Giuseppe Verdi

A Musician is Born

Born in 1813 in the Italian village of Le Roncole near Busseto, Giuseppe Verdi spent his early years studying the organ. By the age of seven, he had become an organist at San Michele Arcangelo. It was there that the young Verdi was an altar boy and, according to myth, his mother saved him from the French in 1814.


Education

In 1823, Verdi moved to Busseto and attended the music school run by Antonio Provesi. By the age of 13, he was an assistant conductor of the Busseto orchestra. After finishing the school, Verdi applied for admission to the Milan Conservatory. He was rejected for admission, although one of the examiners suggested that he "forget about the Conservatory and choose a maestro in the city." Verdi studied composition in Milan with Vincenzo Lavigna, a composer and the maestro at La Scala. Verdi bounced back and forth between Milan and Busseto until he was named maestro of the Busseto Philharmonic in March 1836.

Young Adult

By May 1836, he had married childhood sweetheart, Margherita Barezzi, his greatest benefactor's daughter. He returned to Milan several years later, this time with a young family.


Verdi Composes First Opera

Verdi's first opera, Oberto , was brought to the stage at La Scala in November 1839 and ran for multiple performances. The noted Ricordi firm published Oberto and, based upon his initial operatic effort, Verdi won a contract for three additional operas. He began work on his next opera, Un Giorno di Regno , but was interrupted when, one by one, the Verdis fell ill. Over the course of a few weeks, Verdi lost his son, his daughter, and his beloved wife to illness. Unfortunately, Un Giorno was a complete failure.


Grief to Fame

Verdi vowed never to compose another comedy and developed a fatalistic belief in inescapable destiny. Even so, the director at La Scala kept faith with Verdi, who later declared that with his next work, Nabucco , "my musical career really began." At dress rehearsals for Nabucco in the La Scala theater, carpenters making repairs to the house gradually stopped hammering and, seating themselves on scaffolding and ladders, listened with rapt attention to what the composer considered a lackluster chorus rendering of "Va, pensiero." At the close of the number, the workers pounded the woodwork with cries of "Bravo, bravo, viva il maestro!" The opening of Nabucco was a triumph. Verdi was famous, commanding a higher fee than any other composer of his time.

Over the next seven years, the composer penned ten additional operas of varied success, gradually making the transition between two distinct eras of Verdi composition. Initially captive of the "bel canto" style and heir to Donizetti's artistic throne, Verdi continually experimented to produce his own operatic genre in which melodic drama and identifiable musical essence of character took center stage as an equal to vocal purity and elegance.


From the Heart

It was an inspired stroke of boldness about which Verdi commented in explaining the innovative core of his work, Il Trovatore , "I think (if I'm not mistaken) that I have done well; but at any rate I have done it in the way that I felt it." In saying so, he defined his own creative hallmark. Although a musical genius, Verdi composed spontaneously from the heart. A brilliantly schooled musician, he placed emotional sensibility above intellect in all that he wrote. In the process, he created the remarkable marriage of dramatic characterization and vocal power, an indelible artistic signature.


Great Works

The creation of an operatic tour de force based upon his ingenious artistic formulation assured Verdi's immortality, beginning in 1851 with Rigoletto , followed soon after by Il Trovatore , La Traviata, and ultimately in 1871, by Aida. Even without the masterpieces that followed - Simon Boccanegra, Un Ballo in Maschera, La Forza del Destino , and Don Carlos or his great Requiem Mass - the Maestro could have afforded to rest on his musical achievements and stand unchallenged as the premier operatic composer of any age. In fact, with the success of Aida, Verdi seemed to have abandoned composing altogether, producing no new works for fifteen years.

Fortunately for posterity, an electrifying libretto, Otello , created by poet Arrigo Boito, brought the composer out of his self-imposed retirement. The opening of Otello in February of 1887 attracted an international audience to Milan for a dramatic event which ended only after the citizenry had showered Verdi with gifts and applause throughout twenty curtain calls and towed his carriage to the hotel. Public festivities continued until dawn.


Last Years

In 1893, with the premiere of Falstaff , Verdi and his adoring audience repeated the entire sequence of events at La Scala - all in honor of a comedy he had vowed as a young man never to write. The maestro finally retreated to his country home in Sant' Agata with his second wife, singer Giuseppina Strepponi. They spent several peaceful years in retirement until her death in 1897. His wife's death left Verdi in a state of unbearable grief. He immediately fled Sant' Agata for the Grand Hotel in Milan and, after four unhappy years, Verdi died in 1901, the victim of a massive stroke. Verdi's death left all Italy in mourning. He still is revered throughout the music world as the greatest of operatic composers and, more particularly, in Italy as a patriotic hero and champion of human rights.

