April 30th: This Day in History

 

Once again, it should be reiterated, that this does not pretend to be a very extensive history of what happened on this day (nor is it the most original - the links can be found down below). If you know something that I am missing, by all means, shoot me an email or leave a comment, and let me know!

http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history

On this day in 311, Emperor Galerius legally recognized Christians in the Roman Empire. Roman Emperor Licinius unified the entire Eastern Roman Empire under his rule on this day in 313. The Islamic conquest of Hispania started on this day in 711. Moorish troops led by Tariq ibn-Ziyad landed at Gibraltar to begin their invasion of the Iberian Peninsula (Al-Andalus). On this day in 1250, King Louis IX of France was ransomed for one million dollars. In 1396 on this day, Crusaders & the Earl of Nevers departed from Dijon, France. Orbital calculations suggest that on this day in 1483, Pluto moved inside Neptune's orbit until July 23, 1503. Christopher Columbus was given a royal commission to equip his fleet on this day in 1492. The first French colonists arrived in what is now part of the United States on this day in 1562, as Jean Ribault and other colonists arrived in Florida. Tsjeng Tsj'eng-Kung commenced the siege of the Dutch Fort Zeelandia in Formosa on this day in 1661. George Washington was inaugurated in New York City as the first President of the United States on this day in 1789. On this day in 1803, France sold the Louisiana Territory to the United States for $15 million. This set a record as the largest peaceful territorial expansion in history, and doubled the size of the young United States.  In 1859 on this day, Charles Dickens' "A Tale Of Two Cities" was first published in the literary periodical All the Year Round. It continued in weekly installments until November 26. On this day in 1863, Mexican forces attacked the French Foreign Legion in Hacienda Camarón, Mexico. The George Washington Bridge linking New York City and New Jersey opened on this day in 1889. It remains the most widely traversed bridge in the world to this day, with a quarter of a million vehicles crossing it daily, and over 100 million every year. On this day in 1900, the United States Congress passed the Hawaiian Organic Act, formally annexing the Republic of Hawaii into the United States and establishing the Territory of Hawaii  into the United States. The ice cream cone made its debut on this day in 1904. The Soviet Red Army opened the attack on the Reichstag in Berlin, Germany, on this day in 1945. On this day in 1945 in the waning days of World War II in Europe, while holed up in a bunker under his headquarters in Berlin as Allied armies were choking the life off from Nazi Germany and closing in on his Berlin bunker, Adolf Hitler committed suicide by swallowing a cyanide capsule and shooting himself in the head. In 1948 on this day, the Organization of American States Charter was signed at Bogota, Colombia. US troops invaded Cambodia on this day in 1970. On this day in 1991 in Bangladesh, a cyclone killed over 131,000 & left 9 million people homeless. On this day in 2012, the unfinished One World Trade Center overtook the Empire State Building to become the tallest building in New York, and the Western Hemisphere.

Here's a more detailed look at events that transpired on this date throughout history:

 • On this day in 311, Emperor Galerius legally recognized Christians in the Roman Empire.

 • Roman Emperor Licinius unified the entire Eastern Roman Empire under his rule on this day in 313.

• The Islamic conquest of Hispania started on this day in 711. Moorish troops led by Tariq ibn-Ziyad landed at Gibraltar to begin their invasion of the Iberian Peninsula (Al-Andalus).

1064 - German King Henry IV gives away Utrecht county of West Friesland

Royal France

 • On this day in 1250, King Louis IX of France was ransomed for one million dollars.

1315 - Enguerrand de Marigny is hanged on the public gallows at Montfaucon.

1349 - Jewish community at Radolszell Germany, exterminated

 •  In 1396 on this day, Crusaders & the Earl of Nevers departed from Dijon, France.

 • Orbital calculations suggest that on this day in 1483, Pluto moved inside Neptune's orbit until July 23, 1503.

 •  Christopher Columbus was given a royal commission to equip his fleet on this day in 1492.

1492 - Spain announces it will expels all Jews

1506 - Philip of Bourgondy & England sign trade agreement

1527 - Henry VIII of England and King Francis of France signed the treaty of Westminster.

• The first French colonists arrived in what is now part of the United States on this day in 1562, as Jean Ribault and other colonists arrived in Florida.

1563 - Jews are expelled from France by order of Charles VI

1598 - First theater performance in America (Spanish comedy-Rio Grande)

1616 - English King Jacob I leaves Brielle/Vlissingen

1650 - French rebel Henri de la Tour Turenne signs treaty with Spain

• Tsjeng Tsj'eng-Kung commenced the siege of the Dutch Fort Zeelandia in Formosa on this day in 1661.

1671 - Petar Zrinski, the Croatian Ban from the Zrinski family, is executed.

1695 - William Congreve's "Love for Love," premieres in London

1722 - Game of Billiards is mentioned in New England Courant

1725 - Emperor Charles VI and King Philip IV of Spain sign Treaty of Vienna

1748 - Ceasefire at Aken ends

1763 - London Journalist John Wilkes confined in the Tower

1772 - John Clais patents 1st scale

1774 - Pope Clement XIV proclaims a universal jubilee

Statue of George Washington in Morristown, New Jersey

• George Washington was inaugurated in New York City as the first President of the United States on this day in 1789.

1790 - Colonial troops occupy Bonni's marroon village

1794 - The Battle of Boulou is fought, in which French forces defeated the Spanish under General Union.

1798 - Dept of Navy forms

•  On this day in 1803, France sold the Louisiana Territory to the United States for $15 million. This set a record as the largest peaceful territorial expansion in history, and doubled the size of the young United States. 

1804 - Hague's Theater opens

1808 - 1st practical typewriter finished by Italian Pellegrini Turri

1812 - (Eastern) Louisiana admitted as 18th US state

1838 - Nicaragua declares independence from Central American federation

1852 - Anton Rubinsteins opera "Dmitri Donskoi," premieres in St Petersburg

1857 - San Jose State University forms

Bust of English Writer Charles Dickens

•  In 1859 on this day, Charles Dickens' "A Tale Of Two Cities" was first published in the literary periodical All the Year Round. It continued in weekly installments until November 26.

1859 - Paul Morphy returns from 10-mo chess tour of Europe, retires

1860 - Navaho indians attack Fort Defiance (Canby)

1861 - President Lincoln ordered Federal Troops to evacuate Indian Territory

1862 - Swift Run Gap, West Virginia skirmishes

The flag of Mexico.

• On this day in 1863, Mexican forces attacked the French Foreign Legion in Hacienda Camarón, Mexico.

1864 - Battle of Jenkin's Ferry, Arkansas; Gen W R Scurry is killed

1864 - New York becomes 1st state to charge a hunting license fee

1865 - -5/1] Gen Shermans "Haines's Bluff" at Snyder's Mill, Virginia

1869 - Hawaiian YMCA organized

1871 - The Camp Grant Massacre of Apaches in Arizona Territory, perpetrated by white andMexican adventurers; 144 die

1885 - Boston Pops Orchestra forms

1888 - Hail stones kills about 250 in Moradabad district of Delhi

1889 - First US national holiday, on centennial of Washington's inauguration

The George Washington Bridge at night.

• The George Washington Bridge linking New York City and New Jersey opened on this day in 1889. It remains the most widely traversed bridge in the world to this day, with a quarter of a million vehicles crossing it daily, and over 100 million every year.

1900 - 165 lb Robert Fitzsimmons KOs 305 lb Ed Dunkhost in a boxing match

• On this day in 1900, the United States Congress passed the Hawaiian Organic Act, formally annexing the Republic of Hawaii into the United States and establishing the Territory of Hawaii  into the United States.

1900 - Casey Jones dies in a train wreck in Vaughn, Mississippi, while trying to make up time on the Cannonball Express.

1902 - Debussy's opera "Pelléas et Mélissande," premieres in Paris

1903 - NY Highlanders (Yankees) 1st home game, (Hilltop Park-168th St and  Broadway, Manhattan), they beat Wash Senators, 6-2

• The ice cream cone made its debut on this day in 1904.

1905 - First official soccer game between Belgium-Netherlands (1-4)

1907 - Honolulu, Hawaii becomes an independent city.

