tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6493185076250742602023-11-15T05:04:50.891-08:00biography and historydi2djoazhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15247490271431935023noreply@blogger.comBlogger32125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-649318507625074260.post-34467495327133822572010-02-23T10:09:00.000-08:002010-02-23T10:10:06.613-08:00The Man Who Sailed The World<h4 class="serendipity_title"><a href="http://www.world-history-today.com/archives/40-The-Man-Who-Sailed-The-World.html">The Man Who Sailed The World</a></h4> <span class="serendipity_entryIcon"> </span> <div class="serendipity_entry_body"> <img src="http://64.19.142.12/www.world-history-today.com/uploads/ManWhoSailedTheWorld.jpg" alt="" width="245" align="left" border="0" height="254" hspace="5" />During the early times lands and countries were not yet discovered, there was one explorer who was able to achieve the almost impossible task. He was known to be the first person to cross the big world and the ocean called Pacific. In doing this, he was able to discover new countries and trade with the locals there. This person is none other than Ferdinand Magellan.<br /><br />Historians said that Ferdinand was born at around 1480. Coming from a noble blood, he started out as a page that ran errands for his master. However, he knew that he was mean for more and dreamed big. When he became older, he joined the military and got shipped to the place called East Indies. While there, he requested the Portugal king to increase his allowance. He asked for this so that he would be able to fund his dream of finding a westward way that went to Moluccas. His majesty, however, rejected his requested. As such, he approached the Spanish king.<br /><br />King <a href="http://www.britannia.com/history/monarchs/mon47.html">Charles I</a> gave him his request, so he was able to start his journey with five companion ships. While on his trip, he stayed at the <a href="http://www.worldwide-festivals.com/archives/134-Feast-of-the-Black-Nazarene.html">country called Philippines</a>. He also planned to invade the Mactan province there, but he got killed by a local by the name of Lapu-Lapu. Even though he was not able to return to the <a href="http://www.travel-spain-tourism.com/">Spanish country</a> alive, he became known as a great explorer who circumnavigated the big world. </div>di2djoazhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15247490271431935023noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-649318507625074260.post-13643431478900142462010-02-23T10:08:00.002-08:002010-02-23T10:09:22.226-08:00History of Bratislava<h4 class="serendipity_title"><a href="http://www.world-history-today.com/archives/38-History-of-Bratislava.html">History of Bratislava</a></h4> <span class="serendipity_entryIcon"> </span> <img src="http://64.19.142.12/www.world-history-today.com/uploads/bratislava.jpg" alt="" width="300" align="left" border="0" height="248" hspace="5" />I was never really familiar with the city of Bratislava until I watched the movie, EuroTrip. After seeing the movie, I got interested in learning more about this fairly unknown place in Europe. I found out that Bratislava has one of the riches and most colorful <a href="http://www.travel-britain-tourism.com/archives/24-Shakespeare-Exhibition.html">histories in Europe</a>.<br /><br />Bratislava is one of the youngest cities in the <a href="http://www.satellite-world-maps.com/">European continent</a>. However, its history can be traced back several thousand years ago. This small and thriving city used to be the place where a lot of diverse cultures where found. The reason for this was that the city was strategically located in near the <a href="http://www.public.asu.edu/%7Egoutam/gcu325/danube.htm">Danube River</a>. This was also the reason why it was used as a crossroad for merchants trading in various countries all over Europe. <br /><br />During the second century BC, Bratislava was invaded by the Boyd Tribes of the Celtics. They used this city to establish power and even come up with a defensive territory. While under their rule, the locals learned how to mint coins. Their most popular work was marking the Blatec symbol to the staters. Due to the fact that Bratislava was under the rule of the Celtic for years, their teachings became the foundation of their new culture.di2djoazhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15247490271431935023noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-649318507625074260.post-73299269417811372862010-02-23T10:08:00.001-08:002010-02-23T10:08:41.943-08:00Land of the Vikings<h4 class="serendipity_title"><a href="http://www.world-history-today.com/archives/35-Land-of-the-Vikings.html">Land of the Vikings</a></h4> <span class="serendipity_entryIcon"> </span> <img src="http://64.19.142.10/www.world-history-today.com/uploads/norway_luxetopographic.jpg" alt="" width="291" align="left" border="0" height="288" hspace="5" />Norway is a country situated on the northwest part of Europe, surrounded by <a href="http://www.travel-scandinavia-tourism.com/">Scandinavian nations</a>. A country more popularly known as the land of the Vikings, Norway has undergone several unions with countries such as <a href="http://www.discount-travel-europe.com/archives/22-Budget-Airlines.html">Denmark and Sweden</a>. One of the most remarkable things about Norway is its efficient handling of the state when it adopted "neutrality" during the many wars that occurred during the past world wars.<br /><br />Norway during World War II veered away from taking sides between the Allies and the Axis forces. But the Germans invaded some parts of Norway. This loss of trust on neutrality has prompted Norway to become one of the founders of the United Nations, as well as a <a href="http://www.nato.int/docu/basictxt/treaty.htm">NATO signatory</a> in 1949.di2djoazhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15247490271431935023noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-649318507625074260.post-10482447354869403042010-02-23T10:07:00.000-08:002010-02-23T10:08:08.887-08:00Napoleon<h4 class="serendipity_title"><a href="http://www.world-history-today.com/archives/34-Napoleon.html">Napoleon</a></h4> <span class="serendipity_entryIcon"> </span> <img src="http://64.19.142.12/www.world-history-today.com/uploads/Napoleon_Bonaparte.jpg" alt="" width="200" align="left" border="0" height="218" hspace="5" />He was nicknamed the Little Corporal but his greatness was not determined by his height but by his military and administrative genius. <a href="http://www.lucidcafe.com/library/95aug/napoleon.html">Napoleon Bonaparte</a> was not really very short as most of us are led to believe. He was average in height for a <a href="http://www.travel-france-tourism.com/">Frenchman