Gates of Diversity
Gates of Diversity is a site-specific light installation created for the historic site Kuglegården on Holmen in Copenhagen in collaboration with Louis Poulsen and Copenhagen Light Festival. Gates of Diversity takes its cues from the past, present and the future of the historic site with a colorful illumination of the old buildings.
250 years ago Kuglegården served as an impressive naval arsenal on Holmen in Copenhagen, manifesting the power and strength of the kingdom to all foreign enemies. Here Kuglegården and Holmen were the gateway for shipping to and from Copenhagen, where all kinds of goods were unloaded; fish salt, gunpowder, cannonballs and luxury goods. The buildings were used to store cannon balls, hence the name, Kuglegården – The Canonball Yard. Today Kuglegården is a creative and sprawling hub for architects and exclusive shops. With the Free Town of Christiania just next door, the area is one the most diverse of its kind in Copenhagen.
Using 26 powerful LED floodlights, the facades and gates of the historical buildings are illuminated to form the framework for the installation. With the distinctive use of color transition, Gates of Diversity is a tribute to the cultural heritage of the site, the architecture and the multifaceted creative institutions in the area, while at the same time being an unmistakable signature of Studio Jakob Kvist’s work.


Seeing so many photos aged through Photoshop, it becomes something amazing to see how folks used to do it the old-timey way where things were much more hands on, where a poster would take a month, not an afternoon, to finish. The images shown here are likely more than 130 years old and, yes, you read that right. Using a process invented in the 1880s by Swiss chemist, Hans Jakob Schmid, these photochroms involve transferring glass negatives onto lithographic plates and then printing these with colored inks. While color photography was indeed around at the time, it was really only available in the labs of researchers. It wasn’t until 1907, almost 20 years after some of these photochroms were probably taken, that color photographic plates became commercially available.
Alex Dent of The Fox is Black shared these in April after he ran across them while perusing the Library of Congress’ flickr site. All three of the moody landscapes above are from around Scandinavia, I imagine anyone producing this quality of image at the time would’ve looked akin to a magician. Looking at these photos even today gives me shivers. Beautiful.


The year was 1921 and Warren Harding was our 29th President. The song Someday I’ll Find You was a popular favorite and Prohibition was the law of the land. The greatest of all tenors, Enrico Caruso, passed away on August 2nd and on January 31st in the heart of South Philadelphia, Alfredo Arnold Cocozza (Mario Lanza), the son of Italian immigrants, was born at 636 Christian Street. The house is still standing today, only two short blocks from the Mario Lanza Museum. A Pennsylvania Historical Marker identifies his birthplace.
The Early Years
As a young boy, Freddie became drawn to the family’s Victrola. With increasing intensity he would listen to 78-RPM operatic recordings with the accent on his favorite, Enrico Caruso. Soon he was singing along and studying plots. In his early teens he could discuss operatic arias and plots with authority. His first formal music training consisted of violin lessons, but his heart remained with opera. Recognizing her son’s latent talent, Maria Lanza Cocozza went to work to pay for Freddy’s voice lessons with Irene Williams, a local teacher with a good reputation.
Mario Lanza is Born
During July 1942 the famous conductor Serge Koussevitzky was visiting Philadelphia and heard Freddy sing. His response was shocked, sincere, and immediate. Repeating the words Caruso redivivus, the maestro made immediate plans for Freddy to sing at Tanglewood. This resulted in his singing the role of Fenton in Otto Nicolai’s The Merry Wives of Windsor. It was at this time that Freddy took the masculine form of his mother’s maiden name and became Mario Lanza.
The War Years
With the world at war it was not long before Mario was drafted. He was soon singing to new audiences, this time in a soldier’s uniform. Before being released in 1945, he had appeared in two Army productions, Frank Loesser’s On the Beam and the acclaimed Moss Hart production Winged Victory. These days also brought into his life the charming sister of an Army buddy, Betty Hicks. It was love at first sight and they were married on April 13, 1945. The union produced four children: Colleen, Ellisa, Damon, and Marc.
The Salad Years
After his discharge, Mario spent more than a year in serious study with Enrico Rosati, the former vocal teacher of the great golden age tenor Beniamino Gigli. He signed a contract with Columbia Artists management and toured as the tenor in the Bel Canto Trio with soprano Frances Yeend and baritone George London, both of whom enjoyed very successful operatic careers. After singing with Yeend at the Hollywood bowl on August 28, 1947, he was brought to the attention of MGM movie mogul Louis B. Mayer and the course of his life was forever altered.
The Glory Years
As the saying goes, MGM gave Mario an offer he couldn’t refuse. In addition, a recording contract was consummated with RCA Victor. Events were moving at a very rapid pace. While waiting for his first motion picture, Mario fulfilled a commitment to sing the tenor role of Pinkerton in Puccini’s Madama Butterfly on April 8 and 10, 1948 for the New Orleans Opera Association. His first motion picture That Midnight Kiss was released in 1949 and was a smash hit making Mario Lanza a screen star overnight. This was soon followed by Toast of New Orleans in 1950. Mario crossed paths with fate and destiny in 1951 when he starred as his childhood idol, Enrico Caruso, in The Great Caruso. This was a major triumph in every respect and brought Mario to the very pinnacle of success. This was followed in 1952 with Because You’re Mine.
Lanza Leaves MGM and USA
Due to artistic disputes with MGM, Mario was replaced as the star of The Student Prince in 1954, however, his voice was used for the soundtrack. RCA Victor released the LP recording and it became the first million-seller soundtrack album. Mario Left MGM, made several recordings, and appeared on radio and television shows until 1956 when he starred in Warner Brother’s artistic Serenade. The Lanza family left for Italy on May 17, 1957 after which he performed for the Queen of England, in several sell-out recitals, and made his final two films, The Seven Hills of Rome in 1957 and For The First Time in 1959.
The End of the Road
During the early days of October 1959, Mario experienced excruciating pain in his left leg. Tests in a clinic revealed advanced phlebitis. He suffered a fatal heart attack on October 7 and could not be revived. His family and the world were left brokenhearted. A scant five months later on March 11, 1960, his beloved Betty joined him. They left the world behind.
Through The Years
Today, more than 50 years later, his recordings and films are available on CD and video. He has inspired a new generation of stars and while time passes, the rest of us listen, love, and remember.


On this night in 1982, Lt Martin "Butch" Melody and Firefighter Joseph Halas made the
ultimate sacrifice and lost their lives while battling a fire at the Russo Fur Company on Osborne Street. They remain the
only members of the Danbury Fire Department to die in the line of duty. They will live on in our hearts and memories forever.


Come and join us to discover the remainings
of the not-so-distant Communist past of Bratislava.
This tour, apart from other major highlights,
shows you the famous and infamous architectural
landmarks built between 1948-89.
Our guide will explain the pros
and cons of life under the communists
and you will see how people typically
lived. You will learn how housing shortage was
solved during the Communist times and will visit
the Petržalka housing estate - the largest in
Finally, you will visit the UFO on top of the New Bridge for unbeatable
panoramic views of the city and its surroundings.
Slavín War Memorial
Slovak Radio Building
Slovak National Gallery
Petržalka Housing Estate
New Bridge UFO
At the Hotel Devín. End of tour at the same location.
Approx. 3 hours
39 EUR per person, payable in minibus
English-speaking guide, Air-conditioned minibus transportation, admissions to the New Bridge Observation Deck.br>
Order Tour Here>


The beauty of block stamping is this: each and every stamped image is unique, perhaps even imperfect? A repeatable design, yes, but uniquely applied every time for an individualized richness.
There is a kind of beauty, an originality, in imperfection. Do you know what I mean? Jane Austen, in a letter from 1817, wrote “Pictures of perfection, as you know, make me sick and wicked.” I totally get it.
Often, it is the very imperfection that transforms an ordinary face into something beautiful.
On a personal note, I always say that my husband was not perfect, but he was perfect for me! Lo these many happy years later, his imperfections are still what make me feel soft inside.
You start with a design, add some tools for cutting, and then begin work carving the negative image of your design into rubber, linoleum, wood, metal, even a potato! Stamping is an old method to capture text or designs with deep roots in ancient civilizations.
Fabric -- Cotton, Linen, and Feedsack
Cotton has helped shape the history of the world by clothing and protecting countless civilizations and adventurers from the effects of nature. Cotton fibers are highly porous, making cotton clothing light and breathable, but able to be woven into any desired density. Cotton fabric can be dyed easily, making it a natural choice for designers. It is especially soft and pleasing to the touch; and, since it is derived naturally, those with sensitive skin are able to wear the fiber without any adverse reactions.
Linen, made from the stalk of a flax plant, was the first fiber used to weave fabric and dates back over 8,000 years. Linen is a lovely fabric that softens the more it is used and washed, is extremely durable, and lasts decades when cared for correctly. It was first used by Mediterranean civilizations and was then quickly adopted by Europe where it reached high popularity during the medieval times. It was the most readily available fabric and remained the most popular even after the introduction of cotton fabrics by the Arabs during the 1300’s.
Linen remained the fabric of choice until the 18th Century during the Industrial Revolution, when the introduction of spinning machines and the large plantations of North America’s ‘Upland Cotton’ became much more affordable than the traditional linen techniques. Now because of the laborious time it takes to produce linen yarn, and the manual processes that have to be undertaken, linen has become a higher priced commodity, and considered among many to be a ‘luxury’ fabric.
The feedsack story starts in the early 1800's, when goods such as grain and seed were packed for transportation and storage in tins, boxes, and wooden barrels. This was not an ideal method of storage as tin would rust and the hand-made boxes and barrels leaked and were damaged easily. They were bulky, heavy and difficult to transport.
Feedsacks were cloth bags of homespun linen, which was then considered a junk fabric. Farmers would bring an empty sack stamped with his mark or brand to the mill to be filled. With the advent of the “stitching machine,” it became possible to sew double locking seams strong enough to hold heavy bags of grain. North East mills began weaving inexpensive cotton fabric feedsacks in the late 1800's for flour, sugar, rice, etc. Initially, the sacks were stamped with branding, but eventually various prints and colors were used to build brand loyalty. You see, the thrifty farm wife quickly discovered that this cotton bag was a great source of utilitarian fabric to be used for dish cloths, nightgowns, and if you had three sacks, a dress!
All inks and paints used are created for fabric, are waterproof, and are permanent. Dennison Lane uses a variety of inks including Speed Ball, Tulip, Archival Ink from Ranger, and VersaCraft. Paints and inks come in every color. My favorite designs are those that are inked in one color and highlighted with another color!


