MikeL

Arkansas City, Arkansas Desha County courthouse in Arkansas City The old Arkansas City Commercial District is listed on the National Register of Historic Places

Knob Lick, KY/USA

He is (was) known in North America, but he was actually British. Now, that's a better first clue than you usually get from me.

OK. Here's the next challenge. We need the name of the guy, not the horse.

Yay! Thanks for the great clue. Mark Spitz won seven gold medals in swimming in the 1972 Summer Olympics (Munich), a record that stood until 2008 (Michael Phelps/ 8 gold/ Beijing). My first thought was Greg Louganis because he's Greek, then I remembered he isn't actually Greek.

Your tax dollars at work...

Is it Mark Spitz?

umbriferous (giving or bearing shade)

Yelling Settlement, AL/USA

I'm stumped. Behind the guy , I see "IW? Champion" or something like that. Could use a hint as to sport or nationality.

Looks nice. Torch Lake, Summer 2006

Happy Birthday, Kidderminster!

So, John, what part of this little old country will you be visiting?

I doubt those other coffee shops have the same advertising budget.

Now you are obligated to tell us about the party. Did you attend? Surely you did, there were people there...potential new friends. Whom did you meet?

Casey at the Bat, the poem by Ernest Lawrence Thayer, was first published in the San Francisco Examiner 125 years ago today. The Outlook wasn't brilliant for the Mudville nine that day: The score stood four to two, with but one inning more to play. And then when Cooney died at first, and Barrows did the same, A sickly silence fell upon the patrons of the game. A straggling few got up to go in deep despair. The rest Clung to that hope which springs eternal in the human breast; They thought, if only Casey could get but a whack at that — We'd put up even money, now, with Casey at the bat. But Flynn preceded Casey, as did also Jimmy Blake, And the former was a lulu and the latter was a cake; So upon that stricken multitude grim melancholy sat, For there seemed but little chance of Casey's getting to the bat. But Flynn let drive a single, to the wonderment of all, And Blake, the much despis-ed, tore the cover off the ball; And when the dust had lifted, and the men saw what had occurred, There was Jimmy safe at second and Flynn a-hugging third. Then from 5,000 throats and more there rose a lusty yell; It rumbled through the valley, it rattled in the dell; It knocked upon the mountain and recoiled upon the flat, For Casey, mighty Casey, was advancing to the bat. There was ease in Casey's manner as he stepped into his place; There was pride in Casey's bearing and a smile on Casey's face. And when, responding to the cheers, he lightly doffed his hat, No stranger in the crowd could doubt 'twas Casey at the bat. Ten thousand eyes were on him as he rubbed his hands with dirt; Five thousand tongues applauded when he wiped them on his shirt. Then while the writhing pitcher ground the ball into his hip, Defiance gleamed in Casey's eye, a sneer curled Casey's lip. And now the leather-covered sphere came hurtling through the air, And Casey stood a-watching it in haughty grandeur there. Close by the sturdy batsman the ball unheeded sped — "That ain't my style," said Casey. "Strike one," the umpire said. From the benches, black with people, there went up a muffled roar, Like the beating of the storm-waves on a stern and distant shore. "Kill him! Kill the umpire!" shouted someone on the stand; And its likely they'd a-killed him had not Casey raised his hand. With a smile of Christian charity great Casey's visage shone; He stilled the rising tumult; he bade the game go on; He signaled to the pitcher, and once more the spheroid flew; But Casey still ignored it, and the umpire said, "Strike two." "Fraud!" cried the maddened thousands, and echo answered fraud; But one scornful look from Casey and the audience was awed. They saw his face grow stern and cold, they saw his muscles strain, And they knew that Casey wouldn't let that ball go by again. The sneer is gone from Casey's lip, his teeth are clenched in hate; He pounds with cruel violence his bat upon the plate. And now the pitcher holds the ball, and now he lets it go, And now the air is shattered by the force of Casey's blow. Oh, somewhere in this favored land the sun is shining bright; The band is playing somewhere, and somewhere hearts are light, And somewhere men are laughing, and somewhere children shout; But there is no joy in Mudville — mighty Casey has struck out.

After a tiring day, a commuter settled down in her seat and closed her eyes. As the train rolled out of the station, the guy sitting next to her pulled out his cell phone and started talking in a loud voice: "Hi sweetheart. It's Eric. I'm on the train." "Yes, I know it's the six-thirty and not the four-thirty, but I had a long meeting." "No, honey, not with that blonde from the accounts office. It was with the boss." "No, sweetheart, you're the only one in my life." "Yes, I'm sure, cross my heart." Fifteen minutes later, he was still talking loudly. When the young woman sitting next to him had enough, she leaned over and said into the phone, "Eric, hang up the phone and come back to bed." Eric no longer uses his cell phone in public.

I'm claiming a gold star. Hope your health issues clear up in short order.

Original caption on the picture: An aardvark at Detroit Zoo. Are there any cliffs in Detroit? Don't think so; that area was shaved flat by a glacier.

Probably just a wall; I didn't take the picture. Your second question? It's what the author said is missing from the final chapter. A chapter that long, it may be the only thing missing.

A Jewish Rabbi and a Catholic Priest met at the town's annual 4th of July picnic. Old friends, they began their usual banter. "This baked ham is really delicious," the priest teased the rabbi. "You really ought to try it. I know it's against your religion, but I can't understand why such a wonderful food should be forbidden! You don't know what you're missing. You just haven't lived until you've tried Mrs. Hall's prized Virginia Baked Ham. Tell me, Rabbi, when are you going to break down and try it?" The rabbi looked at the priest with a big grin, and said, "At your wedding."

Teamwork

Yay! Here's what's missing: Aardvark, Porc formiguer

An excellent movie, W L. We saw it some years ago.