Has The International Court Been Hijacked by Agendas?

The international courts are pushing too hard I fear. The United Nations and other international groups are too quick to demand that the leaders of various nations be tried for war crimes. If a leader cannot defend his own government against the mass mobs of hysteria, often incited from the Internet, or foreign powers, then they are very likely to disengage from international diplomacy, and quit the United Nations.
In fact we may find many nations quitting the United Nations all at once. This could cause a group of rogue nations to form their own group and that would be a travesty for the future of mankind. We can't try every former leader of every country for war crimes merely for protecting their government, or the stability of the nation. That's not to say that we should put up with ironfisted rule or corrupt regimes who have no sense of ethics whatsoever. However, we have to be very careful before we call for the heads of former heads of state.
In the case of the Libyan leader, Colonel Qaddafi, the international court has already decided they will try him for war crimes, and therefore he has nothing to lose but continuing to fight until the death. That means more people will die in the midst of the conflict, and it will be a prolonged conflict. Casualties will mount on all sides, and the expense to the nations involved will increase. Not only could it be the inevitable fall of Qaddafi in the end, but it could also be the end of NATO as we know it.
Now then, we know that often nations work to remove a dictator, sometimes for good reason, but sometimes to ratchet away their natural resources, or to serve their political will in the never ending game of geopolitics. If we hold that every leader of every nation will be tried for war crimes if they don't serve the will of the international community, then in essence what we've said is there will be no leaders in any nation in the future; that the control of every nation will be that of the world government.
That's probably not going to work because people of each nation wish to follow someone who has risen from the people. And when all of those leaders that have arisen from the people and all those different nations get together they will discharge themselves from any global power base. In that case communication stops, diplomacy stops, and political impasse starts thus, we are one step away from war. Worse, such conflict will be fought to the death because the leaders of those nations will have nothing to lose. Indeed I hope you will please consider this and think on it.

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

It seems we have a new religion of global warming, and everyone wants to reduce their carbon footprint. I laugh when I hear that term "carbon footprint" because as a one extremely popular science fiction author once said "we are carbon based bipeds" - as Arthur C Clarke put it. In other words there's nothing wrong with carbon, or a carbon footprint. And every time you walk outside or take a step on the beach you are leaving a carbon footprint, because you are made of carbon. You see that point?
If carbon is evil, and you wish to reduce your carbon footprint, there's only one real way to do that, and I'm not talking about wearing shoes. You are going to have to eliminate yourself from the planet if you really believe that having a carbon footprint is bad. Further, it is rather arrogant for humans to think that they could save the planet. First of all, there's nothing wrong with this planet, it's been here for well over 5 billion years and it will be here for 5 billion more, long after the human race is gone.
Human should stop trying to save the planet, and start trying to save themselves. If they do, they could save themselves from ignorance first, that or save themselves from their own arrogance. Humans saving the planet, that's a laugh, there's nothing wrong with this planet, it's doing just fine. In fact, our solar system is probably the best example of a perpetual motion machine that we've yet to discover. Round and round it goes, and never stops. Ingenious, I don't see humans able to create a perpetual motion machine.
And may I ask exactly how humans think they're going to save the planet? What if they get into circles and sing or maybe they'll sit and pray in a building that they've built and go to every week to remind themselves to be good little humans? Now I don't mean to give the humans the hard time, but all this saving the world from global warming, and all of this other nonsense just doesn't make any sense from a scientific standpoint.
It's not that saving the planet isn't a good idea - it's that the crisis doesn't exist. If the planet were truly in trouble, then yes we should work and figure out a way to save it, of course we should do that, but to pretend there is a problem, and then go conquer it is a lot like Don Quixote swinging at windmills. Indeed I hope you will please consider all this and think on.

Beauty in Architecture

'Conceptual Art' that dominates the world is locked substantially into the realm of thinking which is why we are required to learn about the individual particularity of the artist and her ideas. Conceptual art by its own definition has moved substantially into the cerebral realm, and minimised the experiential dimensions of the works. In 1941, the architectural historian Sigfried Giedion, discussed a split which he perceived to have opened up between society's thinking and feeling; a split which he described as being one of the illnesses of our age. It was a schism that he felt society we were leaving behind with the onset of modernism, but as we are seeing, that was a premature conclusion. That split has not yet been resolved; indeed it seems to be wider than ever and the fragmentation of the artistic disciplines and their respective audiences seems to be for ever increasing within the context of our post-modern world. The relativity and inclusiveness of Post-modernism is to be welcomed and celebrated but the fact that everything should be tolerated does not mean that everything should be equally valued. The post-modern condition does not suggest a way out of this situation. In the post-modern world everything is different but equal; to introduce value into such a relative world we need to transcend the relative, engage the qualitative, and thus enter the world of excellence, the theme of this conference.
The reason I feel that excellence is a way out of the post-modern maelstrom is because it requires us to transcend the relativity of variety, difference and interpretation. 'Excellence' we find defined as "pre-eminent in quality", and 'quality' defined as "Degree of excellence". It is one of those words whose definition seems to be cyclical. Its meaning appears to turn in on itself, it becomes difficult to pin it down, it is elusive rather like the phenomenon itself. It seems to me to belong to another realm, another dimension. If the relative world operates in the two dimensional plane of everyday life, the life of variety, change and difference, the qualitative world of excellence potentially cuts vertically through that dimension at every point. We could perhaps also imagine it as a series of qualitative planes stacked one above the other with the pre-eminent plane suggesting excellence. But the pre-eminent plane is never wholly grasped because the vertical transcendent dimension is infinite. Although this qualitative axis cuts through the relative world and is experienced in terms of the relative world, its characteristics are wholly different.
If the relative world is understood in terms of the relationships between objects, forms, colours, textures and ideas the qualitative dimension is distinguished by the nature of those relationships. If the relative world is described by 'what', the qualitative dimension is described by 'how'. We could almost say that in the qualitative realm it matters less what objects, forms, colours, ideas are related in a work, but more importantly how they are related. When we talk about 'what we relate', we talk about the type, the size, the number, the cost; when we talk about 'how we relate', we talk about taking time, about taking care and even about loving what we are doing. When we are in the qualitative realm we focus on the way that things are brought together. The precision with which colours, forms, textures and ideas are balanced and composed becomes all important to the artist and architect. It is because these creative individuals are concerned about the way things are brought into relationships that the work as a 'wholly integrated ensemble' becomes more important than the individual parts. Beyond that, the way that that ensemble is stitched into the greater whole of the discipline or more generally the culture, is also of equal importance. Wholeness and balance are therefore central phenomena in a consideration of the qualitative dimension of architecture and the arts.

