Amazing guitarist Marcin Patrzałek performs the well-known aria Habanera from the opera Carmen.

On this day in 1815, Marshal Michel Ney is executed for treason by the restored Bourbon monarchy following Napoleon's defeat at Waterloo six months earlier. Refusing a blindfold he famously taunts the firing squad: “Come and see how a Marshal of France meets his death!”

Divine Intervention The Task force was scheduled to arrive back at Pearl Harbor on Dec 6, which unknown to them at the time, would have meant USS Enterprise was a sitting duck when the Japanese attacked the next day. However, Task Force 8 encountered a storm on their return

RIGHT NOW in 1941, the Opana radar station at Oahu, Hawaii reports a large formation of aircraft heading directly for Pearl Harbor. Officers on duty incorrectly assume that the blip is from American bombers being ferried in from the mainland. No alert goes out.

A view of Battleship Row from the 1010 Dock. The USS Maryland, is relatively undamaged, the USS Oklahoma has capsized, and Battleship Row with the USS Arizona on the far right is burning heavily. #PearlHarbor84

At 8:10am the USS Arizona explodes. She would take 1,177 men with her.

This is why I play wargames.

Enjoy

Did you know that in Romania, trucks loaded with beehives are rented out to flower growers? These massive rigs become mobile "bee hotels," buzzing with thousands of bees that pollinate fields of flowers and crops.

Graphic depiction of torpedo hits and the capsizing of the USS Oklahoma during the Pearl Harbor attack, Dec 7, 1941.

Today in 1941, President Roosevelt addresses an emergency joint session of Congress 24 hours after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor attack. He famously calls it a day "that will live in infamy."

After the attack on Pearl Harbor was over, many photographs and motion picture film were shot to document the aftermath. In this short clip you will see the USS Arizona burning with its forward mast leaning forty five degrees. The Arizona would burn for two days. #PearlHarbor84

After a long day of defending Ukraine (Defiance GMT) time to kick back.

Why I quit, Columbia is Hamas central

16mm film footage captured from inside the Apollo 17 LM Challenger as it descended to the surface of the Moon 53 years ago on December 11, 1972. You can see the LM's shadow inside the reflected sun glare on the left. (Original video source: NASA, JSC and the Internet Archive)

As I keep saying, I quit Columbia because the faculty, especially the History department that I dealt with do not recognize the rights of American citizens of Jewish faith to not be attacked and harassed. You can read the online report confirming my experience.

Getting ready for some snow. Testing Empire of the Sun China expansion and watching Tora, Tora, Tora.

Played Defiance: 2nd Russo-Ukrainian War 2022-? Volume 1 – Miracle on the Dnipro 2022 on 2025-12-11 boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/4539… #bggplay via BoardGameGeek

We just had a real time play through of Army of the Potomac, battle of Fair Oaks/ 7 Pines. Rebel victory by one point. Good time on Hex2Hex: youtube.com/live/RuodpkzYR…