EnglishLiterature

What is the difference between World Literature, British Literature, and American literature?

2012-04-20T03:36:00.001-07:00

The difference between American and British literature has a lot to do with the ages and stages of 'greatness' characterizing both. American literature hasn't been around for as long but has a wonderful frontier attitude. There's loads of adventures and coming of age stuff and some heavy fiddling around with conventions. British lit has it's roots in medieval stuff and, obviously, in Shakespeare. It can be pretentious but more often is characterized by either satire or poetic undertones.

American lit sometimes alludes to British (especially in the reactionary sense) but British rarely alludes to American. World Lit alludes to both but rarely in a complimentary manner.

You might go on to divide World Literature into Post-Colonial and Independent literature. Post-Colonial literature from around the world are works written after British world dominance. Some speak of exploitation while others speak of influence. Independent literature from around the world is characterized by the culture from which it springs with no more weight given to colonial powers than to any other event or background information. I'm a fan of Russian literature (in translation) which is only 'World Literature' if you happen to be outside of Russia.
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Shabnam khan

ENGLISH POETRY POEM

2011-11-27T04:05:00.000-08:00

2011 English Poetry Poem

Come, my songs, let us express our baser passions.
Let us express our envy for the man with a steady job and no worry about the future.
You are very idle, my songs,
I fear you will come to a bad end.
You stand about the streets, You loiter at the corners and bus-stops,
You do next to nothing at all…
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A gentle word like a spark of light,
Illuminates my soul
And as each sound goes deeper,
It's YOU that makes me whole

There is no corner, no dark place,
YOUR LOVE cannot fill
And if the world starts causing waves,
It's your devotion that makes them still

And yes you always speak to me,
In sweet honesty and truth
Your caring heart keeps out the rain,
YOUR LOVE, the ultimate roof

So thank you my Love for being there,
For supporting me, my life
I'll do the same for you, you know,
My Beautiful, Darling Wife.
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The Miracle Of Friendship

There is a miracle called Friendship
that dwells within the heart
and you don't know how it happens
or when it even starts.

But the happiness it brings you
always gives a special lift
and you realize that Friendship
is God's most precious gift.

- Jean Kyler McManus -
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Valentine's Day Poem
Year Round Valentine

I love you all through February,
Not just on Valentine's Day;
I cherish you when flowers of spring
Appear in the midst of May.

I adore you in the summer,
When the air is filled with heat;
Without you in my life each day,
I wouldn't be complete.

I treasure you in fall,
When leaves are turning gold;
I loved you when you were younger;
I'll love you when you're old.

I prize you in the winter,
When colder days are here;
I love you, love you all the time,
Every minute of the year.

So I'll give to you this Valentine,
But I want to let you know,
It's not just today, but always,
That I will love you so.

- Joanna Fuchs

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SHABNAM KHAN

An Introduction to American Literature

2011-08-16T09:43:00.000-07:00

An Introduction to American Literature

In the beginning, America was a series of British colonies on the east coast of the present-day United States. Therefore, its literary tradition begins with the tradition of English literature. However, very quickly unique American characteristics and the breadth of its production began to develop an American writing tradition.
Some consider Captain John Smith to be the first American author, when he wrote The General Historie of Virginia, New England, and the Summer Isles (1624)
Similar writer of interest include Daniel Cox, John Hammond, Gabriel Thomas, George Percy, Daniel Denton, Thomas Ash, John Lawson and William Strachey.
Poetry was also written in those early days, Nicholas Noyes wrote Doggerel verse.
Edward Taylor and Anne Bradstreet were popular and Michael Wiggleworth was known for his best selling poem. The Day of Doom.
It is almost inevitable that given the history of the early American settlers, religious questions were rich topics for early writings. A journal written by John Winthrop discussed the religious foundations of the Massachusetts Bay Colony. Edward Winslow also recorded a diary of the first years after the Mayflower's arrival. Other religiously influenced writers included Increase Mather and William Bradford, author of the journal published as A History of Plymouth Plantation, 1620-47. Others like Roger Williams and Nathaniel Ward more fiercely argued state and church separation.
A Calvinistic revival in the early 18th century inspired strict Puritan and other religious writers including, Samuel Willard, John Wise, Uriah Oakes, Thomas Shepard, and Thomas Hooker. Other less strict writers were Samuel Sewell, Sarah Kemble-Knight and William Byrd.
Interaction and conflict with the Indians are described by Daniel Gookin, Alexandra Whitaker, John Mason, Benjamin Church and Mary Rowlandson.
The Bible was also translated into the Algonquin language by John Eliot and Mary Rowlandson.
It is inevitable that during the revolutionary period political writings would abound and these included works by the colonists, John Dickinson, Josiah Quincy, Samuel Adams, and loyalist Joseph Galloway.
Benjamin Franklin's work; Poor Richard's Almanac and The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin were popular and influenced the building of an American identity. Pain's works, common Sense, and, The American Crisis, also plays a key role in the political development of that period of history.

