Wednesday, February 28, 2007

Removing Spot Scratches in Your Treasured Photos - 5 Minute Digital Fix

Probably one of the most common jobs you will be faced with in doing any type of digital exposure Restoration work will be to make with spot scratches on your old photos.

When we first expression at those old black and achromatic or early coloring material photographs they often have got got little scratch Marks and spots on them from being stored incorrectly.

These little spot scratches are easily perceived by your oculus when you are looking at the photo, detracting from the overall topic matter.

Here is a very easy speedy hole using Adobe Photoshop’s History Brush tool.

Our illustration "before" mental mental mental mental mental image on our web-site have numerous little topographic point abrasions on the old reddish brown toned photograph.

The basic remotion method described here can quickly and effortlessly convey those scratched photographs back to (almost) their former glorification using the History Brush Tool establish in Photoshop.

This basic technique plant extremely well for those types of mental images that have spot scratches in countries of the photograph that make not incorporate a batch of detail.

As you can see in our illustration image on the web-site, the musca volitans be given to be primarily on the background of the photo, making it ideal for this rectification method.

Step – 1

Having opened up the image in Photoshop we will first use the Dust and Scratches filter by selecting Filter->Noise->Dust & Scratches ...

Set the Threshold to between 1 and 4 (I generally start with 1) and then increase the Radius until you see the spot scratches disappear.

Our illustration image on the web-site finally made the biggest topographic point abrasion on the left manus side of the photograph vanish at a Threshold of 3 and Radius of 10.

All well and good but our image is now totally blurred!! Not really what we wanted to see is it?

This is where the History Brush tool come ups into play.

Step – 2

Open up the History Palette by selecting Window->History if you cannot see the window already open.

We are going to make a "Snapshot" of the current state of the mental mental mental mental mental mental mental mental mental mental mental mental mental mental mental mental image in inquiry by clicking on what looks like a small image of a camera at the underside of the History Palette window (see the reddish pointer on the web-site image).

After clicking you will detect that the History Palette now demoes an other image icon called "Snapshot 1".

This is a snapshot of the image that includes the consequence of utilize the Dust & Scratches Filter in Step 1.

Now chink on the small foursquare box to the left of Snapshot 1.

You will see a small "brush" icon look which is now telling us that the "Snapshot 1" image will be used as our "source" when we paint with the History Brush.

Remember ... this snapshot image actually have got got none of the spot scratches on it because we made them vanish by applying the Dust & Scratches filter in Step 1.

Step – 3

Make the original (un-touched) history snapshot active by clicking on it (in the lawsuit of our illustration image this is "Restore-Before-Image.jpg").

Select the History Brush from the chief toolbar (this have the same icon as the small "brush" icon that appeared in the History Palette window).

We are now ready to "paint away" those topographic point scratches!!

Step – 4

I'm going to zoom along in on the biggest abrasion on the left manus side of the photograph to demo you how we use the History Brush.

We selected the History Brush in Step 3.

Select an appropriate brushwood size and soft edges.

We now necessitate to make up one's mind how to use the brushwood to the abrasions in question.

You will detect that the abrasions in our illustration image are "lighter" than the encompassing image.

Step – 5

We necessitate to paint "darker" pels and as such as we put the History Brush Mode: to "Darken" (Top Menu Barroom option when you have the History Brush as the active tool).

This have the consequence of "telling the History Brush" to only replace pels on the original image with pels from our snapshot if the snapshot pixel is darker.

Start to paint over the abrasions and see what happens.

The abrasions start to miraculously disappear as you paint over them.

They are being replaced with the underlying snapshot image pixels you created in Step 1.

The benefit of using this techniques is that you have complete control over which parts of the original image you "paint over" so as not to blur of import inside information of the image had you just applied a Dust & Scratches filter to the whole image.

Now what if your abrasions are darker than the encompassing image, Iodine hear you ask?

Easy!! ... just utilize a History Brush Mode: of "Lighten" instead of "Darken".

You can experimentation with all of the History Brush options - Mode, Opacity and Flow until you acquire the desired result.

The resulting "After" mental mental image have got had all of the topographic point abrasions removed easily without compromising on the photographic item of the image.

And there you have it!! Less than five proceedings of digital mental image use to take those unwanted topographic point scratches.

If you happen the stairway taking are a small difficult to understand in this textual matter based article, you can chink on the nexus at the end of this article to see the same method explained on our website with the assistance of illustration graphical images.

Monday, February 26, 2007

99 Bottles of Beer on the Wall: Francis Scott Key

In 1814 Francis George C. Scott Key was on board an American ship behind the British fleet as it bombarded Garrison McHenry. They viewed the bombardment from about 8 statute miles away. After the bombardment, the American Flag was still flying. This divine key to compose our National Anthem, The Star Spangled Banner.

Read about Francis George C. Scott key at http://www.nps.gov/fomc/tguide/Lesson9a.htm. He was born in Old Line State to a affluent family. He was practicing law at the time of the bombardment. The ground he was in the seaport was to derive release from the British Dr. William Beanes, his client and stopping point friend.

A spiritual man, he once decided to go forth the law for the ministry. He was against the warfare of 1812 but he set aside his concerns and served briefly in the field artillery.

Key had written an earlier poem entitled When the Warrior Returns in 1806. The "Warriors" were those that fought the Barbary Pirates. (See http://www.bcpl.net/~etowner/anacron2.html) Helium set this to song by using an old English drinking song called To Anacreon in Heaven. When he wrote The Star Spangled Banner he set it to the same tune.

Anacreon was a Grecian words poet that lived in the Fifth Century B.C. The Anacreontic Society was a popular gentlemen’s baseball club in London. You can see a transcript of the song at http://www.bcpl.net/~etowner/anacreon.html.

Saturday, February 24, 2007

When Disaster Strikes! Salvaging Damaged Photographs

QUICK response IS KEY

When it come ups to salvaging photos that have got been damaged by water, sooner is always better. Cast and mold will start to constitute on dampish records within 48 hours. The best manner to suppress the growing of cast and mold is to cut down humidity. Increase air flowing with fans, unfastened windows, usage air conditioners and dehumidifiers. Moderate visible light exposure (such as unfastened shades, or leaving the cellar visible lights on) can also cut down cast and mildew.

PHOTOGRAPHS AND NEGATIVES

Do not effort to draw apart snaps or negatives that have got stuck together. Soak them in clean H2O until they separate on their own. Rinse and drying tin
take quite a while. Newer photos can be temporarily stored in a pail of cold
clean H2O until you have got time to work with them. Keeping them wet forestalls
mold growing because mold can only turn on dampish material, not wet. Freezing
is another option for impermanent storage, but should not be used with photos
that are over 50 old age old. For aged photographs, electronic Restoration is your best
option.

Rinse them in more than clean H2O as you go. Be careful not touch the emulstion
(image) side of the black and white while it’s wet. There are two acceptable drying methods:
spreading out face up on a clean, dry, smooth surface or wall hanging on inside lines with
clothespins. The first method necessitates more than space, but is gentler to your photos.

COMPUTER disks AND TAPES

Disks should be rinsed in clear water, placed in a plastic bag and set in your
refrigerator. The adjacent measure is to take it to a professional drying centre and have got the
information transferred to a new disc or tape. You can name the Catastrophe Recovery Institute
toll free at 888-374-7845. Companies that are members of the institute specialise
in restoring computing machines and computing machine records after a disaster.

