Information History

What Is And Where Is Timbuktu?

From here to Timbuktu is a well worn saying I have heard it so many times in so many different places. Indeed I recall it as one of the first exotic words that my tongue ever found its way around on a wintry morning in a cold national school classroom in the depths of the bitter midlands of Ireland. Timbuktu it rings of something otherworldly before I ever discovered where it was it evoked images of deserts and palm trees and camels and men in headdresses and witchdoctors and snake charmers and boys riding elephants and just heaven! A million light years from the snow covered fields of Westmeath Ireland. It would take years before I really found out where Timbuktu actually was. Although I heard the word bandied out over and over again finally I found out that Timbuktu is located in Mali in West Africa I was delighted because I was beginning to dread that the whole thing was simply a myth. But what made it capture the imagination of so many people as being the final frontier the furthest flung corner of our planet the last place on earth? Well lets go right back to the start and find out why. Timbuktu was originally established by the nomadic Tuareg in the tenth century as a base for their supplies when they were travelling further north. Local lore tells the story that a woman named Buktu dwelt there and it was to her that the Tuareg trusted their belongings. However a more academic explanation outlines that in the Berber language buqt means faraway as it was located at the furthest end of the Sahara.

Timbuktu is located exactly where the Niger River flows northward into the southern edge of the mighty Sahara. It soon became a central meeting point for the various nomadic tribes who included Songhai Wangara Fulani Tuareg and Arabs. The settlement began to grow and traders from both further north and further south began to make their way to Timbuktu to do business. Goods began making their way from as far as the shores of the Mediterranean to be bartered in Timbuktu in exchange for gold. Salt was transported by camel by Berbers from Taghaza which lay a thousand miles to the North while gold was hauled into Timbuktu from the great gold mines of the Boure and Banbuk in the South. By the fourteenth century Timbuktu had become a major centre for the transSaharan gold and salt trade as well as Islamic scholarship and culture. The trade was controlled in turn by the three famed West African empires of Ghana Mali and Songhai. From the early thirteenth century it was controlled by the Mali Empire an empire that extended over an area that was larger than Western Europe and which was renowned for its extraordinary wealth. When the Emperor Mansa Mura set out on his now famous pilgrimage to Mecca the wider world became aware of the unbelievable wealth of the Mali Empire. As he travelled north along the Niger through Algeria and onto Cairo he was accompanied by a caravan of sixty thousand men including a personal entourage of twelve thousand slaves all of who were dressed in brocaded costumes of Persian silk. Musa liked to make an impact he brought a hundred camels each laden down with three hundred pounds of gold he also placed five hundred slaves at the head of his caravan each holding a four pound gold staff aloft what a spectacle it must have been! The caravans that they encountered on their epic journey were completely bowled over by the awesome spectacle but they were also hugely impressed with the courtesy that they received from the mighty retinue.

The Mali Empire flourished mainly due to its immense gold mines by the beginning of the fourteenth century Mali was the source of almost half the worlds gold it also boasted huge reserves of salt and copper. During the decades of the fifteenth century a number of Islamic institutions were established including the mighty Sankore mosque which became known as the University of Sankore. Timbuktu became a flourishing centre of learning culture and education; it had three universities and almost two hundred Quranic schools. There were hundreds of books written in Timbuktu as well as huge numbers imported and copied there leaving Timbuktu containing an unparalleled amount of scholarly works. On his return from Mecca Mansa Mura brought with him an Egyptian architect Abu Es Haq Es Saheli to construct the tremendous Jingaray Ber he also brought a flock of Arab scholars. Timbuktu remained under the protection of the descendants of Mansa Mura until the Tuareg under the leadership of Akil Akamalwal invaded and captured the city in 1434. Akil respected the exalted place that the Ulemas or scholars held in the city however Tuareg rule became corrupt and unjust leading the inhabitants of the city to seek the help of Soni Ali Ber ruler of the Songhai Empire. Soni Ali Ber conquered the city in 1464 he began a policy of reestablishing traditional African cultures and religions in the city and resisting allowing Islamic culture to take over completely. He replaced the Islamic scholars with intellectuals who understood the African traditions of the people leading many of the scholars to flee to Walata in Mauritania. However upon Soni Ali Bers death one of his generals Askia Mohammed established the Aksia dynasty and reinstated the Islamic scholars. The city reached its peak during the Askia dynasty the citys population reaching one hundred thousand a quarter of these been scholars many of whom had studied in Mecca or Cairo.

The decline of the city began when European explorers and slavers began establishing bases on the West African coast thereby providing alternatives to the slave market in Timbuktu and the trade route which had to cross the mighty Sahara. The rot was compounded by the successful capture of the city by a Moroccan army under the leadership of Pasha Mahmud ibn Zarquan in 1591. The Moroccan force plundered the city burned the great libraries executed many scholars and deported many more to Fez and Marrakech. The city became a shadow of its former self the Moroccans controlling the city were unable to repel the continuous attacks by the Bambara Fulani and Tuareg. For three centuries Timbuktu fell into a complete state of chaos anarchy and lawlessness as nobody appeared capable or willing to take control; tragically the great city fell into rack and ruin. Towards the end of the eighteenth century European explorers began searching for the fabled city encouraged by historical accounts that has being unearthed describing the great wealth that Timbuktu possessed in times past. It is believed that in 1805 the young Scottish adventurer Mungo Park was the first Westerner to reach Timbuktu but he died on his return and so the report of his findings was never ascertained. In 1824 the Geographical Society of Paris offered a considerable reward for the first European who was to reach Timbuktu and indeed return to provide information of what they had discovered. Another Scotsman Major Gordon Laing managed to set foot in Timbuktu in 1826 even managing to post a letter from the beleaguered city. Although he wrote in the letter that his situation was dangerous because of the hostility he was encountering from a Fula chief named Bello who was in control of the city at the time he never made it out of the city alive. The prize was eventually won by the intrepid young French adventurer named Rene Caille who disguised as an Arab made it in and out of the city in 1828; rather anticlimatically recording that it was a small unimportant and poor village that held no indications of its once illustrious past. Timbuktu was captured by the French in 1893 and remained in French hands until Mali gained independence in 1960. The decline of the town continues down to the present day it remains an impoverished place of little more than thirty thousand souls. I wonder do they realise that hundreds of school children are presently gazing out their classroom windows and dreaming about the mythical city of golden roofs hidden deep in the deserts of time

About the writer:nbsp;nbsp;Russell Shortt is a travel consultant with Exploring Ireland the leading specialists in customised private escorted tours escorted coach tours and independent self drive tours of Ireland. Article source Russell Shortt http://www.exploringireland.net http://www.visitscotlandtours.com

What Has The Government Not Been Telling Us About Ufos

Ironically it is so called “conspiracy theorists” such as Alex Jones and Anthony J. Hilder who are preaching to the public to reject the idea of alien invaders. Instead they feel that the classic UFO’s could be man made crafts probably housed in Area 51 that could someday be used as the ultimate false flag terror alert to frighten the public into submission. There is evidence that such a stunt would work when you consider the famous H.G Wells fictional radio broadcast of War of The Worlds in the 1930′s that caused many to believe that they were hearing reports of a true alien invasion.

