Today's Vocabulary:
4 Words English:
immolate - to kill or destroy, often by fire
limn - to draw or paint; also, to describe
tetchy - testy; irritable
benignant - kind; gracious; favorable
4 Words Spanish:
Anger - Colera
Sadness - Tristeza
Better - Mejorar
Worse - Peor
4 Words Japanese:
picture - kai
outside - soto
rock - iwa
face - kao
Tuesday, August 29, 2006
Some Nasa hardware
1. Mars Global Surveyor
It was made by NASA and the Jet Propulsion Laboratory and was launched November 1996. It completed its primary mission and is now on a extended mission phase.
It looks like a rectangle shaped box with wing-like projections extending from opposite sides. When fully loaded with propellant at the time of the launch, the spacecraft weighed 2,342 pounds.
The spacecraft circles mars once every 117.65 minutes at an average altitude of 235 miles. It is in a polar orbit which is almost perfectly circular.
2. Ulysses probe
is an unmanned probe designed to study the Sun at all latitudes. The spacecraft is equipped with instruments to characterize fields, particles, and dust, and is powered by a radiosotope thermoelectric generator.
3. Solar and Heliosperic Observatory
a spacecraft launched on December 2 1995 to study the sun, and began normal operations in May 1996. The 610 kg is in a halo orbit between the Earth and the Sun.
4. Pioneer 10 Probe
The Pioneer 10 was the first spacecraft to travel through the asteroid belt, and was the first spacecraft to make direct observations of Jupiter. It was launched from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station's Launch Complex on March 2, 1972.
It was made to study the interplanetary and planetary magnetic fields; solar wind parameters; cosmic rays; transition region of the heliospere; neutral hydrogen abundance; distrubution, size mass, flux, and velocity of dust particles; Jovian radio waves; Jovian aurorae; atmosphere of Jupiter and some of its satellites, particularly lo; and to photograph Jupiter and its satellites.
5. Voyager 2
Voyager 2 is an unmanned interplanetary spacecraft. Voyager 2 was launched on August 20, 1977. It is the first spacecraft to travel to Uranus and Neptune, thus completing a portion of the so called Planetary Grand Tour, a rare geometric arrangement of the outer planets that only occurs only once every 176 years.
6. Hubble Space Telescope
The Hubble Space Telescope is a telescope in orbit around the Earth. Its position outside the Earth's atmosphere allows it to take sharp optical images of very faint objects, and since its launch in 1990, it has become one of the most important telescopes in the history of astronomy.
It was made by NASA and the Jet Propulsion Laboratory and was launched November 1996. It completed its primary mission and is now on a extended mission phase.
It looks like a rectangle shaped box with wing-like projections extending from opposite sides. When fully loaded with propellant at the time of the launch, the spacecraft weighed 2,342 pounds.
The spacecraft circles mars once every 117.65 minutes at an average altitude of 235 miles. It is in a polar orbit which is almost perfectly circular.
2. Ulysses probe
is an unmanned probe designed to study the Sun at all latitudes. The spacecraft is equipped with instruments to characterize fields, particles, and dust, and is powered by a radiosotope thermoelectric generator.
3. Solar and Heliosperic Observatory
a spacecraft launched on December 2 1995 to study the sun, and began normal operations in May 1996. The 610 kg is in a halo orbit between the Earth and the Sun.
4. Pioneer 10 Probe
The Pioneer 10 was the first spacecraft to travel through the asteroid belt, and was the first spacecraft to make direct observations of Jupiter. It was launched from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station's Launch Complex on March 2, 1972.
It was made to study the interplanetary and planetary magnetic fields; solar wind parameters; cosmic rays; transition region of the heliospere; neutral hydrogen abundance; distrubution, size mass, flux, and velocity of dust particles; Jovian radio waves; Jovian aurorae; atmosphere of Jupiter and some of its satellites, particularly lo; and to photograph Jupiter and its satellites.
5. Voyager 2
Voyager 2 is an unmanned interplanetary spacecraft. Voyager 2 was launched on August 20, 1977. It is the first spacecraft to travel to Uranus and Neptune, thus completing a portion of the so called Planetary Grand Tour, a rare geometric arrangement of the outer planets that only occurs only once every 176 years.
6. Hubble Space Telescope
The Hubble Space Telescope is a telescope in orbit around the Earth. Its position outside the Earth's atmosphere allows it to take sharp optical images of very faint objects, and since its launch in 1990, it has become one of the most important telescopes in the history of astronomy.
