On the 28th of June 1914 Gavrilo Princip, along with several others, attempted to assassinate Archduke Franz Ferdinand. Princip succeeded where the others had failed, shooting both the Archduke and his wife. As Ferdinand was heir to the throne of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, and Princip a member of 'Young Bosnia,' a group supported by the Serbian 'Black Hand,' organisation, this meant trouble, and trouble in a big way.
Europe had been creating empires for some time. These spent their time being wary and jealous of one another, fighting over land stolen from the peoples of Africa, India, South East Asia and wherever material gain was to be found. Military alliances arose in order to prevent their empires destruction by other military alliances. Pride, patriotism, selfishness and arrogance mixed well, but careful forethought was ignored. How the spirit of the air laughed!
By 1914 the generals of all armies at least knew a war was inevitable, human nature being what it is, they also knew that if a war of movement was not won quickly a stalemate would lead to a situation they could not predict. Millions of men were armed and ready for war, whether regulars, conscripts or reserves, millions were being spent on enlarging the navies, diplomatic sabres were rattling everywhere and a small blue fuse was all that was required to ignite a full scale, and welcomed by everybody, war. So it was in 1914. The death of the Archduke led Austria to demand 'satisfaction.' Serbia was invaded as Austria led her forces in a war to gain revenge, the blue fuse was lit.
While the British parliament urgently debated the 'Irish question,' fearing a civil war in that land, Earl Grey the foreign Minister interrupted their discussion to mention the death of the Archduke. He added that this could be serious, they concurred but thoughtfully did nothing. What could they do but wait?
Within days of the Austrian invasion (and defeat in the first battle!) Russia mobilised, Germany therefore mobilised, France mobilised, and suddenly Europe was at war! Tsar & Kaiser, Emperor and King, politicians from all sides, had lost control of a situation. A few stoutly preached peace, most raced willingly or unwillingly for war, caught up in forces out of their control.
By the fourth of August, unexpectedly, Britain was at war! Seven days from the assassination of a man in a nation most thought little of even if they knew of its existence a war that would cost ten million lives began amid much cheering! This war was to leave a legacy that still resides with us, a war that changed the world for ever!
A week is indeed a long time in politics. That shot meant trouble indeed!
Franz Ferdinand Gavrilo Princip The IWM Podcast refers to opinions from that time, listen in!
This means trouble also! This is the dead PC that caused me so much grief. This occurred when the engine, seen in the top left hand corner, began to smoke. I soon realised this ought not to happen and switched off. A new engine, or power unit if you wish to be fussy, arrived and has, after much blood, sweat and tears been placed in the proper place. It works! The fan goes round, the chip fan goes around, the hard drive fan goeth around! The motherboard does not switch on.
Grrrrrrr! I lay on the floor crying "Why me, why me..." for some time - before being thrown out of Sainsburys. I think things may be getting to me.
Good job I am not one to complain.......
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6 comments:
Looks like your computer has had its chips...
The spirit of the air? (Or did I read that wrong?)
P.S>: I am sorry that you are still having troubles with your computer. You have, however, made a valiant attempt to revive it, which is certainly more than I did!
The war of folly in Europe didn't change MY life forever. But, OH!, had only the U.N. been in existence then so that many resolutions could have been passed.
It really didn't occur to you that electrical power overload of a magnitude to make your power supply smoke would not also fry your motherboard? It boggles. You boggle. :) In my barely informed opinion, drawn only from a century or so of life experience, a smoking power supply is drawing enough current through every single delicate component such that they would all have sat up and danced a jig before keeling over and giving up the ghost; but that is only a layman's opinion. Ask Soubriquet if you want authoritative dope. Or at least better-worded gobbledygook. :)
However, please DO continue to replace parts...
I am reminded of the old adage "Red sky at morning, sailor take warning. Computer asmokin' don't be abuyin' new parts for the eventual dustbin." Or something close to that.
Seriously, though - and you can take this to the bank quicker'n a Nigerian inheritance check - I have heard from several reliable sources that a sharp rap with an upholstery hammer to the side of a motherboard's head will remove any indecision and often will set things right again. It's worth a try. You have nothing to lose at this point.
Now then. I'm sure, Greta buff that yer are, that you are aware that Franz Ferdie's wife was a commoner who had to eat scraps from the royal table. Morganatic-R-Us, as they used to say in Austral-Hungrily in those fondly-remembered days. Fer the Mrs. and the chilluns, I mean. Not fat Ferdie, of course.
Yet, your buddly Clinton (et al) seemed genuinely surprised during his mini War 4 Kosovo when the Ruskis began to take up sides with the Serbs. Au Faux Poe, no? Ain't it truly amazin' how we learn from history?
Well, all I can say is God bless the U.N. an' God bless NATO an'... Say! did you hear in the news this morning where the high court in da Hague dismissed at least one of the war crime charges against that Serb general feller? Dija? Can yer see tha writin' on the wall? Or do the smoke get in yer eyes? Sorry. I won't mention smoke anymore. Peace.
I'm glad that complaining is alien to your nature too, because that computer is certainly enough to make anyone set fire to their own hair. I hope you manage to find a solution soon.
Mike, But there was no fish!
Jerry, Yes!
Jerry, Valiant but dead...
Jenny, I rarely complain....
Max, Electrical overload or just overuse perhaps? I dunno. But it's dead.
AH but the war of folly does affect you. For a start it took all those men stealing Mexico away to France and stopped you chasing Aston Villa.
Mrs Franz was indeed looked down upon but it is nice when such marry for love and not convenience.
Ah yes the highly paid lawyers who failed to gather evidence for a mass killer's hanging! Who paid the backhander I wonder?
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