Record Low Temperature for Antarctica

The Earth now has a new record low temperature: -136 degrees Fahrenheit, which is colder than dry ice. Antarctica was the home of the new low, which actually occurred in 2010. One scientist described this cold day as not being an "outlier event."

Arkansas: The Razorback State

• Alternate Nicknames:
  • Land of Opportunity
  • Natural State
• Capital: Little Rock
• Major Cities:
  • Pine Bluff
  • Fort Smith
  • Fayetteville
• Major Geographical Features
  • Mississippi River
  • Arkansas River
  • Red River
  • Boston Mountains
  • Ouachita Mountains
  • Ozark Plateau
• National Park: Hot Springs National Park
• 1541: Explored by Hernando de Soto
• 1836: Arkansas becomes the 25th state
• 1861: Arkansas secedes from the Union
• Motto: "The People Rule"
• Name Meaning: "People of the South Wind" in Sioux
• Hot Springs National Park is the smallest national park by area
• Industries
  • Cotton
  • Turkey
  • Rice
• Famous People
  • Bill Clinton
  • Johnny Cash
  • Sam Walton

Agreement for Dead Sea

The leaders of Israel, Jordan, and the unrecognized nation of Palestine have reached an agreement to help replenish the shrinking Dead Sea. A 110 mile long pipeline will be built along the Jordan River to transfer water from the Red Sea to the Dead Sea. The pipeline will also supply water to Amman, the capital of Jordan. Much of the water traveling the pipeline will be desalinated so it can be drunk by people. The Dead Sea is both the world's lowest land elevation and the saltiest body of water.

Courtesy of The Guardian

Conflict in CAR

Religious violence has broken out in the Central African Republic. Nine months ago, the mainly Christian nation was overthrown by Muslim rebels, leading the fighting that is currently taking place. French troops have already been deployed to help with the situation. United States Secretary of Defense, Chuck Hagel, recently ordered US support and aid for the fighting nation.

Crisis In Kiev

The capital of Ukraine, Kiev, is in turmoil amidst anti-government protests. Protesters are disappointed that their president, Viktor Yanukovych, has not signed a deal for trade with the European Union. Yanukovych does not want to hinder Ukraine's ties to Russia with the deal. Protestors are blockading government buildings with whatever materials they can find. They demand that Yanukovych dismiss the Ukrainian government and hold new elections for the vacant seats and the presidency itself.

Carlsbad Caverns National Park

The Grand Canyon with a roof on it

-Will Rodgers

• This limestone cave covers 8 acres on the New Mexico side of the Texas-New Mexico border
  • In the Chihuahuan Desert and underneath the Guadalupe Mountains
• Molded by water for 4-6 million years
• 1930: Established as a national park
• Known for its stalactites and stalagmites
• Bones of ice age animals have been discovered in the cave
• Still not completely explored
• Home to Brazilian bats
• Open year-round with temperatures around 56 degrees Fahrenheit
  • The spring and fall are most popular to visit

    

    Credit: NPS Photo by Peter Jones

 

30 Years' War

Like many wars after 1517 (when Martin Luther posts the 95 Theses), the 30 Year's War (1618-1648) is a religious war. To understand the circumstances surrounding the conflict, we must go back to 1555. In that year, the Holy Roman Empire (present-day Germany) passed the Peace of Augsburg which granted the various princes of the various kingdoms of the Holy Roman Empire to choose which religion, Catholic or Lutheran, their subjects would be. (The Holy Roman Empire was a loose confederation of these various kingdoms.) The conflict of the 30 Years' War occurred when some princes began to choose Calvinism for their people which was not allowed in the Peace of Augsburg.

The war began with the Defenestration of Prague which was in 1618. Four Catholics were thrown out of a window in Prague, Bohemia by Protestants. (Luckily for them, the Catholics lived. They maintain that they were saved by angels, but the Protestants attribute the miracle to horse manure.) The defenestration led to a revolt in Bohemia against Catholic Hapsburg rule. After the revolt was put down, the Hapsburgs who controlled Austria were opposed by the Danish and eventually the Swedish, two Protestant nations. The most important figure of this phase of the war was Gustavus Adolphus, King of Sweden. He was known for his strong military strategy and defeats of Austria.

The last phase of the war was the French intervention. The French were Catholic and their leader at this time was Cardinal Richelieu. As his title suggests, Richelieu was a cardinal in the Catholic Church. So, guess which side the French helped. Catholic Austria or the Protestant Sweden? WRONG! Richelieu joined on the Protestant side in order to improve France's power in Europe by defeating a more powerful Austria.

The French intervention proved too much for Austria. In 1648, the Peace of Westphalia was signed. The Peace of Westphalia decreased Austria's size and power and made Calvinism an option for German princes. The long term effects of the war were more important. The population of the Holy Roman Empire declined as well as the power of the Catholic Church in Central Europe. The French monarchy began its climb to power that would peak with Louis XIV. Last and perhaps most importantly, the 30 Year's War makes the unification of Germany even more difficult.