Ghana Life: How Elastic Is Loyalty?

People in Ghana identify with their extended family, their clan and their tribe in diminishing order of intensity. There is little shared identity with people of different tribes, and even hostility that occasionally erupts into local wars that have to be suppressed by the national army. At the national level, politics consists essentially of a contest between the Ashanti party and a coalition of opposing tribes forged by the first national leader, Kwame Nkrumah, although in recent years various moves have been taken to try to blur these tribal affinities. Progressive people seeking to forge a truly national identity have been fighting an uphill battle since Ghana was founded in 1957. In his novel, The Colonial Gentleman's Son, John Powell explores how Kwame Mainu, a young man born in the year of independence, seeks to reconcile the progressive aspirations of his father with the traditional expectations of his family, friends and clansmen.

The traditional wisdom has it that the borders of African countries were set by European powers without due regard to the ethnicity of the people, since some tribes find their traditional territory divided by a frontier line while others are corralled with traditional enemies. The German colony of Togoland was populated mainly by people of the Eve tribe but after the First World War it was divided between the French colony of Togo and the Volta Region of the British Colony of the Gold Coast. When the Gold Coast became Ghana, the Eves became reluctant citizens of the new state and during the era of Kwame Nkrumah, in the 1960s, there was a political movement seeking to reunite the Eve tribe in an enlarged Togo. The move was strongly resisted by Nkrumah who couldn't afford to lose a powerful force in his battle with the Ashanti party, but the Eves took their revenge subsequently by being centrally involved in all five of Ghana's military coups.

Against this background of tribal rivalry it was perhaps not surprising that few people respected the national government: its laws, its officials or its property. With loyalty extending only as far as the tribe, central government was regarded by many people as a vestige of colonial rule, serving the needs of those in power with their connections to big business and outside commercial interests. And the material rewards of political power were seen as so great that successive waves of military adventurers made their bids during the first three decades of Ghana's life as a free country. Many people sought to leave the country rather than suffer the increasing hardships, and even those who began each era with genuine revolutionary zeal joined the ranks of the exodus as their dreams were replaced by the next nightmare.

In The Colonial Gentleman's Son, Kwame Mainu succeeds in rising from a poverty-stricken childhood in a small Ashanti town to employment as a technical officer at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology in Kumasi. His work is interesting but poorly paid, and he is torn between staying to play a part in Ghana's grassroots industrial development and leaving to seek his fortune overseas. With each downward turn of the economy the urge to leave becomes stronger and he eagerly seizes an opportunity to pursue his education further at a university in the UK.

Kwame soon finds that being overseas does not automatically lead to the easy acquisition of wealth. On leave back in Kumasi he discovers that some of his fellow escapees are building big houses. His wife, Comfort, begins asking why she cannot be similarly accommodated and his mother and sister in Wenchi also have pressing needs, as have many other members of his extended family.

Kwame suspects that much of the money flowing in from overseas is being made from drugs trading but he can see no other route to a fast fortune. Comfort warns him of the risks of becoming an air courier but he is tempted by an offer from a friend to join in selling drugs in the UK. Then, unexpectedly, he is asked by the British customs to help identify the UK coordinator of the Kumasi-based drugs cartel. This work would augment his income by legitimate means but might result in the eventual arrest of some of his fellow tribesmen in the UK and in Ghana. His father would expect him to do the right thing but where do his loyalties lie?

Akwesi Berko
To learn more about the intriguing story of the grassroots industrial revolution in the turbulent Ghana of the second half of the twentieth century, read John Powell's novel The Colonial Gentleman's Son or his non-fictional account The Survival of the Fitter. More details of these books and photographs of the informal sector artisans of Suame Magazine in Kumasi will be found on the following websites.
http://www.ghanabooksjwp.com/
http://www.amazon.co.uk/s/ref=nb_sb_ss_i_0_28?url=search-alias%3Dstripbooks&field-keywords=the+colonial+gentleman%27s+son&sprefix=the+colonial+gentleman%27s+son

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The Classical Gold and Jade Figurines of China

Do you know that Oriental figurines are not a new invention at all? Yes, you probably do if you have ever considered the subject. However, most people are not familiar with the fact that the ancient works of the past have laid a firm foundation for the Asian art we enjoy today. So classical art remains a part of our lives right now, even if we don't always recognize it. Our eyes are frequently captivated by the incredible findings which have been dug up at Lintong near Xi'an, the capital city of modern day Shaanxi province in China. It is common knowledge that there is a grand mausoleum with its thousands of guardian terracotta warriors and horses. These very unique figures stand forever as a testimony to the fascinating legacy of the first emperor, Qin Shihuang. These findings have remarkably reshaped our understanding of the origins of the pre-imperial state of Qin. They have also helped us comprehend the rise of Qing culture as well as the political/military reforms which signify Qin history. Its position of prominence during the first millennium BCE served as a foundation for a mighty empire. For this reason, its art has also had a profound and long lasting effect upon much of East Asia... and even beyond!

To study the past is to better understand ourselves and human nature itself. Our connection with the people who lived in the past is actually more intimate than we might wish to believe. After all, humans have always had the same concerns in one form or another. To know the gold and jade figurines of the Qin dynasty is a rewarding tour of delight for this same reason. The first gold figures of the Qin known to the modern collector are a number of thin gold sheets in stylized animal and other numerous geometric shapes. It is thought they are from the ancient tombs of the Dukes of Qin at a cemetary in Mount Dabuzi, Li county, Gansu province. These gold leafs were used to embellish coffins of the dead. Their superior sophistication strongly suggests that the Qin's love of gold probably began at an early date, perhaps much earlier than previously thought. The overwhelming quantity and quality of gold objects is a powerful testimonial to the high standard of technical skill achieved during the Qin era.

Of course, gold was not just used for human ornaments. It was also used for luxury items like reins for horses, chariot decorations, and even belt buckles. One find included a belt buckle in the shape of seven coiled serpents. Another style of buckle was formed like a stylized mandarin duck with its head facing back with the long break serving as the belt hook. The selection of the mandarin duck as a motif could arise from the traditional idea that it is a bird of great wonder and beauty. Later the duck even became a symbol of conjugal fidelity in China. A different (and perhaps somewhat funny) representation discovered is that of a tiger. The tiger is animated by its startled look, glaring eyes, prominent teeth, and big ears. The symbol of the tiger is certainly not a new one, as this piece of evidence establishes. In Asia the tiger is considered to be a very alluring, though dangerous, creature.

The Qin dynasty also inherited a rich legacy of jade carvings. These came from the Shang and Western Zhou dynasties. Qin jade itself demonstrates a uniqueness which is quite distinct. These are in the form of art pieces which come in the shapes of rectangular plaques and circular pendants. The use of gold and silver as well as jade for luxuries became more common with time. New ideas and technologies for fashioning them gradually emerged too. However, early developments and innovations were crucial foundations for the maturity which occurred during Qin Shihuang's era. All of this is reflected in the discoveries from the excavated tomb complex previously mentioned.

It is the thesis of this writer that the contemporary figurines and art work of Asia all owe a debt to the art of the past. The classic has never been eradicated by the modern when it comes to art. Nearly all Asian regions have been deeply influenced at some time or another by the culture which belongs to China. This is why the study of China's art gives any serious Asian collector an indisputable grasp on the market for Oriental collectibles, art, and decor. To know the meaning and relevance of any Asian decor strategy, it is almost impossible to fail to understand something about the history and culture of the Middle Kingdom. The classic is still an intimate part of the contemporary!

Harlan Urwiler is the CEO of HRU Enterprises, Inc. Our mission is to enhance the lives and businesses of our customers with our Asian figurines and vintage collectibles which convey the timeless beauty of the East. Harlan is also an expert author on the subject of Asian history, culture, art, and collectibles. You may feel free to visit our company's website at: http://www.myorientalgallery.com/.

We are always happy to answer any questions you may have about our dynamic business or our vintage, authentic products for the contemporary Asian woman. Our contact information is available via our website. We are looking forward to hearing from you soon. We extend an open invitation to you to take advantage of the huge savings on any purchases of $50 or more!

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The Support Team at My Oriental Gallery

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Three of the Main Components of Amish Life

The Amish people live a life that has very specific guidelines. These rules make it clear what being Amish means. Cultural norms are similar from community to community. There are 3 components of Amish Culture. The length of the hair, manner of dress and even the style of the buggies they ride in are clearly defined.

The rules are different in each community and can vary widely. For example, some drive automobiles, while others drive only a horse and buggy. Some are so strict that battery-powered lights are forbidden.

Garments are made at home in simple style. These clothes are supposed to make the people humble and distinguish them from the general population. The solid dark color dresses have long sleeves, full skirts and women also wear a cape and apron.

Hairstyles are either a bun or a braid, covered by a small white cap. Some wear a black bonnet. They wear black stockings and black shoes. They are not allowed to cut their hair. Some orders have such a strict Ordnung that even the length of the dresses they wear is specified. Jewelry is not allowed.

The menfolk wear plain suits that are straight cut, and worn with suspenders. They do not have collars or lapels on the jackets and do not have pockets in the trousers. Sweaters, gloves, ties and belts are not allowed. The clothing of the men and women lack style and color. Not only colors, but patterns are forbidden in the material clothes are made of. No ornamentation, or even zippers are used in the garments.

The family life is of primary importance in the culture. The work done by the parents is gender specific. Families are often large with up to ten children. There is no marriage allowed with non Amish, and there is no divorce. They speak German at home, but, the children speak English in school. Children are taught in a primitive schoolhouse and only through eighth grade.

