jeriendhal: (Wazagan)
2014-09-22 08:16 am
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Now I need to fly to Corsica to see it in person

Reasons I Love the Internet (#512 in a series)

To the kids over to visit with my mom and have lunch with her. After lunch she dug out my dad's old jewelry case, asking if I was interested in one of his old rings (I wasn't. I don't wear any jewelry aside from my wedding ring). However I was interested in one artifact that Dad had held onto from his days as a radio operator for the OSS. During WWII he was assigned to monitor radio transmissions from OSS agents in Sicily, operating out of a hotel room in Corsica (after it was recaptured by the Allies). After the war ended and he was sent home to be demobbed, he held onto the key fob from the hotel he worked out of, which had the hotel's name and address on it.[1]

Some searching with Google Street View on Mom's computer revealed that not only was the hotel still there, it was still operating under the same name. I'm tempted to go there some day and see if I can stay in the room Dad worked out of, just to see what it might have felt like to him.

[1] Hotel Napolean Bonapate Ile Rousse to be precise.
jeriendhal: (Wazagan)
2014-05-27 07:43 am
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Happy Birthday, Rachel Carson!

Totally pointless piece of trivia: The house where she lived in Silver Spring, MD until her death was on the route I took to walk home from elementary school. There was even a little historical plaque. I'll have to see if it's still there (the plaque, not the house).
jeriendhal: (Mayhem)
2013-03-03 08:31 pm

Wait, what...?

Hermann Goring, the head of the Luftwaffe, had his own ARMORED division?
jeriendhal: (Marty Greycoat)
2013-01-09 03:45 am
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365 Days of Drabbles: Day Nine

For [livejournal.com profile] avanti_90: "An alternate Earth where penguins are intelligent."


November 16th, 1904, 6pm

Encountered natives again aprox 3pm. This group appears to be of the largest of the Southern races, the so-called "Emperors". They occupy large ice field, the perimeter guarded heavily, where many thousands of them nest for reasons unknown. Still no sign of any weapons among them, though native chief insists they are strong warriors.

Intend on penetrating the perimeter on morrow to investigate nesting phenomenon. Chief insists would be tabu. Informed him they're British subjects now, so would go along. Will have Mr. Shackleton oil rifles in case.


Capt. Robert Scott, Discovery Expedition. Last Entry.
jeriendhal: (Mayhem)
2009-08-26 08:37 pm
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Overkill In Action: Operation Paul Bunyan

In the year 1976, it required over 800 US Army soldiers, seven Cobra gunships, and a squadron of B-52's escorted by F-4's to cut down a tree.

It makes sense in context
jeriendhal: (Default)
2009-04-04 05:19 am
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Friday (late) Pointless Poll, Innapropriate Nostalgia Edition

You're driving home from work and suddenly a rip in space-time opens up in front of you. To your surprise, you find yourself exactly 100 years in the past, April 3rd, 1909. What's going to happen now?

[Poll #1377865]