Another interesting space discovery

An artist's interpretation which shows the free-floating planet CFBDSIR2149, at 100 light years away 

A team of astronomers have published a study stating that they have discovered what they believe is a huge rogue planet (which is several times larger than Jupiter) that is the closest of it's kind- located approx. 100 light years away.

This planet was observed at the Canada-France-Hawaii Telescope located in Mauna Kea in Hawaii. They were searching for 'brown dwarfs' but this was unsuccessful.

This planet is approx 4-7 times the size of Jupiter. It was discovered by the infrared glow that is emitted from its core.

Based on their research, the astronomers believe with a high probability that this is a young, free-roaming planet rather than a brown dwarf. It is moving with a group of stars.

Required background information:
1. Size of Jupiter- Equatorial diameter is 143,000 km. Jupiter's mass is 318 times that of Earth's.

2. Rogue planet- Free-floating, nomad planet, orphan planet (not gravitationally bound to any stars or brown dwarf.

3. Brown dwarf- Brown dwarfs are objects which have a size between that of a giant planet like Jupiter and that of a small star. 

****This discovery definitely gives scientists and astronomers world wide another angle to discover and further study is essential.

There is real potential in further astronomy study.


Source: http://ca.news.yahoo.com/blogs/geekquinox/not-lost-space-astronomers-spot-potential-rogue-planet-174447512.html
http://starchild.gsfc.nasa.gov/docs/StarChild/questions/question62.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rogue_planet
http://www.cbc.ca/news/technology/story/2012/11/14/sci-rogue-planet.html
http://www.universetoday.com/15149/size-of-jupiter/

Guy Fawkes Plot (1605)

Guy Fawkes and the Gunpowder Plot

Guy Fawkes

In 1605, a man named Guy Fawkes and a group of plotters attempted to blow up the Parliament building in London using barrels of gunpowder which were placed in the basement. Their goal was to kill King James and his leaders.

Why blow up the parliament?
This is the building where the laws that govern England are made.

The Parliament building in London England

Why assassinate the King?
The King was an unfortunate player in this game. He did not recall laws against Roman Catholics that Queen Elizabeth 1st had started. She died in 1603. A small group of Roman Catholics including Guy Fawkes believed that Roman Catholics were being treated unfairly. Catholics had to practice their religion in secret. There was even laws and fines for people who didn't attend the Protestant church on Sunday or on holy days. James 1st even passed more laws against Catholics when he became King (many had hoped he would be more tolerant).

King James 1

What was the plan?
The next time King James opened the Parliament the plotters would blow up the building using gunpowder. The group bought a house next door to the Parliament. The house had a cellar that went underneath the Parliament giving them unusual access. The plan involved putting gunpowder under their house. They got a hold of 36 barrels of gunpowder.

Guy Fawkes was given the job of keeping watch over the barrels of gunpowder and to light the fuse. On the morning of Nov. 5th, 1605 soldiers had searched and discovered Guy hidden in the cellar and arrested him. The plotters need more and more support.  One of the plotters had reached out and alerted his brother-in-law who was a lord not to attend Parliament on November 5th.

How did the soldiers know of the plot? 
One possibility is this was part of a sting operation using an undercover to gain access to the group. Another possibility surrounds gathering the necessary supplies (36 barrels of gunpowder) may have gotten the group on the radar of authorities. Another possibility is the rumour of a letter alerting one of the members of the government to stay away is now thought of being fabricated by king's officials. A suspected turncoat is Francis Tresham. One issue with the letter is that it was unsigned. Any of the plotters could have claimed ownership and could of saved themselves from torture and possibly death. No one did. Nor did any of them seem to know about it. The letter was also very vague in nature (it said nothing about the details of the planned attack) but yet the King and his men  knew exactly when and where to catch the plotters and to stop the explosion mere hours before it was set to take place. So the question becomes How did they know?

Tower of London

Guy was taken to the Tower of London. He was held and tortured and questioned about the identity of the other plotters. Eventually, he gave in and started talking.

Who were the co-conspirators?
Zealous Catholics that believed in by beheading the government, they could usher in a new era of Catholicism in Protestant England. There were 13 in total. They had their first meeting on May 20th, 1604.

• Robert Catesby -leader. After James's death, he had plans to make the king's young daughter, Elizabeth, queen and than later would arrange for her to marry a Catholic nobleman. He was well educated at Oxford University but left without his degree in order to avoid taking the Oath of Supremacy. In 1601, he tried to remove Elizabeth 1 from power with the Earl of Essex. Since he only had a minor role in this plan he was not executed but instead was heavily fined. In order to pay this fine, he needed to sell his manor house.
• Thomas Wintour
• Thomas Percy
• John Wright
• Christopher Wright
• Robert Wintour
• Thomas Bates
• Everard Digby- his role was to kidnap Princess Elizabeth from Coombe Abbey.
• Francis Tresham

Some of them were killed while resisting arrest. While others including Fawkes plead not guilty and went to trial. They were convicted of high treason. In January 1606, they were hung, drawn, and quartered.  Fawkes was executed with Thomas Wintour on January 31st, 1606.

