Tuesday, November 20, 2012

Fossils & Ruins: Migration and Conquering Part 1

There was an interesting theory passed around in one of my anthropology classes. The teacher told us that there have been links to the Hungarian/Finnish and Japanese/Korean languages.

So how can that be?

In theory if we accept that the similarities are significant enough - how did this happen?
In this theory, there is an idea that the pastoral civilization that lived within present Hungary and Finish migrated through Asia and made their way to Korea and soon Japan.

Why Korea and not China?

If traveling from Eastern Europe into Asia, China is surrounded by mountains and two deserts. Not a very easy voyage. North of the mountains and deserts is a large horizontal plains through present day Mongolia - perfect on horseback. The plains move along all the way to the very tip of Korea and from Korea, Japan is a boat ride away. 

Although just a theory, it's an interesting theory nonetheless.







Monday, November 19, 2012

Weekly Writing: A Tale of Two Lovers


A Tall of Two lovers


Shaking nerves
but not of cold feet,
sweet Orpheus
waits to be wed
to dear Eurydice.
Izanagi and
Izanami,
brother and sister,
husband and wife.
Waiting for the forth
child, kami of fire,
to be birthed tonight.

A satyr sets
upon Eurydice,
ready to strike.
Escaping the creature
lead her straight
into the snake pit.
Bitten on the heel
and fell ill;
cast into the underworld.
Later, found 
by devastated, poor
Orpheus.

The birth,
so immense.
Pain grew intolerable,
uncontrollable.
Out the young
kami came,
with a large price
to pay.
Sweet wife,
lovely Izanami
had passed away.

Orpheus rode
in a heated stride,
playing music
to heal his cries.
Through the gates,
to the underworld.
Sooth Hades’ heart
with soft melody.
“Take your bride,
but do not look
at her
until you are back
in the upper world.”
Take Eurydice’s hand,
and head devotedly
back through the gate.

Izanagie charges
down to Yomi,
the underworld.
Searching for beloved wife,
yet cannot see her,
hidden in the shadows.
Pleads she returns,
but Izanami declines
and claims
she is one
with the underworld.
Quickly though
the realm of hell,
eager to have young
Eurydice back.
Step into upper world,
just one more foot
and she would be there
with her love,
hand and hand.
Yet eagerness leads
to forgetful minds.
For Orpheus
looked back
before she crossed
human to spiritual line.
Held in his grasp,
and after a seconds’ passed,
she vanished
gone back
to the hellish land.

Never giving her up,
so waited
until beautiful wife
slept quietly.
Stealthily immerge
from his place.
Pull comb from his hair
and lit it ablaze,
a torch to guide
his way.
Enter the shadows
                        to find his wife.
Yet what used to be
a beauty,
and a fragile lover,
now rotting flesh,
a maggot home and
creature’s delight.
Scream at the sight.
Run away.


Thursday, November 15, 2012

Fossils & Ruins: Great White Shark Ancestry

It was under belief for a long time that the prehistoric Megaladon Shark was a direct ancestor to the Great White shark.

Megaladon was the largest shark ever discovered; recorded with a 6 foot jaw span, teeth the size of human hands, and an average of 50 foot length. It was a major ocean predator during the Cenozoic Era (a period after the Cretaceous period when large numbers of species, including the dinosaurs, became extincted).







New research however, has found that Megaladon is not a direct link to the present day Great White. Instead, a shark called Carcharodon hubbelli, who is a ancestor to the Mako shark (pictured below).



For more information, visit the full article: 


Tuesday, November 13, 2012

Fossils & Ruins: Mississippians

I have a secret to admit. Before I was heart-set on becoming a writer, my passion was for dirt and anything buried beneath; mainly dinosaurs and ancient civilizations. Although I cannot pursue this passion in full I can still research as much as my little heart desires. So I might as well share my findings with you. 

Mississippians

Here's an ancient civilization in the United States. The first time I read about it was in the National Geographic Magazine and I just happened to find it again. This civilization really sparked interests.

The Mississippians was a large civilization stretching from most of the east's southern coast up to the Great Lakes.

This particular culture is one of the only civilizations to create pyramid like mounds. The greatest known and well kept mound to date is called Cahokia and is located in Illinois.

The mounds were used to display hierarchy. The community with more mounds are higher on the hierarchical scale. An artist representation of such town is portrayed below:



As shown in the illustration, the civilization maintained domestic housing; it also created temples and burial buildings.

Although the Mississippians civilization was quite large and prosperous with trade spreading into the Rockies, there wasn't a writing system in place.

This world came to an end with the Spaniards arrived. Most Mississippians died to infectious diseases opposed to war and fighting. Survivors lingered and became nomadic and others stayed and lived in the old ways, but the Mississippian culture completely collapse and after a couple generations even the oral tradition was severed from its historical roots. 


Saturday, November 3, 2012

Weekly Writing: Trim Them Up


Trim Them Up

Feel soft fur
laid in your arms.
Tiny mouth bites
finger, playfully.
Pass puppy
to nurse
who takes girls
and boys
into the back room.
Tiny mouth trapped
so cannot bite.
Clip skin.
Clip meaningless
piece of flesh.
Flesh that can
do no harm.
Brought on by
Victorian charm.
We say it's for aesthetics.
We say it's for identification.
But when denial
races in our thoughts,
puppies whine in pain.
With clipped ears
and docked tails,
bring on chance for infection
and weeks of bandages
when trimmed.

Feel soft skin
laid in your arms.
Tiny hands squeeze
finger playfully.
Pass infant
to nurse
who takes you son
into sound proof room.
Tiny hands strapped
down to table
and legs separated.
Clip skin.
Clip meaningless
piece of flesh.
Flesh that can
do no harm.
Brought on by
religious charm.
We say it's healthier.
We say it's cleaner.
But while denial
races in out thoughts,
your son screams,
squirming in shock.
Actual shock;
real diagnosis given
to newborn boys
when trimmed.