Bytes: 3/1/25

Monday, March 31, 2025

ON THIS DAY

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March 31, 1854:

U.S. Commodore Matthew Perry signed the Treaty of Kanagawa in Japan

Perry c 1856-1858

In 1852, Perry was assigned a mission by American President Millard Fillmore to force the opening of Japanese ports to American trade, through the use of gunboat diplomacy if necessary. The growing commerce between the United States and China, the presence of American whalers in waters offshore Japan, and the increasing monopolization of potential coaling stations by European powers in Asia were all contributing factors. Shipwrecked foreign sailors were either imprisoned or executed, and the safe return of such persons was one demand.

The Americans were also driven by concepts of manifest destiny and the desire to impose the benefits of western civilization and the Christian religion on what they perceived as backward Asian nations. The Japanese were unwilling to change their 250-year-old policy of national seclusion.

With ten ships and 1,600 men. American leadership designed the show of force to "command fear" and "astound the Orientals." After initial resistance, Perry was permitted to land at Kanagawa, near the site of present-day Yokohama on March 8. The Convention of Kanagawa was signed on March 31, ending that country's period of seclusion.

Commodore Perry meeting Japanese officials.

When Perry returned to the United States, Congress voted to grant him a reward of $20,000, equivalent to $520,000 in 2023, in appreciation of his work in Japan.

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SHORT STORY

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Students at an elementary school were asked to write an essay about what they would like God to do for them. At the end of the day, while grading the essays, a teacher read one that made her very emotional.

Her husband, who had just walked in, saw her crying and asked her "What happened?" She answered "Read this. It is one of my school's students' essays.":

"Oh God, tonight I ask you something very special. Make me into a television set. I want to take its place and live like the TV in my house.

Have my own special place, and have my family around me. To be taken seriously when I talk. I want to be the center of attention and be heard without interruptions or questions.

I want to receive the same special care as the TV set receives even when it is not working. Have the company of my dad when he arrives home from work, even when he is tired. And I want my mom to want me when she is sad and upset, instead of ignoring me. And I want my brothers to fight to be with me.

I want to feel that family just leaves everything aside, every now and then, just to spend some time with me. And last but not least, ensure that I can make them all happy and entertain them. Lord I don't ask you for much. I just want to live like a TV."

At that moment the husband said "My God, poor kid. What horrible parents!"

The wife looked up at him and said "That essay is our son's!"

Sunday, March 30, 2025

QUOTE FOR THE DAY

ON THIS DAY

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March 30, 1981:

US President Ronald Reagan is shot and wounded.

On March 30, 1981, Ronald Reagan, then president of the United States, was shot and wounded by John Hinckley Jr. in Washington, D.C., as Reagan was returning to his limousine after a speaking engagement at the Washington Hilton hotel. Hinckley believed the attack would impress the actress Jodie Foster, with whom he had developed an erotomanic obsession after viewing her in the 1976 film Taxi Driver.

Reagan was seriously wounded by a revolver bullet that ricocheted off the side of the presidential limousine and hit him in the left underarm, breaking a rib, puncturing a lung, and causing serious internal bleeding. He then underwent emergency exploratory surgery. He recovered and was released from the hospital on April 11.

White House press secretary James Brady, Secret Service agent Tim McCarthy, and D.C. police officer Thomas Delahanty were also wounded. All three survived, but Brady suffered brain damage and was permanently disabled. His death in 2014 was considered a homicide because it was ultimately caused by his injury.

Ronald Reagan waves just before he is shot. From left are advance man Rick Ahearn; Jerry Parr, in a white trench coat, who pushed Reagan into the limousine; press secretary James Brady, who was seriously wounded by a gunshot to the head; Reagan; aide Michael Deaver; an unidentified policeman; policeman Thomas Delahanty, who was shot in the neck; and secret service agent Tim McCarthy, who was shot in the chest.

On June 21, 1982, Hinckley was found not guilty by reason of insanity on charges of attempting to assassinate the president. He remained confined to St. Elizabeth's Hospital, a psychiatric facility in Washington, D.C. In January 2015, federal prosecutors announced that they would not charge Hinckley with Brady's death, despite the medical examiner's classification of his death as a homicide. Hinckley was discharged from his institutional psychiatric care on September 10, 2016.

The incident was a traumatic experience for the 18-year-old Foster, who was hounded by the media and paparazzi in its aftermath. She took a semester off at Yale and had to be escorted by a bodyguard everywhere she went.

