Pet Peeves, Politics, & Potpourri 2-21 -11

</element><element id="paragraph-1" type="body"><![CDATA[By Jack Hargis

I went to the high school, and the $50,000 debacle informed me 'tickets $5.00 at lunch'. I don't have a clue what that means, and never will unless I park out front.

Here's a little naval history, In 1904 Josephus Daniels was appointed as secretary of the navy. In an effort to endear himself to sailors forever, he proclaimed that alcoholic beverages would no longer be consumed on any U.S. Navy ship. As the sailors sat around drinking coffee, they would raise their coffee mugs and say 'here's to jow'. This soon morphed to just plain joe. Now when all the morning loafers gather at Hardees for a cup of joe, they will know where the term originated. Of course, several enterprising sailors would smuggle several pints on board in those large peacoat pockets. Other, with he help of a shipmate, would buy large bottles and tie a strong string to them which allowed the shipmate to pull them on board out of sight of the quarterdeck.

In some foreign ports, especially Italy, bumboats would come alongside at night, selling wine and barreta pistols. They did a brisk business.

I had a friend on a radar picket ship homeported in San Francisco. He drank aqua velva after shave constantly. He died at home of alcohol poisoning the night before his retirement ceremony.

During my naval career, all my ships got underway with large quantities of beer on board.

After an evolution in a hot area, the captain would declare 'swim call', however boats loaded drink beer while the boats circled the ship.

Of course, when you have 4 gunners mates with high powered rifles watching for sharks, most sailors were content to stay in the boats.

Sailors have more fun!

Jack Hargis is a columnist for The Randolph County Herald Tribune.