Disclaimer: I did not write this... I only wish I had. This letter was written by a concerned soldier who rightfully questions the "thinking" of some of our government officials and her fellow anti-military friends.
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CINDY WILLIAMS was appointed by Obama as an Assistant Director for
NATIONAL SECURITY in the Congressional Budget Office.....
This is an Airman's response to Cindy Williams' editorial piece in the
Washington Times about MILITARY PAY, it should be printed in all
newspapers across America.
Ms. Cindy William wrote a piece for the Washington Times denouncing
the pay raise(s) coming service members' way this year citing that she
stated a 13% wage increase was more than they deserve.
A young airman from Hill AFB responds to her article below. He ought to
get a bonus for this.
"Ms Williams:
I just had the pleasure of reading your column, "Our GI's earn enough" and I am a bit confused. Frankly, I'm wondering where this vaunted overpayment is going, because as far as I can tell, it disappears every month between DFAS (The Defense Finance and Accounting Service) and my bank account. Checking my latest earnings statement I see that I make $1,117.80 before taxes per month. After taxes, I take home $874.20. When I run that through the calculator, I come up with an annual salary of $13,413.60 before taxes, and $10,490.40 after.
I work in the Air Force Network Control Center where I am part of the team responsible for a 5,000 host computer network. I am involved with infrastructure segments, specifically with Cisco Systems equipment. A quick check under jobs for "Network Technicians" in the Washington, D.C. area reveals a position in my career field, requiring three years experience in my job. Amazingly, this job does NOT pay $13,413.60 a year. No, this job is being offered at $70,000 to $80,000 per annum....... .... I'm sure you can draw the obvious conclusions.
Given the tenor of your column, I would assume that you NEVER had the pleasure of serving your country in her armed forces.
Before you take it upon yourself to once more castigate congressional and DOD leadership for attempting to get the families in the military's lowest pay brackets off of WIC and food stamps, I suggest that you join a group of deploying soldiers headed for AFGHANISTAN; I leave the choice of service branch up to you. Whatever choice you make though, opt for the SIX month rotation: it will guarantee you the longest possible time away from your family and friends, thus giving you full "deployment experience."
As your group prepares to board the plane, make sure to note the spouses and children who are saying good-bye to their loved ones. Also take care to note that several families are still unsure of how they'll be able to make ends meet while the primary breadwinner is gone. Obviously they've been squandering the "vast" piles of cash the government has been giving them.
Try to deploy over a major holiday; Christmas and Thanksgiving are perennial favorites. And when you're actually over there, sitting in a foxhole, shivering against the cold desert night, and the flight sergeant tells you that there aren't enough people on shift to relieve you for chow, remember this: trade whatever MRE's (meal-ready- to-eat) you manage to get for the tuna noodle casserole or
cheese tortellini, and add Tabasco to everything. This gives some flavor.
Talk to your loved ones as often as you are permitted; it won't be nearly long enough or often enough, but take what you can get and be thankful for it. You may have picked up on the fact that I disagree with most of the points you present in your open piece.
But, tomorrow from KABUL, I will defend to the death your right to say it.
You see, I am an American fighting man, a guarantor of your First Amendment right and every other right you cherish...On a daily basis, my brother and sister soldiers worldwide ensure that you and people like you can thumb your collective noses at us, all on a salary that is nothing short of pitiful and under conditions that would make most people cringe. We hemorrhage our best and brightest into the private sector because we can't offer the stability and pay of civilian companies.
And you, Ms. Williams, have the gall to say that we make more than we deserve?
A1C Michael Bragg, Hill AFB AFNCC
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Great letter Airman Bragg !!!
Friday, November 27, 2009
History Mystery: Did Booth Get Away With Murder?
"Believing he was on his deathbed in a little town called Granbury, TX., John St. Helen confessed to being Lincoln's lone assassin."
Contrary to the history books is a story about a man who may have gotten away with murdering the 16th President of the United States. His name? Johns St. Helen? David George? Or were these names really aliases used by a John Wilkes Booth still on the run?
Traditional history would have us believe that Booth was hunted down and fatally wounded at a farm in northern Virginia 12 days after the assassination of President Abraham Lincoln at Ford's Theater. White House officials initially confirmed that Booth's body was thrown into the Potomac River.
What fuels the conspiracy theorists fire is the fact that in reality the body of the man apprehended that day was actually allowed burial in a Washington D.C. cemetery and later conveyed to Greenmont Cemetery in Baltimore under supervision of the Booth family.
Not only was that a curious mistake, but how did Booth, with an obvious injury sustained while jumping from the Presidents' private box to the stage below, elude his hunters without some kind of outside help? And why would Booth's body be thrown into the Potomic in the first place instead of having a routine burial? So no one could say it wasn't him? Something seems fishy.
Anyway...the story pick's up with a man living in Glen Rose, TX. named John St. Helen. It is said that St. Helen had many similarities to the notorious Booth including a taste for liquor, an obvious limp, and a student-like passion for quoting Shakespeare. He feared the law, and immediately left town after being confronted by a U.S. Marshal; he took only what he could carry with him.
In the 1870's St. Helen showed up in Granbury, TX. where he was the proprieter of a saloon. Every April 14th, the anniversary of Lincoln's assassination, he "abused the bottle" profusely.
After he become seriously ill and beleiving he was on his death bed, St. Helen supposedly confessed to several people that he was infact John Wilkes Booth. He even told them where to find the gun, which was eventually located and wrapped in a newspaper clipping about the assassination. St. Helen fully recovered, however, and once again made tracks.
The picture get's blurry from here on out, but it is relatively beleived that St. Helen taught at two different school's for a few years after leaving Granbury.
In 1903, another figure comes forward by the name of David George. He lived in a room at a hotel in Enid, Oklahoma...which is a present day furniture store. Mr. George is documented to have admitted his previous use of the name John St. Helen and that his true identity was John Wilkes Booth. Mr. George soon after committed suicide and that room above the furniture store remains relatively untouched to this day.
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Interesting side note: A group of paranormal investigators calling themselves "Ghost Lab" insist that they caught an EVP (electromagnic voice phenominon) in Mr. George's room stating "I am John Wilkes Booth."
I'm not saying I beleive any of this, but it is certainly intriguing.
Contrary to the history books is a story about a man who may have gotten away with murdering the 16th President of the United States. His name? Johns St. Helen? David George? Or were these names really aliases used by a John Wilkes Booth still on the run?
Traditional history would have us believe that Booth was hunted down and fatally wounded at a farm in northern Virginia 12 days after the assassination of President Abraham Lincoln at Ford's Theater. White House officials initially confirmed that Booth's body was thrown into the Potomac River.
What fuels the conspiracy theorists fire is the fact that in reality the body of the man apprehended that day was actually allowed burial in a Washington D.C. cemetery and later conveyed to Greenmont Cemetery in Baltimore under supervision of the Booth family.
Not only was that a curious mistake, but how did Booth, with an obvious injury sustained while jumping from the Presidents' private box to the stage below, elude his hunters without some kind of outside help? And why would Booth's body be thrown into the Potomic in the first place instead of having a routine burial? So no one could say it wasn't him? Something seems fishy.
Anyway...the story pick's up with a man living in Glen Rose, TX. named John St. Helen. It is said that St. Helen had many similarities to the notorious Booth including a taste for liquor, an obvious limp, and a student-like passion for quoting Shakespeare. He feared the law, and immediately left town after being confronted by a U.S. Marshal; he took only what he could carry with him.
In the 1870's St. Helen showed up in Granbury, TX. where he was the proprieter of a saloon. Every April 14th, the anniversary of Lincoln's assassination, he "abused the bottle" profusely.
After he become seriously ill and beleiving he was on his death bed, St. Helen supposedly confessed to several people that he was infact John Wilkes Booth. He even told them where to find the gun, which was eventually located and wrapped in a newspaper clipping about the assassination. St. Helen fully recovered, however, and once again made tracks.
The picture get's blurry from here on out, but it is relatively beleived that St. Helen taught at two different school's for a few years after leaving Granbury.
In 1903, another figure comes forward by the name of David George. He lived in a room at a hotel in Enid, Oklahoma...which is a present day furniture store. Mr. George is documented to have admitted his previous use of the name John St. Helen and that his true identity was John Wilkes Booth. Mr. George soon after committed suicide and that room above the furniture store remains relatively untouched to this day.
**************************************************************
Interesting side note: A group of paranormal investigators calling themselves "Ghost Lab" insist that they caught an EVP (electromagnic voice phenominon) in Mr. George's room stating "I am John Wilkes Booth."
I'm not saying I beleive any of this, but it is certainly intriguing.
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
THANKS TO ALL VETERANS - November 2009
I am taking a moment to recognize the veteran's, past and present, who have fought for the United States of America. We remain the best country in the world all because of you!
A special dedication to my husband serving overseas. I love you Matthew!
A special dedication to my husband serving overseas. I love you Matthew!
Wednesday, November 4, 2009
MEDICAL INQUIRY: Sneezing is Healthy
"A human sneeze has the same force as a fire hose."
What is the purpose of a sneeze? It is the mechanism our bodies use to clear out foreign bodies (fb's) or contaminants from our lungs and nasal passages. You sneeze when your body say's that's enough junk!
A sneeze has enough force to send the fb's 100 feet per second. That's a lot of force! Imagine what you could do to your body if you try and suppress it. Serious injuries have been documented ranging from nosebleeds, to burst eardrums, to forcing air under the skin, to even having a stroke.
Sick people should know that holding back a sneeze could force pathogenic particless deeper into their lungs or sinus cavities causing serious infection.
So...the evidence is clear. Don't hold back! But by all means, try to cover your nose so as not to spread those potentially harmful germs toothers.
What is the purpose of a sneeze? It is the mechanism our bodies use to clear out foreign bodies (fb's) or contaminants from our lungs and nasal passages. You sneeze when your body say's that's enough junk!
A sneeze has enough force to send the fb's 100 feet per second. That's a lot of force! Imagine what you could do to your body if you try and suppress it. Serious injuries have been documented ranging from nosebleeds, to burst eardrums, to forcing air under the skin, to even having a stroke.
Sick people should know that holding back a sneeze could force pathogenic particless deeper into their lungs or sinus cavities causing serious infection.
So...the evidence is clear. Don't hold back! But by all means, try to cover your nose so as not to spread those potentially harmful germs toothers.
Halloween 2009: Black Cats and My Mischevious Tiger
"In ancient England, a black cat in the home was considered a form of protection for fishermen while they were at sea."
I figured I would write something for Halloween so I perused my "Old Wives' Tales" book and found an entry about black cats...only this time they supposedly bring "good" luck. I have had many black cats in the past and I loved them dearly. Today, however, I have one particular kitty who is a bit naughty and is always trying to get into mischief. The look on his face say's it all. Run for it...it's El Tigre' !
Okay...on with the story...
A black cat means different things to people in different parts of the world. The United Kingdom and Japan consider the black cat to bring of good fortune, while the United States and Italy believe the opposite to be true and would rather avoid them altogether.
The black cat's bad rap originates from the 16th and17th century idea that they associated with witches...in which case thousands were executed along with their owners.
