A Few Biographical Notes About Galileo

Galileo is a famous historical figure and is noted for his contributions to astronomy and other areas of scientific study.  Here are a few biographical notes to create a snapshot of Galileo Galilei (1564 - 1642).

Though he did not invent it, Galileo pioneered the use of the refracting telescope for observing the night sky. He improved upon the telescope and significantly enhanced its by grinding and polishing his own lenses, in order to increase the magnification, and that made it possible to actually see that there were craters and mountains on the moon and saw that the Milky Was was made up of thousands of individual stars.

Image credit:  Amazon.co

"After his formal trial, which took place on May 10 of that year, Galileo was convicted of a “strong suspicion of heresy,” a lesser charge than actual heresy."

~ QUOTE SOURCE: The truth about Galileo and his conflict with the Catholic Church | UCLA

“Nearly 70 at the time of his trial, Galileo lived his last nine years under comfortable house arrest, writing a summary of his early motion experiments that became his final great scientific work. He died in Arcetri near Florence, Italy on January 8, 1642 at age 77 after suffering from heart palpitations and a fever.”

~ QUOTE SOURCE: Galileo Galilei - HISTORY

In his day, his work was deemed heresy, but these days Galileo is praised for his contributions to astronomy and is called the "father" of observational astronomy, modern physics, the scientific method, and modern science.

Galileo fathered 2 daughters out of wedlock, who both became Catholic nuns. His oldest daughter, Virginia, corresponded regularly with his father. 124 of her letters survive to this day. Unfortunately, all of Galileo's replies to his daughter were burned. Her letters create a picture of a daughter's loving and supportive relationship with her father. The daughter herself was somewhat of a radical in her day. Even though she saw what happened to her father, she still dared to take a stand against corruption in the priesthood. Galileo died in 1642, but he outlived his daughter, who died of dysentery in 1634.

Galileo and the Stargazers: The Jim Weiss Audio Collection of inspiring true stories of heroic scientists ... https://t.co/LIdAKg2rtn via @amazon @audible_com
#16 in Historical #Biographies for Children
#21 in #Audiobooks on #Science & #Technology for #Children #education pic.twitter.com/yvUk1bGCsp

— Treathyl Fox (aka cmoneyspinner) ~ #Freelancer (@cmoneyspinner) February 21, 2022

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The Roman Mysteries by Caroline Lawrence is a Mystery Series Written for Children:

Do you enjoy mysteries?  Are you fascinated by the history of ancient Rome?

Do you enjoy it when history is made interesting instead of just being tested on how well you can recall dates, events, and names of people and places?

Think you might like reading a historical mystery series?
(Written for young readers but nobody has to know you’re an adult. One of my guilty pleasures is reading children's books.)

Here is a recommendation. This series has won awards. It’s called The Roman Mysteries and was written by Caroline Lawrence. Her goal for undertaking this task was to entertain children while reading and educate them about this ancient civilization. She succeeded. In fact, her books received praise from teachers and parents, as well as awards and recognition. This is not the only mystery series she has written but since it deals with life in ancient Rome which is one of my favorite topics, it is being recommended for mystery lovers who also have an interest in the Roman Empire.

Set in 1^st century A.D., Book 1 of the series is titled “The Thieves of Ostia”. The last of the series, Book 17 is “Man from Pomegranate Street”. The reading material targets ages 10 through 14 and the novels are available in various formats: hard copy, audio, digital, etc.
♦♦♦♦♦♦

Here is the complete Roman Mysteries series:

The Thieves of Ostia (1)

The Secrets Of Vesuvius (2)

The Pirates Of Pompeii (3)

The Assassins Of Rome (4)

The Dolphins Of Laurentum (5)

The Twelve Tasks Of Flavia Gemina (6)

The Enemies Of Jupiter (7)

The Gladiators From Capua (8)

The Colossus Of Rhodes (9)

The Fugitive From Corinth (10)

The Sirens Of Surrentum (11)

The Charioteer Of Delphi (12)

The Slave-Girl From Jerusalem (13)

The Beggar Of Volubilis (14)

The Scribes From Alexandria (15)

The Prophet From Ephesus (16)

The Man From Pomegranate Street (17)

The Slave-Girl From Jerusalem

This exciting adventure recreates the siege at Masada.

