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Tag: 1843 Great Emigration departs for Oregon.

John’s Believe It Or Not… May 22nd

* 1987 – Rick Hansen ends Man in Motion tour after 40000 km through 34 countries. * 1843 Great Emigration departs for Oregon * 2017 Manchester Arena bombed during Ariana Grande concert * 2004 Controversial documentary Fahrenheit 9/11 wins Palme d’Or * 1958 Jerry Lee Lewis drops a bombshell in London

It’s Tuesday! Did You Know…

* 1987 – Rick Hansen ends Man in Motion tour after 40000 km through 34 countries.

Born in Port Alberni, British Columbia, Rick Hansen grew up in Williams Lake, British Columbia. As a young athlete, he had won all-star awards in five sports. He was paralyzed at the age of 15 from being in the back of a truck with his friend when suddenly the pickup truck swerved and hit a tree. He left the bed of the truck from the impact and received a spinal cord injury. He worked on rehabilitation, completed high school, then became the first student with a physical disability to graduate in physical education from the University of British Columbia. Hansen won national championships in wheelchair volleyball and wheelchair basketball teams. He went on to become a world-class champion wheelchair marathoner and Paralympic athlete. He competed in wheelchair racing at both the 1980 and 1984 Summer Paralympics, winning a total of three gold, two silver, and one bronze medal. Hansen won 19 international wheelchair marathons, including three world championships. He also coached high school basketball and volleyball. Rick had a very close relationship with his family, especially with his father and grandfather, with whom he enjoyed frequent fishing trips. Continue reading “John’s Believe It Or Not… May 22nd”

John’s Believe It Or Not… May 22nd

In 334 BC Alexander the Great defeats Darius III of Persia in the Battle of the Granicus. In 1843 Great Emigration departs for Oregon. In 1455 The War of the Roses begins.In 2004 Controversial documentary Fahrenheit 9/11 wins Palme d’Or. In 1958 Jerry Lee Lewis drops a bombshell in London.

It’s A Holiday Monday in Canada! Did you know…

Happy Birthday to John W. Howell! See my Tribute…

* 334 BC Alexander the Great defeats Darius III of Persia in the Battle of the Granicus. (Alexander the Great crossed the Hellespont with his combined Macedonian and Greek forces and stepped upon the shores of Anatolia. His goal was simple: to defeat King Darius III, the last king of the Achaemenids, and conquer the vast Persian Empire. In May of 334 BCE, he had his first opportunity when he faced the Persians on the banks of the River Granicus. After receiving word from his scouts of the Persians’ location at Granicus, Alexander advanced towards the river; he had come to realize that he must defeat the Persians to gain the necessary resources to continue on his quest of conquering Persia. As the Macedonian forces neared the river, Parmenion, one of Alexander’s most loyal generals and commander of his left flank, advised Alexander they should wait until morning before attacking. Alexander replied, according to Plutarch, that it would “disgrace the Hellespont should he fear the Granicus.” The historian Arrian spoke of this encounter by saying that Alexander realized that the Persians did not fear him because they did not know him. Alexander rejected Parmenion’s plea, the battle would begin that afternoon but would last barely an hour. Although numbers vary among the various ancient sources, modern accounts number the Persians at 10,000 cavalry and 5,000 Greek mercenary infantry. Alexander’s forces numbered 13,000 infantry and 5,000 cavalry. One unique and problematic situation for the Persians was the positioning of their cavalry on the banks of the Granicus; the Greek mercenary infantry — 5,000 strong — was placed behind them. Some historians believe this idea cost the Persians the battle. The Persian cavalry could neither move forward because of the river banks nor pull back because of the location of the infantry. In addition, the one weapon unique to the Persians, the scythed chariot, was almost useless on the muddy riverbank. Was this a tactical error or pure arrogance? Together with the lack of true leadership — besides Memnon — the battle was lost before it was begun.) Continue reading “John’s Believe It Or Not… May 22nd”