Rembrandt Born

The state of TIAH

July 15th, 2006

in 1606, the Dutch master Rembrandt van Rijn was born in Leiden, Holland. Although he painted some of the most exquisite portraits of the 17th century, only one exists of the master, himself, because of the actions of a jealous young student. Paco Rinaldi, a Spanish artist who never made much of himself, began to hate his master so much that he decided to kill him; he attacked Rembrandt with a knife and slashed the Dutch painter's face so horribly that van Rijn never went out in public again without his face covered. Rinaldi was hung for the unprovoked attacked, but his revenge was complete – Rembrandt never painted another portrait after this attack, and turned his attention to dark religious matters, painting his beautiful yet horrible Revelation series illustrating the Book of Revelation from the Bible.

in 1947, the Air Force reverses its statement on the “flying saucer” that it recovered at Mac Brazel's ranch outside Roswell, New Mexico. Now, they announce that it was simply a weather balloon, and Major Marcel poses with what looks like a sheet of tin foil to demonstrate the material that had “fooled” them. The Brazel family do not recognize the tin foil as something that they picked up off of their ranch, and Mac Brazel calls up the base to question this Major Marcel. He is told that Major Marcel will, instead, be paying a visit to him. That evening, the Air Force officer and two men in dark suits sit with the Brazel family and tell them that in the name of national security, they need to keep everything that they know about the wreckage and the two bodies on their ranch a secret. Mac is outraged, and says, “You're telling one lie after another about this, and I'm supposed to trust you now, just cause you say it's national security? That stuff almost killed my daughter!” One of the men in dark suits leans over and whispers in Major Marcel's ear for a moment, then turns to the rancher and says, “You don't want anything else to happen to your daughter, do you, Mr and Mrs Brazel?” The implied threat of the simple statement chills the Brazel family, and they soon agree not to speak of what they really found on their ranch.

in 2017, Najib Kasem of the human ship Eagle finds a new setting on the golden device that brought them to the Amandara system. But, as he turns to tell one of the Quarai working on the device with him, he feels the left side of his body go numb. A stabbing pain shoots through his head and he collapses. The Quarai immediately offer assistance, taking him to the human doctor, Dmitri. With some help from Quarai medicine, Dr. Dmitri is able to bring Kasem out of the stroke he just suffered. “You had a stroke,” the doctor tells Kasem. “I want you to rest for a couple of days. The Quarai and I devised a way to heal the damage in your brain, but it needs time to work.” Kasem, although hearing all this in a fog, manages to nod his head in agreement, which Dmitri and the Quarai doctors take as a very good sign. Commander Patterson wonders if working on the device may have had anything to do with Kasem's condition, but all of the scientists who have been studying the device say nothing about it could have triggered Kasem's stroke.

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Apollo-Soyuz

The state of TIAH

July 17th, 2006

in 1947, Dr. Powell is paid a visit by the dark-suited men who had assisted Major Marcel in intimidating the Brazels. “We understand that you've been asking around about the weather balloon,” they tell him, and he says, “Yes, it's something I've been quite curious about. I've been wondering why a weather balloon would be vital to national security.” The shorter of the two men said to the doctor, “You know, in these days, Dr. Powell, with America's enemies all around, and Communists infiltrating our very nation, curiosity is a luxury we cannot afford. In order to fend off these savage dictators and defend our way of life, we all have to fall in line and do what's necessary.” Dr. Powell smirks, “So, in order to defeat these dictatorships, we need to shut up and do what we're told?” Both men nod. “I think you boys needed to pay a little more attention in civics.” Exasperated, the taller man said, “Look, doctor, if we hear anything more about you making visits to the morgue, or trouble for our story about the weather balloon, we're going to be looking into the possibility of revoking your license. Do you understand?” Dr. Powell understood very well, and said so. The men left his office, and Powell gathered up all his notes and locked them into a fire-proof safe in his office.

in 1955, Walt Disney opens his amusement park Disneyland, which turns into one massive boondoggle for him. He had thought that having actors in costumes resembling such beloved characters as Mickey Mouse, Goofy and Donald Duck would be a whimsical delight for small children, but children visiting the park were completely creeped out by huge talking mice, dogs, ducks and whatnot. The rides were marginally more successful, although many park-goers questioned the fun of whirling around in giant teacups and things of that sort. All in all, the park lost Disney most of the $17 million he sunk into it, and nearly took his studio down with it.

