The Rich History of Louisiana
Posted on January 10, 2010 - Filed Under Arts and Entertainment | Leave a Comment
The history of Louisiana is a rich blend of many different cultures from France, Spain, Africa, the Caribbean and Native Americans. Nearly everyone is familiar with the French Quarter and the annual Mardi Gras, which attract visitors from all over the world. Louisiana is also known as the birthplace of jazz. The state is also home the birthplace of many other styles of music, including zydeco and Cajun. The state's rich history is obvious in its food, culture and architecture.
The area was initially visited by Spanish explorers in 1528. They also explored Louisiana in 1541, but never followed up with any additional interest. In the latter part of the 17th century, The French made numerous expeditions and established settlements along the Mississippi River and the Gulf. Louisiana received its name fro Robert Cavelier de LaSalle.
Read More..>>Discovering Historic Peterborough
Posted on June 16, 2009 - Filed Under Arts and Entertainment | Leave a Comment
Peterborough is an ancient town, situated by the River Nene on the East of Englands low-lying Fens region. A cathedral city, rich in heritage, Peterborough makes for a lively and fascinating short break or holiday and balances modern entertainment and nightlife with sites of historical interest with ease.
Of Peterboroughs cathedral itself you may find particular interest. Peterboroughs original Anglo-Saxan title was Medeshamsted, which was the site of an ancient monastery, founded by the citys first abbot, Sexwulf in the 7th century. The monastery grew to become Peterborough Abbey, later Cathedral. Its equally imposing and impressive style of classic Norman architecture, dating from the 12th century, positions it as one of the countrys most significant buildings of that period. Needless to say, the cathedral is of real interest for locals and tourists alike.
Read More..>>South Austin Museum of Popular Culture
Posted on June 9, 2009 - Filed Under Art and Culture | Leave a Comment
Everyone's favorite slogan, “Keep Austin Weird,” certainly applies to this unique and funky museum. Heavily slanted towards music, the South Austin Museum of Pop Culture aims to preserve and exhibit art and artifacts that reflect Austin's influence on the larger realm of popular culture. Located on South Lamar in the venerated 78704 zip code, the SAMPC has permanent collections dating back to the 1960s, and mount exhibitions featuring the works of some of Austin's most exciting new artists.
The bulk of their collection is dedicated to what they consider to be the quintessential Austin art form, the music concert poster. Featuring works by Guy Juke, Billy Perkins, Danny Garrett, Henry Gonzales, Sam Yeates, Jim Franklin, and many others, the SAMPC poster collection makes a serious case for including Austin's artists in the pantheon of poster art codified by the Fillmore in San Francisco. These works tell the history of Austin music in colorful, interpretive ways.
Read More..>>Anarchy And The Failure Of Complex Systems
Posted on April 20, 2008 - Filed Under Arts and Entertainment | Leave a Comment
As crazy as the world gets some times, we have to ask ourselves are we living in anarchy. The answer is Certainly not in the definition of social human societies, but we do live within the quantum chaos, which is anything but completely structured, it is in between.
Indeed, when looking at the historical record even the most complex of governments have failed over time and “broken down” as one Swiss Intellectual recently noted in an email to the Online Think Tank. Perhaps, one could argue that in human history there has never been a human civilization that we know about that has lasted any long time period (10,000 years), yet the archeologist records seems to indicate there may have been, yet even those did not last forever, “change is constant” or so they say.
Read More..>>History Of The Modern T-shirt
Posted on April 17, 2008 - Filed Under Arts and Entertainment | Leave a Comment
A modern t-shirt usually has no buttons, collars or pockets. It can be made of cotton or polyester or a blend. The t-shirt has round neck and sleeve holes and currently may be decorated with text and graphics, sometimes funny.
But, the t-shirt has not always been this way, oh no. The t-shirt has a long and proud history beginning with the ancient Egyptians who wore formal undergarments while they were erecting the pyramids in 120-degree desert heat.
Some historians theorize that the pyramids were actually supposed to be large cubes, but since each crew was exhausted from wearing t-shirts underneath their garment in the high desert heat, that subsequent crews did less and less work. This desire to do less and hurry the finality of the project lead the crew leader on day to simply put a point on top of the cube-turned-pyramid and inform the high priests and priestesses that there had been a cost overruns and a “change in plans”.
Read More..>>A History Of Dolls For The Prospective Collector
Posted on March 27, 2008 - Filed Under Arts and Entertainment | Leave a Comment
For many thousands of years, dolls have been made to look like small people, and children have been attracted to them. When children play with dolls, the dolls become very real to them. Sometimes they represent the child, and sometimes they become storybook characters. Dolls as playthings give children an opportunity to be in charge, to make decisions, to give and receive love, and to practice what they have learned from observing adults. But dolls have not always been playthings.
Read More..>>Our Actual History
Posted on March 24, 2008 - Filed Under Arts and Entertainment | Leave a Comment
I took my bike during 2007 Rainbow Festival in Malmö, Sweden, to go to an evening of queer poetry with Jan Hammarlund. Jan is the first openly gay artist who was played in Swedish radio in the 70s, that way he himself is a part of our LGBT heritage. The program read: 2000 years of queer poetry round the Mediterranean sea. Sappho, Catullus, Kavafi. In some way I could feel it was interconnected with my own recital, performed the day before – Music from the closet.
Read More..>>History Of Music – Part I
Posted on March 19, 2008 - Filed Under Arts and Entertainment | Leave a Comment
Ancient and Pre-historic Music
When you have no words to tell your feelings, silence is the best way to express it. But sometimes when silence fails to do its work, we take refuge to music. To quote Aldous Huxley After silence, that which comes nearest to expressing the inexpressible is music. Music has the magical powers to tell the world your thoughts and feelings. It is the best creation of the Gods’ best creation (man). A song floating from any distant place would fill your heart with sudden joy and remove your sadness. There are different kinds of music to describe the different kinds of moods.
Read More..>>Traditional African Dresses
Posted on March 19, 2008 - Filed Under Arts and Entertainment | Leave a Comment
Are you fascinated with African culture? If so, one item you might be interested in is African dresses. Dresses from Africa show off the culture more than almost anything else. They highlight the many tribes of Africa and express the traditions of the people. Many different authentic African dresses are available. You might choose to collect them or display them. Or you might be interested in an African-style dress for your own closet. Let us show you where to purchase the types of African dresses you are looking for.
Read More..>>History Does Repeat Its Self With The History Channel
Posted on March 8, 2008 - Filed Under Arts and Entertainment | Leave a Comment
If you were one of those kids at school who could not wait for history class, then chances are that you are a regular viewer of the History Channel that can be seen on satellite or cable television.
This television network is a history buff’s dream. If you enjoyed turning the pages of the thick story laden books at school and you were the one who raised your hand because you always had the answer, then you probably love the History Channel. If you have never watched this network, then you do not know what you are missing.
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