Alex Jones who is a phenomenally successful syndicated radio talk show host and filmmaker said during a broadcast that he does not believe that a fake UFO false flag invasion will occur in the near future but that it is a possibility. He did mention on one of his radio broadcasts that he did believe that if the government needed a false flag of titanic proportions it could build a fake UFO much like the craft that landed during the Olympics Games in Beijing China and have genetically engineered mutated animals tumble out of it to bring the nation into a panic to give the government a chance to step in and say that they have things under control as long as people submit to martial law until things are under control.

UFOs are sometimes an element of elaborate conspiracy theories in which governments are said to be intentionally covering up the existence of aliens or sometimes collaborating with them. Some also contend that physical evidence is swiftly and sometimes clumsily suppressed by governments aiming to insulate a population they regard as intellectually unprepared to deal with the social theological and security implications of dealing with the knowledge and that people would stop working shopping and possibly explode in an uncontrollable worldwide panic. There are also conspiracy theories which claim that physical evidence might have been removed and/or destroyed by some governments. Again many polls show that about 70 percent of the population feels that the government has not been sharing everything it knows about UFOs or extraterrestrial life. It is assumed by many ufologists that the government especially the CIA is lying and covering up alien landings and communication.

The hypothesis that UFOs are either top secret American or Russian manmade craft led to the creation of the Air Force’s Project Sign in 1947 to try and debunk these claims. As the UFO phenomenon raged in the 50′s Project Sign eventually morphed into Project Grudge and then the infamous Project Blue Book In 1952. In 1948 the government wrote a topsecret intelligence estimate to that effect. Its final report published in 1951 remained secret for over 50 years until a secret study of UFOs undertaken for the UK’s Ministry of Defense between 1996 and 2000 was publicly released in 2006 through the Freedom of Information Act. Other private or governmental studies some secret have concluded in favor of the studies conclusions or have had individual members who disagreed with the official conclusions.

According to the report alien craft had been discovered that was capable of surviving for long periods of time underwater and would occasionally dock with a recently discovered secret undersea alien base. Ufologists claim that the label conspiracy theory is no longer valid and that this is a case of an evidential conspiracy with credible people revealing secrets within the system.

Although the vast majority of claims related to UFO sightings were officially debunked as natural phenomenon or hoaxes Top Secret USAF European documents did state that Swedish air intelligence had informed them that at least some of their investigations into what were named “ghost rockets” and “flying saucers” had to have extraterrestrial origins. Formerly top secret files from the Soviet Navy contain a lot of valuable information on UFO sightings. Fresh from the government’s Navy files which span 50 years and include numerous eyewitness testimony you can find numerous documented sightings and unexplained phenomena along with a stunning collection of data that presents the most chilling evidence to date suggesting that UFOs are indeed real extra terrestrial craft and that a government coverup has long suppressed this truth. Former Soviet Naval officers have told numerous stories of serving on Soviet nuclear submarines and being chased by other underwater craft that accelerated at speeds inaccessible to man made craft changing directions at will and even dashing out of the water to hover in the air.

According to ufologist Jordan Maxwell aliens or other extra terrestrial forces have for a long time been manipulating the “ignorant masses” through secret societies witchcraft magic the occult and religion. Also that world governments reveal these secrets to a select few who are considered intelligent enough to deal with the mind boggling truth behind the socalled conspiracy and that they will be the ones rescued from the pain and suffering that the ignorant masses will reap upon one another.

Reports of unidentified aerial phenomena date back to ancient times but modern reports and the first official investigations began during World War II with sightings of socalled “foo fighters” by Allied airplane crews and in 1946 with widespread sightings of European “ghost rockets”. Most military and civilian UFO investigations concluded that the majority of objects can be identified as whether balloons of military aircraft. In the end Project Bluebook concluded that only 3 percent of all UFO claims could not be explained as terrestrial. However with the general public being more and more distrusting of the government the flames of UFO conspiracies have only grown with time and will probably continue to do so.

For some great information on UFOs and conspiracies including 3000 UFO related links check out the ebook UFO Aliens Info Ebook 3000 UFO links.

About the writer:  Article by Peter Ruble of American Rubles

What Happened When Moses Anger Abate?

Many people do not know Allah. This series 172 is an attempt to help them to know their Creator.

Verses 7:152154 of the Noble Quran talk about: 1 Allah says: wrath and abasement shall come upon those who worshipped the calf as a god 2 The outcome of the calf worshippers is the same as those who invent lies against Allah 3 Allah and those who do evil deeds and afterward repent 4 What happened when Moses’ anger abate? 5 What was written in Moses Tablets? And 6 Allah is Forgiving He overlooks sins He is the Merciful

In the previous article 71

And when Moses returned unto his people angry and grieved when he heard the voice of sedition

he said: Evil is what you did by worshipping the calf after I went to the mountain. And he cast down the tablets from his hand and two of them were broken and he seized his brother Aaron dragging him towards him. Aaron said: O my brother! Lo! the folk did judge me weak humiliated me and almost killed me due to my opposition. Oh make not mine enemies to triumph over me; make not the enemy the folk of the calf spite me and do not place me among the evildoers! Do not harm me because of the folk of the calf.

And Moses prayed to Allah and said My Lord forgive me what I have done to my brother and forgive my brother he includes him in the supplication in order to reconcile him and to fend off any gloating over his misfortune and admit us into Your mercy for You are the Most Merciful of the merciful. Then Allah said:

The meaning of verse 7:152

Allah exalted be He says:

Surely those who chose the calf as a god and worshipped it and whoever emulates them; what about them? Terror wrath chastisement and abasement shall come upon them from their Lord in the life of this world and so they were punished for this deed by the command to slay themselves and abasement was stamped upon them until the Day of Resurrection.

Even as Allah has requited them so He requites those who invent lies against Allah by way of idolatry and otherwise. In other words Thus does Allah requite those who invent a lie against Him.

The meaning of verse 7:153

But those who do ill deeds while ascribing partners to Allah and afterward repent after their idolatry; it is also said that this means: after committing transgressions and profess Allah’s divine Oneness and believe in Allah lo! for them afterward after repentance and accepting faith your Lord O Moses; and it is also said: O Muhammad is Forgiving He overlooks sins He is the Merciful.

In other words the verse says:

But those who commit evil deeds and repent desist from them thereafter and believe in Allah indeed your Lord thereafter that is after their repentance is truly Forgiving Merciful towards them.

The meaning of verse 7:154

And when Moses’ anger abate subsided he took the Tablets which he had cast down and in their copy that is in what was inscribed upon them in other words it was written that: there was guidance from error and mercy for all those who hold their Lord in awe who have fear of Allah.

