Book Review: Marvel's Secret Wars II (1985)

  

 

When I was a kid, I loved Marvel's Secret Wars. I still remember my parents getting me a few 3-packs of comic books just before my brother and I left for France during the summer of 1985  It was issues # 7-9, so it was well into the series. Yet, I read and reread them several times that summer, and loved them. Collected French versions of some of the Secret Wars comics, and tried to learn some French in the process. Also collected the toys. In the summer of 1987, while back in France, I picked up the three exclusively European Secret Wars figures of Iceman, Electro, and Constrictor. In time, I got all of the issues and read them all. Even got the first series in French.

Yet as much as I loved Secret Wars, this was actually the first time that I read Secret Wars II in it's entirety. Not sure why that is, only that it is. Somehow, the fact that it was on Earth made it feel less magical, did not inspire my imagination quite as much. So yeah, I never actually read Secret Wars II in it's entirety.

At least not until now.

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. 

So yeah, back to Secret Wars.

The first series, which was published in 1984, brought together most of the superheroes and supervillains from the Marvel Universe. The Beyonder - a sort of God from another universe - has observed the Earth for a very long time. He decides to take whole chunks of the Earth and transport them to a makeshift planet of his own creation far into space, with the superheroes and supervillains to launch a war for survival to get back to Earth. Meanwhile, the planet-eating Galactus seems intent on challenging the Beyonder. 

Ultimately, there are subplots. One of them is Dr. Doom briefly usurping Beyonder's powers, but then quickly being expelled. Some heroes, like the Thing, decide to stay on the old planet instead of going back to Earth. This is also where Spiderman debuts his then new, sleek black uniform, unaware that it is an alien which is trying to merge with him. Ultimately, this alien will become an enemy and will become Venom, one of Spiderman's most dangerous rivals in time. But that is later.

Now all of that appealed to my imagination. Getting a taste of each of the superheroes, even some whom I was previously largely unaware of, was interesting. The idea of some God-like creature taking whole pieces of Earth and transporting people and heroes to a makeshift new planet really appealed to my fertile imagination back then. 

Perhaps that is why Secret Wars II, which takes place right here on Earth, did not quite appeal to me as much. I got some issues, but later on. It seemed weird. Iron Man looked very strange, with this awkward looking costume that made him appear boxy and clumsy. And the comic focused far more on the Beyonder than on either the heroes or villains, it seemed. So it seemed bizarre to me, and this made it harder to get into. 

So it begins with the Beyonder visiting Earth. He wants to come to learn more about it and what makes humans tick. He clearly is a stranger here, not knowing the ways or the customs. Pretty sure that as a kid back when these comics first came out, I would have gotten a kick out of some of the things that he gets wrong, such as eating a bottle of soda.

In time, he begins to learn the ropes. But since he has Godlike powers, he quickly rises to the top and is incredibly wealthy and powerful. He explores sex - not that this is illustrated, but it is clearly implied - and has the dream life. Yet, it all comes too easily for him, and he grows bored. 

One of the problems with a character like the Beyonder is that he seems invincible. I always felt that way about Superman, but the Beyonder goes well beyond even that. So while there are some challenges to his power, you never get the feeling that anyone has the chance to actually defeat him. 

Yet somehow, they do. There is one villain from the first Secret Wars, Owen Reece, also known as the Molecule Man. Throughout the first Secret Wars and almost all of the second, he seems too mousy of a man to actually use his incredible powers. 

Right at the end, however, he finally recognizes, once and for all, the threat to all of life and in fact all of existence that the Beyond poses. And so he decides to join the superheroes when they finally decide to challenge the Beyonder and end his threat. Molecule Man/Owen Reece actually challenges the Beyonder directly, but quickly loses ground and power. However, the superheroes step in, and it is just enough to finally defeat the Beyonder.

We then find out that Reece has done a lot to preserve life and existence, so that life can finally continue here on Earth.

Meanwhile, in an alternative universe, we see the process of the beginning of a universe, as it then expands and begins to form planets and, eventually, life begins. We see evolution turn, eventually, to the creation of another species of man. 

And that's how the comic ends.

It should be noted that the Marvel Universe in comics, back then, is a lot like the Marvel Universe in movies and television these days. They try to sell you on the idea of buying more and more so that you understand the whole story. Back when I was a kid, it made me feel a little sad that I was reading all of this after the fact, and unable to easily gain access to all of those other comic books. Nowadays, however, it feels more reminiscent of corporate greed and strategies to sell products even in the middle of the story. 

But I digress...

Now, I will admit to not liking it as much as the first Secret Wars series. As a boy, I just loved that. And part of the reason that I still love the original Secret Wars is that it brings me back somewhat to those days of being young and reading stuff like this which appealed to my strong imagination. 

Secret War II somehow never quite appealed to me as much. Yet, it was pretty good nevertheless. Better than I thought it would be.

A must for any Marvel fans, or vintage fans of comics from the golden age of the 1980's.

Highly recommended.

 

Spring is the Season of New Life (2026)

Spring is a wonderful season. Along with the best parts of autumn, it has the best weather. Granted, it is warm during the daytime, but also still nice and cool at night and in the mornings. 

Also, you can see the new life. 

Recently, I saw some geese with their newborn chicks. Very young guys, surely just days old. Had to be less than a week old, because it was the first time viewing them for me, and I go to the canal to walk on an almost daily basis.

So I took some pictures, and they seemed worth sharing here.

Enjoy.

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