MORE FREE information AVAILABLE BY telephone & INTERNET

• The Northeast Document Conservation Center (NEDCC) have an full subdivision
devoted to Catastrophe Assistance. http://www.nedcc.org/welcome/disaster.htm. You
can also name their exigency telephone line twenty-four hours or night, seven years a week. (978) 470-1010. This service is free.

• Conservation Online (CoOL) http://palimpsest.stanford.edu/bytopic/disasters/ is
packed with free information. The nexus above volition take you directly to the subdivision on
catastrophe recovery. CoOL’s chief site have articles on just about every facet of
saving and preservation.

DIGITAL RESTORATION

Many independent photographic camera supplies contract with experts to reconstruct damaged
photos digitally. Rates change based on the extent of harm and how much
work is required. Call your local photographic camera store or W. W. Jacobs Archival Services for more than
information.

And retrieve -- digital transcripts can function as an first-class exigency backup. Just
be certain to maintain a set in a different location than your house. A safe deposit box or
business office plant well. You can also direct discs as gifts to household and friends around the
country. That way, everybody wins!

Friday, February 23, 2007

The History of Body Piercings - Ancient and Fascinating Around the World

Body piercings have seen a resurgence of interest in the last ten to twenty years and are becoming more and more a part of the mainstream Western culture. Take a look at any fashion or entertainment magazine and you’ll see plenty of well-known celebrities with body piercings like navel rings or a labret. You might be surprised to find out that piercing is actually an ancient form of expression that most cultures have practiced at some time or other for thousands of years.


Egyptian body piercings reflected status and love of beauty


The earliest known mummified remains of a human that was pierced is over 5,000 years old. This worthy gentleman had his ears pierced with larger-gauge plugs in his ears, so plugs may be one of the oldest forms of body modification there is! We also know that the Egyptians loved to adorn themselves elaborately, and even restricted certain types of body piercings to the royal family. In fact, only pharaoh himself could have his navel pierced. Any one else who tried to get a belly button ring could be executed. (Tell that to Britney Spears!) Almost every well-to-do Egyptian wore earrings, though, to display their wealth and accent their beauty. Elaborate enameled and gold earrings frequently portrayed items in nature such as lotus blossoms.


Body piercings are also mentioned in the Bible. In the Old Testament it’s obvious that body jewelry is considered a mark of beauty and wealth, especially for Bedouin and nomadic tribes. In many cases, body jewelry was given as a bridal gift or as part of a dowry. It is clear that piercing was a sign of status and attractiveness in Biblical times.


Romans were practical piercers


Romans were very practical people, and for them piercing almost always served a purpose. Roman centurions pierced their nipples not because they liked the way it looked, but to signify their strength and virility. It was a badge of honor that demonstrated the centurion’s dedication to the Roman Empire. As a symbol, it was important and served a specific function, unifying and bonding the army. Even Julius Caesar pierced his nipples to show his strength and his identification with his men.


Genital piercing through the head of the penis was performed on gladiators, who were almost always slaves, for two reasons. A ring through the head of the penis could be used to tie the organ back to the testicles with a length of leather. In gladiatorial combat, this prevented serious injury. With a large enough ring or bar, it also prevented the slave from having sex without the owner’s consent. Since the gladiator was “property,” a stud fee could be charged to another slave owner for the highly prized opportunity to raise the next generation of great fighter.


Making love or war, piercing makes it better


Going across the ocean at around the same time, the Aztecs, Maya and some American Indians practiced tongue piercing as part of their religious rituals. It was thought to bring them closer to their gods and was a type of ritual blood-letting. The Aztec and Maya were warrior tribes, and also practiced septum piercing in order to appear fiercer to their enemies. Nothing looks quite as frightening as an opponent sporting a huge boar tusk thrust through his nose! This practice was also common among tribes in New Guinea and the Solomon Islands. Some of the materials commonly used were bone, tusks and feathers. Hundreds of years later, French fur trappers in Washington State discovered American Indian tribes who wore bones through their septum and called them the Nez Perce, meaning “Pierced Noses” in French. It’s interesting that civilizations separated by thousands of miles and even centuries often developed a love for the same kind of body piercings to enhance certain features, isn’t it? In Central and South America, lip labrets were popular for purely aesthetic reasons – women with pierced lips were considered more attractive. In fact, the holes were often stretched to incredible size as progressively larger wooden plates were inserted to emphasize the lips as much as possible. (Kind of like collagen today). The Aztecs and Maya also sported lip labrets of gold and jade, many of them elaborately carved into mythical or religious figures or sporting gemstones. These were seen as highly attractive and to enhance sexuality.


As the world moved into the dark ages, interest in piercing died down somewhat and the medieval church began to condemn it as sinful. For a few hundred years, Western civilization abandoned the practice. As the Renaissance went into full swing, however, interest in piercing began to pick up again.


A new era and a new interest in body piercings


Sailors became convinced that piercing one ear would improve their long-distance site, and so the site of a sailor with a gold or brass ring became common. Word also spread that should a sailor be washed ashore after a shipwreck, the finder should keep the gold ring in exchange for providing a proper Christian burial. Sailors were both religious and superstitious, so they generally spent a lot for a large gold earring to hedge their bets.


Men became much more fashion-conscious during the Renaissance and Elizabethan eras, and almost any male member of the nobility would have at least one earring, if not more. Large pearl drops and enormous diamond studs were a great way to advertise your wealth and standing in the community. It could also designate royal favor if your earring was a gift from a member of the royal family.


Women, not wanting to be outshone by the men in all their finery, began to wear plunging necklines, with the Queen of Bavaria introducing the most outrageous, which consisted of not much at all above the waist. In order to adorn themselves, women began piercing their nipples to show off their jewelry. Soon they began wearing chains and even strands of pearls draped between the two. Men and women both discovered that these nipple piercings were also delightful playthings in bed, adding sensitivity to the breasts and giving the men both visual and tactile stimulation. Men began getting pierced purely for pleasure as well. While not entirely mainstream, piercing of the nipples and, occasionally, the genitals, continued to hold interest for members of the upper crust of society in Europe on and off for the next few hundred years.


The next resurgence of interest was, surprisingly, during the Victorian age, which is usually seen as very repressed. Prince Albert, future husband of Queen Victoria, is said to have gotten the penis piercing that is named after him in order wear the tight-fitting trousers so popular at the time. The ring could then be attached to a hook on the inside of one pant leg, tucked safely away between the legs for a neat, trim look. Although we have no record of Victoria’s response to the piercing itself, there is ample evidence she was wildly in love with her husband and almost never left his side after their marriage!


Soon, Victorian men were getting Prince Albert's, frenums and a variety of other piercings purely for the pleasurable sexual effects, and women were doing the same. By the 1890’s, it was almost expected that a woman would have her nipples pierced. In fact, some doctors at the time suggested it improved conditions for breastfeeding, although not all agreed. It was an interesting double standard –- plenty of people were doing it, but no one was talking about it.


Modern-day body piercings


In the last hundred years or so, body piercings in the Western world have mostly been limited to the ears, a standard hold-over from the fact that both men and women wore earrings during Elizabethan times. The Puritan movement did away with men wearing earrings, however, and it didn’t really regain popularity until recently.


