tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11316699601926269462024-03-18T09:24:29.695-05:00Samantha Gentry's BlogHello...welcome to my blog. I'll be posting about topics that are of interest to me, posting the occasional interview, and telling you about my books and writing. Please feel free to leave comments for me, I enjoy reading them. And don't forget to check out my website at www.samanthagentry.comSamantha Gentryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02764092383245823784noreply@blogger.comBlogger757125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1131669960192626946.post-54430665298521830742024-03-17T11:00:00.000-05:002024-03-17T11:00:05.324-05:00Why Americans drive on the right and the UK drives on the left<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrS6-oFr02bY0NGvZqnX5DxJ7GgRGWdtdnTwpBwx6Sg2hh-6-Qfsy0foUH4l92qr4dlSD57zBlRh9clQJWII1FucIIIJ2gyUWuyjWEtT0gVM3mtVBn85K5qNjMeJyC2SZ6Y0YnJkzCS54E9PYkQHUulX_pM_0WAwHjwu5V8gLsn4sjT3KDoblf2TC1Q3s/s450/DriveOnLeft-England.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="225" data-original-width="450" height="160" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrS6-oFr02bY0NGvZqnX5DxJ7GgRGWdtdnTwpBwx6Sg2hh-6-Qfsy0foUH4l92qr4dlSD57zBlRh9clQJWII1FucIIIJ2gyUWuyjWEtT0gVM3mtVBn85K5qNjMeJyC2SZ6Y0YnJkzCS54E9PYkQHUulX_pM_0WAwHjwu5V8gLsn4sjT3KDoblf2TC1Q3s/s320/DriveOnLeft-England.jpg" width="320" /></a></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;">The United States started as a collection of former British
colonies. We speak the same language (more or less).</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixXeBUkTOnc83LxxURkIOTe1x8yZE-QlkXoNo5QET_BTINovBjrz2EgEcuQjEZgSY3gvwzaKnjcN8X5Ppays4_ff1Qk-XwfkpP5UcfEDyiKc1LwH6GmKvVdslIS5Wn1M43QDGeHhi7l-tL_fHKzRKpHN0Mix3YObJWPVQL5vabxKGNxqeIKPh8_5lle0Y/s400/car%20terms%20US%20vs%20UK.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="283" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixXeBUkTOnc83LxxURkIOTe1x8yZE-QlkXoNo5QET_BTINovBjrz2EgEcuQjEZgSY3gvwzaKnjcN8X5Ppays4_ff1Qk-XwfkpP5UcfEDyiKc1LwH6GmKvVdslIS5Wn1M43QDGeHhi7l-tL_fHKzRKpHN0Mix3YObJWPVQL5vabxKGNxqeIKPh8_5lle0Y/w141-h200/car%20terms%20US%20vs%20UK.jpg" width="141" /></a></div><p class="MsoNormal">Yet, for some reason, we
drive on opposite sides of the road.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">And the United Kingdom isn’t the only country to do it the
other way. It turns out that about 30% of the world’s countries mandate
left-side driving and the other 70% stay to the right. How it got that way is a
twisted tale.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">In Europe, Napoleon played a central role in this. In the
US, Henry Ford often gets the credit but that’s actually wrong. It goes much
further back than Ford. Not only does traffic on the right pre-date cars, it
pre-dates the establishment of the United States as an independent nation.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjusQHe-MD_LNEj-KAsZwx36ezjSg_lbH3bwRvCl_G1tYjlIXjKnTGl-TUaJ2QJyJO0BmDlB6HenZ1LeQLVKkTgkFKaFZAWScqKUwQsmdvDqqQSR5RcA2h9jbKPhi-UdPnMeCDNONdxGi8LhiOnyllQSHfHgbfM_3YMHpkAGBe9S-PH0gtBc0RJj5O3c5o/s400/conestoga%20wagon.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="301" data-original-width="400" height="151" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjusQHe-MD_LNEj-KAsZwx36ezjSg_lbH3bwRvCl_G1tYjlIXjKnTGl-TUaJ2QJyJO0BmDlB6HenZ1LeQLVKkTgkFKaFZAWScqKUwQsmdvDqqQSR5RcA2h9jbKPhi-UdPnMeCDNONdxGi8LhiOnyllQSHfHgbfM_3YMHpkAGBe9S-PH0gtBc0RJj5O3c5o/w200-h151/conestoga%20wagon.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal">The history of this in the US goes to Conestoga, Pennsylvania, where
the Conestoga wagon was key to this whole story. These big wagons, more
commonly referred to as covered wagons in movies and on television, had tall,
arched cloth roofs and became icons of America’s westward expansion as they
carried the belongings of pioneers from the east out to the frontier. Back in
the early 1700s, western Pennsylvania was the distant frontier.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Conestoga wagons were developed by local carpenters and
blacksmiths to carry goods, including farm produce and items bartered from
Native Americans, to markets in Philadelphia which, at the time was one of the
biggest cities in the colonies. The wagon driver could ride one of the horses
or sit on a <i>lazy board</i> that slid out of the side of the wagon. But when
more active control was needed, he walked alongside the horses, pulling levers
and ropes.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Most people are right-handed. For just that reason,
Conestoga wagons had the controls on the left side, close to the wagon driver’s
right hand. That meant the driver was toward the middle of the road and the
wagon to the right.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Eventually, there was so much trade and traffic between
Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, and Philadelphia that America’s first major
highway was created. The Philadelphia and Lancaster Turnpike Road opened in
1795. Among the rules written into its charter, according to the book <i>Ways
of the World</i> by M.G. Lay, was that all traffic had to stay to the right –
just like the Conestoga wagons did.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">In 1804, New York became the first state to dictate traffic
stay to the right on all roads and highways.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Some people credit Henry Ford with standardizing US traffic
on the right side of the road because, in 1908, Ford Motor Co. put the steering
wheel on the left side of its hugely popular Model T automobile. Ford was actually
just responding to driving habits that had been largely established long
before.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Most of the rest of Europe, excluding Britain, drives on the
right like Americans do. The French revolutionary government under Maximilien
Robespierre – best known for leading the late 18th-century <i>Reign of Terror</i>
in which thousands were guillotined – dictated that everyone should drive on
the right.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The left side of the road, by long cultural tradition, was reserved
for carriages and those on horseback. In other words, the wealthier classes.
Pedestrians, i.e. poorer folks, kept to the right. Forcing everyone to the same
side of the road, besides being good for traffic, did away with these snobby
class distinctions.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The upper classes went along with this. In the days
following the French Revolution, being seen as aristocratic was not only
unfashionable, it was rather dangerous. The French policy is said to have been
spread by Napoleon Bonaparte as his armies marched through Europe.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">There was one nation neither subject to or an ally of
Napoleon. That country was Sweden. Sweden drove on the left, then on one
uneventful day in 1967 drivers were suddenly switched to the right. Needless to
say, it caused some major traffic snarls until people got used to it.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Britain, literally, went the other way from France. It is speculated
that it had to do with the different types of conveyance used. There were fewer
industrial-sized wagons in Britain, and more small carriages and individual
horse riders. Horse riders preferred to stay to the left to keep their right
hands toward oncoming traffic for greetings and, if needed, having their sword
hand free for fighting.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">When traveling to countries where they drive on the opposite
side of the street than you're accustomed to, AAA’s head of driver training
recommends that drivers take extra steps to concentrate when driving on the
other side of the road. For one thing, keep the radio off.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“I think it’s fine to talk to yourself, while you’re driving
over there. That kind of forces you to be focusing on driving,” AAA said.
“Okay, tight left or far right. Check for traffic from the right rather than
the left. Whatever it is, whatever works.”</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">At Avis Budget Group, which rents lots of cars to Americans
driving in the UK, rental agents make sure to remind customers about driving on
the left. They take other steps, too. “In addition, all of our vehicles
throughout the UK have <i>drive on the left</i> stickers and in major locations
we hand out <i>drive on the left</i> wristbands, which we advise our customers
to always wear on the left wrist as a reminder of which side of the road to
drive,” Avis Budget said in a statement.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitPWQmS3oxIkTsaRs1gxiDO5FYxMTvIRu_3_eFM1UAszZNhtyJuTxTVnCKcjCAGJte3OtcQuuSEwp9-Qdl3-uq4MOf4W4ogL6q5TDEELFY_hTBCdvlVlYwkd31OaFqhwT1wVmgAj5gXurUp8MA-qZrZDsHOa51P0bmXptOXOzABSw0GWg8rTHi8xOfOxU/s400/look%20right%20pedestrian-UK.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="262" data-original-width="400" height="131" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitPWQmS3oxIkTsaRs1gxiDO5FYxMTvIRu_3_eFM1UAszZNhtyJuTxTVnCKcjCAGJte3OtcQuuSEwp9-Qdl3-uq4MOf4W4ogL6q5TDEELFY_hTBCdvlVlYwkd31OaFqhwT1wVmgAj5gXurUp8MA-qZrZDsHOa51P0bmXptOXOzABSw0GWg8rTHi8xOfOxU/w200-h131/look%20right%20pedestrian-UK.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal">One thing I found particularly interesting the first time I
was in London was the pedestrian instructions. In areas with high tourist foot
traffic, they have literally painted instructions on the street pavement at
pedestrian crossings telling those on foot to look to the right for oncoming
traffic rather than to the left as we do in the US. I can only assume this is
the result of way too many pedestrians stepping off the curb in front of
on-coming cars.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">In Canada, the central provinces, Ontario, and Québec have
always driven on the right side of the road. British Columbia, New Brunswick,
Nova Scotia, and Prince Edward Island all drove on the left side. In the early
1920s, they changed from left side driving to the right side of the road. </p>Samantha Gentryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02764092383245823784noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1131669960192626946.post-71744999362195278422024-03-10T14:18:00.002-05:002024-03-10T14:33:59.415-05:00Historical Events That Never Happened pt 3of3<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIBS_EkR-dLOIN3rsCpvmj0bj2dZA06GyBXIicg8uUSO17dNNnTbkngO8frjG6FyFT4MAVVzFDQOyMsm9hdX__HQVLhzCzcfD4TkoeKVnLAQUSRO6eyOobeylbxqrYYGw146QaOIZRc6SL2VpS46No-li2YxTOrP0ujm2bdzoPIUK28WRydbClHkjg9Po/s450/Historical%20Events%203of3green.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="450" data-original-width="377" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIBS_EkR-dLOIN3rsCpvmj0bj2dZA06GyBXIicg8uUSO17dNNnTbkngO8frjG6FyFT4MAVVzFDQOyMsm9hdX__HQVLhzCzcfD4TkoeKVnLAQUSRO6eyOobeylbxqrYYGw146QaOIZRc6SL2VpS46No-li2YxTOrP0ujm2bdzoPIUK28WRydbClHkjg9Po/s320/Historical%20Events%203of3green.jpg" width="268" /></a></div><p>This is the final week of my 3-part blog presenting some of
the misinformation about historical events through the ages.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b>27. The First
Thanksgiving</b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Contrary to popular belief, the name “Thanksgiving” wasn’t
coined during colonial times but later in 1863, with Abraham Lincoln hoping to
inspire people to be more thankful. Furthermore, while Thanksgiving is often
associated with a meal involving turkey, there isn’t any evidence that turkey
was a staple dish, but instead were animals such as geese, swan, and venison.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">There wasn’t any cranberry sauce or potatoes, either. Potatoes
weren’t consumed in Massachusetts at the time, and nobody had yet discovered
how to boil cranberries with sugar.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b>28. Ferdinand
Magellan Was The First Person To Sail Around The World</b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Ferdinand Magellan is credited in the history books as being
the first person to circumnavigate the globe. Yet, that isn’t entirely true,
although he did come close. In 1519, Magellan set out to complete this task to
lead his crew across the Atlantic, through South America, and over the Pacific
Ocean.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Unfortunately, for Magellan, he was killed in the
Philippines by a group of natives. So, when his ship returned to Spain in 1522,
completing the circumnavigation, he wasn’t alive to complete the journey. Incredibly,
only 18 of the crew of 260 made it back, so it was these men that were first to
accomplish this daunting task.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b>29. Albert
Einstein Failed Math As A Child</b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">As it turns out, the story of Albert Einstein failing math
as a young student is nothing more than a lesson that just because you’re not
good at something at first doesn’t mean you won’t ever be. Nevertheless,
according to the <i>Washington Post,</i> the rumors that he was a lousy student
in his youth have been blown out of proportion over the years.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Supposedly, he was incredibly intelligent for his age. Yet,
he did fail one thing in his youth, which was the entrance exam to Zurich
Polytechnic, which he supposedly failed because of the French portion, a
language he hardly studied.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b>30. The Wild West
Was A Rough And Tough Place</b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Throughout history and even pop culture, the U.S. Wild West
is depicted as a rough place where no one really wants to live. It was
portrayed as being filled with outlaws, gunslingers, and lots of saloons, Clint
Eastwood, John Wayne, and many other actors had a knack for making the west
look very dangerous. However, that’s not actually the case.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">As it turns out, the Wild West in the 1800s was a very
peaceful area, with residents more interested in their cattle and mining rather
than dueling with someone who looks at them wrong. While death and murder were
inevitable, only 0.1 percent of people in the Wild West were killed per year.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b>31. Medieval Games
Were Dangerous</b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">One way to bring knights together in medieval Europe was
through war games. While these games were thought to be dangerous and sometimes
deadly, that wasn’t necessarily true. Games are thought to have included
competitions such as sword fighting and even jousting. In reality, they were
nothing more than family-friendly sporting events.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Some of the popular games included horseshoes, bowling, and
even tennis, nothing that would hurt one of the participants. City and village
authorities were even known to shut down an event if they thought it was too
dangerous for the men involved.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b>32. Betty Crocker
Is A Real Person And Makes Delicious Desserts</b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Betty Crocker and desserts go hand in hand, especially when
you’re baking, and her name is right there on the box. It feels as though she
is helping you along with the ingredients. The only issue is, history never
told us that Betty Crocker isn’t a real person.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Created by Marjorie Husted for a Washburn Crosby Company
campaign, the name was chosen because it sounded wholesome and, for lack of a
better term, grandmotherly. Of course, from there, Betty became an icon,
appearing in various mediums across pop culture. Apparently, the exposure
doesn’t make her a real person!</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b>33. Everything
About The Trojan War</b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">From stories to pop culture, there is a lot on the Trojan
War. But one aspect of the event tends to slip people’s minds—it is based on
Greek mythology and not historical fact. From generation to generation, the
stories surrounding the war were verbally passed down and embellished to the
point of turning into fiction.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Historians agree that due to the verbal communication, the
Trojan War, as we know it today, is pretty much the ramblings of people who
wanted to tell a good story. From the infamous Trojan Horse to the 1,186 ships
that entered Troy, most of the rich details are ground in fiction. However,
that does not negate the facts that the ruins of Troy were discovered and
excavated as an archeological dig proving that Troy was a real place.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b>34. The
Brontosaurus Was A Living Dinosaur</b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Since the Flintstones had a pet Brontosaurus, it means
they’re real, right? Wrong! Well, sort of. The first discovery of Brontosaurus
bones made by paleontologist O.C. Marsh wound up being an error. During a time
known as “The Bone Wars,” Marsh wanted to gain the upper hand on his
competition, Edward Drinker Cope.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">In doing so, Marsh wound up misidentifying a bone, saying
that it was from a Brontosaurus, a creature that hadn’t been discovered yet. In
reality, the bone was from an Apatosaurus. Thankfully, in 2015, researchers
decided that there was enough evidence to warrant a separate classification of
dinosaur, the Brontosaurus, and Apatosaurus.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b>35. The Use Of
Iron Maidens</b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">In medieval times, there were various instruments used for
torture. One of these devices was the Iron Maiden, an iron chamber designed in
the shape of a woman with spikes on the inside of its hinged doors. While
museums seem to think the chamber was commonplace in medieval times, that’s not
necessarily true.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Even though the Iron Maiden is supposedly a medieval tool,
the first mention of it isn’t until1790, when German philosopher Johann Philipp
Siebenkees noted it in one of his journals. And even though he said a criminal
was put inside one of the torture chambers 200 years earlier, historians haven't
found any proof of this and believe his tale is a bit fabricated.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b>36. George
Washington Had Wooden Teeth</b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">In grade school, many books and lessons revolve around
George Washington including the alleged <i>facts</i> such as his wooden teeth.
It’s a widely known fact in the United States! While the former president did
have dental issues for most of his life, none of Washington’s dentures were
made of wood.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Various materials were used to mold Washington’s teeth,
including various types of metal and even animal bone, but his “orthodontist”
never used wood for a mold. There is a pair of Washington’s dentures still
available for public viewing at George Washington’s Mount Vernon. These, in
particular, are made of human, cow, donkey, and horse teeth—but no wood.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b>37. Chastity Belts
For Wives And Daughters</b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">In Medieval Europe, one device that husbands and fathers
used on their wives and daughters to protect them was something called a
chastity belt. These devices were to stop any unwanted advances, as they were
pretty much metal undergarments that couldn’t be opened without a key. It
sounds like a bad joke, right? Well, that’s actually what a chastity belt was.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">In the 16th century Europe, chastity belts were nothing more
than a cheap laugh for people. On the few in their possession, the British
Museum has said, “[they] were made in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries
as curiosities for the prurient, or as jokes for the tasteless.”</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b>38. King Arthur
Won Against An Invasion Of Anglo-Saxons</b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">There are many books, myths, and even television shows and
movies illustrating the bravery of King Arthur and his knights of the round
table. History has told us that the man known as Arthur was the beloved king of
Camelot, heroically defeating an advance of Anglo-Saxons during the 5th or 6th
century.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">While the battle has been written about in books, historians
believe the inclusion wasn't added until 100 years later. That means the story
of King Arthur is wildly embellished, with many historians believing the King
of Camelot never existed, since his name isn’t mentioned in ancient texts
between A.D. 400 and A.D. 800.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b>39. Dr. Seuss Said
The Quote “Those Who Mind Don’t Matter, And Those Who Matter Don’t Mind”</b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Children’s book author and exceptional linguist Dr. Seuss is
credited with many rhymes and lyrical phrases. One that he's often credited
with is, “Those who mind don’t matter, and those who matter don’t mind.” And
while the phrase sounds like something out of <i>All The Places You’ll Go</i>,
Dr. Suess didn’t write it.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The quote was actually said by someone else entirely,
American financier Bernard Baruch. He was discussing the importance of
authenticity while facing down public scrutiny. The concept is certainly not
something that is outwardly said in any of the Dr. Seuss books we’ve come
across.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>Samantha Gentryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02764092383245823784noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1131669960192626946.post-47373947173452943982024-03-03T12:28:00.001-06:002024-03-10T14:27:42.582-05:00Historical Events that never happened pt 2of3<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhksABlSWbMauPNfsiXZJrR4pBO6hNa2ZlPJPucAhMGqjFFd7ZQDUocRBOybJ1OFT20WLiKc5VE1mcIsKtAq7WtPo-sBi33MOdNBY6KG8sCzyY7mIXOz4fYE7weOKym8CklMRDfDdf-jlz2lgBkRViDSHH2evLkzJaZ3_-RqNZtfAU9TIwQv9Fk4jtqizg/s450/historical%20events%202of3%20red.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="450" data-original-width="370" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhksABlSWbMauPNfsiXZJrR4pBO6hNa2ZlPJPucAhMGqjFFd7ZQDUocRBOybJ1OFT20WLiKc5VE1mcIsKtAq7WtPo-sBi33MOdNBY6KG8sCzyY7mIXOz4fYE7weOKym8CklMRDfDdf-jlz2lgBkRViDSHH2evLkzJaZ3_-RqNZtfAU9TIwQv9Fk4jtqizg/s320/historical%20events%202of3%20red.jpg" width="263" /></a></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal">This week is part 2 of my 3-part series about some of the
inaccuracies of history that have been perpetuated over the years as facts,
things we learned in school that didn't happen that way.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b>14. Mama Cass Sandwich</b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">Best known as
one of the lead singers of The Mamas & the Papas. Following the band’s
breakup, Cass Elliot went on to release five solo albums as well as appear on a
number of television programs. Cass passed away on July 29, 1974, at the age of
33.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">There were
countless rumors circulating about the cause of her death. These ranged from a
substance overdose, that she was assassinated by the FBI, and so on. However,
one of the most popular theories is that she died from choking on a ham
sandwich. In reality, she had died from a heart attack related to her intense
weight fluctuations over the years.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b>15. Thomas Edison
Invented The Light Bulb</b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">While most people believe Thomas Edison invented the light
bulb, it turns out he had more help than most people know. Edison may have
invented the first motion picture camera and tinfoil phonograph, but he did not
outright invent the light bulb.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">British chemist Joseph Swan was the one to actually create
the first light bulb, but it burned out too quickly. Edison solved the problem
by coming up with the idea to replace the carbonized paper filament with a
thinner filament, which Swan then used to create the first light bulb viable
enough to be put into daily use.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b>16. 300 Spartans
Fought Back The Persian Army</b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">One of the most classic legends of Ancient Greece is about
the Spartan leader Leonidas and his 300 soldiers who fought the much larger
Persian forces at the Battle of Thermopylae in 480 BC.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Nevertheless, the story that the Spartans only had 300 men
is a bit of an embellishment, when they actually had around 4,000 other
soldiers from the surrounding Greek city-states. On top of that, it’s also
assumed there were at least 1,500 men who stayed to fight in the last stand,
not the mere 300 that legend proclaimed.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b>17. Bankers
Jumping From Buildings After The 1929 Stock Market Crash</b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">On October 24, 1929, the United States stock market crashed
in the event that would go on to be called Black Thursday. This was the
beginning of the Great Depression, and it was believed after the crash had been
announced that stockbrokers on Wall Street began taking their own lives by
jumping from the buildings.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">However, this wasn’t the case. No one took his own life by
jumping off a building. In fact, suicide rates didn’t increase at all.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b>18. Betsy Ross
Sewed The First American Flag</b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">While it’s rumored that Betsy Ross was the first person to
sew the American flag, this is likely no more than a myth. Although there’s no
doubt that Ross sewed a few flags in her days, the claim that she sewed the
very first one came from her grandson, who decided to tell the <i>exaggeration</i>
to the Historical Society of Pennsylvania almost 100 years later.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">However, there is zero evidence that Ross sewed the first
flag during the Revolutionary War, as there’s no mention of her in newspaper
reports, historical letters, or any kind of writing. It’s also possible Ross’
grandson only made this claim to popularize his family name.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b>19. George
Washington And The Cherry Tree</b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The story of George Washington and the cherry tree says that
Washington received a hatchet from his father when he was a boy. He then
proceeded to chop down a cherry tree, and when his father asked him what
happened, he said something along the lines of “I cannot tell a lie.”<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">This story never happened but was made up in 1806 by author
Mason Locke Weems, who wrote a book about Washington that showed the first
president of the United States was a man of virtue. An interesting side note
shows that Washington, the man of could not tell a lie, was the creator of our
first spy ring (The Culper Spy Ring) coming into existence during the
Revolutionary War, at a time when the future United States was still a British
colony.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b>20. The Forbidden
Fruit In The Bible Was An Apple</b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Most people have either read or heard about the story of
Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden, in which they are banished for eating the
Forbidden Fruit, the one thing they weren’t allowed to touch.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Interestingly, in popular culture, the fruit is almost
always shown as being an apple. However, early rabbis would argue that the
fruit was most likely a fig. This is because the Bible mentions the two sewing
together clothes with fig leaves. And, the myth that the forbidden fruit was an
apple is further admonished by the fact that the Garden of Eden was the wrong
climate for growing apples.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b>22. Ben Franklin
Wanted The Turkey To Be The National Bird</b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">There’s a story that Benjamin Franklin wanted the turkey to
be the national bird of the United States rather than the bald eagle. Actually,
he didn’t have any reservations about the bald eagle being the national bird,
as he explains in a letter to his daughter.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">He simply mentioned that the eagle looked like a turkey on
the seal. In the letter to his daughter, he would also write that the bald
eagle had bad morals as evidenced by the fact they stole from other birds and
the turkey is vain, although this is most likely just a joke. But a more
pertinent observation noted that the turkey was native to North America and the
eagle also lived in Europe.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b>23. Ulysses S.
