BABE OF THE WEEK

This week's babe is actress, model, and Dancing With the Stars champion Brooke Burke.


For all things Brooke Burke, check out her official website.

THIS DAY IN CRIME HISTORY: JANUARY 30, 1835

On this date in 1835, Richard Lawrence became the first person in history to attempt to assassinate a United States President. Lawrence, who fancied himself King George III of England, blamed President Andrew Jackson for a host of things, including the death of his father. Lawrence purchased two pistols, and then, in true "deranged gunman" fashion, he tracked Jackson's movements for some time before making his move (he must have seen Taxi Driver).

On January 30th, he attempted an ambush as the President was leaving a funeral service. He aimed one of his pistols at Jackson's back and pulled the trigger. Misfire. Then he aimed the second pistol and pulled the trigger. Same deal. And since he didn't have the foresight to arrange for a backup shooter in the grassy knoll, Lawrence's assassination attempt fell flat. And so did Lawrence, after the crowd, which included Congressman (and King of the Wild Frontier) Davy Crockett, tackled him. Rumor has it that even the President got in on the act, whacking the wannabe shooter with his cane for good measure.

Lawrence was tried and found not guilty by reason of insanity. He spent the remainder of his life in an insane asylum that would later house future wannabe assassin John Hinckley. For years there was speculation that Lawrence was put up to the assassination attempt by enemies of President Jackson, but there was never any evidence to support the charge. A conspiracy? No evidence to prove its existence? I'm thinking we have Oliver Stone's next movie here.

Further reading:

Wikipedia - Richard Lawrence

AmericanHeritage.com - http://tinyurl.com/5ur5ph

NEW AGE GIRL

Here's a blast from the recent past. This is mid-90s one-hit wonder Deadeye Dick with the music video for their song "New Age Girl."

THIS DAY IN CRIME HISTORY: DECEMBER 28, 1982

On this date in 1982, US Army Brigadier General James Dozier was rescued by Italian police. Dozier, who had been kidnapped by Italian Red Brigades terrorists 42 days earlier, was being held in an apartment in the northern Italian city of Padua. After determining the General's location, the Italian police sent in the NOCS, a special operations unit trained in hostage rescue. A bulldozer was started near the building to cover the noise of the rescuers as they moved into position. A 12-man NOCS team stormed the apartment and overpowered the terrorists without firing a shot, rescuing the General, and taking five of his captors into custody.

Further reading:

Wikipedia - James L. Dozier

Wikipedia - Red Brigades

NY Times - General Dozier Freed in Major Red Brigades Defeat

Air & Space Power Journal - The Dozier Kidnapping: Confronting the Red Brigades

SpecWarNet - NOCS

FRIDAY MOVIE QUOTE

"Well, I believe in the soul, the cock, the pussy, the small of a woman's back, the hanging curve ball, high fiber, good scotch, that the novels of Susan Sontag are self-indulgent, overrated crap. I believe Lee Harvey Oswald acted alone. I believe there ought to be a constitutional amendment outlawing Astroturf and the designated hitter. I believe in the sweet spot, soft-core pornography, opening your presents Christmas morning rather than Christmas Eve, and I believe in long, slow, deep, soft, wet kisses that last three days."

-Crash Davis (Kevin Costner), Bull Durham (1988)

WICKED WEASEL WEDNESDAY

"What's a Wicked Weasel?" you ask. It's a line of bikinis. Maybe this will be a new feature here at the Nobody Move! blog. Or maybe not. But I'm short on blogging material today, so...

THIS DAY IN CRIME HISTORY: JANUARY 25, 1947

On this date in 1947, former Chicago Outfit boss Al Capone, who had been in declining health since his release from federal prison, died on his estate on Palm Island, FL.

Further reading:

Mario Gomes - My Al Capone Museum

FBI - Al Capone

truTV - Al Capone

BABE OF THE WEEK

This week's babe is Italian model/actress Sara Tommasi.

THIS DAY IN CRIME HISTORY: JANUARY 24, 1989

On this date in 1989, serial killer Ted Bundy was executed in the electric chair at Florida State Prison. His last words: "I'd like you to give my love to my family and friends."





