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In 1995‚ Martin Scorcese released a film called Casino. It was about a man from Chicago who runs a casino for the Chicago Outfit‚ also known as the Italian mob‚ in Las Vegas.  Over the course of the movie‚ Sam “Ace” Rothstein goes from a lowly sports handicapper to a man wanted by both the federal government and the mob‚ before returning to his status as a handicapper.  Although Sam’s story involves many crazy twists‚ it was actually based on the even crazier‚ real-life narrative of Frank “Lefty” Rosenthal.  Frank “Lefty” Rosenthal is shown at a witness table before the Senate Investigations Subcommittee‚ in Washington during a 1961 probe of organized gambling. Associated Press. Gaining a National Reputation Frank Rosenthal was born in Chicago in 1929 and learned about gambling from a young age. He attended the horse racing track with his father. He quickly learned the best gambling tricks. Soon‚ he branched out into other sports.  His ability to set the odds perfectly for the house made him a useful handicapper for the Chicago Outfit‚ whom he began working for in the mid-1950s. Soon though‚ Rosenthal was beginning to get in trouble for fixing games.  In 1961‚ he was issued a subpoena and appeared before a Congressional committee to address accusations of fixing odds. Rosenthal invoked the Fifth Amendment over 30 times during the hearing‚ including when asked if he was left-handed. This resulted in him earning the nickname “Lefty.”  Although he was never charged with anything during the Congressional hearing‚ Rosenthal was indicted in 1963 on charges of paying off a North Carolina basketball player. In the next few years‚ Rosenthal would attract more attention.  He was suspected of being involved with multiple mob-related activities such as car bombings in Miami. Therefore‚ he decided to move again to avoid the heat.  A Revolutionary In 1968‚ Rosenthal moved to Las Vegas‚ a logical place for someone with his gambling skills. Within just a few years‚ he was operating four different casinos for the Outfit: the Stardust‚ the Fremont‚ the Marina‚ and the Hacienda.  He had settled into town nicely. He married a topless showgirl named Geri McGee‚ and worked alongside his childhood friend Anthony Spilotro‚ who acted as Rosenthal’s enforcer.  During his time in Vegas‚ Rosenthal revolutionized the casino world. He introduced sports betting to the casino floor‚ with Stardust being the first casino with dedicated sports betting space. Luxury seating and large TVs attracted thousands of dollars worth of new bets to the casino.  Rosenthal also doubled the income of the Stardust by introducing female blackjack dealers. This was a simple yet effective change that kept gamblers at the tables. But despite his lucrative career‚ Rosenthal quickly fell out of favor.  In 1976‚ the Nevada Gaming Commission and Las Vegas police department found that Rosenthal was operating the casinos without a state gambling license. He could not obtain it due to his criminal past and ties to the mob.  At the same time‚ Spilotro and other mobsters were indicted for their illegal activities within the casino. This brought federal authorities’ attention to the business‚ which no one was excited about. Lefty’s Fall from Grace One night in 1982‚ as Rosenthal entered his car after dinner in Las Vegas‚ he noticed flames. As he briefly panicked‚ he was thrown from the car by an explosion.  Minutes later‚ the car was being blown a few feet in the air as the gas tank caught fire. He likely only survived because of the model of his car. The 1981 Cadillac Eldorado had a metal plate under the driver’s seat to correct a balancing problem. This metal plate had likely redirected the blast away from Rosenthal.  Whoever planted the bomb and attempted to kill Rosenthal is still unknown. However‚ there are various theories. Some point to Spilotro‚ who had been having an affair with Rosenthal’s wife and had a history of violence.  Lefty Rosenthal’s Cadillac Eldorado blew up October 4‚ 1982‚ in the parking lot of the Tony Roma’s restaurant on East Sahara Avenue in Las Vegas. Las Vegas Review-Journal Archive Spilotro had a falling out with Rosenthal a few years earlier over Spilotro skimming money from the mob profits and his indictment by authorities. This could have fueled anger against Rosenthal.  Others point to different mob bosses in Milwaukee and Kansas City. They were angry at Rosenthal for attracting federal attention to the casino operations. They suspected that Rosenthal was an informant.  