Joey Chestnut may not be spending Independence Day on Coney Island for Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest. However, he will take part in a different competition.

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by Craig Hemke, Sprott Money: Watch Craig Hemke and Michael Oliver wrap up the volatile month of June in the precious metals market. From discussing price movements to analyzing market trends and offering insights into trading strategies, this episode covers it all. Topics Discussed: Stock Market Bubble and Fed Reaction: Michael highlighted that the current stock market […]

by Jim Hoft, The Gateway Pundit: Riots broke out in France on Sunday after the right-wing won the first round of legislative elections. As The Gateway Pundit previously reported, France’s globalist president Emmanuel Macron took a massive gamble earlier calling for a snap election following an enormous defeat in the EU elections earlier this month. Now, his bet […]

from Mark Dice: TRUTH LIVES on at https://sgtreport.tv/

Pontius Pilate was a Roman prefect whose name has become forever entwined with the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. Despite being a central figure in a story that has been told for over two millennia, we know little about the man himself and the events that shaped his life after the crucifixion. Early works by Josephus, Eusebius, and other early Christian historians provide a window into his later life, allowing us to try and answer the question: What happened to Pontius Pilate later in life? “Behold the Man” by Antonio Ciseri The Early Life of Pontius Pilate Admittedly, very little is known about the early life of this middling Roman official. But, according to some traditional accounts, he was a knight of the Roman equestrian class and a member of the Samnite clan of the Pontii in Italy. This explains his name Pontius, but very little else can be verified about his birth, origins, or early life. That is until his appointment to the office that has made him so famous. In 26 AD, Pilate became the fifth governor of the Roman province of Judaea. He obtained the office through his ties to Sejanus, an extremely influential figure during the reign of the second Roman emperor, Tiberius. The Roman Emperor Tiberius. Pilate was to take over in Judaea just twenty years after its last client, king Herod Archelaus, was deposed, and Rome began to rule the region directly. It was a fractious time as the Jewish people, one of the few subject people of Rome who were monotheists and believed in one rather than multiple gods, were rebellious. Many groups of Jewish people were also increasingly inclined to follow one of many proclaimed messiahs preaching throughout the province in the first century AD. The man we know as Jesus was just one of these messiahs operating there during Pilate’s governorship. Judaea in the 1st century AD by Andrew C Governing Judaea and the Crucifixion of Jesus Pilate would govern Roman Judaea for ten years, from 26 AD to 36 AD. It is unclear precisely when Jesus was brought before him and condemned by Jewish leaders. But some have argued that this occurred in 33 AD. In 31 AD, Sejanus was removed from power and executed, weakening Pilate’s position in Judaea now that he had no backer. Sejanus is arrested Pilate’s decision to appease Jewish leaders and acquiesce to their demands could have come from this weakened position. This would certainly make sense given that between his appointment in 26 AD and Sejanus’s execution in the autumn of 31 AD, Pilate had generally been deeply antagonistic to the Jewish leaders in the province. He incited their fury by issuing coins with symbols of the Pagan gods on them and hanging icons of Emperor Tiberius in Jerusalem and other towns across the province, actions which the Jewish people deemed idolatrous. Given this, it seems likely that Pilate’s more accommodating decision to grant the leaders’ request for Jesus to be crucified occurred when his position as governor of Judaea was weak following Sejanus’s fall from power. Despite the often apocalyptic depiction of Pilate’s decision to condemn Jesus in the New Testament, this was very likely a typical day as governor. He was simply trying to avoid unrest over Passover if he refused the Jewish leader’s request. Print of Christus with Pontius Pilate, 16th century Jesus’ crucifixion did not earn him any ill will from Rome, and he continued successfully ruling the region for years afterward. What Happened to Pontius Pilate after Jesus? At some point in 36 AD, a group of Samaritans from Samaria, who were followers of another messiah there, most likely called Dositheos, had begun excavating Mount Gerizim, believing they would find riches and artifacts there associated with the Hebrew prophet Moses. Pilate ordered some of his legionaries to Mount Gerizim, who preceded to massacre the Samaritans A complaint was subsequently made to the governor of the neighboring Roman province of Syria, Lucius Vitellius. He