Freedom (A Fourth Of July Special)

Is there such a thing as freedom? Having asked different people what freedom means to them, their answers come in many different forms, but surprisingly, everyone seems to have something to complain about. I guess freedom can mean different things to different people and those things have never really been accomplished to the fullest extent. Are we truly free? What does having freedom mean?
Freedom Should Mean Being Free From Pain
One of the persons I asked told me that there is no such thing as true freedom because we're not free from being human, that though we experience joy, we also experience tragedy. She had a point. For as long as we are human, we are subject to the joys and pains of living in an imperfect world. I guess freedom for her is being free from sadness and misery. Who wants to be sad and miserable anyways? Why can't it all be perfect? When will we be free of our pain and imperfections?
Freedom Should Mean Equality
Another person I asked said that though we have greatly improved on individual freedoms, the big picture hasn't really changed that much. It appears that the more possessions one has, the more free one is. In this world, wealth means power and the poor will always be subject to the wealthy. She again had a point. In this world, when powerful people commit crimes, they somehow have a bigger chance of getting away with it but for the poor, there is no escape. I guess having been born and having spent most of my life in the third world has shown me this difference. Does freedom mean having wealth and power?
Freedom Should Mean Safety
A cousin told me that being free means being able to walk out of the door and know that there aren't people waiting outside to do you or your loved ones any harm. That as a woman, she doesn't have to hide her face and she can vote. I guess most of us can do that here in America, but at what price? Asking another cousin, I was told about a friend who died serving in Iraq last year. She said that we can all celebrate being free, but the freedom we all enjoy is the product of our forces risking their lives every day to allow us to keep doing the things we simply take for granted. I guess most of us are safe here, but what about the people we sent over to Iraq? What about the people we have deliberately put in harm's way to keep everyone in the mainland safe?
In My Opinion
True, we live in an imperfect world. We live in a world where we are subject to pain as we are to joy. We live in a world where freedom comes with a premium, and those who can pay the premium will be able to do more than those who cannot. We live in a world where somebody has to face death in order for others to be safe in their place. We live in a world where the things we take for granted are the same things that are so badly wanted and needed by persons on another side of the world. If that is how we will look at things, then there is no such things as freedom for us.
Having freedom means we can do what we want but why can't we? Why are we bound to so many rules? We will always have our own individual wants, but if we all did our individual wants, then there wouldn't be order. Imagine a world with no rules. We surely will all have never-ending blood feuds, things getting stolen all the time, and people too scared of even going out for fear of their own safety. If people were allowed to truly do anything they want, then that would be the end of freedom because we will all be bound by fear from our own doings.Freedom also means suppressing individual freedoms for the benefit of everyone. We don't each live alone on separate islands. We are social creatures and we therefore need each other to survive, and how more can we help each other to survive than by respecting and helping each other out?
In my opinion, the very fact that we have the ability to want freedom is freedom itself. The ability to change our perspective is freedom itself. The fact that we can find even just a little happiness even in the direst of situations is proof that freedom exists. We live in an imperfect world, but that does not mean that we can't do anything to improve it. We have the ability to go after the things that can make us happy, just as we have the ability to make others happy. We may not be socially equal, but we all are humans experiencing both joy and sadness regardless of whether we are rich or poor, man or woman. We are all born and we will all will come to pass and therefore in that sense we are all equal. We all have potential to do great good and great evil, and we can always do something to realize those potentials and that is freedom.
For as long as we are human, we are all are slaves of our own desires, prisoners of our own minds, subjects to our emotions. But, also as human, we can choose to be the master of ourselves. In order to be free, we have to know ourselves from deep within. We must understand that being human does not mean just giving up to our weaknesses and foolish desires. That being free means having control over our own perspectives and actions. The moment we learn how to master ourselves is when we become truly free because freedom is not only fought against external forces, but also from the darkness lurking within our own very own minds.

The Super Hero Culture

Among the notable attributes of American Society is the prevalence of the "Superhero Culture". This is manifested in the affinity for fictitious characters with superhuman abilities. This socio - cultural constructs found in comics, video games and other like material go on adventures and fight those who are against what is good, just, noble and humanistic. They are not just of a uniform mold but are as varied as a society itself. Like any community these personas, though imaginary are an important externality in terms of Social Interaction.
In Social Interaction, an externality must be shared by several individuals in society. This may be a tangible or intangible so long as it facilitates the socio - personal interchange. These characters are a manifestation of a shared experience, value or beliefs. Any American knows and can identify with Superman, Batman, Spider Man, Iron Man and the like. Their affinity for these individuals is as culturally deep as the Greeks and their pantheon of mythological deities.
The American society in whole or in part share attributes with this non - real persons. These fictional individuals served as tangible modes through which Social Interaction could viably happen. However, this important cultural phenomenon is not purely founded on affinity for them as an externality. They also are significant repositories of values. Fighting for justice, using individual ingenuity to solve problems and defending the oppressed are some of these ideals.
Some argue that the "Superhero Culture" as an integral part of social dynamics, such as social interaction. Its detractors contend that this becomes the source of radical American war bravado. Some say that the warmongering of this society is brought about by a society interacting through these imaginary personas. However, this cannot be validly appreciated. Cultural nuances such as having externalities of heroes fighting evil and these evils are the enemies of the United States. Every culture has their own idea of what is evil and what they stand for.
Social Interaction is most effective when it is through symbols that are provocative, appealing and culturally expressive. Any cultural icons that exist not as real individuals but as representations of values and unique communal attributes better facilitate the shared interchange of individual expression in the social dimension. The level of mythos and relevance they take on is such that they are seen not just characters in comic books, animated shows and fiction in general. They are not that to the community's psyche.
More importantly for Social Interaction to have a lasting imprint in terms of the individuals in society, they have to hold considerable weight. Ideas of moral responsibility, vigilance to uphold justice and doing what is right regardless of the cost are best expressed and integrated into members of society not with mere words or written text. They are best ingrained through symbols and appealing representations - superheroes.

