It all began with Giovanni da Verrazzano, the Italian explorer employed by French Crown in 1524. Giovanni gave the place the name of Nouvelle Angouleme. Then, the Dutch people came over to this part of America and colonial Director General of Holland, Peter Minuit bought the island of Manhattan from Lenape for 60 guilders...
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In Lhasa’s northwest, Red Hill is a holy place for Tibetan Buddhism, the Potala Palace was originally built for the marriage of Emperor Songtsen Gampo and Princess Wenchang in the Tang Dynasty. It was destroyed twice in its long history and Dalai Lama V rebuilt it in 1645. The master paintings decorated the palace...
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The steady drone of chain-sawing from nearby and distant olive groves can only mean that winter is fast approaching. For (as Pooh would have noted) chain-sawing means wood piles, and olive logs, and wood stoves (zompas), with maybe a little something simmering on the top. And cosy evenings with shutters closed, and...
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An ancient Chinese legend tells of a man-eating predatory beast called Nian, extremely fierce, with a long head and sharp horn. Nian dwelled deep in the sea the whole year long, but on every Chinese New Year’s Eve it would climb onto the shore to devour livestock and harm humans in a near-by village....
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Westwood NJ was officially united as a borough on May 8, 1894, from parts of Washington Township, early during the Boroughitis phenomenon then sweeping through Bergen County. Isaac D. Bogert served as the first mayor of the Borough. In April 1909, the...
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In 1633, the vicinity that is now known as Connecticut began to be settled by English Puritans migrating from their initial settlement in Massachusetts. Organizing abruptly, the state wrote its original constitution in 1639. This constitution was the original constitution to be based on democratic values, earning the state the moniker...
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Almost everything Lynne and I know about the historical site in the hills above Kadros – signed to ‘Ancient of Kantanos’ – came from our friend the late Tony Fennymore. Tony took us here, and to other local sites of Viena and Irtakina, and made the places come alive with his vivid descriptions. “Imagine...
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The name aikido is formed by the combination of three characters in the Japanese language. Ai, which means joining; ki, which means spirit and do, which means way. These three words actually summarize the essence of aikido as a form of martial art— the joining of the spirit to find the way. It was...
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The truths and the myths about the life of Thomas Crapper, a well known British plumber, have been extensively studied, and the findings have been published on the Internet. Most details of Crapper’s life are universally agreed on, though a mystery or two remains. Everyone acknowledges, for example, that Thomas was a...
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Acupuncture comes from two Latin words namely “acus” which means needle in English and “pungere” which means prick. Its history originated in China more than 2000 years ago and has evolved into various forms. Some of the techniques of acupuncture do not even use needles anymore. Vibrating objects, ultrasound and even the fingers of the...
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Indian classical music is one of the oldest musical traditions in the world. The Indus Valley civilization has sculptures which show dance and old musical instruments, like the seven holed flute. Various types of stringed instruments and drums have been recovered from Harrappa and Mohenjo Daro by excavations carried out by Sir Mortimer Wheeler....
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Along with its full history and beautiful scenery, our 31st state, California, has made some impressive progress ever since it was admitted to the United States. Technological, entertainment and cultural advances can all be claimed in the third largest state. The state consists of mountains, desert and miles of coastline each one...
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The state of Arkansas, also known as the Natural State, was originally part of the Louisiana Territory. This area of property was purchased from the French in 1803. Later, as states began to structure out of this territory, Arkansas became part of the Missouri Territory and then became its own territory in...
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The History of Harley Davidson Motorcycles A Look Back In Time – Harley Davidson History Time Line – The Beginning Introduction William S. Harley and Arthur Davidson had a dream of manufacturing a motorized bicycle. This dream would be realized with the addition of Walter and William Davidson. Although not the first motorcycle to appear, their...
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The existing state of Alabama was first prearranged as portion of the Mississippi Territory. Owing to big inhabitants increases, President James Monroe signed the enactment to allow Alabama to grow to be its own state. The first constitution was written in the then capital, Huntsville. Alabamians showed vast mistrust in government...
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Following overcome bearded at the end of WW I the Weimar Republic, 1919-1933, contracted with marvelous interior resists. Reactions to the Treaty of Versailles and to the compensation expenses were mixed. In general there was resistance to the terms of the Treaty from the following left and from the tremendous right. Attempts to...
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