Today in History . . .

[Deb in IA]

On August 27, 1883, the island volcano Krakatoa erupted; the resulting tidal waves in Indonesia's Sunda Strait claimed some 36,000 lives in Java and Sumatra.

On August 27, 1928, the Kellogg-Briand Pact was signed in Paris, outlawing war and providing for the peaceful settlement of disputes. Didn't work so well, did it?

On August 27, 1962, the United States launched the Mariner 2 space probe, which flew past Venus the following December.

On August 27, 1979, British war hero Lord Louis Mountbatten was killed off the coast of Ireland in a boat explosion; the Irish Republican Army claimed responsibility.

 

[ILUVDXL]

Good stuff today, Deb. Thanks

 

[glo]

I love the space stuff...so cool!!!
Thanks Deb!

 

[oldkicker]

Some interesting tidbits about the Krakatoa eruption:

The resulting Tsunamis rose to 131 feet

The force of the explosion was 100 megatons (the Hiroshima bomb was about 20 kilotons)

The explosion was heard as far away as Madagascar (2,200 miles)

When the eruption ended only 1/3 of Krakatau was left above sea level

163 villages along the coast of Java and Sumatra were destroyed

Ash was shot miles into the atmosphere, causing utter darkness as far away as 150 miles for two days.

The resulting waves were felt as far away as Cape Horn (7818 geographical miles) and the English Channel (11,040 miles)!!!

Thanks, Deb!

 

[EROS]

Thanks, DEB........

Letter from F.D.R. to Lord Mountbatten:


December 3, 1942.

Dear Dickie :-




General Smith came to dinner on Tuesday and gave me that delightful
badge. It is a perfect symbol for our joint operations, and I
would have given anything in the world to have been with you
in the Northwest African show. Incidentally, I think it was a
good idea to change the albatross into an eagle -- because Coleridge
has taught us that a gun and an albatross together bring bad
luck|

My wife has come back thrilled by all of her trip and her
visit has, I think, done good in both countries.


Give my love to Edwina and tell her I hope that the flocks
of uniformed ladies from our American armed forces who are winging
their way to England are behaving themselves.




Always sincerely,

(Signed F.D.R.)

 

[olena]

These are great, Deb!
Thanks...

 

[nativetxn]

Thank you Deb, very interesting today