Author: Dr. Zar

Dr. Zar

Dr. Zar graduated with a B.A. in French and history, a Master’s in History, and a Ph.D. in History. He currently teaches history in Ohio.

A Brief History On August 15, 2014, The Expendables 3 released theatrically.  The film stars Ultimate Fighters Randy Couture and Rhonda Rousey, two real-life badasses!  Long-time readers of TopTenz.net are likely already familiar with “Top 10 Most Famous Actors Who Served in the Military,” but in addition to action stars with military experience, several action stars featured in The Expendables and similar franchises have real life professional fighting experience and with winning records to boot.  This list covers twelve such action film stars who are or were legitimate badasses in real life and as such did not merely play at being tough.  This list…

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A Brief History On this day, July 25, 2014, Universal Pictures releases Lucy in theaters in the United States of America.  The film stars 29-year-old superstar Scarlett Johansson in the titular role.  Here is the first edition of what could be an annual list of the current hottest young actresses gracing big and small screens alike.  For the purpose of this list, by “young”, I am including women who portrayed girls.  Also, as a 34-year-old myself, anyone who is younger than I am is considered “young” by me!  Moreover, by “hottest”, I do not necessarily mean “most attractive”.  Yes, these are all…

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A Brief History This article presents key events in the life of Joan of Arc and the Hundred Years’ War. Digging Deeper On August 2, 1343, Olivier Clisson, a French nobleman from Brittany, was convicted of treason in Paris and beheaded.  He had been fighting the British in the Hundred Years War, and when his success tapered off, he was criticized and accused of treason, perhaps to deflect blame from French losses. On August 26, 1346, at the battle of Crecy, English archers proved the superiority of the English Longbow over the combination of armored knights and crossbowmen fielded by the…

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A Brief History On this day, July 6, 1893, the town of Pomeroy, Iowa, was almost completely destroyed by a massive tornado! Digging Deeper Named for landowner and congressman Charles W. Pomeroy (September 3, 1825 – February 11, 1891), the town’s history dates back to at least the 1870s when a railroad was planned to be built through the Iowa settlement.  As the town’s official website notes, this railroad “bridged the gap between small rural towns and larger cities” by taking “passengers to Fort Dodge and” hauling “cattle to Chicago.” After a couple decades of prosperity, tragedy descended upon the town on July 6, 1893.  In the heat…

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A Brief History May 1st marks two critical events in the history of the American Civil War.  The first occurred in 1862.  On May 1st of that year, The Union Army completed the Capture of New Orleans.  A year later, in 1863, The Battle of Chancellorsville began, ultimately resulting in a Confederate victory, although the confederates lost one of their most celebrated generals (Stonewall Jackson) as a result of injuries sustained in the week long battle.  In a bizarre twist, on the second night of the battle, Jackson was shot by fellow Southern soldiers who mistook him for a Union…

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