EXIT OF THE DAY: EXIT 8A on NJ Tpke n; To Jamesburg, New Jersey, Cranbury, NJ Listen up kids! It is now time for a Road Test. But first the FAST FACTS... You are now near Jamesburg, New Jersey. Jamesburg’s signature contribution to human history is that world famous fella, the father of commercial canning, Harrison Woodhull Crosby himself. Gives you shivers does it not? Harrison, or Harry to his pals, was born right here. Back in 1847, Harrison Woodhull Crosby became the first person to put tomatoes in tin cans on a commercial scale. Yup. He is THAT guy. Harry worked across the Delaware River as the chief gardener at Lafayette College in Pennsylvania. It was there that they commercialized the canned tomato. It is probably no coincidence that Campbell's Soup started not far away and that tomato soup was one of their first products. The history of canning food is not corny. Legend has it, around 1800, Napoleon sought an invention to feed his fast moving troops. This led to sealed jars. Around 1858, a gent with the last name Mason came up with industrialized sealed bottles and you guessed it, they became Mason Jars. All such products had to be heat treated first then sealed in cans or jars. Interestingly, they knew that this method kept food safe far longer, but not knowing about microbes and germs, they simply had no knowledge why it worked. Canning became a boon during the upcoming Civil War where canned goods could be shipped and stored anywhere without spoilage. In fact, Powdered Milk was first created to feed the Union Army. In Westchester, New York a man by the name of Gail Borden created powdered milk. Borden’s Dairy still exists to this day. But I digress. We are speaking about no small tomatoes here. Fast Fact, the Jamesburg native James Woodhull Crosby was not only famous as the first to can Tomatoes, but he is also famous for coining the term, "Hey! How 'bout them tomatoes?" I kid you not. Something that does not commercialize well by being canned is a bobcat. More and more people are seeing bobcats. Many of the sightings are from passengers in cars in wooded areas like right here. The bobcat is about two feet tall —larger than a house-cat but much smaller than a mountain lion. Adult females in New Jersey generally weigh between 18 and 25 pounds while adult males can weigh as much as 35 pounds. While they typically hunt rodents, rabbits and birds, they are strong enough to take down a deer. Or unfortunately, Fido or Puss. So bring your pets inside before dusk and only let them out long after dawn. That’s because most hunting takes place at dawn and dusk. They are extremely shy animals that are seldom seen by humans. With suburbs spreading out, hunting has diminished, and numbers have increased. But it was not a natural population boom. The New Jersey Division of Fish and Wildlife conducted a restoration project where 24 bobcats captured in Maine were released in northern New Jersey from 1978-1982. By the 1990’s reports of bobcat sightings began to increase. So are the numbers of bobcats killed by automobiles on our highways. During a one year period between 2008 and 2009 fourteen bobcats were observed from New Jersey roads. Sadly, ten of these were hit by cars. Now for the Road Test. Did Harrison Woodhull Crosby can tomatoes or bobcats? #CannedTomatoes #AndyWarhol #Napoleon #CivilWar #CampbellSoup #NewJerseyBobcats #Bobcats #LafayetteCollege #NJTurnpike #HarrisonWoodhullCrosby #Canning #masonjars
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EXIT of the Day: Hear this here… I-4, EXIT 108s onramp I-4S: To Valdez, Deltona FL “Ok Road Trippers, as we approach Deltona, it is time for a Road Test. So you, the one with the hair, get off Tik Tok and listen up! You might learn something just as worthless. This Road Test is brought to you by Joe’s Gas and Convenience Store 1 minute off upcoming Exit 108. If you get the answer correct, you can get a Buy 1 Get 1 free deal of any Pepsi or Dorito Product with a fill up of fuel above $15. So get right to exit. Now listen to the Fast Facts! There are some ridiculous laws on the books in the state of Florida. We did some research and found some of the silliest. Many of these laws are only in effect in certain cities. So for example, selling fruit in one city is all right but you could spend hard time if you cross the county line. Up in Destin, Florida please don't set off any torpedoes. It's illegal there. Not sure about the rest of the state, but they have a problem with torpedoes in Destin. Must be a lot of large alligators or something. Also Good to know: in all of Florida, men are not allowed in public wearing a strapless dress. As long as you've got straps of some sort, you're cool. Also, in Destin, it is illegal for an ice-cream man to sell ice cream in a cemetery. But what’s really weird, in Hialeah, strolling or ambling is a misdemeanor. Still all that’s nothing compared to selling certain fruits in Miami. In Miami, you could face up to 30 days in jail for selling oranges on the sidewalk. And don't even think about showering naked! It's an actionable offense. Maybe the cops perp walk you with your handcuffs in front.... Raincoats must be popular round here. And as if people do not have enough outdoor activities to entertain them, in Daytona Beach, you're banned from molesting trash cans. In Key West, don't molest the chickens. They're a protected species. But they need to hear that in Key West… Finally, here is one that does make sense. In the state of Florida, it's illegal to have physical relations with a porcupine. Ouch! But maybe you can have relations with a chicken outside of Key West. The State Law is not clear on that issue And finally, in case you are riding down the interstate on Jumbo, know this: When you tie it to a parking meter, your elephant gets charged just the same as your car would. Now for the Road Test. How many days do you get in jail for selling Grapefruits in Miami? You have three seconds. 