Saturday 31 March 2012

How To Burn Incense Grains on Charcoal Disks (Practical Ritual Advice)

Burning Incense is a beautiful and effective way of making an offering to our Gods and to the spirits of a place. Its been used in this way for many thousands of years, a practice which continues in Churches and Temples today. This short film by the author & priestess Sorita d'Este is a practical "how to" guide to burning incense grains on a charcoal disk. It shows how to light a charcoal disk and burn grains of incense on it. Its aimed at beginners and is in response to the many of you who asked how to do this in response to the preparation for the Rite of Her Sacred Fires (www.sacredfires.co.uk). You can learn more about Sorita d'Este at http

Thursday 29 March 2012

The end begins God of war theme lyrics



Tuesday 27 March 2012

Perseus and the Gorgon (1/3) - Jim Henson's The Storyteller - Greek Myths

"Perseus and the Gorgon" - An episode of Jim Henson's The Storyteller - Greek Myths. Starring Michael Gambon.

Monday 26 March 2012

HADES (Clash of the Gods) 4/4

Hades (Άδης or Ἀΐδας; from Greek ᾍδης, Hadēs, originally Ἅιδης, Haidēs or Άΐδης, Aidēs, meaning "the unseen"]) refers both to the ancient Greek underworld, the abode of Hades, and to the god of the underworld. Hades in Homer referred just to the god; the genitive ᾍδου, Haidou, was an elision to denote locality: "[the house/dominion] of Hades". Eventually, the nominative, too, came to designate the abode of the dead. In Greek mythology, Hades is the oldest male child of Kronus and Rhea. According to myth, he and his brothers Zeus and Poseidon defeated the Titans and claimed rulership over the universe ruling the underworld, air, and sea, respectively; the solid earth, long the province of Gaia, was available to all three concurrently. Because of his association with the underworld, Hades is often interpreted in modern times as the Grim Reaper, even though he was not. By the Romans Hades was called Pluto, from his Greek epithet Πλούτων Ploutōn (πλοῦτος, wealth), meaning "Rich One". In Roman mythology, Hades/Pluto was called Dis Pater and Orcus. The corresponding Etruscan god was Aita. Symbols associated with him are the Helm of Darkness and the three-headed dog, Cerberus. ΕΛΛΑΣ ΕΛΛΑΔΑ ΜΥΘΟΛΟΓΙΑ ΗΛΥΣΙΑ ΠΕΔΙΑ ΤΑΡΤΑΡΑ ΚΕΡΒΕΡΟΣ ΔΗΜΗΤΡΑ ΠΕΡΣΕΦΟΝΗ ΟΡΦΕΑΣ ΕΥΡΥΔΙΚΗ ΚΡΟΝΟΣ ΡΕΑ ΤΙΤΑΝΕΣ ΑΔΗΣ ΗΡΑ ΠΟΣΕΙΔΩΝ ΔΙΑΣ HELLAS GREECE HADES KRONUS RHEA TITANS GAIA PLUTO CERBERUS TARTARUS ELYSIAN FIELDS KRONOS ORPHEUS EURIDICE EURYDIKE DEMETER PERSEPHONE HERA ZEUS POSEIDON OLYMPIANS GOD GREEK ...

Saturday 24 March 2012

Enya Caribbean Blue [With Lyrics]

Info: For the pics featured in the vid, go to; s243.photobucket.com THE MUSIC DOES NOT BELONG TO ME, THE MUSIC BELONGS TO : WMG!!!!!! ALL CREDITS GO TO THEM!!!! Enya, Carribean Blue... Eurus, Afer Ventus... So the world goes round and round with all you ever knew. They say the sky high above is Caribbean blue. If every man says all he can, if every man is true, do I believe the sky above is Caribbean bLlue. Boreas, Zephyrus... If all you toLld was turned to gold, if all you dreamed was new, Imagine sky high above in Caribbean blue. Eurus, Afer Ventus, Boreas Zephyrus, Africus...

Friday 23 March 2012

God of War 3 - Part 3 of 35

Here is part 3 of my God of War 3 playthrough. Enjoy!

Thursday 22 March 2012

The Importance of Hospitality

It's a word we may not often hear these days. Hospitality. Being hospitable. In deed, maybe we're not as hospitable as we can or should be. In idea, maybe we're not sure of how we can be hospitable.

