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Embroidered Safari Moses Basket Bedding & Espresso Basket Set
A sweet menagerie of embroidered giraffes, elephants and camels parades across our basket bedding, creating a cozy, comfortable nest for your baby.
- Bedding set includes a padded elastic-edged liner, polyester-filled mattress with 2 removable covers and a coordinating mini quilt
- One-piece polyester-fill liner made of a textured cotton-linen blend (55% cotton and 45% linen) with embroidered trim; designed specifically for our basket and slips easily over its handles
- Cushy mattress has 2 removable covers
- Mattress fits at base of basket liner and is removable
- This basket is not to be used for carrying your baby. For safety reasons, please take your baby out of the basket before moving. Please see below for product safety details.
- In flax with espresso Moses basket
- Machine wash
- Imported
Embroidered Safari Moses Basket Bedding & Espresso Basket Set
- Basket Liner: 33" x 17" with wrap-over edges
- Mattress: 27½" x 11½"
- Quilt: 24" x 30"
- Moses Basket: 28"L x 15"W x 10"H
- Rocking Stand: 31"L x 15"W x 23"H


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Be the first to hear
about new arrivals, special offers, & the latest design trends!
Our Kilim rugs are hand-dyed and hand-woven from premium New Zealand wool, prized for its saturated color and superbly soft quality. This très affordable option is made with a time-tested technique of vertically interweaving our luxe New Zealand wool with our lightweight cotton yarn. The result: a substantial rug without the heft, tightly knit and ideal for barefoot walking in low-traffic areas.

subset: commoncrawl


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Located in NYC's historic Meatpacking District, the Cycle Club NYC is perfectly situated between easy access to road riding, great shopping and lively sightseeing. Nestled at the end of cobbled Gansevoort Street and the start of the The High Line, the Club serves as a hub for road cyclists coming in and out of Manhattan. In addition, the gallery district of Chelsea, the high-end shops along 14th Street, and the iconic neighborhood brownstones of Greenwich Village are all within minutes of the Club.
See the spotlight feature at GQ.com »


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Violette™ Barbie® Doll
The first breath of spring demands a gala celebration! Perfect for entertaining or being entertained, Violette™ Barbie® doll joins the Barbie® Fashion Model Collection dressed for a stylish ball. She wears a gown made of printed silk organza over a satin underdress and tulle petticoat with lilac taffeta trim. It's a springtime vision of the ultimate romantic, retro ball gown — finished with violets in her hair!
Fashion designed especially for the Silkstone® Barbie® doll body. Not for use with other Barbie® dolls.
For the adult collector.
Production doll may vary from the photo shown above. Mattel reserves the right to modify the fashion/fabrics, sculpt, hair color/style, and accessories. Doll cannot stand alone as shown.


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- When
- Thu, November 6 2014
- Where
Capitol Weekly
1123 J Street
- Time
- 9:00 am - 3:30 pm
- Admission
- $199
Join Capitol Weekly, UC Center and Leadership California Institute on Thursday, November 6 in Sacramento for A Post-Mortem of the 2014 Election. This program promises to be an exciting, unique and informative overview of the November elections providing analysis, opinions and insight. What happened? Why? What happens next?
Register today and save your seat! Space is limited!
Over two dozen experts and insiders will discuss the results of the election and provide a look-ahead at what it means for 2015 – and beyond. Confirmed speakers include:
Jim Brulte, California Republican Party
Ace Smith, SCN Strategies
Angie Tate, California Democratic Party
Paul Mitchell, Political Data Inc.
Gary Winuk, California Fair Political Practices Commission
Aaron McLear, Redwood Pacific
Amy Chance, Sacramento Bee
Seema Mehta, Los Angeles Times
Paul Hefner, Campaign Manager for Tom Torlakson
Rose Kapolczynski, Rose Kapolczynski Consulting
Mike Madrid, Grassroots Lab
Jason Kinney, California Strategies
Andrew Acosta, Acosta Consulting
Sheri Sadler, Sadler Strategic Media
Ned Wigglesworth, Redwood Pacific
Carol Dahmen, Comcast Spotlight
Ben Adler, Capital Public Radio
More speakers will be added as they confirm.
Immediately following the Post-Mortem conference will be a Welcome Reception for new legislators.The reception is free to all conference attendees. The reception will mark the first time California's new Legislature will be convening for an event and promises to be a momentous occasion for attendees.
Find other events tagged under: policy
Event Categories


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NEA's Cat-a-Van Reading Tour hits Grand Rapids to promote reading
NEA, Delta Dental of Michigan sponsor special reading tour to bring books, grants to schools in need as part of 17th annual Read Across America Day celebrations
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich.—Hundreds of local students got some Seuss-style reading inspiration when they were paid a special visit by the famous feline, the Cat in the Hat, as part on NEA's Read Across America Cat-a-Van Reading Tour. Designed to get kids excited about reading and sponsored by the National Education Association and Delta Dental of Michigan, NEA's Cat-a-Van Reading Tour hit the road on February 24 and will conclude on March 14.
"Happy children in Seuss hats, costumed mascots at play, books purchased by Delta, help to make a great day,"
said Paul Helder, president of the Grand Rapids Education Association. "State officials attending, and board members too, the district, the union, there's so much we can do. Reading, attendance, good behavior and math, by working together, we'll show kids the right path."
Schools participating in the special read-in were selected based on the top performers at second and third grades in the "Superintendent's Attendance Challenge." The participating Grand Rapids public schools, ranked in descending order from first to 10th place, included Gerald R. Ford Middle School, Grand Rapids Montessori Public School, North Park Montessori Academy, Southwest Community Campus, Burton Elementary School, Buchanan Elementary School, C. A. Frost Environmental Science Academy, Sibley Elementary School, Shawmut Hills Elementary School and Congress Elementary School.
"The timing of the Cat-a-Van Reading Tour could not be better as we zero in on a comprehensive plan preschool through 3rd grade to increase reading proficiency," said Grand Rapids Public Schools Superintendent Teresa Weatherall Neal. "It is also fitting that the students attending this event are doing so because they rank in the top 10 districtwide in the Attendance Challenge. Attendance, reading, and academic achievement go hand in hand. I want to thank the national, state and local Education Associations for making this opportunity available to our students."
As part of NEA's Cat-a-Van Reading Tour, more than 30,000 special stovepipe "reading" hats, books and other goodies will be distributed to students to keep them reading and brushing at home. More than $15,000 in grants will be distributed to the libraries and media centers of the public schools visited by NEA's Cat-a-Van Reading Tour to help keep their libraries stocked with books and other reading inspiration, courtesy of Delta Dental of Michigan.
"Today was a great day for all the kids who were visited by the Cat-a-Van Reading Tour," said Toby Hall, Senior Vice President and Chief Actuary, Delta Dental of Michigan, Indiana and Ohio, who was on hand for the special read-in. "As a sponsor of this year's Read Across America celebrations, Delta Dental of Michigan is pleased to be able to help educate kids about the importance of oral health and reading in a fun and exciting way."
NEA's Cat-a-Van Reading Tour will log more than 4,000 miles by traveling to 38 schools in more than 20 cities through eight states—visiting thousands of school children along the way. Stops along the Cat-a-Van reading route include Donna, Texas; Edinburgh, Texas, Laredo, Texas; San Antonio; Austin; Midwest City, Okla.; Shawnee, Okla.; Livonia, Mich.; Southfield, Mich.; Grand Rapids, Mich.; Indianapolis; Reynoldsburg, Ohio; Columbus, Ohio; Akron, Ohio; Strongsville, Ohio; Columbia, S.C.; Augusta, Ga.; Dublin, Ga.; Macon, Ga.; the greater Atlanta area; and Jackson, Miss.
"Wherever students want to go, good reading skills can help make the journey easier and fun," said NEA Executive Committee Member Joyce Powell. "Because NEA's Read Across America helps make reading fun, students want to be in the company of good books—again and again."
Founded by NEA, Dr. Seuss Enterprises, L.P., NEA's Read Across America is designed to get kids excited about reading. More than 45 million children and adults nationwide are expected to participate this year.
About NEA
The National Education Association is the nation's largest professional employee organization, representing more than 3 million elementary and secondary teachers, higher education faculty, education support professionals, school administrators, retired educators and students preparing to become teachers. Learn more at www.nea.org.
About Dr. Seuss Enterprises L.P.
The primary focus of the Dr. Seuss Enterprises, L.P. is to protect the integrity of the Dr. Seuss books while expanding beyond books into ancillary areas. This effort is a strategic part of the overall mission to nurture and safeguard the relationship consumers have with Dr. Seuss characters. Theodor Seuss Geisel (Dr. Seuss) said he never wanted to license his characters to anyone who would "round out the edges." That is one of the guiding philosophies of Dr. Seuss Enterprises. Audrey S. Geisel, the widow of Dr. Seuss, heads Dr. Seuss Enterprises as CEO.
About Delta Dental of Michigan
Delta Dental of Michigan, with its affiliates in Arkansas, Indiana, Kentucky, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio and Tennessee collectively are among the largest dental plan administrators in the nation. In 2012, the enterprise paid out nearly $3 billion for dental treatment to 11 million enrollees. Offices are located in Okemos and Farmington Hills, Mich. Sherwood and Little Rock, Ark.; Indianapolis, Ind.; Louisville, Ky.; Albuquerque, N.M.; Raleigh and Charlotte, N.C.; Columbus, Cleveland and Cincinnati, Ohio; and Nashville, Knoxville and Memphis, Tenn. Delta Dental of Michigan has joined forces with NEA because American students miss 51 million hours of school each year due to oral health problems, and research shows that students who don't read at grade level by fourth grade are four times more likely to drop out of high school than proficient readers. Through NEA's three million educators, Delta Dental of Michigan is helping to deliver a very important message to students: "2 x 2 + 20 = good oral health and literacy habits." The pledge asks children to brush for two minutes, two times per day, plus read for 20 minutes each day—for a daily total of 24 minutes, all focused on developing good oral health and reading skills. Find out more at www.deltadentalmi.com.
For more information about NEA's Read Across America, visit www.nea.org/readacross
To learn more about oral health, visit at www.deltaldentalmi.com/teachingtools
Find us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/neareadacrossamerica
Hi-resolution photos can be downloaded for news media purposes at http://bit.ly/1fDexFM
Follow us on twitter at @NEAMedia
Keep up with the conversation with #NEAreads and #miched


