Allison Bruning's Blog, page 43

President George Washington - Life Makes The Man

February 22
George Washington's Birthday  
A few days ago I posted about how through the Uniform Monday Holiday Act of 1971 moved the United States federal observation of President Washington's birthday to the third Monday in February. We know this holiday by a different name, President's Day. If the act hadn't passed Americans would have continued to celebrate the birth of our first president every February 22 since this is the date he would have been born on before the Gregorian Calendar change occurred.

George Washington by: Cliff
@http://www.flickr.com/photos/nostri-i... Washington was a great military hero and an excellent choice as our young nation's first leader. Without his leadership the American Revolution would have failed. We know the stories. We've named streets, towns, school and libraries after him. We've even built a monument in Washington D.C., constructed statues, written about him, created works of art in his imagine and included him in our movies and on our television shows. But just like other heroes who have achieved demi-god status, we have lifted him so high that sometimes we forget that George Washington was a just a man. What shaped this man to become a legend? Perhaps it all started in his childhood home.

George Washington was born on February 22, 1732 to Augustine and May Ball Washington on Pope Creek's Estate in Westmoreland, Virginia. His mother had been orphaned when she was twelve years old. George was the third generation on his father side to have been born in the colonies. He had two half brothers; Augustine and Lawerence, three brothers; Samuel, John Augustine, and Charles, and one sister; Mrs. Betty Lewis. George's father died when he was eleven years old leaving his care in the hands of his older half-brothers. When Lawerence died in 1752 from Smallpox and Tuberculosis, their father's estate fell into the hands of the twenty year old George Washington. You can learn more about George Washington and his childhood in my book Reflections: Poems and Essays  which will be re-released in March.

George inherited a sizable estate from his father that became his focus. Yet he still had a life outside the demands of his family's plantation. That same year, George enlisted in the military. He served in the British Army from 1752 to 1758. You can learn more about his military career at http://xenophongroup.com/patriot/washington/washingt.htm.

He was elected to the Virginia House of Burgesses in 1759 where he often spoke out against British policies. George Washington never ceased to speak out against the British. In 1766, he returned to his military career as the aide-de-camp to General Braddox during the French and Indian War. General Braddox's lead his unit of men in an effort to capture the French Fort Duquesne (Pittsburg). Also in this unit was a young wagon driver named Daniel Boone. Daniel Boone and George Washington may have interacted with one another during the campaign. It wouldn't have been the first time, either. When George Washington was 16yrs old he had met Daniel Boone while surveying the wilderness. The two men were only a few years apart in age. Although they were contemporaries they did not interact with each other much because they came from two vastly different worlds.

*interesting note* Daniel Boone is closely associated with President Abraham Lincoln. Two families were pioneers in Kentucky together. Daniel Boone's first cousin, Anne Boone, married the great-granduncle of President Abraham Lincoln. Daniel's other first cousin, George Boone, married Sarah Lincoln. The couple were President Abraham Lincoln's great, great aunt and uncle.

You can read more about George Washington's military career at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Military_career_of_George_Washington

#Inspiring #Lessons Learned From The Past

Journal
US Public Domain
http://www.publicdomainpictures.net/v...?
image=25060&picture=journal
February 21
Stories That Last A Lifetime






Storytelling is as old as time. Humans have used stories to teach lessons and for entertainment purposes. We all love to hear, watch and read a great story. Today I'm taking a break from posting about a historical event to bring you one author who is changing lives with the stories her mother use to tell. Author Dee Louis Scott's book titled Believe In The Magic is a very interesting read. I’ve asked her to answer a few questions about herself and her new book.  