of his time</a> his height measurement was actually 5 feet and six inches (168 cm) in British standard measurement. <br /><br />The purported 5 feet and 2 inches height of Napoleon was based on French standard of measurement. Napoleon dominated the <a href="http://www.discount-travel-europe.com/archives/12-Nice-is-Nice%21.html">whole European continent</a> for more than a decade. He was the general who became the ruler of kings. Napoleon spread the ideals of the French Revolution of equality, fraternity and liberty.di2djoazhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15247490271431935023noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-649318507625074260.post-11649018808711832062010-02-23T10:04:00.000-08:002010-02-23T10:06:33.106-08:00The British Empire<h4 class="serendipity_title"><a href="http://www.world-history-today.com/archives/33-The-British-Empire.html">The British Empire</a></h4> <span class="serendipity_entryIcon"> </span> <div class="serendipity_entry_body"> <img src="http://64.19.142.10/www.world-history-today.com/uploads/British_flag.jpg" alt="" width="255" align="left" border="0" height="185" hspace="5" />There was once a significant point in time in world history when <a href="http://www.travel-britain-tourism.com/archives/17-The-origin-of-Britain-and-England.html">Britain almost ruled</a> a quarter of the surface of the Earth. This was the time of the mighty <a href="http://www.britishempire.co.uk/">British Empire</a>, an empire so vast that it stretched from the North to the South Pole, from the western to the eastern hemisphere.<br /><br />At the height of its power, the empire covered North America (although failing to hold what is now the United States), to the <a href="http://www.holiday-travel-agency.com/">islands of the Caribbean</a>, to almost half of the African continent, to the Indian subcontinent, Southeast Asia, and ending in the Asia Pacific rim. The last cornerstone of what was the British Empire fell when Hong Kong was ceded back to China in 1997. </div>di2djoazhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15247490271431935023noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-649318507625074260.post-32528953676823852712010-02-23T10:02:00.000-08:002010-02-23T10:04:52.855-08:00Holocaust Memorial SiteEven after all these years, the <a href="http://travel-germany-tourism.com/archives/49-The-Holocaust.html">memory of holocaust</a> still haunts Germany. The nightmare seems to linger in all corners of the country. The descendants and survivors of the horrible historical event could be seen roaming around the cities. Their presence only adds up to the remembrance of the horrifying truth that Jews were once murdered because of their faith.<br /><br />Respect. That is what I think the best we could give to the memory. Respect was also the driving force in the building of a <a href="http://www.dw-world.de/dw/article/0,2144,1997757,00.html">memorial site</a> in remembrance of the people who suffered in the dreaded annihilation. When I first saw the numerous tomb-like structures in the site, I could not help but join my hands and thank God that the Nazi era is all over. The columns with different elevations and sizes reminded of the individuals who had divers' views and attitudes toward their fate. It was then that I remembered of Anne Frank, whose diary served as one of the monuments of Holocaust.<br /><br />On the other hand, the site became a <a href="http://www.holiday-travel-agency.com/">tourism spot</a> in Germany. Almost three million visitors come to see the columns annually. I pray that this monumental achievement of engineer Eiseman, will serve its purpose of keeping the memory alive. I just hope that I could go there some day, and pay tribute to the unsung heroes of Holocaust.di2djoazhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15247490271431935023noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-649318507625074260.post-35962873135144744332010-02-19T10:52:00.000-08:002010-02-19T10:53:32.602-08:00Another Page in Berlin HistoryHistory has it that Germany is a focal point of humanity's history. Among its many cities and states, it's capital Berlin is the most popular for its rich historical value. The Berlin Wall is a world-known iconic symbol of the Cold War. For 28 years, it served as the symbol of a post-war divided Germany, a towering symbol of Communist tyranny sending a strong message of Germany's political and economic distinction from the rest of the world. Berlin Wall's fall in 1989 showed the world Germany's transformation and adaptability to modernist ideologies and philosophies, making the city a more celebrated place in Europe and the rest of the world. Recently, Berlin has made yet another historic event after hosting the 2006 <a href="http://www.travel-germany-tourism.com/archives/78-World-Cup-Germany-2006.html">FIFA World Cup</a>.di2djoazhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15247490271431935023noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-649318507625074260.post-64727663336069871482010-02-19T10:51:00.000-08:002010-02-19T10:52:21.514-08:00The 2006 World CupGermany played host to the 2006 FIFA World Cup with Berlin as the venue for the Final match held last July 9th. Up to the few days post-final match, Berlin was home to thousands of World Cup fanatics. Supporters of the 32 participating countries trooped to the city to witness and experience the glory of one of the most anticipated sporting event in the world that only happens every four years. The 2006 FIFA World Cup is Germany's second hosting of the event, the first was in 1974. Well-planned security was the utmost concern of the city and national government for its multi-racial visitors.di2djoazhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15247490271431935023noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-649318507625074260.post-66750645046001521832010-02-19T10:44:00.000-08:002010-02-19T10:51:38.213-08:00Stadium of Pride<h4 class="serendipity_title"><a href="http://www.world-history-today.com/archives/120-Stadium-of-Pride.html">Stadium of Pride</a></h4> <span class="serendipity_entryIcon"> </span> <div class="serendipity_entry_body"> The final match won by <a href="http://fifaworldcup.yahoo.com/06/en/060710/1/8rit.html">team Italy</a> against France was held at Berlin's historic Olympic stadium or more popularly known as the Olypmpiastadion. The Olympiastadion had been a venue for many great sporting event such as the 1936 Summer Olypmics Games, 1974 World Cup FIFA Finals, and many international football matches. For the 2006 World Cup, the Olympiastadion had to undergo renovations to meet the anticipated demands of the monumental event. The renovations were done to maximize Olympiastadion's functionality to provide