On September 10, 2016, Hinckley was permitted to permanently leave the hospital to live with his mother full-time, under court supervision and with mandatory psychiatric treatment.

The not-guilty verdict led to widespread dismay and, as a result, the U.S. Congress and a number of states rewrote laws regarding the insanity defense. The old Model Penal Code test was replaced by a test that shifts the burden of proof regarding a defendant's sanity from the prosecution to the defendant. Three states have abolished the defense altogether.

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PHOTOS OF THE PAST

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A Young Berber Girl With Her Traditional Regalia, From The Ouled Nail Tribe, Algeria, North Africa.

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Marilyn Monroe In A Potato Sack Dress (1951)

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Dancer Manon Chaufour 1930

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The 20's Fabulous Rózsika And Janka Deutsch Aka "The Dolly Sisters" Were Hungarian-American Identical Twin Dancers, Singers And Actresses, Famous Stars Of The World Famous "Ziegfeld Follies" And The "Folies Bergere" In Paris

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Harriet Hoctor (1905-1977) American Ballerina, Choreographer, Actress And Dance Instructor In A Back Bending Pose As A Question Mark For A 1925 Photograph

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Young Family Hitchhiking On U.S. Highway 99 In California

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Korean War Kiss-Goodbye, Los Angeles, September 06, 1950

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Albanian Woman, Ellis Island (1905)

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Actress Myrna Loy In The Barbarian,1933

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Marlene Dietrich, Berlin, 1929

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Boots 1920

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Woman Inspects a Scottish Soldier’s Kilt, Rome 1944

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Photo 1920 Titled: "A Few Seconds Before Happiness"

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Sitting On Their 1947 Chevrolet At Dinner, And 63 Years Later

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A Mother And Her Son On Their Way To A Pride Walk, 1985

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Saving Teddy During The 1941 Blitz Of Liverpool

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Little Girl Talking With Her Father, A Train Driver For Southern Railway's Southern Belle Steam Train, Before He Leaves On A Trip To Brighton - London, 1931

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Warsaw, Poland

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Cyclist From Estonia, On A Self-Made Bicycle, 1912

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Inside Of A Railroad Car Made By The Pullman Company, 1890s

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Italian Grocery Shop, New York, 1943

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First Publicly Sold Bottle Of Coca-Cola, Released In 1894

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Living United States Flag, Formed By 10,000 Navy Sailors In Illinois, 1917

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Female Firefighting Team On A Converted Motorcycle In London, 1932

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Photographer Margaret Bourke-White Capturing A Shot From The Top Of The Chrysler Building, 1935

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High School Girls Learn The Finer Points Of Auto Mechanics In 1927

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How Babies Traveled On Airplanes 1960's

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A Saloon In Wyoming In The Late 1800s

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First American Aircraft Carrier. Converted From A Coal Cargo Ship. USS Langley. 1928

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Empire State Builder Hanging On A Crane Above New York City, 1930

Friday, March 28, 2025

QUOTE FOR THE DAY

ON THIS DAY

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March 29, 1912:

Death of Scott in Antarctic expedition.

Captain Robert Falcon Scott (6 June 1868 – c 29 March 1912) was a British Royal Navy officer and explorer who led two expeditions to the Antarctic.

On the first expedition, he set a new southern record and discovered the Antarctic Plateau, on which the South Pole is located. On the second venture, Scott led a party of five which reached the South Pole on 17 January 1912, less than five weeks after Amundsen’s South Pole expedition. On the return journey from the Pole, a planned meeting with supporting dog teams from the base camp failed, despite Scott’s written instructions, and at a distance of 162 miles (261 km) from their base camp at Hut Point and approximately 12.5 miles (20.1 km) from the next depot, Scott and his companions died. When Scott and his party’s bodies were discovered, they had in their possession the first Antarctic fossils discovered. The fossils were determined to be from the Glossopteris tree and proved that Antarctica was once forested and joined to other continents.

On 29 March 2012, storm-bound in a tent near the South Pole, Scott made his last entry in his diary “the end cannot be far”. He also left a “Message to the Public” which ended with these words:

We took risks, we knew we took them; things have come out against us, and therefore we have no cause for complaint, but bow to the will of Providence, determined still to do our best to the last ... Had we lived, I should have had a tale to tell of the hardihood, endurance, and courage of my companions which would have stirred the heart of every Englishman. These rough notes and our dead bodies must tell the tale, but surely, surely, a great rich country like ours will see that those who are dependent on us are properly provided for.

