Friday, February 6, 2015
Thursday, February 6, 1915. On Being Asked For a War Poem.
W. B. Yeats, who had been asked to write a war poem, wrote the following poem.
On Being Asked For a War Poem’
I think it better that in times like these
A poet’s mouth be silent, for in truth
We have no gift to set a statesman right;
He has had enough of meddling who can please
A young girl in the indolence of her youth,
Or an old man upon a winter’s night.
Last edition
Friday, February 5, 1915. Tactical airpower in the desert.
Thursday, February 5, 2015
Movies In History: The Grand Budapest Hotel
It may seem odd to some to see this film listed here, but it shouldn't.
The Grand Budapest Hotel is an Academy Award nominated film that was a bit of a surprise hit last year. At least its a surprise to me, as it's the sort of unusual "small" story that we don't see get much attention anymore. The film itself almost recalls movies of the 1930s, during which it is set, more than contemporary movies. And perhaps its a bit of a tribute to those films really.
It's masterfully done as well. Set in a fictional Eastern European country that we're lead to believe must have been part of the defunct Austro Hungarian Empire prior to its World War One collapse, the movies does a surprisingly good job of capturing the feel of those countries which had only lately entered into independence. The Austro Hungarian Empire being multinational in nature, the mixed culture of those countries and those in its influence and orbit, such as Austria, Hungary, Romania, Bulgaria, and so on, is very well captured. The film features a fair amount of the use of the German language. French shows up as well. Last names are Slavic, German and perhaps Turkish. The depiction of the cities is appropriately ornate. The uniformed services shown in the film are also appropriately late Austrian in appearance.
This film is in many ways truly odd, and very well done. It is funny, but some of the humor is really off color and not appropriate for younger audiences. That comment would also apply to some of the things depicted in the film. But an American film pitched at a modern audience which features an Eastern European theme, set in the very early 1930s, is a real surprise, and that it did well is an even bigger surprise.
The Grand Budapest Hotel is an Academy Award nominated film that was a bit of a surprise hit last year. At least its a surprise to me, as it's the sort of unusual "small" story that we don't see get much attention anymore. The film itself almost recalls movies of the 1930s, during which it is set, more than contemporary movies. And perhaps its a bit of a tribute to those films really.
It's masterfully done as well. Set in a fictional Eastern European country that we're lead to believe must have been part of the defunct Austro Hungarian Empire prior to its World War One collapse, the movies does a surprisingly good job of capturing the feel of those countries which had only lately entered into independence. The Austro Hungarian Empire being multinational in nature, the mixed culture of those countries and those in its influence and orbit, such as Austria, Hungary, Romania, Bulgaria, and so on, is very well captured. The film features a fair amount of the use of the German language. French shows up as well. Last names are Slavic, German and perhaps Turkish. The depiction of the cities is appropriately ornate. The uniformed services shown in the film are also appropriately late Austrian in appearance.
This film is in many ways truly odd, and very well done. It is funny, but some of the humor is really off color and not appropriate for younger audiences. That comment would also apply to some of the things depicted in the film. But an American film pitched at a modern audience which features an Eastern European theme, set in the very early 1930s, is a real surprise, and that it did well is an even bigger surprise.
Friday, February 5, 1915. Tactical airpower in the desert.
British aircraft attacked Ottoman troops east of the Suez Canal.
Wyoming's legislature rejected a Prohibition bill.
Last edition:
Thursday, February 4, 1915. Ottoman retreat and expanding the war in the Atlantic.
Wednesday, February 4, 2015
Thursday, February 4, 1915. Ottoman retreat and expanding the war in the Atlantic.
The Ottoman's were in retreat from the Suez Canal.
Germany proclaimed that neutral vessels would be sunk in British waters.
Last edition:
Wednesday, February 3, 1915. Ottoman's held up.
Lex Anteinternet: Lex Anteinternet: The best-laid schemes o' mice an...