1910 - Cleveland Indian Addie Joss wins 2nd no-hitter beating White Sox

1911 - Portugal approves woman suffrage

1916 - Chicago Cubs play first game at Weeghman Park (Wrigley Field) beat Reds

1918 - Orange Nassau soccer team forms in Groningen

1919 - Phillies beat Bkln Dodgers 9-0 in 20 innings

1921 - American Professional Football Association reorganizes in Akron

1921 - Pope Benedict XV encyclical "On Dante"

1922 - Chic White Sox Charles Robertson perfect games Detroit Tigers, 2-0

1925 - Automaker Dodge Brothers, Inc is sold to Dillon, Read & Company for $146 million plus $50 million for charity.

1927 - Princess Juliana gets seat in Dutch Council of State

1928 - Cherkess Autonomous Region forms in RSFSR (until 1957)

1929 - Earnest Streeruwitz becomes chancellor of Austria

1934 - Austrian gets "Austrian facist" constitution

1935 - World Congress for Women's Rights concludes in Istanbul

1937 - The Philippines holds a plebiscite for Filipino women on whether they should be extended the right to suffrage; over 90% would vote in the affirmative.

1938 - The first televised FA Cup Final takes place between Huddersfield Town and Preston North End.

1939 - NBC/RCA first public TV demo with FDR at opening of NY World's Fair

1941 - Spread of Judaism begins in Croatia

1942 - First submarine built on Great Lakes launched, (Peto), Manitowoc, Wi

1943 - Bergen-Belsen Concentration Camp for Jews forms

1943 - Dutch strike against forced labor in Nazi Germany's war industry

1945 - Concentration camp Munchen-Allag freed

1945 - Lord Haw-Haw calls for crusade against the bolsheviks

1945 - Red Army occupies Demmin

The Reichstag in Berlin, Germany

• The Soviet Red Army opened the attack on the Reichstag in Berlin, Germany, on this day in 1945.

1945 - Russian Army frees Ravensbruck concentration camp

• On this day in 1945 in the waning days of World War II in Europe, while holed up in a bunker under his headquarters in Berlin as Allied armies were choking the life off from Nazi Germany and closing in on his Berlin bunker, Adolf Hitler committed suicide by swallowing a cyanide capsule and shooting himself in the head. Soon after, Germany unconditionally surrendered to the Allied forces, ending Hitler's dreams of a "1,000-year" Reich.    Since at least 1943, it was becoming increasingly clear that Germany would fold under the pressure of the Allied forces. In February of that year, the German 6th Army, lured deep into the Soviet Union, was annihilated at the Battle of Stalingrad, and German hopes for a sustained offensive on both fronts evaporated. Then, in June 1944, the Western Allied armies landed at Normandy, France, and began systematically to push the Germans back toward Berlin. By July 1944, several German military commanders acknowledged their imminent defeat and plotted to remove Hitler from power so as to negotiate a more favorable peace. Their attempts to assassinate Hitler failed, however, and in his reprisals, Hitler executed over 4,000 fellow countrymen.    In January 1945, facing a siege of Berlin by the Soviets, Hitler withdrew to his bunker to live out his final days. Located 55 feet under the chancellery, the shelter contained 18 rooms and was fully self-sufficient, with its own water and electrical supply. Though he was growing increasingly mad, Hitler continued to give orders and meet with such close subordinates as Hermann Goering, Heinrich Himmler and Josef Goebbels. He also married his long-time mistress Eva Braun just two days before his suicide.    In his last will and testament, Hitler appointed Admiral Karl Donitz as head of state and Goebbels as chancellor. He then retired to his private quarters with Braun, where he and Braun poisoned themselves and their dogs, before Hitler then also shot himself with his service pistol.    Hitler and Braun's bodies were hastily cremated in the chancellery garden, as Soviet forces closed in on the building. When the Soviets reached the chancellery, they removed Hitler's ashes, continually changing their location so as to prevent Hitler devotees from creating a memorial at his final resting place. Only eight days later, on May 8, 1945, the German forces issued an unconditional surrender, leaving Germany to be carved up by the four Allied powers.

1945 - US troops attack the Elbe

1947 - Boulder Dam renamed in honor of Herbert Hoover

• In 1948 on this day, the Organization of American States Charter was signed at Bogota, Colombia.

1948 - US performs atmospheric nuclear test at Enwetak

1952 - Mr Potato Head is 1st toy advertised on television

1955 - Element 101, Mendelevium, announced 1955 - Imperial Bank of India nationalized

1955 - West German unions protest for 40-hour work week and higherwages

1958 - Ted Williams is 10th major league player to get 1,000 extra-base hits

1961 - 1st shuttle flights between Wash DC, Boston & NYC begin (Eastern)

1961 - Premier Fidel Castro of Cuba receives Lenin-Peace Prize

1961 - SF Giant Willie Mays hits 4 HRs in a game

1962 - NASA civilian pilot Joseph A Walker takes X-15 to 75,190 m

1967 - Highest tower to the world finished, 537m (USSR)

• US troops invaded Cambodia on this day in 1970. 

1971 - 25th NBA Championship: Milwaukee beat Balt Bullets in 4 games

1973 - Nixon announces resignation of Haldeman, Ehrlichman, et al

1973 - Paul McCartney releases "Red Rose Speedway" including "My Love"

1973 - Women's tennis groups end disputes over sanctioning tournaments

1974 - President Nixon hands over partial transcripts of Watergate tape recordings

1975 - Last US helicopter leaves US embassy grounds, Saigon surrenders

1976 - Muhammad Ali beats Jimmy Young in 15 for heavyweight boxing title

1976 - Royal Canadian Mint opens a branch in Winnipeg Manitoba

1977 - Billy Graham beats Bruno Sammartino in Baltimore, to become WWF champ

1980 - Terrorists seize Iranian Embassy in London

1980 - Beatrix, Wilhelmina Armgard, crowned queen of Netherlands

1980 - Juliana, Queen of the Netherlands, abdicates

1982 - Alvaro Magana chosen to succeed Jose N Duarte as pres of El Salvador

1982 - Atlanta Braves win record 12th straight from beginning of season

1982 - Iranian offensive in Khusistan

1985 - France performs nuclear test at Muruora Island

1985 - Last edition of Brink Daily Mail/Sunday Express in South Africa

1986 - Ashrita Furman peformed 8,341 somersaults over 12 miles

1987 - Lou Lamoriello is named NJ Devils President

1987 - NY Islander Mike Bossy plays his final game

1988 - Baltimore Orioles win record 14th straight from beginning of season

1988 - Largest banana split ever, at 455 miles long, was made in Penns

1988 - New Jersey Devils beat Caps 3-2 taking 7th game of Patrick Division final

1988 - World Exposition, Expo 88 opens in Brisbane Australia

1989 - Critics Siskel & Ebert film their 500th TV movie-review show

1989 - Pope John Paul II beatifies Victoire Rasoamanarivo of Madagascar

1989 - US beats Costa Rica 1-0, in 3rd round of 1990 world soccer cup

1990 - Seattle's Brian Holman's perfect game broken up with 2 outs in 9th

1990 - US 66th manned space mission STS 31 (Discovery 10) returns from space

1990 - US hostage Frank Reed freed after 4 years in hands of pro-Iranians

•  On this day in 1991 in Bangladesh, a cyclone killed over 131,000 & left 9 million people homeless.

1992 - 208th and final episode of Cosby Show on NBC-TV

1993 - The World Wide Web is born at CERN.

1993 - Virgin Radio broadcasts for the first time in the United Kingdom.

1996 - Dutch/Itallian Beppo-SAX launches from Cape Canaveral

1997 - 42 million watch "Ellen" admit she is gay

1997 - Atlanta Braves win record 19 games in April

1997 - Big Ben stops at 12:11 PM for 54 minutes

1999 - Cambodia joins the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) bringing the total members to 10. 2001 - The Mitchell Report on the Arab-Israeli conflict is published.

2002 - A referendum in Pakistan overwhelmingly approves the Presidency of Pervez Musharraf for another five years.

2004 - U.S. media release graphic photos of American soldiers abusing and sexually humiliating Iraqi prisoners at Abu Ghraib prison.

2008 - Two skeletal remains found near Ekaterinburg, Russia were confirmed by Russian scientists to be the remains of Alexei Nikolaevich, Tsarevich of Russia and one of his sisters.

2009 - Chrysler automobile company files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy.

2009 - Failed attack on the Dutch Royal Family results in 7 deaths and 17 injured. 2009 - The United Kingdom formally ends combat operations in Iraq.

One World Trade Center in New York City.

•   On this day in 2012, the unfinished One World Trade Center overtook the Empire State Building to become the tallest building in New York, and the Western Hemisphere.

