Brave Firefighters

One night , in a sleepy town a huge chemical plant exploded into flames. The alarm went off and departments from miles around raced to the scene. After fighting the fire for over an hour the chemical company president approached the fire chief, “All of our secret formulas are in the vault in the center of the plant. They must be saved! I will give $50,000 to the engine company that brings them out safely!”

At that,the firemen attacked with a renewed gusto. Two hours later they still had not gained any ground. At that, the company president offered $100,000 to the engine company that brought out the company’s secret files.

In the distance, the wail of yet another siren was heard and soon another fire truck came into sight. The fire chief shook his head, aware it was that little rinky-dink volunteer fire company composed entirely of men over 65. Much to his amazement, though, the fire engine raced through the chemical plant gates and drove right into the middle of the inferno. He could see the old timers hopping off their rig , fighting the fire with an effort that he had never before witnessed.

Less than an hour later, the fire was out and the secret formulas were saved by this group of volunteers! The chemical company president was so ecstatic he doubled the reward to $200,000! After thanking the volunteers , the chemical company president couldn’t help but ask what they planned to do with the reward money.

The engineer (driver) looked him tight in the eye, ready with his answer. “First thing we ‘ll do is fix the stupid brakes on that truck!”

Road back to London

It was a clash of symbols — and a crash landing for one cymbal — when John Mellencamp blew up real good after playing London on a hot August night in 1982.

Then known as John Cougar, the Indiana rock star was unhappy about appearing on a bill with the Beach Boys.

So Mellencamp hurled a cymbal and other drum equipment into the crowd at J.W. Little stadium at set’s end.

Hispanic cartoonist Gus Arriola, creator of Gordo, dies at 90

U.S. cartoonist Gus Arriola, who was celebrated for championing Hispanic culture in his syndicated comic strip Gordo, has died at age 90.

Arriola had suffered from Parkinson’s disease and died at home in Carmel, Calif., on Saturday, according to his publicist, Alan Richman.

Born in Arizona to parents from Mexico and raised in a large Spanish-speaking home in Los Angeles, Arriola learned about Mexico from his father.