optimum comfort for the 2006 World Cup spectators. From only 27,000 covered seats, it now boats of a 74,200 covered seats. After the 2006 World Cup's cloud has cleared, what's next for Olympiastadion is tremendously being anticipated. </div>di2djoazhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15247490271431935023noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-649318507625074260.post-88429501770228751852010-02-16T13:13:00.002-08:002010-02-16T13:14:02.107-08:00United Nations Chickened Out<h4 class="serendipity_title"><a href="http://www.world-history-today.com/archives/135-United-Nations-Chickened-Out.html">United Nations Chickened Out</a></h4> <span class="serendipity_entryIcon"> </span> <div class="serendipity_entry_body"> <img style="border: 0px none ; float: left; padding-left: 5px; padding-right: 5px;" src="http://www.world-history-today.com/uploads/rwandagenocide.jpg" alt="" width="254" height="213" />Some argue that if the United Nations had intervened far earlier, this mass murder wouldn't have happened. There were cries of possible amassing of weapons and Hutu militant preparations, but the UN had dismissed this. In fact, the US, then governed by <a href="http://www.immigration-attorney-lawyer-services.com/archives/14-Since-1968.html">Pres Bill Clinton</a> had been a member of the First World countries who did not actively engage in the necessary peacekeeping process. It was only when the Tutsi-ruled Rwandan Patriotic Front, headed by Paul Kagame, took over the reigning Hutus did the Rwandan Genocide of '94 ended. </div>di2djoazhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15247490271431935023noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-649318507625074260.post-88551142997483229912010-02-16T13:13:00.001-08:002010-02-16T13:13:30.854-08:00Motorcycle Diaries Journey to the SelfWhen Ernesto "Che" Guevarra was twenty-three years old he decided to go on a trip with his friend, Alberto Granado to travel the vast region of Latin America. They lodged in only when there were people who would give them shelter and food. At that time, there were no <a href="http://www.discount-hotel-reservations-deals.com/archives/220-Room-Reservation-Guidelines.html#comments">convenient hotel reservations</a> yet like today. Their trip led them to discover the poverties of each nation and Che became aware of the conditions of his fellowmen. This awakened his patriotism and a deep desire to help free his people. What began as a simple journey to visit and enjoy the country became a journey towards self-realization and awareness of the present social conditions. This rarely happens to rich kids like Che. Most heroes, as we know, came from the grassroots and the injustices experienced spurred them into action. The accounts and narration of the adventures of Che and his friend in their motorcycle, La Poderosa, was recorded in the book titled, "Motorcycle Diaries."di2djoazhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15247490271431935023noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-649318507625074260.post-38523458894883397322010-02-16T13:11:00.000-08:002010-02-16T13:13:08.664-08:00A Visit to the Leper ColonyDuring the travels of Che Guevarra and his friend Alberto Granado, they came across a leper colony and helped their for awhile since they have medical expertise. I haven't actually read the novel but I've seen the movie which starred Gael Garcia Bernal. In the movie, there was a part there when Che swam all the way at the far end of the island towards the <a href="ttp://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs101/en/">leprosy patients</a> even though he had asthma. For him, crossing the river that separates the healthy doctors from the ill patients had conquered the division and marginalization that existed because of this setup. All throughout his stay in the leper colony, he wondered why these people had to be isolated from them. He had an awakening: the division exists not only in the leper colony but in Latin America as well. I hope rich people today are like Che.di2djoazhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15247490271431935023noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-649318507625074260.post-15740351623638461412010-02-14T12:55:00.001-08:002010-02-14T12:55:34.611-08:00The History of the Great WallThe Great Wall of China is one of the most famous building ever built in the world. It was built to protect China from the Mongol, Turkic, and other nomadic tribes trying to invade China. The wall measures 6,352 kilometers starting from Shanhai Pass on the Bohai Sea in the east, at the limit between "China proper" and Manchuria, to Lop Nur in the southeastern portion of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. The wall roughly delineates the border between North China and Inner Mongolia. It was built during the reign of the first Emperor of China, Qin Shi Huangdi between 220 BC and 200 BC.di2djoazhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15247490271431935023noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-649318507625074260.post-19222687478588849742010-02-14T12:53:00.002-08:002010-02-14T12:54:53.173-08:00Building the Wall<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.world-history-today.com/uploads/wall.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 212px; height: 295px;" src="http://www.world-history-today.com/uploads/wall.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br />During the reign of Emperor Qin Shi Huang, the initial wall of the <a href="http://www.satellite-world-maps.com/archives/111-China.html">amazing Great Wall</a> of China was built. It was mostly a product of several regional walls built by warring states and not by single endeavors. It was the government who ordered its citizens to build the wall. While building the wall, there were many workers who died because of enemy's attack. It was referred to as the “longest cemetery on Earth” or “the long graveyard.” It was also said that there are almost one million workers who died building the wall. The succeeding walls were built by succeeding dynasties namely the Han, the Sui, and the Ten Kingdoms.di2djoazhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15247490271431935023noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-649318507625074260.post-6034638133343451552010-02-14T12:53:00.001-08:002010-02-14T12:53:42.799-08:00World History Bio: The Ups and Downs of Alexander the GreatAlexander the Great is considered one of Greek's greatest leaders because of his contribution to the expansion of the Greek Empire during his reign as the king of Macedon. Read on to know more about the deeds of Alexander the Great.