This is the second installment in my 47-part series titled:  Getting To Know Famous People From Wilkes County.  (Read the first installment here.)  This week we get to know stand-up comedian Zach Galifianakis.

You know him from movies such as The Hangover and Dinner For Shmucks, and most recently as host of this weekend's Saturday Night Live.  But, he was also born in Wilkes Co as suggested in a post on the Wilkes County Tourism twitter feed.  He graduated from Wilkes Central High School.

You can read all about Zach on the web, but what about his Wilkes Co heritage?  He born in 1969 to Harry Galifianakis and Mary Francis Cashion.  While the Galifianakis family emigrated from Greece, the Cashions spent several generations in Wilkes.  Mary Francis Cashion was the daughter of Paul L. Cashion who was born in Wilkes in 1916.  Among many other things, he served a term as president of the North Wilkesboro Lions Club in the 1940s.

Paul was the son of Archie Andrew Cashion (1886-1969).  He owned and operated a service station in North Wilkesboro and also served as the town's mayor at one point.

Archie was the son of John A. Cashion (1856-1934) who moved his family from Huntersville, NC, to Wilkes Co about 1900.  Archie seems to have lived near Hopewell, VA, for a few years between 1915 and 1923.  John A. Cashion (Zach's great-great-grandfather) was a prominent leader in North Wilkesboro.  He was the first to buy a town lot in what would become the main part of the city.  He was a construction supervisor at a tannery, and he also owned a grocery business.

An article in the Wilkes County Heritage Book, Volume 1 includes additional information on the family as well as a family picture (below) apparently taken in the early 1930s.    The three men on the right represent Zach's great-grandfather Archie, grandfather Paul, and gg-grandfather John A. Cashion.



While it's hard to see through his bushy beard, you can see a slight resemblance between Zach and these older members of his family.  His Wilkes County connection may be common knowledge, but it was news to me!  I'll end this with a Zach Galifianakis quote to ponder:  "At what age do you think it's appropriate to tell a highway it's adopted?"

I've reached a milestone. 

This is the 100th post I've made since my first one on January 13, 2009.  That's 100 posts in 26 months, or almost one every week.  Most of them have been about completely unimportant, off-the-wall, random thoughts that are meant to be as non-controversial as possible.  Every now and then I dive into something more serious, but I've tried to keep it light.

I'm starting to think I might run out of thoughts.  My first few posts dealt with strange or curious commercials, but you can't make fun of commercials forever.  They all have the same punch line:  Who in their right mind would buy such a thing!  It's funny once; witty the second time; but eventually it just gets old.

I've also written a lot about energy savings, mainly because I find it interesting.  I like the challenge of understanding the sources of power consumption, but it's also really interesting to discover how people respond to the idea of becoming more energy independent and saving money.  In my mind, a rational person would embrace these two greatly beneficial goals.  But for some reason, not everyone does.

In 2012, the U.S. will start phasing out high wattage incandescent bulbs.  On the one hand, people may see this as needless government meddling in a free market economy.  I suppose it is.  But why not do this on our own?  Why fight it?  I don't see any down side.  Last year I wrote a note explaining how I'm saving $42 a year by switching to CFL bulbs.  How is that a bad thing? 

A week ago, the national news had a story about the coming demise of incandescents.  One home owner was interviewed, and she said she was stocking up on bulbs before the government took them all away.  She said when she flips the light switch, she wants light right away.  Well, CFL bulbs do that!  Sure, they reach full brightness after being on for 10 or 20 seconds, but it still puts out plenty of light to see where you're going.  I guess some people are just stuck in their ways.

Speaking of things that are stuck and make your hands sticky, how about a Smucker's Birthday Wish to Lilian Davis of Cockeysville, MD!  This young lady is celebrating her 100th birthday.  How sweet it is!

I wonder what it would be like to be in TV news. 

On the one hand, a reporter is always on the go, always trying to be first on the scene with late breaking news.  The excitement of sharing a story, live, surely creates an amazing adrenaline rush.  And the thought of preparing a report that will make a difference in politics, culture, community, or entertainment must be an empowering experience.

On the other hand, have you seen how many local newscasts are on during the day?  How many times do the anchors -- and often the reporters -- have to repeat the same story over and over?  Most stations air local news for 2 hours in the morning, 30 minutes at noon, an hour and a half in the evening, and another 30 minutes at night.  This is a minimum of 4.5 hours a day, and many stations have an hour more than that!  Then, you add the fact that their "sister station" has an additional 10pm newscast, and you can easily be up to 6 hours a day.!

On days when there's a lot of news or inclement weather, there's a good bit of variety during these 6 hours.  But when it's only an average -- or less than average -- news day, the anchors and reporters repeat the same stories every 30 minutes. 

But it gets worse.  What about the poor meteorologist?  These days, the weather is repeated every 10 minutes.  The first installment is a tease.  "Well folks, it's cold outside.  Stay tuned to see what tomorrow's weather has in store for us."  Then, 10 minutes later he/she is back with the full weather.  Another 10 minutes, and you see the 5-day forecast.  Then the process is repeated -- often with a different meteorologist -- for the 5:30 news.  Wash, rinse, repeat.