in 1975, America's Apollo 22 docks with Russia's Soyuz 19 in an effort to promote cooperation between the 2 nation's space programs and begin a space rescue program that NASA had been pushing for ever since the near-disaster of Apollo 13. This 2-day mission was the last for the Apollo program, which had successfully landed ten ships on the moon and stretched America's reach to the stars. The next generation of American spacecraft, the Athenas, were launched in 1976, with Commander Jim Lovell piloting Athena 1 to the moon for his third trip to earth's satellite. This time, though, the storied pilot was able to land, saying, “Third time's the charm,” as he set foot on the dusty soil of what would become Washington Base, new home of the Athena project.

in 2017, Najib Kasem recovers almost fully from the stroke that hit him just two days before. The Eagle's doctor considers this just one notch below a miracle, and begins inputting as much information about Quarai medicine as he can into the ship's computer. “I'm hoping that you can get us home,” he tells Kasem. “Then, these techniques will make me a millionaire.” Kasem promises the doctor that he will do his best. Although Commander Patterson is wary about returning Kasem to work so quickly after the stroke, all the doctors say it would be good for him, and everyone working on the golden “jump” device would like his insight. “I'm fine, Commander, really,” Kasem tells her, although Patterson sees something in his eyes that disturbs her. “All right, you're back on the job.” He smiles and tells her, “I've thought of something while I was out. We should fly the device off world again for another experiment.” She agrees and says, “I'll clear it with the Quarai.”

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Word

	Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound, that saved a wretch like me....I once was lost but now am found, was blind, but now, I see. T'was Grace that taught...my heart to fear. And Grace, my fears relieved. How precious did that Grace appear...the hour I first believed. Thro' many dangers, toils and snare, I have already come; 'Tis grace has brought me safe thus far, and grace will lead me home. ~ Amazing Graceland – Fall and Rise of a King (1982), Elvis Aaron Presley.

In 1983, Elvites were shocked by the relevations of the King's autobiography. Of course only people on the Dark Side of the Moon during the late sixties could be unaware of Presley's sharp decline during that traumatic period. Fortunately, a religious awakening had lifted Presley from the nadir of his career and personal life. Revealed for the first time however was some real shockers. The Las Vegas rape, addition to prescription drugs and a near death experience on August 17, 1977. It was revealed for the first time that the King was found on the floor of his Graceland bathroom by fiancee, Ginger Alden, having 'stumbled or crawled several feet'. CPR treatment saved Presley's life after he was officially pronounced dead at 3:30 pm at the Baptist Memorial Hospital. Whilst he had recorded a lot of Gospel tracks, it was the moment when he really began to believe.

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	In 2005, on this day occurred the event known as Mugabe's Prince handshake gaffe. Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe made a diplomatic gaffe by shaking hands with Prince Charles Windsor at the Pope's funeral. The President was 'caught by surprise' when the Prince leaned over to greet him, Harare source said. Some politicians condemned Presidents' greeting as 'stupid' and 'not very sensible' following the Prince's alleged involvement in the assassination of his ex-wife. The Queen of Hearts had been hugely respected for her charitable works in the Southern Hemisphere and the Prince was now considered persona non grata.

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Microsoft	In 2007, consumers reacted in anger to an email today - 'MSN to increase the charge for Hotmail user fees.' Five years before on 25 February 2001, unconsidered comments were made by a Microsoft executive, who said the company was considering introducing fees for its free Hotmail service. It was one year after the dotcom crash and everybody, even mighty Microsoft, was pondering how to make some money on the internet. A stroke of genius, Hotmail now represents over 30% of Microsoft revenue. The Seattle giant had suffered from loss of revenue from software piracy for many years, and this services-led innovation enabled the corporation to grow sales explosively in the consumer market.
Fees Announced

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	In 1998, the Police confirm the arrest of millionaire singer George Michael while he was alone in a public toilet and have charged him with lewd behaviour. The heterosexual star later revealed that he had been lured into the toilet by a female Police Officer who had played a cruel game of 'I will show you mine, you show me yours and then I will nick you'.

Gay America was outraged by the obscenity. Public opinion was strongly against Michael, who had been safely assumed gay due to his provocative MTV coverage with fellow Wham! Star Andrew Ridgeley. Michael said it was 'My own stupid fault as usual'.

