Author: Major Dan

A Brief History On September 1, 2018, men across the world get revenge on women for living longer and getting better car insurance deals, by celebrating World Beard Day!  Next time some woman tells you, “I can do anything better than you!” you tell that feisty female, “Oh yeah?  Let’s have a beard growing contest.”  (Unfortunately, some women can actually grow a beard, especially with hormone treatment, so be careful who you challenge.)  Although we have not had a bearded President for many years, and the fact that Russia once instituted a tax on beards in order to discourage their…

A Brief History On August 31, 2018, the new sci-fi action-adventure film Kin makes its debut across the United States.  Right off the bat, the first thing I thought when I watched this film was, “Why didn’t they spend more on advertising?”  Obviously, I thought this because I loved the movie.  So did the audience, although my partner was only okay with the film.  Proof that I am the superior judge of film value!  Directors Jonathan and Josh Baker have crafted a movie centered on the angst of a 14 year old boy in the middle of a gang war…

A Brief History On August 30, 2018, we celebrate National Toasted Marshmallow Day, a day in late summer when we gather around the campfire with long forks or even sharpened sticks and toast our bubbly, gooey marshmallow treats.  Be careful not to burn your mouth!  Our more sophisticated marshmallow connoisseurs may ratchet things up a notch by making “Smores,” another gooey treat in which one smears melted, toasted marshmallows on a graham cracker with melted milk chocolate.  MMMM!  A tradition among campers and Scouts (Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts). Digging Deeper So what are those white, spongy cubes we…

A Brief History On August 29, 708 (AD), Japan minted copper coins for the first time in their history.  As you may guess from the date, these were certainly not the first coins minted and not by a long stretch the first coins ever minted. The distinction of minting the first known coins goes back to the 7th and 6th Century BC in Anatolia (modern Turkey) by King Alyattes of Lydia (sometimes given a date of 610 BC).  The earliest known coin is the Lydian Lion coin.  The practice of making coins quickly spread throughout the Persian and Greek empires,…

A Brief History On August 28, 489, the king of the Ostrogoths, Theodoric, defeated the forces under Odoacer, King of Italy, at the Battle of Isonzo, thus opening the route into the heart of Italy.  Odoacer had become the first King of Italy in 476, but his downfall was preordained by his feud with the Eastern Roman Emperor, Zeno, who had promised Theodoric the Great (alternately spelled Theoderic) Italy in order to undermine Odoacer.  After losing the battle at the Isonzo River, Theodoric defeated Odoacer again only 3 days later at Verona, causing Odoacer to flee to Ravenna.  With much…