The color black by itself is controversial. In the US, we think of movie villains wearing black and the good guy wearing white. In other countries, it symbolizes fertility and protection, and is supposed to ensure a happy marriage....which is why some newly weds are given a black cat as a wedding present.
Because cat's bodies react to many hereditary diseases the same way as human bodies do, they are popular subjects in medical laboratories. Although I am not fond of the idea of purposely harming another living creature, finding a cure for a sick child somehow makes it less of an abomination. I suppose you could call it the lesser of two evils. In this case it boils down to good luck for humans and bad luck for the kitties.
These are only a few of the superstitions about cat's out there, black or otherwise. My opinion? I think that people are going to beleive what they want to believe even though there is no real evidence to support a belief either way.
If you would like to share your opinion on the subject, I would love to hear from you. Send me a comment.
Saturday, October 31, 2009
Pet Health: Corneal Dystrophy in Dogs
Corneal dystrophy describes conditions that are primary to the cornea of the eye. They appear as a bilateral opacity that is closely symmetrical, and does NOT become inflammed or vascularized. Although it is thought to be passed down through generations, the exact cause in individuals is rarely known.
Corneal dystophy attacks the multiple layers of the cornea, either anteriorly or posteriorly. Once present it can remain stationary, or it can progress to the point of dominating the entire cornea resulting in lowered visual acuity and potentially blindness. Note: While the opacities tend to lower visual acuity in humans, there is little proof to suggest that the same result happens in dogs. (This is a scenario I do not understand, because an opacity is an opacity no matter what eye is trying to see through it. Unless of course...the dog makes up for the problem by using it's other, more finely-tuned, senses.)
As a pet owner or veterinary professional, it is important to understand that corneal dystrophy has various forms, some causing little to no pain for the patient, while others can be extremely painful. The trick in dealing with any type of dystrophy is deciding which one needs treatment. For example, one of the more painful types form tiny bullae that constantly rupture and heal causing considerable discomfort. Some of the discomfort can be treated with topical steroids, osmotic agents, or even contact lenses. An actual "cure" remains illusive.
In my Tory's case...I pray for the less severe.
For more information, please refer to http://www.vetmed.ucdavis.edu/courses/vet_eyes/conotes/con_chapter_9.html
Corneal dystophy attacks the multiple layers of the cornea, either anteriorly or posteriorly. Once present it can remain stationary, or it can progress to the point of dominating the entire cornea resulting in lowered visual acuity and potentially blindness. Note: While the opacities tend to lower visual acuity in humans, there is little proof to suggest that the same result happens in dogs. (This is a scenario I do not understand, because an opacity is an opacity no matter what eye is trying to see through it. Unless of course...the dog makes up for the problem by using it's other, more finely-tuned, senses.)
As a pet owner or veterinary professional, it is important to understand that corneal dystrophy has various forms, some causing little to no pain for the patient, while others can be extremely painful. The trick in dealing with any type of dystrophy is deciding which one needs treatment. For example, one of the more painful types form tiny bullae that constantly rupture and heal causing considerable discomfort. Some of the discomfort can be treated with topical steroids, osmotic agents, or even contact lenses. An actual "cure" remains illusive.
In my Tory's case...I pray for the less severe.
For more information, please refer to http://www.vetmed.ucdavis.edu/courses/vet_eyes/conotes/con_chapter_9.html
Monday, October 19, 2009
Recipe: German Hot Mulled Wine
Popular at German Christmas markets, Gluhwein wine helps keep a body warm while braving the winter weather (or enjoying time in front of a roaring fire).
Ingredients: 1 lemon or 1/2 an orange, 16 whole cloves, 5 T. sugar, 1 cinnamon stick, 1 small chunk of peeled fresh ginger, 1 bottle red red wine.
Preparation: Quarter the citrus and stud one corner with cloves (slice the rest). In saucepan add the fruit, sugar, cinnamon, ginger, wine and stir. Heat until just below boiling point. Pour into mugs and enjoy while still hot.
For a non-alcoholic version use apple cider mixed with black tea in place of the wine.
Information was obtained from Hobby Farm Home magazine, Nov.-Dec. 2009 edition.
Ingredients: 1 lemon or 1/2 an orange, 16 whole cloves, 5 T. sugar, 1 cinnamon stick, 1 small chunk of peeled fresh ginger, 1 bottle red red wine.
Preparation: Quarter the citrus and stud one corner with cloves (slice the rest). In saucepan add the fruit, sugar, cinnamon, ginger, wine and stir. Heat until just below boiling point. Pour into mugs and enjoy while still hot.
For a non-alcoholic version use apple cider mixed with black tea in place of the wine.
Information was obtained from Hobby Farm Home magazine, Nov.-Dec. 2009 edition.
History: The Stealing of JFK
One November 1963 morning chaos reigned. Panicked FBI agents are on the brink of brawling with staff and police officers over who has jurisdiction over JFK's dead body. Texas law meant that the body had to be autopsied before it could leave the premises. But…they had only been there an hour. Does this apply to a very recently slain American president? No…the "body"guards decide. Gun barrel's flash inside the echoing halls signaling that the dispute has now reached a critical point. As if a single minded entity, the agent's bolt forward with the casket of their dead commander throwing the enemy violently to the ground. Jackie's dress gloves, white but now sporting flecks of crimson, never relinquish their self-assigned station upon the wood grain death bed until they are safe in the cargo hold of Air Force One. Agents demand immediate take-off fearing the onslaught of vengeful deputies.
Other details on that sad day:
Jackie insisted that Catholic rights be given to Jack before an official time of death could be given. Upon the father's arrival, JFK's body had already been covered save for one foot sticking out that appeared white and bloodless. Jackie had been sitting outside the emergency room door in a metal chair with arms stretched out straight and her hands between her knees. She seemed composed but in a state of shock…and it had been apparent that no one had tended to her needs as she was still covered in blood.
Even though they had successfully (technically stole) retrieved the casket and loaded it into the cargo hold of the plane to fly back to Andrews AFB in Washington, D.C., they found that Lyndon Johnson demanded he be sworn in as president of the United States before the plane take off. He placed Jackie on his left side for the cameras (to show the public that he and the Kennedy administration were working together). Johnson did not want there to be any doubt that a transfer of power had officially taken place. Jackie was amazing in that horrible time. Lady Bird Johnson said that she dreaded going in to sit with Jackie by the casket to give her condolences, but Jackie made it "as easy as possible." The rest of the flight was one of stone silence.
As the plane stopped on the tarmac at Andrews, Bobby, who had remained home during the Texas trip, ran through the plane desperately searching for Jackie. He knew that she was in reality a very timid person and he wanted to act as her shield; to him that was all that mattered. Unfortunately, as he rushed through the cabin he failed to address or even acknowledge the new president…Johnson then viewed this as another of Bobby's snubs. He became infuriated.
The two Kennedy brothers never really liked Johnson. A fact that Johnson knew all too well; the feeling was mutual. As vice president, LBJ felt humiliated. He was kept from all important matters and the issues that he should be dealing with as vice president was given to Bobby instead of him. A recording reveals that Johnson was paranoid of Bobby's power. Even though LBJ had already been sworn in as president, as Attorney General, Bobby could potentially pursue a way to keep him from office.
It didn't help that it was Johnson that was the one to break the bad news to Bobby. These were two men that already hated each other and Bobby knew that if Lyndon had called him personally and at home (while sitting by the pool eating a sandwich) the situation was bad. Part of LBJ's hysteria was the fact that no one knew what was actually taking place. Was there a lone shooter or was there a conspiracy? Was he a target and destined to die that day too? Would there be another attack? Resentment between the two administrations remains.
Once at the white house LBJ immediately fired Rose Lincoln, JFK's secretary, and replaced her with his own. He then asked his new body guard "where's my hat?" Rufus Youngblood replied... it's probably back in the motorcade car in Texas. LBJ said "Damn it Get Me My Hat!" For the man who thought his political career was over, he now was the most powerful man in the world and it was business as usual.
Do you realize how fast this all took place? JFK was at the hospital within 7 minutes…he was dead within 45 minutes (probably earlier), back on the plane sometime around two hours after the initial incidence, and LBJ was president within 4 hours I'll have to look at the exact time, but it was probably earlier too).
LBJ was kept in the dark during the initial couple of hours. People several states away could watch TV and know more than LBJ did at the time. Essentially LBJ didn't know if he was president or not. Do you realize that if this had been a world war we would have had no commander to give command within that time? It was disorder and chaos. Hopefully they have come up with a plan by now. Scary.
Information from History Channel – Kennedy week.
Sunday, October 18, 2009
Bible Science: Who were the Nephilim?
"Does the bible account for the creation of Neanderthal man?"
DISCLAIMER: If you are easily offended by ideas that are not traditional to teachings of the bible, then you may not want to read this…and you do this at your own risk.
I was just watching a show narrated by Simcha Jacobovici, called "The Naked Archaeologist," on the History Channel. In this particular episode he was in the search of proof that giants existed in the holy land. What he found intrigued me.
The obvious place to start was with the Philistine giant, Goliath. In one account he was said to equal 9ft tall…whereas in the Dead Sea Scrolls he is said to be a more realistic height of 6ft 7in tall. Common sense say's this discrepancy is contributed to scribal error?
The next lesser known figure he researched was King Og of Basham… who is legend for owning a giant iron bed. Simcha went to a site believed to King Og's burial mound. Upon questioning the leading authority on this subject, Simcha found that yet again the proof was lacking. Evidently the tomb had been looted leaving only traces of jewelry and some gold pieces. The tomb had obviously been a memorial to a very great man, but without bones, the iron bed, or even a sarcophagus, it is impossible to know the true height of the tomb's owner. But one thing we do know is that no skeletons have ever been found, ancient or otherwise, that have a height measuring greater than 6ft 7inches in the ancient middle east.
Then, Simcha realized that the Greeks must have also gotten their definition of the word giant wrong…and instead of looking for giants in the holy land, he should actually be looking for proof of the Nephilim in the holy land. The current translation say's that the Nephilim were the giant hybrid offspring between fallen angel's and humans… and that this offspring (giants) looked like humans, only they had no soul. Kind of hard to believe right? Try changing the definition of the word giant to mean "the fallen ones," which is what Simcha debates is the real meaning of the word giant. The "fallen ones" in this sense is supposed to refer to another specifically hominid type creature.
Of course this leads us down another exciting avenue we could possibly pursue. We know that humans are hominids, but humans have souls. The only other hominid that we know lived at the same time as early humans was Neanderthal man. Simcha proposes that humans originated in Africa and another hominid species originated in Europe and Asia. As each migrated toward the equator they inevitably met up somewhere near the mountains of Israel. Bones of both humans and hominids discovered within the same sediment layer suggests that, at some point in history, they were living together as a family unit (at least in this instance). One of the excavated skeletons even appears to have traits of both species. The obvious conclusion here is that this individual is a possible offspring.
Simcha goes on to say that survival meant that the two species must mate and that the resulting offspring became Neanderthal man. Fate would then have it that humans would survive and the other "soulless" hominids, along with the Neanderthal offspring, became "extinct"…explaining the name "the fallen ones."
