III
(Book 3 / Chapter 2)
7:30
SUNUP IN THE HIGH DESERT
PHOTOS BY TONE HELENA TORGERSEN
Well, here goes chapter two; even though I really wish Heathcliff would all of a sudden crow over there. Hey Heathcliff! This morning we all really missed your voice as the Sun came up, and I know for sure we'll be thinking a lot of you today. And we'll start praying for you.
Boy God! Right now hearing Heathcliff's Hens clucking over there is making me feel so sad. Who would have thought something like this could have even happened, and I know for sure Daisy's up there thinking about her and Rosie being really old too. I smell Andy.
I really don't feel like working today but will just do one chapter at a time the way Daisy said. Our boss's mom thinks "setbacks are to be expected." She likes the saying, "Get up after being knocked down and move forward one foot in front of the other." Andy smells good.
CHIEF TECUMSEH (c.1768-1813)
PAINTING BY BENSON JOHN LOSSING
I just thought of how that "Shawnee" Chief Tecumseh said to appreciate each day, which I definitely will do from now on that's for sure. Daisy's up there thinking of how there will be no Heathcliff 's voice tomorrow morning. Ugh! Wow! That's going to be so weird alright!
After chapter one I drank from the water bucket near the sliding glass door. It for some reason made me remember being so thirsty when I was homeless out there in that field. Thank You God for sending that nice lady give me food and water as a Guardian Angel.
The water that had filled the basin below the Mulberry tree is now totally gone, absorbed down into the ground. Birds are landing on the big boulders around the bottom, glancing down to see there's no more water left; then zip away quickly. Samson and Delilah flew bye. 
MR. MARK
I just thought of how Mr. Mark over there on the Big Island of Hawaii has one of those web sites saying all the African countries should "Form a Union" the way the European nations have done. It's called the "United States of Africa." Oh! Dawn's doing her sad howl!
Daisy says our boss and Mr. Mark have talked about Karl Marx's 19th century idea of the united industrial workers rising up against their employers. Mr. Steve told him about Chief Tecumseh trying to get American Indians to unite against the whites. I smell Blinky.
Boy God! All of a sudden I just thought of that saying Daisy heard Miss Susan tell our boss one time, "Each day is God's gift to you. What you do with it is your gift to Him." Looking at the Sun over the eastern horizon gives me energy to work right now. Thank You God!
CHARLIE COMPANY
Oh! I just looked up and see Charlie Company over there. I can tell Chosin, the big male; is watching over the girl Quails with their new Spring babies. Wow! Seeing, and smelling them too; makes me feel a lot better about doing what I'm supposed to do again today.
Boy, I sure do hope one of the Hens next door will give birth to another Heathcliff so we can then call him Heathcliff III. Things are not going to be the same around here, just like when Molly died. Ah! I wonder if Heathcliff came back as one of Charlie Company's chicks?
Yup! I've decided this third and final book will be dedicated to you Heathcliff. Chosin is leading Charlie Company around the northeast corner of the house, at the far end of the Patio over there to my left. I see my collection of things to chew on and feel lucky to have them.
MR. STEVE'S FATHER ("KOREAN" WAR / 1951)
Over the last three days I've written about how our boss's father was in the Korean War. Chosin, the big Quail; was named after a famous Korean War battle that took place in the cold Winter of late 1950. I can now smell the scent that Charlie Company left behind.
Mr. Steve's dad, as a member of the "First Marine Division;" got to Korea in mid-1951. North Korea invaded southward into South Korea in early 1950, and almost took the peninsula. But then General MacArthur made his famous risky surprise landing at "Inchon."
The North Koreans, who at that time were being supported by Stalin's Soviet Union; had to retreat northward in total panic because MacArthur had "Cut them Off" and threatened to "Annihilate" them. Samson and Delilah are up there winging their way to the northeast.
"INCHON" LANDING" (SEPTEMBER, 1950)
As I've written about before, from September of 1950; the "United Nations" forces led by the U.S. ended up chasing the North Koreans all the way back north. But General MacArthur got overconfident and even said the war would be over by Christmas. He was wrong.
The Communists in China took power in 1949 and that guy Mao Zedong wanted to help the North Korean Communists. He told the United Nations to leave North Korea alone and even warned the U.S. not to keep on fighting. Some of the Ducks are quacking over there.
In late 1950 the Chinese caught the Americans and almost everyone else by surprise when they invaded North Korea. General MacArthur wanted to use Nuclear bombs against them but President Truman said no. Ah! I can smell the new baby Cholla cactus over there.
KOREAN WAR COMBAT
,
Wow! My Encyclopedia says in late November of 1950, during the "dead of winter;" one hundred and twenty thousand Chinese surrounded thirty thousand U.S. and U.N. soldiers at the "Chosin" Reservoir. That was in northeast Korea. It was twenty degrees "Below Zero."
Dais says our boss just happened to be reading about the "Battle of Chosin" when he was trying to figure out a name for Charlie Company's big boy Quail. It says here that for over two weeks a "brutal" battle took place in 1950. Libby's scent just came in from my right.
Some of the Americans surrounded in that "Kill Zone" at Chosin were part of the "First Marine Division" just like Mr. Steve's father. But he didn't arrive in Korea until mid-1951 so, fortunately; was not one of the men who fought in that bloody battle. Dawn's barking. 
EVACUATING THE DEAD ("CHOSIN" RESERVOIR)
( NOV.-DEC. / 1950)
Oh wow! The caption below this picture says it shows "corpses" of American Soldiers killed at Chosin being piled onto Trucks. Mr. Steve's father says Marines don't like to leave any wounded Soldiers behind. And they don't like to leave behind the dead bodies either.
Mr. Steve's dad was told by some of the guys in the First Marine Division how, in order to get more bodies to fit on the Trucks; sometimes the "frozen in place" limbs had to be broken. It was because they didn't have enough Trucks. The four Pigeons are flying to the east.
It says here finally, after seventeen days and nights of "fierce fighting; the surviving U.S. and U.N. troops decided to attempt a "break out" of that "pocket of death." Then the hard part began. They had to make an "arduous" one hundred mile "desperate fighting retreat."
RETREAT FROM CHOSIN RESERVOIR
Escaping from the Chosin area, the columns of U.S. and South Korean survivors then had to "run the gauntlet." For most of the way the Chinese, who held the "higher ground;" had the advantage of shooting down on their enemy. Some Crows are cawing faintly right now.
The Soldiers fleeing from Chosin were in one of the worst situations any Soldier can find himself in, those trying to kill them from high on hills; themselves being hard to kill. But, it was one of those "Do or Die" situations; no matter what they had to make it to the coast I guess.
Mr. Steve's dad was told, of the approximately thirty thousand Allied Soldiers who took part in that late 1950 campaign; about seventeen thousand ended up as casualties. Theodora is running bye. Again today the Sun's warmth makes me feel good so thank Everyone again.
"VALLEY OF FIRE"
I've said before how the word "Casualties" just means all of the dead, wounded or what they call "Missing in Action." A lot of Soldiers at Chosin either froze to death or died of disease. Like Mr. Steve's father about a year later, most got "Frostbite" in their hands or feet.
A survivor of Chosin later told our boss's father it was a "frozen Hell on Earth." They chuckled at how one Officer described what happened not as a "Retreat," but an "advance in a different direction." Blackbeard and Anne are flying bye, moving toward the northeast.
In World War II General MacArthur was "Caught by Surprise" in 1941, and Mr. Steve's father thinks he was probably "embarrassed" again in 1950 at being so "overconfident." So he was totally willing to drop Nuclear bombs on China. But President Truman said no to him.
"COTTONTAIL" RABBIT
I just glanced up and see a Bunny Rabbit over there near the back fence, which for some reason all of a sudden makes me feel good. Daisy loves Bunny Rabbits and that one seems like it's sniffing around for food. Andy's guarding the burrow and just picked up its scent.
Daisy and I are sad but we'll try to get a lot done today anyway. Dais intends to "Make the Rounds" more often today up there but, it's going to be really hard God not to think about Heathcliff. Boy! I can't wait to go tell Daisy about seeing that cute Rabbit over there.
Wow! Just as I'm thinking about how hard it might be today; I remember that Spanish saying Mr. Frank told our boss, "Querer es poder." That means, "Wanting is Power," or "When there's a will there's a way." Miss Susan says Bunny Rabbits are called "Cottontails."
PHYSICAL REALITY
Boy God! I kind of have a feeling today I'll be thinking about the subject of "Mortality" more than Daisy and I had planned on. Hey Heathcliff! We want to hope down here you're up there in Heaven. If you're mind-reading me it would be so great if you sent us a signal.
Daisy reassured me Heathcliff, in her opinion; you're up in Heaven because you always did your job well and weren't lazy. In fact, as far as we can tell; you were a hard worker and if I ever had a house I would want a Rooster exactly like you. Boy! Tomorrow will so weird.
Hey Heathcliff! Thinking about how hard you worked makes think even more why I have to show our boss I'm a hard worker like you too. And, even though my heart is not really "Into It;" I have to convince myself to just "Carry On." The Bunny Rabbit's now gone now.
KANSAS
Dais told me about that one KANSAS song called "Carry On Wayward Son," which she says begins with the "Acapella" type singing I've written about. I guess Millie liked the guitar- playing. Our boss likes how most KANSAS songs have many "Tempo" changes in them.
Well God, I guess Daisy's right. "From here on in" as they say, we're just going to have to add Heathcliff to our list of others we pray for at night before we go to bed. From now on, we'll just have to think of Heathcliff like Molly the Mule and keep him alive in our minds.
God? As I've said before, some think praying is dumb but we don't care. Like Mr. Steve said, it may not do any good but it just seems like praying makes you feel better, especially when things are going really badly. Everyone sometimes needs a "boost in hope" he thinks. 
"THE WALTON'S"
Dais and Millie one time saw an episode of that tv show "The Walton's" where, when the oldest daughter was depressed her mom told her she felt "the load was a little lighter" when she prayed. Mr. Steve would agree with that and so do we too! Dawn's now barking.
Hey Blessed Mother! I just now said a quick "Hail Mary" and thinking of You sure does make me feel better alright. I have a feeling I'll be saying way more prayers today than I did in the last two days. And I'll bet Daisy is going to pray a lot more than usual today too.
A Motorcycle just zoomed bye out there on Primavera Road and it left behind some dust floating up into the air. I've mentioned before how, as a kid; Mr. Steve's Nephew Mathew used to ride Bikes the way they do on "Motocross" Motorcycles. I can smell some Creosote. 
"CREATION" / THE "SPARK OF LIFE"
MICHAELANGELO BUONAROTTI ("SISTINE CHAPEL")
Hey God! In 1985 our boss was so lucky in getting to see that "Sistine Chapel" back in Rome. This Encyclopedia has a picture showing the section of that giant ceiling painting where Michelangelo painted the moment You gave the "Spark of Life" to Adam. I smell Sage.
Wow! All of a sudden the Sun got brighter above the eastern horizon. That reminds me of last year at this exact same time of year and all of a sudden I'm having one of those Déjà Vu moments I've been having for the last three days. Ducks are quacking next door.
Hey Heathcliff! Daisy and I will both start praying for you down here and I sure do hope you'll do the same for us if you're up there in Heaven. Oh! Maybe, "God willing;" someday we can even meet again. And we'll promise to think of you so your spirit will survive!
HIGH DESERT "RATTLESNAKE"
Aha! I knew I was smelling a Rattlesnake and sure enough, I see it behind the fence. Oh boy! I hope it doesn't find out Andy and Helen, and all three Quail Companies too; all have new baby's around here now . Bonnie and Clyde's babies are all asleep up there in their nest.
Wow! Usually you don't see a Snake out in the open like that because Hawks and Crows will try to kill it for food. Yup! That Rattlesnake is crawling away. It wasn't rattling it's tail but was sticking it's tongue out to taste the air, but didn't pick up anything worth eating.
If a Rattlesnake bites you and shoots their "Venom" into you it will not kill you right now but eventually will "Kick In" as they say. So if a bitten Squirrel or Gopher runs away the Snake just "Trails them Down." Like that saying goes, "You can run, but you can't hide."
"KOMODO DRAGON"
A little Lizard is over there standing on the wall near the sliding glass door going into the dining room. Daisy once saw a tv show about the world's biggest Lizard. According to this one Encyclopedia, it's called a "Komodo Dragon;" and they live only in "Indonesia."
I guess Indonesia is many islands and not a single "land mass," and Komodo Dragons live only on one of those islands. Wow! It says here Komodo Dragons can grow up to be ten feet long and weigh two hundred pounds. Fannie and Freddie are flying toward the northeast.
Mr. Steve's friend Mark Ritter knew how those Komodo Dragons eat big Deer after poison in their "Saliva" slowly kills their "Prey." Like Rattlesnakes, and Gila Monsters too; they bite it and then wait for it to die. I can see by the picture they use their tongue to taste the air.
"INDONESIA"
This is interesting. It says here the first Komodo Dragon wasn't even "discovered" by the Western World until 1910! Before that there were "rumors" of "land Crocodiles" on some of the Indonesian islands. 1910 was only four years before the First World War started.
When Mr. Steve's friend Mark Ritter went to Arizona he thought it was only going to be for a short time. So, he left our Chief with that "Gila Monster" to "take care of;" until he came back. But he liked Arizona so much he never came back and Mr. Steve "inherited" it.
I've mentioned before how Gila Monsters also have venom in their saliva which helps to slow down and eventually kill it's victim. In College at C.S.U.N. Mr. Steve's mom had a painting assignment which required her to use two "overlapping" images. Dawn's barking.
"GILA MONSTER" CLOSE UP
PAINTING BY STELLA CÓRDOVA
Whenever we go in the living room to watch cartoons I see two painting hanging on the south wall of the dining room area on that side of the house. Those paintings were done as our boss's mom's College assignment. A flock of Birds is flying bye up there in the sky.
Daisy heard Mr. Steve talking on the phone with his mom about those two paintings. One shows a Gila Monster and the other has an "Iguana" in the "Foreground." Mr. Steve's mother copied the image of a picture Mark Ritter took in the Galápagos Islands on his visit.
The painting of the Gila Monster was made using a close up photo Mr. Doug took of our boss holding his Gila Monster. In the painting, "At first Glance;" the painting kind of looks like a Dinosaur as it's against an almost "Primeval" type background. A Duck is quacking.
"MARINE IGUANA"
PAINTING BY STELLA CÓRDOVA
Once you look closer, you can see in the painting how it's a Gila Monster being held in a person's hand. In the painting of the Marine Iguana, once you closer; you notice a Battleship is going bye in the Ocean way down there below the Iguana. Speedy Gonzalez ran bye.
I guess the image of that Battleship was taken from a "Wire Photo" Mr. Steve had. Both of those two paintings, "On closer Inspection;" turn out to show something other than what the viewer might have thought they saw at first. I just heard a Train whistle faintly.
It's illegal to keep Gila Monsters because they're so rare Dais heard. Mr. Steve kept his in a big glass one hundred gallon Fish tank, for six years; until it died. That Fish tank is here on the patio, to my left; on the other side of the Encyclopedias and legal research books.
"GILA MONSTER"
PHOTO BY KRZYSZTOF WIKTOR IMAGE / HELODERMA SUSPECTUM
Dais heard our boss and Mr. Doug talk on the phone about how Gila Monsters are only found in the State of Arizona. They're the only U.S. "Venomous" Lizard. When Mr. Steve had that Gila Monster that one kid Michael and his brothers and sisters all knew about it.
During the time Mr. Steve had that Gila Monster the neighborhood kids were "Sworn to Secrecy" as they say. When they went with him to buy Mice to feed the Gila Monster they would say they were for a Snake. Dawn's barking and I can smell he, Blinky and Rosie over there.
I guess the kids became kind of "Protective" of that Gila Monster. One time when a guy at the Pet Shop asked what the Mice were for Michael said, "What's it to you?" Mr. Steve said really fast, "A Gopher Snake;" and that worker nodded and put the Mice in a paper bag.
"SILVERBACK" GORILLAS
PHOTO BY OWEN TAYLOR
Those Komodo Dragons were only found in the early 20th century. I've mentioned before how those African Gorillas weren't even seen by any "Westerners" until the late 1850's.
Wow! My Encyclopedia says some male "Silverback" Gorilla's can be six feet tall and weight up to five hundred pounds. Boy! The fights they have to get the girl Gorilla's must really be unbelievable because of how strong they are. And I notice they have sharp teeth too.
I already can't wait to go see Dais up there in the front yard on my first long break of the day. I wonder if Finley and Fanny2 will go eat the seeds Mr. Steve puts out for the Birds? If so then Daisy will see for herself how finally Finley's found a girl Finch he can be with.
"KING FERDINAND III"
PAINTING BY STELLA CÓRDOVA
I've mentioned before how when we go in the house to watch tv, I see the painting Mr. Steve's mom did of Spain's King "Ferdinand III." He lived in the 13th century but was made a "Saint" in 1671. As I've said a few times in my other books, he was "Canonized."
That ten foot tall painting of King Ferdinand III is hanging near the kitchen entrance. I like it because our boss's mom put his face on it. The paintings of the Lizards are to the left of the King Ferdinand painting. The Saint Ferdinand III paining was in Art Exhibits.
Sometimes we watch cartoons on Saturday mornings but probably not today so I won't see the Lizard paintings and King Ferdinand. When I first saw King Ferdinand the face looked so familiar. Dais then told me Mr. Steve's mother used our boss's face in the image.
SAINT FERDINAND III (1199?-1252)
PAINTING BY BARTOLOMÉ ESTEBAN MURILLO
As I've said before, the Muslim "Moors" came across from North Africa in the early 8th century A.D. and conquered most of the "Iberian" Peninsula. That's where Spain and Portugal are now located. Frida and Diego flew bye and are now going over Libby's Corral.
King Ferdinand III, from "Castile;" also became King of other Spanish areas and was a "Reconquista" leader in taking back land from the Muslim Moors. Mr. Steve's mom admits that putting our boss's face on the King Ferdinand III painting was a "Vanity Project."
I've mentioned before how King Ferdinand III was called "Fernando el Santo" and "San Fernando Rey" in Spanish. That means "Ferdinand the Saint," and "Saint Ferdinand King." Boy! It must be great to have so many things named for you like King Ferdinand III. 
KING FERDINAND III
A painting shows the real King Ferdinand III when he had a gray beard. Mr. Steve used to have a full beard too and Dais and I've noticed his goatee getting grayer and grayer. He told Mr. Randy how, the "way he's going;" he'll have no hair on the top of his head soon.
The other day a man who bought something form our boss came over and he was big and had a long red beard like a Viking. Mr. Steve showed him some of his swords and spears and the Viking Statue he painted which is in his office. Two Pigeons landed on the Patio roof.
I've mentioned a few times over the last three days how, not only was the "San Fernando Mission" named for King Ferdinand III; but so was the "San Fernando Valley" and city of "San Fernando" too. He won a lot of battles against Muslim Moors. The Pigeons are cooing.
PIGEONS ON PATIO ROOF
The Pigeons above me right now are walking around and, as usual; their voices make be feel better. Oh! The other two Pigeons flew bye coming from the west, and are now going in the direction of Libby's Corral to the southeast. The clear air also makes me feel good too.
Yesterday I wrote about our Chief's articles on that man Mr. Espinoza; who was able to survive the "Bataan Death March" of 1942. I mentioned before how he was jealous of Birds like Pigeons because they could just fly away free. Oh! The Pigeons just now flew away.
Hey God! Was it You, and Mr. Espinoza's "Will Power;" that made it possible for him to survive when all those other guys from New Mexico didn't make it? It would be so bad to have to go through what they did. I can hear two Crows fighting out there in the desert.
"BATAAN DEATH MARCH" (1942)
I just thought of how terrible it must have been when Mr. Espinoza had to march, in the boiling hot Sun; all the way to that place called "San Fernando." In the Philippines there many Churches and other things named for King Ferdinand III. I smell some Mesquite.
I've mentioned before how, over there in the Philippines; there are towns and roads with our last name too. That's because those islands were colonies of Spain for over three centuries. Mr. Grant's wife Miss Lori is from the Philippines so they visit there from what Dais heard.
Ugh! I just noticed a Black Widow Spider over there and now see one of those Bugs called "Praying Mantis" too. I wonder if it eats Black Widows because I know for sure it eats the other types of Spiders. Boy! A lot of Bugs like Praying Mantis' are kind of scary looking.
"BLACK WIDOW" "PRAYING MANTIS"
I wonder who'd win in a fight between a Black Widow and a Praying Mantis? It would be a good match I think because a Praying Mantis has those spikes on its arms to hold the Black Widow so it could then bite a hole in the head. But the Black Widows have poison.
Oh! This is interesting. This Encyclopedia says Praying Mantis' are Connecticut's "State Insects." As I've mentioned a few times, Mr. Steve's sister Susan lives back there in Connecticut with her two boys Dalton and Austin. Blackbeard and Anne flew over top of the house.
It says here Praying Mantis' name comes from the way they hold their arms in a "praying position" while waiting to "ambush" and kill their "prey." I guess "Mantis" is the Greek word for "Seer," or else a "Prophet." A Freight Train just whistled faintly over there to my left.
"ORACLE" "DELPHI"
Oh! I wonder if those girls called "Oracles," who predicted the future for people; would be called a Mantis? Praying Mantis's patiently wait without moving, then "Spring into Action" and ambush its caught by surprise food when it "Comes into Range." I smell some Sage.
I guess some Praying Mantis will even eat other Praying Mantis sometimes. Dais told me she and Millie saw one turn its head all the way around backward to look over his shoulder. Oh! It says here that there are some Praying Mantis who get up to seven inches long!
Daisy saw a Praying Mantis catch a Bug right out of mid-air the way Cats can catch Birds sometimes! That Praying Mantis hasn't moved at all since I've been looking at it from over here on Elvira, and it blends in with d it. I just noticed that the Black Widow is gone now.
DESERT "RATTLESNAKE"
PHOTO BY DEBORAH WALL
That Rattlesnake I saw earlier is crawling underneath some cover out there in the desert behind the Sheds. Mr. Steve was told by Mark Ritter how, just like the Sharks; if a Rattlesnake breaks off a tooth another one will just grow right back in. Wow! That is impressive.
Mark Ritter said baby Rattlesnakes already have venom in their their fangs when they're born. Like other Snakes, they "Shed" old skin every year, can detect another animal's heat from "A Distance;" and stick out their tongues to catch "particles" of scent floating in the air.
I suddenly just thought about that René Descartes quote Dais and I decided to use as the title of my books, "I think, therefore I am." Speedy Gonzalez just ran through the right vertical slot on the side of the gate to go out into the back desert. Some Ducks are quacking.
RENÉ DESCARTES (1597-1650)
I've mentioned before how that guy "Descartes" is called the "Father of modern western philosophy." I guess he was good in many areas but really good in Math. In French his quote "I think, therefore I am" would be "Jepense, donc je suis." Dawn's barking over there.
Daisy says our Chief tell his father on the phone how another version of Descartes' saying would be, "I'm thinking, therefore I exist." Hey God! This Encyclopedia says Descartes was a "sceptic" with a "Deistic" view of You. Smelling Blinky right now makes me feel good.
As You know God, Mr. Steve thinks You created everything but then have taken little part in the world after that; with "hopefully a few exceptions" he jokes. Oh! It's Descartes' mother "died in childbirth" when he was about one year old. And too bad the baby also died.
"VICTORIAN" ERA CHILDBIRTH
As I've written about before, Mr. Steve thinks for most of history "Simple daily Life" was often a struggle just to survive. "Happiness" was a "Relative" thing, not considered a "Right." And childbirth was one of the most painful and dangerous things a female could do.
Mr. Steve's mom has told him how a number of Trujillo and Córdova women have died giving birth. The Doctors now have much better knowledge and equipment than one hundred years ago. Today people have confidence babies can be born more safely I guess.
This one Encyclopedia talks about how that guy René Descartes used his "mathematical method" for "discussing" philosophical questions. He was important in developing "Geometry" and "Algebra" too. Those things called "Equations" are also his inventions Dais says.
"SPARK OF LIFE" MICHAELANGELO
This is interesting God. Descartes was a Military Engineer in the Dutch Army when he had one of those "Visions" just like the ones You probably sent down to Emperor Constantine I, the Prophet Muhammad and Joseph Smith. Boy! I'd love to have a good vision too.
Wow God! Descartes said You showed him how math could be used in philosophy. Mr. Steve thinks sometimes You Guys might tell us things through dreams so now Dais and I want to believe in that idea too. Andy's over there, alertly guarding the entrance to their burrow.
It says here Descartes shifted the "philosophical focus" of debate from "What is true?" to "Of what can I be certain." I've mentioned before how over the years our boss has tutored kids in certain subjects, but math is way too hard for him. Andy's sniffing the air right now.
FRANCIS BACON (1561-1626) JOHN LOCKE (1632-1704)
PAINTING BY FRANS POURBUS PAINTING BY GODFREY KNELLER
Now I need to look up a man from England named John Locke. I was originally going to write about him yesterday when I talked about the American "Founding Fathers," so Daisy said to put it in here because Descartes's ideas influenced John Locke. I smell some Mesquite.
This Encyclopedia says John Locke, the first British "Empiricist" in the "tradition of" Francis Bacon; is called the "Father of Liberalism." Some of his ideas were a big influence when Thomas Jefferson wrote the "Declaration of Independence." A Crow is cawing faintly.
I guess Empiricist's like Charles Darwin in the 19th century watches, or "Observes;" and "Measures" things. Oh! I just now noticed Francis Bacon died on April the 9th; Mr. Steve's ex-girlfriend Emily's birthday. I've mentioned how Mr. Steve's parents met on April 8th.
