Monday, December 17, 2007

Christmas Trees: How It All Got Started

Christmas Trees: How It All Got Started






Long before the advent of Christianity, plants and trees that remained green all year had a special meaning for people in the winter. Just as people today decorate their homes during the festive season with pine, spruce, and fir trees, ancient peoples hung evergreen boughs over their doors and windows. In many countries it was believed that evergreens would keep away witches, ghosts, evil spirits, and illness.
In the Northern hemisphere, the shortest day and longest night of the year falls on December 21 or December 22 and is called the winter solstice. Many ancient people believed that the sun was a god and that winter came every year because the sun god had become sick and weak. They celebrated the solstice because it meant that at last the sun god would begin to get well. Evergreen boughs reminded them of all the green plants that would grow again when the sun god was strong and summer would return.
The ancient Egyptians worshipped a god called Ra, who had the head of a hawk and wore the sun as a blazing disk in his crown. At the solstice, when Ra began to recover from the illness, the Egyptians filled their homes with green palm rushes which symbolized for them the triumph of life over death.
Early Romans marked the solstice with a feast called the Saturnalia in honor of Saturn, the god of agriculture. The Romans knew that the solstice meant that soon farms and orchards would be green and fruitful. To mark the occasion, they decorated their homes and temples with evergreen boughs. In Northern Europe the mysterious Druids, the priests of the ancient Celts, also decorated their temples with evergreen boughs as a symbol of everlasting life. The fierce Vikings in Scandinavia thought that evergreens were the special plant of the sun god, Balder.


Germany is credited with starting the Christmas tree tradition as we now know it in the 16th century when devout Christians brought decorated trees into their homes. Some built Christmas pyramids of wood and decorated them with evergreens and candles if wood was scarce. It is a widely held belief that Martin Luther, the 16th-century Protestant reformer, first added lighted candles to a tree. Walking toward his home one winter evening, composing a sermon, he was awed by the brilliance of stars twinkling amidst evergreens. To recapture the scene for his family, he erected a tree in the main room and wired its branches with lighted candles.
Most 19th-century Americans found Christmas trees an oddity. The first record of one being on display was in the 1830s by the German settlers of Pennsylvania, although trees had been a tradition in many German homes much earlier. The Pennsylvania German settlements had community trees as early as 1747. But, as late as the 1840s Christmas trees were seen as pagan symbols and not accepted by most Americans.
It is not surprising that, like many other festive Christmas customs, the tree was adopted so late in America. To the New England Puritans, Christmas was sacred. The pilgrims's second governor, William Bradford, wrote that he tried hard to stamp out "pagan mockery" of the observance, penalizing any frivolity. The influential Oliver Cromwell preached against "the heathen traditions" of Christmas carols, decorated trees, and any joyful expression that desecrated "that sacred event." In 1659, the General Court of Massachusetts enacted a law making any observance of December 25 (other than a church service) a penal offense; people were fined for hanging decorations. That stern solemnity continued until the 19th century, when the influx of German and Irish immigrants undermined the Puritan legacy.


In 1846, the popular royals, Queen Victoria and her German Prince, Albert, were sketched in the Illustrated London News standing with their children around a Christmas tree. Unlike the previous royal family, Victoria was very popular with her subjects, and what was done at court immediately became fashionable—not only in Britain, but with fashion-conscious East Coast American Society. The Christmas tree had arrived.
By the 1890s Christmas ornaments were arriving from Germany and Christmas tree popularity was on the rise around the U.S. It was noted that Europeans used small trees about four feet in height, while Americans liked their Christmas trees to reach from floor to ceiling.
The early 20th century saw Americans decorating their trees mainly with homemade ornaments, while the German-American sect continued to use apples, nuts, and marzipan cookies. Popcorn joined in after being dyed bright colors and interlaced with berries and nuts. Electricity brought about Christmas lights, making it possible for Christmas trees to glow for days on end. With this, Christmas trees began to appear in town squares across the country and having a Christmas tree in the home became an American tradition.










