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12Authors Inspiring Other Authors - Ina Coolbrith
What does it really mean for authors to inspire other authors? What does is take for writers to understand that today more than ever - we all need to be helping each other? Does it do any good to help other authors? Explore what one woman author did for herself and others.
11Types of Poem Forms - French Blason Poems
Can a man ever describe a woman? Can a woman ever describe another woman? Can a man really describe a woman without revealing the core picture of himself? Can a woman really describe another woman without there being a personal agenda? The French Blason poem form raises these questions.
16How to Make Blood Orange Marmalade
Even a novice cook or non-cook can easily make homemade marmalade. Here's a simple recipe for making a blood orange marmalade with only four simple ingredients.
16Cajun Praline Honey Ham
You don't have to be Cajun to enjoy a Cajum Honey Praline Ham with a Cajun Injector Kit. See how easy this delicious recipe is to make with step-by-step photos.
14Types of Poem Forms - French Chanson de Toile Poems
Some call them "Songs of the cloth" and few know about the French Chanson de Toile fixed poem form even though it is a fascinating look into Medieval poetry. Any poet wanting a new challenge should explore this Old World French poem for its delightful imagery challenges.
11Types of Poems - Japanese Fixed Poem Forms
When English speaking peoples attempt to adopt another cultures poetic form, some times a few details get lost in the translation. Such is the case in Japanese fixed poem forms, including the ever familiar Haiku.
16Types of Poem Forms - Vers Libre Poems
Light verse or Vers Libre poems can be some of the most fun and liberating poem forms to write. However, poetry that is written seemly without rules has more than a few hidden rules to be considered.
10Types Of Poem Forms - French Chant Royal Poems
The French Chant Royal, a child of the Ballade, with a nick name of Grand Ballade -- what fun to read and also to write. Complex the Chant Royal is, but worth the effort too.
8Types of Poem Forms - Alba Poems
Morning love songs, most of us have heard a time or two whether they were sung by a bird or whispered by a lover. Alba poems are just one poetic way of expressing this.
45Types of Poem Forms - The French Pastourelle Poem
Should every poem form designed remain in use forever? Take the example of the French Pastourelle poem as it existed in the Middle Ages -- would it work for poets today? Would modern readers be able to relate to pastoral scenes and themes?
5Types of Poems - Light Verse Poem
Whether we knew it or not most of us were exposed to poetic light verse in nursery rhymes, both modern and old. How many of us though know that light verse has many variations?
11Types of Poem Forms – French Lai and Virelai Poems
Do you know the difference between a French Lai poem, a French Virelai poem or a Virelai Nouveau poem? Subtle little differces make this ancient fixed poem form a lot lot of fun for any poet.
10Types Of Poem Forms - French Villanelle Poems
Dylan Thomas set the standards for the modern French Villanelle poem fixed form but the Villanelle has been around for centuries. Although this fixed poem form seems daunting at first, learning the rules and writing villanelles can be both challenging and fun.
4Types of Poem Forms - French Rondeau and Roundel Poems
Learn about the variations in one of the most popular Old World French fixed forms. Know the differences between the Roundel (Rondeau), Rondeau Redouble, and French Rondelet poems.
16Types of Poem Forms – French Kyrielle Poems
Like the French chain poem, the French Kyrielle poem form is one of the unique types of poetry that evolved during the Middle Ages. In the case of the Kyrielle poem, the fixed rules became rules made to be broken.
18Types of Poem Forms - French Ballade Poems
At one time or another in a person's life the desire to write poetry is almost universal. Among the many types of poem forms that are fun to try and to learn about is the French Ballade Poem.
21All About Sand
Probably most of us haven't given much thought to sand, which is as just about everyone knows, simply a large collection of tiny rocks. Like other types of soil, it comes from the breakup in ages gone by of the solid rocky surface of the earth. But the rock fragments that formed sand were those too hard or too resistant to chemical action to be broken up or dissolved into a fine powdery mass like other soils. Instead they remained in gritty particles from a tenth to a hundredth of an inch in dia
9Origin of Wallpaper
History of Wallpaper Early in the 16th century, an inventive genius, probably living in Italy, observed that the decorated paper that was used for lining books might be developed into a cheap and beautiful means of wall decoration. It is still today the world's most popular covering for walls. However, it was a full hundred years before it was in general use, and it did not take its present "rolled" form until the 18th century. Tapestry had formerly been favored for wall decoration north o
16The Literature of Portugal
Throughout the great part of its history, the literature of Portugal has been closely linked with that of Spain. This is because until the middle of the twelfth century the two countries were one nation. The Kingdom of Portugal was recognized as an independent country in 1143. The language that developed in this region was very musical, and the poets of the neighboring Spain used it for their own lyric verse (mainly in love poems). The famous lyrics were called Cantigas de Santa Maria, written
12Petroleum -- The Mineral Oil
This is the third time this week that we will have to fill up the gas tank and it won't be the last time in the days that follow. That's pretty annoying considering the miles per gallon that we now get and the cost of the gas it takes to fill up the tank just once. Just like the current price of groceries and other necessities, this situation isn't going to get better. More and more, suburban American life is looking a whole lot less attractive. Maybe it's for the best if we start doing a whole
7American Literature From Before Colonial Times To 1870 - Part 7
The Lively Humor Of Oliver Wendell Holmes (Sr.) Of all the New England writers in this series, Oliver Wendell Holmes (Sr.) (1809-1894) must have been the most delightful to know. There was gaiety, a catching humor, to the man. Serious matters -- about which he could be as serious as the next person -- did not blind him to life's droll side. His long life began in Cambridge, where his father was a minister. The family was in comfortable circumstances, there was an abundance of books and a w
8American Literature From Before Colonial Times To 1870 - Part 2
Religious ideas of the times greatly influenced and stifled in many ways Colonial literature. Worthy of note were three ministers created the greatest excitement in Puritan writing: •Increase Mather (1639-1723) •Cotton Mather (1662-1727) •Johnathan Edwards (1703-1758) Who were these men and what influences did that have on literature?
9American Literature From Before Colonial Times To 1870 - Part 1
One of the failings in the teaching of American literature is that our literature has been traditionally taught by the English speaking majority who of course were writing the books that were handed down to future generations. More importantly it was greatly influenced by the British mindset during the settling of our country. So, for me, a lot was left out of American literature even before one can begin to discuss the subject. We fail to teach our children that the earliest North American li
18The Literature of Spain - Part 2
Although Cervantes in Don Quixote created the acknowledged masterpiece of the golden age and gave Europe its first modern novel, the most important literary form of the time was the drama. The drama had developed in Spain as it had in England from simple scenes, called mysteries -- autos, in Spain -- presented mostly in churches.
18The Literature Of Spain - Part 1
When we talk of Spanish literature we naturally think of works written in Spanish, or in Castilian as the literary language is usually called. However, literature existed in the land we call Spain one thousand years before any important Castilian work appeared. The first inhabitants of the country within historic times were Iberians. We know very little about them, and of their language we have almost no trace. In the course of time their land was invaded by the Celts, the Phoenicians, the Gr
3The Literature Of The East - Part 2
In The Literatures of the East - Part 1, there was so much more to the story about eastern literature. One of those stories was about an Assyrian monarch, named Ashurbanipal. It was in the reign of Ashurbanipal (699 626 B.C.) that Assyrian learning and art were at their height. Three great chambers in his palace were piled high with records that have been discovered and their contents restored and deciphered. Among them are the hymns to the gods, which are very much like the Hebrew psalms.
5The Literature Of The East - Part 1
The literature of the East is older than those of Europe and, of course, far older than those of America. They are almost equally extensive, and certainly have been the most influential in the history of the world. On them are based all the great existing religions of mankind. The idea of immortality has its origin in the literature of ancient Egypt. Taoism, Buddhism, Brahmanism, the religion of the Parsees, Judaism, Christianity and Mohammedanism each has a sacred literature, with some part of
9How Deep Is The Sea And Other Questions About The Sea - Part 1
For all our knowledge and modern technology, we actually know very little about the depths of the sea. In fact, we actually know more about the moon than we do about the deep sea.
6Mammals That Lay Eggs - Part 2 - Echidnas
Outside of the duckbills (platypuses) there is but one other animal that lays eggs, and that is the spiny ant eaters (echidnas).
5Mammals That Lay Eggs - Part 1 - Duckbills
When we think of mammals, we often don't realize that a few mammals lay eggs. Learn about the duckbills and the platapus and their unique history as a mammal.
