Category: Christopher Pascale (page 1 of 2)

Rossetti’s Poetic License on India’s First War of Independence

Following a rebellion of British rule in India, Victorian poet Christina Rossetti wrote “In the Round Tower at Jhansi, June 8, 1857.” It is a love poem about a real British couple, Alexander and Margaret Skene. They are depicted as hiding from impending doom, sharing their final moments, and choosing to die at their own hands than face what lay nearby.

This article will share the poem, briefly discuss what actually happened the Skenes, and then wade into the propaganda from which a poem like this was inspired.

To hear the poem as shared on our channel:

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A “Pre-Ponzi” Ponzi Scheme: When Ferdinand Ward Swindled Ulysses S. Grant

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Sacred Red Rock Returned to Council Grove, KS

This sacred 28-ton red quartzite boulder was taken from Council Grove to Lawrence in 1929. While there, it was defaced with a 300 lb plaque

For centuries, the Kanza, or Kaw, people recognized an object known as the Sacred Red Rock as a critical part of their culture and history. It is called the Sacred Red Rock because it’s (1) reddish in color and (2) important. It is also called Iⁿ‘zhúje‘waxóbe, and sometimes Grandfather.

In 1929, the rock was removed by crane, put on a train, and taken to Lawrence, Kansas. There, a metal plaque was bolted into it. The plaque honored the heroism of white settlers.

The Kaw were outraged, which confused some because they felt it was just a dumb rock Continue reading

A Glimpse into Pop-Economics: William “Coin” Harvey, Robert Kiyosaki and Freakonomics

Every generation has a guru who comes along and proves that their understanding of money is far superior. We know this because they part us from ours, and then we gladly promote their ideas.

Just like in lessons from the Bible, where Joseph helped Pharoah see the wisdom of storing up grain in good years to prepare for the bad, Forbes has “9 Ways to Automate Your Savings.” There are not actually 9 ways discussed in the article. There’s 1 way: Have the funds automatically allotted. The other “ways” are just Continue reading

Update on C&C YouTube Channel

The blog will not have an articles this month, but please see updated information on our new YouTube channel.

In learning to convert audio to video, I’m keeping the posts short so that I can learn more through volume.

Li-Young Lee allowed me to read and post pieces of his. I have also Continue reading

The Day Hemp Became Crack-Cocaine

A former concern about marijuana in the US was that it made Mexican beet workers think they were matadors. “All Mexicans are crazy” it was said, and this was the stuff that made them that way. But it was not just our southern neighbors we had to worry about. “Negroes, Hispanics, Filipinos and entertainers” were also offenders.

And do not get these guys started on what happens when white women smoke it!

Because Continue reading

Calvin Coolidge’s Inauguration Day & Its Fallout

March 4, 1925: Inauguration Day

The day began with a parade and ended a fiasco. The new Senate Majority Leader Continue reading

American Indians Get the Vote!

South Dakota governor, Kristi Noem, was banned from most tribal lands in her state after she made inflammatory statements about the tribes living there. A week later, she doubled down and the rest of the tribes joined in.

How can a state executive be banned from land in her own state? In this case, it’s because Continue reading

Imposter Scams in the 19th, 20th and 21st Centuries

Imposter scams involve social engineering to help you trust that the person you are talking to is reputable. People do this to part you from your money or information.

In this article we will discuss 3 scams in 3 different centuries, and how they went down.

Gregor McGregor: The Cazique of Poyais (1821)

Gregor McGregor’s biggest red flag might have been Continue reading

Fallen Wheat Prices During the Worst Depression the US Had Ever Seen

The year was 1893. Grover Cleveland, the first Democrat elected President after the Civil War, was back in office, and the world was going to heck.

Hundreds of banks were folding, thousands of businesses shut down, and millions of households had no providers. Among the causes was a depletion of gold from the national reserves. Another were years of falling crop prices, leading to Continue reading

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