Moon Shot: The Inside Story of America's Apollo Moon Landings
One Giant Leap: Neil Armstrong's Stellar American Journey
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The United States and Canada, by and large, have been peaceful neighbors — especially since Canada became a de facto independent nation under the British North America Act in 1867. But while the two nations are friendly and, typically, allies, things can change. And in 1927, the United States planned for just such a scenario.
At the time, Canada was still mostly under British control, and even though the United States and the United Kingdom were friendly — they fought on the same side in the Great War — things could always change. The U.S. was concerned that the UK’s imperial desires might extend back to the U.S., and the U.S. was not going to be caught unprepared. The U.S. Army developed “War Plan Red,” a comprehensive strategy to foil any British expansion into its long-former colony.
War Plan Red assumed that, in the case of war, Britain had two significant advantages. First, the British navy was a formidable force, able to control the seaways and therefore the U.S. export economy. Second, the UK controlled Canada, and could have used it as a staging ground for an invasion of the United States. The American plan was to strike Canada first.
Specifically, U.S. forces would invade Nova Scotia, hoping to take Halifax, which (American strategists assumed) would be the focal point for the British Navy in North America. If this failed, the U.S. would try to take New Brunswick, isolating Nova Scotia from the mainland. After securing that region, American forces would target Quebec City, further separating east from west; Ontario, taking control of much of Canada’s manufacturing (at the time); Winnipeg, a railway transit hub; and Vancouver, as part of a belt-and-suspenders approach toward controlling the ports. War Plan Red only laid plans for military action in the Western Hemisphere — America never intended to attack the British Isles. Rather, the plan was to hold Canada hostage, so to speak, in hopes that Britain would agree to a peace treaty to free its largest New World territory.
In 1974, the United States declassified War Plan Red. which created a minor ripple in U.S./Canadian relations — but it quickly passed. - mentalfloss
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African lion loose in Essex?
Police in Essex are investigating reports that a lion was spotted in a field at St Osyth near Clacton-on-Sea.
The animal was seen near Earls Hall Drive by holidaymaker Bob Martin at about 19:00 BST on Sunday.
Mr Martin said he and his wife Denise saw a large cat and a lion "was the first thing that came to mind".
Colchester Zoo experts have said a definite identification of the animal was not possible based on a photograph taken by a member of the public.
"We believe we saw a large cat looking at a tree... it just sat there looking at us," said Mr Martin.
'Preening itself'
"Lion was the first thing that came into mind but it was several hundred yards away... it was very impressive."
Mrs Martin added: "We saw this shape in the field, got our binoculars and it was a very, very large cat. At one time it stood up and looked at us, it was a bit spooky as it could obviously hear us, it was just preening itself.
"To start with we was convinced it was a lion but the shape of the ears is slightly wrong, but it was the size of a lion. It had a white chest with like a tan, beige-colour body."
Armed police have been drafted into the area and two police helicopters are searching the area where it was spotted. One of the helicopters is using a thermal imaging camera to try to detect any trace of an animal.
Anthony Tropeano, zoological director of Colchester Zoo who has been at the scene, said: "The photograph shows an animal in a field, it is a sandy brown colour, but the photography is of such poor quality it's not possible for us to say one way or the other what it definitely is.
"There were absolutely no sightings of it during the time I was there. Nothing really to provide any further evidence to suggest it had been there - just the fact of these couple of eye witness account and police had to err on the side of caution."
Residents were advised by police on Sunday night to stay indoors, but police have said: "We want people to go out and enjoy themselves, but if they do wish to go for a country walk and use the fields and footpaths we ask them to be a bit cautious."
Essex Police said about 25 officers were at the scene, including about a dozen specialist firearms officers, and experts from Colchester Zoo were also on hand. They are looking for signs such as pawprints.
Police said all the animals at Colchester Zoo had been accounted for.
The spokesman said a circus had been in the area, at Clacton Airfield, recently but added: "Officers have spoken to the circus and confirmed that they do not have an animal missing, nor do they have any lions."
Local resident Che Kevlin told the BBC he heard a "loud roar" at 22:00 BST. He said that shortly after hearing the roaring sound he got a text from a relative telling him a lion was on the loose in St Osyth.
"It was worrying as we had just been for a walk with the dog. We saw the police helicopter but thought it was just searching for a person," said Mr Kevlin.
"It sounded like the roar of a lion. We have field and wood just behind our fence, so you never know."
There are several holiday caravan parks in and around St Osyth and Sean Williams, who is in a caravan, said he was worried about going out.
