Anthropology, 210 (Citizenship)

In this chapter, there is an in depth discussion of citizenship and how it affects those who emigrate from their land of birth to settle in a new country and how this affects their interactions with their homeland.  Although I am an immigrant, I didn't experience many of the conflicts they touched on in this chapter as my homeland, Canada, is often viewed as an extension of the United States, the country to which I moved.  

Citizenship laws can be a very confusing subject, in the United States, some countries are allowed to have dual citizenship, where the national can retain their original citizenship while also gaining one for the United States.  Those that are not on the list are required to renounce legal claim to their citizenship to their native country.  For any swearing into allegiance to the United States, even if the country is on the list of acceptable dual citizenship countries, technically the recitation includes renouncement of all other citizenships and sole allegiance to the United States.  Oddly enough, although the United States do not view it as legal, that country may still see you as a citizen and will assist in legal issues.  The book mentioned that in the past, countries were not very kind of ex-patriots, but with the more modern world, countries are more interested in keep allegiance, even if it may be long distance.

Anthropology, 210 (Australian Nationalism)

The issues facing the Australian population in terms of national cohesion is not a foreign concept.  Colonization affected relations between indigenous people and settlers due to the self entitled methodology European settlers adopted as they took over the rest of the world.  In Australia, the concept of terra nullius, the idea that before Europeans arrived the land had been owned by nobody, was used by settlers to push native populations, or Aborigines, from the land to new locations.  The rationality for this was that Aborigines were foragers and therefore did not need fertile land to live upon, while settlers were improving the state of the land with their ownership.  Racial profiling and a mentality that the Aborigines were a dying race also played a part.

Just as in the United States, the suppressed group was pushed out of their native lands and cut off from resources by settlers with an ethnocentric belief that said groups did not need nor properly use the land they inhabited.  Modern Australia has been trying to solve these historical issues by writing laws to help Aborigines regain their lost lands and incorporate more culturally encompassing legislation and symbolism for the country.  There has been a lot of criticism of these attempts, as with many heated points of contention, with every step forward two steps are taken backward.

Anthropology, 210 (Marriage Response)

 I feel like my time in the military plus coming from a home which resulted in divorce has possibly coloured my impression of marriage in a negative way.  I feel like marriage is more of a social obligation, that couples can live together and have strong meaningful relationships without needing a ceremony to affirm said relationship.  

In the military, couples tend get married quickly, often within 30 days of meeting each other during tech school.  These couples are fresh out of Basic Military Training, a high stress and emotionally trying time, only to move to another stressful and emotional situation.  I know from personal experience, you tend to cling to the people who transition with you, and some form romantic bonds which burn hot at the onset.  Couples rush into marriage with someone they may not know very well because they want the change to get to know them and the easiest way to do so is to become man and wife for the military to recognise a couple and station them together.  This situation is a way for couples to continue to get to know each other and possible have a strong lasting relationship, and if not, getting a divorce is easier than being stationed apart for 2 or 4 year tours, others use it purely for the benefits and extra income.  Seeing this happen multiple times made me feel disenfranchised with the idea of marriage as a sanctimonious union and more as a means to an end.

Anthropology, 210 (Marriage)

Marriage can have a different meaning depending on the culture and subculture it is being defined within. There are many aspects as to why two parties decide to become united, be it for power, security, finances, or even obligation. Personal and familial obligations have a profound affect on the decision making process involved in marriage. Anthropologically speaking, it is defined by how it transforms the status of the participants, carries implications about permitted sexual access, perpetuates social patterns through the birth of offspring, creates relationships between the kin of partners, and is symbolically marked. (Anthropology: What Does it Mean to Be Human? pg. 379)

 Although that definition covers the direct social impact of what a marriage dictates, it does not include the literal definition of the parties involved. Some cultures believe one man and one women while others believe a man can marry a man and a woman can marry a woman. Some believe one man can marry multiple women, or one woman can marry multiple men. These different point of views have often caused clashes among members in the same society as well as between differing societies. These beliefs are often religiously backed, deeply rooted in tradition and deviance can be grounds for righteous retribution. In modern times, especially in the West, people are now using the option of civil unions instead of marriage, to gain the economic benefits of a legally binding “marriage” in lieu of any religious alignments.

Personal Health and Wellness, 110 (Behaviour Change Paper)

I have been under the impression of having a relatively healthy lifestyle; I don't drink, smoke, do drugs, and maintain a healthy body weight. After taking the lifestyle evaluation at the beginning of the chapter, I realised that wasn't necessarily the case. My three weakest components were a 2 in nutrition, 5 in fitness, and 6 in emotional health (WW #1). A month earlier, nutrition and fitness would have been my strongest components. Without the mandatory meals and physical training enforced by the Air Force, and the large shuffle of moving back into civilian life, these fundamentals slipped away. I chose nutrition because I assumed it would be a relatively easy lifestyle change to bring back into my life.