Being approachable; a warm smile; the ability to hear what someone tells you either through language, indirect statements, or subtle body cues; a receptive nature. It's something we are all capable of.

This theory is nothing new. It has a long evolution and has been worded and talked of in many different ways.

Esther Hicks and Abraham address it in a new and more applicable method; that whatever positive trait we would like to see and develop in ourselves, we should then see and address those traits in the people that populate our environment. If we attract what we resonate with, then to see those traits in others means already that we indeed have those traits ourselves.

Before that, the idea expressed itself in the WWJD bracelets...

It was a catch phrase in the 80's with "I'm all right, you're all right"...

The bible mentions it one way as love your neighbor...

And thousands of years ago the Greeks addressed it as well. It was the core tenet of many Greek beliefs, and was included in their mythologies. You never knew when Zeus, Hera, Hermes, or any other God might take human form to knock on your door for a dinner. It wasn't wise to be inhospitable!

Being hospitable transcends an idea or habit, and allows us to be receptive. It shifts us into a mind set of welcoming and allowing the changes in Energy we would like to initiate. It allows a different perspective.

I've attended many federal level seminars and trainings regarding Information Technology- acquisition, business analysis, failure analysis, project management, security... The general theme I've noticed has been this: Manage your Risks! One instructor even went so far as to say "God put us here on this earth, and our only job is to manage risk!" Not just in a business sense, but in all facets of life. He was the perfect man to deliver this message, as it had worked for him through two wars. His particular perception was that obstacles to our goals were risks to manage very closely. In the business of I.T., this meant that everything one encounters is a risk and should be addressed with the appropriate methodologies being taught.

The perspective this demands implies that anything and everything in your environment is there to do some degree of harm or damage to you or your projects. There is nothing that will assist you so you must take advantage of your risks and shift them to your favor. I'll leave the implications of this manner of thinking towards a business perspective out of this. The implications of doing this personally, of allowing such a perspective, could be nothing but unhealthy and de-energizing.

So we have this dichotomy of thought. Are we warm and receptive to those strangers knocking on our door, or, do we allow a fear based reality to exist, where strangers and friends are all risks?

What happens when we apply the ideas of Hospitality or Being Inhospitable to our own personal and spiritual natures?

Are we open to change, to changing ourselves, to shifting our own Energies? Can we allow the idea that something entering our environment could be an emissary of the divine, a physical "How" of change that the Universe is providing us? That maybe, the universe is working through us as well?

Erin Pavlina provides a succinct example of this on her blog ( http://www.erinpavlina.com/blog/2008/07/manifesting-a-reading/ ). How she trusted her intuition, allowing that "stranger" thought to lead her to something she was meant to do with someone that entered her environment. It's a wonderful article worth reading. Being Hospitable- warm and receptive, inviting - to people as well as the ideas we allow into our conscious takes only a singular decision. It's a path of loving Energy. When we are hospitable, others are the same towards us. It could be that many of us are afraid of this particular path simply because of the belief that our kindness and hospitality we will be seen as weaknesses by others. Somehow we'll be taken advantage of. There's never a way to know for sure unless we try, right?

Being inhospitable is also a state of being called forth by your decision to be so. It's a path of cautiousness, of being alert and worried by those people and ideas in our environment. It's fear based thinking. Simply be thinking this way, we draw such inhospitable people and ideas towards us. Consider this: we, as a nation, by practicing in-hospitality, have wars that have endured for decades. Wars on poverty, drugs, terrorism. Yet, we have even MORE poverty, drugs, and terrorism.

I've dealt with a multitude of people and events who ardently subscribe to the "Risk Management" model of life. I'm sure you do as well, even if those people don't call it "Risk Management". How we can we maintain our posture of Hospitality while dealing with such people?

One of the easiest modalities I have used for this has worked, and continues to work for me. It diffuses the other persons harshness and allows them the opportunity to reciprocate the kindness. It's one simple word.

"And...?"

When people approach me with anger, I allow them the chance to vent and fume their issue to me. Usually these tirades last a few minutes and I choose to see the situation as one that allows hospitality to be brought to focus. At some point, the person pauses, expecting a reply that will continue to fuel the exchange.

Reply with a simple, "And...?".

And they'll usually continue to rant until they run our of Energy and expect a reply.