A third theory also points to a group of bikers associated with Rosenthal’s now ex-wife‚ acting perhaps to get revenge against her ex-husband. The bombing of Lefty Rosenthal’s car remains one of the most interesting unsolved mob-related crimes‚ although Rosenthal insisted the mob had nothing to do with it.  A Surprising Conclusion A few months later‚ Rosenthal moved away from Vegas‚ spending a few years in Laguna Niguel‚ California.  During this time Rosenthal was blacklisted from entering Nevada casinos. This was a fact that he contested in court. He successfully overturned it‚ although the ban was reinstated by the state supreme court.  After this‚ Rosenthal moved to Florida. He opened a sports bar and operated a sports betting website.  He passed away on October 13‚ 2008. Within a month‚ it was revealed that both he and his wife had been FBI informants for years‚ confirming mob suspicions. It is unclear when or why Rosenthal became an informant‚ although some claim it was his nature as a betting man.  As an informant‚ he could lead his life of betting luxury but remain out of jail and in the safety of the federal government. And yet‚ after the bombing of his car in the 80s‚ Rosenthal refused witness protection.  Lefty Rosenthal was a complicated man‚ who left an even more complicated legacy‚ but he undeniably reshaped the face of Las Vegas forever.  References Henry‚ Larry. “WHO BOMBED FRANK “LEFTY” ROSENTHAL’S CAR?” The Mob Museum‚ April 8‚ 2020. https://themobmuseum.org/blog/who-bombed-frank-lefty-rosenthals-car/.  Morrison‚ Jane Ann. “‘Lefty’ Rosenthal was an FBI snitch” Las Vegas Review-Journal‚ October 30‚ 2008. https://www.reviewjournal.com/news/news-columns/jane-ann-morrison/lefty-rosenthal-was-an-fbi-snitch/.  Redd‚ Wyatt. “Frank Rosenthal And The Real Story Of Sam Rothstein From ‘Casino’.” ATI‚ November 28‚ 2022. https://allthatsinteresting.com/frank-rosenthal.  Weber‚ Bruce. “Lefty Rosenthal‚ Kingpin in Las Vegas‚ Dies at 79.” New York Times‚ October 18‚ 2008. https://www.nytimes.com/2008/10/19/us/19rosenthal.html. The post Lefty Rosenthal: King of Vegas or Informant Extraordinaire? first appeared on History Defined.

Who is the most famous power couple in history? Beyoncé and Jay-Z? Bill and Hillary Clinton? No‚ the answer is Cleopatra and Julius Caesar.  Each led one of the most powerful countries in the world. Their combined relationship represented an almost unmatched level of concentrated power.  So how did these two historical figures end up together‚ and what did their love accomplish that centuries later people still recall the pair together? Caesar giving Cleopatra the Throne of Egypt by Pietro da Cortona 1637 Transition of Power The roots of the couple’s relationship lie in the regional politics of Egypt and Rome‚ which existed long before them.  Cleopatra was part of the Ptolemaic dynasty. She came from a family that had ruled Egypt since Alexander the Great‚ while Caesar was part of the First Triumvirate. This was a triad of the most powerful men in Rome.  By the first century BCE‚ the Roman Empire was becoming the superpower of the region and was considering annexing Egypt. This is when Cleopatra’s father‚ Ptolemy XII‚ recognized that he would need to strike a deal with Rome to remain in power.  He appealed to the Roman Senate and paid an exorbitant amount for Rome to recognize his authority‚ incurring a massive debt from Roman lenders. When he did nothing about the Roman annexation of the Egyptian territory of Cyprus‚ Ptolemy was ousted from power in 51 BCE.  He was replaced with his children as co-regents: Ptolemy XIII and Cleopatra.  A Clash Between Siblings While the transition of power was peaceful‚ it did not last long. Ptolemy XIII and Cleopatra both sought to have sole control over Egypt.  Cleopatra quickly began writing only her name on official documents‚ excluding Ptolemy XIII from real power. But she repeated the mistakes of her father in backing Gabinius‚ a follower of Pompey‚ as civil war erupted in Rome.  The Egyptian people did not care for a ruler whom they saw as submissive to the Roman empire‚ and public favor turned to Ptolemy XIII. He soon banished Cleopatra from the court and named himself the sole ruler in 48 BCE.  This set the stage for a civil war in Egypt which would reflect the one emerging in Rome. Caeser Seeks Total Power After his campaign in Gaul‚ Caesar sought to seize total power of Rome. He marched his army back into Italy. He defeated his former ally‚ Pompey‚ at the Battle of Parsalus in 48 BCE.  