Monday, November 05, 2007

Pôle Nord


Le pôle Nord est le point le plus au nord de la Terre.
La Terre tournant sur elle-même en 24 heures, l'axe de rotation passe par deux points de sa surface : le pôle Nord géographique et le pôle Sud géographique. Cet axe est incliné de 66°30 par rapport à l'écliptique (plan de l'orbite terrestre). Le pôle Nord se situe au milieu de l'océan Arctique dans une zone en permanence couverte par la banquise ; c'est le Pôle Nord géographique, que désigne en général le pôle Nord, sans autre précision.
Le pôle Nord peut être aussi défini de deux autres façons :
Pôle Nord magnétique : Le pôle Nord magnétique est l'endroit où le champ magnétique de la Terre pointe vers le bas. L'aiguille d'une boussole, quel que soit l'endroit où on se situe sur la planète, est pointée vers ce lieu. Il s'agit en fait du pôle Sud de l'aimant constitué par la Terre. Généré par les déplacements du noyau ferreux de la Terre, ce pôle est en déplacement constant (environ 40 km par an) : il a franchi en 2005 la côte canadienne et il est prévu qu'il se retrouve au dessus des terres sibériennes dans environ 50 ans ;
Pôle Nord géomagnétique : C'est le lieu où converge l'ensemble des champs magnétiques terrestres en supposant que les pôles magnétiques agissent exactement comme une barre aimantée. Il est déterminé par calcul. C'est vers cet endroit que se produisent les aurores boréales, résultant de la convergence des particules solaires guidées par les lignes du champ magnétique terrestre. (voir le schéma de l'article Magnétosphère). Il suit le pôle magnétique dans ses déplacements.
On appelle aussi pôle Nord de l'inaccessibilité une construction géographique. C'est le point de l'Arctique le plus éloigné de toute côte. Il a été atteint pour la première fois par Hubert Wilkins, qui le survola en avion en 1927 ; en 1958, un brise-glace russe atteignit ce point. Ce pôle est localisé à 84°03' nord, 174°51' ouest à environ 1 100 km de la plus proche côte.
Historique

Théorie erronée de la mer polaire libre de glace
Le géographe allemand August Peterman fut le principal tenant de la thèse de l'existence d'une mer polaire libre de glaces. Cette théorie était erronée, mais elle influença plusieurs expéditions de 1853 à 1876.

À la conquête du pôle Nord

siècle :
L'Américain Frederick Cook, parti avec une expédition très légère – il était seulement accompagné de deux Inuits – affirma avoir atteint le pôle le 21 avril 1908 mais ne rentra à sa base qu'après un long périple le 18 avril 1909 ;
À peu près à la même époque, l'Américain Robert Peary lança son expédition et affirma avoir atteint le pôle le 6 avril 1909. Peary obtint difficilement du Congrès des États-Unis d'Amérique qu'il soit reconnu officiellement comme le premier arrivé au pôle.
En fait, il semble aujourd'hui (presque) certain, depuis la découverte d'une copie du journal de Peary, que celui-ci se soit trompé et qu'il ne se soit approché du pôle que d'une quarantaine de kilomètres ; la « communauté exploratrice » de l'époque lui reprocha de n'avoir fait aucun relevé de position au cours des derniers 200 km de son voyage vers le pôle. Et, de plus, la vitesse moyenne qu'il affirmait avoir tenue lors du retour est considérée comme humainement impossible et n'a jamais été égalée depuis.
Cook se serait également trompé dans ses estimations, mais il existe un faisceau d'indices indiquant qu'il aurait même maquillé ses exploits et qu'il n'aurait en fait jamais tenté d'approcher le pôle Nord. Le débat n'est pas clos.
Les premiers hommes qui sont réellement parvenus au pôle Nord ont été respectivement :
James Clark Ross en 1831 atteint le pôle nord magnétique ;
Roald Amundsen et Umberto Nobile, qui l'ont survolé à bord du dirigeable Norge le 12 mai 1926 ;
le Russe Papanine qui s'est posé en avion le 21 mai 1937 ;
Wally Herbert qui a atteint le pôle Nord en traîneau à chiens le 5 avril 1969.
Autres premières :
Première expédition solitaire (confirmée) à atteindre le pôle Nord : Naomi Uemura (5 mars-29 avril 1978). Parti seul en traîneau à chiens et régulièrement ravitaillé par avion.
Première expédition (confirmée) à atteindre le Pôle Nord sans aucun ravitaillement : Will Steger International Polar Expedition. 1er mai 1986. Les membres de l'équipe étaient : Paul Schurke, Brent Boddy, Richard Weber, Geoff Carroll, Ann Bancroft et une équipe de 21 chiens. Brent Boddy & Richard Weber devinrent les premiers Canadiens, et Ann Bancroft, la première femme, à atteindre le Pôle.
Première traversée de l'océan Arctique en skis : l'expédition Polar Bridge de 1988 durant laquelle 9 Russes et 4 Canadiens parcoururent les 1 800 kilomètres séparant le nord de la Sibérie de l'Île d'Ellesmere au Canada en passant par le Pôle Nord. Richard Weber (chef de l'équipe canadienne) devint le premier homme à atteindre le Pôle Nord à partir des deux côtés de l'océan Arctique.
Première expédition solitaire (confirmée) à ski : Jean-Louis Étienne (1986). Premier Français au pôle, le 11 mai 1986, après 63 jours de marche.
Première traversée de l'océan Arctique à ski : l'expédition Polar Bridge de 1988 durant laquelle 9 Russes et 4 Canadiens parcoururent les 1 800 kilomètres séparant le nord de la Sibérie de l'Île d'Ellesmere au Canada en passant par le Pôle Nord. Richard Weber (chef de l'équipe canadienne) devint le premier homme à atteindre le Pôle Nord à partir des deux côtés de l'océan Arctique.
Premier lancement d'une montgolfière à partir du Pôle Nord : Global Concern Expedition, guidée par Richard Weber en 1989.
Première tentative pour atteindre le Pôle Nord et en revenir sans aucune assistance, sans ravitaillement et en utilisant uniquement des ressources humaines : Expédition de 1992 de Richard Weber et Mikhail Malakhov.
Première expédition commerciale au Pôle Nord : North Pole Dash de 1993 organisée par Richard Weber et Mikhail Malakhov.
Première expédition confirmée à atteindre le Pôle Nord et en revenir sans aucune assistance, sans ravitaillement et en utilisant uniquement des ressources humaines : expédition de 1995 de Richard Weber et Mikhail Malakhov.
Première expédition composée uniquement de femmes à atteindre le Pôle Nord à partir de la Russie : Women Quest 2001 guidée par Josée Auclair.
Premières personnes à atteindre le Pôle Nord durant la nuit polaire : Borge Ousland et Mike Horn. 23 mars 2006.
Premier monarque régnant à atteindre le Pôle Nord : Albert II de Monaco. 16 avril 2006.
Première expédition à atteindre le Pôle Nord sans aucune assistance, ni ravitaillement et en utilisant des raquettes exclusivement : Richard Weber et Conrad Dickinson, le 26 avril 2006.