Who was Guy Fawkes?
He was born in York in 1570.
His father Edward was a proctor of the ecclesiastical courts (religious courts).
He attended school at St. Peter's school with John and Christopher Wright.
Guy was brought up Protestant but was converted to Roman Catholic.
In 1592, he married Maria Pulleyn.
In 1593, he was enlisted in the Spanish army. He had munitions experience in the Netherlands.


The After Effects
King James celebrated his survival of this assassination plot against him by ordering the people of England to have a bonfire on the night of November 5th. This event is still remembered in England and is celebrated annually by both fireworks and the burning of effigies on November 5th. November 5th is called Guy Fawkes Day or Bonfire Night and is marked by celebrations throughout the United Kingdom.

73 years later in 1678, they began to search the cellars of the Parliament before opening each new session as a precaution.

An important thing to remember is the book V for Vendetta written by David Lloyd and Sir Alan Moore (a recent movie as well) transformed the character of Guy Fawkes from villain to hero. The character in the book wore a famous Guy Fawkes mask.

Guy Fawkes Mask

Sources:
   http://resources.woodlands-junior.kent.sch.uk/customs/guy/history.htm
http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,1856603,00.html
http://www.bonfirenight.net/gunpowder.php
http://www.bonfirenight.net/
http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/STUfawkes.htm
http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/british/civil_war_revolution/gunpowder_robinson_01.shtml

Geronimo's Cadillac (Short biography)

Geronimo was seen as the last great defender of the Native American way of Life but by others he was seen as a stubborn holdout who was violently driven by revenge and was putting the lives of others in danger. Is one opinion right or are they both right depending on how you look at the situation? Balancing current views of right and wrong with the historical context.

Geronimo and his associates at the 101 Ranch taking a drive in a  Locomobile Model C. (Geronimo is wearing the top hat). 

There is a description of this picture from a letter (artifacts/sources).
This photograph was taken on June 11, 1905, at the Miller brothers 101 Ranch in Oklahoma. The Indian in the full head dress to the left of Geronimo is Edward Le Clair Sr. (a Ponca Indian). Geronimo greatly admired his beaded vest that later on that day it was given to him. When Geronimo died 4 years later he was buried in this vest. There are three other photographs of Geronimo from that day that are very misleading.

One of these photographs shows Geronimo with several mounted Army soldiers. At this time, he was still imprisoned at Fort Sill, Oklahoma and guards had to accompany him.

Another photograph shows him standing beside a dead buffalo, which he had supposedly just killed.  The picture shows a number of arrows sticking out of the dead animal. They advertised this event as the last buffalo Geronimo killed. This is extremely ironic since buffalo were not found in the region that Geronimo lived and he had not killed this animal. Range hands had put the buffalo in a bow and arrow range and since the arrows were not fatal, one of the cowboys finally shot the animal in the head.

The third photograph shows Geronimo skinning the dead buffalo.


This photograph served as the inspiration for the noteworthy song by Michael Martin Murphey as the title track of his debut album, Geronimo's Cadillac in 1972. This song has become an unofficial anthem for the American Indian Movement in the 1970s. This song has been redone multiple times.

The life and times of Geronimo:
He was born in June of 1829.
He was a naturally-gifted hunter.
By the time he was 17 years old, he lead four successful raiding operations.
He continued the tradition of the Apaches who resisted the white colonization of their territory in the Southwest. Mexico put a bounty on Apache scalps- up to 25$ for a child's scalp.
He met and married a woman named Alope. They had 3 children together.
During a trading trip, tragedy stuck their camp. When Geronimo returned, he found his mother, wife, and children were all dead. To honour tradition, he burned the belongings of his family and headed out into the wilderness to grieve.
He and 200 other men, hunted down the Mexican soldiers who killed his family. This went on for 10 years as he tried to have revenge on the Mexican government.
He was caught in 1877 and was sent to live on a reservation.
For four long years he struggled with life on the reservation and escaped in September 1881.
Over the next five years, he and a small band of followers engaged in what was the last Indian wars with the U.S.
At one time he had almost 1/4 of the Army's forces (almost 5,000 troops) trying to hunt him down.
After years of war, he surrendered to U.S. troops in 1886.
While he became a celebrity, he spent the last 2 decades of his life as a prisoner of war.
He published his biography in 1905.
He died in February of 1909, when thrown from a horse on his way home. He spent one night in the cold and was found by a friend the next day. Unfortunately, his health was declining and he passed away 6 days later with his nephew by his side.

On his death bed he said" I should never have surrendered" and "I should have fought until I was the last man alive". 

Was this man wrong to want revenge for his family's death?
Does it matter what his motives were for all the fighting?
Was he mad with revenge or was he fighting for the all First Nations in the United States?
Should he have had others fight with him or was this a fight he should of done alone?
Should he have surrendered when he did or sooner or not at all?
Can we judge this event based on current believes about right and wrong?
What about historical context? What else was happening within the U.S?



Source:
http://indiancountrytodaymedianetwork.com/2011/05/05/geronimos-cadillac%E2%80%94er-locomobile-32429
http://www.biography.com/people/geronimo-9309607

Hurricane Sandy- Regardless of your location we all have a weather fascinationThe

The sheer size of Hurricane Sandy shows how far-reaching her effects will be felt. 