50 Spartan Helmet Tattoo Designs
Presents to your attention more then 50 amazing pictures of Spartan helmet tattoo designs from Instagram and Pinterest. Thanks to the battle of Thermopylae against the huge army of the Persians, the military prowess of the Spartans gained considerable fame throughout the world.
50 Egyptian Tattoo Design: Gods, Scarab and Cleopatra
More then 50 amazing pictures of egyptian style tattoo from Instagram and Pinterest, which are extremely popular even up to this day.


In 1905 President Theodore Roosevelt invited peace delegates from Japan and Russia to Portsmouth, New Hampshire to end the Russo-Japanese War—the longest war in modern history up to that time. The delegates met at the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard to settle their differences. In nearby Eliot, Maine, Sarah Farmer flew the first known peace flag at a place called Green Acre, where social reformers, thinkers, artists, scientists, and religious seekers met to discuss important questions of the day. After 30 days of peace talks, the Portsmouth Peace Treaty was signed, with only men in attendance. But hidden from view, Sarah Farmer was the only woman who observed the dramatic moment of the treaty signing, no doubt aware that she and other local citizens had helped in the peace process.
In this creative telling of a true story, fictional characters Rosie and Joshua learn about Sarah Farmer and why she was so passionate about peace.
A fascinating fragment of American history. This is the way to share history with children. Unseen Witness tells the story of the important Portsmouth Peace Treaty through the eyes of three delightful children. Not only does this book remind us that peace talks can work, it shows the noble role America played in sponsoring the negotiations between Russia and Japan to achieve peace after a formerly intractable war. We also get tantalizing glimpses of a memorable American woman, Sarah Farmer, and her life’s work in promoting peace. This book provides many teachable moments for parents and teachers to lead discussions on cultural diversity, equality of women and men, perseverance, purposefulness and peace. Marlene Macke
Unseen Witness: Sarah Farmer & The Portsmouth Peace Treaty is an entertaining fact-rich overview for children and young adults of the little-known fascinating historical figure Sarah Farmer, founder of Green Acre Bahá’í school and pioneering peace activist. The engaging illustrations and design elements incorporate dozens of contemporary photographs that effectively situate Farmer’s remarkable life in our nation’s history, presented from the perspective of the outspoken narrator Rosie and her friend Joshua, who are on the bridge of the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard on the day of the treaty signing and plying their parents with insightful and independent-minded questions. Dannah Edwards
Amazon link: https://www.amazon.com/Unseen-Witness-Farmer-Portsmouth-Treaty/dp/0998425613/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1526834760&sr=1-2&keywords=Unseen+Witness
See also: http://bahaiteachings.org/womans-place-peace-table


Tradition holds that Christianity was brought to India by one of Jesus’ Apostles. It has a long and interesting history within that country.
/ / The Apostle Thomas and the Beginning of the Christian Church in India
About Megan (Toombs) Kinard
Megan is the Director of Communications for the Cornwall Alliance for the Stewardship of Creation and Editor of EarthRisingBlog.com. You can follow her on Twitter @MeganToombs.


Home Designs Through the Decades. American homes have always been of different sizes and shapes, but each decade has its claim to fame. However, over the past century, both the exterior and interior of the homes have transformed alongside the history of the country.
The 1900s – Colonial Revival
This was a standard style of home that started at the beginning of the 20th century and the content was the expression of American patriotism and their return to classical architecture. A colonial revival could be interpreted in several sub-styles, such as a Dutch Colonial, French Colonial, etc.
These house styles were usually in rectangular yet symmetrical shape and were built with two or three stories. Brick and wood were put side to side and the house gives the complete detailing of it. They usually have gable roofs and large double-hung windows.
The 1910s – Prairie School
These kinds of homes were famous in the Midwestern states and they represented the treeless expanses of native American’s prairie landscape. These houses were the result of the influence of the Arts and Crafts Movement and the newly discovered concept that the fresh air is good for you. The most common feature of these houses was the clerestory windows which are large in size and they are present in plenty of numbers on each floor.
The 1920s – California Bungalow
This is a typical American housing type with roots in India. These homes are designed around the idea of clustering the dining area, bedrooms, bathrooms, and kitchen all around one central living area. These kinds of houses eliminate the need for hallways. They come with a dormer window and an attic vent designed to look like one over the central portion of the house.
The 1930s – Art Deco
These houses have geometric patterns and bright colours. These houses have the tropical tones of Miami Beach and Ancient Egypt. These houses are arranged in geometric designs, have a rectangular blocky body, and have curved elements. The walls of this house are comprised of materials like Stucco, concrete, and Terracotta. The roofs of these houses are flats and are in a tower-like structure.
The 1940s – Minimal Traditional
During the great depression time, many families started to live in smaller homes which became the trend of traditional homes. They were built in large quantities, throughout the US and they were inexpensive. They required little decoration and everything about them was simple. They have low to moderately pitched roofs with minimal overhangs.
The 1950s – Ranch
The Ranch-style homes went hand in hand with the expansion of suburbia in the US. Almost 9 out of 10 homes that were built in the 1950s were of Ranch shape. These one-story classic Ranch style houses remained famous for quite some time. They have windowed front doors and have sliding glass doors that lead to the patios and backyards.
The 1960s – Mid-Century Modern
The American Ideal style homes began to change in the 1960s and the modesty flew out of the window. The designs started to get bigger and the split-level homes were introduced. Rooflines of these homes were idiosyncratic; flat, slanted, or butterfly-shaped. These walls have two-tone wood and they have decorated concrete blocks finishing.
The 1970s – Postmodern (Pomo)
These homes were built with humor, ambiguity, and contradiction. Pomo homes blend traditional and come with newly-invented styles all into one. The roofs of these homes are pitched instead of flat and the ground floor is closed with fewer windows.
The 1980s – Neocolonial
This type of home brings together the attributes of federal and colonial homes in modern constructions. It is common to find gabled rooflines and pairs of double-hung windows with decorative shutters in these homes. Moreover, the exterior of these homes is made up of brick or faux brick and most of these homes have dormer windows.
The 1990s – Millennium McMansion
These houses were the sign of affluence and those who have it, build such homes, big and oversized. These kinds of homes were made in suburban neighbourhoods. Windows were large and of different sizes and the Transom windows over the front door are bigger than the paneled double doors used to enter McMansion.
The 2000s – Neoeclectic
They come with the influence of the past and have a mixture of features of Cape Cod, Tudors, and French Provincial. They use vinyl siding and their fronts doors have windows.


She could tell me that the painting was of the ship that her father had come over to this country on and had been purchased a long time ago. Basically she said her dad had it hanging on his wall as long as she could remember and then it went to a family member, then her sister and now she was the owner of it. But she didn't know anything about the artist. So I had to do some research.
The reason she was bringing it to me is that she had tried to clean it with oven cleaner. And that had caused the paint to strip around the edge of the frame. But I was scared to death to touch it.
I started with my research. I learned that is was painted by Ferdinand Worms in about 1913 and then put onto these tin lithographs with this faux wood grain frame. It was all on one painting and from what I learned could be worth up to $1500 if it was in mint condition. Hers was anything but mint condition but could still be worth about $300. But she was determined to just have the frame redone and that it would be a family piece from here on out.
|This is the painting in mint condition.|
|This was what hers looked like. If you look in the upper left corner you can see the destruction the oven cleaner had on the tin frame. Also this image gives you a pretty good look at the faux wood grain.|
|This is my final restoration. I picked a flat metal spray paint to match the ship and I hand painted in all of the letters and the bronze trim by the letters and the edging.|


Welcome to our Neighborhood
We’re on the Doorstep of Greek History!
The Philippos Hotel Athens is ideally situated in one of the most elegant and residential areas of
Athens called Makrygianni, a verdant and pedestrian friendly neighborhood just below the Acropolis and virtually next door to the Acropolis Museum. Despite the presence, however, of these two tourist-popular landmarks, the area remains remarkably mellow and perfect for long walks and lingering at stylish cafés.
The Best of Both Worlds
You will immediately notice how Makrygianni is simultaneously very cosmopolitan and old world at the same time. This is perhaps the secret to its addictive allure. Apart from the Unesco World Heritage site of the Parthenon, the renowned Acropolis Museum, the Dionysus Theater, and the Herodes Atticus Theater, Makrygianni is surrounded by small art museums, tasteful galleries, a string of cafés’ with Left Bank charm and literary-chic, excellent restaurants, elegant stores, stately historical homes of architectural interest, and beautiful, culturally seeped walking paths.
A Vista That Spans Centuries of Civilization
Let’s begin with the wide pedestrian street of Dionysiou Areopagitou, the longest pedestrianized walkway of Athens. In 1833, two very gifted architects had a vision to unify the archaeological sites of Athens. Kleanthis and Schauburt wanted to offer a vista that spanned centuries of civilization. The single walkway through Dionysiou Areopagitou, Apostolou Pavlou and Ermou is one of the most significant architectural achievements of modern Athens and is like an enormous open-air museum.
Archaeology buffs will head straight for the Acropolis, and the Acropolis Museum right after checking in. You don’t have to be an archaeology buff, however, to want to marvel at one of the world’s masterpieces. Visiting the Acropolis one is left breathless by the sight of this extraordinary structure, its simple lines, its wealth of sculptural decoration and the brilliance of its marble under the blue Athenian sky. It is the same sensation that the temple caused to the European travelers of the 18th and the 19th centuries, feelings they expressed through their paintings, travelogues and poems.
A. W. Lawrence once wrote about the Parthenon that it is “the one building in the world which may be assessed as absolutely right.” So the structure that would house the masterpieces of this building must be worthy in beauty as well as form. We believe that it is both. Designed by the French-Swiss architect Bernard Tschumi, the New Acropolis Museum rests on 100 huge reinforced-concrete pillars, which allow you to survey the remnants of villas, drains, bathhouses, and mosaics of the recently unearthed neighborhood below. Much of the ground floor is made of glass so that natural light filters down to these excavations and gives the effect of transparency throughout. And when you raise your head, you see the mother-ship, the Parthenon in all its glory, perfectly aligned in scale and perspective.
The petite Ilias Lalaounis Jewelry Museum showcases 40 years of ornately crafted pieces by the famous Greek jewelry designer that are works of art unto themselves, with themes of Greek cultural history and nature. His pieces have adorned famous personalities through the years.
Where the Dramatic Arts Were Born
The blend of greenery, archaeological landmarks, and stately neoclassical homes dating from the 18th century make Dionyssiou Aeropagitou a perfect choice for year-round promenades. Tucked away in a little shady, square, next to the statue of Makriyiannis, the street’s namesake and a
Greek Independence War hero, hides the entrance to the most ancient theater in Europe; the Theatre of Dionysus. It was the first theatre ever built, cut into the southern cliff of the Acropolis, and the birthplace of Greek tragedy and in its time staged plays by Sophocles, Euripides, Aeschylus, and Aristophanes.
A Labor of Love
The Herodes Atticus Roman amphitheater, known locally as the Herodion, lies at the base of the southern slope of the Acropolis. It dates from the 2nd century AD and is literally minutes away from the Philippos Hotel. It was built by an extravagantly rich Athenian philosopher, Herodes Atticus, in memory of his wife Regilla. Until spring, it is just another superbly designed archaeological site that pedestrians walk past on their way to the Acropolis and the Acropolis Museum. Starting from June 1st until mid to late July, however, it is a primary venue for the Athens Festival, Greece’s foremost cultural event, and comes alive with top of the line performances and thousands of visitors.
Makrygianni makes it hard to believe that you are in the center of Athens, but you are indeed.
Give yourself the best of both worlds when you choose to stay at Philippos Hotel Athens.


