In which everything is connected

Happy Birthday Aunt Maria! Happy Belated Birthday Iain! Happy Cinco de Mayo!

On this day in 1862, President Benito Juarez's troops showed the European Ascendancy the
portal back toFrance. Profirio Diaz -- later to become a seriously vicious dictator in his own right-- led the Mexican Calvary to successfully trick Napolean III and his well-dressed French Calvary on a wild goose chase, ending in a bloody ambush by Indian foot soliders armed with machetes. Napolean III had been illegally calling himself ruler of Mexico and exacting tribute -- which he then funnelled to the Confederate Army. The Mexican disposal of Napolean III, eventually led to the South's defeat by the Union. The Confederates' had lost their biggest sponsor and eventually ran out of everything you need to fight a war: soldiers, guns, ammo, money, food, etc.

It's important to know what you're toasting...