3…2…and 1. The answer is no time. You get no time in jail. That’s because it is only illegal to sell Oranges. Now go park your elephant and feed the meter. And when you visit upcoming Deltona, no romancing porcupines. Pervert! Oh and go get your Buy 1 Get 1 Free Deal of Pepsi or Doritos at Joe’s. Just tell em RoadSpoke’s Silly Laws sent you!” #sillyFloridalaws #Roadtrippers #FastFacts #Jumbo #ParkingElephants #Florida #Snowbirds Exit 193 I-95n in SC To: SC 9, SC 57, to N Myrtle Beach, Dillon near Floyd, Dale, SC Welcome to South Carolina! Land of palmetto palms and shag dancing to Beach Music — and we don’t mean Surf Music either. But more about that later… Now turn on your headlights. It's the law down here. If you’ve had your eyes open in either direction, you’ve seen the famous “South of the Border” billboards. The corny billboards will lead you along I-95 here to Dillon. In Dillon you will find Pedro, the mustachioed, 97-foot-tall “Patron Saint of Travelers In Need of a Pit Stop”. No Baloney. That’s what Pedro is the patron saint for. Visitors can drive through his legs and find a parking place. Then it’s time to stretch, hit the bathroom, grab a hot dog (or a banana), see some gators and buy a few fireworks to detonate later on the beach. South of the Border is a roadside mash-up of tacky souvenir shops and wacky attractions. For over forty years, these billboards have delighted children and quite honestly, annoyed parents. After years of disapproval by the forces of political correctness, Pedro will no longer be able to entice with his corny epithets and awful broken English puns. Not surprisingly, Locals refer to the site as SOB. Speaking of SOBs, what you have not seen as you approach the border between two Carolinas is the Carolina Pararkeet. SOB's are responsible for that loss no doubt. 2018 marked the sad centennial for the extinction of the only Parrot in The United States. The last known bird died at the Cincinnati Zoo on February 21, 1918. This was the male specimen, called "Incas", who died within a year of his mate, "Lady Jane". Coincidentally, Incas died in the same cage in which the last Passenger Pigeon, "Martha", had died nearly 4 years earlier. It was not until 1939, however, that it was determined that the Carolina Parakeet had become extinct. However, reports still come in of fleeting sightings and false yet hopeful re-discoveries. So maybe they are out there. According to the Audubon Society, at some point about sixty years ago, three parakeets resembling the beautiful Carolina Parakeet were filmed in the Okefenokee Swamp of Georgia. However, the American Ornithologists' Union analyzed the film and concluded that they had probably filmed feral parakeets. The small gregarious parakeets once lived in flocks and inhabited river bottoms from Nebraska to Louisiana to Florida and north to Southern New York. The Carolina Parakeet is believed to have died out because of a number of different threats. Large areas of forest were cut down, reducing its habitat. The bird's colorful feathers (a green body, yellow head, and red around the bill) were in demand as decorations in ladies' hats. It has also been hypothesized that the introduced honeybee helped contribute to its extinction by occupying the bird's hollow tree nesting sites. Finally, they were killed in large numbers because farmers considered them a pest. Sadly, the most egregious factor that contributed to their extinction may have been loyalty or compassion. Family members would return immediately to a location where flock members had been shot. This led to even more being shot by hunters as the parrots gathered about the wounded and dead members of their flock. From Pedro to compassionate parrots, South Carolina itself is a proud mashup of conflicting and complementing inspirations marked by beauty, soulful loss, and great commercial promise.
Welcome once again to the Palmetto State. #PalmettoState #SouthCarolina #NorthCarolina #DillonSouthCarolina #CarolinaParakeet #SouthoftheBorder #Pedro #Patronsaintoftravelerswhoneedapitstop #Billboards Hear this audio right... wait for it... right... HERE! EXIT 31b to Oakland Park Blvd. To Wilton Manors, Florida "The upcoming EXIT is to Oakland Park Boulevard. The city of Oakland in California is known for its diversity. Oakland is across the San Francisco Bay from the number one gay city in America, that being, of course, San Francisco itself. Alright I know this analogy is a stretch, but bear with me. I'm getting to the point. Perhaps then it should be no surprise that the city here in Florida abutting Oakland Park Boulevard is Wilton Manors. Wilton Manors is home to a majority LGBT population. Like in many resort towns around Florida, while many are year round residents, most are in fact winter snowbirds. If you cruise down Wilton Drive, the so-called main drag, you will see these residents frequenting its many restaurants, bars and other gay-owned businesses. The scene is very colorful and frankly inclusive. Between cruising, drag and birds, my commentary is rife with bad puns. But do not hold it against Wilton Manors; this winter nest is a hot-bed of creativity and culture. Interestingly, like the majority of snow birds elsewhere in Florida, most of the LGBT community here live in family households. The 2010 U.S. Census reported that Wilton Manors is second only to Provincetown, Massachusetts in the proportion of couples relative to the total population. The city is very progressive and boasts a lot of well, pride. The art scene spills out onto streets that are well manicured and spotlessly clean. It should be no surprise of course that this brazenly flamboyant community contains a large Pride Center, the World AIDS Museum and Educational Center, and a branch of the Stonewall National Museum & Archives. The Stonewall Museum commemorates a gay bar in New York’s Greenwich Village which was the birthplace of the Gay Pride movement. No wilting flowers, the community wants the world to know they have created a welcoming, successful, and diverse community. In fact, the mayor, Gary Resnick, refers in the Town’s official biography that he has a male partner. The city’s web page highlights LGBT life stating that "the City of Wilton Manors Police Department conducts police training that is geared toward working with the City’s LGBT population and has gay and lesbian officers amongst its ranks.” You would not be surprised about any of this, once you see a Wilton Manors Police Car. The vehicles are themselves open statements about the proclivities of the city's residents. That’s because no black and whites are these vehicles. Here smokey drives a police car draped in rainbows! Happy Pride Week! #WiltonManors #PrideCenter #StonewallNationalMuseum #WorldAIDSMuseum #Florida #Provincetown Hear this right... here: EXIT 150- 154 I-95s To: Whitakers, NC "Ok Road Crew, now we play a game called "Name that recording artist." The winner gets to claim a free month of Pandora app. But you got to "Claim" the deal by either saying , "Deal Radar, save that deal" or by tapping the Deal Radar button on this smart device during this narration. Tap it now, go ahead. It's blinking! Ok. Good tap. We got the message and you get the Pandora deal should you want it. So Now....Today's recording artist is a soft spoken sweet balladeer who has recently been honored by Taylor Swift and Selena Gomez. In his youth, this Carolina tar heal was supported by no less than the late great Beatle, George Harrison. In fact George and Paul McCartney sang un-credited back up vocals on one of his first hits about growing up in North Carolina. But this adoptive Southerner was born up north. He was born at Mass General in Boston on March 12 1948, where his