In other words the verse says:

Then when the anger of Moses abated he took up the tablets and in their inscription in what remained in them; it is also said: in what was returned to him of the two tablets there was guidance from error and there was mercy preventing from torment for all those who fear their Lord Allah.

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Verses 7:152154 in different English translations of the meanings of Arabic Quran:

Verse 7:152

QARIB: those who worshipped the calf incurred the anger of their lord and abasement in this life and as such we recompense the forgers.

SHAKIR: as for those who took the calf for a god surely wrath from their lord and disgrace in this world’s life shall overtake them and thus do we recompense the devisers of lies

PICKTHAL: lo! those who chose the calf for worship terror from their lord and humiliation will come upon them in the life of the world. thus do we requite those who invent a lie.

YUSUFALI: those who took the calf for worship will indeed be overwhelmed with wrath from their lord and with shame in this life: thus do we recompense those who invent falsehoods.

Verse 7:153

QARIB: as for those who do evil and later repent and believe your lord is forgiving the most merciful thereafter.

SHAKIR: and as to those who do evil deeds then repent after that and believe your lord after that is most surely forgiving merciful

PICKTHAL: but those who do illdeeds and afterward repent and believe lo! for them afterward Allah is forgiving merciful.

YUSUFALI: but those who do wrong but repent thereafter and truly believe verily thy lord is thereafter oftforgiving most merciful.

Verse 7:154

QARIB: when his anger abated moses took up the tablets upon which was inscribed guidance and mercy to those who fear their lord.

SHAKIR: and when musa’s anger calmed down he took up the tablets and in the writing thereof was guidance and mercy for those who fear for the sake of their lord

PICKTHAL: then when the anger of moses abated he took up the tablets and in their inscription there was guidance and mercy for all those who fear their lord.

YUSUFALI: when the anger of moses was appeased he took up the tablets: in the writing thereon was guidance and mercy for such as fear their lord.

About the writer:  CoChief editor October Weekly magazine Cairo Egypt.

What Happened At Masada And What Were The Events Leading To Its Downfall?

Masada is a mesa on the western shore of the Dead Sea which rises about 820 feet above the surrounding valleys. The name Masada probably means “mountain fortress”. It was used as a stronghold between 142 B.C. and A.D. 73. A man named Jonathan Maccabeus was the first person to fortify the rock. Herod the Great made Masada a monument to his building process. Also a group of rebellious Jews occupied Masada for a short time during the first revolt against Rome A.D. 6673. However after a long struggle to retake the fortress the Tenth Legion raised a very large ramp and broke through the walls of Masada. This article is going to address the events that took place leading up to this battle and what the Romans discovered once inside Masada.

In Jerusalem 66 A.D. there could be seen several hundred crosses that were erected on the sides of the eastern road that led from the city walls down into the valley of Jericho each cross with a man hung to die from the extreme heat of the sun. They were under Roman guard to prevent anyone giving those on these crosses any water. What began this event was when Gessius Florus who was the Roman governor sent a small company of centurions into the Holy Temple where they seized part of the Temple treasure. Of course Florus said that the action occurred to reclaim unpaid taxes due to Rome. However the Jews did not believe this to be the case because they knew that Florus was in bad financial trouble and had taken the money for his own personal use.

Now after the seizure had taken place a group of angry Jews went into the marketplace and began to beg for donations for their poor ruler. Florus angered by the public mockery sent Roman soldiers into this marketplace with orders to kill all the Jews that they could find. After it was all over six hundred men women and children were killed. The men who were left alive were whipped and then crucified beyond the city walls.

When this happened a great outcry spread throughout the countryside. A rebellion began from the northern borders of Galilee to the Judean wilderness in the south. There were people from all walks of life that took up arms and joined forces in a great effort to get rid of the Romans from their bloodstained country. The very first place to be taken by the Jews was the fortress of Masada.

After many years the country stayed on the brink of war. A series of oppressive and incompetent Roman governors continued to startle the Jews. In the northern province of Galilee people began to stand behind a group of people called the Zealots. This group had long called for a rebellion against the Romans. Over time their numbers grew into the thousands and they began to make a plan to attack. In the deserts of the south there was a fierce group of Zealots called the Sicarii or Daggermen who began to kill all those who would not join in their cause to drench the land with Roman blood. This group of Zealots called the Sicarii made their way up to Masada’s eastern cliffs and within a short time Masada belonged to them.

The violence raged on through out the country and when Rome heard of the hostilities they rushed three thousand soldiers to the city of Jerusalem in order to protect the Roman garrison there. They were outnumbered by a large Jewish militia who came into the Holy City from nearby areas. The Romans finally surrendered to only be killed by the Jewish mob. The rebellion spread very quickly through the country and within a short time Rome’s forces had been completely destroyed!

However Rome did retaliate and sent large armies through Syria on their way to enter into Israel. They entered into the northern province of Galilee. Many cities were overwhelmed and destroyed. Then the Romans headed south toward the city of Jerusalem. There were more than a million Jews that had gathered in Jerusalem prepared to fight for their Holy City to the very end. Then a civil war began in Rome and the fight against the Jews came to a stop. The months past by as the Romans were camped on the hillsides just beyond Jerusalem’s walls just waiting for the order to began the attack. When the civil war ended Vespasian became the emperor of Rome and his son Titus gained command. Within days the Roman army marched against the city. The end did finally come the city was on fire including the Temple. There was a group of people who escaped the ruins of Jerusalem being lead by a Zealot captain named Eleazar Ben Yair and where were they going? The fortress of Masada.

After Jerusalem was destroyed refugees began to come to Masada and their number grew to be nine hundred sixty men women and children. The people chose Eleazar Ben Yair to be their leader at Masada. He encouraged all the people to be confident about what was up ahead in their future. Yet when more refugees came to Masada from Machaerus which was another Jewish stronghold and reported that their city was captured by the Romans they faced reality and knew that Masada now was all alone. They knew that it was just a matter of time before the Roman army would attack Masada. That day finally came and there was a force of twenty thousand soldiers encamped at the base of Masada.

Their great leader Ben Yair encouraged them that God was on their side and would not allow Masada to be taken. But one morning the Zealots noticed that the Romans had brought some slaves and realized that the Romans were building a ramp to be able to bring their large war machines up to the defense wall to attack Masada. They really had no idea that this ramp would be the beginning of the end for them.

When the Zealots finally realized the outcome of the battle for Masada Eleazar Ben Yair gathered his fellow Zealots and gave them a ultimatum of what they wanted to do by saying “I now stand before you and offer you a choice. We can fall into the hands of the Romans and become slaves or we can take our own lives while we are still free people.” When the Romans finally invaded Masada they were in a total state of shock to discover that all of the Zealots except for two women and five children had committed suicide rather than be captured and become a slave to Rome!