Birth of a Nation - What We Celebrate

Independence: Exemption from reliance on, or control by, others.
I am a Civil War Reenactor. For the past 6 years, instead of attending the local rodeo, parades or barbeques, I have helped entertain and educate hundreds of interested public who come to see why anyone would pay to sweat in woolen uniforms or hoop skirts and camp in canvas for the weekend.
My friends and I strive to relate to folks what the issues were of the day, how the period history affects them today, and why it is important to be aware of this critical point in our nation's past. But after living in a military camp 12 hours a day, and hiding our non-period food coolers (gasp!), the public trickles away. The park gates close, the campfires start to twinkle, and pops start sounding from nearby fireworks shows. At dusk, our announcer calls to the artillery to start their show, and we dwarf surrounding towns for miles with full pound loads of black powder shooting flame from steel wool-lined barrels. Needless to say, I haven't been missing the rodeo scene much.
But this year, listening to the ground-shaking booms and cheers of the reenactor crowd, I started thinking about independence. As a history buff, history has started following me around. I can't get it off my brain. So naturally, I thought about what independence used to mean, versus what it means today. A religious radio/cassette series I listened to with my sisters as a child held the humorous, if clichéd boring teacher expounding on history. In the blandest voice imaginable he states, "1776 waas an exci-ting ye-ar." While this is frequently quoted and laughed at in my household, it scares me to realize that this attitude is more applicable in our nation today than ever before. The history of our freedom, and even worse, freedom itself have been reduced to a good thing our founding fathers did for us and a date to memorize in 5th grade. We are truly thankful (if we stop to think about it) that we "aren't like those other countries out there". We praise our military heroes for their service and bluster loudly around 9/11 about no one kicking around the good ol' US of A. We feel a swelling of pride and emotion for the 125 seconds it takes to sing our national anthem. And then we spend the rest of our year celebrating sparklers, good burgers, the baseball game and a day off from work.
What did independence mean the year our nation was born? The above definition was my personal favorite of the many I found. While children rely on their parents, charities rely on donations, the sick rely on doctors or medications, and your social networking game relies on hourly checks (those vegetables grow fast!) there is a serious line between reliance and control. When our forefathers conceived this great nation, a day of independence was not distant history. It was questionable future. Independence meant the death of loved ones in war, threat of prison for treason, often, the inability to buy food or supplies from blockaded ports, or political opponents destroying your home or business. Independence meant a lifelong struggle. Independence meant freedom from the control of a distant monarch who just needed tax money to run his own war-torn country. It meant fighting for all you were worth to obtain the right to protect your home and family. It meant pride in one's hard work in business, instead of your profits going to unreasonable taxes. In this and the surrounding years, independence from the control by England came to mean the establishment of the American dream, and the American identity. Through the blood of many good men, the sacrifices of their families, the passion of their statesmen, and the indomitable spirit of their work, independence became reality for that generation, and all the generations to follow. We took our first shaky steps as a baby nation. Though the struggle didn't end on the 4th of July, 1776, that is the day we stand as a community and a nation to recognize the brilliant beginnings of a completely unique democracy. From that day forward, we move to become a world power and a powerful force on global history. We still recognize some stirrings of pride or emotion for our country, but admit it: how often do you reflect on your day to day blessings as an American? How often do you scoff at the news headlines of some tyrannical dictator or another, without thinking of the millions of people his rule affects? You could be one of them. Instead you were born to be free, to thrive within your community of independent individuals, who make up a part of your state, where your opinion or vote can be presented to affect the ruling and government of a young but powerful nation. You can still choose to give up your money, your success, even your life in service of this country. You can say what you like, live where you decide, succeed in the field you pursue without threat of recrimination. YOU can influence our history.
Am I saying this is a perfect system? Am I claiming to be better than the rest of the world? Absolutely not. But our history shows too clearly the stain of humans trying to control other humans. Whether the Crusades, tribal warfare, the Ugandan genocide, WWII, and thousands of similar stories past and present, we can give examples of total control and the horrific effects it has on those under it's grasp. As a security curriculum I read states, "Absolute power corrupts absolutely." Corruption is not dead in our nation. But what our independence means to me is that I am free to give my life to making a difference. And I am free to always be thankful for those who do so. My husband commented on the veterans organization soliciting donations at the grocery store today. So many people see a group of kind, elderly men trying to take their money through pity plays. Whether I have cash or not is not the question. I see a group of heroes: true-blue, honest-to-goodness, everyday heroes, that understand a little better what real freedom is. Their families felt the sacrifice, their friends died in combat, their lives were altered forever. And do you think they care about the sparklers and the rodeo? I don't. I think they care about their buddies who never came home, their every breath that remains free, their community of friends-the few that understand what independence costs. Their history is our future, and their community is our living example. Of independence.

The Great Depression and Its Causes

The Great Depression was the worldwide economic depression of the 1930's. It was the longest and most widespread depression of the 20th century affecting the whole of the western world.
It originated in the United States when stock prices began to fall at the beginning of September 1929. The 29th October became known as Black Tuesday and was the point where the financial crises spread worldwide. This eventually led to a lack of consumer confidence. The general public were expecting deflation and didn't want to spend until prices fell, which contributed to a struggling economy. People were also reluctant to borrow so they didn't have as much to spend as they might have otherwise.
The Great Depression had a big effect on jobs. Businesses failed and new businesses weren't starting up so there weren't replacement jobs for those who became unemployed. Major industries such as automobiles and farming struggled, which resulted in mass unemployment. It also meant people had less money further increasing the economic downfall. Initially it was the US that suffered but it quickly impacted other areas.
Between 1929 and 1932 the United States' foreign trade declined by 70% and industrial production fell by 46%. Unemployment increased massively; by 607%. Other countries such as Great Britain, France and Germany also suffered a lot, although not quite as much as the United States.
There are a number of things that may have caused or contributed to the beginning of the Great Depression. The main ones are outlined below:
Debt Inflation
Too much debt meant that the cost of debt increased. People and businesses who were in debt were put into spiralling problems as interest rates on borrowing increased. This had the eventual impact of banks failing because loans could not be paid back.
Disparities in Production and Incomes
The economy was producing more than it was able to sell because consumers didn't have enough income to purchase everything that was being made. This was in part because of unequal distributions in wealth, meaning that many had no, or very little, disposable income. Although much was being produced there wasn't an adequate market for these products. Large factories were producing endless product that they could not sell.
Structural Problems Within Financial Institutions
Banks and other financial institutions were not well positioned to cope with the financial crises. Much of this was connected to farming. Farm prices fell drastically in the late 20's and interest rates went up just as dramatically. This put farmers, as well as the institutions they owed money to, in real trouble. Many, mostly small, banks specialised in farming and had major problems. It was not only small banks who were to blame though. Large banks failed to maintain adequate reserves. Too much lending and investing heavily in the stock market proved a major mistake. All this meant that in a tough economic situation banks were badly positioned.
Collapse of International Trade
After the First World War, many European nations owed large sums of money to the US. Despite much pressure, the US refused to forgive or reduce the debts. The only way these could be repaid was for these countries to borrow further. The US banks started loaning large amounts to Europe so they could repay their own debts to the US government. Once the Great Depression hit it was no longer possible for these countries to borrow from US banks meaning the whole situation got more out of control. This caused the European economies to collapse further.
Smoot-Hawley Tariff Act 1930
The Smoot-Hawley Tariff Act raised tariffs on many goods imported into the United States, meaning higher taxes for importers. Many were against it, including Henry Ford. President Hoover was initially oppose but was convinced by his party and some business leaders. Franklin D. Roosevelt spoke out against the policy in his presidential campaign. The aim was to raise money and improve the economic situation in the US, but it had the opposite effect. Importers unsurprisingly began to pull out as it was no longer worth the cost. Other countries were unhappy with the policy with many boycotting the US and retaliating with their own policies by increase taxes on their own imports from America. All this meant fewer business exchanges between the US and other countries. Global trade was impacted and the world's economy went further down hill.
Not everyone agrees as to the main cause of the Great Depression and it is likely that is was a combination of reasons. It began in late 1929 and it lasted throughout the 1930's and it wasn't until the early 1940's that its affect was over.

