Friday 29 April 2011

Jesus Was a Hippie

Actually he was more appropriately called a Cynic, but that kind of free-thinking humanist is indeed kin to being a Hippie. The Cynics were a school of thought or religious approach to intellectual understanding which many more modern hippies seem to emulate.

Jesus may have been a zealot seeking to establish a country or kingdom like David (his ancestor) or he may have harkened back to a time when Brotherhood existed, as most Cynics really saw must happen. Seneca and all the other rich or poor Cynics clearly saw man must think and learn for himself, or else things would continue to grow ever more class and racially differentiated. I think Jesus had the Gnostic training of ecumenism and was not into the Kingdom of Israel zealotry as much as he was against Rome and Empire in general, even if he was a zealot at some point in his life. I also think Plato was no where near as elitist or Fascist as his succeeding philosophic school up to Hegel and Fukayama today have become. In fact I think Plato would have preferred universal education and enablement of citizens as the foundation for his Republic. But let's be real! Even today it is hard to find interested and open-minded 'thinkers'."

Easy answers sought to explain what humanity has feared or regarded through superstition as 'gods', are not the kind of things that allowed adepts to know themselves and their soul. The structures of power and priestly prevarications are rife even in the halls of supposed fair and academic institutions. Pardon me for disagreeing with the likes of Fukayama and others who would have us believe in 'absolute' religions of any form. As a human with the ability to consciously apprehend his or her environment; we must all eschew these black and white answers that our education has expected us to regurgitate in order to get better grades.

Maybe the noted Jesus scholar from DePaul University can shed a little light on Jesus and his Cynical accoutrements and inclinations. I suggest and recommend reading his many books on Jesus who was (like most of us) incarnated in a variety of different groups and beliefs during his time on earth.

There were three main philosophic attitudes in the Classical world. They were Stoic, Epicure and Cynic. It is important to see the way Jesus dresses in the accounts of the myth and to know there is veracity in these myths. Here are some words from Farrand Sayre which will help set this idea in perspective.

"The Cynics sought happiness through freedom. The Cynic conception of freedom included freedom from desires, from tear {Again the all important Keltic Creed is here.}, anger, grief and other emotions, from religious or moral control, from the authority of the city or state or public officials, from regard for public opinion and freedom from the care and support of wives and children {Not to suggest Mary Magdala required support due to her family wealth, which is certain if she was the daughter of Joseph of Arimathaea.}... The Cynics scoffed at the customs and observances of others, but were rigid in observance of their own. The Cynic would not appear anywhere without his wallet, staff and cloak, which must invariably be worn, dirty and ragged and worn so as to leave the right shoulder bare. He never wore shoes and his hair and beard were long and unkempt."

Knowing Jesus is a Cynic or at least was one for much of his life, we are asked to consider how this might be. I hope there is merit in evaluating the people he would have been associated with. I think Jesus was a lot like Seneca who was one of Thomas Jefferson's great inspirations. Here we find Crossan detailing some of this matter.

"'By the middle of the first century of our era, elements of the Cynic and Stoic tenets were fairly well merged,' according to Cora Lutz, 'in the teachings of the popular philosophers'. Cynicism was founded by Diogenes of Sinope, who lived from about 400 to about 320 B.C.E. and was born on the mid-southern coast of the Black Sea {Where Pont of Phoenicia had been.} The term itself comes from kyon, the Greek word for dog, and it was used of Diogenes by Aristotle, as if quoting a well-known nickname. It was originally a derogatory term for the provocative shamelessness with which Diogenes deliberately flouted basic human codes of propriety and decency, custom and convention, doing as the third-century historian of philosophy Diogenes Laertius delicately puts it, 'everything in public, the works of Demeter and Aphrodite alike' (6.69; Hicks 2.70-71). Stoicism was founded by Zeno of Citium, who lived from about 333 to 264 B.C.E. and was born on the southeastern coast of Cyprus. That title comes, more demurely, from the Athenian agora's Stoa Poikile, where Zeno taught for many years. Both philosophies sought the happiness of inner freedom and personal self-sufficiency, but where Stoicism found it in detachment from the world, Cynicism found it in abandonment of the world. Insofar as they interacted together, and especially on the popular level, Cynicism was practical and radical Stoicism; Stoicism was theoretical and moderate Cynicism. Take for example, the case of Seneca.

Lucius Annaeus Seneca - Seneca the Younger - Stoic philosopher, author, and multimillionaire, lived between about 4 B.C.E. and 65 B.C.E. As tutor to Nero, his responsibility for the imperial virtue and vice remained somewhat ambiguous, but he was, in the end, ordered to commit suicide for alleged participation in the anti-Neronic conspiracy headed by Gaius Calpurnius Piso. Despite his extreme wealth, he was greatly influenced by the Cynic philosopher Demetrius, who lived in his household during the years between 51 and 65 C.E. when Seneca was composing his Epistulae Morales, moral treatises fictionalized as letters to his friend Gaius Lucilius. One can see, for instance, the difference between the theoretical dispassion of the Stoic Seneca (I have but do not care) and the practical dispossession of the Cynic Demetrius (I do not have but do not care) in this story:

When Gaius Caesar [Caligula] wanted to give Demetrius two hundred thousand, he laughingly refused it, not even deeming it a sum the refusal of which was worth boasting about.... 'If he meant to tempt me.' said he. 'he ought to have tested me by offering me his whole kingdom.' (Seneca, De Beneficii 7:11; Basore et al. 3.482-483)" (1)

We can look at the words of Camus and the 'naturel ordre' of Rousseau that may have guided him and see there is something the Cynics and undoubtedly many before them perceived which is archetypical to humankind. Some would like us to believe we are naturally competitive and aggressive and there is some truth in that too. Civilized humankind has higher aspirations though. At least that is how a Hippie sees it. 'Make LOVE not War' was certainly a mainstay of the recent humanitarian effort and it binds many Goths, Beatniks and Hippies together. But this natural order is no simple thing wherein there is one obvious approach which makes sense to all people who seek good acts or results for the bulk of life on earth. I knew many Hippies felt confident that Jesus 'was just alright with' them and the man inspired them to act as he would. But there was no agreement from the Churchians to the most part.

A True Hippie Leader Speaks His Mind

One of my correspondents on the World Wide Web goes by the nickname Eternum1 and we have many philosophical similarities to say the least. Here are some of his thoughts. He is a far better wordsmith than I am. He was in the front lines of the era and its expression.

Dear Robert:

The existential Jim Morrison represented a time when Hippies captured the imagination of a generation. Kurt Vonnegut and his theme of absurdity and free will in Slaughterhouse Five, other flicks like Vanishing Point played the same theme during that era.

What a journey lay before us in those times. The broad rubric of existentialism could be seen in the ethics of Do Your Own Thing. Sartre said "Man is condemned to be free". I believe it was a condemnation because real freedom requires a commitment in ones life. A commitment not to succumb to mediocrity or the lukewarm approach to living. The jewels of life should not be left untouched and revolution is the only sane response to a society whose fabric is docility and Pavlovian consumerism.