1.    What makes this book different from others in your genre?
What makes my book different is not only do you get true great inspirational and motivational stories you also get some life lessons. Those life lessons are either what my mom Mattie Fisher told me or what I believe she would want others to get from her life stories. This book is part Chicken Soup for the Soul part prescriptive lessons and a lot of MAGIC. I have not come across anything with this exact format.
2.    What’s the story behind the story? (What inspired you to write your book?)
My mother would tell me stories about her life from time to time.  The older I got the more intrigued I became.  One day I decided to just start a journal.  The journal would be for my daughter so she would really understand who her grandmother was and what she went through to ensure both my daughter and I would have a better life.  After I read over some of the stories I just knew that more people need to hear these. Thus began my journey.
3.    What hope can you give to others in turmoil?
I hope I can give others the “Knowing” that anything and everything is possible and no situation is impossible to overcome.
4.    Did you find healing in writing this story? Can you give an example?
Yes I found healing and understanding. In writing the chapter “Run Get out Now” I had to relive domestic violence. In “Broken” I had to deal with a tragic death.  The first thing I had to do was face those situations. After I faced it I was able to look into my life and see how these events affected me and my relationships.  What I could do moving forward to correct some issues. I talk a little more in depth in the “Epilogue’.
5.    What was your favorite chapter to write and why?
This is hard because I have two favorite chapters for totally different reasons.  “Ahead of her Time” because I am so proud of what mom was able to do.  It felt so good to put it on paper for the whole world to see. Also “The Supernatural and the Unexplained” I enjoyed.  I really went back and did research to find the “names” for the things she was experiencing. Along the way I found answers for myself of some events that happen to me.
6.    What was your most difficult chapter to write and why?
Again this is a hard one. Three chapters were hard for me to write. The one I cried through was Sunset. It was the longest and took me many starts and stops to finish it. I relived losing my best friend. The mistakes I made in turning over her care to someone else.  Also it was longing and hoping that I was creating something with this book she would be proud of.
7.    How is growing up today different from Mattie’s era?
I talked about this in the Life Lesson of Ahead of her time. When you think about not only the racism but the sexism of that era is amazing what she accomplished as a Black woman. Women issues like the right to body integrity; to vote; to hold public office; to work with fair wages or equal pay; to own property; to enter into legal contracts; and to have marital, parental and religious rights. All of which we take for granted today. Then you add to that the civil rights for black Americans that really didn’t take hold until the 1950’s and I am amazed by the tenacity and strength she had to fight oppression.
8.    You speak about supernatural events and abilities in your book, do you believe in the supernatural or is this just a way to make your book more interesting?
No dealing with the supernatural and unexplained has always been and still is a part of my life. The gifts though in different forms were handed down to me and my daughter. My daughter, just to name a couple of things, saw auras around the human body as a child and as a she grew she would dream events before they happen. I sometimes see spirits and hear them move often. We have just learned to live with it.
9.    Are you planning on writing another book anytime soon? If so can you tell us a bit about it?
One of the chapters in my book dealt with health of my mom and her family. Though neither I nor my brother inherited the same issues, I wanted to find an natural way to deal with health. I have been studying Ayurveda philosophy. The philosophy of Ayurveda teaches a series of conceptual systems characterized by balance and disorder, health and disease. Disease/health results from the interconnectedness between the self, personality, and everything that occurs in the mental, emotional, and spiritual being. To be healthy, harmony must exist between the purpose for healing, thoughts, feelings and physical action. I want to develop a lifestyle program around this philosophy.
10. How can reading this book help others?
What I want others to get from this book is what I know my mom would want. To inspire woman of all age to never give up and know that you can do and be whatever is in your heart. Never settle and know that you were created by greatness for greatness.

Thank you, Dee. May we please read an excerpt from your book?
Mattie was born a Caulbearer.  The Caul or Face Veil is a thin, filmy membrane, the remnants of the amniotic sac that covers or partially covers a newborn’s face immediately after birth. Some believe "caul children” have the ability to see behind the veil of life and death. It’s thought they can communicate with the dead and intuitively “know.” This was true for my Mother.  From Supernatural and Unexplained chapter.
Mattie’s mother and stepfather were cotton sharecroppers. They raised cotton on the plantation of white landowners back in the 1920’s. The sharecropping system was a financially oppressive one. The landowner assumed chief supervision of the farming operations and also retained legal rights to all the crops. Sharecroppers brought only their labor to the bargaining table to create income. The family often asked the landowner for credit keeping them bound financially. Mattie’s family seemed to be in a perpetual cycle of debt.Even as a child Mattie knew this system was not right.  She would rebel against picking the cotton. One day when she was only 12 years old, her anger at her stepfather and the unfair system finally all came to a head. From Ahead of her Time chapterThis was hardest thing I ever had to do. Holding her hand, I took a deep breath and asked, “Mom are you fighting because you’re a fighter? Or, are you fighting for Crystal and me? I know you’re tired.” I paused, took another deep breath, and dug deep down in my soul. “Mom if you’re tired and you want to go, it’s okay. I’m strong like you. Crystal and I will miss you forever but we will be okay. Do what’s best for you.” “Mom, it hurts so much to see you like this. I don’t know what else to do.” Then a Bible verse came to mind. It was the first Bible verse she taught me when I was a little girl. Holding her hand again, I closed my eye and began to recite the 23rd Psalm aloud. 
Wow, that was great. Can you tell us more about your book?
My Mom, Mattie Pearl Fisher, always told me to believe in the magic. The magic meant miracles. These miracles of life can be big, small and everything in between.   This book is a journey through the events in her life. There are also the life lessons gained from those events. 
My Mom was born at a time in history when being Black and female was a double curse. You had to look very hard to find any human or legal rights.  Mom stood her ground.  She was confident and fierce, always pushing forward, striving to do things she wanted to do. Mom turned a deaf ear to those who thought they could dictate her life.
 My Mom’s story is very powerful and inspirational; her spirit tenacious and infectious.  Mom encouraged all women she met to never settle for less than they deserved. Let the tenacity of one woman inspire you to the greatness you were created for.
Thank you for visiting my blog today. I look forward to reading your book. 
Who Is Dee Louis Scott? Dee Louis-Scott is retiring from 30 years as a Federal employee. She has an adult daughter Autumn and is experiencing life as an empty nester. It has been 20 years since her mother’s death. The life lessons learned from her mom have been both powerful and inspirational. They have guided her throughout her life.  Dee now lives in Raymore, Missouri.

