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Thursday, February 10, 2011

Hannibal of Carthage (247-183 B.C.)



Hannibal is said to be the greatest military leader and strategist of all time. Hannibal was born in 247 B.C., when Carthage, then the maritime power, was beginning to decline. The Carthaginians civilisation was a mix of African and Phoenicians, who were great merchants. They traded with India and the people of the Mediterranean, and the Scilly Isles.

When very young, Hannibal accompanied Hamilclar, his father in a battle with the Romans. Seventeen years later, he succeeded his father and became supreme commander of the peninsula. Hannibal had 80,000 infantry, 12,000 cavalry, and 40 African war elephants. He conquered major portions of Spain and France, and all of Italy, except for Rome.

Hannibal marched his army and war elephants through the Alps to surprise and conquer his enemies. In one battle, the Romans put 80,000 men on the field to defeat Hannibal, led by Scipio. When Scipio attacked with his entire army, Hannibal had so studied the grounds and arranged his men so that they surrounded the Romans. He then turned his armored war elephants loose and trampled them. Behind them, he sent his African swordsmen to complete the slaughter.

In another battle, Rome sent 90,000 men led by Varro and Emilius. With only 50,000 men, knowing he could not win by using his main force, Hannibal placed the weakest part of his army in the center, contrary to the best military rules. With his veterans and cavalry on both wings, the Romans struck them in full center as Hannibal had anticipated. When they were sure of victory by overcoming the center, Hannibal's flank closed in and killed 70,000 men, 80 senators and Emilius.

Hannibal later went on to become a statesman of Carthage, and later took his own life, rather than surrender to Rome.

Monday, February 7, 2011

Second Chance


Being with you was like drinking poison from the nectar of heaven.
A blissful death is better then a miserable life.
I gave up on us, and thought of making you my wife.
Emotional complacency defined our existence.
The love we had been dying and me just being a witness.
Your essence gave me purpose it brought life to my dreams.
Your voice was caressing, your thoughts was engrained in my spirit.
My feeling about you used to echo in my head.
My heart allowed me to hear it.
With you the world ceased to exist and time stopped.
For you were my fuel and I worshipped every drop
I was captivated by your energy, and addicted to your soul.
In my arms we would both grow old
Now we have grown apart
The serenity we created is a futile work of art.
Bitterness and hate are rampant without probable reason.
List of regrets; is it too late to begin a new season?
Foolish immaturity forces me to become a man.
To start a new life with you is where I want to stand.
Second chances are figment of our imagination
Unless we believe in ourselves and set realistic expectations 

Tuesday, February 1, 2011

MALCOLM X: OUR HISTORY WAS DESTROYED BY SLAVERY

Unknown Black History Facts #part 1



Nathaniel Alexander was the first to patent the folding chair. His invention was designed to be used in schools, churches and at large social gatherings. 


Andrew Jackson Beard invented the "Jenny Coupler" in 1897, a device which allowed train cars to hook themselves together when they are bumped into one another. The device saved the lives of many railroad workers, who originally had the dangerous job of hooking the moving cars together by hand.


Henry Blair, the second African-American to receive a patent, invented a corn seed planter in 1834 and a cotton planter in 1836. Blair could not read or write and signed his patent with an X.


C.B. Brooks invented the street sweeper in 1896. It was a truck equipped with brooms.


Joseph Lee invented a bread-making machine that mixed the ingredients and kneaded the dough in 1895.


John Love invented the pencil sharpener in 1897.


L.P. Ray invented the dustpan in 1897.


Alexander Miles of Duluth, Minnesota patented an electric elevator in 1887 with automatic doors that would close off the shaft way, thus making elevators safer.


Joseph Winters invented a fire escape ladder in 1878.


Granville Woods (1856 - 1910) invented numerous devices relating to the railroad including a system of overhead electric conducting lines, air brakes and a telegraph system that allowed communication between moving trains.


Frederick Jones held over 60 patents, with most of them pertaining to refrigeration. His portable air conditioner was used in World War II to preserve medicine and blood serum.