Showing posts with label leaders. Show all posts
Showing posts with label leaders. Show all posts

11 April 2023

Did Alexander the Great Think He Was Great?

Alexander the Great, a historical figure that many people like to write or talk about.  Name written in history or not, every human being is just an A-O-P (“another ordinary person.”) Most ordinary people and extraordinary people usually want the same thing. To be happy.  

Do you wonder sometimes if Alexander thought he great?


Here is what you see when you look up close at this son of a king.
  • He was a teenager when he started out on the path wherein he was determined to become a memorable military and political leader, whom generals even to this day study to improve their leadership skills and abilities.

Eh! Not really. His dad didn’t like him and wanted to get him out of his face, so he sent him away to fight! No matter who you are, if one or both of your parents don’t like you, that messes with your head!


  • He was dead by the time he reached his early 30s.
There are different stories about his death, but if you ask me, I say his mind and body just burned out!

When you look at him up close, you may be moved to think, ‘How awful!!’

There are different stories about how he died, but how he lived wasn’t really all that great either!

By contrast to my own life.

  • At age 16, I was just figuring out who I was and what I wanted to be. 1972 marked the year I graduated from high school and my first year at the University of Miami. Also, my beloved father passed away. He was taken away from me, but he never sent me away from him.

  • By the time I was in my 30s, I had been happily married to the man of my dreams, with kids, for about a decade. Seems to me like Alexander the Great had a sad life and didn’t do much living at all! After 15 years of nothing but fighting and killing, maybe he was thinking: ‘This is my life? What’s so great about it?’

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Related or Similar Articles:
The Seven Kings of Rome
Alexander the Great: God-King or Mere Mortal?
Ten Facts About Alexander the Great (and One Observation)
Ancient Greek and Roman Statues Shown in Their True Colors

Content first published at Literacy Base on April 4, 2017.







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16 January 2023

Quotes That are Re-Quote-Worthy

Martin Luther King Jr. 
  • “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.”
President Barack Obama
  • “Yes we can.”
Malcolm X
  • “When “i” is replaced with “we” even illness becomes wellness.”
Nelson Mandela
  • “A good head and a good heart are always a formidable combination.”
Bob Marley -
  • “Overcome the devils with a ting called love.” 





26 November 2022

Sacajawea and the Lost Grave

"The Native Americans do not know for certain what happened with Sacajawea after her return to the Lemhi River Valley. ... Many of the Lemhi Shosone believe that Sacajawea died at age 24 in South Dakota. ... Many historians call Sacajawea the most important woman in American History. ..."


What Happened After the Lewis and Clark Expedition? - Sacajawea and the Lost Grave

  Sacajawea

Shoshone Woman Commemorative Coin


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31 October 2020

The JFK - James Bond Link (and Other Interesting Bond Trivia)

Sharing links of interest I discovered while researching to publish my article for HUBPages.com:

My List of the Best James Bond Theme Songs

James Bond

JFK's recommendation may have helped sell the James Bond books to America - Did you know that the late former President John F. Kennedy's endorsement of one of Ian Fleming's books promoted the popularity of James Bond films in the American market and helped propel 007 into becoming a worldwide phenomenon?

James Bond books by Ian Fleming Info on the James Bond books by Ian Fleming, including 12 novels and 2 books of short stories.
How James Bond and Steve Jobs changed our world - Economic Times By Bennett Voyles "...October marks two anniversaries that matter a lot to the tech world's collective unconscious: the 50th anniversary of the James Bond film series, and the first anniversary of Steve Jobs' death. ..."
The Sunday Tribune - Spectrum Octopussy (1983), one of seven Bond movies starring Roger Moore, remains the only one in the series to be filmed in India. Parts of it were shot in Rajasthan, with Vijay Amritraj playing a cameo. In the case of Skyfall, complications pertaining to securing permission to shoot on a running train on the Konkan Railway reportedly forced the crew to look elsewhere. The latest Bond movie was eventually filmed in Shanghai, Istanbul and the Scottish Highlands. ...
The 10 Coolest Gadgets in 50 Years of James Bond For 50 years, James Bond has been the master of international intrigue and had some truly great gadgets along the way.
'Skyfall' Star, Naomie Harris Talks New Role And Idris Elba Becoming The First Black Bond Having the opportunity to co-star beside a suave British intelligence agent such as James Bond, requires a lot of skill and technique. According to 36-year-old actress Naomie Harris, prepping for her starring role in, Skyfall, proved to be more strenuous than she originally expected.
Facebook Fan Page: Idris Elba for James Bond. We Want Idris Elba for James Bond. As of Oct 2012 - over 20,000 likes; with almost 4,000 people talking about this.
Biggest Bond Bloopers A collection of bloopers at moviemistakes.com. Highlights the biggest Bond bloopers from all 22 Bond movies (there are over 1,000 mistakes across the entire series!).