You can stay connected with Dee Louis Scott!
Main website and social mediawww.mattiefisher.comhttp://www.facebook.com/pages/Believe...https://twitter.com/Believe_N_Magichttp://tenaciouslife.wordpress.com
Where to buyBook is available through my main website www.mattiefisher.com in PDF form. Her book is also at Amazon for print and kindle versions. http://www.amazon.com/Believe-Magic-Tenacity-Mattie-Inspire/dp/1937801225/ 

#Celtic Hounds w/ the #Hound Of #Ulster Movie

celtic hound by Robert Couse-Baker
@http://www.flickr.com/photos/29233640...
February 20
Love Your Pet Day




Do you have a pet that you cherish? I do. My husband and I have an Australian Cattle Dog named Lakota Sioux. She's more than a pet. She's our best friend and a member of our family. The domestication of dogs happened in various locations and during different time periods which means our lovely canines have more than one wild ancestor. You can read more about this at http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/01/120123152528.htm
Vector version of a design from
the Book of Kells, fol. 29r.
Public DomainThe Irish have been telling tales and using canines since the time of the Celts. Nine modern breeds of dogs originated in Ireland. These being the Glen of Imaal Terrier,  Irish Red and White Setter,  Irish Setter, Irish Terrier, Irish Water Spaniel,  Irish Wolfhound, Kerry Beagle, Kerry Blue Terrier, and the Soft-coated Wheaten Terrier. To the Celts, a dog wasn't just a pet but a friend who would work side by side with them. The Celts used the Irish Wolfhound to hunt wolves and deers. They also used the Irish Wolfhound in times of war. The Celtic warrior depended on his Wolfhound to attack any enemy that was on horseback and bring him to the ground so the warrior could kill him. They were better suited as battle companions than the Scottish Deerhound who was more timid in times of war. 
Celtic Hounds (Irish Wolfhounds, Scottish Deerhound and the Greyhound) were legendary among the Celts and were well respected by Celtic royalty and warriors. They were given as gifts of honor to warriors and chiefs. The title of hound was an honor bestowed only upon the bravest and most honorable of all Celtic warriors because they believed the hounds symbolized courage, honor and extreme loyalty. The Irish Hounds were well taken care of by their owners because of the Celtic associations with these beloved canines.  
In Celtic mythology the Celtic Hounds were believed to be the guardian animals of the crossroads and roads. They were also believed to protect and guide souls to the Otherworld. Irish seers believed they could only gain a prophetic vision by chewing the meat of this canines. The image of the Irish Hounds was often depicted in jewelry and art. The Book of Kells has several examples of this one of which is seen in the picture above. The Irish have many myths and legends about their hounds. The two most famous of is the Hound of Ulster. The movie below tells the story of Hound of Ulster. 

#Bestselling #Author Open #New #Publishing #House

[image error]

Hello, my happy readers! You may have noticed that my book, Reflections: Poems and Essays, is missing from the right hand side. I have decided to open my own publishing house and will be releasing the Reflections: Poems and Essays next month with a new cover.
Mountain Springs House will offer all their authors a personalized publishing experience with highly qualified staff. We have been picky in who we have hired so that we can offer authors only the best in their fields. Mountain Springs House will provide some marketing as well. We have affiliated with Elizabeth Delana Rosa Authors Services and FilmSmith Productions. These companies offer marketing and graphic services to authors. They have arranged packages at discounted rates only available to our authors. Packages include products such as book trailers, websites, merchandise and more. 
Mountain Springs House will start taking submissions March 1st. You can join us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/groups/157842457702751/ 
To learn more you can contact me at allisonbruning@gmail.com [image error]