GALILEO GALILEI (1564-1642)
Daisy and Millie saw a tv show about that Italian guy "Galileo," who I guess was a big influence on Descartes. I've mentioned before how Galileo was the first person who built his own "Telescopes" to look out at the Moon, Stars and Planets. Some of the Duck are quacking.
John Locke thought every person was born as a "Tabula Rasa," which in Latin means a "Blank Slate." Then, for good and bad; you fill in the blanks during your lifetime. Hey God! I guess Descartes thought human "Reason" is "Autonomous" or separate from You
Descartes idea influenced later 18th century "Enlightenment" thinkers like John Locke, who then made such a big impression on the American Founding Fathers. Just before Galileo's era that German guy Nicolaus Copernicus lived. All four of the Pigeons just flew bye.
NICOLAUS COPERNICUS (1473-1543)
Just before Galileo's era that German guy Nicolaus Copernicus said the Earth "revolves" around the Sun, and not the other way around; as Aristotle and the Bible said. And, by looking closer at the night skies; Galileo then knew for sure that Copernicus had been so right.
This Encyclopedia says Copernicus was "Prussian" German. As I mentioned yesterday, he was born on February the 19th which is Mr. Steve's former girlfriend Harriet's birthday. And he died on May 24, which is our boss's parents' marriage anniversary. I smell a Lizard.
Wow! Copernicus spoke five languages. Hey God! In the 16th century there weren't any telescopes but he still figured out Your "Heliocentric" system in which all of the planets "orbit" around the Sun. Aha! I see the Lizard standing on the wall near the sliding glass door.
MODERN EUROPE
The area where Copernicus grew up in late 1400's is now called "Poland," but in those days was "Prussia." Later today I'll find out more about 1939, and the beginning of World War II; when the Germans wanted back the then Polish port city of "Danzig." I smell Sage.
Copernicus, Descartes and Galileo were good at math. Copernicus studied all the ancient Greek Philosophers. Hey God! Copernicus admitted he wasn't the first one to discover that the planets revolved around the Sun in Your "Solar System." Theodora just ran bye.
That guy "Pythagoras," who I've mentioned before; was the first person to say the Earth went around the Sun. It says here how he's one of the first "known" person to "put his mind" to math. Copernicus, Descartes, Galileo, Isaac Newton and Albert Einstein studied him.
PYTHAGORAS (570-495 B.C.)
It says here Pythagoras, born on the island of "Samos;" influenced Plato and Aristotle. Like that other guy Nikola Tesla about twenty five years later; he believed understanding "3" was one of the keys to understanding the Universe. I can smell the Twin Joshua trees.
Pythagoras, now "associated" with the "three-sided triangle;" was the first to think of music notes in "mathematical terms." He noticed all the different sounds anvils made when the Blacksmiths used different sized hammers to pound and shape metal. Dawn's barking.
Wow! I guess Pythagoras got some of his ideas about 3 from ancient Egypt and studying those Pyramids at Giza. And he was first to describe physical things in terms of "height, width and depth." Samson and Delilah are flying right over the top of Libby's Corral right now.
"ZERO"
"Numerical Systems" were developed in all the ancient civilizations like Mesopotamia, China, India and the areas now called Central and South America. I guess a "Number" means "How many?" But in math you also need something to represent the concept of "Nothing."
As I've written about, it was the Mesopotamian "Sumerians" who developed the first known system of "Writing." The first symbol for "0" is "Disputed" but some say it was created in the Middle East. Spaces between numbers is how Babylonians indicated "nothing."
Zero is important in a "Place-Value" math system, where the value of each number is determined by its place. 333 means three hundreds, tens and ones. Our boss met this man from India who said he thought the first use of the "numeral" 0 was in 500 A.D. India.
ZERO
Oh! This is kind of interesting. It says here, so the capitol letter "O" won't be confused with the number "0;" a "slash" or "dot" can be added to make it clearer. I guess zero is neither a "positive" or "negative" number, but is still considered to be an "even" number.
Any number "multiplied" by zero "equals" zero, and zero is the only "whole" number not "positive." Boy! Math seems hard to understand alright. Over the years Mr. Steve has tutored kids on how to take the ""Scholastic Aptitude Test" exam before they apply to go to College.
Our boss shows kids how to pass the "Essay" and "Comprehension" parts of the "S.A.T." exam. He admits he can't coach them on the math section. In High School at Alemany, he only barely passed "Algebra" and "Geometry" with the help of his friend named "Tom." 
"KOREAN WAR" (105 "HOWITZER")
Because Mr. Steve's father was a "Spotter" for artillery during the Korean War he had to be pretty good in math, which he is alright. And so was Grandma Trujillo, who only went to 4th Grade. They both loved to sit around the kitchen table just doing math problems.
It says here two other English words to indicate zero are "Aught" and Cypher." Andy is sniffing the air over there as he guards the entrance to he and Helen's burrow. Because of how he defends it Goliath the Gopher Snake has been very reluctant to go over there now I notice.
Oh! I have a little bit more to write about Galileo who, by agreeing with Copernicus on the Planet's movements around the Sun; he got in trouble with the Catholic Church in Italy. I can tell Andy just now picked up my scent coming from here on the Patio. Dawn's barking.
GALILEO WITH DAUGHTER SISTER MARIA CELESTE (1600-1634)
A painting shows Galileo and his daughter who was a Nun. The caption says it shows her "leading" her then totally blind father around. Daisy says our Chief has this book about Galileo and his daughter which I guess he's been reading little by little in one of the bathrooms.
Mr. Steve has used "Microscopes" and "Telescopes" too. He has those binoculars in his office which I've mentioned before. Hey God! Everyone now knows Earth revolves around the Sun but back then in the early 17th century everyone believed the Sun "rose" and "set."
According to my Encyclopedia, that guy Isaac Newton, who lived a few decades later; had ideas which were influenced by Rene Descartes' math. And I guess he "improved" on Galileo's telescope. I can hear a whistling Train going bye to my left out there in the northern desert.
ISAAC NEWTON (1643-1727)
I guess Isaac Newton was a Scientist but also a "Mystic" too. He made discoveries about the "nature of light and color" and was the first to prove sunlight is really just a mixture of all the colors. The strong scent of our neighbor's new Spring Roses just floated in over here.
Isaac Newton invented this type of math called "Calculus," which Dais heard our boss say is "too hard to understand" for him. But then again he jokes, he "barely" passed Algebra and Geometry in High School. All four of the Pigeons are flying over Libby's Corral right now.
It says here Isaac Newton's ideas about "Gravity," and how the Universe operated; were accepted as true for about three hundred years. Then, at the beginning of the 20th century; that guy Albert Einstein added to those ideas. A cool breeze just came in from out in the desert.
CALIFORNIA HIGH DESERT
This is interesting. Isaac Newton later admitted he thought about gravity not because an Apple hit him on the head but because he saw an Apple fall to the ground from a tree. I guess he, like Albert Einstein, was at times just "an average student" when he was a younger kid.
Isaac Newton didn't really care about what others thought about how he looked, so wore "wrinkled" clothes and liked wigs because then he didn't have to think about washing his messy hair. Mr. Steve heard that guy Albert Einstein preferred just plain "functional" clothes.
It says here, as he got older; Isaac Newton disliked being around others. He became way more "withdrawn," and "recoiled from much of social interaction." Daisy's noticed that our boss Mr. Steve keeps to himself a lot more now, and is not nearly as "outgoing" as he used to be.
GRAVITY / ENERGY "THREE LAWS OF MOTION"
A Diagram shows Isaac Newton's three "Laws of Motion." The first, "an object at rest will stay at rest unless an outside force is applied to it. An object in motion will stay in motion unless acted upon by an outside force." Finley and his new girlfriend just now flew bye.
Newton's second law of motion is, "Acceleration is produced when a force acts upon an object. And the greater the mass of an object, the greater the force needed to accelerate it." I can see a lot of Birds flying around out in the desert to the east; behind our three Sheds.
Isaac Newton's third law of motion is, "For every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction." In 1705 Queen Anne "Knighted" Isaac Newton, when he died in 1727 he was the first "Commoner" ever buried at "Westminster Abbey." I smell the new baby Cholla cactus.
QUEEN ANNE (1665-1714)
PAINTING BY CHARLES JERVAS
A tv show Daisy saw said Queen Anne not only ruled England, but Ireland and Scotland too; or "Great Britain." It says here only one of her children survived. Jonathon Swift lived in her time, and the Pirate Blackbeard named one of his Ships "Queen Anne's Revenge."
Daisy thinks if our boss could borrow Mr. Peabody's time traveling machine, he would want to go back and see the late 17th and early 18th century "Pirates." Our boss told Mr. Rich, who barbeques meat a lot; "Bucaneers" were the Pirate Cooks. A Train whistled.
Mr. Steve joked with his mom, if he did time travel he wouldn't want to stay long because of how "unhealthy and violent" most other periods have been. When all those Pirates lived most people died young. BLACK SABBATH have a good song with that title Daisy's told me.
PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN" (0000) BLACKBEARD'S DEATH ARTWORK BY SHERAZ PAINTING BY JEAN-LÉON GÉRÔME
Writing about Pirates makes me think of that morning when our boss showed Mr. Mike the "Cutlass" type swords he has, one he made of wood at Sylmar High School. They talked about a movie called "Pirates of the Caribbean. Boy! I sure wish I'd hear Heathcliff.
In the painting by that guy from France Jean-Léon Gérôme, of Blackbeard's death; you can see Blackbeard swinging his cutlass at the British Naval Officer sent to capture him. Wow! Blackbeard and Anne are flying bye. I see Blackbeard's white empty eye socket.
Mr. Mike told our boss he knows someone who "inherited" a "rare" 1971 "Oldsmobile" Car called a "Cutlass 442." It's called that because it came with a "4-barrel carburetor," a "4-speed transmission" and a "dual exhaust" system. Oh! Heathcliff's Hens are cackling.
1971 OLDSMOBILE "CUTLASS" 442 MR. MIKE
As they loaded Rex to go to the dump, our boss and Mr. Mike discussed how those 1971 Cutlass's had a big "455-cubic-inch V-8" motor; which could make 340 horsepower. It had those "Bucket" seats like Mr. Steve's Chevelle's, and working "Hood Scoops." I smell Sage.
Mr. Steve found it amusing when Mr. Mike told him how, back in 1961; Cutlass's began as small "compact" Cars. Until 1999 they came in many forms, like those "Station Wagons" I've written about. Boy! What a long day this is going to be without good old Heathcliff.
From what we heard Mr. Mike say that morning, it was in 1964 when Oldsmobile started producing Cutlass's as "Muscle Cars." Mr. Mike jokes he's "envious and jealous" when our boss has told him about his 1968 "Super Sport" Chevelle. Two Crows are squawking. 
VOUGHT "F7U CUTLASS" (1955)
I've mentioned before how Mr. Mike knows about the subject of "Aviation." One time as our boss watered the Mulberry tree up in the front yard Mr. Mike told him about a Jet called the "Vought F7U Cutlass." Even though I'm thinking of Heathcliff, I'm glad to be alive.
My Encyclopedia says those Cutlass's, which can be used either as Fighters or Bombers; are "Navy" Planes "based on" Aircraft Carriers. Oh! Like Mr. Mike said that time, it says here they're the first Jet with those "Swept Wings;" and the first "Tailless Fighter. I smell Sage.
According to what it says here, those Cutlass's "first saw service" in the late 1940's; right after World War II had ended. Mr. Steve's father's friend General Marquez, in the early 1950's flew them. Mr. Mike mentioned "afterburners" which Daisy thinks makes a Jet go faster.
MESSERSCHMITT 262
It says here what Mr. Mike said, the Cutlass Jet was "designed" after studying that Me-262 I've written about over these last three days. Mrs. Gunther, the lady who built our house in 1989; had a husband in Nazi Germany's "Luftwaffe" Air Force. Libby neighed over there.
Dais calls Mr. Steve our "Chief," and for some reason it just sounds even more right to me today. After all, he is kind of like our General who leads us; and sometimes sort of reminds us of an Indian Chief like that guy Tecumseh. Mr. Steve jokes we live on a "two acre oasis."
An "oasis" is, "A fertile place in the desert, due to the presence of water." The road that goes bye in front of our house is called "Oasis," and Miss Susan thinks there might have been an oasis near us once. In 1985, in Israel; our boss visited Jericho which is an oasis I guess.
"HUACACHINA," PERU JERICHO (1985)
An Oasis is where things grow even though it's in a dry area. I've mentioned before how Mr. Steve and his sister Susan rode Camels when the St. Ferdinands Tour Group visited Jericho back in 1985. Boy! It would be so interesting to smell a real actual live Camel I think.
Daisy thinks, if our boss's father could time travel he'd want to go back and see when the Israelites under that guy Joshua conquered Jericho. Dais and I would want to see that too, as it's such an interesting story alright. But then, we'd want to come back to the present.
One time our boss and Mr. Phillip talked about this 1990's English band called OASIS. Like the KINKS and SPARKS, OASIS has two brothers in it. One time Daisy and Millie saw a tv show about OASIS. All four Pigeons are flying over Libby's Corral going to the east.
OASIS
Our Chief told Mr. Dave he hasn't heard many OASIS songs, but the ones he has heard do kind of remind him of the BEATLES; and at other times the KINKS. "Liam" and "Noel" Gallagher are the brothers in OASIS. PANTERA also has two brothers in the band too.
Daisy heard Mr. Dave tell our Chief, the brothers in OASIS aren't related to that Irish Guitarist Rory Gallagher; who I've written about. I guess sometimes, like in the KINKS; the brothers in OASIS don't get along. A little gray Lizard just went running bye.
The brothers in SPARKS and PANTERA don't argue and fight all the time, and it's the same with the ALLMAN BROTHERS. The two sisters in HEART seem to really like each other Daisy says. It being Saturday, I wonder if we'll go in the living room to watch cartoons?
VAN HALEN
This afternoon I'll write about that one band from Pasadena called VAN HALEN. Their Guitarist "Eddie" is the brother of "Alex" who's the Drummer. They get along pretty well and even seem like best friends I guess. Eddie Van Halen is seven months older than Mr. Steve.
Mr. Steve thinks he hears early 1960's "Surf" Rock in the first version of the KINKS, and also in VAN HALEN two decades later. Mr. Steve has been told "Ray" and "Dave" Davies of the KINKS, and the two brothers in VAN HALEN; liked the VENTURES. Daffy's quacking.
The music of the VENTURES is a part of Mr. Steve's life. As a ten year old he drew their logo and jokes he "unsuccessfully" tried to learn the solo on their song "Wipe Out." Daisy told me the VENTURES also have a good song about Hawaii where Mr. Mark's family Live.
BACHMAN TURNER OVERDRIVE MR. MARK
I guess, one time our boss and Mr. Mark talked about that 1970's Canadian Hard Rock band BACHMAN TURNER OVERDRIVE. Daisy says their "energetic and catchy" songs can make you feel happy like in Rhêma. Mr. Steve and Miss Sandy saw them play that time.
One of Mr. Dave's old Motorcycle Shop customers in Oregon talked about BACHMAN TURNER OVERDRIVE having brothers in the band. And one time Randy Bachman, who had been in the GUESS WHO; had to fire his own brother. Frida and Diego flew bye.
Mr. Steve thinks it's normal for brothers to sometimes argue and disagree like he and his brothers do. Daisy heard even the KINKS Ray and Dave Davies, who had fistfights at times; are now friends again. I've mentioned that old Indian saying about "Burying the Hatchet."
BLACK CROWES MISS HARRIET
Daisy and Millie heard our boss talking to a customer in Georgia about a band from back there called the BLACK CROWES. I guess their two brothers are sometimes known for fighting a lot. They were once on the cover of "Music Connection" magazine Miss Harriet wrote for.
One time our boss and his Niece Samantha talked about the members of the EAGLES not really liking each other all that much. But, they get along on stage.
CURRENT SITE "S.I.B.L. " DICK JACKSON /ASSEMBYMAN ERNANI BARNARDI
I've written about how Mr. Steve had to be on a Little League team with that kid Dean who spiked him the year before.
Sister Rita Joseph told our Chief to say extra prayers for a soul in "Purgatory." And, if it turns out there is such a place, Heathcliff might be there so; tonight we'll say extra prayers for him. Boy! I can't wait for my first big break so I can go tell Daisy about that new Hawk.
THE VENTURES
Over the last three days I've mentioned that band the VENTURES a lot. Daisy says our boss has a customer in "Tacoma" up there in the State if Washington. The VENTURES are all from Tacoma, and the Parts Manager's family knew some of the VENTURE'S families.
I guess, from what Dais heard; Tacoma is one of those "Port" cities like Long Beach I've written about. The Parts Manager told Mr. Steve how some people up there says the name of their city may be the Indian "Puyallup" phrase for "Mother of Waters." Dawn's barking.
Tacoma is along the coast of an area called "Puget Sound," which Daisy heard is about thirty miles to the southwest of that other big city of "Seattle." Andy's over there looking at me sitting on Elvira. Right now I suddenly feel pretty good seeing Andy guarding their hole
"TACOMA," WASHINGTON
PHOTO BY SEAN PAVONE
According to what Daisy heard that "Toyota" Parts Manager tell our boss, the Puyallup Indians are a part of the "Salish" people; and the name Tacoma may actually be interpreted to mean "Snow Covered Mountain." Andy's sniffing the air and I can tell he's so alert.
Dais says the Parts Manager mentioned this big tall mountain near Tacoma called "Mount Rainier." A good picture in my Encyclopedia shows it in the background of the city, and it's the snow covered mountain the Native peoples referred to. I can smell little Blinky over there.
The Parts Manager said in 1929, right after the "Stock Market Crash;" Tacoma had a big "power shortage." So, for a month; that Aircraft Carrier "Lexington's" engines had to be used to supply electricity. I've mentioned how Miss Sandy's father father served on the Lexington.
2014 TOYOTA "TACOMA"
Daisy says one time a man came over to our house to buy some things from our boss, and he was driving a Truck called a "Tacoma." She told me I would've really liked it because it was royal blue in color and was all shiny. Frida and Diego just now flew over Libby's Corral.
According to what that Parts Manager told our boss that one time, from 1995 through 2004 the Tacoma was one of those "Compact" or smaller Trucks I've mentioned before. I guess, from 2004 on it's now one of those "Mid-Size" vehicles. Libby's walking around over there.
Mr. Steve's customer said how you can buy a Tacoma "Pickup" Truck with either two or four doors. Daisy heard him say that, in the year 2005; the Tacoma was given the award as being "Truck of the Year." Boy God ! I keep hoping to hear Heathcliff's voice just one more time.
THE "UNIVERSE"
Hey God! Mr. Steve wants to believe there's a place like Purgatory and Daisy and I do too now! If you die with a smaller "Venial" sin on your Soul, and not one of those "Mortal" sins; there should be a place to go. It shouldn't just be "All or Nothing" our boss thinks.
Some people call Purgatory "Limbo," Mr. Steve's father jokes it's the military "Brig" or "temporary holding tank" until they figure out what to do with you. Mr. Steve joked with Mr. Grant how a venial sin is like a "misdemeanor," a mortal sin is the equivalent of a "felony."
Purgatory is for those who die with only venial sins on their Soul. There they "burn off" or "purge" their sins and eventually earn Heaven. That's why from now on Daisy and I have to says extra prayers for Heathcliff. In fact, I'm going to say a Hail Mary for him right now.
HIGH DESERT MORNING SKY
Daisy and I both agree with Sister Rita Joseph who used to say, if you help "give a boost" to a Soul in Purgatory trying to get into Heaven; maybe someday if you're in Purgatory someone will help you. I really, really want to believe that idea. And I know for sure Dais does too.
I sure wish I could have smelled Sister Rita Joseph but she died. Daisy and I always says an extra prayer for her, even though our boss says she probably went right up into Heaven. But, even if Sister Rita Joseph's doesn't need any more prayers; then some other Soul might!
To some Christians there's no such thing as a "Middle Ground" in making it into Heaven, you either make it or you don't! The Civil War General "Stonewall" Jackson believed that way. You were either a "God Fearing" person who could be trusted or you weren't and couldn't.
"STONEWALL" JACKSON / ROBERTE. LEE
Mr. Steve read Stonewall Jackson was more of an "Old Testament" Christian, who saw everything in "black or white." Either you were a God fearing person, who could be motivated by kindness; or you weren't so fear was the only thing you understood. Dawn's barking.
Hey Lord! I guess, Robert E. Lee was more of a "New Testament" Christian; who often saw things in overlapping "Shades of Gray." At times he used fear to "get things done" but most of the time, unlike Stonewall Jackson, gave the "benefit of the doubt." I can smell Blinky.
Daisy told me our Chief thinks Robert E. Lee usually believed a person "Innocent until proven Guilty," Stonewall Jackson was "more inclined" to believe a person "Guilty until proven Innocent." That guy Tomas de Torquemada, who led the "Inquisition;" thought like that.
ROBERT E. LEE (1807-1870)
Dais heard our Chief tell Mr. Dave this one story he heard that shows you what Robert E. Lee's Soldiers thought of him. They trusted and respected his decision making, as he had their lives "In his Hands" so to speak. Smelling Dawn, Blinky and Rosie makes me feel good.
In the story a "Deserter," who left the army "without permission;" was dragged in front of Robert E. Lee who was in his tent doing "paperwork." Two angry Soldiers were holding the "Handcuffed" man on either side. Lee glanced up to look at the man "up and down."
Robert E. Lee is said to have tilted his head down so he could see above his reading glasses on the end of his nose. He just moved his head slightly, nodding at a stool nearby. The two men "roughly" sat the Deserter down on the stool, saluted General Lee and then left the tent.
ROBERT E. LEE'S FAMILY
As the story goes, I guess General Lee glanced up from doing his paperwork and saw the prisoner was trembling so said to him; "Don't worry boy you'll get justice here." The man said, "I know sir, that's exactly what I'm afraid of." Blackbeard and Anne just now flew bye.
Mr. Grant, as a Lawyer; thought that was a funny story because he knows deserters are killed or "Executed" as a punishment. I've mentioned before how "A.W.O.L." stands for "Away Without Leave." A Train whistled out in the northern desert, which makes me feel good.
In another story, after the Civil War people were attending Sunday Mass when a black guy tried to "Take Communion;" which froze all the white people. But Robert E. Lee walked up and knelt next to the man. When he took communion, then all of the other white people did too. 
FLYING PIGEONS
Two of the Pigeons just now flew bye, flapping together toward the northeast. Hey God! Daisy and I now kind of want to believe, like our boss does; You're what they call "Benevolent." My English Dictionary says that's, "An inclination toward kindness, mercy and charity."
Daisy and I God, want to believe You'd want to give most Souls a second chance in such an important thing like "Eternity." Mr. Steve and his father want to believe a "good and just" God in their minds would not so easily throw away a Soul. Things are not all "Black and White.
Mr. Steve's father jokes how life often seems more "plaid" than anything else. Just as the Yin and Yang symbol has a black dot in a white teardrop; there's a white dot inside of the black teardrop. Daisy saw a tv show on Buddhism which mentioned the "transient" nature of life.
"MAHABODHI" ("GREAT AWAKENING" TEMPLE)
Hey Mr. Buddha! If You just so happen to be up there listening in on me down here on Elvira, Daisy and I think You must've been smart in order to start a whole religion. I guess Your religion has three "doctrines" and "impermanence" is one of them. Dawn's barking.
Daisy says Mr. Buddha, that older Chinese lady who came over to our house seemed so smart. She said her sister and husband visited India's "Mahabodhi" Temple, in the place where You attained "Enlightenment" under the "Bodhi" tree. I'd really like to smell that spot.
The lady from China knew a lot about Buddhism, and told Mr. Steve about the big city of "Beijing;" which is where her and all of her family are originally from. Daisy says, even though they spent only one afternoon together; our boss learned things from her. Daffy's quacking.
"LAMA" TEMPLE ("BEIJING," CHINA)
That Chinese lady told Mr. Steve about this place in Beijing called the "Lama" Temple, which is a "Tibetan" Buddhist Temple. Actually she said, it's one of those Monasteries; and her Uncle was a "Fortune Teller" there for a few years. I smell Blinky standing next to Dawn.
Hey! Maybe that lady's Uncle was kind of like those girl Oracles back there in Delphi? A picture in this Encyclopedia shows how colorful that Lama Temple is. The lady said she at times dreams of her "Soothsayer" Uncle, and even smells the incense he burned. I like Rosie.
The lady said her Uncle had people pull a wooden stick from a container, then he looked up in a big book what was written on the stick. This was to find out "in advance" whether there was "danger" or "luck" in a situation she said. She told our Chief about "Feng Shui."
"FENG SHUI"
Mr. Steve was interested when the lady told him Feng Shui means "Wind-Water," and is used "adapt to the invisible energy flowing all around the world." Daisy heard, in building a house; Feng Shui is used in "positioning" it. The lady said "Qi," or "cosmic currents."
Daisy says our boss told Mr. Dave he's not sure about "flows of positive energies," but he thinks it might be true. That one big blue Dragonfly just zoomed bye in front of the Sheds, and I heard him coming from far away. A lot of Birds are flying around out there in the desert.
Hey God! Mr. Steve told that Chinese lady it's funny how such spiritual and even kind of superstitious people like the Chinese in 2014 are officially an "Atheist" State. That lady agreed and thought it "ironic." I smell the new little Cholla cactus growing over there in the dirt.