2012 - Spain's economy double dips after a 0.3% contraction and 25% unemployment rate

2012 - Overloaded ferry in the Brahmaputra River,India, killing 103 people

2012 - Manchester City defeat Manchester United 1-0 in what is claimed to be the biggest match in the English Premier League's history

http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/adolf-hitler-commits-suicide

http://www.historyorb.com/events/april/30

http://on-this-day.com/onthisday/thedays/alldays/apr30.htm

http://www.infoplease.com/dayinhistory/April-30

Theodore Roosevelt Once Warned Against the Mindset of Never Being Able to Criticize the President

 

“To announce that there must be no criticism of the President, or that we are to stand by the President, right or wrong, is not only unpatriotic and servile, but is morally treasonable to the American public.” 

― Theodore Roosevelt

Once again, Donald Trump is cracking under the pressure of being constantly criticized and, yes, ridiculed. People, including the president, are citing the violence at the White House Correspondent's Dinner the other night and urging the left to tone down the violent political rhetoric.

Really?

This lecturing on how their should be limits to violent rhetoric in politics from the group who cheered the violent rioters on January 6th, serving effectively as cheerleaders? Hearing this from the supporters of the guy who threatened to end an entire civilization on Easter Sunday, then mockingly ended that social media post with "Praise be to Allah." I guess that does not count as violent political rhetoric? Hearing this from the group that still has unwavering support of Trump even after he posted illustrations depicting the Obamas as monkeys. Hardly a peep from them about civility after that, eh? But yeah, the left needs to tone down the violent rhetoric. 

Sure. 

Of course, most of us now understand that this comes with the territory of being President of the United States. And frankly, given how well Trump seems willing to dish it, the fact that he can't take any kind of criticism of mockery feels, frankly, laughable. This is the guy who blasted Obama and claimed that a president has "total authority" but then assumed no responsibility when things went wrong once he was in the Oval Office. This is the guy who mocks people and tries to intimidate at every opportunity. This is the same guy who posted illustrations depicting the Obamas as monkeys. The same guy who posts Merry Christmas to the liberal scum or leftwing lunatics. 

But sure, the left needs to tone down the political rhetoric.

Let's be clear: the United States is, for now, still a somewhat free country. We have every right to criticize a public servant, and let's remember that regardless of how much he thinks of himself, with posts portraying himself as Jesus, Trump is, after all, only a public servant. Not a God, not a Supreme Leader, and certainly not beyond reproach. 

Not only would I maintain that we have the right to criticize him, but it is our duty to criticize him. I remained (and still remain) critical of the Obama presidency, of the Biden presidency, of the Bush presidency, and of the Clinton presidency. Regardless of the party, it felt to me imperative to remain separated from political leanings and cheerleading, and to hold our elected leaders accountable. And despite Trump's lurches towards authoritarianism, he remains just a public servant.

I posted the quote above by another president from another time. Theodore Roosevelt warned about the dangers of not being able to criticize a president, and he was absolutely correct.

We still do not live in a dictatorship. Lest we forget, the only way that continues to be the case is by us exercising our First Amendment rights and speaking freely, even against the powerful. Hell, especially against the powerful.

So let's continue the criticisms and, yes, the mockery. Since Trump loves to doll out criticisms and punishment, we should test just how willing he is to take it, as well. And if he can't stand the heat, then get the hell out of our kitchen and let a real president - and an actual adult - take over, okay?

Trump Threatens New War To Come With a ‘New Dawn for Cuba'

This is a picture of a magnet that was being sold at Strand's Book Store in New York City a few years ago. No, I did not buy it, but I liked it and took a picture, which I am sharing here now. 

Thought that I had posted this some days ago, after he first mentioned this.

Apparently, I did not.

But President Trump is now threatening quick and decisive action against Cuba. Because, you know, not only have America's foreign wars been going so extremely well for us, but recent past history should tell us that fighting multiple wars at the same time is an even better idea. 

Especially from the president who campaigned on the promise not to get us involved in any new foreign wars.

Here, specifically, is some of what he said (see link to the NBC article below):

“And very soon, this great strength will also bring about a day 70 years in waiting. It’s called A New Dawn for Cuba,” he said.  

“We’re going to help them out with Cuba.”

The president continued: “We have a lot of great Cuban Americans. Not too many people in this audience, I don’t think. But you go to Miami, we have people, Cuban Americans, people that were brutally treated, whose families were killed, brutalized, and now watch.”

Plus, he has been starting to talk about Greenland, and taking what is rightfully ours, as he puts it.

Remind me when Greenland ever was part of the United States again? I must have missed that chapter in history. 

What times we live in.

Trump says a ‘New Dawn for Cuba' is coming ‘very soon' "And very soon, this great strength will also bring about a day 70 years in waiting," he said. By NBC6 • Published April 17, 2026 • Updated on April 17, 2026 at 11:40 pm

https://www.nbcmiami.com/news/local/cuba/trump-says-a-new-dawn-for-cuba-is-coming-very-soon/3797577/

Trump says a new dawn for Cuba is coming very soon – NBC 6 South Florida

April 29th: This Day in History

 

Once again, it should be reiterated, that this does not pretend to be a very extensive history of what happened on this day (nor is it the most original - the links can be found down below). If you know something that I am missing, by all means, shoot me an email or leave a comment, and let me know!

http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history

On this day in 1091, the Battle at Monte Levunium was fought, as Emperor Alexius I defeated Petshegenes. On this day in 1429, Joan of Arc entered the city of Orléans (which the American city New Orleans is named after). Eventually, she would end its months-long siege and would become known as the "Maid of Orléans." The Chinese Ming dynasty occupied Taiwan on this day in 1661. On this day in 1672 during the Franco-Dutch War, King Louis XIV of France (known as the "Sun King") invaded the Netherlands. In 1707 on this day, the Act of Union was ratified by the Scottish Parliament. Thus, the Parliament of Great Britain was proclaimed, which marked the formal unification of the Kingdoms of England and Scotland into one sovereign nation, Great Britain (also known as the United Kingdom). John Flamsteed observed Uranus for the sixth time on this day in 1715. On this day in 1781 during the American Revolutionary War of Independence, the French fleet occupied Tobago. The French fleet, led by Admiral Suffren, stopped the naval fleet of Great Britain from seizing the Cape of Good Hope (in modern day South Africa) on this day in 1781. This day in 1784 marked the premiere of Mozart's Sonata in B flat, K454 in Vienna, Austria. Rubber was patented on this day in 1813. Charles Darwin's expedition in the HMS Beagle saw the snowy white tops of the Andes Mountains from Patagonia on this day in 1834. On this day in 1862 during the American Civil War, the city of New Orleans fell to Union forces. There was an anti-Semitic riot in Budapest, in what was then the Austro-Hungarian Empire, on this day in 1901. Pierre de Brazza landed in Libreville, Gabon, on this day in 1905. On this day in 1916, Irish nationalists set a post office on fire in Dublin,  as the Easter rebellion in Ireland ended with the surrender of Irish nationalists. Telephone connection between Great Britain and Australia went into service on this day in 1930. On this day in 1940 during World War II, Norwegian King Haakon and the exiled Norwegian government fled to England following the Nazi German occupation. Japanese troops marched into Lashio on this day in 1942 during World War II, cutting off the Burma Road. On this day in 1942 during World War II, Jews were forced to wear an identifying yellow Jewish Star in Netherlands and in Vichy-France. On this day in 1945 near the end of the European theater of World War II, the terms of surrender for the German armies in Italy was signed. US troops liberated 31,601 from the Nazi concentration camp in Dachau, Germany, on this day in 1945 late in World War II. In 1946 on this day, 28 former Japanese leaders were indicted in Tokyo as war criminals. The seventeenth space shuttle mission (51-B)-Challenger 7 was launched on this day in 1985. Wrecking cranes began tearing down the Berlin Wall at the Brandenburg Gate on this day in 1990. Croatia declared independence on this day in 1991. On this day in 2004, the National World War II Memorial opened in Washington, D.C., to thousands of visitors. It provided long overdue recognition for the 16 million U.S. men and women who served in that war. 

Once again, it should be reiterated, that this does not pretend to be a very extensive history of what happened on this day (nor is it the most original - the links can be found down below). If you know something that I am missing, by all means, shoot me an email or leave a comment, and let me know!

