89-Year-Old Florida Man Fights Off Wild Hogs While Walking Dog

The 89-year-old man and his small dog successfully fought off the hogs.

(Photo by Matthias Rietschel/Getty Images)

Ahhhh, Florida. We truly have it all. While everyone else across the country heads inside to cuddle up next to the fireplace for the next few months, we head to the beach with a margarita in our hand to watch the sunset. As northern cars careen into ditches on black ice, we keep building car washes...every 500 feet or so...on every single road.
But there's a down side. They don't have alligators up north. They don't have 18-foot pythons up there, either. No-see-ums? Nopers. There are a few things we have in common, though. Ya know those wild hogs that keep creating problems across our state? No, I'm not talking about John Travolta on a Harley. I mean those feral pigs that keep populating at a record pace. Look across any open field in our part of the state and there's a good chance you'll see several of the well-fed critters, rooting around and digging for food. And wild hogs can be mean mothers, too. Those horns? They'll peel your ribs apart like a ripe banana.
But wild hogs are no match for Florida man. Take 89-year-old David Reisman, a laid back Floridian who was out walking his best buddy, Riley recently. That's when a gang of bacon-filled vagrants attacked them both simultaneously. Reisman told reporters that he was taking a relaxing walk at about 8:30 pm when a hog suddenly ran directly at him and began a violent attack. As the man fought off the animal, another hog grabbed his small dog. Reisman said he was able to fight off the a-hole beast by beating it in the face repeatedly with a flashlight until his wife ran outside and scared the offenders away. Riley and Reisman were both okay after the attack.
A neighbor who was interviewed about the incident said wild hogs have become a genuine safety concern in the area, stating that residents cannot venture out into the night anymore. The pigs also forage for food in neighborhood yards, digging up electrical connections, plumbing and even flowers and plants. Area homeowners have proposed building a fence that would surround the entire area, protecting residents from the animals. The homeowners' association has not yet decided it's plan of attack. And before you get any bright ideas, wild hog meat tastes pretty bad. It's not recommended for consumption. Although some hunters say the gamey meat can be used for jerky. Source: Fox35Orlando.com

Yesterday Was The Anniversary Of Jimi's Death

Jimi Hendrix: His 15 Best Covers

We recently published a list of Jimi Hendrix's best original songs. Hendrix was, of course, an incredible songwriter. But he was also a master song interpreter: his first single, "Hey Joe," is actually a cover one of his most iconic songs. Some of Jimi's covers were done with a lot of intent: many would argue that his version of "All Along The Watchtower" is the definitive one, not Bob Dylan's. Others were just impromptu jams, but they're still fun to listen to. Here, then, are our favorite of Hendrix's takes on other people's music.

1. “All Along The Watchtower” from ‘Electric Ladyland’ (1968)

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The gold standard of covers. Jimi transformed Dylan’s harmonica-driven mellow tune into a raging rock anthem. Dylan himself acknowledged this; when he plays it live, it sounds more like Jimi’s arrangement than his own. When Dylan received the MusiCares Person of the Year award in 2015, in his acceptance speech, he said, “We can’t forget Jimi Hendrix. He took some small songs of mine that nobody paid any attention to and brought them up into the outer limits of the stratosphere, turned them all into classics… I have to thank Jimi. I wish he was here.” So say we all.

15. “I Was Made To Love Her” from ‘BBC Sessions’ (recorded in 1967)

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This impromptu instrumental jam is a cover of the Stevie Wonder classic, and features Stevie himself on drums (although mostly associated with keyboards and harmonica, Wonder is a great drummer as well). It’s too bad that Jimi didn’t live long enough for the two geniuses to collaborate again.

14. “Things I Used To Do” from ‘Both Sides Of The Sky’ (recorded in 1969)

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A cover of a Guitar Slim song. Guitar Slim was a big influence not just on Hendrix, but also on electric rock music in general. His original version of this song is included in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame’s "500 Songs That Shaped Rock and Roll" exhibit.