The ancient Greeks called dolphins ‘hieros ichthys’, which means ‘sacred fish’. Dolphins play a role in many Greek myths, where they were always depicted as altruistic beings helping men. Many coins from ancient Greece feature a man, a boy or a deity riding on the back of a dolphin. Killing a dolphin was even considered sacrilegious and was punished by death. The ancient Greeks also associated dolphins with the god Poseidon. One ancient Greek myth describes how Poseidon fell in love with a beautiful nymph called Amphritrite. She was the most beautiful creature he had ever seen and wanted to marry her. She declined and hid among the sea creatures. Poseidon called in the help of Delphinus, king of the dolphins to bring back the woman of his dreams. Amphritrite was touched by the gentle nature and words of the dolphin king, and travelled back together with them to marry Poseidon. Poseidon was so grateful to Delphinus, that he set the dolphin in the sky as a constellation.
by Judith Kok


By Bill Newlands, President & CEO
The events that transpired yesterday in Washington, D.C. shook our nation to its core and was a sad day for those of us living in the U.S.
I’ve been struggling to find a way to explain the violent protests that occurred at our nation’s Capitol, and this became abundantly apparent when my kids started asking me questions about what was happening and I wasn’t exactly sure what to say.
I join other leaders across the country and around the world in condemning the violence, destruction and fear mongering that was witnessed. These acts are inconsistent with our long history of peaceful transitions of power in America that have upheld our democracy… a democracy that many around the world have admired for so many years.
Yesterday’s violence also stands in contradiction to the examples set by various champions of peace and nonviolence that we’ve admired throughout history including Rosa Parks, Gandhi, Dr. Martin Luther King, John Lewis, Eleanor Roosevelt, Mother Teresa, etc.
As we move forward as a nation, I ask that we all engage in a bit of reflection and consider the role that each of us can play as individuals and within our communities to promote peace and unity and to create a brighter future for our country.


Galileo Galilei, born February 15, 1564, died January 8, 1642. Galileo essentially solidified Copernicus’s, Brahe’s, and Kepler’s work that showed that Earth is not the center of the universe. His observations of the sun, moon, Venus, and Jupiter’s moons were important in proving that celestial bodies are not perfect and that most things in the solar system (except our own moon) do not orbit the Earth.
In 1587, Mary (Queen of Scots) was executed. She was/is a well-known figure whose reign and whose life were surrounded in controversy.
In 1603, the Tokugawa Period began in Japan. This was the last period of ‘traditional’ Japanese government, before it became heavily influenced by external forces from Europe, the US, and other nations.
William Shakespeare also lived during the same time as Galileo. He was born April 26, 1564 and died April 23, 1616. Shakespeare was an important, influential playwright/author who wrote many plays that are still studied and taught today.
It was just interesting for me to realize that all of these things were happening at once. Maybe because of how school and classes are structured, it’s easy to think of everything I’ve learned or seen in one subject as completely separate from everything else, but this assignment reminded me of just how unrealistic that segregation is. This assignment helped me ‘connect the dots,’ as it were, between at least four separate things I’ve learned about. Galileo I’ve heard of in past science courses (as well as this one); Mary, Queen of Scots, I’ve been exposed to briefly in history classes and in TV shows depicting her reign and death; the Tokugawa period is something we’ve just finished discussing in a Japanese history class I’m taking this semester; and Shakespeare I’ve studied in various English classes over the years. It honestly never occurred to me before to step back and realize that the dates for everything overlap the way they do.


|Platics and Resin Timeline
|It is helpful when dating or refinishing a
radio to know what materials have been used, this list helps
explain when various materials first came into common use.
|Whilst plastics are thought of as
"new" materials there is nothing further from the
truth. Polymers have a long and full history and the following
is simply a snapshot of some of the important events.
|c.1650 John Tradescant introduces gutta
percha to the West after his travels in the East
collecting plants. Gutta percha was used to make
products from garden hoses to furniture for many years after
introduction to the West and was only replaced for undersea
cable insulation in the 1940's.
|c.1839 Charles Goodyear (USA) discovers
the process of mixing natural rubber with sulphur to
make a stronger and more resilient product, the process
was later termed "vulcanisation". (see 1851 Ebonite)
|c.1851 Ebonite is patented and
commercialised by Nelson Goodyear (USA). Charles
Goodyear and Thomas Hancock both find that excess sulphur
during vulcanisation leads to ebonite. Ebonite is a
hard, dark and shiny material used for jewellery,
fountain pens, pipe stems and is the basis for most
dental plates (with pink colouring) for nearly 100 years. The
material can also be inlaid with metals or painted to produce
very decorative objects.
Ebonite is a milestone because it is the first thermosetting
material and because it involves modification of the
|c.1854 Shellac (mixed with woodflour)
patented as a moulding material by Samuel Peck (USA) for
use in frames and carrying cases.
|c.1870 Hyatt brothers patent the use of
cellulose nitrate and camphor to form a horn-like
|c.1880 Shellac used by the Berliner
label to produce phonograph records because of the
ability to reproduce fine detail - shellac was used until
1952 when PVC was first introduced for this purpose.
|c. 1894 Cross and Bevan introduce
cellulose acetate after research into cellulose esters
to avoid flammability concerns with celluloid
|c.1897Adolph Spitteler (Barvaria)
discovers and patents casein plastics (probably by
accident). Casein is made from skimmed milk curdled with rennet
which is cured by immersion in formaldehyde and becomes
available as "Galalith".
|c.1899 Arthur Smith (Britain) patents
phenol-formaldehyde resins to replace ebonite as
|c.1907 Leo Baekeland (USA) mixes phenol
and formaldehyde to produce phenol formaldehyde resins
and obtains the first of 117 patents on
phenol-formaldehyde resin systems.
|c.1909 Leo Baekeland (USA) patents
Bakelite, the first widely used thermoset to replace
traditional materials such as wood, ivory and ebonite.
The trade name "Bakelite" will later become
synonymous with the
|c.1924 Edmund Rossiter (Britain)
develops urea thiourea formaldehyde for the British
Cyanides Co. to give the first water-white transparent
thermosetting moulding powder. Marketed from 1926 onwards as
|c.1931 Imperial Chemical Industries -
ICI (Britain) develops polyethylene almost by accident
when E.W.Fawcett and R.O.Gibson notice a small amount of
a waxy solid produced during experiments with ethylene. This
was later isolated to produce polyethylene which had
excellent chemical resistance and insulation properties.
|c.1933 ICI workers (R.Hill and J.W.C.
Crawford) start to develop poly(methyl methacrylate) or
PMMA - later to be commercialised under the names
"Perspex", "Lucite", "Plexiglas"
and many others.
|c.1933 First injection moulded
polystyrene articles produced.


Manorialism is a term used to describe the system of land ownership and labor relations that prevailed in medieval Europe. Under this system, land was owned by the nobles, who granted it to tenants in exchange for services and taxes. In this article, we will explore the statement, “Manorialism is an agreement between two nobles concerning land and services. True or false.”
The statement is false. Manorialism was not an agreement between two nobles but rather a complex system of relationships between lords, peasants, and other members of feudal society. In fact, manorialism was the dominant social and economic system in Europe during the Middle Ages, from the 9th to the 15th century.
Manorialism was established as a result of the collapse of the Roman Empire and the rise of feudalism. During this period, the relationship between lords and peasants was based on a complex web of obligations and duties. The lords provided protection to the peasants, who in turn paid taxes and provided labor services on the lord`s lands.
The lord`s landholdings were typically divided into two parts. The first part, known as the demesne, was reserved for the lord`s own use and was worked by the tenants under the direction of the lord`s bailiff. The second part, known as the tenancy, was granted to tenants who were responsible for cultivating it and paying rent to the lord.
Under the manorial system, the lord exercised a great deal of control over the lives of the peasants on his lands. The lord could demand labor services from his tenants, which typically included working the demesne for a set number of days each year. The lord also had the power to administer justice, although this was often delegated to a steward or bailiff.
In conclusion, manorialism was not an agreement between two nobles but a complex system of relationships between lords, peasants, and other members of feudal society. Under this system, landlords exercised a great deal of control over the lives of their tenants, who were responsible for providing labor services and paying taxes in exchange for the right to cultivate the land. Understanding the complexities of manorialism is crucial to understanding the social and economic structures of medieval Europe.