took the complaint seriously enough to send word to Rome, and Pilate was recalled to the Eternal City by Emperor Tiberius to account for his conduct as governor. When Pilate finally made it to Rome in 37 AD, Tiberius had passed and been succeeded by Emperor Caligula. It was often the case that individuals in Pilate’s position accused of severe misconduct were pardoned upon the accession of a new emperor. Because of this, there is a lack of clarity about what happened to Pilate. He largely disappears from the historical record, so two competing theories have emerged, for neither of them has sufficient evidence to show what was accurate. One holds that Pilate fell into disgrace for his actions while governor of Judaea and committed suicide shortly after returning to Rome. A remorseful Pilate prepares to take his own life, 19th century. The other contends that Caligula pardoned him, and he retired to a quiet, obscure life on some country estate in the Italian countryside, never to be heard of again until the authors of the New Testament began writing their accounts of Jesus’s life several decades later. Whichever is the truth of Pontius Pilate’s later years, we know that his reputation is mixed today. In some Christian traditions, he is seen as a reluctant governor who begrudgingly consented to allow Jesus to be crucified to placate the leaders of the temple of Jerusalem. Jesus before Pontius Pilate The Christian Ethiopian Church and the Coptic Church of Egypt revere Pilate as a Saint. Others have typically viewed him as an autocratic, violent governor whose role in the slaying of the son of god makes him one of the great villains of Roman history. The answer to which of these interpretations is most accurate is perhaps as hard to answer as whether he took his own life in 37 AD or lived a long life in retirement after that. Sources John F. Hall, ‘The Roman Province of Judea: A Historical Overview’, in Brigham Young University Studies, Vol. 36, No. 3 (1996–7), pp. 319–336. Paul L. Maier, ‘Sejanus, Pilate, and the Date of the Crucifixion’, in Church History, Vol. 37, No. 1 (1968), pp. 3–13. Paul L. Maier, ‘The Fate of Pontius Pilate’, in Hermes, Vol. 99 (H. 3) (1971), pp. 362–371. Tibor Grüll, ‘The Legendary Fate of Pontius Pilate’, in Classica et Mediaevalia, Vol. 61 (2010), pp. 151–176.The post What Happened to Pontius Pilate, the Man Who Condemned Jesus? first appeared on History Defined.

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  The United States was built as a land of opportunity, and society was not particularly well-prepared when the Great Depression hit. For some, they consigned themselves to the misery of the era, while other less scrupulous people used opportunities wherever they could find them, even if it took them afoul of the law.   The early 1930s was terrorized by immoral businessmen as well as criminals who used violence to get their reward. Of all the criminals of his era, it is the duo of Bonnie and Clyde that have garnered the most attention, for with their spree of robberies and murders, their legend was born.   This is the story of criminals and lovers.   Bonnie Parker Portrait photograph of Bonnie Parker taken by Clyde Barrow in 1930. Source: Wikimedia Commons   On October 1, 1910, Bonnie Elizabeth Parker was born. She was the second of three children born to Charles Robert Parker and Emma Parker (née Krause). Her family was from the agricultural town of Rowena in the center of Texas.   When Bonnie was just four, her father died, and her mother decided to move with her family to Cement City, an industrial part of West Dallas, where she would work as a seamstress. It was a rough neighborhood, and life for the Parkers became significantly more difficult without Charles’s financial support.   She began her schooling at the age of six. She was outspoken and liked to draw attention to herself. She also got into her fair share of fights while living in the rougher part of town. Independent and headstrong, she dropped out of school and married her first love, Roy Thornton. She was just 15 at the time.   The marriage would undergo serious stress, as Thornton led a life of crime and abandoned Parker for long periods of time. By 1929, the couple had split, although they never officially got divorced.   After their separation, Bonnie moved back in with her mother and worked as a waitress.   Clyde Barrow Mugshot of Clyde Barrow, ca. 1926. Source: Wikimedia Commons   Clyde Chestnut (Champion) Barrow was born on March 24, 1909 into a poor family living in Ellis County in East Texas. He was one of five children born to Henry Basil Barrow and Cumie Talitha Walker.   Clyde grew to hate school, and his upbringing was neglected. He loved watching silent movies, especially those portraying outlaws, and he often imagined himself to be Jesse James while playing with the other children.   