Humility, lack of vanity and the wife being subservient to the husband is a part of their culture. The man is considered the head of the household, with unquestionable authority. He is required to protect the wife and provide for the family. Religious practices are strictly adhered to and bind the community together.

Technological advances are not acceptable in many, if not most, of the sects. They feel that electricity, cars and even tractors for farming weaken the family. They would not allow television as it would lead to temptation. The more lenient sects do use telephones. However, one phone is usually shared by the entire community. Electricity is used for heating in some communities. It is usually generated by windmills. These things are only allowed if the Ordnung ruling the sect does not forbid them. Slowly, modern technology is filtering in to the more modern Amish communities.

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An Introduction to the Sumerian Civilization

About 6000 years ago, a civilization possessing a technology so advanced at the time that it seemed alien suddenly sprouted in the land between the Tigris and the Euphrates rivers, part of the so-called "Fertile Crescent." The early Greeks were the first to call this area Mesopotamia, which means "land between rivers." These people (we know them today as Sumerians) called themselves sag-giga, the "black-headed people," and they called their lands ki-en-gir. The Akkadians, however, referred to these people as Shumer (which may actually refer to the language); the Bible refers to this region as Shinar. The area is today found in southeastern Iraq.

The events that took place there are considered as among the most crucial events in human history. The Sumerians, in just a short time after settling in Mesopotamia, developed a very sophisticated system of irrigation and agriculture. The irrigation system took full advantage of the waters of the two rivers, which resulted in the significant increase of their agricultural yields. The Sumerians then built magnificent cities, advanced governing laws, and invented a written language.

Where did these people come from? Unfortunately, historians are uncertain on the Sumerians' origin. Some archaeologists maintain that the Sumerians' origin is from lands northeast of Mesopotamia, while others say they are really from Anatolia. Indeed, no one is really quite sure where these people originally came from.

When the Sumerians arrived in Mesopotamia, there were already people living there (the Ubaidians), but they were quickly supplanted by the newcomers. Ancient Sumerians invented the wheel, probably while spinning clay to make potteries on a simple wheel. Eventually, the wheel was used for transport, on carts pulled by donkeys. Later on, it was used for war chariots. They also invented a system of mathematics based on the number 60. We still divide the hour by 60 minutes, and the minutes by 60 seconds. The idea of dividing the circle by 360 degrees is also from them, as well as the division of day into 24 hours, and of the year into twelve months.

Archaeologists found evidence that Sumerians developed writing as early as 3500-3000 BC. The Sumerians' early form of writing was made up of pictures. The pictures were later on simplified, with symbols being used to represent sounds. This style of writing is known today as cuneiform, which is from the Latin word cuneus (wedge).

The Sumerians also seem to have developed one of the first monarchial systems of government. The early Sumerian states, which are the first states in human history, were ruled by a type of priest-king. Their government was actually a combination of monarchy and democracy. Elected officials in the Assembly also ruled the people: kings had to consult the Assembly in matters of state. Laws that were written down during Babylonian times were actually laws created by ancient Sumerians.

The Sumerians had twelve city-states, each with their own ruler, and with their own temple. One city, Ur, contained around 24,000 inhabitants. These city-states were surrounded by walls, which included nearby lands and villages. The central structure of the city is the temple, called ziggurats. Sumerians were polytheistic; that is, they worshipped many gods, including goddesses. Major deities were Enki, who put order to the universe, and Inanna (later known as Ishtar), the "Queen of Heaven."

The society of the Sumerians had three classes: the upper class, which was made up of the nobility, priests, government officials, and warriors; the freemen, made up of merchants, traders, and artisans; and the lower class, made up of serfs and slaves. Women can own property, but they did not have the same rights as the men. A husband can divorce his wife for any reason, but a wife cannot initiate divorce proceedings on her own. However, women played a vital role in these ancient kingdoms. Their society was matriarchal, and women were highly respected. At the start of every year, the goddess Inanna must enact a sacred "ritual marriage" with the ruler to ensure a bountiful harvest for the coming year. The goddess was represented by a priestess in this "marriage" with the king.

Other Sumerian inventions are the sailboat, frying pans, razors, cosmetic sets, pottery, and the plow. Sumerians also created a lunar calendar based on the lunar month and even mapped the stars into constellations, which later became the zodiac. These people also established the first formal schools.

There were many skilled Sumerian artisans. They made well-designed jewelry from gold and precious stones, furniture, and potteries. They also created colorful mosaics in intricate and beautiful patterns using bits of painted clay. Sumerians also used musical instruments like harp, reed pipes, drums, and lyres.

The modern world learned of the existence of Sumer through references in the literature of ancient civilizations; these literature speak of an even older civilization, which turned out to be that of the Sumerians'. Excavations in 1842 to 1854 in various places in Mesopotamia led to the discovery of this remarkable people and their achievements.

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Should An Introduction To Art, Music, And Drama Be A Part Of Every College Student's Education?

The aesthetics of a human being can be nourished by art, music, and drama. Therefore, I strongly endorse that introduction to art, music, and drama must be part of every college student's education. It not only nourishes his/her aesthetic sense but also grants to the student a healthy extracurricular activity. At the same time, the contests and the collaborative projects of art, music, and drama gives a chance to every student to understand their fellows and that will help to study jointly. Hereinafter, every activity in educational system that synchronizes students should be part of the education system.

Nourishment of student's personality is essential element of education system. Every student should come out from educational institution with strong theoretical command on their subjects as well as with a strong personality to compete in the market. Therefore, a healthy activity of art, music, and drama can enhance the interpersonal skills and personality compatibility of a student to compete in the market in an appropriate manner. Hereinafter, the things that have to be considered are the mental upbringing and intelligence induction to the students. And, all the things that have been mentioned in the outline of this treatise clearly fulfills the student's mental abilities. These abilities will counts enough and will help candidate in his/her practical life.

Team compatibility is another aspect in the above mentioned activities in the college student education. It allows the students to synchronize themselves with each other and make them compatible to each other for a joint understanding aptitude. At the same time, the element of enjoyment strongly enhances the compatibility and synchronization concept. Hereinafter, it will be helpful for students in professional field to make themselves compatible and synchronize-able candidate.

At the end, it is better to restate the thesis that is, the aesthetics of a human being can be nourished by art, music, and drama. Now, it should be damn clear that art, music, and drama definitely brightened the mind of students, therefore, it should be a part of education system. Hereinafter, the whole treatise has tint out the good influences of art, music, and drama in the college student education. Now, there should not be any doubt about the addition of the above mentioned extracurricular activities are to enhance the interpersonal skills and team work in the college students to nourish them for coping with the up coming challenges in the professional field.

An expert academic and article writer.

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Drug Abuse And Meth Abuse In The Gay And LGBT Community

Drug use and abuse in the LGBT community is a problem on several different levels. The LGBT community is a community that has experienced a lot of pain and a lot of discrimination. Individually many homosexuals have been subjected to a lot of harassment, a lot of bullying, gay bashing, and other negative behavior.

Drug use is a perceived escape from that pain, but it is only temporary, a dead end. Truthfully speaking, crystal meth and sex are related on this issue. Those two combined can become a lethal cocktail. It can destroy the individual but also the individual's friends and family. Drug use and abuse affects the entire social network.

Why do LGBT members resort to drug use and abuse? There are several reasons, sometimes it can be people just wanting to have some fun and blow off steam. Unfortunately they don't realize that a little fun can lead to a very bad end. Recently with Amy Winehouse's death, we are reminded of the early grave that many young and talented people have gone to so unnecessarily. Even though she was not gay or lesbian, this just serves as an example of what drugs can do.

I hate to sound like Nancy Reagan, but "just don't do it". It sounds cliche, but that's the best course of action.

It's so important to not do drugs at all, especially crystal meth, because it will not take away inner feelings, it will only mask the feelings and temporarily numb the pain. Once the drugs go away, the pain and bad feelings will remain, often coming back with greater severity, which in turn leads to greater drug use.

Be constructive with whatever you do, not destructive. Get some help if you need. Realize that you can't do this on your own. Being destructive means that you're going to let this drug use move from casual to regular use, which then becomes abuse. Being constructive means that you seek out professionals that can help you with this before it becomes permanently destructive.

There are support groups for meth, drug, and alcohol addicts. From AA to other various organizations, the help is there. If you feel that you are being drawn to drug use to cope with your life, then please reach out today.

Additionally churches have pastors and clergy who are familiar with these types of things. Talking with a pastor of a church may bring some type of benefit and offer direction towards a path of recovery.

Remember that you're not alone, and there are people who can help. You're not the first person who's dealt with this monster and you won't be the last.

Visit a friendly LGBT Church in Los Angeles. The Good Shepherd Church in Pasadena offers support and assistance to the LGBT community. More than a gay church in Los Angeles - it's a church for everyone.

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The March to the Sea

After Union Major General William T. Sherman captured Atlanta on September 2, 1864, he briefly pursued General John B. Hood's Confederate army through northwest Georgia. Sherman then turned his army south toward Georgia's largest city... Savannah. His now legendary "March to the Sea" ripped the heart out of the Confederacy, demoralized civilians, destroyed railroads, and denied Confederate authorities considerable food and other badly needed supplies.

Sherman's army totaled 62,000 of his best soldiers, including 5,000 cavalry and 65 pieces of artillery. He estimated to reach Savannah would require six weeks, yet Sherman ordered only enough food for 20 days, to be carried by 2,500 wagons. Sherman's plan was a dangerous gamble, because his army was cut off from any communication or chance for re-supply. So his troops foraged "liberally," living mostly off the food they took from civilians. The worst foragers were labeled "bummers," often stealing or destroying property indiscriminately.

