Alan K. Henderson's Weblog

(This is an annual Memorial Day post.)



Revolutionary War (1775-1783)
Wars on the Barbary Pirates (1801-1805, 1815)
War of 1812 (1812-1815)
War Between the States (1861-1865)
Mexican-American War(1846-1848)
Spanish-American War (1898)
China Relief Expedition (1900-1901)
Pacification of Nicaragua (1912-1913)
Interventions in Mexico (1914-1917)
World War I (1914-1918)
Pacification of Haiti and Dominican Republic (1915-1918)
Allied Intervention in Russian Civil War (1918-1920)
World War II (1939-1945)
Korean War (1950-1953)
Vietnam War (1964-1973)
Hostage rescue mission in Iran (1980)
Lebanon peacekeeping mission (1982-1984)
Counterinsurgency mission in El Salvador (1980-?)
Liberation of Grenada (1983)
Invasion of Panama (1989)
Iraq War (1990-1991, 2002-2011)
Somalia peacekeeping mission (1992-1994)
Hezbollah Al-Hejaz attack on Khobar Towers, Saudi Arabia (1996)
Egyptian Islamic Jihad bombings of embassies in Kenya and Tanzania (1998)
Al-Qaeda attack on USS Cole (2000)
Afghanistan War (2001-present)
Ansar al-Sharia attack on consulate in Libya (2012)

The Veterans Museum has information on many of these conflicts. Information on Allied activity during the Bolshevik Revolution is here. See Wikipedia entry on Manuel Noriega for details on the Panama conflict. This site tells of American pilots who fought in the Battle of Britain.

Labels: Blog traditions, Holidays

On 9/11 Todd Beamer led several ordinary citizens to thwart the objective of the hijackers of United Airlines Flight 93. Last Wednesday, two jihadists hacked to death Drummer Lee Rigby of the Royal Regiment of Fusiliers - and stayed at the scene for 20 minutes as passers-by stood around and did nothing.

How did British citizens become such a passive lot? How can they rediscover their inner Todd Beamer? Changing a culture is a long drawn-out process, but I have one idea that might contribute a little spark.

Television can be a powerful tool. Somebody could create a program that celebrates the virtues associated with heroism. Make its protagonist a technologically-savvy eccentric who travels in a conveyance not registered with the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency. He would find himself constantly stumbling into all sorts of nefarious intrigues, fighting racial supremacists, totalitarian regimes, politicians, soldiers, organized crime syndicates, ferocious wildlife, megalomaniacs, mad scientists, megalomaniac mad scientists, and even a broadcasting executive.

He would attract a wide array of associates, most with ordinary backgrounds: a school teacher or two, secretary, freelance journalist, flight attendant, juvenile delinquent, department store clerk. The protagonist would attract these companions, knowing that most lack any formal training that could prepare them to face the dangers he faces, but trusting that they, like himself, can improvise solutions. They would contact the authorities when possible, but then the authorities are not around, or find themselves at a disadvantage, the protagonist and his companions would take up the fight themselves. Like Todd Beamer.

What would such a show look like? And how would one get such a show past the BBC brass?

Labels: Satire

One of rock music's great keyboardists passed away at the age of 74.

Labels: Music, Obituaries

Sheldon Whitehouse vs. Fred Phelps.

Labels: Politics, Religion, Science

A few months ago, I ran out of gas, conveniently across the street from a gas station. I bought a 1-gallon plastic gas can and a gallon of gas. It took over 10 minutes to empty that gas can because of the incompetent design. Just the other day I Found out that the incompetent design is a government mandate:

The gas gauge broke. There was no smartphone app to tell me how much was left, so I ran out. I had to call the local gas station to give me enough to get on my way. The gruff but lovable attendant arrived in his truck and started to pour gas in my car’s tank. And pour. And pour. “Hmmm, I just hate how slow these gas cans are these days,” he grumbled. “There’s no vent on them.” ... An ominous regulatory announcement from the EPA came in 2007: “Starting with containers manufactured in 2009… it is expected that the new cans will be built with a simple and inexpensive permeation barrier and new spouts that close automatically.” The government never said “no vents.” It abolished them de facto with new standards that every state had to adopt by 2009. So for the last three years, you have not been able to buy gas cans that work properly. They are not permitted to have a separate vent. The top has to close automatically. There are other silly things now, too, but the biggest problem is that they do not do well what cans are supposed to do.

Labels: Politics

For those unfamiliar with Rush (the band), the Starman logo first appeared on the back cover of the 2112 album. The title song (which comprises all of Side 1), is an allegory of the totalitarian state. Neal Peart said of the logo, "All (the naked man) means is the abstract man against the masses. The red star symbolizes any collectivist mentality."

Labels: Humor, Music, Politics

Hot Air reports ten types of questions that were asked of "tea party" and "patriot" groups filing for tax-exempt status. The last one is barking insane - officials asked some groups to project future revenues and expenses for the next three years. The Office of Management and Budget can't even make those kinds of projections - you expect average citizens to do any better?

Labels: Crime, Politics

One of the lefty excuses for dismissing the Benghazi scandal is that it happened a long time ago. Didn't they pursue Iran-Contra for years and years after it became "a long time ago?" And the funding of the Contras ultimately saved lives. We don't know how many, but we do know the murderous legacy of Communism.

Labels: Crime, Politics, War on Terror

Heh.

Labels: Humor, Politics

Gluten-free foods are not for weight loss. The only people who benefit from them are the gluten-intolerant.

Here's the money quote:

When manufacturers create a gluten-free product, they remove the wheat protein from the food by swapping wheat flour for another flour such as almond, rice, corn or even bean.

However, this missing gluten makes it difficult for breads and bakery products to retain their shape and softness as they cook.

To alleviate this, additives (such as xanthum gum and hydroxypropyl methylcellulose) or corn starch are introduced. Extra sugar and fat are also added to the products to make them tastier. The result is that gluten-free bread can actually add pounds to your waistline.

The only benefit of gluten-free foods is that the gluten intolerant can tolerate them. For pure dieting, stick with wheat flour and other natural gluten sources. Just eat less of it, because most dieters need to cut carbs.

Labels: Food

Seattle May Day Riots of 2012.

Seattle Anti-WTO Riots of 1999.

Labels: Crime, History, Politics

And they were right!

Missouri Governor Jay Nixon repeatedly denied knowing anything about Missouri illegally sharing its citizens private CCW information with the federal government, even after his own head of Missouri Highway Patrol contradicted him in a public hearing. Now we’ve learned that Nixon not only knew about the violation of Missouri law, but he was thanked in a letter by Janet Napolitano:

Labels: Crime, Politics

University of Connecticut student says proposed mascot incites rape.

University of Wyoming student files creates rape hoax.

Labels: Education, Psychology