In the early 1920s, he moved with his family to the slums of West Dallas. The family was so poor they had to sleep under their wagon until they had enough money to afford rent. Despite having several legitimate jobs, Clyde was drawn to a life of crime and was arrested several times. His crimes became progressively more serious, from stealing turkeys to cracking safes, robbing stores, and stealing cars.   Bonnie and Clyde Meet Wanted poster for Clyde Barrow and his brother Marvin “Buck” Barrow. The poster incorrectly names the latter as “Melvin.” Source: Portal to Texas History, provided by Dallas Municipal Archives   In January 1930, at the age of 20, Clyde Barrow was introduced to Bonnie Parker, who was 19 at the time. They took an instant liking to each other and spent the next few weeks in each other’s company. Their budding romance, however, was interrupted when Clyde was arrested. In April, he was sent to Eastham Prison Farm, but with the aid of Bonnie, who smuggled a revolver into the prison, Clyde was able to escape.   A week later, he was recaptured and sent to Texas State Penitentiary in Huntsville, where he was to serve a 14-year sentence. While there, he was subjected to physical and sexual abuse by another inmate. Barrow killed the man by caving his skull in with a metal pipe. Another inmate already serving a life sentence came to the aid of Barrow and claimed responsibility.   While in prison, Clyde cut two of his toes off in order to get out of laboring in the fields. Unbeknownst to him, his mother had managed to secure his release, and six days later, on February 2, 1932, he was a free man once again. His time in jail, however, had changed him. He was angry and bitter and sought revenge against the system which had allowed his abuse.   After being released, Clyde stayed with Bonnie while recuperating from his injuries. Within two weeks, he had convinced Bonnie to join him in a life of crime. With the aid of other hardened criminals, the Barrow gang was formed, and a crime spree ensued.   The Crime Spree Begins A signed postcard of Blanche Barrow. Source: psacard.com   In April, Bonnie and fellow gang member Ralph Fults were arrested while trying to rob a hardware store. Fults was tried and convicted, but after three months, the legal system had failed to indict Bonnie, and she was released. Meanwhile, Clyde and other gang members added murder to their list of crimes when they killed a Jeweler named John Bucher.   A spate of robberies began, but none were particularly successful in gaining large sums of money. In August, they wounded Sheriff C.G. Maxwell and killed Deputy Sheriff E.C. Moore when the two lawmen approached Barrow, fellow gang member Raymond Hamilton, and Ross Dyer, who were drinking moonshine at a country dance.   The following months would see more members join the gang, which became known for its brutality and seemingly indiscriminate killings. Clyde’s brother, Buck, was released from prison, and with his wife, Blanche, joined the Barrow Gang, which operated from a temporary hideout in Joplin, Missouri.   The hideout as it stands today in Joplin, Missouri. Source: Wikimedia Commons   With their rowdy behavior, the gang drew the attention of a neighbor who phoned the police. Expecting what they thought was a bootlegging operation, the police responded in force, and a gunfight broke out. The police, not having the numbers to contain their suspects, could not stop the Barrow Gang from making their escape.   What was left behind by the Barrow Gang in the Joplin hideout became a treasure trove for the media. Apart from all the guns and ammunition, there were undeveloped rolls of film, and a poem written by Bonnie Parker. The photographs were developed, and many showed Bonnie and Clyde posing with weapons in front of their car. Newspapers printed these iconic photographs and the crime duo became an instant phenomenon in the minds of the American public.   In 2016, this building was purchased by Saundra Carr Cooper and her husband Stan who turned it into a guesthouse.   On June 10, 1933, Parker received third degree burns on her right leg as a result of a car accident in which she failed to see the warning signs of a bridge under construction near Wellington, Texas. The car flipped and ended up in a ditch.   Her wounds were tended to by a nearby family of farmers.   The Robberies & Murders Continue Bonnie Parker and Clyde Barrow. Source: cc / Library of Congress via Wikimedia Commons   On June 23, after robbing R. L. Brown Grocery Market, Clyde Barrow and fellow gang member William D. Jones ran into trouble when approached by Marshal Henry D. Humphrey and Deputy Sheriff Ansel Salyers. The gunfight that followed claimed the life of Humphrey after he was shot in the chest, and the two outlaws made their escape.   In July, the gang checked into a guest house by the Red Crown Tavern in Platte City, Missouri. They seemed not to even attempt to be conspicuous, and their actions attracted a lot of attention. They rented two cabins adjoined by a garage and took several actions which raised suspicions. The owner of the guest house noticed they backed the car into the garage “gangster style” in order to make a quick getaway. They also taped newspapers over the inside of the windows and paid for the accommodations and all their meals with coins.   