Monday, August 28, 2006
Today's Vocabulary
Today's Vocabulary:
4 Words English:
Sylvan - pertaining to woods or forests
Votary - one devoted to some pursuit, worship, study, or way of life
Melange - a mixture
Salutary - beneficial; healthful
4 Words Spanish:
Mix - mezcla
Cook - cocinero
Thirsty - sediento
Hungry - hambriento
4 Words Japanese:
Ocean - sanzui
Time - mawa
Picture - ta
Wing - hane
4 Words English:
Sylvan - pertaining to woods or forests
Votary - one devoted to some pursuit, worship, study, or way of life
Melange - a mixture
Salutary - beneficial; healthful
4 Words Spanish:
Mix - mezcla
Cook - cocinero
Thirsty - sediento
Hungry - hambriento
4 Words Japanese:
Ocean - sanzui
Time - mawa
Picture - ta
Wing - hane
Desertification
by: Gen
Part I
Deserts
How would you describe a desert? A place which is always hot, and dry, with very little vegetation? Well, that perception is wrong in one area. A desert is not a place which is ALWAYS HOT... a desert can be cold as well... freezing even! In definition, a desert is a region so arid because of little rainfall that it supports only sparse and widely spaced vegetation or no vegetation at all.
Now for a few Did You Know's:
Did You Know - approximately 1/5 of the Earth's land surface is desert?
Did You Know - in the Eastern Saharan Desert, on average, clouds cover the sun for fewer than 100 hours of the year?
Did You Know - that some deserts have gone thousands of years without any measurable rain?
For some reason, deserts have a reputation for supporting very little life... when it is quite the contrary. Deserts usually high very high biodiversity, including animals that remain hidden during daylight hours to control body temperature or to limit moisture needs.
Desert landscapes are often composed of sand and rocky surfaces. Cold deserts have similar features but the main form of precipitation is snow rather than rain. The largest cold desert is Antarctica (made of about 98% thick continental ice sheet and 2% barren rock). The largest hot desert is the Sahara.
Deserts usually have extreme temperature range. Most deserts have a low temperature at night. This is because the air is very dry and therefore holds very little heat so as soon as the sun sets, the desert cools very quickly.
Part II
Desertification
Desertification is the degradation of land in arid, semi arid and dry sub-humid areas resulting from different things such as climate and human activities. Modern desertification often happens due to increased populations that settle on the land in order to grow crops and graze animals.
In some regions of the world, deserts are separted sharply from surrounding less arid areas by mountains and other contrasting landforms that reflect basic structural differences in regional geology. In other areas, desert fringes form a gradual transition from a dry place to a more humid enviroment, making it more difficult to define the desert border. These transition zones have very fragile, delicately balanced ecosystems.
In these marginal areas human activity may stress the ecosystem beyond its tolerance limit, resulting in degredation of the land. By pounding the soil with their hooves, livestock compact the substrate, increase the proportion of fine material therefore encouraging erosion by wind and water.
In large deserts, sand dunes can move to human habitats. Sand dunes can move in different ways, all help by wind. With enough wind, particles collide in mid-air, causing sheet flows. In a major dust storm, dunes may move tens of meters through such sheet flows. And like snow, sand avalanches, falling down the steep slopes of the dunes that face away from the winds, also moving the dunes foward.
Some arid and semi-arid lands can support crops, but additional pressure such as greater populations or decreases in rainfall can lead to the few plants present to dissapearing. The soil becomes eroded. With the removal of shade, rates of evaportation increase and salts become drawn up to the surface. This is salinisation, and inhibits plant growth. The loss of plants causes less moisture to be retained in the area, which may change the climate pattern leading to lower rainfall.
Part III
Countering Desertification
Deserification has been recognized as a major threat to biodiversity. Consequently, numerous countries have developed Biodiversity Action Plans to counter its effects, particularly in relation to the protection of endangered flora and fauna.
Many solutions have been tried in order to reduce the rate of desertification and regain lost land. Leguminous plants which extract nitrogen from the air and fix it in the soil, can be planted to restore fertility. Stones stacked around the base of trees collect morning dew and retain soil moisture. Artifical groves can be dug in the ground to retain rainfall and trap wind-blown seeds. In Iran, petroleum is being sprayed all over semi-arid land with crops. This coats seedlings to prevent moisture loss and stops them from being blown away. Windbreaks made from trees and bushes to reduce soil erosion and evapotranspiration was widely encouraged by development agencies from the middle of the 1980s in the Sahel area of Africa.