A lot of the events on these timelines recently have centered on World War II. Indeed, the spring time was a very busy time for the war throughout, beingh conducive to beginning major combat operations and invasions. It makes sense.  But this date also marks the anniversary of the National World War II Memorial in Washington, and that is what this short piece by the History Channel's website focuses on. It can be found at: http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/world-war-ii-monument-opens-in-washington-dc

• On this day in 1091, the Battle at Monte Levunium was fought, as Emperor Alexius I defeated Petshegenes.

Picture of the Monument Jeanne d'Arc/Joan of Arc Monument (above) in the gardens in Québec City which now bears her name.

Joan of Arc Statue in Philadelphia

• On this day in 1429, Joan of Arc entered the city of Orléans (which the American city New Orleans is named after). Eventually, she would end its months-long siege and would become known as the "Maid of Orléans."

1522 - Emperor Charles V names Frans van Holly inquisitor-gen of Netherlands

1540 - Emperor Charles declares all privileges of Gent ended

1550 - Emperor Charles V gives inquisiters additional authority

1553 - Flemish woman introduces practice of starching linen into England

1623 - 11 Dutch ships depart for the conquest of Peru

1628 - Sweden & Denmark sign defense treaty against Duke of Wallenstein

1636 - Prince Frederik Henry occupies Schenkenschans

1644 - Farm leader Li Zicheng becomes emperor of China & flees Peking

 • The Chinese Ming dynasty occupied Taiwan on this day in 1661.

1670 - Pope Clemens X elected

Louis XIV, the "Sun King" of France

• On this day in 1672 during the Franco-Dutch War, King Louis XIV of France (known as the "Sun King") invaded the Netherlands.

1701 - Drenthe Neth adopts Gregorian calendar, tomorrow is May 12, 1701

1706 - Emperor Jozef I becomes monarch of Cologne/Bavaria

 

• In 1707 on this day, the Act of Union was ratified by the Scottish Parliament. Thus, the Parliament of Great Britain was proclaimed, which marked the formal unification of the Kingdoms of England and Scotland into one sovereign nation, Great Britain (also known as the United Kingdom).

• John Flamsteed observed Uranus for the sixth time on this day in 1715.

• On this day in 1781 during the American Revolutionary War of Independence, the French fleet occupied Tobago.

• The French fleet, led by Admiral Suffren, stopped the naval fleet of Great Britain from seizing the Cape of Good Hope (in modern day South Africa) on this day in 1781.

Bust of Composer Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

•  This day in 1784 marked the premiere of Mozart's Sonata in B flat, K454 in Vienna, Austria.

1793 - Cornerstone laid for Groningen's new townhall

• Rubber was patented on this day in 1813.

British Botanist Charles Darwin

• Charles Darwin's expedition in the HMS Beagle saw the snowy white tops of the Andes Mountains from Patagonia on this day in 1834.

1845 - Macon B Allen & Robert Morris Jr, 1st blacks to open law practice

1852 - First edition of Peter Roget's Thesaurus published

1853 - Comet C/

1853 G1 (Schweizer) approaches within 0.0839 AUs of Earth

1856 - Peace between England and; Russia

1857 - US Army, Pacific Div HQ permanently forms at Presidio (SF)

1861 - Maryland's House of Delegates votes against seceding from Union

1862 - 100,000 federal troops prepare to march into Corinth, Mississippi

A picture of a cannon near the banks of the Mississippi River with the famous Jackson Square in the background in New Orleans, Louisiana.

• On this day in 1862 during the American Civil War, the city of New Orleans fell to Union forces.

1863 - Battle of Chancellordville, VA (Fredericksburg, Wilderness Tavern)

1864 - -30] Skirmish at Jenkins' Ferry, Arkansas

1864 - The Theta Xi fraternity is founded at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Troy, New York.

1882 - The "Elektromote" - forerunner of the trolleybus - is tested by Ernst Werner von Siemens in Berlin.

1886 - First public Dutch electricity opens

1888 - Old Kavallison, Congo: Stanley meet Emin Pasha

1892 - Charlie Reilly is baseball's first pinch hitter

1894 - Commonweal of Christ (Coxey's Army) arrives in Wash, DC 500 strong to protest unemployment; Coxey arrested for trespassing at Capitol

1901 - 27th Kentucky Derby: Jimmy Winkfield on His Eminence wins in 2:07.75

• There was an anti-Semitic riot in Budapest, in what was then the Austro-Hungarian Empire, on this day in 1901.

1903 - Limestone slides at Turtle Mountain kills 9 (Frank Alberta)

1905 - 2" rain falls in 10 mins in Taylor, TX

•  Pierre de Brazza landed in Libreville, Gabon, on this day in 1905.

1910 - Ex-president Theodore Roosevelt visits Amsterdam

1912 - 108°F (42°C), Tuguegarao, Philippines (Oceania record)

1912 - Frank Wedekind's "Tod und Teufel," premieres in Berlin

1913 - Swedish engineer Gideon Sundback of Hoboken patents all-purpose zipper

Flag of Ireland

• On this day in 1916, Irish nationalists set a post office on fire in Dublin,  as the Easter rebellion in Ireland ended with the surrender of Irish nationalists.

1918 - Tris Speaker ties career outfield record of 4 unassisted double plays

1922 - First official Intl Weightlifting Federation Champ (Tallinn, Estonia)

1925 - Netherlands returns to gold standard

1926 - France ad the; United States reach accord on repayment of World War I

1927 - Construction of Spirit of St Louis is completed

1930 - North Sea floodgate at Ijmuiden (biggest in world) officially opens

• Telephone connection between Great Britain and Australia went into service on this day in 1930.

1931 - Cleveland Indian Wes Ferrell no-hits St Louis Browns, 9-0

1936 - 1st pro baseball game in Japan is played Nagoya defeats Daitokyo, 8-5

1939 - Whitestone Bridge connecting Bronx and Queens opens in New York City

• On this day in 1940 during World War II, Norwegian King Haakon and the exiled Norwegian government fled to England following the Nazi German occupation.

1940 - Robert Sherwood's "There Shall be No Night," premieres in NYC

• Japanese troops marched into Lashio on this day in 1942 during World War II, cutting off the Burma Road.

• On this day in 1942 during World War II, Jews were forced to wear an identifying yellow Jewish Star in Netherlands and in Vichy-France.

1943 - Dietrich Bonhoeffer arrested by Nazis

1943 - Noel Coward's "Present Laughter," premieres in London

1943 - US 34th Division occupies Hill 609, North Tunisia

1944 - Surprise attack by Van de Peat on General Landsdrukkerij in the Hague

1945 - 1st food drop by RAF above nazi-occupied Holland (operation Manna)

1945 - Japanese army evacuates Rangoon

• On this day in 1945 near the end of the European theater of World War II, the terms of surrender for the German armies in Italy was signed.

• US troops liberated 31,601 from the Nazi concentration camp in Dachau, Germany, on this day in 1945 late in World War II.

1945 - Venice and Mestre were captured by the Allies

 • In 1946 on this day, 28 former Japanese leaders were indicted in Tokyo as war criminals.

1948 - Bradman scores 107 Aust v Worcs, 152 mins, 15 fours

1953 - The first U.S. experimental 3D-TV broadcast showed an episode of Space Patrol on Los Angeles ABC affiliate KECA-TV.

1955 - G Gronchi elected president of Italy

1956 - Betsy Rawls wins LPGA Peach Blossom Golf Open

1956 - WLUC TV channel 6 in Marquette, MI (CBS/NBC/ABC) begins broadcasting

1956 - WSPA TV channel 7 in G'ville-Spartanburg, SC (CBS) begins broadcasting

1956 - WWBT TV channel 12 in Richmond, VA (NBC) begins broadcasting

1957 - First military nuclear power plant dedicated, Fort Belvoir Va

1961 - ABC's "Wide World of Sports, debuts

1964 - US performs nuclear test at Nevada Test Site


1965 - Australian government announces it would send troops to Vietnam

1965 - Earthquake hits Seattle; 5 die

1965 - Malta is 18th member of Council of Europe

1967 - Aretha Franklin releases "Respect"

1970 - 50,000 American and South Vietnamese troops invade Cambodia

1971 - Boeing receives contract for Mariner 10, Mercury exploration

1971 - US performs nuclear test at Nevada Test Site

1974 - President Nixon said he will release edited tapes made in White House

1975 - Ethiopia nationalizes all ground/earth

1975 - Vietnam War: Operation Frequent Wind: The U.S. begins to evacuate US citizens from Saigon prior to an expected North Vietnamese takeover. U.S. involvement in the war comes to an end.