Works:
Oberto Conte di San Bonifacio (17th November, 1839; Teatro alla Scala, Milan)
Un Giorno di Regno (5th September 1840; Teatro alla Scala, Milan) (Il Finto Stanislao)
Nabucco (9th March 1842; Teatro alla Scala, Milan)
I Lombardi alla Prima Crociata (11th February 1843; Teatro alla Scala, Milan)
Ernani (9th March 1844; Teatro la Fenice, Venice)
I Due Foscari (3rd November 1844; Teatro Argentina, Rome)
Giovanna d'Arco (15th February 1845; Teatro alla Scala, Milan)
Alzira (12th August 1845; Teatro San Carlo, Naples)
Attila (17th March 1846; Teatro la Fenice, Venice)
Macbeth (14th March 1847; Teatro della Pergola, Florence)
I Masnadieri (22nd July 1847; Her Majesty's Theatre, London)
Jérusalem (26th November 1847; Académie Royale de Musique, Paris)
Il Corsaro (25th October 1848; Teatro Grande, Trieste)
La Battaglia di Legnano (27th January 1849; Teatro Argentina, Rome)
Luisa Miller (8th December 1849; Teatro San Carlo, Naples)
Stiffelio (16th November 1850; Teatro Grande, Trieste)
Rigoletto (11th March 1850; Teatro la Fenice, Venice)
Il Trovatore (19th January 1853; Teatro Apollo, Rome)
La Traviata (6th March 1853; Teatro la Fenice, Venice)
Les Vêpres Siciliennes (13th June 1855; Académie Impériale de Musique, Paris)
Simon Boccanegra (12th March 1857; Teatro la Fenice, Venice)
Aroldo (16th August 1857; Teatro Nuovo, Rimini)
Un Ballo in maschera (17th February 1859; Teatro Apollo, Rome)
La Forza del destino (10th November 1862; Bolshoi Theatre, St. Petersburg)
Don Carlos (11th March 1867; Académie Impériale de Musique, Paris)
Aïda (24th December 1871; Opera House, Cairo)
Otello (5th February 1887; Teatro alla Scala, Milan)
Falstaff (9th February 1893; Teatro alla Scala, Milan)


Bibliography:
http://w3.rz-berlin.mpg.de/cmp/verdi.html
http://www.edinboro.edu/CWIS/Music/Cordell/comp-verdi.html
http://www.8notes.com/biographies/verdi.asp
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Giuseppe_Verdi
http://www.classicalarchives.com/bios/codm/verdi.html
http://www.essentialsofmusic.com/composer/verdi.html
http://www.sfsymphony.org/templates/composer.asp?nodeid=247
http://www.italica.rai.it/index.php?categoria=bio&scheda=verdi_prima_parte

Theodore Roosevelt

Early Years

The second of the four children of Theodore Roosevelt, Sr. and Martha Bulloch Roosevelt , Theodore Roosevelt (commonly referred to by his initials, TR), was nicknamed "Teedie". TR suffered from asthma and terrible nearsightedness, conditions which his father urged him to supercede by saying, "You have the mind, but not the body; you must make your body." To help his son, Theodore Sr. built a gym at their home where "Teedie" developed a constitution which would later be referred to as "strong as a Bull Moose". In his youth, Theodore (who disliked being called Teddy), travelled with his family throughout Europe where he perfected his command of French and German.

At this time, the Civil War raged between the Northern and Southern states. Martha Bulloch, a Southerner by birth and heritage, played a decisive factor in Theodore Sr.'s decision to hire an army substitute (quite common in those days). It is alleged that rather than fight against his brothers-in-law, Theodore Sr. chose to instead focus his wealth and connections on procuring supplies for and administrating the logistics of delivering those supplies to the Union Army. It is further acknowledged that this decision was a driving force for TR to enlist to fight in the Spanish American War (perhaps as a way to become even greater than his father, whom TR held in the greatest of esteem).


Education

An amateur ornithologist, TR would often kill small birds for purely scientific purposes; thereafter dissecting and embalming them. A few original specimens survive today and can be seen at the Theodore Roosevelt National Historic Birthplace. TR's education was via private tutors, which was quite common for an individual of his socioeconomic position. A voracious reader with a photographic memory, TR had no trouble completing his studies and was ultimately admitted to the Harvard College in 1876, at age eighteen.