Déplacement du pôle Nord magnétique

Depuis sa découverte en 1831, le pôle Nord magnétique s'est déplacé de plus de 1 126 km (700 miles) à raison d'environ 40 km par an[1]. Au moment de sa découverte, le pôle Nord magnétique se trouvait à l'extrême nord du Canada. Aujourd'hui, il se déplace vers la Russie provoquant des aurores boréales plus fréquentes côté russe.

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Tuesday, September 25, 2007

Tulipe, la star du printemps



Tulipe, la star du printemps





Plus de 5 600 variétés de Tulipes sont répertoriées dans le registre officiel international des noms de Tulipes édités par l’association des horticulteurs hollandais. La dernière en date : la Tulipe ‘Bernadette’ qui a été baptisée en avril dernier par Madame Bernadette Chirac à l’occasion de la fête nationale des Pays-Bas.
La Tulipe apporte ses couleurs franches et vives aux massifs et parterres des parcs, jardins, balcons… dès le début du printemps. Elle sait s’accommoder de toutes les expositions : le froid n’est pas un obstacle à son développement, excepté les gels intenses (-13 ou -14°C) qui sont très rares en France. La plupart des types de sols peuvent convenir à sa culture, pourvu qu’ils soient drainants et pas trop compacts.
La Tulipe, selon sa variété commence à fleurir dès le mois de février et ce jusqu’à la fin du mois de juin et mesure généralement entre 20 et 60 cm. Il est préférable de la mettre en terre à une profondeur égale à deux fois la hauteur et espacées les unes des autres de 10 cm. Après avoir planté les bulbes en octobre, c’est dès le début du mois de février que certaines variétés de Tulipes commencent à fleurir, et apportent une touche de lumière dans les jardins et sur les terrasses.
La plus odorante : la Tulipe ‘Ballerina’
La plus extravagante : la Tulipe ‘Green Wave’
La plus froissée : la Tulipe ‘Flaming Parrot’
La plus frangée : la Tulipe ‘Barbados’
La plus somptueuse : la Tulipe ‘Daydream’
La plus veloutée : la Tulipe ‘Pallada’
La plus noire : la Tulipe ‘Black Diamond’
La plus excentrique : la Tulipe ‘Picture’
La plus large : la Tulipe ‘Big smile’
La plus petite : la Tulipe ‘Tulipa biflora’
La plus grande : la Tulipe ‘Long Lady’
La plus hâtive : la Tulipe ‘Early Harvest’
La plus tardive : la Tulipe ‘Texas Flame’
La plus énergique : la Tulipe ‘Van Eyjk’
La plus verte : la Tulipe ‘Groenland’
La plus ‘double’ : la Tulipe ‘Miranda’
La plus éternelle : la Tulipe ‘Orange Emperor’
La plus contrecarrée : la Tulipe ‘Fashion’ (en fleur une journée !)
La plus robuste : la Tulipe ‘Strong Gold’
La plus épanouie : la Tulipe ‘Monte Carlo’
La plus exotique : la Tulipe ‘Exotic Bird’
La plus ‘multi-tête’ : la Tulipe ‘Georgette’
La plus ‘feuillage panaché’ : la Tulipe ‘praestans Unicum’
La plus patriote : la Tulipe ‘American Dream’
La plus hollandaise : la Tulipe ‘Polderboy’
La plus élégante : la Tulipe ‘Synaeda King’

