August 9th –Not Just Your Ordinary Dog Day

MoonHowler

Nixon resigns

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

August 9  must be one of those special dates in history.  Several popped out today as I leafted through the papers.

35 years ago today -August 9, 1974  President Richard Nixon resigned from office as a result of the Watergate Scandal. (and last week Watergate went begging.  No one even bid on it.)

40 years ago today-August 9, 1969  Helter Skelter  Actress Sharon Tate (wife of Roman Polanski) and her friends  were the victims of gruesome, violent, heinous, ritualistic murders in Tate’s home.  Tate was 8 and a half  months pregant.  The Charles Manson ‘family’ was responsible.  The nation was horrifed that human beings could commit these kinds of acts on each other.

Mansion has listened to the Beatles Helter Skelter in December 1968.  Read more about Mansion and the song.   Beatles’ Helter Skelter.

Helter skelter in a summer swelter.
The birds flew off with a fallout shelter,
Eight miles high and falling fast.
It landed foul on the grass.
The players tried for a forward pass,
With the jester on the sidelines in a cast.

From Bye Bye Miss American Pie

64 years ago today-August 9, 1945  An atomic bomb was dropped on Nagisaki, Japan, killing approximately 74,000 people.  Many more died later on from the effects of radiation.  The dropping of this second atomic bomb led to the surrender of Japan thus ending WWII.  More than 5000 Japanese marked this solemn occassion in Peace Park in Nagasaki. (picture omitted because of technical difficulties.)

I am sure I have omitted other important August 9ths.  I certainly would not call it a lucky day.  While all of these August 9’s have come and gone, how do each of them impact us today?  Has there been historical fall out from which we will never escape?   How much does music influence us as a society?  How much does it influence our crime rate? 

 

VA Tax Free Weekend for Back to School Shopping

MoonHowler

It’s not too late to save money on those soon-top-be-needed items for kids returning to school. This years Tax Free Weekend seems to be having a better than usual affect on the economy. According to News and Messenger:

It was a win-win situation for both parents getting their children ready to go back to school and retailers to ring in some much-needed sales.

Potomac Mills mall was among retailers across the state that support the Virginia Sales Tax Holiday with extra discounts and special events designed to help parents and students save money while getting ready for school.

The program started on Friday and concludes today.

“The crowds coming to the mall this weekend have been comparable to holiday shopping,” said Caroline Barry Green, marketing director.

During the three-day period, shoppers at the retail stores will be exempt from the 5 percent sales tax on school supplies priced up to $20 per item, and clothes and shoes priced up to $100. Stores also can choose to exempt other items and pay the tax themselves.

The taxation department expects shoppers to save $4 million during the period. The tax-free holiday concludes today, so this is the last chance to save in this difficult economy.

Throughout the mall, merchants were singing a happy tune.

Should Virginia consider having more than one tax free weekend for purchasing school clothing and material? How about those who are on vacation? Are there other large group expenditures that should be considered for a tax free spree? Does this weekend really save the average family that much money or is it the idea of a sale that lures people out? Would it be more helpful to parents and students to have a schools supply tax free weekend over Labor Day Weekend, after school supply lists come out?