Super Nova 2000 SE can be seen from our desert, the first time that armatures can see the Nova, located only 21 million light years away, with telescopes that are on the commercial market. The type 1A Supernova was formed by the explosion of a White Dwarf star, located in a pin-wheel shaped galaxy "far far away."The Martin Luther King Memorial is being dedicated on the National Mall in Washington today in a scaled down version of the large event cancelled in August by the threat of a Huricane Irene hitting Washington DC with full force. They hype and coverage planned for television in August has also been scaled back, but the event will still be on television. The Black Plague, which wiped out one out of every two people living in Europe during the Middle Ages, turns out to be the same strain of plague that we find in third world countries today. Scientist have used DNA from victims buried in formal graveyards (many were simply burned, despite a church ban against cremation) has been matched with today's strains. The reasons it is not as deadly today include better sanitation (the Middle Ages were a very odorous time in which to live), the realization that it is a disease carried by flies living on rodents and other small animals, and fast medical response. That does not make the plague any less deadly or any as likely to cause a major, hopefully localized, fatal outbreak.
Canada will spend more than 30 million dollars in celebrating the end of the War of 1912, which from the Canadian standpoint was won by Canada. Coins, stamps, events and movies are planned for the two year long celebration. In their version of history, one well documented but still not taught in many American school books, the still young US invaded Canada unprovoked and burnt their capital, the city now known as modern day Tornoto. In return Great Britian joined Canadians in invading the US, eventually burning our new capital city, Washington DC. US historians say the truths is somewhere in between, with the US launching the war as a premeptive strike against British troops that were feared to be massing to invade and take back the "colonies." One version has it that the troops were in Canada to help in quellling uprisings by "Indians" and protect their colony against attempts by the United States of America to claim portions of Canada as part of the US.
History is flexible and every changing. It is said that the victor writes history and changes the direction of a country, or the world. The truth in that is undesputable, however the craft of historians, augmented by modern technology, is constantly rewriting history based on evidence found from what were contemorary times. The truth is that there are always multiple sides, conflicting evidence and cultural interpritions to every histric event.
There are many venues that could erupt into war, and bring the US into yet another venue in defending US interests and citizens. China is sabre rattling with Vietnam and the Philippines over ocean, oil, and disputed islands that China claims are theirs. Defense packs with the Philippines and co-agreements with Russia (which has a defense pact with Vietnam) would come into play should China use force in the region. In addition China is claiming International Shipping lanes that the US is sworn to protect. Also a potential tinderbox is China's claim on Taiwan, the home of the Republic of China (mainland China is the People's Republic of China)., and claimed as a territory of China by the "red" Chinese. US troops and "assets" are already on ongoing battles (might as well call them wars) in both the Philippines and Indonesia, the world's largest Muslim nation. In both cases we are fighting Muslim terrorist and communist militants. Iran is ignoring western interests and even the wishes of neighboring Muslim nations. They are training and equipping terrorist who attack US troops in Iraq, Afghanistan and around the world. They help finance anti-government insurgents in Iraq. Iran is a constant threat to Israel and Saudi Arabia. And this past week a plan confirmed to come from the top religious leadership of Iraq, was stopped before it could happen. The plot was to kill the United Nations Ambassador from Saudi Arabia on US soil. Iran may be within a year of having nuclear weapons, a development Israel will not allow to occur. A war with or by Iran could interrupt oil flow from the middle east and encourage Islamic Fundamentals(religious dominated) governments in the region. A constant state of suspended war exist in two heated areas of the world, both occasionally erupted in "hidden" hot wars and both in a state of constant "cease fire" (no treaty or conclusion). India and Pakistan are in a constant state of "war", following one of the longest shooting wars in modern history, mostly at the highest altitude of any modern conflict. North Korea continues to sabre rattle and has been behind attacks on US citizens and war craft. Pirates on the high seas, pretty much in every region of the world but hottest in the Caribbean and the Indian Ocean, provide yet another military challenge which could blow up into full blown wars.