<br /><br />Alexander the Great as the conqueror<br /><br />During his reign, Alexander the Great lead his army to conquer several empires and nations, including the Persian Empire, Syria, Egypt, Assyria, and Babylonia. His quests were fueled by his dream to expand the Greek empire and make a name for himself. Through force and by diplomatic means, Alexander the Great was able to spread Greek civilization into the East. He is also known for this tactical skills, which made him a renowned army leader. The siege of Tyre was probably one of Alexander's greatest achievements as he conquered Persia. Because of Tyre's unique geographical location, Alexander used his brilliant tactical skills and created a causeway to gain entrance to Tyre.<br /><br />The defeats of Alexander the Great<br /><br />However, his quests were defeated by plots and schemes against his life. Because of his achievements, several members of his own army tried to kill him. In the end, Alexander the Great died at the young age of 32.<br /><br />Despite his short life, Alexander the Great had contributed greatly to the proliferation of Greek civilization. Because of this, he has been the subject of many movies. One of the most recent films that depicted the life of Alexander the Great was Alexander, which was directed by Oliver Stone and starred Colin Farrel as Alexander and Angelina Jolie as Alexander's mother, Queen Olympias.di2djoazhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15247490271431935023noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-649318507625074260.post-25559753480226679542010-02-14T12:51:00.000-08:002010-02-14T12:53:18.883-08:00Why build the Eiffel TowerBefore I didn't know the reason why the French built the Eiffel Tower. But through the article I've read and printed from my <a href="http://www.hewlett-packard-printer-photo.com/archives/142-Color-LaserJet-1600.html">new hp printer</a>, I discovered that it was for the International Inquisition in 1889. A lot of people especially French artists were against Eiffel's design. They all said that the Eiffel Tower will destroy the beauty and grace of Paris. They all requested Gustave to change the design but Gustave Eiffel didn't listen to them. After the Eiffel Tower was finished, a lot of people admired Gustave's creation. In fact, after the Inquisition they planned to dismantle the tower but they decided to retain it. Today, Eiffel Tower is the symbol of French culture and pride.di2djoazhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15247490271431935023noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-649318507625074260.post-1892958804094333652010-02-11T12:42:00.000-08:002010-02-11T12:44:01.941-08:00Who is Mohandas Gandhi?<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://t3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:qcVbcOrKSMdRuM:http://trsavage.files.wordpress.com/2008/06/gandhi.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 109px; height: 150px;" src="http://t3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:qcVbcOrKSMdRuM:http://trsavage.files.wordpress.com/2008/06/gandhi.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Learn about the real Mohandas Gandhi and find out what shaped his philosophy of non-violence.</span><br /><br />He is revered by millions as the Mahatma, meaning Great Soul.. To over 730 million Indians he is Bapu – father. Those in the West know of him as the inspiration behind the civil rights movements of the 60s. He is Mohandas Karanchand Gandhi – a small, man with a gaunt face and large eyes. His nose was too large for his face and his mouth sported a toothless smile. His cheeks were sunken and were topped by large round spectacles. You may remember Gandhi for his wise sayings but there is far more to the man than that. Let’s take a brief overview of two key events that shaped the life of the Mahatma.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://t3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:w94rYrf76gS0QM:http://www.assassinations.net/gandhipraying.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 95px; height: 115px;" src="http://t3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:w94rYrf76gS0QM:http://www.assassinations.net/gandhipraying.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br />At the age of 18, Mohandas Gandhi – a young Hindu from a comfortable Gujarati family – travels to Bombay on his way to England to study law. Before boarding his ship to England, however, Gandhi is called before his caste elders and told that if he goes to England he will be expelled from his caste. In the 1880s, Hindus were not to mix with Europeans. Gandhi refuses to cooperate and leaves India as an outcast from his Vaisya caste.<br /><br />Gandhi finds a difficult life in England, and is forced to live on the fringes of society. He is discriminated against by so-called Christians and this puzzles him. His verdict on Western religion: “I love Christ, but I despise Christians because they do not live as Christ lived.”<br /><br />Leaving England with a law degree, Gandhi travels to South Africa, where he plans to set up practice. There he finds blatant racial discrimination. Despite having a first class train ticket, he is forcibly removed from a train. That incident brings to the decision to never again yield to force and never to use force to win a cause.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://t3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:TfuTbJigourl3M:http://www.infowebml.ws/Gandhi_sepia.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 101px; height: 150px;" src="http://t3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:TfuTbJigourl3M:http://www.infowebml.ws/Gandhi_sepia.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br />These two early incidents in the man's life were pivotal to his life course. In the one he is rejected by his own people for wanting to associate with the white man. In the other, he is thrown off a train by white men because of his skin color.<br /><br />On retuning to India, Gandhi was disturbed that hateful divisions and scars were evident in Indian society caused by the caste system. Gandhi was particularly offended by the attitude to the Untouchables. Gandhi took up the torch for the Untouchables. Restoring them their name – Harijan – Gandhi attempted to shame those who deny them basic human rights. Regarding temples that prohibited Harijan worshippers, Gandhi would proclaim, “There is no God here!” At times, Gandhi even lived among the Harijan people.