father worked as a resident physician. ![]() His father came from a wealthy Scottish family from the South. His mom studied singing at the New England Conservatory of Music and was an aspiring opera singer. In 1951, the family moved back south to Chapel Hill, where Dad took a job as an assistant professor of medicine at the UNC School of Medicine. Years later our artist would recall, “Chapel Hill, the Piedmont, the outlying hills, were tranquil, rural, beautiful, but quiet. Thinking of the red soil, the seasons, the way things smelled down there, I feel as though my experience of coming of age there was more a matter of landscape and climate than people.” His Dad later rose to become dean of the School of Medicine and... ...having summers off, beginning in 1953, the family spent summers on Martha's Vineyard. Regardless of his privileged upbringing, our hero suffered from depression so much so that between his prep school and college year, he committed himself to a psychiatric hospital in Massachusetts. Between the meds and the organized schedule he started to achieve structure which he credits for saving his life and influencing his music. Still he lived chaotically and despite getting signed by the Beatles Apple Records he wound up becoming addicted to heroin. However he continued to be productive. He wrote songs, including "Carolina on My Mind”. Paul McCartney and an uncredited George Harrison guest sang on "Carolina on My Mind", whose lyric "holy host of others standing around me" referred to the anonymous Beatle pals. Once he recovered, our hero moved to California, and there he produced his second album. Titled "Sweet Baby James", and featuring the participation of Carole King, the album was a triumph. Memorably, it included the single "Fire and Rain," a song about experiences in rehab and the suicide of his friend, Suzanne Schnerr. In 1970, the album and the single reached #3 on the Billboard charts, with Sweet Baby James selling more than 3 million in the United States alone. The entire album was received as a folk-rock masterpiece, marking a direction he would take in following years. In following years there were many more triumphs than personal slips including a ten year marriage to singer Carly Simon. Quick aside: Carly Simon likely appreciated her husband's literary chops because her dad was the founder of Book Publisher "Simon & Schuster." So now can you name that artist? You have 3 seconds to guess. Three, two... and one. This recording artist is a once and forever native of upcoming Chapel Hill. And I think you know by now, his name is none other than sweet baby James Taylor. And you can get a free month of Freemium ad free Pandora since you tapped the Deal Radar icon. Like James Taylor's song says, "How Sweet it is" to be using the RoadSpoke app! Ok. I know it was a stretch. Now I'll leave you alone." #HappyBirthdayJamesTaylor #SweetbabyJames #JamesTaylor #FireandRain #CarlySimon #Beatles #GeorgeHarrison #PaulMcCartney #UNC #CarolinaonmyMind #ChapelHill UNCMedicalSchool #CarolKing EXIT OF THE DAY: I-95 Exit 90 in SC To: US 176, to Cameron, Holly Hill, South Carolina. Hear the here! "In upcoming Cheraw, South Carolina, famed jazz trumpet player "Dizzy" Gillespie was born in 1917. Before he found music Dizzy was a tough kid with a stick on his shoulder. But then Dizzy picked up a trumpet -- and a new Faith. As for the trumpet… in the 1940s Dizzy Gillespie, with Charlie Parker, became a major figure in the development of bebop and modern jazz. He mentored many other musicians, including trumpeters Miles Davis, Fats Navarro, Arturo Sandoval, and Chuck Mangione. Apart from cheeks that blew up like balloons he is most famous for adding layers of rhythm and complexity previously unheard in jazz. His combination of skill, showmanship, and wit made him a leading evangelist of modern jazz just as his beret, his scat singing, his bent horn, his pouched cheeks and his light-hearted personality provided the soulful stereotype for the Beat Generation's jazz intelligensia. Along with other musicians and Beat Writers, like friends Allen Ginsberg and Jack Kerouac, Dizzy haunted all the smoke filled hipster bars in New York’s Greenwich Village long before it was trendy. In other words, Dizzy was Cool, man. Super cool. So Cool, other than possibly Charlie Bird, Miles Davis, and John Coltrane, no one was more famous in the 50’s bebop movement. What is not as well known was that Dizzy was a member of the Baha'is of the United States Faith. Dizzy was a Bahá'í since about 1970. He was one of the most famous followers of the religion. Baha’i helped him make sense of his position in life, his great success, as well as turning his life from knife-carrying gangsta to a global citizen and from alcohol to "soul force". Bebop and Bahai. Up from Cheraw, South Carolina. Now that is BEYOND cool. #DizzyGillespie #Bahai #DizzywasBahai #MilesDavis #CharlieParker #Bebop #CherawSouthCarolina #BirthofCool #Baha'i Hear this... right here: EXIT 26 onramp off I-478: Carroll Gardens, Red Hook, in Brooklyn NY "Kashif Chaudhry, age 37, is a heart rhythm specialist in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Naila Shereen, age 34, is a chief internal medicine resident at a hospital in Brooklyn..." "...They met through a charitable doctors' organization; Kashif has volunteered in Bolivia, implanting pacemakers, while Naila worked in Guatemala. It was love at first sight for the couple, who decided to marry, despite living more than 1,000 miles apart." They were initially due to wed in London in a lavish multi-day ceremony, and then honeymoon in Dubai and the Maldives. Kashif and Naila canceled their plans in light of the coronavirus pandemic. Instead, they married in a low-key ceremony in New Jersey. The Honeymoon did not last long however. Their patients needed them. The 2 young doctors separated less than 12 hours after tying the knot, in order to return to work. Both were fighting COVID in their hometowns separated by the country they love. America. America is responsible for separating another doctor from his love. Says Mohamed Khalif, “I love working in healthcare.” But he is very frustrated. Mohamed Khalif has been a doctor for six years. Living now in Seattle Washington, the 30-year-old is ready and willing to join the front line of the coronavirus fight in the United States. But like thousands of healthcare professionals who received their medical degrees abroad, he is simply not allowed. "They're all sitting at home, and we're bringing retired doctors and retired healthcare providers who are at higher risk of COVID-19 to care for these patients," Khalif said shaking his head. (Mohamed Khalif is on the right below.) Many immigrant doctors in the US, despite having years of experience, are left on the sidelines of the COVID-19 fight. FAST FACT: Muslims in