On this episode of "Where are they now?", General Antonio López de Santa Anna Pérez de Lebrón of the Republic de Mexico...

171 year ago today, an insignificant outpost in what was then basically the middle of nowhere was captured by thousands of Mexican troops, at the cost of several weeks and hundreds of Mexican dead that should have been put to much better use by those in charge.

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Don't remember 171 years ago? Don't remember ten years ago? Well, we here in "404 The Apartment" are not John Wayne fans, but his "The Alamo" did kick ass. Quite the film, and a lot of it is true to what really happened. Long, but worth it. Lots of terrific moments and in its entirety is one of the great war films. Honest.

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General Santa Ana wanted to make a statement to the rebels in Mexican territory that he would crush any resistance, no matter the cost.

And crush it he did. Momentarily, at least.

At the cost of 1,500 soldiers.

The prize? An old mission and 200 rebel corpses.

Was it worth it?

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Thanks to the Portland Press Herald's Daily Almanac: Vital news doesn't always happen yesterday or today. Sometimes it happens a century and a half ago.

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Oh yeah, the Dred Scott decision was released by the United States Supreme Court 150 years ago. What was that all about? Crap, what are we? An encyclopedia? Look it up...