This evening our state legislature spent a good portion of their debate time talking about Iowa’s energy needs. Included in the discussion was a proposal to build another nuclear power plant somewhere within our borders. I say “another” because, yes, Iowa already has one nuclear facility in Palo (west and a bit north of Cedar [...]
Archive for April, 2011
Chernobyl: Nuclear Disaster Number 1
Posted in Uncategorized, tagged 1986, Chernobyl, Fallout, Nuclear Power, Palo, Pripyat, Ukraine on April 26 | Leave a Comment »
Washington’s Neutrality Creates War of Words
Posted in Constitutional period (1789-1809), United States, tagged 1793, French Revolution, King Louis XVI, President George Washington, Proclamation of Neutrality on April 22 | 2 Comments »
In today’s political landscape, taking a side on any particular issue is likely to get a person on the wrong side of about half the country. But that’s not really news. We live with a strongly-divided two-party system with each one holding positions that are, in most cases, diametrically opposed to each other. Whether it [...]
Japanese Navy Orders Subs for Last Supper
Posted in Europe, World War II (1939-1945), tagged 1945, Admiral Karl Donitz, Admiral Katsuo Abe, Berlin on April 15 | Leave a Comment »
In April of 1945, the Second World War was winding down in both the European and Pacific theaters. Now don’t get me wrong, there was plenty of bloodshed left in both areas. Way out west, the Battle of Okinawa, commenced in the quiet Easter morning of April 1st, was now turning into the true fight-to-the-death for which [...]
Why New Orleans? Why Not All of Louisiana?
Posted in Constitutional period (1789-1809), United States, tagged 1803, James Monroe, Louisiana Purchase, Napolean Bonaparte, Paris, Robert Livingston, Talleyrand on April 11 | Leave a Comment »
Robert Livingston had worked hard to get an audience with Talleyrand. He knew that James Monroe was on his way to pitch to the French the idea of purchasing New Orleans and maybe the Floridas. And, quite likely, a bit of pride made him want to be the guy to get the deal brokered. Well, [...]
James Monroe: An American in Paris
Posted in Constitutional period (1789-1809), United States, tagged 1803, James Madison, James Monroe, Louisiana Purchase, Mississippi River, Napoleon Bonaparte, New Orleans, President Thomas Jefferson, Talleyrand on April 10 | Leave a Comment »
On April 10, 1803, James Monroe arrived in Paris, France. His task, as given him by the Jefferson Administration, was to attempt to purchase New Orleans from the French. But this statement probably needs a bit more context. The Spanish-American treaty of 1795 had given America commercial access to the southern port. Because the monster [...]
The Bridge on the River Kwai – Pt. 2
Posted in China/Burma/India, World War II (1939-1945), tagged 1945, Charles Linamen, Consolidated B-24 Liberator, John Sims, Thailand on April 3 | Leave a Comment »
Ok, so yesterday’s lesson involved the steel bridge on the Kwae Yai River in Thailand. Today, we move 100 yards away…to the wooden bridge. It was this particular bridge that was the subject of Pierre Boulle’s book and the award-winning movie adaptation. Now it’s been a while since I’ve seen The Bridge on the River [...]
The Bridge on the River Kwai – Pt. 1
Posted in China/Burma/India, World War II (1939-1945), tagged 1945, Bridge, Charles Linamen, Consolidated B-24 Liberator, John Sims, Kwae Yai River, Thailand on April 2 | Leave a Comment »
French author Pierre Boulle’s best-selling book The Bridge on the River Kwai needs precious little introduction to old-time movie viewers. Yep…I said that right. I can say that because the movie based on the book was probably more famous than the book itself. Set in World War II’s Thailand and starring William Holden and Alec [...]