In a more local level, individuals and governments can help. In areas with sand dunes, covering the dunes with large boulders or petroleum will interupt the wind near the face of the dunes and prevent the sand from moving. Sand fences are used across the Middle East and the US, in the same way snow fences are used up north. Placement of straw grids, each up to a square meter in area, will also decrease the surface wind velocity.
Part I
Deserts
How would you describe a desert? A place which is always hot, and dry, with very little vegetation? Well, that perception is wrong in one area. A desert is not a place which is ALWAYS HOT... a desert can be cold as well... freezing even! In definition, a desert is a region so arid because of little rainfall that it supports only sparse and widely spaced vegetation or no vegetation at all.
Now for a few Did You Know's:
Did You Know - approximately 1/5 of the Earth's land surface is desert?
Did You Know - in the Eastern Saharan Desert, on average, clouds cover the sun for fewer than 100 hours of the year?
Did You Know - that some deserts have gone thousands of years without any measurable rain?
For some reason, deserts have a reputation for supporting very little life... when it is quite the contrary. Deserts usually high very high biodiversity, including animals that remain hidden during daylight hours to control body temperature or to limit moisture needs.
Desert landscapes are often composed of sand and rocky surfaces. Cold deserts have similar features but the main form of precipitation is snow rather than rain. The largest cold desert is Antarctica (made of about 98% thick continental ice sheet and 2% barren rock). The largest hot desert is the Sahara.
Deserts usually have extreme temperature range. Most deserts have a low temperature at night. This is because the air is very dry and therefore holds very little heat so as soon as the sun sets, the desert cools very quickly.
Part II
Desertification
Desertification is the degradation of land in arid, semi arid and dry sub-humid areas resulting from different things such as climate and human activities. Modern desertification often happens due to increased populations that settle on the land in order to grow crops and graze animals.
In some regions of the world, deserts are separted sharply from surrounding less arid areas by mountains and other contrasting landforms that reflect basic structural differences in regional geology. In other areas, desert fringes form a gradual transition from a dry place to a more humid enviroment, making it more difficult to define the desert border. These transition zones have very fragile, delicately balanced ecosystems.
In these marginal areas human activity may stress the ecosystem beyond its tolerance limit, resulting in degredation of the land. By pounding the soil with their hooves, livestock compact the substrate, increase the proportion of fine material therefore encouraging erosion by wind and water.
In large deserts, sand dunes can move to human habitats. Sand dunes can move in different ways, all help by wind. With enough wind, particles collide in mid-air, causing sheet flows. In a major dust storm, dunes may move tens of meters through such sheet flows. And like snow, sand avalanches, falling down the steep slopes of the dunes that face away from the winds, also moving the dunes foward.
Some arid and semi-arid lands can support crops, but additional pressure such as greater populations or decreases in rainfall can lead to the few plants present to dissapearing. The soil becomes eroded. With the removal of shade, rates of evaportation increase and salts become drawn up to the surface. This is salinisation, and inhibits plant growth. The loss of plants causes less moisture to be retained in the area, which may change the climate pattern leading to lower rainfall.
Part III
Countering Desertification
Deserification has been recognized as a major threat to biodiversity. Consequently, numerous countries have developed Biodiversity Action Plans to counter its effects, particularly in relation to the protection of endangered flora and fauna.
Many solutions have been tried in order to reduce the rate of desertification and regain lost land. Leguminous plants which extract nitrogen from the air and fix it in the soil, can be planted to restore fertility. Stones stacked around the base of trees collect morning dew and retain soil moisture. Artifical groves can be dug in the ground to retain rainfall and trap wind-blown seeds. In Iran, petroleum is being sprayed all over semi-arid land with crops. This coats seedlings to prevent moisture loss and stops them from being blown away. Windbreaks made from trees and bushes to reduce soil erosion and evapotranspiration was widely encouraged by development agencies from the middle of the 1980s in the Sahel area of Africa.
In a more local level, individuals and governments can help. In areas with sand dunes, covering the dunes with large boulders or petroleum will interupt the wind near the face of the dunes and prevent the sand from moving. Sand fences are used across the Middle East and the US, in the same way snow fences are used up north. Placement of straw grids, each up to a square meter in area, will also decrease the surface wind velocity.