About the writer:nbsp;nbsp;Hello my name is Meredith Miller. I am married to a beautiful woman named Elizabeth. We have four wonderful children and three fantastic grandchildren. I have a Doctorate in Theology and a Ph.D in Religion. I have been in the ministry for 30 years and a pastor for over nine years. I really enjoy life and the opportunities that I have had in trying to help others during difficult periods in their lives.Author Link: Personal Website: http://www.millerdoctorofphilosophy.com

What Exactly Happened In Rwanda?

The Hutu were some of the earliest inhabitants of Rwanda after the arrival of the Tutsi around the sixteenth century the Hutu were forced into servitude in a Tutsidominated feudal state. Rwanda was one of the last places in Africa to be swallowed up by the European powers during the Scramble for Africa. The Europeans found a state that was divided between Tutsis and Hutus the divide was described as one of class where the Tutsis as herders were the upper class and the Hutus as farmers were the lower class. The region of Rwanda and Burundi was given to the German Empire at the Brussels conference of 1890 in return for them renouncing all claims to Uganda. The Germans held back for a number of years seizing their opportunity during a succession battle for the Rwanda throne they moved into the region claiming the area in the name of the Kaiser and subsuming it into German East Africa. The German rule was one of little or no control depending completely on the courts of various local rulers in which they placed agents who attempted to influence proceedings. Germany did not encourage either modernisation or centralisation and favoured the ruling Tutsi class thinking them more adaptable to European ways and thus granted them ruling positions over the Hutu class. Belgium occupied the territory in 1916 during World War One and was awarded a mandate known as the RuandaUrundi present day Rwanda and Burundi by the League of Nations in 1923. In 1925 the Belgians formed an administrative area between RuandaUrundi and the Belgian Congo. Belgium retained the German policy of strengthening the position of the Tutsis over the Hutus.

Belgium were adamant that the colony would turn a profit forcing each farmer to plant coffee and installing draconian measures to ensure that it was done they were assisted in implementing this policy by their Tutsi allies. This alliance had the effect of solidifying the already existing racial divide between the Hutus and Tutsis and it was further exacerbated after eugenic researchers began to produce papers stating that Tutsis had Caucasian heritage and were thus superior to Hutus. Each citizen was issued with an identity card which defined them as legally Hutu or Tutsi. The Belgians gave almost complete political power to the Tutsis who exploited their power over the Hutu majority. In 1946 RuandaUrundi became a UN trust territory under Belgian administration . Changes across Africa post World War II led the Hutus to begin demanding the abolition of political equality and oppression against them. The Belgians encouraged reforms as they feared Hutu unrest would destabilise the region but the Tutsis refused to countenance any change to their ascendant position. An increasingly restive Hutu population encouraged by the Belgian military staged a revolt in November 1959. Massacres ensued with wide ranging reports of between 20000 and 100000 Tutsis being killed by Hutus. A UN report stated that the massacres had being engineered in collusion with the Belgian authorities. The 1959 revolution completely transformed the political and social fabric of Rwanda over 150000 Tutsis had being sent into exile and those who remained were excluded from all positions of political power. In 1962 the Belgians pulled out and Rwanda became an independent country with the Hutus in the ascendancy.

In December 1963 following an abortive invasion by Tutsi refugees from Burundi a massive crackdown was launched against the resident Tutsi population which resulted in the deaths of an estimated 12000. Tutsis began fleeing in their tens of thousands into the neighbouring states of Uganda Burundi Tanzania and the Congo. A horrendous regime of repression was administered against those who remained behind resulting in Tutsi militants beginning to organise labelling themselves as inyensi or cockroaches alluding to their intention to infiltrate the country. In 1973 Major General Juvenal Habyarimana a Hutu staged a coup and took control of the country heralding a new era of relaxed measures towards the Tutsi population. However the regime was corrupt and popular discontent grew throughout the 1980s forcing Habyarimana to implement some political reforms. But the greatest threat to his regime came in October 1990 when over 1000 Tutsi refugees calling themselves the Rwandan Patriotic Front RPF invaded from Uganda scoring notable successes before eventually succumbing to government forces bolstered by French Belgian and Zairian troops. The invasion was used as a pretext for a heightening of repression against the Tutsi population. Habyarimanas government began to recruit Hutu youth militias knows as Interahamwe which contributed to an escalation of ethnic violence. However Habyarimana began to push for reform and an ending to repressive measures against the Tutsi population eventually leading him to sign the Arusha Accords in August 1993 which sought to merge the RPF with the national army the right of return for all Rwandan refugees and the holding of fair elections leading to a democratic government. For his efforts he was assassinated most likely by Hutu extremists however the blame was placed upon the Tutsis. A huge propaganda machine was unleashed which encouraged a genocide against the Tutsis and Tutsi sympathisers.

Tragically it worked and arguably the worst genocide in the history of the world was conducted in Rwanda from April to July 1994 with over 800000 people being murdered. Hordes of the Interahamwe militia and rebels named the Inkotanyi roamed the country massacring Tutsis and anyone who sympathised with them. There was a RPF battalion stationed in the capital Kigali under the agreements reached at Arusha they fought their way out of the city and linked up with RPF units in the north. Paul Kagame the RPF leader organised forces from Tanzania and Uganda to invade the country. Even though aware of the horrific scale of killing the United Nations refused to get involved however the RPF successfully took control of the country. Almost two million Hutu refugees fled into neighbouring Burundi Tanzania Uganda and Zaire. They gathered in over thirty camps many of which were infiltrated by Hutus who had orchestrated the genocide and became extensions of Hutu power in exile. They established brutal control in the camps which were dogged by epidemics of cholera and diarrhoea. An international humanitarian mission was created in an attempt to restore order and stabilise the crises in the camps. Initially they were quite successful but aid workers began to raise concerns about the presence of armed elements in the camps and the relief operation began to be accused of harbouring the perpetuators of the genocide. Aid organisations began to leave requesting the UN to intervene and disarm the camps however their reaction was minimal. The Hutu militants expanded their activities constantly raiding Rwanda and attacking Tutsis in eastern Zaire. In response Rwanda began smuggling arms into Zaire to arm the Tutsis residing there. This heightening of tensions led to the First Congo War which led to the fall of Mobutu and the renaming of Zaire as the Democratic Republic of Congo. The war in Zaire had the immediate effect of emptying the camps and the refugees began returning to Rwanda in their droves.

About the writer:nbsp;nbsp;Russell Shortt is a travel consultant with Exploring Ireland the leading specialists in customised private escorted tours escorted coach tours and independent self drive tours of Ireland. Article source Russell Shortt http://www.exploringireland.net http://www.visitscotlandtours.com

What Did Allah Command The Israelites About Eating?

Many people do not know Allah. This series 175 is an attempt to help them to know their Creator.

Verses 7:159161 of the Noble Quran talk about: 1 Allah Said to Moses: Strike the rock with your staff 2 Allah divided the Israelites into twelve tribes 3 The Quran says: Not All Moses’ People were Evildoers 4 How has Allah protected the Israelites from the heat of the sun? 5 What was the food of the Israelites during their wilderness? 6 What Did Allah Command The Israelites about Eating? 7 When Allah Commanded the Israelites to Dwell the City? 8 What Did Allah Command the Israelites to say when they dwell in the township?

