Clonfert is now a Cathedral of the Church of Ireland in the County of Galway. Before 600 AD it had already become one of the greatest teaching monasteries of the land. I believe that Clonfert monastery was founded in 563 AD by St Brendan, St Brendan the Navigator.
Brendan was born in 484 not far Tralee in County Kerry. He died in 577 and is buried at the Cathedral.
You may find the details of why he is called the Navigator interesting. You can start finding them in Wikipedia. He sailed the seas all around Ireland and very far to the west. He was taught the way west by Irishman who had been there before him.
Please report your findings in "comments" here.
Showing posts with label Wikipedia. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Wikipedia. Show all posts
Tuesday, August 27, 2013
Monday, April 2, 2012
"The Little Ice Age"
The cooling of the Earth's biosphere after the Medieval Warm Period, sometimes called the Medieval Climate Optimum, is what we have called the Little Ice Age. This cooling period lasted to about 1800.
Some say that massive volcanic eruptions that took place between 1275 and 1300 AD led to the Little Ice Age. Where did those eruptions take place? Can you find out? Did Quilatoa in Ecuador probably have a substantial eruption about 1280. Could sulfurous eruptions along with a low level of solar radiation have led to the cooling?
When, exactly, did the cooling occur? My guess is that the cooling was notable between 1400 and 1800. NASA defines the Little Ice Age as the cold period between 1550 and 1850. I'd bet that their guess is supportable.
Can we learn something about the effects of climate change on Humans and their culture by looking at The Little Ice Age a bit more closely? What might we learn about ourselves by learning more about how we were during that relatively recent cold period, the way we were before it, and the way we are now? If you chose to begin your research on Wikipedia, where would you look?
Might we be able to learn a great deal from the history of the periods?
Might we not divided that history into: before, during, and after the colder time?
before could be from 1300 to 1500
during could be 1600 to 1700
after could be 1800 to 2000
What data from these three periods do you think that it would be most useful to compare? Might the art of the of the times be helpful?
Would you look at European paintings? Were there reports of sunspot activity? Why were wars fought? Where and when were volcanic eruptions recorded? Migrations? What else?
We could choose to compare slightly different periods. Before could be 900 to 1200. During might be from 1400 to 1700. After might be from 1900 until today.
The beauty is in the fact that we can explore the richness of fairly recent history. We know much more about our doings in the last couple millenia than we do of much earlier times.
I'll start a quick survey of the history of the periods right now:
[1300 to 1500]
The Great Famine in Europe 1315 through 1317. The Norse leave Greenland in about 1400. Looks like I have not chosen my dates well. It looks like the 1300s might be right in the middle of the cooling period instead of before it. I'll adjust the periods. Maybe beginning about 1050 would be good. No, I'll try the following:
before: 800 to 1200
during: 1300 to 1700
after: 1800 to the present
I quit for today. I'll continue tomorrow.
Some say that massive volcanic eruptions that took place between 1275 and 1300 AD led to the Little Ice Age. Where did those eruptions take place? Can you find out? Did Quilatoa in Ecuador probably have a substantial eruption about 1280. Could sulfurous eruptions along with a low level of solar radiation have led to the cooling?
When, exactly, did the cooling occur? My guess is that the cooling was notable between 1400 and 1800. NASA defines the Little Ice Age as the cold period between 1550 and 1850. I'd bet that their guess is supportable.
Can we learn something about the effects of climate change on Humans and their culture by looking at The Little Ice Age a bit more closely? What might we learn about ourselves by learning more about how we were during that relatively recent cold period, the way we were before it, and the way we are now? If you chose to begin your research on Wikipedia, where would you look?
Might we be able to learn a great deal from the history of the periods?
Might we not divided that history into: before, during, and after the colder time?
before could be from 1300 to 1500
during could be 1600 to 1700
after could be 1800 to 2000
What data from these three periods do you think that it would be most useful to compare? Might the art of the of the times be helpful?
Would you look at European paintings? Were there reports of sunspot activity? Why were wars fought? Where and when were volcanic eruptions recorded? Migrations? What else?
We could choose to compare slightly different periods. Before could be 900 to 1200. During might be from 1400 to 1700. After might be from 1900 until today.
The beauty is in the fact that we can explore the richness of fairly recent history. We know much more about our doings in the last couple millenia than we do of much earlier times.
I'll start a quick survey of the history of the periods right now:
[1300 to 1500]
The Great Famine in Europe 1315 through 1317. The Norse leave Greenland in about 1400. Looks like I have not chosen my dates well. It looks like the 1300s might be right in the middle of the cooling period instead of before it. I'll adjust the periods. Maybe beginning about 1050 would be good. No, I'll try the following:
before: 800 to 1200
during: 1300 to 1700
after: 1800 to the present
I quit for today. I'll continue tomorrow.