13Kangaroos, Opossums and Kin - Part 4
True opossums are now found only in the New World, although long ages ago they were present in Europe and Asia. Most opossums are tree dwellers, but a few live on the grassy plains of South America and one has taken to life in the water. Most kinds have pouches, but some have only relies of such organs, and the babies are carried by their attachment to the mother's teats. After they are partly grown, the young ride on the mother's back, clinging to the fur or curling their tails around that o
7Kangaroos, Opossums And Kin - Part 3
In Kangaroos, Opossums And Kin - Part 1 and Kangaroos, Opossums And Kin - Part 2, I mentioned some about giant phalangers as kin -- however, the largest member of the family today is the koala, the Australian teddy bear. It looks for all the world like a toy teddy bear, two and a half feet long, with ears seeming as if they were stuck on, and beady eyes. There is no tail. The dense, woolly fur is blue gray in color and was used commercially for fur until the koalas were almost exterminated. T
10Kangaroos, Opossums And Kin - Part 2
In Kangaroos, Opossums And Kin - Part 1 - I discussed musk kangaroos. The musk kangaroo belongs in the kangaroo family, but it shows us how this tribe is connected with the phalanger family, the marsupials that resemble our squirrels and our flying squirrels. The people in Australia call these animals possums or flying squirrels, and some of the larger species have been mistaken for monkeys. Like the kangaroos, they carry their babies in pouches. The newborn young are undeveloped, like other
8Kangaroos, Opossums And Kin - Part 1
Some animals, such as the colt and the antelope kid, are able to run after their mothers a short while after birth, and they have open eyes and keen senses. Others such as newborn kittens or mouse babies are blind and helpless, but yet have the strength to draw nourishment from the mother. However, not all baby mammals are able to do even this much for themselves. As humans, that's even true for us. The newborn youngsters of kangaroos, opossums, and their cousins -- the order Marsupialia --
7Can Fish See And Hear?
Fish can see, although probably only when they are in water. There is considerable difference of opinion among scientists as to how well fish can see.
0Weavers And Weaving - Part 3
In Weavers And Weaving - Part I, and in Weavers And Weaving - Part 2 -- it would be irresponsible to leave out all the wonderful influences on textiles that came from other parts of the world -- all of which are part of the wonderful story about the history of weaving. In China, for example, the very complicated technique of warp cloth of the Han period (206 B.C. - 220 A.D.) was forgotten after the fall of that dynasty. The T'ang period (618-907 A.D.) used chiefly the twill technique instead.
11Weavers And Weaving - Part 2
In Weavers And Weaving - Part I, I talked about all the wonderful early tapestries of the early Romans. They were beautiful fabrics of wool and linen that were being woven in Egypt, syria, and what was then Mesopotamia. These new textile fibers were being brought by caravan all the way across Asia. Silk, both in hanks of thread and as woven fabrics made the bulk of the export trade from China to the Roman Empire. In the last century, silks of the Han period (206 B.C. to 220 A.D.) were discov
11Weavers And Weaving - Part I
Weaving is the oldest of the great crafts. Goethe called it, "The nurse of civilization." The elements of weaving are the thread and loom. Nature provides four main fibers: •Cotton •Flax •Silk •Wool Cotton was first cultivated in India and in the region of the Andes in South America. Flax from which linen is made, comes from Egypt and northern Europe, where its use has been traced back to the New Stone Age. While, wool has been used from earliest times in warm and cold countries alike.
13Wool And Its History
The history of wool and the sheep who produce this textile is one of the more interesting stories to learn of. Wool fiber is unique in it's properties, learn why.
6Conquerors Of Disease - Part I
Wise and learned men and women in all periods of the world's history have devoted their lives to the healing and prevention of disease. In ancient times, and during the Middle Ages many useful discoveries were made about the human body and how it works, but on the whole, progress was slow. It was not until the eighteenth century that medical science began to develop rapidly. Today, it is still growing and producing fresh miracles of healing and comfort for the human race, though there is and a
13A Grain Of Table Salt
The salt in the kitchen or on the dining room table seems a very common place thing. Yet, in each grain of salt there lies a story full of romance and wonder, a story which few of us know. Many millions of years ago much of the world's present land surface lay under vast salt seas. Gradually the water of these seas dried up and left their salt behind them. During the ages that followed, the salt of the ancient seas became buried under many feet of earth, clay, and rock. Today a large part of t
17More Carpets And Rugs
As previously discussed in The Difference Between Carpets and Rugs, there is a whole lot more to the story about how carpets and rugs came to be made. For example, the Chinese, created patterns of locus flowers with borders of cloud scrolls, and water designs and symbols of many kinds. For the Buddhist temples, they made a special kind of rug, to be wrapped around the pillars supporting the roof-- sometimes with a background of real gold, and a large Chinese dragon (symbol of the emperor) coili
9The Difference Between Carpets And Rugs
The use of carpets was once reserved for kings and chieftains and other folk of high degree. rich rugs made an awning over the throne in palaces of the ancient Assyrian kings and Persian emperors. the French King Louis XIII had a carpet spread before his throne and none of the nobles around him dared step on it. In the previous century, a rare and famous carpet was spread before the throne of Edward VII of England at his coronation. Gothic and Renaissance paintings often show an Oriental rug ha
12A Piece Of The Silk Road
The over four thousand mile Silk Road (Silk Route) wasn't just about early trade of silk, but so much more, such as the trade of other goods, like: •satin •other fine fabrics •musk •spices •medicines •jewels •glassware •non-native plants •non-native animals In doing so, it connected ancient China to various countries, among which were India, Egypt, the Middle East, Africa, and Europe
8More Kinds Of Deer
Of the deer of North America, the White-tailed deer is known best. It has the greatest range of any of the large game animals, being found from the Atlantic coast as far west as British Columbia, Washington, Oregon, and from central Quebec, Saskatchewan and Alberta south to central South America. Over this vast territory the deer varies in size and coloring and many different forms have been described. As a rule, the larger forms are found in the north and the size decreases to the south.
7Unusual Kinds Of Deer
The Fallow deer is about the same size as the Chital deer, but with entirely different antlers. The horn is pal-mated at its end, which means that the horn becomes broad and flattened, similar to the palm of the hand. From this palm, a number of tines extend. The Fallow deer is spotted, but in winter most of these spots are lost. This animal originally came from the countries bordering the Mediterranean Sea, Spain, and northern Africa. It is believed in Africa it was introduced many hundreds o
10Different Kinds Of Deer
Deer from in and around Asia, are perhaps the most unique. Taking off where I left off, another deer from China is Pere David's Deer, better known as Mi-lu, which has a most remarkable history. It has never been known in the wild state in recent times. It is believed to have been originally a native of northern China but has been known only as a captive deer in the Imperial hunting park near Peiping.
5Who Is In The Deer Family
Family relationships can reveal alot, even in the deer family. Do you know the difference between elk and deer? You may be surprised to learn that many we call "elk" are really deer.
9The Difference Between Sheep And Goats
Someone asked me the other day if I knew the difference between goats and sheep. That's a good question since they are relatives. The Blue and the Barbary sheep probably illustrate the difficulty in distinguishing the sheep from the goats. The Blue sheep (Bharal) is found in Asia, from eastern and northern Tibet to Szechwan. It is really brownish gray, becoming almost slate-color in winter. The color of the sides is margin-ed with black and the front legs are largely black in the males.
10How Many Kinds Of Sheep Are There?
Most Americans think that there is only one kind of sheep and that they are either black sheep or white sheep. The truth is that there a many kinds of sheep and most of them look very different than our limited view of what is a sheep and what isn't.
6The Difference Between Giraffes And Antelopes
There are over ninety-one different types of antelopes (most of which are native to Africa), however, what many people don't realize is that the giraffe, okapi, and prong-horned antelope -- are all not related to true antelopes. The Giraffe, while at one time thought to be related to the antelopes is now believed to be closer to the deer, and with the Okapi is placed in a separate animal family.
10Still More Kinds of Antelope
I find it interesting to know that there are so many different kinds of antelopes around the globe. Here are a few more worthy of knowing about: Gazelles (more than 20 species) •Gemsbok •Bushbacks •Situtunga •Kudu
10More Kinds Of Antelopes
One of the most interesting things about antelopes is the sheer variety of different species and the vast differences between them. Here are some more antelopes worthy of knowing about: The Waterbucks form a group of large antelopes standing about fifty inches in height. Their hair is coarse. Their horns are long, growing slightly backward, upward, and forward toward the tips, and strongly ringed. The females are hornless. These animals are never found far from water.
11Different Kinds Of Antelopes
In the land of where the deer and the antelope play, something is wrong with that word picture -- antelopes are not native to North America. What we call an antelope, is really another form of deer.