After the loss‚ Pompey fled to Alexandria‚ Egypt in hopes of finding refuge‚ since he had been friendly with Ptolemy XII in prior years. However‚ Ptolemy XIII‚ sensing the opportunity to set himself in good graces with the man who would soon be Rome’s most powerful citizen‚ had Pompey killed.  When Caeser arrived in Alexandria‚ Ptolemy XIII presented him with Pompey’s head. This disgusted Caeser. He decided that in the interest of Rome‚ he would determine who should rule Egypt. He called upon Ptolemy XIII and Cleopatra to present themselves.  The head of Pompey is delivered to Julius Caesar in Caesar Before Alexandria‚ an eighteenth-century oil painting by Giovanni Antonio Pellegrini (1675–1741) Caesar and Cleopatra Meet Since Ptolemy XIII still held power in Alexandria‚ Cleopatra was unable to simply meet with Caesar. Instead‚ she developed a plan to sneak into the palace past Ptolemy XIII’s guards to plead her case.  With the help of her servant Apollodorus‚ she wrapped herself in a carpet and was transported into Caesar’s chambers. Upon being revealed‚ Cleopatra seduced Caesar and he found himself enamored with her.  Their relationship was both romantic and politically advantageous. Cleopatra needed Caesar’s army to secure her position as the ruler of Egypt and depose her brother. While Caesar needed her immense wealth to fund his army’s conquest of Rome.  He ruled that Cleopatra and Ptolemy XIII were to become co-rulers of Egypt yet again‚ a decision that Ptolemy XIII despised. Rather than accepting this fate‚ he declared Cleopatra a traitor and declared war on her and Caesar.  The couple were held under siege for months until Caesar’s forces arrived from Syria. After which they soundly beat Ptolemy XIII and drowned him in the Nile. Rather than installing Cleopatra as the sole ruler of Egypt‚ however‚ Caesar decided to make her co-ruler once again with her remaining 12-year-old brother‚ Ptolemy XIV. Caesar’s Heir Not long after‚ Cleopatra gave birth to Caesar’s son. The child was named Caesarion‚ or “Little Caesar.” They were Caesar’s only heir despite the fact Caesar had a Roman wife.  When Cleopatra and Caesarion returned to Rome with Caesar‚ the idea of a foreigner being the heir perturbed some Roman citizens. Cleopatra and Caesarion were wildly unpopular‚ although they were never under direct threat since they had the protection of Caesar.  The issue never came to pass though‚ as Caesar named his grandnephew his successor rather than his son. So when Caesar was murdered in 44 BCE by the Senate‚ Cleopatra fled Rome with her son and returned to Egypt.  Shortly after‚ her co-regent and younger brother mysteriously died‚ which left Cleopatra as the sole leader of Egypt. This allowed her to plan how to return her son to his rightful place in Rome.  Cleopatra and Marc Antony Although their relationship had been deeply romantic‚ it did not prevent Cleopatra from developing a very similar relationship with another powerful Roman leader: Marc Antony. The relationship she formed with Antony mirrored her relationship with Caesar. They were brought together by political maneuvering. But the couple also had a deeply romantic relationship and had several children together.  As with Caesar‚ Cleopatra stood with Antony during a Roman civil war‚ only this time her lover lost. After hearing (inaccurate) news that Cleopatra was dead during a battle‚ Antony killed himself by falling on his sword.  Upon hearing the news‚ Cleopatra allowed an asp to bite and poison her out of grief. Thus ended the second half of one of the most famous and powerful couples in history.  References “Cleopatra‚ Julius Caesar and Mark Antony: how the last pharaoh’s love affairs shaped Ancient Egypt’s fate.” History Extra‚ May 12‚ 2023. https://www.historyextra.com/period/ancient-egypt/cleopatra-love-affairs-julius-caesar-mark-antony/.  “Julius Caesar and Cleopatra’s Relationship”. Odyssey Traveler‚ March 14‚ 2023. https://www.odysseytraveller.com/articles/caesar-and-cleopatra-in-egypt/.  Land‚ Graham. “Julius Caesar and Cleopatra: A Match Made in Power”. History Hit‚ July 26 2018. https://www.historyhit.com/julius-caesar-and-cleopatra-a-match-made-in-power/. The post How Caesar and Cleopatra Became a Political Powerhouse first appeared on History Defined.

But how?

Revisit Ozzy Osbourne's incredible career with more than 60 photos taken from as far back as 1969. Continue reading…

He was the band's primary songwriter and the only musician to appear on all of their albums. Continue reading…

Is this what democracy look like?