Healthcare is hardly unusual. According to the American Medical Association (AMA), more than 10% of American physicians are Muslim, while Muslims make up less than 3% of the total U.S. population. “Thus, its safe to say there is number of Muslim physicians is above average,” says Dr. Salim Aziz, a prominent heart surgeon with offices in Maryland and Washington DC. Khalif was born in Somalia. His family came to the US as a child. Growing up, he travelled the world with his father and learned the languages of the places he lived - ranging from Somali to Hindi and Mandarin. After graduating from a medical college in China, he worked as a primary care doctor in Somalia. He returned to the US five years ago in hopes of doing the same here. Despite passing his board exams and having broad experience, he did not land a residency this year, the final and highly competitive step before becoming accredited to practise medicine in the US. Khalif hopes states will allow foreign medical graduates to work, even if in rudimentary roles. This could range from working as a scribe in emergency rooms to conducting nasal swab tests for COVID-19 to simply cleaning contaminated areas.. As the death toll rises across the USA, Khalif said the most frustrating part is not being able to practice, even after having passed all the necessary exams. He described it as watching his house being attacked while being tied up and left defenseless. "All of us are just itching to get out there and help our fellow colleagues," he said. And what about the newly weds, Naila in Brooklyn and Kashif in Iowa? Although Kashif admits he is worried about his new bride as Nalia continues to work in Brooklyn, the epicenter of the pandemic, he says he is 'even more proud' of her. Happy Ramadan. #Ramamdan #RamadanMubarak #MuslimsinHealthcare #MuslimDoctors #Allah #MohamedKhalif #Coronavirus #MuslimsworkingthroughRamadan Macon Offramp. Many Music Stars Exit here.EXIT of the DAY: Exit 58 in GA I-95s To: Townsend Rd, Eulonia near Townsend, Georgia. If you drove by this EXIT and had RoadSpoke, you would hear this: "Up the next Exit many music superstars have driven. This unassuming EXIT was an onramp for success for rock stars like Little Richard, The Allman Brothers, Bill Berry of R.E.M, Otis Redding, and Country Star Jason Aldean. No surprise the Macon sound is a mix of influences and the musicians have no problem mixing with others in the broader industry. In July 2018, like many Country Stars, Jason Aldean drove up this Exit to his home town, Macon. He had just played a benefit concert to a sold out Atlanta crowd. But Jason is a new breed of country star. Jason’s songs liberally include rocker licks. On top of that, he rubs shoulders with hip hop stars. In fact, his pal Georgia born rapper Ludacris joined him on stage for a set. ![]() So while Jason sells out stadiums with country and western audiences, he is not afraid to think different. And he draws in a more mixed bag of fans. It’s a mix that allows for diversity and inclusion. Jason loves to use his celebrity to do performances that are about something bigger than himself. For the man whose hits “Any Old Barstool”, “Tonight Looks Good on You,” and “Fly Over States”, this was the third year he has done a concert benefiting sick kids cared for at the @Beverly Knight Olson Children’s Hospital. Says Jason: “There are a lot of reasons I love doing what I do, but being able to give back to these kids and their families is definitely really important to me.” Obviously he is moved by having a large raucous family. Even on the road he tries to get home as often as he can to his 4 kids and wife, Britney. Jason’s roots run deep in Macon. He was raised by his Mom in Macon. He first performed on stage at the Macon VFW Hall when he was 15. But before that, during summer break, he would spend time with his Dad in @Homestead,Florida. Before his father went to work he would instruct Jason where to place his fingers to play chords. Then while his dad was at work, young Jason practiced all day. When his dad got home, they got out their guitars and played together. Moving home to Mom was no bad thing for Jason though. Jason loves Georgia deeply. In fact except for watching @Bulldogs Football every Saturday you could find Jason in the Georgia woods since he is an avid outdoorsman. He even owns a Hunting Company called Buck Commander. But guns and concerts created a grand tragedy in Las Vegas Nevada when a mad man began shooting in October 2017. Jason had just begun performing when the shooter began firing into the crowd from the 32nd floor of the Mandalay Bay Resort. 58 people were killed and 851 people were injured. Until recently, Jason stayed out of the debate that's going on over gun control. Then in a new interview, he reveals there should at least be a more thorough vetting process. After the shooting Jason visited survivors in the hospital. He admits to serious guilt over the fans who got shot. They were present to see him. He also feels a connection to the survivors from the high school mass murder in @Parkland,Florida. Many of those students have become gun control activists. Says Jason,”Unless anybody has witnessed anything like that, it’s really hard for people to really understand where you’re coming from on that stuff," he reflects. "It’s like the kids from the school in Florida, that shooting. I get it, man. I understand how they are feeling.” But no doubt, Jason Aldean wishes he did not need to address the raging gun law debate. In fact, he would have been far more comfortable raising donations with rapper friends at that benefit concert to build a kids’ wing in Macon. "
#JasonAldean #Flyovercountry #Georgia #Macon #Parkland #HarvestFestival #Massshootings #GeorgiaBulldogs #BuckCommander Hear this here! EXIT 188n off I-95 to Patrick AFB, Satellite Beach in Brevard County Florida No doubt it’s good to get where you are going in good time. But sometimes a detour is well worth the circuitous route since you encounter people and things that make a voyage even better. The next exit offers that kind of detour. As Rick Neale wrote in the magazine Florida Today: “On Dec. 7, 1941, armor-piercing bullets from Japanese Zero fighter aircraft tore holes into the Battleship Arizona at Pearl Harbor. About 15 minutes into the surprise Pearl Harbor attack, a Japanese bomber dropped a specially converted 1,700-pound projectile onto the Arizona — igniting powder magazines and triggering an immense explosion powerful enough to lift the 33,000-ton vessel out of the water. That day 1,177 sailors and Marines lost their lives aboard the battleship. Two generations later, those bullet holes remain visible amid rust-red corrosion on a 4-by-5-foot steel section of the doomed warship's superstructure that has arrived on the Space Coast. Brevard Veterans Memorial Center officials