Steam Engine Time

Hanne Blank explains the *why* part of history:
Steam Engine Time

This is good, because for some reason this morning I was remembering the Conrad Stargard books, and this is a neat way to explain them: Stargard is a 20th century engineer accidently transported to medieval Poland, and trying to figure out who to help the people there with his knowledge when he is most emphatically not in Manufactured Parts Time (ie, a lot of, "this would be a useful thing, but how do we build it out of wood and iron?").

(no subject)

Canadian Armed forces have first female combat casualty since WWII

I'm torn between wondering if now the PM will fly the flag at half-mast, and hoping he doesn't because if he does it should be for all Canadian soldiers killed. A female one doesn't matter more, except to show women are as willing and able as men to do dangerous jobs. Which, I guess, is my roundabout way of saluting our armed forces.

On a Lighter Note...

Youtube presents: Velvet Welk!