After reading many novels I get hungry for history. The Year 1000, has been highly acclaimed so I placed a hold on an electronic version, readable with Kindle, from the Hennepin County Library. When, after weeks of waiting, I could finally got it, it downloaded but wouldn't open. So, I returned it, signed up for it again, and, after waiting weeks again couldn't open it. Finally, after weeks of waiting I got Erik Larson's The Splendid and the Vile. It opens but every few pages the page goes blank and I have to restart it. So, it also was returned.
Perusing the history section of the library I found Erik Larson's Dead Wake:The Last Crossing of the Lusitania, immediately available. Life is good with a good history book to read. When I was at Zion Lutheran Davenport, one of the members Henry Schafer, who grew up in the Amana Colonies when they were still a colony, had strong feelings about the sinking. He thought that Germany was treated unfairly in that affair. Now I'll see what Larson thinks.
Temperatures have been reaching the 90s these days. That is stressing the crops as there has been a long, persistent dry spell. Harvest yields will be significantly reduced this fall.
News media brings reports of student, pro-democracy demonstrations in Thailand. The army re-wrote the Thai constitution after it overthrew the elected government. The new constitution gives the army effective control of the government. Young demonstrators are seeking a new constitution and restoration of freedom of speech and press. A new element in these demonstrations is that, for the first time ever, there is criticism of the king. He took over two years ago after his father's death but he doesn't cast a benevolent mein. Every actions he's taken since his elevation has been to increase his power. He spends most of his time in Munich, Germany, where he quarantined with 24 young women. Criticizing, even discussing, anything royal publicly is illegal and punishable by 15 years in jail. Many critics of the government disappear and later are found dead. While I credit the students this will likely not end well.
Takk for alt,
Al
Sunset over the Chao Phraya River, Bangkok.
1 comment:
I love your persistence, Al. I also really appreciated the contrast between the written history of an earlier time and your current history of Thailand. That certainly gave me pause ... and hope that we will not replicate this one here and now.
Blessings,
Marilyn
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