#PresidentsDay Doesn't Actually Exist

[image error] George Washington
US Public Domain February 18
President's Day
Happy President's Day. Americans have set today aside to honor their president since 1796 yet it was now known as President's Day. Our first president, George Washington was born on February 18, 1732. He served as the United States President from April 30, 1789 – March 4, 1797. He was so beloved by the people that at the end of his term residents in Washington, D.C. wanted to celebrate his birthday. There was only one problem. Which date would they chose?
The confusion started in 1752 when England and her colonies, in accordance to the 1750 Act of Parliament, changed over from using the Julian calendar to the Gregorian. The Julian calendar had been used since the reign of Julius Caesar in 45BC. It consisted of 12 months based on a solar year. Each year had 365 days with the fourth year, the Leap Year, having 366 days. Each year began in March making February the last month of the year. The change from the Julian to Gregorian calendar changed the following:
December 31, 1750 was followed by January 1, 1750 (under the "Old Style" calendar, December was the 10th month and January the 11th)March 24, 1750 was followed by March 25, 1751 (March 25 was the first day of the "Old Style" year)December 31, 1751 was followed by January 1, 1752 (the switch from March 25 to January 1 as the first day of the year)September 2, 1752 was followed by September 14, 1752 (drop of 11 days to conform to the Gregorian calendar)You can read more about the change from the Julian to Gregorian calendars at http://www.cslib.org/CalendarChange.htmIs it no wonder the colonists were so confused? President Washington's birthday became an official holiday in 1880. George Washington's birthday was celebrated on February 22 since this would have been the date he was born in under the Julian Calendar.

What About Good Ole Abe Lincoln?
George Washington wasn't the only beloved president whose birthday was honored. Abraham Lincoln was either a much loved or much hated president depending on where in the United States you lived. After the assignation of President Lincoln, several towns began to honor their beloved president with observances of his February 12th birthday. As the years past, the holiday trend grew so much that a handful of states declared Abraham Lincoln's birthday a state holiday.

The observances of George Washington and Abraham Lincoln's birthdays were well known throughout the United States by the time Congress introduced the Uniform Monday Holiday Bill of 1968. The Uniform Monday Holiday Act had been created to move a handful for federal holidays to Mondays in order to create three day weekends. Contrary to popular belief, the Act did not combine President Lincoln and President Washington's birthday nor did it create President's Day. Although President's Day does fall between the two president' birthdays, Abraham Lincoln's birthday has never been federally recognized as a national holiday. The Uniform Monday Holiday Act changed the date of these holidays.

Washington's Birthday: third Monday in February (formerly February 22)Memorial Day: last Monday in May (formerly May 30)Columbus Day: second Monday in October (formerly observed on October 12)Veterans Day: fourth Monday in October (formerly November 11 and subsequently moved back to November 11 effective 1978) Although Martin Luther King Jr, Day falls on a Monday it was not part of this Act since it was not established until 1983.

Some die hard George Washington supporters were offended that Congress had moved the federal observance of his birthday. They believed since President Washington had been born on February 22 under the Julian calender his observance should remain on that date.  That is why some calendars still have February 22 marked as his birthday.

Whether you call it President's Day or Presidents Day, the day doesn't actually exist. Today is officially known as George Washington's birthday although it is commonly known as President's Day. Some groups use today to honor all our presidents yet in reality there truly is only one president who should be recognized today.

[image error] Birthday Cake By: Will Clayton
@http://www.flickr.com/photos/spool32/...

HAPPY BIRTHDAY  PRESIDENT GEORGE WASHINGTON! 

The Great #Black #Hope - A True Story of #Strength And #Courage

[image error] Tony, Tracey and their two children.

February 17
Random Act of KindnessDay
“Kindness is a language which the deaf can hear and the blind can see.” ― Mark Twain
A random act of kindness can go a very long ways. You never know how one single act can change a life. 

I urge everyone today to go out and perform a random act of kindness. Instead of blogging today about a historical person or event I am going to perform a random act of kindness by featuring author, Constance Gorman on my blog today. Constance has written a wonderful book titled The Great Black Hope that tells the real life story of how one high school star football player overcame his reading problems. It's a touching story that is near and dear to my heart because I believe everyone should be able to read. Tony's story isn't all that uncommon. There are many teens out there that hide their reading problems because they don't want lose respect from their peers. It takes alot of courage for these kids to come out in the open and admit they are struggling. 