MAO ZEDONG (1893-1976) JOSEPH STALIN (1878-1953)
I've written how, after Lenin died; Joseph Stalin ended up being the leader of the "Soviet Union" in the mid-1920's. In 1949, or just four years after the end of World War II; Mao Zedong made China Communist. Between them they killed millions and millions of people.
That nice Chinese lady told our boss about how "Suan Ming" means "Fate Calculating." And, she also told him in the Chinese "Zodiac" there are twelve years; each year is represented by an "Animal Spirit." I smell that clump of Joshua trees over there near Libby's Corral.
I just thought of that little hunchback Homer Lea, who wrote those two books on military history. Vladimir Lenin was influenced by those books I guess. One time Mr. Steve met a lady who went to College at "Stanford," and they talked about how Homer Lea went there too.
HOMER LEE (1876-1912)
Mr. Steve also told the Chinese lady about Homer Lea, and how he died young and was a "Disabled"" hunchback. Dais says she was interested when he told some think he got that way because he was accidentally dropped on the ground as a baby. He was only five feet tall.
Homer Lea went to China and influenced some important people during the civil war they were having. That Chinese lady told our boss the phrase, "Wu wang guo chi," or "Don't forget the national humiliation." It's "important in understanding" China in 2014 she said.
After many centuries of being powerful and advanced technologically, China went down in the 19th century; when the European countries came in and kind of took over. China became a poor and weak country. And, in the bloody 20th century; it didn't get much better I guess. 
CURRENT CHINESE MILITARY
PHOTO BY GOH CHA
Mr. Steve's dad thinks, because of what happened in the 19th and 20th centuries; China's determined never to let it happen again. So, now they're building a stronger military; that will be able to "resist outside pressures" as the Chinese say. I smell the new baby Cholla cactus.
During the 19th century the British came in and sold "Opium" to the Chinese, which got a lot of people "Addicted." They even had two what are called "Opium Wars" over it. In both cases England won because of better weaponry. So they "forced bad terms" on the Chinese.
In 2014 Mr. Steve thinks, based on what happened over the last two hundred years; China says no one has the right to tell them they can't become a "World Class" military power. This tv show Daisy saw used the word "sad" to describe part of China's history. And "tragic" too. 
"LA NOCHE TRISTE"
(ESCAPE FROM TENOCHTITLAN / JUNE, 1520)
PAINTING BY ARTURO LIMON
In my books I've learned about Cortez's 16th century conquest of the Aztec Empire, and will learn more in chapter three. I just thought of "The Sad Night," or "La Noche Triste;" when in 1520 the Spanish Soldiers barely escaped that Aztec city "Tenochtitlán." I smell Sage.
That guy Córtez, like Robert E. Lee; was obviously "a good leader." But, unlike Robert E. Lee; he could be really dishonest. He and about four hundred surviving Soldiers made it out of Tenochtitlán, and Daisy heard the man on the tv show also call it "The Night of Tears."
Hey God! Did You cause those greedy Conquistadors to drown when they sank into the water because of the weight of Aztec gold they were stealing. I've mentioned how Tenochtitlán was built right on a big Lake. I smell Blinky over there standing next to Dawn and Rosie.
"JAGUAR" WARRIOR "AZTECS" "EAGLE" WARRIOR
Daisy and Millie saw that tv show about the conquest of the Aztecs. It said on La Noche Triste Córtez and the survivors got to the mainland, then retreated to the land of their Indian allied the "Tlaxcalans;" who really hated the Aztecs. Two of the Pigeons just now flew bye.
In 1520 the Spanish crossed that "Causeway" bridge leading from Tenochtitlan. But they weren't "Home Free." Before getting to Tlaxcala they had a battle where Córtez and a few men "hacked their way" to the Aztec leader and killed him, so the Aztecs ran. I smell Sage.
Mr. Steve, and his father too; would want to use Mr. Peabody's time travel machine to go back to see the things that happened when that guy Cortez's Spanish conquered the Aztecs. And Dais and I would definitely want to go with them. A Lizard went running bye in the dirt.
2003 PONTIAC "AZTEK"
PHOTO BY ABIMELIC DESIGN
One time Daisy and Millie were in our boss's office and heard him and Mr. Dave talking about a Car called the "Aztek." I guess, from 2001 through 2003; it was "assembled" or built down in Mexico for that "Pontiac" division of "General Motors." It's a small S.U.V.
Just like some people spell our last name with a "b" instead of a "v," I notice how that Car ends with a "k" instead of a "c." Mr. Dave said Pontiac "stopped making vehicles" back in 2009, or five years ago. All four of the Pigeons are now flying over Libby's Corral.
In my books I've mentioned a few times how Córtez's men sailed from Cuba and arrived on Mexico's east coast in 1519. That was twenty seven years after Christopher Columbus's first voyage. They named that coastal region "Vera Cruz," or "True Cross;" in Your honor Lord.
HERNAN CÓRTEZ (1485-1547)
Daisy told me our Chief has a replica wooden Aztec "Macuahuitl" axe weapon in one of the corners of his office. It has really sharp pieces of "Obsidian" glass sticking out the sides and, Daisy says it would be good except the Spanish had steel weapons. He also has an Aztec club.
That one good tv show said in 1519 Córtez left Cuba knowing the Governor, who gave him permission to just "Explore" mainland Mexico; changed his mind and "revoked" the order. But I guess Cortez sailed from Cuba anyway. He just pretended he hadn't heard about it.
Cortez knew he was braking the law in 1519, so when he got over to Mexico "scuttled" or sank all his Ships. That way none of his men could "Chicken Out" and return to Cuba. It was like what William Barrett Travis said in 1836 at the Battle of the Alamo, "Victory or Death." 
"WASHINGTON CROSSING THE DELAWARE"
("BATTLE OF TRENTON" / DECEMBER 1776)
PAINTING BY EMMANUEL LEUTZE
You could say 1n 1776 during the Revolutionary War, that guy George Washington was kind of like Córtez in 1519. Both took really "Big Gambles." I've written how, at the "Battle of Trenton;" for George Washington it was either "Do or Die." A flock of Birds is flying bye.
I'm looking at that good painting of George Washington in a Boat. In 1776 his men totally surprised the German mercenaries the British had hired, who were in Trenton, New Jersey and thought it impossible to be attacked during the really cold Winter. But they were wrong.
Mr. Steve's parents, when they saw the painting of George Washington in the Boat in New York City; heard the German-American Painter made three copies of his famous painting. One was destroyed during World War II. I guess Allied bombs blew it up in the city of "Bremen."
"BATTLEOF TRENTON"
(DECEMBER 26, 1776)
H. CHARLES MCBARRON JR.
I like this painting showing the American Soldiers "overrunning" some really surprised German "Hessian" Soldiers in Trenton. You can see dead Germans and George Washington's men running into the town. Boy! It looks so cold and also reminds of this last Winter.
Besides it being so cold, I guess another thing which made the Germans lower their guard was the attack came the day after Christmas. I just thought of that letter William Barret Travis wrote to Sam Houston from the Alamo. He said "Victory or Death" and he died alright.
Boy! I really have to go pee and it's perfect timing because this is the end of chapter two. I know in the next chapter Dais has me scheduled to learn a lot about how Córtez and his Spanish "Conquistadores" defeated the Aztec Empire. I sure do wish I could hear Heathcliff crow.
CHAPTER 3
I really like this one map in the Encyclopedia that shows exactly where the Spanish went in their conquest of the New World. It really gives you a better idea of just how much land they took.
Mr. Steve and that German guy whose relative was a Conquistador agreed it was ridiculous how 16th century people sometimes thought. The Conquistadors, who fought a lot among each other; spent time looking for "Fictitious" places. That means they don't even exist!
Steve thinks the Age of Enlightenment and also the Industrial Revolution in the 18th century were both made easier by having literature created by Johannes Gutenberg's Printing Press. Johannes Gutenberg must've been a really smart person.
Christopher Columbus had to make what Mr. Steve would call his "Pitch" to the Spanish King Ferdinand and his wife Queen Isabella. And in making his presentations and requests he in part was going by what he had read before that.
JOHANNES GUTENBERG (1398-1468)
Johannes Gutenberg inventing his Printing Press allowed many more people, the "masses;" to read things like the Bibles he printed. That was one of the things that ended the Dark Ages and helped out the beginning of the Renaissance.
"Huntington Library." Gutenberg's Bibles is there.
Before the early 15th century each book had to be hand written one letter at a time. But as I wrote in book one, by using "Movable Type" you could create a whole page and then just press it onto the paper. Some the first new books were those things called "Novels."
Hey God! Because of made up stories in 16th century Novels that guy Coronado looked all over the place for the Seven Cities of Gold up there in New Mexico. Ponce de Leon wasted time looking in Florida for the Fountain of Youth.
California was named after an island in one of those "Romantic Novels" as they were called. Even Columbus was hoping to find what he thought would be the area where the Garden of Eden was located.
After La Noche Triste Cortez and the survivors fled all the way back to the east coast where they could recover. And for some reason the Aztecs did not "Follow Up" on their victory. Mr. Steve told us he thinks they should have known that Cortez would come back.
PAINTING BY DANIEL HERNANDEZ
I guess eventually the Spanish and their Indian allies returned to Tenochtitlan. There's a good painting Hey Lord! I notice how there's a Franciscan Priest who has a Crucifix in his hand and is pointing it at Tenochtitlan for good luck.
In William Prescott's book it describes how when the Spanish were recuperating on the east coast they built some miniature warships. Then their Indian allies pulled them on wagons all the way back over to Tenochtitlan.
Cortez knew that in order to take Tenochtitlan his men would have to get past the water in the Lake around the Aztec city. That's why he built those little Ships. Boy! I'd sure like to see one of those small Boats. I guess they even had sails on them and everything.
many people can't understand why Indians would help Cortez to beat the Aztecs. And I guess the main reason was because the Aztecs were often cruel and what they call "Bloodthirsty." They often slaughtered or sacrificed the other Native tribes.
after much "vicious and bloody fighting" the Spanish under Cortez "took" Tenochtitlan. Daisy thinks if our Chief could use Mr. Peabody's Time Machine he'd go back to see the siege of Tenochtitlan. She's probably right.
once Cortez "occupied" Tenochtitlan he replaced it with the new city called Mexico City; right on top of the old Aztec city. From then on the Spanish were established in "Mexico" and that was the end of the once powerful Aztec Empire. History was made.
GONZALO FERNÁNDEZ DE CÓRDOBA (1453-1515)
Gonzalo Fernández de Córboba. He was a famous General and his nickname was "El Gran Capitan" which means "The Grand Captain" in English. Many of the 16th century Conquistadors really admired him.
a picture that shows a statue of that guy Gonzalo Córdoba riding a Horse. The caption below it says the photograph was taken in Cordoba, Spain.
Underdog takes a pill too! Daisy looks forward to her aspirin and is convinced it makes her arthritis feel better. And as our Chief says, even if it's not doing any good that's okay because if it makes her feel better that's all that matters. He says "placebo" and "psychosomatic."
When our Chief puts an aspirin in Daisy's food she thinks of how Underdog carries a "Super Energy Pill" hidden in his ring. I wish I could wear a ring but my toes are way too thick. And I know Daisy would wear one too but her furry toes are kind of big.
Without that pill in his secret compartment Underdog is powerless; just like Samson when he lost all his power because that bad girl Delilah cut off his long hair. The Viking God Thor's belt gave him his power. Too bad Samson was tricked by Delilah and then got blinded.
Oh my God! Just when I was writing about the real Samson and Delilah the Crows Samson and Delilah show up! They're landed on top of Jack the big Shed to my left. It looks like they have a Lizard they're going to "divide up."
Even though the subject of Samson and Delilah was not on my outline I think I'll write about them anyway. This gives me the perfect excuse. Daisy and myself we really like that famous Old Testament story.
Samson was a Judge in ancient Israel. I guess You and his family made a deal where if that guy Samson never cut his hair You'd give him what they call "Superhuman" strength like Hercules or Superman. Samson is looking at me.
Yup! That mean girl Delilah helped the Philistines cut off Samson's braids of hair so he lost all of his strength. Then they blinded him and made him do slave labor. But I guess the Philistines didn't notice when his hair started to grow back little by little.
Well God, I agree with You when You gave Samson permission to kill himself and all of those Philistines when he pushed over the columns that held up their Temple. At least before he died he got revenge on those who plucked his eyes out! Delilah is looking at me now.
When Samson pushed over the columns it must've been just like a big earthquake. We had a small earthquake up here the other day. Dais and I felt it coming even before it happened. But it was just what they call a minor "tremor." Samson and Delilah just flew away.
earthquake which happened back in 1989. Mr. Steve once told Daisy and Millie about it a few years ago. It happened in the Bay Area during the Baseball World Series.
Oakland A's were playing against their "Cross-Town" rivals San Francisco Giants in the 1989 World Series. And that big earthquake that happened half an hour before the third game is now called the "Loma Prieta" earthquake.
In 1988 the A's had lost the World Series to the Dodgers; where that guy Kirk Gibson hit his famous home run. Mr. Steve was working for a company called "Pace" in 1989 and had just gotten off of work.
In 1989 Mr. Steve had just taken his tie off and was getting out this thing called an "Ironing Board" when that big earthquake hit. He saw it happening right on tv. That company called Pace who he was working for is now called "Sam's Club."
Mr. Steve was taking off his white shirt when he heard the tv announcer say they were having an earthquake. He then watched as the broadcast "wobbled" and then went blank. Then all of sudden an episode of Roseanne, that girl Mr. Steve's sister Susan worked for, came on.
From the pictures I see players and fans were so scared by that big earthquake the players went and brought their families right out onto the field. It says here they didn't even bother to change out of their uniforms when they drove their cars home.
Dais told me that our Chief says he'll always remember that day in 1989 not just because the A's were playing when that earthquake hit. He'll always think of how it happened on October the 17th which is his brother Rock's birthday.
From what it says here, 1989 was the first time since 1956 when the two teams in the World Series were from the same city; even though Oakland is not a part of San Francisco. And the A's ended up sweeping the series four games to none. Oakland had a really good team.
when the A's were called the Philadelphia Athletics they played the then New York Giants in the 1905, 1911 and 1913 World Series. The Giants won in 1905 and the A's defeated the Giants the last two times they met.
because so many people were not on the roads because they were watching the World Series only sixty three people were killed by the 1989 earthquake. But almost four thousand were injured.
in their concerts, that band The GRATEFUL DEAD played a song called "California Earthquake" right after the World Series. And later in the year I guess they did a "benefit" concert at the Oakland Coliseum where the A's play their home games.
When the earthquake happened in 1989 the game was being held at the Giants' home stadium called "Candlestick Park." wind used to really bad there. Sometimes players hats got blown right off their heads.
Samson and Delilah are still eating that Lizard. There's another Crow circling above them, looking down with envy.
Looking toward the east I see tall Joshua trees out in the desert behind our Sheds. But I also see drooping "canopies" of dead Joshua tree branches. Those branches are dying because of the drought our Chief says. Joshua trees don't "reproduce" easily.
if what little rain we get evaporates too quickly then Joshua tree "seedlings" die before they can grow roots into the dirt. Joshua trees are important he told us because they shelter things like Moths, Insects, Lizards, Rats, Mice and Birds like Woodpeckers.
scientific name for Joshua trees is "Yucca Brevifolia" and they're not really trees but what they call "succulents." And I guess they can grow up to forty feet tall and live for two hundred years.
I've never seen a Joshua tree "bloom" but Dais and Millie did. From what Daisy says they have white and yellow flowers that are in the shape of a bell. It says here Mormons named them Joshua trees because they thought they looked sort of like "shaggy" Prophets.
Another reason why I wanted to write about Samson and Delilah is because Mr. Steve told us about a man he met a while back who had worked for the Travel Agency which "handled" the details of his family's trip to Italy and Israel in 1985.
That man told our Chief that now if you go to Israel you can visit the area in Israel where that guy Samson grew up. They also talked about that 1985 trip to Italy. It was what they call the "Maiden Voyage" of an idea "Alitalia" Airlines tried.
Alitalia is the name of the Airline company which flew Mr. Steve's Tour Group over to Italy. The Israeli Airline was called "El-al." Mr. Steve told us that until June of 1985 if you wanted to go to Italy from Los Angeles you flew east and did a "layover" in New York City.
You can see on a map that it's a long trip from Los Angeles all the way over to Italy. So the trip would be divided into two parts so you could rest. That's what our boss says. Then you did a second trip over to Milan in northern Italy.
That man remembered how, for the first time in history, instead of flying to New York City, the Plane would go north. Then they flew over the top of the world and then down into Milan; and all in just one trip. But it was way too long Mr. Steve says now.
Mr. Steve told that guy he didn't even remember how many hours that trip to Italy took but he read a whole book on that band The Kinks; and also another book about the city of Rome. They came back to the United States the same way and it was not a pleasant trip.
idea of Alitalia's was what they call "discontinued." So now I guess, if you want to go to Italy you just do it the regular way.
told us about "mind over matter" like Samson pushing the columns down or when a scared mother lifts a car off her husband or kid when it falls on them; is that just You giving them extra strength? Dais thinks it is.
have faith in the power of an aspirin. She wants to believe by taking that pill in her food it's helping her feet. But it's sort of hard to tell because Daisy never really complains. I don't complain as much either now!
One guy Dais admires is "Popeye the Sailor." He has a girlfriend named "Olive Oyl" who he protects just like the way Underdog watches out for Polly Purebreed. He eats this vegetable called "Spinach" which gives him great strength.
Popeye likes to punch people like this bug bully with a beard named "Brutas." But sometimes Brutas hits him too. But in the end Dais says, Popeye will eat that Spinach and always "come through" to rescue that one girl Olive Oyl.
I'm hoping they start showing Popeye cartoons on Saturday mornings so I can watch them. Dais says they're so good. That other Dog Millie sure liked them a lot. When Mr. Steve gets a sandwich at a place called "Subway" he asks for Spinach.
Dais tells me Popeye always tries to help others and do right. But that guy Brutas is kind of mean. But Popeye always ending him up in order to protect Olive Oyl. Our Chief protects us. And we protect him too! Daisy told me that Popeye's a pretty good singer too.
Someday I want to see how Popeye is so strong that one time he punched a big charging Bull in the nose and when that Bull came back down to the ground he was in the form of packaged steaks and things like. At least that's was Dais says.
Another time Dais says, that guy Popeye had to stop a big Iceberg that was about to run over Olive. So he ate Spinach and then punched the Iceberg. And just like the Bull, that Iceberg flew up into the air and when it landed the ice was cut up into ice cubes in ice trays.
man named "Wimpy" in those Popeye cartoons. He never has any money and always says; "I'll gladly pay you Tuesday for a Hamburger today."
I wonder if Spinach would work on Dogs? Boy, if it did we could mix it into Dog Food and then sell it on the "Open Market" as they say. We could get rich. Every Dog would want it and we'd have what's called a monopoly on the "Secret Ingredient."
in Phelan there's a new restaurant called "Wimpys." He goes there sometimes because they have good Hamburgers. Boy, writing about all this food is making me sort of hungry.
If it turned out that Spinach gave strength to us Dogs then maybe it would work on Cats too! Mr. Steve could apply for the "Patent" or whatever was necessary for us to "market" it to the public. He's helped other people write Patents, "Copyrights" and "Trademarks."
In the mid-1990's when our Chief worked for his friend Rick for over two years he had to get up at four in the morning but rarely missed a day. He's also had a few other jobs where he never missed even one day. One thing about the three of us; we hardly ever get sick.
Mr. Steve has had times in his life when he's gone a long time without taking a day off from the job he had at the time. But there have been days when he didn't feel like working. So, if his presence was not absolutely necessary on a particular day he'll take a day off.
One thing our Chief will not do is lie to his boss's like Rick or Steve Banks. He won't make up a story like he's sick or something. He'll just tell them the truth and say he just doesn't feel like working that day. On some of those days over the years he's done yard work.
One reason Dais and I like getting up early is because Mr. Steve does. But Daisy's right. The main reason we like getting up early is for breakfast. One thing Daisy and I have in common is that we both really love to eat!
In New Mexico, from 1928 until the mid-1970's, our Chief's Grandpa Trujillo worked for the Santa Fe Railroad for over forty years. In all that time he never missed a day. And all of those years of loading and unloading luggage and freight made him unusually strong.
1929 through the beginning of World War II in 1941 is called the Great Depression. It was a time of "great hardship" and poverty it says here in this Encyclopedia. So many people were out of work. But Mr. Steve's Grandpa Trujillo was lucky enough to have a job.
pictures of men standing in lines to get some food in these places called "Soup Kitchens." That's because they were starving so had to accept what's called "charity." This made them feel really bad and depressed.
Hey God! Did You make Adolph Hitler start the Second World War so America could come out of the Great Depression? Mr. Steve thinks World War II finally brought the United States economy back; and moved up the timetable for "minorities" to gain their rights.
Grandpa Trujillo got up early in the morning for his job. But he liked it because he got off at mid-afternoon. This gave him the whole afternoon to work on his own projects like his vegetable garden. Our boss's friend Mr. Grant has a work schedule like that right now.
faint Train whistle to our north. And just when I'm reading in this Encyclopedia how, because jobs were so hard to find during the 1930's, many of the men became what they call "Hobos" and traveled on Trains looking for work.
main reason why those men left home to try to earn some money was so that they wouldn't be what they call a "burden" on their families. Uncle James, who I mentioned at the beginning of book two yesterday, was a Hobo for a few years.
whenever Mr. Steve and his brother Rock went to New Mexico as kids they visited Uncle James and Aunt Martina. Mr. Steve has dreams about the Garden where they grew Chili and other things like that. They also raised Pigs Chickens
as a kid Satchel Page did the same job his Grandpa Trujillo did. And just like it made Grandpa Trujillo really strong it turned out to be a benefit to Satchel Page too. He became one of the greatest Pitchers ever
Satchel Page was born on July 7, two days before Mr. Steve's birthday. He broke the "Color Barrier" in the American League soon after Jackie Robinson did it in the National League. But by then our Chief told us, sadly; he was kind of "Over the Hill" as they say.
Dodgers who hired Jackie Robinson as the first black player in the National League, it was this one other team called the Cleveland Indians who made Satchel Page the first black player in the American League. The Oakland A's are in the American League.
nickname "Satchel" came about because Satchel Page was paid by how much luggage he carried to and from the Train. So he cut branch's from a Satchel tree and put them over his shoulder so he could carry more things at once.
Page obviously had what they call "common sense." Daisy also says he must've been really smart to have thought of using those two tree branches. And Dais would know because if anyone has common sense it's good old Daisy.
Grandpa Trujillo worked at his job from 1928 until he died in 1975. He missed only a few days even though he had some big injuries and at times got really sick. Our Chief says it just "killed him" to stay home because he was so afraid of losing his job.
Grandparents were "products of the Depression" so even when they got old never forgot those hard times. He thinks the United States could go into an economic Depression if we're not careful.
Right now America is eighteen trillion dollars in debt! One trillion is one thousand billions. And every month this thing called the "Federal Reserve" is printing money "out of thin air" as they say.
Our boss says the government doesn't want you to say "printing money out of thin air." The term "Quantitative Easing" just sounds better. It's George Orwell's "New Speak" he told us. Daisy and I are a little unclear about what exactly "Reserve Currency" means.
Dais says the American "Dollar" has been what's called the world's Reserve Currency since it replaced the British "Pound" after World War II. Since then England has had mostly weak economies. Part of it is due to the fact that they're too Socialist Mr. Steve thinks.
biggest thing that got the United States out of the Great Depression of the 1930's was the "Industrialization" made necessary by having to fight, and win, World War II. Franklin Roosevelt's "New Deal" was not enough it seems.
Mr. Steve father give President Roosevelt credit for at least trying to do something to get the U.S. out of the depression. I wrote yesterday about that man Mr. Espinoza who survived the Bataan Death March. President Roosevelt's work programs helped him a lot.
I remember when Daisy and I stood off to the side while our Chief and that worker "Señor" Esteban talked about the Second World War. Mr. Steve told him that Mexico was lucky that it didn't have to fight in either one of the 20th century's two World Wars.
But Mexico did have a bloody civil war in 1910 and Daisy says our boss has a book on it mentions Francisco "Pancho" Villa. Pancho is just a nickname from what Dais told me one time.
FRANCISCO "PANCHO" VILLA (1878-1923)
during the "Mexican Civil War" the U.S. Government at first supported Pancho Villa's army, the "División del Norte;" or "Northern Division." But then they decided to switch and support the other side. So Pancho Villa got really mad.
I guess Pancho Villa needed supplies but also wanted to get revenge. So in March of 1916, two years after World War I had already started over there in Europe; his army "Raided" across the southern U.S. border. Pancho Villa's men attacked "Columbus," New Mexico.
Last night Dais and I looked up in my Spanish Dictionary the word "Caudillo." That's how Pancho Villa is described in the Encyclopedia and it means "Landowner" but Daisy thinks our boss would say "War Lord." Wow! His men killed seventeen people back in 1916.
FOUNDING (c.1325 A.D.) "TENOCHTITLAN" 1519
All of a sudden, for some reason; I just thought about the Aztec city of Tenochtitlan. I've written about how that guy Cortez's Conquistadores, and their Indian allies; destroyed the 16th century Aztec Empire. Dais told me how Millie liked the way the Mexican flag looks.
in the 14th century; the Aztecs built Tenochtitlan on that Lake when they saw an eagle sitting on a cactus while eating a Snake. And that cactus was growing on some rocks. This totally "Fulfilled" an ancient prophesy which described that exact thing.
As I wrote before, some people think Tenochtitlan might mean, ""Prickly Pears growing on rocks." The Aztecs, called "Mexica" in the 1300's;" made Tenochtitlan into a "Altepetl" which means it was like an ancient Greek "City-State." 