Insanity is keeping your ticket to ride in your pocket and waiting to live in the next life. I loved Vonnegut's illustrations of this in Slaughterhouse Five, the juxtaposition of the insanity of being in the meat-grinder of war and the bland existence in suburbia when "Beauty" or the actuality of it was always within our hero's grasp and this stark realization on his deathbed.

There have been many wars, revolutions, uprisings for the sake of freedom. Many speeches saying "I have a dream" etc. beg for it, demand it. Yet we are pacified by others telling us what it means to be free and the price we must pay. But the 'system' as we used to call it knows only the price of freedom not its intrinsic values.

Camus' idea is that the absurd man suffers individually, but once he begins to rebel, he has realized that this suffering is shared and it is in this meeting of minds that the minds begin to exist. Camus no longer speaks of just the individual, but brings in the individual's relation to others.

It is obvious how this found some harmonics with Marxism in the minds of many contemporary radicals. When I interviewed people like Black Panthers the question was not one of commitment to freedom but how far one was willing to go to achieve it. People like Huey Newton and Bobby Seale saw the system perpetuating a form of genocide with the ghettoization of the black population and in some cases saw killing others as a reasonable alternative to the suicide that living in 'free America" offered.

When we see others are not free, we begin to question our own ideas of what freedom means. We begin to move away from the idea of individual freedom and into rebellion. A rebel by definition belongs to a rebellion and is not a simple absurdity like the common hedonist.

The Rebel is about rebellion, which assumes a relationship between the individual and some power, a master, government, etc., and a sense of "going too far." The rebel has been subservient, he has chosen not to rebel, but then the master crosses a line. The rebel has an idea that he has rights which are being violated, "in a certain way, he confronts an order of things which oppresses him with the insistence on a kind of right not to be oppressed beyond the limit that he can tolerate" (Albert Camus' The Rebel).

Camus' conclusion about murder is that it cannot be justified. The rebel cannot suspend his principles in the present as a move toward them in the future. This idea comes from the earlier thinking in that if living is a choice not to die and therefore an assertion of life's value, then there is an intrinsic value in life. Life is worth living for its own sake, which is not to say that life has inherent value, we are still dealing with a value-neutral philosophy. Life does not have value (in the sense of value as a noun), but the rebel values life in his choice not to die. Therefore the rebel cannot kill for his rebellion. Another part of this is the authenticity based in the present which Camus speaks of over and over again. Existentialist freedom is based in the present and beliefs cannot be suspended in the present to provide means to an end.

This is where I parted company with radicals back in the days of the Weathermen etc. I recorded their stories but argued in my columns that 'the end justifies the means' was the cancer in all ideologies and the true enemy of freedom.

That is why I respected Allende and not Castro both were 'rebels' but the first was committed to freedom while the latter just became another ruler prepared to sacrifice others on freedom's altar.
Hippies could have told them so.
Et

Needless to say, I have not had the 'in the trenches' experience of Vietnam as a reporter or all the other things around the world that Et has had. I always enjoy his posts and thoughts. I hope the reader of my books can appreciate them too. Et was at the event in Chicago that spawned a great deal of awareness that something was wrong with how things were proceeding in America. Walter Cronkite is a rare breed and we saw him depart our TV screen far too early in my opinion. Here is part of his observation about the Bush regime of unilateral domination and disregard for international accords. "The unilateralism has been a virtual addiction - a truculent constant in a presidency otherwise marked by inconstancy."




Author of Diverse Druids, Columnist for The ES Press Magazine, Guest writer at World-Mysteries.com,

Dennis Schmunko is the man using the handle Eternum1 and he has a new book coming out soon.

Thursday 28 April 2011

Brief Look at Jack the Ripper

Whitechapel

Between the period of 1888 and early 1890's there were numerous brutal murders that took place in London's Whitechapel district. Due to over populated conditions in the area poverty and unemployment levels increased driving crime rates to high levels. A lot of women had to resort to prostitution and the estimated figures showed around 1200 prostitutes occupying the streets of Whitechapel.

The Murders

Of the murders that took place many of the victims were women and prostitutes who were killed in numerous ways. Although never proven, investigators and specialists at the time believed that a select few of these were connected and could have been carried out by the same person. These were ones that were left with their body parts mutilated, especially their genital areas, and vital internal organs removed as well as their throats being slashed. Experts believed that these were the work of one man named Jack the Ripper.

Letters

The man was never identified and acquired the name Jack the Ripper because of a mysterious letter that was sent to the London Central News Agency by a person that claimed to be the murderer. A series of similar letters followed and were sent to various places from people also claiming to be the murderer. The authenticity of these letters still remains a debatable case to this day.

Identity

Because of the sheer volume of murders that took place within this period, it was difficult to establish which ones were the work of the serial killer Jack the Ripper. Experts did however, relate five murders to be carried out by Jack the Ripper. All these victims had their throat areas cut and had different sorts of incisions on their bodies and missing organs with the exception of one victim. Many believed that Jack the Ripper was interrupted during this murder and therefore fled before getting a chance to perform the incisions. There were witnesses who claimed to have seen the victim accompanied by a man before her death but the descriptions given to help with identification were inconsistent.

Many believed that Jack the Ripper may have been an educated person with good knowledge of the human anatomy. Some suspects had professions in the field of medicine, science and surgery.

Some even believed that Jack the Ripper was actually several people and not just one killer. Regardless of how many were involved, it was certain that Jack the Ripper must have had a good knowledge of the Whitechapel area because he was able to carry out the murders and disappear quickly without being seen in such a populated and overcrowded area. Police believed that Jack the ripper was a local resident who knew the side streets and back alleys like the back of his hand.

One thing for sure is that Jack the Ripper's true identity may never be surfaced because the details of people who resided in the Whitechapel area were never officially recorded.




For more information on Jack The Ripper, the murders and professional guided walking tours of the Whitechapel area please visit Ripping Yarns Jack the Ripper Tours.

Tuesday 26 April 2011

Myth Gods

Kids are fond of myths and fairy tales. Every time I ate ham with my father, I was very happy.

Father told me "Ham comes from the dragon. It is a dragon." And so I was filled with awe. I thought I could be stronger and have powers because I ate ham and a dragon that blows fire. "Could I blow fire?"

Cartoons on television like "Mighty Thor" (god of thunder and rain), and some flying horses and genies (spirits believed by Muslims) inspired me and made me curious to see what's in the other world. Growing up with old people and their stories made me see the world as magical, beautiful and full of challenges. The heroes in fiction and myths help people understand that the good always triumphed, and that without courage, man could not get to his dreams and goals.

Imagining what's inside Pandora's Box and glass castles, and zooming in carpets that fly make life bigger for kids. In the progress of culture, those stories come even bigger for games, and cinema's adult audience like "XMen, Superman, Avatar (2010), Ragnarok, and Gotterdammerung (Twilight of the Gods), among others.

Check this out: The Gods of Myth

1. Hydra-headed means hard to eliminate or destroyed; the lesson is applied to a condition or an evil which apparently put down in one place and springs up in another; many branches, multifarious

One of the twelve labors of Hercules, was the killing of the Hydra - a water monster with nine heads

2. Janus-faced, Januslike (Roman god of beginnings and also of portals and doors, represented with 2 faces looking in opposite directions

"Respice, Adspice, Prospice," means "Look upon the past, look at the present, look to the future."