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Please pray for me. I am in a grieving process right now that is hard to leave me, that I'm unable to get over. I wish not to share details. I just plead that you pray for me.
If you spend long enough on this forum, you'll come away with all sorts of weird, untrue ideas of Orthodox Christianity.
I would suggest most persons in general avoid any question beginning with why.
The Episcopallian road is easy and wide, for many go through it to find destruction. lol sorry channeling Isa.
if Christ does and says x. And someone else does and says not x and you are ever in doubt, follow Christ.
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Key witness is an issue in murder caseBy Brent Curtis
STAFF WRITER | March 28,2013A key witness in the murder case against Alex W. Spanos may not be present to testify at his trial, a prosecutor said Wednesday.
Six months after the fatal Rutland car crash that killed 17-year-old Carly Ferro, the man allegedly behind the wheel was in Rutland criminal court Wednesday arguing that one of the passengers in his vehicle on the afternoon of Sept. 26 should be required to testify in person at his trial.
Were losing our ability to do a complete discovery and elicit testimony based on other depositions, said John Brisson, one of Spanos defense attorneys. This would undermine the right to confront a witness, cross-examination and the right to a fair trial.
Rutland County States Attorney Marc Brierre asked that a videotaped deposition suffice as evidence before a jury. He said his office and Rutland City Police have had only sporadic and rare contact with the witness, Michael Longley.
Judge Theresa DiMauro granted the prosecutions request at the end of the hourlong hearing Wednesday.
Longley, 27, told police he saw Spanos inhale from an aerosol can of Dust-Off moments before his Toyota Camry crashed at high speed into a row of parked cars outside Rutland Discount Foods on Cleveland Avenue.
Ferro, who was walking to her fathers parked car outside the store, was struck by one of the vehicles during the impact and died soon after.
After the crash, witnesses told police that Spanos and Longley tried to hide several cans of Dust-Off before officers arrived. Longley was never charged in connection with the crash.
Longley wasnt the only passenger in Spanos car Eva Lebo, 43, told police she also saw Spanos inhale from the can seconds before the crash.
Longley also told investigators he had seen Spanos take a hit from a can of Dust-Off and was almost knocked unconscious days before the crash.
Longley left the state in early October and probably wont be around for the trial which, while scheduled to take place next month, will be delayed for months by depositions and other pre-trial discovery, lawyers in the case said Wednesday.
City police Officer Edward Dumas testified Wednesday that he helped Longley leave the area after threats against his life were made.
He was receiving multiple death threats from people via Facebook and in person, Dumas said.
With help from a local church, Longley bought a bus pass to Burlington where he has friends.
But after only a few days Longley left the state and wasnt heard from again for four months until he called from Florida.
During the last month, Dumas said he has received messages via phone, text and on social media sites from Longley who has been working as a traveling magazine salesman in cities all over the South.
Dumas said Longley has contacted him from Kentucky, Louisiana and Missouri.
The officer said he frequently reminded Longley of his obligation to return to Vermont for a deposition hearing March 29.
Longley returned days ahead of that date but under desperate circumstances, Dumas said.
He called from a hospital in St. Louis, Dumas said. He said he had been fired and beat up by other magazine people. I bought him a bus ticket back to Vermont.
Longley is now staying at a hotel in the area and will appear for his deposition Friday, Brierre said, but he intends to return to Missouri where his former employers told police they plan to allow him to return to work on a probationary basis.
In the event that prosecutors and police are unable to find him at the time of the trial, Brierre asked that a videotape of the deposition serve as his testimony before a jury.
To add to its authenticity as courtroom testimony, Brierre said he intends to tape Longley answering questions from the prosecution and defense while seated at the witness stand in the Rutland courtroom. Spanos would also be present, though not on camera, he said.
That arrangement not only deprives the defense of future cross-examination, Brisson argued, but would provide only a sanitized view of Longley to the jury.
Its basically a ruse to the jury, he said. The state wants to make it look like hes testifying in a courtroom in front of a jury but hes really not.
Brisson also argued that prosecutors and police would have no incentive to find Longley and bring him to trial if the motion was granted.
But as part of her ruling in favor of the prosecution, DiMauro said that before a videotape could be used, the prosecution would have to prove at trial that it had thoroughly tried to bring Longley to court.
firstname.lastname@example.com IN Local & StateRecovery takes time, patience and a desire to change. Full StoryMayor Louras wants the city to have a better idea on what to pay its department heads. Full StoryThe Rutland Town Select Board plans to appoint a new member next week who will serve until a... Full Story
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- RICHARD'S POOR ALMANACK: On this day in 1472, Orkney, Shetland islands put up as collateral by Norway to Scotland in lieu of dowry for MARGARET OF DENMARK on her marriage with JAMES III, king of Scotland; 1962, JOHN GLENN first American to orbit Earth.
- TOMORROW'S HEADLINES TODAY: City mayoral candidates debate campaign issues; Hartford, Conn., woman still missing; Neal Goswami reports attempts to legislate suicide; local woman loses 100 pounds through TOPS program.
- RICHARD'S POOR ALMANACK: On this day in 1878, JOHN TUNSTALL murdered near Lincoln, New Mexico, by the outlaw JESSE EVANS; in 1930, ELM FARM OLLIE first cow to fly in aircraft, first to be milked airborne; 1955, nuke test WASP; '79, snow in Sahara.
- TOMORROW'S HEADLINES TODAY: Rutland Herald News Editor Alan J. Keays and staff writer Gordon Dritschilo discuss stories planned for the February 18, 2015, edition of the newspaper: Winter budgets maxed, legal marijuana, Springfield bank job, USPS slowdown
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The letter has survived more than 70 years, preserved between the pages of an old magazine. My guess is that is has outlived the young technical sergeant who wrote it and his wife who received it.
Most people would have thrown it away. But a Shalimar man and his wife say it's their moral obligation to try to find any surviving family members and return the letter.
So they came to me.
I love mysteries, though I'm not sure I can help solve this one.
The couple found the letter in a National Geographic from the 1940s that they bought at a sale at Holy Trinity Lutheran Church a few years ago. When they gave their extensive collection to a local school, they kept the letter.
"It's not only a family document," said the man, who asked that his name not be used. "It's kind of touching. It's a guy writing to his wife."
The letter was written by Tech. Sgt. William P. Hill, who was stationed at Wendover Field, Utah, to his wife, Zama. The letter, sent to an address in Dayton, Ohio, that no longer exists, was postmarked June 17, 1946, at 3:30 p.m.
He wrote it the day before, which was a Sunday.
"Dearest Zama," the letter begins. In it, he updates his wife on news of whether or not he will be sent to another base, as well as more mundane updates.
"Good fishing near here," he wrote. "Boys came in here last week with 93 trout, all of them about a foot long."
He said some men were being sent overseas, but it wasn't clear who or why. From what he could figure out, he would be remaining at Wendover.
"It's hard to figure out what will happen," he wrote. "Don't worry about it. It can't last forever.
"Well, I will close. Hope everything is ok. Love Bill."
That's all we have.
We don't know if Bill and Zama had kids, how long they were separated, how the letter — and presumably the family — came to be in Florida.
But it's tempting to fill in the blanks. I can imagine a young wife, forced to move back in with her parents, waiting for news of when she and her husband will be together again. I can see her picking up the magazine and using the letter as a bookmark, not noticing that it slipped down between the pages.
She probably forgot about it, or maybe she searched for it, planning to add it to a banded bundle of other letters from Bill.
But it slipped through, out of the past and into the future.
And this letter, with its tight slanting script, is all that remains to tell a tiny piece of their story.
Daily News Staff Writer Wendy Victora can be reached at 850-315-4478 or email@example.com. Follow her on Twitter @WendyVnwfdn.


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Our website has recently been updated, content and pages have been reorganized. Please use the above navigation menu or the search function to try and find the page you are looking for.