History of Civilizations, 111 (Columbian Biological Exchange)

The Columbian Biological Exchange

Mixing of cultures is viewed as a positive occurrence in the modern world. People from different walks of life, with different practices and celebrations coming together to share their cultures with one another. In the ancient world, civilizations were still neophytes in sharing across empires, sometimes trading more than the tangible goods they intended. An example of this is the Columbian Exchange, an interaction between the Old World and the New World started by Columbus landing in South America in 1492 which led to the exchange of ideas, diseases, crops, and people between Africa, Europe, and the Americas.

When Columbus set out from Spain as Admiral of the Seas, he left in search of a direct sea route to Asia from Europe which did not require circumnavigating Africa. Europeans previously used the Silk Road to safely trade goods with Asia under the Pax Mongolica, but with the fall of Constantinople to the Ottoman Turks, they were in need of a safer route.

Bartolomeu Dias sailed around the tip of South Africa in 1488, but Columbus believed there was a faster and more direct route to the west by sailing directly across what was then called the “Ocean Sea” or modern day Atlantic Ocean. Columbus' plan did meet with some controversy. Scholars of the time had long since believed the planet was round and also correctly believed that Asia was a greater distance away than Columbus estimated. Although there was no knowledge of the Americas, most scholars of the era believed the best path was around the tip of Africa.

Anthropology 210, (Modes of Exchange)

Reasoning and method of exchange have changed and developed through necessity over history.  In the ancient world, it began with reciprocity.  There are three kinds of reciprocity; generalized, balanced and negative.  Generalized reciprocity is the act of giving something without an expectation of something in return, such as when a parent takes care of a child knowing the child will not be able to return the favour for an extended period of time.  Balanced reciprocity is an exchange with an expected return of equal value.  An example of this would be most gift giving occasions, where gifts are exchanged with an assumed balance of value between gift givers.  Negative reciprocity happens when at least one participant of the exchange hopes to get something for nothing.  Examples of this range from bargaining to theft.

As civilization developed, new methods of exchange were also developed.  As organised leadership came to power, they acquired the ability to collect goods from all members of the group to then reallocate them to the group so all may have access to the things they need.  Socialism relies heavily on this concept, using taxes collected from the group to fund services for all, including those who could not have afforded them with their own income.

The most recent mode of exchange is market exchange.  Market exchange has multiple buyers and sellers, competing with each other to get the best deal.  A small scale example would be a bazaar.  All of these modes are still part of the world today.

History of Civilizations, 111 (History Method; Printing Press)

In the ancient world, education was a luxury not many could access or afford. Originally, the written word was mostly kept by monasteries, with monks copying manuscripts by hand for hours at a time. The work was slow and tedious, with most of the works focusing on religious messages. Sometimes older manuscripts were wiped clean for new ones, pieces may be doctored, or some would not be recopied for their dangerous substance.

Although there were a few innovations leading up to its conception, in around 1440 Johannes Gutenberg invented the printing press. Use of the printing press made mass production of books possible, making the knowledge they contain accessible to more people. Moving control from the church also allowed writers freedom of topics.

Dubbed as the “agent of change” in Europe, the printing press was used for mass communication, bringing together disorganised masses and bolstering a new middle class. It also fueled scientists, giving them a means to communicate with each other and share their findings, eventually leading to the scientific revolution. Printings made for more universal versions of texts, and led to a rise in literacy throughout Europe. Vernacular languages gained in popularity to replace Latin as the universal language, printing helped standardise spelling and syntax within languages which some claim led to the rise of nationalism in Europe.

The printing press was the first major step in breaking the pattern of having an educated elite, allowing information to travel quickly and accurately. It allowed for secular printing, encouraging the spread of scientific findings and suppressed the power of the church to doctor said secular writing. This freedom helped ease Europe into future enlightenment and revolution.

History of Civilizations, 111 (History Method; Kites)

The ancient Chinese Civilization were a very ingenious people, having created many everlasting inventions that drastically affected the course of history. One seemingly innocent example is the kite. A kite is a lightweight flying device made from silk on a bamboo frame. This simple design was used for a variety of purposes, originating with primarily military tactics. The first documented use was for a rescue mission in 549 AD to deliver a message. Military applications included delivery of munitions, intimidation and symbolism, issuing orders, and even launching men into the air for reconnaissance as early as 550 AD. Kites were also used for scientific discovery and domestic purposes in ancient times, such as measuring distances, testing the wind, and even fishing.