7Cattle - Tame And Wild - Part 2
The Zebus Or Humped Cattle Of India It is possible that the Humped cattle of India are descended from a different species of wild cattle, possibly the Banteng (Bantin). With their dewlaps and drooping necks, they are very different from European cattle. Some varieties have drooping ears and others have unusual horns, curving backward. These cattle are called by the common name of Zebu, and they have been imported into many warm parts of the world.
9Cattle - Tame And Wild - Part 1
After dogs had been tamed and trained for a time, somewhere someone decided that cattle could be tamed too. It would be a good thing to keep a few calves until they grew large and until a time of need came. However, this was not east. The wild cattle of Europe and Asia were great, fierce animals. The bulls would fight lions and bears, and they were dangerous game for the poorly armed men, even when the men were helped by dogs. Perhaps the first calf in captivity was secured when a cow was ki
4How Silverware Is Made -- A Tale Of A Knife And Fork
For ages and ages men never dreamed of having knives and forks. the first sort of knife that they used was probably the sharp edge of a shell, gathered on the beach where they caught the shellfish which formed their food. By and by, they improved on this and made knives, axes, and spear-heads of flint stone. The men of the Stone Age used their flint knives for cutting up the flesh of the animals which they had caught, just as the Indians were doing when the white men came to America. The Stone
6Birds Of The Tropics - Part 2 - Tropical Birds
Although not the fastest birds known (duck hawks claim this prize), Swifts are speedy fliers, as their name indicates. They are widely dispersed over many parts of the world. Some shuttle between winter and summer homes. Others stay in one spot. Swifts love company and flocks for them fly in compact formation in search of food as well as during migration. They are inconspicuous dark birds, with a good deal of black in their coloration,and they range in size from four to around eight inches. Th
10Questions About Ancient Myths -- Myths That Travel
In the treasure trove of myth and fairy lore there are many tales that have been told in all lands and in all ages. There are the stories of the knight that slays the dragon and rescues the maiden; of the phoenix that, Ovid tells us, lives on frankincense and other fragrant gums; the roc -- the giant bird that carried Sindbad the Sailor to the Valley of the Diamonds; the well-frog that swallowed all the water in the world; and a host of other stories. In one form or another, such tales are famil
9The Great Astronomers - The Early Star Gazers - Part 3
Church dignitaries, in alarm, too issue with him and Galileo was brought to trail. His teachings of the Copernican system was condemned as being not proved in Holy Write. The trail took place in 1615. Galileo had to promise not to spread the theory and for a number of years he kept his promise. In 1632, however, he brought out a clever, sarcastic book on the theories of the universe, in which he put forward the Copernican system again. He was again brought to trial by the Church and this time
4The Great Astronomers - The Early Star Gazers - Part 2
Daring to Question Popular Beliefs When we talk about great astronomers, the name Nicolaus Copernicus is probably the one most people have encountered at sometime in their academic careers. This celebrated astronomer was European, and we primarily know him from the Latin form of his Polish name, Nicolaus Copernicus. He was the son of a Polish father and a German mother. He lived from 1473 to 1543, and spent most o fhis life in study.
19The Great Astronomers - The Early Star Gazers - Part I
Mankind has never been content merely to ask questions. Like curious children, we demand answers. Guided by our own vivid imaginations, I'm certain that early people soon found reasons fro the strange behavior of the skies. They invented fantastic stories and declared that the far off heavenly bodies had power to affect the destinies of men. However, that was not all the vast heavens meant to these distant forefathers of ours who at the dawn of civilization might well have been called the firs
18When Rare Metals Run Out
There is a lot to worry about. It's no secret that at some point we are going to run out of oil. Some winter in the not too unimaginable future, we will also be stressing about the lack of coal. When water shortages become the norm and widespread, what will we do? At the back of our minds, that's all old news to most of us. However, how many of us are aware of the realities of what we are going to face when certain rare metals run out? We know about endangered species, but what do we know abou
11History of the Mayo Clinic
This is the story of three people who worked together for many years bringing thousands of ill people back to health. These three were the famous Mayo brothers and Sister Mary Joseph, a nun of the Order of St. Francis. The Mayo brothers, Dr. William and Dr. Charles, were sons of William Worrall Mayo, who came to America from England in 1845. He studied medicine and became a physician in 1854. In 1863, he made Rochester, Minnesota, his home.
8The Man Who Loved Birds - Jack Miner
About two miles north of the little town of Kingsville, Ontario, on the north shore of Lake Erie, is the bird sanctuary of Jack Miner. From his boyhood years, Jack loved the woods and the things of nature -- the birds and animals, the trees and lakes and crisp air and fresh sunshine. Miner's love for birds found vent in very practical ways. Not only did he shelter and feed the thousands of hungry birds that visited his sanctuary year by year, but in his lectures and by his example -- he strove
12The Scorpions And Their Scorpion Namesakes
Having lived in places like Agua Caliente, California, and other parts out west, my childhood included being very aware of my surroundings. Being on the look out for dreaded scorpions whenever you sit, lay down, slip on your shoes, and even go to the bathroom was a natural consequence of living in the desert. Scorpions are fascinating and here are just a few of the reasons why: • Scorpions can boast of the longest family line of any land animals, for they are believed to be the first ones to
13The Spiders And Their Spider Relatives
Today, Arachne is the Greek word for spider and Arachnida is the name of the order of spiders, scorpions, harvestmen, mites and other less well-known creatures. Strangely enough, many members of this order do not spin. The other insects, with nearly a million different kinds, might dominate the land if the arachnids were not pitted against them. From time immemorial spiders and their clan have killed and eaten insects of all kinds and sizes. One female black widow spider is reported to have de
6True Fishes Bony Fishes - Barracudas, Cod, And Herring Fish
True fishes are those with bony skeletons. Some of them are as vicious as the sharks and the rays. In fact, the Barracudas, which are a true bony fish, are known to be more feared than most sharks. Barracudas are found in tropical and subtropical waters. The species known as the Great Barracuda has a whole mouthful of teeth, some lance-like and some saw-like. One tooth, near the point of the lower jaw develops into a structure like a fang. Apparently, Barracudas are more likely to attack
10Salt Water Fish Of The Shallow Water - Sharks, Remoras, and Rays
Perhaps you think any fish that lives in salt water is a deep-sea fish, but you'd be wrong. To the marine biologist, this is not the case. Actually, our better know salt water fishes are known to science as shallow water salt water species. They come from waters along the shore or roam the seas near the surface. Some of these, to be sure, descend to depths of one or two thousand feet upon occasion. The shallow water types, however, are a group apart from the marine animals that inhabit the abys
13Crabs Lobster And Their Kin - Part 2 - Crabs
Most crabs live in water, but some are land dwellers. Crabs are found in the shallow waters of the seven seas. In some cases at considerable depths in the water. However, there are also crabs that live on land. Out of the mid-Pacific, for example, one may find the Coconut crab on the small islands that make up atolls. This is a large, pugnacious type that spends its days hidden in the clusters of ripening nuts in the crown of the Coconut Palm Tree. The crab comes down to the ground at night to
6Crabs Lobster And Their Kin - Part 1 - Lobsters
Crabs and lobsters belong to a group of animals called the crustaceans. the body is made up of a head, a thorax, and an abdomen. In some types of these species the head and thorax are in one piece. The legs are jointed. Thus far, in this simple description you might think I could be speak of insects, and in fact, insects and crustaceans are related. There is no backbone or any internal skeleton, but the body is covered with an external skeleton composed of chitin. This is a tough, horny extern
8How The Cotton Plant Becomes Cloth
Cotton is an important part of American history and cotton is the most valuable fiber in the world. Its uses are so many that you couldn't even begin to list them all. We wear cotton clothing (or cotton blends), almost all clothing has some cotton thread. We may sleep between cotton sheets, and on cotton mattresses, under quilts padded with cotton. For serious wounds or during surgery, the doctor often binds a wound with a cotton bandage. Cotton is also an important source of cellulose. It is
19The Lock That Changed Locks
Of course, locks are as old as civilization and were first made of wood. It was in the reign of Alfred the Great that locks were first manufactured in England and the United States, but there was little improvement in their construction until the end of the eighteenth century. Since that time, many marvelous developments have been made in locks makers in lock inventions. The Yale lock brought about a revolution in the lock making industry. Up to that time, good locks had been made by hand and t
7The Story Of Ancient Locks
Recently while enjoying Aya Katz's article on buying Mul-T locks and got to thinking about the high cost of quality locks. This reminded me of the interesting history behind one of man's most earliest civilized inventions -- the common lock. It took so long for mankind to make pots, pans, kettles, weapons, and tools that people came to value them. Therefore they tried to find a way to guard their possessions when they had to be away from home or when they were asleep at night -- so the lock wa
7James Robertson - Man Of The Frontier - Tennessee
While Daniel Boone was helping to build the state of Kentucky, the same work was being done in Tennessee by James Robertson (1742-1814). Robertson, who was a few years younger than Boone, was born in Virginia. We know very little of his early years, except that when he was only a child his family moved to North Carolina. Of course, he learned to hunt and shoot, and knew all the trees and plants, and the birds and animals of the woods, how they lived and where they made their homes. No boy of t
8Daniel Boone - Man Of The Frontier - Part 1
Just about the time you think you know all there is to know about a historic frontiersman, you find a few surprises. Discover the facts vs. myth when it comes to Daniel Boone.