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Dec 31, 2009
NXT 2.0 Discovery Book - Update
The book is written to be a good addition to anyone's NXT 2.0 set. It teaches readers all about programming as they build increasingly sophisticated robots. Each little bit of programming theory comes with at least one sample program and a programming 'discovery' (challenge/exercise - over 75 in total) to practice the newly learned skills. The first programming chapter starts with out with simple things like move blocks, but the book also includes chapters about data wires and variables, for example.
Building and programming go hand in hand in this book. Basically, you build the first robot (a training vehicle), learn the basics about MINDSTORMS, then move on to the next robot which teaches you about sensors, for instance. At this point the book comes with instructions for eight robots, including The Snatcher, and a robot that sorts your LEGO bricks by color and size. I've posted a little teaser image of a robot below. Can anyone guess what this robot does? Be fair and comment before looking at the book's description that's currently online ;)
5 comments:
- Moritz U. said...
Hm.. the form of the robot looks a bit like it's designed for climbing. It looks like the ultrasonic sensor faces the ceiling.
Maybe something like a "Chimney Climber"?
- Dec 31, 2009, 6:49:00 AM
- Aaron said...
Well.... The robot looks like it won't balance on the ground... So I'm thinking it flies somehow, I've heard of gravity inverter plates so... It seems possible...
- Dec 31, 2009, 7:35:00 AM
- Neil Merchant said...
A chimney climber?
- Dec 31, 2009, 2:08:00 PM
- computer person said...
..........................................................................I digitally altered and enhanced the image and it is a vertically moving vehicle aka a chimney climber. Where would you use it though? Are you supposed to put it in a chimney? What if you don't have one?????????/.........................................................................
- Jan 1, 2010, 5:10:00 AM
- Laurens Valk said...
Hey all,
Yes, it is a chimney climber indeed! Some of you may know the chimney climbers I built, from youtube.
Two of these videos together total over 500,000 video views, so I thought it would be nice to make instructions for NXT 2.0 owners in this book.
And yes, the image is modified - the arms got removed here. The question was easy enough already.
And, well, it doesn't climb real chimneys. You could build one that does that, but your NXT won't come out in the same color!!
All that's needed to make this robot climb is two strong vertical objects, like a wall and a book case with a gap of about 32 cm in between. If you don't have this situation in your room, just move the bookcase, to create the gap. I've also successfully tested this robot in between a wall and the side of my desk. For more info - get the book!
- Jan 2, 2010, 12:09:00 AM


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Events Calendar
Tech Talk
Monday, April 14, 2014, 02:00am - 03:00pm
Tech Talk: Learn to Use Your Technology
2nd and 4th Monday of the Month from 2:00-3:00pm
Tech savvy teens from the YMCA Teen Leadership Club provide assistance with the operation of cell phones, tablets, and computers. Participants should bring the device with which they need assistance; 2 computers are available on site for use. The class is free of charge, but registration is required.
Contact 626-355-7394
Location Hart Park House Senior Center
222 W. Sierra Madre Blvd.
Sierra Madre 91024
Sierra Madre 91024


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Comment: Re:let me correct that for you. (Score 1) 619 619
by aurb (#47505955) Attached to: Experiment Shows People Exposed To East German Socialism Cheat More
Exactly - the government owned everything. People didn't own anything, no matter how hard they worked. It was considered OK to steal from the government, because the government, in a way, stole from the people.


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For my data sets analysis, I used the following article http://fcir.org/2012/12/03/13th-grade-how-florida-schools-are-failing-to-prepare-graduates-for-college/.
The author uses data sets from standardized placement tests given out by universities across the country. The article points out the high number of Florida high school students that are scoring low enough on these tests to require them to take remedial courses at the college level. It talks about how these numbers are much higher than the national average, which points out a problem with the high school system. For analysis, the author develops a few steps the Florida school system should take in order to better prepare their students for college and graduation.
To do this reporting, the writer needed the ability to locate and access these records, as well as interpret the data and separate it out to determine what numbers were national averages and what numbers were coming specifically from the state of Florida. The writer used no graphics or interactive tools in the article to display the data, which was disappointing. Though the disparities were all clearly written out, I feel as though a graphic would have had a larger impact on the reader.