1976 - Minister Irene Vorrink begins fluoridating Dutch drinking water

1977 - British Aerospace forms

1980 - Corazones Unidos Siempre Chi Upsilon Sigma National Latin Sorority Inc. is founded.

1981 - Peter Sutcliffe admits he is the Yorkshire Ripper (murdered 13 women)

1982 - Alfredo Magana elected pres of El Salvador

1982 - Nordiques 2-Isles 5-Semifinals-Isles hold 2-0 lead

1983 - Harold Washington sworn in as Chicago's first black mayor

Picture of the space shuttle at Expo Park in Los Angeles, California

 • The seventeenth space shuttle mission (51-B)-Challenger 7 was launched on this day in 1985.

1985 - Ranger Larry Parrish is 5th to hit 3 HRs in a game in both leagues

1985 - Tony Tubbs TKOs Greg Page in 15 for heavyweight boxing title

1986 - 800,000 books destroyed by fire in Los Angeles Central Library

1987 - Japan's premier Nakasone visits the US

1988 - Orioles beat White Sox 9-0 for first 1988 win after 21 loses

1989 - 2nd government of Lubbers falls

1990 - STS-31 (Discovery 10) lands

The longest single piece of the Berlin Wall still standing, I believe, is at the Topographie des Terrors, which is within easy walking distance of Checkpoint Charlie, and not too far from the Potsdam Platz, either. 

• Wrecking cranes began tearing down the Berlin Wall at the Brandenburg Gate on this day in 1990.

Flag of Croatia

• Croatia declared independence on this day in 1991.

1991 - Cyclone strikes Bangladesh, 139,000 die/10 million homeless

1991 - Earthquake in Georgia, kills 100

1992 - Country singer Doug Stone, 35, undergoes quadruple bypass surgery

1992 - Jury acquits Los Aangeles police officers of beating Rodney King, riots begin

1992 - Sheena Easton collapses on stage while performing in "Man of LaMancha"

1992 - Voting ends on choice of Elvis stamps

1994 - Ferry boat smashes into Mombasa Harbor Kenya, kills over 300

1994 - Israel and the PLO sign economic accord

1995 - Longest sausage ever, at 2877 miles, made in Kitchener Ontario

1997 - KC Royal Chili Davis is 75th to hit 300 HRs

1997 - The Chemical Weapons Convention of 1993 enters into force, outlaws the production, stockpiling and use of chemical weapons among its signatories.

1999 - Avala TV Tower near Belgrade is destroyed in NATO bombing of Yugoslavia.

2002 - The United States is re-elected to the United Nations Commission on Human Rights, one year after losing the seat it had held for 50 years.

2004 - Dick Cheney and George W. Bush testify before the 9/11 Commission in a closed, unrecorded hearing in the Oval Office.

2004 - Oldsmobile builds its final car ending 107 years of production.

Fountains of the World War II Memorial in Washington

On this day in 2004, the National World War II Memorial opened in Washington, D.C., to thousands of visitors. It provided long overdue recognition for the 16 million U.S. men and women who served in that war. The memorial is located on 7.4 acres on the former site of the Rainbow Pool at the National Mall between the Washington Monument and the Lincoln Memorial. The Capitol dome is seen to the east, and Arlington Cemetery is just across the Potomac River to the west.    The granite and bronze monument features fountains between arches symbolizing hostilities in Europe and the Far East. The arches are flanked by semicircles of pillars, one each for the states, territories and the District of Columbia. Beyond the pool is a curved wall of 4,000 gold stars, one for every 100 Americans killed in the war. An Announcement Stone proclaims that the memorial honors those "Americans who took up the struggle during the Second World War and made the sacrifices to perpetuate the gift our forefathers entrusted to us: A nation conceived in liberty and justice."    Though the federal government donated $16 million to the memorial fund, it took more than $164 million in private donations to get it built. Former Kansas Sen. Bob Dole, who was severely wounded in the war, and actor Tom Hanks were among its most vocal supporters. Only a fraction of the 16 million Americans who served in the war would ever see it. Four million World War II veterans were living at the time, with more than 1,100 dying every day, according to government records.    The memorial was inspired by Roger Durbin of Berkey, Ohio, who served under Gen. George S. Patton. At a fish fry near Toledo in February 1987, he asked U.S. Rep. Marcy Kaptur why there was no memorial on the Mall to honor World War II veterans. Kaptur, a Democrat from Ohio, soon introduced legislation to build one, starting a process that would stumble along through 17 years of legislative, legal and artistic entanglements. Durbin died of pancreatic cancer in 2000.    The monument was formally dedicated May 29, 2004, by U.S. President George W. Bush. Open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, it received some 4.4 million visitors in 2005.

2005 - Syria completes withdrawal from Lebanon, ending 29 years of occupation. 2005 - New Zealand's first civil union takes place.

2007 - Republic Protests in Turkey.

2012 - International Chemical Weapons Convention deadline for chemical weapon stockpiles comes into effect


The following are the websites that I used to compile this list for this blog entry:

http://www.historyorb.com/events/april/29

http://www.infoplease.com/dayinhistory/April-29

http://on-this-day.com/onthisday/thedays/alldays/apr29.htm

http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/world-war-ii-monument-opens-in-washington-dc

Book Review: Private Paris by James Patterson

  

Recently, I have been doing book reviews of books which I already read, albeit many years ago. This, however, is not one of them. This is the first time that I ever read this book, and still probably only the third or fourth James Patterson book that I have ever read.

This book was quite different than the other Patterson books which I had previously read. In many respects, that made it quite enjoyable.

Before I go any farther, however, let me give the usual warnings to stop reading if you intend to read this book, because there will be spoilers ahead.

SPOILER ALERT

SPOILER ALERT

SPOILER ALERT

Okay, so by now if you are still reading this, I have to imagine that you either are familiar with this story already, or perhaps you do not mind the spoilers. Please just don't say that you were not given advanced warning. 

This story takes place in Paris. Of course, there is a picture of the Arc de Triumph as seen from the Champs-Élysées, in what is without argument one of the most iconic scenes in Paris, right on the cover of this book. So you might think that Patterson will focus on the most famous parts of the City of Light. Yet, we are taken to some darker, lesser known parts of Paris and the banlieues. This is not quite what I expected, and I commend Patterson for that. Showing a very different, grimier side to Paris. No action scenes on the Eiffel Tower or stolen art from the Louvre or an episode inside of the Notre-Dame Cathedral here, which is truly a refreshing change.

Otherwise, it goes along the way that you would guess that a spy mystery novel would. The bad guys are clearly the bad guys in every way. The good guys are good guys, also in every way. There are no real shades of gray, and the world feels a bit two dimensional in that sense. While I admittedly did not know the specifics of the plan -which turned out to be quite clever, actually - there are some things which made this book nevertheless predictable. The bad guys were plotting something bad, and it looks impressive and unstoppable early on. They look too well-coordinated and unbeatable. Then, they begin to make some mistakes. Also, the incredible insight and instincts of the main character, Jack Morgan, help to foil the evil plot. The bad guys are defeated just in the nick of time, then receive their just deserts in the way of worldwide condemnation and jail time. 

None of that exactly came as a surprise. 

The plot, simply, is this: there are high-profile murders all across Paris in just a short span of days. They all have a similar mark left by the killers: AB-16. At first, nobody knows or has a clue as to what AB-16 means. In time, of course, we learn what it means. For all intents and purposes, it is a call to arms for all Muslims across France to fight back against oppression and work to destroy decadent French culture and turn France into an Islamic republic. 

There is a twist ending. We find out that the bad guys, wo at first seem to side with the Muslim majority and feel that they are oppressed, instead seem angry and resentful towards Muslims. They arm them, but only with defective weapons that pose only symbolic danger. Mostly, they want to trigger a war (like a racial war) that, they are sure, will drive Islam out of France. In short, AB-16 is a scam to get militant Muslims brainwashed and to start a Holy War of sorts, but then for France to expel Islam out of the country altogether to save French culture. 

All in all, this mostly is what you expect from a James Patterson book. It is entertaining and moves fast. Not boring reading, to be sure. The chapters are short, so it feels like you are progressing through the book fast, making very good progress. As I understand it, that is one of the draws for fans of Patterson. It is not meant to be taken too seriously or to make very deep, poignant points or to get you thinking very deeply about topics. It is simply a fun book to read, perfect for beach reading. As such, it certainly achieves it's end. This was a fun read.

