Random Thoughts, Friday Edition
So, a few random thoughts for a friday:
Over on POD People, we're having a Free Book Friday drawing for a science fiction novel, David Drazul's Armistice Day
. Come on over and put your name in the hat.
Found via various sources, Jared Diamond has a theory as to why Haiti is so much poorer than the Dominican Republic. It's an interesting idea, and linked to Diamond's general theory that geography determines destiny. I'm not entirely sure I fully agree - the influence of the clan Duvalier is hard to overstate - but Diamond is always worth a read.
From my dad, I learn of the death of a distant cousin, Don Tucker. Don is related to us on the Ballard side, and flew B-17s in WWII. I believe he was shot down and spent some time as a POW. Don is the last WWII vet related to anybody in the family.
The Ballard family has an interesting story. They were coal miners in Tennessee, and, back in the 1920s, when the mine went on strike, all the Ballard women and children were put on a train and sent as far north as they could afford to go. Back then, mine strikes tended to get put down by private detectives shooting and beating miners. "As far north as possible" ended up being Westville. After the strike failed, the men came up north. There's a book in there, if I ever find time to write it.
Over on POD People, we're having a Free Book Friday drawing for a science fiction novel, David Drazul's Armistice Day
. Come on over and put your name in the hat.
Found via various sources, Jared Diamond has a theory as to why Haiti is so much poorer than the Dominican Republic. It's an interesting idea, and linked to Diamond's general theory that geography determines destiny. I'm not entirely sure I fully agree - the influence of the clan Duvalier is hard to overstate - but Diamond is always worth a read.
From my dad, I learn of the death of a distant cousin, Don Tucker. Don is related to us on the Ballard side, and flew B-17s in WWII. I believe he was shot down and spent some time as a POW. Don is the last WWII vet related to anybody in the family.
The Ballard family has an interesting story. They were coal miners in Tennessee, and, back in the 1920s, when the mine went on strike, all the Ballard women and children were put on a train and sent as far north as they could afford to go. Back then, mine strikes tended to get put down by private detectives shooting and beating miners. "As far north as possible" ended up being Westville. After the strike failed, the men came up north. There's a book in there, if I ever find time to write it.