Dr Ahearn

George William Frederick, (4June 1738-29January 1820), or King George III, is said by many to have gone mad,necessitating the Regency. But is this what reallyhappened? Not according to recent research. Actually, the research isn't all that new, which is why itis inexcusable, to my thinking, to continue to characterize the King as merely having gone mad. In 1994 the movie, "The Madness of King George" tried toset the record straight-sort of. If I remember correctly,there was a little blurb at the end stating that the Kingactually suffered from Porphyria, a disease of the blood. One is inclined to think, however, that most people never read the blurb, though this is, in fact, the modern[..]

The Phillipine Moro Barong Sword is leaf shaped with a one edged blade and is sometimes spelled Barung. The Moro Tausugs of Sulu with is a province within the Phillipines used this sword as their primary weapon. This weapon looks somewhat like a Machete but has much more of a curved handle on it. The blade on it is heavy and very thick, and the heavy weight makes it a lot easier to slice various objects. This weapon can be anywhere from 8 to 22 inches long. However the newer versions of this weapon are 18 to 22 inches. Handles of the Phillipine Moro Barong Sword are called Hilts. Most were silver but some were brass but less common. Fiber Rings that were lacquered usually were laid at[..]

It was only a turn of fate that David M. Schwarz became an architect at all. Having started his own practice (in his own words "too early"), with little success, he realized his dream of becoming an architect was as good as over and had all but given up hope. However, a chance encounter with a friend gave him an 'eleventh hour' second chance, when he was offered a project by the friends' boyfriend. His career is now considered remarkable, and his architectural practice is established having received awards from a wide range of organizations, including the American Institute of Architects and the Art Deco Society of Washington. Prior to this success, Mr. Schwarz received his B.A. at St.[..]

If you ever pondered the reality of the new age, you may have stumbled upon some fundamental questions. You probably wondered what it will be like to be alive in the coming era, how our lives will be different from the way they are now. We know from the Ageless Wisdom that human beings will learn to think and act from a higher plane of awareness--that of the Soul. But how will this play out in our daily lives? Through a chance encounter with an artist in the spring of 2009, I discovered how much the lives of spiritually conscious artists can tell us about our future. Brilliant colors streaming from the paintings of Ray Hart caught my eye at an outdoor arts fair and I stopped to learn[..]

If you are interested in books that are related to WWII or the evil dictators of that era, there are a few topics that happen to be fascinating to read about. As a history buff, I have come across some of the most interesting and informative books on these topics (the Holocaust, WWII, Gulag survivors, Holocaust survivors, Joseph Stalin, etc). In particular, stories from survivors are the ones that always intrigue me the most. Of all the survivor stories that I have read, the ones that are about Soviet slave laborers in the Soviet gulags are the ones that not only intrigue me the most, but touch me the most. These men were subjected to extreme starvation while at the same time had to do[..]

Northumbria, Mercia and East Anglia, had all fallen to the Danish invaders, leaving Wessex as the only Saxon kingdom not yet under the thrall of the Danes. Despite being hard pressed by the invaders, The Saxon King, Ethelred with his younger brother Alfred (Aelfred) at his side, won a stunning victory over the enemy on the 8th of January 871 at Ashdown. The victory however was short lived; the Saxons were overwhelmed by the Danes on 22nd of January at Basing. The Saxons rallied, but after a hard fought battle were again beaten and Ethelred killed at the battle of Merton. Alfred became king of Wessex on the death of his brother and was forced to negotiate the payment of Danegelt -[..]

Robert the Bruce disagreed with the outcome of the Great Cause in 1292, which gave the Crown of Scotland to John Balliol, he viewed it as unjust in that it prevented his branch of family their rightful place. He sided with Edward I against John, he received a respite for all his debts owed to the English Exchequer. In 1296, Robert the Bruce and his father swore fealty to Edward I, but the following year Robert supported the Scottish revolt against Edward. After William Wallace resigned as Guardian of Scotland after the Battle of Falkirk it was Robert the Bruce and John Comyn who replaced him. However these two clashed terribly and a third guardian, William Lamberton was added in an[..]

can be so boring when all you do is work and work and work. Try doing that for two consecutive weeks and you will surely feel depression set in and stress starts to get out of control. A good way to avoid stress is not only to work but to have time. It is important to manage your time so that you have time for fun and work. There are various ways to entertain yourself and simply break away from your busy working life. Spending it outdoors walking, jogging or even going shopping and treating yourself to some of your favorite clothes and accessories can do the trick. In fact, anything that will take your mind off from your work in the office is bound to make you feel better. Some though[..]