Much like the common fascination people have with outer space, we also have a fascination with weather. Unlike, space where we see the infinite space/wondering about what else might be out there-- weather has an element of practicality surrounding it. We must know what is going on with the weather to prepare in advance for it. Weather also affects so many aspects of our lives. We build houses close to water (building on the beach) so terms like storm surge and flooding are real concerns. We also need to know where/when to drive (police advisories). We also need to look at how weather affects even our clothing choices. We need to dress appropriately for the weather conditions. We can also look at preparations for emergencies.

We can also look at hurricanes from a historical approach- I find the idea of naming storms interesting. It gives people a way to identify (location, time period, and intensity).

Unfortunately, in any storm situation there can be a loss of human life and also damage to property.

Sources:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/08/25/why-hurricanes-have-names_n_936928.html
http://www.cnn.com/2012/10/29/us/sandy-bounty-ship/index.html?hpt=hp_c2

Military History- In the wake of Hurricane Sandy

The Sentinels (guards) at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Arlington National Cemetery, Virginia maintain their vigil even as Hurricane Sandy bears down on the Eastern Seaboard. The Old Guard has guarded the tomb every minute of every day since April 6, 1948. This is a great honour in the United States. 
Today, there will be no exception. 

Follow-up on bridging the gaps and making history appealing to the masses

A comment on my blog yesterday got me thinking about how many television shows incorporate and use history and historical elements. We are surrounded by history but yet not everyone notices the historical elements- you can train your mind to be on the outlook for aspects of it. I seem to use/take many events and find the historical implications/context as an important aspect.

Television channels include Spike, Discovery, The History Channel, and National Geographic are prime examples **showcasing some interesting shows, documentaries, movies, and they have extremely useful websites as well.

Media has really opened our eyes to the importance of history and how we deal with history on a daily basis. For example, the internet has allowed us to search and find old editions of magazines or magazine articles and newspapers.

The comment on my blog also brought up the idea of making history hands-on. Being able to feel, hear, see, smell, and even taste history make's history come alive. History is more than dates and historical figures but is also about experiences. Becoming a tourist in your community- getting out and walking an old cemetery or church or even a museum allows history to become more concrete and allows you to be a detective/explorer using all your senses to explore history.

Bridging the gap- making history appealing to the masses

History can be interesting, fun, wide-ranging appeal if varying approaches are taken. History is not just about dates.

History can take a wide variety of forms and you can approach it from a lot of different topics and this will allow you to provide a connection with history.

- Do you like politics? Than maybe studying the history of political elections or looking at a political figure would interest you.
-Do you love crime shows? Than maybe studying crime, crime patterns, or a specific criminal would spark your interests in crime and bridge the gap with history.
-Do you like women (feminism) or family stories? Maybe you could look at the history of family? How has family changed over time? Or look at a specific event from the perspective of women and family.

You can study why our country is the way it is? For example, look at political relations (why do we get along with certain countries more than others), government and elections, justice system, health care, education.
Use current events/media for ideas and look for connections with the past to link up with the present.

History is not useless facts- they provide context for other areas of your life. Like reading the newspaper (history is useful background information).

History provides connections to yourself (places your life in context), your family (how did you come to live in area and why), and your community.

History isn't just reading in a book but it is also about experiences- act like a tourist in your own town. What can you explore for a low cost and learn something important about your community?

Another area you could study with family heirlooms and artefacts --research a special piece (your grandmother's china or photographs).

Look at form and function of events, people, and also things.

The discovery of a new planet

How close is close? Are we really alone out there?

Astronomers have found a new planet, the closest outside of our solar system (known as exoplanets) - a mere four light years away or 25 trillion miles away!

Since the discovery of the first exoplanet in the early 1990's more than 800 have been discovered but this is the closet to Earth. This is a relatively new aspect of science/astronomy since it has only been studied for approx. 22 years and the fact that more than 800 exoplanets have been discovered or approx. 36 exoplanet discovery's per year. This demonstrates that exoplanets is an area that is being researched by a wide variety of scientists throughout the world.

Scientists have determined that it is too close to the sun to support life since the surface temperature is estimated at 1,200 degrees Celsius. This planet is roughly the same size of Earth and orbits one of the suns in Alpa Centauri.

It is a landmark discovery because the planet is of a relatively low mass and our closest neighbour.

However, previous studies have shown that if there is one planet orbiting a sun there is normally others within the same system.
This leads astronomers to further research moving forward.

One discovery can lead to many other research opportunities in the future.

Yet again, man is looking out beyond Earth to see what else is out there. Space exploration is continuing and a growing field.

So let's all keep looking and reaching for the stars- anything is possible.

Source:
http://cnews.canoe.ca/CNEWS/Science/2012/10/17/20288431.html

Mohawk woman to become a Catholic Saint

Kateri Tekakwitha is to become the first aboriginal person in North America to become a Catholic Saint

A Mohawk woman is set to rise to sainthood in a ceremony that will take place at the Vatican's Saint Peter Basilica in Rome on Sunday October 21st, 2012 --300 years after her death. Several members of the Mohawk First Nation community located near Montreal Quebec are planning to attend the ceremony.