Friday, October 16, 2009
Update: Amish Boy Has New Legs
I just wanted to give an update to the blog "Benefit Dinner for an Amish Boy." I have been told that the boy now has two prosthetic legs and is doing quite well with them. He is also being seen in a well respected charitable hospital (I don't want to mention where for privacy reasons) in the area and they are doing wonderful things for him and his family. Again, although this was a horrible accident, it just goes to show how resilient and inspirational children can be.
I am very glad, not to mention thankful, that he has persevered. I am also thankful that there are charities out there ready and willing to help families in their time of need. His story certainly helps put the trials in my own life into perspective… as I hope it does yours. This is a big reminder to "appreciate what we have and be thankful." – SRP, blog editor
Sunday, October 11, 2009
The 2012 Doomsday Prophesy
"Mayan elder insists calendar date 21 December 2012 is not the end of the world."
Most of us have heard the rumor that the world is supposed to end when the Mayan calendar runs out on 21 December 2012. As time draws nearer, the superstitious among our race are becoming desperate for answers. Tired of being bombarded with questions, Mayan elder Apolinario Chile Pixtun, of Mexico City, wants to set the record straight.
Elder Pixtun acknowledges that an important event will happen on the date in question, but it is a misunderstanding. The date was taken from a tablet found during road construction in the 1960's. The tablet had been vandalized and the remaining parts end with 21 December 2012. He say's that just because 2012 is the last year to appear on what we have left...doesn't mean anything, and that other tablets have been found with dates far beyond this.
He also points out that the "end of the world" scenario is a western concept; the Mayan's never gave any such prophecy. What "is" supposed to happen is the end of their Baktun, a 394 year increment of time. The 13th Baktun falls on 21 December 2012. It is simply "the end and a new beginning" of the Mayan baktun.
Of course, there will always be those who try to invoke public panic by claiming that there will coincidentally be some sort of cataclismic event such as the aligning of planets causing the earth's axis to falter sending temperatures to uninhabitable extremes.
Keep in mind that there have been other end-of-day's prophesies that have come and gone, yet here we all are...reason enough to keep on keepin' on. According to the Mayan's, we have nothing to fear.
Most of us have heard the rumor that the world is supposed to end when the Mayan calendar runs out on 21 December 2012. As time draws nearer, the superstitious among our race are becoming desperate for answers. Tired of being bombarded with questions, Mayan elder Apolinario Chile Pixtun, of Mexico City, wants to set the record straight.
Elder Pixtun acknowledges that an important event will happen on the date in question, but it is a misunderstanding. The date was taken from a tablet found during road construction in the 1960's. The tablet had been vandalized and the remaining parts end with 21 December 2012. He say's that just because 2012 is the last year to appear on what we have left...doesn't mean anything, and that other tablets have been found with dates far beyond this.
He also points out that the "end of the world" scenario is a western concept; the Mayan's never gave any such prophecy. What "is" supposed to happen is the end of their Baktun, a 394 year increment of time. The 13th Baktun falls on 21 December 2012. It is simply "the end and a new beginning" of the Mayan baktun.
Of course, there will always be those who try to invoke public panic by claiming that there will coincidentally be some sort of cataclismic event such as the aligning of planets causing the earth's axis to falter sending temperatures to uninhabitable extremes.
Keep in mind that there have been other end-of-day's prophesies that have come and gone, yet here we all are...reason enough to keep on keepin' on. According to the Mayan's, we have nothing to fear.
Friday, October 9, 2009
MEDICAL INQUIRY: Magnetic Healing
"Perhaps magnets heal through a beleif in their therapeutic abiility...rather than through actual physical manipulation of the body."
Magnets have captivated the human mind for centuries. Because they cause metal obects to react from some distance away, they were believed to be magical. The superstitious throughout many cultures concluded that an object with such strong magical properties could naturally also be used to heal the sick. Thus, the use of magnets in a medical capacity was inevitable.
But can magnets really help heal? One scientist speculated that every cell in the human body has a positive and negative force which allows magnets to manipulate tissue at their very core. Another idea was that since our blood contains iron, a magnet could then draw more blood to the site of injury greatly speeding up the healing process.
Although intriguing, the theories have been found to be false. Our cells do not have a positive and negative force...therefore it is biologically impossible to alter the body. Second, the iron in our blood is in a chemical state; it will not respond to magnetism.
Another discovery was that magnets sold in kits for home use has only 1mm of penetration power. Our skin ranges from 0.5mm thickness at the eyelids to 4mm on the bottom of our feet. Common sense would say that most people do not use magnets on their eyelids. And every other location on the body is thicker than 1mm. Magnets therefore can not possibly work on a physical level.
What about a placebo effect? A placebo is a treatment that causes a person releif due more of a "belief" in its healing ability rather than through true physical changes. Often the patient is not aware that the method really has no physical influence...therefore any changes in their physical state comes from a mental level.
I figure if a magnet can heal through a "beleif" in it's ability...then in a round about way...it "does" have the power to heal. I beleive that mental healing is just as important as physical healing.
One more theory that I would like for you to consider is that all things, living or dead, is made up of energy. A small group of people are capable of seeing traces of this energy; they call it an "aura". The theory of aura is still a mystery to science, and so far is only accepted on a more spiritual level. Again, we are left with no evidence that can offer insight into how a magnet might affect our physical makeup; instead, perhaps we should be looking on a spiritual level.
Ultimately, until proven by science, the choice to beleive in the healing power of magnetism is yours.
Magnets have captivated the human mind for centuries. Because they cause metal obects to react from some distance away, they were believed to be magical. The superstitious throughout many cultures concluded that an object with such strong magical properties could naturally also be used to heal the sick. Thus, the use of magnets in a medical capacity was inevitable.
But can magnets really help heal? One scientist speculated that every cell in the human body has a positive and negative force which allows magnets to manipulate tissue at their very core. Another idea was that since our blood contains iron, a magnet could then draw more blood to the site of injury greatly speeding up the healing process.
Although intriguing, the theories have been found to be false. Our cells do not have a positive and negative force...therefore it is biologically impossible to alter the body. Second, the iron in our blood is in a chemical state; it will not respond to magnetism.
Another discovery was that magnets sold in kits for home use has only 1mm of penetration power. Our skin ranges from 0.5mm thickness at the eyelids to 4mm on the bottom of our feet. Common sense would say that most people do not use magnets on their eyelids. And every other location on the body is thicker than 1mm. Magnets therefore can not possibly work on a physical level.
What about a placebo effect? A placebo is a treatment that causes a person releif due more of a "belief" in its healing ability rather than through true physical changes. Often the patient is not aware that the method really has no physical influence...therefore any changes in their physical state comes from a mental level.
I figure if a magnet can heal through a "beleif" in it's ability...then in a round about way...it "does" have the power to heal. I beleive that mental healing is just as important as physical healing.
One more theory that I would like for you to consider is that all things, living or dead, is made up of energy. A small group of people are capable of seeing traces of this energy; they call it an "aura". The theory of aura is still a mystery to science, and so far is only accepted on a more spiritual level. Again, we are left with no evidence that can offer insight into how a magnet might affect our physical makeup; instead, perhaps we should be looking on a spiritual level.
Ultimately, until proven by science, the choice to beleive in the healing power of magnetism is yours.
Saturday, September 26, 2009
Youtube Video Raises Conservative Alarm.
The conservative party is alarmed over what might be considered an example of public school teacher's temptations to groom (brainwash) future democrats rather than teach unbiased civics.
The incident happened at B. Bernice Young Elementary, a public school located in the suburbs of Philadelphia, PA. The school admits teaching children songs praising President Barack Obama in honor of Black History Month back in February.
The cause of concern came in the form of a homemade video that had been downloaded onto the popular website Youtube. Its discovery has re-fueled the belief that school teachers are teaching children to idolize the democratic party.
The reason I am taking the time to mention this particular issue on my blog is because I know for a fact that this exact scenario happens in our schools. More than a few of my friends, along with myself, have witnessed this shameful and unchecked display of bias in our own classrooms. I find it is extremely upsetting!
At this point, the songs remain open to interpretation and no legal action is currently being sought out that I am aware of. The identity of the teacher in question has been mercifully withheld from the public.
Please refer to my earlier blog "A Useful Lesson Denied: You Be The Judge!"
The incident happened at B. Bernice Young Elementary, a public school located in the suburbs of Philadelphia, PA. The school admits teaching children songs praising President Barack Obama in honor of Black History Month back in February.
The cause of concern came in the form of a homemade video that had been downloaded onto the popular website Youtube. Its discovery has re-fueled the belief that school teachers are teaching children to idolize the democratic party.
The reason I am taking the time to mention this particular issue on my blog is because I know for a fact that this exact scenario happens in our schools. More than a few of my friends, along with myself, have witnessed this shameful and unchecked display of bias in our own classrooms. I find it is extremely upsetting!
At this point, the songs remain open to interpretation and no legal action is currently being sought out that I am aware of. The identity of the teacher in question has been mercifully withheld from the public.
Please refer to my earlier blog "A Useful Lesson Denied: You Be The Judge!"
Monday, September 21, 2009
Count Carl Von Cosel's Freakish Love Affair
"A truly disturbing, yet freakishly romantic Frankenstein love story." - S.P.
Carl Tanzen a.k.a. Count Carl Von Cosel, as he wanted to be known, was a German-born radiographer working at the military hospital located in Key West, Fl. One day a beautiful young lady by the name of Elena Hoya came to the hospital in search of a cure for her tuberculosis, a disease that had previously taken the lives of most of her immediate family. Von Cosel, who became immediately obsessed with the young Elena, offered her hope. Desperate, Elena agreed to become his patient. She could not know that this seemingly educated man was an imposter and had no real medical training. The treatment was unsuccessful and she succumbed to the disease on October 25, 1931.
With a relative’s permission, Von Cosel commissioned a burial tomb where he visited her religiously. On one particular night, almost two years after her death, Von Cosel is convinced that Elena’s ghost came to him singing an eerie song asking him to marry her and take her body home with him.
Employing a little toy wagon, Von Cosel hauled her coffin to his home where he laid her remains in his bed. In an attempt to stop her decay and make her beautiful once again, he surgically removed the peeling skin and covered what remained with a layer of cloth strips dipped in wax. He filled her chest with rags giving the lifeless body a renewed feminine figure and to prevent the cavity from caving in. He then added glass eyes, makeup, and fashioned her hairpiece made of locks of her real hair.
Von Cosel claims that he and Elena had conversations together and that she interacted with him every night. It is also possible that he had sexual relations with the body, but that has never been proven. This charade went on until 1940.
After hearing rumors about Von Cosel’s bizarre lifestyle, Elena’s sister grew suspicious that Von Kossel had stolen Elena’s body. She demanded Von Kossel to take her to her sister. He led her to his home where, to her horror, she gazed upon Von Kossel’s morbid creation.
Local authorities confiscated the wax and plaster creature, while Von Cosel was taken into custody. The court, having never dealt with such an extraordinary case, did not know what to do with him. It was decided that the only crime that was committed was the defacing a tomb and the unauthorized removal of a corpse. But so much time had passed that the statue of limitations demanded he be set free.