In later years, kites were adapted for weather experiments as well as Benjamin Franklin's renowned lightning experiment. They were used as a stepping stone for more modern flying apparatus, as well as alternative methods of propulsion and parachuting.

With all these great uses, there is also a fun side to kites that has lasted through the ages. Colourful displays of intricate designs representing different cultures, ranging from simple butterflies floating in the wind behind a child on the beach to complicated multi-flier dragons in festive parades. Some attach flutes, bows, or gourds to create musical whistling with the air flow. A hold over from the militant history of kites is kite fighting or running, where fliers actively try to cut each other down, maneuvering through the air with agile moves to either snag other kites or sever their tethers.

Kites have found their way into cultures around the world, use in celebration and even religious ceremonies. Although they have lost their military use since the modern aircraft has come into play, they still hold a place as a staple of the simple joys of childhood and a daydream of freedom for all mankind.

Anthropology, 210 (Response for 7Nov)

As you said in your response to mine, I'm glad you took a different perspective than I did.  I agree that art is often very personal and the interpretation can be different from person to person, often not following the original intention of the artist.  We looked at art more by it's intended audience, because that is an aspect of art.  Some is intended to share a message with others, while some is for personal use and may have been created with the intention of being seen by others.  There can even be a mixture of intentions, like with the example of the Mona Lisa you used.  It was created for mass audiences with secret personal meanings hidden within.  As with language, there are many facets to art.

Anthropology, 210 (Is Art a Universal Language?)

Art is a form of expression that transcends above the differences between humanity and focuses on the similarities. Diego Rivera, an artist of the 20^th century, said “art is the universal language and it belongs to all mankind.” As with writing, art is a form of symbolism. It is a physical manifestation of a myriad of social values of a society as envisioned by an individual or even a group. A project is created to show a point of view and illicit a reaction. The message can be positive or negative, broad or specific, local or global. Artists create their works with an audience in mind, and audiences respond to these works as if the works were addressed to them. (Anthro) 

 Art is a method of communication mankind has always employed, beginning with simple representation of daily life and outlines of hand prints on cave walls to modern graffiti commenting on social issues. Drawing and painting aren't the only everlasting artistic expression, from tribes dancing for the clouds to bring rain to ballet performances depicting entire lifetimes. Art is an important tool to use as a healthy outlet for emotional expression as well as a method of reinforcing central values of a culture. (Anthro)

Lavenda, Robert H., and Emily A. Schultz. "Primates of the Miocene." Anthropology: What Does It Mean to Be Human? New York: Oxford UP, 2013. N. 285-289. Print. 

Anthropology, 210 (Response for Chapter 7)

Your social analysis of the "mother" and "father" assignment is very valid, but I'd like to point out that there are times that adopted children have felt a sense of not belonging with their caregivers.  The definition of "mother" and "father" can be brought back to the nature versus nurture argument, where sometimes people will assign these roles to people who they feel fill those roles, be it within their household, outside the household, or even a figure they don't have true intimate ties with.  It's also variant between societies for the emphasis placed on parental figures, for instance, how some groups have communal caregiving, shared elders, and hold the genetic history in high regard.  These values would affect how a child would view themselves and their parental role assignments.

Anthropology, 210 (Kiowa Christianity)

The Kiowa nation were a Native American tribe who interacted with Christian missionaries in the late 1800s. As tensions rose between settlers and Native Americans, Christian reformers were tasked to westernizing the tribes through missionary work. At first there was resistance, but as more prominent members of tribes accepted the change, other followed suit. Missionaries were successful by not forcing the Kiowa to abandon their traditions, but instead, to interweave their native traditions and values with Christian ones. The tribe traditionally practiced a Sun Dance ceremony which was forcefully stopped by the U.S. Government in 1890.

With the abolition of their Sun Dance ceremony, it was a natural move for Christian traditions to fill the void. Churches became a strong centre of their community, with the focus on “the will of God” as the values they were following. Many hymns and songs were written specifically for their culture in their Kiowa language. These hymns actually gave strength to the individual Kiowa culture, language, and spirituality. The primary values of the village did not change with the adaptation of Christianity, they were just celebrated and expressed through a slightly different medium. The method is reminiscent of how Christianity itself adopted traditions from other cultures and religions to blend them together.