This event marks the importance of the celebration for the survivors of Canada's residential school system (long-lasting legacy of a system riddled with physical and emotional abuse). Former students  credit Tekakwitha's spirit with giving them strength to endure the horrific situation and trauma. This  was common place with approx. 150,000 children were removed from their homes and their families and forced to attend government-run schools since the late 19th century.
.The Life and Times of Kateri Tekakwitha

She was born in 1656 in Ossernon, which is now Auriesville in New York. According to records, she suffered from smallpox at the age of 4. The smallpox left her partially blind and scarred.

Unfortunately, she was ostracised for wanting to devote her life to God. She proceeded to leave her community and travelled to the Catholic mission of St. Francis Xavier in Sault-Saint-Louis in Quebec. She received her First Holy Communion in 1677. Kateri was so devout and made a vow of virginity. She devoted her life to Jesus for her entire life.


When she died she was serving the Catholic Church in Kahnawake, Quebec at the age of 24 (1680). She died after years of self-flagellation and ailing health.

According to people who witnessed her death almost 300 years claimed that her scars disappeared soon after her death and her face was beautiful.

She was than called "Lily of the Mohawks".

She was named "vulnerable" by the church in 1943 and blessed by Pope John Paul II in 1980.

How does someone become a saint?
The Catholic Church has 4 important steps that must occur prior to becoming a saint:

1. The subject must have been a worthy follower of God and washed away of all sins. A Bishop must review the person's life and they become a "Servant of God".
2. To become a "vulnerable" one must of lived their life in virtue of the church and testimonies showing their lives are presented to officials in the Vatican review them.
3. Blessed by a pope which shows substantial evidence that a miracle was preformed on their behalf. In her case, she is credited with curing a boy of flesh-eating disease.
4. A second miracle must be accredited to them, so that they are deemed "blessed". However, this can be waived by the Pope. 

To this day, she remains the first Native American to be blessed by the Catholic Church.

Marked on her tomb are the words "a lady of quality"-- may we all stop and think about what these words mean in our current world situation. 

She has become a symbol of hope for Aboriginals throughout Canada. 

Source: http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/montreal/story/2012/10/14/kateri-tekakwitha-saint-catholic-churc.html

The history of Thanksgiving in Canada

In Canada, Thanksgiving is celebrated on the 2nd Monday in October.

Thanksgiving in Canada is a time to give thanks for a good harvest while Thanksgiving in the United States is a tradition of remembering the Pilgrims and the settling in the New World. 

Since Canada is further north (location) the harvest takes place earlier. The Europeans also had festivals of thanks and harvests in the month of October.

There are many historical stories surrounding Thanksgiving which contribute to our present day celebrations.

The first Canadian Thanksgiving took place in Newfoundland in 1578 (a formal ceremony hosted by the British explorer, Martin Frobisher to give thanks for surviving the long journey in which he tried to find a northern passage to the Orient). He was later knighted and there is a northern bay in Canada named in his honour (Frobisher Bay).

Other settlers arrived and continued this tradition. 

French settlers arrived with Samuel de Champlain and held large feasts of thanks. This was called "The Order of Good Cheer". They even shared with their First Nation neighbours.

After the Seven Years War that ended in 1763, the citizens of Halifax Nova Scotia held a special day of Thanksgiving.

During the American Revolution, many Americans who were loyal to Britain came to Canada where they brought their customs and traditions to Canada including the pumpkin pie and cornucopia. 

Cornucopia is a curved goat's horn filled with fruits and grains by farm workers. This tradition began in Europe and the tradition has carried on.

Later on in 1879, Parliament declared Nov. 6th as a day of Thanksgiving and a national holiday in Canada.

Over the years, many dates were used for Thanksgiving- the most popular being the 3rd Monday in October.

Following World War I, both Armistice Day and Thanksgiving were celebrated on the Monday of the week in which November 11th occurred. 

Ten years later, in 1931, the two days became separate holidays and Armistice Day was renamed Remembrance Day (still celebrated on November 11th).

Finally, on January 31st, 1957, Parliament proclaimed..."A Day of General Thanksgiving to Almighty God for the bountiful harvest with which Canada has been blessed  ... to be observed on the 2nd Monday in October.

Thanksgiving is a statutory holiday in Canada, except in PEI, Newfoundland and Labrador, New Brunswick and Nova Scotia.

In 1941,  the United States Congress set the National Holiday of Thanksgiving as the fourth Thursday in November.  In general, Thanksgiving is a much larger holiday in the United States than Canada. There is no Black Friday in Canada. Much of the food is similar such as turkey, cranberry sauce, and pumpkin pie. You may also include regional foods such as the French-Canadian meat pie called tortiere. Another popular choice is 

Turducken which gives you the best of all worlds (turkey, duck, and chicken baked together). Some of the contemporary Thanksgiving traditions in Canada include parades, customary 'family feast' and 'turkey'. It is a time for sharing, loving and family reunions. The central idea behind the celebration is to be thankful for the past harvest and praying for the coming year. 

