Fireworks - 4th of July in Las Vegas 2014

We've celebrated Australia Day in Australia and Dia de la Independenica in Colombia and Chile, but there's nothing like the 4th of July in the USA. America certainly does celebrate its independence with a bang. We'll BBQ something on Mary's new grill and plan for an explosive evening.  

Popular belief has it that the founding fathers signed the Declaration of Independence on July 4th, 1776 proclaiming our national sovereignty as a new country, the United States of America, and separating ourselves rather dramatically from Mother England. Actually, the Declaration was signed by 12 of the 13 colonies on July 2nd, but hey, I'm happy to celebrate on the 4th. Our wedding anniversary is July 2nd and I'd hate to share the date with the rest of America.

Back to the topic at hand … fireworks. We love them. We love the explosions of color and the deafening sounds. We love the smell of burning sulphur associated with the sights and sounds and the smoky clouds that permeate the air after a particularly big display. Here in Las Vegas, several of the downtown casinos have displays, but they'll be mobbed and we dislike mobs (except mobs of kangaroos, of course). The casinos tout that their displays are by Grucci of New York and if you look at the Grucci website, it's pretty impressive. They coordinated the world's largest fireworks display in Dubai on New Year's Eve last year at a cost of $6 million. Pretty impressive! And, of course, London claimed the world's first multi-sensory fireworks display on New Year's Eve 2014. How awesome is that … tasting fireworks in the form of peach-flavored snowflakes and banana confetti?

I doubt we'll see the biggest display or taste peach snowflakes, but I still love the chemistry involved. I was wondering exactly what chemistry caused the rainbow of colors. Historically, of course, it was the Chinese who figured all this out back in the 7th century. In fact, China is still the largest manufacturer and exporter of fireworks in the world. Liuyang, Hunan Province is the fireworks capital of the world. CNN labeled it a real “boom-town”. (tsk, tsk) Regarding the colors? Different elements produce different colors when they burn. According to what I read, fireworks makers blend pure elements with gunpowder to create the desired colors. The more of a specific element, the more intense the color. The recipes and combinations are closely guarded secrets. So when you watch the fireworks, you can figure out what elements are being used. It does make for a good chemistry lesson.

•  Red: Lithium, Strontium
• Green: Barium
• Blue: Copper
• Yellow: Sodium
• Orange: Calcium
• Silver Shimmer or Pure White: Aluminum, Magnesium, Titanium
• Purple: Compounded Strontium and Copper 

As for us? We might head to the airport for a less crowded view of the fireworks at Caesar's Palace or maybe head over to Henderson where the Stations Casino is sponsoring a free Grucci fireworks display. Or maybe … we'll stay at home and watch the New York City display on the tube. Not quite the same, but it'll be less crowded, cooler and we can talk chemistry in comfort while sipping our cold beer.

Happy 238th Birthday, America!

Mother's Day 2014

At the risk of appearing lazy, we thought we'd share with you the same mother/baby photos we used last year for Mother's Day. We thought they were a perfect way of celebrating a holiday that's pretty much universal around the globe … a day to say “Thanks, Mom, for all you do … all you've done.”

To all the mothers, grandmothers, great and great-greats … all the aunts and sisters and good friends who have mothered us along the way, we wish you a Happy Mother's Day from down under.

ANZAC Day 2014

“Those heroes that shed their blood and lost their lives … You are now lying in the soil of a friendly country. Therefore rest in peace. There is no difference between the Johnnies and the Mehmets to us. Where they lie side by side now here in this country of ours … You mothers, who sent their sons from faraway countries wipe away the tears. Your sons are now lying in our bosom and are in peace after having lost their lives on this land. They have become our sons as well.”

Turkish President and Gallipoli veteran, Mustafa Kemal Ataturk (1934)

Part of experiencing the cultural aspect of our cruising life is to help celebrate holidays unique to countries we visit. We first heard of ANZAC Day when we visited Pitcairn Island way back in 2009. We didn't fully understand the meaning of the day, but did sample some special cookies that were associated with the holiday. It wasn't until we were in New Zealand that we realized the significance of the holiday. Now, we are here in Australia and it's April 25^th, ANZAC Day again.