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Thursday, July 16, 2009
Farm Aid is Coming to St. Louis!
Today, Farm Aid visited the historic Soulard Market in St. Louis to announce that Farm Aid 2009 Presented by Horizon Organic will be coming to the Verizon Wireless Amphitheater on Sunday, October 4!
Want the best seats in the house? Visit this page for more information on ordering tickets through our member-only pre-sale starting tomorrow at 10am EDT!
Who's playing? We'll be announcing more exciting artists in the coming weeks, but rest assured that Farm Aid's board of directors will be well-represented, with performances by Willie Nelson, Neil Young, John Mellencamp, and Dave Matthews.
Around the office, we are all excited that Farm Aid will be held in Missouri for the first time! Sign up for our newsletter, stay tuned to this blog, and follow us on Twitter for the latest information on this year's concert.
at 12:00 PM
6 comments:
its is truly a human tragedy that these event has to conitune, when it started in 1985 it would end when the farm crisis would come to end. This never ending surfing must coming to end in favor of the small indepedent farmer, if Americans are truly a caring people who value are traditions of justice. When will it end, It Must end. To President Obama, Secertary Vilsack, the Congress but espically Senator Harkin end this scurge on American rural life. BRING BACK THE 1985 FARM BILL NOW (Harkin-Gephardt-Alexander, et. al.) Reengerize the Family-Farm, put it back on the front page some how.ReplyDelete
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Alexander assumed the kingship of Macedon following the death of his father Philip II, who had unified most of the city-states of mainland Greece under Macedonian hegemony in a federation called the League of Corinth. After reconfirming Macedonian rule by quashing a rebellion of southern Greek city-states and staging a short but bloody excursion against Macedon's northern neighbours, Alexander set out east against the Achaemenid Persian Empire, which he defeated and overthrew. His conquests included Anatolia, Syria, Phoenicia, Judea, Gaza, Egypt, Bactria and Mesopotamia, and he extended the boundaries of his own empire as far as Punjab, India.
Alexander had already made plans prior to his death for military and mercantile expansions into the Arabian peninsula, after which he was to turn his armies to the west (Carthage, Rome and the Iberian Peninsula). His original vision, however, had been to the east, to the ends of the world and the Great Outer Sea, as is described by his boyhood tutor and mentor Aristotle.
Alexander integrated many foreigners into his army, leading some scholars to credit him with a "policy of fusion". He also encouraged marriages between his soldiers and foreigners, and he himself went on to marry two foreign princesses.
Alexander died after twelve years of constant military campaigning, possibly a result of malaria, poisoning, typhoid fever, viral encephalitis or the consequences of alcoholism. His legacy and conquests lived on long after him and ushered in centuries of Greek settlement and cultural influence over distant areas. This period is known as the Hellenistic period, which featured a combination of Greek, Middle Eastern and Indian culture. Alexander himself featured prominently in the history and myth of both Greek and non-Greek cultures. His exploits inspired a literary tradition in which he appeared as a legendary hero in the tradition of Achilles.
Born in Pella, the capital of Macedon, Alexander was the son of King Philip II of Macedon and his fourth wife Olympias, an Epirote princess. On his mother's side, he was a second cousin of Pyrrhus of Epirus, who himself would become a celebrated general. There are, then, notable examples of military genius on both sides of the family.
According to Plutarch, Alexander's father was descended from Heracles through Caranus of Macedon and his mother from Aeacus through Neoptolemus and Achilles. Plutarch relates that both Philip and Olympias dreamt of their son's impending birth: she claimed to have seen thunderbolts portending of Zeus; he, on the other hand, dreamed of sealing her womb with the seal of the lion. Alarmed on waking, Philip consulted the seer Aristander of Telmessos, and learnt that his wife was pregnant and that the child would have the character of a lion. Another odd coincidence (probably vamped by expedient Greek historians, ever sensitive to coincidence) is that Herostratus burnt down the Temple of Artemis in Ephesus on the night of his birth. Hegesias joked that this was only to be expected, as Artemis, the goddess of childbirth, was too busy attending Alexander's nativity to save her temple.
According to five historians of antiquity (Arrian, Curtius, Diodorus, Justin and Plutarch), after his visit to the Oracle of Amun (a deity adopted from Egyptian religion) at Siwa, rumours spread that the Oracle had revealed Alexander's father to be Zeus. The legends of his divinity are manifold: Aristoxenus, for example, claimed that, unlike most in those pre-deodorant times, Alexander was ever a delight to the olfactory senses. This was taken to be a sign of his superhuman nature.
Philip was away in Potidaea (which he had just seized) when Alexander was born. The king was thus brought three pleasant messages on the very same day — the first of Parmenion's great triumph over the Illyrians, the second of his racehorse's win at the Olympics and the third of the birth of his son. He was naturally overcome, especially after the prophets' assurance that a man whose birth coincided with three victories would prove himself invincible.
In his early years, Alexander was raised by his nurse, Lanike, who was Cleitus's older sister. He was later educated by a strict teacher, Leonidas, himself a relative of Olympias. Leonidas's frugal ways come down to us through extant record: reportedly, when Alexander threw a large amount of sacrificial incense into a fire, Leonidas reprimanded him, saying that he could waste as much incense as he wished once he had conquered the spice-bearing regions. It was Aristotle, though, who gave Alexander his most famous and important tutoring. The philosopher from Stageira was the foremost thinker of the period. A student of Plato, who in turn had been a student of Socrates, he now extended the illustrious chain by taking on Alexander as a student of his own.
Aristotle trained the youth in rhetoric and literature, and stimulated his interest in science, medicine and especially philosophy, which formed the greater part of his lessons. These took place outdoors in relaxed informality, probably after the manner of Socrates, but with more ordered and scholarly content. Aristotle's influence played a considerable role in forging Alexander's renowned bibliophilia. His gift to his student, a copy of the Iliad, came to be one of the young king's most-prized possessions and was always kept, along with a dagger, under his pillow. The text, annotated by Aristotle, came to be known as the "casket copy", so called because it was so large as to be kept in a casket. Quite how practical (and, indeed, possible) it was for Alexander to sleep with it beneath his pillow is a contentious matter.
When Alexander was ten years old, Philoneicus of Thessaly, which adjoined Macedon to the south and renowned for its horsemanship, brought to sell to Philip a specimen of such quality that it was labelled a prodigy. As it turned out, however, the horse was so wild that no man could mount it. Young Alexander, recognising its shadow as the source of its fear, went over and turned it towards the sun. At this it calmed down, and the young man easily mounted and rode it. His father and the others who saw this (having moments before been in turns sceptical, derisive and concerned for his safety) were most impressed. Philip, overjoyed at this display of courage, intellect and ambition, kissed him tearfully: "My boy, you must find a kingdom big enough for your ambitions. Macedonia is too small for you." In accordance with a pre-arranged bet, Alexander was allowed to keep the horse. Its name was Bucephalus, meaning "ox-headed" — but it is also a possible reference to the brand that denoted its origin. Bucephalus would be Alexander's companion throughout his journeys and was truly loved: when he died (due to old age, according to Plutarch, for he was already thirty), Alexander named a city after him called Bucephala. It would not be a ridiculous flight of fancy to say that the horse was the closest friend Alexander ever had.
On another occasion, when Persian ambassadors arrived in Macedon and Philip was not there to receive them, Alexander did the honours and fairly won them over by his mature, friendly and natural manner. According to Plutarch, they came away convinced that the father's renowned perspicacity had nothing on the ambition and hardihood of the son.
While his peers celebrated Philip's victories, Alexander always felt a brooding impatience. "Boys," he declared, "my father will forestall me in everything. There will be nothing great or spectacular for you and me to show the world." Desirous less of luxury and wealth than of excellence and glory, he knew that the more he inherited from his father the less he would have to take for himself. Philip's successes, he felt, were opportunities wasted on an inferior.
In 340 BC, Philip led an attack on Byzantium, leaving Alexander, now sixteen, to act as regent of Macedon. Shortly after, in 339 BC, Philip took a fifth wife, Cleopatra Eurydice. While Alexander's mother was from Epirus, Cleopatra was a true Macedonian, leading to political machinations over whether or not Alexander was the rightful heir to the Argead throne. During the wedding feast, Attalus, uncle of the bride, gave a toast for the marriage to result in a "legitimate" heir to the throne. Alexander, furious, hurled his goblet at the speaker, shouting, "What am I? A bastard, then?" Phillip drew his sword and moved towards his son but fell in a bibulous stupor over the drinking couches. "Here," declared Alexander, "is the man planning on conquering from Greece to Asia, and he cannot even move from one table to another." Following the episode, Alexander and his mother left Macedon, but his sister, also named Cleopatra, remained.
Philip and Alexander eventually reconciled: the son returned home, but Olympias remained in Epirus. In 338 BC, Alexander fought under his father at the decisive Battle of Chaeronea against the mainland city-states of Athens and Thebes. Phillip entrusted Alexander with the left wing of his army, which entailed facing the Sacred Band of Thebes, an elite hoplite corps thitherto thought invincible. Although few details of the battle survive, what is known is that Alexander annihilated the Band; according to legend, indeed, he was the first to charge it.
After the battle, Philip led a wild celebration, but his son is notably absent from accounts describing it. It has been speculated that he personally treated Demades, a notable orator of Athens, who had opposed Athenian alignment against Philip. He went on to draw up and present a peace plan, which the assembled Athenian army voted on and approved. Philip was content to deprive Thebes of its dominion over Boeotia and leave a Macedonian garrison in the citadel. A few months later, the League of Corinth was formed and Philip acclaimed Hegemon of the Hellenes.
In 336 BC, Philip was assassinated at the wedding of his daughter Cleopatra to her uncle King Alexander of Epirus. Theories abound regarding the motives for the killing, but a common story presents the assassin as a disgraced former lover of the king—the young nobleman Pausanias of Orestis, who held a grudge against Philip because the king had ignored his grievances regarding an outrage on his person.
Others thought (and many still think) that Philip's murder was planned with the knowledge and involvement of Alexander, Olympias or both. Still more theories point to Darius III, the recently-crowned King of Persia. Regardless, the army proclaimed Alexander, then twenty, the new king of Macedon.
Greek cities like Athens and Thebes, which had been forced to pledge allegiance to Philip, saw in the relatively untested new king an opportunity to regain full independence. Alexander moved swiftly, however, and Thebes, which was most active against him, submitted immediately he appeared at its gates. The assembled Greeks at the Isthmus of Corinth, with the exception of the Spartans, elected him commander against Persia, a title previously bestowed upon his father.
The following year (335 BC), Alexander felt free to engage the Thracians and Illyrians in order to secure the Danube as the northern boundary of the Macedonian kingdom. While he was triumphantly campaigning north, the Thebans and Athenians rebelled once more. Alexander reacted immediately, but, while the other cities once again hesitated, Thebes decided to resist with the utmost vigour. The resistance was useless, however, as the city was razed to the ground amid great bloodshed and its territory divided between the other Boeotian cities. Moreover, the Thebans themselves were sold into slavery. Alexander spared only priests, leaders of the pro-Macedonian party and descendants of Pindar, whose house was the only one left standing.
The end of Thebes cowed Athens into submission. According to Plutarch, a special Athenian embassy, led by Phocion, an opponent of the anti-Macedonian faction, was able to persuade Alexander to give up his demand for the exile of leaders of the anti-Macedonian party, most particularly Demosthenes.
Alexander's army crossed the Hellespont with approximately 42,000 soldiers from Macedon, various Greek city-states, mercenaries and tribute soldiers from Thrace, Paionia, and Illyria. After an initial victory against Persian forces at the Battle of the Granicus, Alexander accepted the surrender of the Persian provincial capital and treasury of Sardis and proceeded down the Ionian coast. At Halicarnassus, Alexander successfully waged the first of many sieges, eventually forcing his opponents, the mercenary captain Memnon of Rhodes and the Persian satrap of Caria, Orontobates, to withdraw by sea. Alexander left Caria in the hands of Ada, who was ruler of Caria before being deposed by her brother Pixodarus. From Halicarnassus, Alexander proceeded into mountainous Lycia and the Pamphylian plain, asserting control over all coastal cities and denying them to his enemy. From Pamphylia onward, the coast held no major ports and so Alexander moved inland. At Termessos, Alexander humbled but did not storm the Pisidian city. At the ancient Phrygian capital of Gordium, Alexander "undid" the hitherto unsolvable Gordian Knot, a feat said to await the future "king of Asia." According to the most vivid story, Alexander proclaimed that it did not matter how the knot was undone, and he hacked it apart with his sword. Another version claims that he did not use the sword, but simply realized that the simplest way to undo the knot was to simply remove a central peg from the chariot—around which the knot was tied.
Alexander's army crossed the Cilician Gates, met and defeated the main Persian army under the command of Darius III at the Battle of Issus in 333 BC. Darius was forced to flee the battle after his army broke, and in doing so left behind his wife, his two daughters, his mother Sisygambis, and a fabulous amount of treasure. He afterwards offered a peace treaty to Alexander, the concession of the lands he had already conquered, and a ransom of 10,000 talents for his family. Alexander replied that since he was now king of Asia, it was he alone who decided territorial divisions. Proceeding down the Mediterranean coast, he took Tyre and Gaza after famous sieges (see Siege of Tyre).
During 332–331 BC, Alexander was welcomed as a liberator in Persian-occupied Egypt and was pronounced the son of Zeus by Egyptian priests of the deity Amun at the Oracle of Siwa Oasis in the Libyan desert. Henceforth, Alexander often referred to Zeus-Ammon as his true father, and subsequent currency depicted him, adorned with ram horns as a symbol of his divinity. He founded Alexandria in Egypt, which would become the prosperous capital of the Ptolemaic dynasty after his death.
Leaving Egypt, Alexander marched eastward into Assyria (now northern Iraq) and defeated Darius once more at the Battle of Gaugamela. Once again, Darius was forced to leave the field, and Alexander chased him as far as Arbela. While Darius fled over the mountains to Ecbatana (modern Hamedan), Alexander marched to Babylon.
From Babylon, Alexander went to Susa, one of the Achaemenid capitals, and captured its legendary treasury. Sending the bulk of his army to the Persian capital of Persepolis via the Royal Road, Alexander stormed and captured the Persian Gates (in the modern Zagros Mountains), then sprinted for Persepolis before its treasury could be looted. It was here that Alexander was said to have stared at the crumbled statue of Xerxes and decided to leave it on the ground—a symbolic gesture of vengeance. During their stay at the capital, a fire broke out in the eastern palace of Xerxes and spread to the rest of the city. Theories abound as to whether this was the result of a drunken accident, or a deliberate act of revenge for the burning of the Acropolis of Athens during the Second Persian War. The Book of Arda Wiraz, a Zoroastrian work composed in the 3rd or 4th century AD, also speaks of archives containing "all the Avesta and Zand, written upon prepared cow-skins, and with gold ink" that were destroyed; but it must be said that this statement is often treated by scholars with a certain measure of skepticism, because it is generally thought that for many centuries the Avesta was transmitted mainly orally by the Magi.
Alexander then set off in pursuit of Darius anew. The Persian king was no longer in control of his destiny, having been taken prisoner by Bessus, his Bactrian satrap and kinsman. As Alexander approached, Bessus had his men murder the Great King and then declared himself Darius' successor as Artaxerxes V before retreating into Central Asia to launch a guerrilla campaign against Alexander. With the death of Darius, Alexander declared the war of vengeance over, and released his Greek and other allies from service in the League campaign (although he allowed those that wished to re-enlist as mercenaries in his army).
His three-year campaign, first against Bessus and then against Spitamenes, the satrap of Sogdiana, took Alexander through Media, Parthia, Aria (West Afghanistan), Drangiana, Arachosia (South and Central Afghanistan), Bactria (North and Central Afghanistan), and Scythia. In the process of doing so, he captured and refounded Herat and Maracanda. Moreover, he founded a series of new cities, all called Alexandria, including modern Kandahar in Afghanistan, and Alexandria Eschate ("The Furthest") in modern Tajikistan. In the end, both of his opponents were defeated after having been betrayed by their men—Bessus in 329 BC, and Spitamenes the year after.
After the death of Spitamenes and his marriage to Roxana (Roshanak in Bactrian) to cement his relations with his new Central Asian satrapies, in 326 BC Alexander was finally free to turn his attention to the Indian subcontinent. Alexander invited all the chieftains of the former satrapy of Gandhara, in the north of what is now Pakistan, to come to him and submit to his authority. Ambhi (Greek: Omphis), ruler of Taxila, whose kingdom extended from the Indus to the Jhelum (Greek:Hydaspes), complied. But the chieftains of some hill clans including the Aspasioi and Assakenoi sections of the Kambojas (classical names), known in Indian texts as Ashvayanas and Ashvakayanas (names referring to the equestrian nature of their society from the Sanskrit root word Ashva meaning horse), refused to submit.
Alexander personally took command of the shield-bearing guards, foot-companions, archers, Agrianians and horse-javelin-men and led them against the Kamboja clans—the Aspasioi of Kunar/Alishang valleys, the Guraeans of the Guraeus (Panjkora) valley, and the Assakenoi of the Swat and Buner valleys. Writes one modern historian: "They were brave people and it was hard work for Alexander to take their strongholds, of which Massaga and Aornus need special mention. A fierce contest ensued with the Aspasioi in which Alexander himself was wounded in the shoulder by a dart but eventually the Aspasioi lost the fight; 40,000 of them were enslaved. The Assakenoi faced Alexander with an army of 30,000 cavalry, 38,000 infantry and 30 elephants. They had fought bravely and offered stubborn resistance to the invader in many of their strongholds like cities of Ora, Bazira and Massaga. The fort of Massaga could only be reduced after several days of bloody fighting in which Alexander himself was wounded seriously in the ankle. When the Chieftain of Massaga fell in the battle, the supreme command of the army went to his old mother Cleophis (q.v.) who also stood determined to defend her motherland to the last extremity. The example of Cleophis assuming the supreme command of the military also brought the entire women of the locality into the fighting. Alexander could only reduce Massaga by resorting to political strategem and actions of betrayal. According to Curtius: "Not only did Alexander slaughter the entire population of Massaga, but also did he reduce its buildings to rubbles." A similar slaughter then followed at Ora, another stronghold of the Assakenoi.
In the aftermath of general slaughter and arson committed by Alexander at Massaga and Ora, numerous Assakenians people fled to a high fortress called Aornos. Alexander followed them close behind their heels and captured the strategic hill-fort but only after the fourth day of a bloody fight. The story of Massaga was repeated at Aornos and a similar carnage of the tribal-people followed here too.
Writing on Alexander's campaign against the Assakenoi, Victor Hanson comments: "After promising the surrounded Assacenis their lives upon capitulation, he executed all their soldiers who had surrendered. Their strongholds at Ora and Aornus were also similarly stormed. Garrisons were probably all slaughtered."
Sisikottos, who had helped Alexander in this campaign, was made the governor of Aornos. After reducing Aornos, Alexander crossed the Indus and fought and won an epic battle against a local ruler Porus (original Indian name Raja Puru), who ruled a region in the Punjab, in the Battle of Hydaspes in 326 BC.
After the battle, Alexander was greatly impressed by Porus for his bravery in battle, and therefore made an alliance with him and appointed him as satrap of his own kingdom, even adding some land he did not own before. Alexander then named one of the two new cities that he founded, Bucephala, in honor of the horse who had brought him to India, who had died during the Battle of Hydaspes. Alexander continued on to conquer all the headwaters of the Indus River.
East of Porus' kingdom, near the Ganges River (original Indian name Ganga), was the powerful empire of Magadha ruled by the Nanda dynasty. Fearing the prospects of facing another powerful Indian army and exhausted by years of campaigning, his army mutinied at the Hyphasis River (the modern Beas River) refusing to march further east. This river thus marks the easternmost extent of Alexander's conquests:
