A Brief History On January 26, 1905, the South African earth gave up the largest gem-quality diamond in history! Digging Deeper Digging deeper (no, really, digging deeper!), we find the Premier Number 2 mine producing an enormous diamond of over 3,106 carats! Named the Cullinan Diamond, this gemstone was over 4 inches long before it was cut and polished into gems. The largest of those cut gems is the 530.4-carat “Great Star of Africa” which currently has a home on the royal sceptre of England. The Star remained the largest cut and polished diamond in the world until 1985 when…
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 January 25, 1971, Idi Amin, or more formally Idi Amin Dada Oumee, one of the arguably most bizarre dictators in world history, ousted Milton Obote and seized power in Uganda, starting a reign of terror. Digging Deeper Digging deeper, we find the African country of Uganda, a former British colony, and Amin a former soldier in the British Colonial Army. Continuing his military career as a general in the Ugandan Army after Ugandan independence in 1962, Amin first took over as commander of the Army and then as ruler of Uganda in the 1971 coup that…
A Brief History On January 24, 1972, on the U.S. territory of the island of Guam, Japanese Sgt. Shoichi Yokoi was found hiding, believing that World War II was still going on! Digging Deeper Digging deeper, we find an incredibly dedicated soldier discovered by 2 islanders who had captured him and presented him to American military officials. Yokoi had taken part in the 1941 invasion and capture of Guam and was fighting the losing battle when the Americans retook the island in 1944. Yokoi did not surrender then and continued to hold out for the next 27 years, never believing the leaflets that…
A Brief History On January 24, 41 A.D., the Roman emperor known as Caligula was assassinated by his own Praetorian Guard! Digging Deeper Digging deeper, we find Gaius Julius Caesar Augustus Germanicus (his actual name) usually referred to as Caligula or “little boot,” a nickname. By any name, Caligula is remembered as perhaps the worst of the worst of the Roman emperors, and his excesses are legendary! Although some of these excesses are probably exaggerations made by his enemies and detractors, the idea that his most loyal body guards would kill him should serve as a clue! (Imagine how bad…
A Brief History On January 23, 1986, the first musicians were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame! Digging Deeper Digging deeper, we find these inductees are largely responsible for the widespread acceptance of “rock and roll” as a mainstream musical genre. The first class of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame was a great one indeed and included: Elvis Presley; Buddy Holly; Jerry Lee Lewis; James Brown; Chuck Berry; The Everly Brothers; Sam Cooke; Ray Charles; Little Richard; and Fats Domino. Other inductees voted in for their early influences on rock and roll were: Jimmy Rodgers; Jimmy Yancey; and…