At Harvard, TR majored in science, yet received the bulk of his education in history and literature. He was admitted to the prestigious Porcellian Club, the O.K. Club, The Big Six Club, and was a staff member of The Harvard Advocate. His athletic pursuits included rowing, boxing, horseback riding, and camping. TR was an attentive and somewhat enthusiastic student who participated energetically during lectures. In one instance, a professor of his is quoted as saying: "See here, Roosevelt; I am the one teaching this course!"


Young Adult

In 1878, TR met Alice Hathaway Lee, the daughter of a prominent Boston family. After a lengthy courtship and a marriage proposal rebuff, Alice and TR were married on October 27, 1880. Around this same time, Theodore Sr. died of stomach cancer on February 9, 1878. The death of his father dealt a crushing blow to a twenty one year old TR who suddenly found himself head of his family. Heartbroken yet resolute, TR graduated Phi Beta Kappa from Harvard in 1880 and was promptly admitted to Columbia University's School of Law. Also in 1880, TR joined the Republican Party Club of New York. In 1881 he embarked on a vacation/honeymoon to Europe where amongst his many outdoor adventures he climbed the Matterhorn.


Entrance to Politics

Upon his return from Europe, Roosevelt decided to dedicate his life to politics, especially after his local Republican Club nominated him to a State Representative candidacy. Leaving Columbia University, he won the election easily, thus becoming, at age 23, the youngest State Representative in the history of New York. TR made his mark in State politics by exposing the corrupt relationship between a New York Supreme Court Justice and railroad magnate Jay Gould. With his whirlwind enthusiasm and calculating mind, TR was easily reelected in 1882 and 1883, eventually being elected the youngest Speaker of the Assembly in the history of New York.

In 1882, TR published his seminal work, The War of 1812, which espoused the maintenance of a strong navy as a pressing matter of national security. In 1883, TR invested part of his inheritance in a working ranch in the Dakota Territory abutting the Little Missouri River, near the city of Medora. Naming the establishment The Elkhorn Ranch, he left his property in charge of Will Dow and Bill Sewall, two experienced ranch hands. In April 1884, TR was appointed Chairman of the Committee on Cities, whose efforts resulted in vital changes in the Charter of New York City.


Bad Times

It seemed that nothing could stop TR's comet from rising even higher and faster. In 1884, however, TR's life fell completely apart. After the joyful birth of Alice Roosevelt Lee on February 12, his wife was diagnosed with Bright’s disease and died two days later, on Valentine's Day. TR's mother, Martha, was also very ill; having caught typhoid fever, she too died later that same evening of February 14, 1884. In despair and inconsolable, TR wrote in his journal that "the light has gone out of my life." The newborn was left in the care of TR's sister Anna (affectionately called Bamie). Despite his grief, TR proceeded to conclude his duties as Chairman of the New York Delegation to the 1884 Republican National Convention.

Still inconsolable and unwilling to return to his home in New York, TR contracted the firm of Joseph Wood & Sons to build a new home for him and baby Alice atop a hill overlooking Oyster Bay in Long Island. Originally named Leeholm, in honor of Alice Lee Roosevelt, the house would eventually be renamed Sagamore Hill. Leaving baby Alice in the care of Bamie, TR ventured West and tried his hand at ranching in the Dakotas; hoping the desolate landscape would help him overcome his intense grief. Enduring the scorn and taunts of western roughnecks who called him "four eyes" and "tenderfoot", TR eventually gained everyone's respect by thrashing each offender with both his sharp wit or steel fists, depending upon the offender and the offense committed. No one came to know the wrath of TR better than Mike Finnegan and his gang of thieves who, after stealing TR's fishing boat, were chased for two weeks through the Dakota Badlands and were eventually apprehended by the "tenderfoot dude from up East."

Throughout this time, TR also embarked on a long-distance courtship of his childhood friend, Edith Kermit Carow. In 1885, TR published his experiences in the Dakotas in a book titled Hunting Trips of a Ranchman. In 1886, TR ran as the Republican candidate for Mayor of New York City, but was defeated by Abram S. Hewitt; coming in third out of three candidates. Just when things couldn't get worse, a terrible blizzard over the winter of 1886-1887 wiped out TR's entire cattle herd back in the Dakotas. Heartbroken, financially ruined, and inconsolable, he embarked on a trip to Europe and married Ethel on December 2, 1886, in London, England. The couple would eventually have five children: Theodore, Kermit, Ethel, Archibald, and Quentin. Alice Roosevelt, nicknamed Princess Alice by the press, was also raised by Edith. This would prove to be the turning point in the life of Theodore Roosevelt.


