Civil War Reenactment – Is It Curious They Have Such Appeal?

History, People
Reenactment. Perhaps the most significant war in any nation is an internal war, a civil war. This is doubtless because a civil war threatens the very existence of a nation. Since technology within a nation is likely accessible to both sides, it might be expected there would be heavy damage, including considerable mortality, inflicted on both sides. Motivation for the Civil War The United States engaged in civil war during the presidency of Abraham Lincoln, from April 1861 until the Spring of 1865. There are any number of opinions as to what motivated the North to take a stand against the South. One person will say it was because of slavery. Maybe this was the primary motive, but others think it was not. Perhaps it was a bit more like…
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Jargon: When to Use It and When Not to Use It

Education, People
[caption id="attachment_18089" align="alignright" width="420"] Huh?[/caption] Jargon is essential to many professions. Jargon consists of words and phrases that speed up communication when discussing complex or convoluted ideas. But the silver lining of jargon frequently enshrouds a gray cloud. An Example A chemist speaks to a lab technician about sodium cations. Now most of us know what a sodium atom is, but the word ‘cation’ doesn’t ring a bell. What is a cation? As the last three letters of its name suggest, a cation is an ion. Atoms are electrically neutral. That is, they do not have a net electrical charge. Although they contain positive protons and negative electrons, the total charges are equal. In effect, they cancel each other out. Add an additional electron or subtract one already present and…
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Is Fish Really Brain Food?

Food, People
[caption id="attachment_17712" align="alignright" width="440"] A lovely, healthful salmon dinner. Maybe add a small baked potato.[/caption] It’s been years since I’ve heard anyone describe fish as brain food. But they did. And there was no disproof that the saying was correct. So what’s the verdict? Is there any validity to the idea that fish is good for the central nervous system and specifically for the brain? Fat and Cholesterol Fish is low in calories. Fish is low in fat, especially saturated fat. The varieties of food fish highest in fat contain no more than about 15% fat. In fact, fish is rich in Omega-3 fatty acids. Most fish are relatively low in cholesterol. The overall conclusion is that fish is a suitable dietary addition for those who wish to reduce their…
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Cats and Dogs Instinctive Behavior – One Difference

animals, People
[caption id="attachment_16506" align="alignright" width="440"] Best Buds[/caption] Cats and dogs. No human can truly understand the mind of a cat or of a dog. But pretty fair conclusions can be drawn if we observe, think, and meditate on their actions and the manner in which these are carried out. Attempting to put this into practice, I deduced that there is one particular difference between cats and dogs and their instinctive behavior. Particularly is this so in connection with cleanliness, in their "taking care of business." The Cat When a cat (especially a female cat) wants to do its business, it seeks out an isolated, generally quiet locale. It usually digs into the soil (we’re disregarding cat litter at the moment) and then squats to do its thing. Afterward, it turns around…
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I was a Fuller Brush Door to Door Salesman

History, People
[caption id="attachment_15837" align="alignright" width="380"] The Fuller Brush Girl - Lucille Ball[/caption] I was once, if only for a short while, a Fuller Brush man. Perhaps you were, too. If not, maybe you were a customer. Fuller was one of the more iconic door-to-door enterprises. Two Namesake Movies Two cute movies were named for the firm. One, starring Red Skelton, was The Fuller Brush Man (1948). The other starred Lucille Ball and Eddie Albert, named The Fuller Brush Girl (1950). Is Fuller Brush Still Around? Fuller Brush still has a presence. Certainly it has a web site. While it still offers its superior brushes and brush-related products, it is by no means limited to these. Where Was My Assignment If I recall correctly, my assignment was in the town of Haddonfield…
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How I Relate to Mrs. O’Leary, Her Cow, and the Great Chicago Fire