Lex Anteinternet: Lex Anteinternet: The best-laid schemes o' mice an...: Small rig, in mine, 1972. A type that's change a lot. Lex Anteinternet: The best-laid schemes o' mice an' men: Lex An...The past couple of years the campgrounds at the Wyoming State Fairgrounds have been really packed, in part because the decision was wisely made to allow those campgrounds to be partially used year around by oilfield workers. It made a lot of sense, the facilities were there, but most of the year weren't used that much. Why not relieve the housing shortage in Converse County and maximize the return on the facility?
Last week the Tribune ran an article that now a lot of those campers have cleared out and others are contemplating doing so. Oilfield workers hauling off their trailers and going home. Another, very real, sign of the decline.
Today the Tribune reported that the Legislature proposes to take a $200M payment to the "rainy day fund" and apply it to the budget, to make up for a projected revenue shortfall. Also a sign of the decline in drilling.
And yet, we're still at the denial stage in some quarters, although that's gone from "it's not happening" to "it'll be short". I don't think the industry is saying that however.
Tuesday, February 3, 2015
Movies In History: Black Hawk Down
I realized that I hadn't discussed this film yet, although I did mention it the other day in my item on American Sniper.
This film centers of the horrific events of a failed raid into Mogadishu Somalia during that period of time in which U.S. forces were part of the international commitment there. It's a shocking film which is, in my view the single greatest and most accurate depiction of urban combat, and modern combat, ever made. The title comes about because of the crash of a Black Hawk helicopter during the event and the doomed effort to rescue the crews that came about as a result, but the film depicts far more than that, detailing the raid itself.
Generally everything is accurate about the film, including the depiction of combat. It depicts real events, and it used a couple of the actual Special Forces soldiers who were in the battle as advisers. Its not for the faint of heart, to be sure, as what it depicts is truly horrifying, but it is masterfully done.
This film centers of the horrific events of a failed raid into Mogadishu Somalia during that period of time in which U.S. forces were part of the international commitment there. It's a shocking film which is, in my view the single greatest and most accurate depiction of urban combat, and modern combat, ever made. The title comes about because of the crash of a Black Hawk helicopter during the event and the doomed effort to rescue the crews that came about as a result, but the film depicts far more than that, detailing the raid itself.
Generally everything is accurate about the film, including the depiction of combat. It depicts real events, and it used a couple of the actual Special Forces soldiers who were in the battle as advisers. Its not for the faint of heart, to be sure, as what it depicts is truly horrifying, but it is masterfully done.
Old Picture of the Day: Massive Logs
Old Picture of the Day: Massive Logs: Today's picture shows an Old Timers cabin made from some pretty massive logs. I guess you build with what you have, and this guy ha...
Wednesday, February 3, 1915. Ottoman's held up.
Clara Dolores Lopp sitting in front of a shipment of cigarettes and cigars she arranged to have shipped to soldiers fighting in Europe. World War One would increase the use of cigarettes enormously which resulted in a marked increase in lung cancer by the 1930s.
The British kept the Ottomans from crossing the Suez Canal.
The Germans started a second siege on Osowiec Fortress.
Co conspirators in the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand, Veljko Čubrilović, Danilo Ilić and Miško Jovanović were executed by hanging.
John Chilembwe was spotted by a police patrol and shot dead near Mulanje, Malawi.
Last edition:
Tuesday, February 2, 1915. Reinforcements.
Monday, February 2, 2015
Random Snippets. Even I know better than that. . .
I don't watch football much. Prior to being married, in my adult life I'd normally not even catch one game in an average year. Since being married, I tend to catch the Super Bowl, as my wife likes the game.
So I saw last night's.
Now, while I don't watch football much, I have seen football, and I can recall watching quite a few games or parts of games when I was young, as my father liked football a lot.
And I well recall teams being down by one touchdown down near the end zone, in the last minute of the game, running plays as rapidly as they could without even huddling.
Which is why I was stunned even before they blew it, when the Seahawks didn't do that in the last 50 seconds of the game. Geez, if even I know that, what were they thinking?