InSpe is a private family owned business founded in 1991 by Izaokas Shapira. In the beginning advertising services on a local market was the main business area.
1999 Guy Shapira took over company management and control.
2000 In-house, digital printing department was set-up. Company invests to Xerox and Xeikon printing equipment, as well as various post press machines.
2002 InSpe invests to offset printing by taking over local offset print house Vilniaus Spaustuve, which includes KOMORI press and various post press equipment.
2003 InSpe registers EXPOLIGHT SYSTEMS trade mark for the new business area - mobile displays trading. First years of development and supplying from far east. Later establishes its own production in Suzhou area near Shanghai. Today we produce and export displays all over the Europe, as well as to Africa and Middle east countries.
2005 InSpe expands its digital printing department by investing to second Xeikon engine.
2008 We have expended digital printing in wide and grand format printing. Company invests to various 1.6 - 3.2m eco-solvent machines.
2010 Company starts supplying sign-making companies with printers, post to press equipment, media and inks. Colibri Digital brand was born. Today Colobri Digital is well known European trademark for wide format solutions.
2012 Partnership between VEIKA and InSpe was established. We became trading partners for VEIKA digital inks in Baltics, Belarus, and Scandinavian countries. New distributor partners were confirmed by the end of 2014.
2014 InSpe opens first REKLAMIS.LT shop in Kaunas. Company becomes official distributor of well known companies like ROLAND DG, Intercoat, ONYX, Jetrix , CWT, Berger etc.
2015 InSpe Latvia SIA established in Riga. Later InSpe opens third REKLAMIS.LT shop in Vilnius. Company becomes official distributor of d.gen, PONGS, Siser, J-Teck , etc.


Antara News are reporting that British Ambassador to Indonesia Dominic Jermey handed over a digital copy of 120-Javanese manuscripts to the Governor of Yogyakarta, Sri Sultan Hamengku Buwono X, at Gedhong Wilis, Kepatihan Complex, on Thursday (16/11/23), which were digitized and saved on a hard disk by the British Library.
“We hand over this extraordinary manuscript so that it can be cared for and be made available and accessible to the public to learn about cultural heritage,” Jermey said.
According to him, the handover of the digital copy could be realized due to a collaboration between the British Library and the National Library of Indonesia under the Bollinger Javanese Manuscript Digitization Project, say Antara News.
“These manuscripts are very valuable and extraordinary,” Jermey said, adding that their handover reflects the British government’s commitment to collaborating with Yogyakarta in expanding access to historical texts through digital innovation.
He said that the British Library worked through two pandemic lockdowns to complete the project.
“Java’s rich history is now protected forever after being digitized with the latest technology and the dedication of the British Library that persevered through two national lockdowns during the COVID-19 pandemic to complete this project,” Jermey added.
Antara News say that Jermey and the Sultan also discussed culture and the role of Yogyakarta in Indonesia and the world.
The Yogyakarta Governor lauded the British government’s initiative to digitize the Javanese manuscripts.
He said that the manuscripts belonged to Sri Sultan Hamengku Buwono II, who was born in 1750 and passed away in 1828.
Source: Antara News


For centuries Koh Sichang was considered the gateway to Thailand. The place where large ships stopped to discharge their cargo into barges for onward delivery to Bangkok and Ayutthaya. This practice still occurs today and you will see large ships and barges anchored between Koh Sichang and the mainland on your journey to the island.
The Chinese temple on top of the hill north of Koh Sichang harbor was founded during the Ming dynasty and even today receives pilgrims from as far away as Peking and Jakarta.
However Koh Sichang is most famous due to its royal connections.
In the 1800s King Mongkut (Rama IV) visited Koh Sichang on his steamship. He noticed that the islanders lived longer than most Thais and concluded that this had something to do with the island's clean air. He visited the island many times - but he always slept on board his ship.
King Chulalongkorn (Rama V) went one step further and built a summer palace on the island. His son Prince Asdang Delavudh spent up to nine months a year living on the island.
When King Chulalongkorn took to the throne Koh Sichang was a popular holiday resort with westerners who would rent lodges built by the Thai authorities for both Thai and Western tourists.
In 1888 King Chulalongkorn’s son Prince Maha Vajiravudh became ill and the court doctor suggested he should spend some time by the sea. King Chulalongkorn decided to send him to one of the lodges on Ko Sichang where the Prince stayed for eight months and eventually became better. Not long afterwards he was joined by his sister Princess Saovabha Phongsri who was also recovering from an illness.
In 1891 Prince Asdang Dejavudh (who was just three years old) made it a royal hat-trick. He too fell ill and was sent to Ko Sichang to recover. Unfortunately for him his condition was quite serious so he spent several years on the island.
In 1892 King Chulalongkorn decided to build a royal summer retreat, the Phra Chudadhuj Palace. Building work was still in progress when a dispute between France and Siam spilled into the Gulf of Thailand. French troops invaded and occupied Ko Sichang bringing construction of the palace to a halt. After the dispute was settled the palace was completed, but the King never spent another night on the island.
In 1900 while visiting towns along the eastern coast, King Chulalongkorn visited Koh Sichang and discovered the palace was deserted. He gave orders to pull down the main royal residence and rebuild it in Bangkok where it remains to day as the Vimanmek Mansion - the largest teakwood building in the world.
Today Koh Sichang's Chudadhuj Palace is still a picture of grace and serenity. Buildings within the palace and the gardens have been renovated and restored by Chulalongkorn University but the atmosphere is still tinged with a nostalgia reminiscent of the times of King Chulalongkorn.
The islanders are still friendly and some still live to a ripe old age as they go about their daily lives fishing and working in the various trades that revolve around shipping.
Koh Sichang is a charming relaxed historical island that will take you back in time and show you the real Thailand. It offers a rich diversity of experiences and sites to see minus cars, bars, neon signs, shopping malls and Mc Donald's.