"Go on...",

Allow them to continue to voice the source of their anger and discontent. And, they usually continue- the rants get shorter, and at some point something happens that will turn the tide, that will shift their focus.

"And then...?"

They hear themselves and what they are saying. Their anger at whatever situation, event, or person slowly dissipates because you have allowed them the opportunity to be inhospitable, to air those negative vibrations of Energy. You have remained warm and receptive to them, not allowing their fear-based perceptions to solicit a reaction from you. Eventually, their ideas and emotions of anger run out, allowing you to practice your ideas of hospitality. You've not only listened to them, you've heard them. However you address them afterward, whatever advice or critique you offer, doesn't really matter. What matters is that you have given them a model of how to be hospitable by being it yourself.

This modality works with many situations, even friendly exchanges. How often have you spoke with a stranger or friend or family member, and encouraged them to expound on their positive thoughts by asking "And then what happened?", "And then what did you do?"... Your hospitality has now encouraged others by offering them a friendly ear!

However you choose to see the world or treat other people or ideas in your own environment, be gentle with yourself. Be hospitable with yourself and you'll be hospitable with others.

Have a Blessed day,

J.Henry



Wednesday 21 March 2012

Euripides: Iphigenia (1977 film)-Iphigenia arrives at Aulis

Tatiana Papamoschou ... Ifigeneia Irene Papas ... Klytaimnistra Kostas Kazakos ... Agamemnonas Kostas Karras ... Menelaos in Greek, with english subtitles Tatiana Papamoschou received Best Leading Actress Award at the 1977 Thessaloniki Film Festival for this role. Produced and directed by Mihalis Kakogiannis (Michael Cacoyannis) Original Music by Mikis Theodorakis Cinematography by Giorgos Arvanitis Introductory Note By Michael Cacoyannis for The Sydney Greek Film Festival, 2006: "Looking back at my career as director -- producer -- writer, I realise to what extent my choice of subject was determined by the personality and special gifts of some actor -- mostly female, whose striking looks and emotional complexity I felt challenged to explore. Four of my first five films, all shot in Greece, starred Elli Lambetti, in original screenplays that explored her mysterious beauty and wide range from sophisticated comedy to violent drama. The fifth, "Stella", was tailored to the sensual and explosive personality of Melina Mercouri and launched her on the international scene. I had been toying with the idea of adapting a Greek tragedy to the screen, when I met Irene Papas in the early sixties. Her unique classical beauty, her intelligence and emotional power were just the right ingredients for the title role in "Electra", which I scripted with her in mind. Distributed by United Artists, the film met with international acclaim, planting the seed for a trilogy about the Atreids and ...

Sunday 18 March 2012

75000 yr old Civilization found in South Africa!!!!!!

book#1 TEMPLES OF THE AFRICAN GODS: Revealing the ancient hidden ruins of Southern Africa. (By Michael Tellinger.) book#2 ADAM's CALENDAR: Discovering the oldest Man-Made structure on Earth. 75000 years ago. By Johan Heine & Michael Tellinger. These breathtaking ruins constitute the largest continuous stone settlement ever built on Earth as it stretches over thousands of miles from South Africa all the way to Kenya and beyond. "We are dealing with a very complex site that covers over 500 square kilometres and makes up the largest and oldest city on Earth that has almost completely eroded." "We know very little about them except what we are discovering on a daily basis in the expansive ruins." Based on Carbon Dating of various artifacts. Astronomical Alignment of various monoliths indicate a certain level of clarity that these lost civilisations have been around for much longer than anyone could ever have imagined. These sites were dated to at least 75000 years ago and according to archeologists these sites are the very first concentrated human settlements inhabited by the early Homo sapiens to date.

Saturday 17 March 2012

God of War III - The fate of Pandora \\ Kratos and Zeus Encounter

*WARNING!! SPOILERS* Kratos must choose to sacrafice Pandora to open the box, or allow his vengance to go unfulfilled. This is probably my favourite scene from the entire saga of God of War games. Kratos shows us a totally different side to him as he starts to feel for Pandora in the same way he did for his daughter, Calliope. It's an epically beautiful rollercoaster of different emotions to say the least. I couldn't find these cutscenes anywhere else on youtube without having to watch two parts and skipping the boring battle with Zeus. So here, for your enjoyment, is Kratos' encounter with Zeus as well as what follows.