Monday, August 13, 2007

KITTY DESIGNER
















INTERVIEW DE YAMAGUSHI YOKOHELLO KITTY DESIGNER

Jessica (Philippines) : Est ce que c'est vous qui imagine les nouvelles collections Hello Kitty ou bien est-ce que vous faîtes appel à un groupe de personnes pour vous aider et que vous prenez les décisions tous ensemble ?
Yamaguchi Yuko : J'imagine et crée moi-même !
Alex Truong (Etats-Unis) : Hello Kitty a commencé son aventure en jouets, dessins animés et désormais sur console vidéo. Quelles sont vos prochains plans pour Hello Kitty et sa troupe ?
Yamaguchi Yuko : Hello Kitty s'adapte à l'évolution du monde et donc aux nouvelles technologies. Je n'ai pas décidé des futurs plans mais je suis ouverte à toutes les idées.
Marissa (Etats-Unis) : Avez-vous conçu d'autres personnages, à part les collections Hello Kitty ?
Yamaguchi Yuko : J'ai également conçu beaucoup d'autres personnages comme Pinkncorisu, Brunch & Lunch, Charmmy Kitty et Ayankey.
Katie P (Etats-Unis) : Je constate qu'au Japon, Hello Kitty est destiné à tous les âges alors qu'aux Etats-Unis, la population jeune est davantage visée. Est-ce que cela va changer ?
Yamaguchi Yuko : Depuis les années 70, beaucoup de chanteurs, artistes et célébrités américaines ont soutenu Hello Kitty. De nos jours, vous trouvez des produits Hello Kitty pour tous les âges.
Mary Sanchez (Etats-Unis) : Y'a t-il une raison pour que Hello Kitty soit plus favorisé que sa soeur Mimi ? Et pourquoi, il n'y a pas autant de produits et accessoires Mimi, que Hello Kitty ?
Yamaguchi Yuko : Hello Kitty est le personnage principal de la famille White. Mimi fait partie de sa famille puisqu'elle est sa soeur jumelle et nous avons également des produits Mimi pour ses fans !
Karissma (Etats-Unis) : J'admire beaucoup votre travail. Je voudrais vous demander un conseil. Que conseilleriez-vous à une personne qui veut suivre vos traces ?
Yamaguchi Yuko : Il faut prêter une attention particulière à toutes les choses autour de soi. Pour comprendre plus de choses dans différents aspects, diversifiera vos intérêts et désirs d'apprendre de nouvelles choses.
Lina Correa (Colombie) : Hello Kitty est une icône mondiale. Pourquoi est-elle devenu un modèle ?
Yamaguchi Yuko : Les fans de Hello Kitty retransmettent à leurs enfants cet amour pour elle. Cela perdure, génération par génération. Et puis, Hello Kitty évolue et s'adapte au temps en conséquence.
Ronisha (Etats-Unis) : Pourquoi s'appelle t-elle Hello Kitty ?
Yamaguchi Yuko : Son nom vient de l'histoire d'Alice aux pays des merveilles. Il y avait un chat blanc nommé Kitty.
Brynna (Etats-Unis) : Pourquoi avez-vous inventé une famille et des amis à Hello Kitty ?
Yamaguchi Yuko : Après la naissance de Hello Kitty en 1974, j'ai pensé qu'elle avait besoin d'une famille et d'amis, comme bon nombre d'entre nous. Je ne voulais pas qu'elle soit seule, c'est pourquoi, j'ai inventé son entourage.
Barbara (France) : Quelle a été votre première source d'inspiration pour élever Hello Kitty ?
Yamaguchi Yuko : J'ai voulu créer un personnage qui se reliait à nos vies. C'est pourquoi, son caractère est très doux, aimable et amical. J'ai voulu qu'elle soit la meilleure dans chaque aspect afin qu'elle soit peut-être un modèle et qu'elle joue un rôle dans la vie de ses fans. En conséquence, les fans de Hello Kitty peuvent avoir un développement personnel positif dans leurs personnalités et styles de vie.
Celeste Junnor (Ecosse) : J'adore Hello Kitty ! Quel est votre article préféré que vous avez conçu ?
Yamaguchi Yuko : La série pinky kilt ! Regardez, j'en ai des dizaines autour de moi.
Maria Soares (Portugal) : Pensez-vous que Hello Kitty, en tant que star mondial, devrait avoir des responsabilités plus sociales ?
Yamaguchi Yuko : Laissez moi réfléchir... Hello Kitty ne pense pas à des choses si dures ! Mais en tantt que femme, elle soutiendrait les droits des femmes. Et elle milite activement pour la campagne Pink Ribbon.
Fan (Hong-Kong) : Comment avez-vous repensé à la conception de Hello Kitty dans les années 80 ?
Yamaguchi Yuko : A cette époque, Hello Kitty avait peu de fans. Peu de personnes la connaissait. Nous avons montré à une équipe de testeurs, le nouveau design de Hello Kitty et ils nous ont donné leurs avis. Avec cette recherche, nous avons donc découvert ce que le marché voulait, et Hello Kitty renaissait.
Fan (Hong-Kong) : Que pensez-vous de la popularité de Hello Kitty ?
Yamaguchi Yuko : C'est probablement le fait que Kitty change avec le temps et semble