Anthropology, 210 (Response to Agriculture as a Mistake)

I agree with your assessment.  Forming groups and hierarchies is more of an innate character trait of social animals, including humans.  Even before stationary settlements, there was a concept of who were the leaders, who plays which role, and how much priority was given to that role.  Egos naturally come into play in a group setting.  It is a natural drive to want to be the best among your peers and have the best resources.  As you said, much more positive was gained from settlements than negative.  Just like technology, social interactions evolve over time.  Humans are just reluctant to change.

Anthropology, 210 (Agriculture and Diseases)

Before agriculture and the domestication of consumable animals, humans were nomadic groups moving between locations, foraging and hunting for food.  As agriculture developed, tribes were able to create small settlements and create more advanced social structures.  Some settlements were in naturally fertile areas while others were adapted using irrigation techniques.  Developments in agriculture and animal raising made it possible for larger populations to congregate in a single location.  Close quarters, waste build up, proximity to animals, and enlivened trade made populations susceptible to disease.

Cramped space makes disease easier to transmute from person to person, making the impact larger than a smaller population over a faster amount of time before people can have the chance to develop immunities.  With more people and animals producing waste faster than can be properly dealt with, some animal borne diseases transfered to humans.  Animals also carried parasites which compounded in moist geography and areas that were developed with irrigation.

Large production of resources and established settlements made trade more common and easier even across broad distances.  Remaining nomadic groups would travel from settlement to settlement with not only goods but also carried diseases with them between populations.  This pattern had many different effects, including weeding out the weak, crippling a settlement against invasions, or even completely wiping them out.

History of Civilizations, 111 (History Method; Algebra)

Mathematics are a study which has been touched upon by many ancient civilizations. Islamic mathematicians expounded upon a lot of Greek geometry, while mixing in discoveries by neighbouring cultures such as the Syrians and the Babylonians. Using these previous founding and their own ingenuity, Arabs scholars were able to develop algebra, the art of using arithmetic with unknown non-numerical objects in equations to find possible solutions for the unknowns. Other developments included the decimal place-value system and fractions, parabolas, and cubic equations.

The word algebra actually comes from the Arabic root جبر (jabr) which means “to set or fix” making الجبر (al-jabr) equate to “the fix” or “restore”, lending to the idea of solving the two sides of equations used in algebra lead to the solution. The findings found by scholars of this era are still used in modern times and have been the cornerstones to more advanced mathematics such as trigonometry.

Anthropology, 210 (Homo Erectus Response)

You covered a lot of the important differences of Homo Erectus from the earlier Homos.  Homo Erectus also had a large change in diet from their ability to harness fire and better hunt larger game.  They developed smaller teeth, bigger brains, bigger bodies, smaller stomachs, and less body hair due to their consumption of easier to eat and digest food cooked over a fire.  To catch this food, Homo Erectus has to use the advantage of endurance versus speed.  Three evolutionary developments, energetics, stabilization, and temperature regulation helped level the playing field. Energetics refers to the storage and transference of energy in muscular structure.  Stabilization is an adaptation of centre of gravity in the human structure, specifically using the large gluteus maximus to help with balance and core strength.  Temperature regulation helps with cooling the body, unlike many four-legged animals, humans have the ability to sweat through pores on their bodies to cool their core temperature without having to stop movement as well as having less body hair to hold in heat.  These adaptations gave Homo Erectus the advantage of keeping chase longer than faster animals with burst speeds, eventually tracking them to the point of exhaustion and killing them with blunt tools.


This crap is getting tedious, but keeping record in case there is a claim I didn't do it.

History of Civilizations, 111 (Compare/Contrast Aztec and Inca)

There are many different approaches to creating and maintaining an empire. In the Americas, there were two societies which had very contrasting approaches to these issues. These societies were the Aztecs of Mexico and the Incas in the Andes of South America.

The Aztecs were a military powerhouse, they conquered a territory then established balance of power with intermarriages and by installing locals into ruling positions. Groups absorbed into their empire were allowed relative freedom so long as they payed their taxes regularly to the main state, in turn they gained access to trade items they may not have other wise and the right to keep their lives. Those taxes were generally paid with feathers, gold, and tributes for sacrifice. In addition to the psychological aspect of sacrifice to keep their states in line, the Aztecs believed human blood was needed to sustain the status quo in the universe with their gods.

The Inca were also a strong military power, but unlike the Aztecs, they had an approach similar to the Romans in conquest. They built roads all across the Andes to connect their cities and suyu, or city-states, and used a system of knots in thread to communicate across distances in lieu of writing. The Inca did practice human sacrifice very sparsely, often sacrificing children for as the most pure of beings, the difference being they were not appeasing gods nor using it for psychological warfare. Being chosen was viewed as an honour and a way for the the children to transcend to live with the gods in paradise. These rituals were often held at volcanoes.