Sources:

http://www.twilightbridge.com/hobbies/festivals/thanksgiving/canada/

http://www.kidzworld.com/article/2614-canadian-thanksgiving

http://video.about.com/gocanada/What-Is-the-History-of-Canadian-Thanksgiving-.htm

http://www.craigmarlatt.com/canada/symbols_facts&lists/thanksgiving.html

http://www.thanksgiving-day.org/celebration-canada.html

http://gocanada.about.com/od/canadatravelplanner/a/thanksgiving.htm

http://www.ehow.com/how_4443682_celebrate-canadian-thanksgiving.html

http://www.globaltvbc.com/holidays/6442498292/story.html

Queen Mary 2 Cruise Ship

The Queen Mary 2 Cruise Ship- September 25th, 2012

Look at the height above the water

Looking down at the Queen Mary 2

The Queen Mary 2 leaving the port

Front shot

Front shot- sheer height

This Week in History- September 30th- October 6th

This Week in History

Sunday September 30– On this day in 1955, movie star James Dean dies at age 24 in a car crash on a California highway.

Monday October 1- On this day in 1946, Mensa the well-known high-IQ society is formed which is non-political and free from all social distinctions (racial, religious, etc.). The society is created by Roland Berrill and Dr. Lancelot Ware; the only requirement for membership is a high IQ (within the top 98th percentile).  Membership is now estimated to be over 100,000 worldwide and includes a wide variety of members including boxers, actors, actresses, writers, politicians, and inventors.

Tuesday October 2- On this day in 1492, King Henry VII of England invades France. Cartier landed at Hochelaga, the site of Montreal in 1535.

Wednesday October 3- On this day in 1995, OJ Simpson is acquitted of the brutal double murder of his estranged wife, Nicole Brown Simpson, and her friend, Ronald Goldman, after a 252 day trial that rocked the world.

Thursday October 4- On this day in 1909, Governor-General Earl Grey laid the cornerstone of the Parliament Building, Regina.

Friday October 5- In 1982, Laurie Skresiet was the first Canadian to reach Mt. Everest's summit in Nepal.

Saturday October 6- In 1744, a force from Louisburg abandoned the attempt to capture Annapolis Royal.

In 1868, Prime Minister John A. Macdonald proposed better terms for Nova Scotia for joining Confederation. This led Howe to join Macdonald’s government.

Relaunching the Bluenose II

The Bluenose I

The relaunch of restoration of Bluenose II in September 29, 2012.

The Bluenose II an iconic symbol of Canada is undergoing a renewal- starting with being relaunched into the water yesterday, September 29th, 2012 to the applause of thousands of onlookers. The relaunch occurred in Lunenburg Nova Scotia at the same spot where the original Bluenose was launched more than 90 years ago. The connection to the past and history while the finding anew in a classic symbol is a really neat historical moment. There is a sense of pride that surrounds the Bluenose. 

This revival of an icon did not come cheaply- 2 years of extensive restoration and $15.9 million. Much of the deck and hull made out of Douglas Fir has been replaced. There is still work that needs to be completed including two masts, sails, and rigging which will be completed in the upcoming months. Much of the work was done inside a building on the Lunenburg waterfront. 

History: The Bluenose II is a replica of the original Bluenose, a fishing and race schooner designed by William J. Roue that won worldwide fame for its beauty and flat-out speed.The first version of the Bluenose II, was built in 1963 by the Oland family of Halifax Nova Scotia to help promote the sales of Schooner beer. 

By 2013, the Bluenose II will resume a full schedule of sailing.

The image of the original Bluenose is showcased on the Canadian dime since 1937, three postage stamps, and the Nova Scotia license plate. 


Sources:
http://cnews.canoe.ca/CNEWS/Canada/2012/09/29/20244881.html
http://www.thestar.com/news/canada/article/1264360--thousands-on-hand-for-relaunch-of-restored-bluenose-ii

The History of Cruise Ships

The History of Cruise Ships

Cruise ships are also known as a cruise liner and are used for passenger ships for pleasure voyages. Transportation is not the primary focus since they often return to the same port but instead it is about exploring, adventure, luxury, and relaxation. Cruise ships are a large part of the tourism industry.

The world's biggest cruise ships are Royal Caribbean International's Oasis of the Seas and its sister ship Allure of the Seas.

The earliest ocean travelling vessels were not concerned with passenger traffic but instead with the volume of cargo they could care.

Black Ball Line in New York, in 1818, was the first shipping company to offer regularly scheduled service from the United States to England and to be concerned with the comfort of their passengers.

By the 1830's, steamships were introduced and dominated the transatlantic market of both passenger and mail transportation.

The dawn of cruises for pleasure has been linked to the year 1844.

During the 1850's and 1860's there were remarkable improvements to the quality of the voyage for passengers; as ships began to cater solely to passenger traffic.

Prior to the dominance of air travel (commercial success in the late 1960's) passenger liners were the preferred mode of travel. The habit of cruising grew gradually out of the practice of transatlantic crossings, which never took fewer than four days. In the competition for passengers, ocean liners added luxuries—the Titanic being the most famous example—such as fine dining and well-appointed staterooms.

By the early 20th century the notion of the superliner was developed and Germany led the market in the development of these immense and elaborate floating hotels. These superliners tried to abolish the discomforts of ocean travel (minimize the movement of the sea). The Mauritania and the Lusitania, were both owned by the Cunard Line of England, started the custom of dressing for dinner and promoted the romance of the voyage. But of course, speed was still the deciding factor in the design of these ships.

The White Star Line was owned by American financier J.P. Morgan. White Star Line introduced the most luxurious passenger ships ever seen in both the Olympic (complete with swimming pool and tennis court) and the Titanic. The sinking of the Titanic on its maiden voyage devastated the company. Cunard bought out the White Star Line in 1934.