toujours heureuse.

Fan (Hong-Kong) : Qui a décidé que Hello Kitty n'aurait pas de bouche ? Et pourquoi ?

Yamaguchi Yuko : Hello Kitty a une bouche mais nous ne l'avons pas dessinée. Si nous avions dessiné sa bouche, il serait alors facile de lire ses émotions. Nous avons préféré laisser les gens dans le mystère, ainsi vous pouvez deviner et créer ses sentiments sur vos propres émotions.

Monday, July 02, 2007

Celebrate! Holidays In The U.S.A. Independence Day (July 4)

Celebrate! Holidays In The U.S.A.
Independence Day (July 4)

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"Proclaim liberty throughout all the land unto all the inhabitants thereof. "
-words written on the Liberty Bell
By the middle of the 1700s, the 13 colonies that made up part of England's empire in the New World were finding it difficult to be ruled by a king 3,000 miles across the Atlantic Ocean. They were tired of the taxes imposed upon them. But independence was a gradual and painful process. The colonists could not forget that they were British citizens and that they owed allegiance to King George III.

A "tea party" and a "Massacre" were two events that hurried destiny. Along with general unrest these events united the colonists. In 1767 a tea company in India, owned by England, was losing money. To save the company, England levied a tax on tea sold in the colonies in 1773. Partly as a joke, Samuel Adams and other Bostonians dressed up as Indians and dumped a cargo of the India Company Tea into the Massachusetts Bay. King George III did not think it was funny, nor did he lift the tax on tea. In the Boston harbor, British soldiers were jeered and stoned by colonists who thought the soldiers had been sent to watch them. The soldiers fired into the crowd and killed a few citizens. The colonists exaggerated the number killed and called it a massacre.

Virginia took the first step toward independence by voting to set up a committee to represent the colonies. This First Continental Congress met in September of 1774. They drew up a list of grievances against the crown which became the first draft of a document that would formally separate the colonies from England. George Washington took command of the Continental Army and began fighting the British in Massachusetts. For the next eight years, colonists fought fervently in the Revolutionary War.

In the meantime, a war of words was being waged in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. On July 2, 1776, the Second Continental Congress presented & debated a second draft of the list of grievances, and John Hancock, the president of the Second Continental Congress, was the first to sign. The document, called the Declaration of Independence, was treasonous against the crown and the fifty-six men who signed it were in danger of being executed.

Independence Day is celebrated on July 4 because that is the day when the Continental Congress adopted the final draft of the Declaration of Independence*. From July 8, 1776, until the next month, the document was read publicly and people celebrated whenever they heard it. The next year, in Philadelphia, bells rang and ships fired guns, candles and firecrackers were lighted. But the War of Independence dragged on until 1783, and in that year, Independence Day was made an official holiday. 1941 Congress declared 4th of July a federal holiday.
*Except for the U.S. Virgin Islands where celebrations are held a week prior to the climax on 4th of July.

