On This Day - Aug. 25

1944 CE - Paris is liberated by Allied Forces during the Second World War. 

Photo of the Day

A mounted Corythosaurus, Dinosaur Provincial Park, Alberta, Canada.




In the News

Ukraine Defiant on National Day, Rebels Parade Captives
Dollar in Demand as Stimulus Talk Dogs Euro, Yen
Sony PlayStation Network Taken Down by Attack
Japan Could Offer Unapproved Ebola Drug Under Certain Conditions
Netanyahu Warns Gaza Civilians after Israel Destroys Apartment Block

Quote of the Day
"I think we must be careful about too easily accepting, or being too easily grateful for, sacrifices made by others, especially if we have made none ourselves". --Wendell Berry




Song of the Day

Tear Ya Down
Artist - Motörhead
Album - Overkill




Film of the Day

City of God
Directors - Fernando Meirelles, Kátia Lund
Starring - Alexandre Rodrigues, Alice Braga




Wiki of the Day

The Songhai Empire, also known as the Songhay Empire, was a Songhai state located in western Africa. From the mid-15th to the late 16th century, Songhai was one of the largest Islamic empires in history.^[4] This empire bore the same name as its leading ethnic group, the Songhai. Its capital was the city of Gao. A Songhai state had existed since the 11th century. Its base of power was on the bend of the Niger River in present day Niger and Burkina Faso.

The Songhai state has existed in one form or another for over a thousand years, if one traces its rulers from the settlement of Gao to Songhai's vassal status under the Mali Empire to its continuation in Niger as the Dendi Kingdom.

The Songhai are thought to have settled at Gao as early as 800 CE, but did not establish the city as their capital until the 11th century, during the reign of Dia Kossoi. During the second half of the 13th century Gao was conquered by the Mali Empire, and remained under its control until the 15th century, when Songhai reclaimed it as its capital.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Songhai_Empire