The Classical Gold and Jade Figurines of China

Do you know that Oriental figurines are not a new invention at all? Yes, you probably do if you have ever considered the subject. However, most people are not familiar with the fact that the ancient works of the past have laid a firm foundation for the Asian art we enjoy today. So classical art remains a part of our lives right now, even if we don't always recognize it. Our eyes are frequently captivated by the incredible findings which have been dug up at Lintong near Xi'an, the capital city of modern day Shaanxi province in China. It is common knowledge that there is a grand mausoleum with its thousands of guardian terracotta warriors and horses. These very unique figures stand forever as a testimony to the fascinating legacy of the first emperor, Qin Shihuang. These findings have remarkably reshaped our understanding of the origins of the pre-imperial state of Qin. They have also helped us comprehend the rise of Qing culture as well as the political/military reforms which signify Qin history. Its position of prominence during the first millennium BCE served as a foundation for a mighty empire. For this reason, its art has also had a profound and long lasting effect upon much of East Asia... and even beyond!
To study the past is to better understand ourselves and human nature itself. Our connection with the people who lived in the past is actually more intimate than we might wish to believe. After all, humans have always had the same concerns in one form or another. To know the gold and jade figurines of the Qin dynasty is a rewarding tour of delight for this same reason. The first gold figures of the Qin known to the modern collector are a number of thin gold sheets in stylized animal and other numerous geometric shapes. It is thought they are from the ancient tombs of the Dukes of Qin at a cemetary in Mount Dabuzi, Li county, Gansu province. These gold leafs were used to embellish coffins of the dead. Their superior sophistication strongly suggests that the Qin's love of gold probably began at an early date, perhaps much earlier than previously thought. The overwhelming quantity and quality of gold objects is a powerful testimonial to the high standard of technical skill achieved during the Qin era.
Of course, gold was not just used for human ornaments. It was also used for luxury items like reins for horses, chariot decorations, and even belt buckles. One find included a belt buckle in the shape of seven coiled serpents. Another style of buckle was formed like a stylized mandarin duck with its head facing back with the long break serving as the belt hook. The selection of the mandarin duck as a motif could arise from the traditional idea that it is a bird of great wonder and beauty. Later the duck even became a symbol of conjugal fidelity in China. A different (and perhaps somewhat funny) representation discovered is that of a tiger. The tiger is animated by its startled look, glaring eyes, prominent teeth, and big ears. The symbol of the tiger is certainly not a new one, as this piece of evidence establishes. In Asia the tiger is considered to be a very alluring, though dangerous, creature.
The Qin dynasty also inherited a rich legacy of jade carvings. These came from the Shang and Western Zhou dynasties. Qin jade itself demonstrates a uniqueness which is quite distinct. These are in the form of art pieces which come in the shapes of rectangular plaques and circular pendants. The use of gold and silver as well as jade for luxuries became more common with time. New ideas and technologies for fashioning them gradually emerged too. However, early developments and innovations were crucial foundations for the maturity which occurred during Qin Shihuang's era. All of this is reflected in the discoveries from the excavated tomb complex previously mentioned.
It is the thesis of this writer that the contemporary figurines and art work of Asia all owe a debt to the art of the past. The classic has never been eradicated by the modern when it comes to art. Nearly all Asian regions have been deeply influenced at some time or another by the culture which belongs to China. This is why the study of China's art gives any serious Asian collector an indisputable grasp on the market for Oriental collectibles, art, and decor. To know the meaning and relevance of any Asian decor strategy, it is almost impossible to fail to understand something about the history and culture of the Middle Kingdom. The classic is still an intimate part of the contemporary!

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

The aesthetics of a human being can be nourished by art, music, and drama. Therefore, I strongly endorse that introduction to art, music, and drama must be part of every college student's education. It not only nourishes his/her aesthetic sense but also grants to the student a healthy extracurricular activity. At the same time, the contests and the collaborative projects of art, music, and drama gives a chance to every student to understand their fellows and that will help to study jointly. Hereinafter, every activity in educational system that synchronizes students should be part of the education system.
Nourishment of student's personality is essential element of education system. Every student should come out from educational institution with strong theoretical command on their subjects as well as with a strong personality to compete in the market. Therefore, a healthy activity of art, music, and drama can enhance the interpersonal skills and personality compatibility of a student to compete in the market in an appropriate manner. Hereinafter, the things that have to be considered are the mental upbringing and intelligence induction to the students. And, all the things that have been mentioned in the outline of this treatise clearly fulfills the student's mental abilities. These abilities will counts enough and will help candidate in his/her practical life.
Team compatibility is another aspect in the above mentioned activities in the college student education. It allows the students to synchronize themselves with each other and make them compatible to each other for a joint understanding aptitude. At the same time, the element of enjoyment strongly enhances the compatibility and synchronization concept. Hereinafter, it will be helpful for students in professional field to make themselves compatible and synchronize-able candidate.
At the end, it is better to restate the thesis that is, the aesthetics of a human being can be nourished by art, music, and drama. Now, it should be damn clear that art, music, and drama definitely brightened the mind of students, therefore, it should be a part of education system. Hereinafter, the whole treatise has tint out the good influences of art, music, and drama in the college student education. Now, there should not be any doubt about the addition of the above mentioned extracurricular activities are to enhance the interpersonal skills and team work in the college students to nourish them for coping with the up coming challenges in the professional field.

The March to the Sea

After Union Major General William T. Sherman captured Atlanta on September 2, 1864, he briefly pursued General John B. Hood's Confederate army through northwest Georgia. Sherman then turned his army south toward Georgia's largest city... Savannah. His now legendary "March to the Sea" ripped the heart out of the Confederacy, demoralized civilians, destroyed railroads, and denied Confederate authorities considerable food and other badly needed supplies.
Sherman's army totaled 62,000 of his best soldiers, including 5,000 cavalry and 65 pieces of artillery. He estimated to reach Savannah would require six weeks, yet Sherman ordered only enough food for 20 days, to be carried by 2,500 wagons. Sherman's plan was a dangerous gamble, because his army was cut off from any communication or chance for re-supply. So his troops foraged "liberally," living mostly off the food they took from civilians. The worst foragers were labeled "bummers," often stealing or destroying property indiscriminately.
Leaving Atlanta on November 15 and 16, 1864, the army split into two "wings" of between 28,000 and 29,000 each, with cavalry guarding their flanks. Marching along generally parallel routes, the two wings were often separated by between 20 and 40 miles. Separation avoided congestion, thus the army advanced quickly, and was allowed a larger area from which to forage. Separation also resulted in a broader swath of devastation across the center of Georgia, measuring up to 60 miles wide, and 300 miles long. Thousands of slaves followed, which the army discouraged, knowing they could neither feed them nor guarantee their safety.
Sherman's two wings confused the Confederates. Major General Oliver O. Howard's "Right Wing" advanced south to threaten Macon. Meanwhile, Major General Henry W. Slocum's "Left Wing" feigned toward Augusta. Confederates split their paltry forces between the two cities, but Sherman ignored both. He concentrated much of his army around Milledgeville, Georgia's capital city, then swept on toward Millen and Savannah, besieging the latter on December 10. After ten days the 10,000-man Confederate garrison, under Lieutenant General William J. Hardee, evacuated the vital seaport. Sherman wired President Abraham Lincoln afterwards saying, "I beg to present to you the City of Savannah" as a Christmas present.
Cavalry clashed frequently along the edges of Sherman's march routes, and two sizable infantry battles occurred. On November 22, 1864, Georgia militia, untrained boys and old men, were slaughtered attacking Federal lines at Griswoldville near Macon. And on December 13, Sherman's veterans overran Fort McAllister along the Ogeechee River, enabling the U.S. Navy to re-supply his army.

