Illuminati-R-Us

On June 4th in 1745, Der Alte Fritz (?) won the Battle of Hohenfriedberg and in 1941 the same date saw the death of the last German Emperor.

Lianachan wrote:, Der Alte Fritz

All correct, except for the capitalization of "der".

I have fond memories of June 4, 1988, when I finished my A levels in sleepy, sunny, friendly West Berlin.

June 5th 1941, around 4,000 people asphyxiate in Chongqing after taking to a tunnel to shelter from Japanese bombing.

In 1989, this happened:

Lianachan wrote:June 5th 1941, around 4,000 people asphyxiate in Chongqing after taking to a tunnel to shelter from Japanese bombing.

These days, you don't need to be in a tunnel to asphyxiate in Chongqing.

I bow to your greater knowledge, there. Singapore represents my entire experience of Asia. Unless Turkey counts.

Lianachan wrote:I bow to your greater knowledge, there. Singapore represents my entire experience of Asia.

It is often said (and I tend to agree) that Singapore is one of the most western places in Asia. I have heard it referred to as "Asia Lite"

Certainly, the air is much cleaner than in many places in Asia, and far cleaner than in any Chinese city I've ever seen. This is likely a consequence of various pollution control measures - e.g., cars are licensed for ten years, and then are supposed to go. This way, only relatively modern cars (which presumably have the best pollution control systems) are on the road. Cars are also very expensive - maybe 75,000 GBP for a Toyota Camry. This is the result of deliberate policies to make sure there are fewer of them on the roads. I recently saw an article which claimed that Singapore traffic was worse than in New York; based on my casual observation at least, the traffic in New York must have improved considerably in the last few years for that to be the case.

Many Chinese cites have a nearly permanent haze hanging over them, and it can be really bad; people are saying (haven't checked, maybe it's hyperbole) that living your whole life in Beijing reduces your lifespan by several years. On one trip to Beijing, I could barely stand it (I constantly felt grit on my teeth); usually, it's not that bad.

Lianachan wrote:Unless Turkey counts.

The line between Europe and Asia seems pretty arbitrary to me.

I count my first trip to Asia as being on the Eastern side of the Bosphorus. I was at the old Byzantine fort at the north end looking out over the Black Sea, very moving for a Byzantinist.

Edit: This one.

Heid the Ba' wrote:I count my first trip to Asia as being on the Eastern side of the Bosphorus. I was at the old Byzantine fort at the north end looking out over the Black Sea, very moving for a Byzantinist.

I don't remember my first time in Asia.

I crossed the Bosphorus on one of the ferries in Istanbul Constantinople Byzantium (sorry), and considered that to be my first encounter with Asia.

[toponymy nerd]The name Bosphorus means more or less the same thing as the name of boring old Oxford. A nice juxtaposition. [/toponymy nerd]

June 6th, 1889 - the Great Seattle Fire destroys the entire central business district of the city. On the same date in 1752 a fire destroys a third of Moscow.

Wasn't there some other significant event on June 6th somewhere?

True, there was an armed landing of some sort in France on that day, but that is an odd number of years ago, so it can't be very important, right?

Arneb wrote:True, there was an armed landing of some sort in France on that day, but that is an odd number of years ago, so it can't be very important, right?

It might have saved France from membership in the Warsaw pact.

There is that, but 71 years ago? Naw.

June 7th 1981: Israel bombs Iraq's Osirak nuclear reactor, near Baghdad, completely destroying the facility.

June 7th 2015: Lianachan walked 11.5 miles along the route of a military road that had been constructed thorough the mountains in the late 1740's - 1760's, taking measurements, and photographing and recording the condition of about a dozen bridges along the way. His feet are glowing red hot. His tyre exploded on the 60 mile drive home, too, so his head is also glowing red hot. Gin'll fix it. The head, not the car.

Do you really think it'll glow LESS after being treated by an oral gin therapy?

June 8th, 632 - محمد dies in Medina.

Arneb wrote:Do you really think it'll glow LESS after being treated by an oral gin therapy?

I would never have known if I hadn't tried the experiment. Yes, it was very soothing. Actual redness is due to being unexpectedly out in the sun all day (I'd prepared for rain, or very overcast at best).

Unexpected sun in Scotland in June . . .

That does sound like a fun, if eventful, day.

Clearly. I guess a day that ends with a good gin can't be entirely bad.

Мастер wrote:June 8th, 632 - محمد dies in Medina.

I had to google the script, there. Great to see others posting stuff in this thread!

I guessed from the year and location.

Heid the Ba' wrote:I guessed from the year and location.

I was on autopilot. I hate to think what sort of lists I'll be on now, having googled that.

Hello, gubmint!