13. “Day Tripper” from ‘BBC Sessions’ (recorded in 1967)

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A Beatles cover, it features bassist Noel Redding and drummer Mitch Mitchell’s vocals up front, with Jimi chiming in. While it’s a very different take on the Fab Four classic, it’s clear that all three Experience members were huge Beatles fans.

12. “Drifter’s Escape” from ‘South Saturn Delta’ (recorded in 1970)

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One of many Bob Dylan covers that Jimi took a swing at. Like “All Along The Watchtower,” “Drifter’s Escape” was from Dylan’s 1967 album ‘John Wesley Harding.’ Jimi probably didn’t intend for this to be released commercially, but we’re glad it was. Jimi’s guitar playing is wild here and he sounds like he was having a blast.

11. “Hound Dog” from ‘BBC Sessions’ (recorded in 1967)

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Written by Jerry Lieber and Mike Stoller and originally made famous by Big Mama Thornton, the most well-known version of the song was, of course, by Elvis Presley. Jimi was an Elvis fan, as were most rock artists of that era. But by ‘67, “The King” was generally seen as “over the hill,” and here, Hendrix gives one of his signature songs some new bite, pun intended.

10. “Born Under A Bad Sign” from “Blues” (recorded in 1969)

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An instrumental cover of the Albert King classic. King’s version came from his 1967 album of the same name, which was released just as young white rock and roll fans were starting to get hip to the blues artists who inspired the Stones and the Yardbirds (among many others). In ‘68, King opened a few West Coast shows for Jimi, and Jimi recorded this during a jam the following year.

9. “Can You Please Crawl Out Your Window?” from ‘BBC Sessions’ (recorded in 1967)

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“Can You Please Crawl Out Your Window?” was a single only release from Bob Dylan, and not a very famous one. It’s no surprise that Hendrix, a huge Dylan fan, opted to cover it. Dylan may not be an obvious influence on Jimi, but as Hendrix said in a 1968 interview, (per Medium), “Dylan really turned me on. Not the words or his guitar, but as a way to get myself together.” Meaning, Dylan was an unconventional singer who nevertheless made a huge impact in music without compromise. That was obviously something that resonated with Hendrix.

8. “Killing Floor (live)” from ‘Live At Monterey’ (recorded in 1967)

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The opening song at Jimi’s immortal Monterey Pop Festival set, it heralded a new force on the music scene. Monterey was Hendrix’s first major American performance and music would never be the same. This was a totally different take on the Howlin’ Wolf blues classic. But then, Hendrix also had a totally different take on rock and roll.

7. “(I’m Your) Hoochie Coochie Man” from ‘BBC Sessions’ (recorded in 1967)

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The writing credit for this one, as is the case with many Chess Records classics, goes to Willie Dixon. It was first recorded by Muddy Waters, and is a quintessential electric blues song. Hendrix and the Experience don’t just sell it with their playing; Jimi does an amazing job singing it as well.

6. “Like A Rolling Stone (live)” from ‘Live At Monterey’ (recorded in 1967)

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“I’d like to bore you for about six or seven minutes…” Hendrix said, as the Experience started playing one of Bob Dylan’s most impactful songs. It was a loud reimagining of a classic, and was a hint of what would come the following year when Hendrix took on “All Along The Watchtower.”

5. “Come On (Let The Good Times Roll)” from ‘Electric Ladyland (1968)

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Originally by New Orleans R&B artist Earl King, who borrowed quite a bit from the 1946 jump blues hit “Let The Good Times Roll” by Louis Jordan and his Tympany Five. It’s a song Jimi played early on in his career and finally got around to recording with the Experience for his final studio album to be released in his lifetime, ‘Electric Ladyland.’

4. “Wild Thing (live)” from “Live At Monterey’ (recorded in 1967)

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Even if people don’t remember that Jimi covered the Troggs’ frat-rock classic “Wild Thing” at the Monterey Pop Festival, they remember what he did during the song. That was when he doused his guitar with lighter fluid and set it ablaze. It was a visual spectacle that blew minds. But even without that visual, it still sounds great on album. The Experience gave the song a lot of extra muscle and swagger.