World War I interrupted the building of new cruise ships. Many older liners were used to transport troops. The years between 1920 and 1940 were considered the most glamorous years for transatlantic passenger ships. During World War II cruise liners were transformed into troop carriers and all transatlantic cruising ended until after the war.

The 1960's witnessed the early stages of the modern cruise industry. Cruise ship companies concentrated on vacation trips in the Caribbean, and created a “fun ship” image- a need to appeal to a wide market including young families (a need for entertainment for children and teenagers). Cruise ships focused on creating a relaxed and a laid-back environment and for providing wide-ranging on-board entertainment. There was a decrease in the role of ships for transporting people to a particular destination; rather, the emphasis was on the voyage itself. The new cruise line icon/picture was solidified with the popularity of the TV series “The Love Boat” which was popular from 1977 until 1986.

Sources:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cruise_ship

http://www.jobmonkey.com/cruise/html/a_brief_history.html

http://www.cruiseshipodyssey.com/timelinemain.htm

http://cruiselinehistory.com/a-brief-history-of-the-cruise-ship-industry/

The Appeal of Cruise Ships

The Appeal of Cruise Ships

As we usher in fall in the city of Saint John and the surrounding area we are seeing a boom in cruise ship visits to our port. The temperature and levels of humidity is moderating, the leaves are changing color (leaf-color peak season) makes for a beautiful season to visit the Maritimes.

There are 3 cruise ships in port today! Very excited to see the beauty of the Queen Mary 2- what an amazing and beautiful ship. At the time of her construction in 2003 by Chantiers de l'Atlantique, Queen Mary 2 was the longest, widest, and tallest passenger ship ever built, and with her gross tonnage of 148,528 also the largest. Although later cruise ships are larger, Queen Mary 2 remains the largest ocean liner (as opposed to cruise ship) ever built.

This week will bring 8 ship calls between Monday and Thursday (Sept 24-27) with triple cruise ship days on Monday, September 24 and Tuesday, September 25. This includes the added call of the 3100 passenger capacity Emerald Princess on Monday, September 24 and puts the total cruise guests expected this year on 74 ships at just over 190,000.

“We are pleased to gain an added visit of Emerald Princess on Monday,” noted Jim Quinn, President and CEO of Port Saint John. “This addition to the schedule gave us a second triple cruise ship day next week and brings to the total cruise guests expected over a four day period to 20,000 guests and 7,800 crew experiencing our city and region”.

He further noted the following week is nearly as busy with more than 17,000 cruise guests and nearly 7,000 crew members.

      What is the appeal of cruise ships as a new form of vacation?

1.       Hassle and stress free (you unpack once)
2.     You don’t have to drive to a variety of places (different ports)
3.        Pampering
4.       Relaxing (being out on the quiet ocean)
5.     Lots of things to do on board (ex. Cooking classes, dance lessons, swimming, yoga, sports, exercising just to name a few)
6.       Get to travel an  extensive geographical area
7.     Opportunity to shop
8.     Wide variety of meals
9.        Accessible to groups and wheelchair accessible
10.        Romantic experiences
11.        A learning environment
12.        Great value for the money!

It may be crazy busy down town but it is also important to recognize the importance of these guests in our city and the economy. These people not only visit museums, take tours, and visit other tourist attractions but also eat in our restaurants and visit stores. This brings a lot of money into our economy. They also take pictures and share the beauty of our city to others (word of mouth about their experiences in the city is the best form of advertisement we can get)!

**I will add some pictures later.

Sources:

http://www.cunard.com/Ships/Queen-Mary-2/About-Queen-Mary-2/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RMS_Queen_Mary_2

http://www.sjport.com/english/news_events/article.asp?PressID=283

http://www.prlog.org/10086319-18-reasons-why-people-take-cruises.html

Continuation from yesterday's post concerning History in the making: Space Shuttle Endeavour's final flight over California

How does an event become a historical moment or historical event?

Every event must first begin in the present.

We can also frame (outlook, approach) the event based on previous events, our own personal experiences, previous knowledge, research, books/articles we have read on the subject, the media.

By creating a frame of reference we can judge, critique, assess, compare/contrast, look at cause and effect of an event.

This event than can be judged (criteria can vary from person to person- subjective).

We can also look at the event in terms of other similar events? How does this event compare to previous events? Look at scale, possible effects, etc.

For example, forest fires have been a major issue in much of the United States in 2012. We can compare these events to previous forest fires. We can also look at the scale (how much forest burnt?) We can also look at where and when these fires took place.We can look at the loss of land, buildings, and unfortunately lives. We can look at cost. But we can also look at it with a historical theme/thought process.
Comparing to previous years or previous forest fires for comparison purposes.
Will this fire be remembered in 5 years, 10 years, or even 20 years? What would people say?
We can look at long-term effects (environmental, etc).
We could study how the media covered the fire coverage.

We need to think of present-day events in terms of their historical implications.

As a society we also need to think and criticize/analyse the world around us not just take everything at face value. 

History in the making: Space Shuttle Endeavour's final flight over California

Space Shuttle Endeavour

How many people as little kids or even big kids at heart have dreamt about being an astronaut or going into outer space?

