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.

Explosion at Water Park Kills 15 People!

By Major Dan on June 27, 2019 Arts & Entertainment, June 27, Travel

A Brief History On June 27, 2015, the Formosa Fun Coast waterpark in Bali, New Taipei, Taiwan, experienced a massive explosion that killed 15 people and injured an additional 497. Among the injured, 199 were in critical condition. The cause of the explosion was colored corn starch powder used in a “Color Play Asia” party, a ritual of the Hindu religious festival “Holi” (“Festival of Colors.”) A performance on a music stage observed by hundreds of park goers was the setting for the disaster. Digging Deeper The recreational waterpark had been open since 1989, and was closed after the explosion. …

Annabelle Comes Home, Movie Review

By Major Dan on June 25, 2019 Cinema & TV, June 26

A Brief History On June 26, 2019, the third installment of the Annabelle haunted doll movie franchise opens across the United States. We had the opportunity to preview the film last week, and as fans of the first 2 films, we were anxiously awaiting this third movie in the Annabelle portion of the Conjuring movie universe. This time, instead of the doll itself being possessed by a malevolent spirit, the doll is a portal for other malevolent spirits. Digging Deeper The departure in the concept of how the evil works may bother some finicky “purists” that insist all prequels and…

5 Blunders that put Important Technology into Enemy Hands

By Major Dan on June 24, 2019 June 23, Military, Uncategorized

A Brief History On June 23, 1942, Oberleutnant Armin Faber of the German Luftwaffe made an historic blunder when he landed his state of the art Focke-Wulf 190 fighter plane at an Welsh airfield at RAF Pembrey, handing the British Germany’s latest and best fighter aircraft complete and in flyable condition. Faber apparently mistook the Bristol Channel for the English Channel which caused his navigational error. So eager were the British to capture an example of the FW-190 they actually considered mounting a commando raid in order to steal one of the high performance fighters. Lucky for the British, Armin…

10 People that Killed Their Own Children

By Major Dan on June 23, 2019 Crime, June 20, Religion

A Brief History On June 20, 2001, Andrea Yates, a Texas mother of 5, former high school valedictorian and swim team captain, decided she had to save her children from Satan. Her solution to the “problem” was to drown all 5 of the unfortunate youngsters in the family bathtub. On July 26, 2006, a Texas jury in her retrial found that Yates was not guilty by reason of insanity. She was consequently committed by the court to the North Texas State Hospital, Vernon Campus, a high-security mental health facility in Vernon, where she received medical treatment and was a roommate…

June 18, 1923: The Late, Great Checker Taxi Cab First Hits the Street

By Major Dan on June 18, 2019 Inventions, June 18, Vehicles

A Brief History On June 18, 1923, an American legend was born when the first Checker Taxi Cab hit the street in Chicago, the product of a Russian American Jewish immigrant named Morris Markin. Having immigrated to the United States in 1912 at the age of 19, Markin narrowly missed the European conflagration that was World War I. An ambitious and determined businessman, he manufactured pants for the US Government during World War I before turning to the growing automobile industry in 1921. Digging Deeper Markin’s move into the auto industry was of major significance to the future of the…