Do you ever hear things that go bump in the night? Are you awakened by soft voices or the sound of a lively party going somewhere in your home? Do you see unexplained mists or shadows that rush along your walls or ceiling in the night? Perhaps you have looked at photo, and saw something that looked out of place, and felt it may be a ghost? I have a very good friend that claims she has lead a haunted life. She says she has had many experiences with ghosts. Stating "I have seen...

You have probably asked yourself this question if you are planning on participating in this year?s Renaissance Faire?even if you are a connoisseur of medieval knight armor history. Don?t worry! Here are some general guidelines that may help you decide what style armor to wear with your favorite medieval weapons. We all have a favorite weapon, whether it is a medieval sword, hand carved cross bow, or Swiss Halberd. Now you have to decide what to wear with it. When it comes ...

We always see motion pictures describing medieval Knights who are armed to their eyeballs with exotic looking weapons - But did they genuinely utilise each of those armor? Perchance not too amazingly, the most popular type of medieval weapons handled by knights of the Middle Ages was a sword. A number of medieval knights in Armor also sported a gothic dagger with them not simply as a backup knight weapon, but as a thing to be wielded in each day endeavours. A typical medie...

Disasters come in all forms. Natural disasters come in the form of hurricanes, storms, tornados, wildfires, drought, earthquakes, floods, tsunami, volcanoes, excessive snow or ice.

The power and effectiveness of the army also emanates from the superior fighting force and battle tactics of the army. Until the Marius Reforms in the late 2nd century B.C., the Roman army was comprised of five main troop types. Generally the youngest and poorest were recruited to the Velites. They served as skirmishers in the army and were intended to pepper the enemy with initial Javelin fire. They were equipped with swords, javelins, and a small circular shield (the parma)...

The United States and Britain did not support Israel in the 1948 War of Independence. The Soviet Union did, for a reason. Stalin remembered the huge role Russian Jews played in establishing the Soviet regime, and was sure they would build a socialist state in the Middle East. The Exile made the Jews afraid of the mob; they long for stronger state. Jews are smart and opinionated, and many want the power. Monarchies reserve the first roles for hereditary rulers. Democracies ...

What a world we live in. Let?s look at Iraq. We know the President said ostensibly that the reason for invading was to find weapons of mass destruction, and prevent Saddam Hussein from using them. His removal from office could create a new democratic Iraq. America invaded and found no weapons of mass destruction ? not even a hint of them. Now the media is basically reporting that we are involved in a Civil War in Iraq, and we are losing it. Somewhere in between the two end...

Another part of the army?s tactics was to build a camp at the end of every day?s march. The afternoon saw the rapid construction of an army camp, and the night was reserved for rest from the day?s march and labor. The camp served multiple purposes. First and foremost it served as a nightly defense against surprise attacks and as a base to retreat to just in case a defeat should ever happy. The construction of camps also gave the soldiers and officers a place to rest peacefull...

The next major change in the army took place at the end of the 2nd century B.C. when Gaius Marius was elected Consul, placing him in command of the Roman army. Ceaseless attacks from the Germanic tribes forced large armies to be raised to defend Rome. However, just with Cannibal in the beginning, the legions suffered defeat after defeat, and the number of ?legal? men (men who owned land) to be recruited was dwindling. Most had already fought and died or else was still fightin...

If you read guidebooks or travel articles about México, you will read that Mexicans are wonderfully accommodating, friendly, warm, and generous to strangers. You will be given the impression these people are the ?Salt of the Earth? and maybe even virtually Saints. You will be told things like, ?Mexicans are helpful to a fault? and ?they will be so patient with you trying to learn Spanish.? While this might be true, I have, of late, begun to doubt the multitude of clichés that...