Caroline Lawrence has also written other historical mysteries. View Her Author's Page.

Source:  Webnuggetz.com

NOTE: Content previously published elsewhere on the web, however, the site shut down. 

Reading List: Inspiring Biographies

Do you read autobiographies or biographies and personal memoirs for inspiration?

Reading about the lives of other people has always been a source of inspiration for me and no doubt it is the same way for other people too. In fact, if a person is suffering from depression one of the suggested activities to uplift their spirit and pull them out of the dark black hole is reading life stories. Not trying to sound corny but we are all ordinary people and it is encouraging to know that the majority of us endure the same trials and tribulations and most of us overcome or rise above our difficulties and get on with our lives.

But clearly, you do not have to be depressed to draw motivation from reading about the achievements of someone else. For one of my friends, it was the life of Malcolm X. The first biography which influenced my life was about Sammy Davis Jr. It was titled Yes I Can. (I could just kick myself for not keeping the book as it is now considered a collectible. He also published a sequel called Why Me?) 

The first autobiography written by Mr. Davis is also the book that piqued my curiosity and got me interested in reading more and more biographies about anybody – celebrities, men and women in history, people in political circles, etc. I turned this fascination into a hobby and created a Pinterest board called BIO-Snapshots, a collection of trivia, information, and articles about people. Some of my most recent pins link to mini-bios of Nora Baker, Robert Smalls, and Huma Abedin.

Do you get inspired by reading
biographical accounts or personal memoirs?

Click to view my picks.

NOTE: Content previously published elsewhere on the web, however, the site shut down. 

A Character Study of Florence Nightingale

In 1859, Florence Nightingale was the first to set out guidelines for ethical nursing practice. She wrote: “It may seem a strange principle to enunciate as the very first requirement in a Hospital is to do the sick no harm …”

Image credit: Wikimedia Commons

(NOTE: It's not a strange principle. It's a sad principle. Some strange people need a guideline expressed in very plain language in the hopes that it pricks their conscience (if they have one) so that they don't take advantage of the sick and do them harm. I do wonder if Ms. Nightingale actually witnessed an incident that compelled her to write down these words.)

* * *

May 12th is International Nurses Day. This special day has been celebrated since 1965. The date was chosen because it is the B-Day (birthday of Florence Nightingale, a pioneer in healthcare and health reform, and the mother of modern nursing. Because of her efforts in the field of nursing, many others did not have to experience their own personal D-Day (day of death).

♦ ♦ ♦

I have always been taught to admire and respect this woman, but never really learned very much about her. Decided to collect a few more facts about this remarkable lady and learned two things about her that were news to me.

- Did not know she was a mathematical genius? Although that really comes as no surprise. She was, in fact, a very gifted child and excelled in mathematics and science.

- Did not know she believed that she was called by God? That, too, really comes as no surprise. Most people who defy the norms of their day, particularly women, and determine to set out on a specific path or chart a course despite the objections or opposition or great peril to one's life, to achieve anything, are usually driven by a voice that nobody else can hear except them. They firmly believe that they have been called to their mission or task that they can not be dissuaded because it would violate their conscience, and they would genuinely feel that the failure to respond to the calling would be like a betrayal to mankind.

So here is little Miss Nightingale, born into a family with sufficient financial means to educate her and develop her knowledge, skills, and abilities, and prepare her for her life's work. She grows to womanhood, and there is a sea of humanity outside her door where she can put this real wealth to good use.

Those voices could not be ignored. Not by her anyway.

Honoring the Memory Of:

Florence Nightingale (May 12, 1820 – August 13, 1910)

● Learn more about Florence Nightingale.

