February 25, 1919
Oregon places a 1 cent tax on gasoline. Within 10 years every state will have a gasoline tax. In 1932, Herbert Hoover will get the federal government into the act by adding another penny for the feds.
February 23, 1942
Japanese submarine I-17 fires shells into the refinery at Ellwood, California. 17 shells were fired over a period of about 20 minutes. The gunnery was wildly inaccurate and did little damage but it did spark panic and invasion rumors. The following night, anti aircraft batteries in LA would fire over 1000 rounds based on a UFO sighting. The "battle" lasted about 30 minutes. Proving that what goes up must come down, over 10 tons of shrapnel and unexploded ammunition fell on Los Angeles.
Thursday, February 25, 2016
Tuesday, February 23, 2016
Book Review - Blackjack
I should read my own reviews. This is the latest of Robert Parker's Cole and Hitch series that is ghost written by Robert Knott. You can read the review of his last effort here.
This book is no better than the last. In fact, I could copy the last review word for word and it would still be accurate. Slow, boring dialog, drab characters and a predictable and anti climatic ending.
I will no longer waste my bit coin on these books.
This book is no better than the last. In fact, I could copy the last review word for word and it would still be accurate. Slow, boring dialog, drab characters and a predictable and anti climatic ending.
I will no longer waste my bit coin on these books.
Thursday, February 4, 2016
The Heavy Water War
I stumbled across an interesting television series on Netflix recently. It was a Norwegian production whose title translated as "The Heavy Water Wars". It can also be found under the title "The Saboteurs". It is the dramatization of the true story of the effort to destroy the deuterium oxide production in Norway in order to keep the Germans from gaining an edge on nuclear technology. It is well written and well acted by a mix of British, Scandinavian and German actors. And, while I am no expert, the costumes, scenery and cinematography look great.
There are three story lines. They flip between Werner Heisenberg who is leading the German research, the Brits and Norwegian volunteers who are trying to destroy the plant and the Norwegian plant manager.
A word of warning....as it is with most movies who try to be historically accurate, it is in the characters native language. You will have subtitles, even in the English parts, so you can't try to multi task while watching it.
It was presented in 6 segments designed to fit into a television hour. When it aired in Norway, it captured over 60% of the viewing audience. It's worth looking for.
There are three story lines. They flip between Werner Heisenberg who is leading the German research, the Brits and Norwegian volunteers who are trying to destroy the plant and the Norwegian plant manager.
A word of warning....as it is with most movies who try to be historically accurate, it is in the characters native language. You will have subtitles, even in the English parts, so you can't try to multi task while watching it.
It was presented in 6 segments designed to fit into a television hour. When it aired in Norway, it captured over 60% of the viewing audience. It's worth looking for.
Monday, February 1, 2016
Head Count
Well, as we know, Saudi Arabia executed 47 terrorists last month. 43 of them were beheaded and the remaining 4 were shot (I guess the swordsman got tired). In addition, they also did away with 8 for murder so their one month total is 55 to start the year with a bang!
Friday, January 29, 2016
Book Review - Tipping Point (Spoiler Alert)
This is the continuation of David Poyers last novel, "The Cruiser". Frankly, it left me a little flat which is unusual for a Poyer novel.
Dan Lenson is called to Washington, DC to testify about his shoot down of Israeli missiles in an action which has become known as "The Lenson Doctrine". And nothing further is heard about his testimony or how his decision relates to what happens later in the book.
His ship still has an infection that kills the odd sailor and he has a rapist stalking the decks. He does a freedom of navigation run in the Persian Gulf and then he is sent to the coast of India and Pakistan. Tensions there are escalating into a shooting war and he is ordered to shoot down any missiles targeted at a civilian population. Which he does. Then, communications start getting sketchy and he is late to join a task force headed for the South China Sea. World wide tensions begin to escalate and now China is issuing ultimatums. He is ordered to take out a satellite which he does successfully. And then Poyer ends it as Lenson is sailing into a potential war.
It's not obvious how Poyer intends to continue the Lenson story. The ending left me surprised and let down. While there was some action, there was not as much as a typical Poyer novel and the whole thing left me feeling empty wanting more.
Dan Lenson is called to Washington, DC to testify about his shoot down of Israeli missiles in an action which has become known as "The Lenson Doctrine". And nothing further is heard about his testimony or how his decision relates to what happens later in the book.
His ship still has an infection that kills the odd sailor and he has a rapist stalking the decks. He does a freedom of navigation run in the Persian Gulf and then he is sent to the coast of India and Pakistan. Tensions there are escalating into a shooting war and he is ordered to shoot down any missiles targeted at a civilian population. Which he does. Then, communications start getting sketchy and he is late to join a task force headed for the South China Sea. World wide tensions begin to escalate and now China is issuing ultimatums. He is ordered to take out a satellite which he does successfully. And then Poyer ends it as Lenson is sailing into a potential war.
It's not obvious how Poyer intends to continue the Lenson story. The ending left me surprised and let down. While there was some action, there was not as much as a typical Poyer novel and the whole thing left me feeling empty wanting more.
Tuesday, January 19, 2016
Up Scope!
Yesterday was colonoscopy day. I put it off as long as I could but the doctor has me on a 3 year recall schedule so I could delay it no longer.
The worst part of the test is the prep. One day of a liquid diet finished off with the forced feeding of a gallon of foul tasting liquid designed to return your colon to the state it was when you were a new born baby. When you start drinking that stuff, you can't be too far from the head. The procedure itself is easy because my guy likes to put you under with propofol. The last thing I remember is the RNA injecting the stuff into my IV and then I woke up in the recovery room.
As much of a nuisance as this test can be it is essential to get because colon cancer is worse.
The worst part of the test is the prep. One day of a liquid diet finished off with the forced feeding of a gallon of foul tasting liquid designed to return your colon to the state it was when you were a new born baby. When you start drinking that stuff, you can't be too far from the head. The procedure itself is easy because my guy likes to put you under with propofol. The last thing I remember is the RNA injecting the stuff into my IV and then I woke up in the recovery room.
As much of a nuisance as this test can be it is essential to get because colon cancer is worse.
Tuesday, January 12, 2016
This Week in Automobile History
Henry Ford needed to boost sales for his Model A so he did what all auto manufacturers do to advertise their product - he went racing. On January 12, 1904 he took his 18.8 liter, 4 cylinder Ford Arrow "999" out to a frozen lake between Michigan and Ontario and went almost 92 miles per hour setting a new land sped record.
The vehicle was little more than a huge engine on a wooden frame with a seat for the driver. Henry later said it scared him so badly that he never wanted to get in to a race car again.
18.8 liters is 1,147 cubic inches! I remember when 327 was a big engine.
The vehicle was little more than a huge engine on a wooden frame with a seat for the driver. Henry later said it scared him so badly that he never wanted to get in to a race car again.
18.8 liters is 1,147 cubic inches! I remember when 327 was a big engine.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)