The Great Black Hope [image error] Tony's High School Football Team PhotoPeople can keep dark secrets or be in the closet about many things. An extra-marital affair, alcoholism or sexual abuse are some of the top secrets kept hidden in the deep recesses of someone’s daily living. However, the most common secret may be the inability to read, or rather, illiteracy. The Great Black Hope , written by Constance Kluesener Gorman, is a true-life story that chronicles the life of a high school student with a secret that haunted him for years. His name is Tony Daniels. 
Tony, a youth from the inner city, always stood out as a talented football player ever since his years in grade school. By the time he reached high school, Tony was a standout on the football field racking up substantial sacks of the opposing team’s quarterback as a defensive lineman for his team. In December, 2003, he was voted First Team – all districts- by The Cincinnati Enquirer’s All Stars group of football coaches and staff of Greater Cincinnati with 70 tackles, 30 tackles for a loss, 9 sacks and a fumble recovery.    [image error] Yet, despite all the accolades given to Tony for his football achievements, Tony suffered from a continual state of sadness. Deep inside him, he kept a secret so painful that he found it hard to share it with anyone. Then, Tony found he faced an obstacle that no street smarts or physical strength could conquer-illiteracy. Tony could read simple three or four letter words. But, words that contained vowel blends or multiple consonants were beyond his reach to comprehend. Tony survived school by cheating his whole way through in order to hide his disability. But, when the state proficiency tests came during 9th grade, and Tony was required to pass them in order to graduate from high school, he knew that his secret had to be told. It had to be told to SOMEBODY. 
He couldn’t tell his mother because in his earlier grade school years he was somewhat of a discipline problem for the schools. Tony just didn’t want to disappoint his mother again! Looking back, Tony surmises that his issues at school all stemmed from his inability to read and the frustration he experienced when he couldn’t learn subject matter at the pace of the rest of his classmates. He couldn’t tell his best friend and older brother, Mike, because Mike was also a standout football player and Tony didn’t want to alarm him in any way. All in all, Tony didn’t want to disappoint anyone or be a burden to his family. So, he kept his illiteracy disability a secret until it was impossible to continue any longer. 
Constance Gorman was a Chemistry teacher at his high school. His brother, Mike, was a year ahead of him at the same school and had Ms. Gorman as one of his teachers. Mike was slightly academically challenged and never hesitated to get help from a teacher after school. He was on track for a college football scholarship and didn’t want to compromise his chances by getting a poor grade in any subject. Ms. Gorman tutored him occasionally after school, as she did many of her other students. With these tutoring sessions, he began to know that Ms. Gorman was the type of teacher who would put in the time to help out one of her students. So, when Tony started having trouble in school the following year, Mike pointed to Ms. Gorman. 
Tony shared his secret with Ms. Gorman and, together, they embarked on an adventure to rid him of illiteracy, as well as his continual bouts with depression and a life threatening heart ailment. Once Tony became an avid reader, Ms. Gorman continued in her mentoring position and helped him pursue his dreams of college football and the NFL. Along the way, Tony picked up other mentors, such as Levi Jones of the Cincinnati Bengals, Lawrence Taylor of the New York Giants and NFL Hall of Fame, and a consortium of heart surgeons at Ohio Heart. 
[image error]
The Great Black Hope is an inspirational story of hope for readers who may have a dark secret, suffer from depression or despair about one of the many bumps in the road of life. The book is currently being considered for a book-to-film project by the film industry. 
The Great Black Hope can be purchased at Amazon.com, Barnes and Noble, Apple Stores, Sony, Kobo, Baker and Taylor and all other retail outlets in print and e-book format. 
The Great Black Hope website: http://sufficientgracebook.weebly.com 
Who is Constance Gorman? [image error] Constance Kluesener Gorman is a former business owner and product development chemist, who received a calling to participate in the education sector. She is currently a private tutor, but also occasionally teaches business, chemistry and mathematic classes at local universities in Greater Cincinnati. She holds a B.A. in Chemistry from Miami University, an M.B.A. from the University of Cincinnati and a B.S. in Education from the McGregor School at Antioch University.
Although Constance has been published as a writer in technical journals and other print media relating to her business career, The Great Black Hope is her first effort in writing a nonfiction novel. She plans to write and publish the remaining fifty-seven or so other stories relating to her spiritual favors and experiences.
Constance’s long term goal is to revitalize the inner city community of Lincoln Heights in Cincinnati, the first incorporated village in the United States whose population was predominantly African-American  and self-governing. Lincoln Heights is the community in which her students live.
She can be reached at websites: Tutoring-  http://www.mycincytutor.com                  Book Release-    http://sufficientgracebook.weebly.com           e-mail: ckluesenergorman@yahoo.com  OR mycincytutor@yahoo.comLinkedIn:     http://www.linkedin.com/in/constancegorman

What Killed #King Tut?

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February 16
King Tut's Mummy Revealed
The world has been fascinated by King Tutankhamun, a pharaoh who ruled in the 18th dynasty from 1332 BC – 1323 BC, since Howard Carter discovered the nineteen year old's tomb on February 16, 1923. Who can forget Steve Martin's King Tut Song from 1979? The song was one of my favorites when I was growing up. 