Three of the Main Components of Amish Life

The Amish people live a life that has very specific guidelines. These rules make it clear what being Amish means. Cultural norms are similar from community to community. There are 3 components of Amish Culture. The length of the hair, manner of dress and even the style of the buggies they ride in are clearly defined.
The rules are different in each community and can vary widely. For example, some drive automobiles, while others drive only a horse and buggy. Some are so strict that battery-powered lights are forbidden.
Garments are made at home in simple style. These clothes are supposed to make the people humble and distinguish them from the general population. The solid dark color dresses have long sleeves, full skirts and women also wear a cape and apron.
Hairstyles are either a bun or a braid, covered by a small white cap. Some wear a black bonnet. They wear black stockings and black shoes. They are not allowed to cut their hair. Some orders have such a strict Ordnung that even the length of the dresses they wear is specified. Jewelry is not allowed.
The menfolk wear plain suits that are straight cut, and worn with suspenders. They do not have collars or lapels on the jackets and do not have pockets in the trousers. Sweaters, gloves, ties and belts are not allowed. The clothing of the men and women lack style and color. Not only colors, but patterns are forbidden in the material clothes are made of. No ornamentation, or even zippers are used in the garments.
The family life is of primary importance in the culture. The work done by the parents is gender specific. Families are often large with up to ten children. There is no marriage allowed with non Amish, and there is no divorce. They speak German at home, but, the children speak English in school. Children are taught in a primitive schoolhouse and only through eighth grade.
Humility, lack of vanity and the wife being subservient to the husband is a part of their culture. The man is considered the head of the household, with unquestionable authority. He is required to protect the wife and provide for the family. Religious practices are strictly adhered to and bind the community together.
Technological advances are not acceptable in many, if not most, of the sects. They feel that electricity, cars and even tractors for farming weaken the family. They would not allow television as it would lead to temptation. The more lenient sects do use telephones. However, one phone is usually shared by the entire community. Electricity is used for heating in some communities. It is usually generated by windmills. These things are only allowed if the Ordnung ruling the sect does not forbid them. Slowly, modern technology is filtering in to the more modern Amish communities.

An Introduction to the Sumerian Civilization

About 6000 years ago, a civilization possessing a technology so advanced at the time that it seemed alien suddenly sprouted in the land between the Tigris and the Euphrates rivers, part of the so-called "Fertile Crescent."
The early Greeks were the first to call this area Mesopotamia, which means "land between rivers." These people (we know them today as Sumerians) called themselves sag-giga, the "black-headed people," and they called their lands ki-en-gir. The Akkadians, however, referred to these people as Shumer (which may actually refer to the language); the Bible refers to this region as Shinar. The area is today found in southeastern Iraq.
The events that took place there are considered as among the most crucial events in human history. The Sumerians, in just a short time after settling in Mesopotamia, developed a very sophisticated system of irrigation and agriculture. The irrigation system took full advantage of the waters of the two rivers, which resulted in the significant increase of their agricultural yields. The Sumerians then built magnificent cities, advanced governing laws, and invented a written language. Where did these people come from?
Unfortunately, historians are uncertain on the Sumerians' origin. Some archaeologists maintain that the Sumerians' origin is from lands northeast of Mesopotamia, while others say they are really from Anatolia. Indeed, no one is really quite sure where these people originally came from. When the Sumerians arrived in Mesopotamia, there were already people living there (the Ubaidians), but they were quickly supplanted by the newcomers.
Ancient Sumerians invented the wheel, probably while spinning clay to make potteries on a simple wheel. Eventually, the wheel was used for transport, on carts pulled by donkeys. Later on, it was used for war chariots. They also invented a system of mathematics based on the number 60. We still divide the hour by 60 minutes, and the minutes by 60 seconds. The idea of dividing the circle by 360 degrees is also from them, as well as the division of day into 24 hours, and of the year into twelve months. Archaeologists found evidence that Sumerians developed writing as early as 3500-3000 BC. The Sumerians' early form of writing was made up of pictures. The pictures were later on simplified, with symbols being used to represent sounds. This style of writing is known today as cuneiform, which is from the Latin word cuneus (wedge).
The Sumerians also seem to have developed one of the first monarchial systems of government. The early Sumerian states, which are the first states in human history, were ruled by a type of priest-king. Their government was actually a combination of monarchy and democracy. Elected officials in the Assembly also ruled the people: kings had to consult the Assembly in matters of state. Laws that were written down during Babylonian times were actually laws created by ancient Sumerians.
The Sumerians had twelve city-states, each with their own ruler, and with their own temple. One city, Ur, contained around 24,000 inhabitants. These city-states were surrounded by walls, which included nearby lands and villages. The central structure of the city is the temple, called ziggurats.
The Sumerians were polytheistic; that is, they worshipped many gods, including goddesses. Major deities were Enki, who put order to the universe, and Inanna (later known as Ishtar), the "Queen of Heaven."
The society of the Sumerians had three classes: the upper class, which was made up of the nobility, priests, government officials, and warriors; the freemen, made up of merchants, traders, and artisans; and the lower class, made up of serfs and slaves. Women can own property, but they did not have the same rights as the men. A husband can divorce his wife for any reason, but a wife cannot initiate divorce proceedings on her own. However, women played a vital role in these ancient kingdoms. Their society was matriarchal, and women were highly respected.
At the start of every year, the goddess Inanna must enact a sacred "ritual marriage" with the ruler to ensure a bountiful harvest for the coming year. The goddess was represented by a priestess in this "marriage" with the king.
Other Sumerian inventions are the sailboat, frying pans, razors, cosmetic sets, pottery, and the plow. Sumerians also created a lunar calendar based on the lunar month and even mapped the stars into constellations, which later became the zodiac. These people also established the first formal schools.
There were many skilled Sumerian artisans. They made well-designed jewelry from gold and precious stones, furniture, and potteries. They also created colorful mosaics in intricate and beautiful patterns using bits of painted clay. Sumerians also used musical instruments like harp, reed pipes, drums, and lyres.
The modern world learned of the existence of Sumer through references in the literature of ancient civilizations; these literature speak of an even older civilization, which turned out to be that of the Sumerians'. Excavations in 1842 to 1854 in various places in Mesopotamia led to the discovery of this remarkable people and their achievements.