Infidelity in a marriage is, sadly, a common occurrence. While most of us want to believe that our marriage is strong, even strong marriages can suffer from an affair. One of the reasons why many cheating spouses are never caught is that the signs of cheating may not be that obvious. The following explains why that is. Deterioration of the Relationship Over Time Marriages and relationships naturally change as we are in them over a period of time. It is not uncommon for marriages to deteriorate over time. Children, work and everyday life can come between you and your husband. Things change. However, natural changes happen over time. Signs of cheating can be similar to signs of[..]

The social gentry of the Victorian era were ostentatious and displayed their wealth for all to see. Even though sickness and disease ran rampant, and lives were lost daily to the ravishes of chickenpox, smallpox, diphtheria, scarlet fever, meningitis, tuberculosis and cholera, the Victorians surrounded themselves with the ornaments and clutter of the rich. The insides of their homes were often dark as sunlight was purposely kept at bay. Heavy furniture filled the rooms and family oil portraits hung on the walls. Signs of Victorian status included large mirrors strategically placed to reflect the abundance of possessions back into the room. The Victorian home was overflowing with vases,[..]

There are quite a few popular Ancient Sword Names to think about. The type of weapon for you depends if you are interest in Ninja, Japanese, Chinese, Roman, Greek or Middle East Culture. All have their own unique names. The Full Tang Ninja Sword is a very popular weapon. Ninja movies have been all over the media for the last 20 years. These weapons usually come in packs of two and come with a sheath that will conceal both weapons at once. If you like to collect Swords created for Kings the Emperor Kang-Si is a great choice. It comes with its own Stand and has an overall blade length of 20 inches and is made with 400 Stainless Steel. The Bamboo Stick Sword was used for fighting in the[..]

There is hardly any place or building on this earth where doors are not used. From houses to apartments, and from barns to mini storage buildings, doors are used everywhere. They are used in different shapes sizes and designs. However, the purpose they serve is more or less the same. They provide security and safety from thieves, housebreakers, animals and even climatic conditions. Even people who live in most exotic places have doors for their unique dwellings. Walking down a city lane, one notices different kinds of doors all around such as glass panels, wooden slabs; roll up doors and many other types as well. Besides houses and buildings, there is one more place where doors are[..]

Benjamin Disraeli, First Earl of Beaconsfield (1804-81) was a great British statesman and novelist. He was born in London and came from a Jewish family that had converted to Anglicanism. He was a most ambitious and a larger than life individual. He dressed in colorful clothes. He always chose his words carefully and spoke only when he had something memorable and witty to say. He began life working for three years in a lawyer's office. He then - unsuccessfully - tried to start a newspaper. His first big breakthrough was when he achieved fame and success as a popular novelist. His first novel was Vivian Grey (1826). The most famous of his many novels were perhaps his two political novels,[..]

Frederick II of Prussia (1712-86), commonly known as Frederick the Great, was King of Prussia and one of that country's greatest rulers. He had a multi-faceted personality, being a great statesman, a military commander, a writer, a musician, and a social reformer. The Statesman and Military Leader When Frederick the Great was born, Austria was the leading power in the German-speaking area of Europe. Frederick opposed Austria' s overbearing power. He had ambitious plans for Prussia: he thought it should increase its military influence and economic power and become the leading German-speaking state. In 1740 Frederick reactivated Prussia's old claims to the Austrian province of Silesia.[..]

The Arming Sword which is commonly referred to as the Knight's or Knightly Sword is a type of Ancient Fortified Sword used in the latter middle ages. It is a type of Cruciform Sword that is made to be used with just one hand. For those of you who aren't aware of a Cruciform it just means that it was shaped like the cross. This weapon was used the most from around 1000 to 1350 A.D., however, it was still being used as a Battle Weapon until 1600 or so A.D. but after 1350 it was rarely used. As mentioned before the Hilt or handle was Cruciform Shaped with a Pommel. The Arming Sword was a descenent of the Viking Sword, which is a type of spatha used by the Greeks. This weapon was typically[..]

The basic traditional Russian Samovar is a large metal container used for heating and boiling water. This metal boiling brewer is known to have been historically used throughout Russia and other various Slavic Nations while mention of Iran, Turkey and Kashmir using the Samovar is also there. The Samovar has been said to have originally been invented in Central Asia, but Russia strongly disputes this claim. Samovar is said to be of Russian origin with the proof of origination by the Russian "Samovar" named being stamped upon on the samovars of 18th century Iran. The traditional Samovars were originally heated with coal or dried pine cones, but later on became electrical and were commonly[..]