Anthropology, 210 (Homo Erectus as a Hunter)

There is some uncertainty over the diet of Homo Erectus.  Bones from large game such as elephants and baboons have been found alongside tools used by the species in cave excavations.  The origins of these bones have been contested, some arguing the bones may not have been remnants from consumption but collected and moved there by the inhabitants.  Other skeletal evidence has led some to believe in possible cannibalism, while others claim the damage could be from scavenger animals.  Homo Erectus did have fire as a tool, which is why their potential use of meat as a food source is such a point of curiousity.  Eating cooked food "led to their evolving smaller guts, bigger brains, bigger bodies, and reduced body hair" (2009, 194) as well as smaller teeth since cooked foods are softer than raw foods. (Anthro 128)  Other adaptations which support the idea of Homo Erectus being hunters are energetics, stabilization, and temperature regulation.  These adaptations are specific to human, giving them a strong endurance to fatigue while running.  Energetics refers to the storage and transference of energy in muscular structure.  Stabilization is an adaptation of centre of gravity in the human structure, specifically using the large gluteus maximus to help with balance and core strength.  Temperature regulation helps with cooling the body, unlike many four-legged animals, humans have the ability to sweat through pores on their bodies to cool their core temperature without having to stop movement as well as having less body hair to hold in heat.  These adaptations give humans the advantage of keeping chase longer than faster animals with burst speeds, eventually tracking them to the point of exhaustion and killing them with blunt tools.

 

Lavenda, Robert H., and Emily A. Schultz. "Chapter 5: What Can the Record Tell Us About Human Origins?" Anthropology: What Does It Mean to Be Human? New York: Oxford UP, 2008. 127-28. Print.

Anthropology, 210 (Anthropomorphizing Nonhuman Primates Response)

Oversimplifying any interaction is a poor methodology, as one cannot fully know another's mind. This is true for humans and animals alike. You can attempt to predict, to estimate what a reaction may be, but there is always the possibility for surprise. As humans we tend to oversimplify to make daily interactions easier. We see sloths as slow, deer as docile, koalas as cuddly, and cats as smart even though all have been documented as having opposite character traits. In terms of nonhuman primates, to assume the worst is a little unfair, as they follow behaviour patterns very similar to humans. They work to protect the collective, and reserve aggression for when they feel threatened. There are plenty of instances of wild gorillas interacting with humans in a positive manner. If anything, one could view animals as acting more rational than many humans, for their actions are guided by instinct and less by emotional analysis.

Video Games and Learning, (Assignment 1)

Super awkward video for a free online course I decided to add onto my work load for some crazy reason.

Anthropology, 210 (Miocene Primates)

The Miocene era was a period of change. The continents moved, the Earth cooled, and grasslands expanded. Early hominoid fossils were only found in Africa, as it was originally not connected to the other continents. Later, a land bridge formed and hominoids moved through the Arabian Peninsula into Eurasia then on into western Europe and China. Some also traveled into North America. Although there is fossil evidence to support these travels, there are very few fossils from the later years of this period. The lack of fossils make it difficult for anthropologists to decipher which may be the last common ancestor of African apes and humans. (Anthro 107)

During this tumultuous time, many species became extinct. Due to the climate changes, grasslands expanded across forest dominated areas, along with a new cilica-rich grass which was weeded out many herbivores who had difficulty eating the hardier grasses. (Miocene) One adaptation by hominoids was found in the species Proconsul heseloni. The Proconsul heseloni was a tree-dwelling proto-ape with a skeletal structure was a mixture of modern and old world. (Anthro 107)

Lavenda, Robert H., and Emily A. Schultz. "Primates of the Miocene." Anthropology: What Does It Mean to Be Human? New York: Oxford UP, 2013. N. 107. Print.

"Miocene." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 29 Sept. 2013. Web. 08 Oct. 2013.

History of Civilizations, 111 (Greek/Roman Contributions to Modern Times)

Man has looked to the stars for direction since the nomads. Stars have been used for navigation, divination, and to better understand the universe. They're impossible to miss, even with modern pollution clogging up the atmosphere. In the ancient times of the Greeks and Romans, scholars and plebeians alike looked to the sky for answers to many of life's questions.

Ancient astronomers learned how to predict a solar eclipse, they recognised the Earth was round and deducted that the Earth traveled in an elliptical orbit around the Sun. They mapped the constellations and tracked planet movement all with the naked eye.

One of the most well known contributions taken from these ancient times are the names of the five planets visible to the naked eye in the night sky. Both the Greeks and the Romans assigned names to the different coloured planets they noticed moving across the sky after Gods in their religion. 