Janus-faced can also mean looking in two directions, meaning versatile or two-faced meaning deceitful

3. Pandora's Box According to Greek Mythology, Pandora was the first woman. In Paradise Lost, Milton tells how she received her name.

Pan means all and dora means gifts.

A Pandora's box must not be opened. Every god has contributed a gift to make Pandora a perfect being, but there was one box which she was warned not to open (a source of all evil), but unable to curb her curiosity, she did open it.

Avatar is a film by James Cameron that showed a Planet Pandora in a fiction story. A blockbuster film in 2010, surpassing Titanic.

4. Stygian - Netherworld, implies gloom and darkness

5. Titan (ic) children of heaven and earth, were deities of tremendous strength who fought with Zeus but were vanquished. A Titan is any giant in any field of endeavor (used to call someone with outstanding ability)

6. Adonis- A young shepherd, beloved by Aphrodite (Venus); extremely handsome

7. Amazon - A strong woman; female warriors

8. Ambrosia - Ambrosia meaning "deathless"; was the food of the gods. It is usually coupled with nectar (divine drink); thus, an expression: "ambrosia and nectar" (a dish fit for the gods)

9. Argus-eyed - vigilant, all observant; Argus was a monster with many eyes; some of which never close

10. Protean changing, varying, versatile

Rosalinda Flores Martinez, 2010
ishallwrite




http://rfvietnamrose09.blogspot.com
http://roseprayers.blogspot.com

Sunday 24 April 2011

On Civilization

INTRODUCTION

Hunter/gatherers have few possessions, out of necessity, but also due to a respect for the Earth. The need to move to follow the herd, or to the berries and fruits, requires few possessions. This man has no need to settle down. As long as the food is available, he will make do. Nomadic tribes are African, American Indian, Middle Eastern, Mongolian and also European gypsies. They leave little trace on the Earth, are spiritual, and convey history by passing on stories or songs. Little is written of their history and few artifacts exist. Again, if there is no reason to become sedentary, there is little likelihood of becoming so. In fact, large tribes are problematic. Many nomadic tribes limited reproduction through various means. Circumcision, both male and female, is one example.

A larger understanding of our Earth and its place in the Universe only begins when man stops to observe his surroundings. These observations lead to story telling, but also writing.

Man, as we recognize him today, has wandered the Earth for 70,000 years. There have been small and large migrations back and forth and on all points of the compass. The blending of the races has blurred most trails. Early mixing has created anomalies that are very difficult to categorize. This paper is the result of observation. It starts around the year 10,000 BC. Regrettably, it is biased due to the point of reference. Too much prior study has been from a similar point of reference. Also, it is limited by the impact of major catastrophic events. Three current events indicate the difficulty of telling this story accurately, the Cyclone in Myanmar, the earthquake in central China, and the discovery of a nomadic tribe in Brazil. Still, it makes for stimulating further thought and speculation. Read, question, challenge, think and above all, enjoy.

On Civilization

If we were to view the world today and try to make assumptions regarding the start of civilization and the early migration of man, we would make some grievous mistakes.

Let us start by envisioning earliest man. He was a fisherman first, a hunter and gatherer, and water was his salvation. He traveled the rivers to drink and refresh himself and to provide for his small band of co-travelers. He had no need for pottery, or tools as he had not conquered fire for cooking. Berries, fish and small game he could catch sustained the nomadic tribes. They left no trace of passing through. No artifacts were left behind to trace his routes. One thing is clear; there were no walls around his camp. Should he run into other humanoids, they were welcomed with open arms and encouraged to commingle as a means of strengthening and growing the tribe. As these tribes followed the food source, they grew when there was plenty, and became stagnant as food disappeared. This is true for species today. If times were hard, or if there were a natural disaster such as flood, volcano, earthquake, etc. the tribe would be split as the young and mobile left to venture off for new hunting grounds. How far they would travel, and who they would run in to, would help determine the makeup of our world today.

Fast forward 60,000 years or so, to 10,000BC, and man has now traveled to locations of bountiful fruit, nuts, berries and grains. The world population is about 1 million. He has gone from a grunter, to a linguist. He has become more sedentary and has domesticated animals to stay with the tribe and to provide milk and meat as needed. Trade has begun and fire is beginning to get controlled. Since there is little need to pack up and move, possessions such as pottery and cookware have been produced. Still, there are few walls and strangers are lovingly welcomed to visit, stay and co-mingle as they wish. As Darwin theorized, the stronger traits were ultimately dominant and the species were communized in specific fertile valleys that could support large groups of people. These pockets of civilization were limited to the amount of real estate that they could farm. As land became less productive, and perhaps more correctly, as the land available could no longer support the growing populations, more migrations took place. Larger groups left for outlying areas to develop and hunt on. Should there be a major disruption in an area such as a river delta being flooded each spring and homes and people being washed away, a mass exodus would occur and they could find a more favorable location to develop, or they could join others in an existing location.

The recent earthquake in central China showed a landslide that blocked a major river. If there were settlements along the river, they were buried alive. Settlements upstream saw floods as the river backed up and rose in level. Settlements downstream saw an end to their water supply, and they will either need to move to find a source of water, or the blockage can burst and create a flash flood, wiping out their villages and crops. These events were continuous throughout time, and make for discontinuous development that confounds the historians.

The cyclone in Myanmar is another example of displacement of man due to a natural catastrophe. Coastlines have been the source of life for man, and also a great destroyer. A tidal wave or cyclone will push settlements back from the coast. Most major cities were established back from the coastlines as man began to understand the nature of storms.

One more current event that helps lend support to this paper is the recent discovery of a lost tribe in Brazil. Aerial photographs show a small village of hunter/gatherers in a location of plenty. Their weapons are bow and arrows, they are minimally clad, and there appears to be one outlier, very dark of skin, among the redder Amerindians. It would be interesting, but inhumane, to determine the history that MtDNA, blood work, hair analysis, etc. could provide. These are humans, and have lived in this manner from the beginning of time. There has been no need to change.

Let's take a look at the layout of a city/state. The locus would be a fertile river delta fed by distant mountain streams. The water was for drinking and bathing as well as fishing. Fish would still account for much of the food consumed. Radiating out from the water are small plats/gardens where grain crops are grown; rice, wheat and corn. What was not consumed was sold at the central market. As these farms were labor intensive, families grew and males were favored. Daughters were encouraged to reproduce and these settlements were the number one reason for population growth.

Hunters/gatherers do not need large families. In fact, after reaching a certain size the tribe would split in order to survive. Should a nomadic tribe come onto a settlement, they would occupy the outer periphery and supply milk, meat and hides to be traded in the market. They were still transient, and should famine, disease, or natural disaster occur, they wandered off to new locations. Their settlements were on the less fertile hillside or mountain slopes where animals could graze but they were not condusive to crops. As cities grew, they were pushed further up the slopes and the gradual slopes were used for tea or grape growing.