Further reading:

truTV: Ted Bundy

FBI: Theodore Robert Bundy

Famous Last Words--Ted Bundy

Wikipedia: Ted Bundy

THIS DAY IN CRIME HISTORY: JANUARY 22, 1957

On this day in 1957, George Metesky was arrested at his home in Waterbury, CT. Metesky was suspected of being the "Mad Bomber" that had terrorized New York during the 1940s and 50s. In all, he had planted thirty-three bombs. Twenty-two of the bombs exploded, injuring fifteen people. His motive: denial of a worker's compensation claim against Consolidated Edison in 1931. Metesky's arrest was the result of an early use of profiling techniques by police. He was found legally insane and committed to a mental institution in 1957. He was released in 1973, and died in 1994 at the age of 90.

Further reading:

truTV: George Metesky: New York City's Mad Bomber

Wikipedia: George Metesky

Time: An article from 1957 titled "George Did It"

FRIDAY MOVIE QUOTE

"You want to find an outlaw, hire an outlaw. You want to find a Dunkin' Donuts, call a cop."

-Leonard Smalls (Randall "Tex" Cobb), Raising Arizona (1987)

THIS DAY IN CRIME HISTORY: JANUARY 21, 1959

On this date in 1959, Carl Switzer, best known for playing Alfalfa in the Our Gang series, was shot and killed by a friend. Switzer, who was drunk at the time, got into an argument with the man over $50 that Switzer thought he was owed. The man shot Switzer after being assaulted and threatened with a knife. He was arrested and charged with murder, but the jury acquitted him.

Further reading:

The Death of Carl Alfalfa Switzer

Wikipedia - Carl Switzer

Here's a video of Alfalfa facing a previous death threat:

WELCOME TO MUFASA BELL, MAY I TAKE YOUR ORDER?

Would you like hard shell tacos, or soft shell?

Tucson restaurant to offer African lion tacos

TUCSON, Ariz. (AP) — A Tucson taco restaurant already has served up python, alligator, elk, kangaroo, rattlesnake and turtle.

What's next? Lion meat.

Boca Tacos y Tequila says it's accepting prepaid orders for African lion tacos, to be served starting Feb. 16. Orders must be placed by Feb. 7 and owner Bryan Mazon says there are already a few reservations from curious customers.

Mazon says his restaurant started offering exotic tacos on its menu every Wednesday about six months ago and has tried "just about anything we can get our hands on."

If you're of a mind to try this delicacy(?), lion tacos will run you $8.75 a piece. You know, there was a time when restaurants wanted to avoid giving people the impression they served cat.

BABE OF THE WEEK

This week's babe is the appropriately-named actress Megan Fox.

THIS DAY IN CRIME HISTORY: JANUARY 17, 1950

On this date in 1950, the Brinks Armored Car depot in Boston, MA was robbed of over $2.5 million in cash, checks and money orders. It took years for cops to solve the crime. The robbery inspired a 1978 movie starring Peter Falk. There was also a sequel--to the robbery, not the movie--when members of the Weather Underground and the Black Liberation Army robbed a Brinks Armored car in Nanuet, NY in 1981. As usual, the sequel was inferior to the original.

FBI History: The Brinks Robbery

Wikipedia: Great Brinks Robbery

The Brinks Job (1978)

THIS DAY IN CRIME HISTORY: JANUARY 16, 1935

On this date in 1935, Kate "Ma" Barker, matriarch of the infamous family of criminals, died along with her son Fred in a hail of gunfire near Ocala, FL. Far from the Tommy-gun toting outlaw she's been portrayed as in popular culture, Ma Barker's role in the Barker-Karpis gang was probably limited to providing logistical and moral (or is it immoral?) support.

On January 8, 1935, her son Arthur "Doc" Barker was arrested in Chicago. When he was searched, a map of the area where his brother Fred Barker was hiding out with Ma. On the 16th, federal agents surrounded the house and ordered the Barkers to surrender. A gunfight followed. Both Ma and Fred were killed in the battle. When they entered the house, agents found a Tommy gun still in Ma's hands. Or so they claimed.