Nose rings found new interest when young people (they were called hippies then) from the U.S. began traveling in India extensively looking for enlightenment in the 1960’s. They noticed the nostril rings that most women had been wearing there since the sixteenth century. In India, this was a form of traditional, accepted adornment and was often linked to an earring by a chain. For rebellious teens from America, it was a great form of rebellion.


After bringing nose piercings back to the U.S., the interest in body piercings of all kinds quickly caught on during the 1980’s and 1990’s. Celebrities, sports stars and singers all began sporting a variety of piercings. Soon, high school students and even stay-at-home moms were flashing new body piercings. And the rest, as they say, is history!


This article on the "History of Body Piercings" reprinted with permission.Copyright 2004 Evaluseek Publishing.

Wednesday, February 21, 2007

Fantasy and the Sense of Wonder

Eras come up and go, and phantasy narratives go on to be spun. New writers go on from the apparent horizons where others have got retired; it reminds me of the passing play of a torch. Sometimes its been a raging firebrand and at other times a barely-smoking wick.

Slowly, though, these plant have got built up a modern mythology that mirrors all the trials and adversities we face in existent life - and uncovers to us our most cherished hopes and deepest fears.

The truth is that charming is everywhere; it's all around us. We've simply trained our eyes not to see it. Science, religion, and other pillars of our civilization have got pulled the blinds and darkened our suite until it's go hard to see much else beyond the surface of things.

Personally, I happen the being of wizards, say, easier to believe in than the impression that life began as the result of a "Big Bang" detonation of dead substance millions of old age ago, or that our ideas and feelings are the result of chemical reactions going off in our brains. But believing in the "reality" of aces is beside the point anyway. I'm content with knowing that the world didn't look quite the same to me after I read about Merlin in T.H. White's "The Once and Future King".

The world had changed because the story had awoken in me a sense of wonder.

Wonder feeds our souls, maintains us youthful, and sees that our lives don't go predictable and stale. Children are naturally in touching with it; that's 1 ground why they run around with five times the energy as the remainder of us. Everything in their world is fresh and new. We grownups be given to bury how to be awake in the minute like that. Hopefully there will always be great phantasy narratives to remind us.

It's easy to descry person who's lost touching with the magic. They travel like they're carrying a heavy weight. When they're going someplace they rarely look around; their eyes stare consecutive ahead, or bend towards the land at their feet. Even when in company they look alone. Maybe those people believe the myth of science, and are convinced that their life is the result of billions of random accidents occuring since the beginning of the world. They never heard or read somes story that said that their birth was a charming event.

If you're fold to such as a person, maybe you could give him or her a gentle nudge. If they read, you might present them to the "Wheel of Time" series - allow them forget, for a time, about the modern incubuses of terrorism and warfare as they follow the battles of fictional characters living in another time and place, facing a antic - but familiar - shadow encroaching upon their world. For the chronically hard-headed, maybe a fictional history by Mercedes Lackey or Jacqueline Carey would make the trick; allow them believe they're reading for the educational value, until the captivation wins them over.

By the time they're through they might experience as if there's something of the hero within themselves, too. Fantasy have a manner of reminding us that we're all life within a great story, steeped in enigma and charming for all time.

Tuesday, February 20, 2007

Local Author Joins History and Humor To Tell His Stories

Joseph Yakel was born and raised in New York's Capital region, and phone calls this place home. His travelings have got taken him far and wide, but it’s his hometown milieu that function as a background for his writing. He's recently published three books, and believes his blend of history and wit radiance a bright limelight on the local country and its people.

Said Yakel, "My roots to the Capital District have got been a major influence on what I've chosen to compose about. I divide my young person growing up in Capital Of New York and Loudonville, and summertimes were spent at our encampment in Westerlo. I attended Capital Of New York Academy for Boys and Christian Brothers Academy. As an adult, I've traveled fairly extensively across America, and spent two old age in Belgium, Germany, and other European states with the United States military. So, I am fortunate to have got a premix of local city, town and state exposure, in combination with this broader scope of traveling to pull from."

He went on, "I began writing my first book when I was about seven old age old. I loved dinosaurs and wanted to be a paleontologist. Although I didn’t print that book, I still have got it, and I'm proud of what I created at that immature age. Looking back on it now, I believe it marked the starting point where authorship would have got some longstanding place in my life."

While Yakel's desire to compose have been with him since childhood, he states that it have emerged in a more than populace manner over the last decade. "Over the years, I've penned quite a lot, but it wasn't until 1998 that I submitted my first article for mainstream publication. It was a technical piece on cablegram telecasting system operations. Since then, I’ve written a figure of other articles, mainly on military subjects, published in both trade mags and on organizational websites."

It’s his up-to-the-minute authorship efforts, however, that Yakel states are his top accomplishments. Between December 2004 and March 2005, he completed and released three books. "Writing the stuff was the easy part", said Yakel, “but putting it all together was a immense undertaking to undertake. I'm very proud of what I've created."

As for the books themselves, Yakel said he's got something of value for plentifulness of people, especially those around the Capital region. Two of his books are family tree mentions that also incorporate quite a spot of local history in them as well. ‘The Autograph Memories of Virgin Mary Yakel’ is the 19th century memoir of his grand aunt. Yakel explained, "Mary was born in the South End 1879 and passed away in 1940. She had an autograph book, which was filled with entries from household and friends along the Second Avenue corridor. I took the little book of hers, a household heirloom, and rewrote it. In improver to the original book entries, I supplemented it with inside information and remarks about the people and households mentioned within her small book. I never knew Virgin Mary Yakel, of course, but working on this memoir have helped me to understand her in ways that I couldn't otherwise."

‘The JACKEL, JECKEL, JAECKEL, IEKEL, YAKEL Family History Book’ have a mouthful of a title, but Yakel states the statute statute title is dwarfed by the book’s content. He went on, "Without a doubt, this have been my most intensive authorship effort, ever. It's a 464-page household chronology, tracing 350 old age of my Rheinish ancestry. Our original household name was JACKEL and JECKEL, but changed more than than 50 times after the family came to America. In Albany, the spelling settled on YAKEL in the 1870’s, while in Milwaukee, it settled on JAECKEL, and in Iowa, our household name changed slightly to IEKEL. This book is first and first a family tree reference, but it's also jammed packed full of really challenging local and German history as well, and that's wherefore this book and the Virgin Mary Yakel autograph book have got a wider audience appeal."

His 3rd and most recent book is a complete going from the first two. ‘The Legend of Juggin Joe’ is an over-the-top fictional wit story that takes place in and around the Town of Westerlo, NY, and centres around the life and times of a hillboy dubbed 'Juggin Joe', for his eldritch musical abilities with the jug. Yakel said, "This book is a state male child comedy/melodrama that I've written in ‘country speak’, which do the story that much more than merriment to read. It’s A light-hearted, clean, merriment adventure, suitable for all audiences."