Alexander spoke to his army and tried to persuade them to march further into India but Coenus pleaded with him to change his opinion and return, the men, he said, longed to again see their parents, their wives and children, their homeland". Alexander, seeing the unwillingness of his men agreed and turned south. Along the way his army conquered the Malli clans (in modern day Multan), reputed to be among the bravest and most warlike peoples in South Asia. During a siege, Alexander jumped into the fortified city alone with only two of his bodyguards and was wounded seriously by a Mallian arrow. His forces, believing their king dead, took the citadel and unleashed their fury on the Malli who had taken refuge within it, perpetrating a massacre, sparing no man, woman or child. However, due to the efforts of his surgeon, Kritodemos of Kos, Alexander survived the injury. Following this, the surviving Malli surrendered to Alexander's forces, and his beleaguered army moved on, conquering more Indian tribes along the way. He sent much of his army to Carmania (modern southern Iran) with his general Craterus, and commissioned a fleet to explore the Persian Gulf shore under his admiral Nearchus, while he led the rest of his forces back to Persia by the southern route through the Gedrosian Desert (now part of southern Iran and Makran now part of Pakistan).
In the territory of the Indus, he nominated his officer Peithon as a satrap, a position he would hold for the next ten years until 316 BC, and in the Punjab he left Eudemus in charge of the army, at the side of the satrap Porus and Taxiles. Eudemus became ruler of a part of the Punjab after their death. Both rulers returned to the West in 316 BC with their armies. In 321 BCE, Chandragupta Maurya founded the Maurya Empire in India and overthrew the Greek satraps.
Discovering that many of his satraps and military governors had misbehaved in his absence, Alexander executed a number of them as examples on his way to Susa. As a gesture of thanks, he paid off the debts of his soldiers, and announced that he would send those over-aged and disabled veterans back to Macedonia under Craterus, but his troops misunderstood his intention and mutinied at the town of Opis, refusing to be sent away and bitterly criticizing his adoption of Persian customs and dress and the introduction of Persian officers and soldiers into Macedonian units. Alexander executed the ringleaders of the mutiny, but forgave the rank and file. In an attempt to craft a lasting harmony between his Macedonian and Persian subjects, he held a mass marriage of his senior officers to Persian and other noblewomen at Susa, but few of those marriages seem to have lasted much beyond a year. Meanwhile, upon his return, Alexander learned some men had desecrated the tomb of Cyrus the Great, and swiftly executed them. For they were put in charge of guarding the tomb Alexander held in honor.
His attempts to merge Persian culture with his Greek soldiers also included training a regiment of Persian boys in the ways of Macedonians. Most historians believe that Alexander adopted the Persian royal title of Shahanshah (meaning: "The King of Kings").
It is claimed that Alexander wanted to overrun or integrate the Arabian peninsula, but this theory is widely disputed. It was assumed that Alexander would turn westwards and attack Carthage and Italy, had he conquered Arabia.
After traveling to Ecbatana to retrieve the bulk of the Persian treasure, his closest friend and possibly lover Hephaestion died of an illness, or possibly of poisoning. Alexander mourned Hephaestion for six months.
On the afternoon of June 11, 323 BC, Alexander died in the palace of Nebuchadrezzar II of Babylon. He was just one month short of attaining 33 years of age. Various theories have been proposed for the cause of his death which include poisoning by the sons of Antipater or others, sickness that followed a drinking party, or a relapse of the malaria he had contracted in 336 BC.
It is known that on May 29, Alexander participated in a banquet organized by his friend Medius of Larissa. After some heavy drinking, immediately before or after a bath, he was forced into bed due to severe illness. The rumors of his illness circulated with the troops causing them to be more and more anxious. On June 9, the generals decided to let the soldiers see their king alive one last time. They were admitted to his presence one at a time. Because the king was too ill to speak, he confined himself to moving his hand. The day after, Alexander was dead.
The warrior culture of Macedon favoured the sword over strychnine, and many ancient historians, like Plutarch and Arrian, maintained that Alexander was not poisoned, but died of natural causes; malaria or typhoid fever, which were rampant in ancient Babylon. A 1998 article in the New England Journal of Medicine attributed his death to typhoid fever complicated by bowel perforation and ascending paralysis. Other illnesses could have also been the culprit, including acute pancreatitis or the West Nile virus. Recently, theories have been advanced stating that Alexander may have died from the treatment not the disease. Hellebore, believed to have been widely used as a medicine at the time but deadly in large doses, may have been overused by the impatient king to speed his recovery, with deadly results. Disease-related theories often cite the fact that Alexander's health had fallen to dangerously low levels after years of heavy drinking and suffering several appalling wounds (including one in India that nearly claimed his life), and that it was only a matter of time before one sickness or another finally killed him.
No story is conclusive. Alexander's death has been reinterpreted many times over the centuries. What is certain is that Alexander died of a high fever on June 11, 323 BC.
On his death bed, his marshals asked him to whom he bequeathed his kingdom. Since Alexander had no obvious and legitimate heir (his son Alexander IV would be born after his death, and his other son was by a concubine, not a wife), it was a question of vital importance. There is some debate to what Alexander replied. Some believe that Alexander said, "Kratisto" (that is, "To the strongest!") or "Krat'eroi" (to the stronger).
Alexander may have said, "Krater'oi" (to Craterus). This is possible because the Greek pronunciation of "the stronger" and "Craterus" differ only by the position of the accented syllable. Most scholars believe that if Alexander did intend to choose one of his generals, his obvious choice would have been Craterus because he was the commander of the largest part of the army (infantry), because he had proven himself to be an excellent strategist, and because he displayed traits of the "ideal" Macedonian. But Craterus was not around, and the others may have chosen to hear "Krat'eroi" — the stronger. Regardless of his reply, Craterus does not appear to have pressed the issue. The empire then split amongst his successors (the Diadochi).
Before long, accusations of foul play were being thrown about by his generals at one another, and no contemporaneous source can be fully trusted.
According to one legend, Alexander was preserved in a clay vessel full of honey (which can act as a preservative) and interred in a glass coffin. According to Aelian (Varia Historia 12.64), Ptolemy stole the body and brought it to Alexandria, where it was on display until Late Antiquity. It was here that Ptolemy IX, one of the last successors of Ptolemy I, replaced Alexander's sarcophagus with a glass one, and melted the original down in order to strike emergency gold issues of his coinage. The citizens of Alexandria were outraged at this and soon after, Ptolemy IX was killed.
The Roman emperor Caligula was said to have looted the tomb, stealing Alexander's breastplate, and wearing it. Around 200 AD, Emperor Septimius Severus closed Alexander's tomb to the public. His son and successor, Caracalla, was a great admirer of Alexander, and visited the tomb in his own reign. After this, details on the fate of the tomb are sketchy.
The so-called "Alexander Sarcophagus," discovered near Sidon and now in the Istanbul Archaeology Museum, is now generally thought to be that of Abdylonymus, whom Hephaestion had appointed as the king of Sidon by Alexander's order. The sarcophagus depicts Alexander and his companions hunting and in battle with the Persians.
Alexander's lifelong companion was Hephaestion, the son of a Macedonian noble. Hephaestion also held the position of second-in-command of Alexander's forces until his death, which devastated Alexander. The full extent of his relationship with Hephaestion is the subject of much historical speculation.
Alexander married two women: Roxana, daughter of a Bactrian nobleman, Oxyartes, and Stateira, a Persian princess and daughter of Darius III of Persia. There is also an accepted tradition of a third wife- Parysatis whom he is supposed to have married in Persia though nothing is known about her. Another personage from the court of Darius III with whom he was intimate was the male eunuch Bagoas. His son by Roxana, Alexander IV of Macedon, was killed after the death of his father, before he reached adulthood.
Alexander was admired during his lifetime for treating all his lovers humanely.
After Alexander's death, in 323 BC, the rule of his Empire was given to Alexander's half-brother Philip Arridaeus and Alexander's son Alexander IV. However, since Philip was apparently feeble-minded and the son of Alexander still a baby, two regents were named in Perdiccas (who had received Alexander's ring at his death) and Craterus (who may have been the one mentioned as successor by Alexander), although Perdiccas quickly managed to take sole power.
Perdiccas soon eliminated several of his opponents, killing about 30 (Diodorus Siculus), and at the Partition of Babylon named former generals of Alexander as satraps of the various regions of his Empire. In 321 BC Perdiccas was assassinated by his own troops during his conflict with Ptolemy, leading to the Partition of Triparadisus, in which Antipater was named as the new regent, and the satrapies again shared between the various generals. From that time, Alexander's officers were focused on the explicit formation of rival monarchies and territorial states.
Ultimately, the conflict was settled after the Battle of Ipsus in Phrygia in 301 BC. Alexander's empire was divided at first into four major portions: Cassander ruled in Macedon, Lysimachus in Thrace, Seleucus in Mesopotamia and Persia, and Ptolemy I Soter in the Levant and Egypt. Antigonus ruled for a while in Anatolia and Syria but was eventually defeated by the other generals at Ipsus (301 BC). Control over Indian territory passed to Chandragupta Maurya, the first Maurya emperor, who further expanded his dominions after a settlement with Seleucus.
By 270 BC, the Hellenistic states were consolidated, with
By the 1st century BC though, most of the Hellenistic territories in the West had been absorbed by the Roman Republic. In the East, they had been dramatically reduced by the expansion of the Parthian Empire. The territories further east seceded to form the Greco-Bactrian kingdom (250-140 BC), which further expanded into India to form the Indo-Greek kingdom (180 BC-10 AD).
The Ptolemy dynasty persisted in Egypt until the epoch of the queen Cleopatra, best known for her alliances with Julius Caesar and Mark Antony, just before the Roman republic officially became the Roman Empire.
Alexander's conquests also had long term cultural effects, with the flourishing of Hellenistic civilization throughout the Middle East and Central Asia, and the development of Greco-Buddhist art in the Indian subcontinent. Alexander and his successors were tolerant of non-Greek religious practices, and interesting syncretisms developed in the new Greek towns he founded in Central Asia. The first realistic portrayals of the Buddha appeared at this time; they are reminiscent of Greek statues of Apollo. Several Buddhist traditions may have been influenced by the ancient Greek religion; the concept of Boddhisatvas is reminiscent of Greek divine heroes, and some Mahayana ceremonial practices (burning incense, gifts of flowers and food placed on altars) are similar to those practiced by the ancient Greeks. Zen Buddhism draws in part on the ideas of Greek stoics, such as Zeno.
Among other effects, the Hellenistic, or koine dialect of Greek became the lingua franca throughout the so-called civilized world. For instance the standard version of the Hebrew Scriptures used among the Jews of the diaspora, especially in Egypt, during the life of Jesus was the Greek Septuagint translation, which was compiled ca 200 BC by seventy-odd scholars under the patronage of the Macedonian ruler Ptolemy II Philadelphus. Thus many Jews from Egypt or Rome would have trouble understanding the teachings of the scholars in the Temple in Jerusalem who were using the Hebrew original text and an Aramaic translation, being themselves only acquainted with the Greek version. There has been much speculation on the issue whether Jesus spoke Koine Greek as the Gospel-writers, themselves writing in Greek, don't say anything decisive about the matter.
In the late Republic and early Empire, educated Roman citizens used Latin only for legal, political, and ceremonial purposes, and used Greek to discuss philosophy or any other intellectual topic. No Roman wanted to hear it said that his mastery of the Greek language was weak. Throughout the Roman world, the one language spoken everywhere was Alexander's Greek.
Alexander and his exploits were admired by many Romans who wanted to associate themselves with his achievements, although very little is known about Roman-Macedonian diplomatic relations of that time. Julius Caesar wept in Spain at the mere sight of Alexander's statue; when asked to see other great military leaders Caesar said Alexander was the only great one. Pompey the Great rummaged through the closets of conquered nations for Alexander's 260-year-old cloak, which the Roman general then wore as the costume of greatness. However, in his zeal to honor Alexander, Augustus accidentally broke the nose off the Macedonian's mummified corpse while laying a wreath at the hero's shrine in Alexandria, Egypt. The unbalanced emperor Caligula later took the dead king's armor from that tomb and donned it for luck. The Macriani, a Roman family that rose to the imperial throne in the 3rd century A.D., always kept images of Alexander on their persons, either stamped into their bracelets and rings or stitched into their garments. Even their dinnerware bore Alexander's face, with the story of the king's life displayed around the rims of special bowls.
In the summer of 1995, a statue of Alexander was recovered in an excavation of a Roman house in Alexandria, which was richly decorated with mosaic and marble pavements and probably was constructed in the 1st century AD and occupied until the 3rd century.
Alexander is remembered as a legendary hero in Europe and much of both Southwest and Central Asia, where he is known as Iskander or Iskandar Zulkarnain. To Zoroastrians,however, he is the conqueror of their first great empire and as the destroyer of Persepolis. Ancient sources are generally written with the agenda either of glorifying or of denigrating the man, making it difficult to evaluate his actual character. Most refer to a growing instability and megalomania in the years following Gaugamela, but it has been suggested that this simply reflects the Greek stereotype of an orientalising king.
At any rate, it is difficult to see much in the claim of Plutarch that, despite his drive and passion, Alexander was a man of admirable self-restraint. The murder of his friend Cleitus, which he deeply and immediately regretted, is often cited as a sign of his paranoia, as is his execution of Philotas and his general Parmenion for failure to pass along details of a plot against him. There is also the view, of course, that this was more prudence than paranoia.
Modern Alexandrists continue to debate these issues and others. One unresolved polemic involves whether Alexander was actually attempting to better the world by his conquests or if his purpose was primarily to rule the world.
Partially in response to the ubiquity of positive portrayals of Alexander, an alternate character is sometimes presented which emphasises some of Alexander's negative aspects. Some proponents of this view cite the destructions of Thebes, Tyre, Persepolis and Gaza as atrocities, arguing that Alexander preferred fighting to negotiating. It is further claimed, in response to the view that he was generally tolerant of the cultures of the people whom he conquered, that his attempts at cultural fusion were strictly practical and that he never genuinely admired Persian art or culture. To this school of thought, Alexander was more a general than a statesman.
Alexander's character also suffers the interpretation of historians who themselves are subject to the biases and ideals of their times. William Woodthorpe Tarn, of the late 19th and early 20th centuries, saw Alexander in an extremely positive light, while Peter Green, who wrote after World War II, saw little in him and his deeds that was not inherently selfish or expedient. Tarn wrote in an age during which world conquest and warrior-heroes were acceptable, even encouraged; Green wrote against the backdrop of the Holocaust and nuclear weaponry.
The five main surviving accounts are by Arrian, Curtius, Plutarch, Diodorus, and Justin.
To these five main sources some scholars add the Metz Epitome, an anonymous late Latin work that narrates Alexander's campaigns from Hyrcania to India. Much is also recounted incidentally in other authors, including Strabo, Athenaeus, Polyaenus, Aelian, and others.
The "problem of the sources" is the main concern (and chief delight) of Alexander-historians. In effect, each presents a different "Alexander", with details to suit. Arrian is mostly interested in the military aspects, while Curtius veers to a more private and darker Alexander. Plutarch can't resist a good story, light or dark. All, with the possible exception of Arrian, include a considerable level of fantasy, prompting Strabo to remark, "All who wrote about Alexander preferred the marvelous to the true." Nevertheless, the sources tell us much, and leave much to our interpretation and imagination. Perhaps Arrian's words are most appropriate:
Alexander was a legend in his own time. His court historian Callisthenes portrayed the sea in Cilicia as drawing back from him in proskynesis. Writing after Alexander's death, another participant, Onesicritus, went so far as to invent a tryst between Alexander and Thalestris, queen of the mythical Amazons. When Onesicritus read this passage to his patron, Alexander's general and later King Lysimachus reportedly quipped, "I wonder where I was at the time." (Plutarch, Alexander' 46.2)
In the first centuries after Alexander's death, probably in Alexandria, a quantity of the more legendary material coalesced into a text known as the Alexander Romance, later falsely ascribed to the historian Callisthenes and therefore known as Pseudo-Callisthenes. This text underwent numerous expansions and revisions throughout Antiquity and the Middle Ages, exhibiting a plasticity unseen in "higher" literary forms. Latin and Syriac translations were made in Late Antiquity. From these, versions were developed in all the major languages of Europe and the Middle East, including Armenian, Georgian, Persian, Arabic, Turkish, Hebrew, Serbian, Slavonic, Romanian, Hungarian, German, English, Italian, and French. The "Romance" is regarded by many Western scholars as the source of the account of Alexander given in the Qur'an (Sura The Cave). It is the source of many incidents in Ferdowsi's "Shahnama". A Mongolian version is also extant. Some believe that, excepting certain religious texts, it is the most widely-read work of pre-modern times.
Alexander is also a character of Greek folklore (and other regions), as the protagonist of 'apocryphal' tales of bravery. A maritime legend says that his sister is a mermaid and asks the sailors if her brother is still alive. The unsuspecting sailor who answers truthfully arouses the mermaid's wrath and his boat perishes in the waves; a sailor mindful of the circumstances will answer "He lives and reigns, and conquers the world", and the sea about his boat will immediately calm. Alexander is also a character of a standard play in the Karagiozis repertory, "Alexander the Great and the Accursed Serpent". The ancient Greek poet Adrianus composed an epic poem on the history of Alexander the Great, called the Alexandriad, which was probably still extant in the 10th century, but which is now lost to us.
Alexander was briefly mentioned in the first Book of the Maccabees. All of Chapter 1, verses 1–7 was about Alexander and this serves as an introduction of the book. This explains how the Hellenistic influence reached the Land of Israel at that time.
Alexander the Great sometimes is identified in Persian and Arabic traditions as Dhul-Qarnayn, Arabic for the "Two-Horned One", possibly a reference to the appearance of a horn-headed figure that appears on coins minted during his rule and later imitated in ancient Middle Eastern coinage. Accounts of Dhul-Qarnayn appear in the Qur'an, and so may refer to Alexander.
References to Alexander may also be found in the Persian tradition. The same traditions from the Pseudo-Callisthenes were combined in Persia with Sassanid Persian ideas about Alexander in the Iskandarnamah. In this tradition, Alexander built a wall of iron and melted copper in which Gog and Magog are confined.
Some Muslim scholars disagree that Alexander was Dhul-Qarnayn. There are actually some theories that Dhul-Qarnayn was a Persian King with a vast Empire as well, possibly King Cyrus the Great. The reason being is Dhul-Qarnayn is described in the Holy Quran as a monotheist believer who worshipped Allah (God). This, it is claimed, removes Alexander as a candidate for Dhul-Qarnayn as Alexander was a polytheist. Yet contemporaneous Persian nobles would have practiced Zurvanism, thus disqualifying them on the same basis.
Around seventy towns or outposts are claimed to have been founded by Alexander. Diodorus Siculus credits Alexander with planning cities on a grid plan.
Alexander has figured in works of both "high" and popular culture from his own era to the modern day.
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Need to get votes from everyone as far as what we do with TLV and R.Payton's teams with the two of them leaving the league. All of their guys (and anyone dropped) would be available if we go with the draft now options.
As an aside here are the best 14 guys (we have 12 people now) between their teams.
1. Nick Dardanes
2. Evan Henderson
3. Dylan Ness
4. Trent Sprenkle
5. Alex Dieringer
6. Logan Storley
7. Kevin Steinhaus
8. Jake Meredith
9. Tony Nelson
10. Nico Megaludis
11. Levi Mele
12. Jake Sueflohn
13. Peter Yates
14. Robert Kokesh
I've contributed my vote, but if I'm outvoted I will take the majorities decision.