BLESSED VIRGIN MARY
Ah! I smell our neighbors' new Roses Blessed Mother. That makes me think about those special red and pink Roses, "Rosas de Castilla;" You gave that guy Juan Diego in the 1500's at Guadalupe, Mexico. Smelling those Roses reminds me of last year during Spring.
Oh wow! What a coincidence Blessed Virgin that, just as I'm mentioning You; the scent of Rosemary just blew in from the desert behind the Sheds. I have this feeling, based on these first three days of Spring; this is going to be a really good year.
GENERAL PERSHING (1860-1948) IN NORTHERN MEXICO (1916)
in 1916 Pancho Villa's soldiers stole things and burned down part of that town Columbus. They terrorized the townspeople like Viking raiders, then rode back to Mexico with their "Loot." Boy! That guy Pancho Villa sounds kind of mean to me.
Pancho Villa's cross border attack got President Wilson angry so he ordered that General "Black" Jack Pershing to chase down Pancho Villa and kill him. Daisy is right in saying it kind of sounds like that movie Major Dundee.
A young George Patton went with General Pershing on that one "Punitive" campaign. In 1916 things like Cars and Airplanes were really new but in Northern Mexico machine guns were mounted on Cars by George Patton. It was the first "Motorized" warfare in history.
GENERAL JACK PERSHING WITH FAMILY
in 1915 General Pershing, who was from Missouri; lost his wife and three daughters to a fire where only his son survived so, I'll bet he was in a bad mood after that. Daisy thinks he probably "Took it Out" on Pancho Villa's men. Boy! It would be bad to burn!
I guess even thought they spent over nine months chasing Pancho Villa in northern Mexico the Americans were never able to capture him. But they did kill a lot of other Mexicans. George Patton tied dead bodies onto the hood of his Car like trophies.
Pancho Villa, like Mr. Steve; was the eldest of five children but their father died young. By 1916 Pancho Villa was a "Bandito" who robbed people. His nickname La "Cucaracha" means the "Cockroach." He said; "It's better to die on your feet than live on your knees."
PANCHO VILLA'S CORPSE DISPLAYED
Pancho Villas was killed in 1923 so, Sister Rita Joseph turned out to be right when she used to say to her class; "Live by the sword, Die by the sword." In 1917 the U.S. entered the First World War so attention shifted to Europe.
Villa's last words were, ""Don't let it end like this." was in World War I that both George Patton and Irwin Rommel were first exposed to "Mechanized" technology like Tanks.
I guess Pancho Villa was from the Mexican State of "Chihuahua," which suddenly makes me think about that tiny little Dog named "Chino;" who I've mentioned before. Many years ago Mr. Steve met this elderly Mexican man in Belén. He fought in Pancho Villa's army.
"BELÉN," NEW MEXICO
It was in the late 1960's that Grandpa Trujillo took Mr. Steve with him to visit that man who "Rode" with Pancho Villa during the Mexican Revolution. Grandpa Trujillo knew because they both worked for the "Santa Fe" Railroad. And they both had big "Gardens."
That old man, an orphaned teenager when forced to fight for Pancho Villa; "Bartered" or traded the things he grew for things Grandpa Trujillo got from his garden. Daisy says he showed our boss a real authentic sword from his time in the war.
Daisy heard our boss talking on the phone with his father one time and his dad laughed in hearing what that old man told Mr. Steve and Grandpa Trujillo, "No matter which side showed up at your house during the civil war, right or left; "They all stole your Chickens."
THE "GREAT DEPRESSION" (1930'S)
I've mentioned before how Mr. Steve and his father believe, no matter who's in power; it's the poor who always suffer the most in times of war and peace too. And, it's the young who fight and die for old people. During the Great Depression of the 1930's people starved.
After that 1929 "Stock Market Crash" it got very hard to find a job so Grandpa Trujillo never missed a day of work from 1928 through the mid-1970's. He "Worked Through" injuries and sickness for fear of being replaced. He joked he'd have to be dead to miss a day.
I just looked up that 1920's and 1930's New York Yankees Baseball player Lou Gehrig. He also never missed a day of work because he was afraid of losing his job. Some people think that, outside of "Power;" he was even a better hitter than his teammate Babe Ruth.
LOU GEHRIG (1903-1941) / "BABE"RUTH (1895-1948)
"In the Field" Lou Gehrig played "First Base" so, like Mr. Steve; must have been pretty good at catching one bounce "Short Hop" throws. I've mentioned how Mr. Steve in his life has played every "Position." But now he plays "Shortstop" for his slow pitch Softball team.
Lou Gehrig, later nicknamed the "Iron Horse;" held the record for playing in over two thousand "Consecutive" games. He did it from 1924 through 1941 but his record was broken by that guy from the Baltimore "Orioles" named Cal Pipkin.
It says here Lou Gehrig's parents were poor German immigrants and two of his sisters, and one brother too; "died young." After losing World War I the German economy went into that depression. Dais says our boss has "Currency Notes" from different places.
"WEIMAR," GERMANY (EARLY 1920'S)
A picture shows some German men going into a store to buy something, and the caption says they're carrying "thousands" of almost worthless "Reichsmark" currency. Mr. Grant one time gave our boss a real German Reichsmark from the early 1920's.
Our Chief has realistic-looking replica "Inflationary" bank notes from the two countries of "Zimbabwe" and "Yugoslavia." Boy, I sure hope we never have "Inflation" because then the prices "Rises Sharply." Daisy saw a good tv show about defeated "Post-War" Germany.
Right after World War II German inflation was so bad some people used the currency as wallpaper. The tv show said, later in the mid-1920's; American Banks lent money to Germans so the economy got better. Mr. Steve says some think Nostradamus predicted the inflation.
s.jpg” style=”width: 400px; height: 325px;” />
ADOLPH HITLER (1920's)
As I wrote in book two, after fighting in the First World War, Adolph Hitler stayed in the military and was given the job of spying on political groups. Germany was in chaos, and there was all that "Street" violence going on. The "Right" and "Left" really hated each other.
One of the Right Wing groups Hitler was sent to see was the "German Workers Party." Daisy saw a tv show that said he liked their ideas such as Anti-Semitism and Nationalism. One time he got up and spoke and right away a lot of the members wanted him to be leader.
When Hitler "assumed leadership" of the party in 1921 he then renamed it the "National Socialist German Workers Party" or, as you would say it in German; the "Nationalsozialistische Deutsche Arbeiterpartie" I'm sure glad they just shortened it down to being "Nazi."
s.jpg” style=”width: 370px; height: 325px;” />
"POST-WAR" GERMANY
The Right in post-war Germany believed the German military really didn't lose the war but were "Stabbed in the Back" as they say. Some of the Politicians who had made peace were Jewish so many blamed them for making peace.
Two pictures show how even guys in regular clothes were helping the Police and military fight in the streets against the Communist Left right after World War I. You can see how some of the people walked around with guns.
In 1922 that guy Mussolini, with his "Black Shirts;" had taken Italy by force, so Hitler in Germany Hitler thought maybe he could do that too. But, as I've mentioned before; his "Coup" attempt failed when the "Bavarian" Police killed some of his followers. He was arrested.
HITLER ( EARLY 1920'S)
A picture shows Hitler about the time of his Nazi's failed 1923 "Beer Hall Putsch. He was put on trial for "Treason" and could've gotten the "Death Penalty" but instead "used the trial as a platform" to say his ideas. And it turned out the Judges kind of agreed with what he said.
According to what the tv show Dais saw said, Hitler was sent to that "Landsburg" prison I mentioned yesterday but; was allowed to have guests and even wrote his book "Mein Kampf." One time Mr. Steve's father jokingly described that type of prison as a "Country Club."
This one Encyclopedia says, after Hitler was let out of jail; he immediately "reasserted his authority" in the Nazi party. Giving up "revolutionary" ideas, he changed the movement into a "reform" party in trying to get power within the law.
HITLER UPON RELEASE FROM PRISON
When Hitler got out of jail, the economy was doing pretty good; partly because of those American loans. It was the "Roaring 20's" here in the U.S. Hitler warned the Germans that the loans they got were "lopsided," even "exploitive bad deals;" which I guess they really were.
Many thought Hitler was exaggerating but then, in October of 1929; the American Stock Market "Crashed." The Great Depression happened, those loans were "Called In;" and many couldn't pay. Many Germans, like Lou Gehrig's parents earlier; became really poor.
At that point Hitler, to more and more German people; looked like Nostradamus. Lou Gehrig's parents, like our boss's parents; moved in the hope of better lives. But later, when their son wanted to be a Baseball player "For a Living;" his mom thought it was a "foolish" idea.
Lou Gehrig's family came to Aerica early in the 20th century. were so poor, at first his parents thought of an Athlete as nothing more than a "frivolous entertainer" I guess. But they later changed their minds.
LOU GEHRIG
PAINTING BY ROBERT LANDSBERG
My Encyclopedia says what Mr. Steve told us. Until the Baltimore Orioles Cal Ripkin broke the record for playing in consecutive games Lou Gehrig's streak of 2,130 games in a row seemed an "unbreakable" record for what they call "durability."
This is interesting. As a rookie Lou Gehrig replaced this guy named Wally Pipp at First Base. It was supposed to be temporary but Wally Pipp never got back in and Lou Gehrig went on to be known for never missing another game for fourteen years!
picture of Wall Pipp in this one Encyclopedia I notice that he's wearing a white New York Yankees hat. And it even has vertical pin stripes on it just like his uniform. Daisy told me our boss has a white 1960's Cincinnati Reds hat. And it's real too she says.
This Encyclopedia says it's "ironic" that guy Wally Pipp was the one who "Scouted" Lou Gehrig when he played College Baseball at "Columbia" University. And he then recommended that the Yankees sign him.
are a few stories as to why Wally Pipp took that day off when Lou Gehrig replaced him. He was not hitting good so the manager may have just wanted to give him a day off. Or he might've been hit in the head with a Baseball just before that.
Lou Gehrig's wife later told a reporter that Wally Pipp may have been at the Horse races on that famous day. Others said he simply had a headache. But no matter why he took the day off the facts are he never got back into a Yankee game.
Lou Gehrig died of the disease which that guy Stephen Hawking has now. It' called A.L.S. and is called "Lou Gehrig's disease." Luckily for Lou Gehrig our boss says, he had a good wife who helped him at the end.
Lou Gehrig's wife was like Stepehn Hawking's wife. Both were "Advocates" who turned out to be good partners. Thinking of Heathcliff reminds me that our boss sometimes says how life is really fragile. Just when you think everything is going good bad things happen.
Even before I decided to write my three books I wanted to show that a female can do almost anything a male can do! Dais first gave me that idea. I remember the feeling that came over me when she said we can be as smart and clever as males and sometimes just as strong.
One of the main "Premises" for my three books is that very often females are just as capable as males. And in this third book I want to try to prove that "once and for all" as they say. It's just that now I'll do it with what they call a "Heavy Heart."
females are half of history. But because men usually controlled most things they haven't gotten enough credit he thinks. That's one of the reasons I still want to show other examples of females being so important. That will impress Mr. Steve I hope.
Well You Guys, I'm ready to write chapter two which will start out with things about females in the history of New Mexico. Mr. Steve thinks in the history of New Spain during the centuries after Christopher Columbus' voyages females played a "vital" part.
in the 1540's that Conquistador Coronado was the first European to see the area that would later be called New Mexico. But the Spanish did not "settle" New Mexico until the 17th century. This was when females first came up from Mexico.
1598 a man named Juan de Oñate led the first "colonial" expedition into New Mexico. But I guess the first years in New Mexico were very difficult and some of the colonists even went back down to Mexico.
JUAN DE OÑATE (1550-1626)
PAINTING BY GIOVANNA PAPONETTI
in 1680 some of the Indians in New Mexico revolted against the Spanish and killed many of them. And that's what it says in this Encyclopedia too. So, for the next twelve New Mexico was abandoned by the Spaniards.
Over the years our Chief has visited some of the Indian "Pueblos" in New Mexico like the ones in "Taos." In the mid-1990's he and his friend Armando went to this other place called "Acoma." It's a village that was built high up on top of a mountain.
"Mountainair" is a town to the east of Belen. One time Mr. Steve drove over to Mountainair and saw some Spanish ruins way up in the mountains outside of town. They're called "Abo." At Abo the Indians killed the Spanish and then even burned down the buildings.
When Mr. Steve went to Abo it was during the Winter. He was driving an old Chrysler that his father used to keep at their "Condominium" over in Belen. The weather was what's called "Overcast" so it was kind of gray.
Before he drove up the windy dirt road that leads from the town of Mountainair to the ruins of Abo Mr. Steve bought food. When he got to the ruins he walked around and took some pictures. Then he came back to eat his lunch in the Car.
when was at Abo he read a book he had brought with him called "El Rio Abajo." It's about the history of central New Mexico near the Rio Grande River; where Belen is located.
Abo he sat in the Car and ate lunch. The view was so beautiful. The only thing that came in clear on the Car Radio was a College Football game of the Colorado Rams. So that means it must've been a Saturday Daisy says.
Unlike the Saint Louis Rams whose primary color is blue; the Colorado Rams use green as their primary color. But both teams use white and yellow as secondary colors. A picture in this Encyclopedia shows two players putting their heads together like real Rams.
map of New Mexicodoesn't show Mountainair. But it does show how Belen is south of Albuquerque on the west bank of the Rio Grande River.
After the Indian's revolt in 1680 there were only a few Spanish left up in New Mexico. Most were killed. But in 1692 the Spanish came back from Mexico City and in the "Re-Conquista" of New Mexico killed many Indians. I guess Belen was first established in the year 1740.
A few years ago Mr. Steve's parents paid someone from New Mexico to research our family. They found out that the first Córdova's to settle in New Mexico arrived in the 1692 re-conquest. And the man who was the first Córdova in our family was most likely a soldier.
This is interesting. The "Junipero Serra of New Mexico" was Fray Francisco de Acevedo. In the early 17th century he "founded" Missions. But many Spanish Priests were killed by the "marauding" Indians in 1680. That Lizard just waddled away from the tree.
When the Spanish returned to New Mexico in 1692 their re-conquest was like the one King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella did in Spain in 1492. And in 1692 the Spanish took revenge on the Indians just as Ferdinand and Isabella did to the Muslims.
Hey God! A You know, sitting in his Car at the Abo ruins listening to the Football game, Mr. Steve says he felt so good. He had a good view of the scenery You created. But then it started to snow and it suddenly "dawned on" him that he had to get back down from mountain.
Today most people carry "Cell" phones. But back then when Mr. Steve went up to Abo they didn't exist or at least he didn't have one yet. As he drove down the mountain it started to really snow hard. He made it back to Mountainair as a big storm hit. The Snake is gone.
he barely made it to Mountainair "in the nick of time" so to speak; a "close call." It would've been bad had he gotten stuck in the mud he told Daisy.
When he first moved up here to the High Desert Mr. Steve met an older man who told him that before the time of cell phones, on really hot days, sometimes people died in their Cars on the side of the road. Dais says now almost everyone carries a "mobile" cell phone.
he and his brothers and sisters are lucky they've had good male and female "role models;" and not just their parents. Their mother is a unique person. She raised five children then went back to college and earned a B.A. degree in Art History.
The most impressive thing about our Chief's mom graduating from college Daisy thinks is she did it, first at Mission College and then C.S.U.N., with a perfect 4.0 "Grade Point Average." Mr. Steve had a 3.1 "G.P.A." so knows what that took.
Mr. Steve's mother was always a Girl Scout Leader and is very good at "Crafts" and things like that. Daisy says we have a lot of her crafts in our house. Her way of thinking always was, "If you're going to do something then do it right."
Mr. Doug. They've known each other for thirty years and met in the late 1970's through Mark Ritter. Mr. Doug's wife was named Susan but, like Mark Ritter, she died a few years ago. Mr. Steve spoke at her funeral.
That guy Mr. Doug is a decent person. Mr. Steve told Daisy how he said at Susan's funeral that Doug and Susan's relationship is a good example of "Like Minds" attracting or how "Water seeks its own natural level." Daisy thinks our Chief misses Mr. Doug's wife Susan.
Daisy told me that just like our Chief has some of the artistic things his mother has made over the years; he's also kept the Arts and Crafts Miss Susan made for him before she died. She says he feels sad when he looks at them.
On my outline I also have this other old saying which also applies to our Chief's mother; and Mr. Doug's wife Susan too; "If a task is once begun, never stop until it's done." And that's why, even though I feel kind of sad I'm determined to finish this third and last book today.
Even though Heathcliff's death makes me sort of feel like not working today I owe it to him to at least finish this third book. Ah! Just when I was thinking about Heathliff and Miss Susan the Sun's rays just burst through some white clouds up in the sky to the east.
Some time back our Chief told us he had a pleasant dream in which some of his Aunts from New Mexico were "by coincidence" at this nice restaurant. His Aunts Lydia, Ruth, Eloisa, and Dolly talked with him about the past. Aunt Ruth died a few years ago.
The impression his Aunts in New Mexico always gave to our boss was of strong personalities and basically decent human beings. They all raised decent children and were good partners to our Chief's Uncles. All of them have been married for about fifty years now!
Mr. Steve hasn't been to New Mexico in a while. He sometimes thinks of his female Cousins Doreen, Shirley, Navora, Macrena and Joy. All seem to be capable women. "God willing" he says, someday he might go visit New Mexico again.
Not only would our Chief like to see his girl Cousins again; he hopes some day to visit with his male Cousins like Randy, Gil Aaron, Fernando and Michael. His Cousin Casey Ray died a few years ago so he couldn't see him. Mr. Steve says he has some "fond"memories of them.
Mr. Steve's father, who's the oldest too, had three Brothers; Gil, Casey and Marty. His Sister Lydia married a good man named Fernando but everyone calls him "Fenny." All are good men who were excellent "providers" for their families.
history of the area now called New Mexico is filled with stories of "hard-working" females. For many years it has been what they call a "time-honored" tradition that women build the "adobe" houses. A Train whistled faintly to the north.
Just like the "structures" the Franciscan Priests built over here in California, for years the buildings and houses in New Mexico were made of adobe bricks of mud and straw. After that all of the outside walls were then covered over in a clean white "plaster."
To this day our boss remembers well the adobe houses his Grandparents lived in. He had a dream a while back about visiting Jarales and hugging his Aunt Ruth and Uncle Casey. And in that same dream he visited their kids Randy, Doreen, Shirley and Casey Ray.
Mr. Steve has so many fond memories of visiting Belen. He recalls the adobe house that his Grandpa Trujillo built. In that house, on his Grandma's "Hi-Fi," he enjoyed playing his Kinks albums. His Grandma influenced his "eclectic" tastes for all kinds of music.
Even in the early 1540's Mr. Steve says, when Coronado came through the area called "El Río Arriba"with his army, they "marveled" at the skill of the Pueblo Indian women who built all the structures. Rio Arriba means "Upper River" in Spanish. I smell a Cholla cactus.
The area in New Mexico where Mr. Steve's parents are originally from has always been called "El Rio Abajo." This is "The River Below" in English. Of course the river referred to in New Mexico is the Rio Grande River.
during World War II the women of New Mexico maintained the adobe houses when the men were "away at war." They not only had to keep doing the same household chores they always had to do but many of the things the men usually did too.
Georgia O'Keefe noticed how hard the women of New Mexico worked. Mr. Steve says both of his Grandmothers were hard workers whose houses were always really clean.
The landscape of New Mexico has been called "beautiful but unforgiving" our boss says. The women, first Native and later Spanish, tried to make "havens" from an often harsh world. They did it to make the "present meaningful" and the "future hopeful" in unstable times.
at times New Mexico has been poor. But in his opinion many of the females have contributed "cultural richness" in spite of "economic poverty." Someday I want to go visit New Mexico! Dais does too.
I wrote down something Mr. Steve's Grandma Trujillo told him one time; "It's one thing to be poor. But it's another thing to be dirty." Mr. Steve's mother is the exact same way he told us. Her house are always clean. One of her friends described it as "immaculate."
According to Mr. Steve females have always been what he calls "Integral" to the history of the "West" and in particular New Mexico. Of course New Mexico food is unique but many of the women in New Mexico have also been Ranchers and Sheep herders too he says.
after the Re-Conquista in New Mexico, for over one hundred years, a big problem was "savage" Indian raids. That book El Rio Abajo describes how brutal they were.
You would expect "Apache" and "Comanche" Indians to attack towns like Belen. But I guess the "Navaho," not known for being warlike, also raided too back then. Belen had a wall around it in the 18th century.
Mr. Steve's sister Susan is as good a Horse rider as most guys he says. And his Cousin Doreen back there in New Mexico was a good Softball player growing up.
during World War II, in the 1940's, there were women Baseball players who for a time even had a League of their own. Boy, I sure wish I could go back in time to see that. And I know for sure that Daisy would really want to do that too.
IRENE RUHNKE (1943)
picture of one of those girl Baseball players from the time of the Second World War. They had to wear skirts! That must've really hurt to slide into a base. I see my green ball still sitting over there on the patio. I feel like chewing on it.
movie about that girls league from the time of the Second World War. She says Millie liked that movie a lot. The movie was even called "A League of Their Own" Dais told me.
in A League of Their Own two sisters are "recruited" to play on this one team called the "Peaches." The old sister really doesn't want to do but her sister does and convinces her to do it. The older sister is a really good Catcher
A League of Their Own the Scout who represents the Baseball team only wants the older sister. He tells the younger sister, who wants to get out of her small town, that the only he'll take her is if she convinces her sister to come and play too.
there's a really sad scene when one of the girl players finds out that her husband has been "Killed in Action;" or "K.I.A." He had been in the South Pacific fighting the Japanese when he was killed.
Major League players didn't get paid as much as they do now. So girls got paid even less. But Mr. Steve says back in the 1930's the owners of the New York Yankees had to pay Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig more.
If Mr. Steve could go use Mr. Peabody's Way Back machine he'd go back to the 1920's to see the New York Yankees play. The economy was "booming" in the "Roaring Twenties." But then the 1930's came and that was the time of the Great Depression.
one time Mr. Steve told her and Millie that females can be really good athletes. So in a sport where size and strength aren't as necessary, like Baseball, he thinks that someday there might even be a professional girl player. That will so great! I'd like to see that.
girl from Texas whose name was "Babe" Didrikson Zaharius. My Encyclopedia says during the Depression in the 1930's she played Baseball, Basketball and Track and Field. But she was most famous for being a good golfer.
"BABE" DIDRIKSON ZAHARIUS (1911-1956) WITH HUSBAND
Babe Didrikson's family came from the country of Norway like our boss's girlfriend Sandy's family did. She married a wrestler named George Zaharius. The real spelling of her last name was "Didriksen" and her first name was "Mildred."
After coming over from Norway that girl Babe Didrikson's family settled in the coastal Texas town of "Port Arthur;" where the 1960's singer Janice Joplin grew up. It says here Port Arthur is known as what they call an "Oil Town." That means they drill for oil there.
People probably called that girl "Babe" because Babe Ruth was famous then. But it says here Babe Didrikson's mother had been calling her "bebe" since she was a little girl. Oh! Our four Pigeons all just flew past.
Even though she grew up in Port Arthur on the coast of Texas, after graduating High School Babe Didrikson moved to Dallas; near where Mr. Steve's brother now lives. She was a good what they call "seamstress" just like our boss's sister Celina. She even made her own clothes.
as a gimmick, Babe Didrikson played Baseball for a time with that Jewish House of David team. I guess she was good at all sports like bowling and diving; her best sport was Golf. Mr. Steve once told Dais that Golf is a really difficult sport.
Dais thinks Babe Didrikson must've been so talented. Our Chief said Babe Didrikson could even sing and play the harmonica! She made records. But I guess Babe Didrikson died young of cancer; in her early forties. A
in 1931 Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig played in what's called an "exhibition" game. That means it wasn't an "official" or "real" game so it didn't count. In that game a seventeen year old girl named Jackie Mitchel pitched.
picture of that girl Jackie Mitchel. I can see that she was a left-handed pitcher. Wow! That girl Jackie Mitchel used a "sinker" to strike out Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig too! They were both left-handed batters.
some people didn't believe Jackie Mitchel really struck out Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig. They said it was just a "stunt" but both Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig denied it. Mr. Steve says he knows from his own experience that females can be good Baseball players.
JACKIE MITCHELL
Both Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig said Jackie Mitchel had a good "drop" ball. In High School our boss said this girl named Cathy pitched a "Softball" in an "underhanded" style. But she was right-handed. Her pitch rose when it was coming up to the plate.
girl Cathy threw hard. Whether batting right or left-handed our Chief says he could barely even "foul off" a pitch against her. He said it was kind of embarrassing but then his other friends had the same thing happen to them so it wasn't so bad.
That one girl Cathy's pitches "really moved" our Chief says. Later she even went to college at U.S.C. and was a good pitcher when she played for the Trojans. Mr. Steve told us he's seen other girls who were also good Baseball players too.
some people say, just like with females, that Jews aren't good athletes. This is not true he told us. In the early 20th century this Jewish fighter named Benny Leonard was one of the best Boxers of all time. He was in the category that's called a "Lightweight."
BENNY LEONARD (1896-1947)
Lightweight weighs between one hundred and thirty and one hundred and thirty five pounds. This Encyclopedia says that Benny Leonard was not only one of the most intelligent fighters ever; he was a really hard puncher too.
According to this Encyclopedia that man Nat Fleischler, who published Ring magazine, said Benny Leonard was the second best Lightweight of all time. I wonder if Mr. Steve knows this? Benny Leonard went into the Hall of Fame in 1955; the year he was born.
have been some really great Baseball players. During the 1930's and 1940's one of the best power hitters in the Major Leagues played for the Detroit Tigers. His name was Hank Greenburg and he was Jewish.