publicly unveiled the World War II relic and accompanying museum exhibit during a Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day ceremony. Around the grounds and throughout the museum, various decommissioned jets, jeeps, canons and other war mementoes stand testament to the Vets who used them. Other than sunny skies, a tropical disposition, and this bullet ridden hunk of battleship infrastructure what does the Space Coast of Florida have in common with Pearl Harbor and Honolulu, Hawaii? Well most relevant was that not far away several veterans from the surprise attack lived out their days as normal senior citizens. No one would identify one of these heroes from the other elderly folks who pass us every day. And even though they experienced the horrors of that day that lives in infamy, they may be said to be the lucky ones. After all, these Vets were there at the beginning of the most destructive war in history and they managed to retire in sunny Florida. Florida resident Joseph Iscovitz was 103-year-old when he died in 2020. Young Joseph Iscovitz was a supply sergeant that sunny Sunday morning in 1941 in Pearl Harbor. He oversaw a weapons depot. Speaking to the Associated press on the occasion of his father’s passing, Doug Iscovitz said his father could see the faces of the Japanese pilots as they dropped bombs around the naval base near Honolulu, Hawaii, in 1941. His son says they were woefully unprepared for the attack and feared an amphibious assault later that day. He said his father helped string barbed wire along Waikiki Beach in anticipation of the invasion than thankfully never came. Sergeant Iscovitz also fought in the Korean War. Like so many others, Sergeant Iscovitz was to be laid to rest at Arlington Cemetery outside the nation’s capital. His wife died in 2000 after 56 years of marriage. Joseph Iscovitz is survived by his four sons. “With all the turmoil going on in our nation, it will be an honor to have my dad buried at Arlington among the many heroes in our nation's history,” his son Doug said. If you want to see the bullet ridden relic from the Arizona and other museum displays, like Huey Attack Helicopters from Vietnam or even a Marine Harrier Jump Jet or just things brought back by our veterans from their tours of duty, get right to exit off upcoming Exit 188. Since the museum is located in an active Veteran’s Post, aside from museum pieces, no doubt you will meet the real thing —some real heroes. Now that’s worth a little detour isn’t it? After all, it can be said that America’s Veterans made a little detour in life for their fellow Americans. Now did’t they?
That’s right, nice and slow, now get over… and don’t forget your blinker…. #PealrHarborDay #PearlHarbor #Vets #Arizona #BattleshipArizona #MelbourneFlorida #MerritIsland #BrevardVeteransMemorialCenter EXIT OF THE DAY Hear this right …. here! EXIT 15 I-95n to: US 7, Norwalk and Danbury, CT New York Times Best Selling Author and Emmy Award-winning Historian, Rick Shenkman, is on the Board of Advisors of RoadSpoke. Mister Shenkman can be seen regularly on Fox News, CNN, and MSNBC. A historical pundit and author of 7 books including Political Animals, as well as Legends, Lies and Cherished Myths of American History, Mister Shenkman recently retired as publisher of George Washington University's History News Network. The HNN website attracts 1.55 Million Page Views and 300,000 Unique Visitors per month. The majority of HNN’s audience is composed of students, college professors, and media writers. No doubt Mr Shenkman will appreciate this bit of trivia which is relevant to Norwalk Connecticut’s next Exit. In October 1801, Mister Nehemiah Dodge, a Norwalk resident wrote a letter to President Thomas Jefferson expressing concern that — as a Baptist — he and his congregation in Danbury may not be able to express full religious liberty in Connecticut whose constitution was adopted before the establishment of the Baptist church. At that time in America, Baptists were a fringe religious group. The majority of Americans were one of three religions. Like the second president, John Adams, they were either Congregationalists, , who were the spiritual descendants of Pilgrims... Or they were Deists who believed in Christian morals but rejected that Christ was the only Son of God. Thomas Jefferson and Ben Franklin were members of this faith. Most Americans were Episcopalians. Episcopalians were former Church of England members. But since the Church of England requires its followers to believe the king or queen of England was their spiritual leader, and the United States had just fought England for its freedom, all those Anglicans in the United States could not rightly worship a British tyrant as their leader. After the Revolution, those former Anglicans had formed a new religious sect which had no single leader. Their leaders were an Episcopate of bishops. Episcopate of Bishops is a fancy way of saying “a group of bishops.” That protestant sect was now called Episcopalians. Episcopalians today are a small minority in America and Baptists are a far larger group. Today of America’s roughly 360,000,000 citizens, just a little over 1% or 3 million citizens identify as Episcopalians. That’s one in a hundred. Conversely, Baptists have 50 million members in America. One in seven Americans identifies as a Baptist. But back then, Episcopalians were the vast majority. Many so-called Founding Fathers, like George Washington, were Episcopalians. Given the Founding Fathers’ recent rebellion against dictators of religion and law, it is not surprising that the First Amendment in the United States Constitution states: “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.” In 1801, President Jefferson replied to that Baptist’s letter with his own epistle. It is famously known as the “Danbury Letter”. President Jefferson wrote that there was "a wall of separation between church and State" that protected a person's right to worship whatever he wanted wherever he wanted. This well-known phrase, “a wall between church and state” occurs in Jefferson's letter and not in the First Amendment to the United States Constitution as is commonly believed. #FirstAmendment #Constitution #Religion #Episcopal #Baptist #Congregationalist #Deist #DanburyLetter #Dodge EXIT 161 I-95n to: Fort Belvoir, Mt Vernon, Virginia Are you tired of driving? Might you want to give your hardworking automobile some chill time? Do you feel like turning around and heading south for some Florida sunshine. But you do not want to drive? But you want your car? What do you do? How about training your vehicle to the Sunshine State? The Lorton station is a railroad terminal in Lorton, Virginia. It is the northern terminal for Amtrak's Auto Train which operates between this station and sunny Sanford, Florida. Although there are similar