Someone who makes Swords is called a Swordsmith or a Bladesmith or sometimes even a "Smith" for short. An Armorer is a close trade but this is someone who specializes in making either replica or authentic protective armor. A Blacksmith is someone who specifically just produces various types of blades. Armorers and Swordsmiths still operate today, however, they have a very targeted clientele. Ancient Sword Making has been around for centuries, and in the medieval and renaissance era have been manufactured out of a wide variety of various materials and using a plethora of techniques. There are a lot of different methods people use for evaluating a particular sword, however, there are 4[..]

The Native American Sunrise Ceremony is held every year on Alcatraz Island. This Native American Sunrise Ceremony is an occasion to honor and give thanks to the Native American people. The unique thanksgiving of 1621 was intended to offer gratitude for the crop. This crop was possible because of the assistance of the native people of America provided to the Pilgrims. The year earlier than lots of Pilgrims had passed away because of hunger. The Pilgrims learned from the Native American people about the various types of agricultural methods which were very successful. The story behind this ceremony is a very shaky one; in the middle winter of 1620 the natives witnessed the arriving of the[..]

Once considered unusual, belly button piercing has become fashionable. From being novelties, they are now used by people to express themselves artistically. To avoid potential health problems, you should only go to a qualified piercer. How to Spot a Qualified Piercer First of all, the piercer will have a clean office. Do not get piercings if the workplace is unsanitary. Their hollow needles should be all disposable. Check their tools; they should be sterilized. Unsterilized equipment can be very dangerous. A professional piercer will always don latex gloves during the operation. Also, a professional piercer will not rush into the process. They will perform an analysis to see if your[..]

The raising of the American flag in Iwo Jima is one of the most enduring historical events in U.S. history because it was immortalized in a Pulitzer-winning photograph. The photograph showed six soldiers belonging to the marine corps and navy corpsman who raised the emblem on top of Mt. Suribachi in 1945, at the start of the campaign to stop the Japanese forces from their world-domination plan. Iwo Jima played an important role in the Japanese campaign because the island served as the early warning location for the Japanese military. The island is located between Japan and the Mariana Islands where the long-range bombers belonging to America were located. Before its capture, the Japanese[..]

Somewhere in the world, every eight seconds, a mother is throwing her hands in the air and declaring that her child is a little monster. But for Echidna it was the literal truth. Echidna was called the mother of all monsters, although her children numbered no more than a dozen or so, and many were exemplary offspring and a pride to any parent. They may still roam the earth in the quiet unseen places, waiting the day when a new Hero will come to challenge them. There are many arguments about Echidna's exact lineage, but who amongst us can vouch for every union in our own background? Suffice to say she was the daughter of powerful mythical beings. Sources agree, though, on her[..]

Ioseph Vissarionovich Stalin, better known as Joseph Stalin, was a paranoid leader who butchered more of his own people than anyone other than perhaps Mao. Joseph Stalin (Iosif Vissarionovicn Dzhugashvili) is best known as the dictator who brought the Communist Party to its full power in Russia. As the General Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union starting in 1922, Stalin managed to grasp full power over the Soviet Union and held it until his death on March 5, 1953. The rise of Stalin, however, started in a less eventful way. The rise of Stalin started in the Russian state of Georgia in the year 1878. He was not born with the name of Stalin, but[..]

The next time you're watching TV and Gregory House sits down by the piano at the end of an episode, watch his fingers carefully. The British actor that plays Dr. House, Hugh Laurie, is both an accomplished actor and a professional musician. If you ask Hugh Laurie about his musical skills, he'll likely give you a humble and self-effacing answer. For instance, Laurie often describes himself as a "frustrated musician" and says that he "trifles" with the piano and guitar. Since the early days of his acting career on British programs like A Bit of Fry and Laurie and Poor White Trash and Wooster, Hugh Laurie has been composing and recording original music. In fact, Laurie stated that his[..]

Cary Grant is remembered as one of the most famous actors of Hollywood's Golden Age, the star of such classics as 'Bringing Up Baby', 'The Philadelphia Story' and 'Charade'. He was suave, debonair, immensely rich and successful and the very image of imperturbable gentility. What many people don't realize is that he was actually English, born into a working class family in a Bristol slum, and that his mother was incarcerated in a mental asylum by Grant's father when Cary was 9 and he thought for the next 20 years that she was dead. Cary Grant's birth name was Archibald Alexander Leach. His childhood was not happy. His father, Elias, worked as a presser in a clothing factory. He was a[..]

In ancient times, the Greeks were very devoted to their beliefs. They were religious people who worshipped numerous gods. The majority of these gods represented various elements of nature. Legends and Myths of the gods and their accomplishments tend to explain the phenomenon and occurrences of winds, rains, storms, life and deaths. Some gods include, Zeus, god of the skies, Poseidon, god of the sea and Hades, god of death. Most gods were believed to live on Mount Olympus, the highest peak in Greece. Greek gods had many human attributes and they did not set out strict rules for mortals to follow. They argued, make mistakes, and fell in love, but they did all of these things on a grand[..]

