Free Republic

Alexander the Great's Death Debated Aug. 2, 2004 — What killed ancient world conqueror Alexander the Great is still a mystery, pitting scientists who favor West Nile virus against those who lean toward a death from typhoid. History says that Alexander, king of Macedonia, died at 32 in 323 B.C. after several days of fever in Babylon. However, the cause of the fever was always unclear.Alexander In The Fog Several hypotheses have been advanced: poisoning, malaria, or cirrhosis of the liver caused by Alexander's penchant for drink, as well as typhoid or west Nile virus. “ The dispute resurfaced in...

[D]uring the mid-nineteenth century, William Hamilton described it as the best preserved ancient city he had ever seen. Toward the end of that century, Sagalassos and its theater became famous among students of classical antiquity... [A] British-Belgian team led by Stephen Mitchell started surveying the site in 1985. Since 1990, Sagalassos has become a large-scale, interdisciplinary excavation of the Catholic University of Leuven, directed by Marc Waelkens.

The Persian Wars may be famed in history, but few artifacts and material remains have emerged to shed light on how the ancient Greeks defeated the Asian invaders and saved Europe in what scholars call one of the first great victories of freedom over tyranny. It is well known that a deadly warship of antiquity, the trireme, a fast galley powered by three banks of rowers pulling up to 200 oars, played a crucial role in the fierce battles. Its bronze ram could smash enemy ships, and armed soldiers could leap aboard a foe's vessel in hand-to-hand combat with...

Former Rep. John Cooksey, R-LA, will not seek to unseat Rep. Rodney Alexander, D-LA, in the Nov. 2 primary, confirmed Lee Fletcher, Cooksey's former staff aide, on Wednesday. Fletcher himself was the Republican nominee in 2002 for the seat Alexander won after Cooksey entered the U.S. Senate primary for the seat still held by Sen. Mary Landrieu, D-LA. Cooksey ran a weak third in the senatorial primary. Fletcher suggested that he may run again in 2004. Former Rep. Clyde Holloway, R-LA (1987-1993), a Forest Hill nurseryman, who was overwhelmingly defeated in 2003 in a race for Louisiana lieutenant governor, indicated...

Ex-state employee, political organizer to challenge Rogers The Associated Press 5/6/2004, 3:57 p.m. ET LANSING, Mich. (AP) — Retired state employee, teacher and political organizer Bob Alexander announced Thursday that he is seeking the Democratic nomination for the U.S. House of Representatives' 8th District. Alexander announced his challenge to U.S. Rep. Mike Rogers, R-Brighton, in a gravel parking lot across the street from the former Wohlert Corp. in Lansing. Citing foreign competition, the automotive supplier went out of business in January, putting 245 employees out of work. "This spot demonstrates the failures of (President) Bush and Mike Rogers in Washington,"...

Uzbekistan's best kept secret By Monica Whitlock BBC Correspondent, Uzbekistan Kampyr-Tepe, in southern Uzbekistan, was built at the time of Alexander the Great's empire and occupied for about 500 years until it fell into decline. The fortified city controlled a key route from central to south Asia Since it was discovered, a generation ago, it has been closed to the public because it stands in a sensitive and tightly guarded military zone, right on the Afghan border. The city perched on a high shelf of land - cut into clay walls that dropped sheer into the plains below. Caught in...

<p>Fifth District U.S. Rep. Rodney Alexander is considering switching from the Democratic Party to the Republican Party, he confirmed late Thursday afternoon.</p> <p>"I'd be misleading you if I said I haven't talked to the Republican leadership about it," said Alexander of Quitman. "I'll make a decision within the next few days."</p>

Dems may challenge Rogers By Dan Meisler DAILY PRESS & ARGUS Two Democrats are considering campaigns against U.S. Rep. Mike Rogers, R-Brighton, saying his close ties with President George W. Bush and strong poll numbers for Democrats nationally make Rogers vulnerable. "The ties to the Bush administration are all problems for our congressman this year," said Kathy Carney, Livingston County chair of the Democratic Party's 8th Congressional District. "There's a whole grass-roots organization of people who are very unhappy with what's going on in Washington." The two possible candidates are Bob Alexander, 59, a longtime political activist who is currently...