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● Irresistible Trivia About James Bond Novels - Treathyl Fox - Medium

● After that, Ian Fleming, the creator of James Bond, wrote a book a year. This brilliant writer died of a heart attack in 1964. That's a little over ten years!! ● It is not often that I come across...


First published 11/3/14, 9:49 PM CST




An Aston Martin DB5 as seen in Goldfinger. Exp...
An Aston Martin DB5 as seen in Goldfinger. 
Expensive items are often part of a glamorous lifestyle.
(Photo credit: Wikipedia)

29 September 2020

Quotes and Notes : Philosophy : Confucius Wisdom and Quotes

According to the famous Roman orator and lawyer Cicero:

"There is nothing so absurd that it has not been said by some philosopher." (Yawn.)

The yawn may or may not have been included when he made that comment. But Rome was loaded with philosophers and they had a habit of congregating on Mars Hill daily and just ... babbling. Meanwhile, on another part of planet earth ...

To contrast with a teacher from the Far East:

"3 methods to learn wisdom: by reflection, which is noblest; by imitation, which is easiest; and by experience, which is the bitterest."

Words of wisdom from one who probably lived his life as a simple common ordinary man, but who is today acknowledged by many around the world as one the world's most sensible common sense philosophers. When it comes to Confucianism, many would insist that Cicero's quote does not apply.


A brief bio-snapshot:

- Life span: About 70 years (c. 551 B.C - c. 479 B.C.)

- Born and buried in Chu-foo (or Qufu or Lu).

- Served as Public Administrator for 15 years (532 B.C. - 517 B.C.); afterward, he studied and taught the Chinese classics, and spread his philosophy.

- His sayings were published posthumously as the "Analects of Confucius".

- The Prince of Lu consecrated his home as a temple, two years after he died.

Do You Admire the Wisdom of Confucius?

I do.


To practice 5 things under all circumstances constitutes perfect virtue: gravity, generosity of soul, sincerity, earnestness, and kindness.  ~ Confucius

Image credit: Confucius Statue in Bejing, China (Wikimedia Commons)



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26 March 2020

Christianity: Footsteps of Jesus? (And the Sea of Galilee)

Most people know that Nazareth is the hometown of Jesus.  Most Christians have read the account in the gospel of the moment in time when Jesus publicly announced that He was the Messiah.  (Luke 4: 21)

ARTICLE EXCERPT:  “Jesus grew up in Nazareth. He studied and prayed in a synagogue, the ruins of which are believed to lie beneath a church built by the Crusaders in the 12th Century and that is known as The Synagogue Church.”

No doubt a visit to this historic place is a numbered item on the bucket list for many believers.  For me, this wonderful article by a fellow freelance writer and friend, Sheri Oz, puts a wonderful spin on the phrase “footsteps of Jesus”.


Jesus’ Synagogue Church in Nazareth, Israel


synagogue
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Since we’re on the subject of seeing places where Jesus walked, couldn’t resist sharing this amazing photograph.





03 September 2019

US History: Presidential Trivia: Teddy Called Them Muckrakers

The term "muckraker" was used by America's 26th president, Theodore Roosevelt. 

In the United States, muckrakers was the name for writers whose aim was expose corruption: i.e. to search for and expose misconduct in public life.



In chronological order:  
  • 1908 - Ray Stannard Baker "Following the Color Line" written to expose racial discrimination.  