13Tropical Song Birds - Part 3
There are certain tropical birds that once you've seen one, you never forget them. Then, there are other tropical birds that once you've heard one, you never forget what their song sounds like. Among them is one of the world's sweetest singers. So here's the skinny on: •White-eyes •Honey Eaters •Leatherheads •Drongos •Racket-tailed Drongo •Magpie Robin •White Rumped Shama •Whistling Thrushes •Tailorbirds •Fantails •Paradise Flycatcher
6Tropical Song Birds - Part 2
The Birds That Inspired Persian Poets The ancient Persian poets loved to write about the Bulbul and its enchanting night melodies. This bird appears frequently in ancient Persian art too. The Persian Bulbul is not technically a tropical bird, but a close relative of the European Nighingale. The name "Bulbul" is also given to some small tropical birds that are no way related to the Persian songster. They form the family Pychnonotidae, of which has more than one hundred species tha
11Tropical Songbirds - Part 1
Sweet singers or sweet songbirds don't migrate, so unless you travel a lot, many people are not aware of some of Mother Nature's sweetest melodies. In the tropical parts of the world there are some interesting families of small birds not found in the Western Hemisphere. They are mainly, sweet singers. Some are brightly colored, but many wear quiet coats of sober hues. These birds of the tropics do not migrate, though they wander a good bit, changing their home according to the wet or dry season
9How Buttons Are Made - The Story of Buttons - Part 2
Pearl buttons and plastic buttons are perhaps the most interesting of all antique and collectible buttons, for completely different reasons. •The pearl buttons were once so sought after that they were enormously expensive. •The plastic buttons changed the way buttons were manufactured and have survived the test of time, being as much in use now, as they ever were.
19How Buttons Are Made --The Story of Buttons - Part 1
The history of button making is an interesting one that dates back to ancicent times. Learn the early methods of making buttons from vegetable ivory, metal, button, horn, bone, and various other materials.
6Naturalists - Some Men Who Loved Nature - Part 1
It seems as though many of us are no longer willing to go the extra mile, when it comes to protecting nature. With so many caring people around the world giving lip service and money to their keen interests when it comes to conservation and protecting endangered species -- just how many of us are willing to give up our lives or life styles in the name of science today? In thinking about that, it might be nice to review the stories of certain men who loved nature so much that they gave up most o
32Interesting Facts About Elephants
There are so many interesting facts about elephants it's hard to know where to begin. Do you start with their eyes? Or their ears? what elephants eat? Baby elephants? Or talk about elephant myths?
12Finding Fish In Lakes And Ponds
Like any subject, while you might get lucky and find fish in your lake or pond, knowledge is key to mastery and success, even in fishing. Many of us were lucky enough to have an older family member introduce us to the sport of fishing when we were very young. The first time you caught a fish, most of us were hooked on fishing. For some of us, including myself, that first time lured me into worlds of kindred subjects, such as: •Liminology -- the scientific study of bodies of fresh water for their
31Giant African Snail Threat In America
We live in perilous times, a time when we are constantly reminded, especially at airports in the United States -- that today's world contains foreign and domestic threats. Yet, many travelers don't understand that they too can pose a threat in terms for assisting foreign hitchhikers. There are several agricultural pests invading our country, but one of the most invasive dangerous of them is the Giant African snail (Arachactina aculica). Additionally, it's snail cousins -- the giant Ghana Tiger
11Winners Or Losers In Louisiana Oil History
There are undeniable losers and winners when it comes to oil. Unfortunately, most of us will end up being among the losers -- Let's explore why.
14History Of Oil Industry In Louisiana
If my Cajun gron-grandpere, Emile Evariste Navarre was still alive, no doubt he'd have some very strong opinions about how everyone in the world now is in danger of being lost in the world of les feux-folets, given this BP oil spill disaster. He was a simple but profound man, deeply connected to nature and the L'ouisiane that he loved so much. He'd have a valid point, for few know the history of oil in Louisiana and the Gulf of Mexico to grasp the complexities of this current oil spill crisis.
11Lost Knowledge - Hand Implements - The Silver Spoon
The Ordinary Spoon Some basic implements, such as the spoon, have changed their forms but little over thousands of years. Once the spoon with a handle was developed, the basic form could hardly be improved upon, though it might undergo variations.
12The Story Little Alice Heard From Lewis Carroll
The Clever Story Teller Who Took Us All to Wonderland Chances are, if you have children or grandchildren, or perhaps a memory from your own childhood, there is one single great children's book (or the movie about it) that we are all familiar with. However, the odds are even greater that the author, Charles Lutwidge Dodgson is someone you've never heard of even if you still own the book. On the title pages of his books we know this most celebrated of modern fairy story tellers as Lewis Carr
23Meeting the Extraordinary -- Interview With Amin Amat
One of them, Amin Amat, is an example of a highly talented artist in today's times, that no one should overlook or under estimate. It is a fact, that Amin is considered one of the top ten comic book artists in the industry today.
19How Hans Andersen Went Out To Make A Fortune
Not always, but many a writer has dreamed of finding fame and fortune through the words that they wrote. Some authors just write because it is something that is a part of them, natural and screaming to be done, no matter what. However, for others it's a sweet enticing dream to be a famous author and sell a gazillion books. That was true in the past and it's even truer today. Would this also be true for famous authors, such as Hans Christian Andersen?
8How We Make Linen - Part II - Flax
Grown for both it's seed and it's fiber, the flax plant has many uses both in the past and today, that often most of us don't think about. In fact, chances are that you hopefully have a little flax in your pocket, because the linen fabric that our paper currency is made from, comes directly from the flax plant. Here are a few of the other uses for this plant: 1.Linen 2.Dye 3.Fishing nets 4.Hair gels and tonics 5.Soap 6.Lowering cholesterol 7.Treating breast and prostate cancer 8.Laxative
21How We Get Linen - Part I
Sometimes I worry about what the world has forgotten, not just who was forgotten, but of everyday things that we take for granted -- knowledge about how things are made (or were made). While folding some antique linen tablecloths, my mind wandered to the subject of flax and how linen was (and now is) made. In the olden days, there was a material to which the botanists gave the name "linum usitatissimum," meaning the most useful of fibers. The cloth made from it was linen, which had strength,
20The Last Fight At The Roman Coliseum
In the proud days when Rome ruled the world, and the emperor lived in a palace of white marble, or in a house of pure gold, the Roman Colosseum was the greatest theater ever known to be set up on the earth. There to this day it stands, shattered and broken, but still perhaps be if the most impressive ruins in all the world. In the dark days when Rome was falling from her great place in the world, when Peter and Paul were martyred outside the gates, the little band of Christians hid themselves
23Mosquitoes - Ministers of Death
Truth About Mosquitoes Not all mosquitoes are ministers of death. Unless they are themselves infected, they cannot transmit disease to us. The germs of malarial and of yellow fever, of which mosquitoes are the carriers, are parasites which pass one stage of their lives in the blood and stomach of the mosquito, and the other stage in the blood of man or other mammals.
12Herbal Remedies - Make Soothing Herbal Baths
Nothing cures the winter time blues and aids in stress management quite like an herbal bath. In my opinion, here's where herbal remedies can not only be the foundation of really healthy and good skin care --...
7Auto Code Tester - Where's My Connector Location - BMW
It wasn't any laughing matter. The red-faced man had a check engine light on in his sparkling symbol of success and it had let him down. His BMW was clearly a source of personal pleasure, but his chagrin was very evident when he moaned: "I worked my ass off to be the top salesman in our division, and buying and paying cash for this car was my personal reward. It's bad enough that I got laid off four months ago, and have gotten rejected on every job interview I've gone on since then -- but at
10Auto Code Scanner - Where's My Connector -- Audi
Do you know where your Audi computer code connector is inside your Audi? Save money, time, and eliminate hassles by at least knowing where this important auto code connector resides within your vehicle.
13Auto Code Tester - Where's My Connector Location - Honda Acura
Are you looking for your Honda Acura's computer connector so that you can find out why you have that annoying "check engine" light starring at you? Look no futher, here's the skinny on Honda Acura Code Connections.