When two of the gang members went into town for supplies, the alarm was finally raised, and police officers arrived to investigate. A gunfight ensued, and with superior firepower and a bit of luck, the Barrow gang were once again able to make their escape. When a bullet short-circuited the horn on the getaway car, the police took it as a sign of a cease-fire and did not engage the gang further.   There were, however, injuries. Buck Barrow was severely wounded in the head, and Blanche received micro-shards of glass in her eyes.   Wanted posters for Bonnie Parker and Clyde Barrow. Source: Heritage Auctions   Buck was in a critical state as the group of criminals camped at Dexfield Park in Dexter, Iowa. Their activities once again drew the attention of neighbors, who alerted the police. For five days, they camped out at the site, and every day, two of them would undertake the dangerous journey into town to buy food and medical supplies. They drew suspicion by backing their car into parking spaces and leaving the engine running.   With law enforcement on the constant lookout, it was only a matter of time before the group was identified as the Barrow Gang. The final piece of evidence was the discovery of a bloodied bandage by a visitor to the park.   Police arrived in force with around 50 lawmen, and in the gunfight that followed, Barrow, Parker, and Jones escaped on foot, while Buck was shot in the back, and Blanch was caught and arrested. Buck would die from his injuries five days later after undergoing surgery.   In January 1934, the gang helped several inmates escape from Eastham Prison. Prison guard Major Joe Crowson was fatally wounded during the escape, and the event triggered a nationwide manhunt. The full force of the Texas government was brought to bear.   Texas Ranger, Frank Hamer, who led the hunt in 1934 to find and kill Bonnie Parker and Clyde Barrow. Source: Travis Hamer personal collection via The Dallas Morning News   Frank Hamer, a retired Texas Ranger captain known for his toughness, was asked out of retirement to lead the efforts in bringing the Barrow Gang to justice.   On April 1, two highway patrolmen were added to the list of murders as they approached Parker, Barrow, and fellow gang member Henry Methvin when they thought what they saw were motorists in need of help. They were shot mercilessly.   Five days later, another policeman lay dead. Sixty-year-old William Campbell. It would be their last murder. Frank Hamer was doggedly determined and spent day and night stalking his prey, following up on leads and waiting for the right opportunity to strike.   A marker erected on the site of the ambush where Bonnie and Clyde were killed. It has been damaged by souvenir hunters. Source: Wikimedia Commons   Fellow gang member Henry Methvin had been helping the police in an effort to gain clemency for his crimes. He helped set up the ambush that would claim the lives of Clyde Barrow and Bonnie Parker.   Early in the morning of May 23, 1934, the police spotted their quarry. Under the cover of foliage on the side of the road near Sailes, Louisiana, they opened fire on Bonnie and Clyde’s sedan. Every attempt was taken to make sure that the two criminals were killed. Death was instant for both of them.   Aftermath The Highwaymen (2019). Source: Netflix via IMDb   By the time of their death, Bonnie and Clyde had become infamous celebrities. Members of the posse appropriated many of the items from the car and sold them as souvenirs to the public.   Bonnie and Clyde had entered the public imagination as daring outlaws challenging authority, but the reality of their murders eventually hit home, and the public opinion turned against the Barrow gang and the two lovers, Bonnie and Clyde. For a while, their romance intrigued the American public, but when they were eventually killed, their deaths were celebrated.   Their stories, however, were perfect for books, films, and even stage plays, and to this day, public interest in the story of Bonnie and Clyde has never waned.   The latest rendition in film is Netflix’s 2019 film The Highwaymen, which is told from the perspective of Frank Hamer, played by Kevin Costner, and in music, Taylor Swift references the couple in her 2017 song “Getaway Car” from her album Reputation.   Fay Dunaway and Warren Beatty in Bonnie and Clyde (1967). Source: Warner Bros. Home Entertainment, Inc.   Bonnie and Clyde and the exploits of the Barrow Gang offered real-life entertainment to an American public beaten down in the era of the Great Depression. Bonnie was a woman, an unusual character for a hardened antagonist, and this fuelled interest even further.   Bonnie and Clyde earned the reputation of one of the world’s most iconic crime duos and will be forever etched in the memory of American history.