Worthy of honorable mention: 
  • Ida Minvera Tarbell (1857 - 1944), U.S. journalist, known for "muckraking" exposĂ©s of political and corporate corruption; also a biographer, notably of Abraham Lincoln; and the only lady in the bunch!
Ida M. Tarbell, American "muckraker" author. 
(Photo credit: Wikipedia)

 

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More Presidential Trivia:

  • American presidents, (Thomas) Woodrow Wilson and Theodore Roosevelt, were Nobel Prize winners. 1906, Roosevelt received the award for being a mediator and arbitrating an end to the Russo-Japanese conflict; there was a dispute over +Manchuria and +Korea. Wilson received the prize in 1919, for establishing the League of Nations after World War I (1914 - 1918).








  • The "teddy bear" is named after Roosevelt's nickname Teddy because he went hunting and didn't want to shoot a baby cub.  Many people think a teddy bear with roses is an irresistible gift for Valentines Day?  



  • Kindle eBooks - Biographies & Memoirs of Presidents & Heads of State






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    18 May 2019

    Leadership By Virtue: The Economy and a ‘cultural noise in the background ... (Reblog)

    The word "economy" can be traced back to the Greek word "oikonomos" meaning ‘one who manages a household.’ ... : Leadership By Virtue: The Economy and a ‘cultural noise in the background

    * * * *
    Image credit: © 2014 National Days : East Meets West Day




    Jaro Berce's blog, Leadership By Virtue, is a blog about his book by that name.  Just recently started following it and picked up on this because it was listed as one of the “Popular Posts”. Indeed discussing the economy is always “popular”. ☺  Those so-called “discussions” can be downright ruthless sometimes. We're talking serious kung fu fighting! Yet and still, in my opinion, gaining even an introductory or elementary knowledge and understanding of economics has its value. 

    It's also interesting to note how West meets East, i.e. how westerners make application of eastern philosophy and principles. 

    The I Ching or Book of Changes: A Guide to Life's Turning Points













    11 October 2018

    Book Recommendation : Women in History : Razia Sultana of India (Reblog)

    EXCERPT:  " ...Razia ascended the throne of Delhi at the age of 31. During her four-year reign from 1236, silver coins issued in her name bore her official title "Jalauddin" but she referred to herself as "lmadatun Niwan", which meant the Great Woman. Razia Sultana dressed like a man and rode an elephant through Delhi with her face unveiled....

    Legends surrounding Razia have made her popular in Indian culture; the 1983 Urdu film Razia Sultan is a fictionalized account of her life, as is Rafiq Zakaria's novel, Razia: Queen "

    Women Who Ruled: Razia Sultana of India 


    Image Source: Wikimedia Commons


    Media_http4bpblogspot_ggdfx
    **COMMENT: If you want to learn about women in history, this is the best blog ever!! Not only is it visually attractive and appealing, but the posts - so informative, intriguing and fascinating - will never disappoint you.


    Book below not mentioned at the blog post, but suggested if interested in other women like Razia, the Queen of India.  It's a picture book suggested for ages 5 and up.  I'm older than 5 which puts me in the "and up" group of readers.  Picture books are wonderful quick reads and are just like a primer on a particular topic.  They usually have great illustrations and the non-fiction books present the info like a quick summary.  It whets your appetite and if you choose to do further research, you can search for books in the Juvenile/Young Adults section of the library for a more mature advanced reading level.
     
     

    18 June 2018

    1999 is Past. 2013 is Gone. But 3012 is Still a Long Way Off! Right?

    1999 is past. 2013 is gone.  2016 and the following 8 years will come and go in a flash!  But 3012 is still a long way off! Right?

    U.S. Presidential flag, 1960-present (not usually called a "standard" 
    in official U.S. government terminology). It is defined in 
    Executive Order 10860. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

    Visualize this. You, a typical AAC (average American citizen), a Student at an American institution of higher learning in the YEAR (??) - timeline somewhere between 2000 and 2012 - have been chosen to spend 15 minutes with the President of the United States (thee most powerful Leader of the free world [or at least he or she would like think so]). It is the 21st century. 1999 came and went.  

    No more partying like it's 1999.  The party is over. You - Mr. or Ms. Student - have been given a mission. 

    Your mission ~ should you decide to accept ~ is to identify the two most important issues facing your generation. What two things would you choose to discuss and why? No. This is not a trick question. No. I don't think this question has ever been put quite this way for a Miss America or Miss Universe contestant. Furthermore, your choices have been narrowed down considerably.