Curiously, most of the local’s reaction upon hearing of the bizarre saga was that of sympathy. Popular thought was that Von Cosel’s dedication to Elena Hoyos was romantic rather than comparing his actions to that of a mad man.
Before the nightmarish figure was reburied she was reexamined and then placed on public display with over 6,800 spectators (including children) flocking to see her. She was then returned to the cemetery in which she had originally been laid to rest, only this time in an unmarked grave to prevent further tampering. This “cruel” secret was Von Cosel’s only real punishment.
He soon left the island, but not before he blew up the solemn tomb he once commissioned. (Or so they say… no one has ever officially been held accountable.) Perhaps it was his way to say to the court…you want her tomb defaced…I’ll show you defaced.
In any case, Von Cosel relocated to Pasco County, Florida where he remained until his death in 1952. Some say he was found lying on the floor clutching a home-made death mask of his beloved Elena.
Side notes: One eyewitness tearfully remembers what he saw on display long ago as a school age child. It was horrible. The waxy skin was more of a gray color and did not resemble skin at all. He and his adult sister still have nightmares to this day.
The location of Elena Hoya’s final resting place is known only by the grandsons her grave diggers. According to them, Elena remains undisturbed.
Carl Tanzen a.k.a. Count Carl Von Cosel, as he wanted to be known, was a German-born radiographer working at the military hospital located in Key West, Fl. One day a beautiful young lady by the name of Elena Hoya came to the hospital in search of a cure for her tuberculosis, a disease that had previously taken the lives of most of her immediate family. Von Cosel, who became immediately obsessed with the young Elena, offered her hope. Desperate, Elena agreed to become his patient. She could not know that this seemingly educated man was an imposter and had no real medical training. The treatment was unsuccessful and she succumbed to the disease on October 25, 1931.
With a relative’s permission, Von Cosel commissioned a burial tomb where he visited her religiously. On one particular night, almost two years after her death, Von Cosel is convinced that Elena’s ghost came to him singing an eerie song asking him to marry her and take her body home with him.
Employing a little toy wagon, Von Cosel hauled her coffin to his home where he laid her remains in his bed. In an attempt to stop her decay and make her beautiful once again, he surgically removed the peeling skin and covered what remained with a layer of cloth strips dipped in wax. He filled her chest with rags giving the lifeless body a renewed feminine figure and to prevent the cavity from caving in. He then added glass eyes, makeup, and fashioned her hairpiece made of locks of her real hair.
Von Cosel claims that he and Elena had conversations together and that she interacted with him every night. It is also possible that he had sexual relations with the body, but that has never been proven. This charade went on until 1940.
After hearing rumors about Von Cosel’s bizarre lifestyle, Elena’s sister grew suspicious that Von Kossel had stolen Elena’s body. She demanded Von Kossel to take her to her sister. He led her to his home where, to her horror, she gazed upon Von Kossel’s morbid creation.
Local authorities confiscated the wax and plaster creature, while Von Cosel was taken into custody. The court, having never dealt with such an extraordinary case, did not know what to do with him. It was decided that the only crime that was committed was the defacing a tomb and the unauthorized removal of a corpse. But so much time had passed that the statue of limitations demanded he be set free.
Curiously, most of the local’s reaction upon hearing of the bizarre saga was that of sympathy. Popular thought was that Von Cosel’s dedication to Elena Hoyos was romantic rather than comparing his actions to that of a mad man.
Before the nightmarish figure was reburied she was reexamined and then placed on public display with over 6,800 spectators (including children) flocking to see her. She was then returned to the cemetery in which she had originally been laid to rest, only this time in an unmarked grave to prevent further tampering. This “cruel” secret was Von Cosel’s only real punishment.
He soon left the island, but not before he blew up the solemn tomb he once commissioned. (Or so they say… no one has ever officially been held accountable.) Perhaps it was his way to say to the court…you want her tomb defaced…I’ll show you defaced.
In any case, Von Cosel relocated to Pasco County, Florida where he remained until his death in 1952. Some say he was found lying on the floor clutching a home-made death mask of his beloved Elena.
Side notes: One eyewitness tearfully remembers what he saw on display long ago as a school age child. It was horrible. The waxy skin was more of a gray color and did not resemble skin at all. He and his adult sister still have nightmares to this day.
The location of Elena Hoya’s final resting place is known only by the grandsons her grave diggers. According to them, Elena remains undisturbed.
Friday, September 18, 2009
CDC Update: Swine Flu Parties?
What is a swine flu party? Well it's where a bunch of people purposely come into close contact with a person who is mildly ill with the 2009 H1N1 (swine flu) virus with the intention of getting sick. The hope is to create a natural immunity that will defend against a more serious form of the virus later on. Sound nuts? Here is what the CDC feels about it.
The CDC advises against swine flue parties due to the fact that it is impossible to predict with any certainty how any one person will react to the virus. Although many individuals have successfully recovered from illness without outside medical attention, fatalities have occurred. To purposely expose oneself to the virus is too risky.
Furthermore, if you start to have flu-like symptoms it is best to stay home. Don't go out of your house until 24 hours after the fever has broken unless you are seeking medical attention. Persons living in the same home who are not ill may still go to work. Just be sure to monitor yourself for symptoms.
Other precautions include disposing of tissues properly, and washing your hands with soap and warm water for a minimum of 20 seconds; do this frequently especially after sneezing. If soap and water is not available use an alcohol based hand sanitizer.
For more information please refer to cdc.gov/h1n1flu.
The CDC advises against swine flue parties due to the fact that it is impossible to predict with any certainty how any one person will react to the virus. Although many individuals have successfully recovered from illness without outside medical attention, fatalities have occurred. To purposely expose oneself to the virus is too risky.
Furthermore, if you start to have flu-like symptoms it is best to stay home. Don't go out of your house until 24 hours after the fever has broken unless you are seeking medical attention. Persons living in the same home who are not ill may still go to work. Just be sure to monitor yourself for symptoms.
Other precautions include disposing of tissues properly, and washing your hands with soap and warm water for a minimum of 20 seconds; do this frequently especially after sneezing. If soap and water is not available use an alcohol based hand sanitizer.
For more information please refer to cdc.gov/h1n1flu.
Did You Know: Tectonics and Da Vinci
It was common thought in the days of Leonardo Da Vinci that evidence of sea life, sea shells for example, were placed on mountain-tops via the biblical flood. Da Vinci rejected this theory and replaced it with his hypothesis that the earth was made of moving plates and that these plates cause such friction that layers of earth are projected upward (creating mountains) taking fossils along for the ride; today scientists accept this theory as fact and call this process plate tectonics.
Did You Know: Abraham Lincoln exhumed
Did you know that when Abrham Lincoln was exhumed 36 years after his death, his body had not decomposed to the extent one would have imagined. It turns out that on the long Journey back to Illinois, his body had been embalmed several times creating an almost mummified effect. His features were still unmistakingly that of the assassinated president.
Also of curiosity were the red and blue dots found on Lincoln's suit. For years no one could figure out what these were, until finally someone realized that the dots were the remains of the American flag that had draped the fallen president during the viewing ceremony.
Also of curiosity were the red and blue dots found on Lincoln's suit. For years no one could figure out what these were, until finally someone realized that the dots were the remains of the American flag that had draped the fallen president during the viewing ceremony.
Friday, July 24, 2009
Update: Dinner for an Amish Boy
The final count is in.
The benefit dinner raised over $18,ooo dollars to help with the boy's medical bills. How wonderful it is to know that such a small community as Fredonia, PA could bring in such an amazing amount for a family in need. Awesome!
The benefit dinner raised over $18,ooo dollars to help with the boy's medical bills. How wonderful it is to know that such a small community as Fredonia, PA could bring in such an amazing amount for a family in need. Awesome!
Wednesday, July 22, 2009
Photo Exhibit Results: 39th Annual Jefferson Twp. Fair 2009
RESULTS: TWO BLUE - THREE RED
FIVE out of FIVE entries is not bad for our first time !!!
First Prize Blue ribbons went to:
8x10 black and white animal entry (raccoon): "The Marshmallow."
5x7 black and white animal entry (horses): "Amish Parking Lot."
Second Prize Red ribbons went to:
5x7 black and white animal entry (calf): "Cute as a Bell."
5x7 black and white animal entry (sheep): "At Auction."
5x7 black and white people entry (Amish boys): "Dutch Fraternity."
How did I think we were going to do? I was pretty hopefull that "The Marshmallow" would get a blue ribbon. If it didn't I would have been asking questions. The second blue ribbon of "Amish Parking Lot" was wonderful because, although I had high hopes for it as well, it really didn't fit into a specific category. I may have just got lucky there. The others were a "what the hell...entry's free kind of deal." The calf picture was taken just a couple hourse before entry deadline. I am very happy with the results. Thanks for crossing your fingers for me...it worked. - Sue Provan
Note: Unfortunately, I am unable to post my photos at the present time. I will work on figuring out the problem.
FIVE out of FIVE entries is not bad for our first time !!!
First Prize Blue ribbons went to:
8x10 black and white animal entry (raccoon): "The Marshmallow."
5x7 black and white animal entry (horses): "Amish Parking Lot."
Second Prize Red ribbons went to:
5x7 black and white animal entry (calf): "Cute as a Bell."
5x7 black and white animal entry (sheep): "At Auction."
5x7 black and white people entry (Amish boys): "Dutch Fraternity."
How did I think we were going to do? I was pretty hopefull that "The Marshmallow" would get a blue ribbon. If it didn't I would have been asking questions. The second blue ribbon of "Amish Parking Lot" was wonderful because, although I had high hopes for it as well, it really didn't fit into a specific category. I may have just got lucky there. The others were a "what the hell...entry's free kind of deal." The calf picture was taken just a couple hourse before entry deadline. I am very happy with the results. Thanks for crossing your fingers for me...it worked. - Sue Provan
Note: Unfortunately, I am unable to post my photos at the present time. I will work on figuring out the problem.
Tuesday, July 21, 2009
High Hopes for Photography Exhibits - 39th Annual Jefferson Twp. Fair 2009
I simply can't wait to see if we've won a blue ribbon!
WHO: ME! Susan Provan of Provan Photography
WHAT: 5 photos entered in various photo exhibit categories
WHEN: Enterred 20 July 2009; judging begins at 9:00 am 21 July; photos held until Sunday for pickup.
WHERE: Jefferson Twp. Fairgrounds Exhibits Building
Over the last five years, my husband Matthew and I have developed a love for photography. We invested in a Canon EOS Digital Rebel camera and couldn't be more pleased with the results. Matt and I have steadily been collecting unique and wonderful pictures that we beleive are saleable.
We are ready to take our hobby to the next level and start building some credibility to potential buyers. Placing well in a competition is a great way to do this. Although this is our first competition, we have high hopes for winning some blue ribbons.