John Adams, a lawyer, the first Vice President and the Second President of the United States, was one of the members of the Second Continental Congress who signed the Declaration of Independence. He wrote to his wife, "I believe that it will be celebrated by succeeding generations as the great anniversary festival... it ought to be celebrated by pomp and parade, with shows, games, sports, guns, bells, bonfires and illuminations from one end of this continent to the other..."

John Adams may have predicted the later Independence Day celebrations or perhaps he started traditions with his words. Every July fourth, Americans have a holiday from work. Communities have day-long picnics with favorite foods like hot dogs, hamburgers, potato salad, baked beans and all the fixings. The afternoon activities would not be complete without lively music, a friendly baseball game, three-legged races and a pie-eating or watermelon-eating contests. Some cities have parades with people dressed as the original founding fathers who march in parades to the music of high school bands. At dusk, people in towns and cities gather to watch the fireworks display. Wherever Americans are around the globe, they will get together for a traditional 4th of July celebration!

The Declaration of Independence was first read in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Today, at the Freedom Festival at Independence Hall, costumed Americans re-enact historical scenes and read the Declaration of Independence for the crowd. In Flagstaff, Arizona, American Indians hold a three-day pow-wow around the Fourth of July, with a rodeo and dancing. In Lititz, Pennsylvania, hundreds of candles that were made during the year are lighted in the park at night and floated in the water while a "Queen of Candles" is chosen. The ship U.S.S. John F. Kennedy comes in full sail to Boston Harbor in Massachusetts on the Fourth of July, and the Boston Pops Orchestra plays a musical concert of patriotic songs as more than 150,000 people watch fireworks burst over the water.

The Fireworks Family

New Castle, Pennsylvania, is home to the Vitale Fireworks Display Company, responsible for more than one thousand fireworks shows every year. In 1922 Constantino Vitale brought his expertise at making fireworks from Italy to the United States. He passed his secrets on to his four sons, and since then the company has been making Americans exclaim "ooohhh" and "aaahhhh" at the lighted colors in the sky on July 4 and other occasions. "It's like putting on a ballet show except that the dancers were above, painting the sky," says Vitale's granddaughter. "Seeing that spectacular display in the sky made me really love the country."

The sight and sound of a ringing bell represents freedom to most Americans because of the Liberty Bell that rang in Philadelphia when the new country was born.

In 1752 the new bell arrived safely from England, but at the first blow from a hammer to test it, it cracked. Not wanting to delay by returning the bell to England, the officials ordered bell founders in Philadelphia to remedy the fault. Two times it was recast before it was finally ready.
On July 8, 1776, the bell rang to mark the occasion of the adoption of the Declaration of Independence. On April 16, 1783 it proudly announced the proclamation of peace and the newly won independence of the United States of America.

At every event of national importance, the Liberty Bell joined its harmonious tones to the general acclaim: in 1789, the election of George Washington; in 1797, the election of John Adams; in 1799, the death of Washington; and in 1801, the election of Thomas Jefferson. On July 4, 1826, the bell was nearly three quarters of a century old, and the nation whose birth it had helped to announce was now a lusty youngster of 50. Joyous indeed was the bell's sound on that occasion. Then, on July 8, 1835, while tolling for the funeral procession of John Marshall, Chief Justice of the Supreme Court and one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence, the great bell cracked.

Fearing that the crack would eventually destroy the historic bell, officials ordered it taken down from the tower. It was after this that the Liberty Bell received its name. Since then, the bell has been on display but has never rung. In fact, no one living knows the voice of the Liberty Bell, for it has never spoken since 1835. The crack which appeared on that occasion is prevented from widening by a mechanical device, called a spider, installed inside the bell.

A few years ago the bell foundry in London that originally cast the great bell made a friendly proposal - to ship the bell back to England, melt it, and recast it at no cost to the United States. The keepers of the bell considered the offer very seriously before giving an answer. Then they decided that the cracked liberty bell is a cherished symbol of America's struggle for freedom. Just as a man's facial lines and creases are a visible sign of the stress and strain he has survived, so the crack in the Liberty Bell serves to remind Americans that their forefathers did not win liberty for their country and its people without strain and stress - and even extensive fractures. Therefore, on behalf of the American people, the officials thanked the London foundry for its generous offer, but refused, adding: "We like the bell as it is, crack and all. It is an important part of our heritage."