The discovery of the boy king's tomb was amazing because although it had laid for over 3,000 years it was the most preserved tomb ever found in the Valley of the Kings. You can read more about it at http://www.eyewitnesstohistory.com/tut.htm and http://history1900s.about.com/od/1920s/a/kingtut.htm
King Tut's sarcophagus had three layers to it with the king's body hidden in the third layer. Howard Carter had hoped that King Tut's mummy would have been as preserved as his tomb. Yet, when King Tut's mummy was finally revealed the mummy showed signs of damage. The boy king's wrapping had been damaged by the liquid his embalmers had poured on top of his body to preserve it. The linen wrappings could not be carefully unwrapped but had to be taken off in chunks. His fingers and toes had been individually wrapped. Howard Carter and his team further damaged the mummy when they decided to remove the king's body from his sarcophagus. In an archaeological horror, Carter broke the king's body in 18 pieces in order to transport him. Carter had separated the king's pelvis from his trunk, removed the arms and legs, removed the king's penis, decapitated him, and slit the king's torso in half. The body was reassembled in 1926 and placed back in the sarcophagus. Legend says that Carter and his team paid the ultimate price for their disrespect. Ever heard of the King's Curse?
WHO OR WHAT KILLED KING TUT?
Speculations that the young king may have been murdered had arisen from the time of Howard Carter. His team had found a small hole in the king's head and speculated that the king might have died when someone hit him over the head.
In 2005, researchers with National Geographic, re examined the king's body and sarcophagus with a fifteen minute CT scan gathering 1,700 images. The only part of the body note examined was King Tut's penis which had been lost after Howard Carter removed the king's body. The scan revealed the king had a healthy childhood. His head was naturally elongated skull, a cleft palate and impacted wisdom teeth. He stood five feet nine six inches in height, which made him taller than most men of his time. The scan also revealed the king had a club foot and suffered from Bone Necrosis. Bone Necrosis occurs when biological tissue dies in the body. Having one foot flat and the other with this condition was very painful for King Tut and he would have to walk with a cane. That explains why there were over 130 canes found within his tomb. 
[image error] Closer look at the King Tut mask.
Photo licensed under GFDL.The CT scan revealed the king had a fractured left leg which had not been caused by Carter and his team. After examining the body, the team concluded that the king had fallen and broken his left thigh, the bone of which punctured his skin. His cause of death was believed to be from an infection he received in that wound. What about that hole in his head that Carter and his team had believed was caused by a violent blow to his head? Researchers concluded the hole in King Tut's head and the curvature of his spine had been caused by his embalmors. It seems he did not die of a violent death after all. You can learn more here: http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2005/03/0308_050308_kingtutmurder.html 
Five years later, Egyptologist Zahi Hawass, Secretary General of Egypt's Supreme Council of Antiquities lead a DNA investigation into the life and death of King Tut. The DNA results proved that King Tut was the son of the Akhenaten, the pharaoh best known as a "heretic" who brought monotheism to Ancient Egypt. Yet his wife, Nefertiti, was not Tut's mother. His wife unable to bear him any sons, Akhenaten had slept with his sister. The relationship produced King Tut. The DNA also established Ankhsenamun as his wife and the two fetuses inside King Tut's tomb as his stillborn offspring. The DNA allowed for other preciously unidentified mummies located in proximity to King Tut's grave to be identified. Two of those mummies was of his parents. The name of his mother has yet been determined. 
The DNA study also brought more insight into the cause of King Tut's death. His DNA showed that the king was suffering from a terrible case of malaria when he fell. Researchers now believe his death was caused by a combination of malaria and the infection in his leg. 
On September 14, 2012,  Dr. Hutan Ashrafian, a lecturer and surgeon at the Imperial College London,  told ABC news he believed the young king suffered from frontal lobe epilepsy which caused his fatal fall. Evidence for Dr. Ashrafian diagnosis comes from historical and family traits. All the rulers who were related to King Tut had died at an early age. Ashrafian told ABC "For all of them to die sequentially at younger ages is a sign of a genetic inheritance of some sort. You could argue one of them died in battle, one of them was poisoned but none of them did die in battle. They could have been poisoned, of course, but it’s very odd for sequential pharaohs who were aware that they could have been killed to be killed at such a young age.” Dr. Ashrafian pointed to Tut's father for further proof. Akhenaten had tried to convert his people to monotheism after receiving visions. Visions are often associated with people who suffer from frontal lobe epilepsy. Ashrafian claims the renditions of Tut's image in ancient Egytpain scultures depicting the king with highly feminine features, including enlarged breasts shows the king had gynecomastia. Dr. Ashrafian believes the early deaths, gynecomastia, visions and Tut's broken bones all point to a genetic disposition for frontal lobe epilepsy. He further wen on to tell ABC, “People who have epilepsy have a much higher incidence of dying from accidents and falls at a young age. They can also suffer from something called SUDE, Sudden Unexplained Death of Epilepsy. In general, they have a much higher incidents of dying young.”
Mystery solved! 
King Tut fell because of his frontal lobe epilepsy. The fall caused him to seriously break his left thigh bone.  He died from a combination of malaria and the infection in his open wound. 

