The Hindenburg Disaster (1937)

   

Frenchman Henri Giffard constructed the first successful airship in 1852. His hydrogen-filled blimp carried a three-horsepower steam engine that turned a large propeller and flew at a speed of six miles per hour. The rigid airship, often known as the “zeppelin” after the last name of its innovator, Count Ferdinand von Zeppelin, was developed by the Germans in the late 19th century.

Unlike French airships, the German ships had a light framework of metal girders that protected a gas-filled interior. However, like Giffard’s airship, they were lifted by highly flammable hydrogen gas and vulnerable to explosion.

Large enough to carry substantial numbers of passengers, one of the most famous rigid airships was the Graf Zeppelin, a dirigible that traveled around the world in 1929. In the 1930s, the Graf Zeppelin pioneered the first transatlantic air service, leading to the construction of the Hindenburg, a larger passenger airship.

The Hindenburg flying over New York City

On May 3, 1937, the Hindenburg left Frankfurt, Germany, for a journey across the Atlantic to Lakehurst’s Navy Air Base. Stretching 804 feet from stern to bow, it carried 36 passengers and crew of 61. While attempting to moor at Lakehurst, the airship suddenly burst into flames, probably after a spark ignited its hydrogen core.

Rapidly falling 200 feet to the ground, the hull of the airship incinerated within seconds. 13 passengers, 21 crewmen, and 1 civilian member of the ground crew lost their lives, and most of the survivors suffered substantial injuries.

The Hindenburg was a 245-metre- (804-foot-) long airship of conventional zeppelin design that was launched at Friedrichshafen, Germany, in March 1936. It had a maximum speed of 135 km (84 miles) per hour and a cruising speed of 126 km (78 miles) per hour.

Inside view of the Hindenburg

Though it was designed to be filled with helium gas, the airship was filled with highly flammable hydrogen because of export restrictions by the United States against Nazi Germany. In 1936 the Hindenburg inaugurated commercial air service across the North Atlantic by carrying 1,002 passengers on 10 scheduled round trips between Germany and the United States.

On May 6, 1937, while landing at Lakehurst, New Jersey, on the second of its scheduled 1937 transatlantic crossings, the Hindenburg burst into flames and was completely destroyed. Of the 97 persons aboard, 35 were killed. One member of the ground crew also perished.

The fire was officially attributed to a discharge of atmospheric electricity in the vicinity of a hydrogen gas leak from the airship, though it was speculated that the dirigible had been the victim of an anti-Nazi act of sabotage. The Hindenburg disaster, which was recorded on film and on phonograph disc, marked the end of the use of rigid airships in commercial air transportation.

Ozark - A tense and entertaining thriller

Blog Rating: 9.15 out of 10

The Byrdes and their teenage children, Charlotte and Jonah, are for all intents and purposes an ordinary family with ordinary lives. Except for the job of Marty, a Chicago financial advisor who also serves as the top money launderer for the second largest drug cartel in Mexico.

When things go wrong, Marty must uproot his family from the skyscrapers of Chicago and relocate to the serene Lake of the Ozarks region of Missouri.

To stay alive, he promised his boss that he could hide several million dollars from the drug business.

However, when they arrive in Ozark, things are not so simple and they agree to take over a strip club to launder the money.

To make matters worse, he gets into trouble with the criminal gang, the Langmores, who want him dead.

Ozark is a rather tense narrative story but very entertaining and easy to follow. Jason Bateman plays a character very similar to the anti-hero of Breaking Bad. Highly recommended.

The Time in Between - El Tiempo entre Costuras

Blog Rating: 8.75 out of 10

The story is set in 1936. Sira Quiroga, 20 years old, the daughter of a seamstress, leaves Madrid to follow the man she loves in Tangier. Abandoned and quickly stripped of the jewelry her father had given her, she must use her seamstress skills to survive.

She opens a fashion house in Tetouan, the capital of the Spanish protectorate of Morocco. Thanks to her clientele, composed mainly of wives of high German officials, Sira has access to very useful information for the British.

"The time in between" is a mixture, half romance and half thriller, that evokes the most outstanding aspects of a problematic period, the one of the civil war, that concluded with the victory of the nationalists on the republicans and the access to the power of general Franco. Then, the Germans tried to take Spain to join them in World War II.

The series only paints a very impressionistic picture of history, but highlights disagreements within the government, shared between support for the Third Reich and cooperation with the United Kingdom.

You can appreciate the care given in the reconstitution of the 30's and 40's, thanks to the correct choice of shooting locations, from Madrid to Tetouan, through Tangier and Lisbon, but also thanks to costumes, accessories, especially cars and the selection of musical illustrations from that era.