The meaning of verse 7:159

And among the people of Moses there is a community a group who guide people by the truth and act justly according to it when passing judgments.

And of Moses’ folk there is a community a group who lead with enjoin truth and establish justice therewith; they act upon the Truth.

The meaning of verse 7:160

And Allah divided them He separated the Children of Israel into twelve tribes.

And Allah revealed to Moses when his people asked him for water in the wilderness saying: Strike the rock with your staff and he struck it and there gushed forth burst forth from it twelve fountains equal to the number of tribes each people each tribe among them now knew their drinkingplace.

And Allah made the cloud overshadow them in the wilderness from the heat of the sun

Allah sent down to them manna the food miraculously supplied to the Israelites in the wilderness; it is said that it is a type of citrus and quails a small migratory chickenlike birds.

And Allah said commanded to them: Eat of the good things We have provided for you. And they did not wrong Us but they wronged themselves.

i.e. They wronged Us not they did not hurt or harm Us because of what they committed but they were wont to wrong themselves to harm and hurt themselves.

The meaning of verse 7:161

And when it was said to them Dwell in this city and eat therein wherever you will and say our concern is for an Exoneration and enter the gate that is the gate of the city prostrating it is said that the herein was actually a bow. Then Allah shall forgive you your transgressions; and Allah shall give more to those who are virtuous through obedience in terms of reward.

In other words the verse says: and when it was said unto them: Dwell in this township and eat therefrom whence you will and whenever you will and say Repentance; and say: there is no deity except Allah; it is also said that this means: say O Our Lord! Forgive our sins and enter the gate of the township prostrate; Allah shall forgive you your sins; He shall increase reward for the right doers in their good works.

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Verses 7:159161 in different English translations of the meanings of Arabic Quran:

Verse 7:159

QARIB: yet among the people of moses there was a nation who preached the truth and acted justly.

SHAKIR: and of musa’s people was a party who guided people with the truth and thereby did they do justice

PICKTHAL: and of moses’ folk there is a community who lead with truth and establish justice therewith.

YUSUFALI: of the people of moses there is a section who guide and do justice in the light of truth.

Verse 7:160

QARIB: we divided them into twelve tribes each a nation. and when his people demanded drink we revealed to moses: ‘strike the rock with your staff. ‘ thereupon twelve springs gushed from the rock and each tribe knew its drinkingplace. we caused the clouds to cast their shadow over them and sent down for them manna and quails saying: ‘eat of the good things we have provided for you. ‘ indeed they did us no wrong but they wronged themselves.

SHAKIR: and we divided them into twelve tribes as nations; and we revealed to musa when his people asked him for water: strike the rock with your staff so outnowed from it twelve springs; each tribe knew its drinking place; and we made the clouds to give shade over them and we sent to them manna and quails: eat of the good things we have given you. and they did not do us any harm but they did injustice to their own souls

PICKTHAL: we divided them into twelve tribes nations; and we inspired moses when his people asked him for water saying: smite with thy staff the rock! and there gushed forth therefrom twelve springs so that each tribe knew their drinkingplace. and we caused the white cloud to overshadow them and sent down for them the manna and the quails saying: eat of the good things wherewith we have provided you. they wronged us not but they were wont to wrong themselves.

YUSUFALI: we divided them into twelve tribes or nations. we directed moses by inspiration when his thirsty people asked him for water: “strike the rock with thy staff”: out of it there gushed forth twelve springs: each group knew its own place for water. we gave them the shade of clouds and sent down to them manna and quails saying: “eat of the good things we have provided for you”: but they rebelled; to us they did no harm but they harmed their own souls.

Verse 7:161

QARIB: when it was said to them: ‘dwell in this village and eat of whatever you please; and say “unburdening” and enter the gate prostrating we will forgive you your sins and increase the gooddoers. ‘

SHAKIR: and when it was said to them: reside in this town and eat from it wherever you wish and say put down from us our heavy burdens: and enter the gate making obeisance we will forgive you your wrongs: we will give more to those who do good to others

PICKTHAL: and when it was said unto them: dwell in this township and eat therefrom whence ye will and say “repentance” and enter the gate prostrate; we shall forgive you your sins; we shall increase reward for the rightdoers.

YUSUFALI: and remember it was said to them: “dwell in this town and eat therein as ye wish but say the word of humility and enter the gate in a posture of humility: we shall forgive you your faults; we shall increase the portion of those who do good.”

About the writer:  CoChief editor October Weekly magazine Cairo Egypt.

What Are The Last Words Of The Egyptian Sorcerers Before Their Death?

Many people do not know Allah. This series 158 is an attempt to help them to know their Creator.

Verses 7:125127 of the Noble Quran talk about: 1 The Egyptian sorcerers realized that Pharaoh will kill them 2 What the Egyptian sorcerers said to Pharaoh before he has killed them? 3 What are the last words of the Egyptian sorcerers before their death? 4 The Egyptian sorcerers prayed to Allah and said 5 Who were the 70 men in Paradise who have prostrated once to Allah? 6 Was Moses working corruption in Egypt? And 7 What was the plan of Pharaoh after killing the Egyptian sorcerers?

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In the previous articles 5861

Moses said: O Pharaoh! I am a messenger from Allah to you

Pharaoh said: You are lying!

Moses said: when talking about to Allah it is compulsory to say the truth. Truly I have come to you with a clear signs from Allah.

Pharaoh Said: If you have come with a sign then produce it.

Then Moses cast down he flung down his staff and it was an enormous huge snake manifest for all to see

And he drew forth his hand he took it out from his bosom armpit and it was white radiant and shining for the beholders.

The chiefs of Pharaoh’s council said: Lo! this is some knowing wizard who is proficient in wizardry. Surely this man is a cunning sorcerer outstanding in the art of magic. The aim of this man Moses is to expel you from your land of Egypt. This was not true the aim of Moses was to take the children of Israel out of Egypt.

Then Pharaoh said:

Now what do you advise? What we should do concerning this matter?

They said unto Pharaoh:

We should bring every cunning sorcerer who is proficient in wizardry to outdo Moses in the art of magic. And so they summoned many of the knowing wizards.

And the sorcerers who were 70 in number came to Pharaoh and they said: Surely there will be a great reward for us if we are victors against Moses.

Pharaoh answered: Yes of course you have that and surely you shall be of those brought near to me in status.

The Egyptian sorcerers threw 70 staffs and 70 ropes they cast a spell upon the people’s eyes and overawed them scared them and produced a mighty spell; they put a spell upon the peoples eyes misleading them from perceiving the real state of these ropes and staffs and overawed them scared them by making their ropes appear to be slithering snakes and produced a mighty sorcery.

Allah inspired Moses saying: Throw your staff! And he threw it. And lo! it swallowed up their lying show their staffs and ropes.

The Egyptian sorcerers as well as Pharaoh and his folk were defeated.