This isn't too bad for the viewer, because most people don't sit through every 30 minute cycle.  I think it's interesting that the national news -- that is, all the news for the entire planet! -- can be covered in 30 minutes each evening, but the local guys spend over 2 hours in the evening and night to tell us what's happening across town.  There's nothing wrong with that, but it is intriguing.

And speaking of intriguing news, did you hear about what the Statesville Walmart greeter did last night ?  If there was any doubt, this is why we need local newscasts.

Why is it that certain foods are considered "breakfast foods"?  At what point in history did bacon and eggs become associated with breakfast.  Sure, you can have it for supper, but it's still considered a breakfast food. 

I find it strange that lunch and supper are almost universally interchangeable.  Whether it's a hamburger, a bowl of soup, or spaghetti, you won't be looked at strangely if you're eating it for lunch or supper.  But, if someone saw you eating any of those for breakfast, they would ask, "Why are you eating that for breakfast?"

I thought it might be because people want something light early in the morning.  But that doesn't work either.  A big plate of biscuits and gravy with eggs and bacon or sausage isn't exactly light fare for a still sleepy stomach.

So why do we have "breakfast meals" and "other meals".  Is this an American thing?  I wonder what Asian or African or eastern European cultures do with breakfast.  What did early American colonists eat for breakfast?  Did the Knights of King Arthur's court fry up some ye olde sausage links as the sun awakened from it's nighttime slumber?  How about in Biblical times; did they have one set of foods for early in the morning, and a different set of foods for the rest of the day?

After a two minute google search, I didn't find the answer.  That's because it's not a black and white question.  Of course people have been eating breakfast ever since they started getting hungry after waking up.  My question is why breakfast foods are generally different than other meals.  And that's still a mystery to me.  Another mystery is why Middle Earth gets to have Second Breakfast, when we only get to have one!  That's just not fair.

It's been almost three weeks since my last note, but sometimes you just don't have anything to say.  And to be honest, today is no different, but there are a few odds and ends I can ramble about.

Since I last wrote, we've had a Super Bowl.  Who won?  Oh yeah, it was Green Bay.  It usually takes at least a month before we forget who won, so ask me again on St. Patrick's Day.  There were a few good commercials during the game, but none that were absolutely amazing.  I liked the Little Darth Vader commercial, but then again, I like anything with a Star Wars theme.

What's new in the world of TV channels?  Well, WCCB-18 in Charlotte was supposed to start carrying the ME-TV network on February 1 on their subchannel 18-3.  However, just hours before they were supposed to flip the switch, they ran into some kind of problem.  Nothing official has been stated, but the rumors are that there are contractual issues involving other local Charlotte stations which have syndication rights to some of the old shows that air on the ME-TV network.  Hopefully they'll get that worked out soon.

In news that probably only interests me, I found my gggg-grandfather last weekend by accident.  Last month I posted a note -- and a picture -- about my Alleghany County ancestor Bill Irwin who was born in 1819 and died in 1906.  I knew about where he lived, but in 20 years of research I had never found his headstone.  Last weekend I met some distant cousins who said I might want to check out a cemetery "down at the end of the road".  After a short hike halfway up the mountain, there it was.  After searching the old deeds, I learned that he owned at least 350 acres, with the cemetery located near the center.  It's a coincidence that I would find his picture and his headstone in separate searches within the span of only a few weeks.

Finally, to quote the great philosopher George Costanza, "Onward and upward".

This is my version of the Black Eyed Peas song I've Got A Feeling.  My song is titled You Hurt My Feelings.  Click the link below.

You Hurt My Feelings (mp3)

You never know what you'll find at the library.  Today I was looking through a book on Alleghany Co families and found this picture of my great-great-great-great-grandfather William (Bill) Irwin.  I've never seen him until now!  (More below the picture.)



This picture was taken in 1898, and Bill Irwin is seated in the middle.  His son-in-law's parents (I think) are seated to the right.  On the left is Squire Jackson Irwin and his wife Caroline.  All those in the back are children or grandchildren of those in the front.

Bill Irwin was born in 1819 in either Wilkes or Ashe Co.  In 1830 his family was listed in the Pine Swamp area of Ashe Co, but this would become Alleghany Co in 1859.  He married Nancy Andrews in the early 1840s, and they would have six children.

On 7/13/1864, Bill was 44 years old, and too old to enlist in the standard Confederate Army.  However, he wasn't too old to join Co B, 5th NC Senior Reserves.  I believe this was a sort of Home Guard, but this regiment may have spent time guarding prisoners at the Confederate Prison in Salisbury.  At enlistment, Bill Irwin was described as six feet tall, dark complexion and hair, with brown eyes.  He was AWOL on 2/28/1865.

Forty years later (and seven years after this picture) he applied for his Civil War pension when he was in his mid 80s.  The more disabled a veteran was, the higher the monthly benefit he would expect to get from the government.  The physician reported that he "has broken leg, senile(?) ulcers, and general dibility; is totally disabled to perform manual labor; not being able to wait on himself".  I hope Grandpa Bill got a good paycheck with a checkup like that!

