A CAT’S NOSE KNOWS
HOW A WWII CAT SURVIVED 3 SHIP SINKINGS: THE STORY OF UNSINKABLE SAM
You’ve heard the saying, “Cats have nine lives,” and while there are countless tales of cats falling from trees or high-above windows, one cat put this theory to the test, earning himself the name “Unsinkable Sam.”
139 members aboard. Except for Sam. Once again, Sam clung to a wooden plank and floated safely to the nearby shore of Gibraltar, a British Overseas Territory. British service members who found him ashore put two and two together and realized the cat — the very one their fellow servicemen saved in 1939 — was the only survivor of HMS Cossack, earning him the nickname “Unsinkable Sam.” The group in Gibraltar was from the HMS Ark Royal crew, and of course, they loaded Sam aboard when it was time to launch. But as Sam’s luck would have it, a torpedo struck the HMS Ark Royal just a month later, leaving him once again clinging to a floating plank near a boat launch back in Gibraltar. Luckily, Sam’s boating days were over, and he was honorably transferred to the position of “mouse hunter” in the building of the governor-general in Gibraltar. Eventually, the British restationed their favorite floating feline to a “home for sailors” in Belfast, where he lived for the rest of his days until his peaceful passing in 1955.
Sam’s original name was “Oscar,” and his legacy began aboard the Bismarck, one of the two first-class Nazi battleships in World War II. The Bismarck (with Sam) was launched on Feb. 14, 1939, and soon after engaged in battle with The Prince of Wales, an Allied battleship. The Nazi ship was severely damaged in this battle and ultimately sunk. Only 118 of the 2,200 crew members survived, plus Sam. The British destroyer HMS Cossack found Sam floating on a board hours later, and they promptly scooped him up and welcomed him aboard. Sam had officially switched sides to the Allied forces. Now on the right side of history, Sam lived with the British crew for the next few months as they performed convoy escort duties — until a torpedo struck the HMS Cossack in October 1941, killing all
Sam’s story may not officially prove cats have nine lives, but it makes at least three seem likely!
Debunking 3 CMV Speeding Ticket Myths LET’S CLEAR THE AIR
2. THE FINES AND PENALTIES FOR A CMV TICKET ARE THE SAME AS THOSE FOR PERSONAL VEHICLES. Although some fines are the same, many are not. Some can even carry additional penalties from the DOT FMCSA! For example, if you receive a second cellphone violation, your fine will be around $260. Additionally, the DMV will add 1.5 points for a commercial driver, whereas a personal vehicle will only be assessed one point. 3. BECAUSE I RECEIVED MY CMV SPEEDING TICKET IN ANOTHER STATE, I DON’T HAVE TO TELL MY EMPLOYER. According to DOT FMCSA regulations, you must notify your employer within 30 days of any moving violation you receive in your commercial or personal vehicle. The Driver’s License Compact will also notify your state of your offense if you fail to appear in court or pay the fee. Furthermore, the Employer Pull Notice will notify your employer regardless. These misconceptions can be costly and lead to severe consequences. That’s why consulting with a traffic attorney regarding your legal matters is critical. Your friends at Bigger & Harman will be happy to help you in any way we can. Please call us today to get started!
One of our goals here at the firm is to provide you with beneficial information to help you navigate your traffic citation and ensure you have all the resources you need to make a decision that works best for you. In last month’s installment, we discussed four truck-driving myths many truckers tend to believe. Today, we wanted to bust more misconceptions some truckers believe: 1. YOU CAN TAKE TRAFFIC SCHOOL TO KEEP YOUR TICKET CONFIDENTIAL. While this may be true for those who receive a speeding ticket in their personal vehicles (and those who don’t have their CDLs), the same isn’t true for truckers. California doesn’t allow you to plead guilty to a traffic ticket and attend traffic violator’s school to keep your ticket confidential from your employer — this violates the DOT FMCSA standards! Additionally, if you’re not in your truck and you receive a speeding ticket in your personal vehicle, you still have to notify your employer of the citation.
2 | www.bakersfieldtraffictickets.com
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