Florence Nightingale - Timeline

Florence Nightingale - English Nurse

Florence Nightingale - Biographical Sketch

* * *  Original source

Paul the Apostle Knew His Friends: TITUS

Titus was a Grecian convert. Luke does not mention him by name in the Book of Acts, but Paul confirms him as a “partner and fellow helper”. Titus accompanied Paul and Barnabas on a trip to Jerusalem. Unable to go for himself, Paul sent Titus to work with the congregation in Corinth, and then bring back news about their well-being and spiritual health. He brought back a good report and refreshed the weary Apostle's spirit. Several years later, Paul would leave Titus behind in Crete to build up the Church there.

Image credit: Magic Studio AI art Generator

The relationship between Paul and Titus was much like to his association with Timothy. The two letters to Timothy and the letter to Titus have been grouped together and referred to as Pastoral Epistles. Both men were directed to ordain elders to oversee the flock of God, warned about false teachers, told to maintain good works, the purity of the Church, and especially ensure their own personal morality and blameless reputation as godly men.

The last reference to this young preacher is Paul's mention of him in a letter to Timothy (whom he had left in Ephesus) that Titus was headed to Dalmatia (conquered by the Romans A.D. 12; today a region of Croatia, Yugoslavia).

Excerpt of content first published at Paul and Friends | HubPages

From #Jerusalem to #Antioch: The Gospel Across Cultures by Jerome Crowe CP https://t.co/LWSgQ4JDld #Christianity #religion #Bible #ancientrome #society and #culture “These who have turned the world upside down have come here too." pic.twitter.com/ijwQpBEE8A

— My Shopping Channel (@goshoppingbees) February 21, 2020

Paul the Apostle Knew His Friends: TIMOTHY (or TIMOTHEUS)

Timothy was called Paul's son in the gospel.  Timothy's mother (Eunice) and grandmother (Lois) were devout Jews who taught him the Jewish scriptures from a child. All three of them were converted to Christianity. This young man traveled with Paul to places where he was sent by Paul – such as Berea, Macedonia, Thessalonica, Corinth, and Philippi – to evangelize, preach, teach, comfort, and assure the believers to press on and not falter. Paul was retracing his steps and revisiting Lystra in Lycaonia when he and Timothy crossed paths. The first time he was in this small city was with Barnabas. On this second trip, Timothy joined Paul's company.

Image credit: Magic Studio AI art Generator

Paul commended his young companion as follows (paraphrased): “We have the same mind. He does not seek his own. He has served with me in the gospel and has the same boldness to as I do to defend the faith. His love and care for all the churches is genuine.”

While in prison in Rome, awaiting execution, the Apostle wrote to Timothy instructing him to persevere and continue the Lord's work without him.

Excerpt of content first published at Paul and Friends | HubPages

From #Jerusalem to #Antioch: The Gospel Across Cultures by Jerome Crowe CP https://t.co/LWSgQ4JDld #Christianity #religion #Bible #ancientrome #society and #culture “These who have turned the world upside down have come here too." pic.twitter.com/ijwQpBEE8A

— My Shopping Channel (@goshoppingbees) February 21, 2020

Paul the Apostle Knew His Friends: LUKE (or LUCAS)

The name Lucas means “light-giving”. Very appropriate since he authored a two-part work – the Gospel of Luke and the Acts of the Apostles – both written to shed light on the life of Christ and the establishment of His Church.

Image credit: AI art Generated – DeviantArt

His first appearance, historically, is in Troas. Details about his conversion are unknown. Details regarding his faithfulness are made plain in the New Testament scriptures. Luke traveled with the Apostle during his second (from Troas to Philippi), third (from Philippi to Jerusalem) and final (from Jerusalem to Rome) missionary journeys. In addition, during one of Paul's imprisonments, Luke dutifully remained close by. Luke was an educated man; writer, historian, and physician by profession. Paul speaks of him with great affection as the “beloved physician”.