Friday, August 25, 2006
Today's Vocabulary
Today's Vocabulary:
4 Words English:
neophyte - a novice
imbroglio - a complicated and embarrassing state of things
rictus - a gaping grin or grimace
winsome - light-hearted
4 Words Spanish:
river - rio
lake - lago
canyon - barranca
state - estado
4 Words Japanese:
to draw - yumihen
feather - hane
cloud - amekanmuri
garden - kunigamae
4 Words English:
neophyte - a novice
imbroglio - a complicated and embarrassing state of things
rictus - a gaping grin or grimace
winsome - light-hearted
4 Words Spanish:
river - rio
lake - lago
canyon - barranca
state - estado
4 Words Japanese:
to draw - yumihen
feather - hane
cloud - amekanmuri
garden - kunigamae
Thursday, August 24, 2006
Today's Vocabulary
Today's Vocabulary:
4 Words English:
slugabed - one who stays in bed until a late hour
rebarbative - repellent
quidnunc - a gossip; a busybody
lucre - money; profit
4 Words Spanish:
country - pais
continent - continente (cognate)
ocean - oceano (cognate)
war - guerra
4 words Japanese:
thread - ito
ear - mimi
year - hosu
forest - kihen
4 Words English:
slugabed - one who stays in bed until a late hour
rebarbative - repellent
quidnunc - a gossip; a busybody
lucre - money; profit
4 Words Spanish:
country - pais
continent - continente (cognate)
ocean - oceano (cognate)
war - guerra
4 words Japanese:
thread - ito
ear - mimi
year - hosu
forest - kihen
Wednesday, August 23, 2006
Today's Vocabulary
Today's Vocabulary:
4 Words English:
fetid - stinking
badinage - light, playful talk
callow - immature
succint - brief; concise
4 Words Spanish:
heaven - cielo
fire - fuego
air - aire (cognate)
earth -tierra
4 Words Japanese:
left - kumi
school - kihen
vehicle - kuruma
correct - tomeru
4 Words English:
fetid - stinking
badinage - light, playful talk
callow - immature
succint - brief; concise
4 Words Spanish:
heaven - cielo
fire - fuego
air - aire (cognate)
earth -tierra
4 Words Japanese:
left - kumi
school - kihen
vehicle - kuruma
correct - tomeru
Tuesday, August 22, 2006
Today's Vocabulary
Today's Vocabulary:
4 Words English:
orotund - full in sound
palindrome - a word, verse, phrase, or sentence that reads the same backword or foward
irrefragable - impossible to refute
cogent - appealing to the mind or to reason; convincing
4 Words Spanish:
heavy - pesado
low - bajo
high - alto
severe - severo (cognate)
4 words Japanese:
right - kuchi
ame - rain
tama - king
kai - shell
4 Words English:
orotund - full in sound
palindrome - a word, verse, phrase, or sentence that reads the same backword or foward
irrefragable - impossible to refute
cogent - appealing to the mind or to reason; convincing
4 Words Spanish:
heavy - pesado
low - bajo
high - alto
severe - severo (cognate)
4 words Japanese:
right - kuchi
ame - rain
tama - king
kai - shell
Monday, August 21, 2006
Today's Vocabulary
Today's Vocabulary:
4 words English:
meticulous - extremely careful about details
wayworn - wearied by traveling
parlous - hazardous
vim - energy; vigor
4 words Spanish:
danger - peligro
damage - danos
extra - addictional
old - viejo
4 words Japanese:
gold - kin
fire - hi
water - sui
paper - shi
4 words English:
meticulous - extremely careful about details
wayworn - wearied by traveling
parlous - hazardous
vim - energy; vigor
4 words Spanish:
danger - peligro
damage - danos
extra - addictional
old - viejo
4 words Japanese:
gold - kin
fire - hi
water - sui
paper - shi
MRSA
MRSA
by: Gen
The organism Staphylococcus aureus is found on many people's skin and seems to cause no major problems. However if it gets inside the body, for instance under the skin or into the lungs, it can cause important infections such as boils or pneumonia.
What does this have to do with MRSA.....? The "SA" stands for Staphylococcus aureus. What is the "MR" you ask? It stands for methicillin resistant. Joined together, that is Methicillan resistant Staphylococcus aureus.