Thursday 15 March 2012

Eight Fun Facts About Western Dragons

Western Dragons typically are thought of as evil, fire-breathing beasts. Their reputation as evil may have been influenced by the demonization from the Church, and their fire-spewing capability.

As promised, your eight easy ways to remember the Western Dragon:

1. Both Chinese Dragons and Western dragons usually live in water, especially oceans and rivers. Apep and Tiamat are two examples of water dwellers. Some also are thought to spew water, like the French dragon Gargouille, and the Devil Dragon from the Book of Revelations.

2. There is a theory that dragons evolved into fire-breathing abilities due to a large internal bladder, or sac, filled with methane. The Dragon had a metal-type "flint" in its throat, and when it belched in self-defense was able to ignite the methane and 'breathe fire'.

3. Dragons have the ability to fly because their wings are huge and capable of providing lift. Their frames are not composed of solid bones, but are hollow and cartilaginous; light, like plastic.

4. Like the Eastern, or Chinese Dragons, Western Dragons also have the reputation of wisdom. Ancient Greek stories tell us that Pythonesses learned from Dragons.

5. The common theme of a Western Dragon's diet is either animals like sheep and goats, and also young maidens (virgins). Perseus and Andromeda include this in their Greek Mythologies, and Hercules saved a maiden from a Dragon. St. George (from Europe) also tells of maiden sacrifices from Europe.

6. Dragons make great guardians. Ladon guarded the Golden apples at Hesperides,and Tiamat's Dragon guarded sacred tablets. It was a dragon that guarded the golden fleece from Jason, and the Golden Apples at Hesperides were protected by Ladon. So your dragon figurines perched on a castle or your dragon holding a ball are likely Western Dragons.

7. Not only were Dragons considered guardians, but actual greedy hoarders. There are mythical stories of greedy men who were turned into Western Dragons.

8. In appearance, Western Dragons have a long neck and tail, horned heads, scales like body armor, forked tongues, and varying colors. Their feet are clawed.

Following are various Western Dragon categories:

Amphitere:

Dragons with feathers, or plumes. Examples include the Egyptian dragon, Buto, and the South American dragon, Quetzlcoatl.

Drake:

An old English term for a dragon. A fire breathing dragon was called a fire drake.

Guivre:

A Guivre has four legs, two wings.

Lindworm:

A dragon with two legs, and no wings.

Wyrm:

a dragon having no legs or wings, like a snake. As an aside, this is the French name for a Guivre.

Wyvern:

It represents pestilence and war. It has two wings and two legs. Common Dragons will have two wings and four legs.

There are many great Dragon stories; are Dragons real? The funny thing is, almost anyone can say what they think a Dragon is, even if it exists only in Mythology. But lots of people can't describe mitochondria...and we all have them!




Kim Petit has written other articles about Dragons. See more at [http://www.justperfectgifts.com/default.asp?dept_id=23000&nopopup=]

There is a cool dragon video at YouTube: [http://www.justperfectgifts.com/default.asp?dept_id=23000&nopopup=1]

Get cool dragons for your collection: [http://www.justperfectgifts.com/default.asp?dept_id=23040&nopopup=1]

Tuesday 13 March 2012

God of War III Walkthrough - Maze Puzzle HD

Sign up for free apps! bit.ly www.mahalo.com www.mahalo.com Checkout the rest of the God of War III walkthrough videos here! God of War III Playlist: www.youtube.com This is a video walkthrough of Maze Puzzle in the vengeful action game, God of War III for the PS3! Check out these related Mahalo Video Game Walkthroughs: Gears of War 2 Walkthrough: www.mahalo.com Dead Space Walkthrough: www.mahalo.com StarCraft II Walkthrough: www.mahalo.com Halo 3: ODST Walkthrough: www.mahalo.com Halo Wars Walkthrough: www.mahalo.com BioShock 2 Walkthrough: www.mahalo.com Call of Duty: World at War Walkthrough: www.mahalo.com Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 Walkthrough: www.mahalo.com Battlefield: Bad Company 2 Walkthrough: www.mahalo.com Left 4 Dead 2 Walkthrough: www.mahalo.com Lost Planet 2 Walkthrough: www.mahalo.com Check out these Mahalo How-To Playlists: How to Play We Rule on the iPad: www.youtube.com How to Get 3 Stars on Angry Birds in World 1: www.youtube.com How to Get 3 Stars on Angry Birds in World 2: www.youtube.com How to Use the Droid Phone: www.youtube.com How to Use the iPhone 4: www.youtube.com How to Use Twitter: www.youtube.com How to Play Farmville: www.youtube.com How to Start a Blog: www.youtube.com How to Use Facebook: www.youtube.com How to Sell on eBay for Beginners: www.youtube.com

Saturday 10 March 2012

Ancient Greek Love Songs of Sappho

Ancient Greek Poetry Recited. Poet of the Day Sappho of Lesbos.