Mr Williams, who said he heard about the lion on Twitter, said: "The children are with me and we are quite worried. We were out in fields in St Osyth but we're back in the caravan now.
"We've only seen one police car bombing it down the road. We had a fishing trip planned for tomorrow but we're now debating whether to carry on."
Dave Sparks, who runs the Red Lion pub in St Osyth, said it had been a "surreal" night and told ITV News: "You don't really expect to be told there's a lion wandering around the area.
"No-one really felt there was any immediate danger in the village - a couple of families with young children were a bit worried but after a while they were okay."
Police are asking anyone who sees the animal to call 999. - BBC
Big Cats: Facing Britain's Wild Predators
BIG CATS LOOSE IN BRITAIN
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Source Of Loud Boom In Foothills A Mystery
People from all over El Dorado County, CA say they’re hearing loud booms several times a week, but there are many theories on what is causing them.
“I thought it was thunder,” said one person.
“It’s definitely not thunder; too consistent. I thought it was just mining,” said another person.
“I always considered them to be sonic booms from flying aircrafts for years,” said Loring Brunius, owner of Sierra Rock Diamond Quarry.
People who live near Pleasant Valley say their days have been interrupted by loud booms, shaking the floor beneath them.
“You can feel it in the ground, no question about it. But no one’s been able to figure out why,” said Pleasant Valley resident Peter O’Grady. “I tend to hear somewhere between four to six of these things during the weekdays usually between 11 p.m. and 2 p.m.
“Boom, boom, boom, boom just like that,” said Lorren Gonzales, who lives near Pleasant Valley.
And the rolling foothills of El Dorado County make it difficult for them to even tell where it’s coming from.
We asked the owner of Sierra Rock Diamond Quarry what he knew about it. He says they havent blasted since last year. And any miners or quarry owners would need government permission before they can set off any explosives.
“It’s a federally mandated system, and enforced,” said Brunius.
Some think the booms are from nearby wineries using propane cannons to scare away birds.
“We’ve never done it and I don’t know of any other winery that does,” said Carrie Bendick, a winemaker at Holly’s Hill Winery.
According to USGS, there aren’t enough seismic stations to pinpoint the exact location. Meanwhile, some say the booms have been around so long and happen so often they barely notice them anymore. Still, others want to solve the mystery.
“I would like to know what it is, yeah. And I’d like to know when it’s going to stop too,” said O’Grady.
CBS13 spoke to Fallon Naval Air Station that said any supersonic flight operations they do are only allowed over Dixie Valley, which is hundreds of miles away.
Some think illegal mining could be the source of the sounds, but Brunius doubts that theory. He said if that was the case, the culprit would have been caught by now. - CBS13
Under the Surface: Fracking, Fortunes, and the Fate of the Marcellus Shale
21st Century Guide to Hydraulic Fracturing, Underground Injection, Fracking, Hydrofrac, Marcellus Shale Natural Gas Production Controversy, Environmental and Safety Risks, Water Pollution (CD-ROM)
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It seems that blogger Robert Lindsay and a few other crypto bloggers were lured into posting Ketchum team may believe that Dogman is a separate entity related to Bigfoot. This led to the following post: Was The Dogman Story Leaked On Purpose To Discredit Robert Lindsay?
At this point, why anyone would continue to indulge Robert Lindsay is beyond me.
Anatomy of a Bigfoot Hoax
Big Foot Adult Costume Size Standard
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Man severely bitten by crocodile while using toilet
An Indonesian construction worker was bitten by a crocodile during a toilet break by a river in Malaysian Borneo, but fought off the huge reptile and escaped with his life.
Pai punched the two-metre (6.5-foot) crocodile in the eye after it bit him while he squatted, just above his right buttock, and despite being in incredible pain and soaked in blood managed to summon help. The attack happened early on Friday, when the 32-year-old decided to take his chances by the river in Sarawak state despite knowing it was infested with crocodiles.
Pai, who works at a nearby construction site, had just finished relieving himself under a bridge when the animal bit him from behind. "Fortune favoured me when the crocodile let go after I punched it in the eye," he said. "After being freed from the jaws of the crocodile, I found extraordinary strength to run and call for help even though my waist was extremely painful."
Pai, who like many Indonesians goes by one name, was taken to Sarawak General Hospital with bites to his waist and hip area. He also suffered puncture wounds on the left side of his ribs. His condition is not critical. - Google
Wild Malaysia: The Wildlife and Scenery of Peninsular Malaysia, Sarawak, and Sabah
Reptiles of Malaysia: Python reticulatus, King Cobra, Green sea turtle, Leatherback sea turtle, Hawksbill sea turtle, Saltwater crocodile