<br /><br />Gandhi hoped for a better India. In 1938 he said, “I hope to the last breath that India will make non-violence her creed, preserving the dignity of man." Unfortunately, Gandhi’s creed has not become a reality – in India or anywhere else on this earth. The man himself fell to violence and his country erupted in violence after his death. How much the world could now benefit from his wisdom.di2djoazhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15247490271431935023noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-649318507625074260.post-62284165578660342752010-02-11T12:40:00.000-08:002010-02-11T12:42:09.100-08:00Che Guevara: revolution hero<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://t0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:rfDssDPMJ51UEM:http://wyclefjean.files.wordpress.com/2009/07/che-guevara-albertokorda-1950.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 114px; height: 150px;" src="http://t0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:rfDssDPMJ51UEM:http://wyclefjean.files.wordpress.com/2009/07/che-guevara-albertokorda-1950.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Che Guevara, leader of the Communist Revolution in Cuba, is still honored by the Castro government.</span><br /><br />Ernesto Guevara was born on June 14, 1928 in Rosario, Argentina, into an upper-middle class ranching family. Around the age of two, he developed asthma, a condition from which he suffered his entire life. His parents moved to the province of Cordoba, hoping that the drier air would improve their son’s condition. It didn’t, and Ernesto was a frail, sickly child. As he could not engage in the rough play of the other boys, he became quite the little intellectual, reading Marx and Engels before the onset of puberty. His family, the Guevara de la Sernas, were opposed to the dictatorship of Juan Peron, and his mother in particular was quite active in anti-Peronist demonstrations.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://t2.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:7UvSDm2pkybAyM:http://imgs.sfgate.com/c/pictures/2007/10/09/mn_guevara.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 132px; height: 110px;" src="http://t2.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:7UvSDm2pkybAyM:http://imgs.sfgate.com/c/pictures/2007/10/09/mn_guevara.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br />As a student at Buenos Aires University in the late 1940’s, Guevara surprisingly took no interest in the revolutionary students’ movement. He was a quiet young man who studied medicine, specializing in the study of leprosy. He went to Peru to observe the disease in a leper colony. He also visited Colombia, Venezuela, and Miami before returning home to Argentina. He had become a Marxist during his travels<br />, and now scoffed at the notion of becoming a middle-class doctor. In September of1954, he went to Mexico City, taking a residency in the General Hospital. Soon after he met Fidel Castro, who was in political exile from Cuba.<br /><br />Guevara became a disciple of Castro’s, and pledged to help him overthrow the corrupt dictatorship of Fulgencio Batista in Cuba. On a farm in Mexico, Guevara and other revolutionaries were received training in guerrilla warfare by a Spanish Republican Army captain. It was here that he was nicknamed “Che,” which means “buddy” or “pal” in Italian<br />. Both Che and Castro were arrested by Mexican authorities during this time, but both were released. Castro knew that he could no longer bide his time in Mexico, and so the Cuban Revolution began.<br /><br />Che served as both doctor and Commandante in the Revolution, and was a harsh taskmaster to the soldiers under him. He insisted that his soldiers not only give themselves physically to the war, but that they have the correct Marxist state of mind. He was cruel and ruthless when it came to prisoners or defectors, presiding over mass executions without blinking an eye. His single-mindedness was greatly prized by Castro, who made him his right hand man and the Minister for Industry when Batista’s government was overthrown. Shortly after the Revolution, Che married Aledia March, and they went on an extended honeymoon.<br /><br />When Che returned to Cuba, he concentrated on moving Castro ever more to the left, and began to study the policies Mao Tse-tung was using China. While Castro wanted to be cautious in his economic reforms, Che was convinced that a quick and complete overhaul was necessary. Che’s ideas proved disastrous in practice, and in 1965, Fidel asked him to resign and direct his efforts elsewhere. Che took 120 Cubans with him to the African Congo in an attempt to foment Communist revolution that failed.<br /><br />Che turned his attention to South America. He believed that Bolivia would be his best bet to start a revolt, because of its discontented peasant population and the United States’ relative lack of interest in it. He grossly misjudged the political climate, however, and found it difficult to recruit soldiers. He was captured by Bolivian Army troops on October 8, 1967. The army was in a quandary as to what to do with him; they feared a trial would only stir up support for the revolutionary. The next day they executed Che Guavera by shooting him in his cell. Che reportedly said, “Go ahead, you are only killing a man.”<br /><br />Fidel Castro at first refused to believe the reports of his death, then turned it into a publicity bonanza for the Cuban government, which continues to this day.di2djoazhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15247490271431935023noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-649318507625074260.post-23402860885372515642010-02-11T12:35:00.000-08:002010-02-11T12:40:08.887-08:00Terry Bollea: A Hulk Hogan bio<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://t0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:niEMXDVSCciv5M"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 125px; height: 106px;" src="http://t0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:niEMXDVSCciv5M" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Terry Bollea, the legendary Hulk Hogan, learn about his life and accomplishments in this article.</span><br /> <br />In the late 1970’s, Terry Bollea was playing smoky, low-key bars as part of a rock band. Who would have predicted that twenty years later he would have become possibly the most successful wrestler of all time? Even if he isn’t, the man who became known as Hulk Hogan was instrumental in permanently changing the sports image.<br /><br />It was Freddie Blassie who gave Hulk Hogan the break that he needed as a wrestler. In those early years as an amateur (he debuted in 1978), he was cast as one of the bad guys, something that would completely reverse in later years. Most would agree that his style was a little raw at that time, but the charismatic man obviously had what it took to succeed at the highest level.