Ultimately, large tribes required more food and goods to serve their populations. The limiting factor was the sunlight on the land. Since sunlight is limited, conquest for additional lands became the order of the day. A common language became a necessity to create order and to communicate. Armies of men were formed and weapons were created to subdue other peoples of other locations. The women were captured and added to the villages, while the men were used as laborers or conscripts in the armies. Now the land-owner, the "man of means," began to fortify his settlement, and became less friendly, loving, and welcoming to outsiders.

Thus begins the period of recorded history, around 3500BC to 3000BC, where man has developed a written language to record the developments and stories that help to rule and control his tribes, or nations. Written language developed long after the early migrations took place. And just as those in power make the rule, those with a written language get to put their names and words on concepts. Early Scandinavian man gave words to his gods, planets, stars, etc. He passed this on to the Greeks, Babylonians, Phoenicians, and Romans. They used similar words. By the time writing was developed, and paper was readily available, Rome was in power and was conquering the known world. They used their gods and other words to name concepts and much has remained the same since. Latin is heavily influenced by the root words of the Scandinavians, German, and Slavic words. There are six categories of language that encompass most of the languages spoken today.

Either religious or political groups dominate the nations and often both exist. Science and arts flourish and man has time to reflect on the world around him. The earliest of these reflectors made idle note of the sunset in the northern sky. It seemed to him that he remembered it setting further south in the past. He sat on the mountain top and observed the location of the sunset relative to the landmarks in the distance. Each day he watched, and little seemed to change. However, eventually, he discerned slight differences, and as he continued to observe for many months, it was apparent that the sun was leaving. The weather was turning colder and fear sprang up in his heart. Yet, he had remembered other times of cold only to be followed by warm seasons, and he was determined to track the travel of the sun.

He moved to a wide open plain where he could view the horizon in all directions. He brought stones and sticks to mark the exact locations of the sunrise and sunset each day. He also kept count of the days. He learned that the sun rose in the east and set in the west each day. He marked the numbers of days and the location of the sunrise and sunset and learned that the sun moved further north in the summer and the days grew longer until it began its trip south again. The days grew shorter and colder and then just as before, the days grew longer and warmer. This travel crossed the center point twice during each trip. He determined that the days were half light and half dark on those days and named the equinox. The northernmost point occurred on the summer solstice and was the longest day of the year. The southernmost travel noted the shortest day of the year and signaled the cold season. He called this the winter solstice.

Armed with this incredible knowledge, he could foretell the planting season and the harvesting season. Knowledge is power and he spoke of the knowledge as an inside track with God. His stone temple on the plains of Salisbury would be a source of plotting these events and the key to the power of knowledge. It had to be passed on carefully and only to a special few who could handle the power. This knowledge was the beginning of organized religion. At this time, man was predisposed to receive revelations, intuitions, extra-sensory perceptions of the presence, nature and meaning of God. They had no scientific resistance to them, and there were many. Early written history is full of stories of angels appearing and premonitions foretelling events about to unfold.

In various civilizations, the days of the week are either numerical or named after their gods. As with the planets, the days of the week were given Roman names. However, in English we use some of the Nordic names. (Reference appendix A). The question of why seven days needs to be answered. It became clear that the orbit, be it Sun around Earth or Earth around Sun, took 365-1/4 days. 7 times 52 is 364. A five day week would make more sense. However, the creation story of God taking seven days to create the Earth, as well as 7 being an auspicious number, overtook logic. Ultimately, days of the week followed the astrological pattern as Monday was lunar-day or moon day, Tuesday is for Mars, Wednesday for Mercury, Thursday for Jupiter, Friday for Venus and Saturday was the Sabbath in the Jewish religion. Sunday is now the Sabbath for Christians around the world. The Golden Rule, practiced and preached for thousands of years has been reinterpreted to be "he who has the gold, makes the rules". Names are changed to protect the innocent, also, apparently without regard to linguistic integrity or logic.

Empirical science has given rise to the great Enlightenment, scientific revolution, nuclear revolution, and technical revolution. It has created the way we live our lives today. There is beauty and simplicity to shapes such as the square and the circle. A square has all four sides equal and if a circle is inscribed within the square it has a diameter equal to the side of the square. If a circle in inscribed on the outside of a square, the diameter is equal to the hypotenuse of the square. As we now know, the square of the hypotenuse is equal to the sum of the square of the sides of the square. Why does this sound circuitous? "Circuitous" is the keyword to get us back to the travels of early man.

I theorize at least six origins of civilization. This will fly in the face of Darwinists and Religionists who favor the Adam and Eve theory. My rationale comes from the evidence presented by hair color and cross section, and more importantly, blood types. I envision the following groups. Chilean man, most likely from what we now call Easter Island, Peruvian man or Mayan who became our American Indian tribes and crossed the Bering Straits to settle in Asia, Scandinavian man who is the first of the Caucasians, Central European man who gravitated to India, Egyptian man who excelled in place and migrated all over the world, and African man who remained in Africa until the slave trades forced him out and into the Americas. Timing is the most difficult to establish, and I will repeat dates that have been established by others, but with no authentication on my part. They are mentioned merely as a benchmark and cannot be verified nor refuted effectively.

ORIGINS OF MAN

A. Scandinavian man

Hearty and healthy, he made a rugged adventurer. His shortcoming is due to a preponderance of Rh-negative blood type. His hair is oval in shape and fine, wavy to curly. Red, blond and brown colors are prominent and he often has blue eyes. His light skin helps to protect against frostbite, and also to metabolize vitamin D. This man first appeared in Norway and moved both to the south and west. His movement to the east is limited, but not unfound. He was a hardy soul and tamed the north seas by developing sailing ships. He settled what we now call Norway, Sweden, Denmark, the British Isles, and Northern America. He domesticated the plentiful reindeer or elk and settled in small groups, remaining a hunter/gatherer and fisherman. The weather was not condusive to a mass civilization. It is easiest to envision his migratory paths if you view the globe from the north. It becomes apparent that the British Isles and northwest Europe are natural destinations of the Norsemen. His taming of the seas was responsible for his travels throughout the British Isles and into the Mediterranean Sea. And his understanding of the sky allowed him to navigate the seas. This sailor followed the stars to points of adventure, and back again. The North Star was his major reference point. In fact, the stars in the north tend to move the least. It was fairly easy to learn basic astronomy in the far north. He shared his knowledge of the stars with the Greeks who also wanted to tame the seas. Names were given to the constellations, and to the stars, although only 5 stars were visible to the naked eye. While the days of the week kept the names that were given to them by the Norsemen, the planets took on the names given to them by the Romans. This is partly due to the written history that the Romans excelled at. They wrote down the names of the planets using the names that they used for their gods, even though they had older names from the Greeks and even older names from the Norsemen. It is important to note that the names given to the stars are the Roman counterparts for the Greek or Norse gods. Mars is the god of combat, Ares in Greek, and Tiws in Norse mythology. Venus is the Roman goddess of love, while it is Athena in Greece and Freia in Norse mythology. Odin was replaced by Zeus, and ultimately Jupiter.

