A Brief History On November 13, 2017, in the United States we celebrate the annual chance for unmarried spinsters to catch themselves a husband in the Sadie Hawkins Day race for freedom. Started by cartoonist Al Capp in his Lil Abner cartoon back in 1937, the race pits unmarried women against eligible bachelors, with the only rule being if she catches him, she keeps him! Digging Deeper The story in the comic strip is about a 35 year old denizen of Dogpatch, unmarried at that advanced age and facing spinsterhood. Her father, a big deal in those parts (major potato…
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 November 12, 1985, fans of Mixed Martial Arts fighting got an early Christmas present when the little girl that would grow up to become the hottest ring girl in MMA was born. Penelope Lopez Marquez was born (appropriately) in Las Vegas, Nevada, although you would know her better as Arianny Celeste. Today the lovely miss turns 32 years old and looks 10 years younger. Digging Deeper Celeste made her debut as an Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) ring girl in 2006, of course in her native Las Vegas. She went on to great acclaim for her beauty…
A Brief History On November 11, 1993, a sculpture honoring the women that served in the Vietnam War was dedicated at the site of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C. The two acre site of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial was established in 1982, and consists of “The Wall,” “The Three Soldiers,” and since 1993, the “Vietnam Women’s Memorial.” Digging Deeper The Vietnam Women’s Memorial is a sculpture by Glenna Goodacre (nee Maxey), of Lubbock, Texas. She is a graduate of Colorado and has lived in New Mexico since 1983. (She is now 78 years old.) The sculpture consists of…
A Brief History On November 10, 1865, the long sad saga of the Camp Sumter prisoner of war camp located in Andersonville, Georgia finally came to a conclusion of sorts when the Camp Commandant, Confederate Major Henry Wirz was hanged for the crimes of conspiracy and murder for his terrible treatment of Union soldiers held captive at the camp popularly known as “Andersonville.” Digging Deeper The name, Andersonville, has become synonymous in the US as being a hell-hole of a prison camp, a place where men starved and died of disease every day. Heinrich Hartmann Wirz was born in Switzerland…
A Brief History On November 9, 1918, in the face of catastrophic defeat after four years of debilitating war, Kaiser Wilhelm II of Germany abdicated his throne and went into exile in the Netherlands. Throughout history, leaders have been forced by political or personal circumstances to give up power and leave office, sometimes of their own free will and other times because of outside influence. Here we list 10 of those leaders that left their position of leadership before their time was due. (Resigning to assume a higher post does not count.) Digging Deeper 1. Kaiser Wilhelm, Germany, 1918. Kaiser Bill…