Author Major Dan

Major Dan

Major Dan 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.

Daredevil Tragedy Strikes!

By Major Dan on March 22, 2021 Games, March 22, Sports

A Brief History On March 22, 1978, Karl Wallenda of the famous “Flying Wallendas” family of risk takers and circus performers, tragically died during a daring high wire stunt, falling to his death from a high wire strung between 2 hotels in San Juan, Puerto Rico. Digging Deeper Born into a circus family in Germany in 1905, Karl founded the troupe that became “The Great Wallendas,” a name that was changed in the 1940’s when the popular press kept referring to the family by the “Flying Wallendas” tag. The original crew included Karl, his future wife, his brother Herman, and…

Germany Reunited!

By Major Dan on March 15, 2021 March 15, Politics

A Brief History On March 15, 1991, The Treaty on the Final Settlement with Respect to Germany became effective, effectively reuniting a German nation that had been divided since the end of World War II into an “East Germany” and a “West Germany,” a product of the suspicion and distrust between the Soviet Union and the Western Allies after the defeat of Germany (and their allies) in 1945. Digging Deeper Under the Soviet/Communist domination, East Germany, or the German Democratic Republic, floundered economically and suffered from the oppression of being an occupied country. East Germans tried to flee to the…

US Senate Adopts the “Guillotine!”

By Major Dan on March 8, 2021 March 8, Politics

A Brief History On March 8, 1917, the United States Senate voted to adopt a procedure designed to limit the maddening practice of filibuster in Senate proceedings, a practice called cloture, or colloquially “the guillotine!” The rule was overwhelmingly approved by the Senate, with a vote of 76 for the measure and only 3 votes against adopting cloture. Perhaps you have heard of this term many times in recent years as the US Senate battles through tough times for bi-partisan actions and neither side having a clear majority. Digging Deeper As you may note from the date of the adoption…

Did the Central Powers want to Conquer Latin America?

By Major Dan on March 1, 2021 March 1, Military, Politics

A Brief History On March 1, 1917, one of the most provocative diplomatic messages known to history was disseminated in the American press, the so-called Zimmerman Telegram, sent by Germany to Mexico in January of 1917 and intercepted by the British who dutifully relayed the shocking message to American President Woodrow Wilson. An aghast and angry Wilson wanted to release the contents of the message to the world and the American people immediately but held the news until March 1, 1917. An outraged American public learned of German designs on the American mainland and the telegram was largely responsible for…

Government Agencies and Programs that did Not Exist When I was Born

By Major Dan on March 1, 2021 Business and Economics, Lists, March 1, Politics

A Brief History On March 1, 1961, a new pet project of newly sworn in President John F. Kennedy was created, the Peace Corps, a volunteer organization for the betterment of humankind run by the United States Government, just one of many agencies, departments and programs that would come to existence during this author’s lifetime. Sure, Franklin Roosevelt invented all sorts of government agencies and programs during the Great Depression, but the Presidents and Congresses that have come since have not exactly been slackers when it comes to expanding our government. Many of these agencies and programs seem so ingrained…

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