If there is one criticism that I have of James Patterson - and it is true with the characters in this book, as well as his more well known characters, especially Alex Cross - it is that the characters feel a bit paper thin. Jack Morgan as a main character feels remarkably similar to Alex Cross, another main character in Patterson books. The problem that I have with them is believability. They are one-dimensional. Too flawless. Frankly, they are too perfect, too successful, too attractive with incredible women desperately wanting to be near them. Also, they always find themselves in the middle of intense action from which they emerge relatively (and predictably) unscathed. All of this is a formula, and a repetitive one. Patterson writes entertaining, fun books. But I do not love the characters as I do with, say Stephen king's characters, who feel more believable to me, even if the stories, sometimes, do not. The characters which populate King books feel far more real and relatable.

That said, of course, this book is mostly meant as a fun read. In that capacity, it does it's job. It is fast-paced and packed with action which, I believe, is the reason why most readers turn to an author like Patterson in the first place.

Recommended for fun, not overly serious reading.

Movie Review: The Edge (1997)

For the first time in years, I watched one of my very favorite movies, The Edge, on Saturday evening with my girlfriend. 

Not sure why this movie is not better known than it is. Most people have never seen it, and in most cases, have never even heard of it. Yet to me, this is a great film. Not everybody likes it. The reviews back at the time were mixed. I can even understand some of the criticisms of it. Watching it again, perhaps for the first time since Trump's rise to political power, it struck me how odd it seems to me that this movie puts the viewer in position to root for the billionaire. Also, it works under the assumption that the most sympathetic character in this movie is that billionaire, and implies that he must have made his fortune because he is so smart and wily and admirable, while the reality is that almost all billionaires inherited much of their wealth, and are incredibly greedy.

But I digress....

This movie has always been one of my favorites since the first time that I watched it, back in the late 1990's. Don't remember if I saw it in the theaters, but I do remember watching it at a friend's home. This would have been around the time when I was obsessed with mountains, and so the scenery of majestic mountains and unspoiled nature really always appealed to me. 

Yet, the reason that I love this movie goes well beyond mere natural beauty. I loved Seven Years in Tibet for the scenery, as well, and enjoy the message within it. However, I never felt quite the desire or even need to watch that movie again like I feel almost a need to watch this movie again. And there is a reason for that. This movie feels like it has important lessons for the viewer, if you are open to it. Also, that message is easier to access for the average person than it is in Seven Years. These characters feel like areal people, and while the circumstances that they find themselves in are relatively rare, it does feel like something which could (and does) happen to people sometimes.  

Before I go on, of course, there should be the standard warning to stop reading if you intend to read this book, because there will be spoilers ahead.

SPOILER ALERT

SPOILER ALERT

SPOILER ALERT

Okay, so by now if you are still reading this, I have to imagine that you either are familiar with this movie already, or perhaps you do not mind the spoilers. Please just don't say that you were not given advanced warning. 

Alright, so now that you have been warned about spoilers, and there are no excuses, let's get into the part of this review which is filled with spoilers.

So I mentioned that a lot of people did not seem to like this movie. Gene Siskel said that it was formulaic and not profound, and hated Alec Baldin's acting in this one. He simply did not care about Baldwin's character. Other people also feel that this movie dragged for the first half hour or so, and Siskel's opinion that this movie has been done in other ways a thousand times before is a fairly common view. Point taken.

Except that it has some virtues to it that I think many people are overlooking. I did not think that Alec Baldwin's acting was that bad in this movie. But even if you think that it was, Anthony Hopkins was off the charts with how good his acting was in this one. Somehow, you feel the internal struggle, you almost read what the character is thinking throughout the movie. Hopkins plays billionaire Charles Morse. He is married to Mickey, his literally supermodel wife. It is clear that he loves her, but less clear how she feels about him. There is a significant age difference, which perhaps lead to some questions. Some characters in this movie seem to lean towards pointing this out without blatantly saying it, until one of the characters, Robert (or Bob) Green, played by Alec Baldin, outright states it quite late in the movie. But let me not get ahead of myself. 

This is not a minor point. Indeed, Charles is always, always thinking and observing. He has a wealth of knowledge of things, a fact established almost immediately in the film. He does not always see any real advantage to possessing this wealth of knowledge, although it will come in handy later on. For now, we just know that he is highly intelligent and sees things that others probably do not suspect he knows or sees. For example, we see him observing Mickey, and how she is with Bob, an attractive man in his own right. Bob feels entitled to making his fortune, although he has not yet done so. But it seems clear early in the movie that he and Mickey are closer than they perhaps should be, and that they have not quite hidden it as successfully as perhaps they should have from Charles. This is a source of friction and distrust between Charles and Bob. And while mostly unspoken - again, almost until the very end - you can sense that it is a bone of contention between the two men. 

Anyway, the group is somewhere in the remote north, either Canada or, more likely, Alaska. It is never outright mentioned where they are in the movie, but everyone seems to say Alaska, so let's go with that. It is cold, but we get the sense that it is not yet winter. The weather is growing cold, but it seems like this is the fall season. Bears in this remote region are a huge problem and are not yet hibernating. The danger that bears pose is made clear almost from the first, although early on, it is just foreshadowing what is to come. 

Bob is a photographer, and he is looking for the perfect shot. A model has canceled on him, making him desperate for some kind of replacement. To that end, he finds a picture of a local Native American, Jack Hawk (played by Gordon Tootoosis). Bob feels that this man, Jack Hawk, has the right look for his picture. But he lives in a cabin twenty miles away. Remember, this is a remote mountain region. No major roads - in fact, no roads of any kind can be seen, apparently - and so they will have to get to that cabin by plane. Bob and his assistant Stephen (played by Harold Perrineau) go there, and Bob invites Charles to go with them. Mickey seems to like the idea and encourages Charles, who seems eager to get away after the host of the cabin has pitched a sales idea on him. This is another thing clearly weighing on Charles. He is a billionaire, and so everyone seems to want a piece of his money, making him distrustful of their intentions. 

Ultimately, Charles goes with Bob and Stephen. They get on a plane, flying over some remote mountains. As mentioned earlier, there really is spectacular scenery throughout this movie, and we see it particularly as they fly over these mountains. When they reach the log cabin, there is a note saying that Jack Hawk is out hunting up by Big Bass Lake, about twenty miles north of the cabin. So they head up in that direction. One problem that comes back to haunt the group later: Bob takes the note that Jack Hawk left on his cabin, which means that later, when search and rescue missions begin, nobody will know that this group headed 20 miles north of the cabin.

So when the plane hits some geese along the way, forcing the plane to crash into the edge of a mountain peak and crash into a near freezing lake far below, nobody could possibly know where this group wound up. Which of course means that this group is on their own. They will have to survive the elements and walk out of these isolated woods themselves.

Now, there are problems with all of this. I will address them, but I will not explore them here, because to do so is to get sidetracked from the actual movie itself. However, the pilot gets a face full of glass, limiting his ability to guide the plane after the birds crash into the plane, and thus making a much more serious accident all but inevitable. Yet, the pilot is the only one who sustains any kind of real injury. And in his case, he is the only one who does not survive. After getting out of the lake, they are desperate to warm themselves, and Bob decides - all on his own and against basic common sense - to use the flares to light the fire to warm themselves. Then Stephen cuts himself  - quite badly - while trying to carve a spear. It is a serious injury and, ultimately, it will cost him his life after Bob hangs the blood-stained tourniquet instead of burying it, as Charles has advised. 

Let's get beyond those questions left unanswered. And let's also get beyond the fairly well-known fact that the three survivors are right by a river of some sort, yet steer away from it for some reason. I cannot pretend to be an expert on outdoors survival skills when you are lost in the wilderness. However, the one thing that I do know, and which seems to be common knowledge, is that when you find a river, you stick close to it and follow it, because that will inevitably, eventually, lead out of the wilderness and take you to some sort of signs of civilization.

Yeah, let's put all of that aside. These three guys are lost in the woods, by themselves. Surely, it is no surprise that they likely will make mistakes. And so they do. Let's leave it at that.

They go and head to the direction which feels south to them, even though they seem to ignore the sun in the sky, which could be more effective in terms of giving them a sense of direction. Again, more unanswered questions, but let's get beyond that. They walk and climb, climb and walk. Ultimately, they find the remnants of their own fire by the same lake which they crashed in. Meaning that they have spent a day or two walking in one big circle. 

It is at this point when Stephen stabs himself with the knife and, later, when the bear attacks and kills him. This leave Charles and Bob, and the tensions which exist between them. And yet, to survive the bear and the elements, they are now forced to rely on one another. It is an uneasy alliance to be sure, but for now, it is an alliance. 