Friday 9 March 2012

God of War 3 Chaos Mode 005

En el Inframundo, primer ojo de gorgona, Hades hablando, obteniendo la Armada de Sparta, Pelea contra una gorgona, encuentro con Peirithous. In the Underworld, the first eye of Gorgon, Hades talking, Getting the Army of Sparta, Fight with a Gorgon, meeting with Peirithous

Thursday 8 March 2012

Guia/Walkthroughs God Of War 2-Titan Mode 024

El Salon de la Atropos

Monday 5 March 2012

Ancient Greek Hairstyles

Since Greece was the oldest civilization, the Greeks were the trendsetters of a number of things, the ancient Greek hairstyles inclusive! In the simplest of terminology, hairstyle is a style in which an individual's hair is cut and set. The hairstyles of Greeks were an indispensable part of their personalities, aptly reflecting the social, political and cultural history of the Greek period. These hairstyles were also a revelation of the customs, uniqueness and characteristic persona of the ancient Greeks.

Ever since the beginning of civilization, men and particularly women have been paying a lot of attention to the way their hair is done. Women obviously have been always more overprotective about their hair, because well-kept hair are a part of the concept of good looks, adornment and pleasant appearance. Even in the times as far back in history as the Greek civilization, people have paid attention to beauty and personal hygiene.

The most ancient of hairstyles were a result of the use of knives, hairpins and combs. As time passed, women started using hair additions and artistic wigs. In fact, ancient women were all considered more attractive if their hair were long as well as thick. It was believed that the length and thickness of hair lent it greater beauty and added on to a woman's appearance.

The hairstyles of ancient Greeks were unique in more ways than one. The most popular hairstyle was the 'Green Knot'. For this particular style, the ancient Greek women used to hold their hair together and formed a knot at the neck. Ever since those times, buns and knots have always been in fashion, with novel variations. Ancient Greeks also made use of saffron to lighten the color of their hair, so as to further enhance the style.

It was not that only Greek women had a fascination for hairstyles, the Greek men were not too far behind either; the most common hairstyle that most Greek men in ancient times sported was - short and curly. As newer fashion trends came up, these people added a variety of embellishments to their hairstyles. Most of these decorations were made of gold, silver and ivory.

During one of the ancient Greek periods, there is a record of the hair being short, chin-length as well as curly. With the advent of fashion and a consciousness towards looking fashionable, hairstyling trends started becoming increasingly imaginative. The hairstyles that gained popularity were those ornamented with ribbons, gold, precious stones and pearls.

There was also a period in Greek history, when the focus from the hairstyles went into hibernation. Even the use of wigs became less common. Later, however, with the advancement in technology an ever-increasing number of men and women started going to the hairdressers, in order to bring an absolutely new look to their personality, via the hairstyle route. The 'comparatively modern' of the ancient Greek hairstyles included 'crimping' - a style in which waves were produced in the hair, using a hot iron. Such a style was in vogue for a long time in ancient Greece. Even in the present times, crimping is the most chosen hairstyle for young girls, especially if they desire a unique look of Greek hairstyles! 




Christopher Schwebius is an entrepreneur who seeks out sharply defined, specifically focused topics to research. Upon finishing his research he provides relevant, un-biased information to his readers based on his discoveries and/or personal experiences. One of his latest ongoing projects can be viewed at http://www.ancientgreekcostume.org.

Saturday 3 March 2012

Famous Architects

Greek gods


Architects have been and will remain at the forefront of designing the built environment that surrounds us. As professional experts in the field of building, design and construction, architects use their creativity to simplify the complex process of designing and build socially and economically sustainable cities and communities. Following are some world famous architects known for their unique creative skills, vision and contributions.