Mercury was originally thought to be two different planets by the Greeks due to its' appearances in both day and night. Eventually they realised it was a single planet moving quickly through the heavens, the Greeks naming it after Hermes which was adopted by the Romans using their name for the same swift footed messenger God.

The planet Venus was named for much simpler reasons. As the brightest, and most beautiful, star in the night sky, Romans named this planet for their Goddess of beauty. Venus is the only celestial body named after a female, and was used as a symbol for womanhood even earlier by the Babylonians.

A splash of colour in the sky caught some attention, dubbing this planet “the red one” by many civilizations. This planet was given the name Mars by the Romans, their God of war, for this bloodlike colour. The largest of the visible planets has held the namesake of head deities for much of history; Marduk by the Babylonians, Zeus by the Greeks, and Jupiter by the Romans.

The Greeks viewed the furthest planet as sacred to their God of agriculture, whom the Romans called Saturn. He was also the father of Jupiter.

Anthropology, 210 (Biological Races)

The idea of biological races has actually been looked upon from multiple schools of thought.  The essentialist view actually supported the idea that differences among members of the human race were part of God's intention in their creation.  It's sometimes used to support acceptance of difference among people even in modern times, such as by feminists and anti-racism or anti-homosexuality groups.

Taxonomy takes the scientific approach of applying the definitions used for flora and other fauna deviations among subsets and applying them to deviations among groups of humans.  The idea that all fall under homo sapien sapien species with small differences such as skeleton and muscular vascular structure.  All races are on the same level, like a generation on a family tree.  Taxonomist Ernst Mayr defined the difference between subspecies and race, expressing that characteristics that are not strong enough in difference or do not have enough of a genetic basis are called races instead of subspecies.

Population theory viewed race as specifically genetic differences, via Mendelian inheritance.  Mendelian inheritance was the core of classic genetics, the basis for punnett squares and genetic traits.  A Mendelian trait would be a defining genetic make up that separates individuals from each other.  Population theory and taxonomy were popular around the same time, in the 1970s.

Finally, in the 1990s, Templeton wrote on the Lineage theory, saying that race was defined by a trait that continued through multiple generations and is still present after prolonged amount of time.

Most agree that race is not biological, but a cultural distinction of visual differences.  Personally, I believe that the cultural issues that have derived from scientific study of the variances among humans has coloured the view of simple documentation of differences among subsets.  Classifying finches for different beak shapes doesn't seem like a far cry from classifying humans for different facial structures.

Anthropology, 210 (Pre-Darwin View of Natural Theory)

Much of the driving force behind man is to understand and define how and why they exist. Many have tried to answer this question, ranging from the spiritual to the literal in reason, often trying to find a compromise between the two schools of thought. The spiritual quest began with the Zoronastrians of the Persians, monotheistic worshipers who questioned why they existed were the precursors for Judeo-Christian religions that would shape the field of science. The religious perspective thought the world was fresh and would end soon. There were varying views on the natural order of humans, flora, and fauna.

The Greeks believed the world was old and unending. They followed a philosophy developed by Plato called essentialism, believing that each species had specific traits which all members of that species would share and define them. In contrast, Aristotle believed that traits could overlap between species, not making them the same but showing a close relation between the two. He arranged organisms from most primitive to most advanced, based on how much they deviated from what they viewed as the divine ideal. This process, called the Great Chain of Being, expressed how all organisms were connected and was the framework for modern biological taxonomy, or classification.

Carolus Linnaeus was a Swedish botanist who expanded taxonomy from his predecessors, he viewed his work as a documentation of the order of life as created by God. This system did not account for changes or evolutions amongst species members for during this time in Europe, the mid 1700s, as the traditional view followed essentialist requirements for species classification and that no new species could exist as all species were created by God all at once.

In the early 1800s catastrophism was a theory to understand the abrupt disappearance and emergence of different species via natural disasters such as floods, earthquakes, or acts of God. This theory conformed to the traditional view, but caused issue by suggesting new species could be created. The same theorist, Cuvier, also suggested that not all organisms were in a succession of hierarchy, but actually in four separate groups with each group being unconnected to the other. These theories eventually lead to uniformtarianism, which allowed for change but argued that change was part of God's plan.

Inconsistencies continued to rise leading into the 1900s, many scientists including George Louis Leclerc, Charles Darwin's grandfather Erasmus Darwin, and Jean-Baptiste Lamarck tried to link together the information eventually leading to transformational evolution. The basics of transformational evolution was an organism's ability to adapt to a changing environment. The key was an individual's ability to change instead of an entire species becoming something new. Lamarck hypothesised that an organ becomes stronger with use and weakens by disuse, and that this trait would be inherited by offspring. This would eventually be debunked, but opened the door for Charles Darwin's theory of evolution.

