A Brief History On November 13, 2019, we celebrate “Lucky 13” by telling the history of the card game, Poker, a game that enjoys widespread popularity and comes in so many forms it would be difficult to explain all the different games. In 1937, R. F. Foster wrote: “the game of poker, as first played in the United States, five cards to each player from a twenty-card pack, is undoubtedly the Persian game of As-Nas.” Ah, but more recent historians, including David Parlett, that study the origins of poker have concluded that Mr. Foster was wrong! They claim poker evolved…
Browsing: Arts & Entertainment
Read More
A Brief History In 2015, 600 million adults (12%) and 100 million children were obese in 195 countries. Weight loss has become a common goal for the majority of people in industrialized countries. We live a modern life, but that does not mean it is healthier or better, and even if the worldwide trend of infectious diseases is reducing significantly, there are more chronic disease problems than ever, including type 2 diabetes and childhood obesity. Digging Deeper One way to prevent these chronic health ailments is by an appropriate diet and enough exercise. By doing this, you will not only…
A Brief History On May 14, 2018, the Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS) ruled that betting on athletic events was legal activity in the United States, striking down the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA) in a decision known as Murphy v. National Collegiate Athletic Association. This landmark legal decision allowing sports betting massively changed the gambling landscape. With the explosion of casinos across the country as well as the pervasive nature of state lotteries and church related Bingo and “Las Vegas Nights,” it is apparent attitudes and laws about gambling for Americans have changed in favor of more…
A Brief History On April 4, 1768, the origin of the modern circus occurred when a cavalry officer named Philip Astley (born 1742 in Newcastle-under-Lyme, England) set up the first modern amphitheatre for the display of horse riding tricks in Lambeth, London. Today, over 200 years later, circuses remain a major form of entertainment around the world. Digging Deeper What are the hallmarks of good circus acts? Well, we could go on for ages about experience, reputation, training and so on. But the thing is, since they do such a dangerous and demanding job, performers start training and amassing experience…
A Brief History On November 8, 2019, a big, really big, war movie about one of the most pivotal battles of World War II hits the big screens across the United States when Midway makes its debut. We had the opportunity to prescreen this $100 million blockbuster and found the film entertaining, though not exactly a documentary. Expect the visual treats a $100 check can write! Some big stars, excellent special effects, and lots of action make this film the action film of the year in our book. Digging Deeper Directed and produced by Roland Emmerich, the 11th highest grossing…