Frank Lloyd Wright

Frank Lloyd Wright is one of America's most famous architects. Although he had no formal education in architecture, he believed that his work as a farm hand in Wisconsin made him very perceptive and helped develop his spatial abilities. After studying engineering at the University of Wisconsin for a few semesters at the age of 15, he left to apprentice with J.L. Silsbee and Louis Sullivan. After working with them for six years, Wright opened his own practice. During his 70-year career, Wright designed 1,141 buildings, including homes, offices, churches, schools, libraries, bridges and museums. One of his most important contributions was the Prairie House style of architecture. He experimented with obtuse angles and circles, creating unusually shaped structures, an example of which is the spiral Guggenheim Museum (1943-49). He also developed a series of low-cost homes which he called Usonian. Although he earned recognition in the early 1900s as one of the popular modern architects he became the recipient of the American Institute of Architects only in 1949.

Some of his more famous projects were:

Frederick C. Robie House 1909

Unity Temple 1906

Fallingwater 1936

Johnson Wax Administration Building 1936

I.M. Pei

I. M. Pei one of the most famous modern architects was born in Canton, China in 1917. Pei grew up in Shanghai, but in 1935 he moved to the United States to study architecture and engineering at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and later at Harvard University. He became the Director of Architecture at the real estate development firm, Webb & Knapp in 1948 and then founded his own firm in 1958.

Over the past fifty years, Ieoh Ming Pei has designed more than fifty buildings across the globe including industrial skyscrapers, museums and low income housing. Concerened more with function than theory, the defining feature of I. M. Pei's style is the use of large, abstract forms and sharp, geometric designs. His glass clad structures are born from high tech modernist movement.

During his career, Pei and his firm have won numerous architecture awards. He won the prestigious Pritzker Prize in 1983.

Some of his more noteworthy buildings are:

The Herbert F. Johnson Museum of Art at Cornell University

Bank of China Tower

John Hancock Tower

Louvre Pyramid

National Gallery

Le Corbusier

Le Corbusier, born in the late 19th century, was a pioneer of modern architecture. He founded what is popularly known as the International style or the Bauhaus. The essence of modern architecture as advocated by him was described in his 5-point theory that later became the guiding principle for many of his designs.

Freestanding support pillars

Open floor plan independent from the supports

Vertical facade that is free from the supports

Long horizontal sliding windows

Roof gardens

While the earlier buildings by Le Corbusier, called pure prisms were smooth, white concrete and glass structures elevated above the ground, his later designs used rough, heavy forms of stone, concrete, stucco and glass. He was a visionary who not only anticipated the role of the automobile but envisaged that cities would have big apartment buildings with park-like settings. Le Corbusier, as a famous architect was also known for his innovations in urban planning and his solutions for low income housing. Moreover, he believed that the stark buildings he designed would contribute to clean, bright, healthy cities. Le Corbusier's dreams of such an urban haven were aptly realized in the Unité d'Habitation, or the "Radiant City," in Marseilles, France which was built to incorporate shops, meeting rooms, and living quarters for 1,600 people in a 17-story structure. During his long life, Le Corbusier designed buildings in Europe, India, and Russia. Le Corbusier also designed one building in the United States and one in South America.

His most famous buildings are:

Palace for the League of Nations, Geneva 1927

Villa Savoye, Poissy, France 1929

Swiss Building, Cité Universitaire, Paris 1931

The Secretariat at the United Nations Headquarters, New York 1952

R. Buckminister Fuller

Born of poverty and bankruptcy, Buckheimer Fuller had contemplated suicide before his life changed courses and he became a famous architect known for his unique architectural styles dominating the 20th century. He believed that his life was an experiment and that it belonged to the universe. At the age of 32, he embarked on a journey to discover what a penniless and unknown individual might have to offer effectively to humanity. He searched for ways to do more with less so that all the people could be fed and have a shelter over their heads.

Although he never obtained a degree in architecture, he was a modern architect and engineer who designed revolutionary structures. His famous Dymaxion House was a pre-fabricated, pole-supported dwelling. His Dymaxion car was a streamlined, three-wheeled vehicle with the engine in the rear while his Dymaxion Air-Ocean Map projected a spherical world as a flat surface with no visible distortion. However, Fuller's greatest contribution is perhaps the geodesic dome - a remarkable, sphere-like structure based on theories of "energetic-synergetic geometry'' which he developed during WWII. Efficient and economical, the geodesic dome was widely hailed as a possible solution to world housing shortages.

