The little of town of Knoxville, Georgia is so small you wouldn’t have heard of it even if you drove right through it. It’s the county seat of Crawford County, but it only has about 800 people living there.
Even John Pemberton, the inventor of Coca-Cola left town as a young boy and moved to Columbus.
Who knew that small, unassuming Knoxville, Georgia would be the birthplace of one of the most recognizable state icons in the nation…dare I say the world?
Also, who knew that particular state icon would be the brainchild of a seventeen year old girl?
First, let me set the stage a bit. The state icon I’m referring to is the Lone Star flag belonging to the state of Texas. Few know that Georgians were very instrumental in Texas independence, the Texas Republic, and the eventual statehood of Texas.
Colonel James Walker Fannin, Jr., Mirabeau Buonaparte Lamar, Thomas J. Rusk, and William Ward are just some of the pivotal names in Texas history who had ties to Georgia.
In fact, in 1836 it was Colonel James Walker Fannin, Jr. who oversaw the formation of the Macon Volunteers with the assistance of William Ward. On their way back to Texas they picked up a few more Georgians in Columbus and Milledgeville.
As they moved through the Knoxville area on the return trip to Texas Johanna (Joanna) Troutman was moved by the romanticism of the moment and the fervor for independence, so much so she took one of her silk white petticoats and fashioned a flag.
Yes, the FIRST Lone Star flag.
A San Antonio newspaper from 1934 mentions, “…on each side of the flag, in the center, was placed a large azure star of five points. Above the star on one side was the inscription, ‘Liberty or Death,’ and on the other the Latin motto Ubi libertas habitat ibi patria est or Where liberty dwells, there is my country.
Troutman presented the flag to Colonel William Ward and it was raised high about the American Hotel at Velasco, Texas on January 8, 1836. Later it flew as the Georgia Battalion flag at Goliad.
Colonel James W. Fannin raised it as the Republic of Texas flag upon hearing the Texas Declaration of Independence had been signed.
Troutman never set foot in Texas, but an article by A.C. Greene advises two pieces of silver belonging to Santa Ana was sent to her after his capture in appreciation for her efforts.
Wouldn’t you like to know where the silver is today?
She died in 1879 and was buried next to her first husband near Knoxville. In 1912 her body was moved to the Texas State Cemetery where a bronze statue stands to honor her.
Johanna (Joanna) Troutman’s portrait also hangs in the Texas State Capital.
The town of Knoxville has a monument to Troutman here.
Image Source: http://www.thegagenweb.com/gacrawfo/Biographies/jtroutman/JoannaTroutman-age52.jpg


The relationship that the two neighboring countries like India and Nepal enjoy is unique and unparalleled in the world. The treaty of friendship signed by the two countries in 1950 is a testimony to the same. This allows citizens of either nation to cross over to the other nation without any diplomatic formalities.
The progeny of the Himalayan nation, the Gorkha, has been acting as sentinel of India since centuries. The name has been trailed from the Medieval Hindu Warrior Saint Guru Gorakhnath. The name Gorkha has originated from the Hill town of Gorkha from which the Nepalese kingdom expanded.
The Indian Army sustains seven Gorkha regiments composed entirely of Gorkhas, who are recruited majorly from Nepal and it’s the most revered regiment of the Army. Post independence, India successfully retained regiments 1, 3, 4, 5, 8, and 9 GR whereas 2, 6, 7, and 10th GR joined the Brigade of Gorkhas in the British Army.
Both nations bestow the Honorary rank of General on each other’s Army chiefs in their respective nations. The biggest military setup of the Indian Embassy is in Kathmandu. Gorkhas were incorporated into the Indian forces in 1815 and on April 24, 2015 they completed 200 years of soldiering. The Gorkha’s valour in Anglo-Nepal war startled the British, which subsequently prompted them to integrate the Gorkhas into the British army. Initially the Gorkhas
were referred as the Nasiri Regiment; later it got christened as 1st King George’s Own Gorkha Rifles. The Regimental insignia of the entire Gorkha Rifles consists of a pair of crossed Khukris, which is their signature weapon and symbol of gallantry. Their resounding war cry ‘Joi Maa Kali Aayo Gorkha’ had been reverberating in the battlefield since centuries. This literally translates into “Hail Goddess Kali, the Gorkhas are here”.
The Gorkhas are the one of the most dreaded soldiers in the world. As the former Field Marshal Manekshaw had exclaimed “if a man says he is not afraid of dying he is either lying or is a Gorkha”. The display of valour flaunted by Gorkhas during the 1962 Operations was exemplary, especially at Leh and Namka Chu. Again, during the 1965 War, the Gorkhas fought concertedly with their comrades where they blew Pakistani Raiders in Kashmir, as well as in the Punjab. The rendition of the Gorkha regiments during the 1971 War, in Operation PAWAN, on UN Missions and in counter insurgency Operations in J&K and the north-east, has been superlative.
Gorkhas had been decorated with 3 Param Vir Chakras; the highest gallantry award in India, 33 Mahavir Chakras, 84 Vir Chakras and 5 Ashok Chakras. The current Army Chief, General Dalbir Singh Suhag also haisl from the Gorkha Rifles.


Pre-publication of chapter XII of my forthcoming book “Turkey is Iran and Iran is Turkey” (the book consists of 33 chapters)
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Parthian Arsacid times in Western and Central Asia (250 BCE – 224 CE) have also been distorted enormously by colonial Orientalists, who undertook a systematic de-Turanization of the material record, and of the interpretation effort, across this period of Late Antiquity.
This evil method begins with the continuation of the use of Ancient Greek and Latin terms for an immense part of the Earth that was never Greek or Roman. The use of Ancient Greek and Latin terms for any Oriental civilization, for any part of Oriental History, for any Orientalist discipline is erroneous, deceitful and misleading; even worse, this deliberate method keeps the average reader far from the historical realities, the linguistic originality, and the proper, direct approach to the Orient, and in this case to Iran and Turan.