Theodore Begins to Write

Not being a very good businessman, and with his political days apparently over, TR dedicated himself to writing professionally. In 1888 alone he published three books: Gouverneur Morris, Ranch Life and the Hunting Trail, and Essays in Practical Politics. In 1889, he published the first two volumes of the seminal The Winning of the West, with the last two volumes published in 1894 and 1896. In 1888, however, his enthusiastic and tireless campaigning for Republican Presidential candidate Benjamin Harrison was rewarded with an appointment to the U.S. Civil Service Commission, an office in which he served for six years. TR's efforts in reforming the U.S. Civil Service are still felt today. TR continued to write extensively, especially since his meager salary was not enough to support his growing family. In 1891 he published The History of New York, and in 1893 he published The Wilderness Hunter, followed the next year by Hero Tales from American History.


Theodore to NY

In 1895, TR received an invitation from New York City Mayor William Strong to become a Commissioner of the New York City Police Board . Resigning his commission in Washington, D.C., TR returned to New York and promptly set out to reform the police force. Amongst his many reforms still felt today are the establishment of the first Police Academy in the U.S., the use of bicycle patrols, and the establishment of civil service reforms for recruitment and promotion of officers. TR was famous for disguising himself and patrolling the streets of New York City at night hoping to catch a sleeping "beat cop" or other policemen conducting themselves shamefully (accepting bribes, etc.). Along with the good press provided by his journalist friend (and 'midnight rambles' companion) Jacob Riis, TR eventually took over the Presidency of the New York Police Board. It is a wonder he found time to write and publish American Ideals in 1897 !


The Rough Riders

Coupling TR's good press with his charisma gained him a national reputation for indefatigable honesty; traits valued by newly elected President William McKinley who appointed TR, in 1897, Assistant Secretary of the Navy. Shortly after taking his appointment, the U.S.S. Maine, anchored off Havana, Cuba, (at that time a Spanish possession) blew up killing 234 U.S. sailors. Naturally, hawks in the US blamed and demanded war against Spain, who denied all responsibility for the tragedy. A student of military affairs and international politics, TR knew that the key to winning the brewing conflict with Spain would be to control the seas. When TR's boss, Secretary Long, unexpectedly went out of town, TR lost no time and cabled Admiral Dewey who was stationed in Hong Kong at the time. TR ordered Dewey to load coal and sail for the Philippines immediately; and added that should war be declared, then Dewey must, at all costs, prevent the large yet aged Spanish fleet from leaving Manila Harbor. On April 20, 1898, the US declared war on Spain. Admiral Dewey followed TR's instructions and sank the entire Spanish Fleet in less than 4 hours, starting the conflict with his infamous cry, "You may fire when ready, Gridley". On May 6, TR resigned his post and began assemblying the U.S. First Volunteer Cavalry, more famously known as the Rough Riders.

TR assembled the Rough Riders from a motley collection of Eastern intellectuals, Western roughnecks, athletes, writers, ranchhands, Native Americans, Hispanics, and any other qualified individual who wished to serve his country. The Rough Riders trained at Fort Sam Houston, and proceeded towards Tampa Bay, Florida, where they would embark towards Cuba aboard The Yucatan. Upon reaching the shores of Cuba, the volunteers marched towards the hills of San Juan, where on July 1, 1898, they charged victoriously up Kettle Hill in the face of severe enemy fire, losing one fourth of its contingency. Theodore Roosevelt would eventually be awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor for his bravery on that day. However, the relative ineptitude of the entire Cuban operation led to the expressed dissatisfaction of several officers, culminating in the infamous Round Robin Telegram, a document detailing the failures and overt mismanagement of the conflict. Travelling alongside the Rough Riders were eminent journalists such as Frederic Remington and Richard Harding Davis; journalists who are at least partly responsible for TR's rise to national prominence (which included a promotion for TR to full colonel).

With complete victory over Spain, the Rough Riders and their commander returned to the United States, disembarking at Montauk Point, New York, on August 15, 1898. Before the unit disbanded, the Rough Riders awarded their Colonel a statue made by Frederic Remington, "The Bronco Buster", as a token of their appreciation. His meteor now achieving near critical mass, TR accepted his party's nomination for the Governorship of New York. TR's firebrand approach to politics inevitably clashed with the State's political bosses, particularly Mark Hanna and Thomas Platt. These two bosses decided that the best way to be rid of TR would be to "bump him up" into a position of political neutrality: The Vice Presidency. Hence, at the Republican National Convention of 1900, his name was put forth by the State machine bosses for nomination as William McKinley’s running mate. Unhappy but always loyal to the party, TR accepted his fate with resignation and campaigned successfully for the McKinley-Roosevelt ticket of 1900.