<p>FOLLOWING reports of tension between popular WABC talk-show hosts Batchelor & Alexander, Batchelor was expected to announce last night that his three-year radio partnership with Paul Alexander is history. "John Batchelor will tell listeners . . . that he is going to host the show by himself," said John McConnell of ABC Radio, which syndicated the WABC-based team.</p>

Did mosquito bite defeat Alexander?Virus: An epidemiologist believes dying ravens are a sign that West Nile killed the Greek emperor. By Heather Dewar Sun Staff Originally published December 13, 2003 When Alexander the Great stood at the gates of Babylon in 323 B.C., the story goes, a flight of ravens fell dead at his feet. It was a bad omen, according to the soothsayers. Within two weeks the conqueror of an empire that stretched from Greece to India was dead, at age 32, of a mysterious illness. Doctors and historians have speculated for centuries about the cause of this battle-hardened...

"If a pertinacious minority can control the opinion of a majority...the majority...must conform to the views of the minority.... Hence, tedious delays; continual negotiation and intrigue; contemptible compromises of he public good." --

Right of the Right Lamar makes his first glorious stand--in favor of a tax By Phil Ashford It's not often that someone gets a chance to stand up and defend taxes in Congress and still tell his colleagues that he's more conservative than they are. Lamar Alexander is certainly having a great time with it. And if he ever needs proof that he's on the right side of the issue, there's an editorial condemning him in The Wall Street Journal that should offer some reassurance. Alexander, Tennessee's junior Republican senator, has made a brief stand to block something called the...

<p>One of the more enduring Internet hoaxes is the chain letter claiming that the government has an e-mail tax in the works. Well, if Congress doesn't extend the Internet tax moratorium before it expires at the end of this week, the e-mail tax could soon cease to be an urban legend.</p>

Tennessee Freepers---I need some help contacting Lamar Alexander. Bluntly, I need to solilcit a "blurb" or endorsement of my new book, "The Beacon of Liberty: A Patriot's History of the U.S." The publisher is anxious to get certain senators/public figures who have had a connection to education. Does anyone have an "in" or some sort of contact so that I won't be routed through channels?

WASHINGTON (AP) -- From its multimillionaire majority leader, Sen. Bill Frist, to its members of more modest means, the Senate is dominated by people far more affluent than nearly all those they represent, lawmakers' financial disclosure forms show. Frist, R-Tenn., who lists blind trusts worth up to $31 million, is surrounded by colleagues who enjoy substantial wealth from successful private careers, family riches or wealthy spouses. Many should benefit from the recently enacted cut in taxes on capital gains and dividends paid by corporations. Among those listing substantial property holdings or income from stock dividends in 2002 are Sens. Lamar...

This intricate mosaic floor, featuring a masked young man from the Greek comic theater, is one of more than 100,000 artifacts uncovered by archaeologists at the ancient Israelite seaport site of Dor. (Credit: Gabi Laron) How great was Alexander? By Kathleen Maclay, Media Relations | 12 June 2003 BERKELEY – Alexander the Great may not have been so great after all. A University of California, Berkeley-led group of researchers is challenging the common history that credits the Macedonian king with initiating the spread of ancient Greek culture throughout the Middle East during his conquest of the region during the...

A former Russian intelligence officer has been sentenced to 18 years' hard labour for treason and espionage. Colonel Alexander Zaporozhsky, 52, was found guilty of passing information about Russian overseas intelligence activities to foreign governments for five years. He was also suspected of revealing the identities of more than 20 Russian US-based spies. Since his retirement in 1997, Mr Zaporozhsky had been working for an American company in the state of Maryland, but he was arrested in Moscow in 2001. The court gave Mr Zaporozhsky a tougher sentence than the 16 years demanded by prosecutors. 'Secrets to CIA' He was...

Southern sayings are a treasure for they offer wisdom to the ear. There is a saying that was in style in the south that held that “any human that can birth a child has to have the strength of a mighty warrior”. Once a man views a birth, he should quickly conclude that a male mighty warrior is not up to the task of childbirth. He is simply not that strong. While for many the physical and emotional strength of women has never ceased to be that of amazement, their intellectual ability is thought by some laggards to be less...

<p>Former 5th District Congressman John Cooksey said the recent election to determine his successor featured a discouraging practice - "Republicans stabbing other Republicans in the back."</p> <p>Cooksey, R-Monroe, said he believes the scenario was written and carried out by national Republican officials, uncontrolled by the Louisiana people in the election.</p>

<p>Alexander frustrated by lack of assignments Freshman representative ''feels good'' about chances for agriculture seat Chuck Cannon Posted on January 19, 2003 Rep. Rodney Alexander says he is frustrated.</p> <p>The first-term congressman from Louisiana's Fifth Congressional District said he doesn't understand why the Democratic leadership in the U.S. House is dragging its feet on committee assignments.</p>