Australian and New Zealand Army Corps, known nowadays as ANZACs, joined the British allied forces in Europe to fight in WWI. They boarded ships here in Albany and landed at Gallipoli, gateway to the Ottoman Empire with the objective of capturing the capital city of Constantinople and providing access to the Black Sea for the Allied navies. They arrived in Gallipoli on April 25^th, met heavy resistance and suffered major casualties in their 8-month long, unsuccessful campaign. During the 1920s, ANZAC Day became established as a National Day of Commemoration for the 60,000 Australians and 18,000 New Zealanders who died during the war. At almost 65%, the Australian casualty rate (proportionate to total embarkations) was among the highest of the war. Subsequently, the day has come to be a national day of remembrance to commemorate all Australians and New Zealanders "who served and died in all wars, conflicts, and peacekeeping operations" and "the contribution and suffering of all those who have served." It is very similar to Memorial Day or Veteran's Day in the USA and the associated ceremonies are just as moving.

Albany, in particular, is commemorating this ANZAC Day in a big way. Troop ships departed from Albany back in November 1914 and for many men, this city was the last place in Australia that they saw. There's a prominent memorial at the Albany Anzac Peace Park downtown and several centenary commemorations are taking place here on ANZAC Day this year.

As we drove up the road to Mount Clarence, we felt a rise of emotion as we passed by the grove of trees that line each side of the road. A small plaque stands beside each tree, a memorial to a solder who had fallen in military service.

At the car park at the top of the hill, we noted fencing at the entrance to the stairs leading up to an iconic memorial. We politely ignored the “keep out” signs, skirted around the fence and proceeded up the steep, stairway. (Yes, we are scoff-laws … no need to point it out!). We did so with the intent of seeing the ANZAC Desert Mounted Corps Memorial situated on the very top of the mount. We were told that the striking statue represented a mounted Australian soldier assisting a New Zealand soldier whose mount had been injured. A bit of further research indicated this might not be the case. It is, instead, an Australian and a New Zealander dismounting to enter battle on foot. The purportedly “wounded” horse is actually Bess, the only New Zealand horse to return home after the war. Interestingly, the original statue stood in Port Said, Egypt and was destroyed. This statue is a copy of the original and a second copy stands in Australia's capital city, Canberra.

Anzac biscuits (we call them cookies) have long been associated with the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps of WWI. Some claim the biscuits were sent by wives and mothers to soldiers abroad and because the ingredients did not spoil easily, the biscuits kept well during naval transportation. Though they're available commercially on supermarket shelves today, I plan to bake some in honor of ANZAC Day.

Here's the recipe … and man, are they ever good!

ANZAC Biscuits

Recipe Type: Cookie

Cuisine: Australian

Author: Marcie Connelly Lynn

Ingredients

• 1 ½ cups rolled oats ¾ cup (175 gr) butter or margarine
• 1 ½ cups flour 3 Tbsp golden syrup
• 1 ¼ cups sugar 3 Tbsp boiling water
• 1 cup shredded coconut 2 tsp bicarb/baking soda

Instructions

1. Combine the dry ingredients in a bowl.
2. Melt butter and syrup* together.
3. Mix boiling water and soda.
4. Blend into butter mixture and pour over dry ingredients.
5. Mix well.
6. Place rounded teaspoonfuls on lightly greased trays/cookie sheets. Allow room to spread.
7. Bake in a slow 300F / 150C deg) oven for 15-20 mins. Watch them … they burn easily.
8. Loosen while warm and leave on trays for 5 mins, then transfer to wire rack.
9. Makes 2 trays of 16 biscuits.

Notes

Golden syrup is not readily available in the USA. The following seem to be reasonable substitutions … honey, maple syrup, molasses or a a mix of ½ dark corn syrup and ½ brown sugar.[br][br]Thanks Catherine, Kay and Pauline for providing ANZAC biscuit recipes to share.

3.2.1290