Now that we have that out of the way... What exactly does this disease do?
MRSA organisms are usually associated with hospitals but can also be found in patients who are not in a hospital. Usually it is not necessary to do anything about MRSA organisms. However if organisms are passed on to someone who is already ill, then a more serious infection may occur in that person.
But... How do we prevent the spread of MRSA???
Measures to prevent the spread of organisms from one person to another are called isolation or infection control. The type of infection control or isolation required for any patient depends on the organism.
The most important type of isolation required for MRSA is what is called Contact Isolation. This type of isolation requires everyone in contact with the patient to be very careful about hand washing after touching either the patient or anything in contact with the patient. If the organism is in the nose or lungs it may also be necessary to have the patient in a room to prevent spread to others by droplet spread. Because dust and surfaces can become contaminated with the organism, cleaning of surfaces are also important. This usually occurs after the patient leaves the hospital.
Treatment consists of special shampoos and creams to injections and oral antibiotics.
by: Gen
The organism Staphylococcus aureus is found on many people's skin and seems to cause no major problems. However if it gets inside the body, for instance under the skin or into the lungs, it can cause important infections such as boils or pneumonia.
What does this have to do with MRSA.....? The "SA" stands for Staphylococcus aureus. What is the "MR" you ask? It stands for methicillin resistant. Joined together, that is Methicillan resistant Staphylococcus aureus.
Now that we have that out of the way... What exactly does this disease do?
MRSA organisms are usually associated with hospitals but can also be found in patients who are not in a hospital. Usually it is not necessary to do anything about MRSA organisms. However if organisms are passed on to someone who is already ill, then a more serious infection may occur in that person.
But... How do we prevent the spread of MRSA???
Measures to prevent the spread of organisms from one person to another are called isolation or infection control. The type of infection control or isolation required for any patient depends on the organism.
The most important type of isolation required for MRSA is what is called Contact Isolation. This type of isolation requires everyone in contact with the patient to be very careful about hand washing after touching either the patient or anything in contact with the patient. If the organism is in the nose or lungs it may also be necessary to have the patient in a room to prevent spread to others by droplet spread. Because dust and surfaces can become contaminated with the organism, cleaning of surfaces are also important. This usually occurs after the patient leaves the hospital.
Treatment consists of special shampoos and creams to injections and oral antibiotics.
Saturday, August 19, 2006
Today's Vocabulary
Here is today's vocabulary:
4 words English:
insructable - difficult to fathom or understand
clarion - a kind of trumpet, also, loud and clear
circumambient - surrouinding, encompassing
aver - to assert as true
4 words Spanish:
town - cuidad
gas- gas (cognate)
liquid - liquido (cognate)
solid - solido (cognate)
4 words japanese
man - otoko
woman - onna
now - ima
early - sou
4 words English:
insructable - difficult to fathom or understand
clarion - a kind of trumpet, also, loud and clear
circumambient - surrouinding, encompassing
aver - to assert as true
4 words Spanish:
town - cuidad
gas- gas (cognate)
liquid - liquido (cognate)
solid - solido (cognate)
4 words japanese
man - otoko
woman - onna
now - ima
early - sou
Thursday, August 17, 2006
I've got good news, and i've got bad news.
Lets start with the bad news... as it is the easiest to find ;D
Volcano Showers Villages with Rocks and Lava
An eruption of Ecuador's Tungurahua volcano showered rock and lava on nearby villages, killing AT LEAST one person, leaving 60 missing and burying homes.
Authorities ordered the evacuation of 3 Andean villages on Tungurahua's slopes on Wednesday after the volcano's crater filled with lava, but many residents were reluctant to leave their homes.
Rescuers have recovered one body in Penipe and 4 others are believed to be trapped under the rubble.
Now for the good news... this'l take a while...
Looted Peru treasure found in UK
An ancient Peruvian headdress which was looted from an archaeological site almost 20 years ago has been found by police in London.
It is considered a national treasure and disappeared in 1988 after a tomb in northern Peru was raided and its contents sold on the black market.
It was handed to a firm of solicitors in Central London by one of its clients who didn't know it was stolen. The headdress, depicting a sea god, dates back to 700AD. It is hard to put a price on history... but its estimated value is 1 million pounds....
Volcano Showers Villages with Rocks and Lava
An eruption of Ecuador's Tungurahua volcano showered rock and lava on nearby villages, killing AT LEAST one person, leaving 60 missing and burying homes.