Leaving Atlanta on November 15 and 16, 1864, the army split into two "wings" of between 28,000 and 29,000 each, with cavalry guarding their flanks. Marching along generally parallel routes, the two wings were often separated by between 20 and 40 miles. Separation avoided congestion, thus the army advanced quickly, and was allowed a larger area from which to forage. Separation also resulted in a broader swath of devastation across the center of Georgia, measuring up to 60 miles wide, and 300 miles long. Thousands of slaves followed, which the army discouraged, knowing they could neither feed them nor guarantee their safety.

Sherman's two wings confused the Confederates. Major General Oliver O. Howard's "Right Wing" advanced south to threaten Macon. Meanwhile, Major General Henry W. Slocum's "Left Wing" feigned toward Augusta. Confederates split their paltry forces between the two cities, but Sherman ignored both. He concentrated much of his army around Milledgeville, Georgia's capital city, then swept on toward Millen and Savannah, besieging the latter on December 10. After ten days the 10,000-man Confederate garrison, under Lieutenant General William J. Hardee, evacuated the vital seaport. Sherman wired President Abraham Lincoln afterwards saying, "I beg to present to you the City of Savannah" as a Christmas present.

Cavalry clashed frequently along the edges of Sherman's march routes, and two sizable infantry battles occurred. On November 22, 1864, Georgia militia, untrained boys and old men, were slaughtered attacking Federal lines at Griswoldville near Macon. And on December 13, Sherman's veterans overran Fort McAllister along the Ogeechee River, enabling the U.S. Navy to re-supply his army.

Sherman accomplished all his goals for his March to the Sea in only five weeks, inflicting one billion dollars worth of damages. "I can make Georgia howl," Sherman had sworn, and he did.

By Steven W. Longcrier

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Stained Glass: History of Stained Glass Art

If you're a churchgoing person, then you're more than familiar with stained glass windows. These pieces make up a huge percentage of religious artwork, and depict scenes from the Bible and important religious figures. They were the photographs of their time: a historical record of important events for all to see, which was important as most of the population was illiterate. The history of stained and colored glass artwork is long and interesting, dating back to the beginnings of the last millennium.

Alas, the first of these windows is lost to history, and their origins can only be debated. Mosaics and jewelry makers are credited with developing the technique that created colored glass art as we know it, which arose during an increase in church construction. However, colored glass had been produced since the days of the Egyptian and Roman empires, both of which surpassed others when it came to manufacturing small, stained glass objects.

Churches caught onto the beauty of this art in the 4th and 5th centuries during the rise of church building, and many windows from this time period remain. British churches and monasteries began to adopt stained glass windows as part of their decor in the 7th century, when French workmen began to glaze the windows of monasteries.

Stained glass reached its acme in the Middle Ages. It served a two-fold purpose: 1. It was beautiful to look at and 2. Since most citizens couldn't read the Bible, the window art served as a television of sorts by illustrating the events to the illiterate. The pieces from this era have become known as the "Poor Man's Bible." This trend continued into the Gothic Era, when architectural design forced windows to grow larger, giving artists more of a canvas to work on.

The style didn't change much through the Renaissance, but the French Revolution and Reformation saw the destruction of many windows, which were replaced with plain glass. This rampage caused the traditional methods of colored glass work to be forgotten until the early 19th Century, when the Catholic revival renewed interest and many works were restored. The revival extended all over Europe, most notably in Britain and France. During this same period, John La Farge and Louis Comfort Tiffany applied and received patents for using opalescent glass to create a new form of stained glass windows, and the process extended to lamps, art and other pieces.

The 20th Century saw more stained glass tragedies and innovations. World War II left many European church windows destroyed, and artists led in restoring the thousands decimated by bombings. The period also saw slab glass in concrete become popular, as well as modern art styles creeping their way into stained glass art. Now, colored glass art can be found in churches, sculptures, public buildings and businesses all over the world.

Stained glass seller Egyptian Blue Art has a wide variety of colored glass lampshades and art pieces for purchase. Visit EgyptianBlueArt.com to view the items.

Thom Casey independently author's articles for WebDrafter.com, Inc. http://www.webdrafter.com/ for SEM clients. The views and opinions expressed in this article are those solely of the author, and not of any other person, company, or organization. No guarantee or warranty, express or implied, is made regarding the accuracy, fitness, or use of the content herein.

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The Bombardment of Fort Sumter, Part 2

On April 10, 1861, Brigadier General P.G.T. Beauregard, commander of all Confederate forces at Charleston, South Carolina, received new orders from Secretary of War LeRoy Pope Walker in the Confederate capital of Montgomery, Alabama. A Federal naval expedition was en route to Fort Sumter in Charleston Harbor, and within days would bring much it needed food and other supplies. Beauregard's orders were to demand the fort be evacuated immediately. If refused, Beauregard was to "...proceed in such manner as you may determine...to reduce it." This news sent Charleston into an excited, frenzied state of anticipation. Diarist Mary Chesnut wrote of "the merriest, maddest dinner we have had yet." Charleston's men were "more audaciously wise and witty" than ever.

Before noon on April 11th, General Beauregard ordered Colonels James Chesnut and James A. Chisholm, plus Captain Stephen Dill Lee, to present a surrender ultimatum to Fort Sumter's commander, U.S. Major Robert Anderson. Anderson had been Beauregard's artillery instructor at West Point. Now Beauregard had the upper hand, with Anderson heavily outgunned. Yet Anderson rejected Beauregard's ultimatum, adding that his garrison would be "starved out in a few days." Chesnut reported this to Beauregard, who sent the party back to Fort Sumter with a final ultimatum after midnight on April 12th. With the Federal naval expedition just outside Charleston Harbor, Anderson gave an ambiguous reply that he would evacuate on April 15th, but only if not threatened, fired upon, ordered to stay or resupplied. Chesnut handed him a personal handwritten note, "We have the honor to notify you that [Beauregard] will open fire of his batteries on Fort Sumter in one hour." It was 3:20 AM.

At 4:30 AM on April 12, 1861, Confederate Lieutenant Henry S. Farley's 10-inch mortar at Fort Johnson on James Island fired a signal shot, arcing high above Fort Sumter about 2400 yards away. Quickly, some 42 other guns opened fire on Fort Sumter from James, Morris and Sullivan Islands. Charleston's citizens raced to rooftops to watch the bombardment, to pray, or to shout after every explosion. Mary Chesnut later wrote in her diary, "I sprang out of bed, and on my knees prostrate, I prayed as I never prayed before." Fort Sumter withheld its limited defense until 7:00 AM when Captain Abner Doubleday fired their first response, barely missing its target on Morris Island.

Throughout the 12th into the 13th a steady albeit largely inaccurate Confederate bombardment was answered by a limited Federal response. Confederate gunners cheered in tribute each time a rare Federal shot was fired. Fort Sumter's flag was eventually shot away, prompting Louis Wigfall, a former U.S. Senator from Texas, to assume Major Anderson intended to surrender. Without authorization, Wigfall rowed out to the fort. With fires threatening to explode Fort Sumter's main powder magazine, Wigfall convinced Anderson to surrender at about 1:30 PM. When General Beauregard's authorized emissaries arrived a short time later, led by Captain Lee, Anderson was furious at having "surrendered" to the wrong man. Lee persuaded Anderson against resuming the fight, and formal surrender terms were agreed upon. Despite some 3,341 shells having been fired at Fort Sumter, no one was killed or seriously wounded on either side. Other than the accidental deaths of two Federal gunners during a ceremonial surrender cannonade on April 14th, the bombardment of Fort Sumter was a near bloodless start to the bloodiest war in America's history.

Steven W. Longcrier is the founder and Executive Director of Civil War Heritage Trails, a heritage tourism organization creating, marketing and maintaining multiple Civil War era historic driving trails throughout Alabama, Georgia and South Carolina. Its purpose is educating the traveling public and promoting Civil War era history in all three states. Through the installation of thousands of new interpretive markers and roadway directional signs to link the historic sites and routes used by both civilians and opposing armies during the American Civil War.

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Preface to an Old Story

The New Testament of the Bible was written in Greek by Hebrew writers in order to appeal to an educated Roman audience already familiar with the writings of the Greek philosophers. Insuring therefore that it would appear to the Roman reader that the story of Jesus was that of a Greek philosopher, albeit transposed onto the exotic terrain of the Roman Empire's Middle Eastern provinces. Why would they do this, since the stories of the Old Testament were obviously written by Hebrews for Hebrews? Why, except to make the story palatable to those readers exactly on the grounds that a Roman audience would readily accept a tale of an outlaw philosopher and his loose band of radicals.

They would accept such stories as wildly colorful and different from the typically dry Greek dialogues they were regularly offered. The stories of Christ, deriving in part from stories older than the Old Testament itself, were closer to Roman stories. That is, more primeval, in fact, more Greek, than the erudite plays and philosophies of Plato and Aristotle, Euripides or Aristophanes. The Gospels were stories purported to have taken place in the 'present' day, and for their time may very well have seemed "Ripped from the headlines" of revolt and crucifixion, tales of which would have doubtlessly reached the average person in Rome in distorted and exaggerated form. Therefore a character combining attributes similar to their own gods borrowed from the Greeks and in Greek would prove immensely popular.