Contest Rules:
1. Exhibits must have been done by exhibitor since the previous year's fair.
2. Exhibits must be framed and/or matted.
3. Exhibits must be on display until 2:00 pm Sunday.
5 photos entered (some under my name and some under Matt's name):
a.) color animal 5x7 digital (Amish calf), b.) b&w animal 5x7 digital (Amish sheep), c.) b&w people 5x7 digital (Amish boys on carts), d.) b&w animal 5x7 digital (Amish parking lot/horses), and e.) b&w animal 8x10 digital (Amish raccoon).
I will post our results under the title "Photo Exhibit Results: 39th Annual Jefferson Twp. Fair 2009."
Wish us luck!
Saturday, July 18, 2009
Praise Worthy: Benefit Dinner for an Amish Boy
A tragic accident brings out a community's true character.
Most of what we see on television or hear on the radio seems to be negative. I get really tired of hearing nothing but negative all the time. So when I see something good happen, I feel compelled to write about it. Yesterday I witnessed a community come together for the sake of one family.
The story begins almost one month from today. A young Dutch boy lost one leg and part of the other to a lawn mower incident. Hospital bills are now an overwhelming $300,000.00.
In an effort to help this weary family raise money, the Dutch community held a benefit dinner. They were hoping to have a gathering of 500 people from around the Fredonia community. In a great showing of compassion, this figure was easily doubled.
I did see the child to whom the accident happenned. I saw his right pant leg limbless and flapping and the other limb disquised by a sock. This would have been sadder, but what I saw was amazing to me.
The little boy was being pushed through the isles by a child very close to his same age. He was clearly having fun and it didn't look as if he was in pain at all. Yet, his family were weary and the guests were somewhat somber as they gazed upon him.
Although undoubtedly on powerful pain medication, it seemed to me that his wounds weren't stopping him in the least. I feel we could all learn a few things from him.
Most of what we see on television or hear on the radio seems to be negative. I get really tired of hearing nothing but negative all the time. So when I see something good happen, I feel compelled to write about it. Yesterday I witnessed a community come together for the sake of one family.
The story begins almost one month from today. A young Dutch boy lost one leg and part of the other to a lawn mower incident. Hospital bills are now an overwhelming $300,000.00.
In an effort to help this weary family raise money, the Dutch community held a benefit dinner. They were hoping to have a gathering of 500 people from around the Fredonia community. In a great showing of compassion, this figure was easily doubled.
I did see the child to whom the accident happenned. I saw his right pant leg limbless and flapping and the other limb disquised by a sock. This would have been sadder, but what I saw was amazing to me.
The little boy was being pushed through the isles by a child very close to his same age. He was clearly having fun and it didn't look as if he was in pain at all. Yet, his family were weary and the guests were somewhat somber as they gazed upon him.
Although undoubtedly on powerful pain medication, it seemed to me that his wounds weren't stopping him in the least. I feel we could all learn a few things from him.
Thursday, July 16, 2009
Past Lives of the Hope Diamond
First appearing onto the pages of history in the early 1600's, the "Blue Diamond of the Crown," as it was once called, remains the largest blue diamond known to man...and the most dangerous.
Facts:
1. Found in India in the early 1600's.
2. Passed through atleast fourteen owners: Jean Baptiste Tavernier, King Louis XIV (France), King Louis XV, King Louis XVI, King George IV (England), Henry Philip Hope (for which it is named), Henry Thomas Hope (nephew), Lord Francis Hope (grandson of nephew), Joseph Frankels and Sons of New York, Selim Habib (Paris), C.H. Rosenau, Pierre Cartier, Evalyn Walsh McLean (Washington DC.), Harry Winston Inc.
3. Unfortunate circumstances ran rampant throughout the lives of it's owners... leading many people to beleive in the possible exhistence of a real-life curse.
4. Donated to the Smithsonian Institution on 10 November 1958 where it remains on display.
Somewhere in the exotic expanse that is India, Tavernier found himself gazing into the hyptnotizing eyes of the goddess statue Sita. He was aware of the fabled curse that warned would-be-theives of the terrible misfortunes that would befall them if the statue was defaced. Could it be real Tavernier asked himself? The bigger questions was, could the opportunist merchant in his blood resist the urge to take the valuable blue diamond eye that stared back at him?
Did it happen this way? Possibly...but more probably not. It is speculated that Tavernier bought the diamond at Kollur diamond mine in the Golconda region of India. The diamond was of unusually rare quality and was (and still is) the largest blue diamond ever found. It weighed 112 3/16 carats. The intensity of its color was breathtaking. It's worth? It is unknown what Tavernier paid for it, but you can be sure it was an unfathomable amount to most of us.
The diamond stayed in Tavernier's possession for 26 long years until, upon his return to France in 1668, the Sun King Louis XIV, requested a viewing. Inevitably, the diamond exchanged owners. Instantly the diamond became a national treasure and took on the titles "Blue Diamond of the Crown" and "The French Blue." The stone was set in gold and was worn by the king on a ribbon around his neck during special occasions. Upon his death, it was handed down to Louis XV.
In 1749, King Louis XV ordered the diamond recut in order to enhance it's brilliance. It was now 67 1/8 carats and set in a peice of ceremonial jewelry. In 1791 the French Blue was handed over to the French government after Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette attempted to flee the country. One year later, the diamond vanished.
In 1812 a 44.12 carat blue diamond made an appearance in the hands of a jewelry merchant. Strong evidence suggests that this new diamond was a recut version of the French Blue. Once again, inevitably, the stone found its way into the hands of royalty...this time English.
King George IV of England purchased the diamond and then, in 1830, it was sold to cover his astronomical debt.
The next documented appearance came in 1839 where it was verified to be in the collection of Henry Philip Hope, the man to whom the diamond's modern name originated. After his death, the stone passed to his nephew Henry Thomas Hope and then to Henry Thomas's grandson Lord Francis Hope. Lord Francis, even after strong opposition from the Hope family, sold the stone in 1901 for gambling money and to cover debts. (See a pattern here?)
Joseph Frankels and Sons of New York, needing money, sold the stone to Salim Habib, who then sold the stone to C.H. Rosenau and then to Pierre Cartier in 1909. Cartier slyly devised a plan to sell the diamond to a wealthy couple he met while they were on vacation in Paris. They were "old money" Americans.
Wealthy Mrs. Evalyn Walsh McLean bought the diamond in 1911 and had the stone mounted in a headpeice surrounded by diamonds. Later it was changed to a pendant. In 1949, after Mrs. McLean's death, Harry Winston Inc. bought her collection and displayed it at charitable events over the next decade.
The diamond was donated to the Smithsonian Institution on November 10, 1958. The package was wrapped in plain brown paper and sent through normal mail...a common practice of jewelers from the time period. The diamond remains there to this day...only rarely leaving for very special occasions. Some people beleive the diamond was sent there intentionally in an effort to thwart the effects of the curse.
Soooo...is there a curse? We still don't know...but think about it. Most of it's known owner's wen't bankrupt. King Louis XVI and his queen Marie Antionette both lost their heads in the French Revolution. Mrs. Walsh McLean's son Vincent died in a car crash when he was 9, her daughter committed suicide at age 25, and her husband went insane and was confined to a mental institution until his death. And many unpleasantries are said to have befallen the many jewelers who have touched it.
But then again...there are those who got away without a scratch...and to date it's keeper's at the Smithsonian have not reported an incident. It seems more likely to me that perhaps the curse is more likely due to over-spending and supremely bad choices.
***Intriguing news update: After a years worth of research, it can now be verified as the same stone that had been taken from the French crown jewels; yes it IS the "French Blue!" Fascinating!
Disclaimer: The history of the diamond is complex. It's story is told to the best of researchers abilities... so if you continue perusing the internet, you may find some discprepancies in the timeline. Note: Some of these words are not mine, but a close summarization of other authors.
Facts:
1. Found in India in the early 1600's.
2. Passed through atleast fourteen owners: Jean Baptiste Tavernier, King Louis XIV (France), King Louis XV, King Louis XVI, King George IV (England), Henry Philip Hope (for which it is named), Henry Thomas Hope (nephew), Lord Francis Hope (grandson of nephew), Joseph Frankels and Sons of New York, Selim Habib (Paris), C.H. Rosenau, Pierre Cartier, Evalyn Walsh McLean (Washington DC.), Harry Winston Inc.
3. Unfortunate circumstances ran rampant throughout the lives of it's owners... leading many people to beleive in the possible exhistence of a real-life curse.
4. Donated to the Smithsonian Institution on 10 November 1958 where it remains on display.
Somewhere in the exotic expanse that is India, Tavernier found himself gazing into the hyptnotizing eyes of the goddess statue Sita. He was aware of the fabled curse that warned would-be-theives of the terrible misfortunes that would befall them if the statue was defaced. Could it be real Tavernier asked himself? The bigger questions was, could the opportunist merchant in his blood resist the urge to take the valuable blue diamond eye that stared back at him?
Did it happen this way? Possibly...but more probably not. It is speculated that Tavernier bought the diamond at Kollur diamond mine in the Golconda region of India. The diamond was of unusually rare quality and was (and still is) the largest blue diamond ever found. It weighed 112 3/16 carats. The intensity of its color was breathtaking. It's worth? It is unknown what Tavernier paid for it, but you can be sure it was an unfathomable amount to most of us.
The diamond stayed in Tavernier's possession for 26 long years until, upon his return to France in 1668, the Sun King Louis XIV, requested a viewing. Inevitably, the diamond exchanged owners. Instantly the diamond became a national treasure and took on the titles "Blue Diamond of the Crown" and "The French Blue." The stone was set in gold and was worn by the king on a ribbon around his neck during special occasions. Upon his death, it was handed down to Louis XV.
In 1749, King Louis XV ordered the diamond recut in order to enhance it's brilliance. It was now 67 1/8 carats and set in a peice of ceremonial jewelry. In 1791 the French Blue was handed over to the French government after Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette attempted to flee the country. One year later, the diamond vanished.
In 1812 a 44.12 carat blue diamond made an appearance in the hands of a jewelry merchant. Strong evidence suggests that this new diamond was a recut version of the French Blue. Once again, inevitably, the stone found its way into the hands of royalty...this time English.
King George IV of England purchased the diamond and then, in 1830, it was sold to cover his astronomical debt.
The next documented appearance came in 1839 where it was verified to be in the collection of Henry Philip Hope, the man to whom the diamond's modern name originated. After his death, the stone passed to his nephew Henry Thomas Hope and then to Henry Thomas's grandson Lord Francis Hope. Lord Francis, even after strong opposition from the Hope family, sold the stone in 1901 for gambling money and to cover debts. (See a pattern here?)
Joseph Frankels and Sons of New York, needing money, sold the stone to Salim Habib, who then sold the stone to C.H. Rosenau and then to Pierre Cartier in 1909. Cartier slyly devised a plan to sell the diamond to a wealthy couple he met while they were on vacation in Paris. They were "old money" Americans.
Wealthy Mrs. Evalyn Walsh McLean bought the diamond in 1911 and had the stone mounted in a headpeice surrounded by diamonds. Later it was changed to a pendant. In 1949, after Mrs. McLean's death, Harry Winston Inc. bought her collection and displayed it at charitable events over the next decade.