Ghana Life: How Elastic Is Loyalty?

People in Ghana identify with their extended family, their clan and their tribe in diminishing order of intensity. There is little shared identity with people of different tribes, and even hostility that occasionally erupts into local wars that have to be suppressed by the national army. At the national level, politics consists essentially of a contest between the Ashanti party and a coalition of opposing tribes forged by the first national leader, Kwame Nkrumah, although in recent years various moves have been taken to try to blur these tribal affinities. Progressive people seeking to forge a truly national identity have been fighting an uphill battle since Ghana was founded in 1957. In his novel, The Colonial Gentleman's Son, John Powell explores how Kwame Mainu, a young man born in the year of independence, seeks to reconcile the progressive aspirations of his father with the traditional expectations of his family, friends and clansmen.
The traditional wisdom has it that the borders of African countries were set by European powers without due regard to the ethnicity of the people, since some tribes find their traditional territory divided by a frontier line while others are corralled with traditional enemies. The German colony of Togoland was populated mainly by people of the Eve tribe but after the First World War it was divided between the French colony of Togo and the Volta Region of the British Colony of the Gold Coast. When the Gold Coast became Ghana, the Eves became reluctant citizens of the new state and during the era of Kwame Nkrumah, in the 1960s, there was a political movement seeking to reunite the Eve tribe in an enlarged Togo. The move was strongly resisted by Nkrumah who couldn't afford to lose a powerful force in his battle with the Ashanti party, but the Eves took their revenge subsequently by being centrally involved in all five of Ghana's military coups.
Against this background of tribal rivalry it was perhaps not surprising that few people respected the national government: its laws, its officials or its property. With loyalty extending only as far as the tribe, central government was regarded by many people as a vestige of colonial rule, serving the needs of those in power with their connections to big business and outside commercial interests. And the material rewards of political power were seen as so great that successive waves of military adventurers made their bids during the first three decades of Ghana's life as a free country. Many people sought to leave the country rather than suffer the increasing hardships, and even those who began each era with genuine revolutionary zeal joined the ranks of the exodus as their dreams were replaced by the next nightmare.
In The Colonial Gentleman's Son, Kwame Mainu succeeds in rising from a poverty-stricken childhood in a small Ashanti town to employment as a technical officer at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology in Kumasi. His work is interesting but poorly paid, and he is torn between staying to play a part in Ghana's grassroots industrial development and leaving to seek his fortune overseas. With each downward turn of the economy the urge to leave becomes stronger and he eagerly seizes an opportunity to pursue his education further at a university in the UK.
Kwame soon finds that being overseas does not automatically lead to the easy acquisition of wealth. On leave back in Kumasi he discovers that some of his fellow escapees are building big houses. His wife, Comfort, begins asking why she cannot be similarly accommodated and his mother and sister in Wenchi also have pressing needs, as have many other members of his extended family.
Kwame suspects that much of the money flowing in from overseas is being made from drugs trading but he can see no other route to a fast fortune. Comfort warns him of the risks of becoming an air courier but he is tempted by an offer from a friend to join in selling drugs in the UK. Then, unexpectedly, he is asked by the British customs to help identify the UK coordinator of the Kumasi-based drugs cartel. This work would augment his income by legitimate means but might result in the eventual arrest of some of his fellow tribesmen in the UK and in Ghana. His father would expect him to do the right thing but where do his loyalties lie?

Stained Glass: History of Stained Glass Art

If you're a churchgoing person, then you're more than familiar with stained glass windows. These pieces make up a huge percentage of religious artwork, and depict scenes from the Bible and important religious figures. They were the photographs of their time: a historical record of important events for all to see, which was important as most of the population was illiterate. The history of stained and colored glass artwork is long and interesting, dating back to the beginnings of the last millennium.
Alas, the first of these windows is lost to history, and their origins can only be debated. Mosaics and jewelry makers are credited with developing the technique that created colored glass art as we know it, which arose during an increase in church construction. However, colored glass had been produced since the days of the Egyptian and Roman empires, both of which surpassed others when it came to manufacturing small, stained glass objects.
Churches caught onto the beauty of this art in the 4th and 5th centuries during the rise of church building, and many windows from this time period remain. British churches and monasteries began to adopt stained glass windows as part of their decor in the 7th century, when French workmen began to glaze the windows of monasteries.
Stained glass reached its acme in the Middle Ages. It served a two-fold purpose: 1. It was beautiful to look at and 2. Since most citizens couldn't read the Bible, the window art served as a television of sorts by illustrating the events to the illiterate. The pieces from this era have become known as the "Poor Man's Bible." This trend continued into the Gothic Era, when architectural design forced windows to grow larger, giving artists more of a canvas to work on.
The style didn't change much through the Renaissance, but the French Revolution and Reformation saw the destruction of many windows, which were replaced with plain glass. This rampage caused the traditional methods of colored glass work to be forgotten until the early 19th Century, when the Catholic revival renewed interest and many works were restored. The revival extended all over Europe, most notably in Britain and France. During this same period, John La Farge and Louis Comfort Tiffany applied and received patents for using opalescent glass to create a new form of stained glass windows, and the process extended to lamps, art and other pieces.
The 20th Century saw more stained glass tragedies and innovations. World War II left many European church windows destroyed, and artists led in restoring the thousands decimated by bombings. The period also saw slab glass in concrete become popular, as well as modern art styles creeping their way into stained glass art. Now, colored glass art can be found in churches, sculptures, public buildings and businesses all over the world.