23Bootstrap Survival -- Creating Your Own Job -- Small Engine Repair Business
In a troubled financial economy with jobs being difficult to find or keep, starting your own small engine repair business may be an option for some people. It's time to create your own job, here's the skinny on this small engine repair business.
14How To Make Your Own Herbal Cosmetics - Moisturizing Creams
Maintaining The Skin's Natural Moisture A moisturizer's main function is to maintain the skin's natural moisture. Young, old, or in between, you need moisturizers, and you have to do this everyday, just like you have to brush your teeth. In today's world, moisturizers not only protect your skin from outside dirt and the pollutants in our environment -- but they also provide protection from the sun. Scientific research now tells us that massaging moisturizer into our skin regularly helps
18How To Make Your Own Herbal Cosmetics - Toners and Astringents
Making your own herbal cosmetics is fun and easy. Making toners and astringents is also easy, inexpensive, and fun.
4How To Make Your Own Herbal Cosmetics -- Cleansing Creams and Milks
Yes, you can make your own herbal cosmetics and making cleansing creams and milks is super easy.
14How To Make Your Own Homemade Herbal Cosmetics - History and Basics
There is no mystery to making your own cosmetics. With the price of beauty skyrocketing perhaps the time has come for learning this fun and useful skill.
34Choose Your Garden - The Witches Herb Garden
Diana's fascination with witchcraft puts her in good company, a lot of people are curious and embrace the subject wholeheartedly. Fortunately, we live in a time when we can look with lighthearted curiosity at the uses made by some of the more powerful and poisonous plants that witches used in the past. So I'm going to only concern myself with the gardening aspect.
8Choose Your Garden - The Monastery Herb Garden
The ancient practice of maintaining a small distance or separation from the outside world, makes a monk's garden design one that works well as a garden of reflection, meditation, and a testament to self-sufficiency. What a lot of people don't think of when they think of a monastery or a group of monks -- is the fact that many religious orders of monks, were experts at self-sufficient gardens and of gardening for the primary purpose of making spirit-based drinks. Furthermore, monks (particula
13How To Make Herbal Papers
Now, paper making has been around since the days around 2400 B.C. when the Egyptians made it from papyrus by slicing super thin strips of the flower stem and pressing them. Technically speaking, papyrus is not a true paper. The same thing for rice paper. Paper made closer to what we today would think of came into use by the Chinese who invented paper-making around 105 A.D. In fact, paper making is one of China's four greatest inventions. They used flax with tree bark, and they still traditiona
36What Happens To All The Gold And Where Is It Going?
Do you ever wonder what happens to all the gold? With the esculating price of gold and so many people resorting to selling what little gold they have to make financial ends meet -- it's time to think about where all the gold is and what becomes of it.
13Sir Humphry Davy's Laughter Interesting Facts
We all learned about Sir Humphry Davy somewhere in school, but do you know the real story beyond the laughing gas? What is the connection between safety lamps and this famous scientist?
21To Make A Noise - The Story of Bells
Among the many thngs that people take for granted is the making of familiar things. Bells were first made in China more than two thousand years ago, yet the average person knows very little about them.
15Footpaths In The Air
No one can say when or by whom the first bridge was built. It is likely that Nature was man's teacher -- as often is the case. Primitive man would use a natural bridge, consisting of a tree-trunk that had fallen across a stream, or he would swing across a chasm, by holding fast to a twisted vine. Later, he would make his own bridges. He would chop down trees and lay them across streams. He would make suspension bridges built of vines twisted together and fastened to solid supports on either si
10At Euell Gibbons And Freda's Wild Party
Euell Gibbons Born in Clarksville, Texas Euell Gibbons had been a neighbor of my grandmother's aunt in New Mexico and it was through her that my grandmother knew him. His mother had taught him as a child all about foraging for wild foods. Euell was one of those lucky people who grew up encouraged to be passionate about his interests and his love of wild foods led him to play and trying new recipes using these natural ingredients.
7The Great Scientists Of The Seventeen Hundreds
I've always wanted to stroll down Nightingale Lane in London, the trouble is that I want to do it by time travel back to over two hundred years ago. Since time travel appears to not going to happen in my life-time, I guess I'll settle for telling you why this particular place and time has a fascination for me. For me, it's all about wanting to meet first hand a tall, thin man in old-fashioned clothes which varied hardly at all in fashion or material from year to year. Of all of the strollers
10Scientists That We Owe A Debt To - Sir Isaac Newton
Seems our debt is great when it comes to certain individuals in history, this is also true of the many scientists from long ago
9Renaissance Scientists And After - Part II
Galileo Galilei was another man of the Italian Renaissance, gifted with brilliant, many-sided genius. He made so many discoveries and explained them so clearly that he has been called the "father of experimental physics."
27Renaissance Scientists - Part I
Ever questioning minds is something that is gifted at birth to just about every child. Yet, somehow in most cases, we manage to thwart this natural tendency in our children. As a mother and grandmother, this fact is one that I think about a lot.
11The King's Golden Crown
The story of Archimedes and the kings gold crown is an ancient one, but a valuable lesson. Learn how Archimedes solved the problem of if silver was mixed in that gold.
7The Things That Fascinated Ancient Scientists - Part II
What is the world really composed of? What is matter? Those problems really fascinated ancient scientists, especially the Greeks. If some of their conclusions seem fanciful, remember that twenty-five hundred years have passed since the Ionians began to puzzle their heads with these problems.
11The First Earliest Scientists - Part I
Having once been the long time wife of a scientist, it got me to thinking a lot over the years about the fine line between being a genius and an idiot. Some of the most interesting and eccentric men in the world have been our mathematicians, philosophers, and our early scientists. The best and the brightest throughout history, have often been misunderstood, forgotten, or never talked about in today's fast paced world.
17Famous Female Spies -- Under the Picture Of Belle Boyd's Beauty
These lady spies changed the course of battles on both sides. They infiltrated close to the highest levels of the Union and Confederacy alike. They bought, cajoled, stole, and seduced for their cause. They worked cunningly from inside. They strode boldly in from without, snagging military secrets, and plans of strategy, and vital projects. Some of the lady spies were brilliant, and lustrous. Yet, they were also quite human. Of the ladies, they included several Washington hostesses who charmed
10Big Cats And Little Cats - Part I
The cat family is one of the most magnificent orders in the scale of nature. For fierce and insolent beauty, for grace, strength, speed and audacity, there is no living thing to excel these animals. In the wild, a long process in the refining of wits, of the sharpening of natural weapons, has brought these carnivores -- to the highest pitch of efficiency in the capture and killing of other animals. However, we must remember that they kill only for food. Some of these carnivores also eat plant
6Sea Beasts That Never Were - Part II
Homer tells us, in the Odyssey, that the wily Odysseus (or Ulysses) thought of a way to cheat the Sirens. He put wax in the ears of his sailors so that they rowed past the rocks of the Sirens without hearing the songs. He had himself tied to a mast, for he wanted to listen, and listen he did as the boat went past the singing maidens.
19Mythical And Imaginary Animals That Never Were - Part I
The real deal in nature has always run a race competing in man's attention with animals that never were. Do you know anyone who believes that frogs spit poison, or that toads cause warts? Or maybe you believe that ill luck will come if a black cat crosses your path? Or perhaps you believe a bird in the house is a sign of death? All of these beliefs are old superstitions. They have come down to us through many centuries, from a time when education was limited, and the most impossible fantasies
8The Mollusk Shell Snail Glass Case Mystery
The great heyday of mystery stories back in the 1930s and 1940s often had the setting take place in museums or around the exotic unknowns of Egyptian culture and the land of Egypt. That fiction is just as alluring today, however, some of the real mysteries found within museums of the past can be just as entertaining. I once read about an extraordinary occurrence in the Natural History Museum in London, where two desert snails, whose scientific name is Helix destorum, were brought home from Egy
10Teredo The Terrible Shipworm That Eats Wood
Not even the most cleverly crafted horrors of science fiction comes close to a lowly mollusk in terms of the dread that it once inspired in man. It is present in practically all seas near the shore. It is a long worm-like animal with two small shells at the head which serve it for boring implements. The larvae are free swimmers, which, coming in contact with wood of any sort, attached themselves to it and tunnel, not to eat the wood, but to fashion a home for their soft bodies. The teredo qu
10Shells of Shellfish
It's funny how little ordinary things created entirely by nature loom so largely in the back story of history. It makes you wonder what is it inside of mankind that coveted what non-human creatures are only capable of making -- so much so that man often risked everything to obtain them.
6Spinnerets Wide World Web -- Part II
Thousands of Gummy Globules Once the garden spider has the exact joining when she applies the line to a spoke of her web, the real work begins, but its mystery is found in the design, not her continued efforts. So she goes on, working from the circumference toward the center, though she may not go all the way around every time.
