Brent crude pricing, 1-day.

Managing commodities prices via social media might keep the markets from getting spooked, but won’t resolve long term pain.

Names written in pencil inside book cover.

A couple of names to research…

Landing Force Manual 1927

Because I want my executors to have to deal with the dumbest library to dispose of when I die.

Take a moment folks, to consider the term “artisanship”.

LUV!

Al-Baqi cemetery before its destruction

The remains of the cemetery recently

April 21, 1926: Arabia's King Ibn Saud has the Al-Baqi Cemetery in Medina, one of the holiest shrines of Islam and the resting place of many of Muhammad's family members, demolished. The destruction is in keeping with the monarch's puritanical religious strain that sees monuments as idolatrous. 1/2

Too kind.

And the same to you...

NEWSPAPER REPORTING EFFECT OF U.S. INVASION ON BRITISH CITIZENS IN TAMPICO AND MEXICO CITY

President Wilson has abandoned American expats at Tampico to their own devices, and to the Mexican Revolution and the backlash of Mexican mobs.

All foreign workers in Tampico are threatened by the U.S. actions.

The #TampicoAffair doesn't end with the invasion of Vera Cruz.
13/13

BLUEJACKETS IN FORMATION OUTSIDE HOTEL TERMINAL

His aide reports Wilson's words,

“Nothing else was possible, but I cannot forget that it was I who had to order those young men to their deaths.”

On the first day, the Navy and Marines landed 1500 men.

The Atlantic Fleet continues to arrive at Vera Cruz overnight.
12/

BLUEJACKET LITTER BEARERS TAKE A FALLEN SAILOR TO TRIAGE AT PIER FOUR

Rush also requests the brigade reserve, the battalion from USS UTAH, be landed.

Fighting continues through the afternoon.

At 1545 Rear Admiral Fletcher reports to the White House that he has four dead and twenty wounded.

Woodrow Wilson is mortified by the losses of American lives.
11/

BLUEJACKET GUARDS STREET CORNER IN VERA CRUZ

The Americans take fire from buildings they passed on the way to their objectives.

Mexican barricades and snipers delay the Bluejackets’ taking the Customs House and Warehouse.

At 1230, the Brigade Commander, Captain Wm. Rush, USN, reports taking all objectives.
10/

BLUEJACKETS RETURNING FIRE ON VERACRUZANOS DEFENDING THEIR CITY

The first shot is fired at the Bluejackets by a Vera Cruz policeman.

General Maass receive orders from Mexico City to withdraw his soldiers from the city, but he can’t recall the company he’s already dispatched.

The Americans find themselves taking fire from all directions, even the harbor.
9/

BLUEJACKETS STORMING THE POST OFFICE AT VERA CRUZ

Maass sends a company of 100 towards Pier Four, as he puts in a call to Mexico City.

Neville’s Marines take the Hotel Terminal, rail yard, cable office, and powerhouse.

FLORIDA’s Bluejackets take the Post Office and are pushing south towards the Customs House when the first shot is fired.
8/

VERA CRUZ CIVILIANS ARMED TO FIGHT THE YANQUIS

The sailors and Marines are greeted by American expats and Veracruzanos drawn by the spectacle.

The local Mexican army commander, General Maass, opens the armory to arm private Veracruzanos and prisoners freed from the military prison.

They are ordered to turn the Yanquis back.
7/

BLUEJACKETS LANDING AT PIER FOUR ON APRIL 21, 1914

... Post Office, U.S. Consulate, cable office, and Customs House.

As the American landing party passes the cruisers of the Royal Navy anchored in the outer harbor, they are cheered by RN Jackies, “Give ‘em ‘ell, Yanks! Give ‘em ‘ell!”

The landing begins at 1131.
6/

WHALE BOATS BEING TOWED INTO VERA CRUZ BY SHIP'S LAUNCH

At 1030 Lieutenant Colonel Wendell C. Neville, USMC, signaled to Rear Admiral Fletcher “Am ready.”

Neville’s Marines, and the Bluejackets of the Naval Brigade from USS FLORIDA board boats that are towed by launches to Pier Four, adjacent to the Hotel Terminal, railyard...
5/

VERA CRUZ AND FORT SAN JUAN ULUA FROM THE AIR

Fletcher believes his landing force of 1,200 is up against 600 Federalist soldiers defending the city.

Fletcher orders messengers to notify the American consulate, and to ask the Mexican military to not interfere.

Fletcher is told not to rush, as the Senate hasn’t authorized intervention yet.
4/

USS UTAH

Secretary Daniels orders Rear Admiral Fletcher to “Seize Custom House. Do not permit war supplies to reach Huerta or any other party.”

Because of atmospherics, the radio-telegraph message to attack doesn’t reach Fletcher until 0800.

USS UTAH halts YPIRINGA, keeping her from the harbor.
3/

MAP OF MEXICO FROM NEWSPAPER

... for General Huerta’s Federalist forces, will dock in Vera Cruz at 1030.

Wilson sees the threat of additional arms reaching Mexican dictator as a future threat to America and orders the Navy to “Take Vera Cruz at once.”
2/

SS YPIRINGA

OTD 1914 The bubble that has been the #TampicoAffair bursts…

… three hundred miles to the south, in Vera Cruz.

On a 2am phone call with SecNav Daniels, and SecState Bryan, Woodrow Wilson is informed that the German merchant ship YPIRINGA, carrying a shipment of machine guns and ammunition...
1/

Maybe running a country like it's a reality TV show isn't the best form of governance.

Blessings!

Take a moment folks, to consider the term “artisanship”.

A Walrus on a pontoon with bow of a small boat tied to same pontoon in forground at left of pic.

Bad day to be without the car and with an online evening teaching session lined up. But we managed a late dash in gathering gloom with just enough light left to admire the mightily impressive Magnus, at Lossiemouth.
With @trailerbythesea.bsky.social

#Walrus @nesmammals.bsky.social

Very cool!

Thank you!

The Army led the way with research in Yellow Fever, Malaria, and Smallpox, too, IIRC.

Names written in pencil inside book cover.

A couple of names to research…

Landing Force Manual 1927

Because I want my executors to have to deal with the dumbest library to dispose of when I die.

May 2026, Vol 106, no. 2, edition of Hispanic American Historical Review with an image of a Lima telefonista on the cover.

Image of the article: "The Lima Phone Operators' Strike of 1931: The Possibilities and Limits of Women's Labor Action in Peru" by Sofía Pachas Maceda and Mark Rice

It's always great when you see your @hahr21.bsky.social article in print. Even better when they put your article's image on the cover! Sofía Pachas Maceda and I wrote the article to be accessible - please consider using it in LatAm history, gender history, labor history, history of tech.

There was a period of time when the big grocery store had a bench for customers in the farthest corner of the store.

Given my condition at the time it was a godsend.

Sad to see it gone.