In reality, there is no Achaemenid dynasty; it’s called ‘dynasty of Hakhamanesian’ (هخامنشیان).
In fact, there is no Arsacid dynasty; it’s called ‘dynasty of Ashkanian’ (اشکانیان).
And the same concerns the so-called Sassanid dynasty; it’s ‘dynasty of Sasanian’ (ساسانیان). In all three dynasty names, the accent is on the last syllable.
The same concerns the names of various Oriental nations’ kings and emperors, and those of the Iranian kings of kings. There is no ‘Arsaces’! The founder of the Parthian Ashkanian dynasty is named Ashk (اشک, Ašk) in Middle Persian and Arshak (Aršak, ارشاک) in Parthian. By mentioning the Ancient Greek or Latin deformation of the original name of the founder of Iran’s longest dynasty, pernicious Orientalists prevent people from easily understanding the name’s Turanian origin. By this, I don’t mean that the names of all Ashkanian monarchs are of Turanian origin, but many of them truly are. About:
Vologases is another case of substantially deformed (in Ancient Greek and Latin) name of Parthian ruler; it is also mistakenly vocalized by Iranologists as Walagaš. One has to have a certain background in Parthian language and Pahlavi writing to realize that the proposed term ‘Walagaš’ is a pure Orientalist reconstruction and that the name’s pronunciation was reconstructed (or rather faked) in this manner in order to dissimulate this Parthian royal name’s Turanian nature and meaning. Pahlavi Iranian – Turanian writing system was established on the basis of Aramaic, i.e. the world’s most widely used lingua franca (: international language) before the use of modern Western languages – which is due to the colonization of the world by the Western European colonial powers.
From NW Africa to China and from Siberia to Africa’s southeastern coasts, Aramaic eclipsed by far Latin and Ancient Greek, being historically the world’s second international language after Akkadian (Assyrian – Babylonian), which was the language and writing system in which all the 2nd millennium and 1st half of 1st millennium BCE Oriental monarchs communicated among them. After the diffusion of Islam, the adhesion of many Aramaeans to the faith preached by Prophet Muhammad, and the subsequent, determinant role played by the Aramaeans in the establishment of imperial administration, letters and sciences for the early caliphates, Aramaic was superseded by Arabic. However, Arabic language was in reality an Aramaic dialect, whereas Arabic alphabet is merely a cursive derivative of the Syriac Aramaic alphabet. Actually, one has to add that, long before the Aramaeans provided imperial administration, letters and sciences to the Umayyad and Abbasid caliphs, they had delivered exactly the same highly valuable services to the Achaemenid Iranians.
But pretty much like the earliest form of written Arabic (before Islam and also during the times of Prophet Muhammad), Aramaic was an alphabetic writing system in which only consonants were written; this is so because in Semitic languages the distinction between consonants and vowels is phonetically different than in Indo-European languages. At this point, I must add that aleph (a), yodh (i or y) and waw (u) are viewed not as vowels but as consonants in the Semitic languages. Similarly to the Aramaic alphabet, all Pahlavi Iranian – Turanian writings systems involved only consonants (and several Aramaic archaisms: logograms or hozwarishn). Because of this situation, the vocalization of each word (or name) is nowadays a matter of modern scholarly reconstruction, and when preconceived schemes and Orientalist forgery can occur in this effort, the end result is totally distorted and absolutely misleading.
In the case of the imperial Parthian Ashkanian name ‘Vologases’, the erroneous Orientalist reconstruction (Walagaš) seems even to disregard the way Ancient Greeks and Romans vocalized the name. If W+l+g+š became ‘Vologases’ in Ancient Greek and Latin, then we have surely to deduce that the most probable Parthian vocalization would be Ulugaš (: Ulugash), which consists in a very common physical description that may eventually suit as personal name of Turanian military leaders and emperors (Ulugaş: ‘big eyebrows’ in Turkmen). However, biased in their methods and partial in their approaches, colonial Orientalists preferred to vocalize the Parthian emperor’s name after posterior sources in Middle Persian (Wardakhsh) and Farsi (Balash), instead of taking into consideration the contemporaneous Ancient Greek and Latin way of rendering the Parthian royal name. The end result is a ludicrous interpretation and a deplorable confusion of the average readership.
Similarly, Orodes (Urud) is another Parthian imperial name that seems possible to have had Turanian etymology. I cannot fully expand at this point, but it seems that a) several unsuccessful Turanian – Iranian tribal and royal intermarriages and b) a strong religious polarization and confrontation between Zendism (a successive form of Zoroastrianism that was the Parthian court religion) and the Magi priests of Mithraism created progressively an explosive situation that risked to bring the empire to its knees. About:
Names of historically known Parthian tribes and confederations of tribes (a fact that suggests Turanian nomadic and not Iranian settled environment) have also been obscured, misinterpreted and distorted by colonial Orientalists. The Dahae are an example; there have been many variants of this tribal name in historical sources (Daae, Dahae, Daai, Dai, Dasai, etc.). In Persian, the Dahae are known as داهان (Dahan); in Ancient Greek they are called Δάαι (Daae) or Δαι (Dai), and in Chinese texts, they are named 大益 (Dayi). Located in the area of today’s Turkmenistan (also known as Chorasmia / Khawarism), i.e. north of Parthia’s mainland, the Dayi were a confederation of Turanian tribes (Parni, Xanthii, Pissuri) with an evidently Turkic name (Dayı).