16Axolotls, Newts, And Salamanders
Certainly a bow and some applause must be given to the relatives of frogs and toads who are the salamanders, newts, axolotis, and their allies. Generally, they follow the system of the typical frogs in their breeding habits, but there are important exceptions.
15Amphibian Frog Aliens
What is it that first lives in water and drowns in air, next lives in air and drowns in water, then buries itself at the bottom of water and breathes nothing? That answer is, in one sentence, the life-story of our common frogs.
14When Salmon Are Trout
Do you know that trout are members of the salmon fish family? Become an expert about both salmon and trout by learning the unique background on various American fish families.
4Native American Fresh Water Fish
In a close association with some of my native American relatives, it's not lost on me that we sometimes fail to understand that there are other "natives" amongst us. Some of them are native American fresh-water fish. That brings me to a grim native of our waters, the pike, found in the northern waters of not only North America, but also two other continents. It is stuff little fish have nightmares about. They aren't alone, many other forms of life in nature dread the pike too. The pike reach
15Crabs - More Than A Little Armored Creature
Previously, in We Call Them Crustaceans, I talked about some real basics about crabs as a species. Crabs are also camouflage-artists. Some of them take sponges instead of anemones for partners. Some rob the sea squirt of his tunic and wrap up in that. Some, like the Spider crabs of our deeper waters, bedeck themselves with seaweed so that they cannot be suspected of being crabs at all. They scissor-off cuttings of the weed or of sponge, plant them on their shells, and the cuttings grow where t
11The Crab: We Call Them Crustaceans
We all know that fish stories and the tales that fishermen tell are sometimes viewed with a great deal of skepticism. In the world of crustaceans, the facts are so strange that, were they not established as scientific fact and truth -- they would be received as the fiction of a jester. How amusing it would sound, for example, if a comedian appeared on the stage with his hand bound up, declaring that he had been bitten by a crab while up a tress bird-watching! What romancer we should thing th
25Fishes of the Deep Deep Sea
Down in the deep sea is life abounding, strange, and even loathsome, with here and there such radiant beauty as is not to be explained by human intelligence. First, there are the sharks in the family of fish giants. To say that they are the tigers of the deep is not quite true. The sharks number in the family giants which, like those mammalian monsters -- like the whales -- who are guiltless of offense against man unless themselves attacked by him. For instance, the whale shark and the baski
12Ancient Ships That Changed The World
After the Crusades ended, in the thirteenth century -- oar-less all-purpose sailing vessels rapidly developed. Rudders, which had been invented earlier, replaced steering oars. Ships were equipped with two or more masts and so could carry more sail.
21Ancient Ships That Used To Rule The Sea
Logs and rafts, the very earliest means of water travel, were not really boats. The first true boat was the canoe, and the earliest kind of canoe was the dugout that the Stone Age man hollowed from a single log and propelled by paddles. Next, a lighter-weight canoe was developed -- a wooden framework covered with hide, bark, or a watertight woven material. This was followed by a boat whose covering was thin slabs of wood tied or stitched together, or fastened to an inner frame by wooden pegs
51A Perfect Blue Morpho Butterfly
The true cost of "jewels of shame" butterfly wings jewelry is a good place to begin when learning the difference between a butterfly and a moth.
13My Pet Anteater
Anyone considering having an anteater for a pet needs to think long and hard. Here's why anteater's don't make good pets.
11The Sweetest Scents Found In Spices
It's said that there are fifty plants most precious to man, and among the spices found in them -- are some of the most aromatic plants and tree, being vanilla, cinnamon, ginger, and turmeric. Speaking strictly in spices, in terms of flavoring food -- the most popular are: •Ginger •Clove •Caper •Arrowroot •Black Pepper •Cayenne Pepper •Nutmeg •Longwood •Corn •Cinnamon •Allspice (pimento) •Madder •Millet
11Grinding Under the Millstone Wheat Flour
For those of you who have never given it much thought, in the earliest days, grinding mills consisted of two stones pounding or rubbing together, enough for the daily needs of the family. The ancient miller was almost always a woman -- in times when a woman was regarded as little better than a slave. Ever since wheat and other grains have been grown, and flour milled, bread became the necessity of human life. We call bread the "staff of life." Homer went a little further, he called it th
15Meaning Of After Us The Deluge
The subject of "entitlement" is certainly one that applies to today. I only had to look up from my reading throne on four wheels to see several examples of privilege. Sometimes, particularly the false claims to entitlement rear their unflattering little heads among children who are lucky enough to attend private schools, like a stain that prevails an ugly truth about having too much too soon that you personally didn't earn. Not all princesses and princes wear the success of their parents endeavo
18Doves And Pigeons - Crusader Bird Messages
Every time, during the spring and summer, that the landscaping company hired by the developer here arrives to mow off the empty common areas that are covered in beautiful grasses -- I want to cry. My tears are for the many families of wild Mourning Doves that nest there. Since their nests are on the ground and their hatched babies are hiding among the tall grasses, it just seems so heartless and wrong that for the sake of "pretty" they don't deserve to live -- in the eyes of those who probably
8The Bark of the Cinchona Tree
The most widespread of all diseases at one time was malaria. It all began with the bite of a mosquito. Indeed today, malaria still infects nearly a half million people each year, and kills at least one hundred and fifty million of its victims. Ninety percent of those deaths occur in Africa. The discovery of this cure, now known as "quinine" is bathed in controversy. myth, and misinformation. There are quite a number of stories that have surfaced and many are perpetuated as fact all over the In
19The Unknown Fox Cousins Of Red Foxes
Red foxes are well known to most people, especially here in the United States, even if they aren't an animal we see everyday. What isn't thought about much, is the fact that they are wild relatives of the dog. Among the wild relatives of the dog, the Red fox is the best known to most people. Civilization holds no terrors for this animal. Give it a limited amount of woodland, a bush lot or two, or a meadow in which to hunt mice, and it is at home, even using the cultivated fields of a farm as a
13Other Members In The Wild Dog Family
I found myself wondering if in other cultures and other countries, are other species of wild dogs were as hated or feared as the poor wolf and coyote are sometimes here. Are they too "the undesirables" of other lands and places? And just exactly "what" breeds of wild dogs are most of us unaware of?
12Testing Smart -- Matching Questions Tips On Exams
Matching questions are those ones most students grow up from early childhood being so familiar with. They are a popular measure for teachers to gauge if students are understanding basic concepts and terms in any subject. These are the questions that ask the student to match the terms on one list with the terms on another list.
14Testing Smart - Essay Test Questions
Every essay question is an opportunity to express both your knowledge and viewpoints in ways that all other test situations do not allow. Of course, telling that to any student about to face an essay exam, and most will give you a dirty look and at least a groan. Most of us will agree that it can be difficult to know what to expect on an essay exam, which can be cause for worry, even for the best of students. One interesting fact about essay tests is that a test smart student can garner more
18How To Do Better On Tests - Testing Smart
In the United States, seven out of every ten freshmen who enter community colleges, four-year colleges, and all of our universities -- never achieve their expressed academic goals. A vast majority struggle through, but fail to even come close to their potential for success. This has nothing to do with their intelligence -- it however, has a lot to do with deficiencies in basic learning skills in the following areas: •Reading •Writing •Listening •Remembering •Note taking •Test taking
6More Pacific Coastal Wildflowers
Oregon Grape, Sometimes Called The Western Holly Two kinds of Oregon Grape are familiar in western Washington, Oregon, and British Columbia. Both are shrubs with yellow wood and long evergreen leaves consisting of several pairs of spiny leathery leaflets with an odd leaflet at the end. Both bear long clusters of yellow flowers in the spring, and in the late summer produce black or bluish berries with a whitish coating on them.
50Figs Vs. Dates
Few people know the difference between a date and a fig. Learn not only the differences between dates and figs, but all the unique history both share.
12Old Crows, Ravens, And Black Birds
Just about everyone knows what a crow looks like, or at least they think they do. Learn about crow talk, the good and bad habits of crows, fish crow, blackbirds, bronze crackle, and the rusty blackbird.
0More North American Shrubs
Where Shrubs Are Often Found It is the shrubs that form the thickets that make an attractive and sheltering natural border along the outskirts of many woods. They flourish in a continuous fringe by the banks of country streams, arching over the currents and reaching out on the sunny side into rounded masses of foliage. Standing upon the hill top, one can trace the winding course of streams whose water cannot be seen at all by the green cushion line of bushes that marks their course. It is
10Striking North American Shrubs
Sometimes it's easy to forget about the importance of shrubs. They are not only visually beautiful in the garden, but in the wild, they are but one more component of a vital part of Mother Nature's plan. One usually thinks of a shrub as quite tall, rather like a small tree, or at least like a bush, yet some shrubs creep along the ground and others climb high into the trees. Many small so-called trees, are in fact a tall growing shrub. To put it as plainly as possible, a shrub is a woody plan
9More Mountain Wildflowers
Certain mountain wildflowers, such as lupines, little red elephants, alpine pinks, white mountain aven (wood nymphs), and northern bedstraw are well worth the climb to get a chance to see them.