services around the world, the Auto Train is the only one of its kind in the United States. The Auto Train is the only north–south Amtrak train in the east to use Superliner cars. The train is notable, especially within the Amtrak system, for the high quality of its equipment and of its customer service. The train operates every day. At 11:30 am, the station gates are opened to allow the passengers for the next trip into the vehicle staging area where vehicles are assigned their number, which is affixed to the driver's door magnetically. The vehicle is then video surveyed to document any pre existing dents and other damage. The passengers leave their vehicles here and take their carry-on bags with them into the station to await boarding. Passengers do have a choice between either coach seats or private sleeping car rooms while their cars, vans, sport utility vehicles or even boats are carried in enclosed automobile-carrying freight cars, called autoracks. The vehicles are themselves staged near the autorack ramps by size and length for optimal loading order, and are then loaded onto the autoracks. In the case of motorcycles, the owner assists with tying their bikes down. Passengers do not have access to their vehicles during the trip. But with sleeping berths and dining cars, they do not lack for amenities. Unfortunately for RoadSpoke fans, since The Auto Train avoids driving Interstate 95 in Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, and northern Florida you will get no auto tour and will miss out on hearing about Civil War Battles, homespun heroes, sports stars, Scarlett O'hara, and other southern wonders. And you better want to go to Florida and no place in between. The train is non-stop. All Aboard! #Autotrain #Superliner #Amtrak #LortonStation #autotracks Hear this Here… EXIT 90 I-95n in North Carolina: To Newton Grove (Near Devil’s Racetrack Road) If you had the Road Spoke app this is what you would hear. “Upcoming a little beyond Exit 90 is Devil’s Racetrack Road… “…This road has a lot of history. During the Civil War, General Sherman’s Union troops used the route to march on Raleigh Durham coming up from Georgia. Later it was a venue for many houses of ill repute and seamy gambling parlors. No doubt, folks may have gathered outside to watch fast cars race down the relatively straight road. There may even have been some wagering and liquor involved. It is hard to believe given all the hoopla and sponsorships and million dollar motorcars and bazillion dollar endorsement deals in today’s Daytona 500 but…From rude roads in the woods of the south, NASCAR evolved. NASCAR stands for National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing. What that means is that the cars used in stock car are rather generic. They are cars like you and I drive, manufactured mostly by companies like Ford and GM. No fancy little Formula One race cars here — no single seater go-carts with external wheels driving around Monte Carlo. The origins of NASCAR are a working man’s sport. Back in the 1930’s, folks would gather here to watch souped up cars race. North Carolina claims this as part of their heritage. The Museum of NASCAR is located in Charlotte, North Carolina and well worth the visit. However, the roots of NASCAR are spread throughout the south — wherever there is a thirst for speed… and liquor. Moonshine to be precise Liquor? Why is that? The Origins of NASCAR come out of Prohibition when local moonshiners needed fast cars to outrun the police. That’s right folks. Today’s All-American sport was conceived in crime. But can you blame the folks in the depths of Depression from wanting a sip of local craft brew? Anyways, these Shiners had super powered their cars to run hooch to customers all over the South. During Prohibition in the 1920’s, police could not chase bootleggers across county lines. So these stock cars need to be able to blast down roads and make the border fast. Cops had no authority except in their own small jurisdictions. Can you imagine that? An Interstate free of State Troopers? Well let’s be honest: until the late 1950’s there were no Interstates either. But I digress. Cross County jurisdictions tells you why today only State Troopers patrol Interstates and not local cops. Anyways, the bootleggers and the moonshiners created super fast cars to outrun the cops — to get to the county line. After Prohibition ended, the cops stopped chasing moonshiners but the love for fast cars did not stop. Former fast driving bootleggers would meet on dirt tracks to race one another. And so NASCAR was born! Incidentally cops, liquor, and fast cars are still tied up in neat bundles. Many of the biggest sponsors of NASCAR are liquor companies like Jack Daniels Whiskey and Budweiser Beer....but more on that at another roadspoke. Just watch out for Smokey as you transverse these parts. No Kidding. Troopers are often lurking hereabouts. Possibly the greatest race car driver ever, North Carolina’s own Richard Petty was a Seven-time Daytona 500 champion. He tops NASCAR in wins with 200 poles and 127 wins in a season —27 in 1967 alone. Known in NASCAR as the King, or King Richard, Richard Petty is a Tar Heel from the town of Randelman, just west of the Raleigh Durham Chapel Hill Triangle. Like a proper king, Richard is part of a dynasty. He is a second generation champion. His father, Lee Petty, won the very first Daytona 500 in 1959. Lee was himself a three-time NASCAR champion. Meanwhile, Richard’s son Kyle is also a respected NASCAR driver. SADLY, Richard’s grandson, Adam was killed in a practice RUN crash. Adam represented a fourth generation of Pettys at the top of the sport. That said, the Pettys were historically cautious about allowing their kids to go into the family business. In fact, although young Richard started to work in his father Lee’s pit crew at age 12, Lee did not allow Richard to race until he was 21. Funny thing… Daddy Lee may have not allowed young Richard to race till he was 21; but odds are, Richard was sipping moonshine by then!” #RichardPetty #1000 #NASCAR #Racecars #TarHeels #June15 #LeePetty #AdamPetty #KylePetty #RoadTrips Hear this here... driving northbound: EXIT 4, I-95 N to Indian Field Road, Cos Cob & Riverside in Greenwich CT I-95 on Mianus Bridge, Cos Cob to Old Greenwich, Connecticut "Ok Road Trippers, upcoming is a Road Test, so pay attention. We will discuss local born presidents and pot holes. Here are the Fast Facts: "The Interstate Highway system was the brainchild of President Dwight Eisenhower. Correction: It was the brainchild of General Dwight Eisenhower who as one of the Supreme Generals in World War 2 was aghast that it took troops almost 10 days to get from one coast to the other... Frankly, Dwight borrowed the concept of Hitler’s Autobahn and applied the concept to the United States. The high speed