Grant Wouldn’t Accept Robert E. Lee’s Sword When He Surrendered</b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">One of the most well-known stories of the Civil War is when
Robert E. Lee surrendered to Ulysses S. Grant at Appomattox Courthouse,
Virginia, on April 9, 1865. The tale goes that when Lee surrendered to Grant,
the Union general refused to accept Lee’s sword of surrender.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Grant claimed in 1885 that the story had been embellished. It
was not a snub or rebuke. He regarded Lee with the utmost respect. He was just
happy the war was over and they had won.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b>24. The Existence
Of Saint Christopher</b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Saint Christopher is the patron saint of travelers,
athletes, mariners, ferrymen, and more. He is an incredibly popular saint with
many believers wearing the Saint Christopher talisman. However, the saint may
have never even existed.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">According to the <i>LA Times,</i> many scholars have
believed for some time that he wasn’t real. And even if he was, it’s likely
that all the stories about him are nothing more than myths. It’s also possible
that he may have been just another regular person to be murdered for being a Christian.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b>25. How The
British Defeated The Spanish Armada</b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">While the Spanish Armada was defeated by the British Empire
in 1588, they didn’t succeed using clever tactics and an overwhelming amount of
firepower. In reality, it came down to them having favorable conditions.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Out of the 129 ships in the Spanish Armada, the British only
destroyed six of them. They could have defeated more, but they didn’t have
enough gunpowder. However, they were lucky because 50 other British ships
showed up just in time. Bad weather, including fast currents, created issues
for the Spanish attributing to their defeat.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b>26. The Casualties
At The Alamo</b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">While many people might have an idea of what happened at the
Alamo, it was basically misinformation acquired from movies. For the most part,
the movies were not intended to be historically correct documentaries. Their
purpose was to present an exciting story to entertain their audience. Many of
the supposed facts were exaggerated. Some stories claim that only a handful of people
survived when it was more like at least 20.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Furthermore, it wasn’t just women and children either. Some
of the fighting men were spared as well. The notion that 600 Mexicans died
during the battle is also untrue as it was more like 60. A man named William
Zuber made up most of these stories, which is ironic because he wasn’t even
there.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Next week is part 3 of my 3-part blog series about
Historical Events That Never Happened.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>Samantha Gentryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02764092383245823784noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1131669960192626946.post-13586792785708868972024-02-25T13:45:00.005-06:002024-03-10T14:31:47.632-05:00Historical Events That Never Happened pt 1of3<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4NS1KIoXGIOVNtMNH8lXNUmlXbA54Nj0Q_D5qQnwTp6pTbHMftZTpMjbJ6oaIiM7VNJqJGIPU1MQvSw6mcQEsi2ib8meb_7EbYByLy6NkOdxD8zDSMOjCSgs0niQ8t4btE1T_ow8HXYm2hy7WOC1EeU7SnFwIrynehPzC3qJavbZ5qS_zuFJwovj_7nA/s450/Historical%20Events%201of3%20blue.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="450" data-original-width="369" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4NS1KIoXGIOVNtMNH8lXNUmlXbA54Nj0Q_D5qQnwTp6pTbHMftZTpMjbJ6oaIiM7VNJqJGIPU1MQvSw6mcQEsi2ib8meb_7EbYByLy6NkOdxD8zDSMOjCSgs0niQ8t4btE1T_ow8HXYm2hy7WOC1EeU7SnFwIrynehPzC3qJavbZ5qS_zuFJwovj_7nA/s320/Historical%20Events%201of3%20blue.jpg" width="262" /></a></div><p class="MsoNormal">Over the years, we've learned many things about history, primarily in school. But how much of what we <i>learned</i> is
actually true and how much is exaggeration, embellishment, or actual untruths
that have come down through the years and changed along the way?</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">This is part 1 of a 3-part blog series showing those
inaccuracies in our knowledge of history.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b>1. Paul Revere’s
Midnight Ride</b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The tale of Paul Revere riding through the Massachusetts
countryside warning American colonists that the British were coming has its
origins from an 1860 poem (85 years after the actual event) by Henry Wadsworth
Longfellow. His poem wasn’t a historical piece on Paul Revere. It was actually
a topical warning about America breaking apart shortly before the Civil War. According
to historians, Wadsworth simplified the actual events of the night of April 18,
1775, in rhyming form.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">In truth, Paul Revere didn’t receive the lantern signals—he
sent them. He wasn<a name="_Hlk156113536">’</a>t a solo rider, he started out
with William Dawes and along the way met up with Samuel Prescott, another
member of their group. It has been suggested (as a moment of humor) that he
chose Paul Revere as the object of his poem because more words rhymed with
Revere. Prescott was the only one to actually reach Concord. Revere was
captured and Dawes managed to escape. And Revere didn’t ride around shouting
that the British were coming. He went to the homes of members of their group to
quietly warn them. If he had been shouting in the streets while riding through
town, the many local residents who were British loyalists would have captured
him and turned him over to the British troops.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b>2. Rats Weren’t
The Main Culprit Of The Black Death</b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Although it's a commonly accepted theory, recent studies
have shown that rats, along with the mites and fleas they carried, may not have
been the only thing to blame for the devastating plague that killed almost
one-third of Europe’s population in the 14th century. At the University of
Oslo, scientists conducted an experiment to determine the potential sources for the pandemic.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">They discovered the parasites carrying the disease more
likely came from humans rather than rats. Their model demonstrates that the
disease spread by human fleas and lice matched the death rates for the Black
Death more so than their model regarding parasite-carrying rats.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b>3. Christopher
Columbus Discovered America</b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Most children in the United States are taught that “in 1492
Columbus sailed the ocean blue” crossing the Atlantic Ocean with his ships the <i>Niña</i>,
the <i>Pinta</i>, and the <i>Santa Maria</i> with hopes of reaching Asia and
proving a quicker ocean route to Japan and China than the long slow over land
route. He, as most of the rest of the world's population, weren't aware of the
huge land mass separating two huge oceans between Europe and Asia.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">However, Columbus certainly wasn’t the first person to
“discover” America. People had been sailing east across the Pacific Ocean for
many years prior to Columbus' first voyage west across the Atlantic Ocean.
People and animals had been crossing what was then the Bering land bridge
before geologic time turned it into the Bering Straight. He wasn’t even the
first European to land in the Western Hemisphere. He made several trips across
the Atlantic but only made it to the Caribbean islands and never actually
stepped foot on the North American continent. In fact, the Viking Leif Erikson
is believed to have landed and established a settlement in North America (what
is now Canada) almost 500 years before Columbus first attempt to sail west in
search of an ocean route to Japan and China.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b>4. Ben Franklin
Discovered Electricity</b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The story of Ben Franklin attaching a key to a kite during a
lightning storm and declaring that he had discovered electricity wasn’t exactly
what it seems. Franklin didn’t discover electricity. Scientists were well aware
of electricity before Franklin’s 1752 kite and key experiment.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">What Franklin actually set out to do was prove that
lightning was electricity. In fact, he may not have even flown the kite
himself. In 1752, Franklin wrote in the <i>Pennsylvania Gazette </i>that he
performed the experiment, but never specified that it was him flying the kite.
There has been speculation that his son had flown the kite.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b>5. Martin Luther
Nailing His “95 Theses” To The Church Door</b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The iconic story of Martin Luther nailing his list of issues
with the Catholic Church to the doors of a church is commonly regarded as the
spark that fueled the flame for the Protestant Revolution and creating the
Protestant branch of Christianity. While Luther’s 95 Theses were real, it
didn’t exactly play out like that.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">There is no historical evidence that proves Luther actually
nailed his list to the doors of a church, a story that didn’t surface until
nearly thirty years after the fact. However, what is known is that Luther
mailed his “95 Theses” to the archbishop and never intended to start an issue
with the church, considering he was a devoted Catholic.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b>6. Nero “Fiddled”
While Rome Burned</b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Although the first-century Roman emperor isn’t entirely
innocent of the devastating fires that engulfed Rome, he certainly wasn’t doing
anything about it. To Start, Nero wasn’t even in the city when the fires began.
He was in Antium, approximately thirty miles outside of the city. Although he
may have considered himself an artist, the expression that Nero was literally
playing the fiddle while Rome burned is completely false.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">There were no fiddles in Rome at the time, and he certainly
wasn’t playing an instrument while watching the city burn. The phrase “fiddled”
while Rome burned is an expression regarding a leader that does little during a
time of crisis.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b>7. Isaac Newton
And The Apple</b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The tall tale of mathematician Isaac Newton coming up with
the concept of gravity after an apple fell on his head is an exaggeration of
what happened. The story of the apple didn’t come about until it was published
in a biography of Newton written by his friend William Stukeley in 1752.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The text reads, “the notion of gravitation came into his
mind…occasion’d by the fall of an apple, as he sat in a contemplative mood.”
Historians believe that Newton may have seen an apple fall from a tree, but
it’s unlikely that it fell on his head.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b>8. Witch Burnings
At The Salem Witch Trials</b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Although the Salem Witch trials are often synonymous with
“witch burnings,” that isn’t the case. Not a single person accused of being a
witch in 17th century Salem, Massachusetts, ever met their fate by burning at
the stake.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Of the 20 accused Salem witches, 19 of them were hanged
while the final one, the only man, was crushed by rocks. The idea that witches
were to be burned most likely comes from a witch hysteria that took place in
Europe between the 15th and 18th centuries. In England, suspected witches were
hanged with that method also being used in the Colonies. In France, they were
burned alive at the stake.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b>9. “Let Them Eat
Cake”</b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Although it makes a good story, the French queen Marie
Antoinette remarking “let them eat cake,” regarding her impoverished subjects
never happened. Accounts of royals suggesting that the poor eat delicacies they
can’t afford dates long before Marie Antoinette’s rule.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The quote “Qu’ils mangent de la brioche” or “let them eat
cake” first appeared in a 1767 autobiographical account by philosopher
Jean-Jacques Rosseau. He attributes the quote to a “great princess,” when
Antoinette was only just a young girl at the time, so it was most likely not
her.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b>10. Van Gogh Never
Cut Off His Ear</b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Many people know Vincent Van Gogh as the tortured artist who
cut off his ear and sent it to his lover. While this is partially true, what
happened is that he only severed the bottom part of his ear lobe. He suffered
from severe depression at the time. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Some historians believe that cutting off part of his ear was
the result of a dispute with fellow artist Paul Gaugin or his brother’s
engagement. No matter what pushed him to do it, he certainly didn’t cut off his
entire ear. Yet another theory says his ear was cut off by someone else during
a fight.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b>11. Lady Godiva’s
Naked Ride</b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The story goes that Lady Godiva, the wife of Leofric, the
lord of Coventry, England, had sympathy for her husband’s subjects that were
being ruthlessly taxed. So, Leofric proclaimed that he would lower taxes if his
wife rode naked through the town.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">However, the real story is based on a real woman named
Godifu, who was the wife of Leofric, who led an unremarkable life other than
being married to an important man. It’s believed the legend came about as a way
to explain the generous historical acts on the part of Leofric.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b>12. Romulus
Founding Rome</b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">When it comes to the naming of Rome, most people would
assume this came from a man named Romulus along with his twin brother Remus.
Legend says both Romulus and Remus were raised by a wolf that nursed them as
babies and that their father was the god, Mars.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Nevertheless, regarding the existence of Romulus and Remus,
historian Theodore Mommsen told <i>The New York Times </i>that the legend was
“out of the question.” It simply was impossible that either of these two boys
existed during the time, and they definitely weren’t raised by wolves.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b>13. Beware The
Ides Of March</b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">William Shakespeare’s play <i>Julius Caesar</i> gives a
decent example of what the final moments in Caesar’s life might have been, and
there were a lot of dramatics involved.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">For instance, some of the most classic lines associated with
Caesar were never actually spoken such as <a name="_Hlk156109727">“</a>Friends,
Romans, countrymen, lend me your ears,” “let slip the dogs of war,” and of
course, “Et Tu, Brute?” Yet, it’s unlikely that any such words were muttered
during the chaos that was his assassination.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Next week, check back here for part 2 of my 3-part blog
series of Historical Events That Never Happened. </p>Samantha Gentryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02764092383245823784noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1131669960192626946.post-8756150452749402262024-02-18T06:38:00.000-06:002024-02-18T06:38:01.518-06:00History of President's Day Holiday<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh87EzGLgsaKlPPcpuMcMPPUQ2-kf25zXM6mB_PmTzQJU_aCCUH5WDQfu0vA3hWtAuzgZwCx3LJQdZRHVJNfiQYtULbIRrWhiAVpABTLIIvjaAueqI6pPYj5bOlzyoefg_A-4iEzHY8thQ1oxl90-JN-aKvw3TdCs5YK9acIS8RtXZt7GVS0TbiuUe-qrs/s450/PresidentsDayBanner.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="192" data-original-width="450" height="137" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh87EzGLgsaKlPPcpuMcMPPUQ2-kf25zXM6mB_PmTzQJU_aCCUH5WDQfu0vA3hWtAuzgZwCx3LJQdZRHVJNfiQYtULbIRrWhiAVpABTLIIvjaAueqI6pPYj5bOlzyoefg_A-4iEzHY8thQ1oxl90-JN-aKvw3TdCs5YK9acIS8RtXZt7GVS0TbiuUe-qrs/s320/PresidentsDayBanner.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p class="MsoNormal">President's Day is a legal federal holiday in the U.S. originally
established in 1885 in recognition of President George Washington. It's
currently celebrated on the third Monday in February. In 2024, that's February 19th.
The federal government still officially calls it Washington's Birthday. When
first established, it was celebrated on February 22—Washington's actual date of
birth.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The story of President's Day begins in 1800. Following
President George Washington's death in 1799, his February 22 birthday became a
perennial day of remembrance. At the time, Washington was venerated as the most
important figure in American history, and events like the 1832 centennial of
his birth and the start of construction of the Washington Monument in 1848 were
cause for national celebration.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">While Washington's Birthday was an unofficial observance for
most of the 1800s, it was not until late 1879 that it became a federal holiday
when President Rutherford B. Hayes signed it into law. The holiday initially
only applied to the District of Columbia, but in 1885 it was expanded to the
whole country.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxtpoc-0gXz8UXIJwmnXOo3ZHhgF2mytMeiVbLYPE5R0ngPBt774a_YlSofkzIjcCWbrnoyE-G0UhHM_3dlUUeiBXEF4C7yjA6Z34OzQhW6yFx_MQiLi8pHt6l9c0eIKczOQHWMXD9tuWT9i7Q-Cotz_gKEqiz9C_XJ1T6smSPyVnpGuPAN5kO1D2_ZRk/s400/Lincoln-Washington1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="227" data-original-width="400" height="114" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxtpoc-0gXz8UXIJwmnXOo3ZHhgF2mytMeiVbLYPE5R0ngPBt774a_YlSofkzIjcCWbrnoyE-G0UhHM_3dlUUeiBXEF4C7yjA6Z34OzQhW6yFx_MQiLi8pHt6l9c0eIKczOQHWMXD9tuWT9i7Q-Cotz_gKEqiz9C_XJ1T6smSPyVnpGuPAN5kO1D2_ZRk/w200-h114/Lincoln-Washington1.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal">The shift from Washington's Birthday to President's Day
began in the late 1960s when Congress proposed a measure known as the Uniform
Monday Holiday Act. This law shifted the celebration of several federal
holidays from specific dates to a series of predetermined Mondays creating
three-day holiday weekends. While some argued that shifting holidays from their
original dates would cheapen their meaning, the bill had widespread support.
The Uniform Monday Holiday Act also included a provision to combine the celebration
of Washington's Birthday with Abraham Lincoln's, which fell on February 12,
thus giving equal recognition to two of America’s most famous presidents.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The main piece of the Uniform Monday Holiday Act passed in
1968 and officially took effect in 1971 following an executive order from
President Richard Nixon. Washington's Birthday was then shifted from the fixed
date of February 22 to the third Monday of February.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Washington and Lincoln still remain the two most recognized
leaders, but President's Day is now popularly seen as a day to recognize the
lives and achievements of America's chief executives. For its part, the federal
government has held fast to the original incarnation of the holiday as a
celebration of the country's first president. The third Monday in February is
still listed on official calendars as Washington's Birthday. [I just took a
look at my office calendar and it shows February 19, 2024, the third Monday in
February, as President's Day rather than Washington's birthday.] </p>Samantha Gentryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02764092383245823784noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1131669960192626946.post-49043794027909016452024-02-11T13:57:00.000-06:002024-02-11T13:57:48.072-06:00The History of Mardi Gras and the Tradition Of Flashing<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnOn8VLREE_WQ5ciPu3bHsCbd8FyFhVDlyTefh9uNQFFWmWKvlQFUs_qUxvKEnUgj3PRp_NnpggTvypB8tNSDqgcZPQ9BcBN1ACtBXgcgVFEJMwe0QSrMD4vf7Vlbb4i60kQHahLhBQIkJyrz2pKpYiShWwALL77vQmZfmN8zZYrGDr__Kw-LocclnOqQ/s450/MardiGras%202024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="191" data-original-width="450" height="136" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnOn8VLREE_WQ5ciPu3bHsCbd8FyFhVDlyTefh9uNQFFWmWKvlQFUs_qUxvKEnUgj3PRp_NnpggTvypB8tNSDqgcZPQ9BcBN1ACtBXgcgVFEJMwe0QSrMD4vf7Vlbb4i60kQHahLhBQIkJyrz2pKpYiShWwALL77vQmZfmN8zZYrGDr__Kw-LocclnOqQ/s320/MardiGras%202024.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p>This year Mardi Gras falls on Tuesday, February 13, 2024. In
the Catholic Church, it's Shrove Tuesday, also known as Fat Tuesday. The date
for Mardi Gras depends on the date of Easter—always occurring forty-six days
before Easter.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">In the most literal sense, the Mardi Gras celebration is the
three days prior to the start of Lent on Ash Wednesday. It's the last
opportunity for partying and indulgence in food and drink. In practice, Mardi
Gras—or Carnival, as it is called in many countries—is usually celebrated for a
full week before the start of Lent.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkIiwdes0PmXG7ChtOYLRSOlXnF2ovNJ9KDfIts3qCA82MYi40oczsIDO8al3Vil7cvvk-MtLMQlvO9-4aQs1jpZq473qutrMDk52ll2iyT6n6zHVTC4VVnlT3ShRKRrw9FRSqDKBgWf4MFAaePGsQVlvcJLUEUygDSLCo2rvK5hyphenhyphen4bOSrS_03J8TuUUA/s395/Mask%20%5Btransparent%5D.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="310" data-original-width="395" height="157" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkIiwdes0PmXG7ChtOYLRSOlXnF2ovNJ9KDfIts3qCA82MYi40oczsIDO8al3Vil7cvvk-MtLMQlvO9-4aQs1jpZq473qutrMDk52ll2iyT6n6zHVTC4VVnlT3ShRKRrw9FRSqDKBgWf4MFAaePGsQVlvcJLUEUygDSLCo2rvK5hyphenhyphen4bOSrS_03J8TuUUA/w200-h157/Mask%20%5Btransparent%5D.png" width="200" /></a></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal">Celebrations take place all over the world with the most
famous modern day festivities being in New Orleans, Louisiana, USA; Rio de
Janeiro, Brazil; Nice, France; and Cologne, Germany.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Even though Mardi Gras is a Christian festival, it dates
back to the pre-Christian spring fertility rites and embodies many of the
traditions of the ancient Greeks and Romans. In the early Middle Ages, after
converting pagan tribes to Christianity, the Catholic Church was still unable
to abolish all the ancient traditions. To combat this, the Church ended up
taking many ancient feasts and festivals originally celebrated in honor of
pagan gods and adapted them to Christian beliefs. An example of the pagan roots—today
revelers on parade floats still dress as Bacchus, the Greek god of wine.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSg0aUlwEHP7p4JT0agVn7o2pbQ3rIKG7rH9bXGB-DiHptB4fsLjYrNqcf_bpnY9UEiwtJ4jBoixCG4mq8j38_cN1Q9IXuM1z71fI7dq2MXPMJEnrZE78Lw_uSEjJSEzXIH8KGvq3VtucU6bgQRZesIt4q-4f4KXy2JzJOm89pITUj616mC_iAPCala6M/s450/Feb%2012_1879%20RexFrankLeslie'sIllustrated.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="354" data-original-width="450" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSg0aUlwEHP7p4JT0agVn7o2pbQ3rIKG7rH9bXGB-DiHptB4fsLjYrNqcf_bpnY9UEiwtJ4jBoixCG4mq8j38_cN1Q9IXuM1z71fI7dq2MXPMJEnrZE78Lw_uSEjJSEzXIH8KGvq3VtucU6bgQRZesIt4q-4f4KXy2JzJOm89pITUj616mC_iAPCala6M/w200-h158/Feb%2012_1879%20RexFrankLeslie'sIllustrated.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><br />The first Mardi Gras celebration in the United States was
near modern day New Orleans on March 3, 1699, but it was the mid 1800s before
parade organizations, known as krewes, came into being. The first Mardi Gras
parade was held in New Orleans on February 24, 1854, by the Krewe of Comus.