The Egyptian sorcerers realized that Moses was right and that they were evil doers.

And the Egyptian sorcerers fell down prostrate to Allah; for they realized that what they had witnessed of the staff could not be done through sorcery; they cried and said: We believe in the Lord of the Worlds.

Pharaoh said: are you referring to me?

They said: Allah! The Lord of Moses and Aaron

Pharaoh get very angry at them.

Pharaoh said:

You believe in the Lord of Moses and Aaron before I give you leave before I command you to do so!

Lo! this is the plot that you have plotted in the city between you and Moses; that you may expel its people from it by means of guile.

Then Pharaoh threatened them and said:

But you shall come to know what I will do to you!

Pharaoh said:

I shall assuredly have your hands and feet cut off on opposite sides that is the right hand and the left foot of every one then I shall have every one of you crucified. This was the punishment for anyone who does not believe that Pharaoh is the Lord of the Worlds!

Then what?

The meaning of verse 7:125

The Egyptian sorcerers realized that Pharaoh will punish and kill them; They said:

Lo! We are about to return unto our Lord

Surely to our Lord after our death however it come about we shall be restored we shall return in the Hereafter. They believed in the afterlife.

The meaning of verse 7:126

You are vindictive spiteful towards us you are censuring and punishing us only because we have believed in the signs of Allah Our Lord when they came to us.

Then they prayed to Allah saying:

Our Lord! Vouchsafe unto us steadfastness honor us with steadfastness when we are crucified and mutilated and make it that we do not return to disbelief.

Our Lord! Pour out onto us patience and constancy when that with which he has threatened us comes to pass lest we revert to unbelief; and take us to You as men who have submitted.

Our Lord! Make us die as men who have surrendered unto Thee sincerely following the religion of Moses.

These were their last words just before they have been killed!

When interpreting this verse the Prophet Muhammad said:

I marveled that they the Egyptian sorcerers are in Paradise although they have prostrated only once to Allah!

The meaning of verse 7:127

Pharaoh has every one of the Egyptian sorcerers crucified after cutting their hands and feet.

Then the chiefs of Pharaoh’s people said to Pharaoh:

O King Will you leave Moses and his people to work corruption in the land by calling to disobedience against you and flout you and your gods?

Will you leave Moses and his people to make mischief in the land by changing the religion and worship and abandon you and the worship of your gods?

It is also said that this means according to a different reading: and leave worshipping you as a god?

Pharaoh said:

We will slay their sons their young sons as we did the first time and spare their grown up women

We shall slaughter their newborn sons and spare their women keeping them alive as we did with them before. For lo! we are in power over them; we have dominance and supremacy over them and they did this to them and so the Children of Israel grieved.

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Verses 7:125127 in different English translations of the meanings of Arabic Quran:

Verse 7:125

QARIB: they replied: ‘we shall surely turn to our lord.

SHAKIR: they said: surely to our lord shall we go back:

PICKTHAL: they said: lo! we are about to return unto our lord!

YUSUFALI: they said: “for us we are but sent back unto our lord:

Verse 7:126

QARIB: you would take revenge on us only because we believed in the signs of our lord when they came to us. lord pour patience upon us and let us die as submitters muslims. ‘

SHAKIR: and you do not take revenge on us except because we have believed in the communications of our lord when they came to us! our lord: pour out upon us patience and cause us to die in submission

PICKTHAL: thou takest vengeance on us only forasmuch as we believed the tokens of our lord when they came unto us. our lord! vouchsafe unto us steadfastness and make us die as men who have surrendered unto thee.

YUSUFALI: “but thou dost wreak thy vengeance on us simply because we believed in the signs of our lord when they reached us! our lord! pour out on us patience and constancy and take our souls unto thee as muslims who bow to thy will!

Verse 7:127

QARIB: the assembly of pharaoh’s nation said: ‘will you allow moses and his nation to corrupt in the land and to forsake you and your gods? ‘ he replied: ‘we will put their sons to death and spare their women indeed we are conquerors over them. ‘

SHAKIR: and the chiefs of firon’s people said: do you leave musa and his people to make mischief in the land and to forsake you and your gods? he said: we will slay their sons and spare their women and surely we are masters over them

PICKTHAL: the chiefs of pharaoh’s people said: o king wilt thou suffer moses and his people to make mischief in the land and flout thee and thy gods? he said: we will slay their sons and spare their women for lo! we are in power over them.

YUSUFALI: said the chiefs of pharaoh’s people: “wilt thou leave moses and his people to spread mischief in the land and to abandon thee and thy gods?” he said: “their male children will we slay; only their females will we save alive; and we have over them power irresistible.”

About the writer:  CoChief editor October Weekly magazine Cairo Egypt.

Weight Loss Diet Use Your Mind To Stop The Diet Wars
If you have lived the majority of your life overweight you’ve most likely tried countless weight loss programs weight loss diets and a healthy dose of drugs and pills to boot. Anyone who has gone through these experiences know that the ultimate “diet killer” is your own lack of selfcontrol and focus.

When it comes to weight loss you may secretly be your own worst enemy. Before we get started on that let’s look at the fact that accomplishing any goal large or small requires a mind that is clearly focused on the desired end.

What does that mean? It means turning selftalk into a positive advantage and using your rational mind to help fuel and motivate your efforts. After all the choice is yours: let your mind sabotage your efforts or let it help inspire better eating habits and encourage healthy weightloss outcomes.

If you’ve tried losing weight or a weight loss program before and have found it to be an uphill battle in which you lose a few pounds only to gain back several more then it’s time to break the psychological cycle that may be holding you back from your goal.

THE PSYCHOLOGICAL CYCLE OF WEIGHT GAIN

In a world where thin is in it’s not unusual for people who are overweight to carry the burden of lower selfesteem. Add to that the social stigma or prejudice that overweight individuals encounter and a psychological cycle for weight gain can be set in motion or unhealthy eating disorders bulimia anorexia can develop. People overweight as well as thin often eat in response to stress depression loneliness and anxiety. This stressinduced or emotional eating can lead to weight gain which in turn leads to lower selfesteem depression and anxiety which leads to more stressbased eating and additional weight gain. It’s easy to see how one can become trapped in a dangerous downward spiral and vicious cycle.

Compounding the problem is the fact that individuals who are overweight have less energy and therefore find it harder to be active so the risk of gaining weight again increases. A cycle of inactivity and further weight gain can develop: the less active person gains weight and so becomes less active thereby gaining more weight and so on. Also life stresses which are normally alleviated through exercise start building up which triggers more stressbased eating.

Individuals who try to lose weight and fail may feel depressed frustrated and even guilty or ashamed and may rely on comfort foods as a way to feel better. The same is true of those who succeed in losing weight only to gain it back. Anxiety depression and guilt can produce a feeling of hopelessness that hinders efforts to lose weight.

This is why getting on the right weight loss program is CRUCIAL for successful weight loss. Whether it’s a weight loss diet that you’ve imposed on yourself or a program designed for your body follow the next seven steps to break the psychological cycle of weight loss.