“The Legend of Juggin Joe"
* ISBN 1-4116-2588-9 * Public House date: March 2005 * $9.00 paperback book book book * 123 pages *

“The Autograph Memories of Virgin Mary Yakel”
* ISBN 1-4116-2101-8 * Public House date: December 2004 * $9.00 paperback * 75 pages *

“The JACKEL, JECKEL, JAECKEL, IEKEL, YAKEL Family History Book”
* ISBN 1-4116-2715-6 * Public House date: March 2005 * $26.50 paperback * 464 pages *

Joseph Yakel offers free chapter previews of his books, and welcomes reviews and comments. His books are available in paperback, or downloadable format. For previews and buying information, visit Smasher Publication at: http://www.lulu.com/yakel

Monday, February 19, 2007

Alumpeth Devi Temple of Kerala in India

Alumpeth temple is an ancient kalari temple of Sri Bhadrakali (Devi), located at Vathikulam, a distant but beautiful small town in Kerala state of South India. Vathikulam small town is accessable by route travelling 7 kilometers towards east from Kayamkulam town. Kayamkulam is a well known town on national main road 47 about 108 kilometers towards North of Trivandrum and 110 kilometers towards South from Cochin. Kayamkulam is well connected by railroad also. Motivation behind the embodiment of Sribhadrakali (Devi) is to salvage the Gods from abuse and despair, people worship her in times of dejoice, disregard and at hand emotional distress. Devi is also known to be a goddess on phone call at times when life is in hazard and being is felt to be impossible. Since Alumpeth temple is in the word form of ancient Indian Kalari (school of actual and Martial arts) people depend her when their advancement in educational, cultural, scientific and legal enterprises are thwarted by enemies or negative situational factors. Prayer

Sit in a comfortable place with closed eyes and chant the manthra:

"Ya Devi sarwabhootheshu
mathruroopena samsthitha
namasthasyai namasthasyai
namasthasyai namo nama:"

several times and accomplish bliss.

Irrespective of size or amount, fans offering anything under the sun to Devi. Offerings scope from a Garland or flower to an elephant. Fridays and Tuesdays are very of import for this prayer. For resolving long standing problems, one have to break follow Velliyazhcha Vritham (Friday Fast Prayer). The programme starts on Thursday after eventide bath, taking no solid nutrient other than fruits from Thursday eventide to Saturday morning. Intoxicants, non-vegetarian nutrient and sexual activity should be avoided during these hours, should bath twice a twenty-four hours and chant the above manthra, this should be continued for any figure of hebdomads until desired result is received. This supplication have high significance from naturopathic and yogic position also.

Mythology
Godhead Shiva married Sati, girl of king Daksha and were living happily at kailas. Daksha conducted a yaga (grand ceremonial and banquet to gods) where Shiva and Sati were not invited. Despite of Siva's admonishment, Sati attended the yaga expecting her parents would apologise and have her. But she was neglected and insulted in public. Sati felt despairing and ended her life jumping into the fire.

Lord Shiva turned ferocious and knock his hair on Earth giving birth to two awful figures, Sri Bhadrakali(Devi) and Virabhadra. They destroyed the yaga and killed Daksha (Devibhagavatham 7th chapter). Hence Devi is believed to be a Jesus on phone call at times when 1s regard is injured.

History

Alumpeth temple is the holy place of Sri Bhadrakali. Yogiswaran (ancient household chief) of Mulamoottil household was a fan of Panayannarkavu goddess who brought Devi through penence in 16th century to Alumpeth temple. Yogiswaran is the physical laminitis of this temple. Yogiswaran's predecessors where comptroller fulls general of kayamkulam dynasty and enjoyed immence power, wealthiness and all virtuousnesses of feudalism. This was a glorious time period in the history of temple. In 1924AD the grand household and wealthiness were divided into 7 subdivisions and the 7th subdivision is Alumpeth temple. Eravankara Punchaman Madom Thirumeni is the thanthri (spiritual chief) and this place runs familial in that family. Temple commission with the consent of thantri appoints poojari and other temple employees from time to time.

Siva: One-Third of thrimoorthi (Hindu Holy Place Trinity) responsible for samharam (destruct ion). At Alumpeth temple Shiva sit downs near Devi. Purakuvilakku, Dhara and Mrithyunjaya pooja are of import to Siva.

Ayyappa: Son of Shiva in Vishnu. Ayyappa sit downs near Devi in deoxythymidine monophosphate he temple. During sabarimala season, Ayyappa fans crowed in the temple to start their sabarimala pilgrimage.

Veerabhadra: Brother of Devi, born along with her from Shiva at the time of Daksha's killing.

Brahma Rakshas is considered as a portion of Godhead Vishnu.

Yakshi : Friend and assistant of Devi. Tender coconut meat is her favourite offering.

Nagaraja and Nagayakshi : King and queen of serpents worshiped in ancient Kerala.. Panoor Kavu, shrub located 1 km. south west of the temple is also known for serpent worship .

Yogiswaran: Ancient household head and laminitis of Alumpeth temple. His place is Kadanath Kalari located 600 m. South of chief temple.

Gandharwan (Musician of Heaven) also sit downs at Kadanath Kalari.

FESTIVALS

Major festival in this temple is on "Pathamudayom" (10th twenty-four hours of calendar month Medom). Usually it come ups on 23rd of April every year. Festival starts with particular pooja for chief and bomber gods. In the morning time ladies offering "Pongal" to the goddess. Pongal is a usage in which ladies cook Pudding in temple premises for fulfillment of their long precious dreams. Kalasam, ezhunnallathu are conducted during twenty-four hours time. Night there will be traditional cultural programmes like Kathakali, Music contest, Koothu, Theeyattu etc. Festival stops adjacent twenty-four hours early morning time with gurusi (holy sacrifice) and fire works. Vijayadasami is another festival in this temple.Devibhagavatham (epic textual matter on Sree Bhadrakali) is read. Children from nearby places are brought for vidyarambham (commencement of study). Spiritual cheif composes alphabets on children's lingua with gold. During Sabarimala season (Vrichikam, Dhanu months) particular Ayyappa Poojas are conducted. Ayyappa fans crowed here for Malayidil (commencements of 2 calendar months penence for Ayyappa) and kettumuruckal (fitting their bags for sabarimala pilgrimage).

Other Hindoo festivals like Onam, Vishu, Deepavali, Sivarathri, Bharani, Ayilyam, Ekadasi are also celebrated. Star Rohini of every calendar month is also of import here.

OFFERINGS

(A) Vazhipadu/offering

Brief listing of major offers are given. Rate mentioned is for 1 year. Devotees can book the offers by sending a cheque/Draft drawn in favor of Secretary, Alumpeth Devikshethram, Vathikulam, payable at Kayamkalam. This may be accompanied by a natural covering missive indicating the point of offering, devotee's star/date of birth. The offering pooja will be conducted on the same day of the calendar month of every month for a time period of 1 twelvemonth (12 pooja's) and the prasadam (blessed remainings of pooja) will be direct to the fan over post.

Ganapathy Homam: Particular offering to Ganapathy (Vinayak) for eleminating barriers and harmful factors in life (Rs. 1250/- / 40 $). Mrithyunjaya Homam : Word meaning, win over death. It is a Shiva Pooja conducted with the aim of economy life of individual whose life is threatened. Godhead Shiva is considered as audacious even to destruct God of decease to salvage his gives (Rs. 1500/- / 50$).

Sathru Samhara Pooja : Particular offering to Sri Bhadrakali for entire devastation of one's enemy (Rs. 1500/- / 50 $).

Noorum Palum: Specail offering to Nagaraja and Nagayakshi for birth of children and healthy growing of adjacent generation. (Rs. 1500/- / 50 $). Ayyappa Pooja: Excludes the fan from bad fortune owed to the influence of Sani (Saturn). (RS. 1500/- / 50 $).

Payasam/Pudding for Veerabhadran (Rs. 200/- / 5 $).

