Head-dibs

One of my reads included a reference to the historical event that we now call The Irish Potato Famine, a ten year period in which hundreds of thousands of people died due to lack of food. Remember 1841-1851 (dates vary among historians). Potatoes were not native to but were brought from South America to Ireland by Spanish Explorers in the late 1500s. Farming potatoes was not the prime directive of the Armada, but the tuberous crop found its way to the Emerald Isle, nonetheless. Over the course of about 300 years, the Irish population enjoyed potatoes as the main food source. But why did the population of Ireland plummet 20% over that ten year period? How much of that decrease was due to starvation and how much was due to immigration? Out of ignorance and for want of learning, one wonders what people ate before the potato. Did they forget? Did the blight affect more than potatoes so nothing edible would grow? The environment can be harsh but one wonders what they forget. Ireland ...

This is no joke. History confirms it! "In all the kingdom of nature, does any creature threaten us less than the gentle rabbit? Though the question may sound entirely rhetorical today, our medieval ancestors took it more seriously — especially if they could read illuminated manuscripts, and even more so if they drew in the margins of those manuscripts themselves. "Often, in medieval manuscripts’ marginalia we find odd images with all sorts of monsters, half man-beasts, monkeys, and more," writes Sexy Codicology's Marjolein de Vos. "Even in religious books the margins sometimes have drawings that simply are making fun of monks, nuns and bishops." And then there are the killer bunnies." Read more (and watch a classic video clip) here.

Not so much an American holiday, but our present day (no pun intended) Christmas traditions are connected to this historical figure. Ἅγιος Νικόλαος (Saint Nicholas) was born in Greek territory in southern Turkey around 270 AD and died on this day in 343 AD. He is buried in Italy (a church is dedicated to his memory there) . . . or in Ireland (as indicated by a tombstone that supposedly marks his grave). "Obeying Jesus' words to 'sell what you own and give the money to the poor,' Nicholas used his whole inheritance to assist the needy, the sick, and the suffering. He dedicated his life to serving God and was made Bishop of Myra while still a young man. Bishop Nicholas became known throughout the land for his generosity to those in need, his love for children, and his concern for sailors and ships." ( St. Nicholas Center ) One fact to remember: in his days, Christians were killed or imprisoned for their faith. Bishop Nicholas did not escape this persecutio...

500 years ago today, a man made a public post that made him the "unfriend" of many for his post ignited a revolution that was already waiting to happen. Someone merely needed to open the door, as it were. Many lost their lives because of his post but more lives were changed because of it. Yes, long before the advent of the internet and social media those kinds of things happened. Augustinian monk Martin Luther (1483 – 1546) did not agree with the Church's practice of selling salvation (among other practices). Already quite religious, Luther thought he understood most Bible doctrines until he began actually read scripture in order to teach it. His practice had been to simply do and think as he was taught, to believe as he was told. Since reading the Bible he could no longer agree and wanted to address errors being propagated by the Church so he literally protested by publicly posting his grievances. He wanted to talk. And so began the Protestant Reformation.  Listen ...

"After the April 9, 1942, U.S. surrender of the Bataan Peninsula on the main Philippine island of Luzon to the Japanese during World War II (1939-45), the approximately 75,000 Filipino and American troops on Bataan were forced to make an arduous 65-mile march to prison camps. The marchers made the trek in intense heat and were subjected to harsh treatment by Japanese guards. Thousands perished in what became known as the Bataan Death March." (History.com) Every year, the march is remembered in a high desert memorial event held in White Sands, New Mexico honoring our soldiers who defended our country in the Philippines during World War II. The standard courses is marathon length (26 miles) and may be completed with or without a 35 pound ruck by military personnel and civilians. This year marks the 75 year anniversary of the event and was attended by survivors of the ordeal. Here in South Carolina, I've participated in two memorial runs honoring fallen soldiers as ...

Much to learn about our country in this book, many unexpected lessons about the relationship between Native American peoples, the U.S. Government, it's officers, American ideals and the American Dream. The title of this work points to the uncanny relationship shared between these historical figures--their similitude and differences. I highly recommend "Crazy Horse and Custer: Parallel Lives Of Two American Warriors" (1975) by Steven Ambrose. Be sure to pick up other works by Ambrose as well, namely, " Undaunted Courage: Meriwether Lewis, Thomas Jefferson, and the Opening of the American West " (1996)

Back in the day, D em O l' D udes G o E verywhere!

Not too long ago as I read Homer’s Odyssey (once again), a thought came to mind. If Homer’s Iliad serves as a kind of record of the siege of Troy (a debated issue due to the activity of the so-called gods as mentioned in the story--strip away the supernatural and the event still stands) and history and archaeology affirm the event as well as many historical figures involved, would it be possible that the Odyssey is a true account of one of the Iliad’s prominent personalities? The possibility is very high. Any fairly-well read person knows of many events found in the Odyssey: who has not heard of Cyclops or Lotus-eaters or of the deadly Sirens? Hades has been known for thousands of years as a place for the dead. A well-read person knows that when Troy fell, the Greeks returned home only Odysseus was delayed in his return, as the story goes. But what was the reason for his delay? Was it monsters and an offended deity? Or was there another reason?  Aeschylus records in his pla...