<br /><br />Six years later in 1984, Hogan won his first WWF title, and had risen to prominence as a hero type, particularly popular with the kids. He defeated Iron Sheik at Madison Square Garden to capture the crown. Months earlier he had won his first major title in Japan. He was highly influential in making wrestling appeal to a mainstream audience. The catalyst for this was a fight against Roddy Piper in 1985, which ultimately became known as a prelude to the extremely popular Wrestlemania series.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://t2.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:NorC0hPFKArOlM"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 136px; height: 105px;" src="http://t2.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:NorC0hPFKArOlM" border="0" alt="" /></a><br />Hulk Hogan was the star of the early Wrestlemanias. In its second year he routed King Kong Bundy, a match fought in a cage. A year later he beat the man many considered to be number one, and virtually indestructible, Andre the Giant. However, he was beaten in the event in 1990 by the Ultimate Warrior, and decided to take time off to concentrate on things other than wrestling.<br /><br />For the next five years he threw himself into making movies such as Gremlins II, and appearing on TV. This, coupled with his flamboyant style, led him to be known as ‘Hollywood’ Hogan. A cartoon series was also produced in which he was the star. Wrestling fans who thought Hulk Hogan had retired for good were in for a shock though as he returned to the ring in 1994.<br /><br />In that same year he became the WCW World Heavyweight Champion by beating Ric Flair. Still idolised by his adoring fans, Hogan soon re-established himself as an all round favourite. Things changed two years later though when he, Kevin Nash and Scott Hall ganged up on Randy Savage to give him a right mauling. Even Hogan’s most staunch supporters were disgusted with his behaviour. For the next two years he reverted to the bad boy image that had served him well as an amateur. His fortunes turned full circle again though, and around the turn of the century he was back to the heroic wrestler that everybody loved. Shortly afterwards he announced his retirement on the Jay Leno show.<br /><br />All in all, Hulk Hogan won seven World Titles as a wrestler. The macho image he displayed at wrestling events with his 6’7”, 275lb frame has not always been there. He has worked hard for charity, especially for under privileged children, which shows there is a gentler, caring side to the man.di2djoazhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15247490271431935023noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-649318507625074260.post-70489393463818031652010-02-09T07:41:00.002-08:002010-02-09T07:50:44.249-08:00Commercialization And InternetThe idea behind the marketing of the newest technological discovery in 1983-84 sprang from the notion that Internet is popular, thus there is a high possibility of making a lot of money out of it. But unknowingly, entrepreneurs during those times failed to understand the essence of Internet. Suffice to say, they lacked the necessary education about Internet.<br /><br />This prompted the Internet Activities Board (IAB) and Dan Lynch to literally conduct workshops for the entrepreneurs. Basically, the lessons were about Internet Protocol and its functions. This gave way to a wider understanding the Internet, thus the inclusion of IP to commercial products reached the international market. Information Technology is undeniable that the education from IAB provided information technology professionals and computer wizards as well the confidence to compete with the growing Internet market.<br /><br />Ever since this commercialization succeeded in reaching the highest level of sales, the manufacturing industries, for almost two decades now, is continuously improving their products to meet the standards. Indeed, they have become the basic commodities in our business world and provide wireless network solutions. If we try to assess the present condition of the market, it is definitely among the strongest in history.di2djoazhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15247490271431935023noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-649318507625074260.post-75023809785252075932010-02-09T07:41:00.001-08:002010-02-09T07:41:47.062-08:00A Phenomenon Called GlobalizationToday is the period of the globalization. The internet, perhaps is the single greatest contributing factor to this advancement. There's a lot of debates and different perspectives about this economic development. There are those who contest this development, claiming that it is simply an attempt to extend the control of multi-national companies to all the other parts of the world. Developing countries are crying out, claiming that what was proposed to be a fair and free trade among nations, is simply an ideal that is left out of reality. Other theorists claim, that this is an inevitable result of the development of imperialism, capitalism, and so on.<br /><br />The problem with this is that the perspectives being taken are focused entirely on the economical aspect of the globalization phenomenon. Little do we see the benefits that are arising from the said social movement. Assistance to people who have been victims of natural disasters are coming from everywhere. Health and medical services are more far reaching than ever before. Communication, scientific researches, and understanding have all progressed substantially.<br /><br />But regardless, it is simply undeniable that this has been the direction human civilization has moved towards. Globalization in its broadest term, is simply a social phenomena wherein all of the people in the world become united. With the advent of Wireless internet access, it becomes hopeless and self-defeating to resist this change.<br /><br />The hardest part in any type of change sets in during the transition period from one point to the other. It wouldn't be far ahead before this event is accepted. Then, true progress will begin.di2djoazhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15247490271431935023noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-649318507625074260.post-35813177467506695982010-02-09T07:38:00.000-08:002010-02-09T07:41:00.200-08:00History of ChattingMost of my time (an approximate 12 hours a day, actually) is spent in front of my computer doing blogs like this one, checking my emails (and ridding it of annoying spam mails), surfing, and chatting with friends. Chatting is especially useful when I try to get updated on my friends' lives when we are all too busy to meet each other up. A self-professed chat addict, I would not know what my internet life would be without chatting.<br /><br />There is a lot of chat applets that are readily downloadable from the world wide web. Yahoo Messenger is just one of the instantly available chat applications around. Through several years, what was basically just a form of real-time communication spawned a lot of developments. These days, aside from chatting, you can also share photos, see each other through webcam, and hear each other's voice while typing away. Isn't technology a blessing?