Shivayam's Chop Block of Random and Unrelated Ideas
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I am an engineering student in Colorado. I have a wide variety of interests which bear absolutely no common link, as is (or rather, will be) evidenced by this site. I am most interested in the natural sciences and history with Fantasy Role-Playing thrown in to avoid reading to many heavy books (it hasn't helped much). The most interesting part of history, for me, are the oddities and turns of fate. One of my favorite examples is that of Confederate General George Pickett (of Pickett's Charge at Gettysburg). General Pickett finished dead last in his class at West Point and would probably not have been accepted there if it wasn't for the efforts of his good friend, Abraham Lincoln (yes, the president). General Pickett did not allow anyone to slander President Lincoln in his presence throughout the Civil War.
Another great example is the routing of the Roman Legions just outside of pre-Christian Rome by the Celts. The Roman Legions, confident in there ability to destroy the "barbarian" rabble, mounted their defense of Rome just seven miles away. The Celts presented themselves on the field, waved there swords (which were much larger than the Romans' gladiuses) in the air screamed and blew thier war horns. The Roman Legions turned tail and ran for Rome before the Celts even carged. The Celts occupied Rome for seven months before returning home of their own accord and heavily laden with the riches of Rome. Modern historiand just don't want to talk about the "Great Roman Empire" getting its butt kicked without a fight.