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About WILPF Donate Issue Committees International WILPF Get Involved Publications and eNews Branch Directory
Understanding US Policy
Thoughts on Mearsheimer
WCUSP has followed the debate created by the publication of John Mearsheimer and Stephen Walt's "The Israel Lobby" study. WCUSP leadership team member Libby Frank articulates four main problems with Mearsheimer and Walt's "The Israel Lobby" study in her response, "Confusing the Issue: Mearsheimer & Walt's 'The Israel Lobby.'" While Ms. Frank's paper should be viewed as her own work, it does reflect US WILPF's goal of exposing the root causes of oppression and our challenge to US policy on Israel / Palestine.
Myth and Reality: Jewish Influence on US Middle East Policy
In working for a just resolution of the Israel-Palestine conflict, we constantly bump into the fact that the powerful party is the state of one of history's most oppressed groups. Some get frustrated by always having to address anti-Semitism while working toward a just resolution to the plight of the Palestinians. But we're kidding ourselves if we believe for a moment that anti-Semitism is not an integral part of the problem. It is that history which creates the fear and anger that drive many Israeli policies. And if we fail to recognize the leg (pdf) itimate fear that history has instilled in the Jewish people, we fail before we start. When dealing with the question of US support for Israel's occupation, this awareness is especially critical.
Bibliography of Books, Media, and Websites
Recommended by the Leadership Team of "Women Challenge US Policy" Campaign
Books: History of the Region
American Friends Service Committee. When the Rain Returns: Toward Justice and Reconciliation in Palestine and Israel. AFSC, 2004. Report of International Quaker Working Party on the region, peacemaking efforts, and recommendations for US policy.
U.N. Resolutions and Maps
Two Occupations, Same Goal, Similar Characteristics
August 11, 2005
Rachell Marshall
WILPF National Congress
A year ago last spring, during the same week that Israeli forces were attacking a Gaza refugee camp, bulldozing buildings, ripping up water pipes and power lines, and killing civilians, American forces were laying siege to Iraqi cities. The tanks and helicopter gun ships were identical. The rubble left by the bombs looked the same whether it was in Rafah or Karbala. The faces of Iraqis and Palestinians mourning their dead showed the same grief. Last may there was a front page article in the Times describing a U.S. bombing attack on an Iraqi village the day before that had killed 45 people while they were celebrating a wedding. Next to it was a picture of a man standing in the ruins of a house in Gaza holding his dead child in his arms. The child and several others were killed when an Israeli tank fired into a crowded street. The picture fit both news stories.