What a name like that may mean for a nomadic Turanian confederation is easy to grasp; they probably stated in a most marked manner that, among them and in contrast with the Iranian tribes, prevailed a system of agnatic seniority. This practice of royal or tribal succession involves a patrilineal concept of inheritance as per which the order of succession prefers the monarch’s or the tribal leader’s younger brother over the monarch’s or the tribal leader’s own sons (in case of elective succession this practice is called lateral or fraternal system of succession). This was attested among Turanians in many different periods from Siberia, Mongolia, Central Asia and China down to the Ottomans. In striking contradiction to agnatic seniority stands the practice of agnatic primogeniture. Indicatively, in 17th c. Ottoman Empire, Mustafa I succeeded his brother Ahmed I and later Suleiman II and Ahmed II succeeded their brother Mehmed IV. About:
It is interesting to note a very subtle falsification undertaken in this regard by Wikipedia: they offer entries about the Arsacid dynasty of Armenia, the Arsacid dynasty of Caucasus Albania, and the Arsacid dynasty of Iberia, which were descendants of the Arsacid dynasty of Parthia, but the entry about the Parthian dynasty is not named ‘Arsacid dynasty of Parthia’ but ‘Parthian Empire’! In addition to it, they offer an independent entry which is named ‘List of Parthian Kings’. About:
Download the chapter in Word doc.:


During the 2012 Winter Term (January 3-19), Professor Tamara Coy taught a travel class called The Tudors. Three students took the class, which included a 10-day trip to England to learn firsthand about life during the Tudor period (1485-1603). This page describes their trip through updates and photos from the students’ perspective.
Phoenix Jenkins, a senior psychology major
Ashley Hatcher, a junior psychology major
Jessica Hannah, a junior vocal performance major
January 8, 2012
ON OUR WAY!!
After a long overnight flight, we finally arrived in London and checked into our hotel that afternoon. We relaxed, went through orientation and got London Underground passes for the week, along with English cellphones!
When William the Conqueror invaded England in 1066, he built the White Tower and fortress, which also served as a royal residence. It later became better known as a site of imprisonment and execution and home to the crown jewels.
All: We were so surprised that the Tower of London was a huge collection of buildings. We thought it was on its own, but it had a palace and lots of buildings where the Beefeaters/Yeoman Guards lived. Our Beefeater guide was great – he really liked his job!
Phoenix: It was more than I expected. I had read about the executions, but to be on the grounds and to get a sense of so much history and where these great people died was amazing. And the crown jewels were off the chain!
Ashley: For me, the Tower of London was history coming to life. It allowed me to appreciate the sacrifices people made for their beliefs.
Jessica: I’ve always heard about the Tower and wanted to see where all these people had lost their lives. It was amazing to finally see it.
Passing under London Bridge, we then walked to The Globe, a replica of William Shakespeare’s original theater. The original site is covered by another monument and cannot be excavated. The Globe Theatre in Shakespeare’s day would have been open air, and performances were in the afternoon. (Candles tended to burn places down!) Although Elizabeth I was a fan, it was James I who was a devoted patron of the arts and made Shakespeare and his company the “King’s Men,” elevating the status of theatre and having performances at court.
Shakespearean theatre was limited to a highly decorative stage and limited props. There were the ‘heavens’ in which angels and actors could drop down, and a stage trap door in which the actors could descend into the depths of hell. They had to be careful in the magical aspects and make clear that it was all make-believe — the drunken one-penny crowd who gathered in the ‘mosh pit’ of the standing area was comprised of superstitious laborers who could turn on the actors if the action seemed too real. Marlowe’s Doctor Faustus—which we read for class– must have been a terrifying specter.
Phoenix: The stage was outside and had elaborate designs on it which was like their “scenery”—very different from modern theatre and all the props they use
Ashley: I like how they did so much research to try to make it as accurate as possible. It was very insightful and educational.
Jessica: It was great that they performed plays there today true to the way they would have been performed in Shakespeare’s time. It helped me better understand some of the plays like Taming of the Shrew which we read in class, and how all the women’s parts would have been performed by men!
The castle is one of Queen Elizabeth II’s favorite residences (she has many houses!) and you know she is at home if the British flag is flying. Back in the 16th century, Windsor Castle was Elizabeth I’s retreat from the plague. The castle itself is over 900 years old. Only part of it is open to the public, but you can walk around the grounds and visit the beautiful St. George’s Chapel which houses the remains of Henry VIII, Jane Seymour, Charles I and others.
The decorative ceiling of St. Georges contains much of Henry VIII’s legacy, but no monument. The Chapel is setting to many famous events and home to St. George’s school which provides the Queen’s private choristers.
St. George’s houses the final resting place of numerous people, not least Henry VIII.
ALL: We were all so surprised that Henry VIII is just buried under a SLAB in the floor with Jane Seymour and Charles I (with his head!) and a bunch of rubble on top of the coffins, which have “shoulders.” The chaplain showed us a picture from the 19th century when they opened the tomb — it’s just a hole with the coffins there under lots of stones that have fallen on top. The coffins are wood with lead lining, but it is nothing special. Everyone just walks over Henry VIII and there are all these other tombs and monuments of people we’ve never even heard of that have gorgeous statues. And he’s just under a slab! All those executions — karma will get you!
Jessica: I finally saw where King Henry VIII was buried along with his favorite wife — she gave him King Edward — Jane Seymour. It was amazing to me that a king who left such a legacy is just buried under a plain marble slab. You can see his crest and the Tudor rose throughout the Chapel. And there is a seat where Henry sat when he was Duke of York.
Phoenix: Looking at Henry’s marble slab made me realize you treat people how you want to be remembered. It was crazy because we also got to see the words of his will. He had expected an elaborate tomb. I just can’t get over how he didn’t get the proper respect.
And then after we left the castle, I did what any royal female would do — we went SHOPPING!
Ashley: It’s hard to fathom that the castle serves as a home as well. The gardens were beautiful and green, like a postcard. History came alive for me within St. George’s Chapel. So many people are buried there. It was great when a man that worked there showed us the picture of what is beneath the floor of Henry’s slab. Four coffins have Henry, Jane Seymour, Queen Anne’s infant and Charles I.