The Hon. Bora Laskin: A Legendary Force at the University of Toronto
By Professor Martin L. Friedland
University Professor, Professor of Law Emeritus, and former Dean of the University of Toronto Faculty of Law
This paper was presented at a Law Society of Upper Canada Symposium on May 25, 2005, commemorating the life and contributions of The Right Honourable Bora Laskin. It draws on the author's The University of Toronto: A History (Toronto: Osgoode Society and University of Toronto Press, 2002); Philip Girard, Bora Laskin: Bringing Law to Life (Toronto: University of Toronto Press, 2005); C. Ian Kyer and Jerome E.Bickenbach, The Fiercest Debate: Cecil A.Wright, the Benchers,and Legal Education in Ontario 1923-1957 (Toronto: The Osgoode Society, 1987); and Irving Abella, "The Making of a Chief Justice: Bora Laskin, The Early Years," (1990), 24 Law Society of Upper Canada Gazette 187.
Bora first entered the University of Toronto as a student in September 1930, graduating with a BA in law three years later. It was not a carefree time to go to university. A sacrifice had to be made by the family to send Laskin to Toronto because he entered the University the year after the stock market crash of 1929. Because of his marks at Fort William Collegiate Institute, he was able to enter directly into the second year of W.P.M. Kennedy's honour law course, an undergraduate program that Kennedy had started in 1927. In future years, all students would have to study for four years, rather than three, to get their degrees.
Laskin's undergraduate life at the U of T is well documented in Philip Girard's fine biography of Laskin, recently published by the Osgoode Society and the University of Toronto Press. As a Jew, Laskin automatically enrolled in University College - the non-denominational 'godless' college. He became involved in student politics, becoming the literary director of the University College Literary and Athletic Society, and was active in debating and sports, particularly track and field and rowing. He also joined a Jewish fraternity, Sigma Alpha Mu.
Bora had lectures from some of the leading figures of the period - in philosophy from George Brett, history from Frank Underhill, and political science from Alex Brady. The law side of the program was dominated by Kennedy, who, surprisingly, was not trained as a lawyer. He had come to the University as a professor of English literature, then switched to history, then to political science, and finally to law. He was an impressive scholar. By the end of the 1920s he had published 10 books. He was also a sparkling teacher. J.J. Robinette, one of Canada's greatest lawyers, who was taught by Kennedy in the 1920s, recalled that 'Kennedy was one of those brilliant Irishmen who could dazzle you
a performer as much as a teacher.'
The program attracted students who became leaders of the profession - Charles Dubin, William Howland, G. Arthur Martin, and Sydney Robins, to name only some students who later became members of the Ontario Court of Appeal. Perhaps their success was because they were inspired by Kennedy's view that legal education should 'create a body of citizens endowed with an insight into law as the basic social science, and capable of making those examinations into its workings as will redeem it from being a mere trade and technique and
make it the finest of all instruments in the service of mankind.'
Jacob Finkelman, a graduate of the honour law program and who had a special interest in labour law, had started teaching the year that Laskin arrived and no doubt influenced Laskin's lifelong interest in labour law. Finkelman, I should note, was the first Jew to be appointed to a full-time position at the University.
The Law Society of Upper Canada gave no credit for Kennedy's law course. Laskin therefore had to enroll in Osgoode's law program, which combined lectures and articling. Before he was permitted to enroll, however, he had to find someone who would give him employment and sign his articles. In his first year at Osgoode, he was 'employed' by his fraternity brother Samuel Gotfrid, who had received his call a year earlier, but could not offer his articling student very much work or remuneration. The following year, Laskin articled for a non-Jewish lawyer in the same building, who had a busy real estate practice, which no doubt accounts for Laskin's later interest in land law. He graduated near the top of his class at Osgoode, just as he had done in Kennedy's honour law program.
While at Osgoode, he obtained an MA in law from the U of T and after his call to the bar went to Harvard Law School on a scholarship where he came under the influence of some of the greatest names in academic law - Felix Frankfurter in administrative law, Roscoe Pound in jurisprudence, and Zechariah Chafee in equity. Two of the seventeen LLM students at Harvard that year received their degree cum laude - they were Bora and his best friend at Harvard, Albert Abel. Many years later, Bora persuaded Dean Caesar Wright to bring Abel to the U of T from the University of West Virginia. That was in 1955, the year that I entered first year law. Abel diligently and effectively taught legal writing and so one can add to Laskin's legacy Abel's important influence on legal scholarship in Canada.
Bora returned to Toronto, but could not find a job teaching or practicing law. In those years, there was, as was well known, a great divide between Jewish and non-Jewish lawyers and so practicing with an established non-Jewish firm was out of the question. He was also unsuccessful in obtaining satisfactory work with a Jewish firm and so did summaries of legal cases for the Canadian Abridgment - a job that paid twice as much as he later earned as an academic.
When Larry MacKenzie, who had been teaching at Kennedy's school, resigned in 1940 to become the president of the University of New Brunswick, Kennedy had the opportunity to hire a replacement. Kennedy was very fond of Laskin and Laskin was one of the two candidates he considered for the position. The other was J.K. Macalister, someone I had never heard of until I did research for my book on the history of the University of Toronto. Macalister had graduated from Kennedy's law course in 1937, with, according to Philip Girard, the highest marks ever recorded in Kennedy's program - an A in every subject in every year. He won a Rhodes scholarship to Oxford, where he obtained a first, and later topped the standings for the English bar exams.
In September 1940, MacKenzie's appointment at UNB became official and Kennedy could now offer an appointment. He offered it to Macalister, who had earlier expressed an interest in teaching at the U of T. Macalister cabled back immediately: 'IN ARMY SINCE YESTERDAY SORRY MANY THANKS - MACALISTER.' The appointment was then offered to Laskin. How much Laskin knew of the offer to Macalister is not known, but he would obviously have known that Macalister was a serious competitor for the position.
To complete the story, Macalister had joined the Canadian infantry, was later assigned to British intelligence, and along with another U of T graduate was parachuted behind enemy lines in France in June 1943 to act as a secret agent. They were captured, tortured, and executed at Buchenwald concentration camp in September 1944.
Laskin taught at the U of T until he left for Osgoode Hall Law School in 1945. My study of the evidence suggests that Laskin's move may have been part of a plan by Caesar Wright, then a professor at Osgoode Hall Law School, and his good friend, Sidney Smith, the new president of the University of Toronto, to have legal education in Ontario shift from the Law Society to the U of T. Smith wanted to establish at the University, in his words, 'a Law School that would rank first in Canada, and be among the leading schools of the North American continent.' He had already offered the deanship at the University to Caesar, but it had not been accepted at that time.
The plan was that Laskin would join Caesar at Osgoode and then at an appropriate time would move with Caesar and others to the University. It was thought necessary to convince Kennedy that the plan made sense. At that time, academics tended to spend most of the summer at their cottages. Laskin went to Wright's cottage in northern Ontario and then the two of them went to Kennedy's summer place north of Huntsville and west of Algonquin Park. The large property near Kearney, Ontario, that Kennedy called 'Narrow Waters,' had been purchased by Kennedy in 1940. In 1983, it was sold by Kennedy's son, Frere, to my wife and me, and so I have a particular interest in this story. Kennedy, Wright, and Laskin walked along a lakeside trail and Wright attempted to convince Kennedy of the wisdom of his plan. Kennedy grudgingly agreed and Laskin then left the University for Osgoode. I should add that I keep that trail very well groomed and I'm considering putting up a small plaque saying that the plan to create the modern U of T Law School was in part consummated on this path.
The Hon. Laskin congratulates a young John I. Laskin 69 at his graduation.
In any event, as we know, and as Horace Krever, has told us from his personal perspective, Wright and Laskin, along with John Willis, found an opportune time to leave Osgoode and start a new three-year post-graduate law school at the University of Toronto, with Wright as dean. They had resigned from Osgoode because of the Law Society's reactionary proposal to increase the articling experience at the expense of the academic program. It was thought that the Law Society would quickly recognize the new program at the University, which had an outstanding faculty that also included Jim Milner and Wolfgang Friedmann. But the Law Society was reluctant to even discuss that possibility and grudgingly gave students credit for only two rather than three years. Students therefore had to spend an extra year at Osgoode after articling. This was not an incentive for attracting large numbers of applicants. Willis resigned, telling Wright that 'just two years after it start- ed up as a professional school, the School of Law is to all intents and purposes dead.'
As previously stated, I entered first year law at the U of T in 1955, thinking, as did my classmates, who included such notable lawyers as Harry Arthurs, Jerry Grafstein, and John Sopinka, that we would later have to spend an extra year at Osgoode. As it turned out, on February 14, 1957, in our second year of law school, the Law Society recognized the U of T Law School as equal to its new Osgoode program - a wonderful Valentine's Day present to all of us.
We had Bora for three subjects, real property in first year, constitutional law in second year, and labour law in third. Today, most professors concentrate on one area of law, perhaps two. Laskin specialized in all three areas. Laskin's first year property course was the most technical course we had in law school. We learned in great detail such arcane subjects as future interests and shifting and springing uses. Although Laskin was more open to questions than Caesar, he always had a tremendous amount of material to cover and so lectured most of the time. He left the Socratic Method to Milner and Abel.
Although Laskin's door was always open and he would deal with whatever you wanted to discuss with him, he never had time for much chit-chat at the law school. Many of us went to see him about where we should article. We were in and out of his office in less than five minutes. He was a no-nonsense professor. When he happened to mention critically to our first year class something about the Queen's Counsel list that had been published that morning in the Globe and Mail and a voice in the back row shouted 'sour grapes', Laskin walked out, but soon came back. Nor was he amused in his upper year labour law class when someone had secretly brought in a record player and opened the class with Pete Seger's 'There once was a union maid.' Laskin did not want to be identified with one side in labour-management relations. He mellowed over the years, particularly after he became a judge. He was also more relaxed when not teaching or at his desk. I have it fixed in my mind that during my two years as a student at the law school's temporary quarters at the Glendon estate, he would sometimes walk with us down in the Don Valley forests between classes. It is possible, I admit, that those walks never actually took place. I am, however, sure that he and Peggy came to our wedding at the end of third year. In later years, like many others, I often turned to him for advice.
My wife and I happened to be having dinner with the Laskins at an Italian restaurant in London, England, in early July 1965 when Laskin was called to the telephone. He did not say anything about the call when he returned to the table, although it was clear to us that it had been an important conversation. We later found out that the call had been from the solicitor general, Larry Pennell, telling Laskin that the cabinet had appointed him to the Ontario Court of Appeal. Jerry Grafstein, who had close ties with the Liberal Party and had played an important role in the appointment, had tracked Laskin down at the restaurant. The announcement would not be made until the Laskins returned to Canada from their holiday towards the end of August and Laskin was asked to keep the appointment private. Laskin's acceptance was a great loss to the University because he was the clear choice to succeed Wright as dean.
As an academic, Bora had always been busy with outside assignments, giving opinions, conducting labour arbitrations, involved in faculty association matters, participating in civil liberties issues, and writing government reports. He also wrote headnotes for the Dominion Law Reports, the case law series edited by Caesar. I'm reasonably certain that his appointment to the Ontario Court of Appeal in 1965 allowed him to slow down a bit.
Perhaps his most important non-legal contribution to the University was chairing an influential committee, established in 1964, on graduate studies. The committee was composed of 12 persons, including Northrop Frye, John Polanyi, and Ernest Sirluck, the dean of the graduate school. President Claude Bissell later called it 'the strongest internal committee in the history of the University.' The committee's unanimous report was written by Laskin. The result was a centralization of graduate studies in the university. This was no surprise to his former students. It reflected his constitutional view that it was desirable to have a strong central presence. The University of Toronto's graduate school has been a major factor in the present high reputation of the University of Toronto.
Laskin continued his involvement in higher education after his appointment to the bench. He chaired the board of directors at the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education, which was established in 1966, and joined the board of York University in 1967.
Like Caesar, he produced important casebooks, and wrote a large number of articles and notes, particularly for the Canadian Bar Review, but, as with Caesar, he never produced a major text in any of his fields of expertise. Moreover, he died just prior to the development of Charter jurisprudence by the Supreme Court of Canada, so his judgments are not as frequently cited today as they otherwise would have been. Nevertheless, I believe that his approach to adjudication influenced other members of the court, particularly Brian Dickson, in their readiness to give a broad interpretation to the Charter. He also indirectly influenced the enactment of the Charter. This was not because he was active behind the scenes, but because he looked and acted like a wise Solomon-like figure, who the public could trust to deliver sound judgments under a new Charter of Rights and Freedoms.
He was a powerful force in the law and in higher education and an inspiration to his students, fellow judges, and law clerks, many of whom are gathered here today. He was a great Canadian.
This article was first published in the Fall 2005 issue of Nexus.