Vice president to President

Having assumed the Vice Presidency, Theodore was resigned to the fact that his political ambitions had perhaps peaked. During the inauguration, political boss Mark Hanna; who had been apprehensive about TR's joining the 1900 Republican ticket; is quoted as saying: "Do you realize that the only thing standing between that madman and the White House is a bullet?". An extremely prescient statement, President McKinley was indeed shot by Leo Colgosz on September 13, 1901. Theodore Roosevelt was sworn in as the nation's 26th President at the Wilcox Mansion near Buffalo, New York, on September 14, 1901.

Upon assuming the presidency, Theodore Roosevelt sought to restore the dignity and prestige of the office heretofore tarnished by the scandals surrounding the Grant and Hayes administrations, as well as the "do-nothing" presidencies of Garfield, Harrison, Arthur, and Cleveland. He sought to turn the Presidency into a "bully pulpit" from where the nation's chief executive could proactively influence national policy.


Accomplishments during President

Losing no time, 1901 saw TR inviting the prominent African-American leader, Booker T. Washington, to dine at the White House; the first time any black had been invited to dine at the People's House.

In 1902 TR instructed Philander Knox to invoke the Sherman Anti-Trust Act against the Northern Securities Company, a railroad trust illegally offering freight rebates to "special" customers. In 1902, TR also initiated the Forest, Land, and River Reclamation Policy (or Newlands Act), approved the Hay-Pauncefote Treaty signed the previous year, settled a crippling Coal Strike, and enforced the Monroe Doctrine in Venezuela; thus ushering an era of U.S. foreign policy described as gunboat diplomacy.

In 1903, Congress supported the Panamian insurgency against their Colombian masters, culminating in the recognition of the Republic of Panama and subsequent construction of the Panama Canal by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers led by General Goethals. That year also saw the creation of the Department of Commerce and the Bureau of Corporations, the enactment of the Elkins Rebate Act, and the Cuban Reciprocity Treaty which lowered sugar and tobacco tariffs. Closing the year's events was the resolution of the Alaska Boundary dispute.

In 1904, the U.S. Senate ratified a Treaty with Panama which granted the U.S. perpetual rights to the Canal Zone. In February, the Russo-Japanese War erupted. Later that year, TR received and accepted the Republican nomination for President. Running against Alton B. Parker, T.R. was elected with 71% of the popular vote and 58% of the electoral college.

1905 saw TR being elected in his own right, forever removing the label of "accidental president". This same year, TR successfully negotiated the Portsmouth Treaty effectively ending the Russo-Japanese War, outlined the resolution to the Algeciras Conference, and created the U.S. Forest Service. TR also expanded his "big stick" concept of diplomacy, ordering U.S. Marines to seize the customs houses of the Dominican Republic; ruled by a corrupt regime which was in danger of being forcibly ousted by its European creditors. TR's actions, although criticized, are generally viewed as a strong and unequivocal affirmation of the principles outlined in the Monroe Doctrine and its Roosevelt Corollary.

The following year, 1906, was a monumental year for TR. He won the Nobel Peace Prize, established the Roosevelt Foundation for Industrial Peace, coined the phrase "muckrake" , created the Forest Homestead Act, signed the Hepburn Rate Act, created the Food and Drugs Act, and travelled to Panama to view progress on the Isthmian Canal project. The year was marred, however, by TR's dishonorable discharge of an entire Black Infantry Troop stationed in Brownsville, Texas. Members of the troop were charged with conduct unbecoming army personnel and various other offenses. TR's discharge order was reversed by Congressional order in 1972. The President also responded forcefully to the San Francisco School Board's decision to segregate Japanese schoolchildren by sending Victor Metcalf, the Secretary of Commerce and Labor, to California to diffuse the racial tensions and promptly rescind the Board's misguided action. The year closed with the creation of the U.S. Antiquities Act, the mechanism through which many U.S. presidents have designated public lands as being "untouchable".

In 1907, the Monroe's Doctrine principle of self determination for the Western Hemisphere gained international recognition with the ratification of the Santo Domingo Treaty. This same year saw TR appoint the Inland Waterways Commission, host the Tennessee Coal and Iron Conference, sign the charter admitting Oklahoma into the Union as the 46th State. and order the sailing of the U.S. Navy's Great White Fleet which ushered in an unprecedented era of U.S. internationalism.