Why do we have such a fascination in outer space? Where and when did this fascination start?
Importance of the stars (for example, navigation)
Ancient Grecian and Aztec's believed the world was flat.
There is a glimpse into different worlds.
Immense size of outer space.
Mysterious.
The unknown.

As many of us are aware space travel and NASA is changing. The retirement of the Space Shuttle Endeavour marks a change in man's ability to travel in space.

Some statistics:
Endeavour was created in California to replace the Challenger (1986 launch accident).
Endeavour went on to fly 25 missions- 12 to help construct and outfit the space station.
Endeavour logged nearly 123 million miles or 198 million km in flight during 4,671 orbits.
Those are amazing and crazy statistics.

How many people have either watched videos, looked at pictures, or for the lucky few saw the fly over California in person?? Why the popularity? Why the fascination?

We have witnessed the landing on Mars by the Curiosity Rover on Aug. 5th, 2012. Why are we so interested in Mars? The unknown- the nearest planet. Curiosity/willingness to explore it for signs of life.
I think part of this is our curiosity/wanting to know why are we on planet earth and not somewhere else (like Mars).

This is another example of history- history in the making. History happens - history has to happen.

Sources:

http://www.vancouversun.com/technology/Space+Shuttle+Endeavour+takes+final+flight+over+California/7281151/story.html

http://www.democratandchronicle.com/article/20120919/NEWS01/309190026?nclick_check=1

http://newsfeed.time.com/2012/09/22/watch-space-shuttle-endeavour-soars-over-los-angeles/

http://spie.org/x90362.xml

http://www.ctvnews.ca/sci-tech/can-curiosity-mars-mission-inspire-like-apollo-1.932892

Defining terms: generation, society, era

1. Generation:

• the entire body of individuals born and living at about the same time: the postwar generation.
• the term of years, roughly 30 among human beings, accepted as the average period between the birth of parents and the birth of their offspring.
• a group of individuals, most of whom are the same approximate age, having similar ideas, problems, attitudes, etc. Compare Beat Generation, Lost Generation.
• a group of individuals belonging to a specific category at the same time: Chaplin belonged to the generation of silent-screen stars.
• a single step in natural descent, as of human beings, animals, or plants.

***To simplify in my mind, I think of a generation as a group of people who be categorized in the same category.

For ex. Generation X- Those born in the post-World War II baby boom (1960s-1980s)

      2. Society:

• an organized group of persons associated together for religious, benevolent, cultural, scientific, political, patriotic, or other purposes.
• a body of individuals living as members of a community; community.
•  the body of human beings generally, associated or viewed as members of a community: the evolution of human society.
• a highly structured system of human organization for large-scale community living that normally furnishes protection, continuity, security, and a national identity for its members: American society.
• such a system characterized by its dominant economic class or form: middle-class society; industrial society.

***To simplify in my mind, I think society is an organized group of people who associate/connect/relate due to a specific purpose or connection. I also like idea of society combining the term of community. What is a community? 

         3. Era: 

• a period of time marked by distinctive character, events, etc.: The use of steam for power marked the beginning of an era.
• the period of time to which anything belongs or is to be assigned: She was born in the era of hansoms and gaslight.
• a system of chronologic notation reckoned from a given date: The era of the Romans was based upon the time the city of Rome was founded.
• a point of time from which succeeding years are numbered, as at the beginning of a system of chronology: Caesar died many years before our era.
• a date or an event forming the beginning of any distinctive period: The year 1492 marks an era in world history.

***To simplify in my mind, when we talk about era it concerns a period of time. 

Structure of this blog

Hello,

I am still developing a format/structure for this blog. I think it is a work in progress.

1. I want to discuss broad topics of history.
2. I want to talk about different themes in history (gender- women in history, history of the family, to name a couple).
3. I want to discuss different areas of history (political, economic, military, criminal, government, but deeper more personal history of specific people and families (lower-class not just upper-class).
4. I want to talk about history from many different places (Provincial, City specific, Countries, Eras) 
5. I also want to mention different historical events- looking at multiple perspectives.
6. We will talk about historical figures.
7. We also talk in more general terms about historical research- how to study history?
8. Terminology- historical terms or terms you might find in a history book.
9. We will also look and discuss different books, articles, magazines, and websites (review of historical literature).

What is the practicality of historical research?

I know there are some people out there who are saying why bother studying history or doing historical research. There is some elements of personal interest but I believe it goes much deeper than that. To me history speaks volumes about the world- about people. I love the element of human connection history evokes- history connects us. History allows us to make connections not just with each other presently but also in the past.

For example: The anniversary of 9/11 was a couple weeks ago and I saw many Facebook posts asking where were you when it happened? This event ties people together- creates an atmosphere to talk (discussion). It can draw people together. This is a historical event (large range of implications, things have happened since than because of it- such as the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq and the interactions between different groups of people).

Below are some questions/thoughts on historical study to consider/think about.

Why am I personally interested in history? I am interested in the human connections not just with other people but also how we connect and interact with the larger world. I also find technology, architecture (love old buildings-character), artwork, music, dramas- plays, stories, fairy tales, artefacts (clothing, make-up, hair styles, furniture, household goods, food) etc fascinating. It allows us to explore, to open our minds. To think deeper- about other people.