The Sailing Packets
Before steamships started crossing the North Atlantic, the best way to travel between Europe and America was by sailing ships called packets. Built and run mainly by Americans the packet lines introduced new concepts and comfort levels for ocean voyages. They dominated the transatlantic traffic for decades, setting key precedents for steamships that eventually replaced them.Along with their more famous contemporaries, the whaling and clipper ships, they comprised the golden age of American sail. Of these three types, the packets lasted the longest and made the most voyages and money for their owners and crews.Yet today whalers and clippers remain drenched in popular legend, while packets are scarecely known betond dedicated circles of ship buffs.No packet builder ever became as famous as Donald McKay with his clippers, and no novelist ever wrote a Moby Dick about packets. They just did their jobs quietly and well, year after year, and then passed into historical obscurity reserved for Predictable competence.
A group of textile importers in New York started the first packet line. The main founder, Jeremiah Thompson, was an English immigrant from Yorkshire who had come to New York age seventeen in 1801 to join his uncle in representing the family's woolen manufacturing business. from that base the engaged in shipping and shipowning with three local associates. These five men all lived near the waterfront at the southern tip of Manhatton. four of them were Quakers ( Jerimiah Thompson, an active friend, was an officer in the New York Manumission Society, dedicated to freeing slaves; but also made a fortune by exploiting raw cotton, grown in the American South by slave labour.
Thompson had a breakthrough idea for improving ocean travel, At the time, a shipowner might advertise a ship's departure, but the captain would then wait until enough cargo and passengers had been loaded, and wind and weather seemed favorable, before weighing anchor.
A passenger hoping to embark might have a long waiting time, for a week hanging around the docks.Spending money on food and lodgings and wasting time.Thompson dealing in volatile markets for finished imports and raw exports, wanted faster, more reliable service.He concieved the notion of a transatlantic shipping line, several vessels under co-ordinated private management, sailing on known dates between established ports, and locked into an unchanging departure schedule for the foreseeable future.
In the autumn of 1817, the Thompsons and their three associates placed a notice in New York's newspapers. In order to furnish frequent and regular conveyances for GOODS and PASSENGERS, they announced, the subscribers have undertaken to establish a line of vessels between NEW YORK and LIVERPOOL, to sail from each place on a certain day in every month throughout the year.They listed the line's first four ships: three masted and square rigged, and larger than average size for their time at around 110 ft long and 400 tons. The "Pacific", launched in 1807 and the oldest of the four, was especially fast, earlier that year she had made a run to Liverpool in only seventeen days, These ships have all been built in New York, of best materials, the owners asserted. They are known to be remarkably fast sailers, and their accomodations for passengers are uncommomly extensive and commodious. Thompson and his partners were promising a daring combination of speed, comfort and predictabilty - qualities previosly unknown on the North Atlantic.
Next Chapter to follow soon:
Source for above: The Ocean Railway, by Stephen Fox, Published by; Harper Collins
|Sailing Packets Part II|
Futher to my research into Packet ships I now add the following.
By the late 1830's twenty packet ships were running fro New York to Liverpool, twelve more to London, and sixteen to Le Harve. every month, a dozen packets left New York for Europe and a dozen more arrived;an average of one ship every thirty hours, all year long,regardless of wind and weather.The packets suffered occasional collisions and founderings at sea, but only two accidents caused any loss of life over the first two decades. The "Albion " of the Black Ball Line sank off Ireland in 1822, killing forty six people, and four years later the " Crisis " of Black X Line dissapeared on a westbound run with her crew and a dozen passengers. Those two disasters aside, the packets had compiled, for the time,a remarkable record of fast, safe, predictable transatlantic travel.
According to testimony from both sides of the ocean, Americans were building and running the finest sailing ships in the world.A London newspaper in 1834,after comparing the safety records of the New York packets and the British Goverments mail ships, urged the admiralty to but American vessels. In 1836, a committee of the British Parliment inquiring into the problems of shipwrecks presented evidence that American ships were better built than their British counterparts ( and thus preferred by shippers and insurance agents ), and that American commanders and officers were more educated and competent and American seamen more carefully selected, more efficient, and better paid, to the point that the best British sailors were defecting to American ships. American authorities could only happily agree. Mathew Maury, an American naval officer and one of the founders of oceanography, praised the New York packets in 1839 in language of patriotic but unchallenged hyperbole:' For strength, safety,fleetness and beauty: and for a combination of all the requisites of a good ship, in such admirable proportions,no nation can boast of vessels, public or private,compariable to them.
The packets became,in some measure, the victims of their own success. They had created a very notion of rapid technical improvement in transatlantic travel. Passengers came to expect bigger, faster ships every few years. The wind, however,could not be improved on: it blew hard or not at all, from the east to the west, but always beyond human control.Sailing ships could only depart on a scheduled date. The time of arrival might then vary by weeks, depending on the ocean's vagaries. Steam power extended possbilities of a ship on schedule. or nearly so, at both ends of the passage. But Americans became so proficient and applauded at turning out wooden sailing ships that,as time passed, they, in complacency and inertia, kept building those ships for to long, far past the technological prime. In Great Britain, especially Scotland, other men were about to take over the leadership of transatlantic shipbuilding. Thus the sailing packets were soon to becaome a part of maritime history, as metal steam powered ships began to appear upon the seen and challenge the very routes set up by the sailing packets.


That’s a silly question, but if an ounce of your heritage is from India, China or Europe you could have fun making that claim at a tea party.
Some say Tea Leaf Reading (TLR) originated in ancient China soon after the discovery of tea around the year 2737 BCE. (!) Back then, the Chinese had not yet even begun to think about sharing their teas with the rest of the world. Other cultures were growing and consuming teas too however.
Several varieties of tea are indigenous to eastern and northern India, where it was also cultivated and consumed for thousands of years. During the British occupation, tea from China was introduced to India and the rest as they say is history.
The popularity of TLR in North American culture nowadays may well have originated with the Romani people. My understanding is this origin story can be traced far, far back in time to at least the first century CE when the original Romani left their homes in India, settling in Roman-Egypt, eventually settling in Europe and the Byzantine Empire. Over time the Romani migrated widely; modern day DNA studies indicate people with Romani heritage are now found in every country of the world. Romani have no “country of their own”; throughout history, even within the past decade, they have been persecuted sometimes with insane ferocity, just about everywhere they went. The word “gypsy” was often applied to the Romani, at times in a very derogative sense.
Read more about the Romani people and their history here: https://www.livescience.com/40652-facts-about-roma-romani-gypsies.html
It is unclear why the Romani emigrated from the Indian subcontinent; perhaps to escape the caste system, perhaps to trade. Some say the medieval European Romani fortune tellers also developed a form of reading splatters of wax, lead and other molten substance. Coffee grounds or tea leaves were always a preferred medium, where available.
In Asia, the Middle East, Ancient Greece and in Middle Eastern cultures they typically used coffee grounds early on. Modern tea leaf reading really took off in the 17th century, when tea from China was introduced to India and Europe.
The Romani people continued to spread tea leaf readings throughout Europe, even going door-to-door to offer tea leaf reading services. By the mid-1800s there were many tea parlors and tea rooms offering tea leaf readings to guests. As life was often discussed over a cup of tea, people realized that they could see their discussions reflected in their tea leaves.
North Americans began opening tea parlors after WW1. They would serve light snacks with the tea, then offer to read the leaves afterwards to further increase the experience of sharing and community.
The art of TLR was often passed down from generation to generation, primarily but not exclusively between women. I learned recently that my grandmother and my uncle used to read tea leaves from time to time.
Clairvoyance is involved in tea leaf reading; anyone can learn. TLR has evolved, has been improved through time and integration with other shamanic methods.
Today, over five thousand years since TLR was “discovered”, this truly ancient psychic art form can be done across time and space, thanks to the “magic” of the internet. Or IS it in everyone’s DNA now? J
By Patricia Haggard
May 20, 2021


The Canton Cotton Mill, with its rich history, was an integral part of Canton and Cherokee County’s growth in the early 1900‘s. The Mill set the standard for the manufacturing of fine quality denim that was world renowned. The Mill employed almost the whole town but yet founder, Robert Tyre Jones, knew everyone by name and their families. The location of the Canton Cotton Mill was ideal, due to the nearby Etowah River and the Georgia Northeastern Railroad. As the business grew, the Mill building expanded as did the town of Canton.
Many of the local cotton farmers, whom were visited by Mr. R.T. during his buggy rides in the country, sold their entire cotton crops to the Mill. The Canton Cotton Mill was known for keeping its commitment for quality, quantity and delivery of its fine denim. R.T. Jones was known for speaking these words during his walks in the Mill…”make it better – make it better – make it better“. The Mill employees were also important in developing the reputation for its high quality denim. They all took pride in their work and the denim that was produced and shipped to so many different states throughout our country and later the world.
R.T. Jones also built Canton Cotton Mill #2 in 1925 a few miles away in Canton…now the Canton Mill Loft Apartments. He also opened Jones Mercantile in 1879 in town for one stop shopping for Cherokee County residents. Truly a man ahead of his time.
Giving Back to Canton-
We will sell Canton Cotton Mill t-shirts and donate 100% of the profits to the Cherokee Family Violence Center. They are a non-profit organization that provides a variety of free services to domestic violence survivors and their families in our community.


The Fulbe people consider themselves relative newcomers in Guinea, West Africa. In the 15th century, the Fulbe began to migrate into the mountainous region of west and central Guinea, known as the Fouta Jalon. The region was first organized as a separate political entity as a result of the Fulbe jihad (Muslim holy war) in the late 1720s. As a Muslim theocratic state, the Fouta Jalon dominated both central and coastal Guinea until it came under French domination in 1897.
The Fulbe have great pride in the leaders of their past. Karamoko Alfa led the war which brought the region under the control of the Muslim Fulbe. He was a powerful leader and the first ruler of the newly founded state. Those who succeeded him became known as Almaamis. Alfa Yaayaa, a strong leader from Labé, is still hailed as a leader of the resistance movement against the French, against whom he worked until his arrest and subsequent exile in 1905.
The descendant of another resistance leader, Ahmed Sekou Touré (1922-1984), followed in his ancestor’s footsteps by also resisting French rule in Guinea. Touré led the labor party, Parti Democratique de Guinee (Democratic Party of Guinea) to declare independence from the French community in 1958. Guinea was the only French colony to vote “no” on the referendum put forward by Charles de Gaulle to keep these colonies in the French West African community. As a result, Guinea was cut off from financial aid and other assistance programs from France. In the midst of isolation, Guineans developed a strong national identity. Meanwhile, Touré garnered support from the Soviet Union and other communist countries. As the years passed, Touré did not allow for presidential elections nor did he allow for the formation of any other political parties. Though he began as a political hero, Touré deteriorated into a brutal dictator and began facing opposition from various groups. Nevertheless, Touré continued to rule Guinea until his death.
Within weeks of Touré’s death, the military took control of the government and established the Second Guinean Republic with Lansana Conte as president. In the early 1990s, many changes were undertaken to help Guinea institute a multiparty, democratic government. Presidential and parliamentary elections have taken place in 1993, 1998 and 2003. Conte continued to serve as president, having won each of these elections. In 2009, Conte died leading to a period of political instability. In 2010, Alpha Conde was elected president of Guinea and has led the country since then, winning reelection in 2015.
When Guinea opened up to the outside world following Touré’s death, it was a poor, undeveloped country despite its vast, untapped resources. Now, twenty years later, Guinea has advanced, but remains poor and under-developed. The Fulbe maintain that Guinea will one day rise to overcome the obstacles of its past and gather strength from its heritage.