Excerpt of content first published at Paul and Friends | HubPages

From #Jerusalem to #Antioch: The Gospel Across Cultures by Jerome Crowe CP https://t.co/LWSgQ4JDld #Christianity #religion #Bible #ancientrome #society and #culture “These who have turned the world upside down have come here too." pic.twitter.com/ijwQpBEE8A

— My Shopping Channel (@goshoppingbees) February 21, 2020

Paul the Apostle Knew His Friends: BARNABAS

Barnabas was Paul's champion. While others may have doubted the sincerity of the Apostle's conversion, Barnabas sought Paul out. When he found him in Tarsus, he encouraged him to become a fellow laborer and convinced others that he could be an invaluable help with the missionary efforts.

Image credit: AI Generated - DeviantArt

“The disciples were called Christians* first in Antioch.” (Acts 11: 26) Barnabas and Paul traveled together to Antioch in Syria to strengthen the community of believers already there. The zealous teamwork of these two men proved very successful. Though the Church began, A.D. 33, in Jerusalem, from Antioch the “good news” would spread to all the major cities in the Roman Empire, including Rome.

Before becoming a Christian, Barnabas was a Jew; a Levite from the island of Cyprus, whose name was Joseph (Joses). He was called “son of consolation (or encouragement)” by the disciples because he had a gift for motivating those who were discouraged to remain focused, steadfast, and faithful. So committed was he that he sold his property and donated the proceeds to help the poor and needy. His act of generosity spurred others on to perform similar good works.

* Greek: Christianoi: “devotees of the Anointed One.

Excerpt of content first published at Paul and Friends | HubPages

From #Jerusalem to #Antioch: The Gospel Across Cultures by Jerome Crowe CP https://t.co/LWSgQ4JDld #Christianity #religion #Bible #ancientrome #society and #culture “These who have turned the world upside down have come here too." pic.twitter.com/ijwQpBEE8A

— My Shopping Channel (@goshoppingbees) February 21, 2020

Lifestyle: Does Your Favorite Room Have a Name?

Is there are favorite room in your home where you go to relax, retreat, block out the rest of the world, or share a special space with someone?

OK. Before I get started I just want to say that I know what a casbah is.

• It’s a fortress in North Africa (and in some other parts of the world). It is a unique medina or Islamic city and the Kasbah of Algiers is a designated UNESCO World Heritage Site.
• “Casbah” is a word that I have heard in movies and in music. I watched an old movie, released in 1948 titled “Casbah” (1948) and it was set in Algiers. There was also a song I liked during my teen years called “Rock the Casbah” . Will Smith sampled it on one of his songs. (Will Smith feat. K-Ci’s ‘Will 2K’ — Discover the Sample Source)
• Casbah is also spelled kasbah, qasba, or qasaba.

When I hear the word “casbah”, I usually associate it with something really cool!

When I’m talking about casbah in this article, I’m going in a completely different but still cool direction from the usual meaning of the word and how it is commonly used.

JUST FOLLOW ALONG WITH ME.

Everybody likes to read articles or watch TV shows about the personal lives of celebrities. I kind of like shows where they show the homes where they live. The late Gregory Peck and his wife said they liked to spend time in a room in their house that they called “The Casbah”. It’s a place where they retreat.

Just then I had “Ah hah!” moment. I thought to myself:

‘It would be so cool to have a room in my house that I could call ‘The Casbah’.’

The best part would be decorating the room.

There would be thick rugs and huge comfy pillows. The décor would look Persian.

Yes. I know a casbah is a fortress and there are famous casbahs that are located in Morocco. Morocco is in northwest Africa and Persia (now Iran) is in southwestern Asia.

But it’s MY CASBAH! So if I want to decorate Persian or Iranian style, I will. LOL.

8 Inspiring Decor Ideas from Iran: This article says to use copper pots, some handwoven baskets, various types of hand-stitched cloth, sweet-smelling flowers, decorative rugs, and a Poshti (a decorative pillow for your back). (FYI. There is an excellent selection of poshtis on Etsy.)

At present, I live in an apartment with my sons. But if I ever get into a home again, I plan to have a home office/casbah. Yeah well! I figure I won’t be able to afford a house where I can have one room for my home office and another for a casbah.

Have you never named a room in your house?

• What is your favorite room in your home and why?
• What Your Favorite Room Says About Your Personality

Thanks for reading.