The qualities of the Greek Zeus, Hermes and Dionysus as the Roman Juno, Mercury, Bacchus, and the Greco-Roman Apollo, rolled into one hero who was both tragic and triumphant, hounded and persecuted while at the same time hailed and praised by the masses, would have to exert a profound fascination over those that could read, and the stories could then be told, that is, passed on orally, until artists picked up the themes and brought them to life in vivid pictures like life-size comic books, larger than life in fact, depicting as they did miracles, angels, demons, creation, heaven, hell, and indeed God himself in the person of Jesus Christ, a beatific, bearded sage with eyes half-shut in sublime contemplation of all he had wrought, his disciples and followers depicted as awestruck and astounded by his every word and deed.

This was the reaction that was sought by the writers of the tales of the New Testament, and much like the Hollywood moguls of the early 20th century they sought to mute their Jewishness by presenting the tales as not Jewish at all, but Greek. But also like Hollywood, they could not entirely conceal the obvious Jewish origin, mostly mentioning the fact in passing. In references that are mostly obscured by the stories' action, there are Romans, Gentiles, Philistines, and nearly every creed under the sun, as well as Jews.

The following work is written with the intention of exciting the contemporary reader in the same way, of instilling the sense of high drama, adventure and romance experienced by those first Roman readers tired of the rote pageantry and banal pedagogic exposition of the day, analogous to today's celebrity-obsessed tabloid culture and the opinionated bluster of ill-informed media pundits.

The Jesus Christ presented in The Liar's Gospel is not only a product of the imagination, it is a product of an American imagination; an American Jesus motivated by self-interest, albeit caring not for the lilies of the field, which neither reap nor sow.

This is a Jesus that wants his reward here on the ground; who has waited long enough to get his due and has worked out the percentages in his favor. It is a Jesus with no illusions; who takes what he wants with both hands, be it land, money or women. It is a Jesus with a rap sheet and bad reputation that he lives up to in spades. His boys are no better, devoted followers that they are, fishermen-cum-grifters, thieves and murderers.

This is and is not the Bible. Like the Bible, the Gangsters is set in the a historical present and is the story of a group of men willing to go the distance, come what may, and who take no foolish chances.

It is what the Bible would be like if it were real-and happening right this minute-to be followed by 2000 years of Atheism.

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Birth of a Nation - What We Celebrate

Independence: Exemption from reliance on, or control by, others.

I am a Civil War Reenactor. For the past 6 years, instead of attending the local rodeo, parades or barbeques, I have helped entertain and educate hundreds of interested public who come to see why anyone would pay to sweat in woolen uniforms or hoop skirts and camp in canvas for the weekend.

My friends and I strive to relate to folks what the issues were of the day, how the period history affects them today, and why it is important to be aware of this critical point in our nation's past. But after living in a military camp 12 hours a day, and hiding our non-period food coolers (gasp!), the public trickles away. The park gates close, the campfires start to twinkle, and pops start sounding from nearby fireworks shows. At dusk, our announcer calls to the artillery to start their show, and we dwarf surrounding towns for miles with full pound loads of black powder shooting flame from steel wool-lined barrels. Needless to say, I haven't been missing the rodeo scene much.

But this year, listening to the ground-shaking booms and cheers of the reenactor crowd, I started thinking about independence. As a history buff, history has started following me around. I can't get it off my brain. So naturally, I thought about what independence used to mean, versus what it means today. A religious radio/cassette series I listened to with my sisters as a child held the humorous, if cliched boring teacher expounding on history. In the blandest voice imaginable he states, "1776 waas an exci-ting ye-ar." While this is frequently quoted and laughed at in my household, it scares me to realize that this attitude is more applicable in our nation today than ever before. The history of our freedom, and even worse, freedom itself have been reduced to a good thing our founding fathers did for us and a date to memorize in 5th grade. We are truly thankful (if we stop to think about it) that we "aren't like those other countries out there". We praise our military heroes for their service and bluster loudly around 9/11 about no one kicking around the good ol' US of A. We feel a swelling of pride and emotion for the 125 seconds it takes to sing our national anthem. And then we spend the rest of our year celebrating sparklers, good burgers, the baseball game and a day off from work.

What did independence mean the year our nation was born? The above definition was my personal favorite of the many I found. While children rely on their parents, charities rely on donations, the sick rely on doctors or medications, and your social networking game relies on hourly checks (those vegetables grow fast!) there is a serious line between reliance and control. When our forefathers conceived this great nation, a day of independence was not distant history. It was questionable future. Independence meant the death of loved ones in war, threat of prison for treason, often, the inability to buy food or supplies from blockaded ports, or political opponents destroying your home or business. Independence meant a lifelong struggle. Independence meant freedom from the control of a distant monarch who just needed tax money to run his own war-torn country. It meant fighting for all you were worth to obtain the right to protect your home and family. It meant pride in one's hard work in business, instead of your profits going to unreasonable taxes. In this and the surrounding years, independence from the control by England came to mean the establishment of the American dream, and the American identity. Through the blood of many good men, the sacrifices of their families, the passion of their statesmen, and the indomitable spirit of their work, independence became reality for that generation, and all the generations to follow. We took our first shaky steps as a baby nation. Though the struggle didn't end on the 4th of July, 1776, that is the day we stand as a community and a nation to recognize the brilliant beginnings of a completely unique democracy. From that day forward, we move to become a world power and a powerful force on global history. We still recognize some stirrings of pride or emotion for our country, but admit it: how often do you reflect on your day to day blessings as an American? How often do you scoff at the news headlines of some tyrannical dictator or another, without thinking of the millions of people his rule affects? You could be one of them. Instead you were born to be free, to thrive within your community of independent individuals, who make up a part of your state, where your opinion or vote can be presented to affect the ruling and government of a young but powerful nation. You can still choose to give up your money, your success, even your life in service of this country. You can say what you like, live where you decide, succeed in the field you pursue without threat of recrimination. YOU can influence our history.

Am I saying this is a perfect system? Am I claiming to be better than the rest of the world? Absolutely not. But our history shows too clearly the stain of humans trying to control other humans. Whether the Crusades, tribal warfare, the Ugandan genocide, WWII, and thousands of similar stories past and present, we can give examples of total control and the horrific effects it has on those under it's grasp. As a security curriculum I read states, "Absolute power corrupts absolutely." Corruption is not dead in our nation. But what our independence means to me is that I am free to give my life to making a difference. And I am free to always be thankful for those who do so. My husband commented on the veterans organization soliciting donations at the grocery store today. So many people see a group of kind, elderly men trying to take their money through pity plays. Whether I have cash or not is not the question. I see a group of heroes: true-blue, honest-to-goodness, everyday heroes, that understand a little better what real freedom is. Their families felt the sacrifice, their friends died in combat, their lives were altered forever. And do you think they care about the sparklers and the rodeo? I don't. I think they care about their buddies who never came home, their every breath that remains free, their community of friends-the few that understand what independence costs. Their history is our future, and their community is our living example. Of independence.

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The Super Hero Culture

Among the notable attributes of American Society is the prevalence of the "Superhero Culture". This is manifested in the affinity for fictitious characters with superhuman abilities. This socio - cultural constructs found in comics, video games and other like material go on adventures and fight those who are against what is good, just, noble and humanistic. They are not just of a uniform mold but are as varied as a society itself. Like any community these personas, though imaginary are an important externality in terms of Social Interaction.

In Social Interaction, an externality must be shared by several individuals in society. This may be a tangible or intangible so long as it facilitates the socio - personal interchange. These characters are a manifestation of a shared experience, value or beliefs. Any American knows and can identify with Superman, Batman, Spider Man, Iron Man and the like. Their affinity for these individuals is as culturally deep as the Greeks and their pantheon of mythological deities.

The American society in whole or in part share attributes with this non - real persons. These fictional individuals served as tangible modes through which Social Interaction could viably happen. However, this important cultural phenomenon is not purely founded on affinity for them as an externality. They also are significant repositories of values. Fighting for justice, using individual ingenuity to solve problems and defending the oppressed are some of these ideals.

Some argue that the "Superhero Culture" as an integral part of social dynamics, such as social interaction. Its detractors contend that this becomes the source of radical American war bravado. Some say that the warmongering of this society is brought about by a society interacting through these imaginary personas. However, this cannot be validly appreciated. Cultural nuances such as having externalities of heroes fighting evil and these evils are the enemies of the United States. Every culture has their own idea of what is evil and what they stand for.

Social Interaction is most effective when it is through symbols that are provocative, appealing and culturally expressive. Any cultural icons that exist not as real individuals but as representations of values and unique communal attributes better facilitate the shared interchange of individual expression in the social dimension. The level of mythos and relevance they take on is such that they are seen not just characters in comic books, animated shows and fiction in general. They are not that to the community's psyche.

More importantly for Social Interaction to have a lasting imprint in terms of the individuals in society, they have to hold considerable weight. Ideas of moral responsibility, vigilance to uphold justice and doing what is right regardless of the cost are best expressed and integrated into members of society not with mere words or written text. They are best ingrained through symbols and appealing representations - superheroes.

For Social Interaction, Batman, Green Lantern, and Charles Xavier make the whole phenomena easy and even insightful. These characters are meant to reflect the best of human nature and the reality of the struggle to be better. This in turn is the foundation of lasting social development.

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Freedom (A Fourth Of July Special)

Is there such a thing as freedom? Having asked different people what freedom means to them, their answers come in many different forms, but surprisingly, everyone seems to have something to complain about. I guess freedom can mean different things to different people and those things have never really been accomplished to the fullest extent. Are we truly free? What does having freedom mean?

