A Brief History On October 8, 2024, we celebrated another National Hero Day, a day to recognize real life heroes, not the fictional kind. While entertainers and athletes of particular skill may be admired, true heroes are those that devote their time and efforts to the benefit of others, often at their own expense or even at risk to their own life. Digging Deeper Many men, women and even children can be and are heroes, and today, we list a few notable American heroes. Who would you add to this list? In 1860, in Lake Michigan the steamer Lady Elgin…
Author: Major Dan
Major Dan
Major Daniel Zar is a retired veteran of the United States Marine Corps. He served during the Cold War and has traveled to many countries around the world. Prior to his military service, he graduated from Cleveland State University, having majored in sociology. Following his military service, he worked as a police officer eventually earning the rank of captain prior to his retirement.
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A Brief History On October 7, 1996, Fox News Channel debuted on cable, later to become the most watched of the cable news networks. Fox was late to the party, with CNN starting the cable news craze in 1980. MSNBC, the #2 cable news outlet, also launched in 1996, and Newsmax premiered in 2014 as a major player. Many other financial, sports and specialty news channels are also available on cable. Digging Deeper Prior to the ascendancy of cable news, network TV news was king, starting with 15 minute broadcasts and in 1963 moving to the 30 minute format. Before…
A Brief History On October 6, 1927, The Jazz Singer opened in theaters and began a new era in movie going by becoming the first major motion picture to feature synchronized music, singing and speech, ending the “Silent Movie” era. Digging Deeper Some of the other advancements in movie technology that we believe are worthy of mention include: In 1898, Englishman Robert Paul invented a way to greatly reduce the flicker in movies with a new projector. Widescreen Movies debuted in 1927 but hit their stride in the 1950s to combat inroads made by television. Color movies were clumsily attempted…
A Brief History On October 5, 1926, a former self described “Satanic Priest” turned Dominican lay tertiary, died at the age of 85 and was entombed in glass, dressed in the regalia of a Knight Grand Cross of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem. Digging Deeper Born in Southern Italy in 1841 to a wealthy Catholic family, Bartolo Longo went to college to become a lawyer, and was radicalized as a nationalist against the Church, turning to Satanism and being ordained as a Satanic priest. By 1871, Longo had reverted to Catholicism and became a lay leader…
A Brief History On October 4, 1957, the USSR launched its first satellite to achieve orbit around the Earth, Sputnik 1, marking the beginning of the space age. Digging Deeper The world marveled while the 184 pound satellite circled 134 to over 500 miles above and emitted a radio “beeping” signal that even amateur radio buffs could monitor. Americans were chagrined that the Soviets could “beat” the US into space. The Soviets continued to beat the Americans with the first living mammal in space, a dog named Laika in November of 1957, then the first human in space that also…