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Honister Slate Mine boss Jan vows to fight zip wire snub
Last updated at 14:35, Friday, 11 January 2013
Honister Slate Mine is set to appeal after controversially being denied permission to build a zip wire at the site.
The Lake District National Park Authority's planning board on Wednesday went against the advice of planning experts and voted seven to four against the development.
The decision followed a three-hour discussion - the longest in the committee's history - and came despite nearly 400 letters of support.
Among the speakers at the meeting was a representative of the Friends of the Lake District, which opposed the plans.
But the group's vice president, Caldbeck mountaineer Sir Chris Bonington, spoke in favour.
He later resigned from the group because of its handling of the plans.
After the decision, Jan Wilkinson, owner of the slate mine, said: "There are two options - to appeal or to shut the doors. There are 26 people who need their wages every Friday. I'm not going to do that to them."
Jan, who has run the mine since the death of her partner Mark Weir nearly two years ago, said last month that the zip wire was needed to keep the tourist attraction fresh and give people a reason to keep visiting.
Slate mining is expensive and she said tourism was needed to support it.
The zip wire would have been used by people who had completed the mine's Via Ferrata climbing attraction.
It would have taken them from Honister Crags to the car park.
In September 2011 the authority rejected the slate mine's initial plan for a zip wire.
Following that decision, the company worked with planners to amend the plans.
The start point was moved from the horizon, the length reduced and the proposed zip wire made quieter.
Under the fresh plans, the mine wanted to put up the zip wire for a temporary period of 18 months.
During that time an independent study would have been done by the University of Cumbria to assess its impact on visitors to the area.
After that, a decision would have been taken by the national park authority to extend the permission or order its removal.
But the planning board threw out the plans, concerned about the effect the development would have on the landscape.
Jack Ellerby, policy officer for Friends of the Lake District, said there was no justification for eroding the wild and tranquil area of Borrowdale.
He added: "The Alps cannot compete with what the Lake District has to offer, so let's keep it that way."
Sir Chris said after the meeting that the Friends of the Lake District did some good work "but they've got this one terribly wrong".
Ms Wilkinson said she planned to lodge an appeal as soon as she received the decision paperwork.
She added that, if the appeal was won, the mine would have to install the zip wire in time for the start of the 2014 tourist season, a year later than planned.
The zip wire must be up for two summers to be viable as a temporary venture.
She said: "We were totally willing after 18 months to say if it wasn't working we'd walk away.
"We haven't been given that option and it's incredulous in my opinion.
"It beggars belief that they'd go against the officers who have recommended it for approval.
"There's nothing more that I can do than work with the authorities.
"All I have got now is hope.
"People have said 'is it just Mark's dream, is that what pushes you on?' There is an element of that but it's because I have seen people come up here in all weathers to the Via Ferrata. It makes them question what they're capabilities are. I see that positive effect on people."
First published at 14:34, Friday, 11 January 2013
Published by http://www.timesandstar.co.uk
Have your say
This would encourage the younger members of our society to grow and enjoy the Lakes as I and my family have
They could be the next generation of friends of the lakes with a broader out look, and maybe it could be enjoyed by everyone and not kept for the few.
Not mention the locals need jobs or the young people move out and we are left with ageing community with no life there
The Zip Wire would have been a fitting memorial to Neil who put so much into the Old Slate Mine, and yes in order to keep it going it needs Finance and the prifit from the proposed wire would have brought that in, but I think Dave and the so caleed Friends of the Lakes should remember the national Park belongs to us all, so next time do the right thing and get this passed, then let the Mine move on. posted by Alex Craig 17 th. January.
View all 20 comments on this article