By the way, the bear is a real one, played by Bob the Bear. He is excellent in this movie. Probably his best performance. However, even here there are more questions than answers. These guys consistently manage to outrun the bear, which is simply unrealistic. Bears may look big and fat and clumsy, but they are in fact very athletic and can run far faster than even the fastest humans can. So for these guys to consistently outrun him, and since the bear seems to lose interest in them at times, and then resume stalking them, it also feels questionable. However, he will make an appearance again, and soon.

Eventually, they realize that the bear is toying with them. Stalking them, seemingly outsmarting them. Of course, the bear is in his element, and they are not. It will not allow them to eat or make any real progress out of the woods. They had tried to get a squirrel, with a trap, and then immediately forget about it once they hear a helicopter. They run through the woods and manage to find a clearing, but not on time for the helicopter to see them, as it is already too far away. So without any real hope of being saved from a search crew, and without any real resources other than their own ingenuity, they realize that they have to kill the bear. Charles is the first to recognize it, and he convinces Bob, despite Bob's reluctance and obvious skepticism. 

A showdown with the bear is inevitable. Eventually, it comes, and the two men have prepared very well. Probably a little too well, because it feels a little contrived. Their have somehow prepared their battlefield immaculately, although the plan does not go accordingly. Still, it comes down to the two men are in some kind of a stream and have to make their final stand against the bear. Both of them get hit and tossed aside easily, but they get up and resume the fight. Bob is about to get overwhelmed by the bear, but Charles steps in and stabs the bear with a spear. He then provokes the bear to attack, and when the time is right, Charles plants the spear between two rocks and points it upward. When the bears pounces, he impales himself on the spear.

Game, set, match.

Suddenly, the two men have plenty to eat. They also make these nifty makeshift coats, and Charles makes bear tooth necklaces for both men. They have conquered the most immediate and obvious threat. But they have also killed the one thing which kept their uneasy alliance going. Having survived such a grave, serious and immediate threat to their lives, you might think that the experience would help to bring the men closer, right?

Actually, the opposite happens. At first, they continue to work together to brave the still difficult elements. They keep trecking and seem to be in deep and serious conversations most of the time. Until, that is, they find a cabin. 

This is the point where you find out what both men are really made of. It seems to them both that this will be the end of their adventure. The cabin offers some shelter, some drinks (tea and hard liquor) and, most importantly, a canoe. Once they test it and find that it floats, the odds now seem in their favor to walk out of these hostile woods, just as Charles originally predicted. 

Except that Bob begins to drink the whiskey. Heavily. It becomes clear that he is drinking like this for a reason. Charles seems to know, seems to understand. He has seen the note hidden (forgotten) in the box which his pocket knife came in. Somehow, his wife had forgotten to take this little note out, which is actually instructions on what to engrave on two pieces of jewelry. One is the gift knife for Charles, but the other is for Bob's watch, thanking him for all of the nights. By now, Charles knows without a shadow of a doubt that bob is having an affair with his wife, and knows also that Bob intends to kill him. Especially when Bob grabs the gun stored in the cabin and begins to put bullets in it. They talk and all pretense of civility goes away quickly. Bob says that Mickey is only with Charles because of his money, that he has no business with a beautiful woman like that. 

Bob tells Charles to go outside. They go and continue to talk. Bob clearly seems uncomfortable, and we cannot be sure if he has it in him to actually go ahead and kill Charles. Meanwhile, Charles had spotted a deadfall, a disguised hole in the ground intended to protect against bears. Charles leads Bob close to the deadfall, although Bob remains oblivious. They continue talking, and Charles tries to talk Bob out of killing him. At some point he approaches Bob, making him nervous and forcing him to back up...right into the deadfall, as it turns out.

Despite all of the odds against him, Charles has come out on top. He has used his wits to best the hostile elements, the bear, and Bob's plan to kill him. Yet, he decides to try and save Bob, who otherwise would be doomed. He brings him back to the cabin and applies a tourniquet. Then he gets Bob in the canoe and they paddle down the river. They reach a lake and stop for a break at an isolated stretch. Once again, they talk a bit. Bob apologizes for trying to kill Charles, and then makes clear that he believes he is about to die. Charles urges him to hang on, but Bob will have none of it.

And then a plane comes by. Charles tries waving it down, then runs to grab some pine branches atop the fire to create visible smoke. The plane finally does see it, and heads to the two men. It seems that after all of this, they are finally saved.

Except that when Charles turns around, excited that the plane has seen them and they are about to be saved, he sees Bob laying facedown in an awkward position. He checks and finds Bob is dead.

When we see Charles next, he is getting off the helicopter. A lot of press is there, reporting on this story. So they rush to try and get a comment from Charles. But Charles walks past and first stops by the old man who had last tried to sell him on the idea of developing this region. He asks him why the bunny is unafraid, and the old man responds that the hare is not afraid because he is smarter than the panther, a reference to an exchange between the two men earlier in the movie. Then Charles goes to his wife, Mickey, who first looks at the body bag containing Bob's corpse being taken off the helicopter, then looks at her husband. They embrace, and Charles places something in her hands. It is Bob's watch, with the engraving that she had for him. Clearly he knows that she has cheated on him. They exchange a meaningful look.

Then Charles turns and addresses the press. When asked how the others with him had died, he tearfully explains that they died saving his life.

All of that, at least, sums up what happens in the movie. However, as mentioned earlier, there is a whole lot more going on than that. I loved this movie, despite the lukewarm reception and the criticisms that people have of this movie. Apparently, there were more criticisms of it from my end than even I expected, because it was a longer list than I was consciously aware of, admittedly.

Still, it is a story of survival, even if at times flawed. It is action, yet it is not mindless action. Maybe they make mistakes in this movie, trying to survive in the wild. And maybe the knowledge which Charles has learned of survival in the wild is flawed. Nonetheless, the point is that he is thinking and sees things which others do not. He does not allow obvious or even major disappointments to defeat him, but keeps them in perspective. Maintains an attitude that they are temporary setbacks and not permanent defeats.

Also, his thinking stretches beyond just immediate survival. He is aware that Bob, despite appearances, is himself a rival and a threat to his survival. Silently, keeping his calm, he observes and looks for opportunities to protect himself in the event that he is attacked, as evidenced by his silently observing the deadfall just outside of the cabin minutes before Bob leads him outside to eliminate him. This thinking is what keeps him - and the group as a whole - alive. 

Another aspect of this film that I like is that despite these men not particularly liking each other, they nevertheless work together for their mutual survival. They use their best tools - thinking - to defeat the bear as well as extremely hostile elements in the isolated and unfamiliar wilderness they find themselves in. And there is something to be said for that.

Highly recommended. 

Found this original review from many years ago, and thought it would be fitting to post it here, along with the new review. But I took pains not to read it, although I did go back and reference the names (which I forgot). Otherwise, I did not read it before writing this newer review and, in fact, still have not read it as I am about to publish this particular review. The original review, which I posted here almost 14 years ago now:

Movie Rental Review: The Edge published on Sunday, September 16, 2012:

https://charbor74.blogspot.com/2012/09/move-rental-review-edge.html

"The Charbor Chronicles": Move Rental Review: The Edge

I love this movie! I mean, it just has so much to offer, and it does so in an intelligent, subtle, adult manner. Yet, it is also an edge of your seat thriller!

Perhaps I am dating myself here, but the commercials, when they came out, did not do this movie justice. It looked like an exciting movie, and the bear chasing men somewhere deep in the woods looked exciting enough. But this movie has so much more to offer than that. It is, ultimately, almost a spiritual movie (in a non-religious way), addressing what we have become in this modern world of ours, and how hard it is, in essence, to truly find ourselves, to keep our wits about us and keep an overall better perspective, when thrown, involuntarily, into an unfamiliar setting.

Anthony Hopkins, who I personally think is one of the most capable and talented actors out there, plays Charles Morse, a billionaire who shows a penchant for retaining obscure facts and information that he has never quite fully been able to put a full use to (something that I, admittedly, can kind of relate to on some levels), takes a trip with an entourage to a very remote locale in North America somewhere (we have to figure that it is either in Alaska or northern Canada, somewhere, judging by the nordic remoteness, and the snow capped mountain range). This entourage includes his wife, Mickey (played by model Elle Macpherson) , Charles's assistant Robert (Bob) Green (played by Alec Baldwin), and Stephen (played by Harold Perrineau, who you might recognize from the latter two Matrix movies, and he was also on a few episodes of Lost).