9The Jaws Of A Big Beetle
Every June, one of their kind invades my Tampa, Florida area home and the battle begins. While the cat may love playing with them, I'm not impressed, nor am I fond of them. We use the word beetle contemptuously, but Mother Nature is fond of these creatures. They are among her most successful creations. Perhaps that's why their multiplicity and their infinite variety of size, pattern, gifts and functions. In species they outnumber all of the back-boned animals by two or three to one. In the mas
4Beetle Wonders - Part I
Bombardier Beetle They are the big fellows of the genus belonging to the tropics, but also found under stones where it is neither too wet, not too dry, even in northern lands. The Bombardier beetle is as interesting as any beetle you would ever find. By some means, this little beetle has contrived a defense of astonishing efficacy. When threatened it emits a highly acrid offensive fluid. That, of course, is not unique, for many insects do the same thing. The marvel here, however, is
7The Higher The Mountain Bluebell Flowers
A lot of people don't think about or realize that the higher the mountain, the shorter grows the trees. The subalpine zone begins where the forests of the mountain are composed of trees that are decidedly lower in stature than those of the middle elevations. At first the forests, although low, are thick and dense, but they gradually become more open and interrupted by areas of scrub and grassland. The trees become deformed, bent and twisted by the wind, and at the upper edge of the zone, upr
8Luxuriant Flowers in The Rocky Mountains
The wildflowers of the Rocky Mountains are too many to name and too large in number. Here is an introduction to the luxuriant flowers found in the American West.
10Midwest Wildflowers - Part II
Clinging To Life - The Bitter-root The Bitter-root is a beautiful and interesting flower. Belonging to the Portulacaplant family, it clings to life with a tenacity that exceeds even that of its near relative the garden purslane (or pulsey).
16Midwest Wildflowers - Part I
One of America's unsung secrets is an abundance of wildflowers and the middle states, or Midwest still includes some of the best and most beautiful. Any trip or vacation to those states, should include taking notice and pleasure in the wildflowers of the Midwest. Perhaps the easiest way to make the acquaintance of some of the most conspicuous flowers of the United States Midwest, is to group them according to the sub-regions (rather than individual states) in which they usually grow.
29A Melancholy Bug - Unusual Insects
Sir Francis Drake's Joke - The Spanish Fly The creature known as the Spanish Fly, and from its body the chemical derives a substance so acutely irritant that, applied to the flesh of human beings, it raises blisters -- It is a formidable foe --right up there with the fire ant. Yet, it has an even more sinister well-deserved reputation, than the fire ant. However, a handful of the uninformed will still argue that it is friend, rather than foe.
29Flying Ostriches From The Back Of An Ostrich
speak from experience. I'm aware that an elephant's knee is hairy and the bareback ride on his spiny back is boney, even if you have a big butt. I'm equally sure that doing the high-ho-silver on the back of a horse, intent on sending you airborne is another ride you won't soon forget. Nor, is hanging on for dear life to the wings of an ostrich, even remotely something like what Sinbad the Sailor experienced in the second of his seven voyages. Even though these biggest of birds can't fly with y
24Companion of The Bath - The Sponge
Standing in a wonderful bath shop, on a clear sunny day Abruzzo, Italy - I looked across at the waves rolling in on the Adriatic Sea, as I fondled a silky sea sponge. It was so superior to anything similarly sold in the U.S. bath and spa shops. It made me think about these queer and lowly creatures that we've encountered in dives both off the coast of Ambergris, Belize and Grand Turk. Thinking back on those trips, I'm always surprised to learn that many people don't realize that real sea spong
27Brighten Your Corner Where You Are
A Hymn Etched Into The American Backstory Back in 1874, a Methodist minister organized a Sunday School workshop of sorts on Lake Chautauqua, in New York. Whole families signed up to two week long camps that while they included Sunday school training sessions -- they also included recreation and entertainment. This became a hugely popular summer vacation option, and soon the concept spread to other parts of the country. Performers, musicians, lecturers, and motivational speakers were added
29Julia Morning Glory
Scattered through the rather dry plains that front the Rocky Mountains from Texas to Montana is found a remarkable Bush Morning Glory (Ipomcea). Its branching stems form a clustering bush two or three feet across about the top of an enormous root as thick as a man leg when found in the wild. It is often quite as long, sometimes weighing as much as twenty-five pounds.
24Earthworms - Many Times On Trial But Never Convicted
Sometimes in life you can be accused and convicted of crimes, without a trial, just by rumors and innuendos. It is those unmerited reputations for evil that can be disturbing to those who really know the truth. So, I'm here to say what an unmerited reputation for evil the earthworm has had to live down! If any creature was thought evil, men call it a worm, and posterity asked for no further evidence of its villainy. Forty times and more, Shakespeare slanders this poor tenant of the earth -- as
22How To Light A Fire Without Matches
It's important to know how to light a fire without matches. Learn the fascinating history of this every day item we all take for granted.
19On A Lark And Its Song
Voices We Will Never Hear In America Without most of us knowing it, here in the United States (and in other countries) when we read Shakespeare or Shelly writing in ecstasy of the sweet-throated vocalists of the United Kingdom -- we experience the same sort of wonder people there feel, when they read of our common American humming-birds. We often just don't know in a first-hand way, the thrill of being in more intimate contact with those bird species, as they are not native to this country.
28From Thorns To Fine Steel Safety Pins
Sometimes I think about all of the earth's unwritten books, the ones found only in the relics left behind by primitive man. Today I'm thinking about what a thorn, a sliver of a bone, bronze, ivory, silver, wire, brass, and steel -- all have in common. The answer is found on the head of a pin. Although the common pin has been used since the very earliest of times, it's somewhat of a history mystery in the unraveling the hidden life of this everyday essential item. Additionally, there is even
20What Oil Can and Cannot Do
Well, to hear the nightly news tell the story of oil, it is one of the most valuable things known to us, and that little tidbit of knowledge is as remarkable, as it is important. Of course oil exists in many forms. It is composed mainly of hydrogen and carbon. The word for oil itself comes from the Latin name for olive oil -- oliva. There are three sources of oil -- plants, animals, and in the earth. Of course here, however, we are not talking about the many vegetable and animals oils, but the
22Bee Inspired in The Literature Of Honey
What Has Literature Got To Do With It? - Everything The widest read and written literature in the world, next to that of man and his affairs, is the literature about the life of an insect. From the earliest days of learning down to now, poets, philosophers, scientists, and common observers have written of the life of bees. No other creature, save man himself has inspired so splendid and lengthy of tribute after tribute. Hyginus, Euhemerus, Virgil, Aristotle, Euthronis, Maro, and Shamash-sh
18Down South Wildflowers And Unique Plants
Lizard's Tail - One Generation's Wildflower, Another's Weed On that trip I learned that not everything in swamps is dark and gloomy and that a simple wildflower can indeed seem like a miracle. In the darkest places there is always something to relieve, partially at least, the solemn aspect -- something which will "brighten the corner," even though it be a heavily shadowed one.
39The Boy The World Forgot
With the birth of most children, there are all the exciting possibilities and great expectations of what kind of person this new life will grow up to be. Sometimes a child comes into this world with expectations upon the part of his parents and others, that would seem like the weight of the world in the hands of a babe. Such, was the birth of Napoléon François Joseph Charles Bonaparte, son of Napoleon Bonaparte.
31The Poet's Lilacs
When we are reading either prose or poetry (and even sometimes in literature), from the earliest times, we constantly find references to certain flowers. Yet, for many of us today, the quaint old time names, rarely call forth any mental picture of the actual plants or flowers, except, perhaps, of a few that are common, such as the daisy and the daffodil. Yet, around some of those plants and flowers, a wealth of legend and folklore has arisen, and their very names, a numerous as they may be, re
35How Far Can We See? - Interesting Vision Facts
Learn the scientific facts about your distance vision. There is a formula for calculating how far you can see.
21Finding Lost Marbles And Marble Games
At risk of being once again accused of having "lost my marbles" I'm thinking it's high time we all went back in time -- and started finding lost marbles, before it's too late for future generations. What I'm talking about is putting the simple and inexpensive toys and games, back into the play lives of our over stressed and over stimulated children. With more and more families considering "staycations" or opting for mini-vacations and camping vacations -- the "cost" of play when it comes to ou
19Where is America's Vinod Bansal?