system would have no stop signs and would link all major urban areas all across the country. In addition to troop movements, commerce would be expedited and the benefits would accrue to every citizen -- not to mention trips home to Grandmom could be done in hours instead of days. The Interstate system was funded by Congress in 1956. You are now driving across the Mianus River Bridge. Beneath your vehicle are several commercial buildings alongside the river in Old Greenwich and Cos Cob. Nowadays NOT investing in America's infrastructure is a hall mark of our Congress. In 1983, the Bridge on which you drive, collapsed. Yup, the entire northbound side fell in. Three people were killed and three others were seriously injured. Casualties from the collapse were so few only because the disaster occurred at one thirty in the morning when traffic was low. Perhaps in some kind of Karmic revenge the one car that drove off the bridge was a recently stolen BMW containing the 3 car thieves. All the occupants died in the fall. In the nineteen fifties, investing in Connecticut’s infrastructure meant short term costs for smart long term gains. So while Connecticut lost many wartime factories following the end of hostilities, by investing in Highways, the state shared in a general post-war expansion that resulted in solid growth in suburban areas. One strong supporter of Long-term Infrastructure improvements was Greenwich native, Senator Prescott Bush. In conjunction with Republican President Dwight Eisenhower, Senator Bush, also a Republican, saw the need to invest in a coast to coast Interstate Highway system. Senator Bush represented Connecticut in the United States Senate from 1952 to 1963; his son George Herbert Walker Bush and grandson George Bush both would become Presidents. Another Grandson, Jeb Bush became the governor of Florida. Now for the road test: What was Senator Bush's first name? #MianusBridge #InfrastructureInvestments #PrescottBush #PresidentBush #Old Greenwich #Connecticut #CosCob #OldGreenwich EXIT 15W; I-95N, to Meadowlands Sports Complex, Met Life Stadium Ok Football Fans, now it is time for another Road Test and this one can save you maybe a cool thousand bucks. Here now is the Question... how is it that New England Patriots' Quarterback, Tom Brady has the rival New York Jets to thank for his career? Since the inception of the American Football League in the 1960’s , the Jets have clashed in a marquee rivalry with the New England Patriots. But it was not always such a huge rivalry till the mid 1990’s. The rivalry began to receive increased media attention in 1997 when a disgruntled Hall of Fame Coach Bill Parcells quit his head coaching position with the Patriots to join the Jets. This left New England seeking vengeance on an annual basis. Fast Fact: Parcells was born in nearby Englewood, New Jersey and most famously turned the New York Giants into a Super Bowl winning franchise in the 1980's. But I digress. Fast forward to 2001. The New England Patriots star quarterback was Drew Bledsoe. Then just 12 days after 9/11, on September 23, 2001 Jets linebacker Mo Lewis slammed Drew Bledsoe, leaving the New England star with internal bleeding. This provided an opportunity for a young unknown to take over. That unknown was a gangly hard working backup named Tom Brady. So... now if you tap Deal Radar on your Smart phone, you can use the RoadSpoke RoadTest to get 20% off Season Tickets starting next season. Anyways, getting back to Tom Brady and his New York roots... Since that game against the Jets, Tom Brady led New England to four Super Bowl titles and arguably had become a dynasty of sorts. Meanwhile the Jets have struggled in the shadow of not just the Patriots but even their crosstown rivals, the Giants. The New York Jets was founded in 1959 as the New York Titans, an original member of the American Football League. The current name was adopted in 1963 when the franchise moved to Shea Stadium in Queens. Led by the quintessential playboy quarterback, “Broadway Joe” Namath, the Jets advanced to the playoffs for the first time in 1968 and went on to compete in Super Bowl 3. There they faced the much favored Baltimore Colts under Hall of Famer Johnny Unitas. To great surprise, they defeated the Baltimore Colts, becoming the first AFL team to defeat an NFL club in an AFL-NFL World Championship Game. Since 1968, the Jets have appeared in the playoffs 13 times, and in the AFC Championship Game four times, most recently losing to the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2010. However, the Jets have never returned to the Super Bowl. On your left is MetLife Stadium. If you are passing it on a Sunday evening in the autumn you can tell which team is playing. Back in the early aughts, the Jets agreed to enter a 50–50 partnership with their rival, the Giants, to build MetLife agreeing to a 99-year lease. MetLife Stadium became the first in the history of the NFL to be jointly built by two franchises. It opened in April 2010 and saw the Jets and Giants open the stadium together in a preseason game. Except for such so-called “subway series” contests, the stadium is illuminated in different colors depending on which team is hosting a game: blue for the Giants; green for the Jets.
Will this season be the one in which the Jets win their next Super Bowl? If the lights glow green, just ask any nearby fan on the Interstate. The answer is always yes. Go Gang Green! #NewYorkJets #GangGreen #BroadwayJoeNamath #SuperBowl #NewYorkGiants #NewYorkTitans #Meadowlands #Englewood #BillParcells #NewEnglandPatriots #TomBrady #DrewBledsoe #MoLewis #NewJersey EXIT of the Day: EXIT 64 I-95 To Baltimore Beltway. Baltimore, Maryland Hear this Here.... "As longtime baseball writer Roger Kahn once wrote, Frank Robinson of the Baltimore Orioles made a career of "pounding pitchers with fine impartiality." At the time of his retirement in 1976, Frankie Robinson’s 586 homeruns ranked fourth in baseball history behind only Hank Aaron, Babe Ruth and Willie Mays. Invariably described as the orneriest, most competitive player on any field, he was also the only player to be named the MOST VALUABLE PLAYER in both the National League and American Leagues. Another Frankie Robinson First: in 1975, Frank also became the first black manager in the major leagues. Off the field, Frank made waves as well. Rewind to 1965 when he was traded from the Cincinnati Reds to the Baltimore Orioles. In Baltimore, he famously incited racial animosity after he moved into a white neighborhood with his family. When asked how he was reacting to the pressure, he said he was tough and you don't get as far as he did in life if you were not. Must be true. In 1966, he not only became the first player to hit a home run out of Memorial Field, but he also he won the Triple Crown, leading the American League