115-year-old Chiyono Hasegawa, Japan's Oldest Person, Has Passed On

Chiyono Hasegawa, born on November 20, 1896, passed away today. Her life spanned literally three different centuries. She had been Japan's oldest living person and is recognized as Japan's second oldest undisputed Super-Centenarian ever.

Chiyono's passing means that there is only one person left from the year 1896 ... American Besse Cooper who is currently the World's Oldest Person and one of only 34 people, still living, who were born in the 1800s. Less than three dozen people on this planet can say they experienced life in three centuries.

Information on the 34 remaining nineteenth-century citizens can be found at this link - http://www.grg.org/Adams/E.HTM

The Media Mistakenly Calls Basij Members Iranian "Students" In The Solidarity With The Occupy Movement Rally And The Storming Of The British Embassy

Basij members and their followers recently organized two events: a demonstration and a protest. The demonstration was in "solidarity" with the Occupy Wall Street Movement and the protest was actually an attack on the British Embassy in Tehran. The people involved in these two events were referred to as students. They are not students ... they are members and followers of the Iranian regime's Basij militia. Unfortunately, a number of American bloggers and the media overall have referred to these people as students. I find that to be very sad because not only are real Iranian students fighting an uphill battle concerning their quest for freedom against a despicable regime, they are now being associated with these two absurd acts orchestrated by the Basij forces. Furthermore, I would not be surprised if some people are bussed in and even lured with food to participate.

On October 23 of this year, my friend Potkin Azarmehr reported on the Occupy Wall Street solidarity rally that the Basij held (Link: http://azarmehr.blogspot.com/2011/10/solidarity-with-wall-street-protesters.html). I am glad I saw his blog entry before any other report concerning this demonstration because it succinctly and effectively sets the record straight (in a very humorous way too - excellent work, Potkin). On the following day, I looked at many websites and blogs that reported on the event and I was saddened to see so many people calling these goons "students". The people participating in the comment sections of these websites and blogs did more of the same if not worse. This was a demonstration NOT in solidarity with the USA's ubiquitous Occupy Movement.  It was an opportunity for the regime to air its grievances on a number of topics. The following hilarious video features scenes from the Basij rally. Observe ...



Of course, they had to burn an Israeli Flag. Regardless of the topic, people like this bring up Israel and Zionism all the time [I know that just from my own dealings with people online (when I posted my video in support of Saudi Arabian Women with their driving campaign back in June, someone, in response to my video, brought up the Zionists ... typical and tired)].

This now brings us to this week and the storming of the British Embassy. Once I read a headline for an article claiming that students stormed the Embassy, I neither believed it nor vaguely considered it for one second. I was right. Once again, the Basij militia was at work. Here are two videos ...

Not a bad singer (ha):


Yet again, the burning of an Israeli Flag (along with the Stars And Stripes and the Union Jack) which has nothing to do with this matter:


To the real college/university students in Iran: I realize you were not a part of this nonsense and I have been telling people that repeatedly. As always, I remain in solidarity with you and your cause. Azadi!

Thanksgiving Edition Of Life Magazine From November 24, 1892

Today, I am going to take you all way back to the year 1892 for this blog entry. Here is the cover of the Thanksgiving Edition of Life Magazine from November 24, 1892. Quite nice and fitting since this year's Thanksgiving falls on November 24 as well.



I only took a photograph of the cover because the stories inside are a bit gloomy.

Drifter Transforming Action Figure From The M.A.R.S. Converters Toy Line

This is my third review for a MARS Converters transformable action figure. The toy's name is Drifter. He transforms into a blue car. I bought this at Walgreens in March and I finally found time to do a review here in November. It was half off - only $4.99!! While the figure is cool, the arms do not stay in ... they will fall off during play. It is great for display. Drifter stands on his own with no problems. I like it. The company that released it is Hap-P-Kid/Cybotronix.

As some of you know, I always film the M.A.R.S. Converters experience, and here is my latest video showing the step-by-step process: taking the figure out of the box and transforming it:


Photographs of the toy ...

234th Anniversary Of The Siege Of Fort Mifflin Reenactment Held In Philadelphia, PA On November 13, 2011

On November 13, 2011, Fort Mifflin once again held its annual Siege Of Fort Mifflin Revolutionary War Reenactment. The actual battle took place 234 years ago. This blog entry features many photographs and two videos of the event.









































































The living historians lined up after the battle ...

Here is a wreath showing this as being the 234th Anniversary:


I picked up this really cool mouse pad in the gift shop at the Fort. I am using it right now!


Here are two videos of the reenactment [I tried (for days) to upload one nine-minute, thirty-nine-second video to youtube, and the website would not allow it so I had to split the footage into two parts] ...