<br /><br />The modern chatting originated from Internet Relay Chat or IRC. A student from University of Oulu in Finland was the one who developed this system. Jarkko Oikarinen, the creator, improved an already existing chat program named MultiUser Talk or MUT. The result was IRC, which was launched in the year 1988.di2djoazhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15247490271431935023noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-649318507625074260.post-65498948569253747182010-02-04T10:37:00.000-08:002010-02-04T10:48:27.132-08:00IRISH POTATO FAMINE<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.historyplace.com/worldhistory/famine/thp-famine.gif"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 369px; height: 96px;" src="http://www.historyplace.com/worldhistory/famine/thp-famine.gif" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Introduction<br /></span><br /> Beginning in 1845 and lasting for six years, the potato famine killed over a million men, women and children in Ireland and caused another million to flee the country.<br /><br /> Ireland in the mid-1800s was an agricultural nation, populated by eight million persons who were among the poorest people in the Western World. Only about a quarter of the population could read and write. Life expectancy was short, just 40 years for men. The Irish married quite young, girls at 16, boys at 17 or 18, and tended to have large families, although infant mortality was also quite high.<br /><br /> A British survey in 1835 found half of the rural families in Ireland living in single-room, windowless mud cabins that didn't have chimneys. The people lived in small communal clusters, known as clachans, spread out among the beautiful countryside. Up to a dozen persons lived inside a cabin, sleeping in straw on the bare ground, sharing the place with the family's pig and chickens. In some cases, mud cabin occupants were actually the dispossessed descendants of Irish estate owners. It was not uncommon for a beggar in Ireland to mention that he was in fact the descendant of an ancient Irish king.<br /><br /> Most of the Irish countryside was owned by an English and Anglo-Irish hereditary ruling class. Many were absentee landlords that set foot on their properties once or twice a year, if at all. Mainly Protestant, they held titles to enormous tracts of land long ago confiscated from native Irish Catholics by British conquerors such as Oliver Cromwell. The landlords often utilized local agents to actually manage their estates while living lavishly in London or in Europe off the rents paid by Catholics for land their ancestors had once owned.<br /><br /> Throughout Ireland, Protestants known as middlemen rented large amounts of land on the various estates then sub-divided the land into smaller holdings which they rented to poor Catholic farmers. The middleman system began in the 1700s and became a major source of misery as they kept sub-dividing estates into smaller and smaller parcels while increasing the rent every year in a practice known as rack-renting.<br /><br /> The average tenant farmer lived at a subsistence level on less than ten acres. These Catholic farmers were usually considered tenants-at-will and could be evicted on short notice at the whim of the landlord, his agent, or middleman. By law, any improvements they made, such as building a stone house, became the property of the landlord. Thus there was never any incentive to upgrade their living conditions.<br /><br /> The tenant farmers often allowed landless laborers, known as cottiers, to live on their farms. The cottiers performed daily chores and helped bring in the annual harvest as payment of rent. In return, they were allowed to build a small cabin and keep their own potato garden to feed their families. Other landless laborers rented small fertilized potato plots from farmers as conacre, with a portion of their potato harvest given up as payment of rent. Poor Irish laborers, more than anyone, became totally dependent on the potato for their existence. They also lived in a state of permanent insecurity with the possibility always looming they might be thrown off their plot.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.historyplace.com/worldhistory/famine/thp-cottage.gif"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 341px; height: 357px;" src="http://www.historyplace.com/worldhistory/famine/thp-cottage.gif" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><br /> The most fertile farmland was found in the north and east of Ireland. The more heavily populated south and west featured large wet areas (bog) and rocky soil. Mountains and bogs cover about a third of Ireland. By the mid-1800s, the density of Irish living on cultivated land was about 700 people per square mile, among the highest rate in Europe.<br /><br /> Potatoes are not native to Ireland but likely originated in the Andes Mountains of Peru, South America. In the early 1500s, Spanish conquerors found the Incas growing the vegetable, which the Spanish called patata. They were taken back to Europe and eventually reached England where the name changed to potato. About 1590, potatoes were introduced to Ireland where farmers quickly discovered they thrived in their country's cool moist soil with very little labor. An acre of fertilized potato field could yield up to 12 tons of potatoes, enough to feed a family of six for a year with leftovers going to the family's animals.<br /><br /> By the 1800s, the potato had become the staple crop in the poorest regions. More than three million Irish peasants subsisted solely on the vegetable which is rich in protein, carbohydrates, minerals, and vitamins such as riboflavin, niacin and Vitamin C. It is possible to stay healthy on a diet of potatoes alone. The Irish often drank a little buttermilk with their meal and sometimes used salt, cabbage, and fish as seasoning. Irish peasants were actually healthier than peasants in England or Europe where bread, far less nutritious, was the staple food.<br /><br /> Irish farmers utilized an ancient 'lazy bed' planting technique. Using a simple spade, they first marked long parallel lines in the soil about four feet apart throughout the entire plot. In between the lines, they piled a mixture of manure and crushed seashells then turned over the surrounding sod onto this, leaving the grass turned upside down. Seed potatoes were inserted in-between the overturned grass and the layer of fertilizer then buried with dirt dug-up along the marked lines. The potato bed was thus raised about a foot off the surrounding ground, with good drainage provided via the newly dug parallel trenches.