In thinking on people in crisis, I remembered a man named Vinod Kumar Bansal. Here was a man who faced a monumental personal crisis. He spit in the eye of possible personal failure to rise like a superhero phoenix from the ashes of despair. He took charge of his crisis by seizing upon change. He changed his life and changed the lives of future generations. Call me crazy, but I want a bunch of Vinod Bansal's to rise up and come to the rescue of America.
10Credit - Ending The American Affair
For many Americans, it's almost a revolution, or maybe better put, a revelation -- It's time to end our love affair -- with credit cards. Sweeping the country, this sick long-time love-hate relationship is finally being ended, in both big cities and across small town America. We are finally falling in love with a real keeper -- cash. For some of us, it took maxing out our credit cards to shake the devil woman of credit that had enslaved us for years. Sure, she was so seductive. Like a predat
26When Lightning Calls Do Not Answer The Phone
When ligtening calls, don't you dare answer the phone! Find out why this is a good life rule.
13Madame Butterfly's Cocoon Pets
Sarge's joke of calling his mother-in-law, Madame Butterfly and then always amending the nickname to Madame Ailanthus came about when he learned that her silkworms come from the Ailanthus Silk moth, not some beautiful butterfly. The differences between a moth and a butterfly for the most part are very obvious. The butterflies wear knobs on each of their antennae. The moths, with a few exceptions, lack those knobs, or possess plumed antennae. Butterfly cocoons are sort of a hardened integumen
12Walking With Rosalio - Herding Sheep
His larger than life heroic existence, also made a lasting impression on me, for in my eyes too he stood taller than any Superman. Maybe others would disagree with me about the definition of what makes a real hero. My heroes and heroines have always been ordinary men and women like, Old Man Papadopoulos, Clara Darden, and Paula Gunn Allen. They are the heroes and heroines that perhaps few were privileged to meet, often living on the fringes of society.
25Squirrel In The Transformer
What to do if you severe a fingertip or finger Obviously, if you severely injure or cut off the tip of a finger or thumb, you need to get to a doctor immediately. Your finger digits are a bundle of nerve endings and very sensitive. To say this hurts bad, would be an understatement. If you don't get the proper care, you risk both infection and could damage your whole hand permanently. The results can also be a permanent deformity or complete disability, when it comes to normal functioning bot
33The World's Debt To The Hen And The Chicken
For much of recorded history, and untold centuries, the lowly chicken hen, has been a companion of man in the forward march of civilization. If we truly understood the language that chickens speak (and they do have a language of their own), what stories could they tell? No doubt they'd have a lot to say, especially to chefs and cooks the world round, who owe them a debt seldom appreciated or maybe contemplated. There would be an awful lot of palatable squawking about cooking and baking success
17The Three Queen Bees In Our Hive
Sometimes the hive I live in buzzes in sweet-honeyed competition, as there are three queen bees. A normal hive would only have one queen bee. Our hive does not pretend to be remotely normal. In a normal hive, the largest bee is the queen. The queen bee here, is middle sized, not too large, not too small. She is over a half century old, which is definitely not normal, as the life expectancy of even the healthiest queen bee is roughly four years. The queen bee certainly hasn't laid the usual o
18Sunsets Over Frankfurt, Germany
However, I guess it’s the sunsets over Frankfurt that surprise you the most. Normally, if you’ve traveled enough, you don’t expect to find spectacular sunsets in the midst of a city of 670,000 people, in an surrounding area of over two and a half million populace. Unfortunately, the magnificent sunsets over Frankfurt are a result of air pollution, combined with being located in a valley. Like many international cities, where financial gurus and corporations congregate, Frankfurt is a study in
26Sweet Adelaide Australia
Adelaide, Australia in many ways offers the sweetness only to be found in a bustling city of over one million people, that emerged from the nothingness of a bushland before British colonization. Perhaps, the greatest part about Adelaide, is that it's as big a city as they come, while being one of the most laid back and relaxed cities on the planet. Situated on the Fleurieu Peninsula, in South Australia, between Gult St. Vincent and the Mount Lofty mountain ranges, Adelaide is one of the most l
28The Art That Owns Me
Some people own and collect art. The art in my house, however, found, collected, and owns me. Come take a peek into one part of a private mini-art museum's captive visual mind. Facing my side of the bed,...
18Weaving Clara's Chitimacha Basket
Today, I'm thinking about the things in life that we miss, the ones that are irreplaceable. Aside from the people long gone that we yearn for, most inimitable objects, are merely just "things." It's what they stood for, that's what we really miss. Not being able to have and to hold them is only secondary. I'm missing Clara's basket and all that it represented.
26Pepper Mouths of Fire
Avery Island, Louisiana is a pepper plant place I know well. It has been owned by the Avery family since the mid-1850s. It sits upon a natural salt dome, that once was a native American source of trading in this precious commodity, well before Europeans invaded. Originally, the early French settlers called it Petite Anse Island (Little Cove), and it wasn’t until the late 1800s, before the island assumed the name, Avery Island. While it is called an "island" it is really not one, being a few mile
47Growing Watermelon 911
Growing watermelons successful need not be a mystery. Here are some tips for growing the best watermelons you've ever tasted.
37Growing Tomatoes And Money
It all began with a boy that I was tutoring, and his expressing a big dream -- to have a brand new bike, one that his very poor family could not afford. He'd out grown the yard sale bike his single parent mom had bought. He only wanted to earn $150, which for him, might as well have been a million dollars. I thought back on things I'd learned from my own grandmother, and I remembered her talking about growing money, and money gardens during the Great Depression. That memory planted the seed, t
19Sunflower Seeds: Fourth Sister Secrets
Enjoying the relative silence, uncommon when you are on an extended vacation as a family of six -- the panorama led my mind back to sitting at the feet of Señora Carlotta Arguellas, as she told me the truths about the Fourth Sister Secrets. "The Fourth Sister was the baby of the family, and she was the keeper of family secrets that have been whispered across the Americas, for generations upon generations." "She was a member of the Sun family, possessing a proud family name older than manki
31Tying Fishing Knots -- Old Man Papadopoulos
My Favorite Fishing and Boating Knots While there a hundred of different kinds of fishing and boating knots, the average angler only needs to be able to master a handful. Using simple, effective knots, will enhance your catches, if your knot tying is species habit specific.
34Living In A Florida Ghost Town
Outside the facade of gated opulent pretense, you are greeted by climbing rosebushes, trailing flowering vines over stucco golden pillars. True to Florida sunshine and greenery, this entry way vision of the treasures behind the guarded swinging wrought iron -- give testimony to hinted standards of living befitting of Italy or Spain. Just beyond the gate, on a wide paved brick road, you are filled with the serenity of fountains and statues, cement benches overflowing with fragrant flowers,
20A One World Seed Bank Vault
These days it isn't just conspiracy theory alarmists busy watching and worrying about the banking industry, both at a community level and at a global level -- we all are. On the extreme end, part of that discussion is revolving around the possibility, that we might be in danger of putting all of our eggs in the proverbial “one bank” basket.
17The Other La Amistad Ship
In pursuit of history, we once went to take a look at a freedom schooner. It was, of course, a re-creation of the original. The very idea of such a ship -- that brought freedom to a people that had suffered so much, and found themselves strangers in what was once their own land, unwanted by their own kind -- well, that tickled my imagination and drove my need to know. Was the original ship a three masted frigate, and could it be the same ship? When you seek answers, you don't always get wha
10Of Mice and Women
They say some things don’t change, but I beg to differ. Nottoway Plantation has survived the Civil War, economic hard times, hurricanes, mice, and men. Some of the sugarcane fields are still there, but it’s once magnificent gardens and over six acres of the front yard, have been re-claimed by the Mississippi River. The mice have left, thanks to the Indian peafowl. It has been beautifully restored, and is a worthwhile step back into another era experience. I have a particular fondness for it --
11Casket Girl's Oysters in New Orleans
In visits there, my imagination has seen their foot prints and small hands on the oak treads and banister at the Ursuline Convent. Imprints worn to a golden patina on wood crafted more than two hundred and eighty years ago, that are still there today, as a reminder of these young women.
46The Couple Squatting Next Door
In a world, where we seldom know our next door neighbors, some things fly under the radar. For the last six months, the couple next door seemed like anyone else in the neighborhood. They were by all accounts, a nice well-groomed couple, with two young kids, two shiny cars, a dog, and a cat. They planted flowers in their yard, washed their cars, chauffeured the kids to and from school, and both seemed to go to work everyday. The family next door moved last week. In a state, where the population
