Intermediate Spanish Stories

On June 6, 1944, known as D-Day, entered history when landings on the beaches of Normandy in northern France brought together the land, air, and sea forces of the Allied armies and opened a new European front against the troops of the Third Reich during the Second World War.

It was the largest and most dramatic military operation in history, which marked the beginning of the Battle of Normandy, the liberation of France, and the rest of German-occupied Western Europe, and marked the end of the Second World War. 

The Normandy invasion was one of the great turning points of twentieth-century history. and often referred to as D-Day, became known as the largest amphibious invasion in military history. 

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At 8:32 a.m. PDT on May 18, 1980, Mount St. Helens, a volcanic peak in southwestern Washington, suffered a massive eruption, killing 57 people and devastating some 210 square miles of wilderness.

Mount St. Helens is located in the Cascade Range and stood 9,680 feet before its eruption. The volcano has erupted periodically during the last 4,500 years, and the last active period was between 1831 and 1857. On March 20, 1980, noticeable volcanic activity began with a series of earth tremors.

Small eruptions continued daily, and in April people familiar with the mountain noticed changes to the structure of its north face. 

The bulge was caused by an intrusion of magma below the surface, and authorities began evacuating hundreds of people from the sparsely settled area near the mountain. A few people refused to leave.

On the morning of May 18, Mount St. Helens was shaken by an earthquake of about 5.0 magnitude, and the entire north side of the summit began to slide down the mountain. The giant landslide of rock and ice, one of the largest recorded in history, was followed and overtaken by an enormous explosion of steam and volcanic gases, which surged northward along the ground at high speed. Approximately 10 million trees were felled by the blast.

The Mount St. Helens major eruption of May 18, 1980, remains the deadliest and most economically destructive volcanic event in U.S. history.

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Legend has it that Death Valley Scotty built his castle on top of his secret gold mine that funded this lavish house. But the true story is even more improbable and interesting!

Hidden in the green oasis of Grapevine Canyon in far northern Death Valley is the Death Valley Ranch, or "Scotty's Castle" as it is more commonly known.

Walter Scott was a rowdy and shady character, with little luck in gold prospecting but great luck in spending investor's money. Albert Mussey Johnson was a well-respected Chicago insurance magnate. The two could not have been more different.

Convinced to invest in Scotty's mine, Mr. Johnson gave thousands of dollars to Scotty over the next several years. Unfortunately, Scotty never delivered the gold. 
Undaunted, Mr. Johnson finally decided to take a look at the gold mine on a personal tour of Death Valley. Scotty took Mr. Johnson on a grueling trek by horseback through Death Valley. 
Although he never saw Scotty's mine and was most certainly being swindled, Mr. Johnson did not seem to mind. He had found riches in the desert far greater than those that glitter.
In 1920 Albert Mussey Johnson built the house as a vacation getaway for himself and his wife Bessie.
Walter Scott, known as "Death Valley Scotty," convinced everyone that he had built the castle with money from his rich secret mines in the area.

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The 1997 North Hollywood shootout, also known as the Battle of North Hollywood, was a confrontation between two heavily armed and armored bank robbers, Larry Phillips Jr. and Emil Mătăsăreanu, and police officers in the North Hollywood district of Los Angeles on February 28, 1997. Both robbers were killed, twelve police officers and eight civilians were injured, and numerous vehicles and other property were damaged or destroyed by the nearly 2,000 rounds of ammunition fired by the robbers and police.

At 9:16 a.m., Phillips and Mătăsăreanu entered and robbed Bank of America's North branch. The robbers were confronted by Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) officers when they exited the bank and a shootout between the officers and robbers ensued. The robbers attempted to flee the scene, Phillips on foot and Mătăsăreanu in their getaway vehicle, while continuing to exchange fire with the officers. The shootout continued onto a residential street adjacent to the bank until Phillips, mortally wounded, killed himself; Mătăsăreanu was incapacitated by officers three blocks away and bled to death before the arrival of paramedics more than an hour later.

The ineffectiveness of the standard small-caliber police pistols and shotguns in penetrating the robbers' body armor contributed to motivating the arming of police patrol officers, not just SWAT teams, in Los Angeles and nationwide, with heavier firepower such as semi-automatic AR-15-style rifles.
 

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During February 2024, the latest storm brought 1.99 inches of rain to Southern California so far, bringing this month’s total rainfall to 12.56 inches.
 
The latest storm dropped 1.99 inches of rain in downtown Los Angeles and it makes it the fourth wettest February in downtown Los Angeles since 1877 when records first were reported. The monster storm triggered hundreds of mudslides across Los Angeles.