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TOP 10 + 2 - THE LIST CONTINUES

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Here is another instalment of the next Top 10 + 2, the fourth of such lists.

As I have previously posted, my Top 10 + 2 films is based on “watchability”, those type of films which you (meaning me) like to watch more than once and enjoy thoroughly for whatever reasons. Hence Groundhog Day is on the list, Citizen Kane is not, at least in my case never having had the urge to watch Citizen Kane more than once. My friend Steve cringes at my choices .

The reason my first list was called Top 10 + 2 was that I had difficulty whittling the list down to 10.

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The fourth list so far:

How Green Was My Valley

It Happened One Night

The Maltese Falcon

Take the Money and Run

Das Boot

Falling Down

Rambo: First Blood

Today: a cowie, to be followed by 2 more, America’s best contribution to film . . .

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The Good, The Bad and the Ugly

A great spaghetti western from 1966 directed by Sergio Leone and starring Clint Eastwood as "the Good", Lee Van Cleef as "the Bad", and Eli Wallach as "the Ugly". I even have a favourite Clint Eastwood poncho copied from the film that I wear in winter:

Clint Eastwood wore the same poncho through all three "Man with No Name" movies without replacement or cleaning. In a 2020 interview with the Daily Mail, Eastwood revealed his still owns the iconic poncho, that it is kept in a glass case, and that it has never been washed. At one point he loaned it to a friend who displayed it in a Mexican restaurant near his home in Carmel, California.

I love the 3 Clint Eastwood spaghetti Westerns: The Good, the Bad and the Ugly; A Fistful of Dollars; For a Few Dollars More.

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Synopsis:

During the American Civil War, three men set off to find $200,000.00 in buried gold coins. Tuco and Blondie have known each other for some time, having used the reward on Tuco's head as a way of earning money. They come across a dying man, Bill Carson, who tells them of a treasure in gold coins. By chance, he reveals the name of the cemetery and the name of the grave where the gold is buried.

Now rivals, the two men have good reason to keep each other alive. The third man, Angel Eyes, hears of the gold stash from someone he's been hired to kill. All he knows is to look for someone named Bill Carson.

The three ultimately meet in a showdown that takes place amid a major battle between Confederate and Union forces.

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Some comments and trvia:

Most of the filming took place in Spain.

The film is known for Leone's use of long shots and close-up cinematography, as well as his distinctive use of violence, tension, and highly stylised gunfights.

Ennio Morricone composed the film's score. Ennio Morricone's iconic theme music was designed in places to mimic the sound of a howling coyote. Originally, Morricone did not want to use the trumpet but Leone insisted. Along with the electric and acoustic guitars, and the "tarzan yell", the trumpet became the most distinctive part of the soundtrack.

In addition to the train scene, Tuco (Eli Wallach) cheated death in the first scene where Blondie (Clint Eastwood) shoots him down from a hanging. The gunshot scared the horse, which took off running at full speed for nearly a mile. Wallach's hands were tied behind his back, and he had to hang on for dear life with his knees.

Eli Wallach was almost poisoned on the set after drinking acid used to burn the bags filled with gold coin, to make them rip open easier when struck with the spade. He didn't know the acid had been poured into a lemon soda bottle. He drank a lot of milk, and filmed the scene with a mouth full of sores.

For the scene where Angel Eyes interrogates Maria the prostitute for information about Bill Carson, Lee Van Cleef was appalled by the fact that he was required to actually hit Maria (Rada Rassimov), complaining "I can't hit a woman." Rassimov replied with, "Don't worry. I'm an actress. Even if you slap me for real, it's no problem", but Van Cleef further stated, "I know, but I can't!" As a result, a stunt double was used for shots where Rassimov was slapped, which were intercut with shots of Van Cleef. As he later put it: "There are very few principles I have in life. One of them is I don't kick dogs, and the other one is I don't slap women in movies."

When Eli Wallach arrived in Madrid, Spain, all of the hotels were full. Clint Eastwood invited him to sleep over at a friend's house, and they shared the same bed. Wallach's wife Anne Jackson told him he could boast that he was the only man to sleep with Clint Eastwood.

As a non-smoker, Clint Eastwood hated smoking cigars and Sergio Leone often did multiple takes. According to Eli Wallach, Eastwood would sometimes tell Leone: "You'd better get it this time, because I'm going to throw up."

By the time filming had completed, Clint Eastwood had grown tired of Sergio Leone's perfectionism and demands. The two never worked together again, though Leone tried to get Eastwood to appear in Once Upon a Time in the West (1968).