The Bishop of Nice carefully observed Michelangelo's painting of the murals in the Matisse Chapel in Venice. He concluded the artist was a "...man of genius, who, all his life, worked, searched, strained...in a long struggle...to draw near the truth and the light." The world produces few geniuses. It produces many artistic people - painters, sculptors, writers, photographers, for instance-who are willing to forgo profits and material comforts in the struggle to express their own vision of 'the truth and the light.' Rather than give in to the market place of commercial buyers, countless numbers labor on to make their own creative statement. Only a limited number will achieve a livelihood[..]

Spanish conquistadors were the people responsible for exploring as well as the conquest. It was up to them to spread the Spanish rule to a larger part of America. It is not wrong to say that the Spanish conquistadors had a major role in the success of Spain during the Imperial period. One such famous Spanish conquistador was Francisco Pizarro, who was popularly known as El Viejo. He was the senior most conquistadors in age. In spite of not receiving any formal military training, he was considered to be one of the most brilliant generals. He also received the titles of Governor and Captain General. When he captured King Atahualpa, the King offered him enough gold to fill a 22 feet high[..]

Native American Indian art in the American southwest is dominated by the magnificent pottery and jewelry in the region. When it comes to the Pacific Northwest region which covers the states of Oregon, Washington, British Columbia (Canada) and the southern part of Alaska, the Native American art here is mostly wood carvings. This is not surprising since unlike the southwest desert, the Pacific Northwest is abundant with forests which have provided the wood as raw material for the region's Native American Indian art. The wood carvings of the Pacific Northwest Native American art come in many different forms. The huge totem poles which are carved on entire tree trunks are probably the[..]

In the fifth century, St Patrick is said to have driven the snakes out of Ireland, fought battles of wits with Irish druids, and taught the meaning of the holy trinity to early Christians using the three-leaved shamrock. St Patrick is much beloved in Ireland to this day, 1600 years later. His feast day March 17th is a Catholic holy day of obligation in Ireland. Here in the United States, St Patrick's Day is a celebration of Irish culture for many of Irish descent and a wild, celebratory party for these and many more. I began to wonder what truly spurred such intense love for St Patrick. Although a few had preceded him to the Emerald Isle, Patrick was apparently the first successful[..]

King Djoser (2687-2668 BC), was the first pharaoh in the third dynasty as many scholars believed. They also think that queen Nimaethap was his mother and Khasekhemwy was his father. Djoser may have fixed the southern bounders of Egypt in his reign. He also sent some expeditions to Sinai because the local inhabitants were subdued there. Djoser's reign lasted only 18 years, yet is remarkable in that it ushered in Egypt's 'golden age' of monumental architecture. Not only were he and Imhotep able to organize the massive workforce required for building the pyramid, but they also initiated a belief that the pharaoh had eternal existence. During the reign of Djoser in the third dynasty (refer[..]

In reading Toni Morrison's The Bluest Eye I can see that she is dealing with some very complex problems that have existed within the societies of the world since ancient times. I think that in this book the one society she is writing about is ours in present day, but it can also relate to many different time periods. In particular what our society did to an entire race of people that began in the days of slavery and how its destructive, dehumanizing effects have affected its people and its country to this day. The way I think I see it, after you break it all down to its most basic form is, that when you feel good about yourself, you do good things. When you feel bad about yourself, you[..]

Poseidon is one of the more famous of the deities of ancient Greece. Here is an overview of who he was, what he did and his position the Pantheon. The Role of Poseidon In Ancient Greece The many gods and goddesses of the ancient Greek culture played important roles in every Greek's life. From the family hearth, to the life-giving sun, to the water they bathed in, Greek gods were seen to govern all aspects of daily life. While some regions of the Greek realm were actual cults, which meant they worshiped one god or goddess above all others; others prayed to specific figures at different points in the year or for different strengths. If a mariner was about to go to sea, it is pretty certain[..]

The Chewa people of Zambia live in the Eastern Province of the country. The language of the Chewa is Chichewa and Chichewa speaking people are Malawi and Mozambique. The reason for this is that historically before the white colonial masters came to Africa, the Chewa people of Zambia, Malawi and Mozambique had one ruler - His Royal Highness Kalonga Gawa Undi. But when the colonialists came and created national boundaries, the Chewas were separated and found themselves living in three countries with different colonial masters. Zambia and Malawi fell under the British colonial rule while Mozambique belonged to Portugal. However, the Chewa continued to recognise themselves as one despite[..]