI

In a similar vein, people who remember their dreams more frequently also tend to exhibit more brain activity after hearing their name spoken aloud while they’re awake, according to a 2013 study. Upon hearing their names, a group of “high recallers”, who remember their dreams almost every night, experienced a greater decrease in a brain wave called the alpha wave than a group of “low recallers”, who remember their dreams once or twice a month. This decrease in alpha waves is likely preceded by an increase in brain activity upon hearing their names. Essentially, people with greater dream recall tend to experience activity in more regions of their brain in response to sounds. According to Barrett, there may be an evolutionary explanation for this.

“Evolution wants us to get restorative sleep but it also wanted us to wake up to danger and check it out and be able to go back to sleep quickly afterwards”, she says. Think of the all the dangers our prehistoric ancestors had to deal with, and it's clear that this response is important for survival. In essence, high recallers are “probably just a little more aware and watching during their dream, and that helps make it a long-term memory.”

So what can you do to help you remember your dreams? It may sound simple, but before you go to bed, think to yourself, “I’m going to remember my dreams tonight.” The very act of thinking about dreaming can make a big difference.

“You could say that just reading this article is somewhat more likely to make you recall a dream tonight”, Barrett says. “People who are taking a class on dreams or reading a book on dreams—any short-term intervention of paying more attention to them—tends to create a short-term blip in dream recall.”

When you first wake up, don’t do anything except lie in bed and try to recall any dreams you had. If something comes back to you, write it down or use a voice recorder to crystallize your thoughts. Dreams are still in your short-term memory when you wake up, so they’re fragile and easy to forget.

If you don’t remember anything, Barrett says it’s still helpful to assess how you feel when you first awaken. Are you happy, sad, or anxious? “Sometimes if you just stay with whatever emotion or little bit of content you woke up with”, she says, “a dream will come rushing back.”

Cars for SaleHarvard.eduLive ScienceMental FlossWebMDWikipediaX-Engineer.orgWhat Factors That Determine Whether or Not You Remember Your Dreams? (YouTube Search) video


NAVSPEAK aka U.S. Navy Slang - U.S. Navy

NAVSPEAK aka U.S. Navy Slang

Budweiser: Nickname for the SEAL Trident insignia.

Buddy Fucker: Someone who fucks over their shipmates, and who is not to be trusted with any information or watch swap.

Buffer Tech: A junior enlisted who polishes the deck with a buffer, a duty normally assigned to shore duty personnel or those attending ‘A” School.

Bug Juice:

1. The Kool-Aid-like beverage dispensed on the messdeck, in the CPO Mess, the Officer's Wardroom or the Flag Mess. Typically Orange or Red. Before the turn of the century, bug juice was also used to clean decks when cleaning agents were not available. It is still used for removing corrosion from brass fittings. Allegedly also because the powder used to make the juice attracted bugs.

2. (USMC) A 50/50 solution of Skin-So-Soft & alcohol used during drill to repel sand fleas at Paris Island.

Bug Juice Sunrise: Orange with a splash of Red.

Building 1: USS Brooke (FFG-1), so called because she had so many problems with her P-fired boilers that she was regularly unable to get underway from her long-occupied berth at NAVSTA San Diego. When she did get underway she was typically towed back in, whereupon she was referred to as “USS Broke”.

Building 20: Derogatory term used to describe the U.S.S. Mt. Whitney (LCC-20), as it rarely goes to sea.

Building 36: The USS Bryce Canyon (AD-36). Home ported at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, she left port only on rare occasions (so her crew could collect sea pay); when she did, she had to be towed back in.

Building 38: The USS Puget Sound (AD-38).

Building 39 (1990s-era Norfolk slang): The USS Emory S. Land (AS-39). So called because, during that time period, she rarely left port.


Just for MARINES - The Few. The Proud.

Just for you MARINE

Broke-dick: Any person who does not perform up to standards, or a sorry piece of equipment.

Broke: Feeling severe fatigue. Also refers to anything that isn't working.

Brown-bagger: Marines (usually married) who live off base; instead of eating at mess halls they pack meals to work.

