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To refresh your memory, Liechtenstein is a tiny country (area of 62 square miles, population 40,000) located between Switzerland and Austria in the Alps.
In December 1985, the Swiss Army accidentally launched a series of defensive missiles that landed in Liechtenstein and started a forest fire. Switzerland apologized profusely to Liechtenstein and paid generous compensation.
In October 1992, a group of Swiss military cadets on a training mission accidentally entered Liechtenstein territory and set up an observation post in the town of Triesenberg before realizing their error. Switzerland apologized profusely to Liechtenstein for the incident.
In March 2007, a company of 171 Swiss soldiers took a wrong turn at night and accidentally advanced two km into Liechtenstein, after which they returned undiscovered to Switzerland. The Swiss Army informed Liechtenstein of the encroachment and apologized profusely.
No incidents have been reported since.
The Michelin Guides
The French tire company Michelin has published restaurant rating guides since 1900. Brothers Édouard and André Michelin hatched the idea to encourage car travel and thus cause more wear on tires.
Initially, the guides simply listed hotels, restaurants, gas stations, etc. But in 1926, the brothers began hiring anonymous inspectors to review restaurants, awarding a single star for excellence. The present hierarchy of zero, 1, 2 or 3 stars was introduced in 1931.
FYI, one star means "High-quality cooking, worth a stop." Two stars means "Excellent cooking, worth a detour." Three stars means "Exceptional cuisine, worth a special journey." Restaurants earning zero stars are not included in the guide.
Turning Point
The Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, cost the US three cruisers, three destroyers, two battleships, almost all of the fighter aircraft in Hawaii, and 2,403 lives. For the next six months, Japan dominated the Pacific theater with 11 aircraft carriers to America's four.
In early 1942, US Navy Intelligence broke the Japanese military code and learned of a plan to draw the US into a trap in June 1942 at the island of Midway, where the US had a naval base. The US sent three aircraft carriers to Midway ahead of time and surprised the Japanese fleet, led by four carriers, when it arrived on June 4.
The Battle of Midway lasted until June 7. Japan lost all four carriers, a heavy cruiser, 240 aircraft, and 3,057 men. The US lost the carrier Yorktown, a destroyer, 150 aircraft, and 317 men.
The war in the Pacific didn't end until 1945, but Japan never regained its naval superiority.
The Japanese aircraft carrier Akagi ("red castle'), 17,000 feet below the surface.
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