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	In 2008, Nunavut Tribal Chief Paul Okalik defended Democratic front-runner Barack Obama Monday over accusations from rival Hillary Clinton that he was secretly at ease with a hemispheric trade accord which he publicly blames for losing U.S. Jobs. Clinton's criticism, on the eve of make-or-break presidential nomination contests for her in Mannhattan, stemmed from a report by Kanatan television station CTV that an Obama economic adviser told Kanatan officials the candidate was not seriously considering disrupting the trade accord.

There was no intention to convey, in any way, that Senator Obama and his campaign team were taking a different position in public from views expressed in private, including about NAFTA, the embassy statement said. 'We deeply regret any inference that may have been drawn to that effect.' The consulate's written report of the meeting had left the suggestion that Obama's words on NAFTA were designed for a political audience and should not be taken too seriously, prompting an angry denial from the Obama campaign. Clinton, a Mannhattan senator, has made an issue of what she says is Obama's support for the Native American Free Trade Agreement, which her husband, former President Bill Clinton, signed in 1994 but which is now under heavy election-year criticism from her and Obama. The source of the dispute dated back to 1520, when Montezuma kicked the Spaniards out of Mexico and North AmerInds had similar success, leaving only the European colony on Manhattan Island. By the early twenty-first century, the Iroquois Federation had developed a modern economy based on the success of NAFTA.

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Stephen R. Donaldson	In 1968, Stephen Reeder Donaldson departed Vietnam. By inclination a conscientious objector, he had been compelled to serve in the armed forces. Much later, and after dropping out of his Ph.D. program and moving to New Jersey in order to write fiction, Donaldson made his publishing debut with the first 'Covenant' trilogy in 1977. That enabled him to move to a healthier climate. He now lives in New Mexico. Donaldson's two year compulsory military duty would be the deep undercurrent of his escapist fantasy writing. In 'The Chronicles of Thomas Covenant, the Unbeliever', the protagonist was a leper struggled with disempowerment in a Land he did not really believe in.
Unbeliever

Farewell, Unbeliever! Be true! You have wrought greatly for us. And with the Staff of Law we will be not unable to defend against the Despiser's ill. Take heart. Despair and bitterness are not the only songs in this world. ~ 'The Calling of Lions'.

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	In 1917, the February Revolution broke out in Imperial Russia. The Imperial German Government turn to the architect of the 1905 revolution, Father Gapon. He is sent in a sealed train to Russia in a second and increasingly desperate attempt to overthrow the House of Romanov that year.

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In 2001, BBC News reported - Donald Campbell's speedboat recovered: Divers have raised the wreck of Donald Campbell's boat, Bluebird, from the bottom of Coniston Water in Cumbria. The boat had lain there since the accident in 1967 which killed Campbell, 46, as he attempted to break the world water speed record. The craft was winched to the surface after a three-hour operation to tow it to the lakeside from its resting place, 150 feet (45 metres) below the surface of the lake. The quest to raise the boat was led by diver Bill Smith. Mr Smith said he was glad they had reached the boat as there was always the risk that less scrupulous souvenir hunters could get there first. 'You can see now she's in a remarkable state of preservation and she'll not rot away to nothing now, she can be kept this way,' he said. In final, startlig surprise, the body of Donald Campbell would be discovered on August 10th.

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In 1801, British and Ottoman soldiers took control of Abukir Bay in Egypt from Italian Imperial forces. Napoleon Buonaparte, Emperor of Italy, had assumed control of Egypt largely out of a desire to recreate the Roman Empire. Unfortunately for the Little Italian, it placed him perilously close to the Ottoman Empire, which joined forces with the northern European allies against Italy.

In 12-18-19-16-12, the composer for the Incan court, Bekcheco, died in his sleep in the Incan capitol of Cuszo. Bekcheco had been known for his musical styles that appealed so highly to the young people of the continent, combining eastern rhythms with more civilized traditional Oueztecan music.

	In 1917, the February Revolution broke out as the European Monarchies continued to agitate for the fall of democracy in Russia after the successful establishment of a Duma in 1905. The Imperial German Government subsequently sent Communist Vladimir Lenin in a sealed train in a second and increasingly desperate attempt at revolution that year. Ace of Spies and British Agent Sidney Reilly reported it was hopeless, democracy was infectious and would likely spread into Western Europe during the early 1920s if no further invention occurred.

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In 1994, South African troops, allies of the U.S., accept the surrender of Madagascar. Although the war in the Indian Ocean Theater is just beginning, South Africa is sweeping across its neighbors with alarming speed. In some respects, they are doing even better than President Ralph Shephard's troops in the western hemisphere.