  Throughout history‚ there have been many figures that remained on the precipice of being completely forgotten or blatantly ignored. Diego‚ who lived during the Tudor Period (1485-1603 CE) is one of these figures. Unbeknownst to most‚ Diego was an escaped slave who played an important role in the success of Sir Francis Drake‚ the legendary English circumnavigator and privateer. Before his death in 1579 CE‚ Diego the Circumnavigator was on his way to being the first black man to circumnavigate the world.  Although Diego’s history is chequered at best‚ Diego’s impact did not go unnoticed by Drake and his fellow crewmen.   The Imprisonment of Diego the Circumnavigator The Slave Trade (Slaves on the West Coast of Africa)‚ by Wagstaff‚ C. E.; Biard‚ François-Auguste Leggatt‚ 1840 CE‚ via National Maritime Museum‚ Greenwich‚ London   The majority of Diego’s history is attributed to Sir Francis Drake Revived‚ a book published in 1628 CE that is composed of manuscripts and logs from Drake’s raiding expedition presented to Elizabeth I in 1593 CE but Diego’s origins remain unclear. Before Drake and Diego crossed paths‚ Diego could have been taken from West Africa or born into enslavement within the Spanish territories of the Americas.   By 1640 CE‚ Portugal and Spain’s Iberian ports (Lisbon‚ Seville‚ and Cádiz) had contributed to 97% of European-based slave voyages. It is estimated that around 500‚000 African captives were transported to Spanish America within that period. It wasn’t until 1543 CE‚ after Spain signed the Asiento de Negros agreements‚ that Spain permitted other nations to transport African slaves to Spanish territories. As a result‚ approximately 12 million African captives were transported over the Atlantic‚ 1 million of which did not survive the journey. Whether taken as a slave from West Africa or born into enslavement‚ Drake and his crew acknowledged Diego as an enslaved black man when they encountered him in Nombre de Dios‚ Panama.   Wood and ivory model of a slave ship by an unknown artist‚ 1890 – 1950 CE‚ via National Museum of African American History and Culture‚ Washington‚ DC   Although it is now widely acknowledged as immoral‚ slavery was thought necessary for economic progress and expansion from the 16th through the 19th centuries. The majority of slaves‚ aside from a selected few‚ were transported to work on plantations in the New World that produced tobacco‚ sugar‚ rice‚ corn‚ and cotton. The slaves that did not find themselves working the plantations would face less hardship with duties such as cooking‚ cleaning‚ and caring for the children of their “owners.”   Although Portugal and Spain started the Transatlantic Slave Trade‚ slavery was not a new concept. Although a specific date is difficult to determine due to the practice having roots predating written history‚ slavery is believed to have come into existence after the Neolithic Revolution (10‚000 BCE)‚ when communities started to produce a high agricultural production and growing populations.   The oldest known evidence of slavery is the Mesopotamian Code of Hammurabi (1750 BCE) ‚ which alluded to slavery as an established system in Sumeria. Eventually‚ slavery would spread to other areas of Mesopotamia‚ Greece‚ Ancient Egypt‚ Rome‚ and the Pontic-Caspian Steppes. With Portugal and Spain demonstrating the wealth they had collected and potential growth via the slave trade‚ it was only a matter of time before other nations sought huge labor forces through enslavement. It wasn’t until the early 17th century that race-based slavery became a concept as opposed to slaves being obtained from prisoners of war‚ debts‚ and inheriting the status from one’s parents during antiquity.   Diego’s Chance of Escape  Illustration from Christoph Weiditz’s ethnographic study‚ 1529 CE‚ via Germanisches National Museum‚ Nuremberg   During Drake’s raid of Nombre de Dios in 1572 CE‚ Diego escaped the grasp of his capturers and made his way to Drake’s ship. Daringly rushing through gunfire and toward the English ships on shore‚ Diego was fired upon three times by the English ships and continued to press forward. At the time‚ England was regarded as a country of freedom‚ and Diego‚ likely hearing the commotion of the English raid‚ sought to seize the opportunity of freedom by joining the English.   It is unclear if Diego knew of Drake’s history in the slave trade. Prior to Drake’s raid of Nombre de Dios‚ Drake accompanied his cousin‚ John Hawkins‚ on his Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade expeditions between 1560 and 1568 CE. Drake would go on three slave voyages and become one of Britain’s earliest slave traders. Hawkins and Drake transported hundreds of slaves from the west coast of Africa to Rio de la Hacha and San Juan de Ulua. Following a traumatic ambush on the English by the Spanish that resulted in a large number of casualties and sunken ships‚ Drake would abandon slave trading in 1568 CE.   