They began the tradition of a parade with floats followed by a ball for the
krewe and their guests. The official colors of Mardi Gras were chosen by Rex,
King of Carnival, in 1892 and given their meaning—purple for justice, green for
faith, and gold for power.<p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghGxpsahfxSpNAFeO9T3VN3BtKXUOh_UEGc5XYGHf-7VT5R3w0uBqyU_rfeGm16_G_Y4sUlrhH2j3h-D2TND0_O6YpePakoDs3VQJiC5XDEwMaFCd3TV_FnrbrM_9QDibb8WX2VZZw2Q3pgiL_NyNBR-OFCyBqCBiiBsDMJ_pi_UEhtCagzL_79kIhK7M/s259/MardiGrasBeads.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="194" data-original-width="259" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghGxpsahfxSpNAFeO9T3VN3BtKXUOh_UEGc5XYGHf-7VT5R3w0uBqyU_rfeGm16_G_Y4sUlrhH2j3h-D2TND0_O6YpePakoDs3VQJiC5XDEwMaFCd3TV_FnrbrM_9QDibb8WX2VZZw2Q3pgiL_NyNBR-OFCyBqCBiiBsDMJ_pi_UEhtCagzL_79kIhK7M/w200-h150/MardiGrasBeads.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal">But what about that popular activity that has become a
seemingly integral part of the New Orleans Mardi Gras, much to the chagrin of
the festival purists? Women pulling up their shirts and flashing their bare
breasts to procure some worthless plastic beads?<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Exactly where did this tradition come from?</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Well, first of all, it's not really a tradition. It's more
along the lines of what has become a traditional activity in the same vein as
getting stupid drunk and passing out now seems to fall into that same
'traditional' Mardi Gras category. Over the years, more and more media
attention has been directed toward the drunken revelry that occurs on Bourbon
Street which has helped in defining flashing as a traditional part of the Mardi
Gras celebration.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Fortunately, or unfortunately depending on your
point-of-view, flashing in exchange for beads is mostly limited to the New
Orleans' French Quarter. And even in the French Quarter, it's an illegal
activity. Women flashing their bare breasts run the risk of being arrested.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Maybe flashing is not a true tradition, but you can't deny
that it has become a custom. After all, the history of wild Mardi Gras behavior
comes from celebrating the last day before Lent—Lent being a time of atonement.
And this naturally lends itself to activities of excess and craziness.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Which apparently has come to include flashing.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">But there is one crazy excess even more daring than the
momentary baring of the female breasts known as flashing. And what, you may
ask, could possibly be crazier than flashing and still be done in public? And
the answer is having clothes painted on your bare skin. There are artists who
specialize in this. It probably started as something simple and basic like face
painting but has grown to include full body artistic renderings. At a casual
glance, it appears that the person is clothed (albeit skin tight clothing). But
on closer inspection, you discover that's far from the truth. Some of these
examples shown below are basic and others are quite elaborate.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVFwktai0IGX4N6zYnXj3w52FVZOl0yqAF7r1FEnSsEgti55XxzmorSmYi3nASvTg70ObsZ4lmI1WTohjJK-8eRObB-cSrkpgj38J6hRvUNPpz_U4FLrCG8T_jHowyAZI3yN36mOrqcEIEgEsnA-3mkxsp_EsslDap9X-3VY22rVeMTtNjYo59P5AUwHU/s377/SkinPaintMontage.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="244" data-original-width="377" height="129" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVFwktai0IGX4N6zYnXj3w52FVZOl0yqAF7r1FEnSsEgti55XxzmorSmYi3nASvTg70ObsZ4lmI1WTohjJK-8eRObB-cSrkpgj38J6hRvUNPpz_U4FLrCG8T_jHowyAZI3yN36mOrqcEIEgEsnA-3mkxsp_EsslDap9X-3VY22rVeMTtNjYo59P5AUwHU/w200-h129/SkinPaintMontage.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>Samantha Gentryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02764092383245823784noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1131669960192626946.post-42751770477808412122024-02-04T06:07:00.000-06:002024-02-04T06:07:34.114-06:00The St. Valentine's Day Massacre—the most spectacular gangland slaying in mob history.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOYsgQnErW0FyuTeApwYQy521kHorpeKZOJd-w9GBOqCbxZ3iay8Nfm63vIsIxYnQya7hQN2Og0q4t0oQxtTZGEmQAFJ01h83Z_8rYT743YPzatfOduLqfYgQd9G0GqlhL_6Ae6rlhzWlQbxW8m8kc5mDbBnq-OO22tzrESI0QbXve4w_CeAhrhJTZZSo/s450/AlCapone1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="428" data-original-width="450" height="304" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOYsgQnErW0FyuTeApwYQy521kHorpeKZOJd-w9GBOqCbxZ3iay8Nfm63vIsIxYnQya7hQN2Og0q4t0oQxtTZGEmQAFJ01h83Z_8rYT743YPzatfOduLqfYgQd9G0GqlhL_6Ae6rlhzWlQbxW8m8kc5mDbBnq-OO22tzrESI0QbXve4w_CeAhrhJTZZSo/s320/AlCapone1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p>While Valentine's Day is a holiday associated with love,
there is one historical event forever connected to Valentine's Day that had
nothing to do with love, flowers, cards, and chocolate.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Al Capone (<i>known</i>
to be the mastermind, but never charged for the crime) had arranged for his
chief rival, Chicago mobster George 'Bugs' Moran and most of his North Side
Gang, to be eliminated on February 14, 1929.
The plan was simple and deviously clever, yet Capone's primary target
escaped any injury. Capone distanced
himself from the execution of the plan (and the execution of his rivals) by
spending the time at his home in Florida thus providing himself with a solid
alibi.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">A bootlegger loyal to Capone was to draw Moran and his gang
to a warehouse to receive a shipment of smuggled whiskey, the delivery set for
10:30AM on Valentine's Day.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The morning of February 14 was cold and snowy. A group of Moran's men waited for Bugs at the
red brick warehouse at 2122 North Clark Street.
Moran was running late. When his
car turned the corner onto Clark Street, he spotted a police wagon pulling up
to the warehouse. Assuming it was a
raid, he watched as five men, three of them dressed in police uniforms, entered
the building. Moran and the two men with
him, immediately left the area.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Inside the warehouse, the hit men, disguised as police,
confronted Moran's men. Assuming it was
a routine bust, they followed instructions when ordered to line up against the
wall. The hit men opened fire with
Thompson submachine guns, killing six of the seven men immediately. The seventh man, with twenty-two bullet
wounds, survived the attack but died after arriving at the hospital.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The newspapers instantly picked up on the crime, dubbing it
the <i>St. Valentine's Day Massacre</i>. The story appeared on front pages around the
country, making Capone a national celebrity.
But to his dismay, this new found notoriety also brought a new level of
attention from federal law enforcement culminating in his conviction for tax
evasion and his incarceration at Alcatraz.
With all the law enforcement agencies trying to bring down Capone, it
was a tax accountant working for the Internal Revenue Service who finally did
it.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5WDV4WaKJoxQ11cqk7FDSy1WbpCot3RQhqvpI8eJ7MHN5h9Iru8DTPVQGQgBPYlEj_9uZZB4LQNAsxUbDdW_EUmNlah5UxMqyFVs21NA-13DwxIuliAV0SOJplCAD3sxnVGqc0Lgpi53btpPWDnHyliWVWQkcQ2PRdwkNsuPz91GE-KibsS0-8MZ6A_o/s400/SomeLikeItHot.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="225" data-original-width="400" height="113" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5WDV4WaKJoxQ11cqk7FDSy1WbpCot3RQhqvpI8eJ7MHN5h9Iru8DTPVQGQgBPYlEj_9uZZB4LQNAsxUbDdW_EUmNlah5UxMqyFVs21NA-13DwxIuliAV0SOJplCAD3sxnVGqc0Lgpi53btpPWDnHyliWVWQkcQ2PRdwkNsuPz91GE-KibsS0-8MZ6A_o/w200-h113/SomeLikeItHot.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal">There have been several movies and television shows
utilizing The St. Valentine's Day Massacre as an integral part of the
storyline. My personal choice is also one of my all-time favorite movies, <i>SOME
LIKE IT HOT</i>, a comedy built around subsequent events following the St.
Valentine's Day Massacre, starring Tony Curtis, Jack Lemon, and Marilyn Monroe.<o:p></o:p></p>Samantha Gentryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02764092383245823784noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1131669960192626946.post-40407577677133137642024-01-28T14:51:00.000-06:002024-01-28T14:51:33.220-06:00Dangerous Wallpaper<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXrs1_urb4SDSwr_0o6jkWhGTSYWlOpu6S4stsGwKM2l4tMCLH1JwuvPpQB6RMKgF_4KhXVU5yhG7CqRqlOX1pnk3NjwKkq6k2yl2_suGP-aW0ltzzrqJMrfP460mY68bArbcEd7oQPfgZQpNpW47eQZdTH_D3yf9auqe7qjmc6fs9xX4gycDFxupwXoQ/s450/Victorian%20wallpaper.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="450" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXrs1_urb4SDSwr_0o6jkWhGTSYWlOpu6S4stsGwKM2l4tMCLH1JwuvPpQB6RMKgF_4KhXVU5yhG7CqRqlOX1pnk3NjwKkq6k2yl2_suGP-aW0ltzzrqJMrfP460mY68bArbcEd7oQPfgZQpNpW47eQZdTH_D3yf9auqe7qjmc6fs9xX4gycDFxupwXoQ/s320/Victorian%20wallpaper.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p>The desire to decorate our walls dates back to the caveman
days when our ancient ancestors marked their cave walls with dots, lines,
zigzags, and cross-hatching. Fast forward tens of thousands of years and we
have modern day wallpaper providing that decoration.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Some of the earliest known examples of wallpaper are thought
to date back more than 2,000 years to China's Qin dynasty. Images of
landscapes, flowers, and birds were painted on rice paper. By the 12<sup>th</sup>
century, this craft was believed to have traveled to the West via the Silk
Road. By the end of the 18<sup>th</sup> century, mechanization created a change
in the industry.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">So, you ask, what is it about wallpaper that could possibly
be considered dangerous? The mystery is in the way it was being made at that
time. There are hundreds of samples of wallpaper from that era located in The
National Archives in London that were scientifically proven to contain arsenic,
an innocuous looking white powder known even at that time to be poisonous. The
arsenic also produced vibrant color that, after centuries, has shown very
little color deterioration. People working with the wallpaper samples in The
National Archives put on gloves before handling the poisonous paper.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">For paint and dye manufacturers, arsenic was a cheap product
that increased the brilliance and durability of pigments, especially when
applied to wallpaper. The public loved the bright colors of the wallpaper. Even
when they learned that the dyes contained arsenic, they still did not consider
it dangerous (assuming no one licked the wallpaper or their fingers after
touching it). What the public didn't realize was that damp conditions caused
the arsenic to release a lethal gas. In spite of mounting evidence and
increasing public awareness, wallpaper manufacturers were not eager to ban
arsenic.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">One of the most interesting associations of arsenic laced
wallpaper and a death is the case of Napolean Bonaparte.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Napoleon was only 51 when he died on the island of St.
Helena, where he had been exiled from France and held captive by the British. There
was instant speculation that the British had somehow murdered him. By May 5,
1821, he had been getting sicker for several months, suffering from recurrent
abdominal pain, progressive weakness and severe constipation. His last weeks
were plagued by vomiting, incessant hiccups, and blood clots in various parts
of his body.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The physicians who conducted Napoleon’s autopsy, on May 6,
1821, concluded that his death was from stomach cancer, exacerbated by bleeding
gastric ulcers, after a huge dose of calomel was administered to him on the day
before he died. Calomel was a compound that contained mercury and was used as a
medicine at that time before the dangers of mercury were known.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">140 years later, in 1961, an article published in <i>Nature
Magazine</i> made international headlines about analyzing a lock of Napoleon's hair
which showed that Napoleon may have died from arsenic poisoning. It was proven
that the wallpaper in Napoleon's living quarters at St. Helena did have arsenic
laced wallpaper. This was greeted by acceptance with the public pleased that
the real cause of death had finally been discovered. It was decades later when
a rebuttal to the arsenic poisoning claim was presented. The rebuttal did say
that in the bad old days of medicine the presence of arsenic was common and
specifically mentioned wallpaper</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Napoleon's family medical history of gastric carcinomas, and
the advanced state of his stomach cancer and bleeding stress ulcers, suggest
the initial autopsy results seem to be the most likely cause of death. But that
does not negate the reality of arsenic laced wallpaper.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>Samantha Gentryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02764092383245823784noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1131669960192626946.post-74250269032627023222024-01-21T11:36:00.000-06:002024-01-21T11:36:18.752-06:00Sexy Men Of The Zodiac<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgajfMz_3y2V4Tu99GNkiNhRqh1nEdnJVNcWpCI8kulmZBJtcZMtS4WAZy7aPtr2YfeFUOZ1bi1sp8lXx42WN0xM8KitoW5tyrjkBu1GBkcW5MbxfqVevx9Qpkiynh6efNxqcBnR0_YtGDQbIOHeGNEe5setHpCSeXjGKah3FsQrcDC4lSxfEb3Hdp1hi0/s450/zodiac%20signs.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="193" data-original-width="450" height="137" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgajfMz_3y2V4Tu99GNkiNhRqh1nEdnJVNcWpCI8kulmZBJtcZMtS4WAZy7aPtr2YfeFUOZ1bi1sp8lXx42WN0xM8KitoW5tyrjkBu1GBkcW5MbxfqVevx9Qpkiynh6efNxqcBnR0_YtGDQbIOHeGNEe5setHpCSeXjGKah3FsQrcDC4lSxfEb3Hdp1hi0/s320/zodiac%20signs.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Why is a woman drawn to one man over another? Could it have
anything to do with his astrological sign? What are the seductive qualities of
each man of the Zodiac? I recently read an article exploring this concept. What
is so appealing about the men of the various signs?</div><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b>Aries (March 21 –
April 19)</b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The Aries Ram is youthful, no matter what his age is. He is
ruled by action-oriented Mars. His passion for life is legendary. He often
tends to live on the edge which can be exciting, but dangerous. He's not known
for his discretion or fidelity in his youth, however later in life he learns to
settle down.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b>Taurus (April 20 –
May 20)</b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The Taurus Bull has an earthy charm and a confidence that
makes him sexy, even if he's not classically handsome. He's fun and
flirtatious, but when it comes to commitment he moves slowly. He's likely to
stay single until someone really special comes along, but when that happens
he'll take his time and wait until that special woman comes around.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b>Gemini (May 21 – June
20)</b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The Gemini Twin has a twinkle in his eye and a wiggle of his
cute ass. He's a real delight with his quick repartee and sexy comebacks.
Nobody speaks the language of seduction better. His Twin aspect shows he has a
strong feminine as well as masculine side which says he understands the way
both sexes think, something that melts your defenses.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b>Cancer (June 21 –
July 22)</b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The Cancer Crab is a sweetheart who'll win you over with his
sexy smile and unassuming manner. He'll do just about anything for those he
loves. Whether he's protecting you or relaxing in your warm embrace, he's a
family man through and through who's definitely in it for the long haul.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b>Leo (July 23 – August
22)</b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The Leo Lion is a natural showman and has a sexy,
devil-may-care wit. Like his ruler, the Sun, he radiates manly confidence
despite his insecurities and won't back down from a fight. In essence, he's a
hero and his strength is his most appealing quality. Even the quieter Leo has a
thrilling sense of masculinity about him.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b>Virgo (August 23 –
September 22)</b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The Virgo man is intelligent and thoughtful. He remembers
your birthday and your favorite perfume. Being ruled by lightning-quick Mercury
has his mind going a mile a minute. He tends to be overly analytical and
sometimes critical. And just when he's about to drive you crazy with his
fussiness, he'll give you a sexy, sheepish grin and melt your heart. His
intelligence is his sexiest quality.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b>Libra (September 23 –
October 22)</b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The Libra man understands and adores his lovers which is a
very attractive quality. He's ruled by Venus, the planet of love, and knows how
to treat a woman. Candlelight dinners and romantic walks on the beach appeal to
him, but he's also the thinking person's turn-on. With his quick mind and way
with words, he's always up for a discussion about relationships or culture, and
is a champion of fidelity and civil rights.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b>Scorpio (October 23 –
November 21)</b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The Scorpio man has a quiet intensity that will reel you in.
With smoldering eyes and a sultry voice, the guy can literally mesmerize you
which is why Scorpios make good magicians and hypnotists. His sexual magnetism
comes from deep inside and its power formidable. He's not a good match for the
woman who wants to stay on the surface of things.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b>Sagittarius (November
22 – December 21)</b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The Sagittarius Archer's attraction is the call of the wild
in his soul and that far-off look in his eye. "Don't fence me in" is
his motto. Like his signature animal the horse, he responds to gentle caresses
and soothing words.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b>Capricorn (December
22 – January 19)</b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The Capricorn Goat has it together, or at least projects the
image of being in control. He's ruled by the ambitious Saturn and is a master
of the material world and has a seductive attractiveness that goes with that
kind of worldly power. He always aims for the top. You can't keep this guy down
for long.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b>Aquarius (January 20
– February 18)</b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The Aquarius man doesn't fit the mold. He's a true free
spirit who follows his own drummer. He's the type who is usually ahead of his
time whose quirkiness is part of his genius. As ruled by the inventive Uranus,
he'll dazzle you with utopian ideas and turn you on to worlds you never knew
existed. He'll keep you guessing and take you to the edge sexually. However
emotionally, he tends to be reticent and doesn't like to talk about feelings.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b>Pisces (February 19 –
March 20)</b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The sensitive and caring Pisces Fish fills you with tingly
feelings as he swims straight into your heart. Pisces loves to touch and be
touched and often communicates best non-verbally. Sex and spirit are one in the
same to the guy which makes your lovemaking ecstatic.<o:p></o:p></p>Samantha Gentryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02764092383245823784noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1131669960192626946.post-86400307362732592362024-01-14T06:14:00.000-06:002024-01-14T06:14:30.791-06:00Those Lusty Gods Of Mythology And Their Sexy Pursuits<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyBkNLkS3ypeTRU4FCkfUXkXi9I5jn7xi5jXpo5XZkuh87D_u6w9T03i-sO4x85ubeNUPUgwNigIExccVn2Wx61n9TcNtUytqq_fi9UetfcmhpJBI_PsJVK084-ypSRym4zzsjnMsJomndZXp8aCnSJ-e42LKfpnA-5E0PTfRgaxbmqfDu-oqfhY17Odo/s450/AgeOfMythology.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="299" data-original-width="450" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyBkNLkS3ypeTRU4FCkfUXkXi9I5jn7xi5jXpo5XZkuh87D_u6w9T03i-sO4x85ubeNUPUgwNigIExccVn2Wx61n9TcNtUytqq_fi9UetfcmhpJBI_PsJVK084-ypSRym4zzsjnMsJomndZXp8aCnSJ-e42LKfpnA-5E0PTfRgaxbmqfDu-oqfhY17Odo/s320/AgeOfMythology.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p class="MsoNormal">Whether Deity or Demon, the supernatural entities of the
ancient world had one thing in common.
