Aliens are coming.

Hello Blog. It's been awhile. Please don't feel neglected. It's really not you. I've just been busy. And every time I've gotten on to make a post, I've either been distracted, or come up with NOTHING to put up. But, today I decided to finally make a post So here I am!


STONEHENGE

Let me tell you what we know about Stonehenge:

Shrouded in mystery, stonehenge is an ancient and mysterious (obviously) structure, that was built probably sometime in the past. A very very long time ago. Nobody is really completely sure what it's purpose was. But it probably had to do with some pagan druid worship. Maybe.


I know that this is all very confusing. But I'm going to confuse you more. Stonehenge was really built by the aliens. And in December of 2012, it's going to become a magical portal and summon down the aliens again. You should be excited, to live in such a momentous time.



Have a great day!

Let's go find it.

If you could close your eyes, and open them again in any place in the whole world, doing anything you want, where would you be and what would you be doing?

It's Independence day!

236 years ago, a declaration was read to a group of people in Philadelphia. It was a declaration that put into words what men had already begun dying for. It said no to unfair taxation and unjust oppression. It was a document that was treasonous, rebellious, and dangerous. It became a launching pad for an idea: an American Dream. The freedom for any man, no matter whom they are, to achieve their goals if they work hard enough. When Thomas Jefferson wrote the Declaration of Independence, each word had to be perfect. It was the first act of our country. It would not only change the country, but it would sweep across the entire world, unseating England as the world power, altering France, and changing the way the entire world thought. Today we are not only celebrating America's freedom from England, but we are celebrating the freedom of speech, freedom of religion, the freedom to try, and succeed. 236 years ago, a groups of colonials walked into Philadelphia's Independence Square. They would leave as the American people.

Solar Storm

On September 1st, of 1859, the sun let out the largest solar flare ever recorded. This super-flare traveled to the earth in 17 hours, and created many unique phenomena. The Solar flare created a geomagnetic storm which effected the Northern Lights, which were so bright and brilliant they could be seen all the way down in the Caribbean. Several telegraph machines stopped working all together, but others kept working, even when disconnected from their batteries. This was the largest recorded solar flare known to man.

Well, there was a recent solar flare that will be hitting earth on July 4th. It could effect the northern lights, but it's nothing like the storm of 1859. I would LOVE to drop everything, and drive as North as we can get by July 4th. But, I don't think that will happen. :)

Red Sails to Capri

I'm sitting at the computer, wrapped in a blanket, but still freezing. But I don't care, because I'M SITTING AT THE COMPUTER! This is very joyous news. Our computer is up and running again. It's cold, because it is so chilly in our basement. I think we're going to have to turn the heat on down here.


Have you ever read Red Sails to Capri? I have not, and I really want to. But nobody will let me borrow it. So, instead of reading the book, I will write about the natural wonder IN the book.

The Blue Grotto

The Blue Grotto is located on the Island of Capri, and is a cave that glows a deep blue, due to two openings of light. The Grotto can be entered by small boat, or by swimming.

It was discovered by a painter and poet in the early 1800's.

Yep. That's about it.


Now, I'm off to go paint!!

Pompeii

Sometimes, we say the wrong things. At least, I say the wrong things. And I don't think I'm speaking out of turn when I say that other people slip up too. One of the more confusing things are words that sound alike, but mean different things. Like lead (a hard metal) vs. led (directing someone).

Today I am going to help you clear up one of those spelling errors, that so many of us mix up in our day to day conversation.

Pompei vs. Pompeii.


Pompei is the suburban town in Southern Italy, founded in 1891 and famous for it's ancient Roman ruins. Pompeii is a ruined city in Southern Italy, destroyed by Mt. Vesuvius. I bet you can see how this could be pretty awkward. Take for instance, this conversation that happened between two tourists, at the Roman Colosseum.
Tourist 1:"Hi, how are you?"
Tourist 2: "I'm well. How are you?"
Tourist 1: "I'm doing fine, Thanks. Where are you from?"
Tourist 2:"Pompei."
Tourist 1: "Oh, you're from Pompeii!"
There is a strained silence, at which point, Tourist 2 gets offended, because Tourist 1 implied that he was from a town of half buried ancient Roman ruins. Awkward.

So, just remember. One i means still inhabited. Two ii's mean Roman ruins.

Pompeii was founded around the 7th or 6th century, and a bunch of different people ruled it, developed it, and did all this stuff that isn't really that important. Infact, quite frankly, Pompeii doesn't get interesting until November 23, 79. That was when Mt. Vesuvius erupted. The eruption affected several towns, but Pompeii was the largest, and with it's society at it's greatest strength, it had the largest population, and is best recorded. The Mountain erupted, and rained down 25 feet of ash, which covered the city, and suffocated many. Many people escaped by ship, organized by Pliny the Elder. His nephew, Pliny the Younger was across the bay, and watched as his Uncle, and town were buried under  the ash. The ash was so thick, that it actually suffocated people. The next day, the mountain collapsed, sending a avalanche of dirt and ash that completely covered Pompeii, and it's inhabitants.

Years later, in the 1599, Popeii was rediscovered. And since then, through varying techniques, and cares, Pompeii has been unearthed, and due to the lack of moisture and air that could reach through the ash, Pompeii had been wonderfully preserved. As they uncovered the city, they found skeletons of those who died there. The body had deteriorated, and only the skeleton was left, and when they poured plaster into the space, they could make a cast of the body, sometimes, even getting perfect facial features.

The Garden of Fugitives

A Illustrated depiction of what it was probably like

The Ruins

“. . .the buildings were now shaking with violent shocks, and seemed to be swaying to and fro as if they were torn from their foundations. Outside, on the other hand, there was the danger of failing pumice stones, even though these were light and porous; however, after comparing the risks they chose the latter. In my uncle’s case one reason outweighed the other, but for the others it was a choice of fears. As a protection against falling objects they put pillows on their heads tied down with cloths. ”


and then:
“You could hear the shrieks of women, the wailing of infants, and the shouting of men; some were calling their parents, others their children or their wives, trying to recognize them by their voices. People bewailed their own fate or that of their relatives, and there were some who prayed for death in their terror of dying. Many besought the aid of the gods, but still more imagined there were no gods left, and that the universe was plunged into eternal darkness for evermore.”
-Pliny the Younger

Down in Africa . .

I have something of a fascination with Africa. I really would like to go there. I can not think of a place so empty as Africa. Except maybe Russia. But Russia is all snow and ice, I think. Africa must be incredibly beautiful. Take for instance, Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe.

Found by Doctor Livingston, and named in honor of Queen Victoria, these immense falls forms the largest falling sheet of water in the world. (5,604 ft wide, and 354 ft tall)


Yesterday, we successfully moved into our new house! It's very exciting, and very strange. But we are in our new home!