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As an amateur historian -- and probably not a good one -- I go nuts when I see amateurish fictions tendered as core premises. This is no more frequently found than in Hollywood; but do not kid yourself, it is not confined to Hollywood. The following famous movie scene (based on the play) is a case in point, one worse than most: Camelot is unique. And we have, by far and away, the most equitable climate in all England -- Camelot (1967)A) The King Arthur stories hail back to the collapse of Celtic Briton, after the Roman garrison left in...

A new report released by the Committee on House Administration Subcommittee on Oversight into the January 6 pipe bomber shows the FBI stopped looking for the suspect in 2021 and covered up evidence. The FBI is now refusing to cooperate with Congressional investigators. In September, former Secret Service agent Dan Bongino said according to a whistleblower, after the pipe bombs were found at the RNC and DNC headquarters, “assets on the ground, including a whistleblower, was briefed about the pipe bombs the next day and show a picture of a guy in a hoodie.” However, according to the whistleblower, the...

Having officially claimed 7 million lives worldwide, Covid-19 has become a less serious disease, even if it remains more deadly than the flu. It was a lighting, global spread rarely seen in recent human history, comparable in scale to the Spanish flu of 1918. Since December 31, 2019, the date of the first reports of the first cases of viral pneumonia in Wuhan, China, a large part of the human population has been contaminated with Covid-19, a disease caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), of the 776.8 million cases officially recorded over five years...

One of the defining moments of Jimmy Carter’s presidency was the Iran hostage crisis. Retired Army Col. Chuck Scott was one of the 52 hostages held in Iran for 444 days. In an interview with Channel 2 Action News, he said Carter got a lot of blame he did not deserve. “People say, ‘Yeah, he really screwed up the hostage crisis.’ But how do you know? You weren’t there,” Scott said. The crisis would overshadow many of the accomplishments during President Carter’s one and only term. “We looked like idiots. Here we were, the most powerful nation in the world...

BACON DAY On December 30th each year, bacon lovers celebrate one of nature's favored gifts on Bacon Day! The day reminds us that bacon is not just for breakfast and encourages us to test out various ways to enjoy this culinary marvel. #BaconDay Everything is better with bacon, so someone said once. And our research shows very little to dispute this assertion. The United States and Canada make bacon from the pork belly. Other countries around the world use the side and back cuts of pork. The meat is cured in either a salt brine or a salt pack. It...

On the far eastern edge of Yemen, far from any cities or well-traveled roads, there's a black mark in the desert, like a giant eye peering up from the earth. Regardless of how uncanny it looks from above, it is a natural phenomenon, a perfectly round and profoundly deep sinkhole called the Well of Barhout, or the "Well of Hell." It's easy to see why. Without the help of wings or long ropes, anything that disappears into this 367-foot-deep hole is not going to come out.For centuries, sinister legends have swirled around the Well of Barhout. It's said that visiting...

The Orthodox Church of Ukraine (OCU) and the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church (UGCC) will celebrate Christmas on Dec. 25, instead of Jan. 7 for the second year after transitioning to the Revised Julian Calendar. Since Sept. 1, 2023, Christians of the Eastern Rite in Ukraine have been using the Revised Julian Calendar. This calendar shifts certain fixed-date religious celebrations 13 days earlier compared to the "old style." While the OCU allowed parishes to choose their preferred Christmas date during a transitional period, the majority of believers embraced the new calendar.

On this Chanukah, menorahs will be lit not only in the land of Israel, from Jerusalem to Gaza, but in Lebanon and on the heights of Mt. Hermon overlooking Syria. Vacationing families will visit the waterfalls of the Hermon Stream in the Golan Heights from which the Syrian Greek armies had descended thousands of years ago to conquer Israel leading to the events of. Chanukah. The lights of the menorahs over darkness are a reminder that miracles can still happen here. The Syrian Greeks had called the area Paneas after their god Pan and the Arab Muslim conquerors had retained...

It is crucial to understand how so-called "priorities" and "guidelines" have been used to hobble Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers and Border Patrol agents in their attempts to enforce the immigration laws...What follows is a brief history of such non-enforcement...going back five administrations.

2000 Year-old Scrolls Read With Scanner 10 Billion Times Brighter Than The Sun | 10:41Secrets of the Dead | PBS | 1.34M subscribers | 52,406 views | December 22, 2024

A shipwreck dating to the sixth or fifth century b.c. has been discovered near Sicily along with a collection of ancient anchors, according to a report from CBS News. The wreck was found buried under sand and rock 20 feet underwater off Santa Maria del Focallo, at the southern tip of the island. The excavation was carried out by underwater archaeologists from the University of Udine in collaboration with Sicily's superintendent of the sea. Researchers determined that the ship's hull was built using a simple early shipbuilding technique known as "on the shell." Further study of the wreck may help...

