Blog 4 History

Happy New Year everyone! May we make it out of 2009 with more optimism than we did with 2008. Anyway, God bless and Good night…

C

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Researchers have found out what made the 1918 flu pandemic so deadly — a group of three genes that lets the virus invade the lungs and cause pneumonia.

They mixed samples of the 1918 influenza strain with modern seasonal flu viruses to find the three genes and said their study might help in the development of new flu drugs.

The discovery, published in Tuesday’s issue of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, could also point to mutations that might turn ordinary flu into a dangerous pandemic strain.

Read more…

1. SAVING PRIVATE RYAN (1998)
2. BRAVEHEART (1995)
3. SCHINDLER’S LIST (1993)
4. BLACK HAWK DOWN (2001)
5. PLATOON (1986)
6. THE PIANIST (2002)
7. HOTEL RWANDA (2004)
8. FULL METAL JACKET (1987)
9. PATTON (1970)
10. GLORY (1989)
11. THE KILLING FIELDS (1984)
12. STALAG 17 (1953)
13. ENEMY AT THE GATE (2001)
14. LAWRENCE OF ARABIA (1962)
15. LETTERS FROM IWO JIMA (2006)
16. THE DEER HUNTER (1978)
17. THE BRIDGE ON THE RIVER KWAI (1957)
18. APOLCALYPSE NOW (1979)
19. THE DIRTY DOZEN (1967)
20. THE AFRICAN QUEEN (1952)
21. SERGEANT YORK (1941)
22. DOWNFALL (2005)
23. THE GREAT ESCAPE
24. DAS BOOT (1981)
25. FROM HERE TO ETERNITY (1953)
26. PATHS OF GLORY (1958)
27. ALL QUIET ON THE WESTERN FRONT (1930)
28. THE BATTLE OF ALGIERS (1967)
29. GUNGA DIN (1939)
30. THREE KINGS (1999)

Interesting list, though I can think of some movies that I would put on the list.

To read more…

[From SoldierStudies.org]

Article 1 12/17/08

The Blue and the Gray in Black and White Assessing the Scholarship on Civil War Soldiers By Aaron Sheehan-Dean Aaron Sheehan-Dean is an associate professor of history at the University of North Florida. He is the author of Why Confederates Fought: Family and Nation in Civil War Virginia and the Concise Historical Atlas of the U.S. Civil War and the editor of The View From the Ground: Experiences of Civil War Soldiers and Struggle for a Vast Future: The American Civil War.

Slowly public education has come to the point where No Child Left Behind is becoming, “Failure is not an Option.” Students cannot receive a failing grade, not an option. This will become reality sooner than later…

But this is not surprising. Look around us, we are rewarding failure. We rewarded Wall Street, Automakers, and Congress for being bad at what they do. All got bailouts and raises when they have failed to perform. I remember a country founded on principles of hard work, the freedom to succeed or fail, and to do so without government infringement.

BTW- my wife’s 2004 Jeep Liberty broke down yesterday while on her way to work, transmission. Maybe if they didn’t make crappy cars, with workers who are overpaid and over compensated (benefits), the automakers would not have to be bailed out.

Between Bush’s bailout of the Big Three Auto makers to the U.S. Congress and its bailouts, comes news that Congress has decided they have done such a good job they deserve a raise at the expense of $2.5 million to the tax payers. As a government teacher it is becoming hard to remain upbeat about the direction this country is headed.

Call Bush the worst president ever, I’d agree right now. But you better include this current Congress, Democrat led, that has also made a mockery of the power they possess.

I love this photo… I have been very busy with the start of my next graduate class, “Historical Research Methods,” and this one will be a challenge. Anyway, thought I’d share this photo I found and I have lost the source, my apologies:

Read this incredible story of a 13 year old who persuaded Pearl Harbor veterans not to give up their reunions, something they contemplated doing. With what seems like large segments of today’s American society ready to forget (if they have not already) our WW2 veterans and their remarkable sacrifices and accomplishments, this story is encouraging frankly.

Due to the amount of books that I have coming this will have to be a regular thing.

First up, Retribution: The Battle for Japan, 1944-45, by Max Hastings, March 2008, New York, Random House Inc. 656pp. $35.00 978-0-307-26351-3. This was a review that needed to happen sooner, but, just didn’t. I have just finished Retribution and it is one of the better WW2 Pacific Theater titles I have ever seen. Hastings takes a stand on some controversial issues such as the bombing of Japan, and not just the use of nuclear weapons. He criticizes everyone from Douglas MacArthur, to the leadership of Japan that was the source of so much suffering. Hastings pulls no punches, calls a spade a spade, and holds Japan accountable for its demise. But he does not ignore U.S. transgressions and mistakes, this is not a “political” history book. I feel every teacher who wants to tell an honest and balanced story about the war in the Pacific should read this book.

Cavalryman of the Lost Cause, A Biography of J. E. B. Stuart, by Jeffry D. Wert. Simon & Schuster, September 2008, 512 pp. $32.00 0-7432-7819-4. Wert provides new details about Stuart’s childhood and youth, and he draws on letters and other correspondences. This biography is being haled as one of the best on J.E.B. Stuart and rightfully so. Stuart was eager for glory, daring sometimes to the point of recklessness, but a devoted and loving husband and father. Stuart has long been regarded as the finest Confederate cavalryman and one of the best this country has ever produced. Wert shows how Stuart’s friendship with Stonewall Jackson and his relationship with Lee were crucial; at the same time Stuart’s relationships with his subordinates were complicated and sometimes troubled. Highly recommended.

I have also received Abraham Lincoln, by James M. McPherson from Oxford University Press, it is less than 100 pages and would be a nice primer for first time Lincoln readers. Not sure what else to say, it is puzzling why it was produced as it adds nothing to the subject.

I am in the middle of reading two excellent books:

Those Damned Blackhats! The Iron Brigade in the Gettysburg Campaign, by Lance J. Herdegen. Savas Beatie, 368 pp, $32.95 978-1-932714-48-7. It was just  published in October. I am half-way through it and am thoroughly enjoying it. This just might be Herdegen’s best book and I have read them all. Anyway, more on this excellent and quality publication later.

Also, George Thomas Virginian for the Union, Christopher J. Einolf. University of Oklahoma Press, 416 pp, 20.97 (on sale) 978-0-8061-3867-1. This book was published last year and the kind folks at U of O Press were kind enough to send me a copy. It looks excellent and I cannot wait to read it!

That is all for now!

My book has been getting some very decent and kind reviews, thanks all!

Bret over at TOCWOC noted that, “Wehner’s writing style was very enjoyable and allows readers to become immersed in the story of the regiment. It caters to beginners as well as self-styled experts on the Civil War. The author relies heavily on the letters and diaries of the 11th Wisconsin’s soldiers to tell their own story, just as it should be.” Read Full Review.

Drew at Civil War Books & Authors was also impressed with the book, saying, “Wehner writes well, especially in his battle descriptions, integrating first person accounts into his narrative with both well chosen block quotes and a skillful weaving of short excerpts into the main text.” Read Full Review.

And finally, the Civil War News had this to say about the book, “The 11th Wisconsin is a fine regimental history and will be enjoyed by anyone interested in the Western Theater, especially the Vicksburg and Mobile campaigns.” Read Full Review.

[cross posted at 11wisconsinregiment blog]