Remembering: Alexander Graham Bell and The Telephone

On March 10, 1876 Alexander Graham Bell's voice was discernibly transmitted through wires into another room. "Mr. Watson, come here; I want you." After a year of work, success was his.

While a teenager, Bell began to carry on his father's work of teaching methods of how to speak to the deaf. By 1873 he was a professor at Boston University. When not teaching he began experimenting with transmitting sound waves and telegraph lines. He was convinced that voice could be transmitted as well.

In 1875, he hired Thomas Watson a mechanic. Two years later, in 1877, he founded the Bell Telephone Company, and the telephone went commercial. He sold the company in 1878 and went on to continue inventing, including the graphophone which would recorded sound and the photophone which transmitted speech via light rays. Bell used the royalties from his inventions to support organizations that taught oral education for the deaf.

Over 100 Rockets Fired at Israel

Palestinian terrorists have fired at least 135 rockets from Gaza, at Israel, since Friday. 74 of the rockets landed in Israel, whilst Israel's Iron Dome defense system knocked down 28 of the 31 rockets in it's area.

Eight Israelis have been wounded by the rockets. Luckily none have been killed.

This latest barrage is in retaliation for Israel killing a terrorist leader, after evidence had been found that he was planning an attack against Israel. Expectations are for the barrage to last at least through Monday, leading to highest alerts possible being issued by the police.

The Israeli Defense Force has launched counter strikes into Gaza, that have killed at least fifteen. All IDF fire has been aimed at sites where rockets have been launched, and where intelligence has shown to be staging areas or the location of the rocket production.

You Can't Wear Your Cross or Crucifix

The British government has backed two court decisions that stated employers had the right to terminate employees for refusing to take off a cross or crucifix. In doing so, the they have shown that other religions are considered to be above Christianity and violated religious freedom.

A spokesperson for the government stated that it is legal, as the wearing of a cross or crucifix is not required by religious laws. Whereas lawyers for the plaintiffs said religion includes doing things that are not a requirement of the faith. They went on to add that Christianity does not receive equal protection, and that the government persecutes Christians while it defends other religions.

Lord Carey, the former Archbishop of Canterbury, said that, "The irony is that when governments and courts dictate to Christians that the cross is a matter of insignificance, it becomes an even more important symbol and expression of our faith."

The cases are now being taken to the European Court of Human Rights.

Remembering: The Punitive Expedition

Pancho Villa

In the early morning hours of March 9, 1916 hundreds of Mexican guerrillas under the command of Pancho Villa invaded, slaughter, and burn down the town of Columbus, New Mexico. Outraged by the attack America demanded a response, and President Woodrow Wilson was quick to respond by sending nearly ten thousand US troops into Mexico, under General John J. Pershing. Pershing's orders were to capture Villa and disperse his rebels.

The Punitive Expedition spent the rest of 1916 chasing Villa around Mexico, but never catching him. By that time the Mexican government had grown tired of allowing US troops into Mexico. War seemed imminent after Mexican government troops attacked US troops in Carrizal, Mexico. But focus was being aimed at Europe and the war there. When the Mexican government asked the US to remove all troops from Mexico, Wilson complied and ordered them out. Only for troubles to flare up again in February when The Zimmerman Note was released. America however would not declare war on Mexico, but focus everything at defeating Germany.

Pershing would go on to lead US forces in Europe. Some notable occurrences during the Expedition were the use of automobiles and planes, both firsts for the US military. America's first mechanized attack was led by Lieutenant George S. Patton, which would give him the taste for tanks that he would become famous for.

Pancho Villa had launched the attack in anger after the US pulled support from him and backed the Mexican government. He would later succeed in helping overthrow the Mexican government and then retire from politics. In 1923 his enemies caught up to him though, and he was murdered.

Hawaii in State of Disaster

After days of continuous torrential rains Governor Neil Abercrombie has declared two of the Hawaiian islands to be disaster areas, and more of the islands are likely to join them. The rains have brought flash flooding and at times have been joined by up to golf ball sized hail.

Never in recorded history has it rained so much in so short of a time on the islands. For many residents this is the first time in their lives that they've seen hail.

Since last Saturday, some areas have been receiving an average of three inches an hour. Waste water in certain areas has backed up, causing brown water advisories to be issued for some coastal areas.

More storms are expected to continue the onslaught over this weekend as well. Weather advisories and flash flood warnings are in effect, with continuously lengthening times.

Remembering: The Russian Revolution

March 8, 1917 mobs demanding bread took to the the streets of the Russian capital, Petrograd. Russia's economy was destroyed by World War I, government corruption was rampant, and Czar Nicholas II had repeatedly dissolved the Duma. The Russian people were tired of it all, and could no longer even get food.

An estimated 90,000 marched on March 8 and clashed with police. Over the next couple days their numbers grew until they burned down the police stations on the 10th. On March 11 the Petrograd garrison was sent forth to stop what was becoming an uprising. But it backfired on the 12th when 150,000 soldiers defected and joined the revolt.

On March 15 Czar Nicholas II abdicated and his brother Michael refused the crown, ending the rule of the czarist autocracy. And in Switzerland, the leader of the Bolshevik revolutionary party left his exile and headed home, for the the revolution needed a leader. Vladimir Lenin was on the way.

Red Skelton's Pledge of Allegiance

New Belgium Brewery Increases Canning

New Belgium Brewery announced that, on Tuesday, it's brand new canning line became fully operational. The new line multiplies their ability to can by six times what they did before. It also is capable of not only doing the normal twelve ounce cans, but "tall boy" sixteen ounce ones as well.

The eighth largest brewery in the country will not be expanding it's production however. It plans to stick with a max of 920,000 barrels a year at this point.

Coors Light Iced T

Molson Coors has announced their newest product, Coors Light Iced T. Yes, now there's an iced tea beer.

The company will be releasing Iced T in Canada, starting in April. Depending how it does there, they'll bring it to the States as well.

They are also busy expanding other lines including Blue Moon and Batch 19. And they're working on targeting expanding markets in China and India.

Niagara Bottling Plant Coming to Aurora

Aurora City Council approved a deal, Monday, that will bring a Niagara Bottling plant to town. Prologis Park, near E-470 and I-70 will be the home of the 177,000 sq. ft facility. The company plans to bring thirty-six full time jobs to it's $30 million area.

The plant would use 300,000 gallons of water daily, six days a week. Less than one percent of the water Aurora produces. But in an area that is regularly under water restrictions during the summer, it is of concern to some residents. Also of concern was that the city council made the decision without any public hearings.