1908 saw TR sign the Employer's Liability Act, create the Grand Canyon and Muir Woods National Monuments, and introduce the first U.S. Postage Stamp(cost=$.01). With the help of Gifford Pinchot, TR expanded his conservation legacy by hosting the Governor's Conference at the White House. Focusing on foreign policy, 1908 saw the reaffirming of Secretary Hay's Open Door Policy in China (known as the Root-Takahira Agreement).

In 1909, TR ordered the U.S. Marines to overthrow the Nicaraguan regime (also in trouble with its European creditors). TR's final conservation effort was the North American Conservation Congress. Having chosen his successor for the Presidency and confident that his choice, William Howard Taft, would continue his proactive political approach, TR saw his presidential term expire and embarked on a Smithsonian sponsored African Safari.

Accompanied on the safari by his son Kermit, TR collected hundreds of specimens for the Smithsonian, and in 1910 published a book on his experiences titled African Game Trails. After his safari, TR embarked on a tour of Europe, delivering speeches at places such as Guild Hall, in London, England, and attending the funeral of England's King Edward. TR returned to the United States to great fanfare. TR also promptly discovered that President Taft has "betrayed" the agenda of the Roosevelt Administration, and in 1911 set out to expound his political viewpoints around the country with speeches such as The New Nationalism.


The Power of the Bull Moose

After failing to gain the Republican presidential nomination at the 1912 National Convention in Chicago, TR defected to the Progressive Party. During a campaign stop in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, TR was shot in the chest by John Schrank, a madman bent on assassinating the ex-president. The bullet hit TR in the chest, but its impact was slowed by the thick speech manuscript TR was carrying in his breast pocket. Despite being shot, TR delivered his 90 minute speech before a capacity crowd, refusing to go to the hospital and insisting that it "takes more than a bullet to stop a Bull Moose." Despite his popularity and tireless campaigning, he nevertheless lost the 1912 election; in the process splitting up the Republican vote in half and awarding a de facto victory to the Democratic candidate, Woodrow Wilson. Despondent but resilient, TR accepted a position as an Editorialist at Large with The Outlook magazine in New York. TR used his pen to scrutinize and, when appropriate, criticize President Wilson and his administration's policies; especially those regarding America's unpreparedness for the brewing hostilities and balance of power shifts occurring in Europe. Later that same year, TR was attacked in print by George S. Newett, the editor of the Michigan Iron Ore publication, who called the ex-president "a drunk". TR sued the editor for libel, and won the case.


Expedition to Brazil

In 1913, TR embarked on an expedition to Brazil to map the course and find the source of a river deep in the Amazon jungles heretofore uncharted. The expedition was first proposed by Father John Augustine Zahm, a clergyman from the Univeristy of Notre Dame and longtime friend of TR. The expedition, dubbed the Roosevelt-Rondon South American Expedition of 1913-1914, was sponsored by the National Museum of History of New York, the National Geographic Society, and the governments of Brazil, Argentina, and Paraguay. The expedition members included: Kermit Roosevelt, Col. Candido Mariano da Silva Rondon (expedition leader sent by the Brazilian government), Leo Miller (mammologist), Anthony Fiala (logistics), Frank Harper (TR's private secretary), George K. Cherrie (naturalist/ornithologist), Lt. Joao Salustiano Lyra (Brazilian astronomer), and approximately two dozen Brazilian camaradas, or portege carriers. To secure additional funding for the expedition, as well as to be compensated for his time, TR contracted with Scribner's magazine to write a series of articles about the expedition, eventually publishing his account in the book titled Through the Brazilian Wilderness. Facing dangers ranging from cataracts and rapids to aggressive amazonians and the unfortunate murder of an expedition member by another expedition member, the party eventually completed their goal and mapped what came to be known as the Rio Teodoro. During the expedition, many members of the expedition contracted tropical diseases such as malaria. TR himself became so sick that he is reputed to have contemplated suicide. As a matter of fact, he carried with him a dose of hemlock for just such a purpose. TR's sickness was due to a leg injury which abscessed, causing TR to lose almost 50 pounds. This leg injury plagued him the rest of his life, and may have contributed to his death.


Back to the US

Returning to the United States in 1914, TR found that the world was being torn apart by the rising conflict in Europe which culminated in the assassination of the Austrian Archduke Franz Ferdinand, thus precipitating World War I. TR volunteered to raise a regiment to fight in Europe, but his efforts were rebuffed by President Wilson. In response, TR returned to his editorial duties and engaged in tireless efforts to raise money and supplies for the war effort. His sons, Ted Jr., Kermit, Archie, and Quentin all served in the Army with distinction. Unfortunately, Quentin, an aviator, was killed over Chemery, France, after his plane was shot down. The airfield near Sagamore Hill where Quentin trained was renamed Roosevelt field in his honor, and it is the field from where Charles Lindbergh departed on his famous solo flight across the Atlantic.