More often than not, they used their magical skills for the pursuit of
sex…lots of it.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">In today's world, someone with the powers attributed to the
gods and monsters of ancient mythology might ideally use those abilities to
banish ignorance, intolerance, and hate to make the world a better place for
everyone. But in the ancient world, the
rulers of mythology used their special powers for a far more down-to-earth
human type pursuit—that of participating in hot sex as often as possible.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Here are six such immortals from the ancient world who seem
to be in a perpetual state of heat, always chasing after the pleasures derived
from seducing mortals.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSuBR8e3nUitL0tPNe5yNnldwfcx7ZRznCisrlF1Tyc9e6bb52N0CADK2nknRvNG7B_m5-MXMGCxyuPXabaiSr-fR6_KSE8Ew_umLnSywQLkmicSYMQqzx82cH2epzkwM_0nMf2tZ2bFHrAqHhRw4dbZkccgVVJO85qM6xOSqRu-4SwD4weVPG6hePjXE/s400/Zeus.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="291" data-original-width="400" height="146" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSuBR8e3nUitL0tPNe5yNnldwfcx7ZRznCisrlF1Tyc9e6bb52N0CADK2nknRvNG7B_m5-MXMGCxyuPXabaiSr-fR6_KSE8Ew_umLnSywQLkmicSYMQqzx82cH2epzkwM_0nMf2tZ2bFHrAqHhRw4dbZkccgVVJO85qM6xOSqRu-4SwD4weVPG6hePjXE/w200-h146/Zeus.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b>6) Zeus:</b>
The ancient Greeks didn't have reality television and the internet, but
they did have the exploits of Zeus, king of the gods, to keep them
entertained. Zeus wasn't at all picky. He engaged in sex with goddesses, nymphs, and
mortals and did whatever it took to get what he wanted. Kinky, freaky, voracious. It all described his sexual appetite. On one occasion he even took on the physical
appearance of the husband of a human woman named Alcmene and they had a son
named Heracles (Hercules in Roman mythology).
But even the king of the gods ended up in trouble on the home
front. High up on Mt. Olympus, his wife,
Hera, was a woman of earth-shattering powers and didn't hesitate to use them.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b>5) The Incubus/Succubus:</b> Today wet dreams are easily explained. In medieval times, however, they were
believed to be the result of demonic forces.
Folklore from centuries ago says there was a demonic creature whose sole
purpose was to have sex with people while they were sleeping. The incubus put a spell on a woman to make
her compliant then proceeded to have his way with her. The succubus was the female version of this
demon who seduced men in their sleep.
Sex with an incubus or succubus was considered dangerous for the mortal,
but not always lethal. A one time only
encounter said the mortal would most likely survive. But continued encounters with the same mortal
were definitely bad for the mortal's health.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b>4) Odin:</b>
King of the Norse gods, Odin only had one eye. He traded the other one for infinite
wisdom. And what knowledge did this
infinite wisdom impart to him? It said
hot sex was a lot of fun. One time he
found himself really turned on by a female giant named Jord. He refused to allow the fact that his
non-giant manhood was dwarfed by her giant body to stand in his way. He figured out a physical means for them to
have sex. Nine months later, Thor was born.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b>3) Krishna:</b>
The Hindu god Krishna wasn't only about hot sex and good times. When his good-for-nothing uncle, Kamsa,
crossed that hypothetical <i>line in the
sand</i> one too many times, Krishna put him six feet under the sand without
giving it a second thought. Krishna
loved to get freaky with the ladies. He
had a flute and when he played it women would flock to him.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhftEqFxx3c5TRPB6Z0v6XU_vfAmtApvAGygQKqH6V7BiOcQfSarEq_J0QdelIapzKNJXdnQ7IrfaPStahO-IWUZfcj8CmD-tc5w7gSO9mbKq1ZKLV_PWeeKK-lB49foVCPcjn_Hdnm2_jEMoC9H_k8FA9oXfvnD4jZq5vJJu8DCiSN3-yT9yUbKKOhbU/s400/mythology%20god%20Pan.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="400" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhftEqFxx3c5TRPB6Z0v6XU_vfAmtApvAGygQKqH6V7BiOcQfSarEq_J0QdelIapzKNJXdnQ7IrfaPStahO-IWUZfcj8CmD-tc5w7gSO9mbKq1ZKLV_PWeeKK-lB49foVCPcjn_Hdnm2_jEMoC9H_k8FA9oXfvnD4jZq5vJJu8DCiSN3-yT9yUbKKOhbU/w200-h150/mythology%20god%20Pan.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b>2) Pan:</b>
The Greek god, Pan, had a goat-like appearance. He would have fit in perfectly with one of
today's college frat houses—he was all about partying. He liked to drink and was cursed (or blessed,
depending on how you look at it) with an intense sex drive. He often ran around with his bare erection
visible for all to see. Like Krishna, he
used his magic flute to draw in the ladies.
He seduced Selene, the moon goddess, and convinced her that having sex
with him was a great idea.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b>1) The Meek-Moos-Ak:</b> The Native American tribe known as the
Abenaki believed in these short twin creatures called the Meek-moos-ak. They ran around drunk, killing hunters and
having sex with women. Their legend said
that once a woman had sex with them, she was cursed to never desire marriage.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">So, the moral of this story is that should you find yourself
covered in a strange substance and it gives you the power to shape-shift or
play a mean flute, use it for sex. After
all, everyone else did. :) </p>Samantha Gentryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02764092383245823784noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1131669960192626946.post-79910952421027992602024-01-07T08:40:00.002-06:002024-01-07T08:40:32.953-06:00History of New Year's Celebrations<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDynWZ7dM6DUTXiJDq0qrNv1FCc72wnC5rBBV-lrWluT4KqK8KwHyCuQO2bDL94Ghk1nOQVuOM5mQmmZ7-37dCi-U_9FK54Q9E3gsAg9y5353X909oj3QV3eoLjHT9SdZbXWTNAp-I43PQKt2t6CtEVPY_RJj78s4ySrvCHZncQXrx4AbV3EMAy8As-Dc/s450/AncientNewYearsCelebration.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="309" data-original-width="450" height="220" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDynWZ7dM6DUTXiJDq0qrNv1FCc72wnC5rBBV-lrWluT4KqK8KwHyCuQO2bDL94Ghk1nOQVuOM5mQmmZ7-37dCi-U_9FK54Q9E3gsAg9y5353X909oj3QV3eoLjHT9SdZbXWTNAp-I43PQKt2t6CtEVPY_RJj78s4ySrvCHZncQXrx4AbV3EMAy8As-Dc/s320/AncientNewYearsCelebration.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p>Welcome to 2024. This
has become a traditional time of celebration.
We party on New Year's Eve and celebrate the moment the clock strikes
midnight signaling the beginning of a new year.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">And, of course, when the year 2000 arrived we celebrated for
twenty-four hours as each time zone around the world welcomed the new
millennium on live television broadcasts.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">But why and how did the New Year's celebrations become part
of our annual routine? The earliest
recorded account of a celebration in honor of the new year dates back four
thousand years to ancient Babylon. For
the Babylonians, the first new moon following the vernal (spring) equinox
announced the arrival of the new year.
They celebrated this spring time event with a massive eleven day
religious festival called Akitu. It was
during this time that a new king was crowned or the current ruler's mandate
renewed.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Throughout antiquity, civilizations around the world
developed more sophisticated calendars with the first day of the year
associated with an agricultural or astronomical event. For example, in Egypt the year began with the
annual flooding of the Nile which coincided with the rising of the star
Sirius. In China, the new year occurred
with the second new moon after the winter solstice…a day they still celebrate.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The early Roman calendar had 10 months and 304 days with
each new year beginning at the vernal equinox.
Tradition holds that it was created by Romulus, the founder of Rome, in
the eighth century B.C. Numa Pompilius,
a later king, is credited with adding the months of Januarius and
Februarius. Over the ensuing centuries,
the Roman calendar grew out of sync with the sun. In 46 B.C., Julius Caesar introduced the
Julian calendar which closely resembles the more modern Gregorian calendar used
today by most countries.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">As part of his reform, Julius Caesar declared January 1 as
the first day of the year and Romans celebrated by exchanging gifts, decorating
their homes, and attending raucous parties.
In medieval Europe, Christian leaders temporarily replaced January 1 as
the first day of the year with days carrying more religious significance, such
as December 25 as the anniversary of Christ's birth and March 25 as the Feast
of the Annunciation. It was Pope Gregory
XIII in 1582 who re-established January 1 as New Year's Day.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipuDRrnolvjSzsrNu7uGdvE4qyhGSeTwy-V-qI0d8SZkj8_yk0iy77AGlcfSOiK7P1CLnVJsZy_HOieU7L2kClcJkV7MEmsy0yrH9O_Zym_cs3jOhmReatiAhaisUgOGxxjZ3dq-LlZwc80PfIUHjjVHMbnxG-1k4Zq9C_ieldcaIU7-ZHWRI-GLM1HcU/s323/champagne-grapes.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="323" data-original-width="214" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipuDRrnolvjSzsrNu7uGdvE4qyhGSeTwy-V-qI0d8SZkj8_yk0iy77AGlcfSOiK7P1CLnVJsZy_HOieU7L2kClcJkV7MEmsy0yrH9O_Zym_cs3jOhmReatiAhaisUgOGxxjZ3dq-LlZwc80PfIUHjjVHMbnxG-1k4Zq9C_ieldcaIU7-ZHWRI-GLM1HcU/w133-h200/champagne-grapes.jpg" width="133" /></a></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal">In many countries, New Year's celebrations begin on New
Year's Eve and continue into the early hours of January 1<sup>st</sup>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>These celebrations often include specific
foods that are said to bring good luck for the coming year—grapes in Spain,
round fruits in the Philippines, suckling pig in Austria, soba noodles in
Japan, rice pudding in Norway, and black-eyed peas in the southern United
States.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Other customs that are common
worldwide include making new year resolutions (a practice started by the
Babylonians) and watching fireworks displays.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">In the United States, the most famous New Year's tradition
is the dropping of the giant ball in New York City's Times Square. This event, first instituted in 1906, occurs
at the stroke of midnight. The original
giant ball was made of iron and wood weighing 400 pounds. A total of 7 versions of the Ball have been
designed over the more than a century since the first drop of the ball
occurred.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZjNfRx8fN1GVCn8DTAOOCYFjL3HzpPVsLr2py0p4qzvTp5CCcuQ0uHmcRgNZd2QhFzDR7Evc2yOgCOiHUIzKyHzZLJoCDJFyOEzJXKYun40ImtV40nCWRutHprp0_rOyzDW4ruXc-Q2k6H8XAUB-djgxZAZcjgsZOFOCy8O8IslSCLimcPkhrIfXxjdw/s395/New%20Year's%20Eve%20Ball.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="311" data-original-width="395" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZjNfRx8fN1GVCn8DTAOOCYFjL3HzpPVsLr2py0p4qzvTp5CCcuQ0uHmcRgNZd2QhFzDR7Evc2yOgCOiHUIzKyHzZLJoCDJFyOEzJXKYun40ImtV40nCWRutHprp0_rOyzDW4ruXc-Q2k6H8XAUB-djgxZAZcjgsZOFOCy8O8IslSCLimcPkhrIfXxjdw/w200-h158/New%20Year's%20Eve%20Ball.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal">Today's giant ball is a brightly patterned sphere 12 feet in
diameter and weighing nearly 12,000 pounds.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Each year, the 2688 intricate Waterford crystals that make up the skin
of the huge orb are replaced with new ones.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>192 Waterford Crystal triangles are the Gift of Goodwill design of three
pineapples signifying the traditional image of hospitality and goodwill. 192
are the Gift of Harmony design of small rosette cuts flowing into each other in
beautiful harmony. 192 are the Gift of Serenity design of butterflies flying
peacefully above a crystal meadow capturing the spirit of serenity. 192 are the
Gift of Kindness design consisting of a circle of rosettes symbolizing unity
with the fronds reaching out in an expression of kindness. 192 are the Gift of
Wonder design composed by a faceted starburst inspiring our sense of wonder.
192 are the Gift of Fortitude design of diamond cuts on either side of a
crystal pillar to represent the finer attributes of resolve, courage, and
spirit necessary to triumph over adversity. The remaining triangles are the
Gift of Imagination design with a series of intricate wedge cuts that are
mirrored reflections of each other inspiring our imagination.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjubPpIPtGz3nOROQRydBGvJh-QWXwCThGK4u7RmTFxhM0wfbQ2QsVZJQTe1eqpGAKMPjXEYv8jltXv3oR9RYB11VkkLI94ZZv0-JAR2846AYJ06WdvQ9H8aFXAUXCUJUcBN6O7TnSlmZrFyBpPCJoyul76xvc7I94l3sMDlRZP_VRIrTMSvwOfNkiR0Sk/s350/New%20Years%20%20Ball%20Waterford%20Crystals.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="140" data-original-width="350" height="80" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjubPpIPtGz3nOROQRydBGvJh-QWXwCThGK4u7RmTFxhM0wfbQ2QsVZJQTe1eqpGAKMPjXEYv8jltXv3oR9RYB11VkkLI94ZZv0-JAR2846AYJ06WdvQ9H8aFXAUXCUJUcBN6O7TnSlmZrFyBpPCJoyul76xvc7I94l3sMDlRZP_VRIrTMSvwOfNkiR0Sk/w200-h80/New%20Years%20%20Ball%20Waterford%20Crystals.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal">The 2,688 Waterford crystal triangles are bolted to 672 LED
modules which are attached to the aluminum frame of the ball.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The ball is capable of displaying a palette
of more than 16 million colors and billions of patterns that create a
spectacular kaleidoscope effect as the ball drops down a flagpole at the stroke
of midnight Eastern Standard Time.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">So, however you celebrate this year's arrival of the new
year…I wish everyone a safe, healthy, and
happy 2024.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>Samantha Gentryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02764092383245823784noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1131669960192626946.post-38138451026345625202023-12-31T08:33:00.004-06:002023-12-31T08:37:16.243-06:00Welcome 2024<p></p><div style="text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnYYMHli5oY3Ei5tXWX9CAf_NpPy37mHTZvRnUptsRiHhWP3eLYTVURFGeaZRcTXL7TYoArTONUs4OyuVk3KPtjJ7xEL3QW60HDkNC0coEuaOOyCYlV1jflLoDDF0IJ9KoBfRSajqzcuDNKpkFC428wwZkOcyIC3jy87Ax2jbume0nN4EXc62GyzhjXQc/s450/Samantha%20NewYear2024.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="331" data-original-width="450" height="235" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnYYMHli5oY3Ei5tXWX9CAf_NpPy37mHTZvRnUptsRiHhWP3eLYTVURFGeaZRcTXL7TYoArTONUs4OyuVk3KPtjJ7xEL3QW60HDkNC0coEuaOOyCYlV1jflLoDDF0IJ9KoBfRSajqzcuDNKpkFC428wwZkOcyIC3jy87Ax2jbume0nN4EXc62GyzhjXQc/s320/Samantha%20NewYear2024.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><h1 style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: red; font-size: x-large;"><b>Here's wishing for a great year in 2024!</b></span></h1><p></p>Samantha Gentryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02764092383245823784noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1131669960192626946.post-75136211332581206512023-12-24T11:31:00.001-06:002023-12-24T11:31:51.919-06:00Happy Holidays<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyCKzaoBjdsUqkKnFzlsV7SGJZ8sLCoyaQpf5fyQ7G84Brsqvrej8J_5m66kLEbWt_NqdvQqiesSwHbndj0ycHvATjFcnq_NC8sCo3Xvzu44lPYrqQO70vNhLAseFazqBKDqayYQMrgbxW94vTlDF5_gRT0B9y-Z_eiG4_k_8yracFnJkK3ee7x2P_G5U/s450/samanthaXmasBanner.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="450" data-original-width="395" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyCKzaoBjdsUqkKnFzlsV7SGJZ8sLCoyaQpf5fyQ7G84Brsqvrej8J_5m66kLEbWt_NqdvQqiesSwHbndj0ycHvATjFcnq_NC8sCo3Xvzu44lPYrqQO70vNhLAseFazqBKDqayYQMrgbxW94vTlDF5_gRT0B9y-Z_eiG4_k_8yracFnJkK3ee7x2P_G5U/s320/samanthaXmasBanner.jpg" width="281" /></a></div><h1 style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: red;">Wishing everyone a Happy Holiday Season.</span></h1> <p></p>Samantha Gentryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02764092383245823784noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1131669960192626946.post-72980306136488513272023-12-17T05:54:00.000-06:002023-12-17T05:54:35.247-06:00The Legend of St. Nicholas<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1VWsYsAjaysqTKSUVb9b_0T3Tz3HbLfMWUHTzGuIQ2GSgd21NKETn9r0FEuP5oGqprml09qGPfFoahUWhtrPW0CnWt-GHrcNDh4KZODZa6PzHfz4nF9Vj01M953GP9uaoWRzaMixtld1Zlw4XCb53RV0m4B_3VtY8PZ-j1P70Qug5Fa_xgWajacTouSM/s450/Saint-Nicholas.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="339" data-original-width="450" height="241" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1VWsYsAjaysqTKSUVb9b_0T3Tz3HbLfMWUHTzGuIQ2GSgd21NKETn9r0FEuP5oGqprml09qGPfFoahUWhtrPW0CnWt-GHrcNDh4KZODZa6PzHfz4nF9Vj01M953GP9uaoWRzaMixtld1Zlw4XCb53RV0m4B_3VtY8PZ-j1P70Qug5Fa_xgWajacTouSM/s320/Saint-Nicholas.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p>Who is that man in red? The man who, every Christmas Eve,
brazenly breaks into people's homes, helps himself to cookies and milk, and
leaves things behind resulting in a mess of wrapping paper and ribbon for
others to clean up the next morning. Reindeer and a heavily laden sleigh can't
be good for the roof. Soot from a chimney tracked all over the floor…something
else left behind for others to clean.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Yet every year we anxiously anticipate his arrival, track
his progress through the skies, and welcome him into our homes.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Santa Claus can be traced back many centuries to a monk
named St. Nicholas. It is believed that Nicholas was born sometime around 280
A.D. in Patara, near Myra in modern-day Turkey. Much admired for his piety and
kindness, St. Nicholas became the subject of many legends. It is said that he
gave away all of his inherited wealth and traveled the countryside helping the
poor and sick. One of the best known of the St. Nicholas stories is that he
saved three poor sisters from being sold into slavery or prostitution by their
father when he provided them with a dowry so they could be married. Over the
course of many years, Nicholas' popularity spread and he became known as the
protector of children and sailors. His feast day is celebrated on the
anniversary of his death, December 6. This was traditionally considered a lucky
day to make large purchases or to get married. By the Renaissance, St. Nicholas
was the most popular saint in Europe. Even after the Protestant Reformation,
when the veneration of saints began to be discouraged, St. Nicholas maintained
a positive reputation, especially in Holland.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b>Sinter Klaas Comes to
New York</b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">St. Nicholas made his first inroads into American popular
culture towards the end of the 18th century. In December 1773, and again in
1774, a New York newspaper reported that groups of Dutch families had gathered
to honor the anniversary of his death.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The name Santa Claus evolved from his Dutch nickname, Sinter
Klaas, a shortened form of Sint Nikolaas (Dutch for Saint Nicholas). In 1804,
John Pintard, a member of the New York Historical Society, distributed woodcuts
of St. Nicholas at the society's annual meeting. The background of the
engraving contains now-familiar Santa images including stockings filled with
toys and fruit hung over a fireplace. In 1809, Washington Irving helped to
popularize the Sinter Klaas stories when he referred to St. Nicholas as the
patron saint of New York in his book, <i>The
History of New York</i>. As his prominence grew, Sinter Klaas was described as
everything from a <i>rascal</i> with a blue
three-cornered hat, red waistcoat, and yellow stockings to a man wearing a
broad-brimmed hat and a "huge pair of Flemish trunk hose."</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b>Shopping Mall Santas</b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Gift-giving, mainly centered around children, has been an
important part of the Christmas celebration since the holiday's rejuvenation in
the early 19th century. Stores began to advertise Christmas shopping in 1820,
and by the 1840s, newspapers were creating separate sections for holiday
advertisements, which often featured images of the newly-popular Santa Claus.
In 1841, thousands of children visited a Philadelphia shop to see a life-size
Santa Claus model. It was only a matter of time before stores began to attract
children, and their parents, with the lure of a peek at a <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">live</i> Santa Claus. In the early 1890s, the Salvation Army needed
money to pay for the free Christmas meals they provided to needy families. They
began dressing up unemployed men in Santa Claus suits and sending them into the
streets of New York to solicit donations. Those familiar Salvation Army Santas
have been ringing bells on the street corners of American cities ever since.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7w3gsCFilRK81mSOM1xbJrG12AbxaMle4RkXNpDFGvZPSeIqNPkcXDE6RNDv9vMXKzjVl1us5BNv7IxrXCJBdL0YuWBTekxzFIRTHVxLiZfk3HxdKJXSiKIh8GnEYD1MfUrYSkcJmYW9RTryWvpt4PKrMvUdIRVj9Fdxj8XAd0Q2mBy7QavfdGRiJCJQ/s848/InternationalSantas1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="354" data-original-width="848" height="84" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7w3gsCFilRK81mSOM1xbJrG12AbxaMle4RkXNpDFGvZPSeIqNPkcXDE6RNDv9vMXKzjVl1us5BNv7IxrXCJBdL0YuWBTekxzFIRTHVxLiZfk3HxdKJXSiKIh8GnEYD1MfUrYSkcJmYW9RTryWvpt4PKrMvUdIRVj9Fdxj8XAd0Q2mBy7QavfdGRiJCJQ/w200-h84/InternationalSantas1.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b>A Santa by Any Other
Name</b></div><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">18th-century America's Santa Claus was not the only St.