He died the following year in 1906 at the age of 87 and was buried in the family cemetery in Alleghany Co.

Everyone enjoys a good joke, a gentle ribbing, a harmless prank.  But, my goodness:  enough is enough!

Every day I scan the headlines and there's another story about dead birds, fish, and even crabs.  I mean, who's running this planet?  Is it Mother Nature or M. Night Shyamalan?  Here's a partial list of events that have occurred over the past two weeks.

12/30/10:  100,000 fish wash up along the Arkansas River
12/30/10:  100 tons of dead fish, sardines, catfish wash up in Rio De Janerio
12/31/10:  1000s of dead red wing black birds found in Arkansas

1/1/11:  100s of dead birds in Kentucky
1/4/11:  500 dead red wing black birds found in Louisiana
1/4/11:  100s of dead fish wash ashore in Ontario

1/4/11:  1000s of dead fish found in a creek in Florida
1/5/11:  2 million dead fish found in the Chesapeake Bay
1/5/11:  200 dead birds found in Texas

1/5/11:  150 dead birds found in Tennessee (at what other time would this seem like a small number?)
1/5/11:  100 dead crows found on the street in Sweden
1/5/11:  40,000 dead crabs washed ashore in England

1/5/11:  100s of red snapper found dead in New Zealand
1/6/11:  1000s of gizzard shad (a 4" long fish) found dead in Lake Michigan near Chicago
1/8/11:  Dozens of starlings (birds) were found dead in Romania

Check out a map of these events here.  Theories abound including everything from fireworks to sonic booms to some kind of virus.  But the best explanation I've heard is regarding the starlings that were found dead in Romania.  They say that the birds drank themselves to death.  Apparently the villagers in one town forgot to clean up after their annual wine-making event.  The birds ate the leftover grapes, and their drinking binge went a-fowl.  I guess this is the story you get when you combine Steinbeck's The Grapes of Wrath with Richard Bach's Jonathan Livingston Seagull.  Maybe they should call it The Grapes of Wrath and Destruction!

That's right! Back in August of 2009, I posted a Note here titled "Who Said That, And Why?" stating that I had just learned Michael Douglas was the announcer for NBC Nightly News.  I commented:

"what about all the other actors and voiceover people out there who have great voices but are desperate for work?  Michael Douglas took a potential job away from someone who needed it more, and probably deserved it more."

And now the truth has become reality.  In just a few days, the Ted Williams story has become such an amazing set of circumstances that every media outlet in the country can't wait to get their hands on him.  Now, this man that was homeless on Monday has more job offers than he can keep track of on Thursday.  And as if the story couldn't get any more perfect, today he met his 90 year old mother for the first time in twenty years!

 Here are just some of the job offers he's had:

• Cleveland Cavaliers arena announcer:  a salary and a house
• Ohio Credit Union League:  already gave him $10,000 cash with more to come
• ESPN
• MTV reality series
• Hilo, Hawaii will give him a vacation there for him to do voiceover work for them
• The Simpsons are interested in using his voice
• Entertainment Tonight has expressed interest

Also, with Robert Gibbs' announcement today that he will retire from his position as Press Secretary, the White House has expressed interest in offering this high-profile job to Ted Williams.  OK, I made that one up.  Incidentally, am I the only one who thinks Ted Williams slightly resembles President Obama?  Surely I'm not the only one!

 With all these interviews, talk shows, radio and TV gigs, and other appearances, he had better be careful not to get laryngitis!  Man, wouldn't that be the pits.  Somebody by him a pack of lozenges, please!  America's new national hero is just one head cold away from ruining our feel good story of the year.

Today, a new year is upon us.  It's a time to reflect on where we've been, where we are, and where we're going. 

It's a time to take stock of all the wonderful things we have in life, and to finally clean out the refrigerator and throw away that bean dip left over from our July 4th picnic.  Ahhh, that was some picnic, too.  It isn't every year when uncle Harold decides to go skinny dipping in the park's city pool.  Well, let's be honest, he wasn't exactly skinny dipping -- he was still wearing his black socks.  Isn't life precious?!

It's a time to appreciate all the freedoms we enjoy in this great country, unless you're a Hilton, a Spears, or a Lohan in which case you've enjoyed your freedoms a bit too much.  They enjoyed their freedoms so much that now they don't have as many as they used to.  Of course, the rest of us rarely have the freedom to say "I'm sorry, Your Honor," and have it recorded by a court stenographer.

It's a time to follow our dreams and let them take us to new places.  My dream is to have my very own Holodeck where I can stroll the streets of Tatooine with my friend Luke or explore ancient ruins with college history professor Dr. Jones.  What, too far fetched?  OK, maybe I should set my sites on something more realistic like having Scarlett Johansson call me on the phone -- just to say, "Hi".  She's single now!  (Scarlett, my number's in the book.)

It's a time to make resolutions for things we want to change in our lives.  For many environmentalists, that means conserving water by showering less and using more deodorant.  For the risk-takers among us, that means being more polite to the policeman that pulled us over for speeding by asking him if he knows where we can find a good jelly doughnut. 

Happy New Year, America!