YANKEE DOODLE
Strangely, this patriotic song has derogatory origins. The music and words go back to 15th century Holland, as a harvesting song that began, "Yanker dudel doodle down." In England, the tune was used for a nursery rhyme, and later a song making fun of Puritan church leader Oliver Cromwell, because "Yankee" might be a mispronunciation of the word "English," and "doodle" refers to a dumb person. But it was a British surgeon, Richard Schuckburgh, who wrote the words which ridiculed the ragtag colonists fighting in the French and Indian War. Soon after, the British troops used the song to make fun of the colonists in the Revolutionary War. Yet it became the colonists' rallying anthem for that war.

AMERICA, THE BEAUTIFUL
Every so often a movement is started to make "America the Beautiful" the national anthem instead of "The Star-Spangled Banner," largely because it was not written as a result of a war. The tune is easier to sing and the whole country is praised, not only the flag. Katherine Lee Bates, an English professor at Wellesley College, rode in a horse-drawn wagon up Pike's Peak, a mountaintop-in Colorado in 1893. She saw a view of the mountains that few people saw in those days and was inspired by her glimpse the "spacious skies" and "purple mountains" to write a poem, which became the first verse of the song. The public loved the poem, and Miss Bates was encouraged to set it to music She chose the music of a hymn by Samuel Ward. The words and music travelled around the world, and today Mexico, Canada and Australia sing it with their own countries' names instead of "America."
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United States of America, National Anthem
"Star Spangled Banner"
by Francis Scott Key, 1814

Oh, say can you see by the dawn's early lightWhat so proudly we hailed at the twilight's last gleaming?Whose broad stripes and bright stars thru the perilous fight,O'er the ramparts we watched were so gallantly streaming?And the rocket's red glare, the bombs bursting in air,Gave proof through the night that our flag was still there.Oh, say does that star-spangled banner yet waveO'er the land of the free and the home of the brave?

On the shore, dimly seen through the mists of the deep,Where the foe's haughty host in dread silence reposes,What is that which the breeze, o'er the towering steep,As it fitfully blows, half conceals, half discloses?Now it catches the gleam of the morning's first beam,In full glory reflected now shines in the stream:'Tis the star-spangled banner! Oh long may it waveO'er the land of the free and the home of the brave!

And where is that band who so vauntingly sworeThat the havoc of war and the battle's confusion,A home and a country should leave us no more!Their blood has washed out their foul footsteps' pollution.No refuge could save the hireling and slaveFrom the terror of flight, or the gloom of the grave:And the star-spangled banner in triumph doth waveO'er the land of the free and the home of the brave!

Oh! thus be it ever, when freemen shall standBetween their loved home and the war's desolation!Blest with victory and peace, may the heav'n rescued landPraise the Power that hath made and preserved us a nation.Then conquer we must, when our cause it is just,And this be our motto: "In God is our trust."And the star-spangled banner in triumph shall waveO'er the land of the free and the home of the brave!

Monday, June 25, 2007



Hello, and welcome to my Home page. I've created this site to share a little about myself with friends, both old and new. I must confess at the outset that this certainly qualifies as a "vanity page", and is full of graphics and text about me! Yes, Peter Pan is a character known for vanity, but that is not my main intent! Rather, it is intended to Reach out to other like minded souls, potential new friends, and others who believe in magic and diversity, while having some fun.
I also started this site so that Tinkerbell would have an easier time finding me! . So first of all I should say that I live in Tampa Bay, Florida. I'm 53, but I'm making considerable effort and (hopefully as you can see from my photo!) having some success at staying young... maybe even childlike. But "why Peter Pan" you ask? Although Peter pan is definitely a boy, to me this character is perfectly androgynous, and in his eternal childhood rejects the idea of growing up and leaving this behind.