We finished the day with a quick stop to see the Nutcracker at the Royal Opera House!
Although no Tudors are in Paris, the temptation to visit the beautiful city — which is only four hours away — was too great. Bonjour France!!!


Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. extended its span of service and established the Henrico County Alumnae Chapter on Sunday, March 26, 2000 at two-thirty in the afternoon. Forty-nine sorority members signed the charter with the assistance of Soror Mary Bennett Sutton, 1999-2003 Director of the South Atlantic Region and Soror Mamie Brown of the Richmond Alumnae Chapter. The ceremony and reception were held at Confederate Hills Recreation Center in Eastern Henrico County. Guest representatives of the Richmond, Chesterfield, Williamsburg, Petersburg, Delaware, Philadelphia and Virginia Beach Alumnae Chapters were present.
Several sorors assisted the charter members with the chartering process. The 1997-1999 South Atlantic Regional Director, Soror Dorothy White, was the group’s initial, tireless guide in successfully chartering the new chapter. Soror Phyllis Booth and Mamie Brown, president and past president of the Richmond Alumnae Chapter, respectively, assisted in the new chapter logistically and the 1999-2003 Director of the South Atlantic Region, Soror Mary Bennett Sutton, facilitated the chartering process. The Henrico County Alumnae Chapter is ever grateful for their selfless support and service.
The chapter will serve Henrico County (east of Interstate-95), New Kent County, and Charles City County excluding Hanover County and the City of Richmond. The members of this chapter bring a variety of professional, organizational, social, and recreational interests; all of which will assist the chapter in its mission to perpetuate the Sorority’s founding goals, values, and principles. The Chapter will maintain a continual thrust toward community educational development and the strengthening of the family, while being ever mindful of its pledge of mutual love and respect.


Mereworth Castle Kent
For the past 20 years Hadene have been helping to maintain the castle, with regard to the gas boilers, plumbing and building works, such as tile replacement, small renovation projects and reactive works. Hadene has great pleasure in trying to keep the castle maintained for the future.
Mereworth Castle was built in the 1720s for John Fane, 7th Earl of Westmorland. The designs were by Colen Campbell and the house is modelled closely after Palladio’s Villa Rotunda. Mereworth served as a POW camp during WWII, before becoming the property of artist Michael Lambert Tree, after inheriting the house from his uncle in 1949.


WINDOW ROCK, Ariz. — It is with great sadness and deep sympathy that Navajo Nation President Buu Nygren and Navajo Nation Council Speaker Crystalyne Curley officially announce the passing of the late Navajo Tribal Chairman and Navajo Nation President Peterson Zah. He was 85.
“The Navajo Nation lost one of its iconic leaders last night, Dr. Peterson Zah,” President Nygren said. “He was the first president of the Navajo Nation and he was a good champion even in Washington, D.C., in the 90s and the 80s.”
“It’s a big loss for the Navajo Nation. I want to let Indian Country know, as well. He was a huge tribal advocate across Indian Country and America. Thank you to his family for letting us have him lead the Navajo Nation.”
President Zah had been ill for some time. He was at home yesterday when his family took him to the Tséhootsooí Medical Center in Fort Defiance last evening. He passed away with his family around him.
President Zah was born in the Keams Canyon, Ariz., area on Dec. 2, 1937. He was Kinyaa’áanii (Towering House), born for Táchii’nii (Red Running Into Water). His maternal grandfathers were Tódích’íi’nii (Bitter Water) and his paternal grandfathers were Tó’áhaní (Near The Water). His father was Henry Zah, known in Navajo as Ólta’í yázhí, “the schooled short person.” His mother was Mae Zah.
President Nygren today proclaimed all flags on the Navajo Nation be lowered to half-staff beginning March 9 and ending March 15th in honor of President Zah’s life of accomplishments and service to the Navajo people.
“We are saddened and heartbroken by the passing of a great leader, and most importantly, a loving and compassionate grandfather and father,” Speaker Curley said. “I will always cherish and honor Mr. Zah’s guidance and support that he provided me throughout my academic and professional journey. His legacy reaches far beyond our rural communities and the Navajo Nation. His leadership, service, and contributions were known across the country. On behalf of the 25th Navajo Nation Council, I offer condolences to his wife, Rosalind, his children, grandchildren, the community of Low Mountain, and his lifelong friends. May we all take comfort in knowing that he is now with our Creator.”
Navajo Nation Council Delegate Carl Slater, who grew up knowing President Zah closely through the friendship between the President and his own late grandparents, Robert Roessel, Sr., and Ruth Roessel, offered these thoughts.
“Shida’í, Mr. Zah, molded our people to think as a nation, and, despite his age and health, he never quit in his mission to see us become who we ought to,” Delegate Slater said. “We are stronger because of his leadership, compassion, intelligence, and gift for elevating the ordinary deliberations our society into echoes of our future.”
President Zah served as Chairman of the Navajo Nation from 1983 to 1987. He was the first Navajo Nation President from 1991 to 1995.
He described himself to the late historian of Navajo history, Peter Iverson, as “an ordinary man with extraordinary experiences.”
Among his accomplishments as chairman was the establishment of the Navajo Nation’s Permanent Trust Fund with the then-controller, which continues to produce revenue to fund direct services and projects throughout the Navajo Nation to this day. He also served as an advisor to the President of Arizona State University for 15 years.
He was considered one of the 100 most important Native Americans in the last century, recognized as a key leader in Native American government and education.
Among his other accomplishments as a leader of the Navajo Nation, he:
- Led the effort to close open uranium mine sites, clean-up tailing pond spills and compensate families of uranium mine workers.
- Renegotiated oil, gas and coal leases, pipeline and electric transmission rights-of-way to increase royalty and tax revenues.
- Led the national effort to include tribes in the Clean Water Act, the Safe Drinking Water Act , the Clean Air Act and Superfund.