<br /><br /> Planting occurred in the spring beginning around St. Patrick's Day. Most of the poor Irish grew a variety known as Lumpers, a high yielding, but less nutritious potato that didn't mature until September or October. Every year for the poor, July and August were the hungry months as the previous year's crop became inedible and the current crop wasn't quite ready for harvest. This was the yearly 'summer hunger,' also called 'meal months,' referring to oat or barley meal bought from price gauging dealers out of necessity. During the summer hunger, women and children from the poorest families resorted to begging along the roadside while the men sought temporary work in the harvest fields of England.<br /><br /> By autumn, the potatoes were ready to be harvested, carefully stored in pits, and eaten during the long winter into the spring and early summer. The Irish consumed an estimated seven million tons in this way each year. The system worked year after year and the people were sustained as long as the potato crop didn't fail.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.historyplace.com/worldhistory/famine/introduction.htm">NEXT SECTION - Before the Famine</a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.historyplace.com/worldhistory/famine/ireland.gif"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 179px; height: 225px;" src="http://www.historyplace.com/worldhistory/famine/ireland.gif" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><br /> <span style="font-weight: bold;"><a href="http://www.historyplace.com/worldhistory/famine/before.htm">* Before the Famine</a><br /> <a href="http://www.historyplace.com/worldhistory/famine/begins.htm">* The Blight Begins</a><br /> <a href="http://www.historyplace.com/worldhistory/famine/hunger.htm">* The Great Hunger</a><br /> <a href="http://www.historyplace.com/worldhistory/famine/coffin.htm">* Coffin Ships</a><br /> <a href="http://www.historyplace.com/worldhistory/famine/ruin.htm">* Financial Ruin</a><br /> <a href="http://www.historyplace.com/worldhistory/famine/america.htm">* Gone to America</a><br /> <a href="http://www.historyplace.com/worldhistory/famine/after.htm">* After the Famine</a><br /> <a href="http://www.historyplace.com/worldhistory/famine/bibliography.htm">* Author/Bibliography</a><br /></span>di2djoazhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15247490271431935023noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-649318507625074260.post-85901981572669674532010-02-02T11:59:00.000-08:002010-02-02T12:00:59.543-08:00History Chart: The Death of Mozart (December 5, 1791)Born on January 27, 1756, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart was the youngest of the seven children. He was also one of the only two who survived, as the rest of his siblings died during early childhood. People consider him to be a musical genius even at an early age. At age 3, he already learned to play the clavichord. He wrote musical compositions as early as four years old and his public performance was set at age 5. Mozart then became one of the most influential classical musicians of his time and even beyond his death on December 5, 1791.<br /> <br />Mozart's music<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://t3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:6PKTtGFLZJl_lM:http://facstaff.uww.edu/allsenj/MSO/NOTES/0910/images/mozart.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 127px; height: 123px;" src="http://t3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:6PKTtGFLZJl_lM:http://facstaff.uww.edu/allsenj/MSO/NOTES/0910/images/mozart.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Mozart's musical compositions are known for their natural flow and charm. They express different emotions--humor, sorrow, or joy. He was also known for his operas, piano concertos, and symphonies, which exemplify musical mastery. As a versatile composer of his time, Mozart was also involved in chamber music and also wrote religious music. Johann Nepomuk Hummel and Ludwig van Beethoven were among the popular musicians who were deeply inspired by Mozart.<br /><br />The final days of Mozart<br /><br />Mozart was in Prague for the La clemenza di Tito opera premiere when he started to become ill. Though he still conducted for the The Magic Flute premiere, as days passed, his illness became more severe until he was bedridden. He suffered from pain, vomiting, and swelling. Mozart's death remains unknown, though some records claim that he suffered from "severe miliary fever." Others said it was trichinosis, influenza, a kidney ailment, or even mercury poisoning. But many believe that he died of acute rheumatic fever since he had attacks when he was a child.<br /><br />Mozart is described thin and pale, which is a stark contrast to his powerful music and influential compositions. Though he died at a very young age of 35, he was able to contribute much to musical history, experimenting with different musical genre and evoking varied emotions every time.di2djoazhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15247490271431935023noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-649318507625074260.post-43224212483850055782010-02-02T11:58:00.000-08:002010-02-02T11:59:11.997-08:00Looking Back at Historical Events: The Vietnam WarThe Vietnam War was a difficult time for both the Americans and the Vietnamese. It occurred from 1959 to 1975, fought between the communist North Vietnam and South Vietnam’s government, which was supported by the United States.<br /><br />Why the US had difficulty winning the Vietnam War<br /><br />Vietnam has struggled for its independence for years, making them prepared for the fight against the Americans. A US ally, South Vietnam, was not an organized single command. The American military lacked the proper strategies to have an advantage. They also did not have a clear idea of the war’s end and goals, and surged into war without understanding Vietnam’s situation. They opted for the traditional form of fighting instead of using counterinsurgency strategies.<br /><br />How the Vietnam War ended<br /><br />President Nixon has stopped sending troops in 1973, suspending offensive action against North Vietnam. In 1973, direct US involvement ceased according to the Paris Peace Accords. South Vietnam’s Saigon fell under communist rule on April 29, 1975. The defeat of South Vietnam was the inevitable fall of America in the war as well.<br /><br />Communist Vietnam’s victory wrapped up 116 years of the country’s fight with foreign occupation. Unfortunately, the win was at the cost of a million Vietnamese lives.di2djoazhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15247490271431935023noreply@blogger.com0