I WANDER'D lonely as a cloud

2011-05-26T03:58:00.000-07:00

"Daffodils" (1804)

I WANDER'D lonely as a cloud

That floats on high o'er vales and hills,

When all at once I saw a crowd,

A host, of golden daffodils;

Beside the lake, beneath the trees,
Fluttering and dancing in the breeze. Continuous as the stars that shine

And twinkle on the Milky Way,

They stretch'd in never-ending line

Along the margin of a bay:

Ten thousand saw I at a glance,
Tossing their heads in sprightly dance. The waves beside them danced; but they

Out-did the sparkling waves in glee:

A poet could not but be gay,

In such a jocund company:

I gazed -- and gazed -- but little thought
What wealth the show to me had brought: For oft, when on my couch I lie

In vacant or in pensive mood,

They flash upon that inward eye

Which is the bliss of solitude;

And then my heart with pleasure fills,
And dances with the daffodils.

By William Wordsworth (1770-1850).

British Royal family

2011-05-22T08:09:00.000-07:00

About the Name Windsor

The royal family has little use for last names - after all, everyone knows who they are. Princess Diana did not take back her maiden name, Spencer, after her divorce; she continued to be known simply as "Diana." The Queen signs official documents "Elizabeth R." The R stands for Regina, which means "queen." (Regina is not one of her given names; she was baptised Elizabeth Alexandra Mary.)
But the royal family does have a last name, and they do use it from time to time. This wasn't always the case. Queen Victoria's husband, Prince Albert, was a member of the House of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha, so her descendants were part of that dynasty. This, however, was not the family's last name. They didn't have one, because they didn't need one, so they didn't worry about it. Experts later worried about it for them and decided their name was probably "Witten" (or maybe even Wipper).
The royal family's official name, or lack thereof, became a problem during World War I, when people began to mutter that Saxe-Coburg-Gotha sounded far too German. King George V and his family needed a new, English-sounding name. After considering everything from Plantagenet to Tudor-Stuart to simply England, the king and his advisors chose the name Windsor.
To this day, the British royal family is known as the House of Windsor. When Princess Elizabeth (the current queen) served as a subaltern in the Auxiliary Territorial Service during World War II, she was called "Elizabeth Windsor." Elizabeth married Prince Philip of Greece, whose family name was Mountbatten, and eventually she decreed that most of her descendants would be called Mountbatten-Windsor. Princess Anne used this name in 1973 when she married Captain Mark Phillips.
However, according to statements made by the queen, it appears that Windsor is still the official family name for any British royal who is styled "Royal Highness." The queen's youngest son, Prince Edward, the Earl of Wessex, has used the name Edward Windsor professionally. His wife, the Countess of Wessex, has been known professionally as Sophie Wessex.

The Order of Succession

The queen has given her approval for Parliament to consider a law that would give royal daughters the right to inherit the throne before their younger brothers. Under current law, Prince Andrew and Prince Edward (and their children) rank ahead of their older sister, Princess Anne, in the line of sucession. If the law changes, Anne will be fourth in line to the throne. Prince Charles, as the queen's eldest child, will remain heir to the throne.

The current order of succession

Prince Charles, the Prince of Wales
Prince William
Prince Harry
Prince Andrew, Duke of York
Princess Beatrice
Princess Eugenie
Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex
James Windsor, Viscount Severn
Lady Louise Windsor
Princess Anne, the Princess Royal
Peter Phillips
Savannah Phillips
Zara Phillips

Catholics and the Act of Settlement

The 1701 Act of Settlement made it illegal for a Roman Catholic, or anyone married to a Roman Catholic, to inherit the throne. (Note: It has been rumored that Prince Charles's second wife, the Duchess of Cornwall, is Catholic, but this is not true.)

