100000 Mark Note Hyperinflation

After the First World War, the Allies asked Germany to pay them damages for the war (It finished paying this year, 2010). Indirectly this lead to hyperinflation, where the German Mark became almost worthless. The hyperinflation and the occupation of the Ruhr almost certainly helped the Nazis take power in 1933.

Speaking of Hitch, sorry I missed him in Toronto last month!

Remembrance Day

My grandfather Thomas John Williams was in the Royal Army Medical Corps in the Great War (WWI). He died before I was born.  He said that on Christmas Day in 1914 the Germans came out of their trenches and crossed into no-man's land to sing Christmas Carols and play football. They called him "Tommy". Less politely his comrades called them Krauts.
This is oral history from my family, so I can't be sure that he was there or was just telling what someone else had told him, however, this is a historic event that has been well documented - see Christmas Truce

Cat in the bag

Rusty likes getting into shopping bags and going for a ride.

Stop thief at Wal-Mart

Boy being chased by a fat blonde lady in the Wal-Mart - he was stopping and taunting her - I wasn't sure if it was a robbery - she was swearing at him - it was a robbery! He had grabbed her wallet and jumped the fence  but he let her get close and taunted her since he knew she couldn't catch him.

Christopher Hitchins Was DEAD.

August 6 may become the atheist Easter as Wikipedia listed the Portsmouth Pundit as having died that day. Hitchens, suffering from cancer, did get better around suppertime EST. This is why you should never use Wikipedia as a primary source!

Fused Elm

Somewhere near the Bay of Quinte someone joined two elms together maybe a century ago! There is an article on Husband and Wife trees in Wikipedia.