Mr. Steve says he now realizes how fortunate he and his friends were back in June of 1966. It was then that his father dropped them off at Dodger Stadium so they could see a game where this left-handed guy named Sandy Koufax pitched. A Finch just landed on Moe the Shed.
That guy Sandy Koufax was Jewish and is now considered to have been one of the greatest pitchers of all time. This is interesting. According to this Encyclopedia Sandy Koufax pitched his first game for the Brooklyn Dodgers one month before our boss was born.
From what our Chief told Daisy and Millie for the first few years Sandy Koufax did not have good control of his pitches. He "walked" a lot of batters. But then he realized he didn't have to throw so hard to get batters out. From then on he "dominated." The Finch flew away.
from 1961 through 1966 Sandy Koufax was probably the best pitcher of all time. Some said it was "unfair" to try to hit against him. He threw so hard and had a really good what they call "curve ball." Mr. Steve's friend Rick also had a good "curve."
from what our boss says, that guy Sandy Koufax only had two pitches, a fastball and a curve. And he what they call "tipped off" when he was going to throw each one. That means the batter knew in advance which pitch Sandy Koufax was going to throw to them.
When Sandy Koufax threw a fast ball his elbows were tight against his body and when he threw a curve his elbows were sticking out a little bit. But Mr. Steve told us that it didn't matter. When he was "on" as they say, no one could hit him.
1966 was Sandy Koufax's last season in the Major Leagues. Wow! And I guess it was one of the best. Sandy Koufax won 27 games that year! This player for the New York Yankees named Yogi Berra said he couldn't understand how Sandy Koufax ever lost any games in 1966.
But on that day back in June of 1966 Sandy Koufax did lose. Mr. Steve said he lost 3-0 to this pitcher named Larry Dierker. He was on a team from Texas called the Houston "Astros" whose primary colors are orange and navy blue. Dais says our boss drew their logo once.
Larry Dierker pitched a "Shutout" against Sandy Koufax in 1966. The Astros had Joe Morgan, Jimmy Wynn and Rusty Staub then. In 1971 our boss saw Rusty Staub, for the Montreal Expos, hit two home runs against the Braves when he visited Atlanta.
A while back this lady asked Mr. Steve if he knew who Larry Dierker was. He told her about that 1966 game. She said, in Woodland Hills, she and Larry Dierker attended Taft High School. She also said he went to college at U.C.S.B. just like Mr. Steve's sister Susan did.
first batter that Larry Dierker ever faced in the Major Leagues was Willie Mays. And he struck him out. It says here that for a few years Larry Dierker managed the Houston Astros.
Sandy Koufax "threw" four games where the other team didn't get even one hit! And one of those "No-Hitters" was a "Perfect Game" in which not one of the twenty seven batters he faced got on base; not even on a "Walk" or "Error."
he still remembers the explosive "pop!" when Sandy Koufax's fastball hit the catcher's mitt. Growing up, when he was his friend Rick's catcher, he heard that same sound at times. And the palm of his left hand was often bruised too. Rick threw hard.
he became so familiar with the "tail" or movement on Rick's pitches that he evolved into his private catcher. Anyone not familiar with Rick's fastballs wouldn't at first know about this movement. It would hit the palm of their hand and really hurt.
At times Mr. Steve would go with Rick to places like the "Jackie Robinson Field" down in a city called "Compton." Rick, who's right-handed, would then pitch to Mr. Steve in front of this guy they call a "Scout." One of the Scouts was a nice man named Chet Brewer.
CHET BREWER (1907-1990)
Chet Brewer. He pitched in the Negro Leagues for over twenty years; before blacks were allowed to play in the Major Leagues. Chet Brewer never did get to play in the "Big Leagues." At the end of his life he lived here in Los Angeles.
Back in the 1970's Chet Brewer was one of the local Scouts for the Pittsburgh Pirates. So of course Mr. Steve's friend Rick really wanted to pitch in front of him. Rick threw hard but never did quite have the "Control" needed to pitch up at a higher level.
Twice Mr. Steve went down to Compton to catch Rick in front of that man Chet Brewer; who at one time was on the same team as Satchel Paige. Both were right-handed pitchers for a team called the Kansas City "Monarchs."
after he retired as a player Chet Brewer coached and one of the players he taught things to was Jackie Robinson. This was before Jackie Robinson went up to the Dodgers a few years later. Chet Brewer seems like a really nice person.
Mr. Steve has customers over there in Texas. One is a big Nolan Ryan fan. He told our Chief he noticed how Nolan Ryan's fastball also made a loud noise on hitting the catcher's mitt. Nolan Ryan is from Texas and pitched for the two Major League teams based in the State.
Nolan Ryan also pitched for the California Angels, rivals of the A's, for a few years. Mr. Steve thinks the Angels made a big mistake in letting him go to the Texas Rangers. He was just as good with the Rangers and later the Astros.
In 1995 Mr. Steve visited his brother in Texas. Arlington, where Rock and his two sons live, is where the Texas "Rangers" have their Stadium. So one of the things they did was go over to see that Stadium.
When Mr. Steve and his brother went to visit Texas Stadium there was no game going on. But a restaurant way up high in right field was open. So they just went outside and sat in right field in a totally empty Stadium.
When they were way up high sitting out in right field of an empty "Texas Stadium;" a seat was pointed out. It was marked with an "X." A guy who worked at the restaurant said that seat was hit by Moe Vaughn in what they call "Batting Practice" one time.
Mr. Steve knows about that guy Mo Vaughn. He was a big left-handed power hitter for the Boston Red Sox. He did so good that the Angels paid him eighty million dollars to come over to play for them for six years. I hear Blinky and Dawn barking over there next door.
saw him take batting practice at "Angels Stadium," that guy Mo Vaughn was definitely strong. To hit a ball as far as he hit that one in Arlington is amazing when you're way up there sitting next to it and can see how far that is for yourself.
Mo Vaughn didn't do that great with the Angels so after just two years they traded him to the New York "Mets." But he then got injured so retired. I know that Mets is short for "Metropolitans."
a few more things to say about that one guy Sandy Koufax. Mr. Steve says, except for Sandy Koufax, he's never seen a crowd at a Baseball game cheer for a pitcher just for going out to warm up before a game.
At the end of my first book I wrote about how our Chief thinks that entertainers have to know when it's time to quit. Many don't and embarrass themselves. But Sandy Koufax is an example of a player knowing when to "hang them up" as that saying goes.
after the 1966 season, Sandy Koufax retired because in order to pitch he had to take drugs to help the pain in his left elbow. From what Mr. Steve says, he didn't like feeling "high" while pitching so quit; even though he could probably gone a few more years.
"Yogi" Berra. I know our boss sure likes him. Even though he didn't look like a good athlete Yogi Berra was one of the best "Catchers" of all time Mr. Steve says. And he also said some really funny things.
Yogi was only a nickname. His real name was "Lawrence" but another player told him he looked like a "Yogi"because of how he sat on the ground with his arms crossed. I guess a person who "practices" Yoga is called a Yogi.
This is funny! Yogi Berra, who played for the Yankees, once said; "You can observe a lot by just watching." Another time he said; "It's like Déjà Vú all over again." Boy! That guy Yogi Berra was probably fun to be around.
Aha! Daisy was right! She's wondered if Yogi Bear was named after that guy Yogi Berra. It says here in my Encyclopedia that he was. Wow! What an honor it would be to actually have a cartoon character named after you.
Daisy will think this saying by Yogi Berra is funny; "The future ain't what it used to be." He told someone who asked about a Nightclub; "No one goes there now; it's too crowded." And he said to an opponent one time; "You wouldn't have won if we'd have beaten you."
says here that in 1942, when the United States was just starting to get involved in the Second World War, Yogi Berra and his friend Joe Garagiola "tried out" for their hometown St Louis Cardinals. And Branch Rickey was the General Manager then.
Yogi Berra's friend Joe took the five hundred dollars Branch Rickey offered him to sign with the Cardinals. But Yogi Berra "turned it down" and Branch Rickey got mad and said that Yogi Berra would never "amount to much" in Baseball. Boy was he wrong!
Yogi Berra not only turned out to be one of the best "defensive" catchers in history; but he also became one of the "clutch" hitters ever. As a member of the Yankees he ended up playing in seventy five World Series games.
Yogi Berra once said; "It was impossible to get a good conversation going because everybody was talking too much." And another time at a St. Louis ceremony held in in his honor he told the people there; "I want to thank everyone for making this day necessary."
PHOTO BY ALAMY
The last Yogi Berra quote I'll mention is when someone asked him if Joe DiMaggio marrying Marilyn Monroe would be "good for Baseball." Yogi Berra replied; " I don't know if it's good for Baseball, but it sure beats the Hell out of rooming with Phil Rizzuto."
picture of Marilyn Monroe and Joe DiMaggio might have been colored the way Mr. Steve used to color black and white photos. It's kind of hard to tell. From what Daisy told me, that "Technique" is called "Hand-Colored Tinting."
Jim Brown. Dais says Mr. Steve thinks he was the best Running Back ever. And, like Sandy Koufax, he "left on top" as they say.
From what our Chief says that guy Jim Brown was not only a fast runner but also ran with a lot of power too. So he could either run "past you" or "through you" as they say. But he did not want to keep playing Football any more so retired when he was still the best runner.
after he quit playing Football that guy Jim Brown became an Actor. As I wrote about yesterday, he supported Muhammad Ali when he refused to be drafted into the military. Jim Brown seems like an intelligent person.
Hey You Guys! I feel a whole lot better than I did about an hour or so ago. But, "in the back of my mind" as they say, it's hard trying not to think about Heathcliff dying. Thank all You guys for helping me do my work. And thank you too Stanley for watching out for me.
I don't see any Flies around so far today. But I can see a few Bees and Wasps flying around. I'll just stay right here keeping to myself and not attract attention. I wonder what Daisy's doing right now? I'll bet she's still sad too.
Oh! Libby the Horse is looking over at me. She looks sort of sad somehow. I'll bet it's because she knows, like Daisy and I both know, that Heathcliff is gone. I'll bet Daisy's in the garage right now and she's most likely thinking about Heathcliff. I know how Dais thinks!
I wonder if Libby is wondering what happened to Heathcliff? She has to have noticed, just like we did, that he didn't crow this morning. Poor Heathcliff. We'll miss him. I'm going to start praying for him. I'll never forget Heathcliff's voice!
It's a coincidence that just when I'm looking at Libby over there in her corral it says here on my outline that the next subject I want to again write about is Horses. Some people ride Horses up here where we live; just like they used to do down in Sylmar.
"Zorro." He lived in Los Angeles in the time after Mexico broke away from Spain. So Alta California was a part of Mexico. Zorro helped the poor and also Native peoples. He wore all black.
I've mentioned before how, that Bookkeeper at work named Mr. Eber jokingly used to call our boss "Zorro;" and then Miss Susan and others began to do it too. Daisy says you can tell Mr. Steve enjoys talking to Mr. Eber. The four Pigeons are flying over Libby's Corral.
"LENÇÓIS MARANHENSIS" NATIONAL PARK
("MARANHÃO" STATE / BRAZIL)
One time Mr. Eber, who's from "Brazil;" told our boss about a place in the northeast part of his country called "Lençóis Maranhensis." Two pictures show how it's "sand dunes" near big pools of water. A little Wren landed on a boulder around the bottom of the Mulberry tree.
It says here what Mr. Eber told our boss, in Brazil it rains a lot in Springtime, and at the "National Park" rainwater "accumulates" into "temporary" Lakes. For a while people go there just like going to the beach. That Wren glanced around quickly, then darted away.
Eventually, just like in the water basins below the Mulberry trees; all of the water in the "Lagoons" evaporates or sinks into the sand they're in. Mr. Eber, and this Encyclopedia; called the two "Oasis's" in Lençóis Maranhensis "Restingas's" Our house is on "Oasis" road. 
MANATEE'S "ONCILLA" CAT
PHOTO BY JASON GULLEY
Mr. Eber says in the National Park little "Oncilla" Cats are "going extinct." He calls then "Tigrinas" or "Tigrillo" which means "Tiger." Those things called "Manatees," and a Fish that buries itself and lies dormant until there's water; are also "threatened." I smell Mesquite.
Well, back to the Zorro story, which my Encyclopedia says was written in 1919; right after World War I when that huge "Spanish Flu" pandemic was going on. As I've said before, Zorro fought the "Californio" era Mexican authorities so wore that mask. Dawn's barking.
That first Zorro book is called the "Curse of Capistrano." Seeing Libby over there makes me think of how Zorro wore all black, and rode a black Horse like Alexander the Great's Horse "Busephelus."
BATMAN (1940)
ART BY BOB KEANE AND JERRY ROBINSON
Dais and Millie were in the living room one time and watched a tv show that said what it does here too. In 1940 or only second year of World War II; the first "DC" comic book on "Batman" came out. The Author later used to tell people he was "influenced by Zorro."
A picture of the first Batman comic book is shown here. It shows he and his Assistant "Robin" swinging in using what are probably some special ropes. I guess, since 1919 there have been Zorro movies and things like that; even one of those Silent movies. Dawn's howling.
In a corners of his bedroom, near where his vinyl records and cassette tapes are; Mr. Steve has a Milk Crate with comic books and things like that in it. Some of the comic books are about Spiderman, Superman, Batman and other characters. Dawn has such a nice voice.
ZORRO
Someday I'll see our boss's office and that skinny "Rapier" sword, like the one Zorro used; in his office. The Three Muskateers also used rapiers, whose tips are designed to "slice and stab." Daisy and Millie are so lucky because they got to watch one of the Zorro movies.
Dais says in the movie Zorro had a pretty girlfriend and used a Bullwhip like the one our boss has in his bedroom. In that city "Chatsworth," where Roy Rogers family and Doris Day lived for a while; they filmed parts of some Zorro movies. Andy's sniffing the air.
I've mentioned before how Chatsworth" is near Sylmar in the San Fernando Valley, and has that place called "Chatsworth Rocks." Mr. Steve and his friends have hiked around them. As Mission Tour Guides he and his parents learned about the history of those big rocks.
"SAN FERNANDO" MISSION "CONVENTO" BUILDING
PAINT ON MARBLE BY STELLA CÓRDOVA PHOTO BY STEVE CÓRDOVA
In the late 18th and early 19th centuries; the area where those Chatsworth Rocks are located was part of the San Fernando Mission. There are caves in those rock formations, some with ancient drawings in them. "Tataviam" Indians have lived there for about 8,000 years.
The Spanish called Tataviams "Fernandeños," as I've said before. In the 18th century there those Native-Amerian "Chumash" living in the San Fernando Valley, or "Venturaños" to the Spanish. Boy! The morning air is so clear and it makes me feel good breathing it.
Our boss told Mr. Dave, who's also hiked around Chatsworth Rocks how; Mark Ritter's friend once found a "Clovis-type" arrowhead there. Mr. Steve and Miss Harriet had a few of those picnics in the Chatsworth Rock park. A small flock of Birds is flying toward the east.
I hear a Train whistling faintly to the north. That reminds me about how Daisy says one time our Chief told her and Millie about a really bad Train crash that happened down there in Chatsworth in 2008. A lot of people were killed in that one Train crash.
Daisy and myself were both rescued because our neighbor's help animals. That's how Mr. Steve found out about us. Blinky and Dawn were saved from bad owners and so was Rosy. And Molly and Libby were too. Thank all of You Guys for our neighbors.
Chief says this one lady named Doris Day rescued animals down there in the San Fernando Valley. Doris Day was a world famous actress in the 1950's and 1960's.
after she retired from acting that lady Doris Day lived in Chatsworth and rescued Dogs and Cats. "I've never met an animal I didn't like, and I can't say the same thing about people."
DORIS DAY MARILYN MONROE
talked to her a few times on the phone and she seemed like a really friendly person. I hear a Finch chirping.
Doris Day sang a song called "Que Será, Será" which means "Whatever Will Be, Will Be." I almost renamed this third book with that title. I guess
Years ago our boss says he and this other girl named Kerrie called a phone number about getting a free Dog. It turned out it was Doris Day who answered the phone. And he thinks she was in Chatsworth but can't remember exactly.
Roy Rogers and his wife Dale Evans had three children die young. And at that time they lived in Chatsworth like Doris Day. So their house down in the San Fernando Valley came to have some bad memories.
having their three kids die was one of the reasons why Roy Rogers and his wife made the decision to "pick up" and move up here to Apple Valley. And now Mr. Steve says, there are some streets and places like cemeteries named after them.
Roy Rogers and his wife eventually had seven children in their family. And some of them were orphans who they adopted to replace the three kids who had died.
I've never seen any of Doris Day or Roy Rogers' movies but Daisy has. She told me that both of them make some pretty good good movies; that is, good if you like singing she says. Daisy and I do like singing and dancing in movies but our boss doesn't.
WILLIAM S. HART (1864-1946)
history of "Western" movies and tv shows. As I've mentioned in my books, at first there were only movies with no sound in them. And the first "Cowboy" Star in those movies was William S. Hart.
The caption below a picture of that guy William S. Hart says it shows him standing with his "famous" Horse "Fritz. Wow! William S. Hart was born in 1864, the second to last year of the American Civil War. And he didn't die until the year after World War II had ended.
Going down to Los Angeles there's a town on the way called "Newhall" which I guess Mr. Rick and his family live kind of near there. William S. Hart built this house and ranch right into the contours of the hill. Now it's a "Western" Museum which Mr. Steve has been to.
THOMAS A. EDISON (1847-1931) WITH FAMILY
Yesterday in book two I wrote about the "Rivalry" between those two late 19th and early 20th century "Inventors" named Thomas Edison and Nikola Tesla. I guess Thomas Edison was the one who invented the first "Motion Picture" camera.
A picture shows Thomas Edison with his family and I really like the hats people wore back in those days. Oh! I just noticed how Thomas Edison died on October the 18th which is the day after Mr. Steve's brother Rock's birthday.
I guess one of the first "Silent" movies made was that "Film" I mentioned on Thursday in book one. It was called "The Great Train Robbery" and was a Western.
THE "GREAT TRAIN ROBBERY" (1903)
GENE AUTRY (1907-1998)
William S. Hart's Horse Fritz "Set the Stage" so to speak for Roy Rogers' Horse Trigger. And there was another singing Cowboy named Gene Autry. His Horse was named "Champion."
Mr. Steve has been to the "Gene Autry Museum" a few times too. I guess it's right near the Los Angeles Zoo in an area called "Griffith Park." Dodger Stadium is kind of close by and so is the Observatory where Laser Images did Laserium. The Greek Theater is nearby.
The Gene Autry Museum, like Roy Rogers' Museums and William S. Hart's former house, are filled with so many interesting things; most having to do with the "Old West" or making the movies about the 19th century. Mr. Steve's parents like seeing things like that too.
parents for a time were involved in the fundraising activities for the Gene Autry Museum. In the mid-1990's they did similar things for the San Juan Capistrano Mission.
Someday Daisy and I really want to visit the Capistrano Mission. Not only could be see those Birds called "Swallows" but we could see the bronze plaque in the ground which has Mr. Steve's parents names on it. That's because they donated money to the Mission.
having a plaque at a place like the Capistrano Mission is probably like having one of those stars on the Hollywood "Walk of Fame." Years ago Mr. Steve's dad helped raise money so that this musician named Freddy Fender could get a star on Hollywood Boulevard.
r many years that man Gene Autry owned the Angels Baseball team; the A's big rivals. I've never seen an Oakland A's game on tv.
I did listen to that one A's game on the Radio during the storm. I wrote about it yesterday. We sat here on the Patio watching lightning as we listened to the A's play the Angels. Dais and I felt happy sharing the A's game with our Chief.
Hey You Guys! Thank You for that night we sat out here on the Patio listening to the A's game. It was the night I got over being afraid of thunder and lightning because both Daisy and Mr. Steve were not scared of thunder and lightning at all. The Chimes are ringing.
for many years the Angels seemed like the Chicago Cubs in being "Jinxed." Mr. Steve's friend Rick jokes that they were a good example of what's called "Murphy's Law." Whatever could go wrong did usually go wrong.
When he was young Mr. Steve had no sympathy for the seemingly never-ending bad luck of the California Angels. This is mainly because he's always been an Oakland A's fan. But when the Angels finally won the World Series in 2004 he was actually happy for them.
LYMAN BOSTOCK (1950-1978)
One of the most extreme examples of the Angels bad luck is a guy named Lyman Bostock. He was a really good hitter Mr. Steve says. He also went to C.S.U.N like Mr. Steve. He was shot and killed in the back seat of a Car in a case of "mistaken identity."
All of those years of "misfortune" finally ended for the Angels a few years ago. But it's too bad their former owner Gene Autry wasn't alive to see it. He seemed like such a nice person our boss says. But, at least his wife was still alive
It was Daisy's idea to add William S. Hart in writing about singing Cowboys like Roy Rogers and Gene Autrey. As I mentioned earlier, all three of them had really smart Horses.
In 1996 Mr. Steve's friend Rick built a house for his family near Newhall in a town called "Santa Clarita." Julio, the guy from Mexico who does the embroidery for Mr. Steve's company, also lives with his wife and daughter in Santa Clarita.
William S. Hart's s house built into a tall hill was made to take advantage of the breezes that come through that area. This was before "Air Conditioning." Wow! That guy William S. Hart made over seventy silent movies.
William S. Hart loved to be near his Horses and Dogs. His house, which was built in 1924, six years after World War I, was built in a "Tiered" or "Terraced" way up that one hill. I see the Squirrel over there.
Oh! William S. Hart named his house "La Loma de Los Vientos" in English "The Hill of the Winds." Our Chief told Daisy how many of the rooms in his house have windows that allow the breezes to flow in and then circulate around.
I've never felt Air Conditioning but Daisy has and tells me I don't know what I'm missing by being to afraid to spend more time inside our house. Daisy, who has such thick fur, always goes and sleeps in the house when it's extremely hot outside. The Squirrel just ran away.
One time when Mr. Steve and Harriet visited William S. Hart's house. Harriet liked to learn new things just like our boss. So she asked questions and Mr. Steve explained to her about how Spanish Colonial buildings are the legacy of the 18th century Franciscan Priests.
As I mentioned yesterday in discussing that one movie The Wizard of Oz, Mr. Steve says he's never really liked "Musicals." But he admits, he knows he's in the minority in having this view. His parents generation really like it when a movie has a lot of singing and dancing.
Unlike most people back then, Mr. Steve really didn't like it that much when Roy Rogers and the other Cowboys sang. He liked the other parts of the show better. His friend Mr. Cliff, who doesn't like singing movies either, jokes that they would never be "Broadway" fans.
The wide-brimmed hat that guy Zorro wore is called a "Sombrero Córdobes" because since the 17th century that style of hat has been made over there in Córdoba, Spain. Here's a picture of the Beatles in Bullfighter suits.
photo of the Beatles when they went to Spain in 1964 to play some concerts. And Ringo the drummer is wearing one of those Zorro hats from Córdoba. To Ringo it symbolized Spain.
picture of the Beatles in "Matador" uniforms shows that guy Paul McCartney holding a sword. Dais once told me that just to the side of the fireplace in the living room is a sword just like the one Paul McCartney is holding.
Bullfighter "Manolete" often wore Zorro-type hats. Oh! No wonder. He was born in Córdoba. But he was killed by Bull so now the "Matador Museum" over there in Córdoba is dedicated to him. Manolete was just his nickname.
"MANOLETE" (1917-1947)
Hey! That Bullfighter Manolete was born on the 4th of July! So that makes him a Cancer just like our Chief.
he has pleasant memories about hiking around Chatsworth Rocks. He said he still remembers some really nice what they call "Picnics" over there. Picnics sound like they would be so fun. But, I like eating any time.
A lot of people now do this thing called "Text Messaging." From what Dais says it's typing out a message to someone on your phone instead of talking to them. Mr. Steve says he would much rather just call the person so he can hear their voice.
Text Messaging is kind of new. In 2008 when that Train crash happened down there in Chatsworth the "Engineer" was doing it while driving the Train. So he wasn't paying enough attention to what he was supposed to be doing and accidentally killed people.
Just when I'm writing about that terrible "head-on" collision which happened in Chatsworth I hear a Train whistle to the north.
I didn't plan on writing so much about Chatworth but but now I'm scheduled to write about these beautiful white Horses from Austria called "Lipizzans." This Encyclopedia says they're Spanish. In 1985 Mr. Steve saw the Lipizzan Horses perform at the Forum.
One afternoon in 1985 Mr. Steve and a friend were working at their office; which was right across the street from the Forum. They heard that those Lipizzan Horses from the "Spanish Riding School" were performing that night. So they decided to go see them.
"Lipizza" is a town in Austria and the Lipizzan Horses were first "developed" in the 16th century. Mr. Steve's interested in the 1500's so I'll bet he already knows that.
CHARLES V (1500-1558)
was during "reign"of Charles V of Spain, who was Queen Isabella and King Ferdinand's son; that two breeds of Horses were mixed or "bred." One from Spain and the other one from Austria.
Austrians are a lot like Germans. Hitler was Austrian and Dais told me that Arnold Schwartenegger, a recent Governor of California; was also originally from Austria. Vienna, where Hitler lived in "Flop Houses" before World War I; is in Austria.
Lipizzans are only "Stallions," or boy Horses. Oh, this is interesting. Even though they're born dark in color they eventually turn white.