Drug Abuse And Meth Abuse In The Gay And LGBT Community

Drug use and abuse in the LGBT community is a problem on several different levels. The LGBT community is a community that has experienced a lot of pain and a lot of discrimination. Individually many homosexuals have been subjected to a lot of harassment, a lot of bullying, gay bashing, and other negative behavior.
Drug use is a perceived escape from that pain, but it is only temporary, a dead end. Truthfully speaking, crystal meth and sex are related on this issue. Those two combined can become a lethal cocktail. It can destroy the individual but also the individual's friends and family. Drug use and abuse affects the entire social network.
Why do LGBT members resort to drug use and abuse? There are several reasons, sometimes it can be people just wanting to have some fun and blow off steam. Unfortunately they don't realize that a little fun can lead to a very bad end. Recently with Amy Winehouse's death, we are reminded of the early grave that many young and talented people have gone to so unnecessarily. Even though she was not gay or lesbian, this just serves as an example of what drugs can do.
I hate to sound like Nancy Reagan, but "just don't do it". It sounds cliche, but that's the best course of action.
It's so important to not do drugs at all, especially crystal meth, because it will not take away inner feelings, it will only mask the feelings and temporarily numb the pain. Once the drugs go away, the pain and bad feelings will remain, often coming back with greater severity, which in turn leads to greater drug use.
Be constructive with whatever you do, not destructive. Get some help if you need. Realize that you can't do this on your own. Being destructive means that you're going to let this drug use move from casual to regular use, which then becomes abuse. Being constructive means that you seek out professionals that can help you with this before it becomes permanently destructive.
There are support groups for meth, drug, and alcohol addicts. From AA to other various organizations, the help is there. If you feel that you are being drawn to drug use to cope with your life, then please reach out today.
Additionally churches have pastors and clergy who are familiar with these types of things. Talking with a pastor of a church may bring some type of benefit and offer direction towards a path of recovery.
Remember that you're not alone, and there are people who can help. You're not the first person who's dealt with this monster and you won't be the last.

Literary Theory: The Author

Roland Barthes
In 1968, the poststructuralist critic Roland Barthes published the notorious and still influential essay, 'The Death of the Author'. Barthes said:
'We know the text is not a line of words releasing a single 'theological meaning (the message of the Author-God) but a multi-dimensional space in which a variety of writings, none of them original, blend and clash. The text is a tissue of quotations drawn from innumerable centres of culture'.
- Roland Barthes, 'The Death of the Author', trans. Stephen Heath, Image-Music Text (London: Fontana, 1977) pp. 142-8.
It is this sort of statement that enables literary theory to exist, and legitimise the multiple approaches to the text. If the text is composed of all the texts drawn upon by the author (and all the texts seen in it by readers, regardless of the author's intent), then it can be interpreted in many ways, and our role is no longer to decode 'what the author is saying'. Barthes, indeed, went on to argue that a consequence of the death of the author must be 'the birth of the reader'.
However, what Barthes did not mean was that anyone can now say anything they like about a text. The text was still drawn from 'the innumerable centres of culture', in other words, subject to traditions and therefore social restrictions. The text is constituted by its intertextuality. Therefore absolute freedom of interpretation is not possible.
Foucault, 'What is an Author?'
Michel Foucault first gave 'What is an Author?' as a lecture in 1969, the year after Barthes's 'The Death of the Author'. Foucault disagreed with Barthes, because he believed Barthes's interpretation of the situation was too simple. Foucault argued that far from being dead, the concept of the author was a socially very powerful one. Instead of being the source of meaning (as in the traditional model of reader-author-text) the concept of the author was used to restrict meaning by preventing socially unacceptable readings from emerging. The author's name was used, regardless of the intent of the actual writer, as an important social signifier, rather like a brand name, to make sense of disparate groups of texts e.g. Shakespeare's brand is used to group the sonnets.
According to Foucault, letters, diaries or laundry lists have writers, but they do not have authors. Instead, the privileged 'author function' is only given to certain proper names (e.g. William Shakespeare) and therefore to certain groups of texts. These names are used to restrict dissident interpretations.
Again, this poses a strong challenge to the traditional model. If the author is not a real person but a social signifier, used to restrict meaning, then critics will be bound to debate the different ways in which a text can be read, and through which the author's authority can be challenged.

Interesting Facts About The Amish Community In Ohio

It might be interesting to know that the Amish are not all the same and in fact are quite diverse. Just as other groups of people and cultures have differences among them, so do the Amish. There are several different groups of Amish that operate independently of each other.
There are variations of religious practices and conduct of daily living among the groups. Today, the largest Amish community is in Ohio and the largest settlements are in Holmes County and Wayne County. Although they have their differences, they all maintain a certain separateness from the outside world.
Disconnecting from the outside world, or separation, helps members gain a strong sense of identify and belonging in the community. Maintaining the separateness means rejecting many of the modern conveniences and being very selective in their use of technology. However, they will decide how much technology and other outside practices they will accept as a way to survive economically.
For example, cell phones and voice mail are used by businesses as a way for the Amish to compete with other businesses. Also, telephones are housed in communal areas so that a number of families are able to use them. Electricity provided by utility companies is deemed worldly, so they use bottled gas to fuel ranges and refrigerators and to heat water. Many folks may think that this group uses no modern type appliances, however they power washing machines, farming equipment, and water pumps with gasoline generators.
The outside world often perceives the gender roles of the Amish much different than they really are. The husband is considered the family head, but the wife is respected for her opinion and is often deferred to for a final determination. This practice is common when the decision concerns making a purchase for the home or when the husband is absent. In addition, the husbands take responsibility for supervising and raising the children.
The children are groomed throughout their lives to carry on the traditions of farming for the boys, and homemaking for the girls. However, they will have a time in their adolescence to experience the world before being baptized. The young adults are able to experience non Amish life and see how the English live prior to settling into their Amish lives.
Many of us have a misconception of this practice as we have heard the stories of the Amish youth who defiantly leave the community out of curiosity, and without their families blessing. The reality of this time during adolescence is that the young people are allowed to leave the community to experience life of the outside world.

Old Newspapers - A Window Into the Past

Old newspapers act as a window. They give us a glimpse into the past and present us with real clues to the zeitgeist of the time. It's why the newspaper archive has long been a vital cog in historical research. It's allowed people studying a given period of history to gain an insight into the approach of editors and the way in which this approach was received by the readership. And whereas newspapers were undoubtedly at their peak in the UK from around 1860 to 1910, the influence of the printed press over the populace should never be underestimated. The media's coverage of the two world wars, as reported at home, are prime examples.
During World War One, for example, there's little doubt newspapers were fully expected to print what the government wanted. The government were desperate for the British people to believe what they needed to believe. The result was no-holds-barred propaganda, in which the media bigwigs were happy to play along. Headlines at the time included "Belgium child's hands cut off by Germans" and "Germans crucify Canadian officer". Both were nonsense, but old newspaper articles like this, as well as accounts of babies skewered on German bayonets, cemented public hatred of 'the hun'. Atrocities aside, facts and casualty figures were less than accurate, too, and were always 'tilted' in British favour.
It was a ploy that worked, though. In fact, it was the Brits' brilliant use of propaganda that would later serve as Hitler's benchmark. He'd point to this success in ensuring German propaganda during World War Two was as effective as possible. His appointment of Joseph Goebbels as Reich Minister of Propaganda was also a shrewd move - evil yet gifted, Goebbels made sure German propaganda during the 30s and 40s was devastatingly effective.
As such, it was imperative British propaganda competed with Nazi Germany's during World War Two. Newspaper coverage played no small part in this and understandably fell in line with the government's will to control national morale, as well as keeping it as high as possible. But unlike 30-odd years previously, this was achieved with a mixture of both astute reporting and outright propaganda. Publications including The Daily Express, The Daily Mirror and The Times therefore played a vital role in shaping public perceptions of the war. They fed the public's appetite with a calculated combination of pop culture on the one hand and war coverage on the other. The latter was often delivered on a human and emotional level, by relating events to individuals.
Today, historians point to these old newspaper articles as playing a crucial role in helping maintain the nation's belief in the cause, particularly after 1939. Many of these papers, especially The Daily Express, served as Churchill's mouthpiece and, when combined with mediums like radio and cinematic propaganda, cemented and invigorated the country's bulldog spirit. Think of it like this - historiography almost always suggests that the moment a country's morale is broken, their war is lost. Italy's capitulation in 1943 was a case in point. It couldn't happen to Britain. Thankfully, it didn't.
Of course, the usefulness of old newspapers isn't confined to providing historical accounts of war and suffering. They can also be used to gain perspective on anything you happen to be interested in. Getting hold of them isn't an issue either, with websites allowing you to select a specific publication and date, often going back into the first half of the 19th century.

