http://tspwiki.com/index.php?title=1539
Here are some one liners...
When Race Really Matters: The Roodee Races Begin -- The oldest horse track still in existence is built this year because soccer is just too dangerous a sport. I also talk about Global Warming and which past we would like.
The Tampa Bay of Pigs -- Hernando de Soto brings the first pigs to what will be the USA. He will land at Tampa. I also talk about how the human mind is changing.
The Gutenberg Press Comes to the Americas -- That pretty much says it all. The second press won't be available until 1584.
When Race Really Matters: The Roodee Races Begin
The Chester Racecourse for horse racing is established this year because soccer (or football) is too violent a sport. The shoemakers guild and saddle-makers guild have been using an area called "the Roodee" to settle disputes in a game using a leather ball. After broken arms, legs, general maiming and mortal wounds, it was clear that this was more than a friendly game, so soccer games were abandoned, and with permission of Mayor Gee of Chester, the Chester Racecourse is built on the Roodee. Roodee means "Cross Island". It is no longer an island due to a drop in sea level and the general silting of the tidewaters. As the myth goes, a statue of the Virgin Mary once stood on the island and in a freak accident, the statue fell on the wife of the mayor. A cross marks the spot and thus "Cross Island" is the name. When they are not racing horses they will host Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show in 1903. They will also host a mid-summer festival featuring dragons and devils so the race course will be shut down for a time in 1599 and again in 1677 to allow the people of Chester to contemplate their sins. The "Cross" remains in its place and the Roodee remains the oldest horse race in operation today. [1] [2] [3] [4] [5]
My Take by Alex Shrugged
If you use Google Maps to locate Chester you will see that it is an inland town, but in the past it was a port city. Perhaps this is a consequence of Global Cooling and perhaps Global Warming will restore Chester to its former glory. What is more likely is that any glory will turn to horror as the pristine wetlands return. So one wonders which "pristine past" do we wish to restore? Or are we trying to rebuild an idyllic past that never existed in the first place? [6]
If you use Google Maps to locate Chester you will see that it is an inland town, but in the past it was a port city. Perhaps this is a consequence of Global Cooling and perhaps Global Warming will restore Chester to its former glory. What is more likely is that any glory will turn to horror as the pristine wetlands return. So one wonders which "pristine past" do we wish to restore? Or are we trying to rebuild an idyllic past that never existed in the first place? [6]
The Tampa Bay of Pigs
Hernando de Soto is the new Governor of Cuba. Hernando's previous job was helping Pizarro to become filthy rich conquering the Incas. Now he wants to be filthy rich himself so we sets out to explore what will become the Gulf states of the United States. He lands in present day Tampa, Florida. Like Pizarro he comes well prepared and even introduces pigs to North America to make sure his and future expeditions will be well fed, but he can't get a straight answer from the Indians. They speak of pearls and gold but he can find nothing that compares to Inca riches. The chroniclers call the Indians liars that lead them into ambush after ambush. Hernando will make progress across the region, but he will die of fever along the Mississippi River in what is modern day Louisiana. [7] [8] [9] [10] [11] [12]
My Take by Alex Shrugged
Early historians believed that Hernando went much further than Louisiana but modern historians have documented Hernando at different places at the same time. The three chroniclers of this journey are not necessarily lying but they only write down what seems important to them. This is why so many historians are bald. They tear their hair out in frustration shouting "Why didn't you write that down?" The thought processes are changing during this period of time. The modern mind categorizes and documents its progress. The scientific method is king for modern man, but not for these fellows of the 1500s. For example: they take a 5-day journey north, but later you find out that they took 7 days doing it. What they mean is a 5 day journey if they didn't take a break as if time were a measure of distance. This sort of sloppy thinking will change over time.
Early historians believed that Hernando went much further than Louisiana but modern historians have documented Hernando at different places at the same time. The three chroniclers of this journey are not necessarily lying but they only write down what seems important to them. This is why so many historians are bald. They tear their hair out in frustration shouting "Why didn't you write that down?" The thought processes are changing during this period of time. The modern mind categorizes and documents its progress. The scientific method is king for modern man, but not for these fellows of the 1500s. For example: they take a 5-day journey north, but later you find out that they took 7 days doing it. What they mean is a 5 day journey if they didn't take a break as if time were a measure of distance. This sort of sloppy thinking will change over time.
The Gutenberg Press Comes to the Americas
The bishop of Mexico has convinced the largest printing company in Seville, Spain to open a branch office in Mexico City. Juan Cromberger sends his branch manager, an Italian printer, to the Americas. His first project is a catechism for the Indians as an introduction to the Catholic faith. Other printing projects will include government notices, various pamphlets and small books supporting church services. [13] [14] [15] [16]
My Take by Alex Shrugged
The first news report from the Americas was printed in 1541 when a severe earthquake hit Guatemala. The head line was "Report of the Terrifying Earthquake Which Has Reoccurred in the Indies in a City Called Guatemala." Good headline. You almost don't need to read the story. A second printing press won't be brought to the Americas until 1584 when a fellow named Riccardo will open a print shop in Lima, Peru.
The first news report from the Americas was printed in 1541 when a severe earthquake hit Guatemala. The head line was "Report of the Terrifying Earthquake Which Has Reoccurred in the Indies in a City Called Guatemala." Good headline. You almost don't need to read the story. A second printing press won't be brought to the Americas until 1584 when a fellow named Riccardo will open a print shop in Lima, Peru.
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