Buddy-fucker (Blue Falcon): One who disregards a team-member's welfare; a Marine who will turn on a fellow Marine in order to save himself/herself.

Bug Juice: Insect repellent.


Naval Aviation Squadron Nicknames

Naval Aviation Squadron Nicknames

Special Projects Patrol Squadron NINETEEN (VUP-19) - nicknamed the “Big Red”

United States Navy - Maritime patrol, Naval Air Station Jacksonville, Florida - Established October 1, 2013.


Where Did That Saying Come From

Where Did That Saying Come From?

Where Did That Saying Come From? “Bad Books”

Bad Books:”  Meaning: To be in disgrace or out of favour.

History: In the Middle Ages 'one's books' was understood to mean 'one's reckoning or cognizance', that is, the esteem in which one was held by others. To be 'out of someone's books' meant you were no longer part of their life and of no interest to them. This meaning is first recorded in The Parlyament of Deuylles, 1509 - “He is out of our bokes, and we out of his”. The use of books to indicate favour or disfavour is enshrined in several phrases - 'good books', 'bad books', 'black books'.

The first of these was 'black books', which appears to have originated by allusion to an actual book. In 1592, Robert Greene published his intention to create a Blacke Booke, which was to list the misdemeanors of various classes of criminal. As a preamble he wrote his Black Book's Messenger, which included:

“Ned Brownes villanies which are too many to be described in my Blacke Booke.”

This phrase had become used figuratively by 1785 (that is, as a form of disfavour, but where no actual book was in evidence) when it was recorded in Grose's Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue:

“He is down in the black book, that is, has a stain in his character.”

'Bad books' arrived on the scene later and is first recorded in Perry's History of the Church of England, 1861:

“The Arminians, who at that time were in his bad books.”

Phrases.org UK


Science & Technology

Science & Technology

Science & Technology

Regular problem solving does not protect against mental declineSprayable gel could help the body fight off cancer after surgeryHumans may be reversing the climate clock, by 50 million years'Dropout' rate for academic scientists has risen sharply in past 50 years, study findsRapid genetic evolution linked to lighter skin pigmentation in a southern African populationOSIRIS-REx discovers water on asteroid, confirms Bennu as excellent mission targetOcean fertilization by unusual microbes extends to frigid waters of Arctic Ocean

Phys.org / MedicalXpress / TechXplore


Bizarre News (we couldn’t make up stuff this good – real news story)

Bizarre News (we couldn’t make up stuff this good – real news story)

How to Survive the 'Game of Thrones,' According to Science

How to Survive the 'Game of Thrones', According to Science

If you want to survive the “Game of Thrones”, it pays to be noble, female and flexible about the concept of loyalty.

In a new published study (yes, really), epidemiologists at Macquarie University in Australia analyzed the deaths of the key characters in the “Game of Thrones” HBO series and found that nobles died at a lower rate than commoners, and women died at a lower rate than men. Switching allegiances, like the character of Tyrion Lannister does by throwing in his lot with Daenerys Targaryen, is another winning survival strategy.

The researchers published their findings in the open-access journal Injury Epidemiology, probably because “Game of Thrones” is like candy for anyone who loves both injuries and epidemiology. In the paper, the authors described their goals as examining the mortality of “Game of Thrones” characters - and giving “the authors an excuse to re-watch the first seven seasons before the final season reaches television screens worldwide.”

The study didn't require funding, the authors noted, as they already owned all the DVDs.

How to Survive the 'Game of Thrones,' According to Science

A full 73.7 percent of all deaths in “Game of Thrones” were caused by injuries, the researchers found, with wounds to the head and neck (hello, decapitation) leading the pack. Another 11.8 percent of deaths came from burns, and 4.8 percent were from poisonings. Only two characters, Maester Aemon and Old Nan, have died of natural causes in the show. [Photos: 33 Stunning Locations Where 'Game of Thrones' Was Filmed]

“The risk of death is high among characters in 'Game of Thrones'”, injury epidemiologist Reidar Lystad, of the Australian Institute of Health Innovation, said in a statement. “By the end of the seventh season, more than half the characters had died - 186 out of the 33 characters we included in this study — with violent deaths being the most common by far.”