History of Civilizations, 111 (Compare/Contrast Sparta and Athens)

Ancient Greece was a conglomerate of different city-states, with two of the bigger factions being Sparta and Athens. Both are very proud of their nation, holding strong to the foundations of their society and their individual strengths. Both cultures allegedly practised pederasty, although there are writings countering this as commonplace in Sparta, it was well encouraged in Athens. Overall, the two were very contrasting in what they believed would forge a strong and everlasting society.

 The Spartans were a military powerhouse, beginning the training of their militia at a young age. All male Spartan citizens were required to be a member of the military, being unable to live with their family until age 30 and are active reserve until age 60. With the men fighting battles, women were given more respect, status, and power than any other culture of the time. They were educated, allowed freedom to go in public and compete in sports. Although it is said Spartans were only focused on war, they were also required to study more liberal arts such as reading, writing, music, and dance.

 Athens was a very different society. They focused on freethinking and the arts. Athenians believed that every male citizen should be active in political affairs, bringing every issue to be debated and voted upon by the public. Many famous philosophers emerged from this city and time, with many different approaches to pondering the world around them. Architecture, poetry, sculpting and dramatic arts from this period are still in use in the modern world. Although they were a more enlightened society, they were also a very misogynistic. Their women were mostly kept indoors and often were not educated.

History of Civilizations, 111 (The Olympic Games)

Competition has always been an aspect of human interaction. Ancient Greece thrived in this condition, driving them to flourish in intellectual, political, and economic success. Not only would they work hard, they would play hard. The Olympic Games were created to honour Zeus through athletic competitions between the city-states. Held every four years in Olympia, the games featured running races, boxing, wrestling, chariot racing, and the pentathlon. They began as the Heraea Games, featuring women in running races to become the priestess for the goddess Hera. Over time, the games evolved to include men then later be restricted to men only.

Other ancient cultures held organised sport events to foster competition, co-relations and entertainment. The Scots held the Highland Games which featured many strength events and artistic expression. Smaller scale sporting events have been used for God worship and political unity in all cultures.

Originally the Olympics were a religious festival to honour the Greek God Zeus, spread across multiple days featuring animal sacrifice and artistic competitions. During the Peloponnesian War, the games were used as a time to announce alliances between city-states along the borders and pray for victory from the Gods. During the Games, a time of truce was observed to allow athletes and visitors to travel safely to the games.

The Olympic tradition was suppressed in 394 AD by the Roman Emperor to strengthen the presence of Christianity in Greece, but was revived in 1896 for the modern era. Held in Athens, the spirit of peace among now International Countries instead of city-states. More events were added to the line up and often the Games were used as a guise for political agendas. The adaptation for modern day use has been a positive addition to international relations and social progression for civil rights.

History of Civilizations, 111 (Compare/Contrast Mesopotamia and Egypt)

Civilizations have the same essential components; cultural beliefs, writing system, and cities. The make up of these components are what define and separate one from another. To truly see the differences, one must first asses the similarities. The ancient civilizations of Egypt and Mesopotamia both had pictographic writing systems, polytheistic religious belief systems, pyramidal structures, and an organised social class.

Both civilizations dealt with environmental, economic, and social issues, and invasions by other cultures. Each existed on the banks of large rivers, Egypt on the Nile River and Mesopotamia on the Euphrates and Tigris Rivers.

The Egyptians used hieroglyphics for writing, using small images to represent words, sounds, or ideas, often relying on context for translation. They also had a less formal version called hieratic for quick scribing and daily life. Their Pharaoh was originally viewed as the voice of the gods, but during the New Kingdom, direct worship of the loving gods was more emphasized. Egyptians believed the heart was the holder of thoughts and emotions, and focused heavily on the afterlife. Living a worthy life to become a blessed spirit on Earth after death. Pyramids in Egypt were used for burials as well as for worship, shaped in a complete pyramid made from either stone or mud. Women were given more regard in Ancient Egypt than in many other socities, their focus was more on class and economic position, although the law recognised all as relatively equal excluding slaves who still had basic rights.

Mesopotamians wrote using cuneiform, also developed from pictograms for writing Sumerian. Their religious system is similar to Greek and Roman structure with a group of finicky Gods under one leader. Philosophy was more important to their culture, asking why they exist and from where they originated. Ziggurats are the Sumerian version of pyramids, with more of a boxy structure made from brick used as shrines and safe strongholds for priests to perform rituals. Although women had rights in Mesopotamia, it was a patriarchal society benefiting those with a better economic status. Even their laws followed that bias.