Vane Ivanovic (1913–99) was an athlete, ship owner, collector, philanthropist, and diplomat who, during his many years of exile from Communist Yugoslavia after World War II, worked towards a democratic and united Yugoslavia.
The Vane Ivanovic Library and Archive reflects his life work. The library contains around 5,000 books focusing on 20th century European history, especially the Balkans. Other topics include the Second World War, politics, and sports, and there are historic books dating from the 1490s.
Many of the documents in the archive, and some of the books, are in Serbo-Croat. The archive contains materials related to the Berlin 1936 and 1948 Olympic Games, the Special Operations Executive, shipping and Ivanovic's work for the Consulate in Monaco.
It is asked that at least 48 hours' notice is given for appointments to consult the archival material and Serbo-Croat books in the collection given the challenges of finding the items needed.


Hello everyone, we are Pranav Kappal and Umi Robbins, and we are absolutely thrilled to kick off the first edition of our blog. We are very excited and are looking forward to taking you along on our adventures exploring the enchanting island of Osakikamijima.
We aim to learn about and experience parts of the island that make it unique – so that we can share our impressions with you so that you do not miss out on anything that this beautiful island has to offer. For our first venture, we decided to explore the ‘Old Streets of Kinoe’.
The old streets of Kinoe, situated on Osakikamijima Island in Hiroshima, Japan, are steeped in history and charm. These picturesque streets have preserved the traditional essence of Japanese culture and architecture, offering a glimpse into the past. Lined with well-preserved wooden buildings, stone pathways, and serene gardens, the old streets of Kinoe provide a unique atmosphere that transports visitors back in time. This destination is a testament to the rich cultural heritage of Japan and is a must-visit for those seeking a taste of the country’s historical beauty.
With their well-preserved traditional Japanese architecture, The old streets of Kinoe offer a unique window into the past. As you wander through these charming lanes, you’ll find yourself immersed in a world that reflects the Japan of centuries ago. The wooden buildings, cobblestone pathways, and meticulously maintained gardens evoke a sense of nostalgia that’s impossible to resist. Kinoe’s history is closely intertwined with the island’s development. Osakikamijima Island is known for its historical significance, and Kinoe played a pivotal role in this narrative. The streets have witnessed the passage of time and hold the stories of generations. The feeling of nostalgia evoked by these streets allow us to happily enjoy the pleasures of the past.
Kinoe is not only a treasure trove of historical architecture but also a place of natural beauty. The streets are adorned with lush greenery and meticulously maintained gardens. Small ponds and koi-filled water features create a serene and soothing atmosphere. The combination of traditional architecture and nature’s beauty makes every corner of Kinoe a visual delight.
In spring, cherry blossoms transform the streets into a dreamlike landscape. The pink blossoms create a canopy of beauty, attracting visitors from all over Japan and beyond. During autumn, the streets are painted with the warm hues of changing leaves, casting a different kind of spell.
Despite the clearly visible beauty that these streets allow us to experience, it is also clear that this beauty may not last forever due to decaying, abandoned architecture. Yet, the preservation of the community that we see so far gives us hope! This preservation of Kinoe’s Old Streets is a testament to the commitment of Osakikamijima’s local community. The residents of this island take great pride in maintaining the historical integrity of the area.
One of the most remarkable aspects of Kinoe’s old streets is the overwhelming sense of tranquility they exude. The peacefulness of this place offers a welcome escape from the fast-paced modern world. It’s a serene retreat where you can find solace and reconnect with nature and history.
Visitors often describe Kinoe as a place where time stands still. The absence of modern distractions and the slow pace of life allow you to savor each moment fully. It’s a rare opportunity to escape the chaos of the everyday and embrace the peacefulness of the past.
Visiting The Old Streets of Kinoe
To visit Kinoe’s old streets, you can take a ferry from the mainland to Osakikamijima Island. Once on the island, it’s a short journey to Kinoe, where you’ll be transported to a world of history and beauty.
As you prepare for your trip, remember to embrace the local customs and etiquette. Respect for the history and culture of Kinoe is essential to ensure that these streets remain a haven of tradition and beauty for generations to come.
In conclusion, the old streets of Kinoe are a true testament to the timelessness of Japanese culture. These streets offer an opportunity to step back in time and experience the rich history and beauty of Japan. Whether you’re a history enthusiast, a culture connoisseur, or simply someone seeking a tranquil escape, Kinoe’s old streets have something special to offer. We invite you to explore this hidden gem and immerse yourself in the enchanting world of Kinoe. It’s a journey that promises to leave an indelible mark on your heart and soul. Thank you very much for reading, and stay tuned for the next edition of our blog!


