A Brief History Between January and July 332 BC, Alexander the Great of Macedon, perhaps the greatest general in the history of warfare, besieged the Phoenician island city of Tyre, a jewel in the war between the Macedonians and the Persian Empire. Located in what is now Lebanon, Tyre had defensive walls right up to the sea, making a forced landing almost impossible, especially on the landward side (East) where the wall soared 200 feet above the sea. Digging Deeper Alexander tried to negotiate a surrender of the city, to no avail, and settled in for a long blockade and…
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A Brief History On January 2016, on the occasion of political satirist Bill Maher’s 60th birthday, the people, especially viewers of Real Time with Bill Maher, respectfully requested here that President Barack Obama of the United States of America “appear on Real Time and thereby honor that particular audience (and their support for him), as he has so honored the viewers of so many other TV shows and media outlets; or if not, to please, respectfully, tell us why.” (Note: President Obama did indeed appear on Real Time on November 4, 2016, only 4 days before the 2016 election.) Digging…
A Brief History Whether you know this Greek Hero as Herakles, Heracles, or Hercules, and whether you picture him as played by Arnold Schwarzenneger or Kevin Sorbo, this man who has come to symbolize all that is strong and heroic did not always have it so good himself. Digging Deeper Born of the God Zeus and a mortal mother, this demi-god was hated by Hera, Queen of the Gods and wife of Zeus, although at first his true identity was hidden from Hera, who nursed him as a baby. Possessing incredible strength even then, the little Hercules sucked so hard…
A Brief History Between 415 and 413 BC a battle for Syracuse on the Island of Sicily was fought between the forces of Athens and the forces of Sparta. Athens and Sparta had been engaged in the Peloponnesian War (431-404 BC) for control of Greece and its environs in the Mediterranean. This battle proved so debilitating to Athens that the war with Sparta was as good as lost, although Athens managed to hold on for a remarkable 10 more years. Digging Deeper Athens was the dominant city state of Northern Greece, while Sparta was the reigning heavyweight champ of Southern…
A Brief History On January 8, 1935, Elvis Aron Presley, the King of Rock and Roll was born in Mississippi. Major Dan once spent 3 weeks in Mississippi, and was born on January 7. Elvis had dark hair, Dan likewise. Both liked jelly donuts and peanut butter, not to mention cheeseburgers. Alas, both estimable gentlemen were slightly overweight, but not as young men. Digging Deeper Elvis was born to a Christian family, the good Major was born into a Christian family. The King was heterosexual, and most people think Major Dan is, too. Long sideburns were once a trademark of both…