Payasam/Pudding for Brahmarakshasu (Rs. 200/- / 5 $).

Tender Coconut and varapodi for yakshi (Rs. 200/- / 5$).

Full twenty-four hours Pooja: for chief and bomber Gods includes all the points 1 - 8 and alone pooja in fans name to Sri Bhadrakali (Rs. 10000/- / 250 $).

(B)Contributions

Devotees can also lend to development of the temple. Recently made such as part includes Mr. Pallickal Sunil's part of a building. Another is an attractive protection wall to the temple constructed in memory of Panoor Kizhakkathil Thankamma Kunjamma and Thottathil Raghavan Unnithan.

Visit www.geocities.com/alumpethtemple

Sunday, February 18, 2007

How to Create a Family History Video Memoir with Photos and Interviews of Your Loved Ones

Here are illustrations of two basic videos you can make quickly on a great budget:

Example A — Do-it-yourself for around $125 + other copies

1. The interview

Rent a digital video camcorder or if you have got one already, usage it. At the Video Kitchen in Louisville, Bluegrass State our $48 day-to-day lease complaint includes a tripod, a 60 minute digital tape and one DVD transcript of your video.

In a comfortable room with bright and warm (incandescent) visible lights behind the camcorder facing the topic and no dorsum visible light (windows behind the person) videotape your relative. Brand certain there is H2O to imbibe and the camcorder is within 6 feet of the individual. First record 15 secs of soundless video with the lens system cap on at the beginning of the video. For more than information on how to hit great video, bank check out the article by Video Kitchen owner, Carlile Crutcher at: http://www.videokitchen.com/greatvideo.html

There are usually two parts to a life video: inquiries and photos. First, in a clear voice, behind the photographic camera or preferably sitting adjacent to the subject, read the inquiries and let for plentifulness of time for answers, this is not a race, do certain the topic experiences comfortable to state stories, or travel off on tangents. Here are illustrations of inquiries to ask:

What is today’s date?
What is your full name (and inaugural name)?
When is your birthday?
What twelvemonth were you born?
What was going on in the world that year?
What were your parents’ names? Ages when you were born?

Tell us about your aunties and uncles.
What is your most outstanding memory of your grandmother? …your grandfather?
Did you have got blood brothers and/or sisters? …their name calling and ages?
Did you have got any farm animate beings and/or pets when you were little?
What was a typical twenty-four hours like when you were 5 old age old?
Did you have got a moniker when you were younger?
What athletics or games did you like to play?
What was something you did as a kid that was really scary?

What subjects did you bask in class school? Why?
What was a typical twenty-four hours like when you were 10 old age old?
What were some things you and your friends did for merriment as a child?
Who was your best friend when you were a immature teenager?
How many people went to your high school?
What was a typical twenty-four hours like when you were 15 old age old?
Did you like to dance or listen to music? What kinds?
When did you start dating? Who was your first kiss?
When did you first larn to drive? What sort of vehicle? How fast did you go?

What was your first occupation? …your starting salary?
Did you travel to college? Where? What did you study? What did you like most?
How did you ran into your spouse? What first attracted you to him or her?
Where did you travel on your first date? How did they inquire you to get married them?
How old where you when you got married? Where was it?
Did you or your partner travel away to any wars? Which ones? What was that like?
Where were you when Kennedy was assassinated? How did you hear about it?
Where were you when adult male first walked on the moon? How did you hear about it?
When did you go to your first movie? What was it? Was there sound?
Which president from your life did you like the most? Why?

How old were you when you had your first child?
What are your children’s names? What make you like the best about each of them?
What are your grandchildren’s names? What make you like the best about each of them?
What is a typical twenty-four hours like for you now?
What are some of your favourite things to make now?
What is the most beautiful thing you've ever seen?
What make you like about your life today?
If you could re-experience 1 thing in your life, what would it be?
What is the 1 most of import thing you have got done in your whole life?
Are there anything that you always wanted to do, but never did?

2. Discourse household photographs -
Now come ups the 2nd portion of the video… photos. You don’t desire to have got whole books of images to travel through. A good figure is 30. Rich Person the topic expression at each photo, depict what is going on as if they are showing it to someone, and state its story. Let them cognize that they make not necessitate to demo the black and white to the camera, and not to point to specific things, but to just depict them in any item they wish. Once they have got finished with the photographs as them one more than question…

If they could give one message or spot of advice to their coevals of posterity to come, what would it be?

Now your beginning video is finished and you are ready to redact it.

3. Edit the video and photographs -

Call your local video redaction suite and modesty an redact station. Let them cognize that you have got a MiniDV digital tape that you desire to redact video from, photographs you desire to include and music to be added. At Video Kitchen in Louisville Kentucky, our basic redact station have a $19 apparatus complaint plus $29 hourly. You necessitate to convey in the videotape, the photographs and a cadmium with soft background music (we can supply the music if necessary). If everything went well and you have got a good plan, it should take a couple of hours to finish the editing. We will set a statute title page at the beginning, replace subdivisions of video with the photographs and add the background music to the audio track.

Now you have got a digital maestro tape. Your first DVD transcript is included in the terms of your camcorder rental. Pricing for further transcripts are establish on our duplicate page.

Example Type B — Work with a production company's staff for around $550 + other copies

1. The interview

Call the your local video production installation and apparatus a shoot. At Video Kitchen in Louisville Kentucky, our shoots include a broadcast quality camcorder with an operator and a radio microphone. Lights are extra. We will come up to your location and do certain that everything is captured perfectly. There is a $49 apparatus fee plus $99 per hr and we will probably be onsite for an hr and a half.

The shoot will continue as in illustration #1 with a friend or relative reading the topic questions, describing photos, telling narratives and sharing memories.

2. The Edit session

Then put up an assignment at the video production installation to come up in and sit down with an editors at a digital computing machine non-linear redact station. At Video Kitchen in Louisville Kentucky, this station runs $99 hourly and depending on how much redaction is needed, it will probably take around three and a one-half hours. At this station, we can add photos, music and statute titles with slices and dissolves. Then we would do your digital maestro and make one DVD transcript which is included in your shoot. Pricing for further transcripts are establish on our duplicate page at http://www.videokitchen.com/dupes.html

More tips

The physical object is to acquire the cardinal figure of the video to start talking. Think about it, there are times this individual makes start telling narratives without end. It might be after a big Thanksgiving Day dinner, it might be late at night, it might be at the kitchen table, it may take a glass of something to cut down tension.

Sometimes it takes something to put the topic off, to acquire them on their soapbox, to state the children how it was back in the good old days. A lively treatment of world events, the manner children frock today, the cost of gasolene may assist getting the juices to flow.

There are some Masters at this art. Two come up to mind. Jim Lipton on Assassin in the Actor's Studio programme interviews film stars in a manner that investigations their personality and background without parallel. He have done his research and have inquiries on bluish index cards. His inquiries not only are "tell me" but also unfastened a topic by telling the histrion something that Lipton already cognizes a small about, and the histrion is invited to fill up in the blanks, resoluteness the conflict, complete the joke.

Charlie Rose is another superb endowment at drawing information out of his guests. Same bluish cards. Same method of asking inquiries by making a statement and inviting the invitee to come in into the conversation. He is on phosphate buffer solution late most evenings. You might desire to catch some of these sorts of shows to assist you map out a strategy you are comfortable with.

