Tiny Weevils Taking On The World’s Worst Weed [video]

In 1960, A Small Texas Town Experienced ‘Satan’s Storm’

According to alabamawx.com –

It was a typical June night in Kopperl. Skies were mostly clear. Some heat lightning was visible on the horizon. One clump of clouds rolled toward the town after midnight. The temperature was about 70F. Suddenly, a tremendous wind arose. It gusted to over 75 mph over a wide area. A store was unroofed. Trees were knocked over. The temperature shot up with an incredible momentum. In just a few minutes, it rose to over 100F. There are reports that thermometers designed to register temperatures up to 140F actually broke as the alcohol expanded so rapidly with the dramatic heat.

Continue reading HERE.

World’s Littlest Skyscraper

Mental_floss reported –

In 1912, Wichita Falls was doing a big oil business—a gusher had been hit in the nearby town of Burkbennett, and thousands of people rushed to the area to stake a claim. One of them was a businessman named J.D. McMahon—but he wasn’t there to drill for oil. Instead, McMahon surveyed the town and realized it was sorely in need of a professional space where people could manage their oil dealings. He quickly drew up plans for a towering building worthy of the riches that were surely in Wichita Falls’ future. Despite the minor detail that he didn’t actually have permission to build on the property, McMahon managed to secure $200,000 ($2.7 million today) from investors. They were reportedly thrilled about the building’s prime location across the street from a bustling hotel and not far from the train depot. They weren’t so thrilled upon the building’s completion in 1919, when they realized they had invested in more of a tall tale than a tall tower. It seems that in the rush and excitement to capitalize on the boom town, no one bothered to check the dimensions of McMahon’s plans. By the time they figured out that it soared to the grand height of 480 inches instead of 480 feet, McMahon was long gone. What’s more, a judge ruled that the investors didn’t have a case, anyway—the blueprints were clearly labeled, and the financial backers should have reviewed them more carefully.

Continue reading HERE.

 

CBS Will Stream 4 Days Of Its 1963 Live JFK Coverage

This week marks 50 years since President Kennedy was assassinated. According to TheVerge, CBS News.com will stream their original programming from 1963. The stream will start at 12:40 PM (Central Time, 1:40 PM Eastern) on Friday, November 22, the exact time it was originally broadcast 50 years ago, and will continue for four days.

The stream will be HERE

Read TheVerge article HERE

For even more, scans of St.Louis newspapers from that weekend are posted HERE.

 

New Site For History Buffs

Hot Meatloaf.com just launched with the purpose of displaying scans of old newspapers. Currently, the only content on the site is some newspapers from immediately after President Kennedy’s assassination in 1963. History fans and people interested in old stuff may find something of interest there.

Go to Hot Meatloaf.com

Go directly to the 1963 newspapers HERE

Weatherman Admits ‘We Have No Clue’

Apparently, those living on the Gulf Coast need to be prepared for anything this weekend. Hurricane? Locusts? Zombies?

WWL.com is reporting –

A low pressure system in the Gulf of Mexico could be a hurricane by Saturday bringing ten inches of rain to Louisiana… or it could not develop at all… or it could go to Texas… or it could go to Florida.  Computer models are all over the map , and forecasters admit this one has them baffled. “It’s impossible to know yet what it is going to do,” Channel 4 Meteorologist Laura Buchtel said. “That’s why everybody just needs to watch it.” Buchtel says they hope to have better data after a Hurricane Hunter plane checks out the system this afternoon. Officials are urging people be prepared for anything.

Continue reading HERE.

Blood Bank Thanks Donor, Then Kills Him

The DallasNews reports –

An 87-year-old man died after a weekend car accident that occurred during an event in which he was being honored with a ride around Texas Motor Speedway, his family said.
Fred Donald “Don” Krusemark of Dallas died Sunday, a day after the accident.  The Krusemark family said the World War II  Navy veteran was being honored by Carter BloodCare “for his generous blood and platelet donations over the years with a ride at Texas Motor Speedway. There, he suffered a life-ending injury.”

Continue reading HERE.