J-M's History Corner

o, this isn’t a theological post (although theology might play into it).  Welcome to the 34th edition of My Fortnightly Movie/TV Thoughts !  Last fortnight, I reviewed Stranger Things (2016-present).  This fortnight, I’m reviewing: Lucifer (2016-present), overall rated MA15+ for strong supernatural themes and violence (Note that seasons 1, 2 & 3 are rated MA15+ for strong supernatural themes and violence, and Season 4 is rated MA15+ for strong violence.) Those of course are the Australian ratings; I don’t know what the American ones are. As usual, I’ll give the trailers & clips at the end of the post. I offer a slightly different version of the usual disclaimer: WARNING: DEFINITE SPOILERS AHEAD.  PROCEED AT OWN RISK. Lucifer Unsurprisingly, Fox’s comedy/drama/cop procedure show about the devil on earth – picked up by Netflix after its third season – was the victim of controversy in the lead up to its release.  Charges of blasphemy, sata...

Earlier this year, Queen Elizabeth II of Australia and the other 15 Commonwealth realms reached 68 years on the throne, making her the longest-reigning and longest-lived monarch in our (and the other Commonwealth realms’) history, as well as the oldest living current or former monarch, oldest current world leader, and longest-serving current leader. So, now’s as good a time as any to look at the longest reigns recorded in history. Kōan This guy really takes the title; he became Emperor of Japan in 392 BC at the age of 35 (give or take a couple years), after the death of his father Kōshō .  He reigned until his death in 291 BC at the age of about 136, after an impressive reign of 101 years .  He was succeeded by his son Kōrei . Suinin Surprisingly, Kōan has close competition – and from his own country, too.  Suinin became Emperor of Japan in 29 BC at the age of 40 – after the death of his father Sujin – and reigned until his death in 70 AD in the ag...