January 27, 2011
January 27 is … Punch the Clock Day and Thomas Crapper Day
BRUCE A. BRENNAN BLOG FROM THE WORLD AND MY MIND
The news as I see it and the views as I want them
1910 - Thomas Crapper, said to be the inventor and developer of the flush toilet mechanism that most of us use, died on this day. Thomas Crapper (baptised 28 September 1836 – died 27 January 1910) was a plumber who founded Thomas Crapper & Co. in London. Contrary to widespread misconceptions, Crapper did not invent the flush toilet. He did, however, do much to increase the popularity of the toilet, and developed some important related inventions, such as the ballcock. He was noted for the quality of his products and received several Royal Warrants.The manhole covers with Crapper's company's name on them in Westminster Abbey are now a minor tourist attraction.
The modern flush toilet was invented by a 19th-century British plumber named Sir Thomas Crapper.
Status: False.
Analysis: Thomas Crapper (1836-1910) did exist and is credited with improving the functionality of the early flush toilet (or "water closet," as it was then called), but he did not, contrary to popular belief, invent the pseudo-eponymous bathroom appliance from scratch.
Credit for that goes to 16th-century author Sir John Harrington, who not only came up with the idea but installed an early working prototype in the palace of Queen Elizabeth I, his godmother. The first patent for a flushing water closet was issued to Alexander Cummings in 1775, sixty years before Thomas Crapper was born.
I was talking to my older brother, Terrance M. Brennan of Bloomington, Il, the respected Lincoln scholar, about the recent Lincoln forgery that was uncovered. An individual changed the date on a Presidential Pardon signed by Lincoln from April 14, 1864 to April 14, 1865, making it the last document Lincoln ever signed. Lincoln was assassinated on April 14, 1864. The forger built a career out of this document. He has now admitted his deceit, saying he wanted fame and fortune. During our conversation, Terry mentioned the following;
The Abraham Lincoln Association holds its annual symposium, luncheon and banquet each year on Lincoln’s birthday. This year February 12 falls on a Saturday. The luncheon and banquet requires reservations and fees (Banquet at Crowne Plaza Hotel = $75.00 Luncheon at Lincoln Presidential Library = $25), but everything else is free and open to the public. The symposium events include lectures, book signings, roundtable discussions at various historic sites around Springfield. This is a great opportunity to rub elbows with the top Lincoln scholars of our time. The crowds are usually not too large at the lectures and it is easy access to the presenters. The event begins with the Keynote Address on Friday evening (February 11) at 6:30 at the Lincoln Presidential Library. It is free and open to the public.
On Saturday morning (February 12) a lecture by Guy Fraker is titled: Abraham Lincoln in Bloomington, Illinois. Fraker’s specialty is Lincoln in Bloomington and his activity as a circuit riding attorney on the 8th Judicial Circuit with Judge David Davis of Bloomington. (Judge Davis was later Lincoln’s Campaign manager in 1860 and he was the man most responsible for getting Lincoln nominated and elected. Lincoln rewarded him with a seat on the Supreme Court.) Guy Fraker lives in Bloomington where he is an attorney/Lincoln scholar/A. Lincoln Association board member. For Abraham Lincoln Association Symposium schedule/information:
Obama Care for pets, without Tort reform.;
Your Duck is Dead--
A woman brought a very limp duck into a
veterinary surgeon. As she laid her pet on the
table, the vet pulled out his stethoscope and
listened to the bird's chest.
After a moment or two, the vet shook his head
and sadly said, "I'm sorry, your duck, Cuddles,
has passed away."
The distressed woman wailed, "Are you sure?"
"Yes, I am sure. Your duck is dead," replied
the vet.
"How can you be so sure?" she protested. "I
mean you haven't done any testing on him or anything.
He might just be in a coma or something."
The vet rolled his eyes, turned around and left
the room. He returned a few minutes later with
a black Labrador Retriever. As the duck's owner looked
on in amazement, the dog stood on his hind legs, put
his front paws on the examination table and sniffed the
duck from top to bottom. He then looked up at the vet
with sad eyes and shook his head.
The vet patted the dog on the head and took it
out of the room. A few minutes later he returned with
a cat. The cat jumped on the table and also delicately
sniffed the bird from head to foot. The cat sat back on
its haunches, shook its head, meowed softly and strolled
Your Duck is Dead--
A woman brought a very limp duck into a
veterinary surgeon. As she laid her pet on the
table, the vet pulled out his stethoscope and
listened to the bird's chest.
After a moment or two, the vet shook his head
and sadly said, "I'm sorry, your duck, Cuddles,
has passed away."
The distressed woman wailed, "Are you sure?"
"Yes, I am sure. Your duck is dead," replied
the vet.
"How can you be so sure?" she protested. "I
mean you haven't done any testing on him or anything.
He might just be in a coma or something."
The vet rolled his eyes, turned around and left
the room. He returned a few minutes later with
a black Labrador Retriever. As the duck's owner looked
on in amazement, the dog stood on his hind legs, put
his front paws on the examination table and sniffed the
duck from top to bottom. He then looked up at the vet
with sad eyes and shook his head.
The vet patted the dog on the head and took it
out of the room. A few minutes later he returned with
a cat. The cat jumped on the table and also delicately
sniffed the bird from head to foot. The cat sat back on
its haunches, shook its head, meowed softly and strolled
The vet looked at the woman and said, "I'm sorry, but as
I said, this is most definitely, 100% certifiably, a dead duck."
The vet turned to his computer terminal, hit a few keys
and produced a bill, which he handed to the woman..
The duck's owner, still in shock, took the bill. $150!" she
cried, "$150 just to tell me my duck is dead!"
The vet shrugged, "I'm sorry. If you had just taken my
word for it, the bill would have been $20, but with the
Lab Report and the Cat Scan, it's now $150."
I said, this is most definitely, 100% certifiably, a dead duck."
The vet turned to his computer terminal, hit a few keys
and produced a bill, which he handed to the woman..
The duck's owner, still in shock, took the bill. $150!" she
cried, "$150 just to tell me my duck is dead!"
The vet shrugged, "I'm sorry. If you had just taken my
word for it, the bill would have been $20, but with the
Lab Report and the Cat Scan, it's now $150."
Music at the top of the charts on this date throughout history;
1947
1955 Mr. Sandman - The Chordettes
1963 Walk Right In - The Rooftop Singers
1971 Knock Three Times - Dawn
1979 Le Freak - Chic
1987 At This Moment - Billy Vera & The Beaters
BRUCE A. BRENNAN
DEKALB, IL 60115
COPYRIGHT 2011
Email: brucebrennanlaw@aol.com
Go to web sites below to buy books by Bruce A. Brennan. It is still a good time to purchase an interesting and inexpensive read. My second book should be available by February 15, 2011. More information will be forthcoming.
www.barnesandnoble.com (do a quick search, Title, my name)
www.smashwords.com Do a Title or author search, Check this site out.
https://dtp.amazon.com/mn/dashboard NEW SOURCE FOR BOOK
Check out the site below. Paybox is a new site, competing with PayPal, etc. Sign up is free. It seems good for small businesses or ebay users.
“A man cannot be comfortable without his own approval.”
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