Further reading:

Wikipedia - Ma Barker

truTV - Alvin Karpis: Pursuit of the Last Public Enemy

Find a Grave - "Ma" Barker

FBI - Barker-Karpis Gang

Poughkeepsie Eagle-News, January 17, 1935 - "Fred Barker and Mother Slain in Florida Hideout"

THIS DAY IN CRIME HISTORY: JANUARY 15, 1947

On this date in 1947, the mutilated remains of a young woman were found in Los Angeles. The woman would soon be identified as Elizabeth Short, an unemployed 22 year old, originally from Massachusetts. The news media would soon dub her the Black Dahlia. The LAPD conducted an exhaustive investigation, but the case remains unsolved.


Further reading:

The Black Dahlia Web Site

truTV - Black Dahlia

Wikipedia - Black Dahlia

THIS DAY IN CRIME HISTORY: JANUARY 14, 1979

On this date in 1979, Lucchese crime family associate Thomas "Two-Gun Tommy" DeSimone was reported missing by his wife. Turns out he was whacked, reportedly by members of the Gambino family. DeSimone, who was believed to have killed at least ten people, apparently killed someone he shouldn't have. I guess if you kill enough people, that's bound to happen eventually. Anyway, DeSimone's victims included William "Billy Batts" Devino, a made man with the Gambino family, and Ronald "Foxy" Jerothe, a protege of future Gambino family boss John Gotti. Killing made men without permission is a big no-no in the mob, which Tommy found out the hard way. He was lured to his death by Lucchese family members who told him he was being "made," and that they were taking him to the ceremony. They made him all right; they made him dead. DeSimone's body was never found. His remains were thought to be buried in a "mob graveyard" on the Brooklyn-Queens border.

Tommy DeVito, the character played by Joe Pesci in the movie Goodfellas, was based in large part on Thomas DeSimone.

Further reading:

Wikipedia - Thomas DeSimone

The Free Information Society - DeSimone, Thomas

truTV - The End of Tommy DeSimone

FRIDAY MOVIE QUOTE

"Attica! Attica! Attica!..."

-Sonny Wortzik (Al Pacino), Dog Day Afternoon (1975)

THIS DAY IN CRIME HISTORY: JANUARY 13, 1939

On this date in 1939, five inmates, including Arthur "Doc" Barker of the infamous Karpis-Barker gang, attempted to escape from the federal prison on Alcatraz Island. The men escaped from the cell house after sawing and bending the bars on a window. They made their way to the shoreline and attempted to escape on a makeshift raft. When they were discovered, three of the inmates, William Martin, Henri Young, and Rufus McCain surrendered. Barker and inmate Dale Stamphill were shot by guards. Barker died later from his wounds.

Further reading:

Alcatraz Escape Attempts

Alcatraz - Escapes

Alcatraz - Arthur "Doc" Barker

IT COULD ALWAYS BE WORSE

I picked up a cold over the weekend. It turned into a sinus infection along with some serious chest congestion and a sore throat. After a couple of days of playing through the pain, I broke down and called in sick today.

As it turns out, it snowed like hell here last night and this morning. I wound up spending much of my sick day out in the cold, shoveling my driveway. So much for rest and recuperation. But things could be worse. I could be this guy:

THIS DAY IN CRIME HISTORY: JANUARY 11, 1794

On this date in 1794, Robert Forsyth became the first U.S. Marshal killed in the line of duty. Forsyth, who was appointed U.S. Marshal in Georgia by President George Washington, was accompanied by two of his deputies as he attempted to serve civil legal papers on brothers Beverly and William Allen. When Forsyth knocked on the door to the room where Beverly Allen (a former Methodist minister who probably had a chip on his shoulder over being tagged with an unmanly name) was hiding, Allen shot him in the head, killing him.

Beverly Allen was eventually arrested for murdering Forsyth, but he escaped, never to be recaptured.

Further reading:

U.S. Justice Department - The First Marshal of Georgia: Robert Forsyth

BABE OF THE WEEK

I'm no fan of golf, but if I were, my favorite golfer would be this week's babe, the LPGA's Natalie Gulbis. For more of Natalie, check out her official website.