The diamond was donated to the Smithsonian Institution on November 10, 1958. The package was wrapped in plain brown paper and sent through normal mail...a common practice of jewelers from the time period. The diamond remains there to this day...only rarely leaving for very special occasions. Some people beleive the diamond was sent there intentionally in an effort to thwart the effects of the curse.
Soooo...is there a curse? We still don't know...but think about it. Most of it's known owner's wen't bankrupt. King Louis XVI and his queen Marie Antionette both lost their heads in the French Revolution. Mrs. Walsh McLean's son Vincent died in a car crash when he was 9, her daughter committed suicide at age 25, and her husband went insane and was confined to a mental institution until his death. And many unpleasantries are said to have befallen the many jewelers who have touched it.
But then again...there are those who got away without a scratch...and to date it's keeper's at the Smithsonian have not reported an incident. It seems more likely to me that perhaps the curse is more likely due to over-spending and supremely bad choices.
***Intriguing news update: After a years worth of research, it can now be verified as the same stone that had been taken from the French crown jewels; yes it IS the "French Blue!" Fascinating!
Disclaimer: The history of the diamond is complex. It's story is told to the best of researchers abilities... so if you continue perusing the internet, you may find some discprepancies in the timeline. Note: Some of these words are not mine, but a close summarization of other authors.
Tuesday, July 14, 2009
The Dissappearance of Flight Nineteen.
"A radio message intercepted at about 4 p.m. was the first indication that Flight 19 was lost." - Department of the Navy, Naval Historical Center
Facts:
1. 5 December 1945, Military training flight.
2. Type of aircraft: TBM Avenger Torpedo Bombers
3. Flight origination: Fort Lauderdale, Florida
4. Search efforts were unsuccessful.
On 5 December 1945, at 2:10 pm est, 5 avenger aircraft left the airfield in Fort Lauderdale, Florida bound for a pre-destined training mission over the Atlantic. The crew consisted of one qualified flight instructor and four rookies with no more than 400 hours flight time each.
Around 4:00 pm a transmission between the instructor and one of his students had been intercepted. The men sounded confused. Apparantly an unseen phenomenon had left the instruments unreliable and now the concern was which way do they fly to get back to shore. With a limited ration of fuel (estimated to run out around 8pm), going the wrong direction would be disastrous.
Attempts to contact the flight were unsuccessfull, possibly due to Cuban radio interference and atmospheric weather conditions.
An immense air and sea rescue effort commensed, stopping only when unfavorable weather conditions forced the mission to end five days later, on 10 December.
It is known that although the sea was too rough for a water landing, the weather for flight was rated average for the type of training that was scheduled. It is assummed that all five aircraft made forced landings in the ocean with no survivors. No trace of man or machine has ever been found.
Other theories include:
Five unidentified aircraft were reported by two air fields near Okephenoke Swamp in southern Georgia on the same day the aircraft went missing.
Worm hole's, electronic and atmospheric fog, and time phenomenon's are also being researched.
Most leading scientists dismiss the worm hole and time travel theory.
***********************************************
"The less a person knows about a mystery...the better mystery a person can write." - guest on History Channel episode Mysteries of the Bermuda Triangle.
The story aired on History channel: Mysteries of the Bermuda Triangle.
Facts:
1. 5 December 1945, Military training flight.
2. Type of aircraft: TBM Avenger Torpedo Bombers
3. Flight origination: Fort Lauderdale, Florida
4. Search efforts were unsuccessful.
On 5 December 1945, at 2:10 pm est, 5 avenger aircraft left the airfield in Fort Lauderdale, Florida bound for a pre-destined training mission over the Atlantic. The crew consisted of one qualified flight instructor and four rookies with no more than 400 hours flight time each.
Around 4:00 pm a transmission between the instructor and one of his students had been intercepted. The men sounded confused. Apparantly an unseen phenomenon had left the instruments unreliable and now the concern was which way do they fly to get back to shore. With a limited ration of fuel (estimated to run out around 8pm), going the wrong direction would be disastrous.
Attempts to contact the flight were unsuccessfull, possibly due to Cuban radio interference and atmospheric weather conditions.
An immense air and sea rescue effort commensed, stopping only when unfavorable weather conditions forced the mission to end five days later, on 10 December.
It is known that although the sea was too rough for a water landing, the weather for flight was rated average for the type of training that was scheduled. It is assummed that all five aircraft made forced landings in the ocean with no survivors. No trace of man or machine has ever been found.
Other theories include:
Five unidentified aircraft were reported by two air fields near Okephenoke Swamp in southern Georgia on the same day the aircraft went missing.
Worm hole's, electronic and atmospheric fog, and time phenomenon's are also being researched.
Most leading scientists dismiss the worm hole and time travel theory.
***********************************************
"The less a person knows about a mystery...the better mystery a person can write." - guest on History Channel episode Mysteries of the Bermuda Triangle.
The story aired on History channel: Mysteries of the Bermuda Triangle.
Monday, July 6, 2009
"Oh The Humanity!"
Just before mooring at the field in New Jersey, the colossal German air ship caught fire and in an instant...came crashing down.
Facts:
1. The disaster happenned on 6 May 1937, at Lakehurst Naval Air Station, NJ. (Flight originated in Frankfurt, Germany).
2. There were 97 people on board; Fatalities included 13 passengers, 22 air crew, 1 ground crew.
3. Signaled the end of rigid air ship travel.
The story begins after taking off from Frankfurt Germany and traveling over 10,000 miles to the shores of America.
The reason for the Hindenberg's demise had gone unrealized for decades. Most people surmised that the ship was either struck by lightening or was sabotaged. Recently, however, new research has discovered that the true cause of the disaster was a combination of static electricity and a flammable pre-disposition.
The weather in Lakehurst, NJ on the cold morning in 1837 was not ideal for airship travel. Lightening had been sighted in the distance and the fact that the balloon was full of volatile hydrogen gas added a sense of urgency to the matter. Fearing a lightening strike, the captain considered an emergency landing. Unfortunately, he could not have known that the most imminent danger was, not the lightning or the hydrogen, but the shell of the balloon and an unseen product of the storm...static electricity.
The shell of the Hindenberg's balloon had been coated with an aluminum powder varnish type substance that closely mimicked the same chemical composition of rocket fuel; it's application left the material extremely dry and flammable. The introduction of static electricity on top of this supremely sensitive scenario was a one way ticket to disaster. All that was needed to set off the chain of events was a tiny spark.
Passengers heard a "boom" and then, peering down to the ground, the crowd and ground crew turned orange. It was obvious what was happenning. There was only seconds to react.
The shell was gone in an instant, the fire gaining intensityfrom the inevitably ignited hydrogen. Within one minute...the Hindenberg lay a morbid maze of twisted metal ablaze on the ground; it continued to burn for several hours.
Mercifully, 61 people did escape with their lives.
This event signaled the end of rigid air ship travel, the general public having lost confidence in its safety.
******************************************************
Herbert Morrison provided the famous eyewitness account which was radio broadcast one day after the disaster. This emotional report is the origin of the phrase, "oh the humanity!"
There of course remains the stories behind the scenes that sometimes go unnoticed. Other theories suggest that the structural integrity of the ship was previously compromised and went unattended.
Facts:
1. The disaster happenned on 6 May 1937, at Lakehurst Naval Air Station, NJ. (Flight originated in Frankfurt, Germany).
2. There were 97 people on board; Fatalities included 13 passengers, 22 air crew, 1 ground crew.
3. Signaled the end of rigid air ship travel.
The story begins after taking off from Frankfurt Germany and traveling over 10,000 miles to the shores of America.
The reason for the Hindenberg's demise had gone unrealized for decades. Most people surmised that the ship was either struck by lightening or was sabotaged. Recently, however, new research has discovered that the true cause of the disaster was a combination of static electricity and a flammable pre-disposition.
The weather in Lakehurst, NJ on the cold morning in 1837 was not ideal for airship travel. Lightening had been sighted in the distance and the fact that the balloon was full of volatile hydrogen gas added a sense of urgency to the matter. Fearing a lightening strike, the captain considered an emergency landing. Unfortunately, he could not have known that the most imminent danger was, not the lightning or the hydrogen, but the shell of the balloon and an unseen product of the storm...static electricity.
The shell of the Hindenberg's balloon had been coated with an aluminum powder varnish type substance that closely mimicked the same chemical composition of rocket fuel; it's application left the material extremely dry and flammable. The introduction of static electricity on top of this supremely sensitive scenario was a one way ticket to disaster. All that was needed to set off the chain of events was a tiny spark.
Passengers heard a "boom" and then, peering down to the ground, the crowd and ground crew turned orange. It was obvious what was happenning. There was only seconds to react.
The shell was gone in an instant, the fire gaining intensityfrom the inevitably ignited hydrogen. Within one minute...the Hindenberg lay a morbid maze of twisted metal ablaze on the ground; it continued to burn for several hours.
Mercifully, 61 people did escape with their lives.
This event signaled the end of rigid air ship travel, the general public having lost confidence in its safety.
******************************************************
Herbert Morrison provided the famous eyewitness account which was radio broadcast one day after the disaster. This emotional report is the origin of the phrase, "oh the humanity!"
There of course remains the stories behind the scenes that sometimes go unnoticed. Other theories suggest that the structural integrity of the ship was previously compromised and went unattended.
Wednesday, June 17, 2009
The Spirit of "Comanche" Lives On!
Part mustang, part morgan horse...this brave soldier, who served Captain Myles Keogh at the famous Battle of the Little Big Horn, lives on in the hearts of patriots.
Key Facts:
* Born around 1862; captured in a wild horse round-up and then gelded.
* Bought by the Army April 3, 1868 in St. Louis, Missouri for $90.00.
* Assigned to 7th Cavalry where he served as Captain Myles Keough's personal mount.
* Severely wounded at the Battle of the Little Big Horn on June 25, 1876.
* Died November 7, 1891 at age 34; the men of 7th Cavalry were greatly saddenned by his passing.
Comanche is said to be of unimpressive build, yet something about him called out to the men of the 7th Cavalry. He was gentle, of sound mind, and had an aire of nobility about him. He was tough as nails and proved he could be relied upon in the heat of battle. When shot in the flank by an arrow, among other debilitating wounds, he bravely advanced... letting his rider continue the fight from his back. In a world of traditionally nameless U.S. cavalry horses, he won the title...Comanche.
Two days after the massacre:
Comanche was discovered in a ravine by Sgt. Milton DeLacey covered in dry blood and exhausted from trying to get up. After receiving water and immediate medical attention he was coaxed onto his feet and taken to a temporary field station where his injuries were recorded. He sufferred four bullet wounds to the back of his foreshoulder, one to a hoof, and one in each back leg. All but one of the bullets were removed, the last being too risky. When given medical clearance, he was placed on the steamboat "Far West" (along with a sea of bodies who were once his peers) and taken back to Fort Lincoln where he was hailed as a hero.
Paperwork created by 2nd Lt. James Thomas describes reads as follows:
Height: 15 hands
Weight: 925 lbs.