I’m on the edge of my seat reading this in Homer's  The Odyssey , Book VIII, “How They Held Games and Sports in Phaiacia” (translated by Samuel Butler): [Alcinous said,] "Aldermen and town councillors of the Phaeacians, we have had enough now, both of the feast, and of the minstrelsy that is its due accompaniment; let us proceed therefore to the athletic sports, so that [Odysseus] our guest on his return home may be able to tell his friends how much we surpass all other nations as boxers, wrestlers, jumpers, and runners. . . . The foot races came first. The course was set out for them from the starting post, and they raised a dust upon the plain as they all flew forward at the same moment. Clytoneus came in first by a long way; he left every one else behind him by the length of the furrow that a couple of mules can plough in a fallow field. They then turned to the painful art of wrestling, and here Euryalus proved to be the best man. Amphialus excelled all the others ...

Reading a historical account concerning whaling in the 1800’s, I came across a peculiar practice among Nantucketers that sparked a thought. The thought, I admit, involves a level of imaginative stretching so my caveat at the outset is to admit my conclusion is more interesting (to me, at least) than definitive or conclusive. Permit me to spare all the details and give a general overview, the seed of my thought. One particular captain lost his ship and spend a number of months adrift at sea with two other boats. Survival reached the point of desperation that led to cannibalism (an unspoken yet acceptable practice when necessary among early sea-men). Few men survived and were eventually rescued. Once back home, the captain returned to sea in a matter of months and in nearly the same waters as the loss of his first ship, the second was run aground and he once again returned home. The Nantucket whaling community responded to the first tragedy with great compassion, but following ...

The following pictures were taken with permission at the Salvation Army Evangeline Booth College Historical Center . What an amazing history to study! Scroll down for my personal favorite exhibit. The two pictures below shows the "Walkie-Coffee." It is a back-pack allowing the wearer to carry coffee (on one side) and soup (on another) as they did ministry while moving through disaster areas, giving physical and spiritual nourishment where it was most needed.

The road to Canadian independence from England began on July 1, 1867, when Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, and the Province of Canada were united into a single country as the result of the Constitution Act. The goal of total independence took nearly a century to achieve because many Canadians considered themselves British. The first official celebration of independence was recorded in 1917 and the government instituted July 1 as a holiday in 1958. It is common (Canadian) knowledge that the country overall celebrated its independence all together for the first time in 1967, at the 100th anniversary of the Constitution Act. This year, Canadians enjoy a three day weekend!

A short article in the subject of American Studies and Literature focused on Jonathan Edwards, the fiery New England preacher of the mid 1700’s. I was happy to find the article though as I read the hyper-condensed overview of the man and his contributions to early America, made a few observations and came up with a few questions.  Is Edwards still read by students today? The purpose of the article was to survey high school and college exposure to American literature and suggested the intended outcome for students having touched the material; a kind of “here’s what you should have learned but were misled and this is what you discovered about the truth of the matter in college.” Do students still read Edwards today? If so (and using Edwards as a case-study) why are students told what to think about what they read? What, then, do they learn? Considering contributions to early America and literature, Jonathan Edwards is called a Puritan thinker. Yes, he was Puritan; and, yes, he w...

Uncle John’s Bathroom Reader has a contender! Just found a book I am going to review it before I actually read it. Judy Jones and William Wilson (there’s an education in that name--calling to mind Edgar Allan Poe--which hints as to why a book like this can be fun) published this third edition in 2009 with Ballantine. The book covers highlights in twelve subject areas that we either forgot or slept through in school: American Studies, Art History, Economic, Film, Literature, Music, Philosophy, Political Science, Psychology, Religion, Science and World History. Browsing the book, one notes witty writing in short articles. Even the Lexicon presents itself to be a readable 13th chapter. 10,000 years in only 700 pages. I expect plenty of springboards for future blogs to be found within!

Church History (as seen by independent fundamental baptists) [ht: Reformed Humor FB Group]

The shortest verse in the New Testament is NOT the one you think it is! Here is the real Maria Von Trapp (1905-1987). This is the theme park we were looking for. This video on The City of London (and its evil alien reptilian queen) makes you feel pretty darn good to say, "I did not know this!"

As we prepare to go to the polls, reflect on these words by Charlie Chaplain, playing the part of a Jewish barber mistaken to be the dictator of Tomania (from the film "The Great Dictator, released in October 1940 before the fall of France by Nazi Germany):

One reason many stop reading the Bible is the genealogies. The names are tough enough, but the smallest amount of confidence can lend to an acceptable pronunciation--a list of names is no reason to stop reading. The list of names is given for a reason and discovering that reason can be quite satisfying. Sudoku, crosswords, word searches and assortments of puzzles provide hours of entertainment, so why should a list of names slow us down? Isn’t is amazing that so many people have lived on this planet and are forgotten? These names are recorded in God’s Unchanging Word locate specific people at a specific time in a specific place. They must be mentioned for a reason even if all we have is a name. We belong to a movement with the primary distinctive of teaching through the Bible book-by-book, chapter-by-chapter and verse-by-verse. Running the risk of sounding critical, one cannot help but wonder why when we approach many of these passages our teaches say to the effect, “see that list ...

Here are some beautiful snapshots of America before Pearl Harbor .