SEVEN STEPS TO BREAKING THE CYCLE

1. Stop Diet Deprivation. Diets and weight loss programs that put severe restrictions on what you can eat oftentimes arouse binge eating. While you may hold out for a while one day you’ll decide depriving yourself is not worth it or you can’t take it anymore and you dig into the refrigerator freezer or snack cabinet with a vengeance. Allow yourself small indulgences that are satisfying and will help you avoid harmful binging.

2. Plan Ahead. What if you should slip? The best way to avoid slipping is through preplanning. So if you’re off to a backyard barbeque or family gathering decide ahead of time what your plan is. Eat something healthy and filling before you go out and then allow yourself a few special treats at the party but exercise portion control. If you know that Aunt Mary is making your favorite dessert plan on having a small slice and savor it. Managing your weight and enjoying life should go hand in hand.

3. Set Realistic Weight Loss Goals. To avoid the frustration of failing don’t overstress yourself with unrealistic weight loss goals. You gained weight slowly over time and it will take some time to gradually lose that weight. Slow but sure is the best approach.

4. Choose Healthy Outlets for Emotions. Instead of opening the refrigerator when you’re upset how about phoning a friend or take a walk. Discover something that makes you feel calmer or happier something other than food or alcohol. Do yoga dance around your living room meditate or go out bowling with a friend.

5. Stop Harboring Hurts. Work through issues that are upsetting you. Talk to a therapist or even a friend. Don’t let hurts even old wounds or patterns that reach back into your childhood affect you and your relationship with food.

6. Remember Why You’re Dieting. It helps to stop and remember why you’re dieting in the first place. Is it to have more energy look and feel better alleviate health problems or increase your self esteem? Keeping the goal in mind is critical to your weight loss success.

7. Use Your Mind to Break the Cycle. The fact is you can do it. It’s all in your mind the power to lose the weight rests with you. Believe you can succeed and you will succeed. If you want to put an end to the psychological cycle of weight gain start by turning all of your negative self talk into positive affirmations. That’s the best way to break the cycle.

Instead of saying: “Look at that fat belly. It just won’t go away.” Think positive: “Yes my belly is fat now but it won’t always be. I plan to be fit not fat. I’m heading to the gym after work today.”

Keep your goal in mind at all times. Write down your positive affirmations and put up visual reminders of what you want to attain that dress you want to buy that seaside resort you’re longing to visit this year or even a picture the happy person you want to be again. It’s all within reach if you set your mind to it keep active exercise and prepare healthy menus that you enjoy.

Use these seven steps to create a mental turnaround and break through the psychological barriers that are holding you back. If you do you’ll have the power to achieve permanent weight loss something that will truly change your future and your life.

About the writer:  Dr. Michael Kaplan is a leader in the Medical Weight Loss field and his Center for Medical Weight Loss’s has helped thousands of people experience the enhanced weight loss benefits of physician supervised rapid weight loss

About the writer:  weight loss diet: weight loss diet

We Are Children Of D-Day

Single 19 Year Olds and Young Marrieds

Freedom Abounds

Thousands of young American men fought and died on this day and the days immediately thereafter in Normandy France on June 6 1944. The initial beach landings were single guys because the generals knew way over half would be killed or wounded in the first hours. It is always very young people and some older ones salt and peppered in who die in conflict. In the next year the War was over. Because of this gigantic tipping point in the Fate and Destiny of the World all of the countries on the planet were saved from an “Alternative Fate”. We are all the Children of DDay. Be proud of your heritage. And if you are not proud of your heritage that is a sign of Freedom. And that proves you are the Children of DDay. Your little brother is not reporting your lack of loyalty to the state. Thus the outlandish statements you make on a daily basis deriding the system and wishing the worst on the U.S. ARE significators that Freedom is abounding in this land.

I am not using sarcasm. Because those 19 year old boys died and because the ones who did not die and spent every waking hour killing Nazis for days and days on end and brought the end of WWII in 1945 you can freely express your own individuality and be the unique self that you are. You are the Children of DDay.

You Don’t Carry Your Papers To Hand To A Guard At The State Line

Back in the Day you up and decided to leave New York drive on the interstate freeway system 40;which Eisenhower built as President because as a military man he realized we could not defend our country without an interstate highway system41; and then you ended up in Arizona. That was back in the 80′s and you got “detained” by an Oklahoma cop during that trip because you were speeding and a little “loopy”. And you did not have to present your papers at each border and you were “let go” by that cop in Oklahoma and no one stopped you from opening your little business in Arizona which promptly failed and you filed bankruptcy. But you went on to California and now you are a success. You are the Child of DDay.

No Language You Have To Speak No Ethnic Pedigree To Meet

The official diplomatic language of the world is English and the old official diplomatic language of the world was French. It is not German or Japanese. So you don’t have to speak a certain official language of an outofcountry ruling Elite. The citizens of this world are the Children of DDay.

No one is telling you who you can romance. There are no special state cameras recording your bedroom behavior. And no one is checking the pedigree of the children of your union. You are a Child of DDay. Your bloodline and your grandparents are not a part of your papers. In fact you don’t have “papers” that you “carry” in America other than a Driver’s License or Social Security Card or ID card. You don’t have to prove or demonstrate your ethnic or religious heritage. You are a Child of DDay.

Every Ethnic Group Has Made Contributions Through The Generations

Your heritage is second generation Japanese and they fought heroically in World War II in Europe. Your family is African American whose family fought in the Revolution The War of 1812 The Civil War the Spanish American War and World War II. You are Italian and your great grandparents could not speak English but your father fought in World War II. You are Irish and your grandfathers were drafted by Lincoln to fight in the Civil War as they got off the boat in New York and their children fought all over Europe in World War II. Your grandmother was a “Rosie the Riveter” and a Mom who saw her sons die. You are Hispanic and your grandfathers fought and died on the beaches of Normandy. You are Jewish and your relatives are buried under Stars of David at Colleville where thousands of white crosses surround those Stars of David. You are German and because he could speak German your grandfather and great grandfathers were used in special missions in World War II. Your English forebears cleared the woods in the place that is now downtown Boston. Your Native American forebears kept those people from starving as they cleared the woods. Both of those families had representatives in World War II. Your Navajo relatives provided their special language as a code in the Pacific. You are all Children of DDay!

Teenagers in the Great Depression

As you might be struggling with this current economy remember that the soldiers of DDay were born in the 20′s and grew up as teenagers in the darkest days of the Depression whose average weight was 140 pounds and had never had a whole lot of fun not the kind of fun you would consider fun. It hardened them and made them practical survivors. And as you struggle toast those children of the Depression and thank them that America has had decades of uninterrupted growth in this Nation of Innovators. We are all the Children of DDay.

