Crimes of the Century - No. 8 - The Great Train Robbery

THE GREAT TRAIN ROBBERY, 1963

The 15 thieves who held up the Royal Mail train between Glasgow and London on Aug. 8, 1963 netted 120 bags packed with the equivalent of $7 million and were were treated like folk heroes by the press and public. Although the operation took all of 15 minutes, the caper was not as smooth as people remember it. It wasn't non-violent, for one thing (the driver of the train was conked in the head and never fully recovered from the trauma); nor was it as carefully executed (the thieves left fingerprints everywhere). 

The case has lived on in memory because of the further adventures of one of its minor players, Ronnie Biggs, whose escape from prison and long years of eluding justice were constant fodder for the British tabs. Readers were fascinated that a small-time hood could end up being part of the biggest heist in British history and be the only one to get away with it all. Biggs eventually gave himself up in 2001, returning voluntarily from Brazil to serve the 28 years remaining in his sentence. Despite pleas for leniency, Biggs, now 77, remains incarcerated and in failing health.

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When this article was written, Biggs was still in prison.  He was released on August 06, 2009 on compassionate grounds according to news reports and Wikipedia. - The Great Train Robbery.

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As you read through the 25 crimes Time Magazine has selected, you will wonder which of them will remain in the popular, perhaps even the artistic imagination in the years to come? How will they be retold and with what kinds of lessons and cautions in mind?  Visit my blog every Saturday as a new crime will be posted each week.

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Go back and read the previous 7 crimes here.

OMG Hilarious! - Li'l Stumpz

WTF Has Obama Done? - Inaugural Issue Starts Tomorrow!

Regardless of how you feel about Barack Obama, and I'm speaking to everyone here - Atheist, Christian, Racist, Democrat, Republican, everyone.  If we were to look back at the end of George Bush's presidency and look at where we are today, I would start feeling really confident about where things are going.

I would be just as critical if this president wasn't doing the job I voted for him to do.  Hell, you could even ask my partner Ryan. Two years ago, I was talking shit about this man, because I didn't think he was following through on his promises.  But Ryan and the president proved me wrong.  The Republican party proved me wrong.  When I saw Mitch McConnell stand up on that podium and say their number one goal was to get this president out of office instead of help turn the economy around, I knew something wasn't right.

This President has done more for the LGBT community than any other president in our history.  He inherited an economy in January, 2009 that I didn't think he could ever repair.  And with the help of the stimulus package and other related policies, the economy is getting better each month, unemployment numbers continue to drop, and the country as whole, is on the right track to recovery.  

Mind you, he did most of this without help from certain folks in congress - he did it as best as he could without them.  Imagine if he would have gotten the support he needed. Just imagine where we would be today. But guess what?  Without their help our president was able to make change happen as promised, and a lot of it took place over the past 3 years.  

Starting tomorrow I will be starting a new daily series on my blog titled "WTF Has Obama Done?"  This daily series will feature an accomplishment President Obama has achieved over the course of his presidency.  If you don't believe the accomplishment, links will be provided to show that it's true.

I don't want to spread lies, so if you feel I wrote something false, please help by letting me know.  If you want to debate me, that will be fine too, but I won't go back and forth for hours trying to explain something that's true or not true.  If you can provide me with an honest rebuttal, I will change my post to reflect what you've told me.  I promise.

Quoted - Peter Flores aka Blade 7184 on Love Is The Key

This was my response to a commenter from one of my blogs last week.

Monday Will Be The Biggest Drag Ever!!!

Woo hoo!!! The time is near and it's going to be full of drama, shade, laughter and a little hair pulling!  LOL.  It's Ru Paul's Drag Race Season 4!!!  

Logo has released the full length trailer and it's exactly as I expected it would be - ONE HUGE HOT MESS!  LMAO.  This is going to be the biggest drag night ever!!!  And I wouldn't doubt it if RuPaul brings Shangela back later in the season just to piss everyone off.

In other breaking news!!! Mike Ruiz and Elvira will be the first guest judges - you can't get any better than that!  Well...  actually, this season is chock-full of awesome judges, and we can't wait to see them all!  So without further ado, here's the trailer to another great season of RuPaul!

Nobody Is Immune To Breast Cancer...

For those who don't know, I work in Breast Cancer Research.  I have for the past 9-1/2 years.  The disease hits real close to home - I've had an aunt die from Breast Cancer, and it was not an easy thing to go through for my family.  

I had another die from from Gynecological Cancer, and uncle from Lung Cancer.  This disease is despicable, ruthless, and unforgiving and can hit anyone, at any time.  So you can just imagine how I felt when I saw these posters, I absolutely fell in love with them.  And being that countless of superhero movies are released each and every year, I thought I'd share it to remind people that it doesn't matter who you are - you can be the President, Secretary of State, a pastor, a teacher, a school bus driver, a dad, a mother, a sister, a brother, the list goes on.  Nobody is immune to Breast Cancer - Nobody.

One State - Two Party Difference

I honestly wish this wasn't the case, but this is pretty much the way it is around the country.  When the country is divided this is what you get.  Only difference is, one party is a little more respectful.  These two women represent Arizona...

...I rest my case.

The Pasta Fork

Now why didn't I think of this before?  Lord knows every time I think of an invention or patenting something, someone else takes my idea. Case and point, I love sour pickles, but I also love the juice.  So I came up with an idea to create "Pickle Sickles" by pouring juice into kool-aid type frozen containers (you know, like mom used to make when she would make us popsicles over the summer?). Then, whenever I'm in the mood for something sour, I pull out a Pickle Sickle and enjoy.

But you will never guess... Ryan and I went to Wal-Mart while we were visiting my family in Corpus Christi over the summer and I about died when I came across a package of "Bob's Pickle Pops".  Really?!?!  Pickle Pops!!!  They weren't even that great.  I bought two bags, because I needed proof that someone stole my idea.  I showed my friends and they all laughed, because I always ate my invention in front of them while we were watching our shows.

I currently have another invention in my head, but I'm not telling anyone until I'm done with it.  Lord knows, this too will be popping up somewhere.  But hey, until then buy a pasta fork. LOL.

Fat Chance

A Neighborhood To Remember

You may remember me blogging about Mr. Rogers a week ago on his amazing speech to the Senate back in 1969.  Well, five years before he died he received an honorary Lifetime Achievement Award where he spoke from his heart as he always did.  

Mr. Rogers' unforgettable acceptance speech had everyone tearing by the end of the night.  And it's probably because he not only touched the audience members' lives in some way, but their children as well.  He definitely made a difference in mine and Ryan's lives, and nothing pleases me more than to blog about him.

Acceptance speech and video down below.

"So many people have helped me to come here to this night. Some of you are here, some are far away and some are even in Heaven. All of us have special ones who loved us into being. Would you just take, along with me, 10 seconds to think of the people who have helped you become who you are, those who cared about you and wanted what was best for you in life. 10 seconds, I'll watch the time. Whomever you've been thinking about, how pleased they must be to know the difference you feel they have made. You know they're kind of people television does well to offer our world. Special thanks to my family, my friends, and my co-workers in Public Broadcasting and Family Communications, and to this Academy for encouraging me, allowing me, all these years to be your neighbor. May God be with you. Thank you very much."