This Job's for the Birds-- Part 4: Eatin' and 'Scapin'

The official title of Ravenmaster is only fifty years old, though the role is far older, and Barney Chandler is the sixth holder of the post.    He is charge of the health and welfare of the ravens, who usually roam freely by day and sleep in cages at night.

Duties include maintaining the birds' enclosures, arranging veterinary checkups and keeping them fed on their preferred diet of raw meat supplemented by the occasional treat of a hard-boiled egg or a hardtack soaked in blood.

"They're carrion birds," said Chandler.  "They'll eat almost anything."

The birds' feathers are trimmed to keep them from flying away, although they occasionally escape.  According to Historic Royal Palaces, the charity that oversees the tower, a bird named Grog flew off in 1981 and was last seen outside an East End pub.

Chandler, who served in Afghanistan and around the world during 24 years in the Royal Marines, has been on bird handling courses and had other formal training for his role.

--DaCootFlyingAway

This Job's for the Birds-- Part 2: The Beefeaters

Michael "Barney" Chandler took over the post of Ravenmaster on March 1, 2024.  As such, he leads a group called Yeoman Warders, which goes back to the 15th century.  You may know them better as Beefeaters who dress in the very distinctive black and scarlet Tudor-style uniforms.  If you've ever seen a bottle of Beefeaters Gin, that's them.

They perform a hybrid role at the Tower of London.  They not only provide security, but also lead tours of the tower and perform ceremonial duties.

He leads a group of 4 former military men looking after the tower's seven ravens-- the six decreed by Charles II and a spare.  In case you're wondering, their names are Jubilee, Harris, Poppy, Georgie, Edgar, Branwen and the latest addition, Rex, who was named in honor of King Charles III last year when he had his coronation.

--Cooter

The 'Iron Curtain' Descends in 1946-- Winston Churchill

I will be finishing my list of Chicago Bears head coaches, but yesterday marked an important date in an era I lived through and never thought would end (or has it?).  The Cold War.

MARCH 5, 1946

Winston Churchill delivered his famous "Iron Curtain" Speech at Westminster College in Fulton, Missouri.

Liz and I accidentally found Westminster College in Fulton, Missouri, back on one of our trips.  I came across a very informative article on this speech and a historic London church that has been rebuilt in Fulton and will write about it after Da Bears coaches.

--Cold War Coot

Ten Details That Make History's Worst Tragedies Even Worse-- Part 2:

5.  BLACK DEATH--  The Plague led to Jewish Genocide.  The Jews were blamed for it.

4.  HURRICANE KATRINA--  The bridge to the town of Gretna was blocked to refugees.

3.  WOUNDED KNEE--  Twenty soldiers were given Medals of Honor

2.  THE GREAT FIRE OF LONDON--  Robert Hubert was a mentally handicapped man who was hanged for starting the fire, but he wasn't there when it happened.

1.  THE TITANIC--  You have to read this to believe it.

--Cooter

Big Ben Goes Silent-- Part 2: Longest Period of Silence Ever

Steve Jaggs, keeper of the Great Clock, said that the clock mechanism will be dismantled piece by piece, and its four dials will be cleaned and repaired.  The 15.1-ton bell will be cleaned and checked for cracks.

Big Ben has been stopped several times since it first sounded in 1859, but the current restoration project marks the longest period of silence.

Parliamentary officials say, however, that they will ensure that the bell still sounds on major occasions like New years Eve and Remembrance Sunday.

--Cooter

Big Ben Goes Silent-- Part 1: No Bongs for Four Years

From the September 3, 2017, Chicago Tribune "Big Ben to fall silent for 4 years" by AP.

If you're going top visit London with the idea of hearing the massive bongs of Big Ben, you're too late.  At least for the next four years, Big Ben goes silent.

Big Ben, the huge clock bell of Britain's Parliament has fallen silent as a four-year restoration project gets underway.

The bongs of the iconic bell stopped chiming at noon on August 21 to protect workers during the $38 million repair job on the Queen Elizabeth Tower which house Big Ben and its clock.  (Most people think Big Ben is the name of the tower.)  It isn't due to resume service until 2021.

--Cooter

Big Ben Becomes Elizabeth Tower?

From the June 2, 2012, Yahoo! News-AFP "Report: Big Been to be renamed Elizabeth Tower."

Prime Minister David Cameron and 331 are campaigning to change the name Big Ben to Elizabeth Tower..  Big Ben is the name of the square tower at the end of the House of Parliament that was renamed for Queen Victoria at one time in honor of her Diamond Jubilee in 1897.  Of course, this would only be a temporary name.

The 316-foot structure is officially named the Clock Tower, but more commonly called "Big Ben" after the huge bell that "bongs" out the hours.

It is still known mostly as Big Ben.  (And I thought Big Ben was that Steeler football player.)

Britain had four straight days of royal celebration starting June 2, 2012 to honor Queen Elizabeth's 60th Diamond Jubilee, including a 1,000 boat river pageant on the James River.

BIG BEN TILTING?

In January, a commission met to discuss how they should manage the tilt  The tower is currently tilting 0.26 degrees to the northwest and has increased slightly since 2003.  However, one expert says that the tilt should not be a problem for another 10,000 years.

That Would be an Honor.  --DaCoot

The World's Most Visited Art Museum (Go Ahead, Guess)

From Time Magazine.

And, I've been to two of the three listed, thanks to Mom and her family trips.

Annual attendance.

#1. LOUVRE-- Paris-- 9.7 million
#2. METROPOLITAN MUSEUM OF ART-- New York City-- 6.1 million
#3. BRITISH MUSEUM-- London-- 5.5 million

I've been to the Louvre and British Museum.

I Have S-O- Much Culture. --Cooter

Last Veterans Day for WW I Vets?

This 90th observance of the end of the War to End All Wars could also be the last one for the four remaining veterans of World War I who are all in their 100s.

Today, representatives of the warring countries between 1914 and 1918 are gathering at the 1916 Battle of Verdun in France where 300,000 men died over an eleven month period.

REMAINING VETERANS

Britain has three: Henry Alingham, 112; Harry Patch, 110, and Bill Stone, 108. These three men, representing the RAF, Army and Royal Navy will lead a two-minute silence at the Cenotaph National War Museum in London today.

In the US, Frank Buckles, 107, of West Virginia, is the sole remaining veteran.

Erick Kastner, the last German soldier died in January of this year at age 107. Lazare Ponticelli, the Italian-born last French soldier died in March.


CASUALTIES 1914-1918

Germany- 1.9 million
Russia-- 1.7 million
France-- 1.4 million
Austria-Hungarian Empire-- 1 million
Britain-- 760,000

Staggering Thoughts. A Salute to the Few Survivors.