Original Source

JAHQAAUFO (Just Another Humorous Quip About Aliens and UFOs)

Aliens and UFOs, now called UAPs, are a very hot topic among "We the People".  It's so serious, the US military and key officials in the government are still concocting bogus stories about them.

• UFOs: Are They That Serious?. By Helen McCaw and David Broadwell  | Medium

Sharing a link above to an interesting and information article above, with my humorous opinionated comments shared below.

• UPDATE: Author decided to unpublish the article.  My remarks are stand alone though.  Please continue reading.  Thank you.

LOL. People need to realize that “governments” of almost all of the countries LIKE TO PLAY GAMES! They work on Top Secret projects that they can't openly talk about it. WHY? Usually it's because they don't want The Enemy to know. Sometimes, it's because they don't want the citizens to know. It might cause OUTRAGE!! Because sometimes citizens are like parents. They just don't understand.

However, seeing that we all live on the same planet, there is always a possibility someone might accidentally, unintentionally, stumble upon a TSP (Top Secret project). If and when they do, there has to be a “story” that must be FED by the Government to the GP (general public).

UFO … UAP … mentions or sightings equal BOGUS STORIES that sound kind of believable. Those stories serve a purpose. The purpose being to take your mind off of the real top secret project and get you talking and speculating about something that does not exist. Why do you think nobody has ever presented concrete evidence or proof of aliens? Because there is none!

Here's the reality. The people who work on those projects sign a Confidentiality Agreement. That means they're sworn to secrecy. If they try to break the agreement and tell somebody? The Government has “ways of dealing with people like that”. What? Will they kill you? Oh no! They'll just make you look like a blithering idiot and an individual who lacks credibility. We know NOW that Galileo was not crazy! I'm sure they knew it back then during his time. But they still put him away!

Am I saying the UFOs or UAPs are not real? Not at all. I'm saying they are real. And … if they don't belong to US, then they belong to The Enemy. If they belong to US, we have our reasons for not wanting the public to know. If they belong to The Enemy, we obviously don't want them to know that we know!!

Admit it. My logic is flawless. LOL. ☺

** For the record, "The Day the Earth Stood Still" (the original with Michael Rennie (1951); not the remake with Keanu Reeves (2008)), will always be my favorite movie about aliens and UFOs.

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Bible Study: The Story of Abigail and Nabal (A Role Model for Wise Women)

The name Abigail is Hebrew and it means "my father's joy". Because of the story about this man in the Bible the name Nabal gained the figurative meaning of being shamelessly malodorous.

Image credit

• For those who are not familiar with the Old Testament story of Abigail and Nabal, it is as follows:

She is described as “a woman of good understanding” (1 Samuel 25), the wife of an unreasonable scoundrel, named Nabal, who provoked the anger of a future king of Israel, David. So ferocious was David's anger that he determined to wipe out the entire house of Nabal. The servants told Abigail what her husband had done and also clarified their report by saying that David had been very kind to them and had protected them from ruthless marauders. She immediately prepared food and took it to David and his men; apologizing for her husband's disrespect and insult; and imploring David to have mercy on those who were innocent and meant him no harm. Her actions caused David to have a change of heart. She also won his heart. When she informed her husband that he had almost caused the death and destruction of his entire family, servants included, he apparently died from shock!

Original Source

What are Some Historic Events You Lived Through?

I am an old lady with a Tumblr account and I can tell the Tumblr community has a lot of young people. I stumbled across a post and the person was saying they were very upset about living through a historic event RIGHT NOW. It was a reference to our 2024 presidential elections.  (Visit my Tumblr.)  But then I thought to myself:  How many historic events have I lived through?