- Led a national effort in 1994 to amend the American Indian Religious Freedom Act of 1978 to protect the right of all Native Americans to use peyote as a sacrament.
President Zah received honorary doctoral degrees from Arizona State University, Colorado College and The College of Santa Fe. He was the 2008 recipient of the Martin Luther King, Jr. Servant Leadership Award.


Mansa Musa captured the attention of the Arab world when he left his home in the West African kingdom of Mali to make a pilgrimage to Mecca in 1324. Unlike his grandfather Sundiata, Mansa Musa was a devout Muslim. A Muslim is a person who practices Islam. Islamic law requires that all faithful Muslims make a hajj, or holy visit, to the city on the Arabian Peninsula where Islam developed.
Mansa Musa was a very rich king. He was said to have taken more than 500 people with him on the hajj, each carrying a staff of solid gold. When Mansa Musa passed through the Egyptian city of Cairo, legends say he gave away so much gold that the price of gold fell, and the economy was affected for more than twenty years. The appearance of a wealthy king from a faraway land made a deep impression on the people he encountered, causing Mali to appear on maps throughout the Middle East and Europe. For the first time, sub-Saharan Africa became well-known north of the great desert, as well.
The kingdom of Mali eventually weakened, and the neighboring kingdom of Songhai developed into the last black empire of pre-colonial West Africa. Songhai was destroyed after a bloody war with Morocco. Morocco’s sultan wanted West African gold, so in 1590, he sent an army of 3000 men south across the Sahara Desert. The spears and lances of the Songhai warriors were no match for the cannons and muskets of the Moroccan army, but the fighting continued long after the Songhai government had been destroyed. After ten years, the Sultan lost interest and abandoned his army in Songhai. The Moroccans were either killed or absorbed into the local population. The Moroccan invasion destroyed Songhai and the trade routes that had brought prosperity to the region for hundreds of years.
Download this lesson as Microsoft Word file or as an Adobe Acrobat file.
Mr. Donn has an excellent website that includes a section on African History.


The Schomburg Center, a division of the New York Public Library, was established in 1926. It is one of the world’s leading research institutions for documenting the history and culture of the African diaspora.
Here I will mostly be working with the Richard B. Moore papers. Moore was a Barbadian civil rights activist and communist, and he remained active within Caribbean political circles while living in Harlem. Hopefully his papers will give me more of a grassroots perspective on transnational anticolonial politics.


News ItemNational Museum of Nuclear Science & History
Mar 3, 2014 –
The National Museum of Nuclear Science & History has achieved accreditation from the American Alliance of Museums (AAM), the highest national recognition for a museum. Accreditation is a rigorous process that examines all aspects of the Museum’s operations, and out of the nation’s estimated 17,500 museums, only 1,005 are accredited. The National Museum of Nuclear Museum of Nuclear Science & History is one of only eleven museums accredited in New Mexico.


The museum represents a living memorial and is more than just a static display. Through this space we have created an arena which enables us to reaffirm our identity, celebrate our heritage and confront the complexities of our history.
Vincent Kolbe, ex-resident and founding member of the Museum
Using this guiding principle, the Museum has produced many diverse exhibitions involving a multitude of talented individuals. Visual artists, conceptual artists, sculptors, painters, musicians, curators, teachers, academics, youth and writers have all left their indelible mark on these creative expressions.
The current permanent exhibition, Digging Deeper, was launched in 2000 and builds on the conceptual narrative of the initial Streets: Retracing District Six exhibition which launched the Museum in 1994. It is a rich visual experience documenting various aspects of District Six life. In 2004 an extension to the core exhibition entitled Memory Traces was introduced. It marked the transition between Digging Deeper and the future work of the Museum as a site museum of consciousness.
Visitors are invited to navigate deeper into the lives of ex-residents, giving insight into their social, cultural, economic and political identities both past and present.
Digging Deeper was chosen as the title and organising framework for the exhibition that opened in the newly renovated and restored District Six Museum building in Buitenkant Street in September 2000.
The 170 year-old building, formerly the Methodist Mission Church, was closed for 18 months for restoration and alteration. The exhibition has attempted to 'dig deeper' into the Museum's collections, processes, and meanings. Digging Deeper engages with the multiple ways in which the collections, resources and spaces of the museum are used, and expresses the central intention of the Museum to enquire into the pasts of South African society and the workings of memory. The documentary material, oral histories and themes of the exhibition emerge from the collections of the museum.
The form of the exhibition is both multi-media and interdisciplinary, combining simple direct techniques (the immediacy of material, hand-mixed colour and hand-generated processes), with documentary, digital and sound elements. The voices of narrators and transcribed life histories of ex-residents are the major resource and departure point for the choice of exhibition themes. The title Digging Deeper has multiple implications. We have sought to deepen our knowledge of District Six, to ask deeper questions, and to begin to look beyond the geographic space of the District. We wish to keep alive the symbolic value of District Six's name as representative of other instances of displacement and forced removal throughout South Africa. The space is a living one, dedicated to working with memory: in remembering the events of forced removals, in considering the varied impacts of apartheid legislation on the lives of people and in choosing to focus on historical experience and subjectivity as ways of creating community and shaping society. We believe that the work of remembrance, within the context of the present, has a continuing significance for all South Africans.
The exhibition attempts to provide a framework for interpretation and for the active engagement of visitors, in particular ex-residents of places affected by forced removals, and their descendants. The aesthetic form of the Museum and its displays are rooted in the visual, verbal and material contributions, interventions and rituals of visitors. Some elements such as the large painted map in the central space and the street signs are permanent aesthetic features that signal the actual space of the District. But much else of the visible surface of the Museum will continue to shift and grow and be layered with new knowledge.view gallery


In our farmhouses it was customary in the whole of our territory to breed domestic animals, fatten them up and slaughter them to be eaten. Amongst the livestock raised for meat there were pigs, lambs and sheep, goats, rabbits and fowls (hens, cockerels…). The fresh meat of cows, calves and other cattle was reserved for wedding receptions or other extraordinary family celebrations.