If the individual asking the inquiries is nervous and tight, it may not work. Find a replacement. If the topic of the interview is lost in the best household couch and you retrieve most lively treatments being around a table, travel for the table. Sound is more than of import than the picture. Stay close. Leave the photographic camera running through minor errors; just state it again after a little pause. It will be easy to cut out later. Try to maintain going. If the first session doesn't work well, laughter it off and allow the topic cognize you'll be back. A bad frock dry run frequently do for a great first performance.

While it may increase the budget from the Numbers suggested above, there are many ways to add other stories, movies and images to your Memoir Video. Other members of the household may have got great narratives to add, video cutaway drawings of the topic in action walking in the neighborhood, sawing a board, or cooking a repast can all add to an apprehension of who this individual is. But don't throw too many things into your first effort. You will have got a digital master. You will be able to add more than later. Don't program holds into your project!

We look forward to learning your households history with you and hope to assist you continue it for old age to come. If you have got any other inquiries about video editing, duplication, transportation Oregon conversion, delight visit our web page at http://www.videokitchen.com/ or you can compose us a 1917 Blankenbaker Drive in Louisville Kentucky 40299

Good fortune on creating your ain memory photograph collage video!

Thursday, February 15, 2007

My Trip To McDonald's

I cannot retrieve the last time that I went to eat at McDonald’s. Inch fact, I cannot retrieve the last time that I ate fast-food. However, cravings for a ‘heart onslaught in a brownish bag’ come up at unexpected times, so I stopped at McDonald’s on the manner place from the gymnasium this morning. What a mistake.

The following experience is very typical and is the norm for whenever I randomly halt for fast-food. I normally avoid repast rush-hours, therefore I stopped in today at 10:30 a.m.. There was cipher in line and only three people were waiting for their orders, all appearing impatient as their organic structure linguistic communication suggested. I immediately counted 10 seeable employees. They all
seemed to be working at their several stations and normal distraction occurred amongst them as they horsed around a spot and made side conversation. The adult female taking my order was polite adequate yet looked extremely unhappy and tatterdemalion [as if she hadn’t brushed her dentition in a while]. When she repeated my order back to me, she got it wrong. I corrected her. She repeated it to me again and got it right. Bingo- Iodine expected to have got got my nutrient [with no line and 10 employees] in a substance of minutes.

I could not have been more than wrong. I walked over to the condiment station to wait for my order to arrive. I establish a convenient booklet outlining the nutritionary content of every point available on the menu. As a manner to warrant approaching gluttony, I immediately checked the protein value of the Crispy Ranch Chicken Sandwich that I ordered to satisfaction that I was doing
something to assist construct muscle. The Crispy Chicken Strips, which are billed as healthy via advertising, incorporate 1,260 calories if you eat a twelve-piece. Ouch. I could not look at the saccharide or saturated fat values. That may result in me leaving the eating house without my order and I am too inexpensive to make that. Still waiting for food…

I check up on my ticker and recognize that Iodine have got been waiting 10 minutes. I look up to recognize the hold is that the sandwich-assembly-person made my poulet broiled when I ordered crispy. I calculate this volition take another five minutes. I also detect that I am the lone individual in the anteroom and the drive-thru is empty. In the meantime, the adult female that took my order travels to acquire my french fries ready. I don’t like having to check up on the bag after I have my order, so I carefully watch her to guarantee that she is giving me the right size french-fries. I usually don’t recognize the sandwich order is incorrect until I sit down down to eat it, and, by that point, am too apathetic and disheartened from the long delay to acquire up and wait yet another 10 to 15 proceedings to acquire the sandwich that I originally ordered. If I did that, I would have got waited [officially] almost thirty proceedings to acquire a right order of nutrient at a fast-food restaurant. Why make I bother? Are the nutrient so astonishing that I am willing to delay an norm of 13 proceedings from when I order only to almost always have the incorrect order?

My nutrient come ups up and the adult female apologises for the wait to pacify my obvious discontent. Bashes McDonald’s believe that a gloomy-looking dishevelled worker that apologises to me will guarantee my hereafter business? Apparently so. Or is McDonald’s and
‘fast-food’ such as as an endemic disease portion of our busy cultural life style that we accept such sub-standard service and nutrient quality because we are too lazy to cook at home? And we inquire why childhood diabetes is a national epidemic. Supreme Being forbid we feed small Rebel something healthy from the stove- let’s purchase him a Happy Meal on the manner place so Rebel can be just as fat as Mommy. Misery loves company. Maybe McDonald’s should team up up with Weight Watchers to acquire people both approaching and going.

I could have got it all wrong…how tin I fault the employees when they are making ‘McMinimum Wage’ with no opportunity for advancement? How can I demand service with a smiling when they would almost rather hit themselves than put option up with my ailment over having to wait 13 proceedings for a chicken-sandwich? If I convey an wrong order back and complain, will they tongue on the new sandwich they do me? Are any of this even deserving it?

I go forth McDonald’s vowing never to sponsor their concern again. I always go forth angrier than when I arrived yet knowing that the greatest letdown will be when I open up my ‘heart onslaught in a bag’. I inquire if the oil they cook the french fries in is hot because mine are always cold. I acquire place to sit down down for luncheon in presence of Kraut Springer in order to point my finger and laughter at the trailer-trash. I open up the sandwich box only to recognize that they got it wrong…

Monday, February 12, 2007

Work of My Hands

The people of the middle-east have been enduring wars for thousands of years. Hear this original poem about the feelings of those who left because of war. Abraham hailed from the city of UR in ancient Iraq. Israel has seen its share of tugging for Jerusalem. Middle-eastern countries feel the tug in a different way, for the oil rich ground.

Work of My Hands©
by J. Kenneth Ezra


Oh to live as descendents of you.

The land in the Fertile Crescent grew.

Your long wavy curves are soft and split to extend.

The top flowing freely effortlessly it ends.

Scattered and dizzy like a lifetime we lost.

Referring to the past with multitudes it cost.

Lion like and lovely, with its head up high.

Your muscles stand tall as seen the bull’s- eye.

Our tongues remember the ancient text.

To clear the way for what is next.

We licked her from head to toe, oh savor every bud

Water now angered a drowning flood.

Where shall we go and who are we?

Our past lives now distant the ground never free.

Watching the warring for her precious hand

A flower of hope will flourish the land.

Take this advice from the people of seeds.

Your appetite for love may lead you to greed.

With it in hand you will hunt her down.

One day to wonder you have no crown.

Friday, February 09, 2007

A Brief History of Gongs

The tam-tam is one of the oldest musical instruments in the world. Archaeologists have got unearthed tam-tams built almost four thousand old age ago. No wonderment when we hear a tam-tam we experience like we are being touched in our soul.

The earlier written reference of the tam-tam was in People'S Republic Of China in the 6th century. In these ancient written documents the Chinese claim that another civilization from Central Asia introduced it to them. While we can’t be certain which civilization created the gong, it’s safe to state the sound resonated with the Chinese and that they made the tam-tam their own.

The Chinese used tam-tams for many ceremonial functions. They were struck to denote when the Emperor or other of import political and spiritual figs arrived. Military leadership also used tam-tams to garner work force together for battle.

The tam-tam and its music then migrated from People'S Republic Of China to Java -- the term tam-tam is actually Javanese in beginning -- and became established in Republic Of Indonesia by the 9th century.