Ports in lower Spain helped establish settlements such as the Basque, which are 50% Rh -. Later empires of Greece, Rome, etc are the heirs of his sailing skills, his astrological knowledge and his genetics. He traveled overland south through all of Europe blending with various groups that traveled north from Egypt or south from central Europe. There were natural barriers that impeded his migration, but the barrier to the east was not a natural barrier. This will be discussed at a later point. Celtic man later mixed with Norseman to create the ethnic groups known as Irish, Scottish, etc.

Christina of Sweden Eastern Europe Lady

British Isles origins

B. Central Asian Man (Aryans)

This man originated in the cold upper northlands and moved south as the ice age progressed. With a unique B-positive blood type, his hunter/gatherer ancestors ran east of the Urals, to the natural barrier of the Caucasus Mountains. He is found in all the "stans", Kyrgystan, Turkmenistan, Afghanistan, Pakistan and India. His path led him to the Indus River valley and on to the Gangic plains where he found plentiful and fertile soil conducive to farming. Two growing seasons helped to facilitate settlement. His hair is fine, red, blond or black with a broad face. A strong peaceful man, the women menstruate at an early age, enabling rapid reproduction. His food supply was plentiful and there was little need to venture east or west. His path was blocked by the natural barriers of the Himalayans, and the seas. Here he could study the stars at night to determine in 900BC that the Earth was not the center of the Universe, but rather the Sun. It would take other civilizations another 500 years to conclude this.

Other ethnic groups are the Hittites and the Semites. These tribes moved south from Kyrgystan to the Middle East. The Hittites moved into the Fertile Crescent and conquered many of the tribes that had settled there earlier. The Semite followed and left small settlements along the way in Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, and Samarkand. The major migrations of the Kazakh hordes were referred to as Juz. However, he did not settle until he reached what is now Ethiopia. This is the start of his written history and calendar.

From there they moved to the Fertile Crescent and then into Egypt and finally to Jerusalem. Since many tribes could easily join their nomadic tribes, they determined that the Jewish heritage could only be passed on by the woman. This decision is responsible for the B-positive blood type in most Jews today. The Old Testament is a collection of writings by the Semites and start with the story of creation. All the while, they were aware of the Egyptian civilization of much greater numbers and the Mesopotamian civilization. One question still puzzles me greatly. The second day of creation, in Genesis, God places a dome over the Earth. I take this to be the atmosphere. This same story is told in Norse folklore. They tell of a dome being placed over the Earth, possibly being made of tin, to contain the gas. Based on the limited science of the day, how did early man become aware of the atmosphere? He did not see it, and at night it is invisible. Only the clouds are contained by something, so perhaps it seemed logical. Yet, this knowledge seems to be a giant leap for early man.

Saami's are an early mix of Scandinavian man and Central European man, and perhaps the Peruvian man. They are one of the few blends to survive as a distinct ethnic group. They migrated above the tree line of the north. The Blackfoot tribes in North America are direct descendants as are Samoyeds, Korean, Ainu and some Australian Aboriginals. Still nomadic, their tents or teepees are the same as American Indians. Renee Zellwiger is of Saami descent.

AFGHANISTAN GIRL INDIAN SCHOOL BOYS
Saami Tribe early 1900's
Indian Girl

C. Chilean man
This man most likely began on what we now call Easter Island off the coast of Chile. This island was called Rapa Nui, or the navel of the World. At one time, the oceans were lower and a chain of mountain tops formed a ridge line to the continent of South America, and dotted toward Australia. The stone men of Easter Island stand as a testimony to the ancient civilization that searches the skies for .....something. This man has O-positive, Diego-negative blood. His hair is fine and round in shape, black in color. His face is round and tends to color easily. He was a medium sized hunter, and never felt the need to settle. Perhaps the trauma of flood and Tsunami created wanderlust and a fear of settling in one place. He was to become the Incan Indian tribe that would inhabit most of South America. He traveled north and ultimately west, crossing the Bering straight into Asia were he found the fertile delta of middle China to finally settle. His straight black hair can be seen in all Chinese today. This theory sets the standard theory of Asian man crossing east to the Americas and becoming the American Indians on its head. However, if one agrees that the progression is from nomad to sedentary, then the story is more palatable. In addition, he traveled to the east and crossed to Europe to establish the Celtic man.

CHILEAN GIRL CHINESE GIRL

YOUNG CHINESE GIRLS

These are from South America Tiera del Fuego not ASIA

D Mayan man

Mayan man originated in what we now know as Peru, South America. His path was similar to that of the Chilean man. He has coarse, round, black hair. His blood is O-positive, Diego-negative. His stature is stout with reddish skin. He is lactose intolerant. He also moved north in a migratory travel pattern that led him to sprinkle the entire continent as well as the Pacific Northwest with his progeny. Many American Indians are his descendants and they remained hunter/gatherers until forced to reservations in the late 1800's. They too, left little trace on the landscape as they lived sparsely and used only what they needed to live. This man traveled over the Bering straits and into northern China to establish settlements in Mongolia. Genghis Khan was the famous leader of the Mongols who led his conquering warriors all the way to establishing a settlement in Hungary before being beaten back somewhat by the Romans. He could have continued to the Atlantic Ocean had he a mind to, but the progression stopped in Hungary with the exception of Finland where lactose-intolerant Mongolian man is evident.

PERUVIAN MOTHER

E. Egyptian man

Much is written of Egyptian man and his civilization. His blood type is O+ Diego + and Rh+ exclusively. He was bounded by the desert to the west, mountains to the south and the Nile to the east. This man was forced to settle early and there was little other than floods to make him migrate away. This is the key to early civilization in Egypt. The floods created a fertile soil capable of sustaining life in a major way. Grains, fruits, and fresh water with fish allowed Egyptian man to contemplate his existence as well as settle in villages of larger magnitudes. As a matter of wanderlust and expansion, he traveled to the northeast and crossed to the fertile crescent of Mesopotamia. Later travels east into northern India and China to mix with local peoples have created the largest populations in the world. Egyptian man took knowledge of cities with him and helped to settle the world. Early travel by water routes to Italy and Greece helped to establish those civilizations.

F. African man

This man is the source of all black man and was locked into southern Africa. He was a hunter and tribesman with few established settlements. Bordered by desert, ocean and mountain, he lived off the local vegetation, fruit, nuts and wildlife. He has elliptical black frizzy hair and O-positive-Diego positive blood. Contrary to some beliefs, he did not evolve from either apes nor chimpanzees as neither of them has O-positive blood types. His migration was a forced migration due to the slave trade. He was relocated to the Caribbean and North America and after the American Civil War migrated to the large cities in the northern USA. One important note, he is 100% O-positive. He also has blood groups that are exclusive to him such as Duffy -. One migration of African man was eastward to Pakistan and India where he is called Tamil. From there he moved on to Australia. These civilizations all practice male and female circumcision. He also migrated to northern Japan, probably on a sailing ship with Scandinavian man. He has longer forearms, a broad flat nose and a longer head than most others.