History of Civilizations, 111 (Roman Bath Houses)

Roman bath houses were not the first incarnation of bath houses, some date back as far as 2500 BC, first with naturally warm waters from volcanic activity. Once they developed hypocaust, a system for transporting hot or cold water to different areas, every Roman city had an extravagant bathing facility. Bath houses were a social hot bed for the Romans, often becoming dens of stagnant hot water where hedonistic socialites would drink, have sex, and make merry.

Versions of these bath houses still exist all around the world, ranging in use from recreational to healing. In Asia, gender separate bath houses are used for relaxation and bonding. For example, Koreans will go in groups together and as a show of friendship, they will scrape the dead skin from each other's backs. The Szechenyi Baths in Budapest, Hungary is the largest medicinal bath in Europe. It is supplied by natural thermal springs below ground and has 15 indoor pools with different minerals to treat varying ailments in each bath.

Regular swimming pools are another modern evolution from ancient bath houses. As they were in ancient times, bath houses and swimming pools serve as modern day watering holes for people to cool off and socialise in a relaxed setting. Luckily, we've since upped the sanitation standards.

Combat Air Challenge: Flickr Set

In house competition between the squadrons on post, it was surprisingly exciting.

Attempted to colour edit these ones too, the day itself was cold, rainy, and overcast.

The rest are here.

Random Omegle Trolling 5

You're now chatting with a random stranger. Say hi!
Stranger: hey aasl
You: Are you drunk?
Stranger: no finger hit twice by accident
You: Legitimate excuse, then.
Stranger: lol asl
You: You first.
Stranger: 16 m canada hbu
You: You're young.
You: 23 f usa
Stranger: lol i can be older if u want
You: You can be?
Stranger: sure i could lie and say im 20 if u want
You: I feel like we're starting this relationship on a foundation of lies and mistrust.
You: How can I ever feel safe leaving you alone in a room with another woman?
Stranger: lol im only kidding im actually 16 and im not drinking
You: You're so willing to lie to me.
You: My heart hurts.
You: My eyes are watering.
You: How could you do this to me?
You: I thought we had something special.
You: A bond of trust and, dare I say it, love.
Stranger: lol who needs another women when u have a sense a humour
You: A deep connection, between two people of semi-similiar geographic ancestry.
Stranger: lol so whats up
You: Well shit, you're a spoil sport.
Stranger: lol
You: I need intrigue, drama, suspense.
You: That's what we women have to feed our vaginas.
You: Otherwise they turn on us and consume us from the inside.
You: Semen is also an acceptable placebo.
Your conversational partner has disconnected.


You're now chatting with a random stranger. Say hi!
Stranger: ey
Stranger: hey*
You: 'Eeeeeeeeeey!
Your conversational partner has disconnected.

Random Omegle Trolling 4

You're now chatting with a random stranger. Say hi!
You: Hey hey heeeeey.
Stranger: hi there :)
You: Smilie face?
You: Damn.
Stranger: 18 f
You: You move quickly.
Stranger: are you horny?
You: Is this where I pretend to put my arm around your shoulder to grab your boob?
Stranger: do you wtant 2 see me uhmm . . . play with my wet pumssy on web cam 4 u? [;
You: I do not have anything protruding from my skull.
Stranger: ok (: babe go loobok at my pro
You: Communicating with you might be easier via cam.
Stranger: http://prn.xxx/3b09
You: I think your URL is confused. It has no vowels, it's not a word.
Stranger: you got an uhmmm. . . account there?
You: Where are you from?
Stranger: & we can get startred
You: Started on what?
Stranger: i'm goin 2 gett off here nd go soetup my cam for u
Stranger: i wilwl be waiting for u therje
Stranger: tlk to you onthxlere
You: okjay iell b thr
Stranger: buh-byee

Your conversational partner has disconnected.

You're now chatting with a random stranger. Say hi!

Stranger: Hey m

Stranger: Asl?

You: Are you saying you are male, or just being lazy when you're saying "Hey, man!"?

Stranger: Male

You: Oh, okay. Glad we cleared that up.

Stranger: Loo

Stranger: Lol

Stranger: U?

You: Do you need to pee?

Stranger: No

Stranger: So theres nothing lije that to clear up

You: You sure? Loo is a common colloquial name for the toilet. May have been a Freudian slip.

Stranger: Possibly

You: Although, his practices have been mostly disregarded at this point.

Your conversational partner has disconnected.

San Antonio: Flickr Set

Exploring San Antonio after finally getting ATP while in Holdover.  

Lemme tell you, they love cowboys. :3

The rest here.