Wednesday, August 3, 2011
Hegemony You Pay For
Are you benefiting fairly for the hegemony for which you are paying? You might benefit by keeping the question in mind as you read on.
Certain people in the United states have built and are exploiting an empire. Empire building is imperialism. 'Imperialism' comes from the word 'imperial.' 'Imperial' relates to an empire or an emperor.
'Imperial also designates a government holding sovereign sway over 'dependencies.' Sovereign' is a word of which you may want t refresh or extend your understanding.
Imperialism hasn't been much about the acquisition of territory for some time. It is now much about the practice of technologies and stratagems for the establishment of economic and political hegemony over the people of other nations. It is the system, policies, and practices of an imperial government. My old blue dictionary says that imperialism is the policy, practice, and advocacy of extending power and dominion others by gaining indirect control over the economic and political life of the people of another nation.
Right, 'hegemony.' It is the preponderant influence or sway of one nation or state over another. That is easy enough. Where is it that you have hegemony?
The main reason for imperialism seems to be a kind of greed for wealth, and power over others. In practice imperialists use their power and techniques to exploit the human, natural, and economic resources of other nations. Seems a mite parasitic. Imperialists also use their dominance to control strategic locations of others for military and commercial reasons. Their principle aim often seems to be the control of markets. Imperialists seem to want the people of the world to consume imperialist's products and imperialist's prices. They, of course, have also often wanted to obtain raw materials at the lowest cost. That often means subverting the other's means of production. What do they say? 'The greater the concentration of power, the greater the corruption?'
By the 1600s certain powerful persons had well in mind the power potential of the organizational efficiency of the industrialized nation-state. Such states could produces certain goods so efficiently that they could undersell comparable local goods all over the world. All they had to do was get in the door. Once the door was open to them they could make a killing.
I ought to be thanking my history teachers. I can get a lot from books and other media, but a live teacher is a powerful aid to ones understanding.
The imperial expansion westward across North America held the attention of the people of the United States while Europeans divided up much of Africa and Asia. Even so, certain Americans were already looking for ventures beyond their boarders before 1900.
Big business was born in the U.S. Railroads, steel, and oil were big. The processing and distribution of food was becoming big. Munitions were important. The dollar was kept strong. California gold and Nevada silver helped support the dollar. U.S. credit was good. Foreign capital poured in. Big capital was born.
There were ups and downs. Economic depression and labor unrest occurred There were strikes. Some big employers thanked God for the National Guard. Check "Haymarket Square," "Homestead Strike," "Pullman Strike" in your history book or on Wikipedia.
Powerful persons in the United States took advantage of the United States to take advantage of the people of Latin America.
The powerful wanted markets, took them, and kept them. The sometimes used U.S. Sailors and Marines to open Latin American doors and to keep Latin America people 'in line.'
This opening doors business soon became a world-wide police of imperialists. Open the doors of China; open the doors of Japan.
Every salesman knew about 'getting his foot in the door.'
In the early days Americans did take territory for their empire. They took it from Colombia, Mexico, Canada, Cuba, the Philippines, Puerto Rico. But why take territory and all the troublesome people therein when what was wanted was wealth and the power it brought.
These Americans became so powerful that they could practice 'regime change' in Italy and over uncounted countries. They could compete for Empire with the most powerful European states. They successfully competed for hegemony where the wanted and at the same time keep European competitors out of Latin America.
Japan proved more able at resisting American and European imperialism than were most countries. Doors of theirs were forced open, but not many of them. In the long run Japanese maintained pretty fair dominion over their own country. They also managed to organize themselves effectively as a state, to industrialize, and to create an effective military.
What does it mean to be a citizen of the most powerful empire known to man? 'We' have controlled the World Bank, the U.N., the sea, the sky, world markets, the media. Sounds pretty good. How are you benefiting?
'We' have made the mistake of humiliating people in the process of dominating them. They tend to find that upsetting.
What is the status of the nation-state today? Has the nation-state been a function of imperialism? Has Imperialism been a function of the nation-state? Do you see the nation-state morphing into something new? With major changes in the nation-state, what changes are likely to occur in the empires of today.
May those of empire consider the results of hubris.
How much are you paying for what you are getting? Let's be a little more aware the next time we agree to make payments.
Certain people in the United states have built and are exploiting an empire. Empire building is imperialism. 'Imperialism' comes from the word 'imperial.' 'Imperial' relates to an empire or an emperor.
'Imperial also designates a government holding sovereign sway over 'dependencies.' Sovereign' is a word of which you may want t refresh or extend your understanding.
