The Battle of Rorke’s Drift
May 22nd, 2008
By Robert Morley
Two battles. One day. Similar men. Similar enemies. Similar odds. Opposite outcomes. You may not know about the Battle of Isandlwana. You probably have never heard of the Battle of Rorke’s Drift. But one of these is the story of one of the most amazing victories in history.
The Wright Stuff
April 17th, 2008
By Michael Dattolo
“To build a flying machine,” declared a confident New York Times editorial on Oct. 9, 1903, “would require the combined and continuous efforts of mathematicians and mechanicians from 1 million to 10 million years.”
Less than three months later, Wilbur and Orville Wright would prove the New York Times wrong.
Dec. 17, 1903, was a cold and windy day in Kitty Hawk, North Carolina. Only five people turned up to watch, and even fewer expected the Wright brothers’ awkward-looking contraption would actually fly. Three days earlier, their first attempt had failed, damaging several parts of the aircraft. Now, repairs completed, Wilbur Wright, the older brother, started up the engine and Orville climbed onto the 750-pound Wright Flyer.
Against All Odds
March 25th, 2008
By Robert Morley
Many historians consider the Battle of Thermopylae to be the greatest victory of all time. In this battle, less than 7,000 Greeks faced 2 million Persians. Consider those odds. Initially, it sounds like a slaughter waiting to happen. Yet the Battle of Thermopylae is considered a fantastic Greek victory. What made those vastly outnumbered Greeks think they could persevere? What made them such effective warriors? Two traits made these Greek warriors extremely successful. If we develop these traits, we too can become more successful in our lives and careers.
Late in the summer of 480 B.C., alarm bells were ringing throughout Greece; in fact, there was widespread panic in some of the eastern cities. King Xerxes of Persia, with 2 million men, was invading. Something had to be done if Greece was to survive. King Leonidas of Sparta took the lead. Amazingly, with 300 handpicked Spartans and 6,000 Greek allies, he marched to meet the coming Persian hordes.