Freedom Should Mean Being Free From Pain

One of the persons I asked told me that there is no such thing as true freedom because we're not free from being human, that though we experience joy, we also experience tragedy. She had a point. For as long as we are human, we are subject to the joys and pains of living in an imperfect world. I guess freedom for her is being free from sadness and misery. Who wants to be sad and miserable anyways? Why can't it all be perfect? When will we be free of our pain and imperfections?

Freedom Should Mean Equality

Another person I asked said that though we have greatly improved on individual freedoms, the big picture hasn't really changed that much. It appears that the more possessions one has, the more free one is. In this world, wealth means power and the poor will always be subject to the wealthy. She again had a point. In this world, when powerful people commit crimes, they somehow have a bigger chance of getting away with it but for the poor, there is no escape. I guess having been born and having spent most of my life in the third world has shown me this difference. Does freedom mean having wealth and power?

Freedom Should Mean Safety

A cousin told me that being free means being able to walk out of the door and know that there aren't people waiting outside to do you or your loved ones any harm. That as a woman, she doesn't have to hide her face and she can vote. I guess most of us can do that here in America, but at what price? Asking another cousin, I was told about a friend who died serving in Iraq last year. She said that we can all celebrate being free, but the freedom we all enjoy is the product of our forces risking their lives every day to allow us to keep doing the things we simply take for granted. I guess most of us are safe here, but what about the people we sent over to Iraq? What about the people we have deliberately put in harm's way to keep everyone in the mainland safe?

In My Opinion

True, we live in an imperfect world. We live in a world where we are subject to pain as we are to joy. We live in a world where freedom comes with a premium, and those who can pay the premium will be able to do more than those who cannot. We live in a world where somebody has to face death in order for others to be safe in their place. We live in a world where the things we take for granted are the same things that are so badly wanted and needed by persons on another side of the world. If that is how we will look at things, then there is no such things as freedom for us.

Having freedom means we can do what we want but why can't we? Why are we bound to so many rules? We will always have our own individual wants, but if we all did our individual wants, then there wouldn't be order. Imagine a world with no rules. We surely will all have never-ending blood feuds, things getting stolen all the time, and people too scared of even going out for fear of their own safety. If people were allowed to truly do anything they want, then that would be the end of freedom because we will all be bound by fear from our own doings.Freedom also means suppressing individual freedoms for the benefit of everyone. We don't each live alone on separate islands. We are social creatures and we therefore need each other to survive, and how more can we help each other to survive than by respecting and helping each other out?

In my opinion, the very fact that we have the ability to want freedom is freedom itself. The ability to change our perspective is freedom itself. The fact that we can find even just a little happiness even in the direst of situations is proof that freedom exists. We live in an imperfect world, but that does not mean that we can't do anything to improve it. We have the ability to go after the things that can make us happy, just as we have the ability to make others happy. We may not be socially equal, but we all are humans experiencing both joy and sadness  regardless of whether we are rich or poor, man or woman. We are all born and we will all will come to pass and therefore in that sense we are all equal. We all have potential to do great good and great evil, and we can always do something to realize those potentials and that is freedom.

For as long as we are human, we are all are slaves of our own desires, prisoners of our own minds, subjects to our emotions. But, also as human, we can choose to be the master of ourselves. In order to be free, we have to know ourselves from deep within. We must understand that being human does not mean just giving up to our weaknesses and foolish desires. That being free means having control over our own perspectives and actions. The moment we learn how to master ourselves is when we become truly free because freedom is not only fought against external forces, but also from the darkness lurking within our own very own minds.

Now tell me, are you truly free?

"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness."

- The United States Declaration of Independence

Jonel Fernando is the author of The Negative Polarity: Moving People Towards Enlightenment. For more of his articles, you can visit http://thenegativepolarity.com/

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Beauty in Architecture

'Conceptual Art' that dominates the world is locked substantially into the realm of thinking which is why we are required to learn about the individual particularity of the artist and her ideas. Conceptual art by its own definition has moved substantially into the cerebral realm, and minimised the experiential dimensions of the works. In 1941, the architectural historian Sigfried Giedion, discussed a split which he perceived to have opened up between society's thinking and feeling; a split which he described as being one of the illnesses of our age. It was a schism that he felt society we were leaving behind with the onset of modernism, but as we are seeing, that was a premature conclusion. That split has not yet been resolved; indeed it seems to be wider than ever and the fragmentation of the artistic disciplines and their respective audiences seems to be for ever increasing within the context of our post-modern world. The relativity and inclusiveness of Post-modernism is to be welcomed and celebrated but the fact that everything should be tolerated does not mean that everything should be equally valued. The post-modern condition does not suggest a way out of this situation. In the post-modern world everything is different but equal; to introduce value into such a relative world we need to transcend the relative, engage the qualitative, and thus enter the world of excellence, the theme of this conference.

The reason I feel that excellence is a way out of the post-modern maelstrom is because it requires us to transcend the relativity of variety, difference and interpretation. 'Excellence' we find defined as "pre-eminent in quality", and 'quality' defined as "Degree of excellence". It is one of those words whose definition seems to be cyclical. Its meaning appears to turn in on itself, it becomes difficult to pin it down, it is elusive rather like the phenomenon itself. It seems to me to belong to another realm, another dimension. If the relative world operates in the two dimensional plane of everyday life, the life of variety, change and difference, the qualitative world of excellence potentially cuts vertically through that dimension at every point. We could perhaps also imagine it as a series of qualitative planes stacked one above the other with the pre-eminent plane suggesting excellence. But the pre-eminent plane is never wholly grasped because the vertical transcendent dimension is infinite. Although this qualitative axis cuts through the relative world and is experienced in terms of the relative world, its characteristics are wholly different.

If the relative world is understood in terms of the relationships between objects, forms, colours, textures and ideas the qualitative dimension is distinguished by the nature of those relationships. If the relative world is described by 'what', the qualitative dimension is described by 'how'. We could almost say that in the qualitative realm it matters less what objects, forms, colours, ideas are related in a work, but more importantly how they are related. When we talk about 'what we relate', we talk about the type, the size, the number, the cost; when we talk about 'how we relate', we talk about taking time, about taking care and even about loving what we are doing. When we are in the qualitative realm we focus on the way that things are brought together. The precision with which colours, forms, textures and ideas are balanced and composed becomes all important to the artist and architect. It is because these creative individuals are concerned about the way things are brought into relationships that the work as a 'wholly integrated ensemble' becomes more important than the individual parts. Beyond that, the way that that ensemble is stitched into the greater whole of the discipline or more generally the culture, is also of equal importance. Wholeness and balance are therefore central phenomena in a consideration of the qualitative dimension of architecture and the arts.

For more articles like this one please visit us at architects Devon

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How Has Mythology Shaped Society?

From the dawn of time, people from all countries have invented their own deities and myths. These legends were often handed down from one generation to the next, until the invention of the written word. Once the written word was invented, it was far easier for people to keep record of their deities and the many heroes that went on quests, and mythology involved into something far more interesting and personal for all societies. Gods gained their own personalities and agendas, heroes went off on epic quests, and from the mind of the authors, entire worlds were invented. Myth and legend had been tied in to life back in the days of yore, and to this day, it still plays a very important role in society.

The days of the week are in fact named after the Norse gods, each of whom had a day dedicated to them, even though there are not many people today who are aware of it. The creatures that modern society has come to love, such as dragons, werewolves, faeries and even vampires all originated from multiple legends and myths. Mythology has also played a role in politics and even some of the spoken phrases that we use. Many video games and movies owe their back stories to creatures or figures that have come straight out of ancient texts.

Religion even sprang forth from legends. People needed to believe that there was someone, some omnipotent beings, that created the world and everything within it. Therefore, the gods were born. Our modern religions all have very close similarities to the deities invented by ancient cultures. Though it has evolved in the same manner that all thoughts and dreams do, our religions all contain somewhat modern twists on ancient mythology.

We have even named our vehicles, some of our cities, planets, plants, animals and a few bodies of water after mythological creatures or deities. Pets are commonly named after mythological gods, and that trend has also began to affect how we name our children. Even some of our more commonly used words such as "satire" are simply re-spellings of words taken out of mythological texts. Some musicians include mythological references in their song lyrics or titles, and we still teach ancient religion in school. Though most people probably do not realize it, society is actually very heavily influenced by ancient society and the legends that were created and passed down for thousands of years.

For more great stuff on Fantasy, Mythology and Magic visit us at http://www.thefantasymythicalmagic.com/.

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The Symbol Of The Skull: Subculture Or Pop Culture

These days, we see the skull symbol emblazoned on everything from toddler socks to nightclub wear. In any American mall, youth specialty store or discount store, one can see it's image in many forms. Jewelry, jackets, tee-shirts and other apparel sparkling with rhinestone or other artistic depictions. Heads aren't not just for Halloween, any more!

Why all the interest? Skulls are hardly a sign of rebellion or devil worship, nowadays. Once a powerful symbol of death and intellectualism, the bony remains of the human head are now cliche, maybe even boring. Too mainstream for a true biker and and so ordinary, even in its many artistic depictions, that it doesn't even satisfy the morbid curiosity of your average grade school student.

Skull imagery has long been associated with death and it's transcendence; human spirituality, if you will. It is a reminder of our mortality, the transitory nature of life and by its existence after the end of chronological life, the limitations of human knowledge and understanding.