Our Chief says at first those Lipizzan Horses were bred for war but now just do their tricks to show how smart they are. They even jump up in the air he says! Mr. Steve's sister Susan had a little Horse named "Dinky." That Gopher just retreated back into it's hole.
Susan and Dinky used to jump over things! And from what Our boss says it seemed like that Horse Dinky was smart and learned things.
he read in a magazine how the painter Georgia O'Keefe described the trained "fluid" and "intricate" maneuvers of those Lipizzan Horses as like "watching music move."
In early 1945, when the Allies were "closing in on" the Germans and the "tide of war" had turned, the man in charge of the Lipizzan Horses heard that the advancing Soviet army was eating Horses for food.
Luckily for that Austrian man in charge of the Lipizzan Hoses, the closest American General to Austria was George S. Patton. He really liked Horses and never would have killed them for meat. So they rescued the Lipizzan Horses. Russians sound kind of mean sometimes.
GEORGE S. PATTON ON "FAVORY AFRICA" THE LIPIZZAN
even though they were "technically" within the "jurisdiction" of the Russians, General Patton made the Lipizzan Horses what they call "wards" of the American army.
probably the last time General Patton rode a Horse was a few months before he was mysteriously killed in an auto accident. This was when he rode a Lipizzan Horse named "Favory Africa."
EMPEROR HIROHITO (1901-1989)
Horse General Patton rode back in 1945 was intended to be given as a gift from Adolph Hitler to the Japanese Emperor Hirohito. picture shows him sitting on another white Horse.
I guess some of the Nazis like Herman Göring believed in Animal "Breeding" and one of the Animals they bred was Horses. In Poland Herman Göring wanted to to "Re-Create" an ancient German forest and populate it with specially bred "fierce" ancient-type Bulls.
A number of years ago Mr. Steve met a man who knew about the Nazi breeding programs. He told Mr. Steve about how over in England they're breeding the Cattle the Nazis resurrected in the late 1930's. Oh my God!
I just looked up "Auroch." That's what the Nazi Cows and Bulls are called. I guess all the original Auroch went extinct in the 1600's. But the Nazis decided to try to bring it back as much as possible.
Nazis "exploited" how many Germans celebrate the "mythic past." This Encyclopedia calls it "Nibelungenlied." And it refers to the prosperous and happy times. I guess it's sort of like saying the "Good old Days."
The Nazis wanted to recreate the Middle Ages or even back to the time when that guy Julius Caesar described giant Aurochs up there in what would eventually be called Germany.
Auroch program. And they both thought it interesting how to this day some older Germans still refer mid-1930's Nazi Germany as Nibelungenlied. But that was before World War II of course.
picture Hitler "presiding over" the opening of the "Autobahn." That's one of the first "Highways" and is still being used today I guess. In a time when most of the world was in the Great Depression Germany was doing better.
I'm so tempted to write about the Autobahn right now but I better just wait and do it the order Daisy said to do it. I'll come back to it later today. Mr. Steve says even though they lost World War I the Germans were one of the first economies to come out of the Depression.
Mr. Steve and that one man also discussed about how the Nazis also believed in what they call "Selective Breeding" of people too. They wanted to eventually breed warriors just like the Spartans did back in ancient Greece. But they ended up losing World War II.
The Nazis thought Germans were better than other people; especially Jews. They killed you if they thought you were weak. Hitler and the other Nazis believed in what's called "Eugenics." That means; "Improving the human species by controlling heredity."
many of the ideas on Eugenics that influenced the Nazis came from the United States.
I've been thinking about taking a chance and going into the house at night to watch tv; and I might just go down the hallway too. Then I could watch that one funny show Daisy told me about called "Mr. Ed." Dais thinks it's even funnier than Arnold the Pig's show.
Even though I sure don't feel much like laughing at this exact moment, I would like to see that show Mr. Ed. Daisy told me it's about this really smart talking Horse named Ed who talk's but only to his owner named Wilbur.
Mr. Ed gets into a lot of mischief and makes his boss look like kind of a nut to other people; including his wife. Mr. Steve jokes that most people would probably think he's a nut too for telling us so many things. But they don't know how smart we are!
Horse Mr. Ed looks things up in phone books so must be able to read. And she thinks Mr. Ed even wore glasses sometimes. She said Millie really liked that show Mr. Ed. Boy, it sounds funny!
Mr. Ed the talking Horse is smart Dais says. He's just like Arnold Ziffel but not only can Mr. Ed read, he talks on the phone and even plays Chess too she says. Boy, I can't wait until our boss reads my books. Then I'll be like that Horse Mr. Ed!
Daisy says when watched Mr. Ed our Chief pointed out the front "double doors" on Wilbur and his wife's house. They're the same doors he had on his last house in Sylmar. Mr. Ed was shown in the early 1960's; the same time our boss's house on Hagar Street was built.
Sylmar was very rural when Mr. Steve's family moved there in 1961. Many of the roads were dirt like it is here now. So People even rode Horses around. Yesterday evening this guy in a big "Cowboy" hat rode his pretty brown Horse past our house out on Oasis Road.
When our boss used to visit his relatives back in New Mexico they at times rode Horses in the deserts near Belen. Seeing that man on his Horse last night wearing Cowboy boots and hat made me want to add Cowboys to the things I want to write about today.
Looking at Libby over in her corral makes me think of how hard it must've been to be a real Cowboy back in the 19th century. Mr. Steve says he had to learn about the history of Cowboys in his studies to be a Mission Guide. The Spanish brought Cows to the New World.
EL "VAQUERO"
19th century American Cowboy tradition was influenced by Spanish and Mexican "Vaqueros." Many of the words used in the Cowboy culture come from Spanish. "Buckaroo" is "Anglicized" Vacuero. "Vaca" means "Cow" in Spanish.
During the American Revolutionary War men called Cowboys stole Cows and gave them to the British. Oh! In Hawaii the men who take care of the Cattle are called the "Paniolo's" which is the way Hawaiians pronounced "Espanol."
in the 19th century there were Cowboys called "Wranglers" who just took care of the Horses. And I guess some of the best Cowboys back then were Native-American or blacks who were former slaves.
NAT LOVE (1854-1921)
Nat Love. He was a former slave from Tennessee who, like so many, after the Civil War moved out west to try to earn a living. Even though there was still a lot of prejudice there too it wasn't as bad I guess.
Nat Love. In 1876 on the 4th of July he won some shooting, roping and riding contests up in the "Dakota" Territory. This was just a few days after George Custer and his 7th Cavalry died at the "Little Big Horn."
in his autobiography Nat Love said he met Billie the Kid and Pat Garrett who killed Billy the Kid. And he supposedly also met the "Outlaws" Frank and Jesse James and later Buffalo Bill. He was probably exaggerating our boss thinks.
Nat Love moved to Los Angeles and got a job as what they call a "Porter" on passenger trains. Because Mr. Steve went back and forth to New Mexico on trains he remembers the "Pullman" Porters well. They were really hard workers he says.
The first Cattle in New Mexico were brought there by Juan de Oñate in 1598. Christopher Columbus brought the first Cows and Bulls to the New World on his second expedition. Oh wow! It says here there were female Cowgirls in the Old West.
females took care of farms and ranches when the men were away. But a few worked on the "Cattle Drives" too. I wonder if Mr. Steve knows this? In 1869, about forty years before anywhere else in America, women in Wyoming earned the right to vote.
One of the things on my outline for this third book are some of Mr. Steve's jobs. He's had jobs where he had to get up really early; even earlier than he usually does now. Daisy and I now like getting up when the Sun comes up; mainly because that's when our boss starts his day.
In the Summer we have no problem getting up early. But sometimes during the Winter when the weather is cold it's a little harder to get up early. Sometimes our boss lays in bed for a while and listens to the radio until he feels like getting up. We all get up as early as possible.
Because he knows himself pretty well our boss knows that he "procrastinates' in the shower; especially if it's cold outside. So when he had jobs where he had to get up and leave even before the Sun was up he took his shower the night before so could get up quickly and dress.
I remember when Dais explained to me what a "shower" was. At first I found it very hard to believe in such a thing. The idea of standing under a steady stream of warm water for as long as you want to. But of course then you have to pay for the extra water Dais told me.
he finds it hard to "moderate" on the length of showers; especially when it's cold outside. He wants to stay there for as long as possible so makes excuses in his own mind to enjoy the warm water for "a little longer."
Dais says we have three bathrooms in our house. Two of them have showers and there's this thing called a "bathtub" in the bathroom at the end of the hallway. Sometimes Mr. Steve sits in it and rests while listening to the radio.
Even before Heathcliff died Mr. Steve had already been a little sad lately because he heard that this man named "Leopoldo" had died a few weeks ago. Mr. Leopoldo was originally from a country called "Argentina" but had lived up here for years.
Leopoldo told our Chief about "Buenos Aires;" the "capital" of Argentina. It's near a river called "Rio de la Plata;" or "River of Silver"in English. In 1536 the original Spanish colony had to eat each other to survive; just like the 19th century Donner Party did.
Buenos Aires means "good air" in Spanish. That guy Leopoldo told Mr. Steve about a road in Buenos Aires named "Avenida 9 de Julio." That means "July 9th Avenue" which is our boss's exact birthday! They say it's the "widest city street" in the whole world too!
Avenida 9 de Julio was built to what they call "Commemorate" Argentina's break from Spain in the early 19th century. Mr. Leopoldo said there's a giant Egyptian "Obelisk" at one end of Avenida 9 and the stone used to make it is from a city in Argentina named Córdoba.
The United States, and Argentina too, declared their independence in July. So I guess that would mean that they were born under the sign of Cancer just like Mr. Steve.
GAUCHO
PHOTO BY STEVE MCCORRY
Our Chief and Mr. Leopoldo discussed Cowboys. Argentina Cowboys are called "Gauchos." I mentioned them yesterday when I wrote about C.S.U.B., the College in Santa Barbara where Mr. Steve's sister Susan went to and whose teams are called Gauchos.
Mr. Leopoldo told Mr. Steve that in the country of Chile the Cowboys are called "Huaso's" while in Peru they're known as "Chalanos." Down in Mexico the men who herd and take care of Cows are "Vaqueros" or "Charros." A Bunny Rabbit just bounded into the desert.
Argentina has people from all over. Mr. Leopoldo's family went to Argentina from Italy. In Argentina they were called "Porteños" because they lived in the "Port" area near the water in Buenos Aires; which was settled in the 16th century.
Leopoldo was funny. He told his brother Basilio he'll miss Leopoldo's sense of humor; just like he misses Mark Ritter's "irreverent" sense of humor. Daisy and I never met Mark Ritter or Mr. Leopoldo. But I'll write about them so others won't forget.
At times that man Leopoldo reminded our Chief of the Bookkeeper Eber who used to work at Mr. Steve's company. But Mr. Eber was from Brazil which is the rival of Argentina. Both of them had kind of oddball senses of humor.
Our boss sometimes has dreams where people who have died are in them. A few weeks ago he had a dream where his old boss Steve Banks was in it. And so was Mark Ritter and that guy Leopoldo too. They hugged and "exchanged pleasantries" as they say.
had a dream about that man Leopoldo where they recalled the time our boss lent him a book about this Italian man named Amerigo Vespucci; who went on voyages to the New World in the years following Columbus's voyages.
AMERIGO VESPUCCI (1454-1512)
Amerigo Vespucci, like Columbus, went from Italy over to Spain and Portugal to get ships to sail to the New World. America's named for him and he was the first to prove "once and for all" that Columbus did not find Asia.
Amerigo Vespucci was made two voyages to the New World. The first was sponsored by Spain and the second by Portugal. I know that in those days sailing was really dangerous but he and his crews were able to make it back.
in a letter Amerigo Vespucci wrote in Latin he used the words "Mundus Novus" to describe the land he had seen on his two voyages. That means "New World" in English. I just looked that up in my Latin Dictionary.
reason we live in "America" is because a map maker in the 16th century labeled the new land "Americus;" Latin for Amerigo. I wonder if Amerigo Vespucci ever knew about that?
Mr. Leopoldo had a family and kids but was younger than Mr. Steve. He was born on July 10th which is a day later than our boss. He told Mr. Steve that Argentina's "Declaration of Independence" from Spain was signed on July 9, 1816.
Chief told Leopoldo about the California Missions and the later "Califorñio" era under Mexico. Mr. Leopoldo told him about "Patagonia" and the "Pampas" where they raise Cattle. And sometimes they discussed Juan Perón and his famous wife "Eva."
EVA (1919-1952) / JUAN PERÓN (1895-1974)
This Encyclopedia says that Juan Perón was President of Argentina in the years right after the end of World War II. And his wife was named "Eva" but people called her "Evita." She was an actress who had grown up really poor I guess. Fannie and Freddie just flew bye.
movie about that girl Eva Perón. It says here she helped her husband but really didn't know that much about politics. The poor liked her. She helped the "Descamisados" or "Shirtless Ones."
I guess Juan Perón was put in Prison but released when big crowds demanded it. Eva Perón played a part in this. Oh! Today in Argentina, the day Juan Perón was let out of jail, October the 17th is a holiday. October the 17th is Mr. Steve's brother Rock's birthday.
I just used my Spanish Dictionary to look up the Spanish phrase "Dia de la Lealtad." That means "Loyalty Day" in English and is what they call the holiday in Argentina. Wow! I guess Eva Perón died of cancer when she was only thirty three years old.
Some critics say Juan and Eva Perón were Fascists like Adolph Hitler and Benito Mussolini. But Dais says she heard Mr. Leopoldo and our Chief discussing it one time and both believed it was not true. The Perón's just liked the way German-type uniforms looked.
Juan and Eva Perón were probably not anti-Semitic. They allowed some of the Nazis into Argentina after the war but this was mainly because, like in Operation Paper Clip, they were interested in acquiring some of the German "brain power."
Perón's visited Spain right after World War II. At that time that guy General Francisco Franco was the only Fascist leader left in Europe. Oh wow! After Eva Perón died they "embalmed" her body but then had to hide it out of the country.
Eva Perón's body was in Milan, Italy for a few years. Then her husband brought it over to Spain. That man Leopoldo told Mr. Steve that one time he and his wife visited the cemetery in Buenos Aires where Eva Perón's body finally ended up.
Juan Peron died in 1974 his and his wife's bodies were taken back to Argentina and buried at "La Recoleta" cemetery. That's where this Boxer named Luis Angel Firpo, who knocked Jack Dempsey out of the ring once, is also buried.
My Encyclopedia says Luis Angel Firpo was a "hard-hitting" Heavyweight whose nickname "Wild Bull." In 1923, at New York City's "Polo Grounds" where the Baseball Giants played, he lost to champion Jack Dempsey.
The "Dempsey-Firpo Fight" is now considered to have been one of the most famous fights of all time. And I guess the main reason is because that guy Luis Firpo hit Jack Dempsey so hard one time he flew completely out of the ring.
Wow! Luis Angel Firpo was knocked down seven times in the first round before he connected and knocked Jack Dempsey flying out of the ring! But some people pushed Jack Dempsey back up into the ring and he knocked out Firpo in the second round.
in the picture there are only three what they call "Ring Strands" around the ring. Mr. Steve says nowadays there are four. This makes it safer for the Boxers but harder for the photographers.
This is interesting. Argentina means "silver coins" in Latin. And I guess in Spanish it would mean "silvery." One of the biggest rivers down in Argentina is called "El Rio de la Plata" or "River of Silver." I smell a Ground Squirrel around here somewhere.
Because silver is so important to Argentina that man Leopoldo was really impressed when our boss showed him some of the one ounce silver coins he's bought over the years. Mr. Steve even paid him with them when Leopoldo did some work for him. He was so happy then!
There have been some times in Argentina's history when they've experienced what they call "runaway inflation." This means prices go so high the currency is almost worthless; like what happened over there in Germany too in the years after World War I.
Mr. Steve told Leopoldo about Eber, the Bookkeeper from Brazil who worked at his company for a time. told him about how he and Eber had talked about the rivalry between Argentina and Brazil.
Eber and Mr. Steve, and Mr. Steve and Leopoldo, talked about how the countries of India and Pakistan are big rivals; kind of like Argentina and Brazil. But those two countries have Nuclear bombs and Mr. Steve thinks they might use them some day.
Mr. Steve told Mr. Leopoldo about how Eber used to jokingly say it's a good thing neither Argentina or Brazil had Nuclear weapons. Even though he was just kidding; Mr. Eber thought if Argentina went nuclear Brazil would probably have to do it as well.
hadn't planned on writing so much about Argentina but I just felt like it. Mr. Steve was born back in 1955. He told us in 1955 the term "Agribusiness" was first used. That means giant farms Dais says.
why leaders like Juan and Eva Peron would want former Nazi's to come to their country after World War II ended in 1945. Mr. Steve has studied about how the Germans were "at the forefront" as they say, of aviation technology.
Ritter was interested in the history of "Manned Flight." So when he met our boss in the mid-1970's at Laser Images that was one thing they had in common. After he died Mr. Steve got some of his books.
One book Mark Ritter left to our Chief was on the subject of Nazi "Cutting Edge" aircraft that never made it past the "drawing board" because the World War II ended in 1945. At that point in time the Germans had the most advanced Air Force in the world.
in Operation Paper Clip after the Second World War many Nazi scientists like Wernher von Braun had their record "whitewashed." Then they were brought to America to help us against the Soviet Union.
even though Joseph Stalin's Soviet Union were on our side in World War II, after the war was over we became enemies in the Cold War which lasted all the way up to 1989. Some of the German scientists were experts in aircraft development.
P-210 "VOLKSJAGER" "TRIEBFLÜGEL" HO-229 "FLYING WING"
PAINTINGS BY ANDREAS OTTE
In Mark Ritter's book on Nazi aviation technology there's one chapter on this "tailless Jet fighter" called the P-210 "Volksjäger." It was never built but its "swept wing" concept was later used on other Jets. Volkjäger means "People Hunter."
Oh my God! Just when I was going to write about that one German Plane meant to take off "vertically" a Helicopter flew bye! That German "designed" Plane was called the "Triebfügel." It would have been the first Plane to take off and land going straight up and down.
Air Show he and his friend Tim went to many years ago they saw this Jet called a "Herrier." It took off and landed vertically. Even today he says, most aircraft have to take off and land "horizontally;" except for Helicopters of course.
Because they were getting bombed a lot toward the end of World War II I guess the Germans "of necessity" had to develop Planes that didn't need what are called "runways." But, luckily for the world, the Nazis ran out of time to make many of the things they thought of.
Mark Ritter, besides the Me-262 and other Jets, was especially interested in the subject of the "Flying Wing." During the Second World War it was two German brothers whose last name was "Horten" who first came up with the Flying Wing idea.
HORTEN BROTHERS
Horten brothers thought that their "HO-229" would be the Luftwaffe's first Jet "fighter" and "interceptor." But I guess the Me-262 ended up being that instead. But the ideas used on both Planes influenced the "post-war" world.
Hermann Oberth. He helped the United States get to the Moon in 1969 but during World War II worked on German Rockets. It says here that Hermann Oberth was that guy Wernher von Braun's mentor.
HERMANN OBERTH (1894-1989)
was Hermann Oberth who worked on the Death Ray. That was the one in outer space that would have used the Sun's rays as a way to burn things from way up there. It might've won the war for Germany.
Hermann Oberth fought in World War I against the Russians before the Russians turned into Communists in 1917. had four children and two died during World War II. His son was killed in combat and his daughter in an accident.
unlike Wernher von Braun, the Horten brothers and Hermann Oberth were not part of Operation Paper Clip. They stayed in Germany in 1945 at the end of World War II. But a few years later Hermann Oberth and his family did come over here to live and work.
Hermann Oberth is the "Founding Father of Rocketry." Like Wernher von Braun, as a boy he read Science Fiction books by this one 19th century French author named Jules Verne.
JULES VERNE (1828-1905)
boss likes Jules Verne's books too. That's because one time when she and Millie were in his bedroom watching tv they says a show about that guy Jules Verne and Mr. Steve was very interested in it. Aha!
Hey God? Jules Verne was kind of a Deist like Mr. Steve. He didn't think You ever got involved in this physical world either. But, as You know of course, Dais and I feel better hoping that You do. I think You're having me do this for a reason.
Jules Verne married a girl who was what's called a "Widow." That means her husband had died. And she had two small children so she married Jules Verne. Then they had a son of their own.
painting in this Encyclopedia of one of Jules Verne's stories. Daisy's told me about how, in one of the bookshelves in his office, our boss has a Jules Verne book about one of those Submarines called "Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea."
PAINTING BY JONATHON BARRY
Mr. Steve is interested in anything to do with Giant Squid or Octopus. So it's no wonder he liked that story Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea. This picture shows a huge Octopus attacking the Submarine. I'd be afraid of a Giant Squid or Octopus.
I didn't intend to write about that guy Jules Verne. He wasn't on my outline. But I just felt like adding him in to my third book. But now I have a few more things to write about German advanced aircraft from the Second World War in the 1940's.
Hermann Oberth worked on an "upper atmosphere" Rocket meant for bombing New York City. But, like some of the other "sophisticated" aircraft the Germans thought of back then, it never went far beyond the planning stages. 
"SILVER BIRD"
Hermann Oberth's "Silver Bird" Rocket would have flown up so high no one could shoot it down in the 1940's. It could've gone all the way across the Atlantic Ocean to attack the United State's east coast. That might've won the war for Germany.
German "Silbervogel" means Silver Bird. It says here the Silver Bird was just the "natural extension" of the V-1 and V-2 Rockets used in 1944.
V-1
PAINTING BY ZAV SAWYER
if the Second World War had lasted another year the Germans may've had time to actually use some of their other "Wunderwaffen" or "Wonder Weapons." But they did use Jets and Rockets before they ran out of time.
The last two World War II German aircraft on my outline to look up and then write about are the Dornier Do-335 and this other Jet called the Heinkel He-162. Both of them were actually made or "produced" but came too late in the war to be effective Mr. Steve says.
DORNIER DO-335 "PFEIL" HEINKEL HE-162 "SALAMANDER"
Do-335 "Pfeil" was what they all a "push-pull" Plane because it had motors in front and back. Mr. Steve says there are some modern planes which now use this idea. the word Pfeil means "Arrow."
The He-162 was a Jet and was one of the fastest aircraft to come out of the Second World War. It could go over five hundred and fifty miles an hour. made mainly out of wood and called the "Salamander.".
IMAGE BY PABLO NECO
when he was young he did a very dumb and stupid thing. He put one those Salamander into an Aquarium with Fish. He woke up the next morning to find all them had been eaten by the Salamander.
a picture of a Salamander Dais was right. They look kind of like underwater Lizards. It says here many Salamanders are "Amphibious;" which means they breathe air and live on land and in water too.
Salamanders grow new tails if it gets cut off. And they also can grow new legs if they lose those! It says here that Scientists are studying Salamanders to see if someday it might be possible to do this in Humans. I wonder if it would work on us Dogs too?
in Legend Salamanders were mentioned since the time of the ancient Greeks. Oh! I wonder if this is the reason why the Germans in World War II named the He-162 Jet the Salamander? They supposedly don't burn even if you put them in a fire.
just like those colorful Frogs down in South America, some Salamanders are brightly colored so the Birds, Snakes and other things won't eat it. And some really are poisonous. Oh! In the 5th century Saint Augustine said Salamanders could put out fires.
British and Americans began to use them after the Germans did. The English came out with their first Jet soon after the Me-262 flew in 1944. And the United States did it after World War II.
FRANK WHITTLE (1907-1996) WITH FAMILY GLOSTER "METEOR"
PHOTO BY JAMES JARCHE
one of the men who developed the Jet for England was named Frank Whittle. He worked on the "Turbo-Jet" engine. Well, Mr. Steve is right! If you expect everything in life to be fair you're going to be disappointed.
Even though for years that man Frank Whittle worked really hard on Jets he never even got the credit he deserved. It sounds like the British government made his life miserable and then when the Me-262 came out they just took all of his work to build the "Gloster Meteor."
Frank Whittle was so short he couldn't get into the military. So he worked on Jet technology instead; just like that guy Homer Lea wrote his influential military books after they wouldn't let him into the American military.
ven had what's called a "nervous breakdown" worrying about money. But "in the end" as they say, his ideas turned out to be really good and they used them in 1944.
Hans von Ohain, who developed the Me-262 for Germany and was in Operation Paper Clip, told Frank Whittle after the war that his ideas had really influenced him with the Me-262.
P-80 "SHOOTING STAR" KELLY JOHNSON F-104 "STARFIGHTER"
when the Me-262 was put "into operation" the United States went to that man Kelly Johnson and asked him to hurry up and develop a Jet too. The Plane he then built was called "P-80 Shooting Star" but it wasn't operational until 1946.
The United States was the first country to make Nuclear bombs but Stalin's Soviet Russia did it soon afterward. And, I guess when they did it the American government again went to Kelly Johnson. He came up with an "Interceptor" called the "F-104 Starfighter."
Well, I guess that's all I want to say about Jets. I can't wait for Mr. Steve to read what I've written. He's interested in that subject so he'll like it.
working on "anti-gravity" propelled aircraft. In 1944, in Poland, they built a giant underground "complex" where they might've worked on this project. Part of it is still there.
there's still the ruins of a big concrete "Henge" type structure left over there in Poland. It was not underground like the rest of that research facility. I guess there was so much underground that the Germans called it "Der Riese" or "The Giant."
What's left of the henge in Poland kind of looks like that place in England called Stonehenge Daisy says. But the Polish henge might've been used for testing this thing called "Die Glocke" which means "The Bell" in German.
some people think the Bell was an aircraft the Germans were working on toward the end of World War II that used "anti-gravity propulsion." Daisy says our boss told her one time that there are some people who think The Bell was actually a time traveling device.
it's only in the last fifteen years that the world found out about the Nazi anti-gravity program; if that's what it was. Whenever he sees a show or reads about it he thinks of his friend Mark Ritter; who would've been very interested in that subject he says.