Although his Dymaxion car did not achieve popularity and his design for geodesic domes is rarely used, Fuller made his mark in areas of architecture, mathematics, philosophy, religion, urban development and design.

His most important works included:

1932: The portable Dymaxion house manufactured

1934: The Dymaxion car

1938: Nine Chains to the Moon

1949: Developed the Geodesic Dome

1967: US Pavilion at Expo '67, Montreal, Canada

1969: Operating Manual for Spaceship Earth

1970: Approaching the Benign Environment

Louis Sullivan

Louis Sullivan is known to be America's first and original modern architect, as he believed in creating his own designs and forms rather than imitating older historic styles. The unique element in Sullivan's design was that he was able to create aesthetic unity in buildings that were tall instead of the typical wide buildings of the older times. He often used masonry walls with terra cotta designs, with intertwining vines and leaves combined with crisp geometric shapes. Louis Sullivan believed that the exterior of an office building should reflect its interior structure and functions. Ornamentation should be as natural as possible and used only when needed. He rejected the classical references and the ubiquitous arches.

Some of his important buildings are

Wainwright Building

National Farmers'Bank (Sullivan's "Arch")

The Bradley House




William Brister - [http://www.architecturaldesign.tv] - All about Architecture.

Thursday 1 March 2012

Homer's Iliad

Homer's Iliad is the story of the epic battle between the Greeks and Trojans. The story opens nearly 10 years after the battle first began with a goddess telling the story of Achilles' rage, which cost the Greeks countless lives. Chryses, the priest of Apollo, comes to the Greek army with ransom for his daughter, Chrysies, who was taken during the pillaging of Chryse and given to Agamemnon as a prize. When Apollo makes Agamemnon return Chrysies to her father, Agamemnon takes Briseis, who belonged to Achilles.

This act is essentially what causes his withdrawal from fighting. Achilles is so angered with Agamemnon that he considers killing him, and may have, if Athena had not intervened. Achilles leaves the battle, and makes plans to return to his home. The reason this causes Achilles such rage is because honor and prestige is valued above all else in Greek culture. When someone becomes honored and remembered, it is a way to be immortal, you will be famous, and people will talk about you, even after you are die. Agamemnon and Achilles are alike in two ways. The first is that each understands the importance of honor in their culture, and neither wants to be without prestige. Agamemnon, after having to return Chrysies, does not want to be left without a prize, so he takes Achilles' prize rather than be dishonored by having no prize.

They are also alike in that both hold their own prestige higher than the group dynamic. Had Agamemnon had the Greek army in his best interest, he would have returned Chrysies and gone without prize. Had Achilles held the Greek army above his own interests, he would have returned to fighting, rather than waiting on the sidelines until his close friend Patroclus is killed. Even when Agamemnon makes a deal to make Achilles the most honored of the Greeks, he still refuses to return to combat, as if he has been dishonored so badly, that the only way for him to keep a modicum of dignity is to stay true to his principles and stand up for himself.

A perfect example of the importance of prestige to Achilles is in Book 9. Agamemnon, realizing he needs Achilles help to win the war, sends Phoenix, Aias, and Odysseus to act as diplomats and offer Achilles prizes and honor to return to battle. Admitting to being wrong would humiliate and disgrace Agamemnon, but losing the war would disgrace him even more. Perhaps deciding to make amends to Achilles is Agamemnon choosing between the lesser of to evils. The diplomats Agamemnon sends appeal to Achilles desire for honor, and tells him that he will be paid tribute as if he were a god. Achilles declines the invitation to return to fighting because he feels his honor was wounded too badly. Once again, Achilles is seen being selfish and thinking first of his honor rather than the good of the Group. Throughout the character interaction in this book, it is clear that the "kings" of Greek are motivated by honor. Agamemnon doesn't want to be dishonored for losing the war, Phoenix, Aias, and Odysseus use honor to get Achilles to return, and Achilles whose honor was already disgraced plans to leave the war because of it.




Jesus loves the outdoors, but he hates airborne pests. He reviews different ways of taking care of mosquito problems. You can check out his recent web site at http://lentekmosquitotrap.com where he writes about the Lentek Mosquito Trap.