For ex. Does a particular building style of a particular era say something about how people lived?

Why study history? I think that in order to understand the present, you must understand the past. How can you move forward without understanding the past (where we came from, how we got where we are now).

What is the purpose of studying history? First we must be specific about the word purpose. What is your purpose in studying anything? Why do people study? To gain knowledge. Knowledge is powerful- it leads to understanding.

What is the reasoning behind the studying of history? I think the first 3 questions relate to each other. We need to discuss the reasons behind studying history- to learn about the past, to understand past people, generations, and societies.

We can debate the concept of understanding the past to not repeat the same mistakes in the future. I am not sure exactly how I feel about this idea yet.
Why do people keep having wars? Are we unable to understood the effects of war?

It's in the past. It has already happened/taken place. We are unable to change the past. 
More of a statement than a question but a valuable point (argument that people make about studying history). I think a key word to think about is relevance. People are always looking to make the connection with has it anything relevant to my life. How does this effect my life? How does this connect to my life? How is history relevant to me? Its about making connections with present life- how can you understand (finding meaning, creating connections, interacting with, question, compare/contrast, analyse, critique)  the present world (in terms of economics, political, physical, religious, government, among other terms) if you have no frame of reference. Where we have come from (personally but also as a generation, era, society) impacts where we are now and where we are going in the future.

We need to think of the world in terms of the PAST, PRESENT, and FUTURE. These three eras (time periods) interact together.


How does it effect us/our lives? We can look at history on many different levels.
One way to make history personal is to look at the growing fascination with genealogy and the study of our family history (family tree).
What about studying a monument in your town or city? Who was it created for? Why was it created? When? Who created it? Why was it placed where it was? What is the story behind it?

What is research in terms of historical thought/research? It opens doors for many useful skills- critical thinking, analytical skills, communication, and creativity.
Sometimes you go into research with a question that you want to answer.
Sometimes you are looking to discover more.
Sometimes to analyse previous data- to further explore, compare, contrast, make connections.

I would love to hear what your opinions are. Opening dialogue is an important step in discussing history. It involves more than one viewpoint.

Looking at what is history and how to study history

History..........

There are a wide range of definitions of the word history (depending on context).

Dictionary.com defines history as.....

1. the branch of knowledge dealing with past events.
2. a continuous, systematic narrative of past events as relating to a particular people, country, period, person, etc., usually written as a chronological account; chronicle: a history of France; a medical history of the patient.
3. the aggregate of past events.
4. the record of past events and times, especially in connection with the human race.
5. a past notable for its important, unusual, or interesting events: a ship with a history.

The World English Dictionary defines history as.....

1. a record or account, often chronological in approach, of past events, developments, etc
2. all that is preserved or remembered of the past, esp in written form
3. the discipline of recording and interpreting past events involving human beings
4. past events, esp when considered as an aggregate
5. an event in the past, esp one that has been forgotten or reduced in importance: their quarrel was just history
6. the past, background, previous experiences, etc, of a thing or person: the house had a strange history
7. computing a stored list of the websites that a user has recently visited
8. a play that depicts or is based on historical events
9. a narrative relating the events of a character's life: the history of Joseph Andrews

History really is the telling of stories of the past. Every type of history allows people to tell stories about the past. There is a wide variety of ways to tell stories (we can use art, photographs, newspapers, architecture, magazines, oral stories, and many other forms of artifacts or sources). Every piece of information requires some source (a reference point).

There are also a wide variety of different types of history that you can look and study (depending on your purpose and depending on the questions you are asking) such as military, economic, social, political, art, women's or gender, crime, among others.

History is the art of discovery-asking questions and trying to find the answers through your sources and building on previous found answers (further studying can lead to interpretations). So to study history you must be critical, analytical, put on your thinking cap and act like a detective.

History is the telling of people stories (whether it is one individual, a larger group, a country etc). We must help tell someone's story and use their story to establish what this tells us about the world around them. A story about a stay-at home woman during a war would be very different story than a military man on the front lines but they are both valid and helpful stories that when combined together we can see a fuller/brighter picture of what the world as a whole was like during that time period.

We also can compare history to a puzzle- we are always looking to fill in the missing pieces that create a more well-rounded picture. Will we ever have all the pieces of the puzzle? Not necessarily but we can try to move towards a more complete picture. The advancements in technology have gone along way to allowing us more opportunities to complete stories and pictures of history.

Re-inventing one's self and revitalize and using one's passion in life

I have had blogs in the past and they never lasted. I even tried a blog about history which is my life's passion and for some reason I let it get away from me and instead of trying to revitalize that old blog (2+years); I decided to start a new blog (to start fresh) and to rejuvenate myself. History and studying/sharing history has always been my passion and something enjoy.

I am almost 27 years old.

I have a BA with an honors degree in history with a minor in English- I wrote a thesis many moons ago about Prohibition in Saint John, New Brunswick.

I have since completed my B.ED specializing in secondary education (high school/middle school) social studies and English.

I was a substitute teacher and than a full-time grade 8 teacher in Northern Manitoba.

I am currently un-employed.

Within the last 2 weeks I have started my Master's in Education program in Curriculum Studies.

I think this is the perfect time to research and share my passion for history (in particular looking at British history and the role of the monarch's over the years).