Oh well! Back to my outline and writing about 1955; the year our boss was born. read that in 1955 radio announcers were first called "Disc Jockeys" or "Dee-Jays;" and terms like "disinformation" and "counter-intuitive" were "coined."
A song he played was that one song called "Louie, Louie" by the KINGSMEN. He jokes that the KINGSMEN were a "one-hit wonder" band. Louie, Louie was written in 1955.
Louie, Louie was written by a man from here in California named Richard Berry. His song was influenced by this one other Cuban song called "Amarren Al Loco" which I think means "Tie Up The Crazy Guy" in Spanish.
Richard Berry's original version of Louie, Louie was more of a softer "ballad." But in 1963, when our boss was eight, the KINGSMEN, who were from Oregon, did the version Daisy and I heard yesterday on the Boombox.
main reason why our Chief likes the KINGMEN'S version of Louie, Louie better than Richard Berry's is because it louder and heavier. She says he also likes the way the KINKS do it.
Louie, Louie is the most covered song in history. There are over a thousand other versions! Ike and Tina Turner and the CLASH played it and even some marching bands at Football games perform it.
I guess another band who covered Louie, Louie was PAUL REVERE AND THE RAIDERS; who were also from the "Pacific Northwest" like the KINGSMEN. Their version also came out in 1963 but was not as successful.
PAUL REVERE AND THE RAIDERS dressed up in Revolutionary War uniforms as a gimmick. I guess the keyboard player really was named Paul Revere.
One of our Chief's favorite bands is the KINKS. And one of his favorite KINKS songs is "You Really got Me." From what Mr. Steve read, when Ray Davies of the Kinks was writing that song he was trying to figure out the song Louie, Louie.
Years ago Mr. Steve used to play drums along to the KINKS version of Louie, Louie. Just like the KINGMEN'S version; the KINKS put a "harder edge" on the song. And both versions were kind of "sloppy" our boss told us. But that's perfectly okay with him he says.
in 1955, the year our Chief was born, more things happened than just the song Louie, Louie. Words like "zinger" and "weirdo" first appeared; and "Science Fiction" was just shortened to "Sci-Fi." Daisy noticed that Americans made big, heavy cars in 1955.
Many terms like "Flip-Top," "Monkey Bars," "Hands-Free," "Home Center," "Inner Child" and "Artificial Intelligence" came out of 1955 Daisy says. One time she told me about this good tv show from the 1970's called "Happy Days." It took place in the 1950's.
Millie also liked that tv show Happy Days; mainly because of this really good looking man called "Fonzie." He rode a motorcycle and wore a black leather jacket. And he was always so wise in the advice he gave to others she says.
in 1998, when Mr. Steve was working for the flower company, he delivered flowers to the actor who played Fonzie over in West Los Angeles. He got to shake his hand and says Fonzie was friendly.
was in 1955 that those really funny puppets called the "Muppets" were born. And she says these things called "computer games" were first seen in 1955. I saw the Muppets one Saturday morning. They're great!
I wonder if we could do our own puppet show? It just might work. I thinks puppets are one of the best forms of entertainment. It takes so much skill to do a good puppet show. It would be really fun and maybe we might be able to make some extra money out of it too!
The 1950's were at times called "Pax-Atomica;" modeled on the "Pax Romana" era from the ancient world. Pax Romana is Latin for "Roman Peace." In in 1955 the term Pax-Atomica was first used by some writers our boss told us.
War is the norm in human history. Peace is the exception Mr. Steve thinks. That guy Homer Lea, who I wrote about in chapter three of book one; proved through his research at Stanford University that warfare is mankind's "more natural state."
Because most of the current American people these days have only known the United States to be wealthy and affluent they cannot imagine anything else. At least that's what Mr. Steve told us. So they would not believe that war is natural.
most Americans don't realize that they've been living a "false bubble" that could someday burst. And if it ever does pop there may be what the Old Testament calls the "Wailing and gnashing of teeth." It won't be a happy time and many will suffer.
12th century Córdoba, in Spain was one of the few times when all three monotheistic religions got along. But that rare period eventually ended and everyone went back to killing each other.
another tiome in history when people "for the most part" lived in peace was during the 1st and 2nd centuries A.D. Mr. Steve told us he thinks that was mainly beause the Roman Empire had brutally conquered and then ruthlessly dominated almost everywhere.
by the 1st century Rome had conquered almost the entire Mediterranean Sea area. And they also controlled the Middle East, Egypt, Greece and parts of Europe too.
Pax Romana was possible not because there was no violence, hatred or brutality; but because most of the conquered peoples were too terrified to do anything that might upset the Romans. They knew what would happen.
The 1950's were called the Pax-Atomica because after World War II the United States and Soviet Union, after uniting to beat Hitler's Germany, became enemies. And both had nuclear weapons so it was a "grudging" peace through "mutually assured destruction."
Some people say they should "outlaw" war. As nice as this sounds our Chief says it's totally impossible as long as there are things like "Nation States." He thinks the only way there would ever be no war is if one country conquered the whole world.
Even during the time of the Pax Romana one area the Romans couldn't totally conquer was the area now called Germany. That's partly because the German tribes were even more violent and "warlike" than the Romans. But they also often fought each other it says here.
German States have made war on each other since the time of the Romans. The Thirty Years War was so terrible. But then,in the 19th century, that one Prussian man named Bismark conquered them all and then "imposed" peace.
Stalin's Soviet Union helped America beat Hitler's Nazi Germany in World War II. But then Russia became our biggest enemy. Stalin kept the countries of eastern Europe and ruled them with an "Iron Fist;" except for that area called "Yugoslavia."
JOSIP BROZ TITO (1892-1980)
that this man named Josip Broz Tito ruled Yugoslavia from right after the Second World War until he died in 1980. A few years ago Mr. Steve met an older man from Serbia; which is one of the main regions back there in Yugoslavia.
Nikola Tesla and how Sarajevo was where World War I started. That man told our Chief he thought "Tito" was just as "dictatorial" as Stalin. Tito helped defeat Hitler's Germans during World War II.
A map in my Encyclopedia shows how the area that used to be called "Yugoslavia" is across from Italy. After World War II ended in 1945 that guy Joseph Stalin decided to keep all the land he retook from Germany, Italy and their allies like Rumania.
Winston Churchill called the area Stalin's Soviet troops took in the Second World War
is armies had taken in chasing the Germans and their allies out of Russia. e the end of the Second World War until Tito died in 1980 they got along partly; because they were so afraid of Tito Mr. Steve thinks.
To this day that man from Serbia said, in Russian and China you can still find the pictures of Joseph Stalin and Mao Tse-tung hanging in peoples houses. And the same is true with Tito. But all were leaders who were responsible for the deaths of millions.
I wonder if "Post-war" Yugoslavia was like how it was in Iraq up until 2003? In Iraq under Saddam Hussein the Sunni's, Shiites and Kurds all got along temporarily because of their fear of Saddam Hussein; who was a Sunni.
Like the three groups in Iraq, the people who have lived in the area of Yugoslavia fought one another for many centuries. But when Tito took over after World War II ended they had to get along. If they didn't they might end up being killed.
d a period of stability in an area which has often seen tremendous "volatility" and violence. So, in that one way his rule was good for the people living there. But it was still oppressive he said.
That man from Serbia told Mr. Steve the word "Liquidate" is now associated with "Marshall Tito." If Daisy were back here right now she'd probably say that's just a nicer way of saying "to get rid of by killing."
after that man Tito died the different groups in Yugoslavia started fighting all over again. There was civil war for years and even today there are still occasional "hostilities." People will always fight each other I guess.
Yugoslavia is part of a larger area called the "Balkans." So now if an area breaks up into pieces it's called "Balkanization." It says here that in the last thirty or so years many people have been killed in the former Yugoslavia.
since after the Prophet Muhammad died in the 7th century the two groups of Muslims, the Shia and Sunni, have fought each other. After World War I the country of Iraq was created in the area that used to be ancient Mesopotamia. Both groups lived there.
Chief jokes that there will always be warfare unless one "Super Power" rules the whole world. What they call "Imperium Romanum" or "Imperial Rome" and Pax Romana were the same thing.
Thomas Hobbes. He was British. Mr. Steve thinks he's important. was smart in many areas but is now known mainly as a "political" philosopher.
THOMAS HOBBES (1588-1678)
Thomas Hobbes lived for many years over in France. There was a bloody civil war going on in England then. His most famous book is called "Leviathon." That's what he called the "State."
Thomas Hobbes thought that the biggest reducer of violence in a society was a "well functioning" government. If people can solve problems through a good police and court system they wont have to resort to violence like so often in the past.
Thomas Hobbes thought the best chance for "lasting peace" was a government that protects but does not "prey" on its own people. He talked about "self-interested cooperation" between a government and its citizens.
even though Thomas Hobbes believed individual citizens who had "natural" rights or basic "human" rights, he thought what they call an "absolutist" government was best.
later generations like the American Founding Fathers created forms of government that were influenced by the ideas of Thomas Hobbes. His idea of a government based on what he called the "consent of the people" is still important
Thomas Hobbes' mother gave birth to him on the day the Spanish Armada invaded England in 1588. Oh wow! Mr. Steve will definitely be interested in this! Thomas Hobbes' last words before he died were; "A great leap into the dark."
last period of ancient Egypt; when Rome took over under Julius Caesar. At that time the ruler or Pharoah of Egypt was this really smart girl named "Cleopatra."
Julius Caesar and Cleopatra had a baby boy. I guess some Senators back in Rome didn't like that. And they sure didn't like it when he wanted to be treated like a King. So they killed him on the Ides of March but then a big civil war broke.
Julius Caesar's stepson Augustus eventually won the civil war against Mark Antony. By that point Cleopatra was Mark Antony's girlfriend.
Cleopatra was the last "Pharaoh" of Egypt. Her family, the "Ptolemies," were actually Greek and had ruled Egypt since Alexander the Great conquered the area centuries earlier. She sounds smart. Mr. Steve thinks that Julius Caesar liked her a lot.
Ptolemy XII was Cleopatra's father. He was a descendant of one of Alexander's generals. It says here that in Greek Cleopatra means "She who had a glorious father."
Wow! Cleopatra not only spoke Greek but learned Egyptian too. The main reason why the Rosetta Stone from Napoleon's time was able to be deciphered was because one section was in Greek so could be compared word by word with the Egyptian hieroglyphs.
MARK ANTONY (83 B.C.-30 B.C.) CLEOPATRA (69 B.C.-30 B.C.)
Cleopatra "represented" herself on her coins as the reincarnation of the Egyptian Goddess Isis In fact, there are pictures here of Mark Antony and Cleopatra's coins.
In the movies about her our boss says she was pretty but in real life she probably really wasn't; at least based on her coins.
Cleopatra seems smart but probably was not a very nice person. Our Chief says she likely killed her brother and sister. But, then again, in those days that was not so unusual. Male Lions kill all the baby Lions when they take over.
after Julius Caesar was killed civil war followed. Cleopatra sided with Mark Antony against Caesar's stepson "Octavian;" or "Augustus" as he was later called. But they lost a naval battle at "Actium" so both committed suicide.
once Augustus' army beat Antony and Cleopatra at Actium he won the war and the Pax Romana period started. lasted for forty one years. In Greek the term "general peace" is "koiní eirené."
just because during Augustus's time it was called The Roman Peace doesn't mean there wasn't any violence. He thinks there just weren't any big wars that's all.
Alexander the Great. Some time back our Chief met a man from the area now called the "Republic of Macedonia" which used to be part of the country of Yugoslavia.
That Macedonian man told Mr. Steve his country sees Alexander the Great as their "mascot" or "Founding Father." This struck our boss as kind of funny because the people who now live in that area are "Slavic" and migrated there centuries after Alexander the Great.
modern Greeks now want to claim credit for Alexander even though back then they didn't like really like the Macedonians. Alexander, as a teenager, helped his father conquer Greece.
ancient Greeks considered Alexander and his father Philip to be inferior "foreign barbarian outsiders." It says here in this Encyclopedia that Alexander considered himself Greek.
Aristotle tutored Alexander the Great, And Alexander always slept at night with a copy of Homer's Iliad and a knife under his pillow. That man Herodotus said he thought of Macedonians as Greek or "Hellenes."
Alexander the Great was one of the world's first "celebrities" because he conquered much of the ancient world. But he only lived for thirty three years. His father Philip sounds like he was kind of mean.
Alexander the Great set a bad example in Western culture for rulers who came after him. He wanted to be not just a King but also a God too; in kind of the same way that the ancient Egyptian and Persian rulers saw themselves.
, like his father Philip, Alexander came to think of himself as sort of a "God-King." And, also like his father, he sometimes used violence to "impose" this view on others.
Alexander the Great had two different colored eyes. One of his eyes was grayish-blue and the other one was brown. I remember when Mr. Steve told Dais and I that the British singer David Bowie also has two different colored eyes.
at age fifteen David Bowie got in a fight with a friend over a girl. He got hit in the eye and it never looked the same again. But, from what our boss says that same friend later did artwork for some of David Bowie's earlier albums.
"Caligula." He was Augustus' Great Grandson and he also wanted to be a God-King like Alexander. Wow! that guy Caligula was really mean! He liked to see people and animals tortured and killed just for the fun of it.
CALIGULA (12-41 A.D.)
Emperor Caligula changed the "Gladiatorial" rules for the games at the Coliseum so there would be more bloodshed. This is interesting. To insult the Senators he made his Horse a Consul and even wanted to make it a God too!
So, even though violence and murder was totally normal in ancient Rome; Caligula went too far so had to be killed himself. And his wife and baby were killed too. Oh wow! Caligula's baby had its head "bashed in" against a wall! And all of his statues were destroyed.
Alexander the Great became what they call "paranoid" and started to drink way too much. One time when he was drunk he even speared to death a good officer. Because he thought he was the God Zeus's son he hated criticism.
even though the Greeks had myths about what they call "Demigods" like Hercules, until the time of Alexander they tended to separate "mortals" and "immortals." Demigod is a half man, half God.
Alexander the Great "broke with tradition" in wanting to be "worshiped." Mr. Steve thinks one reason he got so conceited was because his mother "Olympias" raised him to think he was better than everyone. She was a really mean.
Alexander's mother most likely arranged for her husband Philip to be illed. He says she may have convinced a man who hated Philip to stab him; and she probably told him she'd reward him. But instead she just made sure he was killed too.
it was three of Alexander's friends who chased down and killed King Philip's assassin. This was most likely so he couldn't "talk" as they say. Oh my God! It says here the killer's body was nailed up onto a wall so everyone could see it.
Someday I want to see a Lunar Eclipse where the Earth's shadow blocks out the Moon. In history people like Alexander the Great have taken advantage of them. One time right before a big battle against the Persians and their King Darius III a Lunar Eclipse took place.
in 331 B.C. Alexander the Great's army fought King Darius at a place called "Gaugamela." A few nights before a Lunar Eclipse took place. Alexander wanted to take it as a good sign. King Darius' Astrologers agreed with this opinion.
Th Lunar Eclipse back in 331 B.C. kind of reminds me of the story of Constantine the Great who saw a cross up in the clouds. Well, I guess they were right because, just like Constantine, Alexander's army won; even though they were outnumbered.
I kind of feel like writing about the Battle of Gaugamela. It was one of Alexander the Great's biggest victories and his tactics really influenced many later military leaders.
the poor of France revolted against King Louis XVI after France had helped the American colonies break away from England; which bankrupted France. And then Napoleon Bonaparte cleverly "exploited the chaos" to gain power.
NAPOLEON I "CROWNS" HIMSELF
PAINTING BY JACQUES-LOUIS DAVID
Napoleon became just like Alexander the Great and the Emperor Caligula. He got so conceited he even crowned himself Emperor instead of having the Pope do it as was usual. A lot of French people died during Napoleon's time.
One of Napoleon's most important victories was the "Battle of Austerlitz" in 1805. He beat the Russians and the Austro-Hungarian Empire. And he used tactics very similar to those used by Alexander the Great against the Persians at Gaugamela in 331 B.C.
both Alexander and later Napoleon had to "make a virtue of necessity" at Gaugamela and Austerlitz. To reduce the "numerical odds" they faced and create an opening in their enemies center they had to draw or "lure" units away from the center.
At Gaugamela and Austerlitz Alexander and Napoleon had to time perfectly their attack "up the middle" as they say. If their "decisive attacks" had not been delivered at just the right time it would have been a disaster. But they both succeeded.
Sometimes people who know in advance that an eclipse is going to happen use that knowledge "to their advantage" as they say. In my Encyclopedia it says that in 1504, on his fourth and last expedition, Christopher Columbus used "prior knowledge" of a Lunar Eclipse.
in 1504 Columbus told some Native people in Jamaica that he could control nature. He and his sailors had been "shipwrecked" and when the eclipse did happen those Indians must have thought he a God or something. So they gave him food.
in 1917 during World War I, that guy T.E. Lawrence led the Arabs in capturing a town called "Aqaba." It was being held by the Ottoman Turks. Lawrence timed a "raid" perfectly right before the main capture of Aqaba with a Lunar Eclipse.
Lawrence knew that the defenders of Aqaba would be what they call "distracted" on that one night of the Lunar Eclipse. So he and his men snuck in and then got out before the Turks even knew what happened.
The reason why the mid-1950's was called Pax Atomica is because nuclear weapons made war "unthinkable." It was called "mutually assured destruction" Mr. Steve told us. The Soviet Union and United States had hundreds of nuclear "warheads" pointed at each other.
in 1989 the Soviet Union fell after forty years of "Cold War." Twice the world came close to destruction our boss says. One time was 1962's "Cuban Missile Crisis." The second time was in November of 1983 in Operation "Able Archer."
The current leader of the former Soviet Union is named Vladimir Putin. For about tzewenty years he was a member of this security agency called the "KGB." Even though the "Cold War" is over "Putin's Russia" still keeps thousands of nuclear warheads and so do we.
I.C.B.M. stands for "Inter-Continental Ballistic Missile." Dais says one time our Chief told her and Millie what that means. Most Americans don't realize what that means. If you can put a Nuclear warhead on the end; who knows? We have thousands of I.C.B.M.'s too.
rumor down in Sylmar that at the very top of the mountain behind the where Veteran's Hospital used to be, where the Hang Gliders jump off, something unusual might be going on.
you used to be able to go all the way up the road behind the old Veteran's Hospital but then at the very top this sign on a gate warned "in no uncertain terms" as they say, that you should not go "beyond this point."
Some people who've lived in Sylmar for a while now think the mountain behind Sylmar was hollow and inside a "Nike" base with an I.C.B.M. was there. That's the rumor. So now our boss wonders if Sylmar would've been a target if a nuclear war had broken out?
I wish I could go back in time to see what our Chief was like when he was a teenager. Daisy says he told her he was an idiot. But his girlfriend Sandy admired him so that was all that really mattered. Both of them knew that "windy" road up the mountain in Sylmar well.
he beginnings of World War I and the Second World War too. Both are connected. Mr. Steve thinks both wars are still affecting us to this very day. ing the war but it isn't as "clear cut" as to who started the First World War. But both world wars, once started, got out of control and millions of people died; and probably Dogs too I'll bet. ated. His name was Franz Ferdinand and his wife was killed too when they were visiting the area now called Yugoslavia. That's where Nikola Tesla was originally from.
The guy who shot Franz Ferdinand and his wife in 1914 was a "Yugoslav nationalist" it says here. He thought his area should break away the the "Autro-Hungarian" Empire which at that time ruled them.
ARCHDUKE FRANZ FERDINAND (1863-1914) AND FAMILY
about nine million soldiers who fought in World War I ended up being killed. And another seven million civilians also died from 1914 through 1918. But it started with everyone enthusiastic and eager to fight.
In 1914 Franz Ferdinand was "heir apparent" to the throne of Austria-Hungary. But then he and his wife were shot while riding in their car by that man named Gaurilo Princip. He wanted independence.
FRANZ FERDINAND AND WIFE ASSASSINATED (1914)
PAINTING BY ACHILLES BELTRANE
in the years leading up to World War I the economies of the world were doing pretty good. Most people were what they call "care free." They didn't realize that the assassinations at Sarajevo would "change the world's destiny" forever.
there hadn't been a big war in Europe since the 1870's when Bismarck's Germany beat Napoleon III's France. So many "Nationalists" in every country saw war as a good "opportunity" for their countries to achieve political goals.
unfortunately for the world, few people knew the "unimaginable consequences" that would come about because they so enthusiastically went to war.
one reason the First World War started was "alliances." It was what they call a "domino effect." Austria-Hungary declared war on Serbia, Russia declared war on them. Germany declared war on Russia. France and England declared war on Germany.
Before they knew it the world was fighting the biggest war ever. But technology made killing so efficient at a greater distance that a "stalemate" like in Chess happened. "in effect," they fought each other "to a stand still."
in the First World War Germany had a huge cannon that was able to bomb Paris from seventy five miles away! Our Chief thinks the biggest "factor" in creating a "draw" situation in World War I was "machine" guns; and using planes for war too.
"Central Powers" were mainly Germany, Austria-Hungary and "Ottoman" Turkey. The "Triple Entente" was Russia, England and France. In 1917 the United States came in on the side of England and France.
Because Germany had a family named "Krupp" who built things out of steel they were able to make "mammoth" cannons like the one that "shelled" Paris in World War I. And in the Second World War they built an even bigger gun
in the Spring of 1942, about a year after Germany attacked it's former ally Russia, the Germans used a giant cannon nicknamed "Dora" to "besiege" the Crimean city of Sevastopol; near where the British made their famous Charge of the Light Brigade.
the when the Germans "deployed" Dora against Sevastopol she was the "largest artillery piece in the history of warfare." Wow! That cannon Dora had barrel which was about one hundred and seven feet long! And she fired shells that were seven tons!
That gigantic cannon Dora could shoot its seven ton shell over twenty-nine miles. She weighted almost fifteen hundred tons and needed four thousand men to operate her.
Dora helped the Germans take Sevastopol in 1942 but it wasn't worth it. General Erich von Manstein later said; "Undoubtedly the effectiveness of the cannon bore no real relation to all the effort and expense that had gone into making it."
Dais says in his office our Chief has a replica knife from World War I. It has a double-edged blade but the grip is "brass knuckles." And on the bottom Dais told me is a "whole punch" for hitting your enemy on his helmet.
FRANZ FERDINAND WITH WIFE / GAURILO PRINZIP (1894-1918)
Gaurilo Prinzip, who killed the Archduke and his wife, ended up dying in prison just a few years later. He had already tried to kill himself twice before that.
In late 1918 World War I finally ended and the Allies won. Germany, Ottomon Turkey and the Autro-Hungarian Empire lost so were blamed. The Turkish and Austro-Hungarian empires were "dismantled;" their land "carved" or "divided up" between the winners.
"Palace of Versailles"France's King Louie XIV's palace outside Paris. It's where the final peace was negotiated after the First World War ended. It's called his "Hall of Mirrors" Mr. Steve's sister Susan has been to it.
Mr. Steve's sister Susan told him the gardens outside the palace at Versailles were beautiful. Wow! It says here the Versailles Palace has seven hundred rooms! And yet our Chief says, the three of us probably live better now than most of the people around Louis XIV then.
LOUIS XIV (1638-1715)
Louis XIV, "The Sun King," came to symbolize wealth and power. He ruled France from 1643 through 1715. Mr. Steve says many of his own "Bourbon" family died of disease and he almost died of disease. "High heels" started in his time.
Most people know that "Smallpox" killed millions of the Native people's of the New World. in the 17th century half a million Europeans died every year from the same disease.
Louis XIV wore a wig not only to hide his loss of hair but also to keep him warm in the freezing cold rooms of his palace. palace at Versailles was really cold inside. So a lot of people used to get sick.
one result of the Black Death of 1347-1351 was people became suspicious of bathing. They thought it opened up skin pores so let in disease. That lady Queen Elizabeth I said she bathed once a month; "whether she needed it or not."
in "meticulously detailed" journals Louis XIV's doctors kept from the day he was born; bathing is mentioned only once.
"RECEPTION OF THE CONDÉ IN VERSAILLES"
PAINTING BY JÉAN-LEON GEROME
during the time of Louis XIV there weren't enough bathrooms in the palace at Versailles. You could just "go" wherever you wanted. No wonder everyone got sick he says. If Louis XIV's life was like that our Chief thinks; what was the average person's life like?
"Eiffel Tower." It's in the city of Paris and Mr. Steve told us his sister Susan has been to it. It says in my Encyclopedia it was the tallest "man-made structure" in the world until 1930.
Eiffel Tower was built in 1889 to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the French Revolution. It was intended to last only twenty years. In very hot weather the Eiffel Tower grows by about six inches.
The Eiffel Tower was almost torn down in 1909 but now it's the "most visited attraction" in the world. They probably make a lot of money. The most famous person ever to visit it was that guy Adolph Hitler. Wow! 250 million people have seen the Eiffel Tower over the years.
The Eiffel Tower is named after this man named Alexander Gustave Eiffel. His company built the tower and also designed the metal frame of the Statue of Liberty in New York Harbor.
because the Allies just "dictated" all the terms of the treaty to the defeated German, Austro-Hungarian Empire and Ottoman Turks; the "seeds were sewn" for World War II twenty years later. Hitler later used "resentment" as a motivator for the Germans.