The Javanese made their tam-tams in a new manner that was much different from the big level Chinese gongs; they used deep turned-down rims with a raised knob in the center. The Indonesians also developed a style of playing many of their tam-tams at once, in a drumming orchestra known as a gamelan. In gamelan, the tam-tams are usually different sizes, with each 1 tuned to a different specific pitch.

Gongs migrated slowly from Asia to Africa –- they didn’t have got got the Internet and aeroplanes to rush things along dorsum then -- and finally arrived in Europe in the eighteenth century.

The style of tam-tam that Europeans first proverb and heard was the large Chinese tam-tam of indefinite pitch that you have probably seen in the back of orchestras.

Though now a regular portion of the drumming subdivision in Horse Opera orchestras, the first symphonic music to include one was Mirabeau, written by the Gallic composer Francois Gossec, in 1791. Claude Debussey became the first major composer to integrate the sounds into his symphonies.

Thursday, February 08, 2007

Music, the Spiritual Connection

All through the age’s music and spirituality as served hand in hand. As for instruments, the earliest is presumed to be, percussions from noisemakers to drums.

Wind instruments such as reed flutes followed closely, later as the technologies evolved string instruments and organs.

All during this long history of humankind musical quests, the most used instrument, as been the voice. From primitive humming to the rich and melodious Gregorian chants.

Music as an instrument to heightens the senses, to reach beyond and perhaps,even, reach whatever God or Gods or even Goddesses that particular society worshiped.

Often the participants would reach trances and reported communication with the Divine. The same still applies today, many "churches" use music in this fashion.

Now, as a rule however, music has been reduced to a mere form of entertainment to the masses at large. A simple look at the type of music available mostly cloned variations on what currently sells the most.

The lack of creativity is vivid! To be fair it is not only limited to the field of music. Just look at the past few years until today and count the number of remakes. Even worst the remakes of remakes!!!

But I digress, you can still find spiritual music, there is a rebirth of such music Especially in the Christian music genre which is expanding at a phenomenal rate lately.

From the traditional Gospel style to Punk and even Heavy metal!!!

Reminds me that it was not so long ago that the clergy boldly proclaimed rock music to be inspired and even affirmed it to be the work of the devil!!!

Times change:)

Ask yourself this;

When was the last time you heard of a style of music being created? No, Rap dates back to the 60's, hip-hop, trip hop and all other hops to surface recently are but variations on the same "rap" theme.

Where are the experimenters, the Zappa's, Pink Floyds, and others?

Those brave soul who push the envelope of what music is, those that are unsatisfied with the musical status quo and pre digested drivel!

Perhaps, if it at all, independent medias might be able to bring you those very same artists but it is well known that these have a limited but thankfully growing following.

Maybe in a few years if not decades, when the masses have become
disenchanted with the corporative offering. Then start deserting to the Independents perhaps then, will the heavy machinery slowly provide to them really fresh and truly creative music.

Perhaps then will we see the emergence of a music that reaches your Soul and animate you the very core?

Monday, February 05, 2007

The Western Cowboy

In the State of Texas the Western Cowboy can be establish place on the range. But can you really happen a true western cowpuncher in the state of Texas? At one time you could happen existent cowpunchers in Texas but that time was over one hundred old age ago.

Up until the end of the warfare between the North and the South you could happen western cowpunchers still roaming the range. However the end of this struggle brought many alterations to the unfastened range.

The railroad was completed to countries of the state that previously did not have got a good system of transport. Cities were rebuilt and new metropolises sprung up around the country. The difficult feelings between the North and the South never really disappeared totally. Even today in some parts of the state there are people who still seaport a disfavor from the North or the south.

In the future portion of the 1860s a new innovation devastated the unfastened range. A new type of wire with shots attached started showing up all over the United States of America. The introduction of this wire began a new type of warfare in some states. It was known as the scope wars.

The shot wire actually pitted neighbour against neighbor, and household members against household members. What was known a free scope land where cows were moved from one location to another was no more.

The cows work force now had to postulate with land catches by husbandmen and those who wanted their ain free scope land. Large paths of land was being fenced off all over the states. As the cattlemen tried to keep their holdings they would engage premium huntsmen to rupture out the fencings as fast as they were being built. The authorities made the job even worse by offering to give free land holdings to any individual who was willing to settle down the scope lands.

Many colonists were killed or removed from the land which they had claimed. Some sold land back to the ranches, but most were not that lucky. The development of the railroad which was an first-class manner of transportation system to travel cows to the markets, destroyed the demand for the long cows drives. The railway, and the new shot wire fence had literally wiped out the common cowboy.

This took place over a very short time span of about 10 years. Some folks will state that place on the scope cowpunchers have got all but disappeared.

There are a batch of big figure of working spreads still today with huge paths of land but many of the best vales and most fertile land have been purchased by big corporations. The cowpuncher of today have changed a batch from the cowpuncher of 50 old age ago. The years of drive a thousand caput of cows and Equus caballuses are long gone and stay only as a fable and a affectionate memory.

The modern cowpuncher looks like the western cowpuncher of the past. Today’s cowpuncher still utilizes his Equus caballus as did the western cowpuncher of the State of Texas from pass gone times. But the manner he pulls off his land have got changed as have the cows drives.

If one takes a minute to stand up on the scope and listen carefully you might hear the thunder of hoofs and the phone call of the western cowpuncher off in the distance, and experience a glance of our past.

Saturday, February 03, 2007

The Original Nobility: Patricians and Knights

By "nobility" I refer to that class in society which once had hereditary political, financial and social privileges guaranteed by law. By "original nobility" I follow the German (and now internationally accepted) definition and refer to those families who were ennobled (or generally recognised as nobles) before the year 1400. With "patricians" I refer to those families who from time immemorial were recorded as local and regional leaders, and usually as a base for their power had vast landed properties. With "knight" I refer to the warrior class that emerged and developed during 900 - 1300 AD.

The original nobility was comprised of those two categories, the patricians and the knights. The patricians soon developed into the higher nobility, and were often granted land and titles by the king or ruler. To administer the vast and scattered estates they needed local commanders, who in their turn needed well armed warriors to defend the properties. During the 11th, 12th and 13th centuries the duties and privileges (e.g. to maintain an armed force and enjoy tax exemption) became formalised and hereditary.

Among the knights one could originally distinguish two classes: the nobiles (who belonged to the hereditary and wealthy higher nobility, usually derived from the patricians), and the milites (the lower nobility which served as officers in the castles of the higher nobility).

During the 12th and 13th centuries these two groups, the nobiles and the milites, were merged, as the milites gained priveleges, built their own castles and married the daughters of the nobiles.

Slowly a chivalric ideal developed, and chivalric virtues such as bravery and gallantry were praised.

As the military importance of the knights decreased during the 14th and 15th centuries, the chivalric system became more of a cultural institution. The knights became more closely attached to the royal and princely courts, and more importance was given to heraldry and various ceremonies. It became increasingly more common for the king or prince to create new nobles by means of letters patent, and soon this newly created titular nobility had by far outnumbered the original nobility. During the 16th, 17th and 18th centuries the creation of new nobles in many countries became so extensive they were soon regarded as the "only" and the "real" nobility. The original nobility had by then in many cases lost their original landed properties, due to ward and seizures, and along with them the recognition they once enjoyed.