So I saw last night's.
Now, while I don't watch football much, I have seen football, and I can recall watching quite a few games or parts of games when I was young, as my father liked football a lot.
And I well recall teams being down by one touchdown down near the end zone, in the last minute of the game, running plays as rapidly as they could without even huddling.
Which is why I was stunned even before they blew it, when the Seahawks didn't do that in the last 50 seconds of the game. Geez, if even I know that, what were they thinking?
Tuesday, February 2, 1915. Reinforcements.
A company of New Zealand infantry was sent to reinforce Gurkha troops at Lake Timsah, Egypt.
Boer rebels surrendered to the Union of South Africa.
Werner Horn detonated a suitcase filled with dynamite on the Canadian side of the Saint Croix–Vanceboro Railway Bridge, causing minor damage.
The Imperial Russian seaplane carrier Orlitza was commissioned.
Last edition:
Monday, February 1, 1915. Suez Canal Besieged.
Labels: 1910s, 1915, 1915 at the Movies, Egypt, Movies, Ottoman Army, Personalities, Siege of Suez, Suez Canal, World War One
Sunday, February 1, 2015
Engines of the Red Army in WW2 - Rail Transport in the Persian Corridor
Engines of the Red Army in WW2 - Rail Transport in the Persian Corridor
And a look at rail in the Persian corridor during World War Two.
And a look at rail in the Persian corridor during World War Two.
Engines of the Red Army in WW2 - Russian Rail Overview
Engines of the Red Army in WW2 - Russian Rail Overview
Really interesting look at the Rail of the Soviet Union during World War Two. The USSR was extremely rail dependent. Everyone was, of course, but they were to a greater extent than most, although the Germans very
much were as well.
Really interesting look at the Rail of the Soviet Union during World War Two. The USSR was extremely rail dependent. Everyone was, of course, but they were to a greater extent than most, although the Germans very
much were as well.
Monday, February 1, 1915. Suez Canal Besieged.
An Ottoman force numbering 13,000 troops laid siege to the Suez Canal.
William Fox established Fox Film.
Wilhelm Fried Fuchs was born in Tolcsva, Hungary and was a Hungarian Jew. His family immigrated to the US when he was a boy. His movie company still exists in an evolved form.
Last edition:
Sunday, January 31, 1915. Gas!
Air Travel then and now. . .I'm not nostalgic about it, it's gotten better
The Missouri River, note the barges.
As noted, I fly quite a bit. And I have a long history with air travel too. I first boarded a commercial airliner as a baby, and I can recall flying out of Casper on Western Airlines and Frontier Airlines, in jet airliners, as a boy still in grade school. By the time I was junior high I'd flown on Western, Frontier, Air Canada, and others I can't recall. I can well recall when you could still get a flight on a 707 from Casper to Billings Montana.
Given that, I have experience with the "glory days" of jet travel that people are nostalgic about now.
I'm not. Air travel is a lot better now. Shoot, it's better than it was ten years ago.
The current jets are so fast that a lot of the nostalgia that people place in old time air travel is really misplaced. I can well recall when you received multiple drinks and food on flights. That's because those flights were really slow. Now, they're so much faster it isn't even funny.
This first became apparent to me on a flight some years ago to Oakland. I'd flown to California before and was amazed when we were boarded on a "regional airliner", probably some sort of Canadair jet. That jet zipped to the destination so fast I was stunned. The week before last I flew to Toronto, which I've done before, on a direct connection from Denver. Sure, it took over three hours, again on a regional jet liner, but that isn't too bad really. This past week I flew from Tampa to Denver on an airbus that flew so high that we flew over satellites (okay, not really, but it flew high) and it was as smooth as a bus. Very comfortable, and really nice plane. The Dreamliner is even more comfortable.
These planes are just super, and speedy. They get you where you need to go very quickly, and if there isn't endless warmed up meals form the galley, well so be it.