Within the territory of Marchigiano is located the enchanting Aso Valley that over time has well preserved the characteristics of a medieval environment: villages perched on the hills and farms with farmhouses scattered among a multitude of colors that change to every look, passing from the intense white of the snowy peaks of the Sibillini Mountains through the shades of green – yellow – reddish – marrams that paint the hills that gently descend to Valle, continuing with the many colors of the orchards of the valley, to end with the blue of the sea and the sky that melt on the horizon and contrast with the golden beaches.
Of ancient origins, dates back to the VIII century, when the Lombard Elprando began to build a castle and consolidated with the Farfensi around the year one thousand. Interesting: the Church of S. Michele Arcangelo, the Church of Sant’Agostino with alongside the Convent, the Medieval Tower, the Museum of Ancient Crafts.
It gave birth to the Cardinals: Fulgenzio Travalloni and Gregorio Petrocchini.
Parties and Events:
Feast of Saint Anthony – Baccalà Festival 15-16-17 January each year
Polenta festival – 2nd Fri-Sat-Sun of August each year
Remote origin with Etruscan and Picene traces.
Interesting: The Ghibelline Tower that dominates the town.
Holidays and events
Festa Popolare – Wine festival and typical gastronomy 3rd Saturday and Sunday of September every year
To the south of the town, in the locality of “La Cuma” there is an interesting archaeological area where the remains of a monumental Roman Hellenistic Temple and Portico are well visible (XIII – XII A.C.)
Village perched on the hill, 4 km from the town stands the Castle of Rocca Monte Varmine of Lombard origin.
Celebrations and Events
Festa Popolare – Roasted Sausage Festival Period of August
MONTALTO DELLE MARCHE
Located on a beautiful hill that ends on one side in the Valle del Tesino and on the other slopes gently towards the Valle dell’Aso. In 1521vi was born Felice Peretti, the future Pope Sisto V °.
Of great historical interest is an old water mill “Mulino Sisto V °”.
Celebrations and Events
Festival degli Appennini – Choral Songs 3rd Saturday of May each year
“Novalia” folk festival – Typical gastronomy 1st Sat – Sun of August each year
Folk Festival – The Night of Witches and Goblins 13.14 August each year
Between the Valle del Tesino and Valle del Tronto, stands Offida, also known as “Paese del Merletto a Tonbolo”. They are fine handmade laces with special tools “fuselli”, a tradition that has been handed down from generation to generation for more than 500 years.
It is on a cliff that stands the Church of Santa Maria della Rocca of Romanesque-Gothic forms.
Celebrations and Events
Market Exhibition – Wine of the Piceno Hills, First days of September each year
Past plurimillenary (existed before the birth of Rome). To this day the Romanesque mark is still present, the Medieval and the Renaissance, as shown by the Rue, the Gates that give the name to the Sestrieri della Quintana, the Temples, the Towers (Ascoli city of a hundred towers), as well as Piazza del Popolo and the Palazzo dei Capitani.
Celebrations and Events
Historical revocation – Quintana, July and August
TORRE DI PALME
Village built in the Middle Ages by the Eremitiani monks of S. Agostino. Among alleys, arches, arcades, porches and flowered squares, glimpses of the landscape that reach the striking view of the Conero, it is no coincidence that the village is called “Terrazza sul Mare”.
A city of ancient origins, rich in art and culture, it has preserved its Renaissance appearance intact, as are the mighty palaces, churches and bell towers. Interesting: the Duomo and the Historical Theater.
Celebrations and Events
Historical re-enactment – Parade with Medieval costumes, August 14th each year
Historical re-enactment – Cavalcata dell’Assunta, August 15th each year
Mariano cult town. Inside the Basilica there is the Sanctuary of the Holy House of Loreto, where the Virgin Mary received the Annunciation.
Celebrations and Events
Agora of young people from the Mediterranean – Meeting young people from all over the world, September every year
It is the birthplace of the great poet Giacomo Leopardi. Since the 1700s, the birthplace of the poet, today “Palazzo Leopardi” in Piazza “Sabato del Villaggio”, is still inhabited by his descendants.
Recanati also collected the inheritance of the tender Beniamino Gigli.
City known, among other things, for the Sferisterio, a Neoclassical work designed in 1823. The Sferisterio hosts the opera’s summer season.
To speak of Genga means to speak inevitably of the “Frasassi Caves”, they are part of a hypogeum complex that extends for about 18 Km.
It is a fantastic journey through stalactites, ponds between crystal arabesques, alabaster spears hanging from the majestic vaults, etc ..
The Consortium of Frasassi proposes speleological tourism.
NATIONAL PARK OF THE SIBILLINI
Eighteen small towns in the hinterland are part of the Sibillini National Park.
The Historical Slope
Tradition has it that Visso, now home to the National Park, was founded well 907 years before the Roman era and that, from its recognition as free and until the Napoleonic invasion, was divided into five districts called “Guaite” that included also Castelsantangelo and Ussita. A territory rich in castles and watchtowers, which still characterize the structure of numerous inhabited centers, built by the inhabitants of the valley to defend themselves from the repeated incursions of the Saracens.
From the naturalistic point of view, in this area, the Gorge of Valnerina, excavated by the impetuous Nera river, which can be traveled by car, and the mountain massif, of dolomitic appearance, of M. Bove, are interesting. discover all the high altitude plant associations, typical of the Sibillini. The municipalities of: Castelsantangelo sul N., Pievebovigliana, Pieve Torina, Ussita, Visso belong to this side.
The Sacred Mountain
Norcia is the heart of this important sector of the park, home of St. Benedict the patron saint of Europe, famous for its beautiful old town, the square with the church (XIV-XVIII century) dedicated to the Saint, the Cathedral (XVIII century. ) and other interesting historical buildings.
From here the excursions start: to the “marcite”, the original system of permanent irrigation of the lawns built, according to some, since the time of the Benedictine Monks; the Piani di Castelluccio, which consist of two large karstic plains, in the midst of which stands the homonymous village; to the Abbey of S. Eutizio, founded at the end of the 5th century and became famous for the ability of the monks to treat the sick with the precious and medicinal herbs of the Sibillini Mountains. The Municipalities of Norcia and Preci belong to this side.
The Magic Slope
The Sibillini in the Middle Ages were known throughout Europe as a kingdom of demons, necromancers and fairies. Among the many legends the most famous are those of the Sibyl, “Illustre prophetess” who lived in a cave located on the homonymous mountain and that of Pilate according to which the lifeless body of the famous Roman procurator was dragged by some buffaloes in the red waters of the ” demoniaco “lake, located in the high valley engraving that crosses the Vettore massif longitudinally.
Not far away is the Gorge dell’Infernaccio, where memories of ancient necromantic rites still linger and suggestive example of the erosion of the river Tenna on the limestone of the area. In all this sector, together with beautiful high trunk beech woods, vegetate some rare species such as the edelweiss and gentian and you can also meet the wolf, the goshawk and the golden eagle. The municipalities of Amandola, Arquata del Tronto, Montegallo, Montefortino and Montemonaco belong to this side.
The Fiorito side
It includes the northernmost area of the park with the Ragnolo meadows where, during the summer, beautiful orchids, lilies and other interesting species such as the Orsini fritillary, the narcissus or the alpine star can be observed.
In the Fiastrone valley, an impressive gorge dug by the waters, is the Grotta dei Frati, an ancient and evocative hermitage of the Clareni monks, of the year one thousand.
Going up the river, upstream from Lake Fiastra, where the peaks of the surrounding mountains are mirrored, you can reach the charming Acquasanta valley with its splendid waterfalls and the bear’s cave, a toponym that bears witness to the past presence of this especially also on the Sibillini. The municipalities of Acquacanina, Bolognola, Cessapalombo, Fiastra, Fiordimonte and San Ginesio belong to this side.
THE HISTORY BETWEEN PICENO AND THE FERMANA BRAND
The geographical Piceno is one of the most interesting landscapes of central Italy that extends from the Adriatic to the Apennines. Controversial instead is the origin of the Picenes: the Latin writers, like Pliny the Elder, tend to come from the Sabina, while the cultural characters reveal strong oriental influences typical of Illyria.
The greatest development of the Piceno people dates back to the 8th century BC; a warrior population but open to commercial exchanges, it prefers for the settlement of high ground and sites set against the reliefs. The main activity is agriculture as evidenced by the precious grapes and the tasty oils of this land. The prominence assumed by the inhabitants of Ascoli in the interior of the valley, and of Fermo, on the coastal hill, is important in the delineation of the territorial structure. Vast areas, these, which play a decisive role of centrality, guidance and coordination. With the submission to Rome, in 269-268 BC, the Piceno takes on some of the characteristics of the lands conquered by the Romans: Fermo becomes a colony in Ascoli, an allied city.
As testified by Pliny the Elder (Naturalis Historia, III, 13), with the regionalization of Augustus, the Picenum is the V regio and extends from the Marchiano Esino to the Abruzzese Saline; presents a developed road network that finds its main hub in Sandria and Lauretana.
The upheavals following the barbarian invasions and the climatic changes push, in the Middle Ages, the population to abandon the countryside and the settlements downstream and move on the hills, certainly more suitable to control the borders and healthier than the valley in the process of swamping .
In the meantime, at the end of the 9th century, the Farfensi family moved their main headquarters to the Piceno area and, in particular, to the Colle Matenano. They constitute a sort of “state” in the feudal context, able to control a very large area.
From the 10th to the 12th century, historical writings refer to the Marca Fermana with territory from the Musone to the Pescara, while starting from the year one thousand the State of the Church began to consolidate. There are, however, situations of decentralization and autonomy with respect to the Rector of the Brand (this acts as a papal vicar) as evidenced by the “Giudicatura”, “Fluminibus Salini, Tennae and Tennaculae usque ad partes Regni”, which will then turn into the “Presidiato of the Abbey of Farfa “with headquarters in S. Vittoria in Mantenano and that until the sixteenth century will perform general administrative tasks, especially in the field of justice.
The XIV century represents for the Marche a period of political-administrative upheaval due to which the municipal autonomies undergo the constant pressure of new strong powers affirmed in the local area.
The intervention on the subject of the Spanish Cardinal Egidio d’Albornoz is realized with the promulgation of the “Costitutiones” in Fano in 1357 with which the reorganization of the territory is carried out which will be maintained until the VIII century.
Under the papacy of Sixtus V, 1585-1590, the Montalto presidency was established, which somehow revitalized the old and now decayed Presidio Farfense and with the aim of implementing a wide decentralization of administrative and judicial functions.
The Pope’s objectives are manifold: in addition to giving prestige to Montalto, his family’s native country and where he spends his youth, he aims to control an area infested by brigandage and characterized by isolation and that until the advent of the troops Napoleon remains administratively, on a provincial scale, divided as follows: the “Stato Fermano” to the north and along a good part of the coast, the “Ascoli State” to the south, and the “Montalto Presidiato” to the center.
It is following the French occupation that the administrative structure is completely innovated and meets in a single entity, the Department of the Throne with the capital Fermo, the “governments” of Ascoli Piceno and Fermo, the “state” of Camerino and the “Presidio di Montalto”.
The return of papal authority leads, even for a few years, to the autonomy of Camerino while Ascoli and Fermo are connected to an ephemeral provincial division that is based in Macerata.
Under the Napoleonic Kingdom of Italy, the department of Tronto was temporarily rebuilt but definitively disappears with the Congress of Vienna, after which all the Marches returned under the control of the Papal States.
The southern Marche Pontiffs are divided into two “delegations” Ascoli and Fermo that with the Unification of Italy count respectively 45 and 47 municipalities.
The application of the Rattazzi Law on the “rearrangement of the Provincial and Municipal Administration” and the subsequent decree N.4495 of 18860 leads from six to four the provinces of the Marches with the unification of Camerino in Macerata and Fermo in Ascoli.
The latter choice arises from the need to enhance the administrative and control capacity of Ascoli in the territory, including not only the Fermano but also the Abruzzo area of the Teramo. This has never happened and the resulting result is that of a provincial capital which is partly peripheral and decentralized.
In order to have a functional rebalancing and to partially quell the discontent of the citizens, a sub-prefecture was established which was operative until 1927.
Also in the territory of the new province there is the “cut” of the municipal units, and if on the one hand there is a tendency to give greater efficiency to the municipalities, on the other to reduce their number.
The two world wars involve the Picene people but do not substantially change the territorial boundaries of about 2090 square kilometers.
The constant climatic improvement favors the halfdrile approaching that reaches its peak between the end of the nineteenth and early twentieth century. At the same time the main modern road infrastructures are realized and a process of industrialization starts, at first slow, and then more and more rapidly starting from the second half of the twentieth century. It is recent history the law 11 June 2004 with which the Province of Fermo was again established, whose elective bodies will begin to be concretely operational only in 2009.


Inside Ho Chi Minh City’s Reunification Palace
I’ve never been an efficient sightseer, mostly because I don’t like being on a schedule when I’m traveling. Bar some essential Tripadvisor tips and basic Google Maps searches, I generally let a place unfold as organically as I can, and I definitely don’t care whether I manage to fit in the top twenty, ten or even five most important sights on a particular trip.
And no – it’s not about the slightly clichéd and rather pretentious “living like a local” thing. It’s just that when I’m on holiday and I can’t be arsed ticking monuments and churches off checklists. I much prefer exploring random streets and frequenting seedy bars, simply enjoying what I find along the way.
That’s why – on this particular day – I was tempted to ignore the brochures advertising Ho Chi Minh City’s Reunification Palace in favour of a rather attractive park-side bar with open terrace and some pumping tunes, but I ignored my instincts for once and headed in.
They can be hit and miss, these institutional monuments, but this one didn’t disappoint me. It was originally called the Independence Palace, and it was used by the South Vietnamese president during the Vietnam War (thank you Wikipedia).
It took a bit of a battering during the war but it survived, and got renamed the Reunification Palace following – well – the reunification of North and South Vietnam.
So today it’s full of grand rooms, dark bunkers, soviet-era furniture and military gadgets. And it has the best venue for a spectacular rooftop booze-up that I’ve seen in a very long time.
Come inside and take a look.


The Abolition Project develops arts-based educational projects that combat modern day slavery. There are more people living under modern day slavery than there were at the height of the trans-Atlantic slave trade. By partnering with local artists and educators, the Abolition Project creates pathways for empathy, learning and action. Each Abolition Project consists of an artist, educator and community partner. Together, they produce a project that addresses an injustice connected to slavery and share it with an impacted community.


Located in the heart of Uptown Oakland, the Golden West Tower Building was built in 1968 in the Modernist architecture style popular during the era. Eschewing ornamentation in favor of minimalism, its clean lines of glass, steel and concrete stand in stark contrast to its more colorful emerald green neighbor, the Art Deco styled I. Magnin Building built in 1931.
Our building is conveniently located above the 19th Street BART station. Exit the 19th Street BART station and enter our building from the street level.
There's even an underground tunnel from the 19th Street BART station directly to our building. But it's super secret. Actually, it's just hard to find, so unless you know where it is, exiting at the street level is your best bet.


Moose Jaw and District Sports Hall of Fame
The Moose Jaw and District Sports Hall of Fame is dedicated to recognizing the extraordinary contributions and accomplishments of people from Moose Jaw and District, preserving sport history and providing role models for upcoming generations while setting standards for them to aspire to.
Honored members, including amateur and professional athletes, builders of sport(s) and teams will be inducted annually starting in November 2015.
A group comprised of representatives of the Moose Jaw and District Sports Hall of Fame committee and individuals appointed by the president are responsible for reviewing the nominations and selecting inductees.
The Moose Jaw and District Sports Hall of Fame wall display is located on the McCaig Mezzanin at MosaicPlace Conference Centre-2nd Level, 110-1st Avenue North West, Moose Jaw.
Please email any inquires to firstname.lastname@example.org