with a .316 batting average, 49 home runs, and 122 runs batted in. While in Baltimore, and inspired by his snub in the real estate world, Frank became active in the Civil Rights Movement. He originally declined membership in the NAACP unless the organization promised not to make him do public appearances. However, after being personally insulted by Baltimore's segregated housing practices, he became an enthusiastic speaker on racial issues. This helped influence the acceptance of Black Players in all sports... and in all neighborhoods. One of ten children born into brutal poverty at the height of the Great Depression in 1935 in Texas, Frankie one day would win the highest Civilian award in the land; fellow Texan, President George Bush the second awarded him the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2005. This was as much a honor for George as it was for Frankie; that's because the President himself had a prior day job as a co-owner of the Texas Rangers. President Buch was a lifelong fan. On his death, in February 2019, the Baseball Hall of Famer was survived by his two children and his wife, Barbara Ann Cole Robinson. Final Note: Barbara Ann Robinson is herself a force to reckon with. After being turned away from living in racially segregated neighborhoods in Baltimore, when the Robinsons next moved to Los Angeles, Barbara Ann herself became a Realtor. Targeting professional black athletes, she became one of the top grossing Realtors in Southern California. On a more personal note, she had a hard time watching Frank play baseball since at bat, Frank crowded the plate so aggressively. According to the New York Times, Barbara Ann got so worried that she had to move a different seat because she couldn’t bear to sit behind home plate with the other baseball players’ wives. That’s because Frankie stood so close she didn’t want to watch the pitches come so close to her husband’s head. Their marriage lasted nearly 60 years. #BarbaraRobinson #FrankRobinson #TripleCrown #MedalofFreedom #NAACP #CivilRights #BaltimoreOrioles #CincinnatiReds #Baltimore #WillieMays #BabeRuth #HankAaron #MostValuablePlayer Hear this… Here! EXIT 284 I-95n to State Road 204, Route 1, Bunnel & Flagler Beach, near Crescent Lake, FL “Coming up in 3 miles is EXIT 284 which leads you to a Cabela's Out Door Store. Don't you love them? You can try on clothes and check out the latest fishing and outdoor gear. So now it is time for a RoadSpoke Road Test. If you get the answer you can get 20% off any purchase of items over $100 at any BASS PRO SHOPS, CABELA'S SUPERSTORE or OUTDOOR WORLD Superstore. This generous deal is offered anywhere in the United States on purchases made in the next 90 days -- even to purchases on line. So think about who is on your Christmas or Easter or Birth Day gift list, then check it twice because you will save money by shopping for fabulous fishing and outdoor gear at these amazing stores. All you need to do is right now, tap the Deal Radar button on your smart-phone and say, "Deal Radar get this deal!" Now, isn't that easy?... So here now is the Road Test:" "Upcoming and off to the left in that tangle of Cypress swamp is a sunlit span of water known as Crescent Lake. A large deep lake, it is famous as a prolific fishing hole — especially for Largemouth Bass. Largemouth Bass are little fish that mean BIG business. The fish inhabit ponds as small as large puddles and lakes as big as small states. Their range is from Canada to South Florida. Personally I can attest: even from muddy ponds, they taste good! Because they and their even more feisty fast water cousins, the Small Mouth Bass are tough little fighters, they are pursued by hundreds of thousands of American Sportsmen and Sportswomen. And little kids too. Likely you have passed Bass Pro Shops along I-95. These mega stores service the great American Angler. Founded by a sports man Johnny Morris, this chain of Recreation shops are themselves an 8 billion dollar business. They made a guy from Missouri who sold fishing gear from the back of a truck into a billionaire. Mister Johnny Morris today is worth around 6 Billion bucks. Starting from a single shop along a well travelled Missouri road, Johnny Morris now not only owns Bass Pro but he recently bought the hunting fishing superstore chain, Cabela’s. On top of being a sportsman the Springfield Missouri father of 4 is also a conservationist, which only makes sense when you consider there is no sportsmen if the eco systems are depleted. In fact in February 2019, no less than the Audubon Society honored Johnny Morris with its Audubon Medal for Conservation. Why is that? Well, consider the joy fishing brings. I quote here a David verses Goliath Story from famed Fishing Guide Jim Porter… …about a kid and his first fishing adventure. Writes Mister Porter, “Well, so his name is Andrew and not 'David'. I still think the title above fits pretty good!! He's 4-1/2 years old and weighs in at 35 pounds. And, Andrew Morrisette recently accomplished what most grown-up anglers have never done - he landed a 9-pound largemouth bass. On top of that, he got his trophy from a northeastern State where bass of that size are extremely rare. On the 1st of June, Andrew and his Dad, Gary, took a trip to Darrah Pond in New Hampshire. Armed with a yellow grub, they proceeded to catch some small fish. Andrew had no trouble with that and proudly displayed his first fish for the camera. After a short period with no strikes, Dad switched Andrew over to the Rapala minnow. In a few casts, Andrew called out that he was hung up. But, then, the snag started to SWIM. Suddenly, all dickens broke loose and the big bass busted the surface trying to rid itself of the Rapala. Andrew hung right in there and, with a little help from Dad to keep from being pulled into the water, eventually dragged the giant fish up on the sandy shore. This time, Andrew said he was afraid of the fish because it was so big that his brother had to hold up the fish. As for Andy he was happy to stand behind the camera. That day Andy did not just catch his first fish, he also took his first picture! But, all ended well for everyone. The big sow bass was released and Andrew got his pictorial proof of the catch of a lifetime. Who knows - maybe he and the bass will meet again when BOTH are older -- and bigger!”
Maybe this is why the Billionaire from Missouri got so rich. He is not selling fishing gear. He is selling experiences that families will remember forever. OK. Now it is time for the road test. What is the discount offered to you at Bass Pro Shops if you spend $100 any time in the next 90 days? If you said 20 percent... you win. So do not forget to shop at Pro shops soon. " #BassProShops #JohnnyMorris #AudubonMedalofConservation #BigMouthBass #Cabelas #SpringfieldMissouri #CrescentLake #FlaglerBeachFlorida |