Nicholas-inspired gift-giver to make an appearance at Christmastime. Similar
figures were popular all over the world. Christkind or Kris Kringle was
believed to deliver presents to well-behaved Swiss and German children. Meaning
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Christ child</i>, Christkind is an
angel-like figure often accompanied by St. Nicholas on his holiday missions. In
Scandinavia, a jolly elf named Jultomten was thought to deliver gifts in a
sleigh drawn by goats. British legend explains that Father Christmas visits
each home on Christmas Eve to fill children's stockings with holiday treats.
Pere Noel is responsible for filling the shoes of French children. In Russia,
it is believed that an elderly woman named Babouschka purposely gave the wise
men wrong directions to Bethlehem so that they couldn't find Jesus. Later, she
felt remorseful, but could not find the men to undo the damage. To this day, on
January 5, Babouschka visits Russian children leaving gifts at their bedsides
in the hope that one of them is the baby Jesus and she will be forgiven. In
Italy, a similar story exists about a woman called La Befana, a kindly witch
who rides a broomstick down the chimneys of Italian homes to deliver toys into
the stockings of lucky children.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSXqOsl31RBCZulT06tWrZRnnLVCqEMbI22IDr6DLFdoA_W4mXGUq6Ve0SHJpr5sN69hxMlfLTeKM2jpLpzPvAY6alEHwBFJOizPGfLxvBNxhoaVbPsX6YMH4BaQajcqpU9qsC429JW_MmcZN9sCY6atnRrhrAkODgTp4zgWJQVET3e7CSFR037h2RB6U/s395/rudolph.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="395" data-original-width="298" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSXqOsl31RBCZulT06tWrZRnnLVCqEMbI22IDr6DLFdoA_W4mXGUq6Ve0SHJpr5sN69hxMlfLTeKM2jpLpzPvAY6alEHwBFJOizPGfLxvBNxhoaVbPsX6YMH4BaQajcqpU9qsC429JW_MmcZN9sCY6atnRrhrAkODgTp4zgWJQVET3e7CSFR037h2RB6U/w151-h200/rudolph.png" width="151" /></a></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">The Ninth Reindeer<o:p></o:p></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Rudolph, "the most famous reindeer of all," was
born over a hundred years after his eight flying counterparts. The red-nosed
wonder was the creation of Robert L. May, a copywriter at the Montgomery Ward
department store.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">In 1939, May wrote a Christmas-themed story-poem to help
bring holiday traffic into his store. Using a similar rhyme pattern to Moore's <i>'Twas the Night Before Christmas</i>, May
told the story of Rudolph, a young reindeer who was teased by the other deer
because of his large, glowing red nose. But, when Christmas Eve turned foggy
and Santa worried that he wouldn't be able to deliver gifts that night, the
former outcast saved Christmas by leading the sleigh with the light of his red
nose. Rudolph's message—that given the opportunity, a liability can be turned
into an asset—proved popular. Montgomery Ward sold almost two and a half
million copies of the story in 1939. When it was reissued in 1946, the book
sold over three and half million copies. Several years later, one of May's
friends, Johnny Marks, wrote a short song based on Rudolph's story (1949). It
was recorded by Gene Autry and sold over two million copies. Since then, the
story has been translated into 25 languages and been made into a television
movie, narrated by Burl Ives, which has charmed audiences since 1964.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>Samantha Gentryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02764092383245823784noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1131669960192626946.post-33779173396772731772023-12-10T11:22:00.000-06:002023-12-10T11:22:36.202-06:00Charles Dickens' A CHRISTMAS CAROL<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTKts8IOzQmnjty_EUaGq1V4YensDnvFunxQoVBl6ztsgtQSxfE2Hqy9O3Htm02TD04QeU8_G0YqeaqH5KO4op90fcOdFP5_P4GvL1Uy8UGwrBsWtlNg5YZKGe9BV7IaGQEbnuUVspeBxErmp7KxoWriDwB2WaHVQgJgVS01OuCZp9vjZtz1jmItYvDxk/s450/AChristmasCarol2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="363" data-original-width="450" height="258" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTKts8IOzQmnjty_EUaGq1V4YensDnvFunxQoVBl6ztsgtQSxfE2Hqy9O3Htm02TD04QeU8_G0YqeaqH5KO4op90fcOdFP5_P4GvL1Uy8UGwrBsWtlNg5YZKGe9BV7IaGQEbnuUVspeBxErmp7KxoWriDwB2WaHVQgJgVS01OuCZp9vjZtz1jmItYvDxk/s320/AChristmasCarol2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p>We all know Charles Dickens' story of Ebenezer Scrooge and
his visits from the ghosts on Christmas Eve. A story of redemption—a miserly
man whose concept of the Christmas spirit is "Bah, Humbug!" Then his
life is turned around after Marley tells him about his upcoming visits from the
Christmas ghosts. The first one from his past to remind him of what was and the
promise of what could have been, the second from his present to open his eyes
to what he had become and how others felt about him, and the final visit from
the ghost of the future to show him where he was headed if he didn't change his
ways.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">From a writer's perspective, it was the first time a story
had been told from the point-of-view of a character within that story rather
than an omniscient point-of-view of an unidentified narrator.
Point-of-view—something vital for today's writer of fiction.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The novella, first published in London on December 9, 1843,
has been a staple of the Christmas season as a movie, television show, or play
for well over a century. I wondered how many different versions of Dickens'
story there were. So, I did what I usually do when I want a quick answer to
something…I Googled it.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">And the results came as quite a surprise. Things I knew,
things I had known but forgotten, and things I never knew. The Internet Movie
Database lists more than one hundred versions of A CHRISTMAS CAROL, including a
videogame, four operas, and two ballets. More than twenty television series
have episodes inspired by the novella. There was even a television movie set in
the United States during the Great Depression of the 1930s, and a couple where
the character of Scrooge was portrayed as being a woman.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The oldest surviving filming of A CHRISTMAS CAROL was a
short British film from 1901. There was a fifteen minute silent movie made in
1908 followed by two other silent versions made in 1910 and 1913. There have
been the dramatic theatrical films, television movies, musical versions, and
animated versions with very familiar cartoon characters taking on the roles of
Dickens' famous characters. There was even one, considered by many to be the fan
popular favorite, starring The Muppets.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">I have noticed over the last few years that several game
shows, especially this time of year, have used this trivia question—How many
ghosts visited Scrooge in Dickens' <i>A Christmas Carol</i>? And most of the
time the contestant got it wrong. They usually answer with the number three
when in reality it's four. They seem to forget about the first ghost being that
of Marley, Scrooge's former business partner, who sets the scene for the
appearance of the next three ghosts.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Even though all the various productions of A CHRISTMAS CAROL
tell Dickens' story of Scrooge and the visits from the Christmas ghosts, many
had their own unique twist and flavor on the original. I think my favorite is a
1970 theatrical musical version titled SCROOGE which stars Albert Finney as the
miserly Ebenezer Scrooge who learns the lessons of the spirit of the Christmas
season.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>Samantha Gentryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02764092383245823784noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1131669960192626946.post-79371573893436663502023-12-03T10:35:00.000-06:002023-12-03T10:35:13.748-06:00SECRETS FROM THE PAST—character interview<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGCR2TbQkR-DMm1RMO5sQo9kL4G2AuwcmTLo1LtWIoVAqhgab6cNT33IQgCzH0l-tx4s_yCL6QAsYOmWsTXU28d62RmORIDGLBrBQpmLC0BJk4BY8-Da_UuytJKEU2GGSHHccW9ceTvnsfuwTP-WC7vgKzkElXey1jUWCWf0ReJrYfiXLyS6B_7iTLnV8/s500/SecretsFromThePast%20Banner%20500x254.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="254" data-original-width="500" height="163" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGCR2TbQkR-DMm1RMO5sQo9kL4G2AuwcmTLo1LtWIoVAqhgab6cNT33IQgCzH0l-tx4s_yCL6QAsYOmWsTXU28d62RmORIDGLBrBQpmLC0BJk4BY8-Da_UuytJKEU2GGSHHccW9ceTvnsfuwTP-WC7vgKzkElXey1jUWCWf0ReJrYfiXLyS6B_7iTLnV8/s320/SecretsFromThePast%20Banner%20500x254.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p>This week, I'm welcoming to my blog Shelby Haywood and
Cameron Pierce, the main characters in SECRETS FROM THE PAST, a sensual mystery/romantic
suspense—my new release from The Wild Rose Press.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i>Welcome Shelby and Cameron. Thank you for taking time
from your busy schedules to be here with us today.</i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b>Shelby:</b> It's
our pleasure.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b>Cam:</b> Thanks
for inviting us. So…what's on your mind?</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i>Well, I'm curious about several things. Why would Shelby
suddenly pack up and leave her lifetime home city of San Francisco and move to
Seattle, a city where she didn't know anyone, for a job contract that was just
a one year special project? And Cameron, why all the rumors about the
mysterious past of someone wealthy and powerful who's known worldwide as a
patron of the arts and for his support of many charitable causes?</i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i>Let's start with you, Shelby. You were born in San
Francisco and had lived there your whole life when you suddenly picked up and
moved to Seattle to take a job as a consultant with Pierce Industries on a one
year project. That seems like an abrupt change to your life and for something
that was temporary.</i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b>Shelby:</b> It
wasn't as abrupt as it sounds. [Cam takes her hand in a show of support] My
husband of ten years had died in a fall down the stairs in our house. Even
though I had proof that I wasn't home at the time, the police had investigated,
and the medical examiner ruled it an accidental death, my former in-laws
harassed me non-top for the next four years, blaming me for his death. And the
Haywoods usually got what they wanted. They believe the rules and the law doesn't
apply to them.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b>Cam:</b> The
Haywoods have been prominent in San Francisco for several generations, powerful
and wealthy. I had never met Shelby before she started the consultant's job
with my company. My executive vice-president negotiated her contract. I wasn't
aware that she was associated with those Haywoods. I was naturally curious
about why she would move from San Francisco to Seattle to accept a temporary job
that only lasted one year. And then two weeks after she began work, I started
receiving threatening anonymous letters. Coincidence? I wasn't sure.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b>Shelby:</b> It
seemed that Cam had become the focus of some sort of a dangerous situation that
included attempts on his life.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b>Cam:</b> And when one of those attempts injured Shelby, I
knew I had to do everything I could to protect her from being caught up in the
danger that seemed to suddenly be surrounding me for reasons unknown.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i>What steps did you take to protect her? And what about
you? As you were the target of the threats, you were still in danger. Did you
consider leaving town, maybe leaving the state?</i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b>Cam:</b> You mean
go into hiding? No. I have a large international corporation to run and
thousands of people depending on me for their income. I can't simply pick up
and go into hiding. I did insist that Shelby move into my house. I have an
excellent security system. She would be able to work from my home office.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i>And did that resolve the problem of her safety?</i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b>Cam:</b> No. She
thanked me but turned down my offer.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b>Shelby:</b> Like
Cam, I can't allow my life to be controlled by fear. I did offer him another
avenue, one that hadn't occurred to me earlier. My best friend in San Francisco
has a older brother. The three of us grew up together. He lives in Seattle now and
is a professor of criminology at the university. One of the classes he teaches
is about profiling. Cam agreed to meet with him to see if he could provide some
information about who would be doing this and why. It proved to be a very
informative meeting that gave us a whole new avenue to pursue.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i>That sounds interesting. What did he come up with?</i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b>Shelby:</b> [laughs]
It's all in the book.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i>[joins Shelby's laugh] Are you pulling that 'you have to
read the book' answer on me?</i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b>Shelby:</b> [smiles]
So it would seem.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b>Cam:</b> It turns
out that there was a whole lot more going on than anyone ever suspected.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i>Could you elaborate on that?</i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b>Cam:</b> As Shelby
said, it's all in the book.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i>[laughs] I have the feeling that's all I'm going to get
out of you.</i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b>Shelby:</b> [extends
a teasing grin] Maybe you'd like to hear about my first day at kindergarten?</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b>Cam:</b> [laughs]
I'm sure you'll enjoy that story.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i>Well, I see you aren't going to tell me anything more
about the secrets from your past, the life-threatening danger that surrounded
you, and how it was resolved. How about some information on how you handled a
budding romance in the middle of all the turmoil and chaos?</i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b>Shelby:</b> It's
all—</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b>Cam:</b> —in the
book.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i>[laughs] Thank you Shelby and Cam for being here today.</i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2WF9ci1A9Pas1if_MhVQDO6j43V4lkEFo_Le6bJK7Fo7b4NELbhwhDl_Uy9XpYB5ZXwVdN85N7tvrPmnjqcZ7fDMYXdaAjr9oy-MqljtdTh8fgzw_wCSa_JzjZ9eqbtJddLlTrAnTyZlG5W-MJMYfvcvsUH4-GW0gH1pp8YCwrNqo0hlVvW1udPMUxwc/s300/SecretsfromthePast%20200x300.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="200" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2WF9ci1A9Pas1if_MhVQDO6j43V4lkEFo_Le6bJK7Fo7b4NELbhwhDl_Uy9XpYB5ZXwVdN85N7tvrPmnjqcZ7fDMYXdaAjr9oy-MqljtdTh8fgzw_wCSa_JzjZ9eqbtJddLlTrAnTyZlG5W-MJMYfvcvsUH4-GW0gH1pp8YCwrNqo0hlVvW1udPMUxwc/s1600/SecretsfromthePast%20200x300.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b>SECRETS FROM THE PAST</b>, a sensual mystery/romantic
suspense published by The Wild Rose Press, <a href="http://www.thewildrosepress.com/">www.thewildrosepress.com</a><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Veiled threats endanger secrets from Cameron's
past and soon escalate to attempts on his life. Shelby has her own secrets that
could destroy her future with Cameron…or get them both killed.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b>BLURB:</b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">After the death of her husband, Shelby Haywood needs to
escape the constant harassment from her former in-laws who blame her for his
death. When offered a job with Pierce Industries in Seattle, she eagerly
accepts but is unprepared for her instant attraction to the company's very
desirable owner.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The moment billionaire Cameron Pierce meets Shelby, he knows
she's what's been missing from his life. <a name="_Hlk142023617">Veiled threats
endanger secrets from his past and soon escalate to attempts on his life. When
one attempt injures Shelby, he vows to protect her.</a></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><a name="_Hlk142025792">Shelby has her own secrets that
could destroy her future with Cameron…or get them both killed.</a></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b>EXCERPT:</b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">Cam placed his
hand at the small of her back as he guided her out of the building and toward
the parking lot. Tremors of excitement assaulted her senses the moment he made
physical contact, then the excitement stalled as it mingled with her feelings
of guilt.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“I’ll follow
you to your house so you can drop off your car,” his voice broke into her
thoughts, “then we’ll go to dinner from there.”</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Cam’s gaze
quickly but expertly swept the surrounding area. He wrinkled his brow into a
slight frown as he pulled out his cell phone and hit the speed dial for the
maintenance department.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“This is
Cameron. We have a couple of security lights burned out in the executive
parking lot. Could someone please get them replaced as soon as possible?” He
listened for a moment before speaking again. “Thanks, that will be fine.” He
returned his cell phone to his pocket. “Strange that the two burned out lights
would be next to each other. That makes a very large, dark area.”</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">They stepped
off the curb into the darkness, crossing the driveway toward the parking lot
and Shelby’s car. The roar of an engine and screeching tires came at them from
out of the dark. A hard adrenaline surge shot through Cam. Grabbing Shelby’s
arm, he yanked her aside so hard they both fell to the pavement. He held her
tightly as he rolled out of the way, taking her with him. The car sped off,
barely missing them. It scraped against a signpost on the way out of the
parking lot before it disappeared down the street into the night.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Cam cradled
Shelby’s trembling body in his arms. His heart pounded as he tried to force his
breathing under control. “Are you okay? Are you hurt?”</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“I…I’m fine.”
The quaver in her voice matched the fear on her face. “What about you? Are you
okay?”</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“Yeah,
nothing’s broken.” The image from twenty-five years ago suddenly flooded his
mind as vividly as when it had happened, the sight of his innocent little
six-year-old cousin being cut down by bullets meant for someone else.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b>SECRETS FROM THE PAST buy links:</b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Secrets-Past-Samantha-Gentry-ebook/dp/B0CJG4CMYX">https://www.amazon.com/Secrets-Past-Samantha-Gentry-ebook/dp/B0CJG4CMYX</a>
<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/books/1144089246?ean=2940186044321">https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/books/1144089246?ean=2940186044321</a>
<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">and other online vendors<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Excerpts and other information available on my website <a href="http://www.samanthagentry.com/">www.samanthagentry.com</a> </p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Visit my blog, a new post on Sundays:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><a href="https://samanthagentry.blogspot.com/">https://samanthagentry.blogspot.com</a><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></p>Samantha Gentryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02764092383245823784noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1131669960192626946.post-74724299965807564142023-11-26T05:30:00.000-06:002023-11-26T05:30:05.403-06:00SECRETS FROM THE PAST—Release Day Monday, November 27, 2023<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg94XsOfavn6CJa6JetYPYooEN-Q3hsT8WRQZKVuV72lqIs8N2teHTZp0-EzXQsruBLEkcBeFQUvZUg9H3Q2lno_myoUs8_c4yNjmon8M85l9hp9h9x5_UHXykG4GLi5ys2kjYK0sDu-de8Qejx3TByIY48YQPcPK2XMp0muaqxeVnJAURxTap-EXoJ3Pg/s300/SecretsfromthePast%20200x300.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="200" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg94XsOfavn6CJa6JetYPYooEN-Q3hsT8WRQZKVuV72lqIs8N2teHTZp0-EzXQsruBLEkcBeFQUvZUg9H3Q2lno_myoUs8_c4yNjmon8M85l9hp9h9x5_UHXykG4GLi5ys2kjYK0sDu-de8Qejx3TByIY48YQPcPK2XMp0muaqxeVnJAURxTap-EXoJ3Pg/s1600/SecretsfromthePast%20200x300.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><p class="MsoNormal">SECRETS FROM THE PAST, a sensual mystery/romantic suspense,
is scheduled for release by The Wild Rose Press on Monday, November 27, 2023.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Veiled threats endanger secrets from Cameron Pierce's past
and soon escalate to attempts on his life. Shelby Haywood has her own secrets
that could destroy her future with Cameron…or get them both killed. Is their
shared heated desire increasing the danger surrounding them?</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Cameron Pierce is a self-made billionaire, a man known world-wide for his business
acumen, power, and extreme wealth. A man also known for his patronage of the
arts and many charitable deeds. And a man with a past clouded in mystery and
dark rumors.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Four years
ago, Shelby Haywood's husband of ten years died in a fall down a flight of
stairs. Even though his death was officially ruled an accident, she's been
subjected to the harassment and accusations of her former in-laws who
continually accuse her of being somehow responsible for their son's death. The
Haywoods are a powerful and very wealthy family whose roots go back several
generations in San Francisco. They've never made a secret of the fact that they
believe their son married far below his status.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Shelby finally
makes the decision to leave her lifetime home town of San Francisco. She signs
a contract for a one year project with Pierce Industries in Seattle where
she'll be working directly with the dynamic Cameron Pierce.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">G-Excerpt
#2) </p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Cameron Pierce
read the anonymous letter again, being very careful to handle only the corners
of the paper so he wouldn’t disturb any existing fingerprint evidence. <i>I
know everything, and I’m going to make you pay.</i><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The fourth
threat he had received in as many weeks, this one just as ambiguous as the
previous three letters had been. The anonymous threat didn’t contain anything
specific. Did it refer to something he, personally, had been accused of doing?
Or a problem in one of his companies? And the reference to making him pay…an
attempt to extort money or a threat on his life?</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">He dropped the
letter and its envelope into a plastic sleeve, sealed it, and handed it to Tom
Jenkins, head of security for Pierce Industries. “Put this one with the
others.”</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“The last
three letters arrived on consecutive Mondays. This is the Friday after the
fourth consecutive Monday. When did you receive it?”</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Cam glanced
around his office, not happy with the sensation of being grilled by his own
employee but knowing he had purposely withheld the information. “It came last
Monday.”</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">He directed a
stern look at his security chief, putting a stop to what he knew Tom wanted to
say. Tom’s expression said he got Cam’s unspoken message.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“Okay, Cam.
Where was this one mailed?”</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“It has an
Edmonds postmark. That makes four letters postmarked from four different
locations in the greater Seattle metropolitan area in the last four weeks.”</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“I still think
they should be turned over to the police. I can call Lt. Crandall and put it on
an unofficial personal basis.”</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“No…there’s no
reason to bother George with this. Men in my position are always receiving
meaningless threats. The police have enough real crime to worry about without
concerning themselves with crank notes. Besides, the letters are so vague that
it’s impossible to determine what they mean, and the writer has never made any
specific demands.”</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“The threats
are coming through the mail. That makes it a federal offense, which would put
it in the lap of the FBI. They’re also being mailed from four different law
enforcement jurisdictions, possibly an attempt to confuse an investigation.”</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“Local or
federal, there still isn’t anything specific in the letters that says what the
person wants or what I’m supposed to have done. Or, for that matter, if they’re
unhappy with me personally or if the vague threat is aimed at one of my
companies.”</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Cam maintained
a casual attitude until Tom left the office. One thing about this mess bothered
him more than anything else—the possibility that someone had been able to
unravel his past and discover his true identity. For over twenty years there
had been unsubstantiated rumors about where he came from before he started his
meteoric rise to the top, but no one had ever been able to track down anything
before he legally changed his name to Cameron Pierce—not even the fact that it
had been the second time he legally changed his name. It was the main reason he
refused to involve the police.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Then there was
the other thing he didn’t want to acknowledge—the threatening letters started
two weeks after Shelby Haywood came to work for him. Could there be a
connection? She had worked for Jerry Decker, a point not in her favor.