Color: Buckskin
Condition: Unserviceable
Remarks: excused from all duties per G.O. No. 7, April 10, 1878
Comanche was given special priveleges by the officer in charge of Fort Lincoln, Col. Sturgis. Sturgis issued G.O. No. 7 stating " a special and comfortable stall shall be fitted up for him, and he will not be ridden by any person whatsoever under any circumstances, nor will he be put to any kind of work," and was given the honorary title of "Second Commanding Officer." He would never again see battle, but could, however, be used for parades, draped in mourning and led by a soldier of troop I. Other priveleges included free roam of the fort, sugar cubes as desired, his own ration of beer, and his own personal caretaker by the name of Gustave Korn.
As time passed, Comanche grew very fond Korn...and the feeling was mutual. On the occasion that Korn was late for chores, Comanche would go looking for him...sometimes finding him at a girlfriend's house and promptly brought him back to his scheduled post. After Korn was killed at Wounded Knee Creek in 1890, Comanche's health deteriorated.
Comanche died on November 7, 1891 at age 34. He was decorated with full military honors...one of only two horses to have ever received this prestigious award. (The other horse was Black Jack who served as "the riderless horse" in the funerals of four U.S. presidents, four star generals, and other noteworthy celebrations. It is my opinion, however, that a horse serving in battle as noblely as Comanche deserves far more credit than a pretty horse at the head of a parade. Give credit where credit is due.)
At the wishes of the men of the 7th Cavalry, Comanche stands preserved in a climate controlled glass case for future generations to appreciate. Many history buffs and horse lovers drive thousands of miles just to stand in his presence... solidifying the fact that he remains a source of inspiration and courage. And most of all...he is our "soul surviving" link to a fascinating, yet unmistakably horrific past. He captures our minds along with our hearts.
Note: His glass tomb stands on display in the Museum of Natural History at the University of Kansas.
**************************************************************
Interesting facts:
Comanche is famous for being the sole survivor of the massacre of the Little Big Horn commanded by General George Custer. This may not be entirely true. Upon further investigation, it seems that other mounts from the battle and one dog, also survived. It is ironic, however, that since these other soldiers are no longer with us...their bodies now equal to dust and only Comanche remains...that yes...Comanche IS the only survivor of the Battle.
His story is the stuff of legend...and this is apparent in the hundreds of songs and books that have been dedicated in his honor. The popular Johnny Horton song "Comanche the Brave Horse" is a great example.
Key Facts:
* Born around 1862; captured in a wild horse round-up and then gelded.
* Bought by the Army April 3, 1868 in St. Louis, Missouri for $90.00.
* Assigned to 7th Cavalry where he served as Captain Myles Keough's personal mount.
* Severely wounded at the Battle of the Little Big Horn on June 25, 1876.
* Died November 7, 1891 at age 34; the men of 7th Cavalry were greatly saddenned by his passing.
Comanche is said to be of unimpressive build, yet something about him called out to the men of the 7th Cavalry. He was gentle, of sound mind, and had an aire of nobility about him. He was tough as nails and proved he could be relied upon in the heat of battle. When shot in the flank by an arrow, among other debilitating wounds, he bravely advanced... letting his rider continue the fight from his back. In a world of traditionally nameless U.S. cavalry horses, he won the title...Comanche.
Two days after the massacre:
Comanche was discovered in a ravine by Sgt. Milton DeLacey covered in dry blood and exhausted from trying to get up. After receiving water and immediate medical attention he was coaxed onto his feet and taken to a temporary field station where his injuries were recorded. He sufferred four bullet wounds to the back of his foreshoulder, one to a hoof, and one in each back leg. All but one of the bullets were removed, the last being too risky. When given medical clearance, he was placed on the steamboat "Far West" (along with a sea of bodies who were once his peers) and taken back to Fort Lincoln where he was hailed as a hero.
Paperwork created by 2nd Lt. James Thomas describes reads as follows:
Height: 15 hands
Weight: 925 lbs.
Color: Buckskin
Condition: Unserviceable
Remarks: excused from all duties per G.O. No. 7, April 10, 1878
Comanche was given special priveleges by the officer in charge of Fort Lincoln, Col. Sturgis. Sturgis issued G.O. No. 7 stating " a special and comfortable stall shall be fitted up for him, and he will not be ridden by any person whatsoever under any circumstances, nor will he be put to any kind of work," and was given the honorary title of "Second Commanding Officer." He would never again see battle, but could, however, be used for parades, draped in mourning and led by a soldier of troop I. Other priveleges included free roam of the fort, sugar cubes as desired, his own ration of beer, and his own personal caretaker by the name of Gustave Korn.
As time passed, Comanche grew very fond Korn...and the feeling was mutual. On the occasion that Korn was late for chores, Comanche would go looking for him...sometimes finding him at a girlfriend's house and promptly brought him back to his scheduled post. After Korn was killed at Wounded Knee Creek in 1890, Comanche's health deteriorated.
Comanche died on November 7, 1891 at age 34. He was decorated with full military honors...one of only two horses to have ever received this prestigious award. (The other horse was Black Jack who served as "the riderless horse" in the funerals of four U.S. presidents, four star generals, and other noteworthy celebrations. It is my opinion, however, that a horse serving in battle as noblely as Comanche deserves far more credit than a pretty horse at the head of a parade. Give credit where credit is due.)
At the wishes of the men of the 7th Cavalry, Comanche stands preserved in a climate controlled glass case for future generations to appreciate. Many history buffs and horse lovers drive thousands of miles just to stand in his presence... solidifying the fact that he remains a source of inspiration and courage. And most of all...he is our "soul surviving" link to a fascinating, yet unmistakably horrific past. He captures our minds along with our hearts.
Note: His glass tomb stands on display in the Museum of Natural History at the University of Kansas.
**************************************************************
Interesting facts:
Comanche is famous for being the sole survivor of the massacre of the Little Big Horn commanded by General George Custer. This may not be entirely true. Upon further investigation, it seems that other mounts from the battle and one dog, also survived. It is ironic, however, that since these other soldiers are no longer with us...their bodies now equal to dust and only Comanche remains...that yes...Comanche IS the only survivor of the Battle.
His story is the stuff of legend...and this is apparent in the hundreds of songs and books that have been dedicated in his honor. The popular Johnny Horton song "Comanche the Brave Horse" is a great example.
Saturday, January 24, 2009
UNSOLVED HISTORY: Amelia Earhart
***A work in progress.***
"Find me if you can," was the last statement Amelia Earhart whispered to the public as she departed Miami, Florida, June 1, 1937.
Birth Name: Amelia Mary Earhart
Born: July 24, 1897
Birthplace: Atchison, Kansas
Married: 7 February, 1931 to George Putnam
Official Date of Death: 2 July, 1937 while en route from Lae, New Guinea to Howland Island
Many theories surround the dissappearance of the great aviatrix ranging from ditching her twin engine Lockheed Electra into the sea from lack of fuel, to crashing on an island occupied by the Japanese and taken as the first prisoner of war at the start of WW II, to engaging in espionage against the Japanese at the request of President Franklin Delano Roosevelt and then adopting on an alternate identitiy as a housewife living in New Jersey.
I will start this story where the confusion begins. On July 2, 1937, at 12:30 pm Earhart and her navigator Fred Noonan have just taken off from the runway in Lae, New Guinea. They are scheduled to rendevouz with the US Coast Guard cutter ship Itasca, who was to provide radio contact, near the small mile and a half long and half mile wide Howland Island; a spec in the great expanse of the Pacific ocean and located 2,556 miles from Lae.
Earhart's plane had been stripped bare of unnecessary baggage so that she could cover the distance and still have a reserve of 274 miles worth of extra fuel. A mistake this far out to sea without help was almost certainly fatal. Along with the Itasca were three other US ships positioned along her flight path with their lights burning bright to act as visual aid.
Despite reports of favorable weather conditions, the Electra found itself amid overcast skies and intermittent rain showers. This made it difficult for Noonan to use celestial navigation, a ancient method relying on the location of the sun and other visual markers, which had been his primary source of navigation.
As dawn drew closer, Amelia contacted chief radioman Leo G. Bellarts aboard the Itasca and asked for his location. Her next scheduled time to report-in had come and gone and then finally a faint transmission was picked up around 7:42 am. The message stated, "we must be on you, but we can't see you. Fuel is running low. Unable to reach you by radio. We are flying at 1000 feet." The Itasca replied, but it seems the transmission could not be heard by Earhart. "We are running north and south," were the last words ever heard from Earhart. It was 8:45 am.
An extensive air and sea rescue attempt commenced immediately, but proved unsuccessful. Two weeks later on July 19, 1938, and after covering 250,000 miles of ocean, the effort was called off. The Electra, along with its pilot and navigator dissappearred without a trace.
Here is where the theories come in.
1. After several hours of trying to radio ship Itasca, theory say's she ran out of gas and ditched in ocean.
2. Captured by Japanese (first WWII prisoner of war - held as spy) and taken to Saipan. Possibly FDR used her flight as a cover up. Three native girls remember seeing a white lady pilot with a ring. Died of dysentary. Army soldier remembered seeing her Aircraft in a hangar on an island.
3. Assummed another identity as Irene ____ - housewife living in New Jersey.
Which of these theories are true? Experts on the subject are still in a fiery debate. Until we find a hard peice of evidence, such as a part of a twin engine Lockheed Electra with the identifier's XXXX, we may never know for sure.
Sixty years later we are no closer to deciphering the mystery than we were that fatefull morning in 1938.
"Find me if you can," was the last statement Amelia Earhart whispered to the public as she departed Miami, Florida, June 1, 1937.
Birth Name: Amelia Mary Earhart
Born: July 24, 1897
Birthplace: Atchison, Kansas
Married: 7 February, 1931 to George Putnam
Official Date of Death: 2 July, 1937 while en route from Lae, New Guinea to Howland Island
Many theories surround the dissappearance of the great aviatrix ranging from ditching her twin engine Lockheed Electra into the sea from lack of fuel, to crashing on an island occupied by the Japanese and taken as the first prisoner of war at the start of WW II, to engaging in espionage against the Japanese at the request of President Franklin Delano Roosevelt and then adopting on an alternate identitiy as a housewife living in New Jersey.
I will start this story where the confusion begins. On July 2, 1937, at 12:30 pm Earhart and her navigator Fred Noonan have just taken off from the runway in Lae, New Guinea. They are scheduled to rendevouz with the US Coast Guard cutter ship Itasca, who was to provide radio contact, near the small mile and a half long and half mile wide Howland Island; a spec in the great expanse of the Pacific ocean and located 2,556 miles from Lae.
Earhart's plane had been stripped bare of unnecessary baggage so that she could cover the distance and still have a reserve of 274 miles worth of extra fuel. A mistake this far out to sea without help was almost certainly fatal. Along with the Itasca were three other US ships positioned along her flight path with their lights burning bright to act as visual aid.
Despite reports of favorable weather conditions, the Electra found itself amid overcast skies and intermittent rain showers. This made it difficult for Noonan to use celestial navigation, a ancient method relying on the location of the sun and other visual markers, which had been his primary source of navigation.