The median survival time of characters was 28 hours and 48 minutes of show time, the researchers found, with a range of from a mere 11 seconds to 57 hours and 15 minutes. (There have been 67 episodes of the show so far.) The risk of dying within one's first hour on the show was 14 percent - newbies, beware.

The all-in-fun findings may not surprise regular viewers, Lystad said. But they might be of interest to diehard fans anyway.

”We have identified several factors that may be associated with better or worse survival”, he said, “which may help us to speculate about who will prevail in the final season.”

Live Science (12/10/2018) video


© CEASAR CHOPPY by cartoonist Marty Gavin - archives Ceasar Choppy's Navy! “© CEASAR CHOPPY” by Marty Gavin

SONG FACTS

“Pretty Woman” - 2 Live Crew 1989 “Oh, Pretty Woman” - Roy Orbison 1964

“Pretty Woman” - 2 Live Crew
Album: As Nasty As They Wanna Be
Released 1989 video

Famous Cases of Alleged Music Plagiarism

2 Live Crew vs. Roy Orbison (1994)

2 Live CrewPretty Womanvideo

Written by Roy Orbison, Bill DeesOh, Pretty Woman”) video - (sung by Roy Orbison (1964)

Nothing really comes from scratch anymore, and music is no exception. The first thing bands talk about when they form are their influences, and they typically start off by (and never really stop) playing other people’s music.

Entire genres, like folk, blues, and hip-hop, are based upon liberal borrowing out of either tradition or necessity. Simply put, every artist you love, no matter how unique, innovative, and game changing they may be, stands on the proverbial shoulders of giants.

With that in mind, famous instances of alleged music plagiarism. Some cases went to court. Others got shrugged off. Sometimes we think we’re listening to the same song twice. Other times we just don’t hear it that way.

The Case: When their album As Nasty as They Wanna Be was met with accusations of obscenity, 2 Live Crew produced a sanitized version with the tongue-in-cheek title As Clean as They Wanna Be. This disc contained a humorous take on Roy Orbison's “Oh, Pretty Woman”. Called simply “Pretty Woman”, the Crew describes the titular woman in less-than-glowing terms as they rap over a sample of the original 1964 tune. Crew leader Luther Campbell sought clearance from the song's publisher, Acuff-Rose, but the company was not amused and refused permission. Undeterred, Campbell went ahead and released the song anyway.

The Verdict: The lighthearted 2 Live Crew song spawned a vicious legal battle that traveled through the judiciary system all the way to the Supreme Court. In March 1994, Luther Campbell and the rest of the band were cleared of any wrongdoing once the justices ruled that "Pretty Woman" was a parody, and thus qualified for fair use.

Why It Matters: By expanding the definition of fair use, the Campbell v. Acuff-Rose Music, Inc. ruling served as an iron-clad defense for future artists wishing to express themselves through parody.


Roy Orbison was writing with his songwriting partner Bill Dees at his house when he told Dees to get started writing by playing anything that came to mind. Orbison's wife Claudette came in and said she was going to go into town to buy something. Orbison asked if she needed any money, and Dees cracked, “Pretty woman never needs any money.” Inspired, Orbison started singing, “Pretty woman walking down the street.”

Bill Dees recalls in 1000 UK #1 Hits by Jon Kutner and Spencer Leigh: “He sang it while I was banging my hand down on the table and by the time she returned we had the song. I love the song. From the moment that the rhythm started, I could hear the heels clicking on the pavement, click, click, the pretty woman walking down the street, in a yellow skirt and red shoes. We wrote Oh Pretty Woman on a Friday, the next Friday we recorded it, and the next Friday it was out. It was the fastest thing I ever saw. Actually, the yeah, yeah, yeah in Oh Pretty Woman probably came from The Beatles.”

In the same book Bill Dees recounts how the distinctive growling cry of “Mercy” came about: “I can't do that growl like Roy, but the “Mercy” is mine. I used to say that all the time when I saw a pretty woman or had some good food. Still do.”

This was Orbison's last big hit.

