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.

A Brief History On March 3, 1991, the combination of George Holliday and his home video camera and selective use of portions of that video by the news media shocked the country and profoundly affected American History! Digging Deeper Digging deeper, we find a drunken 26 year old and 2 buddies speeding through Los Angeles when police attempt to initiate a traffic stop. The convicted armed robber (on parole and not even allowed to consume alcohol) refused to stop and the chase was on!  Zipping through the city at high speed is extremely dangerous, of course, to the public at…

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A Brief History On March 2, 1949, The Old Lamplighter became a memory and a song, but not an occupation, as automatic street lights started to shine, adding to the list in our previous article, “Famous Inventions by Ohioans”!  Today we discuss some of the milestones in the history of automotive and street lighting. Digging Deeper Digging deeper, we find on this day, the first automatic street lights went into operation in New Milford, Connecticut.  Prior to this development, electric street lamps, not to be confused with traffic control lights, had to be turned on manually or by timer, regardless…

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A Brief History Earlier today, you read about “Old Bacon Face” being acquitted.  Well, here are the top 10 famous acquittals! Digging Deeper 10. John Hinckley (1981) The man who attempted an assassination of President Reagan was Obsessed with actress Jodie Foster.  Hinckley tried to kill the president in order to get her attention.  Although found not guilty by reason of insanity, he will probably be in psychiatric custody for life.  This case spurred debate over the insanity defense. 9. Lorena Bobbit (1993) This woman cut her husband’s penis off, and then fled with the severed member, later throwing it…

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A Brief History On March 1, 1805, the United States government was reeling from a never to be repeated political power play! Digging Deeper Digging deeper, we find Supreme Court Justice Samuel Chase acquitted by the US Senate at the conclusion of his impeachment trial.  No Supreme Court justice had been impeached before nor has any since. Samuel Chase, appointed by George Washington to the Supreme Court, was known as “Old Bacon Face” back in his law practicing days in Maryland. Apparently his views on the way the US should be governed differed from the opinions of President Thomas Jefferson…

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A Brief History Earlier today, we covered the North Hollywood Bank Robbery of February 28, 1997.  Therefore, it only seemed right that we also count down the top ten famous shootouts in history! Digging Deeper 10. John Dillinger gunned down outside a Chicago theater, 1934. Set up by The Woman in Red, was given no chance to shoot back.  Having committed 24 bank robberies, two jail breaks, and four police station robberies, J. Edgar Hoover declared him Public Enemy #1.  Cracked fact: Ambushed by Agent Melvin Purvis, the same agent that was in on the Pretty Boy Floyd shootout! 9.…

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