INDIAN TAMIL BLACK WOMAN

Other barriers to migration, selective development

Why do we see one race or ethnic group border another with little or no blending? What is the root of prejudice? I submit that some was caused by the early mixing of races and the young being stillborn as a result of the conflicting blood types. If childbirth created a dearth of stillborns, a natural prejudice would occur. Generally, if the baby is O or the same as the mother, A, B, etc, then there is no problem. However, A rejects B and vice versa. RH+ and RH- blood types can cause an internal blood storm as one type creates antibodies to fight off the other. While this only occurs in the second or third child, enough instances would create an agreement of the races to separate for the good of both races. Caucasians today have 15% Rh- blood, while Asian and African have 0% Rh-. This may be a survival bias that has been demonized over time to prevent a mixing of deadly blood types. While it may well have been the consequence and mutual agreement of the races, it could have been folk lored into a much more sinister story. Certainly a major catastrophe such as hemophilia would be impetus to create an iron curtain between the races. Only later understanding of the Rh factor would allow this bias to be put to rest.

Finally, it has been indicated by the Hubble telescope that the moon does NOT circle the Earth. Rather, it has a wavy trajectory through which the Earth passes. The implications are enormous. We do not have a "moon" and we should rename Monday. This information is being held close to the vest. It is not being taught in schools, nor is it being announced in any major fashion. Still, it has had enough circulation as to be verified and presented on various television specials. This is a major belief that lasted 5000 years only to be dashed by a new viewpoint. Viewpoints matter!

Following is a timeline to place some of these events in a reasonable perspective.

10,000 BC Population 1,000,000 Nomadic man starts to settle

Evidence of maize domestication

Evidence of rice domestication in China and musical instruments

Evidence of domesticated animals in Asia and Africa

Pottery along the Nile
Monte Verde in Chile

6,000 BC Population 10,000,000 Man is meeting with more frequency

Wheat barley domesticated in India Pakistan

Evidence of cities with streets at right angles

Decimal system created

Hieroglyphics in Egypt

3000 BC Population 25,000,000

Stonehenge established

Cuneiform writing developed

Written languages create civilizations
1 Population 200,000,000

Christ born

1800 Population 1 Billion Start of the Industrial revolution
1930 Population 2 Billion
1960 Population 3 Billion
1975 Population 4 Billion
1989 Population 5 Billion
2000 Population 6 Billion

SUMMARY

It is not plausible to imagine civilized settlements having their residents traverse thousands of miles to become nomadic grunters. The reverse is evident. Nomadic tribes have no need to settle. There are nomadic tribes being discovered every decade in Borneo, or Brazil, or Africa. American Indians, Laplanders, Arabic desert tribes are the remnants of early man. African tribes migrated only when forced. Man moved to friendly areas of the globe. Clear water, fish, game, grains, fruits, and vegetables caused man to settle. Barring natural catastrophe, war or disease, civilized man tends to stay put, and live longer. He grows exponentially as opposed to the hunter/gatherer who limits growth to preserve viability.

One thing is sure; the differences in man are fewer than the similarities. Modern science and the understanding of antibodies can allow a continued trend of racial mixing and migration. A return to Universal love and welcoming would be a step in the right direction. Yet, the greatest next step might be return from matters of cause and effect back to the quest for meaning and purpose. This is the domain of the spirit, and has been anemic for some 2000 years.

ON CIVILIZATION

A study of man's travels and origins

Gary Kimball
June 21, 2008



Saturday 23 April 2011

Interesting Facts Regarding Titanium Jewelry

The word 'titanium' actually originates from the Greek word "titanos", which refers to Titans, the Greek mythological God. This metal is now considered as the hottest new element in the world of jewelry design. It is fast becoming all the rage in fashion jewelry creating ripples and style statements. The biggest advantage and appeal of this metal lay in the fact that it is the toughest natural material found on planet earth. The elegance and beauty of this metal is fast gaining popularity. Earlier the metal was only used in industries and for building spacecraft and aircraft machineries.

The lustrous natural grey color of the titanium metal makes it really attractive to look at. In this article, we will discuss about the various other interesting facts regarding titanium.

• Titanium is the strongest metal in the world, and the aerospace grade titanium is extremely durable. These days it is used to make jewelry items that are long lasting for centuries and it is virtually impossible to destroy the titanium jewelry.

• The metal is so tough that it is nearly impossible to scratch, bend or even dent the titanium jewelry. It is actually an amazing property for people who tend to be quite harder on their ornaments and have no time for maintenance.

• Titanium metal has a unique appearance and the hue sets it apart from all other metals available on the planet. It is like a breath of fresh air from the dull and mundane metals such as gold, platinum and silver.

• The metal has less natural shine when compared to white gold and platinum.

• The titanium jewelry usually has bold and rogue design. This gives a masculine feel to the jewelry items. The metal is mostly shaped into quite strong and elegant pieces.

• The metal is 100% hypoallergenic. This implies that it does not cause any kind of allergic reactions while wearing it. The metal that is used for making jewelry is medically tested and 99% pure. It is an ideal choice for those who have sensitive skin.

• As the titanium metal is light in weight, the titanium jewelry is quite very comfortable to wear. The metal also does not rust of tarnish with time like the other metals.

Maintaining the metal and keeping it clean is very easy. You just need to mix some mild detergent and wipe the metal with water. Get a rogue design titanium jewelry now and wear space craft technology on your finger!




Rogue DZN is an exclusive titanium jewelry store that dares to create groundbreaking and unparalleled work of art in unprecedented style. Check out the fresh collection of titanium jewelry boasting unique designs never attempted before. Click here.

Friday 22 April 2011

Venetian Face Masks - A Brief History of How They Came About

The Venetian face masks have a great history that is associated with them. It will be very interesting to know about the various reasons that are associated with the emergence of these kinds of masks. This mask can also be a good idea to wear for some of the parties and balls that you would like to attend to. There are also several models in which this mask can be bought.

Many people who choose to wear these masks are very satisfied and enjoy wearing them on a consistent basis. The masks were first used in the capital of Italy a very long time ago. It will be good to know about the history of this product such that you will be feeling it to be a pride possession whenever you wear these kind of masks to any special event.

The Amazing History of Venetian Masks

In the thirteenth century, one of the important activities that were taking place in the region of Venice is shipbuilding. There was more than 10 percent of the overall population who were involved in the production of these ships. Majority of these people who are involved in this shipbuilding process were from other parts of the world and considered as slaves.

There was a rising level of awareness to stop the act of trading others as slaves. The shipbuilding process was achieved with such tremendous speed to an extent that it was possible for them to build a battle ship in less than 30 days. There was great level of labor that was put into the manufacturing of these ships and it took a very long time for them to get done.

Idea Of Introducing Masks

The idea to introduce face masks was first taken up to prevent people from being treated in an ugly manner and to prevent from others making fun of them. There was a great advantage that was associated with wearing these masks and many people wanted this advantage.

The supervisor will also avail a honest reply from people and also people from foreign origin will be protected. Thus these Venetian masks will be a wonderful possession that will be providing you with wonderful looks and at the same time you can feel proud of wearing them anywhere you go.