We do not know precisely what business they are in, but we do know that Bob Green is trying to get the perfect photograph. It is during one of his photo  shoots with Mickey (Charles's supermodel wife), that we first essentially learn that she is having an affair with Bob. Charles notices, too, perhaps for the first time, but perhaps not. One way or the other, he knows, but says nothing. Robert is, in fact, having a somewhat difficult and stressful trip, however. It is Charles's birthday, and it clearly bothers him to see Charles and Mickey close together. Also, he has come to get the perfect picture, but the person that he specifically wanted to take pictures of has grown severely sick. When Bob comes across a picture that Styles, the backwoodsman host at the remote cabin lodge where the group is staying, has taken a picture of a local Native American, Jack Hawk (played by Gordon Tootoosis), who seems to have the right look that Bob is looking for in a picture. Bob instinctively decides to go after this mysterious man.

It proves a fateful decision, because when they go up to Jack Hawk's cabin, they find it deserted, but with a note attached, saying that he is out hunting up by Big Bass Lake, about twenty miles north of the cabin. They decide to go looking for him, and that is when a flock of birds winds up flying right into the airplane, and they crash into a lake. the pilot is killed in the crash, while Bob, Stephen, and Charles all survive. Bob has taken the note with him, so there really is no way that anyone would necessarily know that the men are actually twenty miles further north than their last stated destination.

Bob and Stephen went on the plane trip because they were looking for the perfect picture with the native, but Charles has decided to go, rather instinctively (and passively) himself for another reason: to get away from the cabin, and specifically the host, Styles. Styles, played quite well by L.O. Jones) seems to be quite knowledgeable about the wilderness himself. Styles comments on how pretty Charles's wife is, but keeps his thoughts to himself, just essentially noticing it (and hinting, perhaps, at the obvious age difference between husband and wife). When Styles hears that Charles is supposed to be quite knowledge of facts, he challenges him. he takes down an oar that is hanging, which shows a panther, and asks Charles what is on the other side. Charles calmly responds that it is a rabbit, smoking a pipe - a sign that he is unafraid, because he knows that he is smarter than the panther. Styles is impressed each time he finds out how much knowledge Charles actually has and, at one point, begins to talk to him about the possibility of developing the area, in order to try and make this beautiful, but extremely remote location more readily accessible for more people to be able to enjoy. Charles is listening to all of this patiently, wordlessly, until Styles mentions a specific dollar amount, when he stops the conversation, understanding that Styles is trying to make some sort of business proposal, obviously aware of Charles's money. There is now clear tension between the two men, and that proves to be the reason that Charles goes on the fateful plane trip. We get the sense that he just wanted to clear his head a little bit. As it turns out, he gets much more than he bargained for.

So, the three men are out in the middle of a very remote wilderness. They have to try and keep warm (they crashed into a northern lake and had to swim their way out), and build a fire. They have difficulty with it, though, and that is the first time we notice a real difference between Bob and Charles. Bob takes the flares that Charles had the foresight of taking from the plane. It lights the fire that warms them, but in the process, they minimized the chances of using them in order to be found by the inevitable search party.

Charles mentions to Bob at one point that the main reason that people die when they get lost in the woods is due to shame, and says that they forgot to do the one thing that could have saved them - thinking.

As the movie goes on, we find a lot of such differences between Bob, who is not used to the woods and thinks only instinctively, looking for any and all comforts that he can (including the comfort of wanting to indulge in hopes of some miraculous return), and Charles, who constantly, relentlessly focuses on the possible worst case scenario and tries to remain prepared for all manner of possible challenges, although he remains optimistic that they will, in fact, walk out of the woods, and back to safety.

They begin their hike back southwards, assuming that they will find their way, hopefully, back to the Jack Hawk's cabin. It is not an easy hike, and along the way, they get chased by a huge bear (played by Bart the Bear), who goes after them relentlessly. They manage to escape, at least this time, and they continue their hike. But when they arrive at the exact location where they had been when they started the hike, they are all disheartened. Charles remains cool, but the other two are showing signs of not just frustration, but nearly panic. Charles gives Stephen a task to do, in order to get his mind off things. He makes him carve a spear, and it is here that Stephen accidentally cuts himself quite severely. Charles tries to attend to the wound, and tears off the blood stained cloth of the pants, handing it to Bob to bury. But Bob hangs it up on a tree branch instead, and the bear smells it in the air and finds them, attacking Stephen and killing him.

Suddenly, the stakes seems very high.

Charles and Bob make their escape, and continue their venture. But before long, they find out that the bear is still following them, essentially stalking them. It is then that Charles knows that they will have to have a confrontation with the bear, a struggle to the death, either for the bear, or for one or both of the men. He prepares, although they are starving, and really still just look for something, some kind of a break that never comes. Help, to be found at last, or even just to finally eat something to restore their strength. maybe a bit of rest.

***Spoiler alert***

Of course, the confrontation is inevitable. The bear comes, and we see just how big of a beast he is. He is huge, enormous, and simply overwhelming. It hardly seems possible that even two grown men with sticks could prevail.

Yet, that is what happens. Charles, having read the book, knows to try and coax the bear and get it to loom over him, then to use it's enormous weight against it once it comes down, in effect impaling it.

Now, they can finally eat as well as stay warm considerably more easily, and can likely traverse through those woods and return to civilization.

Finally, they reach an old, abandoned cabin. It has a boat and some oars, and once they test it out, they know that they have gotten through, and will likely return to the lives that they had known before.

But it is then that Bob, seemingly overly preoccupied with drinking and loading the gun. We see him brooding, and preparing himself to do what he does not want to do.

Charles, in the meantime, has anticipated this. We notice him spotting the deadfall outside, and then, when the two men walk outside in order for Bob to do the deed, Charles rather slyly directs Bob right next to the deadfall, and gets him to engage in conversation, asking him how long the affair with his wife has been going on.

Bob, already nervous and emotionally charged, trying to prepare himself to actually commit an act of murder, just wants to get this whole thing over with. He looks and sounds unstable, while Charles, in facing death, sounds calm and almost conversational. There comes a point when he actually starts to approach Bob, which  startles Bob enough that he takes a step back - and in the process, falls right into the deadfall.

His leg has been impaled by one of the sharp sticks on the bottom. The situation has obviously now completely reversed, with Charles in complete control and alive, while Bob, has sustained a serious injury and has now been rendered completely helpless. Charles has a choice, and he makes it quickly. He decides to save Bob.

It takes some doing, but again, Charles remains calm throughout. Bob seems to be wavering in and out of consciousness, and he is clearly not healthy any longer.

Charles managed to do the best that he can with him, and manages, nonetheless, to get him out and onto the kayak. Equipped with a boat, he intends to take the boat and find safety.


They find themselves on an island, essentially seemingly taking a rest. Charles has figured that Bob really needs to warm up, because he is in really rough shape. So, he builds him a fire on the island to keep him warm. Bob, in the meantime, begins to question Charles, questions why he would save a man who had intended to murder him. Bob finally apologizes for what he did, and seems on the verge of giving up, of expiring.

Just then, there is the whirring of a distant engine, but it is so faint, that Charles cannot be sure if he heard it right. When he hears it more distinctly, and more importantly, when it actually comes into view, Charles does everything that he can to signal it, wave it down. But it seems not to see them, so Charles quickly uses the knife that Bob gave him as a gift to cut some plants in order to create smoke, and once he does this, the plane finally sees them, and circles around towards their direction.

They are saved, and Charles is ecstatic - until he looks over at Bob, and sees that he is in a very awkward position, face down. He has died indeed, and surely of shame, much like Charles had warned him about at the beginning of their wilderness adventure.

When returned finally to the safety of the camp, Charles once again turns to Styles, and asks him the question that Styles asked of him not long before. Why is the rabbit unafraid? Because he is smarter than the panther. Styles gives him a knowing smile.

The media assembled all want anything, any small statement or scrap for stories for the publications back home. Charles mentions how life's tests never seem to come at the time or in the form that you expect them.

When asked how the other men died, Charles tears up, and says that they died saving Charles's own life.

In conclusion, this is a really awesome movie! It is one of those strange movies that I simply cannot get enough of. Nary a year will pass without me somehow putting it on to watch yet again, and I always enjoy it, even though I know exactly what will happen, by now. But there always seems to be some small, subtle thing, perhaps even a detail, that I initially missed. When a movie keeps you interested enough to pay attention to such small details, you know it's good!