Thirty-four made her too young to have any connection to his deep past. But
what about her family? Had either his father or uncle crossed paths with some
member of her family, resulting in disaster for her hapless relative? Could
that have caused her to seek revenge?</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7F3ORiOLHwpgqhjBl7IaRDb8X5o__FFg-fgFrTSz6TB42S3TGcWYcKbtp5NxBfOlIe9fnOCvV2ecuK1optVixqLhMAcacvHFonw_BMKwUQKmSNRPd1rjkgGFa2nI5d_2yCSQKX0QmeIe7dDDzqSnLutvAseNTbDS2j9-8-yj9xVxfKZe0Pm_GUsD2roo/s500/Banner%20SecretsFromThePast%20500x254.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="254" data-original-width="500" height="163" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7F3ORiOLHwpgqhjBl7IaRDb8X5o__FFg-fgFrTSz6TB42S3TGcWYcKbtp5NxBfOlIe9fnOCvV2ecuK1optVixqLhMAcacvHFonw_BMKwUQKmSNRPd1rjkgGFa2nI5d_2yCSQKX0QmeIe7dDDzqSnLutvAseNTbDS2j9-8-yj9xVxfKZe0Pm_GUsD2roo/s320/Banner%20SecretsFromThePast%20500x254.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p class="MsoNormal">Blurb:</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">After the death of her husband, Shelby Haywood needs to
escape the constant harassment from her former in-laws who blame her for his
death. When offered a job with Pierce Industries in Seattle, she eagerly
accepts but is unprepared for her instant attraction to the company's very
desirable owner.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The moment billionaire Cameron Pierce meets Shelby, he knows
she's what's been missing from his life. <a name="_Hlk142023617">Veiled threats
endanger secrets from his past and soon escalate to attempts on his life. When
one attempt injures Shelby, he vows to protect her.</a></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><a name="_Hlk142025792">Shelby has her own secrets that
could destroy her future with Cameron…or get them both killed.</a></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Excerpts and
other information available on my website
<a href="http://www.samanthagentry.com/">www.samanthagentry.com</a></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Buy links:<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Secrets-Past-Samantha-Gentry-ebook/dp/B0CJG4CMYX">https://www.amazon.com/Secrets-Past-Samantha-Gentry-ebook/dp/B0CJG4CMYX</a>
<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p><p><a href="https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/books/1144089246?ean=2940186044321">https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/books/1144089246?ean=2940186044321</a> </p>Samantha Gentryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02764092383245823784noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1131669960192626946.post-56978430264098687952023-11-19T10:29:00.000-06:002023-11-19T10:29:11.023-06:00Those Naughty Pilgrims<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin5Xb909CX08AzqHPTjn4xs9RYJGERWhBKqOl5OOhE8-E2Ik1D7SY44JZWjT5imEyl4fXNfFvrJPC8YhVrWdqfKYFQtH97wOWOJvOzCpDaPUPF7wHzDwc156hlE96DOlgTDX-I7LTfT3dVt8mEOnAb6xHYpig1t72j9bM-fKrWNaExL04KZNRuPQ71N3I/s450/ScarletLetter2a%5B1%5D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="333" data-original-width="450" height="237" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin5Xb909CX08AzqHPTjn4xs9RYJGERWhBKqOl5OOhE8-E2Ik1D7SY44JZWjT5imEyl4fXNfFvrJPC8YhVrWdqfKYFQtH97wOWOJvOzCpDaPUPF7wHzDwc156hlE96DOlgTDX-I7LTfT3dVt8mEOnAb6xHYpig1t72j9bM-fKrWNaExL04KZNRuPQ71N3I/s320/ScarletLetter2a%5B1%5D.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p>With Thanksgiving comes stories of the Pilgrims taking up
residence in the <i>new world</i>, landing
at Plymouth Rock in what is now the state of Massachusetts. The pious Pilgrims certainly have a
reputation for being a rigid, hard-working, and humorless group. But there are a few surprises to be
found. Even though drunkenness was
discouraged, beer was accepted as a drink for men, women, and even
children. The daily ration on the
Mayflower was a gallon a day for <i>each</i>
individual. It took 66 days for them to
sail from England to their landing place of Plymouth Rock. Hmmm…66 days times 1 gallon per person times
the number of people on the ship. It
seems that a lot of room on board the ship was devoted to storing the beer
ration.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Even sex was not taboo under the right circumstances. They had a matter-of-fact attitude about sex
as long as it was between a married couple.
It's when sex strayed from being the exclusive right between a married
couple that the stories get interesting.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Studies by a group of anthropologists at the University of
Virginia found that the Pilgrims spent a great deal of time thinking about how
to punish those with impure thoughts and actions. Studies also discovered that in 11% of the
marriages at Plymouth Colony the bride was already pregnant. The same study estimates that as many as 50%
of the Pilgrims engaged in premarital sex.
Definitely not an image that fits the stereotype of the staid Pilgrims.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">But what about the actions and activities of those naughty
Pilgrims? As with so much in life,
there's the façade then there's the underlying reality.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Although not liberal in their thinking or lifestyle, the
Pilgrims were not as uptight as history would have us believe and apparently
not as uptight as their cousins, the Puritans.
Both the Pilgrims and the Puritans were English Protestants who believed
that the Church of England was in need of reform. Although both groups were strict Calvinists,
they differed in their approach to how the Church of England should be
reformed. The Pilgrims were more
inclined to separate from the church (therefore known as separatists), while
the Puritans wanted to reform the church from within. The Pilgrims were the first group to seek
religious freedom in the New World (thus separating from the church). As strict Calvinists, members of both groups
believed in original sin, predestination, and the literal interpretation of the
Bible as God's word.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The Pilgrims tried to create a strict religious society, but
had an understanding and mercy unusual for their time in history. As time passed, however, intolerance grew and
was reflected in their laws and clearly demonstrated by the notorious Salem
witch trials. Innocent people were
convicted and put to death on evidence that later even the Pilgrims declared to
be inadmissible—<i>I saw it in a dream, the
spirit of my dead grandmother came to me and said…</i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">According to the Mayflower Compact, the colony was to
establish laws based on Biblical teachings "for the glory of God and the
advancement of the Christian faith."
The Old Testament book of Leviticus was the basis for most of their
laws, a biblical source that definitely predated the New Testament and
Christianity's teachings of love and forgiveness rather than reflecting those
Old Testament teachings. Adultery? Death.
A man has sex with his daughter-in-law?
Death. Sodomy? Death.
Bestiality? Death. Are you beginning to see a pattern?</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">But interestingly, the Pilgrims did not typically enforce
the death penalty for sex offenses.
There is only one known case in which the convicted offender was
actually put to death for sex crimes. It
was the case of Thomas Graunger, a teenage boy apparently at the peak of his
raging hormones who sought satisfaction from any and all sources available to
him…those sources being the farm animals.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">According to Plymouth Governor William Bradford, "He
was this year detected of buggery, and indicted for the same, with a mare, a
cow, two goats, five sheep, two calves and a turkey."</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Even though Thomas was the only one executed for a sex
crime, punishments were routinely severe even with far lesser sex crimes and
usually meant whippings, being put into the stocks, and fines.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Men were not the only offenders in Plymouth colony. The prim women weren't always so pious
either. Women were often caught since
the evidence of their dalliances were babies.
The records of the times are filled with one out-of-wedlock child after
another. Babies showing up just a few
months after marriage were also evidence of wrong doing. Pre-marital sex was severely punished. Fines were levied even for making passes, for
appearing to have a <i>lascivious carriage</i>
in public, or partying in mixed company at an unseemly time of night.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Sex outside marriage, even between two unmarried consenting
adults, usually meant a whipping and fines.
If the woman became pregnant, the man had to either marry her or pay for
the child's upbringing. The man was
usually placed in the stocks and whipped while the woman was made to
watch. Sometimes mercy was granted as in
the case of a servant, Jane Powell.
Following years of hard servitude, she was destitute and had agreed to
having sex in the hopes of marrying the man.
Apparently the court found her plea convincing and she went unpunished.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Even though the Pilgrims imposed strict punishment for
crimes, they also understood human temptations.
In 1656, Katheren Aines and William Paule were sentenced for committing
adultery. William was whipped and forced
to pay the costs of his imprisonment.
Katheren was whipped, imprisoned and forced to wear a letter on her
shoulder designating her as an adulteress.
(Calling Nathaniel Hawthorne!)
However, Katheren's husband, Alexander, was also punished. Alexander had left his family for some time
and treated her badly during their marriage.
The Pilgrims viewed him as guilty of "exposing his wife to such
temptations." Alexander was
required to pay for his wife's imprisonment, and sit in the stocks while
William and Katheren were whipped.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">This Thanksgiving as you sit down to your turkey dinner, it
might be a good idea to take a moment to be thankful that you aren't a Pilgrim.
:) </p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>Samantha Gentryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02764092383245823784noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1131669960192626946.post-59874438481478265192023-11-12T08:44:00.000-06:002023-11-12T08:44:37.429-06:00Eagle Vs. Turkey: America's National Symbol<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAvKelepy0W1KzNaz4l9EWttf42RXRNy7p34YiQG6BN8ZWgau5FecR6bnz6QLPbk_VIBw0uJMZdjBPN_rmmxKt3HfpuXpusfTChEgxuLyf3swAoDFIk8ZhJ8SwbBSMIAxCdoQ5Ap_rdF0tuGH5bYZYlfXlM7RSCsqz_iwXkulTjMAQ_u4d9TFMZK0Zrqs/s450/Eagle%20vs%20Turkey.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="244" data-original-width="450" height="174" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAvKelepy0W1KzNaz4l9EWttf42RXRNy7p34YiQG6BN8ZWgau5FecR6bnz6QLPbk_VIBw0uJMZdjBPN_rmmxKt3HfpuXpusfTChEgxuLyf3swAoDFIk8ZhJ8SwbBSMIAxCdoQ5Ap_rdF0tuGH5bYZYlfXlM7RSCsqz_iwXkulTjMAQ_u4d9TFMZK0Zrqs/s320/Eagle%20vs%20Turkey.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p class="MsoNormal">We all know that the bald eagle is America's National
Symbol—a proud and majestic bird. And
turkey is what we serve every year at Thanksgiving dinner—a tasty bird made all
the more appetizing when accompanied by dressing, cranberries, mashed potatoes
and gravy.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">But did you know that if Benjamin Franklin had gotten his
way, the turkey would have been our national symbol?</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">In 1776, right after the signing of the Declaration of
Independence, the Continental Congress appointed a special committee to select
a design for an official national seal.
This committee consisted of Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, and Benjamin
Franklin. They each had their own ideas,
none of which included the bald eagle.
They finally came to agreement on a drawing of a woman holding a shield
to represent the states. However, the
design did nothing to inspire the members of Congress.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">So Congress consulted a Philadelphia artist named William
Barton who created a new design that included a golden eagle. At the time we were still at war with England
and the fierce looking bird was deemed an appropriate symbol…with one small
change. The golden eagle also flew over
Europe so the federal lawmakers declared that the bird in the seal had to be an
American bald eagle.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">On June 20, 1782, they approved the design that we recognize
today.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">From the start, the eagle had been a controversial
choice. Benjamin Franklin was quite
vocal in his objection to the selection of the eagle. He considered it a bird of "bad moral
character." A year after the Treaty
of Paris officially ended the war with Great Britain, Franklin argued that the
turkey would have been a more appropriate symbol. "A much more respected bird and a true
native of America."</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Unfortunately for Franklin, Congress was not convinced and
the bald eagle remained our national symbol.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Whereas both the bald eagle and the turkey are native to
America, we can't lay exclusive claim to either species since both
traditionally ranged in Canada and Mexico as well as the U.S.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">And all of this leads us to one important question. If the turkey had been chosen as our national
symbol, what would we serve as our traditional Thanksgiving dinner? Somehow roast eagle just doesn't have the
same appeal as the turkey. </p>Samantha Gentryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02764092383245823784noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1131669960192626946.post-86019578447477419882023-11-05T13:26:00.000-06:002023-11-05T13:26:04.857-06:00Halloween Aftermath—Candy and Costumes<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz6LkRjzpZUZ0hK-5rVek8m5D42mEXmG-uVQSRQNe4uup74mlF9fvNJLOBkGs5wMmZbK7cvcuTvIbmVdxLhFNu_A2Jn4aXSFba9WZo851vM-0eXbDxLrE0IbKYv4m_3qRYoo3v3STSxhBXZCvgMVo_LQgPxB2BcPBr_-SsO5xD5RtzNvdlnDi-Px7iB14/s400/candy-witch.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="283" data-original-width="400" height="226" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz6LkRjzpZUZ0hK-5rVek8m5D42mEXmG-uVQSRQNe4uup74mlF9fvNJLOBkGs5wMmZbK7cvcuTvIbmVdxLhFNu_A2Jn4aXSFba9WZo851vM-0eXbDxLrE0IbKYv4m_3qRYoo3v3STSxhBXZCvgMVo_LQgPxB2BcPBr_-SsO5xD5RtzNvdlnDi-Px7iB14/s320/candy-witch.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p class="MsoNormal">I'd like to offer one last Halloween fright before we turn
our attention to the next celebration of the holiday season—Thanksgiving. And what is that one last fright? It's all that Halloween candy that you still
have on hand.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Halloween aftermath usually means two things—putting the
witch and goblin decorations away and fighting the battle of all that candy in
the house. First, there's the leftover
candy from what you bought to hand out to trick-or-treaters. There's two schools of thought about what
type of candy to buy. One theory says
buy what you like so you can enjoy the leftovers. The other theory says buy what you don't like
so you won't be tempted. And the second
thing is all the candy the kids collected on their trick or treat rounds. Sacks full of candy. Enough potential sugar overdose and tooth
decay material to last until next Halloween.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY0LWTi-GW1KtLeefdV2bxNHqnFoqhlV4u_xUpUUUH6mVo0xFJqd8XFwsnJgCutmh0KDOErj1DgGAU-pE0g68SsunRYBt4ZTFq7-KfDr-1JxsWKJZAiyiu4Cp2R1KbYBfSI5EpjcrxlfGZ3nTDIU5PQsnPIK8VTOF0gx1lXgbLlVJsL66tiayfkQbC_co/s320/Halloween%20Candy%201.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="228" data-original-width="320" height="143" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY0LWTi-GW1KtLeefdV2bxNHqnFoqhlV4u_xUpUUUH6mVo0xFJqd8XFwsnJgCutmh0KDOErj1DgGAU-pE0g68SsunRYBt4ZTFq7-KfDr-1JxsWKJZAiyiu4Cp2R1KbYBfSI5EpjcrxlfGZ3nTDIU5PQsnPIK8VTOF0gx1lXgbLlVJsL66tiayfkQbC_co/w200-h143/Halloween%20Candy%201.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal">And what kind of candy is it that we now have in
abundance? It seems that all the candy
manufacturers, in addition to their regular size candy bars, make the little
fun size candy—the mini candy bars or individual pieces. Those little bite size morsels that give us
just a taste. Unfortunately, it's
usually a taste for <i>more</i>. :)<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">These little tidbits aren't as harmless as you'd like to
believe. Many of the small treats are
worse for you than eating a normal size candy bar. But that can't be, you tell yourself, because
you're only going to eat one of those little things and that's certainly not
the same as a regular size candy bar.
What's that you said? Eat just <i>one</i>? Well, you and I both know that's a lie! :) Remember that old Lay's Potato Chip
commercial from many years ago? <i>Bet you
can't eat just one.</i> That applies to those tasty little bite size morsels of
candy as well.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">I recently saw a list of the ten worse choices of these mini
candy snacks and I'd like to share it with you.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b>1) Reese's Peanut Butter Pumpkins (1 piece):</b> You convince yourself that you're getting
lots of protein from the peanut butter.
Think again. One pumpkin has 180
calories, 11 grams of fat, and 17 grams of sugar.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b>2) Dove Milk Chocolate Promises (5 pieces):</b> Chocolate is marvelous stuff, full of
antioxidants that help decrease the risk of heart disease. Think again.
It's DARK chocolate that has the antioxidants, not milk chocolate. You're eating 220 calories, 13 grams of fat,
and 22 grams of sugar.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b>3) Twix Miniatures (3 pieces):</b> Like the Reese's Peanut Butter Pumpkins,
another choice that might not seem so bad for you. This gooey caramel and cookie crunch treat
has 150 calories, 8 grams of fat, and 15 grams of sugar.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b>4) Almond Joy Snack-Size Bars (3 pieces):</b> Coconut milk and coconut water might be
popular in healthy eating circles, but that doesn't mean it's ok to cover it
with chocolate and still consider it healthy.
With these, you're eating 200 calories, 11 grams of fat, and 19 grams of
sugar.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b>5) Reese's Peanut Butter Cups Miniature (5
pieces):</b> Remember the comments about
Reese's Peanut Butter Pumpkins? Well,
the same rules apply here only this time it's 220 calories, 13 grams of fat,
and 23 grams of sugar.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b>6) Hershey's Miniatures (5 pieces):</b> These are staples every year at Halloween
time. The mixed bag of treats begs you
to try at least one of each kind. You'll
be consuming 200 calories, 11 grams of fat, and 19 grams of sugar.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b>7) Hershey's Kisses Caramel-Filled (9 pieces):</b>
These seem safe, but don't be fooled.
