BABE OF THE WEEK

I neglected to do a Babe of the Week post again last week. Hopefully, this week's choice more than makes up for my oversight.


This week's babe is smoking hot buxom redhead Christina Hendricks.

FRIDAY MOVIE QUOTE

"You read the Bible?... There's a passage I got memorized. Ezekiel 25:17. ‘The path of the righteous man is beset on all sides by the inequities of the selfish and the tyranny of evil men. Blessed is he who, in the name of charity and good will, shepherds the weak through the valley of darkness. For he is truly his brother's keeper and the finder of lost children. And I will strike down upon thee with great vengeance and furious anger those who attempt to poison and destroy my brothers. And you will know I am the Lord when I lay my vengeance upon you.’ I been sayin' that shit for years. And if you ever heard it, that meant your ass. I never gave much thought to what it meant. I just thought it was a cold-blooded thing to say to a motherfucker before I popped a cap in his ass. But I saw some shit this mornin' made me think twice. See, now I'm thinkin' maybe it means you're the evil man. And I'm the righteous man. And Mr. Nine Millimeter here, he's the shepherd protecting my righteous ass in the valley of darkness. Or it could mean you're the righteous man and I'm the shepherd, and it's the world that's evil and selfish. And I'd like that. But that shit ain't the truth. The truth is you're the weak. And I'm the tyranny of evil men. But I'm tryin', Ringo, I'm tryin' real hard to be the shepherd."

-Jules Winnfield (Samuel L. Jackson), Pulp Fiction (1994)

THIS DAY IN CRIME HISTORY: AUGUST 26, 1980

On this date in 1980, two men made an early morning delivery of what appeared to be computer equipment to the Harvey's Resort and Casino in Stateline, NV. Harvey's employees soon discovered the "computer equipment" and the note attached to it. The note informed them that the large package was a bomb, and that it would go off unless the bombers were paid $3 million by the casino.

Police, the FBI, and the ATF were called in. Bomb squad personnel examined the object and confirmed that it was a bomb. The device, which was very sophisticated, contained a large amount of dynamite.

The decision was made to pay the ransom, then concentrate on tracking down the extortionists later. Unfortunately, the delivery of the ransom money - which was to be done by police helicopter - didn't go off as planned. This left the bomb squad with the task of figuring out how to disarm the largest dynamite bomb anyone in law enforcement had ever seen.

After x-raying the equipment and carefully examining it, the explosive ordnance disposal experts decided that the best was to disarm it was to quickly disconnect the detonators before they could set off the dynamite. To do this, they rigged shaped charges of C-4 and positioned them so they would blow the detonators off. Sand bags were stacked around the bomb to minimize the damage in case the plan didn't work. This was a good idea, as the plan didn't work. The shaped charges set the bomb off, destroying most of the casino and causing some damage to the neighboring hotel. Thankfully, there were no injuries from the explosion.

As the ensuing investigation unfolded, a suspect soon emerged: a Hungarian immigrant from Clovis, CA named John Birges. Birges, as it turned out, lost thousands of dollars gambling at Harvey's. (note to all you high rollers out there: You can lose. That's why they call it "gambling.") In the summer of 1981, investigators received a tip that Birges had stolen dynamite from a construction site. Forensic examination matched the dynamite used at the site with that used in the Harvey's Casino bomb. John Birges was arrested in August 1981, almost a year after the bombing. His three accomplices were soon arrested as well. It wasn't long before they flipped and agreed to testify against Birges in exchange for lighter sentences. John Birges was convicted of multiple state and federal crimes. He died in prison of liver cancer in 1996.

Further reading:

Tahoe Daily Tribune - "Harveys bombing memorable 28 years later"

Reno Gazette-Journal - "Anniversary of Harvey's Lake Tahoe bombing"

THIS DAY IN CRIME HISTORY: AUGUST 23, 1920

On this date in 1920, Ferdinando Nicola Sacco (above right) and Bartolomeo Vanzetti (above left) were executed in the Massachusetts electric chair for an armed robbery that resulted in the deaths of a paymaster and a security guard. Controversy still rages to this day as to the guilt of the men, but their convictions have yet to be overturned.

Further reading:

The Sacco-Vanzetti Case

Wikipedia - Sacco and Vanzetti

FRIDAY MOVIE QUOTE

"This isn't a hospital. It's an insane asylum!"

-Margaret "Hot Lips" O'Houlihan (Sally Kellerman), MASH (1970)

ADDING INSULT TO (FATAL) INJURY

I was doing some research recently when I ran into this article in the December 22, 1939 edition of the Schenectady Gazette:

STRANGLED TO DEATH

BRIDGETON, N.J., Dec. 21 (AP). —Leslie Muntz, 21, strangled to death today when a hollow tree, from which he was attempting to smoke out a 'possum, broke off at the base and fell across his neck. The 'possum escaped.