    - A) War and Peace 
    - B) The Budget and Taxes 
    - C) Racism and Crime (includes illegal immigrants)
    - D) Health and Education 
    - D) Fake News (and squiggly lines) 
    - F) Making the World Safe for Democracy and Nothing Else Matters.

    Do not Believe Justin Bieber. You do not have until 3012, you will need more than a Beauty And A Beat; and besides that, Mr. Bieber is from Canada.. :)

    So let's go! You got 15 minutes. The clock is ticking! * * *


    Amazon product image


    * * *

    Similar Posts Here at My Blog Stop!:

    Americans Love Their Firsts
    God Bless America | Looking Ahead to 2016
    Presidential Trivia: Teddy Called Them Muckrakers


    (Content first published 2014.  Updated and republished 2018.)

    04 February 2018

    American Presidents | Representing The Whigs

    The Whig was a U.S. Political party that was in existence from 1834 to 1856. Four of the active and influential members of the party served as the President of the United States.




    No More Whigs

    The Whig was a U.S. Political party that was in existence from 1834 to 1856. It was formed in opposition to the Democratic party. They favored higher tariffs and a liberal interpretation of the Constitution. The members eventually united with the Republicans and their party, as we know of it in history, was no more.

    It was formed in opposition to the Democratic party. They favored higher tariffs and a liberal interpretation of the Constitution. The members eventually united with the Republicans and their party, as we know of it in history, was no more.

    - William Henry Harrison (1841) -
    We will never of he would have served our country well because he died one month after taking office of pneumonia.

    - John Tyler (1841 – 1845) -
    Tyler opened up trade with China and signed bills admitting Florida and Texas to the Union.

    - Zachary Taylor (1849 – 1850) -
    Respected as a war hero. “Old Rough and Ready” was his nickname. Before he could implement his policies concerning the exclusion of slavery from newly acquired lands, he died.

    - Millard Fillmore (1850 – 1853) -
    Fillmore delayed the debate over slavery by agreeing to The Compromise of 1850 which gave each newly acquired territory the “liberty” to decide, on their own, whether they would be a slave-state or a free-state. We of course know that the final decision was settled by the American Civil War.


    Image credit: By N. Currier (firm), New York [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons




    Presidents’ Day is celebrated every third Monday in February in the USA. Almost everyone knows all about George Washington and Abraham Lincoln. Just sharing a few tidbits about some of our less talked-about American presidents.



    Content above first appeared at TreasurePen.com, Feb 13 2014.
    




    U.S. History Timeline: From Washington to Tyler

    Jackson and Monroe were not the only ones who made time for romance. All of the others had romantic involvements that resulted in marriages. The first names of the First Ladies from Washington to Tyler are as follows (with husband's initals and the wedding date): Martha (G.W. - January 6, 1759); Abigail (J.A.

    U.S. History Timeline: After Lincoln, Before Coolidge

    by cmoneyspinner The Republican party was formed in 1854 by antislavery groups. Members of the Whigs, Free-Soilers and Know-Nothing parties merged their ideals of freedom with others in this new party that opposed slavery.

    Presidents Who Served First as Vice-Presidents

    What do American Presidents John Adams, Thomas Jefferson, Martin Van Buren, John Tyler, Millard Fillmore, Andrew Johnson, Chester A. Arthur, Theodore Roosevelt, and Calvin Coolidge all have in common with each other? Two things. These nine men served as Vice-Presidents before becoming Presidents; and they are no longer with US.

    16 January 2018

    How to Design Smart Toys for Creative Kids (So They Will Grow Into Creative Adults)

    "According to over 1,500 CEOs worldwide, the number one skill a future leader needs to have is creativity." But test scores reflected via standardized testing methods and procedure indicate that creative thinking has decreased significantly among K- 3rd graders, especially in the USA. 



    * * *
    MY OBSERVATION? 
    Not a professional educator, so don't know if the results are a reflection on inadequate teaching methods or testing processes. But do know that toys and games are proven educational tools and fun!
    Electric Questioner, electric learning toy, in...
    Electric Questioner, electric learning toy, invented 1928, newer horizontal version for younger kids. Find right answer on the right, then light is lit (Photo credit: Wikipedia)















    19 August 2017

    Americans Love Their Firsts (Republish to Remind and Refocus US)

    We Americans love our “firsts”. When Obama was elected, it was said and is still being said and will continue to be said, he is “the first African-American” to hold the highest office in the land!! Toot! Toot!!!