The Day We Lost The USS #Maine

February 15
The Day We Lost The USS Maine
[image error] Launching, at the New York Navy Yard, 18 November 1889.
Engraving copied from Scientific American magazine, Vol. 45, 1898.She was unique for her time. At 319 feet long and 6,682 tons, the USS Maine was the largest ship to ever have been constructed in the United States Naval Yard. Yet what made her unique wasn't her enormous strength but the fact that she was designed and built by Americans for the American Navy. She was commissioned by Congress on August 3, 1886. The USS Maine was only our second "second class" vessel but all eyes shone on this steel constructed beauty. She launched on November 18, 1889 at the New York Naval Yard. The USS Maine became the pride of the American Navy and was mainly used for ceremonial purposes to show off the might of the United States Navy. 
A Cuban Disaster  The United States had been interested in Cuba for political and economical reasons long before the Civil War. In 1823, President James Monroe signed the Monroe Doctrine which stated:
We owe it, therefore, to candor and to the amicable relations existing between the United States and those powers to declare that we should consider any attempt on their part to extend their system to any portion of this hemisphere as dangerous to our peace and safety. With the existing colonies or dependencies of any European power we have not interfered and shall not interfere. But with the Governments who have declared their independence and maintained it, and whose independence we have, on great consideration and on just principles, acknowledged, we could not view any interposition for the purpose of oppressing them, or controlling in any other manner their destiny, by any European power in any other light than as the manifestation of an unfriendly disposition toward the United States.
The only problem with the Monroe Doctrine is that it left Cuba out. Some southern states had proposed to Congress that we should free Cuba from the Spanish and add them as a slave state. This proposal failed and many soon forgot about Cuba as the national attention turned towards the Civil War.
A few years after the American Civil War, Cubans began to rebel against their Spanish held government claiming they wanted independence. The battle for independence, Known as the Ten Years War, lasted from 1868 - 1878. Although the war had ended it didn't quiet the rebel activity. Some rebel leaders continued to plan attacks while they were living in exile. Spain had long seen Cuba as one of their provinces and not a colony. They strive to maintain hold on their province. In 1897, Spanish Prime Minister Cánovas del Castillo was assassinated leaving the Spanish government in chaos. The Cuban rebels revolted soon afterwards. Newspapers throughout the United States reported on the Spanish-Cuban situation, only causing Americans to panic over what would happen to American businesses and their owners who were in Cuba. On January 1, 1898, the Cubans began autonomous government. Eleven days later, a riot broke out in Havana. In an effort to promote peace and protect American interests, President McKinley ordered the USS MAINE to Havana, Cuba.  [image error] Retouched image of a photograph by A. Loeffler,
 with an inset portrait of her last Commanding Officer, Captain Charles D. Sigsbee, USN.
This print was published as a memento following the ship's loss on 15 February 1898. The Sinking   The USS Maine arrived to Cuba on January 24, 1898 under the command of Captain Charles Sigsbee with a friendly mission. Although the Spanish authorities were suspicious of the American vessel's appearance on their shores, they did allow Sigsbee and his officers every courtesy. Sigsbee did not allow his men to leave the vessel. The appearance of the USS Maine did seem to have a calming effect on the riots. So much so that Sigsbee and the American counsel had advised Washington to send more ships when it came time for the Maine's relief to arrive. 
On February 15, 1898 at 9:40pm, while anchored in the Cuban harbor, more than five tons of gunpowder were ignited and exploded in the forward portion of the ship eliminating a third of the forward decks. Another explosion happened soon afterwards. Shattered, the Maine quickly sank to the bottom of the harbor. Most of the Maine's crew had been sleeping or resting in the forward area of the ship. The explosion took the lives of 260 men while six men were left injured. Captain Sigsbee and the officers survived the incident because their quarters were located in the aft section. Ammunition from the ship continued to burn for hours after the initial explosions. The Spanish officials and the civilian steamer, City of Washington, acted very quickly in rescuing the crewman and officers of the USS Maine. Afterwards, Captain Sigsbee informed his commander, Captain James Forsythe, Commanding, Naval Station Key West of the incident via telegraph. Forsythe then relayed the message onto his command. 
[image error] Telegram sent by Captain James Forsythe, Commanding, Naval Station Key West,
forwarding word from Charles Sigsbee, Captain, USS Maine of the sinking of his ship.
US Public Domain American Reaction
 Newspapers were quick to release the news of the Maine's sinking claiming that the Spanish had mined the harbor and it was one of these mines that had sunk the Maine. The United States reacted by saying they could not be so quick to point a finger at another country without proof. An investigation was launched into the incident.