Sunday Morning Scene: Churches of the West: Mother of God Catholic Church, Denver Colorado
Churches of the West: Mother of God Catholic Church, Denver Colorado:
This small Roman Catholic Church is just off downtown Denver. A remarkable thing about this church is it's fairly close proximity, in modern terms, with other Catholic Churches in downtown Denver, however, this one is on the border between the business and residential districts.
This church was built as a Protestant church in about 1900 and saw use by various denominations until the 1940s, when the Archdiocese of Denver purchased it.
This small Roman Catholic Church is just off downtown Denver. A remarkable thing about this church is it's fairly close proximity, in modern terms, with other Catholic Churches in downtown Denver, however, this one is on the border between the business and residential districts.
This church was built as a Protestant church in about 1900 and saw use by various denominations until the 1940s, when the Archdiocese of Denver purchased it.
Saturday, January 31, 2015
Movies In History: American Sniper
Given that it probably seems to those who stop in here that I see every "war movie" going, it will probably come as a surprise that: 1) I don't, and 2) I wasn't particularly inclined to see this one, but I don't really know why. It may be because I've known a couple of men, one particularly well, who had been snipers and they were profoundly unlikely to discuss it, which makes me feel just slightly odd about one who does. That isn't intended as a criticism, it's just a comment.
But I did see it last night, and because my wife wanted to, which is even more of a surprise. She recently read Chris Kyle's book, another surprise, and like it. I haven't read the book. Because she read the book, she wanted to see the movie.
Because I haven't read the book, I can't comment at all on how accurately the film depicts the events of the book. And I'm also not going to comment much on the surprising amount of controversy this film is generating, and from surprising quarters. I will say, however, that some of the criticism strikes me as very "parlor" in nature, i.e., the sort of slightly leftist commentary that comes from people whose view of conflict is very antiseptic. War is nasty, and that's just the way it. To depict that honestly, and to write about it, isn't something that deserves criticism. Nor does a person deserve criticism because they took an active part in it, which seems to be the basis of at least some criticism. It's interesting, indeed, how we're now at a point where that sort of criticism is not too uncommon in some quarters, when in earlier eras that would have been regarded as rather dishonorable.
Anyhow, what I will note is that this film, which depicts a lot of urban comment, is correct in material details, which it should be. It's pretty darned graphic, but not grossly over the top for the most part. Equipment appears to be generally correct with perhaps a few minor errors.
It depicts urban combat in a very gritty fashion, and it reminded me to a slight extent of Black Hawk Down, which in my view is the most accurate combat movie ever filmed. It's not Black Hawk Down, but it does a nice job with this story.
But I did see it last night, and because my wife wanted to, which is even more of a surprise. She recently read Chris Kyle's book, another surprise, and like it. I haven't read the book. Because she read the book, she wanted to see the movie.
Because I haven't read the book, I can't comment at all on how accurately the film depicts the events of the book. And I'm also not going to comment much on the surprising amount of controversy this film is generating, and from surprising quarters. I will say, however, that some of the criticism strikes me as very "parlor" in nature, i.e., the sort of slightly leftist commentary that comes from people whose view of conflict is very antiseptic. War is nasty, and that's just the way it. To depict that honestly, and to write about it, isn't something that deserves criticism. Nor does a person deserve criticism because they took an active part in it, which seems to be the basis of at least some criticism. It's interesting, indeed, how we're now at a point where that sort of criticism is not too uncommon in some quarters, when in earlier eras that would have been regarded as rather dishonorable.
Anyhow, what I will note is that this film, which depicts a lot of urban comment, is correct in material details, which it should be. It's pretty darned graphic, but not grossly over the top for the most part. Equipment appears to be generally correct with perhaps a few minor errors.
It depicts urban combat in a very gritty fashion, and it reminded me to a slight extent of Black Hawk Down, which in my view is the most accurate combat movie ever filmed. It's not Black Hawk Down, but it does a nice job with this story.
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