Imperialism hasn't been much about the acquisition of territory for some time. It is now much about the practice of technologies and stratagems for the establishment of economic and political hegemony over the people of other nations. It is the system, policies, and practices of an imperial government. My old blue dictionary says that imperialism is the policy, practice, and advocacy of extending power and dominion others by gaining indirect control over the economic and political life of the people of another nation.
Right, 'hegemony.' It is the preponderant influence or sway of one nation or state over another. That is easy enough. Where is it that you have hegemony?
The main reason for imperialism seems to be a kind of greed for wealth, and power over others. In practice imperialists use their power and techniques to exploit the human, natural, and economic resources of other nations. Seems a mite parasitic. Imperialists also use their dominance to control strategic locations of others for military and commercial reasons. Their principle aim often seems to be the control of markets. Imperialists seem to want the people of the world to consume imperialist's products and imperialist's prices. They, of course, have also often wanted to obtain raw materials at the lowest cost. That often means subverting the other's means of production. What do they say? 'The greater the concentration of power, the greater the corruption?'
By the 1600s certain powerful persons had well in mind the power potential of the organizational efficiency of the industrialized nation-state. Such states could produces certain goods so efficiently that they could undersell comparable local goods all over the world. All they had to do was get in the door. Once the door was open to them they could make a killing.
I ought to be thanking my history teachers. I can get a lot from books and other media, but a live teacher is a powerful aid to ones understanding.
The imperial expansion westward across North America held the attention of the people of the United States while Europeans divided up much of Africa and Asia. Even so, certain Americans were already looking for ventures beyond their boarders before 1900.
Big business was born in the U.S. Railroads, steel, and oil were big. The processing and distribution of food was becoming big. Munitions were important. The dollar was kept strong. California gold and Nevada silver helped support the dollar. U.S. credit was good. Foreign capital poured in. Big capital was born.
There were ups and downs. Economic depression and labor unrest occurred There were strikes. Some big employers thanked God for the National Guard. Check "Haymarket Square," "Homestead Strike," "Pullman Strike" in your history book or on Wikipedia.
Powerful persons in the United States took advantage of the United States to take advantage of the people of Latin America.
The powerful wanted markets, took them, and kept them. The sometimes used U.S. Sailors and Marines to open Latin American doors and to keep Latin America people 'in line.'
This opening doors business soon became a world-wide police of imperialists. Open the doors of China; open the doors of Japan.
Every salesman knew about 'getting his foot in the door.'
In the early days Americans did take territory for their empire. They took it from Colombia, Mexico, Canada, Cuba, the Philippines, Puerto Rico. But why take territory and all the troublesome people therein when what was wanted was wealth and the power it brought.
These Americans became so powerful that they could practice 'regime change' in Italy and over uncounted countries. They could compete for Empire with the most powerful European states. They successfully competed for hegemony where the wanted and at the same time keep European competitors out of Latin America.
Japan proved more able at resisting American and European imperialism than were most countries. Doors of theirs were forced open, but not many of them. In the long run Japanese maintained pretty fair dominion over their own country. They also managed to organize themselves effectively as a state, to industrialize, and to create an effective military.
What does it mean to be a citizen of the most powerful empire known to man? 'We' have controlled the World Bank, the U.N., the sea, the sky, world markets, the media. Sounds pretty good. How are you benefiting?
'We' have made the mistake of humiliating people in the process of dominating them. They tend to find that upsetting.
What is the status of the nation-state today? Has the nation-state been a function of imperialism? Has Imperialism been a function of the nation-state? Do you see the nation-state morphing into something new? With major changes in the nation-state, what changes are likely to occur in the empires of today.
May those of empire consider the results of hubris.
How much are you paying for what you are getting? Let's be a little more aware the next time we agree to make payments.
Friday, July 1, 2011
Where Do I Get This Stuff From?
I've been asked were I get my post material from. The Answer is, "From my mind."
Past and present reading helps; Wikipedia helps; Google search helps. Good conversation has been a great help as have your comments.
I'm interested things and the thoughts sort of pop out. Sometimes I pray for an editor. Sometimes I wish I had thought again before pushing the post button.
Past and present reading helps; Wikipedia helps; Google search helps. Good conversation has been a great help as have your comments.
I'm interested things and the thoughts sort of pop out. Sometimes I pray for an editor. Sometimes I wish I had thought again before pushing the post button.
Sunday, June 20, 2010
Transparency International - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Transparency International - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Search for one view of countries who's citizens are said to powerfully claim freedom and fairness.
They have evident bias, but still offer useful information.
Search for one view of countries who's citizens are said to powerfully claim freedom and fairness.
They have evident bias, but still offer useful information.
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