Authorities ordered the evacuation of 3 Andean villages on Tungurahua's slopes on Wednesday after the volcano's crater filled with lava, but many residents were reluctant to leave their homes.
Rescuers have recovered one body in Penipe and 4 others are believed to be trapped under the rubble.
Now for the good news... this'l take a while...
Looted Peru treasure found in UK
An ancient Peruvian headdress which was looted from an archaeological site almost 20 years ago has been found by police in London.
It is considered a national treasure and disappeared in 1988 after a tomb in northern Peru was raided and its contents sold on the black market.
It was handed to a firm of solicitors in Central London by one of its clients who didn't know it was stolen. The headdress, depicting a sea god, dates back to 700AD. It is hard to put a price on history... but its estimated value is 1 million pounds....
Today's Brain BOOSTer!
Are you ready?
What is the one thing shared by all three items in the same group?
A
a cow
a shoe
a baby
B
a doctor's office
a post office
music
C
a zipper
a shark
a comb
D
restaurant goer
a bird
the Senate
E
a potato
a hurricane
a target
F
a river
a person
a cave
Highlight for the answer:
A = a tongue
B = a scale (or key)
C = teeth
D = a bill
E = eyes
F = mouth
What is the one thing shared by all three items in the same group?
A
a cow
a shoe
a baby
B
a doctor's office
a post office
music
C
a zipper
a shark
a comb
D
restaurant goer
a bird
the Senate
E
a potato
a hurricane
a target
F
a river
a person
a cave
Highlight for the answer:
A = a tongue
B = a scale (or key)
C = teeth
D = a bill
E = eyes
F = mouth
The Great Wall of China
A vast fortification stretching over 3,946 miles, the Great Wall of China is truly a marvel. Construcion began in the late 14th century, and didn't end until the start of the 17th century during the Ming Dynasty. You may be asking.... why would they build such a thing? The answer - war. It was built to protect China from raids from the Mongold and Turkic tribes.
There has been 4 major walls:
208 BC (The Qin Dynasty)
1st century BC (The Han Dynasty)
1138 - 1198 (The Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms Period)
1368 - 1620 (from Hongwu Emperor until Wanli Emperor of the Ming Dynasty)
The Ming Dynasty Great Wallstarts on the eastern end at Shanghai Pass, Qinhuangdao, in Hebei Province, next to the Bohai Gulf. Going through 9 provinces and 100 counties, the Great Wall ends at Jiayu pass.
The Kokes Manchus crossed the Wall by by convincing an important general Wu Sangui to open the gates of Shanhai Pass and allow the Manchus to cross. As lengends say, it took 3 days for the Manchu army to pass. After they conquered China, the Wall had no value as the people who the Wall was intended to keep out was ruling the country.
The government ordered the people to work on the wall, and workers were under danger all the time being attacked by brigands. Because many people died during the building of the wall... it has been given the nickname of, "longest cementary on Earth" or "the long graveyard. Their bodies were not buring in the wall as it would ruin its structure, instead, it was buried nearby.
While some portions of the wall have been repaired even reconstructed, in most locations, the wall is in disrepair, serving as a playground for some villages and a source of stones to rebuild roads and houses. Sections of the wall are even painted with graffiti!
The Wall is included in lists of the "Seven Medievel Wonders of the World" but was of course not one of the classical Seven Wonders of the World recognized by theancient Greeks.
Have you ever heard that the Great Wall could be seen from outer space? It has even been published in school textbooks. You might be surprised to know that it is actually an urban legend! You cannot see the Great Wall from Space.... at least... not with the naked eye. The reason is, the wall is only a few meters long, and it is about the same color as the soil surrounding.
Lebanon
Lebanon
by: Gen
You here about them just about every day on the news... but just how much do you know about Lebanon? Do you know the name of the President? Prime Minister? Capital? How about the culture? All these questions and more will be answered as you read my essay.
But first a few facts:
Flag:
Area: 4,035 sq. miles
Capital: Beirut
Official Language: Arabic
Government: Republic
President: Emile Lahoud
Prime Minister: Fouad Siniora
Population: 3,874,050
Currency: Livre
Now... lets move on to the history.