Last years

Never recovering from the grief of losing his favorite child, TR continued to write books and editorials. Unfortunately, the strain from his leg injury accelerated his failing health. Theodore Roosevelt returned to his home and died in his sleep on January 6, 1919. His last words are reputed to have been directed at his manservant, James Amos, when TR said, "Please turn out the light." The official cause of death was listed as a pulmonary embolism brought on by the combined effects of inflammatory rheumatism and recurrent malaria. Archie Roosevelt, on temporary leave to recuperate from a leg wound, cabled his siblings still overseas with the simple message, "The Old Lion is Dead." When the news reached Washington, D.C., the Vice President, Thomas R. Marshall, was reputed to have said, "Death had to take him sleeping, for if Roosevelt had been awake, there would have been a fight."

Despite his death at age sixty, Theodore Roosevelt's legacy lives on. His moral integrity and strength of character are models which should be emulated by everyone around the world. Theodore Roosevelt was also a faithful husband, a model parent, an enthusiastic citizen who sought to accomplish something great for his country and the world at large. TR was a prolific writer and tireless campaigner for the protection of basic human rights, a masterful politician who shaped the world around him, always basing his actions on the American concepts of freedom, equal justice under the law, and the pursuit of happiness.


bibliography:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theodore_Roosevelt
http://www.whitehouse.gov/history/presidents/tr26.html
http://nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/peace/laureates/1906/roosevelt-bio.html
http://www.theodore-roosevelt.com/
http://www.ipl.org/div/potus/troosevelt.html
http://www.millercenter.virginia.edu/academic/americanpresident/roosevelt

Cancer

by Gen

Cancer develops when cells in a part of the body begin to grow out of control. Although there are many kinds of cancer, they all start because of out of control growth of abnormal cells.

Normal body cells grow, divide and die in an orderly fashion. During the early years of a person's life, normal cells divide more rapidly until the person becomes an adult. After that, cells in most parts of the body divide only to replace worn out or dying cells and to repair injuries.

Because cancer cells continue to grow and divide, they are different from normal cells. Instead of dying, they outlive normal cells and continue to form new abnormal cells.

Cancer cells often travel to other parts of the body where they begin to grow and replace normal tissue. This process, called metastasis, occurs as cancer cells get into the bloodstream or lymph vessels of our body.

Cancer cells develop because of damage to DNA. This substance is in every cell and directs all its activities. Most of the time when DNA becomes damaged the body is able to repair it. In cancer cells, the damaged DNA is not repaired. People can inherit damaged DNA, which accounts for inherited cancers. Many times though, a person's DNA becomes damaged by exposure to something in the enviroment, like smoking.

Cancer usually forms as a solid tumor. Some cancers, like leukemia, do not form tumors. Instead, these cancer cells involve the blood and blood forming organs and circulate through other tissues where they grow.

Not all tumors are cancerous. Benign (noncancerous) tumors do not spread to the other parts of the body (metastasize) and, with very rare exceptions, are not life threatening.

Different types of cancer can behave very differently. They grow at different rates and respond to different treatments. That is why people with cancer need treatment that is aimed at their particular kind of cancer.

Cancer is the second leading cause of death in the United States. Half of all men and one third of all women in the US will develop cancer during their lifetimes. Today, millions of people are living with cancer or have had cancer. The risk of developing most types of cancer can be reduced by changes in a person's lifestyle, for example, by quiting smoking and eating a better diet. The sooner a cancer s found and treatment begins, the better are the chances for living for many years.

Over one million people get cancer each year. Approximately one out of every two American men and one out of every three American women will have some type of cancer at some point during their lifetime. Anyone can get cancer at any age; however, about 77% of all cancer occurs in Americans of all racial and ethnic group, the rate of cancer occurence (called the incidence rate) varies from group to group.

Today, millions of people are living with cancer or have been cured of the disease. The sooner a cancer is found the better a patient's chances are of a cure. That's why early detection of cancer is such an important weapon in the fight against cancer.

A risk factor is anything that increases a person's chance of getting a disease. Some risk factors can be changed, and others cannot. Risk factors for cancer can include a person's age, gender, and family medical history. Others are linked to cancer-causing factors in the enviroment.