Bummer. It's bad enough that the poor guy died, but he couldn't at least be killed hunting a badass animal like a bear or a mountain lion. No, he got killed going after an animal whose entire tactical repertoire consists of playing dead. And to make matters worse, the possum escaped. He's probably still out there somewhere. Waiting to use a hollow tree to take out some poor unsuspecting dude. Evil marsupial bastard.

BABE OF THE WEEK

This week's babe is actress/model Vanessa Minnillo. Vanessa appeared recently in Psych. She was also Miss Teen USA in 1998.

NO MORE PENCILS, NO MORE BOOKS...

Last Thursday I turned in my final research paper for CJ 690, Topics in Criminal Justice. I've been on pins and needles all weekend waiting for the grade. This was my last assignment for my last course, so everything was riding on how well I did. Well, I got my grade this morning and I passed. Which means I'm done. It feels good to have one less obligation hanging over my head. It makes me want to sing "School's Out", but I guess I should leave that task to Mr. Cooper.



When I first started out in this program, I used to go to the local library to be proctored for my exams. I had an after-exam ritual of checking out one of Donald E. Westlake's Dortmunder books on my way out of the library. Dortmunder and company gave me an opportunity to decompress after each course. The school has since switched to online proctoring, which helped put an end to my ritual. Also, the library ran out of Dortmunder books that I hadn't read. In the interest of nostalgia (and decompression), I went to a neighboring library and checked out Drowned Hopes, one of the two Dortmunders I haven't read yet (the other being Jimmy the Kid). Now that I have closure on the grade thing, I guess I can start reading it tonight.

GRAND THEFT... FIRETRUCK?

Maybe a game based on this incident will be out in time for Christmas:

Deputies: Man tries to hijack firetruck at Albany airport

COLONIE -- Friday the 13th got off to a strange start at Albany International Airport when a Clifton Park man tried to hijack a firetruck, the Albany County Sheriff's Office said.

James M. Buccigrossi, 49, of Route 146, Clifton Park, pulled up to a ticket booth attendant at 8:30 a.m. at the airport's E parking lot and didn't have enough money to pay the fee, deputies said.

At that moment, an airport firetruck pulled into the lot to refuel. The economy parking lot is located on the far side of the airport from the passenger terminal.

Buccigrossi, a financial adviser, jumped out of his 1993 black BMW and into the firetruck, telling the driver he was an air marshal and ordered him to drive off, deputies said.

Buccigrossi began taking off his clothes and claimed to have a bomb in his car, which was blocking an exit lane at the ticket booth, deputies said.

About 10 deputies responded to the scene and took Buccigrossi into custody. He was treated at the scene by Colonie EMS and taken to Albany Medical Center Hospital for evaluation, deputies said.

With this stunt, Buccigrossi may have actually beaten this guy on the criminal craziness scale.

FRIDAY MOVIE QUOTE

"Let me just ask you one thing... after 600 years, how's that dick workin', pretty good?"

-Jack Crow (James Woods), John Carpenter's Vampires (1998)

NEVER UNDERESTIMATE THE IMPORTANCE OF A GOOD EDUCASHUN

And before you ask, no, it's not photoshopped.

THIS DAY IN CRIME HISTORY: AUGUST 9, 1969

On this date in 1969, members of Charles Manson's "family" murdered five people at the Los Angeles home of actress Sharon Tate.  The victims included Tate (who was eight months pregnant), hair stylist Jay Sebring, coffee heiress Abigail Folger, Polish actor/writer Wojciech Frykowski, and recent high school graduate Steven Parent.  Three of the victims were friends of Tate and her husband, director Roman Polanski.  Polanski was in Europe filming a movie at the time of the murders.  The fifth victim, Steven Parent, had the misfortune of visiting the home's caretaker (who was staying in an adjacent cottage) on the night of the murder.  He was intercepted by the Mansonites as he was leaving the property. 

The victims were all shot and/or stabbed by Manson followers Charles "Tex" Watson, Susan Watkins, and Patricia Krenwinkle while Linda Kasabian stood watch.  After the murders, Atkins wrote "pig" on the front door of the house using Sharon Tate's blood.

The following night, the four killers, along with two other Manson followers, Leslie Van Houten and Steve "Clem" Grogan, would murder Leno and Rosemary LaBianca.  Manson would actually accompany the murderers to the scene this time, but left the dirty work to his minions.

When police finally caught up to Manson and his crew, they convinced Linda Kasabian, who hadn't actually committed any of the murders, to testify against the other members of the family.  All of the defendants were ultimately convicted.  They are all currently incarcerated in California, except for Grogan, who was paroled in 1985, and Atkins, who died in prison in 2009. Linda Kasabian returned to her native New Hampshire after the trial.

Further reading:

truTV - Charles Manson and the Manson Family 

Find-a-Death - The Death of Sharon Tate and the Manson Murders

JUST BECAUSE...

There's nothing like a beautiful woman to take a guy's mind off the insanity of applying APA style formatting to a research paper. I think Irish model Claire Tully should do the trick.