Allies "went back on their word" so what T.E. Lawrence promised to the Arabs was ignored. My Encyclopedia says Germany was "saddled" with an "unpayable debt." The "League of Nations" was also created at Versailles in 1919.
by "saddling" Germany with such harsh and "punitive" terms after Wold War II in the "Treaty of Versailles" this allowed Adolph Hitler to use "retribution" as one of the ways he had to "revive" Germany.
years between the two world wars, 1918 through 1939, were the most important years of the 20th century. And what happened then is still determining what our world is like now. Those twenty one years were what they call "pivotal."
When the First World War ended in 1918 Hitler and many other Germans did not know what to do. There was "anarchy" for a time. My Encyclopedia says Hitler went to a Nazi meeting and ended up taking over the party. He soon realized he had a talent for speaking.
in 1923 because the economy was so bad in Germany Hitler and the Nazis even tried to overthrow the "Weimar" government in a "coup." They now call it the "Beer Hall Putsch." But it failed and Hitler was put on trial for "Treason."
In 1923 when Hitler's Nazi's tried to take over the government a few of them were killed and that man Herman Göring was wounded. Hitler was captured and put on trial. Some wanted to put him to death. But he used the trial as a "pulpit" and won a lot of support.
In "Landsburg" prison Hitler and the other Nazi's had it easy; almost a "Country Club" atmosphere. Hitler wrote his famous book "Mein Kampf;" or "My Struggle."
Hitler said or "laid out" exactly what he would do if he were ever to gain power in Germany. And when he got full power he started doing what he said he'd do in his book.
Hitler got out of prison he decided the Nazi's would switch from being a violent revolutionary movement to a less violent "reform" movement. He would try to get elected legally. And he did become "Chancellor" in 1933.
you can't really talk about Hitler without mentioning President Franklin Roosevelt; Winston Churchill and Joseph Stalin too. Franklin Roosevelt, or "FDR," also came into power in 1933.
If it hadn't been for President Roosevelt, Winston Churchill and Joseph Stalin Hitler might have conquered the world! Our boss thinks that if Hitler had defeated the Soviet Union he would have "acquired" unlimited slave labor and plenty of oil.
Hitler had his own army called the "Brownshirts;" his "Storm Troopers" or "Sturmagteilung" in German. They were just called the "SA." I guess in the years between world wars in Germany each political party needed their own military units.
most of the SA were probably just guys who liked to drink beer and then "bash heads;" usually fighting the Communists. Mr. Steve has that flexible Blackjack in his Bedroom Daisy told me.
Adolph Hitler became Dictator or "Führer" in 1933 the real Army felt threatened by the SA. By then there were about four million Storm Troopers so they far outnumbered the army members. In German Fuhrer means "Leader".
in 1934, two years after his father was born, Hitler had to make a decision. As head of the German State he inherited a military; even though because Germany had lost World War I they could only have an army of one hundred thousand.
Hitler decided to use that guy Heinrich Himmler's SS to "eliminate" the SA leadership. I guess in June of 1934 Hitler "purged" the leaders of the SA to "placate" the Military.
Hitler I guess, knew that the SA leadership did want to become the "Wehrmacht;" which is what the Nazis called the national army. Dais jokes that the words eliminate and purge are just nicer way to say "killed." What happened is called the "Night of the Long Knives."
night when the SS killed off the leadership of the SA was called "Operation Hummingbird." They caught all of the SA leadership totally by surprise so were able to then capture and kill them.
The Godfather. She said in that movie this Mafia leader, the "Don," did what they call "Settling old Scores" or killing off his enemies. The Godfather in that movie was named Michael Corleone.
Mr. Steve has at times wondered if Mario Puzo, who wrote the book The Godfather which is what the three movies were based on; was influenced by Operation Hummingbird. That's what Dais told me. What Adolph Hitler did back then in 1934 does seem like the movie.
in the Godfather the "Boss" Michael Corleone, like Hitler, has some of his enemies brutally killed. She says that movie has some really violent scenes like when this one guy has his hand pinned to a table with a knife. In another scene a man is shot right in the throat.
Back in 1934 I guess Hitler figured, as long as he was getting rid of the SA leaders, he might as well "take advantage" of the situation and rid himself of some of his political enemies as well. Like Dais sometime says; "Killing two Birds with one Stone" so to speak.
using Hegel's Dialectic, you don't have to be Nostradamus or Edgar Casey to predict that the 21st will be the most violent century of all time. The 20th century was the most violent century so far by far.
"Saint Valentines Day Massacre" when I wrote about that guy Al Capone. He killed many of his rival gang leaders in Chicago during the "Roaring" 1920's. But, as I said yesterday, he ended up dying in prison for being caught for "Tax Evasion."
even though the movie The Godfather is what they call "Fiction," the scenes of that guy Michael Corleone having his rivals killed represents just how violent life at times has been in the 20th century.
Albert Anastasia who for years ran New York City's "Murder Inc."
Over in Russia during the 1930's Joseph Stalin killed millions of his political enemies.
20th century was one of the most violent centuries and the 21st century is likely to be worse. Using Hegel's Dialect everything gets proportionately bigger as weapons get better. By 20th century standards the Night of the Long Knives isn't unusual.
When the SA leadership was "deleted" on that night in 1934 many died saluting while shouting "Heil Hitler!" Later the Nazis called it a "Blood Purge."
Oh my God! Just when I read bloody night in 1934 was called "Operation Hummingbird" who do I see? Max and 99!
16th century Italian man named Nicollo Machiavelli. "The Prince."
NICCOLO MACHIAVELLI (1469-1527)
"Machiavelli's" book The Prince is a "Handbook for Power." Since he wrote it back in the 1500's it has influenced many leaders Mr. Steve says. Some of the American Founding Fathers read it and so did that guy Joseph Stalin.
Machiavelli said that a good leader has to have two sides in knowing when to use a"Velvet Glove" or the "Iron Fist." Heinrich Himmler's SS were meant to be Hitler's "Iron Fist." Over in Stalin's Soviet Russia his Police Force the "N.K.V.D." were his Iron Fist.
Machiavelli said a good leader has to know when to be a "Lion" or a "Fox;" or when to "caress" or "annihilate" as it says here in my Encyclopedia. Mr. Steve's dad would agree with Machiavelli that kindness is effective in dealing with basically decent people.
In the 16th century there was no country of Italy. Each city was it's own State. Even the Popes had armies.
Machiavelli believed that a good leader should try to be both "loved" and "feared." But if a leader has to choose one method over the other then it was usually more effective to be feared.
Machiavelli and his father agree that kindness can be effective when dealing with basically decent because they're grateful. But indecent people will often see kindness as weakness. Therefore, with them fear is way more effective as a motivator.
Machiavelli believed that what a good leader needs the most is what he called in Italian "Virtú." But that doesn't mean "virtue" the way a lot of people understand that word. It means knowing when to use love or fear.
HEINRICH HIMMLER (0000-1945)
SS Hitler's "bludgeon" or "instrument of terror." A picture Himmler, the head of the SS; and you can tell which Machiavellian method he preferred by a quote of his right next to his image.
not only were the SS a police force; they ended up being a really good combat force too. During World War II they were some of the courageous and fanatical warriors it says here. The military units were "Waffen" SS.
Reinhard Heydrich. He was Heinrich Himmler's main assistant. They call him the "Architect of the Holocaust." Germans have long titles. Heydrich was what's called an "Obergruppenführer" or "Senior Group Leader."
REINHARD HEYDRICH (1904-1942)
Tinhard Heydrich. He looks kind of mean and I guess he was because Hitler described him as; "A man with an iron heart." He was the leader of the "dreaded" Police Force called the "Gestapo."
Gestapo is short for "Geheime Staatspolizei."
a unit of SS soldiers. I wonder if these are the ones used to kill the SA leaders? Mr. Steve thinks the Nazis have influenced what they call "uniform design" to this day.
I kind of like the way the SS uniforms looked. Chief likes the color scheme of black as the primary color with silver as the secondary color. He used to take pictures of this one N.F.L. Football team called the "Raiders." Their uniform colors are black and silver.
Even though I hadn't planned on it and it's not on my outline, I suddenly just kind of feel like writing about this one Football team called the "Raiders." My Encyclopedia says they were one of the original teams from the 1960's "A.F.L." or "American Football League."
A.F.L. began in 1960 and were thought of as "upstarts" by the N.F.L. During the last half of the 1960's the N.F.L. champions began to play the A.F.L. champions in the "Super Bowl."
Mr. Steve has known this one guy named Tom since Alemany High School. During the 1980's and 1990's Tom, as a photographer, got to go to a number of Super Bowls. He also got to "cover" a lot of other big events from that era.
Later today I'm going to write about when Mr. Steve met this guy named Joe Namath. He was a Quarterback like Doug Flutie and Dan Marino. In the 1960's, representing the A.F.L., Joe Namath led the New York "Jets" to the very first A.F.L. Super Bowl victory.
during the 1960's the Raiders represented Oakland. From 1968 on they played their home games at the same Stadium as the Oakland A's and had some really good teams I guess. Like the Nazi SS units, they wore black and silver to "intimidate."
most important person in the history of the Raiders is a man named Al Davis. Like most people Mr. Steve says, some people loved him and was totally loyal to him while he also had his critics. He's the one who picked the Raiders colors.
AL DAVIS (1929-2011)
In 1970 the N.F.L. agreed to "merge" with the A.F.L. By then Al Davis had been the Raiders Assistant Coach, Head Coach, General Manager. The Raiders move down her to Los Angeles in 1980.
the "Los Angeles" Raiders had a few good . But then they moved back to Oakland and that's where they are now.
It's not unique in history to kill enemies. In 1306 A.D. the French King, Phillip IV, owed money to the"Knights Templars." So he decided to just kill them and take what they had.
was on Friday the 13th of October in 1306 that King Phillip IV did what Hitler would do many years later. But he did it on a much bigger scale. .
No wonder Friday the 13th is so unlucky! I can't wait to tell Daisy this. I'm almost tempted to take a break and run up front. But I better not. I'll just tell her later. Dais says our boss has a big white and red Knights Templar flag hanging over the door going into his bedroom.
in the early 1930's the "real" leader of Germany was an old man named Paul von Hindenburg. He was the President and an admired former World War I General.
PAUL VON HINDENBURG (1847-1934)
President Hindenburg was really famous from World War I I guess. And, like Erwin Rommel was in The Second World War, he was a Field Marshall. In 1914 Hindenburg beat the Russians at a famous battle near a place called "Tannenburg."
My Encyclopedia says that President Hindenburg secretly told Hitler "When history is made blood must be shed." So Hitler probably took this as permission to do what he did back in 1934.
That's this one giant German "Dirigible" Balloon called the "Hindenburg" named after that man General Hindenburg. It crashed in 1937 and was the biggest flying machine ever.
FERDINAND GRAF VON ZEPPELIN (1838-1917)
big Balloon the Hindenburg was built by a company run by this one man named Ferdinand Graf von Zeppelin. He was a "Count." Led Zeppelin got their band name from him. His Balloon that burned in 1937 was "Passenger Airship."
Count von Zeppelin first saw Balloons used when he was sent in 1862 to study the Union Army during the American Civil War. He saw General Burnside's army using what they call "observation" Balloons at the Battle of Fredericksburg.
Count von Zeppelin went back to Germany after the Civil War with the idea that Balloons could be used for peaceful and wartime purposes. And many years later, during World War I when he an old man, his Balloons were used to bomb England.
he 1930's during the Great Depression, the Germans started to use "Zeppelins" to carry passengers. They were intended to "compete" with all of those big "Ocean Liners" like this ship called the "Queen Mary."
picture shows just how big that Balloon called the Hindenburg was. I guess it was over eight hundred feet long and based on this picture was even bigger than that ship the Titanic and this plane called a "747."
e when the Hindenburg caught fire it was in New Jersey. That's where Mr. Steve's Niece Stephanie's boyfriend Rich is originally from. Until that terrible accident back then in 1937 the Zeppelin Company had a 100% "safety record."
Boy! Looking at other picture of the actual crashing and burning of the Hindenburg it's a miracle that there were any survivors but I guess there were. Some think because it was filled with "highly flammable" Hydrogen a "static spark" ignited it.
Kings, Emperors and other political leaders have often tried to "eliminate" or "remove" people in man's history. Those are just nicer ways to say "kill" Dais thinks. One word that was often used in the 20th century was "liquidate."
Mao Tse-tung, who's called the "Father of modern China" said; "All power comes from the barrel of a gun." And that other Russian guy Vladimir Lenin supposedly told other "revolutionaries" like Joseph Stalin that; "Terror is an instrument of social hygiene."
In the 20th century Hitler, Stalin and Mao Tse-tung each killed millions. And Mr. Steve says he thinks that, based on Hegel's Dialectic, some 21st leader is very likely to kill way more than they did. This is because, for good and bad, things are getting "proportionately" bigger.
Hitler, Stalin and Mao were just the biggest killers of people in the 20th century. But others like Pol Pot in Cambodia, Idi Amin in Uganda and Saddam Hussein in Iraq killed anyone who opposed them; just on a smaller scale than Hitler, Stalin or Mao our Chief says.
Thinking about Heathcliff makes me wonder why people kill each other and make war? Dais says our Chief thinks besides "practical" reasons many men just plain like to fight. It somehow makes them feel better. The world is often brutal.
that for the first few years in power Hitler worked on Germany's bad economy. Germany was then one of the first countries to come out of the Depression. Hitler did it partly by national work projects like building the famous "Autobahn" highway.
German's work projects were kind of like the ones President Franklin Roosevelt tried here in the United States. But the American projects did not pull us out of the Great Depression like the way they did over there in Germany.
Supposedly the purpose for building the Autobahn was so the German people could travel in their new Volkswagons. But Mr. Steve thinks that Hitler's "ulterior motive" was to create roads that could be used to quickly move troops and equipment in time of war.
Hitler gave the six million or so unemployed German workers uniforms and then put shovels in their hands. They were called the "Reichsarbeitdienst" or "Reich Labor Service." picture they kind of look like soldiers.
Like President Roosevelt here in America at that time, Hitler "contrived" work for the males in his society. I wrote about F.D.R.'s W.P.A. at the end of book two when I talked about that one man Mr. Espinoza; who was later in, and survived, the "Bataan Death March" of 1942.
Hitler had his uniformed workers build the "Autobahn." Franklin Roosevelt had workers like Mr. Espinoza build the "Hoover Dam" and things like that. Both men knew logically that they had to give men "Self-Confidence and "Self-Esteem" in supporting their families.
Mr. Steve told Daisy and Millie that Hitler had the German workers not only do what they call "Building Projects;" at the same time he had them learn the "Manual of Arms" drills with their shovels. So later it was a simple matter to just substitute rifles for shovels.
has a picture of Hitler "opening" that Autobahn Road in 1937. I see the dirt path Daisy and I have carved out just to my right leading into this Patio.
e, Daisy goes with our Chief when he drives to Phelan but I'm afraid to do that. Looking at this picture of the Autobahn's opening makes me want to ride in a Car. In the picture of Hitler you can tell that all of the people are cheering him.
According to the Treaty of Versailles, Germany was only allowed to have a small army but in secret Hitler built it back up. He trained his Pilots by using Gliders instead of Planes and it was easy to replace shovels with rifles for his work force when war came in 1939.
In 1932 Los Angeles "hosted" the Olympic Games. In 1936 they were held in Berlin. At that point the United States and most of the world was still "mired" in the Great Depression; but not Germany. In 1936 Jesse Owens proved that blacks could be really great athletes too.
I'm scheduled to write in more detail about the 1936 Berlin Olympics later today when I talk about the history of "Race Relations" in the United States. That will be "against the backdrop" as they say, of the O.J. Simpson trial. But I'll just "set it up" a little right now.
1936 was the first time they used relay runners to pass the Olympic torch after it had been lit down in Greece. And. as good as Jesse Owens did, Germany won the most total medals with eighty nine. America had fifty six.
in 1933, when Hitler became Chancellor, he skillfully used the system and cleverly "outwitted" other politicians. And he got lucky too he says. Later in 1934 President Hindenburg died. Now Hitler had an easy path to total dictatorship in Germany.
Four weeks after Adolph Hitler became Chancellor the German "Reichstag" or Parliament Building burned down. This was another lucky break for the Nazis. The Reichstag had been a symbol of Democracy.
man from Holland named Marinus van der Lubbe was caught at the scene of the Reichstag fire. He had a previous record for being what they call and "Arsonist." That means he often started fires on purpose.
van der Lubbe admitted that he started the Reichstag fire and was a known Communist. Dais says our boss thinks it was probably the Nazis themselves who burned down the Reichstag and then "framed" that guy van der Lubbe.
some think Martinus van der Lubbe was retarded. But either way his head was cut off and Hitler "exploited" the situation to "consolidate" power. So, I guess no one will ever know what really happened in the Reichstag fire.
When the Reichstag burned down Hitler got President von Hindenburg to convince the politicians to give him the power to use this thing called the "Enabling Act." This would let him govern by "decree." He used it to "eliminate" the Communists.
in effect, giving Hitler the Enabling Act meant "dictatorial" powers. And when President indenburg died nothing stood in Hitler's way. Now Hitler could start planning to do all of the things he said he would do in his book.
Secretly Hitler went around the Treaty of Versailles and rebuilt Germany's military. In 1935 he "re-occudied" the "Saarland" which France had taken after World War I. And about a year later he took back the "Rhineland."
A lot of people don't know that Adolph Hitler was not from Germany. He was Austrian. In early 1938 Hitler "added" Austria to Germany in "Anschluss Osterreichs" which means "Austrian annexation."
Because both England and France didn't want war in the mid-1930's they "appeased" or let Hitler get away with things. England and France each had lost over a million soldiers in World War I and remembered it well. Also, they were both still in economic depressions.
England and France were so afraid of another world war that in 1938 Hitler was even able to get them to give him a German-speaking area of Czechoslovakia called the "Sudetenland." Then, a few months later the Germans just took all the rest of Czechoslovakia.
With each success I guess Adolph Hitler was building back the German sense of pride which had been taken away after they lost the First World War. Finally, in September of 1939 Hitler attacked Poland so England and France had no choice but to declare war on Germany.
In 1936, the same year as Hitler's Berlin Olympics, a German Boxer named Max Schmeling beat a young Joe Louis; who's considered to have been one of the greatest Heavyweight Boxers of all time. In 1936 Joe Louis had a record of 27-0 and was the "heavy favorite."
Joe Louis and Max Schmeling fought each other two times and both fights were "worldwide cultural events." When Max Schmeling "upset" and knocked out Joe Louis in the first fight it was shocking.
n 1936 experts thought of the first Schmeling fight as nothing more than a "tuneup" for Joe Louis on his way to the championship. Max Schmeling had been champion once but was now thought too old.
Max Schmeling noticed that whenever Joe Louis, who was right-handed, "jabbed" with his left hand, he brought it back in a much lower position. So every time he jabbed Max Schmeling, also right-handed, threw a straight right to Joe Louis's jaw.
first Louis-Schmeling fight might've been one of the first times when a Boxer studied film of his opponent before they fought. But it doesn't say that in my Encyclopedia.
So Joe Louis was knocked out for first and the only time during the period now considered to be his "peak." He was really embarrassed because he had represented Americans, especially the blacks, against the Nazis. He wanted revenge but had to wait for three years to get it.
I guess in 1939 Joe Louis got a "rematch" against Max Schmeling. He was now Heavyweight Champion of the world. And this fight now really symbolized Fascism versus Democracy. Even President Roosevelt called up Joe Louis to wish him luck.
This time the result was much different as Joe Louis knocked out Max Schmeling in just one round! It was a total slaughter. Joe Louis never gave Max Schmeling a chance to get going. He "nipped him in the bud" as Daisy says. Mr. Steve would probably call it "preempting."
soon after the second Louis-Schmeling fight World War II started when Germany invaded Poland. Max Schmeling went into the Army as a "Paratrooper" and took part in the 1941 conquest of the Greek island of Crete.
Joe Louis spent the "war years" doing what they call "Exhibitions" to help raise money for the war effort. In later years I guess he and Max Schmeling became friends. Their two fights are now considered to be some of the most symbolic "bouts" in all of history.
JOE LOUIS (1914-1981) / MAX SCHMELING (1905-2005)
after World War II in 1945 that guy Max Schmeling became a really successful businessman selling "Coca-Cola." But Joe Louis lost all of his money so had to come out of retirement to try to earn a living. It turned out to be a bad idea
Joe Louis's wife said he was far too generous for his own good. He'd give away money even if he didn't have that much of it. At the end of his life he was given a job as a "greeter" at Caesar's Palace in Las Vegas.
in the early 1950's when Joe Louis had to come out of retirement he won a few fights but then had to fight that guy Rocky Marciano; who was one of the hardest punchers of all time. Rocky Marciano sent Joe Louis flying all the way out of the ring!
Rocky Marciano hit so hard he'd break the blood vessels in his opponents arms from blocking his punches. Then, when he had them worn down and it was hard to hold up their arms up; he'd "level them." Rocky Marciano retired with a 49-0 record.
Well, back to World War II. Poland was the first of eight Blitzkriegs Hitler's army executed successfully from 1939 through 1941. Mr. Steve thinks if Hitler had died then he would've gone down in history as the greatest German warrior and statesman. But he didn't stop.
one reason why Hitler took gambles in the 1930's was because he saw how powerless the League of Nations was in stopping Japan from invading China in 1931 or a few years later detering Italian leader Benito Mussolini from taking Ethiopia.
Benito Mussolini's Fascists came into power in Italy in 1922. Hitler noticed it. By the 1930's, during the Great Depression, Mussolini wanted to "re-create" the ancient Roman Empire so he picked what in Boxing is jokingly called a "Tomato Can" or "Mummy" as an opponent.
in the 1930's Mussolini attacked the African country of "Abbysinia." Now it's called "Ethiopia." Abbysinia didn't have any modern weapons so lost badly to Italy.
in Germany Adolph Hitler noticed how England and France, and the League of Nations too, didn't do a thing about Italy conquering Abbysinia. So he was "emboldened" to do what he said he'd do in his book from the 1920's.
years between the two world wars were also very important in Russia, Japan and China. In 1917 "Bolshevik" Communists helped overthrow Czar Nicholas and took Russia out of World War I. That man Vladimir Lenin was the leader of the Bolsheviks.
were two groups of Communists who had "vied for power" since the late 19th century; the Bolsheviks or "majority" and the "Mensheviks" or "minority. And the Bolsheviks under Lenin ended up winning.
were actually two revolutions in Russia at the time of the First World War. But then the "red" Communists fought a bloody civil war against the "white" conservatives. In 1923 the Communists under Lenin finally won.
VLADIMIR LENIN LEON TROTSKY JOSEPH STALIN
(1870-1924) (1879-1940) (1878-1953) Wow! The Russians lost over three million people in World War I! But I guess in 1917 Czar Nicholas II and his family were captured and a "provisional" government set up. And Lenin was helped a lot during this time by Leon Trotsky and Joseph Stalin.
This is interesting. It says here that King Geoge V of England, Kaiser Wilhelm of Germany and Czar Nicolus II were all cousins. all related to that lady Queen Victoria.
Boy, King George and Czar Nicholas sure look alike! They could be brothers. It says here that Czar Nicholas' wife was German. I wonder shy King George didn't try to help his cousin and his family when they fell into the Bolshevik's hands?
Czar Nicholas and his wife had five children; four girls and one boy. And I guess their last name was "Romanov." boy was a "hemophiliac" so if he got a cut the bleeding wouldn't stop.
CZAR NICHOLAS II WITH FAMILY GRIGORI RASPUTIN (1869-1916)
Czar Nicholas's son's medical condition was a total secret from the public according to this Encyclopedia. I guess Czar Nicholas' wife was very religious so when this one "mystic" named Grigori Rasputin helped her son she put her faith in him.
Supposedly that guy "Rasputin" was a Catholic Priest. But it sounds kind of like he was not a very good person. Everyone except the Czar's wife could see he was bad. So, these men killed him. But it took a lot to kill Rasputin. went into World War I; kind of looks like Blackbeard the Pirate. This is interesting. Just like it was hard to kill Blackbeard it took a lot to kill Rasputin too.
people who killed Rasputin first poisoned him. That should have done the job but it didn't. So they then shot and also clubbed him. Then they threw him into a river. But later "it was determined" he actually drowned to death.
This is sad! Bolshevik's decided to kill Czar Nicholas and his entire family. So they ordered that Czar Nicholas and his wife, along with their five kids, be bayoneted and then shot.
when Vladimir Lenin died in the mid-1920's Joseph Stalin "ruthlessly outmaneuvered" other Bolshevik's like Leon Trotsky and took over the country; which by then was called the Soviet Union.
Lenin ordered a lot of Russians killed while he was in power but what he did "paled in comparison" to the number of people Stalin had killed. During the 1930's Depression Stalin got rid of millions. Leon Trotsky was killed by an "ice pick to the back of his head."
1939, when boss's father seven mother four, Germany Russia became "Allies" agreed conquer Poland. in August, the month of mom's fourth birthday.
In late 1938 the British and French, because they didn't want nor were ready for a war, had given Hitler Chekaslovakia. But when he invaded Poland the very next year they had to go to war whether they liked it or not and that's how World War II started.
1939 when Hitler allied with Stalin world "amazed." Everyone knew Hitler hated "Communism" as much as "Capitalism."
Just as wrote about Jews in Mein Kampf; Hitler also wrote about conquering Russia But, I guess Stalin never read Hitler's book. Mr. Steve thinks he actually admired Hitler's cold-blooded ruthlessness.
Hitler Joseph had one thing in common; both hated Jews Capitalism if Stalin had not died 1953 was planning killing Russian-Jewish Doctors.