Let me think. I've lived through:

1. Introduction of new technology: Television (50s) and Internet (90s)
2. 3 assassinations – John Kennedy, Robert Kennedy, and Martin Luther King Jr.
3. 3 POTUS Impeachments – Richard Nixon, Bill Clinton, and Donald Trump (impeached twice)
4. The passage of the Civil Rights Act
5. Neil Armstrong walked on the moon
6. Richard Speck - 1st serial killer or mass murderer I knew about
7. The Vietnam War and “Flower Power”
8. Iran-Contra Affair
9. Fall of the Berlin Wall
10. Oklahoma City Bombing
11. Sept 11th Attack
12. Death of Osama bin Laden and several other high-profile terrorists
13. COVID-19 Pandemic
14. January 6 Capitol Riot
15. Yom Kippur War in 1973 & 50 years later same conflict, same people, on Yom Kippur AGAIN!
16. Several Landmark Supreme Court Decisions from Roe v Wade to the overturning of Roe V Wade
17. MASS SHOOTINGS – 1960s at the University of Texas; 1980s at a McDonald's in California; 1990s at Luby's Cafeteria in Texas and at Columbine High School … It's 2024 and NOW there are so many mass shootings we maintain a database of the incidents

There are more. But these events are memorable.

Original source

Floral Diversity: Transplant Flowers to Cure Homesickness

Florida was discovered by an explorer named Ponce de Leon. He named the state “Florida” which is the Spanish word for “flowers”, because, upon his arrival in this new land, he saw nothing but gorgeous flowers everywhere. I imagine one of the flowers must have been the hibiscus, a flower that grew in the front yard of my childhood home. In fact, as a kid, it seemed like this flower was everywhere!  We had hibiscus that grew in the front yard of my childhood home. Many hardy hibiscus are native to Florida; but for obvious reasons, the orange blossom was chosen as the state flower. But that's OK because ... the hibiscus is the state flower of Hawaii. There are seven species of hibiscus native to this state. Also known as pua aloalo in Hawaiian, this flower represents royalty and communicated power and respect.

Image credit: glitter-graphics.com

When I moved from Florida to Texas, shortly after my arrival, I was in a store shopping for items for my new home. I overheard a lady talking to another lady. She said she had just returned to her home in Texas. She had been vacationing in Florida and she was so excited because she had found this wonderful flower! She said she just had to bring this gorgeous flower back home to Texas and plant it her garden.  Being from Florida, my curiosity was peaked. I wondered what Florida flower had impressed her so much. Turns out that it was the hibiscus.  Not surprised.

Links of Interest:

• Hibiscus Transplant Info - When And How To Transplant A Hibiscus
• Hibiscus Dying or Struggling? 7 Ways to Revive Your Plant
• Hibiscus Wilting After Transplant: What to Do - GFL Outdoors

The medicinal benefits of hibiscus tea are numerous; it can reduce the risk of cancer, help with weight loss and more.  However ... 

• CAUTION!  According to Medical News Today, hibiscus can interact with certain medications. For example, people who take chloroquine, a medication used to treat malaria, should not consume hibiscus because it may decrease how well the medicine works in the body.

I’ll never take the hibiscus flower from my childhood for granted ever again. In fact, if you ever relocate and feel a little homesick, try transplanting a flower that reminds you of the home you left behind.

If you have relocated to a new home, what are flowers that remind you of your childhood home?

♦

Original source

North and South Korea ~ Will It Ever Be Just Plain Old Korea?

Why it looks like reunification of North and South Korea will always be a pleasant fiction.

I am an America and these are my thoughts and observations from a distance. It's not meant to be offensive or insulting It's an opinion based on all of the Korean dramas I have watched about reuniting North and South Korea. But based on my limited understanding of world history and world politics, I would say that reunification is just a wish, and the Doggaebi will not grant this wish no matter how good you are.

Please. This just my opinion. I think the biggest reason why North and South Korea will never be united is because the political leaders in North Korea would have to admit THEY WERE WRONG. They chose the wrong side during war and even though the name of the country is The Democratic People's Republic of Korea, the nation is neither a democracy or a republic.

Democracy is a system of government in which state power is vested in the people or the general population of a state. (Wikipedia)

A republic, based on the Latin phrase res publica, is a state in which political power rests with the public through their representatives—in contrast to a monarchy. Representation in a republic may or may not be freely elected by the general citizenry. (Wikipedia)

From my distance, it looks like even the name of the country is a lie?