The three principal actors are the only ones who speak actual English in this movie: Clint Eastwood, Lee Van Cleef, Eli Wallach, with the exceptions of Al Mulock (the one-armed man), and John Bartha (the Sheriff). Everyone else in this movie is really speaking his or her native language, mostly Italian and Spanish, and was later dubbed into English.

In the 1960s, Hollywood still followed The Motion Picture Production Code of 1930 (a.k.a. The Hays Moral Code), especially with westerns. This movie broke many, if not most, of those standards. After it was released, Hollywood had to change its moral standards to compete with such foreign-made movies.

The trumpet theme for the "mexican standoff" at the graveyard was inspired by El Degüello - a traditional Mexican piece adapted from a Spanish composition that was also used as a military bugle call. The name refers to the cutting of the throat, and is used to indicate that no quarter will be given. El Degüello was played over and over by the Mexican army during the late stages of the battle of the Alamo, indicating the intention to slaughter the defenders.

Over to you, Steve.

QUOTE FOR THE DAY

ON THIS DAY

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March 28, 2018:

Cricket ball-tampering scandal

The 2018 Australian ball-tampering scandal, also known as Sandpapergate, was a cricket cheating scandal surrounding the Australian national cricket team. In March 2018, during the third Test match against South Africa at Newlands in Cape Town, Cameron Bancroft was caught by television cameras trying to rough up one side of the ball with sandpaper to make it swing in flight. Captain Steve Smith and vice-captain David Warner were found to be involved and all three received unprecedented sanctions from Cricket Australia. Smith and Warner were suspended for 12 months, and Cameron Bancroft 9 months.

Although he was found not to have been directly involved, Australia's coach, Darren Lehmann, announced he would step down from his role following the scandal.

Australia's Cameron Bancroft was shown on the television coverage and on screens at the ground appearing to rub the ball with a small yellow object. After Bancroft realised that he had been seen, he was again shown on the television coverage and on screens at the ground hiding the object in the front of his trousers. At the press conference at the end of the day's play, Bancroft, accompanied by Australia's captain, Steve Smith, admitted that he was shown attempting to alter the condition of the ball using sandpaper, which cricketers use to maintain their bats. Smith also admitted that he knew of the plan in advance of Bancroft's actions. Smith said that the plan was made during the lunch break by the "leadership group", which he did not name.

Following Smith's admission, Australia's Prime Minister at that time, Malcolm Turnbull, said it was a "shocking disappointment". He phoned Cricket Australia (CA) Board chairman David Peever directly to express that disappointment and concern, saying that there has to be the strongest action taken.

The three players were sanctioned by Cricket Australia for breaching article 2.3.5 of Cricket Australia's Code of Conduct by engaging in conduct that was contrary to the spirit of the game, unbecoming of a representative, harmful to the interests of the game, and/or which brings the game into disrepute.

Warner was found to be responsible for the development of the plan to alter the condition of the ball and instructing Bancroft on how to do it, including demonstrating the technique to him. He was also found to have failed to prevent the plan being implemented, misled match officials by concealing his knowledge of the plan and not voluntarily reporting his involvement.

Smith was not found to have known of the plan but failed to take steps to prevent it, told Bancroft to conceal the sandpaper in his trousers, misled match officials and others regarding Bancroft's attempts to artificially alter the condition of the ball, and made misleading public comments regarding the nature, extent and participants of the plan.

Bancroft was found to be a party to the plan to tamper with the ball, that he carried out Warner's instructions, tried to conceal the evidence and made statements to mislead match officials and the public.

See film of the incident:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Da8Q2I26SA

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FUNNY FRIDAY

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As I have mentioned, No 2 son married last week so what better theme for today’s Funny Friday than weddings and marriage.

Enjoy.

Caution: risqué content ahead.

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SOME HUMOUR:

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At a wedding I whispered to a guy next to me,

"Isn't the bride a right ugly dog"

"Do you mind. That's my daughter you're talking about"

"I'm sorry, I didn't know you were her father''...

"I'm not . . . I'm her fucking mother.

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Jacob, age 92, and Beth, age 89, are excited about their decision to get married.

They go for a stroll to discuss the wedding and on the way they pass a chemist. Jacob suggests they go in.

Jacob addresses the man behind the counter: "Are you the owner?"...

The pharmacist answers "Yes".

Jacob: "We're about to get married. Do you sell heart medication?"