Captain Meriwether Lewis - Did He Have a Real Chance At Marriage After The Westward Expedition?

Historians generally say Captain Lewis simply did not find the right one during his short-term search for a wife after the Corps-of-Discovery returned from the Pacific Coast. But this result was not for lack of opportunity. History states that several ladies were at least paying attention to this celebrity captain back east.
Other underlying reasons probably caused his continued bachelorhood. For one thing, he had become a military man who was constantly on the move. Also, he did not have much interest in love and marriage as a busy young man. Here are some of the lesser known reasons for his bachelorhood.
Was not his mother. Lewis had a good relationship with his mother. She taught him much about plants and animals and herbal medicine. But the early deaths of her two husbands turned young Lewis into a jack-of-all-trades while running her farm, at least until he joined the local militia in 1794.
Was not his love of the outdoors. He was fascinated by nature, hunting, adventure, science, and the outdoors. Are not those healthy interests?
Was not his intelligence nor knowledge. Lewis was bright. He learned and knew a lot, and he wrote well. He went through his President-Jefferson-sponsored pre-expedition training in Philadelphia easily. He was also well-organized as shown by his practically arranging the whole expedition himself per Jefferson's instructions.
Was not his physic nor moral values. He was a sizable fit man with natural leadership skills. Together with his co-captain, William Clark, he held high standards of honor, integrity, and fidelity during the journey. Overall, Lewis stayed well above the fray.
Was not his social connections. As a neighbor to President Thomas Jefferson, he eventually became his private aid before the journey westward. Afterward, he became a celebrity.
His lack of early interest, maybe. Not much is recorded about his love interests as a young man. Outside of running his mother's farm, he was committed to the military duties that kept him on the move from outpost to outpost. He also focused on his outdoor interests, leaving little time for romantic notions then.
His last assignment, maybe. Historians wonder about his after-expedition appointment to the Governorship of the Louisiana Territory in St Louis, which was small then. Steve Ambrose, author of Undaunted Courage, for example, thinks Jefferson could have kept Lewis in the military back east for the purpose of getting their journals published immediately, if not for other reasons. As it turned out, they came out late and were somewhat incomplete at first.
Although this St Louis assignment was a nice honor for Lewis, his transfer from military duty to a difficult far-way administrative job not suited for him did not help his marriage chances any. Instead, this assignment took him away from the east again, where he could have eventually met someone, and settled down.
However, this assignment did put him in proximity with his close friend, Captain Clark, who was appointed a military general and Indian affairs agent there. Clark did marry Julia Hancock, with whom he had promissory contact in Virginia before the expedition took place. Conversely, Lewis had no one in mind before the expedition.
His infatuation, maybe. Apparently Lewis had little relationship experience while growing up, except for a supposedly courting of Aaron Burr's daughter, Theodesia, while he was working and living with President Jefferson in the White House before the expedition. If it actually happened beyond a vague hint in the airway, nothing came from it. Lewis was extremely busy then.
Thus, after the expedition back east, his failed infatuation with a wealthy financier's daughter, Letitia Breckenridge, probably crushed him for a while. He might have thought society would help him with this maneuver. But Letitia's family had other plans. She soon married another financier's son, and later bore him nine children.
Still, Lewis was honest about this failure, and wished her well. He might not have understood the delicate permissions of mutual relationships then, even though many of them were prearranged or forced for varied reasons.
Conclusion. Captain Lewis' adventurous, outdoor, focused, obligated, military, and on-the-move lifestyle probably left him underdeveloped in the area of promissory relationships at the time. If he had remained back east longer after the journey, a special lady probably would have domesticated him successfully.

The Speaking Of The Native American Hand Drums

With the beat of the Native American hand drum, there is dancing. The steady and calming inviting beat of the drum is one of the main foundations for Native American music. Throughout time, this has not changed. Native American music has a great bond with the hand drum. These drums hold a very important place in the existence and unique nature of native music.
Various tribes perform different variations, but there is a common sound in the music produced. Native American hand drum frames are made of a hollowed out log or wooden slats. Rawhide animal skin such as goat, elk and buffalo are stretched across the surface and secured using sinew thongs.
These drums can be large, even to the size of two to three feet in diameter. This would be the type most commonly used by groups of men during an event such as a powwow. There are also some variations between tribes in which individual drums are used only by men. Some drums are simply made as a means of decoration, while others are made specifically for music. There are other variations to traditional hand drums like the Iroquois water drum. Whenever it is played,this cup shaped drum creates a distinct sound and pitch. The Yaqui drum is another unusual type. It is played with a drum stick and the water acts as the resonator for the sound produced by the drum.
The existence and deep appreciation for Native American hand drums can be attributed to the nature of their music. These drums lead by defining the beat and pace of the performance. The beat begins slowly and then moves to a faster pace rapidly. Significantly unique to traditional Native American music, it is emphatic and adds a very distinct sound.
Gender roles are also a vital part of drum usage and vary among tribes. When the men play, the women usually dance and sing in the back ground. Sometimes due to tradition, men are the only ones playing the drum. There is a popular belief that the Great Spirit gave the drum to a woman and she was to share this unique musical sound with other women.
The rhythmic nature of Native American music is well suited for the beat and dramatic percussion of Native American hand drums. One sided shaman drums are mostly used for ceremonial dances, rituals, as well as storytelling and other traditional activities that define the special culture and the various aspects of the environment.
Powwows and drumming circles are some of the most popular events where hand drums are used. Interest has grown by people in drums used for meditating and for sweat lodges. These special Indian made hand drums are often used as wall hangings is a rustic type decor. To any space and surrounding area where they are played,Native American hand drums bring life and positive energy. There is almost something magical as you sit and listen to the steady rhythmic sound.