You're looking at 190 calories, 9 grams of fat, and 24 grams of sugar.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b>8) York Dark Chocolate-Covered Peppermint
Patties (3 pieces):</b> The cool minty
chocolate that melts in your mouth gives you 150 calories, 3 grams of fat, and
27 grams of sugar.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b>9) Snickers Fun Size (2 bars):</b> The commercials say, "Hungry? Grab a Snickers." If you do, you'll be grabbing 144 calories,
7.4 grams of fat, and 14 grams of sugar.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b>10) Kit Kat Snack Size (3 bars, 2 pieces each):</b> These little beauties are worth 210 calories,
11 grams of fat, and 24 grams of sugar.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Perhaps the scariest thing about Halloween is the number of
calories, grams of fat, and grams of sugar we consume under the guise of <i>it's little, it won't hurt me</i>.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Let's talk about that other Halloween must—costumes. Per
Google Search, here's the top ten Halloween costumes for kids in 2023:</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">1) Spiderman<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">2) Princess<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">3) Ghost<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">4) Superhero<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">5) Witch <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">6) Batman<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">7) Barbie<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">8) Zombie<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">9) Mario<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">10) Wednesday Addams<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">And the top 10 Halloween costumes for adults in 2023:<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">1) Witch<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">2) Vampire<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">3) Barbie<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">4) Batman<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">5) Cat<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">6) Zombie<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">7) Pirate<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">8) Princess<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">9) Ghost<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">10) Spiderman<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLS0MH5hMena4jFIbg1Tj3lkxm8qxJktFxWX-V1AcPDOIDBFram3TuLb1VJkDd9HN04nsQDiNhP_SjC23pdkOFuiz-rZOphXrNZX0Kcmq0Kk8oW4WGNanrAmy3KqZbn5VvK2z5tINkWYNDt1lzFKc7CHyQ19-ygVOdYzwG9h_MAMuIdSZkfwQOIyUg8QA/s395/Halloween_Candy_Wine_Pairings.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="395" data-original-width="395" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLS0MH5hMena4jFIbg1Tj3lkxm8qxJktFxWX-V1AcPDOIDBFram3TuLb1VJkDd9HN04nsQDiNhP_SjC23pdkOFuiz-rZOphXrNZX0Kcmq0Kk8oW4WGNanrAmy3KqZbn5VvK2z5tINkWYNDt1lzFKc7CHyQ19-ygVOdYzwG9h_MAMuIdSZkfwQOIyUg8QA/w200-h200/Halloween_Candy_Wine_Pairings.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal">And now, strictly for adults…having a glass of wine with our
Halloween candy. What type of wine could
possibly go with Candy Corn?<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Master Sommelier and Director of Wines at Kimpton Hotels and
Restaurants has put together some pairings of Halloween candy and wine for your
pleasure.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Hershey's Milk Chocolate Bars go nicely with a fruity,
low-alcohol wine like Brachetto d'Aqui from Northern Italy. It's bright pink and tastes like raspberries
and roses.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Hot Tamales candy are intensely spicy and sweet. That demands a high acid wine with low
alcohol to cut the spice and high sugar content, something like a German
Riesling.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Tootsie Rolls go very well with a Tawny Port. A twenty year old Tawny Port will taste like
nuts and orange peel.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Reese's Pieces go perfectly with Vin Santo from Italy. This wine has a nutty flavor, a great match
with the peanut buttery candy.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7X7dkLWtLTugz4ORTdKrU8bmCJchVCLgrHX1tS2CxGcXyVF4xIIV3gJuj8fK8FKR2c5GN6vrghh7t6AibrMMMQ8FYgjkjnl8izie08lPNB3uM7Fyn-CvYPuu4PCq0DnoKnGYwg0lCOEJwHdHieBVTm0apBoFWbBjFNdRrMmts3Fe6sSyXp73sT3hD124/s395/candycornwine.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="297" data-original-width="395" height="151" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7X7dkLWtLTugz4ORTdKrU8bmCJchVCLgrHX1tS2CxGcXyVF4xIIV3gJuj8fK8FKR2c5GN6vrghh7t6AibrMMMQ8FYgjkjnl8izie08lPNB3uM7Fyn-CvYPuu4PCq0DnoKnGYwg0lCOEJwHdHieBVTm0apBoFWbBjFNdRrMmts3Fe6sSyXp73sT3hD124/w200-h151/candycornwine.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal">And finally…what wine goes with Candy Corn? According to the expert, this super sugary
candy pairs well with a very floral wine like Muscat de Beaumes de Venise which
is a fortified Muscat from the South of France with a rich orange blossom
flavor.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">So…sort out your candy and don't over do it. </p>Samantha Gentryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02764092383245823784noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1131669960192626946.post-14816115901170571612023-10-29T08:13:00.002-05:002023-10-29T08:13:38.096-05:00The Ouija Board—Strange and Mysterious Brief History<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga0BrSJWloPY7VZED5xNNB5Qfqg-wbpgto1ZXa_bPrcncINZBRWrVkziDaR3X7t2sSKGsHnrJBTdNvZwpGlpQorBc3xBEGl8AcP2UV-gE5LzT5b5DLn3ue-j6H_AWkCzxbHAc2mqXCAf_r27jv1kcyAgqQdrAYZDMV5fK8nQz5SaEQJPA98_Cc_Tvym6E/s400/OuijaBoard.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="264" data-original-width="400" height="211" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga0BrSJWloPY7VZED5xNNB5Qfqg-wbpgto1ZXa_bPrcncINZBRWrVkziDaR3X7t2sSKGsHnrJBTdNvZwpGlpQorBc3xBEGl8AcP2UV-gE5LzT5b5DLn3ue-j6H_AWkCzxbHAc2mqXCAf_r27jv1kcyAgqQdrAYZDMV5fK8nQz5SaEQJPA98_Cc_Tvym6E/s320/OuijaBoard.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p class="MsoNormal">Perhaps you've used a Ouija board, know someone who has, or
merely seen them being used in movies and television shows. Also called spirit
boards or talking boards, they're a flat board with letters, numbers, the words
<i>yes</i>, <i>no</i>, <i>hello</i>, and <i>goodbye</i>. The Ouija board goal is to
summon the spirit(s) someone wishes to communicate with. The spirit then
communicates by spelling out words using the planchette (the thing you put your
fingers on that the spirit moves around the board pointing to the specific
letters and numbers).</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">While the Ouija board's origins only date back to mid 19th
century America during the age of spiritualism, the concept of holding a device
that points out words from an otherworldly source is ancient. Early accounts of
this date back to 1100AD in China. It was considered a valid method of
contacting the dead.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">In the late 19th century, the average lifespan was less than
fifty years. The desire to communicate with departed loved ones at a séance
wasn't that uncommon. However, those events were often frustrating and
expensive. Spiritual mediums were unreliable and charged a lot of money to send
and receive messages from beyond. That created a market for a cheaper method of
contacting the dead from the comfort of one's own home.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">And the Ouija board answered that need.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK4MGlzyM5jVFudsW1dInFhT7mMk05arLPcVAEXxUJBNkZOuhHiZFs6Nl2pp2f8G9NOjMNQpGoXCE6HAqsReARV6uB1xiSkB2vg-dvUVdolHBnCtsmjZgkVYVjbAq6yfAmDvqtSbdi-a624MkG_Iw2lIrQdfzcBUq6PL_aLIxg3QNlCf3uLl5O3bDQUMA/s400/TalkingBoard.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="276" data-original-width="400" height="221" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK4MGlzyM5jVFudsW1dInFhT7mMk05arLPcVAEXxUJBNkZOuhHiZFs6Nl2pp2f8G9NOjMNQpGoXCE6HAqsReARV6uB1xiSkB2vg-dvUVdolHBnCtsmjZgkVYVjbAq6yfAmDvqtSbdi-a624MkG_Iw2lIrQdfzcBUq6PL_aLIxg3QNlCf3uLl5O3bDQUMA/s320/TalkingBoard.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal">It was introduced to the public in 1890 by a businessman
named Elijah Bond. His original product was called a Talking Board and was
supposed to answer facts about the past and predict the future. It was
introduced as nothing more than a fun throwaway game, completely unrelated to
ghosts or the occult. By World War I, large groups of people were convinced
that the movements of the planchette had an otherworldly origin.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The first person to rename the talking board as the Ouija
Board was Elijah Bond's employee, a man named William Fuld. Conflicting reports
say the meaning of Ouija came from the ancient Egyptian word for <i>good luck</i> or it was a combination of the
French <i>Oiu</i> and German <i>Ja</i>, both words meaning <i>yes</i>.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Some Christian denominations believe Ouija boards lead to
demonic possession. The scientific community has criticized the paranormal
beliefs associated with Ouija boards. But—however you feel about them, they're
thought of as being spooky.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">If you believe that Ouija boards really do connect with the
dead, you're in good company. Many famous and successful people during the last
one hundred years have used Ouija boards—English writer G.K. Chesterton, rock
musician Alice Cooper, Pulitzer Prize winning poet James Merrill, Italian
president Romano Prodi, and Alcoholics Anonymous founder Bill Wilson.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Have you ever used an Ouija board, either seriously or as an
entertainment source? </p>Samantha Gentryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02764092383245823784noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1131669960192626946.post-29565515813532213872023-10-22T10:35:00.000-05:002023-10-22T10:35:04.075-05:00Haunted Houses<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV1tJY79yQxoHhur3qkFlQnWegndntl9fUJts0ojnlaSI2spcYfJR-f6fo1my5vi9Q41LUYHk4PINoU6wE1ULL_1gPppwkpQA_yjxKgfN1VExtufa7jj09gvTn2LbfroOFc5p8mD4esWGHOWQ4GBc_hLaqxLW3owZM0BSkJDAxG2_UrkaIZ59czWtxKtE/s400/HauntedHouse%5B2%5D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="380" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV1tJY79yQxoHhur3qkFlQnWegndntl9fUJts0ojnlaSI2spcYfJR-f6fo1my5vi9Q41LUYHk4PINoU6wE1ULL_1gPppwkpQA_yjxKgfN1VExtufa7jj09gvTn2LbfroOFc5p8mD4esWGHOWQ4GBc_hLaqxLW3owZM0BSkJDAxG2_UrkaIZ59czWtxKtE/s320/HauntedHouse%5B2%5D.jpg" width="304" /></a></div><p class="MsoNormal">Next in my series of Halloween season blogs, I'm delving
into the history of haunted houses—sharing some real haunted houses and a few
miscellaneous Halloween facts.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">I remember when I was a child in West Los Angeles. We had a
very large, over-sized garage and one year my mother and father fixed it up
like a haunted house for my Halloween party—a winding, twisty route through all
kinds of scary things. It was a lot of fun and totally different from anything
anyone else in the neighborhood did for Halloween. Of course, back in those
days scary things were not at all the same type of bloody gruesome attractions
that are the main features of today's professional Halloween attractions.
Rather than featuring today's horror images, they dwelled on innocent/fun
ghosts and goblins.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Halloween attractions have moved far beyond the neighborhood
scare as a fun encounter for the trick-or-treaters. Today they are big
business—very big business. Operators of the large attractions spend most of
the year coming up with new and better ideas for frightening horror attractions
and implementing them. They take pleasure in dreaming up even more diabolical
ways of giving us the seasonal nightmares.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Let's talk about the history of haunted houses and some
Halloween facts. Just in the United States, there are over 1200 professional
haunted houses, 300 theme parks that operate horror-themed annual Halloween
events and over 3000 charity-run spooky Halloween attractions. Haunted attractions have a long history
dating back to early civilizations.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b>Ancient Times:</b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The Egyptians knew that the best way to keep body snatchers
away from a pyramid was to really scare them away. The commonly used mazes,
moving walls, self-opening doors, and traps as well as snakes and insects to protect
their treasure and the bodies of royalty. True, they weren't charging admission
and the public wasn't lined up waiting to get inside, but it is an early
example of creating a setting to produce fear.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The Greeks and Romans have a folklore complete with mazes
and labyrinths filled with monsters. With theater being a vital part of their
culture, we can assume they created numerous special effects devices to enhance
the scare factor that would evolve into today's haunted house elements.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b>The Dark Ages:</b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">This period in history saw the Christians continue the
evolution toward today's haunted house attraction. During the 1300s through the
1500s, Europe had been converted from Celtic and pagan religions to the
practice of Christianity. Many of today's Halloween activities—carving
pumpkins, bobbing for apples, dressing up in costumes, and even
trick-or-treating—were pagan practices that stayed with us.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b>The Renaissance:</b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Theater became increasingly popular and catered to society's
love of horror which resulted in the development of more special effects.
Ghosts, demons, the devil, and other monsters appeared regularly in plays
including those of William Shakespeare.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b>The 1800s:</b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">This was a time when the general population became
fascinated with ghosts and the possibility of other realms. Self-proclaimed
mediums, fortune tellers, clairvoyants, and spiritualists engaged in conjuring
sessions in an attempt to communicate with the dead which became a form of
entertainment for the elite. The theme of hauntings continued in the theater
and the century provided the first wax museum, the forerunner of future
walk-through attractions that played on people's sense of reality.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b>The 1900s:</b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The start of the 20th century saw the increased popularity
of the traveling carnival and the rise of what was referred to as a freak show.
Dark rides also became popular amusements. The patrons sat in a boat or on a
train and were automatically moved through numerous scenes. Amusement parks
came into popularity during this time. Those that could not afford a big roller
coaster offered cheap fun houses and haunted house attractions to pull in
customers.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Also during this time, many of the residential houses built
during the early 1800s had become dilapidated and run down. Adults would tell
their children that ghosts filled the neglected homes in an attempt to keep
them from exploring those structures. This further fueled the mystique of
haunted houses.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu1BA6_gPGvwNJPN6RaCHBwdkGEBr26zUhDapMSjvd0RrTymfXSAliFqNb4OiDU8YNzFvh4RbqfApQYaVknWxZwFPI6DzB0F0q5SfzmYwKmjkvn23st5aIUE-CvL8wQckRQmxFea3Q0IXos7S8Ef5_2lsi96Jpp672FjMu3I698zdS4lnSy-ZnU2u6sTk/s400/Haunted%20Mansion%20Disneyland.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="225" data-original-width="400" height="113" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu1BA6_gPGvwNJPN6RaCHBwdkGEBr26zUhDapMSjvd0RrTymfXSAliFqNb4OiDU8YNzFvh4RbqfApQYaVknWxZwFPI6DzB0F0q5SfzmYwKmjkvn23st5aIUE-CvL8wQckRQmxFea3Q0IXos7S8Ef5_2lsi96Jpp672FjMu3I698zdS4lnSy-ZnU2u6sTk/w200-h113/Haunted%20Mansion%20Disneyland.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b>The 1960s:<o:p></o:p></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">In 1969, Disneyland (Anaheim, California) opened its Haunted
Mansion attraction. Rather than putting
a genuine decrepit-looking structure in the middle of Disneyland, they created
a lavish mansion with a pristine exterior based on the appearance of the San
Jose, California, Winchester House. It
was originally a walk-through attraction but was soon changed over to a ride.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b>The 1970s:</b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Non-profit organizations began to use abandoned buildings
and fields to put up haunted houses to raise money for charity.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b>The 1980s:</b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">This was the decade when horror movies grew in popularity
and so did haunted houses. Most amusement parks had a scary attraction of some
sort.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b>The 1990s to present:</b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Haunts are everywhere—haunted hayrides, mazes, and scavenger
hunts. They've become so popular that haunts are here to stay with the industry
constantly evolving with new and more terrifying attractions.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b>Real Haunted Houses (that have <u>not</u> been turned
into inns or hotels):</b></p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXtVvFzfaWUMwguJvixJ4oysIVs89BR_FddIoHaknjRbj-EjaE3hFt63cOMGaaPb_mI975UQvgnNLe5F8ZiOI6RGgE209xXIcJhDBtYo-XBMIcK7HWMwuUwdnOc2weYLWl8ccn89d1mX3KW2U8ao6oI_ezf4xiGPonT1aR5tW77SZxEelQa_hHPsU-EEw/s400/WinchesterMysteryHouse.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="225" data-original-width="400" height="113" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXtVvFzfaWUMwguJvixJ4oysIVs89BR_FddIoHaknjRbj-EjaE3hFt63cOMGaaPb_mI975UQvgnNLe5F8ZiOI6RGgE209xXIcJhDBtYo-XBMIcK7HWMwuUwdnOc2weYLWl8ccn89d1mX3KW2U8ao6oI_ezf4xiGPonT1aR5tW77SZxEelQa_hHPsU-EEw/w200-h113/WinchesterMysteryHouse.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><p class="MsoNormal">Winchester Mystery House/San Jose, California:</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The Winchester Mystery House is a 160-room Victorian mansion
brimming with bizarre architectural features and a very eerie origin. With
features such as secret passageways, labyrinth-like winding hallways and a seance
room, this eccentric house is rumored to have been built for and by spirits
themselves.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj61NZ0298Iw_nTzFLAkvkLs6vv23YZ0iDX2-_zLKfcuOubDJqs45yFLNo2fGMKAIfuhQ7Ec-2ozQZ_4hOK1Qt58DeNMoNKE-DUu22ocekSWSmGpx7Sy_Hw-bq5NnbU2QwlWjtoK4Ob1k350N4rNixEJ0DOkTyIXvI1zf6xrFNU3IOZTWdUKjDuOtqmgX0/s400/AmityvilleHouse.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="225" data-original-width="400" height="113" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj61NZ0298Iw_nTzFLAkvkLs6vv23YZ0iDX2-_zLKfcuOubDJqs45yFLNo2fGMKAIfuhQ7Ec-2ozQZ_4hOK1Qt58DeNMoNKE-DUu22ocekSWSmGpx7Sy_Hw-bq5NnbU2QwlWjtoK4Ob1k350N4rNixEJ0DOkTyIXvI1zf6xrFNU3IOZTWdUKjDuOtqmgX0/w200-h113/AmityvilleHouse.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal">The Amityville House/Amityville, New York:<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">In 1974, six members of the DeFeo family were found slain in
this home; eldest son Ronald DeFeo Jr. was later convicted of murdering his
parents and siblings. A year later, the Lutz family moved in but quickly moved
out after reports of unexplained paranormal activity—strange odors, unexplained
cold drafts and an apparition that took the form of a demonic pig-like creature.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL3rRFCybJMQvYZfX3LBMaUcX_RWUXTnGO48NuOxVUupV9KAZLc4-OmGN4bU4lTuCf6t1siIRe3Fttj3rg-8s9DS-0yYFnwDMF1cb85g5j0bh-1ABfmTGHtThtYorx9KU9dSKWUsHR6h29t0PIW0IvYJfBGoqCx1NOXN2rVWtfmCZo2o-JAFUlZOUAHYI/s460/whitehouse.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="460" data-original-width="460" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL3rRFCybJMQvYZfX3LBMaUcX_RWUXTnGO48NuOxVUupV9KAZLc4-OmGN4bU4lTuCf6t1siIRe3Fttj3rg-8s9DS-0yYFnwDMF1cb85g5j0bh-1ABfmTGHtThtYorx9KU9dSKWUsHR6h29t0PIW0IvYJfBGoqCx1NOXN2rVWtfmCZo2o-JAFUlZOUAHYI/w200-h200/whitehouse.png" width="200" /></a></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal">The White House (yes, the residence of the President of the
United States)/Washington D.C.:<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">For years there have been reports that the White House is a
hotbed of haunted activity. Visitors, staff, and even White House residents
have reported seeing the ghosts of Abraham Lincoln, Abigail Adams, and Andrew
Jackson, to name a few. FDR, Dwight Eisenhower, and Winston Churchill are among
those who claimed to have seen the ghost of Abraham Lincoln. More recently, the
Obamas claim to have repeatedly heard strange sounds and felt a sensation of
someone gnawing at their feet in the middle of the night.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsYaDjXpJytC__gb_0-YluPzIuKDQuvlgEH_qVbWUYPCEG3yVnt6ziqTKnL6uFG11QjpPncT7lOF6lnBm5ZBj32sK6Z04lAJ4mJqDAt_VhZMFBWGmefZeD4XwEo-SWbqhyphenhyphen92HBLR07msAY59PrCQeWLTaK8voBDJIj_gPJO9ACRViLplF4J1uDdZhbES8/s400/SalemHaunted.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="139" data-original-width="400" height="110" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsYaDjXpJytC__gb_0-YluPzIuKDQuvlgEH_qVbWUYPCEG3yVnt6ziqTKnL6uFG11QjpPncT7lOF6lnBm5ZBj32sK6Z04lAJ4mJqDAt_VhZMFBWGmefZeD4XwEo-SWbqhyphenhyphen92HBLR07msAY59PrCQeWLTaK8voBDJIj_gPJO9ACRViLplF4J1uDdZhbES8/w320-h110/SalemHaunted.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal">The Joshua Ward House (George Corwin House)/ Salem,
Massachusetts:<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Once home to wealthy sea captain Joshua Ward, the Joshua
Ward House was built in 1784. However, its haunted history comes from the fact
that it was built over the original cellar where George Corwin's house once
stood. Corwin was the High Sheriff during the Salem Witch Trials and he took
great delight in torturing confessions from accused witches and warlocks. For
many years, Corwin's remains were housed in the basement, though they
eventually were moved to a nearby cemetery. Rumor has it that Corwin's spirit
still haunts the house along with that of Giles Corey, the only accused he was
unable to force into confessing. He finally crushed Corey to death one large
stone as a time.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The LaLaurie House/New Orleans, Louisiana:</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">One of the spookiest homes in the French Quarter, the
LaLaurie Mansion was home to Dr. Louis and Delphine LaLaurie, a socially prominent
family in the early 1830s. Rumor has it that Delphine treated her slaves
brutally, chaining the cook to the stove, chasing another slave girl with a
whip and causing her to jump to her death, and torturing and mutilating many
others in a secret attic room. The house, which was owned by actor Nicolas Cage
from 2007 to 2009, has been haunted by screams of agony coming from the
apparitions of Delphine's slaves ever since.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5O7Gqb_qQ3YIJtEMfXztVBAwqWcILt0dELt76ABcqgicxeXUa1777gFzYSVzi0HwwqprzgjU-8BGkmkzxSyb9k96Hr04RFKH-dhMi41XaqebP25Y1urXYfQ5_rYAXODVq068GLVQhTjyyFEfNTwJESftKOADvt7f2JORXNtM_A6IZIwOITmy2YHq-Zy8/s400/FranklinCastle1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="267" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5O7Gqb_qQ3YIJtEMfXztVBAwqWcILt0dELt76ABcqgicxeXUa1777gFzYSVzi0HwwqprzgjU-8BGkmkzxSyb9k96Hr04RFKH-dhMi41XaqebP25Y1urXYfQ5_rYAXODVq068GLVQhTjyyFEfNTwJESftKOADvt7f2JORXNtM_A6IZIwOITmy2YHq-Zy8/w134-h200/FranklinCastle1.jpg" width="134" /></a></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal">Franklin Castle/Cleveland, Ohio:<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Built in 1865 for the Tiedemann family, Franklin Castle
makes a spooky first impression with its sandstone exterior, round corner tower
and gargoyle embellishments. Those who have been inside the mansion, which is
known locally as the most haunted house in Ohio, claim to have witnessed an
eerie woman in black staring out the tower window, small children crying, and
strange happenings like doors flying off hinges and spinning lights. The
possible cause? Four of the Tiedemann children died in the home, and owner
Hannes Tiedemann was rumored to have killed his 13-year-old niece in a hidden
passage and his mistress in the tower.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The Whaley House/San Diego, California:</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Now a museum run by the Save Our Heritage Organization, San
Diego's Whaley House was designated an official Haunted House by the U.S.