The “D” should stand for dictatorship

The “R” should stand for royal bloodline.

(Just because you don't call yourself doesn't you're not a king.)

The “P” doesn't even belong! (O.o)

Why not name the country “Kim's Playground”. That's what the “P” should stand for. The current leader loves to play with nukes and invite naughty children to play with him, like Russia.

Think about this. During the COVID pandemic, Kim Jong Un had disappeared from the scene for a little while. During that time was there any discussion about electing a new leader? NO!! Instead, some were speculating whether or not his sister should or might take over. Sister or brother? No matter. It's still the Kim family line. At any rate, he showed up again so all that talk went down the drain.

Anyway! The real reason WHY North and South Korea will never reunite is because … CHINA WON'T LET THEM!! Nothing has changed. Just like the Joseon kings who submitted to the Chinese emperors, the North Korean leader is under the thumb of the Chinese leader. He doesn't make any major decisions without Cihna's approval.

All that being said, there are lots of Korean dramas with a storyline that involve North and South Korea. Some are based on historical facts, but the ones depicting reunification are unrealistic but very imaginative. (My opinion.)

1. Commitment (2013)

2. Curtain Call (2022)

3. Doctor Stranger (2014)

4. Escape From Mogadishu (2021)

5. Hunt (2022)

6. Korean Peninsula (2012)

7. My Military Valentine (2024)

8. Operation Chromite (2016)

9. Secretly, Greatly (2013)

10. Snowdrop (2021)

11. Steel Rain (2017) and Steel Rain 2: Summit (2020)

12. Swing Kids (2018)

13. The Berlin File (2013)

14. The Spy Gone North (2018)

15. Yaksha: Ruthless Operations (2022)

LINKS OF INTEREST:

JOY ELLEN YOON — Bridging the Cultural and Linguistic Divide: North vs. South Korea https://www.joyellenyoon.com/blog/2020/5/13/bridging-the-cultural-and-linguistic-divide-north-vs-south-korea

North Korean teens punished for watching South Korean dramas in rare footage, research group claims | CNN https://www.cnn.com/2024/01/24/asia/north-korea-teens-punished-kdrama-intl-hnk/index.html

8 Korean Dramas About North and South Korea | Dramakicks https://dramakicks.com/8-korean-dramas-about-north-and-south-korea/

10 South Korean Dramas That Feature North Korea | Cinema Escapist https://www.cinemaescapist.com/2018/02/10-south-korean-dramas-feature-north-korea/

Korean Dramas About North And South Korea https://www.cosmo.ph/entertainment/k-dramas-north-south-korea-a989-20190420-lfrm

Netflix: 5 K-Shows That Cast a Spotlight on North Korea | Tatler Asia https://www.tatlerasia.com/lifestyle/entertainment/netflix-north-korea-kdramas-money-heist-korea-cloy-hyun-bin-son-ye-jin-operation-chromite-steel-rain

 

Wisdom of Marcus Aurelius, Emperor of Ancient Rome vs The Movie 'Gladiator' (2000)

EMPEROR MARCUS AURELIUS ~ Ancient philosophy or psychology?

Roman emperor and Stoic philosopher Marcus Aurelius (April 26, 121–March 17, 180) kept a notebook (like a diary or journal of sorts), his Meditations.  It has been translated and annotated by the British classics scholar Robin Waterfield.  I might have titled the notebook “Anger Management Techniques”.  

“First, don’t be upset. Nothing happens that isn’t in accord with universal nature, and before long you won’t exist at all, just like [your heroes]… Second, fix your gaze on the matter at hand and see it for what it is, and then, keeping in your mind your obligation to be a good man and the demands of your humanity, go right ahead and do it, in the way that seems to you to be most just. But do it with kindness and modesty, and without dissembling.” 

The emperor basically said KEEP YOUR COOL!!

The Stoic Antidote to Frustration: Marcus Aurelius on How to Keep Your Mental Composure and Emotional Equanimity When People Let You Down – Brain Pickings

ENTERTAINMENT TRIVIA:  The movie "Gladiator" (2000) which starred Russell Crowe did not present a true historical picture of Marcus Aurelius.

