Old school maps

We have been slow in finding appropriate art for our living room.  Finally, we've found something.  These are old (1959 for Spain and 1962 for Latin America) maps that used to hang in a public school classroom.

British and Dutch Guyanas before independence.

Diplomatic to call it "Malvinas or Falkland".  However, the islands are the same color as Argentina.

British Honduras aka Belize.

Now, for the other wall, we're looking for an old world map with the U.S.S.R. and East Germany.

Pilot defectors

Today, a Syrian air force pilot flew a MiG-21 to Jordan and asked for asylum.  This reminds of...

While growing up in Taiwan during the Cold War, one piece of news got everyone's attention.  Whenever a pilot from Mainland China defected, it was time for celebration.  It confirmed that Communism was bad and that our non-Communist dictatorship was good.  No doubt the gold that was given as a reward was a great motivator.  It was great propaganda.

Red China to Taiwan defections:

1. 1960, MiG-15, pilot died when plane crashed on landing.
2. 1961, An-2, two pilots awarded 25 kilos of gold as award.
3. 1962, MiG-15, pilot got 50 kilos of gold.
4. 1965, Il-28, first Il-28 bomber in "western" hands.
5. 1977, Shenyang J-6.
6. 1983, J-7, landed in South Korea, Taiwan awarded pilot 350 kilos of gold.
7. 1983, J-5, 150 kilos of gold.
8. 1985, Il-28 crashed in South Korea, survivor got 150 kilos of gold from Taiwan.
9. 1986, J-6, landed in South Korea, given 250 kilos.
10. 1986, J-6, landed in South Korea, given 250 kilos.
11. 1987, J-6, 250 kilos.
12. 1989, J-6, 100 kilos given instead of 250 kilos in response to Red China abolishing practice of rewarding defectors from Taiwan.

Taiwan to Red China defections:

1. 1955, C-46 transport plane.
2. 1955, two cadets in a PT-17 trainer.
3. 1955, F-47, crashed and died.
4. 1956, AT-6 trainer.
5. 1963, F-86F.
6. 1969, two pilots in a T-33 trainer.
7. 1981, F-5E, awarded $370,000 U.S. but money was immediately returned.
8. 1986, U-6A.
9. 1986, former U-2 pilot defected in a hijacked 747(!).
10. 1989, F-5E, pilot died after ejecting.

Source.

The Cold War continues in Chile

Yesterday, a documentary that shed Augusto Pinochet in a positive light was privately screened in Santiago.  The controversial event drew crowds from both sides.  Here, you see an old timer (pro-Allende and with stick) striking a younger old timer (pro-Pinochet) in the streets.

It's almost comical, if it wasn't so sad.

Thanks to Viva Chile for the tip.

D-Day Normandy photos

I took these pictures during our honeymoon on July 11, 2005.  I remember the date because while we were at the train station cafeteria in Normandy, they showed TV footage of the London terrorist attacks.  Made for an even more somber day.

My first attempt at making bobotie

My wife has a cookbook compiled by her large, Midwestern, Dutch-American extended family.  Between reliable American fare like pot roasts and casseroles, there are more exotic recipes for dishes from South Africa (Dutch Boers) and Indonesia (Dutch East Indies).  Bobotie is a fusion of different colonial influences.  (Perhaps our South African and Indonesian readers can fill us in on this dish).

The main ingredients are ground lamb, onions, tomato, and garlic.  It also has bananas, an apple, and dried apricots.  Seasonings include curry powder, salt, and pepper.

The dish turned out kind of bland.  I expected it to be more spicy since it supposedly has an Indonesian/Malay influence.  Perhaps the spiciness index was dialed back for Midwestern taste buds.

If I had to do it again, I would try cubed lamb or fresh ground lamb instead of pre-packaged ground lamb.  And instead of just "curry powder" out of a bottle, I would make and use my own blend.  

Tiananmen Square Massacre anniversary

It happened on June 4, 1989 (6/4/89).  The Shanghai stock market fell 64.89 points today.  Because the Chinese government has banned the use of the term "64" online this week, apolitical discussions about the market's performance today have been muted.

Rosie the Riveter Museum vintage photos and posters

During World War II, while the (mostly) white men were fighting, American women and African-Americans of both genders were on the homefront, building planes, tanks, ships, and other hardware.  Rosie the Riveter is a fictitious worker who represents women's contributions to the war effort.  Last weekend, the National Park Service opened the Rosie the Riveter Museum on the Richmond (California) waterfront.  Four shipyards there produced over 700 ships during the war.  In a contest between the yards, a Liberty ship was finished in 4 1/2 days.  The social experiment forever changed the nation's attitudes toward women and minorities.

Civil rights in America

Coincidentally, just as 51% of Americans are now okay with gay marriage, President Obama said today that he is finally okay with gay marriage too.

The Henry Ford Museum is not just a car museum.  There is a civil rights section with many artifacts.  Here are a few:

This map is also interesting.  The 19th Amendment gave women the right to vote in 1920.  The map shows when each state ratified the amendment.  It's hard to see, but the purple signifies 1969 to 1984.  That's right, Mississippi ratified it in 1984!

Rosa Parks bus

Carlos the Jackal: the movie, the cars, the music

This is a wonderful miniseries available on Netflix Streaming.

The movie:

The cars:

The music:

H/t to Alan!

De Gaulle assassination attempt Citroen DS

The first video is a dramatization from a movie.  The second includes real news footage of the aftermath.

H/t again to Tim, the DS master.

20 year anniversary of Los Angeles Rodney King riots (news footage)

Can't believe it's been 20 years.  Thankfully, racially tensions have been virtually eliminated as a result of the invention of Xbox 360, text messaging, and Youtube.  Opiates for the masses!

This clip from the second day of the rioting is also interesting because of the local newscasters.  I grew up watching channel 4 news.  It amazes me that 20 years later, they are still on the air, and thanks to plastic surgery, they still look the same.

The male anchor, Keith Morrison, is Matthew Perry's (Chandler Bing of Friends) step-dad.  The buff blond out in the field is Rick Chambers.  Whenever there is a disaster (earthquake, riot, fire), he is out there, baring his ginormous biceps in front of the camera.

Aung San Suu Kyi and Benazir Bhutto

To almost everyone's surprise, there is an election in Burma tomorrow.

The image of Suu Kyi waving from the sunroof of her Montero/Pajero is ominous.  You see, after years of house arrest, Suu Kyi reached an understanding with the military government and is running for office.

Benazir Bhutto, after years of exile, reached an understanding with the military government but was killed two weeks before an election.

Alleged forced sterilization of Indian women under Fujimori

Nixon motorcade in China, 40 years ago

Kim Jong-Il puppet funeral car

Via Opposite Lock's Gimmi.

Putin checks out a 1993 NSX

Medvedev was a seat holder after all

Over the last four years, Medvedev did just enough to make a few people question whether he was actually independent from Putin.  But now, it's clear that he was just holding the Presidency for Putin.  I guess we will see Medvedev serve as president again in 2020, after Putin completes two more terms.

We don't need no stinkin' environmental regs

Car battery disposal plant, Houston, 1972.

Source.

Der badass

German president Walter Scheel's 350SEL (and well-armed pals).