The slaughtering of domestic animals took place at different times of the year so that meat and lard supplies would last throughout the year. Otherwise, and as the saying goes: “Zerririk ez bada tegian, koiperik ez zartagian” (If there is no pig in the sty, there will be no lard in the pan). Lambs and young goats were butchered in spring; sheep and pigs in autumn or beginning of winter; and birds and rabbits according to need.
Nevertheless, pig slaughter has surely been the most popular of them all, and until not so long ago! Still in the 1960s at least a pig was killed in every farmhouse. To rear and slaughter a second pig was a sign of wealth, and in those cases, the first pig was taken from the sty and put to death in November and the second in February generally.
“Txerriaren bizitza ona baina laburra da” (The life of a pig is good but short). Pigs are fed edibles from the cultivated fields: potato, cabbage, turnip, beetroot, pumpkin, acorn…, and whey in sheep farms. In the region of Bizkaia the mixture of vegetables and tuberous crops prepared to feed the pig receives the name ozala.
Although nowadays pig slaughter was normally conducted in November, around Saint Martin’s Day, in the olden days, and particularly in some localities, the custom used to be observed in December with a view to cater the Christmas dinner table with abundance of ribs, loins, black pudding… Besides, the belief that the pig should be slaughtered with a descending moon was widespread and still prevails.
Neighbours and relatives were called for the special event. There were enough jobs for all wanting to help, men and women alike. No matter how much work was waiting to be done though there was always a little time for entertainment after lunch; say playing cards or just chatting.
The pig was slaughtered early in the morning. The help of four or five men was required: the animal was taken from the sty, laid on a table and held by all. While the slaughter man did his job, a woman collected the blood for making black pudding or blood sausages to a vessel, stirring continuously the blood with her hand so that it did not curdle.
The bulk of the work came next. Let us give a brief insight into the next procedures. The dead pig is covered with fern and burned, the charred remains are washed away with water, the animal is cut open from the head down to the rear side and the innards removed. Next it is hung from a tall spot and kept there for several hours until the meat cools down. The above-mentioned steps are similarly followed nowadays. However, meat preservation has notably evolved since past times. This is in short how our ancestors did it.
The following day the pig was butchered and lean meat was cut and ground to produce various sausages. When hams, shoulders and bacon sides shed most of the water, they were stored for five to six days in chests filled with salt; then they were soaked and finally hung for them to dry cure slowly. Bones, hams, ears and snout were kept in salt all year round.
Loins and rib racks were sometimes introduced in brine or salt for twenty-four hours after having been hanging for some days, and chops and ribs were afterwards preserved in lard.
Pig slaughter provided meat and edibles for months to come. Chests were full of salt-cured meat and farmers were prepared to face winter.


Historic Lower Lake is located at the southeastern end of Clear Lake where two major Native American trails crossed. Founded in the late 1850s, the town soon became the center of commerce for the region. Lake County was created out of the northern portion of Napa County in 1861. Lower Lake vied with Lakeport to become the county seat, succeeding in winning that distinction from 1867 to 1870.
The town features some of the oldest buildings in Lake County and prospered in early years from nearby mining of sulfur, borax, and quicksilver. The first jail in Lake County, a stone structure of just one room, is said to be the smallest in the United States. It is California State Historical Landmark #429.
The Lower Lake Historic Schoolhouse Museum, built in 1877, served as a schoo l house until 1935. Due to the hard work of a grass-roots organization, the schoolhouse was restored and reopened in 1993 as a fine museum. The building has a distinctive Mansard roof, remodeled in 1906 after the great California earthquake damaged the bell tower. The 16-foottall ceilings and nine-foot windows give the museum its true historic character. Displays include a schoolroom, Victorian parlor, gems and minerals, and Native American and pioneer artifacts. The upper floor auditorium serves as a venue for cultural and community events.
Other historic sites in Lower Lake are the Pioneer and Lower Lake Cemeteries, the Odd Fellows Hall, built in 1868, and the United Methodist Church, built in 1884. Anderson Marsh State Historic Park, just north of town, features a ranch house, archeological sites, and nature trails.
Lower Lake offers hometown shopping with a variety of businesses, including coffee shops, BBQ, pizza, wineries, a picturesque recreation of a Tuscan village, and antique stores. Featured on Memorial Day Weekend is a Renaissance Faire presented by Tuscan Village, and the community presents Lower Lake Daze with a parade and festival. Lower Lake offers visitors an opportunity to truly step back and “stroll around” enjoying history in rural America.
Lower Lake Properties
Based on information from Bay Area Real Estate Information Service (BAREIS).
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Of all the towns along the Istrian coast, Vrsar is probably my favourite. Set on a steep hillside, over-looking its harbour, it is a beautiful sight. With its old buildings and narrow streets, this small town is a wonderful place for an afternoon stroll, soaking up the atmosphere and admiring the glorious views. I’ve been many times, but for this visit I went with my friend Natalija from the Vrsar Tourist Office, to discover more about this Adriatic gem.
Up we go …
Until the 19th century, Vrsar only covered the top of the hill and was safely tucked behind city walls. Today, it cascades down the hillside to the harbour below, which was where we started our walk. After a stroll by the sea, admiring the fishing boats (and the gin palaces), we headed to the old town, up one of Vrsar’s two impressive stone staircases. Running straight up the hillside, these were built to link the harbour with the town on the hill-top.
After a climb, which reminded me how unfit I am, I was delighted to pause and catch my breath. “It must keep you fit living here,” I gasped, as we admired the view below. “It’s why all Vrsar women have such good legs,” laughed Natalija, who climbs these stairs every day.