Pharmacist: "Of course we do."

Jacob: "How about medicine for circulation?"

Pharmacist: "All kinds."

Jacob: "Medicine for rheumatism, scoliosis?"

Pharmacist: "Definitely."

Jacob:" Medicine for memory problems, arthritis, jaundices?"

Pharmacist: "Yes, a large variety..... the works!"

Jacob: "What about vitamins, sleeping pills, antidotes for Parkinson's

Disease?"

Pharmacist: "Absolutely."

Jacob:" You sell wheelchairs and walkers?"

Pharmacist: "All speeds and sizes. Why do you ask? Is there something I can help you with?"

Jacob says to the pharmacist:: "We'd like to nominate your store as our Bridal Gift Shop Registry”

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I watched the video of my wedding backwards.

I almost cried when I took the ring back, gave her back to her father, moonwalked out of the church, and went away, free.

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As a bagpiper, I play many gigs. Recently I was asked by a funeral director to play at a graveside service for a homeless man. He had no family or friends, so the service was to be at a pauper's cemetery in the Kentucky back country.

As I was not familiar with the backwoods, I got lost and, being a typical man, I didn't stop for directions.

I finally arrived an hour late and saw that the funeral guy had evidently gone and the hearse was nowhere in sight. There were only the diggers and crew left and they were eating lunch.

I felt badly and apologised to the men for being late. I went to the side of the grave and looked down and the vault lid was already in place. I didn't know what else to do, so I started to play. The workers put down their lunches and began to gather around. I played out my heart and soul for this man with no family and friends. I played like I've never played before for this homeless man. And as I played 'Amazing Grace,' the workers began to weep. They wept, I wept, we all wept together. When I finished I packed up my bagpipes and started for my car. Though my head hung low, my heart was full.

As I opened the door to my car, I heard one of the workers say, "I never seen nothin' like that before and I've been putting in septic tanks for twenty years."

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Glasgow boys Archie and Jock were sitting in the pub discussing Jock’s forthcoming wedding.

‘Aye, it’s all going like magic,’ said Jock. ‘I've got everything organised already: the flowers, the church, the cars, the reception, the rings, the minister, even ma stag night.’

Archie nodded approvingly.

‘Hell, I've even bought a kilt to be married in!’ continued Jock.

‘A kilt?’ exclaimed Archie. ‘That’s grand, you'll look pure smart in that! And what’s the tartan?”

‘Ach,’ said Jock, ‘I imagine she’ll be in white

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A cowboy and his wife had just married and found a nice hotel for their wedding night.

The cowboy approached the front desk and asked for a room.

He said, 'We're on our honeymoon and we need a nice room with a good strong bed.

The clerk winked, 'You want the 'Bridal'?'

The cowboy reflected for a moment and then replied,

Nope, I reckon not. I'll just hold onto her ears until she gets used to it.'

Shorter alternative version:

Billy Bob carries his young bride into the hotel lobby

He's registering for a room when the manager says, "I guess you'll want the Bridal?"

Billy Bob looks at him for a moment and says, "Naw, I'll just hold her by the ears 'til she gets the hang of it."

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Sophia had just gotten married, and being a traditional Italian girl living under the watchful eye of her mother, she remained a virgin up until she and her husband took their wedding vows…

On their wedding night, the newlyweds stayed at her mother's house, and Sophia was nervous. Her mother assured her young daughter, "Don't worry so much Sophia, Federico's a good man. Go upstairs, he'll take a good care of you…"

When she got upstairs, Federico had already taken off his shirt and his hairy chest was in full view. Sophia ran back downstairs to her mother and cried out, "Mama, Mama, Federico's got a big hairy chest!"

"Don't worry so much, Sophia", she assured her young daughter. "All good men have hairy chests. Federico's a good man. Go upstairs, he'll take a good care of you…"

When she got upstairs, Federico had already taken off his pants and his hairy legs were in full view. Again, Sophia ran downstairs to her mother and cried out, "Mama, Mama, Federico took off his pants and he's got big hairy legs!"

"Don't worry so much, Sophia", she assured her young daughter. "All good men have hairy legs. Federico's a good man. Go upstairs, he'll take a good care of you…"

When she got upstairs, Federico had already taken off his socks, and much to her surprise he was missing three toes on his left foot. When Sophia saw this, she ran downstairs and cried out, "Mama, Mama, Federico's got a foot and a half!"

"Stay here and stir the pasta sauce, Sophia, this is a job for Mama…"

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