The miniseries, which adapts the homonymous novel by María Dueñas, is highlighted by a brilliant photography, a neat artistic direction and an omnipresent music constantly underlining the image.

It is a series well set in the time and with a wonderful music created by Cesar Benito (Spanish composer and director), a work to enjoy.

El Tiempo entre Costuras (Original Soundtrack) in Spotify

Strike of truckers continues in Bio Bio region (South of Chile)

 

The demonstrations of the truckers continue, mainly on routes 5 South (which includes the Santiago-Concepcion section) and 160. It should be noted that yesterday afternoon the representatives of the truckers met with government delegates in search of reaching an agreement and be able to finish strike. However, during the night the truckers reported that they would not end the strike until the armed forces guard the highway.

In relation to the same topic, please note news from a local newspaper:

Despite the fact that five groups of truckers accepted an agreement with the government, to put an end to the mobilizations that the unions maintained due to the latest attacks that cargo drivers have suffered in the South Macrozone; this Friday some truckers continue on strike.

The presidential delegate of Biobío, Daniela Dresdner, had indicated on Thursday afternoon that “we have reached an agreement with the different organizations with which we began to talk since Sunday. Today we are reaching this agreement that will allow us to advance in the solutions to the underlying problems, which are the security problems, but also to ensure some conditions for the families and for all the people who are and have been in danger”.

However, a group of transporters maintain the mobilizations and as a result Route 5 (main Chilean highway) is cut off at Duqueco (Los Angeles, Bío Bío Region) with a path enabled in each direction of Route 5 for the transit of minor vehicles, small trucks, buses and transportation of essential goods in general.

Specifically, the transporters indicated that they have a condition to stop the mobilizations on the routes: while the constitutional reform that would allow an intermediate state is worked on and enacted, they request that the State of Constitutional Exception be resumed in the area to allow the presence of the Armed Forces as a result of the acts of violence.

In this regard, the president of the Federation of Freight Transport Workers, Eriberto López, mentioned that "in the document -in its first paragraph- it never speaks of an agreement, it speaks of proposals, but here today to get out of this, while the enactment of the law, we came out with a State of Constitutional Exception and it will depend on their speed so that this State of Constitutional Exception lasts as little as possible”.

"The State of Constitutional Exception is the necessary guarantee that would be needed to finish the strike," López said.

In addition, the leader added that "this is still an intermediate state because according to our vision and according to the vision that the country has, a State of Siege should be decreed in the area of ​​the forest macrozone."

In a public statement, the Federation of Transport and Forest Unions (Fetracarfor) expressed “absolute distrust of the political class in this country. Permanently, all sectors have shown their indolence and little will to solve the problem of violence that affects the workers and families of the southern macro zone”.

In the letter, the carriers added that they feel "helpless and completely abandoned by the authorities."

Terrorist attack in the South Macrozone

In the statement, the union warns that, if "the State of Exception is not implemented immediately in the southern macrozone and the Province of Arauco", they will remain mobilized on the routes.

The National Confederation of Truck Owners of Chile (CNDC), reported that this day they will hold a "Regional Meeting of Truckers" in the city of Concepción, where they will discuss the agreement reached with the government.

Through a statement, published this morning on its twitter account, the union announced that the agreement seems to them an "advance" but they assure that "there is a lack of law that protects highways and works."

Regarding the creation of the intermediate states, the Minister of the Interior, Izkia Siches, assured this morning that "we have been analysing different measures to be able to advance in the protection of the roads, as well as the support of our Armed Forces."

And in that sense, she affirmed that a project is being prepared to replace the one that is already in a mixed commission, with different characteristics from the critical infrastructure project presented during the previous administration.

On this, from the Fetracarfor union, they described as "insufficient the constitutional proposal of an intermediate state, since we will not know how long this will be processed in Congress and if in the future it will prevent us from freely demonstrating on the highways of the south", they wrote in a statement.

Source: La Tercera

The issues that distance Chileans from the Constitutional Convention

Surveys in recent weeks have shown that the majority of Chileans are against many of the positions that the Constitutional Convention has taken and approved, which is currently drafting a text that will be voted on in a plebiscite set for next Sep.4th 2022.

This is how 5 of the best-known companies in the statistical field (CADEM, Feedback, Pulso Ciudadano, Criteria and Tu influyes), have registered a slight or great support for the option to reject the draft constitutional text that is being drafted.

Legal Pluralism

72% were against that persons from indigenous peoples being tried by courts other than the Chilean ones, and on the contrary, 81% supported that everyone respond to the law under the same conditions.