So it was that the exception became the rule (patent nobility) and substance was replaced by shadow (landed properties with honorific titles). But until this day it remains true that "Laws may be changed, privileges may expire. But the duties to the Fatherland remain. And once those duties are fulfilled, little does it worry the true nobility where its position in society is put" (Count Gustaf Lagerbjelke, 1866).

If you found this article about the original nobility interesting, you may wish to have a look at my book "Find Your Noble Ancestors!", where I develop the subjects outlined above.

Thursday, February 01, 2007

Nautical Star Tattoos the History, Meaning and Symbolism: What a Strange Mix!

The history, significance and symbolism of nautical star tattoos is
a hotly debated topic.  Today many different groupings have got got got
adopted the Nautical star tattoo as a symbol for their ain
motion and they have all ascribed their ain significance and
history to the symbol.  Frankincense have Pb to a broad
dissension as the the significance of the tattoo.Historically
most everyone holds that Sailors were the first people to acquire
nautical star tattoos.  Inch fact the very word nautical
associates back to sailing.  Sol this connexion have been
pretty firmly established.  Most people would hold the
crewmen were a pretty superstitious grouping historically and
crewman traditional knowledge abounds with superstitious and fantastical narratives
of life and decease and being lost at sea.  Early on
crewmen navigated by the stars at nighttime and the North star
became the symbol for determination 1s manner home.  Once you
cognize where the North star is you tin indicate your ship in the
right manner to acquire home.  Sol the star became a symbol
for determination 1s manner place or more than than than symbolically even determination
1s way in life.  Therefore many crewmen would tattoo
nautical stars on their forearms as a good fortune symbol in
hopes of returning home. 


However their modern twenty-four hours significance is a more debated topic. 
Many believe that groupings including cheery and lesbians, hood
bikers and those in the military have adopted the nautical
star tattoo as a very of import symbol.  The diverseness of
these three groupings have Pb many to reason the significance of their
tattoos.


For the military the connexion is pretty obviously point
back to the early crewmen and the symbolism and meaning is the
same as the early sailors.  Many military people acquire a
nautical star tattoo as a symbol for finding 1s way place
safely.  Of course this can also include more
symbolically just finding 1s way in life.


Here is a quotation mark we establish from a member of the armed
services and his reading of the tattoo:


"I am in the United States Army, an military policeman who searched towns
and small towns for Aluminum Quida and insurgents. I was in Republic Of Iraq for 1
year. I have got a reddish and black nautical star on my wrist. The
ground I got it was because when I was out there, I felt it
was a guide to guide me place to my household safely. I got it so
that it would remind me that I am going to do it to see my
boy turn up. I am not gay, it doesn't substance what you believe
it represents, it intends something different for everyone. Out
in the desert, I would look up at the stars and believe about
home. Sol anyone can believe what they desire to, that is what it
intends to me. "


Punk bikers have got got got got also adopted this as a popular symbol to
have tattooed.  The hood motion traces its history and
usage of the nautical star tattoo back to Sailor Jerry. 
Sailor Kraut is historically 1 1 of the most celebrated tattoo
people ever.  Helium was well known for his advanced and
"cool" designs.  Punks have taken this symbol and it have
very much the same significance of determination 1 manner in life. 
Being the rugged individualists type Punks are drawing to the
symbolism of true North and determination one ain alone manner in
life.  So the Nautical star have go a symbol for this. 
You see many hood sets that have full arm tattoos
typically integrate nautical star tattoos either on their
elbow joints or elsewhere.


The cheery woman and gay connexion is the one that makes not
look so obvious at first.  Historically back in the
1940's and 50's when option life styles were not the norm
and often women had to conceal their option picks they
would athletics a concealed nautical star.  Often they would acquire
the star tattoo done on the interior of their carpus where it
could easily be hidden by a ticker during the twenty-four hours but shown off
in the eventide when out on the town.  Today many gay women
where the nautical star tattoo to demo their connexion with
their early pioneering sisters.  Here is a small
grounds to back up my points.  


"Here's the transition (with some pieces dropped) from "Boots
of Leather, Slippers of Gold: The History of a Lesbian
Community" by Elizabeth Ii Lapovsky Jack Kennedy and Madeilne D. Davys
right of first publication 1993 p. 189.


(talking about the 1940's and 1950's):


"...During this same time period, the cultural pushing to be
identified as lesbians- Oregon at least different- all the time
was so powerful that it generated a new word form of designation
among the tough barroom lesbians: a star tattoo on the top of the
wrist, which was usually covered by a watch. This was the
first symbol of community personal identity that did not trust on
butch-fem imagery. We can trace this phenomenon back to an
eventide of revelry in the late 1950's, when a few dikes
trooped over to "Dirty Dick's" tattoo parlour on Chippewa
Street and had the bantam bluish five-pointed star set on their
wrists. Later, some of the fems of this grouping also travel the thought
1 nighttime and did it...The community positions the tattoo as a
definite grade of identification..."the American Bison police force knew
[that] the people that had the stars on their carpus were
gay women and they had their name calling and so forth. That it was an
personal identity thing with the cheery community, with the gay woman
community". The fact that the star tattoo was created by those
who were firmly into roles, in fact by the grouping that was
considered the butchy dikes and their fems, propose that the
military unit to asseverate gay woman personal identity was strong adequate to interrupt
through the existent traditions of daring based in butch-fem
roles. The stars bode the methods of personal identity created by
cheery liberation. In fact, the grade have go something of a
tradition in local circles and have seen a resurgence since the
1970s."


This significance of the symbol have got of course created a batch of
jobs and statements among the other two groupings of carriers
of nautical stars.  Most Puck and military people make not
desire to have a nautical star that points back to anything from
the cheery woman motion so many volition state that there is no
connexion there and this is false.


Here is a quotation mark from another armed military units member about the
symbolism of the nautical star among the cheery community:


"This "gay symbol" is a loading of stuff that person made up
VERY recently. The nautical star tattoo have been around nearly
as long as tattooing itself. The late Celts (or early Irish,
depending on your position of World History) were said to have got got
been the first to have the tattoos, although grounds of it
being used on ships in Kingdom Of Spain have been establish pre-dating the
Irish claim.


As a Marine, it's a very commonplace symbol amongst us if
we have got been portion of a Boat Foray company, reddish for port, greenish
for starboard on varying parts of the body. On ship, I saw
about a million different fluctuations on the Sailors I was was
serving with, obviously harking back to the crewman roots."


Here is a quotation mark from a hood rocker and his feelings about
the symbolism of the tattoo:


"what idiots..even the military male children dont cognize what it
really means....JUST sol YOU ALL KNOW!!!!!it was used by old
sailors.. and the symbol stands for North on a Map ...and it
is the North Star the crewmen would utilize it as a baring to acquire
home....you can happen it on Really really old maps and old naval forces
vessels... Hood Rock.. well we utilize it because we can and
because Sailor Kraut made the coolest tattoos who started
putting them on everyone.. my grandfather even had one thus
being used as a traditional icon"


It just travels to demo that when the same powerful symbol is
used over and over again over decennaries of time it can taken on
very different significances for different groups.  Sol all of
those that you see sporting a nautical star tattoo might not
all have got got got the same reading of its symbolism.


So make you have a nautical star tattoo or believe about
getting one in the future?  Which significance of the symbol
will you acquire the nautical star for?  As long as you cognize
what the symbolism behind the star is for and you have gotten
it for the right ground to either support the gay woman motion
or as a symbol to determination your way!