Many people are just simply not aware of the wonderful history of these masks and how they eventually came about. Now that you know you can feel proud of wearing them.




Simon Kendal loves going to masquerade parties and really knows about the variety of masks you can wear. He recently created some informational websites.

He provides useful information on some cool and cheap masquerade masks. Also he shows the benefits of purchasing some fun mardi gras half masks to go to any special events. Masks are fun to wear and will definitely help you relax when undergoing some serious and stressful life situations.

Monday 18 April 2011

On Percy Jackson

I saw the movie Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief a long time ago. Watched it again a few days ago since I saw my DVD copy. And I've realized, I still have not decided whether or not this movie impressed me. And as of this writing, I still have not decided hahaha...

I'm a fan of movies based on books. But this one, I've never heard until i saw the trailer. And i researched to learn more about it. Wikipedia helped me with a lot of information and my curiosity got me! I wanted to watch the movie!

I was intrigued. Its premise is really interesting.... a teenager who finds out that he is a Demigod (half human, half Greek god) and a son of Poseidon. His life was threatened after being accused of stealing the lightning bolt of Zeus. He was then brought to Camp Half-Blood by Grover, his protector and best friend and meets Annabeth, the daughter of Athena. Then the 3 decided to go to the Underworld to talk to Hades to appeal for the life of his mother.

Interesting storyline, right. Interesting characters, as well. If I was still a kid, I'd be dreaming of being one of the characters of the movie. Or actually living the life of any characters haha...

I think the movie lacks 'magic.' The movie was telling a story but not in a magical way.. but in a story telling kind of way. I remember watching Harry Potter for the first time, I was enthralled! Who could forget Platform 9 3/4, the Sorting Hat, Invisibility Cloak, the moving images of frames and the Quidditch Match!

Percy Jackson did not also have a visually magical setting as compared to that of Harry Potter's. I guess, for me, interesting storyline should be coupled with interesting visual effects to complete the experience.

And Annabeth.. yeah the character Annabeth. A strategist and a person with great wisdom? Didn't feel it. But what can it actually do? Lemme check the book.

I guess the movie was just okay. It could have been great but it was just okay. If the other books will be made into a movie, then the people behind it should never forget about the 'magic' its story brings, especially if the book involves magic or witchcraft or anything outworldly. It can spell all the difference, trust me. But I'd still recommend this movie though. But don't expect too much.



Wednesday 13 April 2011

Ancient Greek Art-Delos Island Museum - Hellenic Sculptures

This room contains many typical examples of late Hellenistic sculpture, from the heyday of Delos, in other words from 166 to 88. The majority of these works adorned private residences, while only a few were made for public buildings or sanctuaries. This era is characterized by an admiration for the sculpture of the Classical period, and even of the Archaic period, and as a consequence led many artists to a sterile imitation of earlier styles and trends, with dubious success. Nevertheless, there are some original works on display here, as well as copies of well-known works of the Classical period, but made by mediocre artists. Most of them date from the second half of the second century and the beginning of the first century.

There is an interesting series of statues on the east side of the room associated with Dionysos: an actor dressed as Silenus holding young Dionysos in his arms; the god Pan shown holding his syrinx (Pan pipes) and with an animal hide thrown over the left shoulder; a Herm with the head of a Satyr; a god sitting upon a nice throne, perhaps Dionysos or Apollo, with a snake beside his left foot, found in the Sanctuary of Dionysos; two actors dressed as Sileni, wearing a goat-skin vest beneath their costumes and holding a wine-skin in the left hand and a tambourine in the right one, also found in the Sanctuary of Dionysos; a Satyr holding a wine-skin; a statuette of a Satyr with a frog. Two Herms with the head of Harpocrates, the first of which is holding the cornucopia, the symbol of abundance, in its right hand. Harpocrates is the Greek form of the Egyptian god Horns and was worshipped as protector of Statue of a Nymph, the house. The head of a goddess that a copy of an original work of the 4' century. It was found shows a Syrian influence. A Herm in the form of a in the House of Heroes.

Hermaphrodite, from the Theatre District. Another Herm, which was found in the House of Hermes and after which the house was named. This very fine head of Hermes, made in the archaic style and found in 1948, was inspired according to some scholars by Hermes Propylaios by Alkamenes, although some others see an influence from an original work by Kallimachos; notice the perfect styling of the hair and beard. Another Herm made of Pendelic marble, rather badly eroded today, comes from the Propylaia (Propylaios Hermes) and is perhaps a faithful copy of the Hermes Propylaios by Alkamenes from the Acropolis of Athens. A full-size copy of the well-known `Little Herculanean', a work by Praxiteles, discovered in the Agora of Theophrastos. The statue of a Nymph in very good condition from the House of Hermes; the fact that the left side was much better worked shows from which angle it was on view.

On the west side of the room there is a series of statues associated with the cult of Apollo and Artemis. The largest and most interesting one is the 1,44 m. high statue of Artemis the deer-slayer. The goddess is shown wearing her hunting outfit and holding in her left hand the antlers of a deer that she is about to slay with a spear that she was holding in her right hand, while her left knee holds the animal still. The work is in a very good condition, has movement and well rendered folds of the tunic on which traces of the original coloring remain. Notice the contrast between the violence involved in the act, the strong movement of the body and the expression of serenity on the face of the goddess. The statue of a Nymph, perhaps Amymone, a hand (perhaps Poseidon's) can be discerned on the right pulling away her garment to reveal her naked back and well-formed buttocks. The statue of a pensive Muse, maybe Polymnia (A 351), from the House of Dionysos; she is shown leaning on some kind of support, with her left hand to her chin. Notice the complexity of her garments and the fine way in which the folds have been worked. A statuette perhaps of Aphrodite, from the House of Hermes, with traces of the original coloring. Another statue of Aphrodite in the style of Praxiteles' Aphrodite. A headless statue of Apollo, very well preserved, from the House of the Masks. An Apollo from the Theater District, who was holding a guitar in his left hand; some coloring is still visible on his garments. An Artemis with an outstretched right arm, which probably held a bow; the folds of her peplos have been very well rendered, also from the Theater District. A statue probably of Leto from the Theater District. A statue perhaps of the goddess Tyche, who may have held the cornucopia, the symbol of abundance, in her right hand. A headless Artemis wearing a full-length chiton gathered at the waist, the left sleeve falling to the forearm to reveal her naked shoulder, and with a deerskin worn over it. In the southwest corner of the room there is an archaistic relief from the Hellenistic period with Hermes, Athena, Apollo and Artemis, from the House of the Lake. The bodies, hairstyles and garments of the three gods are done in the old archaic style, while the decoration with garlands and bullheads in the upper part of the work are typical of the Hellenistic period.

The large mosaic which covers the entire north wall of the room was found in a house in the Islet of Jewels and was transferred to the museum in 1968 due to its delicate condition. In the center of the mosaic there are three figures: Athena on the left, holding a spear and an owl, Hermes on the right, holding a caduceus, and between them a seated female figure too damaged to be identified. It may have represented Hermes bringing the young Dionysos to the Nymphs. A border with floral motifs, comic masks and bullheads in the four corners, frames the scene. There is also a non-identified portrait in the upper part of the border.