You can learn more about the USS Maine and what happened afterwards by following these links.
http://www.spanamwar.com/maine.htm
http://www.history.navy.mil/faqs/faq71-1.htm
http://www.cityofart.net/bship/maine.html

Happy #Valentine's Day

February 14th Valentine's Day

To all my fans,
[image error] Happy Valentine's Day by: Beatrice Murch
@http://www.flickr.com/photos/blmurch/...

Names: A #Genealogical Nightmare or Blessing?

[image error] "What's in a name?" by Jack Dorsey
@http://www.flickr.com/photos/jackdors...

February 13
Get A Different Name 
Day





Happy Get A Different Name Day. Were you born with a name that you don't like to use? I was. I was born Margaret Allison Bruning. My family has been using the name Margaret since they were in Ireland during the 14th century. It's a beautiful name but it doesn't fit me so I go by my middle name. It was given to be by mother for several reasons. Her best friend at the time was named Margaret. My great aunt was named Margaret and because it was a family name. She couldn't think of a middle name for me. She knew she didn't want a Mary Margaret or a Margaret Ann. My mother finally decided to name me Allison after she was watching a talk show about the WWII Bomber Engine company, Allison. You can read more and see the engine  here: http://www.timemoneyandblood.com/HTML/museums/palm-springs/allison-engine-palm-springs.html
Yes, I'm named after the Allison Transmission Company. http://www.allisontransmission.com
My mother use to call me her blonde bomber. When I was in High School and was contemplating changing my name to Allison, my grandfather took me to a museum and showed me the "hunk of metal" that my mother named me after. I changed my name from Margaret to Allison when I entered college but every time someone called me Allison my mother couldn't stop laughing. I've been using the name Allison since 1994. It took my mother a year to get use to people calling me by my middle name. I never legally changed it, although I had contemplated it, out of respect for my heritage. 
Naming Patterns Names can give you alot of information when you are researching your family tree. If you are working on your family's history there are a few things to keep in mind when it comes to names. 
Name Recycling  During the 17th through 19th centuries it was common for parents to recycle a name. For example, if James died as a baby his parents would name their next born son James. So if you see the name pop up more than once when researching your ancestor's family then you will need to check the dates. More than likely one of their children died young. That was a common occurrence during that time period.Name ChangeImmigrants. Often times when immigrants came to the United States they would either change their first. last or even both names in order to Americanize themselves. This happened to my family when my father's parents immigrated from Germany. I had always thought it had but it took me years to prove it. I found a document where my Great Uncle Albert signed our last name as Brüning when he immigrated. The family removed the .. over the u in order for our last name to look more American. Native Americans: Native American names were often changed from their culture to an English one when they were Christianized. If you know where your ancestor was Christianized then you can go to those records and look them up. Unfortunately, Native Americans do not record their history through written records. If you are dealing with a Native American heritage and know the tribe in which you are descended from it is best to contact that tribe for further help. A change through time. This happens alot in the United States. For example, my maternal grandfather's name was Carr. The Carr name is not the original last name of our ancestor. Anyone with the last name Carr, Kerr, Ker, or Carre in the United States are related through a common ancestor with the last name Kerr. http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~carrleith/carr/migration/carrmigration53.html Another reason a change through time may happen is because somewhere down the line someone mispelled their name on a document. This has happened plenty of times and since the record is legal it legally changes a person's last name. Be careful when you are researching documentation. Don't just assume because the name doesn't match that it's not your ancestor. Compare the information you have with the one on the record then make your decision. African-Americans. African-American last names can be tricky because slaves did not use last names until the 19th amendment freed them. Their families had been scattered throughout the United States. In an effort to find their missing loved ones, African Americans took the name of the plantation they had been on and used that as their last name. For example, if I was a slave from the Bishop plantation then I would call myself Allison Bishop. This means, that the genealogist has to be careful when trying to determine kinship through the last name because not all "Bishops" are actually going to be kin. Also if my fictitious daughter was on a different plantation she wouldn't have my new last name but a different one. You can see where this might become problematic?Naming PatternsIf you don't know the first name of your ancestor but you do know the culture they came from you might be able to determine the name from traditional naming patterns. Naming patterns are common with the Irish and British but there are other cultures who use them as well. Not every culture has the same patterns so be sure that you research your ancestors culture before you try to determine your ancestor's first name. Here's an example of a naming pattern. This one is from Ireland. http://homepages.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~cregan/patterns.htm