In 1989, the controversial rap group 2 Live Crew recorded a parody of this song, using the alternate title “Pretty Woman” for their album Clean As They Wanna Be. The Crew sampled the distinctive bassline, but the romantic lyrics were replaced by talk about a hairy woman and her bald-headed friend and their appeal to the singer. Orbison's publisher, Acuff-Rose Music, sued 2 Live Crew on the basis that the fair use doctrine did not permit reuse of their copyrighted material for profit. The case, Campbell vs. Acuff-Rose Music, went all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court. In 1994, the Court ruled that 2 Live Crew's parody did not violate federal copyright laws.

In 1964, Orbison was the only American artist to have a #1 UK hit, and he did it twice - with "(Oh) Pretty Woman" and "It's Over."

2 Live Crew, official website / Rolling Stone / COS / Billboard / All Music / Song Facts / 2 Live Crew

Image: “As Nasty As They Wanna Be (album)” by 2 Live Crew

Trivia

Trivia

● Fearing that young boys might not read a book written by a woman, her publishers demanded that she use two initials, rather than her full first name. Who is this successful writer?

Answer to Trivia

● French author Jules Verne is best known for what two 1870.

Answer to Trivia

● Which chemical elements have atomic numbers 1, 2, and 3?

Answer to Trivia

● Almost all gondolas in Venice are painted what color?”

Answer to Trivia


Jeopardy

A Test for People Who Know Everything

From the Jeopardy Archives Category - “IN ABSENTIA” ($200) (Alex: ....each correct response will be formed from some of the letters, the eight letters in the word “absentia”.)

“To put your money into a poker pot.”

Answer for People Who Do Not Know Everything, or Want to Verify Their Answer Quora

From the Jeopardy Archives Category - “IN ABSENTIA” ($400) (Alex: ....each correct response will be formed from some of the letters, the eight letters in the word “absentia”.)

“The opposite of mentally deranged.”

Answer for People Who Do Not Know Everything, or Want to Verify Their Answer Cambridge Dictionary.org

From the Jeopardy Archives Category - “IN ABSENTIA” ($600) (Alex: ....each correct response will be formed from some of the letters, the eight letters in the word “absentia”.)

“Prejudice.”

Answer for People Who Do Not Know Everything, or Want to Verify Their Answer Psychology Today


Answer to Last Week's Test

From the Jeopardy Archives Category - “ALL IN A DAY'S WORK” ($400)

“Midmorning, a break for this beverage said to have been discovered by a 9th century goat herder.”

● Answer: Coffee. NCAUSA.org

From the Jeopardy Archives Category - “ALL IN A DAY'S WORK” ($800)

“Let's get out of here before the boss asks us to work this, exemptions from which are listed in the FLSA.”

● Answer: Overtime. U.S. Department of Labor.org

From the Jeopardy Archives Category - “ALL IN A DAY'S WORK” ($1,000)

“An 8-hour day & I made 40 buttons, so divide output by input to get this measure, 5 per hour.”

● Answer: Productivity. Psychology Today


Joke of the Day

Joke of the Day

“A Fella in the Ranching Business”

A Fella in the Ranching Business

“An Alabama Preacher Said To His Congregation”

Joke of the Day

An Alabama Preacher Said To His Congregation

An Alabama preacher said to his congregation, “Someone in this congregation has spread a rumor that I belong to the Ku Klux Klan.

This is a horrible lie and one which a Christian community cannot tolerate.

I am embarrassed and do not intend to accept this. Now, I want the party who did this to stand and ask forgiveness From God and this Christian Family.”

No one moved.

The preacher continued, “Do you have the nerve to face me and admit this is a falsehood? Remember, you will be forgiven and in your heart you will feel glory. Now stand and confess your transgression.”

Again all was quiet.

Then slowly, a drop-dead gorgeous blonde with a body that would stop traffic rose from the third pew.

Her head was bowed and her voice quivered as she spoke, “Reverend there has been a terrible misunderstanding. I never said you were a member of the Ku Klux Klan. I simply told a couple of my friends that you were a wizard under the sheets.”

The preacher fell to his knees, his wife fainted, and the congregation roared!