"Marcus Aurelius really was a Roman Emperor for about 6 decades (161 - 180). He was a scholar who adhered to Stoicism, and reflected his view and perspectives about life in a writing called “Meditations”. Although he was a philanthropist and introduced social reforms, he did not like the Christians.

History says that Marcus Aurelius did nominate his own son to succeed him. Aurelius died in March 180 and Commodus – full name: Lucius Aelius Aurelius - was 19 years old when he came to the throne. He reigned from 180 - 193. He was a mad tyrant who believed himself to the reincarnation of the demigod Hercules and that he somehow possessed superhuman strength. The people did not like him at all and they tried to kill him many many times. Each failed assassination attempt was met with some serious payback consequences. In the end, he was murdered by a hired gladiator."   (Source)

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American History: Really Cool History About American Presidents

In my lifetime, I have lived through the administrations of presidents of the United States from Eisenhower to Obama. They left their “footprints” in America's historical records for future generations of citizens. Let's hope the country is still standing for those generations.

From my childhood to the present date, I can remember the following presidents of the United States:

• Dwight Eisenhower (1953 – 1961)
• John F. Kennedy (1961 – Nov 22, 1963)
• Lyndon Johnson (1963 – 1969)
• Richard Nixon (1969 – 1974)
• Gerald Ford (1974 – 1977)
• Jimmy Carter (1977 – 1981)
• Ronald Reagan (1981 – 1989)
• George Bush Sr. (1989 – 1993)
• William J. Clinton (1993 – 2001)
• George Bush Jr. (2001 – 2009)
• Barack Obama (2009 – 2017)

Donald Trump (2017 – 2021 )

• Joe Biden (2021 - 2024)

At the time of this writing, it is March 2020*. We are in the midst of the presidential campaign process. Somebody has to be nominated as the Democratic candidate. That person will run for the highest office in this country and whoever he or she is, they hope “We the People” will vote for them and unseat our current Republican president, Donald Trump. Whenever this time in American history comes around, i.e. the political process of choosing a new fearless leader, I am always thankful.

• I’m thankful Americans have the right to VOTE.
• I’m thankful our POTUS is not a despicable king or queen who can’t be dethroned or worse a ruthless dictator who nobody can get rid of.
• I’m thankful the U.S. Constitution limits the president’s term in office to 4 years and that the president can only serve for 2 terms.
• I’m thankful I have survived all of the presidents as far back as I can remember and that our country is still standing.
• I’m thankful that I’m living and American.

I found some really cool tweets that reflect interesting moments in time. The history covered in tweets is during the timeline from Eisenhower to Johnson. When Nixon took office I was attending university and I became discouraged, dissatisfied, and disinterested in American politics. I’ve never really quite regained my enthusiasm and interest. But I didn’t bury my head in the sand either. America is still the land that I love. God Bless America.

Cool Tweets About American Presidents

*Original content source:  Virily.com, March 5, 2020

Tuesday, 

November 3

Election Day (US) 2020 in United States

To ALL Americans who VOTE (and those who don't):

Remember this country's history.  Recall the aspirations and ideals of our Founding Fathers.  Remember those who shed blood for this land.  Not just those who fought as soldiers in the military, but including the original natives and those who were slaves.  America exists because of their sweat, blood, and tears.

Understand this.  You can not rely solely on a leader to make America a great nation.  Building this country is YOUR RESPONSIBILITY.  The leader you choose does not carry this weight on his or her shoulders all alone.  The leader is an ordinary citizen, just like you and me, who should be humbled and honored to SERVE "We the People".  The elected leader should respect the oath of office and approach the duties of the office of the presidency with gravity and sincerity and a genuine heart FOR THE COUNTRY AND FOR THE PEOPLE. 

Know this.  A country is nothing without dutiful, loyal, patriotic citizens who love their country, live peacefully in their country, and work TOGETHER to build their country.

Think about this when you vote.
Think about this even if you don't vote.

Original content source: Medium.com