And in the future if people start trying to deprive you of the freedoms that were fought for on DDay. Let the talking begin. Talking is big in America. Talking crazy. Talking loud. Talking like a thinker. Talking like an individualist. Wearing any kind of hair. Wearing what you want on your body. And then talk some more. And vote and vote and vote again. Vote for the government you want in America. Watch for those hard fought freedoms to be maintained in your country. If you want to develop a greater feeling for the place that you have inherited study history. But keep talking and keep voting and keep being an individual.

You Are Not Arrested Because…

Because of DDay you are not arrested because you have tattoos. You are not arrested because of your relatives. You are not arrested because your Mom won’t date an official. You are not arrested because you work in a questionable company. You are not arrested because someone found out that you are 1/4 gypsy. You are not arrested because you are a declared and open Homosexual. You are not arrested because you are an out of work Jew who sings in a nightclub and attends meetings late at night where people say disagreeable things. You are not arrested because you are a Lesbian who wears unacceptable fashions. You are not arrested because you are a beautiful young woman who is taken off the street to sexually serve the local constables and military. You are not taken off the street in the middle of the day because of any of the above. You are not arrested late at night and spirited away because of any of the above.

Appreciate all of the above and always remember in America you let other people talk and let other people vote and let other people be individuals. Innovation and Freedom are the watchwords of America. There is also this thing called “The Rule of Law” which generally means nobody gets to take over permanently and institutionalize corruption. Who you are does not sanctify you. If you break the law the idea is you suffer the consequences. Appreciate the “Rule of Law” along with our Freedom and Innovation. Remember in America people can be voted in and out of office. George Washington could have been King but made an important historical decision that is still true in America. He stepped down. We don’t have Kings we don’t have Royalty. Since you are the Children of DDay watch that Freedom and Innovation and the “Rule of Law” remain in America.

Remembering Seltzer’s 34

Think of those boys that died on this DDay they gave you this world. As you live in it tend to it be a good steward of it and allow for the idea that there are bunches of ideas bundled together in differing formats that all propose to know how to be stewards and then allow for that dynamic and stay a good citizen of this place and every once in awhile think of that Day that “Longest Day”.

Arthur Seltzer now in his 80′s has a dollar bill that 36 men signed in his landing craft before they landed on DDay. As they landed the bullets and shells rained down on them. The broken bodies and blood were like a butcher shop Arthur Seltzer lived and kept that dollar bill. Later that day his captain told him that the two of them were the only survivors. 34 of those men died that day. Arthur went on to fight in the Battle of the Bulge and then freed fellow Jews in Germany that next year. He still remembers his 34 buddies and suffers to this day from PTD. In spite of it all he declares: “Forgive but don’t forget.”

As a child of DDay you can’t possibly imagine the horror that had to be passed through in order for the world to be saved. But what we can do is remember and tend to our blessings those blessings that were conferred upon us by Mr. Seltzer and hundreds of thousands of others Those Men of DDay Who We are the Children of.

About the writer:  Otto Ruebsamen is best known for his automation skills in automating investor businesses to do more revenue while slashing working hours. To get your FREE CD “The 7 Golden Keys To Skyrocket Your Income and Automate Your Business For More Free Time and More Life” Go to www.7KeysToAutomating.com NOW!

Wax Mannequins And Wax Sculpting History

We are often amazed at how lifelike one can make a wax figurine. Some recall the number of wax museums you could visit when growing up. So what is the history of wax figurines and is wax still being used to create lifelike people?

Beeswax has historically always been an excellent medium for preparing figures and models either through carving or by casting in molds. At ordinary temperatures wax can easily be cut and shaped; it melts at a low temperature; it mixes with any coloring matter and takes surface tints well. Its texture and consistency may be modified by the addition of earthy matters and oils or fats and when molten it is highly responsive to impressions from a mold. With wax once it sets and hardens its form is relatively resilient against ordinary temperature variations even when it is cast in thin laminae. This is possibly why we have seen wax used for modeling since the Middle Ages.

During the Italian Renaissance modeling in wax took a position of high importance and it was practiced by some of the greatest of the early masters. The bronze medallions of Pisanello and of the other famous medalists owe their value to the properties of wax: all early bronzes and metalwork were cast from wax models first. The famous wax bust attributed to Leonardo da Vinci acquired in 1909 by the Museum of Berlin is the work of an English forger who worked about 1840. The wax model of a head at the Wicar Museum at Lille belongs probably to the school of Canova which robs it of none of its exquisite grace.

There are a number of very high quality wax figures from the 16th and 17th centuries mostly portrait figures and religious or mythological scenes often with many figures. Antonio Abondio 153891 pioneered the colored wax portrait miniature in relief working mainly for the Habsburg and other courts of Northern Europe and his son Alessandro continued in his footsteps.

Towards the close of the eighteenth century modeling of medallion portraits and of relief groups the latter frequently polychromatic was in considerable vogue throughout Europe. Many of the artists were women. John Flaxman executed in wax many portraits and other relief figures which Josiah Wedgwood translated into pottery for his Jasperware. The National Portrait Gallery has forty wax portraits mostly from this period.

Meanwhile as storefronts were becoming popular as was the rise of the mannequin the idea of using wax seemed the most apparent solution. With wax models could be created in the most flattering way to the stores clothing line. One of these great wax model designers was Pierre Imans a mannequin manufacturer from Paris. Imans was known for bringing a beautiful sense of human element to mannequins by capturing body expressions in wax. He created interactive compositions of figures as though they were in the process of living and unaware that they were also being observed. Heads and torsos were sculpted as one. With a slight turn of the head a hint of movement was achieved. Hands were more delicately posed to create storytelling attitudes.

Miss Modesty a wax mannequin of 1899 is a prime example of the development of storytelling attitudes. She stood in a store window with hands and arms covering her face stating reservation and shyness because she was wearing and selling corsets and undergarments.

At the turn of the century the women’s suffrage movement was gaining momentum a definite influence on the female mannequin. In fact a particular Siegel mannequin that was set upon a turning base she was without legs translated into a determined assertive female of that era. With one arm held back and a hand slightly clenched her head was high with vision focused straight forward. The other hand was more relaxed showing a touch of softness. True to the accepted body language of her day she portrayed the mature woman with hips thrown back and heavy bosom thrust upwards.

After World War I countries were plunged into the chaotic realm of picking up the pieces and getting back to the business of normal living. Concurrently there was a major transition in the type of material used to sculpt mannequins and there was a move from wax to plaster.

Plaster figures didn’t melt in the show windows. They were much lighter in weight and easier to handle. But at the same time with plaster it was more difficult to achieve the detailed features and anatomy that were possible with wax.

Wax figurines are still made today but not wax mannequins. Todays mannequin is typically made of fiberglass yet retains the very lifelike features of historys wax mannequins. Despite the lack of need for mannequins made of wax the medium of wax is still in high use and may always be due to its numerous qualities.

About the writer:  About the Author: Ron Maier is the owner of OnlyHangers.com a leading provider of high quality clothes hangersincluding wooden hangers. For more information please visit http://www.onlyhangers.com