Property

Other issues consulted are related to the concept of ownership, for example, what should happen in the event of an expropriation by the State of a person or company, where 75% support the idea that the affected party be compensated with the market value. The issue has not yet been defined in the Convention, but so far it has been agreed to pay "a fair price", a rather ambiguous expression when we think of what the State must pay for an expropriated asset.

Pensions

In relation to pensions, the Convention has already approved the creation of a Social Security System, but leaves the definition of what the model will be to the State. What is already known is that the current government is in favor of a pay-as-you-go system and against the current individual capitalization system that now exists in Chile.

The non-expropriation of the funds was one of the issues raised and widely voted on in citizen participation consultations, however this was rejected by the Convention.

Additionally, the citizenry has an almost unanimous position, where 94% agree that the ownership of current and future pension funds be guaranteed and that they also remain inheritable to the beneficiaries of the pensioner.

Regarding who manages the savings, the result is also clear, 91% want to have the option of choosing who manages their funds, a public or private entity.

Exit Plebiscite Perspective

When asked: Would you vote to approve or reject the Constitution proposed by the Constitutional Convention in the exit plebiscite in September of this year?

The option Rejection of the new Constitution (46%) remains for the fifth consecutive week over Approval (36%).

18% do not know or do not respond. In relation to the main options, 10 points is a statistically significant difference.

* Source: Pulso Ciudadano Survey - UDD, CADEM survey & El Mercurio

Shanghai lockdown threatens to halt China's car production

Chinese automakers have warned that they will have to stop production if the COVID-19 epidemic continues in Shanghai.

Shanghai's health restrictions against the spread of the disease have forced the city's 25 million residents to stay home for weeks, forcing manufacturers to close operations and making China's goal of GDP growth of 5.5% seems unattainable.

Carriers have also warned that the Shanghai closure will cause congestion at the world's busiest container port.

The spread of COVID-19 across the country, and the related slowdown in economic activity, have hit the auto industry hard, with car sales falling 10.5 percent in March.

“If supply chain companies in and around Shanghai couldn't find a way to get to work and start production faster, all OEMs would have to stop production in the month of May,” wrote Shipping Purchasing Manager.

Containers have been piling up at Shanghai's port as the city faces limited shipping capacity.

Maersk issued a notice this week saying "several vessels will bypass Shanghai" due to a shortage of available container space at the port, particularly for specialized and reefer cargoes.

Figures from Bloomberg suggest that as many as 500 ships are currently anchored off the Chinese coast.

Source: Global Trade Review & Tech Xplore

Line of Duty - Anti Corruption in the British Police

Blog Rating: 9.25 out of 10

Superintendent Hastings (Adrian Dunbar), head of the anti-corruption unit AC-12, is so impressed with the behavior of Steve Arnott (Martin Compston) that he recruits him for his team. Along with the ambitious Kate Fleming (Vicky McClure), they will investigate the police officers who have violated their own rules.

In 2012, this police series written by Jed Mercurio made his debut on British television (BBC Two). Since then, the series became a regular guest at BAFTA awards ceremonies among others.

A special praise deserves here the quality of the dialogues, through which even about 20 minutes of interrogation sequences remain absolutely exciting.

In the course of the series, a simple low profile policeman Steve Arnott develops, sometimes somewhat arrogant and stubborn, to become a fascinating character. For her part, Vicky McClure, whose Kate as an undercover agent often has to use her own acting, she is also a strong character with a rough personality. 

Adrian Dunbar, the boss Ted Hastings sometimes transcends the boundaries of the correct superior, and gives his character the charisma and humanity to turn him into a true protagonist.

The British crime television series are generally characterized by a high level and this is not the exception. This is one of the best police series of the BBC.

Doctor Who - The Adventures of the Lord of Time

Blog Rating: 8.80 out of 10

"I am the doctor!", "Doctor who?", that's how "the Doctor" shows up anywhere.

The Doctor is an eccentric extraterrestrial scientist from the planet Gallifrey, the planet of the Lords of Time, a race of supreme beings who have discovered the secrets of time travel and never interfere with the affairs of other planets, he only observes and collects knowledge.

Gallifrey planet

The doctor leaves his planet and decides to go exploring the universe aboard a space / time machine known as the "TARDIS" (Time and relative dimension in space) that has the shape of a police cabin of the sixties (larger inside than outside).