THIS DAY IN CRIME HISTORY: AUGUST 6, 1890

On this date in 1890, convicted murderer William Kemmler became the first person to be executed in the electric chair.  A native of Buffalo, Kemmler was convicted in 1889 of the hatchet murder of his common law wife Tillie.  He was sentenced by the court to die in the electric chair at Auburn State Prison. 

The sentenced was immediately appealed by Kemmler's high priced legal team, which was hired by George Westinghouse.  Westinghouse feared that the association between alternating current and death would be bad for business (he had even attempted to prevent the prison from obtaining Westinghouse generators for use with the electric chair).  The appeal was based on the 8th amendment to the Constitution, which forbids cruel and unusual punishment.  Westinghouse testified at a hearing that death by electrocution would be exceptionally painful.  Thomas Edison (a proponent of direct current) took the stand and testified that electrocution, if done with sufficient voltage, would be quick and relatively painless.  The appeal was eventually denied, but Kemmler's lawyers appealed to a higher court, which also denied it.  By the time the appeal process was exhausted, Kemmler's original execution warrant had expired.  He was brought back to Buffalo for re-sentencing and his execution date was set for August 6, 1890.

On the morning of his execution, Kemmler ate a large breakfast.  Prison staff shaved his head where one of the electrodes would make contact.  Dressed in a new suit, he was led to the death chamber where the witnesses were assembled.  As he was being strapped into the chair, he said,  "Now take your time and do it all right, Warden.  There is no rush.I don't want to take any chances on this thing, you know."  Several minutes later, at the warden's instruction, the switch was thrown by State Electrician Edwin Davis.  Two thousand volts surged through Kemmler's body for seventeen seconds.  At that point, convinced he was dead, the command was given to cut the juice.  It soon became apparent that Kemmler wasn't dead.  The decision was made to throw the switch again.  This time, the electricity was left on for a minute.  Witnesses reported hearing a crackling sound and smelling burning flesh.  When the electricity was cut, the prison doctor examined Kemmler and declared him dead.


Further reading:

Crime Library - The Electric Chair

NY Times article from August 7, 1890 - "Far worse than Hanging; Kemmler's Death Proves an Awful Spectacle"     

FRIDAY MOVIE QUOTE

"Try not to shoot yourselves. Don't shoot each other. And especially... don't shoot me."

-Sheriff Hague (Michael Biehn), Planet Terror (2007)

BABE OF THE WEEK

It's Thursday already, and I haven't posted a babe of the Week yet. I'm really slipping. So without further ado...


This week's babe is actress Eva Mendes.



Come to think of it, I didn't even post a babe last week. I guess I owe my loyal readers some extra babe-age. Hey, I wouldn't want my readership swamping the Nobody Move! customer service center with complaints, straining the phone lines in India and the English language skills of the call center staff.

THIS DAY IN CRIME HISTORY: AUGUST 4, 1892

On this date in 1892:

Lizzie Borden took an axe
And gave her mother forty whacks.
When she saw what she had done
She gave her father forty-one.

Of course Lizzie was acquitted of the murders. So technically, the case remains unsolved. You can read all about it at truTV's CrimeLibrary.

You can sleep in Lizzie's old bedroom at the Lizzie Borden Bed & Breakfast, where live re-enactments are performed for guests. There's also a gift shop where you can buy Lizzie Borden memorabilia, like the Lizzie Borden Hatchet Keychain. Sounds like a nice spot for a romantic weekend getaway.

THIS DAY IN CRIME HISTORY: AUGUST 2, 1876

On this day in 1876, James Butler "Wild Bill" Hickok was murdered in Deadwood, Dakota Territory. Hickok was playing poker, his back to the door, when a man named Jack McCall walked up and shot Wild Bill in the back of the head. Hickok was holding two pair, aces and eights: the "dead man's hand."

The motive for the murder was never clear. McCall claimed he was avenging the killing of his brother by Hickok. A trial was held in Deadwood and McCall was acquitted and told to leave Deadwood. As it turns out, McCall may have never had a brother. So much for the justice system.

But all was not lost. McCall, as dumbass crooks often do, bragged about killing Hickok. He was eventually arrested and taken to Yankton, Dakota Territory for trial. It turns out that Deadwood was an illegal town, as it was built on Indian land (like they say in the real estate biz, it's all about "location, location, location!"). Consequently, the trial that was held there was not legit, so a trial in Yankton wouldn't constitute double jeopardy ("I'll take screwed, blued, and tattooed for $1000, Alex"). McCall was tried and found guilty. He was hanged (I'm not sure if he was hung, you'll have to ask Mrs. McCall) on March 1, 1877. Legend has it that when his body was exhumed in 1881, it was discovered that he'd been buried with the noose still around his neck.

Further reading:

Legends of America: Jack McCall - Cowardly Killer of Wild Bill Hickok

John "Jack" McCall Trials