True Heroes of Iwo Jima
No less than 254 years have passed since, in 1776, there came about the boisterous birth of the United States. During the quarter of a millennium since that date the U.S. has known only 21 years of peace.
The Ottery Tar Barrels Burning Festival
Every year on November 5th, for reasons lost in antiquity, the villagers of Ottery St Mary, Devon in England’s West Country race through the streets carrying heavy barrels full of flaming tar in one of the quirkiest of British traditions. The West Country has a history of torchlight processions and a tradition of burning barrels and rolling them down the streets, but Ottery is the only village where barrels aren’t rolled but carried above the head. The tradition is believed to have started in the 17th century, possibly when someone decided that rolling barrels were tame and carrying barrels on the shoulders was far more appealing.
Water Cannon but Whites Only
Things got heated when a massive Covid-19 sceptic march in the German city of Frankfurt was met with a counter-protest by notorious Antifa rowdies. The police had to muscle in too, and on this occasion using water cannon to separate the sides and making arrests.
Death and mystery of the Black Prince’s treasures
On November 14, 1854, during a severe storm off the coast of Balaklava, the 2,700-tonne vessel, HMS Prince did not have time to take shelter. Helpless against the raging storms that frequent the Black Sea, the recently-built vessel was swept on to the rocks and soon afterwards sank beneath the waves.
Astrid Lindgren and the characters in her fairy tales.
On 14 November 1907, the famous Swedish children’s writer Astrid Lindgren was born. She created such memorable characters as Pippi Longstocking, Emil i Lönneberga, Karlsson-on-the-Roof, the Six Bullerby Children, The Brothers Lionheart and many others.
Russia’s Deeply Symbolic Warning
February 18, 1905, marks a tragic event that Russians consider very important. Indeed, when the terrorist attack occurred the world was in shock and ever since Russians remember the appalling assassination carried out by Bolshevik insurgents.
Hungary and Poland Turn on Soviet European Union
Hungary’s popular Prime Minister has labelled the European Union’s plan to make access to funding conditional on the maintenance of the rule of law as blackmail. He then repeated what retiring Soviet President Mikhael Gorbachev said by likening Brussels to the Soviet Union.
The Man Who Discovered Treasure Island
Exactly 170 years ago, on November 13, 1850, Robert Louis Stevenson was born. The internationally respected author was a favourite with young and old lovers of literature.
MPs Leaping off the Gravy Train
Perhaps fearing the long arm of the law, old-Etonian Boris Johnson faces a Tory uprising as 50 MPs join new resistance group. The embattled public schoolboy faces another Tory uprising as 50 MPs join a new resistance group calling for an end to coronavirus lockdown measures.
Old Heads on Young Shoulders
I asked one of my friends who has crossed 70 and is heading to 80-years of age what sort of changes he is feeling in himself? He sent me the following very interesting lines, which I would like to share with you.
Michael Walsh Stories and Books 
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