Of course life is not a game, and I do strive to continually grow in emotional, spiritual, and mental maturity. But there is and always was this lighter side to me. Childlike, "pixyish", and unencumbered by notions of what is and is not permissible for boys. Am I too old for such notions? Certainly not! Sure there have been times when it was a difficult and lonely road to be so openly unique, and I confess I am often mystified why something so harmless bothers some people so. But the human spirit is hard to suppress, and I have made my choice to be true to myself and live my dreams in this life. So in the end, the many friends I do make are for real, and each is worth more than 100 phonies. For what it's worth, looking in retrospect, the road less traveled certainly has been (and continues to be) the better choice!
Unfortunately this society has deified the gender boundaries they've established, especially the rules of what boys should and should not enjoy doing. This is why little girls are praised for interest in "boyish" activities, but boys who do the opposite are seldom tolerated. So such a character, by his fairy-like qualities and elfin appearance, represents a literal blaspheme against their "god". No wonder few stage productions have dared to cast a male for this character, despite the many talented actors, songwriters, and directors available! (Only a few like Disney and more recently PJ Hogan have had the guts to do so.) Yet it is for these very reasons that this character suits me perfectly. Besides, the God of Love that Jesus spoke of is the only one I serve. Too bad modern religion seems to have missed that.
I've many hobbies and interests including Music (guitarist), electronics, Computer programming, and I generally like anything creative. In fact, I've just released my first music CD! I also like science fiction/fantasy as well as comedy, fantasy, action-adventure films, and even well done "tear jerker" movies. I'm not super active, but I do like long walks in the woods or on the beach, and bicycling. I also LOVE to dance, though I must confess my dancing is indeed very silly! I tried to take ballet for a while, and though that is a discipline where any age beyond 30 hurts, it still is a lot of fun. And, as you might have guessed, I DO love the outfits. In fact I do quite a bit of sewing and enjoy making and modifying clothes and costumes. These range from things that I can wear all the time, to fun things more suited for parties, special occasions, or "club-wear", and many would be very suitable for a ballet performance!
I know all this makes me a very silly boy! But If it sounds like a fun thing or even if you'd just like a good laugh (I laugh at myself all the time!) you can check out Peter Pan's Fashion Page! for more of my concoctions . And the fun doesn't end there! Just look at all the links below to tons of other adventures I've had. Donations are always welcome too, and YES... you can even get a T-shirt!
I hope you enjoy my site, and certainly if you have similar interests, or fancy yourself in whole or in part as a pixie, elf, fairy, or similar creature, I hope to hear from you. This site has now been up since 2001, and in that time has somehow gained worldwide popularity. But beyond entertainment, it has inspired many to take a more active role in the simple joy of being themselves. I suppose many of my words would be unnecessary if people could lighten up and not fear or disdain such harmless self expression. But just the same, I've been humbled to touch so many lives, and the site will likely continue to grow for a long time.
I'm also a very spiritually active person, and have created another site called Through the Cracks Ministries. It's purpose is to demonstrate how loving God really is, and help people who wish to truly verify His existence for themselves. I guarantee that if you seek the God of love, but can't stand religion, you will be blessed by this site. I've also started another area on this site just for my music, where you can hear samples from my long promised CD, and hopefully buy a copy. I also have a site I started related to electronics and technology, called Elfin Technologies, which is still a work in progress. For all my current site projects, visit my "HOME" home page.
Oh and of course... If you happen to have seen Tinkerbell, Wendy, Tigerlilly, or any of my pals, please tell them of my site! Or if you are (or think you may be) Tinkerbell, click the image to the right for a more serious look into the heart of 'Peter'. And whoever you are, remember... keep the child in you alive and protected. It's more important than you can possibly know!!!

Monday, June 04, 2007

Law



Main article: Law of France

The basic principles that the French Republic must respect are found in the 1789 Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen
France uses a civil legal system; that is, law arises primarily from written statutes; judges are not to make law, but merely to interpret it (though the amount of judge interpretation in certain areas makes it equivalent to case law). Basic principles of the rule of law were laid in the Napoleonic Code. In agreement with the principles of the Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen law should only prohibit actions detrimental to society. As Guy Canivet, first president of the Court of Cassation, wrote about the management of prisons: [1]
Freedom is the rule, and its restriction is the exception; any restriction of Freedom must be provided for by Law and must follow the principles of necessity and proportionality.
That is, law may lay out prohibitions only if they are needed, and if the inconveniences caused by this restriction do not exceed the inconveniences that the prohibition is supposed to remedy.
French law is divided into two principal areas: private law and public law. Private law includes, in particular, civil law and criminal law. Public law includes, in particular, administrative law and constitutional law. However, in practical terms, French law comprises three principal areas of law: civil law; criminal law and administrative law.
France does not recognise religious law, nor does it recognise religious beliefs or morality as a motivation for the enactment of prohibitions. As a consequence, France has long had neither blasphemy laws nor sodomy laws (the latter being abolished in 1791). However "offences against public decency" (contraires aux bonnes mœurs) or breach of the peace (trouble à l'ordre public) have been used to repress public expressions of homosexuality or street prostitution.
Laws can only address the future and not the past (ex post facto laws are prohibited); and to be applicable, laws must be officially published in the Journal Officiel de la République Française