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As a high school student researching colleges, Ashley Zacher knew all about Robert Morris University: her father, Tom, graduated from RMU in 1975. Still, she had in mind going somewhere a little farther away from her home in Plum.
Until, that is, she learned about the Scholarships in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics program, which RMU launched in 2009 with a grant from the National Science Foundation. The goal of the program was to recruit high achieving students from low-income backgrounds or groups underrepresented in math, science, and technology fields.
Zacher majored in financial mathematics with a minor in actuarial science, and she graduated a semester early. She is now working at Erie Insurance as an actuarial analyst for life insurance policies.
"RMU prepared me more than I could have expected," said Zacher.
Nicholson Center
800.762.0097 phone
412.397.5200 phone
412.397.5915 fax
© 1995–2014 Robert Morris University. All rights reserved.


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Jourdan Bed
Inspired by an antique Directoire-style daybed, this collection was created using all the design details of the original. Jourdan's stylized ornamentation and geometric motifs are hallmarks of French Directoire style – a return to classical forms of order and symmetry that lend a feeling of simplicity and strength.
- Handcrafted of kiln-dried hardwood with fine veneers using mortise-and-tenon joinery
- Headboard and footboard are adorned with concentric oval carvings and square posts
- Antiqued charcoal brown finish is achieved by hand with a 12-step process that highlights the beauty of the wood grain
- Each piece is distressed and worn along the edges for timeworn appeal
- Rails have 1 height setting for use with a box spring and mattress
- Slat rail mattress support for use with a box spring and mattress, or mattress only
- Nylon glides on feet
- Wood swatch is 6" square; free shipping
- This item is handcrafted with meticulous care. Given its hand-finished nature and natural variations in the wood grain, each item is unique and no two will be exactly alike.
- GREENGUARD Gold Certified. Meets or exceeds stringent chemical emissions standards. Learn more.
- Wipe with a soft, dry cloth. Avoid direct sunlight and heat to protect the finish.
Shown in anitqued charcoal brown.
Jourdan Bed
- Twin Bed Overall: 45½"W x 83"L x 50"H
- Twin Headboard: 45½"W x 4"D x 50"H
- Twin Footboard: 45½"W x 4"D x 33"H
- Clearance Under Bed: 6½"H
- Twin Bed Weight: 119 lbs.
- Full Bed Overall: 60"W x 82½"L x 50"H
- Full Headboard: 60"W x 4"D x 50"H
- Full Footboard: 60"W x 4"D x 33"H
- Clearance Under Bed: 6½"H
- Full Bed Weight: 145 lbs.
- Queen Bed Overall: 66"W x 87½"L x 50"H
- Queen Headboard: 66"W x 4"D x 50"H
- Queen Footboard: 66"W x 4"D x 33"H
- Clearance Under Bed: 6½"H
- Queen Bed Weight: 180 lbs.
Jourdan Bed
Euro Top Plush Mattress
Euro Top Plush Mattress & Box Spring Set


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- Overview
- Specs
- Reviews
Louis Garneau Ergo Air Comp 2 Road Shoes - Performance ExclusiveThe Ergo Air Comp 2 road shoes give you a serious advantage when it comes enhanced cooling and power transmission, thanks to Louis Garneau's multi-vent system and high-density outsole. Ergo Vent technology and Ergo Air insoles join forces to circulate cool air between your heel and toes, so your feet won't get clammy or sweaty. Rigid nylon outsole increases pedaling efficiency and is further enhanced by the secure fit of three Velcro straps. Exclusively available at Performance Bicycle.
- High-density, Ergo Vent nylon outsole is lightweight, stiff and efficient
- Patented Ergo Air multi-vent technology supplies continuous airflow in all weather conditions
- Synthetic leather and mesh upper is supple, breathable and water-resistant
- Ergo Air perforated insoles provide comfort in warm temperatures
- Heel and toe rockers for walking comfort
- Reflective heel adds visibility
- 3 Velcro straps
Louis Garneau Ergo Air Comp 2 Road Shoes - Performance Exclusive
- cleat compatibility:
- 3-bolt, 2-bolt
- closure/straps:
- 3 Velcro
- material (sole/upper):
- Nylon; Synthetic Leather/Mesh
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- weight:
- 580g/pair (size 42)
- rating:
- 4


text: Addressing skin concerns with both luxury and efficacy is what SAMPAR is all about. After his medical studies, Patrick Sounigo used his knowledge and training to develop a line of skin care products. The result was SAMPAR, a deluxe line of skin care that infuses natural ingredients with proven effective actives. The brand was founded by Sounigo along with designer Antoine Bouillot who shared a passion for a modern luxury brand that would change the skin care world by embracing the lifestyle of the modern Parisian woman.


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Handmade Leather Belt - With A Custom Message
** This is a special listing for a leather belt with a custom message hand written and burned into the leather on the inside. Please order the desired size and write your special message in the gift message section during checkout. We will be in touch via e-mail to confirm the order and quote a ship date, please allow an extra few days for shipment due to the custom nature. All custom sales are final.
Mat Brown is an experienced craftsman who trained for years in New York with some of the most experienced leather workers in the fashion industry creating cutting edge handbags and leather goods.
These belts were exclusively made with the highest quality for Half Hitch Goods. Sumptuous veggie tanned Belgian leather hide was hand dyed by Mat Brown in San Francisco. He cuts each belt carefully and individually and uses old school hand tools to apply holes and hardware. The brass buckle is slightly distressed, streamlined and yet has just the right amount of weight to it. Each piece is carefully finished with a white waxed thread detail only slightly visible and subtly branded "Half Hitch" on the inside end. 1 1/4" wide. Size measurements below indicate length measuring from the buckle to middle loop and should reflect waist sizes. Heirloom quality, made in the USA.
Small 32" (30"-34")
Medium 36" (34"-38")
Large 40" (38"-42")
Check out our exclusive photos of Mat's studio on our Journal
For another extra special touch, add our cigar box gift wrap. We will select a contemporary cigar box (sans cigars) that fits your item and snugly gift wrap your belt inside the cigar box and finish it with a ribbon. Pictured is a stack of some of the boxes in our collection but it could be any box here or otherwise that is chosen, some are wooden, some are wooden wrapped in paper and some have latches while some slide closed. Take our pick, you will be glad you did!


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An old maxim goes, "If just enough is almost right, even more is better." For some Vette owners, that applies to their engine's output, as they seek more power and torque for quicker elapsed times and higher speeds on the dragstrip.
You can count Charlie Johnson among that group. His '05 Corvette, which came from Bowling Green with a 6.0L, 400hp LS2, now sports a 7.0L LS7 that's been ProCharged and otherwise modified to send the horsepower and torque numbers over 700.
But we're getting ahead of the story.Charlie bought this car at the outset of the sixth-generation Corvette's production run, and for a very special reason. "I was in the hospital for a month, and I told myself, 'If I get through all these operations and stuff, I'm going right to the Chevy dealership. If my wheelchair fits in the car, I'm going home in a brand-new Corvette.' That was my gift to myself, for getting through all the surgeries."
He found this black, automatic-equipped coupe and had it fitted for full hand controls so he could steer with his right hand while working the throttle and brake with his left. Otherwise, his C6 was factory stock. But not for long. "I drove it stock for less than a month," Charlie says. "I got bored with it. I ordered a ProCharger, and once I got it and felt the power it produced, I said, 'You know what? I want to go faster!'"
Mack Performance in Hialeah, Florida, installed the ProCharger, which turned out to be a pioneering job. As Charlie explains, "Mack Performance had a connection with ProCharger, and I was one of the first three guys to get one on the East Coast back then. I was the first guy with an '05 Corvette with a ProCharger here in Florida."
Once installed and dialed in, the ProCharger bumped the LS2's output by over 100 hp. "When Willie had everything done to it, it was pumping out 520 rear-wheel horsepower," Charlie says. "He did a nice little tune to it, and I was ecstatic."
That force-fed LS2 turned Charlie's Vette into an 11-second car that pulled away from his competitors. But eventually, Charlie wanted even more from his C6. "As I saw more people driving 11-second cars, I wasn't happy being 'average' again. I wanted to dip into the 9s. I want to run a 9.90 in street trim."
His dream was a car he could drive to the track with the air conditioner on, run 9.90s, then drive home, without any tire changing or trackside thrashing. That meant some major changes were in store for his C6.
Charlie's power addition began with subtraction. "I ripped out the original engine and ProCharger and sold them on eBay," he says. "I then had Horsepower Sales in Pompano Beach drop in an LS7 crate engine that I bought from Texas Speed & Performance." But that wasn't all. Far from it. "I then went from a P-series ProCharger to an F1A one," he says. "Usually, people go to an E-series one, but I went more extreme." He told his installers, "Let's put the bigger ProCharger on it. This way, if I run 9.90s and I get bored again, I'll at least have the supercharger that I can use to get the car into the low 9s."
Charlie's C6 then went to Next Level Performance in Altamonte Springs, Florida, as a friend recommended Geoff Skorupa's tuning skills once the LS7 and new ProCharger were in. "He fine-tuned it, straightened out all the bugs, and he got that car so it could run 9.80s-9.90s," says Charlie. "He also put a widebody kit on, a bigger brake system, a new driveshaft, and he put on stickier tires in back."
The need for stickier tires-Hoosiers, in Charlie's case-came as a result of the dyno numbers his car was now putting up. "On the dyno, Geoff tuned it to 757 rear-wheel horsepower," says Charlie. "That's when you need every little bit of traction that you can get."


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Fits Cub Cadet 54" side-discharge cutting decks, 2002-2014.
- Installs Easily
- Includes three mulching blades, a baffle and hardware
- Turns your ordinary grass clippings into finely ground mulch
- High-lift baffle design and mulch plug cut and recut grass clippings into small particles
- Returns the natural nutrients to the soil to create a greener, healthier lawn
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