Despite the crew’s initial animosity‚ Diego was permitted to board the ship. Diego cautioned Drake’s crew that 150 Spanish troops were initially stationed in the town to protect against the Cimaroons (African people that had escaped Spanish imprisonment) and that the raid should be abandoned or the English would be oppressed by soldiers and townspeople. Diego was given a position on the crew‚ likely after appealing to Drake and the rest of the crew with his fortitude and resourcefulness. Additionally‚ Diego proved that his mastery of Spanish (and eventually English)‚ and his familiarity with the region would be worthwhile to the ambitions of Drake.   The Nombre de Dios Heist and Freedom Herrerra style vessel from the Nuestra Señora de Atocha galleon‚ 1600-1620 CE‚ via Mel Fisher Maritime Museum‚ Key West‚ Florida   Largely due in part to Diego and subsequent meetings with the Cimaroons‚ Drake was able to pull off the largest heist on Spanish-American treasure in history. In 1573 CE‚ Drake had learned of a 190-mule silver train that was en route to King Philip II’s treasury in Spain. Alongside the Cimaroons‚ French privateers led by Captain Le Tetu‚ and his crew‚ Drake were able to ambush the Spanish with minimum consequences.   However‚ after seizing 20 tonnes of silver and gold‚ the escape strategy became challenging. The heist was executed at night‚ and the crew had to transport the treasure 30 kilometers (18.6) miles over rugged terrain during a storm‚ the Spanish were after them‚ and the escape ships were pushed away from the rendezvous point. Following some improvised ingenuity‚ Drake and his men would eventually return and reclaim the wealth after burying a substantial quantity of treasure amid the undergrowth in holes. With the Spanish treasure and a number of Spanish vessels having been seized and looted‚ Diego traveled to Plymouth‚ England‚ accompanying Drake five months later.   Diego the Navigator: Circumnavigation and Death Silver plaque depicting Sir Francis Drake’s voyage‚ by Michael Mercator‚ 1589 CE‚ via British Museum   Following four peaceful years in Plymouth‚ England‚ Diego would accompany Drake on an expedition to further terrorize Spanish settlements on the American Pacific Coast‚ a covert task commissioned by Queen Elizabeth I. As a paid crew member aboard the Golden Hinde‚ Diego served as an interpreter‚ guide‚ and camp builder. The expedition started off on the bad side of things with storms that forced Drake’s fleet to return and seek refuge in Falmouth Harbor for over a month. When they were able‚ the fleet set sail again‚ arriving near Morocco in December 1577 CE.   When the English fleet arrived on Africa’s west coast‚ things changed for the better. Drake and his crew assaulted‚ pillaged‚ and captured three Spanish and Portuguese ships. Following two months without sight of land while crossing the Atlantic‚ the fleet reached South America‚ but not without its additional hardships.   Drake would be plagued with a potential mutiny‚ a devastating storm‚ and the abandonment of three ships unfit for further voyage. Things would only take a turn for the worse. While on the way to the coast of Peru‚ Drake’s crew stopped on the Island of Mocha‚ near Chile‚ a territory inhabited by the Mapuche people in 1578 CE. According to the accounts of Sir Richard Hawkins‚ Drake’s crew were attacked by the Mapuche people and Diego was wounded twenty times in the process. Diego survived the incident‚ undoubtedly having suffered tremendously. It wasn’t until 1579 CE‚ near the Maluku Islands of Indonesia‚ that Diego would succumb to his wounds.   Replica of Francis Drake’s Ship the Golden Hind‚ via Wikimedia Commons   Although Diego died prematurely and did not complete the circumnavigation‚ he is a brilliant example of what a person of color could do amid a time of oppression. While Drake was the first Englishman to navigate the Straits of Magellan‚ Diego is undoubtedly the first free black man to go through them as well. When Drake discovered Tierra del Fuego was not another continent but islands‚ Diego was there as well. When Drake sailed further north along the coast of the Americas than any other European had‚ Diego was right there with him‚ becoming the first black man to do so.

Ben Shapiro and other pro-Zionist outlets claimed on Friday that a Palestinian mother holding a dead child in the wake of an Israeli airstrike was actually a crisis actor holding a “doll.” “Al Jazeera posts [...] The post Ben Shapiro Claims Dead Palestinian Baby Was a ‘Plastic Doll’ appeared first on The People's Voice.

A government whistleblower who exposed the depopulation agenda of the Covid jabs has been raided by the New Zealand authorities. Journalist Liz Gunn released a statement explaining how the NZ Ministry of Health whistleblower and [...] The post NZ Whistleblower Who Exposed Depopulation Agenda Was Just Raided appeared first on The People's Voice.