Lebanon was the homeland of the Phoenicians, a seagoing people that spread across the mediterranean before the rise of Alexander the Great. Carthage, which threatned Rome, was a Phoenician colony. Alexander burned Tyre, the leading Phoenician city, ending the Phoenician independence. This country became part of many empire, such as Persian, Roman, Byzantine, Arab, Crusader, and Ottoman.
Lebanon was part of the Ottoman Empire for 400 years, but following WWI, the area became part of the French Mandate of Syria. On September 1, 1920, France formed the State of Greater Lebanon as one the the Several ethnic enclaves within Syria. Lebanon was a largely Christian enclave but also included areas containing many Muslims and Druzes. On September 1, 1926, France formed the Lebanese Republic. The Republic was afterward a separate entity from Syria but still administered under the French Mandate for Syria.
Lebanon and Syria both gained independence in 1943, while France was occupied by Germany. General Henri Dentz, the Vichy High Commisioner for Syria and Lebanon, played a major role in the independence of both nations. The Vichy authorities in 1941 allowed Germany to move aircraft and supplies through Syria to Iraq where they were used against the British forces. The UK, fearing that Nazi Germany would gain full control of Lebanon and Syria by pressure on the weak Vichy government, sent its army into Syria and Lebanon.
After the fighting ended in Lebanon, General Charles de Gaulle visited the area. Under various politacal pressures from both inside and outside Lebanon, de Gualle decided to recognize the independence of Lebanon. On November 26, 1941, General Georges Catroux announced that Lebanon would become independent under the authority of the Free French government. Elections were held in 1943 and on November 8, 1943 the new Lebanese government unilaterally abolished the mandate. The French reacted by throwing the new government into prison. In the face of international pressurem the French released the government officials on November 22, 1943 and accepted the independence of Lebanon.
The allies kept the region under control until the end of WWII. The last French troops withdrew in 1946. Lebanon's unwritten National Pact of 1943 required that its president be a Christian and its prime minister be a Muslim. Lebanon's history since independence has been marked by alternating periods of political stabilty and turmoil (including a civil conflict in 1958) intersperesed with prosperity built on Beirut's position as a regional center for finance and trade.
Religion-wise (estimated)
35% Christians
35% Shia Muslims
25% Sunni Muslims
5% Druzel
(and a very small percentage are Jew)
Culture
Lebanon has been a major crossroad for civilizations for millennia, so it is unsurprising that this small country possesses an extraordinary rich and vibrant culture. Lebanon's wide array of ethnic and religious groups contributes to the country's rich cuisine, musical and literary traditions, and festivals. Beirut in particular has a very vibrant arts scene, with many performances, exhibits, fashion shows, and concerts held throughout the year in galleries, museums, theatres, and public spaces.
Most Lebanese are bilingual, speaking Arabic and French, this is why Lebanon is a member of the Organization Internationale de la Fracophonie; however, English has become popular.
Several international festivals are held in Lebanon, faeturing world-reowned artists and drawing crowds from Lebanon and elsewhere. Among the most famous are the summer festivals at Baalbek, Beiteddine, and Byblos.
by: Gen
You here about them just about every day on the news... but just how much do you know about Lebanon? Do you know the name of the President? Prime Minister? Capital? How about the culture? All these questions and more will be answered as you read my essay.
But first a few facts:
Flag:
Area: 4,035 sq. miles
Capital: Beirut
Official Language: Arabic
Government: Republic
President: Emile Lahoud
Prime Minister: Fouad Siniora
Population: 3,874,050
Currency: Livre
Now... lets move on to the history.
Lebanon was the homeland of the Phoenicians, a seagoing people that spread across the mediterranean before the rise of Alexander the Great. Carthage, which threatned Rome, was a Phoenician colony. Alexander burned Tyre, the leading Phoenician city, ending the Phoenician independence. This country became part of many empire, such as Persian, Roman, Byzantine, Arab, Crusader, and Ottoman.
Lebanon was part of the Ottoman Empire for 400 years, but following WWI, the area became part of the French Mandate of Syria. On September 1, 1920, France formed the State of Greater Lebanon as one the the Several ethnic enclaves within Syria. Lebanon was a largely Christian enclave but also included areas containing many Muslims and Druzes. On September 1, 1926, France formed the Lebanese Republic. The Republic was afterward a separate entity from Syria but still administered under the French Mandate for Syria.