    What do you expect from US? We're still a baby country experiencing our “first steps” in many ways. When a baby takes his or her first steps doesn't everybody applaud the monumental achievement and encourage the little one to keep on going forward?? So let US blow our horn!





    George Washington was, of course, our 1st POTUS.

    Abraham Lincoln was our 1st Republican POTUS.
    - Sadly he was also our 1st POTUS to be assassinated.

    Andrew Johnson was the 1st POTUS to be impeached, but he was not removed from office (narrowly escaped).

    Ulysses S. Grant was the 1st American since George Washington to hold the rank of full general.
    - He was also the 1st to publish his “Personal Memoirs”.

    Theodore Roosevelt was the 1st to be awarded the Nobel Peace Prize.

    Franklin D. Roosevelt was the 1st (and only) POTUS to serve 3 terms.

    John F. Kennedy was the 1st Roman Catholic ever elected as President.

    Lyndon Johnson was the 1st to nominate an African-American (Thurgood Marshall) for the Supreme Court.

    Richard Nixon was the 1st of our country's leaders to be impeached who had to go home!

    Ronald Reagan was the 1st POTUS to appoint a woman (Sandra Day O'Connor) to the Supreme Court.
    - By God's grace, he was also the first to survive an assassination attempt by John W. Hinckley, Jr.


    So there you have just a few remarkable “first moments” in the history of the United States of America.



    * (Just an aside trivia note: Ronald Reagan and Bob Marley share the same birth date, February 6th. Marley died in 1981, the same year as the failed attempt on Reagan's life.)


    Image credit: Public domain.

    * * More Interesting Trivia: * *
    - In 1872, Victoria Woodhull was the first woman to run for President of the United States.
    - 100 years late in 1972, Shirley Chisolm was the first black woman to run for President.


    ***
    Original Post, Feb 22, 2014 at TreasurePen


    06 July 2017

    Washington Versus Jefferson - RE: French Revolutionary Wars

    The fourth of July was just celebrated a couple of days ago but this blog publisher is still on a “patriotic high”, so bear with me and lets continue taking a look back at America's beginnings.  



    glitter-graphics.com


    The French Revolution occurred between 1789 – 1799.
    • The French Revolutionary Wars occurred between 1792 – 1802, overlapping the French Revolution; and Revolutionary France fought two coalitions of European powers.
      • First coalition (organized in 1792) was comprised of Austria, Prussia, Sardinia, Britain, Spain and the Netherlands.
      • Second coalition (organized 1798) included Britain, Russia, Austria, Naples, Portugal and Turkey.
    • Despite the opposition, Napoleon Bonaparte emerged as a military and political leader. From 1799 – 1804, he set himself up as a dictator; and in 1804, proclaimed himself emperor of France.

    Meanwhile ... 
     


    George Washington was serving as the first president of the United States from 1789 – 1797.  Washington maintained a neutral stance on the French Revolutionary Wars, not deeming them a national priority requiring U.S. involvement. 

    Thomas Jefferson opposed this stance and favored strong federal involvement in foreign affairs. It is likely Jefferson had more insight because he served as a minister to France during Washington's presidential term.  Perhaps the first POTUS should have deferred to his judgment.


    Who was right?

    Click here to participate in the poll.  
    Thank you in advance for your VOTE. 


    04 July 2017

    Happy Birthday America! - Remembering US (Pt 3)

    The Whigs, Free-Soilers and Know-Nothing political parties merged their ideals of freedom with others to create a new party that opposed slavery. Abraham Lincoln was a member of that “new” part and became the first Republican president. ...

    Read more:







    http://foxnet2017.tumblr.com/post/162593733486/frederick-douglass-what-to-the-slave-is-the-4th

    Happy Birthday America! - Remembering US (Pt 2)

    “The holiday we now know as Presidents' Day which is celebrated the third Monday of February was at one time called George Washington’s Birthday. ...”

    Continue reading at:



    *(3 part blog post)


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