Spud Hilton / Bad Latitude

Several airlines, including Delta, Southwest and American as well ban Voice over Internet Protocol -- most commonly, Skype -- in spite of the fact that it uses the same Wi-Fi signal passengers use for e-mail or web browsing. If U.S. Airways is any indication, nevertheless, that policy likely has more to do with passenger comfort. "Fundamentally, this policy has been implemented as a reaction to widespread passenger aversion to the idea of many people talking loudly on flights."

Oral history from my family says that one day soon afterwards the cannon, now named "Old Abe," was mounted, the Knights massed and marched down the city's broad central street, known at the time and now as Consolation. When they saw the Blues lined up in formation earlier them, the Rebels cried out to give it up as they were outnumbered. Just at once the Union line parted and the Confederates were greeted by the grinning face of a blue-capped miner holding a lighted fuse over the business end of Old Abe. And that was the end of the engagement. The Rebels faded away and the gold was saved for the National cause. Old Abe, and the promise if it's lethal blast, was on regular display throughout the war.

Thereafter they learned to fire Old Abe without causing a great mess, and when a Union victory was reported, young boys would be sent round to homes of patriots with a message to "put up your windows." The Blues would put a double blank change in the cannon and light if off down Consolation Street. The concussion would blow the glass out of Confederate homes. Window glass was hard to get and was expensive. A pretty nasty trick all around.