Skulls have also been given magical properties and religious significance throughout mankind's existence. Skull necklaces have been worn by the people of many cultures to ward off evil deities, or alternatively, by the gods themselves, to communicate wrath and misfortune to those who oppose them. Christians associate skulls with penitent sainthood and the washing away of human sin. Freemasons use the emblem to symbolize their organization's hierarchy, in addition to the transience of materialism.

Interestingly, the bones of the human head are more often expressed as icons of good luck or resurrection, than bad luck. The misfortune of death is ultimately followed by the possibility of final liberation in native American and Mexican folklore. The Day of the Dead, a popular Mexican tradition, celebrates the passing of ancestors and relatives, by the wearing of skulls in jewelry, as well as cranial consumption in fabulously morbid confections! Along the same lines, skulls may be used as gambling talisman, believed to reverse bad luck and symbolize luck in adversity, similar to black cats and the number seven, in gambling lore.

Most of us know skulls as emblems of danger, as depicted on a bottle of poison; hate as depicted at the entrance to Nazi death camps or fear, as expressed by the apocolyptic iconograpy displayed on tee-shirts. This symbolic artistry no longer inspires horror but can still draw attention to a myriad of social causes or antisocial angst, so wear your skulls proudly and let the rest of us guess at your message!

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When On a Medical Mission to a Foreign Country Adaptability Is a Vital Skill

The other day, I was talking to a very nice lady at Starbucks who had been sent from the Sunday school, and youth group to make a "Starbucks Run" and bring back all the Frappachinos, lattes, and passion tea drinks. While we were waiting, we got to talking about her Sunday School, and the Youth Group and how they raise money for their endeavors. I indicated that car wash fundraisers work quite well, and that I had written an e-book on the topic, and would be glad to e-mail it to her.

She said; "that would be really wonderful because our church is planning another mission to either Costa Rica, or Honduras, it will be a medical mission, to help the indigenous poor people."

Then she told me a story that her church was in Honduras when there was an overthrow of the government, actually they ousted the president in a military coup. They didn't know what to do, and the group couldn't return home for two weeks, and a State Department official helped them get out of the country. They decided to do their medical mission in Costa Rica working with some the other churches, and another group which left early and couldn't complete their mission either.

It's a good thing they had a back-up plan, but more importantly they had strong adaptability, and they improvised as they went. Having an itinerary and a mission with a list of things to do may not always work out as planned. In fact, most of the people I've talked to that go on medical missions to foreign countries explain some of the hardships they encounter. Roads washed out, civil unrest, criminal gangs, parasites in the water, sickness, and all sorts of other calamities.

Many of these things you might not consider big deals, but when you are in the middle of it, you either adapt or die. Therefore a strong leader leading the medical mission is very apropos. If you are thinking about going on a medical mission, and you don't have a lot of experience traveling to Third World Nations, I suggest that you take leaders who have done it before, have stories to tell, and have turned crisis into opportunity on the fly. Your experiences and observations on these trips will give you memories for a lifetime, and lots of great stories to tell your kids and grandchildren.

Indeed I hope you will please consider this and if you are thinking about going on a medical mission to Africa, or perhaps Central America, why not send me an e-mail and share your concerns, comments, and questions. I'm also very interested in case studies. Think on it.

Lance Winslow is a retired Founder of a Nationwide Franchise Chain, and now runs the Online Think Tank. Lance Winslow believes writing 23,900 articles by July 4, 2011 is going to be difficult because all the letters on his keyboard are now worn off now..

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History of the Mermaid

Mythological creatures have fascinated the world for centuries. Mermaids are one of the most fantasized mythological beings. Today's image of mermaid is generally that of a beautiful woman who is half human and half fish. The sea dwelling creatures are often depicted wearing nothing but seashell bikini tops with long, flowing hair. There are numerous Hollywood movies and cartoons based on the belief that these mythological creatures are real and living in the oceans all over the world.

The beings are first mentioned in the first century by a Roman author named Pliny the Elder. In his writings, he referred to an animal that had the body of a snake and wore a crown. The creature is often referred to as a basilisk. That original description evolved into the body of a snake with a human head. Legends rapidly surrounded the mythical being, and many were terrified of the basilisk. It was said a simple look from the animal could kill a man. Historians speculate that while at sea, Pliny actually saw what we know today as a Manatee.

By the fifth century, the mermaid had become widely known as a creature that was half woman and half fish. During this period, they were depicted as very unattractive. As the centuries passed the mermaids were viewed in an entirely different light. The medieval times resulted in Christianity clashing with pagan beliefs. Christians used their influence to change people's perception about a number of mythical creatures. The mermaids were described as beautiful creatures who were very promiscuous. The wanton sea dwellers used their wiles to lure seamen off of their ships and ultimately to their death. This legend earned the creature the dubious siren title.

Throughout history, the so called sirens are often mentioned by various men in positions of power. Christopher Columbus and Henry Hudson both report they witnessed the phenomenon while at sea. Each has a different opinion about how the mermaid looked but both agree they were not quite as gorgeous as had been believed. This is about the time the purported man killers evolved into playful creatures who lived under the sea. Numerous reports include the capture and subsequent death of the sea creatures.

Sightings were frequently reported along coastlines across the world. Men and women claim to have seen the lasses casually combing their hair while perched on a rock. Some have claimed to see the elusive merman as well. Today the interest in the mythological beings is still very high.

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Wizards and Witches - Are They Good or Bad?

If there was ever a topic open to intense dispute, it would be the subject of witches and wizards. So many people hold such strong convictions about this subject that you would think it was a situation concerning life or death. However, it is a fun topic of discussion when you approach it from many different points of view.

Are witches and wizards bad? The answer must be yes and no. You must look through history to determine what the final answer may be. In medieval times, the kings and queens sought out relief for sickness from the local practitioner, who was often considered a witch. These people, generally women, had a robust knowledge of natural medicine and could heal people with their brews. It was not until a later time when the church set forth condemning these women that the term witch became synonymous with evil.

Merlin, perhaps the most famous of all wizards, was a good and bad man. Said to talk to the dead, Merlin helped guide King Arthur to become one of the most beloved king's in all of British history. It is also said though, that Merlin was not afraid to use his magical powers to conquers his, and the king's, enemies.

If you come to modern day, take a look at the Wizard of Oz. There was a good and bad witch, a wizard and a cast of characters innocently interacting with them all. Harry Potter and his friends were all attending school for witchcraft and wizardry, and regardless of the fundamental outrage, the Potter series is one of the best selling children's books of all times.

These creatures, often human beings with additional knowledge, must be placed into the same category as regular mortals. Some are bad and some are good and some struggle in between. Like their mortal counter parts, these creatures have the free will to use their knowledge for good or bad, leaving the decision of their goodness only to them, not to others.

Fairy tales are filled with witches that perform good and bad deeds. We teach our children right from wrong using these tales, so they cannot possibly be all that bad.

Magic is something that everyone needs in their life in some way. Whether it be a wonderful tale to share with their children or a natural cure for their ailments, magic must become a part of everyone's life to make life worth the effort.

For more great stuff on Fantasy, Mythology and Magic visit us at http://www.thefantasymythicalmagic.com/.

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Humans Can't Do Anything Right - What Makes Them Think They Can Save The Planet?

It seems we have a new religion of global warming, and everyone wants to reduce their carbon footprint. I laugh when I hear that term "carbon footprint" because as a one extremely popular science fiction author once said "we are carbon based bipeds" - as Arthur C Clarke put it. In other words there's nothing wrong with carbon, or a carbon footprint. And every time you walk outside or take a step on the beach you are leaving a carbon footprint, because you are made of carbon. You see that point?

If carbon is evil, and you wish to reduce your carbon footprint, there's only one real way to do that, and I'm not talking about wearing shoes. You are going to have to eliminate yourself from the planet if you really believe that having a carbon footprint is bad. Further, it is rather arrogant for humans to think that they could save the planet. First of all, there's nothing wrong with this planet, it's been here for well over 5 billion years and it will be here for 5 billion more, long after the human race is gone.

Human should stop trying to save the planet, and start trying to save themselves. If they do, they could save themselves from ignorance first, that or save themselves from their own arrogance. Humans saving the planet, that's a laugh, there's nothing wrong with this planet, it's doing just fine. In fact, our solar system is probably the best example of a perpetual motion machine that we've yet to discover. Round and round it goes, and never stops. Ingenious, I don't see humans able to create a perpetual motion machine.

And may I ask exactly how humans think they're going to save the planet? What if they get into circles and sing or maybe they'll sit and pray in a building that they've built and go to every week to remind themselves to be good little humans? Now I don't mean to give the humans the hard time, but all this saving the world from global warming, and all of this other nonsense just doesn't make any sense from a scientific standpoint.

It's not that saving the planet isn't a good idea - it's that the crisis doesn't exist. If the planet were truly in trouble, then yes we should work and figure out a way to save it, of course we should do that, but to pretend there is a problem, and then go conquer it is a lot like Don Quixote swinging at windmills. Indeed I hope you will please consider all this and think on.

Lance Winslow is a retired Founder of a Nationwide Franchise Chain, and now runs the Online Think Tank. Lance Winslow believes writing 24,000 articles by July 24, 2011 is going to be difficult because all the letters on his keyboard are now worn off now..

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History of the Pegasus

Pegasus, the beautiful winged horse of Greek mythology, was born in violence. His sire was the god of the sea, Poseidon. His mother was the gorgon Medusa.

The story that unfolds is a tale of lust, envy and pride.

Medusa rivaled the goddess Athena in beauty. Medusa's pride was her mane of golden curls. Athena envied her beauty.