Asthma

by Gen

Asthma is a common disease of the lungs, affecting millions of Americans. This patient education module will help you understand better its causes, symptoms, and treatment options. Oxygen is vital for life. Without it, death occurs very rapidly.

The lungs allow us to fill our blood with oxygen. The air we breathe comes in close contact with the blood in the depth of the lungs. The blood then fills up with oxygen and releases unwanted carbon dioxide, CO2. When we breathe, the air goes through the mouth and nose. From there it goes to the air pipe, known as the trachea. From the trachea it goes into an increasing number of smaller tubes, called bronchial tubes. Small balloon like sacs called alveoli are at the end of the tubes. The walls of the alveoli are very thin. On the other side of the walls small blood vessels exist. The very thin wall of the alveoli allows the oxygen to go into the bloodstream and also allows CO2 to go from the blood to your lungs to be exhaled.

Muscles surround the bigger broncial tubes. The inner lining of these broncial tubes secretes special substances called mucus. The mucus helps trap dirt from the air. Mucus is continuously expelled from the lungs. Very small brushes, known as cilia, on the outside of the lung cells continously push the mucus to the outside. If the mucus becomes significantly big, it is coughed out.

Asthma is a condition that makes breathing difficult. This causes a feeling of tightness in the chest. Patients with asthma are sensitive to certain materials that cause an inflammation or slewwing of the inner lining of the lungs. This swelling can cause narrowing of the air passages. The swelling and inflammation of the inner lining of the lungs can lead to symptoms such as difficulty breathing and tightness in chest. The muscles around the bronchial tubes could also tighten abnormally, resulting in further narrowing of the air passages. When an asthma attack occurs, the lining of the lungs quickly becomes swollen. The air passages fill up with thick mucus and the muscles around the bronchial tubes tighten. This greatly decreases the airflow in the lungs; this could potentially be life threatening.

Many things can lead to the inflammation of the lungs and abnormal muscle tightening; these are known as triggers. Triggers include substances to which a person may be allergic. Animal hair or secretions, mold, pollen, and dust are examples of allergens. These allergens can trigger an asthma attack. Extreme condition, such as very cold or very hot weather, can also trigger an asthma attack. Particles in the air from car exhaust or other pollution and medications, such as aspirin or ibuprofen, may act as a trigger. Food additives such as sulfites found in wine can also act as a trigger. Some diseases such as colds can trigger an asthma attack. Stress, bouts of extreme laughter or crying can also affect the lungs and cause an asthma attack.

Repeated occurences of difficulty breathing and wheezing are indications that the patient may have asthma. After taking a detailed medical history and listening to your lungs, your physician may ask you to have a special test done known as Pulmonary Function Test. This test aims at determining the ability of your lungs to function. Peak flow measurement is a part of this test that the patient may be asked to perform on their own following the visit to the physician. This test allows patients to monitor their own progress. The patient is asked to blow into a tube. A marker on the side of the tube indicates the speed at which the breath is exhaled out of the lungs. A chest X-ray may also be done to check for other diseases that have the same symptoms as asthma. A skin test may also be done to help the patient recognize possible triggers.

The most important part of the treatment plan of asthma is to prevent severe asthma attacks. If an asthma attack has already occured, the treatment will be aimed at stopping the attack and restoring breathing to normal as quickly as possible. It is important for patients to monitor their breathing on a regular basis using the Peak Flow measurement. This allowed them to detect and treat breathing problems before an acute attack occurs. It is also important to control the triggering factors. Washing pets once a week, getting red of household items that may accumulate dust (thick carpets, blinds, etc.), and the use of air conditioning are all ways to avoid triggers. Adequate use of medication is also important in the treatment of chronic asthma and prevention of asthma attacks. Treating chronic asthma usually involves taking medications that will decrease the inflammation of the bronchial tubes and decrease the sensitivity of the lungs to allergens. These medications include corticosteroids, which can be given as pills or as inhalers. Other types of anti-inflammatory medications are non-steroidal medications such as cromolyn and nedocromil. To prevent or abort acute asthma, bronchodilators are usually used. The aim of these medications is to relax the muscles of the bronchial rubes. Some of these medications act quickly and are inhaled; others act over longer periods of time and are usually taken by mouth. Even though some asthma attacks can be induced by exercise, exercising under a physician's supervision helps the overall health of the lungs, heart, and body.

Asthma is a chronic lung condition that could potentially be fatal. Significant advances in understanding asthma, and treating it, have been made in recent years. Knowing about the disease and its treatment options has helped asthma patients live a better and healthier life.