A Brief History On January 15, 2022, the Kingdom of Tonga, part of the Tongan archipelago in the Pacific Ocean, experienced the spectacular climax of a volcanic eruption that started a couple weeks prior. Digging Deeper The volcanic mountain involved bears the tongue twisting name “Hunga Tonga–Hunga Haʻapai,” a name we believe may be the niftiest name of any mountain we know. Unfortunately, the eruption triggered several tsunamis around the Southwest Pacific, affecting some islands and leaving seven people dead, 19 people injured, and over $180 million in damages. Some of the other mountains that bear beautiful, unusual, tongue twisting,…
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A Brief History On January 13, 1964, a 14-year-old Pamela Mason was murdered in New Hampshire, her alleged murderer later having his conviction overturned on the basis of 4th Amendment rights regarding police searches in a Supreme Court case called Coolidge v. New Hampshire in 1971. Digging Deeper The murder conviction was overturned over the concept of when and when not the police are allowed to search a person’s car, truck, or other vehicle. The times it is perfectly legal for the cops to search your car starts with a properly issued search warrant, signed by an unbiased authority. Thus,…
A Brief History On January 9, 1964, a riot broke out between Panamanian nationalists and American Canal Zone Police and US Military forces stationed in the Canal Zone after a Panamanian flag had been torn during a confrontation between the Panamanians and Canal Zone Police. Digging Deeper As the riot and violence grew, US Army troops were called in to quell the riot, leading to three days of fighting that left about 22 Panamanians and four Americans dead. Panama had gained its independence with the help of the US in 1903, for the American aim of building the Panama Canal. …
A Brief History On January 8, 2020, Iranian air defense forces fired a surface to air missile at a civilian jetliner, Ukraine International Airlines Flight 752, a Boeing 737 carrying 176 passengers and crew, downing the jet and killing all those aboard. Digging Deeper Sadly, there have been too many instances where airliners have been shot down, either on purpose because they were thought to be violating some defense parameter or accidentally due to misidentification. Today, we look at a few of those incidents, incidents that make TSA inconveniences, surprise fees, cramped seats, and crying babies on planes seem like…
A Brief History On December 27, 2007, Mombasa, Kenya, was the scene of violent protests over a disputed presidential election. Mombasa, a gateway to East Africa, happens to be just one of the many fascinating places visited by Major Dan, and today we take a look at some of those nifty cities to visit. Digging Deeper Toronto and Montreal, Canada. These two largest cities in Canada present different takes on our neighbor to the Great White North, foreign, yet highly accessible and both with great food, museums, attractions, and wonderful people. Honolulu, Hawaii. Truly a paradise on Earth, even the…