Department of Commerce in the 1960s due to frequently heard heavy footsteps of
the ghost of "Yankee Jim" Robinson, who was hung on the property in
1852 before the house was built. Other ghostly sightings include owners Thomas
and Anna Whaley (Anna was reportedly seen by Regis Philbin), and even the
family dog.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b>Halloween Frightening
and Fun Facts:</b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Halloween is the second largest commercial holiday in the
U.S., annual revenue exceeded only by Christmas.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Approximately 100 countries celebrate Halloween.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Over 7 billion dollars are spent annually on candy, costumes
and activities in just the U.S.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Approximately 90% of all households with children will
participate in some sort of Halloween activity.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Over 80% of all professional haunted attractions in the U.S.
are operated by a charity or help to benefit a charity of some sort.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Wishing everyone and safe and fun Halloween. </p>Samantha Gentryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02764092383245823784noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1131669960192626946.post-9319977156860407132023-10-15T08:17:00.002-05:002023-10-15T08:19:58.882-05:00Beware Of America's Creepiest Roads<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFHmJFckjJVjy17STN8ROe6KgdZOdMaejz_u-rBZHyGm00SjsojSRsAYzFywe-gH6AYAKR7zbCG2PMjcippIKC-m0L3eMuFVcIbr84CxrTWJRGYQT2rrrr8i7icaxFj1oQ3CYaxsdsEgmS4C-ogS6SKVK86owHe1QzXtl7LNsGOEosAnDV1PuElCQBW04/s450/HauntedRoad-fx1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="299" data-original-width="450" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFHmJFckjJVjy17STN8ROe6KgdZOdMaejz_u-rBZHyGm00SjsojSRsAYzFywe-gH6AYAKR7zbCG2PMjcippIKC-m0L3eMuFVcIbr84CxrTWJRGYQT2rrrr8i7icaxFj1oQ3CYaxsdsEgmS4C-ogS6SKVK86owHe1QzXtl7LNsGOEosAnDV1PuElCQBW04/s320/HauntedRoad-fx1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p class="MsoNormal">They've been called urban legends, ghost stories, creepy
encounters. But they all have one thing in common—unexplained happenings on
dark roads in the dead of night. If you'll pardon the use of the word <i>dead</i>.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Or maybe it's more appropriate than you realize. :)</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Since October is the month of things that go bump in the
night as well as Halloween, it's the perfect time of year to explore these
creepy lanes and the unexplained happenings that have been reported to occur
there. Here's a sampling of some of these haunted roads.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIx6vmEVAe45cLvtl9_2iOyc8oMqYJlcPZKqyrQNqDn6W7nWAnkItf1iC4veGBD0Uh82iImtwAwDBVpMvj2iaGNlrguEaFP9qqO05NbUwFOv0ggHUj9kt87hMjq4sx1QKAdKbg8ls_2uniKqbwWJ6J60ytVceIoEIV1RGWT66vDhVGSRwGWCzKDbQKqw4/s425/Shades%20Of%20Death%20Rd.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="313" data-original-width="425" height="148" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIx6vmEVAe45cLvtl9_2iOyc8oMqYJlcPZKqyrQNqDn6W7nWAnkItf1iC4veGBD0Uh82iImtwAwDBVpMvj2iaGNlrguEaFP9qqO05NbUwFOv0ggHUj9kt87hMjq4sx1QKAdKbg8ls_2uniKqbwWJ6J60ytVceIoEIV1RGWT66vDhVGSRwGWCzKDbQKqw4/w200-h148/Shades%20Of%20Death%20Rd.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b>Shades of Death Road
in Warren Co., NJ:</b> Yes, <i>Shades of Death Road</i> is the real name of
the street, but no one is sure exactly how the name came about. Over the
decades, many murders have happened along this stretch of road, each its own ghastly
tale, which certainly explains why so many different ghosts haunt the area.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b>The San Antonio Ghost
Track:</b> If you put your car in
neutral on the railroad tracks, the car will move off the tracks by itself. And
if you cover the bumper in baby power, you'll find child-sized palm prints.
However, be careful if you decide to try it out. There have been reports of
bandits waiting in hiding for people trying to test this phenomenon.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b>The Georgia Ghost
Roads:</b> Travelers late at night along
Railroad Bed Road and Old Ghost Road (Robertson Road) see a faint orange light
flashing in the distance. As they drive closer to it, a man will appear who is
digging a ditch…or perhaps a grave. He turns and walks toward the car, but
disappears before he gets there.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvLcwF6qWMIMGo82RF0V_QApte0v15s0TyraQZiQhkEL6SPTcRhSQqWxxQEv1B0sV6CvcWAr4QcPTTzQlPw3T3tbUsBgLRs87NK3uN0ALfOnl4Fzb-dd3p6b0TDBIHX2Ug2A70fnAAWqs210xB4TySRRs2Bluw4U6lUcdrRiDT7-lbJP_ei2FGl3phdG0/s400/Buckhout%20Rd-NY.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="393" data-original-width="400" height="196" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvLcwF6qWMIMGo82RF0V_QApte0v15s0TyraQZiQhkEL6SPTcRhSQqWxxQEv1B0sV6CvcWAr4QcPTTzQlPw3T3tbUsBgLRs87NK3uN0ALfOnl4Fzb-dd3p6b0TDBIHX2Ug2A70fnAAWqs210xB4TySRRs2Bluw4U6lUcdrRiDT7-lbJP_ei2FGl3phdG0/w200-h196/Buckhout%20Rd-NY.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><br /> <b>Buckhout Road in
Harrison, NY:</b> The shocking murders
committed by Issac Buckhout are believed responsible for the area's many
reports of notorious activities such as farms burning, vandalism in a local
historic cemetery, and people who claimed to have been attacked by flesh-eating
monsters because they parked in front of a specific red house and honked their
car horn three times.<p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b>Meshack Road in
Tompinsville, KY:</b> This is supposedly
the original location of the often repeated story of the young woman in the
prom dress who is walking along the road and given a ride by a young man. He
gives her his coat to keep warm. The next day he returns to the house where he
took her in order to retrieve his coat. The woman living there told him her
daughter had died several years ago…on prom night.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b>Milford Road in
Oxford, Ohio:</b> The story of
star-crossed lovers. The boy and girl were in love, but the girl's father hated
the boy. The boy would flash his motorcycle headlight three times and if he saw
her porch light flash three times in return he knew it was safe to go there.
One night he's killed on the road, but the flashing lights continue to haunt
the area.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b>Mona Lisa Drive in
New Orleans:</b> A philanthropist
donated a collection of statuary to the city with one stipulation—the statue
commissioned to commemorate the death of his only daughter, Mona, be placed in
a special location in the park by itself. One night a car chase ended with a
car crashing into the statue and shattering it. After that, rumors began to
circulate that Mona lurked in the park where the statue had been, haunting
innocent and unsuspecting visitors.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b>Archer Road in
Justice, IL:</b> Resurrection Cemetery
is the site of a story similar to the Meshack Road haunting. A young man met a
pretty blond at a dance. At the end of the evening, he drove her home. When
they reached the cemetery, she asked him to stop. She got out of the car,
walked toward the gate, and disappeared. He went to the house where she said
she lived, and the woman told him her daughter had died five years ago.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b>Spook Hill in
Burkittsville, MD:</b> In addition to its
ghostly reputation courtesy of the 1990s horror movie, <i>The Blair Witch
Project</i>, an unexplained recurring event here is similar to the Railroad
Crossing in San Antonio. When driving up Spook Hill, if you stop and put the
car in neutral it won't roll back downhill. It will continue uphill as if being
pushed. The local ghostly tale claims it's Civil War soldiers who think they're
pushing one of their cannons up the hill.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b>Clinton Road in New Jersey:</b> If you find yourself on this haunted road, be
sure to toss a coin into the river at the Old Boy Bridge. The ghost of a boy
who drowned will throw it back. There have also been reported sightings of
UFOs, mutated circus animals, and mysterious glowing eyes.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUKDYIAv_6URkk5purEWrUvbaZg0yqOEtcMcgUeTJ8nkB4OJWwe2WhnW3ZDKAKzcUSzcZSFiToPXpqRJnE7aORlRqwjYyldlt5EqAOIBJminde8xfgtnO-_-jlwi5mnLusSkkdMuESWfda-ycNP5gRHTepEZSp4wCJ7fkURJBehc-Hpjm3B0YI0vnNlzA/s400/666%20old-new.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="358" data-original-width="400" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUKDYIAv_6URkk5purEWrUvbaZg0yqOEtcMcgUeTJ8nkB4OJWwe2WhnW3ZDKAKzcUSzcZSFiToPXpqRJnE7aORlRqwjYyldlt5EqAOIBJminde8xfgtnO-_-jlwi5mnLusSkkdMuESWfda-ycNP5gRHTepEZSp4wCJ7fkURJBehc-Hpjm3B0YI0vnNlzA/w200-h179/666%20old-new.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><b>Highway 666:</b>
This highway was originally named because it was the 6<sup>th</sup> spur
off of US Highway 66 (now mostly replaced by Interstate 40) through Arizona,
New Mexico, Utah, and Colorado. Travelers on this haunted highway, known as the
Devil's Highway, have reported speeding ghost cars, packs of devil dogs, and a
flaming demonic semi-truck that drives directly at the spooked travelers. Many
people attribute these sightings to a biblical association between the numbers
666 and Satan. In 2003, the highway number was changed to Highway 491. There
are still a few places where you can see the Highway 666 sign labeled as old
next to the Highway 491 sign labeled as new.<p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Do you have any ghostly tales or spooky happenings where you
live? </p>Samantha Gentryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02764092383245823784noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1131669960192626946.post-89631689145760184302023-10-08T12:48:00.000-05:002023-10-08T12:48:49.036-05:00Vampires And Other Immortals Part 2 of 2<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFcGt_sn0vpTLMwt0sj8vS6iDwQu3FHx1Jf_okHe1sTzTj-R0K8EV-1abq5xfhnQMK7OaVSX0u0vkDYU2fsi1-sNIRAHbj0LyQh5lZZDA8mSJUsDVM_m9PohPKmSXeapKia_l40qGnZd3Tb_QgbXiAeD_zWRV1nD1F8B8gP6pFqhyphenhyphen8j7l5YjSgBGxSi50/s318/ImmortalLivingOrganism.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="243" data-original-width="318" height="306" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFcGt_sn0vpTLMwt0sj8vS6iDwQu3FHx1Jf_okHe1sTzTj-R0K8EV-1abq5xfhnQMK7OaVSX0u0vkDYU2fsi1-sNIRAHbj0LyQh5lZZDA8mSJUsDVM_m9PohPKmSXeapKia_l40qGnZd3Tb_QgbXiAeD_zWRV1nD1F8B8gP6pFqhyphenhyphen8j7l5YjSgBGxSi50/w400-h306/ImmortalLivingOrganism.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p class="MsoNormal">Meet <i>Turritopsis
nutriculaas</i> (pictured above), a form of jellyfish that is the world's only known immortal creature.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Before we talk about fictional immortals, here's a bit of
information about the above photograph. Scientists have recognized <i>Turritopsis nutriculaas</i> as the only
known animal that is capable of rejuvenating itself, thus sustaining life over
and over again—being immortal.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Jellyfish usually die after propagating, but according to
the London Times, Turritopsis reverts to a sexually immature stage after
reaching adulthood and is capable of rejuvenating itself. It is the only known
animal capable of reverting to its juvenile polyp state. In theory, this cycle
can repeat indefinitely, making it potentially immortal.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The creature is only 4-5mm in diameter. It is found in warm
tropical waters but is believed to be spreading across the world as ships discharge
their ballast water in ports.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">And now on to the other type of immortal—the characters in
our myths, literature, and movies/television.
I recently came across a list of the top ten immortal characters as
compiled by LiveScience. This is a cross-section sampling from various forms of
storytelling.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b>10. Peter Pan:</b> The famous boy who never grows up (or grows
old) and prefers to live on the magical isle of Never Land.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b>9. Dracula:</b>
If you're desperate to live forever, you could try getting bitten by Dracula
or any of the other well-known vampires. Of course, you'd have to give up
Italian food which is loaded with garlic and getting a nice suntan would be out
of the question.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b>8. Lazarus Long:</b> A character in many of Robert Heinlein's
science fiction novels. Lazarus lives to be over 2,000 years old, travels to
distant planets, and travels through time.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b>7. Nicolas Flamel:</b> J.K. Rowling based Flamel's character (good
friend to Hogwart's headmaster) on a real-life French 15<sup>th</sup> Century
alchemist who legend claims successfully created the Philosopher's Stone, a
mythical elixir that turns lead into gold and grants eternal life.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b>6. Tithonus:</b>
When Greek goddess Eos asks Zeus to grant her mortal lover, Tithonus,
eternal life, she forgets to also ask for eternal youth. Tithonus lives
forever, but he grows old and frail, and begs for death.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b>5. Dorian Gray:</b> Oscar Wilde created this character who
remains young and handsome while his portrait ages. He becomes corrupt, but his
crimes and true age show only in the face of the painting which grows
progressively more monstrous and withered.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b>4. Highlander:</b> In the 1986 movie, Connor MacLeod is a member
of the immortals, a mysterious race who die only when they are beheaded. The
immortals must battle each other until only one is left to claim The Prize: the
gift of immortality.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b>3. Grail Knight:</b> A knight of the First Crusade. In <i>Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade</i> he is
given the task of guarding the Holy Grail, a crucible that grants eternal life
to any who drink from it.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b>2. Methuselah:</b> He's the oldest person whose age is mentioned
in the Old Testament of the Bible, becoming a father at the age of 187 and
living to be 969 years old.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b>1. Arwen:</b>
A half-elven maiden in Tolkien's Lord of the Rings who renounces eternal
life to marry her mortal sweetheart. She lives to be 2,901 years old.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Do you have a favorite immortal character among the many? </p>Samantha Gentryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02764092383245823784noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1131669960192626946.post-49120791945494319422023-10-01T09:30:00.000-05:002023-10-01T09:30:01.929-05:00Vampires And Other Immortals—Part 1 of 2<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih3KiMQc0G8BtLfZnnkhShyphenhyphenlTTXoWI58epteQ8HOR71lFXmIrngFDBOu0G1EphQjzc85rEcvbOL3-sMWnZ3funWQu4eo_D7scS3lfg-LzmHL4ruiDY8vEmfeTJuN-czEqO9eXKwO56qhUOoEWFLyadr7UiVPmvCYh6Z6lZKfBQZ4kT-9uXW5yVc4yANiE/s450/vampire.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="450" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih3KiMQc0G8BtLfZnnkhShyphenhyphenlTTXoWI58epteQ8HOR71lFXmIrngFDBOu0G1EphQjzc85rEcvbOL3-sMWnZ3funWQu4eo_D7scS3lfg-LzmHL4ruiDY8vEmfeTJuN-czEqO9eXKwO56qhUOoEWFLyadr7UiVPmvCYh6Z6lZKfBQZ4kT-9uXW5yVc4yANiE/s320/vampire.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p class="MsoNormal">Vampires are big business these days, thanks in part to such
popular book and movie series as <i>Twilight</i> in addition to various
television series. Of course, vampires have never really been out of style.
They were popularized in literature by Bram Stoker's 1897 novel, <i>Dracula. </i>But
stories of vampires go back many centuries before that.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoKxnqrMzxD7dUnYuji9HzFTPAZOHmKSgKtiT__3KqKnT-VbEKRgHSLo85M1p6px7Spog26yMyoikCklnqFy_HMNcQlVypQ5mkxGG57qtIRYPBSYHsn_Rn0bbGIWK7ZO7r2oYOKUbucLd4HUnhR1c_KTl0nY4Q1aAyewSEdlhYhCqdJD-uvIcQ1LIItUw/s450/Vampire-Vlad%20Tepes.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="450" data-original-width="372" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoKxnqrMzxD7dUnYuji9HzFTPAZOHmKSgKtiT__3KqKnT-VbEKRgHSLo85M1p6px7Spog26yMyoikCklnqFy_HMNcQlVypQ5mkxGG57qtIRYPBSYHsn_Rn0bbGIWK7ZO7r2oYOKUbucLd4HUnhR1c_KTl0nY4Q1aAyewSEdlhYhCqdJD-uvIcQ1LIItUw/w166-h200/Vampire-Vlad%20Tepes.jpg" width="166" /></a></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal">Where did the concept of vampires come from? The answer to
that question exists somewhere in the space separating science and
superstition. Some sources claim the stories of vampires began with the
Romanian prince Vlad Tepes who lived 1431-1476 and fought for independence
against the Ottoman Empire. His methods of dealing with his enemies included
slowly impaling them on stakes, drawing and quartering, and burning them alive.
It all seems very brutal and sadistic by today's standards, but not all that
uncommon for those times. The same methods were used by the Catholic Church
during the Spanish Inquisition and by other rulers and powerful leaders during
the Middle Ages to torture and kill their enemies.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi61AC13mU1dvHod8h829i6aK7_ZKO0d_eKIyQYnAV5FH0q0VZR06-oFFP57ZIDaQYC91pRB8PjP7a5q9fVVpa2cgpA6HVXRtWssF1B_3EiTjSfa6X7Mn_Tu0XR_7OKVQFHKt5enXxxFj62H-WWJeBfsyBRA_RSrOR_ljD-z3bwUHs6vIXO6Uzh37Ehvxo/s450/Vampire-Dracula%20original%20book%20cover_inPixio.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="450" data-original-width="319" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi61AC13mU1dvHod8h829i6aK7_ZKO0d_eKIyQYnAV5FH0q0VZR06-oFFP57ZIDaQYC91pRB8PjP7a5q9fVVpa2cgpA6HVXRtWssF1B_3EiTjSfa6X7Mn_Tu0XR_7OKVQFHKt5enXxxFj62H-WWJeBfsyBRA_RSrOR_ljD-z3bwUHs6vIXO6Uzh37Ehvxo/w142-h200/Vampire-Dracula%20original%20book%20cover_inPixio.png" width="142" /></a></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal">Bram Stoker is said to have patterned some of his Dracula
character after Vlad Tepes as the birth of the modern fictional vampire.
However, the roots of <i>real</i> vampires
have very different origins. Stories of
vampires are a worldwide phenomenon with localized versions of vampires coming
from almost all cultures. Before science progressed to the point where it could
explain such things as weather patterns and germ theory, any bad event that did
not have an obvious cause could be blamed on a vampire. The mythical creature
was an easy answer to the age old question of why bad things happened to good
people.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Superstitious villagers took their belief that something had
cursed them and put it together with their fear of the dead and came to the
conclusion that recently buried people who had risen from the dead to do evil
deeds were responsible. They dug up graves and were surprised by the way the
corpses looked. Not understanding the process of decomposition, they assumed
bodies immediately turned to skeletons.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Even with the original vampires being long gone, the
cultural phenomenon of vampires continues to fascinate the world. And it isn't
just the macabre and horror stories that draw on the vampire character. We have
several examples of vampires being used as objects of humor such as Al Lewis'
Grandpa character on the old <i>Munsters</i> television series. We have comedy vampire movies such as <i>Love
At First Bite</i> and Mel Brooks' 1995 film <i>Dracula, Dead and Loving It</i>.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRpeGqXSU-zUoPReh70N8oI0TFtO6bLw9H1NIkwCG1rMkh9uc_KeIfYYCaXyv-J5GjDcNfiB23kPjAJSKN-CdJQJb7OGRRT9KAK2PKeUTm76AohdosAdecMRKvjtci1XYiTTAKQKNwsVdDaNhODALJkzuFmx3XRUmaml155_fs9z72HqfgxXh8erN_f1w/s450/Vampire-Dracula%203%20versions.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="231" data-original-width="450" height="103" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRpeGqXSU-zUoPReh70N8oI0TFtO6bLw9H1NIkwCG1rMkh9uc_KeIfYYCaXyv-J5GjDcNfiB23kPjAJSKN-CdJQJb7OGRRT9KAK2PKeUTm76AohdosAdecMRKvjtci1XYiTTAKQKNwsVdDaNhODALJkzuFmx3XRUmaml155_fs9z72HqfgxXh8erN_f1w/w200-h103/Vampire-Dracula%203%20versions.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal">And more recently, we are just as likely to see the vampire
on television and in movies as the drop dead (pun intended) gorgeous sexy hero
as we are in the role of villain.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY4mOP5nIjAxFiufn_h7V5KYuxveDveU5y93AhilfQHU17ufG77seBwKyhPMMHvP3dZ59jPFtInNpYpC4YxpDiGVVyUhEJKOfGQNYyj6o7BP5hW0Eqvm7uA7hrdBxRhFnQxbjivodUfST9ySyj7wzByUDKZppY1rbfOhZPCNGAqnTs0InEIncSbX6PieY/s450/Vampire-Count%20von%20Count%20Sesame%20St.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="450" data-original-width="334" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY4mOP5nIjAxFiufn_h7V5KYuxveDveU5y93AhilfQHU17ufG77seBwKyhPMMHvP3dZ59jPFtInNpYpC4YxpDiGVVyUhEJKOfGQNYyj6o7BP5hW0Eqvm7uA7hrdBxRhFnQxbjivodUfST9ySyj7wzByUDKZppY1rbfOhZPCNGAqnTs0InEIncSbX6PieY/w149-h200/Vampire-Count%20von%20Count%20Sesame%20St.jpg" width="149" /></a></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal">Even children have been caught up in the commercialism of
the vampire world. There's General Mills' Count Chocula breakfast cereal,
marketed to children. And not even the long running award-winning children's
television series <i>Sesame Street</i> was able to ignore the vampire allure.
One of their popular Muppet characters is Count von Count, complete with black
Dracula style cape and fangs. His function on <i>Sesame Street</i> is to teach
children numbers and how to count.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd7ECdqfouVlgkGE8azOE8Cx56cWFzqdhmjM3cnJQ59NRcwPM1qCRhxTBHDIsKmbbE2D8oQRlQpyesd78NFD1kYw2sDOKIIQ_gzLzgDtNXmEkhlboaYYf4Jvq6M_fPlBYqRxD4EIm5VlMZtnIGwTRrOANLaiPI36yFoqRxc_EgbZ1xo3QCgvI58IXlNvo/s450/Vampire%20Nesferatu-BelaLugosi.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="290" data-original-width="450" height="129" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd7ECdqfouVlgkGE8azOE8Cx56cWFzqdhmjM3cnJQ59NRcwPM1qCRhxTBHDIsKmbbE2D8oQRlQpyesd78NFD1kYw2sDOKIIQ_gzLzgDtNXmEkhlboaYYf4Jvq6M_fPlBYqRxD4EIm5VlMZtnIGwTRrOANLaiPI36yFoqRxc_EgbZ1xo3QCgvI58IXlNvo/w200-h129/Vampire%20Nesferatu-BelaLugosi.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal">Vampire movies have been around since the days of silent
films with the 1922 classic, <i>Nosferatu</i>, featuring a grotesque
frightening looking monster type vampire. In 1931, Bela Lugosi showed us a new
and different type of vampire—the charming, suave, and urbane Count Dracula who
dressed in formal attire consisting of tuxedo and cape.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Do you have a favorite vampire movie or television series?</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Next week, I'm going to post the second part of my 2-part
blog about Vampires And Other Immortals, including a top ten list of immortals
from myths, literature, and movies. </p>Samantha Gentryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02764092383245823784noreply@blogger.com0