3. “The Star-Spangled Banner (live)” from ‘Live At Woodstock’ (recorded in 1969)

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More than a wild cover, Hendrix’s rendition of “The Star-Spangled Banner” marks an iconic moment in American history. The cover itself was an act of protest; even though it was done instrumentally, you could hear Hendrix’s rage about the Vietnam War and the civil rights struggle in every note. Hendrix wasn’t just *any* hippie anti-war protester, by the way: he was a former paratrooper (he received an honorable discharge). He may have known people who were still in Vietnam. His cover seemed to challenge the original, forcing a beloved standard to be reshaped. His version seemed to challenge America to do the same.

2. “Hey Joe” from ‘Are You Experienced (1966)

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Hendrix wasn’t the first artist to record this classic, written by folk singer Billy Roberts. The Leaves, the Standells, the Surfaris, Love, Tim Rose, and the Byrds all did the song before Jimi. That is pretty stunning as Roberts only registered it with a publishing company in 1962. The Leaves recorded the first known version in 1965. The following year, Hendrix recorded his version, which was released as his first single in the U.K. in December. And that, of course, is the definitive version, and what kicked off Hendrix’s ascension to rock stardom.

LOTS Of Americans Opted For Pizza Over Thanksgiving, But Mostly Younger People

Gen Z-ers Trade Turkeys For Pizzas This Thanksgiving As Prices Surge

Pizza is expected to be a popular alternative to turkey as Thanksgiving dinners this year, as hosts face inflated prices for traditional staples. According to a survey conducted by online financial adviser Personal Capital, 33% of people celebrating "Friendsgiving" (a popular casual Thanksgiving party for friends mostly among Millennials and Gen Z) said they would serve pizza; 24% said they planned to serve turkey. Holiday-related financial anxiety is common among younger Americans, with 54% of Gen Z respondents and 51% of millennials saying they felt stressed about covering Thanksgiving costs, while just 33% of Gen X-ers and 39% of Baby Boomers reported feeling financial stress.

Other ways Gen Z-ers are planning to save this Thanksgiving is by keeping the gathering small, making fewer dishes, asking guests to bring some dishes or items and asking people to pitch in moneywise. Per the study, they were the most likely to use all four strategies to keep costs down, while baby boomers were the least likely to ask guests to provide food, drinks or money. Of the items most frequently asked of guests to bring to dinner, 75% asked to bring alcoholic beverages or BYOB, with 46% of the requests going to desserts and 37% going to sides. Per the survey, the cost of groceries surged 12.4% in October compared to October 2021. Meanwhile, the price of turkeys has surged nearly 75% this year as a severe outbreak of avian flu devastates domestic production, according to USDA data. Other key items such as potatoes, butter and bread are also much more expensive than they were last year.

Inflation will likely result in an even higher cost of Thanksgiving dinner this year than last year’s record figure. The average cost of a Thanksgiving dinner for 10 was $53.31 — the highest ever recorded, according to the American Farm Bureau. Now, 57% of Americans think they'll be spending between $101-200. Gen X-ers were most likely to keep a tight budget of $100 or less and baby boomers were most likely to break the bank with a budget of $201 or more. 1 in 4 Americans plan to skip the holiday altogether this year due to inflated prices, with 33% of that number going to Gen Z-ers.

No matter what, some Thanksgiving dinners won’t be complete without a few core items. See below the top 12 dishes people would never cut from the menu:

Dessert Pies

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23% would never part with pies.

Corn

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24% couldn't imagine a corn-free Thanksgiving.

Green Beans

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24% would not part with green beans.

Biscuits

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25%. We can't believe the number is that low!

Soup

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26% need soup for it to feel like Thanksgiving. What says "autumn" or "winter" more than soup?

Salad

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27% need salad, which is probably a good idea.

Bread Rolls

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29%. How are bread rolls more popular than biscuits?

Sweet Potatoes

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29% need those carbs!

Stuffing

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31%. Just 31? It doesn't seem like Thanksgiving without stuffing!

Mashed Potatoes

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31%. Another one that seems like a Thanksgiving must-have.

Gravy

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35% won't part with it.