Poseidon, the brother of Zeus and Hades, ruled the sea, storms, earth and horses. He was violent, lusty and self centered.

Poseidon saw the beautiful Medusa worshipping in the temple of Athena. Captivated by her sweet face and glorious, golden ringlets, Poseidon seduced and raped Medusa in the temple. The chaste Athena averted her eyes, but envious of Medusa's beauty and angered by the desecration of her temple, Athena enacted her revenge on Medusa by turning her face ugly and her curls to snakes. She cursed Medusa so that anyone looking upon her would be turned to stone.

A young hero named Perseus was the son of Danae, a king's daughter, and Zeus, the god of all the gods. Wanting Danae for his wife, King Polydectes devised a ruse to send Perseus to his death. He sent Perseus to kill Medusa expecting the lad himself to be killed. Zeus realizing this, sent Athena and Hermes to help Perseus in the attempt. With their help he was successful.

Perseus cut off the head of Medusa. As he was putting the head into his knapsack he saw an amazing birth. A tiny winged horse and Chrysaor, his brother, sprang from the blood flowing from the neck of Medusa.

The winged horse flew to Mount Helicon, home of the nine muses. The magical and playful horse lived free. He helped the muses, even creating Hippocrene a gushing, magical spring for them.

The Greek hero Bellerophon captured the winged horse with a magical golden bridle given to him by Athena. He rode Pegasus to slay the monster Chimera.

Bellerophon desired to fly to Mount Olympus, home of the gods. This angered Zeus and he send a fly to bite the flying horse. The horse bolted and Bellerophon was thrown. The winged horse continued his flight alone. His task was to carry the thunderbolts of Zeus across the sky.

Pegasus can be seen grazing in the night sky. Look for the 4 bright stars forming a square and the stars that form the bend of his neck.

For more great stuff on Fantasy, Mythology and Magic visit us at http://www.thefantasymythicalmagic.com/.

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Beware of Those Who Demand Justice and Enlist the Society to Swarm in Mass Against Perpetrators

There are huge numbers of people who do not want government to exert its authority over common citizens, rather they want to use what they call social justice to control the people and prevent crime. However, in many regards history shows us this is a big mistake because the justice of the crowd is swift and violent, often permanent, and definitely unforgiving of the individuals it chooses on a whim to call out. In fact, justice by way of the social mob is fairly unjust as most past events have shown.

If you doubt this, and you'd like to see these types of scenarios play out in real time, it's easy to watch on Internet forums, blogs, and social networks as a group of people with a similar opinion will call out the individual who thinks a little differently. They will definitely go attack that person verbally, and abuse them. As the individual who doesn't agree gets pummeled, other people jump on board and start saying things that is out of character for them, and the whole group gets riled up like a pack of wolves.

This is exactly what happens with street gangs and violent criminal behavior where groups of people do almost the unthinkable. Things that they would never do on their own, but once they get into a group they are somehow in a different mindset. The Salem witch trials were very interesting in that regard, along with the French revolution where they beheaded all of the leadership and royalty. These things happen all the time, on smaller scale. It's how human behavior works, it's not a good thing, but it is the reality.

If we are to live in a free society, with freedom of speech and free liberty, and if we are to stand for the individual, and individual rights, then we must stay away from the use of society to enforce laws and behavior without some sort of buffer in between. I would say beware of those who demand justice and are willing to enlist the society to swarm against the individual, or anyone they call out is a perpetrator, because that isn't always; real justice.

You see, as the founder of a think tank, I am watching more and more drift towards this line of thinking, and the concepts of social control over the masses. I don't approve of that because I watch how easily the masses are controlled by the media, and the winds of current events, and things taken out of proportion on social networks. We are in a dangerous new age and we have to be very careful. This is serious business, and you only have to step back for a moment see it. Indeed I hope you will please consider all this and think on it.

Lance Winslow is a retired Founder of a Nationwide Franchise Chain, and now runs the Online Think Tank. Lance Winslow believes writing 24,000 articles by July 24, 2011 is going to be difficult because all the letters on his keyboard are now worn off now..

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A Short History of the Dragon

The dragon is one of the most widely recognized creatures on Earth, yet there is no real evidence that they existed. They are known in just about every culture around the world and have been detailed in carvings and paintings for thousands of years. They have even been seen in the Heavens as the constellation of Draco.

Humans have been pulling gigantic bones out of the Earth for thousands of years but it wasn't until the 18th and 19th centuries that they were determined to be ancient mega fauna. There is an on-going theory that the bones of creatures such as Woolly Rhino and Mastodons were what people thought of as being their mythological beasts and great heroes.

Some of the earliest depictions of dragons appeared more like snakes than winged beasts. The Assyrians worshiped a snake-like deity called Tiamat, while the Babylonians worshiped a figure called Marduk which can still be seen on the ancient Gate of Nineveh. There are even references to these creatures in the Judeo-Christian bible. In the book of Genesis Adam and Eve are confronted by the serpent of the garden, while the book of Job describes a fire-breathing beast called the Leviathan.

To the people of China, dragons are both real and a sign of good luck. There are four different varieties of Chinese dragons and each protects a different region of existence, such as the underworld and the realm of the gods. They are more serpentine than most other versions and are rarely portrayed with wings. They are said to be created from nine different animals, including the camel and the carp.

Many European countries know the story of St. George and the Dragon. They say that a knight named George travels to a town where all the maidens are being sacrificed to a fierce beast. St. George rides in and slays the animal and saves the town from certain doom. Though there are a few variations from region to region, they are all basically the same. Many of these regions believed in these tales so much so that their coat of arms depict these animals.

In recent years, the dragon has found a resurgence in popularity. From board and video games to epic movies and television shows, these majestic animals have found a way to survive. Whether real or not, the fascination for these creatures lives on in a whole generation and will more than likely carry on for many more to come.

For more great stuff on Fantasy, Mythology and Magic visit us at http://www.thefantasymythicalmagic.com/.

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Human Rights and Iron-Fisted Leaders

What was that great quote, you know when Caesar said; "The first thing we do is kill all the lawyers," and often people use that quote out of context, remember at the time of Caesar wanted to take over, and he knew he had to eliminate all the lawyers to do so. Indeed, any studier of Machiavellian Rule would realize that when you take over another country, the first thing you need to do is get rid of the intellectuals, lawyers, educators, leaders, and then lead the masses by fear.

Now then, I am certainly not one is to believe that in the present period, Machiavellian Rule should be the order of the day. However, I also realize I am not alone in this world, neither is the United States of America. Many of our trading partners do not think the way we do, do not have a capitalist slant, nor do their leaders necessarily believe in personal freedoms, liberty, or democracy. A case in point could be China for instance.

Here in the US we don't know much about what goes on in China, as they are careful to censor the news coming out of that country, and definitely the news coming in. But we know they are often up to what we might consider from our perspective as Americans; no good. Last month there was an interesting piece in Sino Daily Online News titled "China cracking down on rights lawyers: Amnesty," written by the Staff Writers in Hong Kong (AFP) and published on June 30, 2011. The article stated what many people have feared would happen;

"Beijing has unleashed an "uncompromising" assault on China's legal profession, targeting human rights lawyers in an effort to head off social unrest, Amnesty International said. The move was a bid to control rights lawyers who take on sensitive cases as fears mount that uprisings in the Middle East and North Africa could take root in the world's most populous nation, the rights group said in a new report."

The article speculated that this was being done by communist leaders to silence dissent, and revoking licenses, harassment, random disappearances, and torture had been reported. As much is it displeases me to say anything good about lawyers, the Chinese people need someone on their side right about now. Yes, with 1.4 billion people China has no chance but to enforce their laws. The question is; are they enforcing the right ones.

On one hand there is severe corruption on the side of government, and yet it seems the ruling party is slow to enforce those issues, but they will go after any citizen who calls out any of their dastardly deeds, or any lawyer who goes to defend a citizen who speaks out, or any group that comes to their aid. There will always be challenges with human rights when leaders have absolute power. China needs checks and balances, and the United States should be careful whom it associates with. Indeed I hope you will please consider all this and think on it.

Lance Winslow is a retired Founder of a Nationwide Franchise Chain, and now runs the Online Think Tank. Lance Winslow believes writing 23,850 articles by July 4, 2011 is going to be difficult because all the letters on his keyboard are now worn off now..

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The Meaning of the Unicorn

There have been few fabled creatures that have captured the heart and the imagination in quite the same way as the Unicorn. This one horned creature has appeared in many different cultures for thousands of years and in almost every instance, it is an enduring symbol of good, hope and majesty.

In ancient China, around 3000BC, the "qilin" was not considered a mythical creature at all. The ancient Chinese believed that these were real creatures and did not seek proof of their existence, but actually sought to find them. They were believed to be a sign that all is right with the world. But the Chinese qilin bears very little resemblance to the western ideal of the unicorn. In it's Chinese form, it appears to be more of a dragon-like animal with scales and more of a reptile appearance. The outside color of the animal was one of five colors; white, yellow, red, blue or black, these five colors are sacred to the Chinese. The horn was also made of soft flesh, not bony material as in western lore and the Chinese believed them to be a symbol of wisdom.

The Ancient Chinese are not the only culture to believe in it's existence. Ancient Greeks were also convinced that the animal not only existed, but appears in some of the earliest writings of Aristotle. There have been many reported sightings throughout history, beginning with some references in the Hebrew Bible. According to very early writings in the Book of Genesis, Adam saw one of the creatures in the the Garden of Eden at the very beginning of time. Also in the Bible there is also a description of an animal that bears what appears to be a strong resemblance to the creature in the book of Job (Job 39:9-12) and in the Book of Isaiah (34:7). There are also reported sighting's by Alexander the Great in Asia back in the third century B.C., and by Julius Caesar back in the first century.