FRIDAY MOVIE QUOTE

"Madam, I need you to remain calm. And trust me, I'm a professional. Beneath this pillow, lies the key to my release."

Sherlock Holmes (Robert Downey, Jr.), Sherlock Holmes (2009)

A NEW AMERICAN HERO

I saw this guy on South Park last night. I'm thinking he ought to run for office.

Coon 2: Hindsight
Tags: SOUTH
PARKEric Cartman,more...

THIS DAY IN CRIME HISTORY: JANUARY 5, 1945

On this date in 1945, Albany, NY Police Chief William Fitzpatrick was shot and killed in his office at police headquarters. It all started when the Chief's bodyguard and longtime friend, Detective John McElveney, entered the office at 3:00 PM. The two men began to argue. The argument ended at 3:10 when Detective McElveney drew his pistol and shot Chief Fitzpatrick in the head, killing him.

According to the Albany Police and the D.A.'s office, the argument was part of an "ongoing dispute." Contemporary news reports suggest the dispute was over payment for recent dental work done to correct injuries McElveney suffered after having been struck by Fitzpatrick.

Detective McElveney was sentenced to 20 years to life in prison, avoiding the appointment with the electric chair that usually awaited most cop killers back in those days. He was released in 1957, when his sentence was commuted by Governor Averill Harriman. He died of cancer in 1968 at the age of 71.

According to Pulitzer Prize-winning author William Kennedy, the late Dan O'Connell, founder and former chair of the Albany Democratic political machine, told him that Chief Fitzpatrick, back when he was a sergeant, was one of the gunmen who killed gangster Legs Diamond in 1931. Of course Chief Fitzpatrick was conveniently dead when this accusation was made, and therefore unable to dispute O'Connell. Or sue him for defamation.

Further reading:

Albany Police - Chief William J. Fitzpatrick

O Albany!, by William Kennedy

Schenectady Gazette, January 29, 1946 - "Pleads Guilty to 2nd Degree Murder Count"

RIP, GERRY RAFFERTY

Sad news from the music world:

'Baker Street' singer Gerry Rafferty dead at 63

LONDON — Gerry Rafferty's agent says the Scottish singer behind hit songs "Baker Street" and "Stuck in the Middle With You" has died. He was 63.

Paul Charles confirmed Tuesday that his client, whose 1978 hit record "Baker Street" reached No. 3 in the U.K. and No. 2 in the U.S. music charts, had passed away following a long illness.

Rafferty wrote hit single "Stuck in the Middle With You" in 1972, while performing as part of the Scottish folk-rock band Stealers Wheel. The ode — or mocking tribute— to Bob Dylan's raspy voice grew new wings in film maker Quentin Tarantino's movie "Reservoir Dogs," and has sold more than a million copies worldwide.

I've been a big fan of Rafferty's for years. The song "Stuck in the Middle With You", recorded with the band Stealer's Wheel, was one of the first popular songs I remember liking as a kid.



And I bought the album City to City (which features the song "Baker Street") on vinyl soon after its release. I still have it, in fact.


Sad to see him go, but his music will live on.

BABE(S) OF THE WEEK

To mark the start of a new year, this week's babe of the Week will be a double feature: twin sisters Kristina and Karissa Shannon. Don't ask me which one is which. I have no frickin' idea. All I know is that they're both hot.

THIS DAY IN CRIME HISTORY: JANUARY 3, 1791

On this date in 1791, a posse in Stephentown, NY attempted to arrest local resident Whiting Sweeting on a warrant for theft. Sweeting resisted, and in the process of arresting him, Albany County Constable Darius Quimby was stabbed. Quimby later died of his wounds. He is commonly believed to be the first law enforcement officer killed in the line of duty in U.S. history. Sweeting was charged with Quimby's murder. He was convicted in July of 1791 and was executed the follwoing month.

Fruther reading:

Officer Down Memorial Page - Constable Darius Quimby (Note: This is one of many online sources that incorrectly state that Quimby was shot)

An NYCHS Timeline on Executions by Hanging in New York State

Ancestry Message Boards - Whiting Sweeting, Darius Quimby

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

I hope your 2011 rocks. Or at the very least is better than 2010.