Lebanon and Syria both gained independence in 1943, while France was occupied by Germany. General Henri Dentz, the Vichy High Commisioner for Syria and Lebanon, played a major role in the independence of both nations. The Vichy authorities in 1941 allowed Germany to move aircraft and supplies through Syria to Iraq where they were used against the British forces. The UK, fearing that Nazi Germany would gain full control of Lebanon and Syria by pressure on the weak Vichy government, sent its army into Syria and Lebanon.
After the fighting ended in Lebanon, General Charles de Gaulle visited the area. Under various politacal pressures from both inside and outside Lebanon, de Gualle decided to recognize the independence of Lebanon. On November 26, 1941, General Georges Catroux announced that Lebanon would become independent under the authority of the Free French government. Elections were held in 1943 and on November 8, 1943 the new Lebanese government unilaterally abolished the mandate. The French reacted by throwing the new government into prison. In the face of international pressurem the French released the government officials on November 22, 1943 and accepted the independence of Lebanon.
The allies kept the region under control until the end of WWII. The last French troops withdrew in 1946. Lebanon's unwritten National Pact of 1943 required that its president be a Christian and its prime minister be a Muslim. Lebanon's history since independence has been marked by alternating periods of political stabilty and turmoil (including a civil conflict in 1958) intersperesed with prosperity built on Beirut's position as a regional center for finance and trade.
Religion-wise (estimated)
35% Christians
35% Shia Muslims
25% Sunni Muslims
5% Druzel
(and a very small percentage are Jew)
Culture
Lebanon has been a major crossroad for civilizations for millennia, so it is unsurprising that this small country possesses an extraordinary rich and vibrant culture. Lebanon's wide array of ethnic and religious groups contributes to the country's rich cuisine, musical and literary traditions, and festivals. Beirut in particular has a very vibrant arts scene, with many performances, exhibits, fashion shows, and concerts held throughout the year in galleries, museums, theatres, and public spaces.
Most Lebanese are bilingual, speaking Arabic and French, this is why Lebanon is a member of the Organization Internationale de la Fracophonie; however, English has become popular.
Several international festivals are held in Lebanon, faeturing world-reowned artists and drawing crowds from Lebanon and elsewhere. Among the most famous are the summer festivals at Baalbek, Beiteddine, and Byblos.
Wednesday, August 16, 2006
Today's Vocabulary
Here is today's vocabulary:
4 words English:
palpable - plain, distinct, obvious
billingsgate - foul language
anodyne - serving to relieve pain
quaff - to drink with relish
4 words Spanish:
less - menos
more - mas
news - noticias
boring - el agujerear
4 words Japanese:
every - mai
morning - chou
foot - soku
heaven - ten
4 words English:
palpable - plain, distinct, obvious
billingsgate - foul language
anodyne - serving to relieve pain
quaff - to drink with relish
4 words Spanish:
less - menos
more - mas
news - noticias
boring - el agujerear
4 words Japanese:
every - mai
morning - chou
foot - soku
heaven - ten
Tuesday, August 15, 2006
Today's Vocabulary
Here is today's vocabulary:
4 words English:
1. kvetch - to complain habitually
2. ameliorate - to make or grow better
3. kismet - destiny, fate
4. penchant - a strong liking
4 words Spanish:
draw - drenaje
people - gente
interesting - el interestar
food - alimento
4 words Japanese:
snow - yuki
to know - shiru
sound - oto
thing - butsu
4 words English:
1. kvetch - to complain habitually
2. ameliorate - to make or grow better
3. kismet - destiny, fate
4. penchant - a strong liking
4 words Spanish:
draw - drenaje
people - gente
interesting - el interestar
food - alimento
4 words Japanese:
snow - yuki
to know - shiru
sound - oto
thing - butsu
Monday, August 14, 2006
Ground Rules
Just like any other blog.... there are rules... please follow them.
1. No explicit posts
2. No spamming
3. Please do not advertise other sites
4. No harassing
Other than that... just relax at my blog and have a good time ^_^
1. No explicit posts
2. No spamming
3. Please do not advertise other sites
4. No harassing
Other than that... just relax at my blog and have a good time ^_^
Welcome!
Welcome to my blog!
Im Gen... moderator and creator...
We will discuss health, science advancement, enviroment, and world politics here. So put your thinking cap on and let the debate begin...
Im Gen... moderator and creator...
We will discuss health, science advancement, enviroment, and world politics here. So put your thinking cap on and let the debate begin...
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