The creature's single horn, or Alicorn, is said to have many magical properties. The Alicorn is quite valuable and is said to have been a main ingredient in many medieval medicines. It is also believed to have the power to neutralize many different types of poisons. Due to it's extreme value, items made from the Alicorn were often presented as gifts to royalty. The alicorn could be up to 9 feet long and weigh as much as 20 lbs.

For more great stuff on Fantasy, Mythology and Magic visit us at http://www.thefantasymythicalmagic.com/.

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The Ashmolean Museum's Japanese Classic Collection

The subject of Japanese artwork is a very fascinating topic at the famous Ashmolean museum. According to folklore, the people of Japan are direct descendants of the Sun Goddess. It is also thought that the land of Japan is itself of divine origin! To anyone familiar with the history of East Asia, the Japanese are indeed a very distinctive group of people. Of course, they are very aware of their unique heritage. There does exist some common ties with the mainland of Asia, but the Japanese have always lived their lives separately as an "island" people. It is with a sense of pride that there has been Japanese artwork in the Ashmolean collection from the very beginning of the museum's long history. There is the cabinet of curiosities assembled by the royal gardeners. The Tradescants, in the early 17th century, included a pair of Japanese zori. It was described in the 1656 catalogue of the collection as "sandals made of twigs." There is a circular leather shield lacquered in Japan with a European coat of arms. However, until the Ashmolean's Eastern Art Department was founded in 1961, the museum's Japanese holdings remained small. The highlight was a group of around 1300 tsuba sword guards created in the late 19th century by the eminent scientist Sir Arthur H. Church.

Since 1961 the Ashmolean's Japanese collections have grown progressively. It has been steadily shaped by the generosity of patrons and also by the vision of the museum's curators. The most notable contribution came from Oliver Impey who was the curator of Japanese art at the Ashmolean museum from 1968-2005. During his very long career at the museum, Oliver Impey build up a broad based collection of fine Japanese art. It now numbers around 5,000 objects, plus some 3,000 potsherds. There is also a small amount of early material in the collection, including haniwa, a few Buddhist sculptures, and some early lacquerware. Most of the collection dates from the Edo (1603-1867 CE) and Meiji (1868-1912 CE) periods. There were particular strengths in the fields of 17th to 18th century export porcelain as well as other export art of the Meiji period.

The Ashmolean's new Japanese galleries opened in December 2009. They are designed around these very significant collections of export art. It is true they also reflect the museum's new approach to its displays. These displays emphasize connections, contracts, and cultural exchanges. It should be understood that the Japanese collections were formerly separated into decorative and fine art galleries. The two new Japanese galleries are organized as chronological displays: "Japan 1600-1850" and "Japan from 1850." Furthermore, Japanese displays are open in the thematic galleries around the facility. They illustrate the significance of international trade during the 17th century in "West Meets East" and also different approaches to conservation in "Restoring the Past." Another reflection comes in the form of decorative uses of script in "Reading and Writing."

The Japanese collections are an important part of the Asian heritage present at the Ashmolean museum. To view classical Japanese artworks correctly, one must reflect upon the unquestioned facts about ancient scholarship in East Asia. The scholars of both China and Japan were entirely distinct from the scholars of the West. In the West scholars tended to restrict their learning to specific areas of study through rigorous discipline of the mind. Asian scholars did not follow this same path toward understanding. They were at one and the same time scholars, philosophers, artists, poets, calligraphers, essayists, and very often historians. Quite naturally, these scholars conceived of their culture as a cohesive, organic whole. The artwork of Japan should be studied through all avenues of art, religion, and economic and social life. As one views such collections like the one at the Ashmolean, it is necessary to contemplate the meaning of Japanese culture first. This is the best way to honor the people of Japan who painstakingly produced these excellent pieces for their civilization. Such artwork is a direct snapshot into the past which abides with us to the present. To know the present better, we must understand the past.

Harlan Urwiler answering all your Asian collectibles questions.

For more information, please feel free to visit my website at: http://www.myorientalgallery.com/.

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Has The International Court Been Hijacked by Agendas?

The international courts are pushing too hard I fear. The United Nations and other international groups are too quick to demand that the leaders of various nations be tried for war crimes. If a leader cannot defend his own government against the mass mobs of hysteria, often incited from the Internet, or foreign powers, then they are very likely to disengage from international diplomacy, and quit the United Nations.

In fact we may find many nations quitting the United Nations all at once. This could cause a group of rogue nations to form their own group and that would be a travesty for the future of mankind. We can't try every former leader of every country for war crimes merely for protecting their government, or the stability of the nation. That's not to say that we should put up with ironfisted rule or corrupt regimes who have no sense of ethics whatsoever. However, we have to be very careful before we call for the heads of former heads of state.

In the case of the Libyan leader, Colonel Qaddafi, the international court has already decided they will try him for war crimes, and therefore he has nothing to lose but continuing to fight until the death. That means more people will die in the midst of the conflict, and it will be a prolonged conflict. Casualties will mount on all sides, and the expense to the nations involved will increase. Not only could it be the inevitable fall of Qaddafi in the end, but it could also be the end of NATO as we know it.

Now then, we know that often nations work to remove a dictator, sometimes for good reason, but sometimes to ratchet away their natural resources, or to serve their political will in the never ending game of geopolitics. If we hold that every leader of every nation will be tried for war crimes if they don't serve the will of the international community, then in essence what we've said is there will be no leaders in any nation in the future; that the control of every nation will be that of the world government.

That's probably not going to work because people of each nation wish to follow someone who has risen from the people. And when all of those leaders that have arisen from the people and all those different nations get together they will discharge themselves from any global power base. In that case communication stops, diplomacy stops, and political impasse starts thus, we are one step away from war. Worse, such conflict will be fought to the death because the leaders of those nations will have nothing to lose. Indeed I hope you will please consider this and think on it.

Lance Winslow is the Founder of the Online Think Tank, a diverse group of achievers, experts, innovators, entrepreneurs, thinkers, futurists, academics, dreamers, leaders, and general all around brilliant minds. Lance Winslow hopes you've enjoyed today's discussion and topic. http://www.worldthinktank.net/ - Have an important subject to discuss, contact Lance Winslow.

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Historic Headlines

Birthday newspapers - sometimes referred to as birth date newspapers by dullards - are one of those rare birthday gifts that transcend age barriers. What we're saying is that birthday newspapers in the UK appeal equally to the young, old and those heading full steam into middle-age. But why? The most obvious argument is that of history. Because these are 100% original newspapers, as old as the date on their cover, they really are your own little slice of history. So here, we take a look at some of the most monumental headlines to have graced our nation's newspapers over the years.

Daily Herald, Monday 16th September 1940

175 NAZI PLANES DOWN

RAF Triumphs In Biggest Air Battles Of War

Goering's air force had lost 175 machines up to ten o'clock last night following a day which saw fought the fiercest air battles of the war. Fighters brought down 171 and A.A fire four.

Interestingly, and perhaps predictably, these figures weren't accurate. In an effort to maintain the nation's morale, the Daily Herald very much fell in line with Britain's propaganda policy, with the true figures actually nearer 56 downed German aircraft and 27 from the RAF.

Daily Mirror, Monday 21st July 1969

MAN ON THE MOON

And the message from earth: we're breathing again!

Man has landed on the Moon. A new era in his history began at 9.18 last night when the lunar module Eagle settled gently on the dusty surface of the Sea of Tranquillity. Inside it - astronauts Armstrong and Aldrin, destined now for a permanent place in history. They immediately began to prepare for their Moon walk. There are still great perils ahead. But these are truly great achievements. America, the land of frontiersmen, has opened up a new frontier.

Some 40-plus years later and America's space programme is slowly grinding to a halt. Yet for all its challenges, disasters and accomplishments, there's no doubt this moment irrevocably changed the world we live in. And if nothing else, it gave the conspiracy theorists something to get their teeth into.

The Sun, Wednesday 17th August 1977

KING ELVIS DEAD

A massive heart attack at mansion

Elvis Presley, the rock n' roll king who thrilled millions died alone yesterday, aged 42.

For arguably the biggest Rock n' Roll star to ever live, dying from a heart attack on the toilet wasn't the most dignified way to go. Sadly, it wasn't a huge surprise. In his final years, his weight had ballooned to just under 19 stone, while the last things he ate pretty much summed it up - four scoops of ice cream and six chocolate-chip cookies.

Daily Mail, Wednesday September 12th 2001

APOCALYPSE

New York. September 11, 2001

The Sun, same day

DAY THAT CHANGED THE WORLD

Suicide hijackers blitz America: Special Edition

Not sure we need to say anything more about these two, so we won't.

Daily Mirror, Saturday 30th April 2011

'Let's give them another kiss... I love you'

The whole world rejoices... well mostly!

Only the most cynical republicans begrudged Wills his big day. For the rest of us, whether generally Royalist or not, it was something to look forward to - not least because of the extra day off work! And so it was, with the whole world tuning in, that Catherine looked beautiful, while Wills looked bald... but handsome.

If you're after birthday newspapers, there's a one-stop shop with your name on it. Visit http://www.gonedigging.co.uk/ and you'll find the opportunity to select an original newspaper from a specific date of your choosing.

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