People, The Arts
[caption id="attachment_15804" align="alignright" width="480"] Currier & Ives Image[/caption] The Great Chicago Fire was a deadly, massive fire that ran from October 8 – October 10, 1871. Hundreds of people were killed, but outstandingly, 110,000 were left homeless. The exact cause of the fire was never established, but it began in a barn owned by one Mrs. O’Leary, just behind 137 DeKoven Street. A map was made in 1871 showing the area of the conflagration. Examining Pieces of the Puzzle One of the theories was that it was Mrs. O’Leary’s cow kicked over a lantern that ignited the fire. Certainly it is the most romantic theory. But how does Mrs. O’Leary and a fire in her barn relate to me? First, it involves the famous Abraham Lincoln photographer, Alexander Hesler. It…
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How Schuyler, Home of John-Boy Walton, Got Its Name

History, People
[caption id="attachment_15352" align="alignright" width="480"] Walton Mountain Museum[/caption] The much loved fictional TV series The Waltons was based on author Earl Henry Hamner’s real life family. The name of the community in which Hamner’s family resided is Schuyler. It is located in Nelson County, Virginia and neighbors Scottsville, Virginia. Today, apart from its connection with The Waltons, Schuyler goes largely unnoticed. Yet historically, it was a vibrant locality. It was inextricably linked to the Alberene Soapstone Quarry. The question arises, how did Schuyler get its name? How Schuyler Got Its Name Schuyler, with its current population of some 300 persons, was once the home of thousands. It was originally named Walker’s Mill, after William H. Walker and his family. Walker’s son S. G. Walker is listed in the 1880 U.S. census…
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George Bucher Ayres: A Letter to His Niece

History, People
[caption id="attachment_14191" align="alignright" width="480"] The Man.[/caption] George Bucher Ayres (1829-1905) was neither an unknown nor an insignificant man. He is famous for having hand-painted photographs of Abraham Lincoln, originally taken by Alexander Hesler. You see, he had purchased the man's studios and found the glass negatives. But George Bucher Ayres was not a singularly talented man. He was an historian, a photographer, a newspaper editor, an author, so forth and so on. Search for him by name and you will learn a number of things about him. One of his most interesting adventures was when George Bucher Ayres booked Swedish Nightengale Jennie Lind (formerly employed by Phineas T. Barnum) to make a public appearance in Chambersburg, Pennsylvania. George Bucher Ayres - Artistically Inclined Yes, George Bucher Ayres was also into…
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Saved from Cannibals by Captain James Ceronio

History, People
[caption id="attachment_26236" align="alignright" width="480"] New Guinea cannibals. - Image Library of Congress[/caption]Yes, some people were saved from cannibals by my distant relation. You see, he was a ship’s captain. He had been raised on the east coast of what would become the United States. But he didn't stay there indefinitely. James Montague Delare Ceronio was born 1782/1783. He grew up in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He died December 6, 1860 in Chandernagore, India. This fascinating man was married 3 times. First to Elizabeth Beckford of Australia. Then to Mary Poles on November 15, 1811. Finally to Catherine Amanda Charters on March 1, 1823. How would he help some people be saved from cannibals? My distant cousin, Marilyn Long, writes: “I went to Chandernagore where James died in 1860 from fever as he…
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Transcribe Missing Words in This 1700s Document

History, People
Transcribe missing words... A distant relative purchased a photocopy of part of a letter from the late 1760s written by a family member. In fact, the letter’s author was my 4x-great-grandfather, George Stockham. He was my mother’s mother’s mother’s husband’s father’s father’s father. I transcribed the letter. Can you transcribe missing words I couldn't? He was born in Bristol, Gloucestershire, England in 1736. He died 20 Apr 1821 near Bristol, Bucks County, Pennsylvania. At the time of the letter, George was engaged in seeking willing and able men to travel aboard the Concord, under the captain-ship of Jacob Volans of Bristol, and become indentured servants in the colonies/states. George Stockham is of particular interest in connection with the Revolutionary War and persons who wish to join either the S.A.R.1 or…
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