Why do they happen?

Our story takes 500 years to the past back to the Aztec Empire, who believed in a complex and diversified pantheon of gods and goddesses.

Tlaloc, the god of rain, water, and earthly fertility, is one of the most ancient deities in all Mesoamerica.  The Aztecs believed that if sacrifices were not supplied for Tlaloc, rain would not come, their crops would not flourish, and so, human sacrifices were performed...child sacrifices.

Visual accounts of Aztec sacrificial practice are principally found in codices and some Aztec statuary. Many visual renderings were created for Spanish patrons and thus may reflect European preoccupations and prejudices.

Archaeologists have found the remains of at least 42 children sacrificed to Tlaloc at the Great Pyramid of Tenochtitlan.  Tlaloc required the tears of the young as part of the sacrifice. The priests made the children cry on their way to immolation: a good omen that Tlaloc would wet the earth in the rainy season.

The Tlaloc Monolith is among the most photographed public artworks in Mexico City. Standing on the grounds of the National Anthropology Museum it represents an ancient deity of rain and water. The monument was buried from at least the 16th century in San Miguel Coatlinchán, east of Mexico City in Mexico State, and found in the mid-19th century. 

In 1964 the statue was moved to Mexico City. The move of the Tlaloc Monolith was accompanied by a tremendous downpour that flooded much of the city center. It’s never been forgotten.

Was the wrath of the rain and water God awaken?

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On this rainy Saturday morning, I received a phone call from you, we will chat casually while I prepare my morning coffee and tell you about my plans for today and the many things I like to do. 
Also, I will tell you about some of the wonderful places I like to visit around here. Join me for a casual look into my day. 

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Close to 80 years ago,  a horrific murder scene, in the quiet neighborhood would shock the neighbors, puzzle the police, and forever stain the pages of the history of United States crime books.

Elizabeth Short, known posthumously as the Black Dahlia, was an American woman found murdered in the Leimert Park neighborhood of Los Angeles, California, on January 15, 1947, her body was cut in half and severely mutilated and her killer was never found.

Although there are many theories and multiple suspects, this case is considered the oldest cold case in California.

This is her story...

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Taking time to reflect on the past and think about what you want in the new year is essential for many reasons. First, it allows you to gain perspective on your life and identify areas where you want to make changes or improvements. Looking back on your experiences and achievements, you can better understand what works for you and doesn't and use that information to guide your decisions.

Reflection also helps you set more meaningful and achievable goals. By considering what you have accomplished in the past and what you still want to achieve, you can create a roadmap for the future that aligns with your values and priorities. This can help you stay focused and motivated as you work towards your goals.

Taking time to reflect can help you cultivate gratitude and appreciation for your life. By focusing on the positive aspects of your experiences, you can develop a more positive outlook and cultivate a sense of contentment and satisfaction. This can lead to greater happiness and well-being overall.

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This is part 3 of the National Park Series

Joshua Tree National Park is a vast protected area in southern California. It's characterized by rugged rock formations and stark desert landscapes. Named for the region’s twisted, bristled Joshua trees, the park straddles Two distinct desert ecosystems: the cactus-dotted Colorado Desert and the Mojave Desert, which is higher and cooler. Keys View looks out over the Coachella Valley. Hiking trails weave through the boulders of Hidden Valley.
A fascinating variety of plants and animals make their homes in a land sculpted by strong winds and occasional torrents of rain. Dark night skies, a rich cultural history, and surreal geologic features add to the wonder of this vast wilderness in southern California. Come explore for yourself!

Here are the previous parts of this series:

E28: Parque Nacional I: Yosemite
E39: Parque Nacional II: La Tierra de Gigantes
E58 Parque Nacional III: Joshua, El Señor de los Desiertos

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Zoot Suit Riots, a series of conflicts that occurred in June 1943 in Los Angeles between U.S. servicemen and Mexican American youths, the latter of whom wore outfits called zoot suits. The zoot suit consisted of a broad-shouldered drape jacket, balloon-leg trousers, and, sometimes, a flamboyant hat. Mexican and Mexican-American youths who wore these outfits were called zoot-suiters. 

Pressures related to U.S. involvement in World War II contributed to the racial tensions that preceded the riots.
As part of the war effort, by March 1942 the United States had begun rationing various resources. Restrictions on wool had a direct effect on the manufacture of wool suits and other clothing. There were regulations prohibiting the manufacturing of zoot suits, but a network of bootleg tailors continued to manufacture them. This exacerbated racial tensions, as Mexican American youths wearing the zoot suits were seen as un-American because they were deliberately ignoring the rationing regulations.

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