My heart rate settling back to normal, we prepared to enter the old town. Originally, there were three gates through the wall: only two remain and we went through the ‘small’ gate. But before we did, we stopped to admire the pretty church of St. Anthony, standing close-by. “There was a church next to each gate,” explained Natalija. “Every evening, after mass, the town gates would be closed and anyone arriving after this would have to spend the night in the church.”
Like its gate, St. Anthony’s is small and, with its stone porch, is an excellent example of the 17th century churches dotted all over Istria. “The porches, or loggias, were extremely important,” explained Natalija. “Not only were they where people stood who could not fit inside during services, they were also where you stood if you were carrying arms. At other times, they were meeting places for conducting town business, such as court trials and council meetings. And of course, it’s where all the business deals were done!”
… to the old town …
Having caught our breath, we went through the arched 13th century gateway into the town’s main square. Originally the stout gates were made of hard Istrian oak. Bound with iron, they were strong enough to withstand a pounding. Today, they’re a ragged remnant, incapable of closing, let-alone protecting the town!
Vrsar has been occupied since prehistoric times and traces of Palaeolithic and Neolithic settlements have been found near both gates. By Roman times it had become an important market and harbour town, with its port shipping produce all over the Roman world.
Over the centuries a maze of narrow streets and small squares developed, making it a lovely place to roam and explore today. Look closely and you’ll spot a wide range of architectural styles and interesting features.
Natalija grew up in one of the tall houses near the square and her two children were born here. “These houses are beautiful to look at,” she said, “but oh so impractical for modern life. We had no air-conditioning, so in summer we lived with the windows open – and Vrsar’s a classic Mediterranean town, with lots of comings and goings, so it was always noisy. I love visiting the old town, but I’m so glad I don’t live here anymore.”
We gradually wound our way up the hill and came out next to the main church and Bishop’s Palace, where we stopped for a drink and a dose of history.
… with its wealth of history …
For over six hundred years, Vrsar belonged to the Bishop of Porec and the bishops built a summer palace here: a place they could retreat to in the heat of the summer, or to escape outbreaks of plague and disease in Porec. It started as a simple building in the 12th century and over the years, each bishop added to it so that by the late 18th century, it was a large imposing structure.
The bishops liked Vrsar so much that several of them chose to live here, rather than in their official palace in Porec. As the Bishop of Porec was an extremely important person, second only to the Pope, Vrsar became an important and influential town.
In the 16th and 17th centuries, when Istria formed part of the Venetian Republic, Vrsar remained the Bishop’s property. It was exempt from Venetian taxes and laws, and developed such a reputation as a refuge for people on the run from Venetian law, it was known as the ‘Refugium Banditorum’ or outlaw’s refuge.
That didn’t mean Vrsar was a lawless place. As Natalija explained, it was quite the opposite. “We have a long document from 1609,” she said, “which shows it was a strictly regimented and policed society. For example, all the inns were regularly checked to ensure they served good quality wine, and people could only stay in the town if they were invited by a resident.” While Vrsar might not have been the refuge for brigands its nickname suggested, it certainly must have been an irritation to Venice!
Being part of the Bishopric wasn’t all good news, though: while the Vrsari might have been exempt from Venetian tax, they still paid it to the Bishop; also, as a document from 1577 shows, ‘The peasants of Vrsar are obliged to carry the Bishop’s luggage, without any charge, whenever the Bishop is coming to the castle or leaving it.’ It’s hard enough climbing up Vrsar’s steep hill: imagine doing it carrying all the Bishop’s paraphernalia and getting nothing for your toil!
Today the Bishop’s Palace has come down in the world. “By the turn of this century, it was in a terrible state and nearly fell down,” said Natalija. “There were hopes to restore it and use part of it as an art gallery, but unfortunately this never happened. Instead, it has become expensive apartments … but at least it’s still standing.”
… and stunning views
Lying next to the Bishop’s Palace, you’d expect the town’s main church to be equally ancient: but St. Martin’s is a relatively modern building, which runs across the site of the old town walls and a Romanesque gate. It’s a rather bland, uninteresting building, which I feel the people of Vrsar weren’t totally committed to – it certainly took them long enough to finish. While the foundations were laid in 1804, it wasn’t consecrated until 1935. And the bell tower next door (which was in the original plans), wasn’t actually built until 1991!
Having walked all the way up to the church, you may be tempted to call it a day – especially if it’s hot (which is what I’d done on my first few visits) – but please, please go on. For me, the area beyond the church, past the Bishop’s Palace, is Vrsar’s crowning glory – going left takes you along the rim of the hill and then back round into the town through some characterful narrow streets; right takes you through a beautiful mish-mash of stone cottages and little gardens. And while it might have been quite a hike up the hill, it’s worth it for the stupendous views over the sea from the top, behind the church. The crystal blue sea is dotted with green islets: to the left, you can see the marina, full of sails; while below and to the right, on the edge of town, is the lovely wooded Montraker headland.
Today this high part of Vrsar is a very desirable place to live, but it wasn’t always so, as Natalija explained. “Originally this area, outside the town walls, was where the animals were kept in barns and stalls. In the mid-1950s attitudes started changing and the area was discovered by the educated, professional classes from the cities – doctors, lawyers, etc., who converted the barns into holiday homes. Artists and wealthy foreigners followed, and today it is one of the most expensive areas of real estate in the whole of Istria.” It just shows how values change!
An award-winning marina …
“The marina’s an important part of Vrsar,” said Natalija, “and we’re all very proud of it.” Built in 2001, it has 200 moorings and regularly wins the award for the best marina in the the Adriatic. Not surprisingly, all the moorings have long since been sold and there is a long, long waiting list.
… and highly-prized stone
Vrsar’s other big claim to fame is that Montraker supplied much of Venice’s decorative stone. “Because of its whiteness and exceptional quality, it was highly prized for carving,” Natalija explained.