Since you will probably visit Delos from Mykonos it would be a good idea to have a look at Mykonos Travel Guide to learn more about Mykonos Beaches and Hotels in Mykonos.

Monday 11 April 2011

Perseus The Warrior Vs Calibos The Monster - Greek Halloween Costumes That Rock

Lets step back a little to a time of great myths and legends, brilliant story telling, and maybe the inclusion of the Hollywood touch, and look at the classic characters from the brilliant story of "Clash Of The Titans,' two in particular, Perseus, and Acrisius, also known as Calibos, after been turned into a monster. These two enemies make the perfect Halloween costume idea, for both men and boys.

Really the Clash Of The Titans movie is just a collaboration of mostly Greek mythology and a little Roman throwing in, and mixed up for some great Hollywood story telling, and as the first movie was made in 1981(my favorite) another entertaining remake was made in 2010, and because of this, Clash of the Titans Halloween costume have become very popular, but you can see why with the great looking characters in the movies.

Perseus
Perseus is the half human son of the Greek God Zeus who is a brave warrior that defeats the monster Medusa and slays the beast the Kraken, winning the love and saving the Princess Andromeda. While trying to do this he is perused by the monster Calibos.

The Perseus costumes for Halloween available are outstanding looking. They are mean and powerful looking, come with battle scarred looking tunics and armor, featuring chest pieces, arm gauntlets and shin guards, swords and shield, a seriously fun costume, and made specifically for men and boys, from standard sizes to XL sizes. A brilliant costume to help you turn heads this Halloween.

Calibos
Calibos was once called Acrisius, the son of the Goddess Thetis and was engaged to Andromeda. He was struck with lightening by Zeus and turned into the monster he is now. Calibos becomes angry about the love between Perseus and Andromeda and takes her prisoner, which sets of the chain of events that make this a gripping enjoyable story.

The Calibos costumes are outrageously crazy looking and fun to wear. They include a torn and tattered tunic, a molded chest-piece with scar details, gauntlets, molded fingers and shin guards, and a brilliant vile mask, all in all, the perfect Halloween costume.

These costumes are unique, and perfect for men and boys, wanting to rule this Halloween. In the story there are other great Halloween characters like Medusa and all the Gods so the choice is fantastic. But with Perseus and Calibos, whether you choose to pair up or go as an individual, whether to be a hero warrior or a scary hideous monster, the choice is uniquely stunning, and sure to be the talk of any Halloween fancy dress party.




The Clash Of The Titans movie brings these characters to life brilliantly. The Perseus and Calibos costumes are just some of the amazing costumes available at http://clashofthetitanscostumeshop.com, be sure to pay a visit to find great unique Halloween Bargains.

Wednesday 6 April 2011

What is the Registered Nurse Symbol?

To nurses, and healthcare professionals in general, the registered nurse symbol stands as a symbol of accomplishment for completing school. It has become known over the last century as representation for healthcare professionals as a whole for the care and dedication put into this profession. In nursing school the registered nurse symbol is symbolic of the caring nature in nursing. One may ask where did the nurse symbol come from? Read on to find out.

The nursing symbol, originally known as the Caduceus is a staff that was according to legend carried by the roman god messenger Hermes. This staff was topped with a pair of wings and had two winding serpents around it. It was a symbol of fertility, wisdom, and was also a symbol of the sun gods. Carried by Greek heralds and ambassadors, this staff was meant as a symbol of neutrality pertaining to the Romans.

This symbol has been the insignia of the healthcare branch of the U.S. Army since 1902. The registered nurse symbol, or caduceus, is much used for this purpose much like any other symbol would be used for services such as the Postal Service, commerce or ambassador positions. Since the 16th Century it has replaced the Asclepius one serpent symbol as the image of choice for medicine.

Even though the nurse symbol is thought by some to be a negative mark on the profession, it's still a positive symbol for those of us who work as a nurse inside the field. No matter what the registered nurse symbol might seem like to others, to the common public it still remains a image from the nursing and medical fields in general, and consequently stands as a positive symbolic representation for them and a sense of comfort. We nurses don't look at it and think of the negative connotations associated with it from ancient mythology, we regard it as being a image of pride.

Many "medical" organisations use a nurse symbol of a short rod entwined by two snakes and topped by a pair of wings, which is actually the caduceus or magic wand of the Greek god Hermes (Roman Mercury), messenger of the gods, inventor of (magical) incantations, conductor of the dead and protector of merchants and thieves. Its meaning is 'heralds staff' from the Greek word karykeion. Itself based on the word 'eruko' meaning control or restrain.

It is interesting to see that most of organisations using this registered nurse symbol are generally either commercial or military (or American). New Zealand examples include drug and pharmaceutical companies. A study by Friedlander confirms this impression. The link between the caduceus of Hermes (Mercury) and medicine seems to have arisen by the seventh century A.D., when Hermes had come to be linked with alchemy. Alchemists were referred to as the sons of Hermes, as Hermetists or Hermeticists and as "practitioners of the hermetic arts". There are clear occult associations with the caduceus.

The magic staff of Mercury, otherwise known as Hermes, was the Caduceus. Associated today as the registered nurse symbol. Back in the time of Hermes this symbol was an image for heralds and commerce, not medicine. The other words associated with this symbol were caduity, imply temporality, and senility. While the nursing profession touts vitality, renewal, and health.




Learn more about the registered nurse. Stop by Steven Swihart's site where you can find out all about top nursing schools and what they can do for you.

Tuesday 5 April 2011

Daedalos in Athens and Crete

The Athenians have presented the world with many famous savants, who have contributed much to the development of human knowledge. The earliest known was Daedalos, the grandson of King Erechtheos. Like Leonardo da Vinci centuries later, he seems to have been an all-round genius: inventor, craftsman and architect.

He took on as his apprentice his sister Perdix' son, Talos. But the boy showed such great promise that very soon, Daedalos feared that he would demonstrate himself to be even more talented than his teacher, and in time would surpass him. While still an apprentice, he invented the potters' wheel and compass. When, inspired by his inspection of the jaw of a snake, he invented the toothed saw, Daedalos could stand it no longer. He murdered the boy by tossing him from the walls of the Acropolis. It was said that Athena turned him into a partridge.

On learning the sad news of her son's death, his poor mother, committed suicide. On the spot where the young genius died, the Athenians erected a small shrine. Meanwhile, Daedalos was tried at the Areopagus and banished from the city.

From Athens he went to the court of King Minos at Crete, where he became even more famous, for he constructing a wooden cow for the queen, by means of which she was able to satisfy her unnatural desire for a white bull sent by Poseidon. Then he built the infamous Labyrinth to contain the Minotaur, the monstrous result of this union. Finally, he invented wings by which he sought to escape from Crete with Ikaros.

Some scholars think that Daedalos was never an Athenian at all, but that the proud citizens of Athens thought that any figure of such intelligence and ingenuity just had to be Athenian, and so they invented a false geneaology for him, making him a son of Erechtheus.




St George Lycabettus, Athens Hilton and Niki Hotel are among the best of Athens.