December 17, 1903 Three days later, they were ready for the second attempt. The 27-mph wind was harder than they would have liked, since their predicted cruising speed was only 30-35 mph. The headwind would slow their groundspeed to a crawl, but they proceeded anyway. With a sheet, they signaled the volunteers from the nearby lifesaving station that they were about to try again. Now it was Orville's turn. Remembering Wilbur's experience, he positioned himself and tested the controls. The stick that moved the horizontal elevator-controlled climb and descent. The cradle that he swung with his hips warped the wings...

Senator Mitt Romney (R-MA) said Sunday on CNN’s “State of the Union” that January 6, 2021 will be seen “as a very dark day in American history.” Host Jake Tapper said, “Four years ago next month you were running for your life from the mob on January 6. And now the person that you said was responsible for that day is about to return to the White House. He says he’s going to pardon a lot of the people that have been convicted for the crimes committed on that day. What do you think the legacy of January 6 will...

Step into the world of ancient naval warfare as we bring the Athenian trireme to life. From the rhythmic sounds of 170 oars moving in unison to the overwhelming presence of this mighty warship, this video captures the sensory experience and tactical brilliance of the trireme in battle. It showcases how these vessels were not only technological marvels but also highly impactful on ancient maritime history.The Athenian Trireme in Action: Power, Precision, and Dominance at Sea | 7:41IEEE Reach | 587 subscribers | 67,904 views | November 30, 2024

On this day in 1985 I climbed aboard an ill fated Arrow Air DC8 Stretch at McChord AFB with a fresh gamma globulin shot in my ass (if you've ever had one you know) and 10 inches of snow on the ground, embarking on an adventure that would be both fun, exciting, and tragic. We spent 35 hours on that POS, several landings for re-fueling but they never let us off, and finally landed in Cairo. It was over 100 degrees in the shade... had there been any shade. They marched us into the terminal where we were fed a...

Hidden for centuries, a forgotten chapter of the Bible has emerged from the shadows of history. Researchers, armed with ultraviolet light and meticulous scholarship, have uncovered a 1,750-year-old text that offers a fresh glimpse into the evolving nature of scripture. This find isn’t just a historical curiosity; it’s a profound insight into how faith and tradition were shaped in early Christianity. Preserved in an ancient Syriac manuscript, the chapter challenges long-held assumptions about biblical texts and their seemingly static nature. With its subtle variations and expanded narrative, this rediscovery raises compelling questions: What does this mean for the modern understanding...

If you’re ever despairing about the state of the world, you can — at least, according to some scholars — be thankful it’s not the year 536 CE. To be fair, it’s medieval scholars, not 21st-century ones, who called 536 CE the worst year to be alive. But hear them out, because it sounds pretty bad. That year, a massive volcano erupted, historians believe, filling the air with volcanic ash. Of course, the majority of people affected by the disaster had no idea what was happening — they just knew it was very suddenly very dark for a very long...

The trunks and hive are now at the Museum of Beekeeping Culture Credit: Museum of Beekeeping Culture Facebook Whilst Sweden is anxious to uncover fake honey and have it removed from shelves, Polish scientists have discovered a 1,300 year old beehive. Medieval Polish beehive is one of the oldest to be discovered anywhere in the world It was found inside the trunk of a tree and is believed to be one of the world’s oldest preserved beehives. As sawmill operators were getting ready to turn the trunk of an ancient oak tree into boards, they noticed something unusual imbedded within...

The Guardian reports that a section of wall stretching for nearly one-half mile was found in the Bay of Mecklenburg, off the coast of Germany, during a survey conducted with a multibeam sonar system. Inspection of the wall revealed that it was made up of about 300 boulders connected with some 1,400 smaller stones. The structure is thought to have been constructed more than 10,000 years ago, near a lake or marsh. Jacob Geersen of the Leibniz Institute for Baltic Sea Research Warnemünde suggests that the wall may have been part of a driving lane used by hunters in pursuit...

NATIONAL GAZPACHO DAY National Gazpacho Day, on December 6th, recognizes a flavorful soup that cooks serve cold. This typically tomato-based vegetable soup originated in the southern Spanish region of Andalucia. Gazpacho is widely consumed in Spanish cuisine, usually during the summer months. #NationalGazpachoDay The original Spanish recipe includes stale bread, water, vinegar, oil and salt. Other ingredients include olive oil, wine, vinegar, water, and salt. Following is the typical method of preparing gazpacho: Washing vegetables Peeling tomatoes, garlic, and onions. Chop all vegetables (traditionally pounded with mortar) and process in a food processor. Add the soaked bread. Blend part of...