Today, the quarry is totally overgrown and the attractive, rocky promontory is Vrsar’s main beach area, but its past isn’t forgotten. “Every year, in the first two weeks of September, we celebrate it with a sculpture school in the old quarry,” she said. “Art students come to learn and, while you can’t take part, you can watch. I love going: it’s fascinating watching the sculptures emerge from the stone.”
The finished works are displayed all over the town, with new ones added each year. The first place you’ll probably notice them is on the harbour-front, where they’re used as bollards, but start looking and you’ll find them scattered all over the town: there’s now nearly 100 in total.
So many reasons to visit
As well as the sculpture school in September, there’s always something happening in Vrsar. Here’s just a sample:
- Casanova Fest: Casanova visited Vrsar twice and is the inspiration for this three-day festival, at the end of June.
- Montraker Live: three-day rock concert in late July. I attended last year – see what I thought (it was fantastic!)
- Summer music: there’s ‘Sea and Guitars’ in the old church near the sea, every Thursday; concerts in the main church on Wednesdays, and various other small out-door events in beauty spots around the town.
If all this walking has given you an appetite, Vrsar has plenty of restaurants to choose from, mainly gathered near the harbour. Vrsar has great fresh seafood and I’d recommend seafood specialists Srdela. Alternatively, why not try either Fancita, with dynamic chef Paolo, or up and coming Monte Carlo, both with top-class cuisine. As you’ll see from our reviews, we’ve eaten in all three of these restaurants and had fantastic meals.
… and more
Natalija’s also keen to stress Vrsar is a great place to stay. “The town’s so compact, everything is easily accessible on foot, so you don’t need a car,” she said. While I don’t have specific recommendations, there’s a good selection of campsites, hotels and self-catering accomodation. For details, look on the Vrsar Tourist Office website, which also a great place for more information on the town and things to do in the area.
“And when you arrive, do pop in and see us,” concluded Natalija, with a smile. “Our office is next to the small gate, on the edge of the old town. We’re here to help you make the most of your stay and ensure you have a wonderful time in Vrsar!”


IN THE FIELD, SAVANNAH, GA., January 16th, 1865.
SPECIAL FIELD ORDERS, No. 15.
I. The islands from Charleston, south, the abandoned rice fields along the rivers for thirty miles back from the sea, and the country bordering the St. Johns river, Florida, are reserved and set apart for the settlement of the negroes now made free by the acts of war and the proclamation of the President of the United States.
II. At Beaufort, Hilton Head, Savannah, Fernandina, St. Augustine and Jacksonville, the blacks may remain in their chosen or accustomed vocations--but on the islands, and in the settlements hereafter to be established, no white person whatever, unless military officers and soldiers detailed for duty, will be permitted to reside; and the sole and exclusive management of affairs will be left to the freed people themselves, subject only to the United States military authority and the acts of Congress. By the laws of war, and orders of the President of the United States, the negro is free and must be dealt with as such. He cannot be subjected to conscription or forced military service, save by the written orders of the highest military authority of the Department, under such regulations as the President or Congress may prescribe. Domestic servants, blacksmiths, carpenters and other mechanics, will be free to select their own work and residence, but the young and able-bodied negroes must be encouraged to enlist as soldiers in the service of the United States, to contribute their share towards maintaining their own freedom, and securing their rights as citizens of the United States.
Negroes so enlisted will be organized into companies, battalions and regiments, under the orders of the United States military authorities, and will be paid, fed and clothed according to law. The bounties paid on enlistment may, with the consent of the recruit, go to assist his family and settlement in procuring agricultural implements, seed, tools, boots, clothing, and other articles necessary for their livelihood.


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BLOOMSDAY ROAD RUNNERS' CLUB HISTORY
No other road runners' club in the country began quite the way the Bloomsday Road Runners' Club (BRRC) did. In the spring of 1978, the Lilac Bloomsday Run was battling with local AAU officials over the need for sanctioning. While AAU officials were insisting that Bloomsday be sanctioned and that all participants purchase AAU cards, Bloomsday organizers refused to cooperate. Bloomsday, they said, was a fun run in which top runners also competed, not a competitive event under the AAU's jurisdiction.
In the midst of the battle, Bloomsday founder Don Kardong was encouraged to contact Jeff Darman, president of the Road Runners Club of America. Jeff had defended the rights of RRCA member clubs on the sanctioning issue. Darman pointed out that the AAU's own rules said that an event in which all participants were members of the same club did not need to be sanctioned. He suggested we form an RRCA chapter club in Spokane and automatically make every Bloomsday runner a member of the club. That way Bloomsday would sidestep the need for sanctioning. Thus began the BRRC, 5,000 members strong in its first year!
In subsequent years, the BRRC went to court with the AAU over the sanctioning issue, and won. As the years passed, the AAU battle faded into obscurity, and the BRRC developed into a solid group of running enthusiasts devoted to the promotion of a variety of running events. BRRC and USATF work well together in our area to promote long-distance running.
In 1980, the BRRC hosted the RRCA National Convention in Spokane(the first convention held in the West), and the club has been active in the RRCA ever since. Past BRRC president, Sylvia Quinn, received the Rod Steele Award as the outstanding club volunteer for the country in 1981, and she later served on the RRCA's Board of Directors. Bloomsday founder and BRRC club member, Don Kardong co-authored the RRCA Children's Running Booklet edited an edition of the RRCA Handbook, and served as RRCA president from 1996 through 2000. The club newsletter, “Running Briefs”, won the national award for medium-sized clubs in 1995. In that same year the BRRC was selected to send a team to the Jimmy Stewart Relay in California, and in 1999 the club hosted its second RRCA National Convention. Dori Robertson was preented the Scott Hamilton Outstanding Club President award in 1997.
Today, the BRRC is one of the larger member clubs of the RRCA. It remains committed to the promotion of grass-roots running.