As dawn drew closer, Amelia contacted chief radioman Leo G. Bellarts aboard the Itasca and asked for his location. Her next scheduled time to report-in had come and gone and then finally a faint transmission was picked up around 7:42 am. The message stated, "we must be on you, but we can't see you. Fuel is running low. Unable to reach you by radio. We are flying at 1000 feet." The Itasca replied, but it seems the transmission could not be heard by Earhart. "We are running north and south," were the last words ever heard from Earhart. It was 8:45 am.
An extensive air and sea rescue attempt commenced immediately, but proved unsuccessful. Two weeks later on July 19, 1938, and after covering 250,000 miles of ocean, the effort was called off. The Electra, along with its pilot and navigator dissappearred without a trace.
Here is where the theories come in.
1. After several hours of trying to radio ship Itasca, theory say's she ran out of gas and ditched in ocean.
2. Captured by Japanese (first WWII prisoner of war - held as spy) and taken to Saipan. Possibly FDR used her flight as a cover up. Three native girls remember seeing a white lady pilot with a ring. Died of dysentary. Army soldier remembered seeing her Aircraft in a hangar on an island.
3. Assummed another identity as Irene ____ - housewife living in New Jersey.
Which of these theories are true? Experts on the subject are still in a fiery debate. Until we find a hard peice of evidence, such as a part of a twin engine Lockheed Electra with the identifier's XXXX, we may never know for sure.
Sixty years later we are no closer to deciphering the mystery than we were that fatefull morning in 1938.
Thursday, January 22, 2009
FAST FACTS: Animals
The source of this information is www.didyouknow.cd/fastfacts/animals.htm.
Here are a few interresting facts on my favorite subject:
1. Mammals are the only animals with flaps around their ears.
2. African elephants only have 4 teeth to chew their food.
3. A house fly lives only 14 days.
4. The bee hummingbird of Cuba is the smallest bird in the world.
5. An ostrich can run up to 43 mph.
6. The pig is rated the fourth most intelligent animal.
7. Pork is the world's most widely-eaten meat.
8. A group of geese on the ground is called a gaggle; in the sky they are called a skeen.
9. In Denmark there are twice as many pigs as there are people.
10. The tongue of a blue whale is as long as an elephant.
11. A crocodile's tongue is attached to the roof of its mouth and cannot move it.
12. The slowest fish is the sea horse, which moves at .01 mph.
13. Sharks are immune to all know diseases.
14. The heaviest crustacean ever found was a lobster weighing 42 lbs., and was caught in 1934.
15. A giraffe can clean its ears with its 20" tongue.
Here are a few interresting facts on my favorite subject:
1. Mammals are the only animals with flaps around their ears.
2. African elephants only have 4 teeth to chew their food.
3. A house fly lives only 14 days.
4. The bee hummingbird of Cuba is the smallest bird in the world.
5. An ostrich can run up to 43 mph.
6. The pig is rated the fourth most intelligent animal.
7. Pork is the world's most widely-eaten meat.
8. A group of geese on the ground is called a gaggle; in the sky they are called a skeen.
9. In Denmark there are twice as many pigs as there are people.
10. The tongue of a blue whale is as long as an elephant.
11. A crocodile's tongue is attached to the roof of its mouth and cannot move it.
12. The slowest fish is the sea horse, which moves at .01 mph.
13. Sharks are immune to all know diseases.
14. The heaviest crustacean ever found was a lobster weighing 42 lbs., and was caught in 1934.
15. A giraffe can clean its ears with its 20" tongue.
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
FAST FACTS: Politics
The source of this information is www.didyouknow.cd/fastfacts/politics.htm.
In keeping with this weeks theme of Presidents and Government, here are a few fast facts:
1. India is the world's largest democracy with more than 600 million voters.
2. The system of democracy was introduced 2,500 years ago in Athens, Greece.
3. The youngest active system of governance is communism, which was introduced in 1848 by Freidrich Engels and Karl Marx.
4. The oldest existing governing body operates in Althing, Iceland. It was established in 930 A.D.
5. Victoria Woodhull (1838-1927) was the first woman to run for US President. She and her sister were the first women to run a Wallstreet brokerage (1870).
6. In 1975, Emil Matalik ran for US President. He advocated a maximum of one tree and one animal per household because he believed there were too many plants and animals on earth. Louis Abalofia also ran for President. His campaign poster featured a photo of him in the nude, with the slogan "I have nothing to hide." In the 1860's George Francis Train ran for office; his only promise was the introduction of a new calendar based on his birth date.
7. Thomas Jefferson ws the first to be inaugurated in Washington, D.C., and was the only President to walk to and from his inauguration.
In keeping with this weeks theme of Presidents and Government, here are a few fast facts:
1. India is the world's largest democracy with more than 600 million voters.
2. The system of democracy was introduced 2,500 years ago in Athens, Greece.
3. The youngest active system of governance is communism, which was introduced in 1848 by Freidrich Engels and Karl Marx.
4. The oldest existing governing body operates in Althing, Iceland. It was established in 930 A.D.
5. Victoria Woodhull (1838-1927) was the first woman to run for US President. She and her sister were the first women to run a Wallstreet brokerage (1870).
6. In 1975, Emil Matalik ran for US President. He advocated a maximum of one tree and one animal per household because he believed there were too many plants and animals on earth. Louis Abalofia also ran for President. His campaign poster featured a photo of him in the nude, with the slogan "I have nothing to hide." In the 1860's George Francis Train ran for office; his only promise was the introduction of a new calendar based on his birth date.
7. Thomas Jefferson ws the first to be inaugurated in Washington, D.C., and was the only President to walk to and from his inauguration.
8. William Henry Harrison had the shortest term of office as President; he served f0r 32 days.
9. Franklin D. Roosevelt had the longest term in office; he served for 12 years.
10. Fourteen of the Fourty-five Vice Presidents have become President: five were elected (John Adams, Thomas Jefferson, Martin Van Buren, Richard Nixon, and George Bush), four assummed responsibility after assassination (Andrew Johnson, Chester Authur, Theodore Roosevelt, and Lyndon Johnson), four assumed responsibility after the President died of natural causes (John Tyler, Millard Fillmore, Calvin Coolidge, and Harry Truman), Gerald Ford assummed responsibility after the resignation of Richard Nixon.
11. Only Richard Nixon served two terms as Vice President and also two terms as President.
12. The candidate with the highest popular vote was Ronald Reagan. In 1984 he secured 54,455,075 votes.
13. The candidate who ran the most often was Norman Thomas. He ran six times (1928, 1932, 1936, 1940, 1944, and 1948.
14. George Washington was the first President to serve under the US Constitution of 1789. However, the US was an independent nation for 13 years before the Constitution was signed. For one uear during this time John Hanson served as "President of the US when Congress Assembled." Technically, Hanson was the first President of the United States.
Wednesday, January 14, 2009
Mythology derived from Truth?
I recently watched the History Channel's "Ancient Monster Hunters" where they were airing "The First Fossill Hunters." It was based on a book of the same name written by, Adrienne Mayor, an independent folklorist and historian of science.
Through her extensive research, Mayor manages to unravel hidden clues explaining the origins of mytholigical creatures in ancient Greek culture. She provides us with very intriguing evidence that at least some of these seemingly unbelievable creatures are actually based on "fact."
Mayor say's that the finding of beds of fossilized dinosaur bones exposed from years of erosion was not uncommon in the ancient world. Bones were found in many different sizes, however, the rains tended to wash away the smaller bones and leave the larger bones behind. These larger bones were usually femers, vertebrae, or coincidentally bones that ancient people would recognize as human.
From the bones of a woolly mammoth, ancient peoples beleived they were looking upon the remains of a cyclops. If you look straight at the front of the skull of a mammoth, you see a single nasal cavity where the eye sockets would be on a human. It did not occurr to these people that the eye sockets on this skull would be on the sides like in most animals instead of the front like a human's. They knew they were looking at a monster...they just didn't know which one. Keep in mind that ancient peoples did not know about the existence of prehistoric creatures like mammoths and dinosaurs.
This is also where the myth of giants originated from. Incredibly large bones were strewn over such a wide distance that people believed they were gazing upon the remains of gods who were involved in a titanic battle here on earth.
The book also explains the beleif in Griffins, animals with the head of an eagle and the body of a lion. It is beleived that the myth started with an Asian people called the Scythians. They were gold traders. It is thought that the Scythians created the griffin legend based on bones found exposed throughout the hills of their homeland; They did this to ward away theives who may try to steal their gold. It was later found that an abundance of bones from dinosaurs identified as protoceratops and psittacosaurus were scatterred along the routes and close to the gold mines of these ancient traders. These dinosaurs are on all fours like a mammal, but have a skull containing a huge "beak."
Interresting huh?
Through her extensive research, Mayor manages to unravel hidden clues explaining the origins of mytholigical creatures in ancient Greek culture. She provides us with very intriguing evidence that at least some of these seemingly unbelievable creatures are actually based on "fact."
Mayor say's that the finding of beds of fossilized dinosaur bones exposed from years of erosion was not uncommon in the ancient world. Bones were found in many different sizes, however, the rains tended to wash away the smaller bones and leave the larger bones behind. These larger bones were usually femers, vertebrae, or coincidentally bones that ancient people would recognize as human.
From the bones of a woolly mammoth, ancient peoples beleived they were looking upon the remains of a cyclops. If you look straight at the front of the skull of a mammoth, you see a single nasal cavity where the eye sockets would be on a human. It did not occurr to these people that the eye sockets on this skull would be on the sides like in most animals instead of the front like a human's. They knew they were looking at a monster...they just didn't know which one. Keep in mind that ancient peoples did not know about the existence of prehistoric creatures like mammoths and dinosaurs.
This is also where the myth of giants originated from. Incredibly large bones were strewn over such a wide distance that people believed they were gazing upon the remains of gods who were involved in a titanic battle here on earth.
The book also explains the beleif in Griffins, animals with the head of an eagle and the body of a lion. It is beleived that the myth started with an Asian people called the Scythians. They were gold traders. It is thought that the Scythians created the griffin legend based on bones found exposed throughout the hills of their homeland; They did this to ward away theives who may try to steal their gold. It was later found that an abundance of bones from dinosaurs identified as protoceratops and psittacosaurus were scatterred along the routes and close to the gold mines of these ancient traders. These dinosaurs are on all fours like a mammal, but have a skull containing a huge "beak."
Interresting huh?
Introduction
Hello and welcome to Wildflower's Potpourri blog. The purpose of this blog is to provide a medium for the blog's creator wildflower4757, invited friends, and participating readers to voice opinions on a "potpourri" of topics. I welcome the sharing of excitement or dissatisfaction on a wide variety of subjects ranging from everyday life, politics, religion, all the way to mythology, and art.
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Please note that any unnecessary language will be deleted by the blog's creator wildflower4757.
Grab a cup of hot cocoa, sit back, and relax and enjoy the casual conversation. It is my hope and desire that readers will find my blog a peaceful retreat... even if it is only a few minutes a week.
If you would like to post an idea or opinion, email wildflower4757@yahoo.com.
Please note that any unnecessary language will be deleted by the blog's creator wildflower4757.
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