TARDIS

Like all the lords of time, the doctor can "regenerate" (change his appearance and personality when his body is worn out and he is mortally wounded). The doctor regenerates in a new way, with the same memories, knowledge and mission, but with a different appearance (and of course, other actors). Every few years, the doctor gets a new face and a new companion, which gives producers the opportunity to adjust the series and keep it fresh, without having to throw too much family information overboard. Each reincarnation of the doctor continues to experience adventures in the future and in the past, with some different eccentricities according to each actor.


Doctor Who Dubstep - Soundcloud

During the many years of the Doctor's travels through time and space, several companions join him in his adventures on other planets and other galaxies.


The Doctor fights against the most evil beings in the galaxy: the Daleks, mutants in robotic bodies bent on exterminating all life in the galaxy (led by Davros), the Cybermen, robotic humanoids of the condemned planet Mondas and many other evil beings.

Daleks

The British series produced by the BBC, was broadcast for the first time on November 23rd, 1963, thus celebrating more than 50 years of transmission.

Over the years, "Doctor Who" has evolved from a children's program to a family program, with many followers, better known as the "Whovians".

Doctor Who - Pictures on You Tube

Cybermen

These are the actors who have interpreted the different doctors from the beginning:

Actor	Playing	Period
William Hartnell	First Doctor	1963–66
Patrick Troughton	Second Doctor	1966–69
Jon Pertwee	Third Doctor	1970–74
Tom Baker	Fourth Doctor	1974–81
Peter Davison	Fifth Doctor	1982–84
Colin Baker	Sixth Doctor	1984–86
Sylvester McCoy	Seventh Doctor	1987–89
Paul McGann	Eighth Doctor	1996
Christopher Eccleston	Ninth Doctor	2005
David Tennant	Tenth Doctor	2005–10
Matt Smith	Eleventh Doctor	2010–13
Peter Capaldi	Twelfth Doctor	2014–17
Jodie Whittaker	Thirteenth Doctor	2018–present

Doctor Who in Pinterest

The Crown - The hard task of ruling (2016-)

Blog Rating: 8.80 out of 10

The Netflix series (released in November 2016) centers on 25-year-old Queen Elizabeth II, who is faced with the daunting task of leading the world's most famous monarchy while building her relationship with the legendary Prime Minister, Sir Winston Churchill. The British Empire is in decline, the political world is in disarray, and an inexperienced young woman must ascend the throne at the dawn of a new age.

Claire Foy

Without wanting to be ultra-political, she relies very lucidly on the intrigues of the halls of Buckingham Palace and takes us to discover the intimacy of the longest-lived monarch in England. The production got it right with the choice of Claire Foy who lights up the screen every second, slipping into the skin of Elizabeth of Windsor with disconcerting ease. She portrays a fragile, determined, loving woman at times, vulnerable and tenacious.

Matt Smith

Next to her, Prince Philip (Matt Smith) is struggling to play his role as Prince consort, her sister Margaret (Vanessa Kirby) is constantly struggling to live the life she wants and the life that her birthplace imposes on her. Her father George VI (Jared Harris) and Winston Churchill (John Lithgow) are trying to rebuild the country at the end of World War II. In short, Elizabeth will have to face many challenges, despite her twenty-five years and her lack of experience.

John Lithgow

The British royal family is very well known and it was necessary to erase everything that is known about them through the media to show the most unknown side of its members, starting with King Philip, who we will learn to know better.

Vanessa Kirby

The Crown shows the British style: its nobility, its comfort, its style and a classy image without being too saturated; it is easy to enter this world and be able to imagine the atmosphere of the 40s.

Victoria Hamilton

From a purely technical standpoint, The Crown is flawless. The visuals are sumptuous, Michele Clapton's costumes are sublime, and Rupert Gregson-Williams' music is perfect. Highly recommended.

Call the Midwife - A beautiful story of joy and kindness (2012-)

Blog Rating: 9.15 out of 10

A beautiful story based on the memoir of 22-year-old Jennifer Worth, who in 1957 leaves her comfortable home to become a midwife in London's East End.

This is how she comes to live in a convent (Nonnatus House), where she will work alongside other very experienced nurses and nuns.

In the England of the mid-twentieth century, the harsh living conditions of the slums are shown, but also the warmth of its people and the courage of their mothers. 

   

Even after Jenny leaves Nonnatus, she continues to recount the lives of the midwives who have become her family.

The first season of Call The Midwife, which debuted in 2012 when Jenny Lee came to Poplar to start work on her, became the BBC's highest-rated drama in a decade.

In its third series, the drama continued to attract more than 10 million viewers every Sunday night.

The characters are very nice and the acting, even by the guest actors, is brilliant. However, the main reason I recommend Call the Midwife is that it is so well written, not avoiding the harsh realities of life, but full of hope and incredible human connection.