Economic unrest, including the potential of bank defaults in France (where the value of bank assets has dropped by more than half), is leading to real pain in Europe and growing numbers of large protests. American media is ethnocentric in reporting that our Wall Street protest are spilling over into Europe. In reality European banks and institutions has been under a constant seige, which is swelling as things get worse. As an example, students in England rose in protest last spring over major increases in tutition and tightening of admission rules for public colleges, university and adult training programs.
Canada will spend more than 30 million dollars in celebrating the end of the War of 1912, which from the Canadian standpoint was won by Canada. Coins, stamps, events and movies are planned for the two year long celebration. In their version of history, one well documented but still not taught in many American school books, the still young US invaded Canada unprovoked and burnt their capital, the city now known as modern day Tornoto. In return Great Britian joined Canadians in invading the US, eventually burning our new capital city, Washington DC. US historians say the truths is somewhere in between, with the US launching the war as a premeptive strike against British troops that were feared to be massing to invade and take back the "colonies." One version has it that the troops were in Canada to help in quellling uprisings by "Indians" and protect their colony against attempts by the United States of America to claim portions of Canada as part of the US.
History is flexible and every changing. It is said that the victor writes history and changes the direction of a country, or the world. The truth in that is undesputable, however the craft of historians, augmented by modern technology, is constantly rewriting history based on evidence found from what were contemorary times. The truth is that there are always multiple sides, conflicting evidence and cultural interpritions to every histric event.
There are many venues that could erupt into war, and bring the US into yet another venue in defending US interests and citizens. China is sabre rattling with Vietnam and the Philippines over ocean, oil, and disputed islands that China claims are theirs. Defense packs with the Philippines and co-agreements with Russia (which has a defense pact with Vietnam) would come into play should China use force in the region. In addition China is claiming International Shipping lanes that the US is sworn to protect. Also a potential tinderbox is China's claim on Taiwan, the home of the Republic of China (mainland China is the People's Republic of China)., and claimed as a territory of China by the "red" Chinese. US troops and "assets" are already on ongoing battles (might as well call them wars) in both the Philippines and Indonesia, the world's largest Muslim nation. In both cases we are fighting Muslim terrorist and communist militants. Iran is ignoring western interests and even the wishes of neighboring Muslim nations. They are training and equipping terrorist who attack US troops in Iraq, Afghanistan and around the world. They help finance anti-government insurgents in Iraq. Iran is a constant threat to Israel and Saudi Arabia. And this past week a plan confirmed to come from the top religious leadership of Iraq, was stopped before it could happen. The plot was to kill the United Nations Ambassador from Saudi Arabia on US soil. Iran may be within a year of having nuclear weapons, a development Israel will not allow to occur. A war with or by Iran could interrupt oil flow from the middle east and encourage Islamic Fundamentals(religious dominated) governments in the region. A constant state of suspended war exist in two heated areas of the world, both occasionally erupted in "hidden" hot wars and both in a state of constant "cease fire" (no treaty or conclusion). India and Pakistan are in a constant state of "war", following one of the longest shooting wars in modern history, mostly at the highest altitude of any modern conflict. North Korea continues to sabre rattle and has been behind attacks on US citizens and war craft. Pirates on the high seas, pretty much in every region of the world but hottest in the Caribbean and the Indian Ocean, provide yet another military challenge which could blow up into full blown wars.
Economic unrest, including the potential of bank defaults in France (where the value of bank assets has dropped by more than half), is leading to real pain in Europe and growing numbers of large protests. American media is ethnocentric in reporting that our Wall Street protest are spilling over into Europe. In reality European banks and institutions has been under a constant seige, which is swelling as things get worse. As an example, students in England rose in protest last spring over major increases in tutition and tightening of admission rules for public colleges, university and adult training programs.
No comments:
Post a Comment