Royal Palaces

The royal family uses, but does not own, Buckingham Palace, Kensington Palace, St James's Palace, Hampton Court, Windsor Castle and other residences. Balmoral and Sandringham are the queen's personal property.

The Royal Family

The Firm: The Troubled Life of the House of Windsor by Penny Junor. This book promises an in-depth look at how the royal family really operates and how they behave behind closed doors.
The Women of Windsor: Their Power, Privilege & Passions by Catherine Whitney. Examines the lives of Britain's Queen Elizabeth II, the Queen Mother, Princess Margaret, and Princess Anne.
Wives of the Kings of England: From Hanover to Windsor by Mark Hichens. Discusses Queen Alexandra, Queen Mary, the Duchess of Windsor, the Queen Mother, and others.
The British Monarchy for Dummies by Philip Wilkinson. Explains the origins of the monarchy, how it works, what the royals do all day, and more.
Britain's Royal Heritage: An A to Z of the Monarchy by Mark Alexander. Contains more than 2,000 entries on topics such as Maundy Money and the Coronation Ceremony.
On Royalty: A Very Polite Inquiry Into Some Strangely Related Families by Jeremy Paxman. With a mixture of popular history, direct reportage, and funny anecdotes, the author examines how the role of Britain's head of state has changed over the years.
The Decline and Fall of the House of Windsor by Donald Spoto. Excellent introduction to the personalities and events that shaped the Windsor dynasty, from the days of Queen Victoria to the 1990s. Despite the title, the author is not unsympathetic to his subjects. Out of print, but available from Alibris.
Confessions of a Fake Sheik: "The King of the Sting" Reveals All by Mazher Mahmood. A journalist who poses as a wealthy sheikh talks about his encounters with famous people, including royals.
Living Off the State: A Critical Guide to Royal Finance by Jon Temple. A detailed examination of the official finances of the British monarch and leading members of the royal family. Examines the Duchies of Cornwall and Lancaster; the Civil List; housing for leading royals; the Royal Collection; and more.

Photos

Marcus Adams: Royal Photographer by Lisa Heighway. Marcus Adams took his first portraits of future Queen Elizabeth II in 1926, and he continued to photograph the royals regularly until 1956. This comprehensive collection of his royal portraits includes many previously unpublished images.
The Royal Scrapbook by Robert Opie. Over 1,000 images illustrating more than 100 years of royal events, beginning with Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee and ending with Queen Elizabeth II's Golden Jubilee.
The Queen's Year: A Souvenir Album by David Oakey. A season-by-season guide to the Queen's busy year, illuminating the traditions behind many royal events. Illustrated with new photos.
Magic Moments: The Greatest Royal Photographs of All Time by Arthur Edwards. For thirty years, photographer Edwards has captured memorable royal moments. This book contains his best color pictures and unique stories.

Pros & Cons of Monarchy

Crowning Glory: The Merits of Monarchy by Charles Neilson-Gattey. Argues that monarchy is a stabilizing force, and explains how the concept of a constitutional monarch emerged and how monarchs since Queen Victoria have played that role.
The End of the House of Windsor: Birth of a British Republic by Stephen Haseler. Is the British monarchy an absurd anachronism or the lynchpin of the nation state? This controversial book argues that, as a result of recent scandals, a British republic is now inevitable.
War of the Windsors: A Century of Unconstitutional Monarchy by Lynn Picknett, Clive Prince, and Stephen Prior. Examines the battle for power in the modern British royal family. Topics include the abdication of Edward VIII, the cover-up of royal financial scandals, and the use of euthanasia on royals.
God Save the Queen? Monarchy and the Truth About the Windsors by Johann Hari. The author says the royal family's members have been broken and destroyed by the institution they were born into.
God Save the Queen: The Spiritual Dimension of Monarchy by Ian Bradley. Explores the spiritual dimension of monarchy in historical and contemporary times, and the debate on the future of the British monarchy. Out of print, but available from Alibris.

Monarchy, Constitution & Politics

Down With the Crown by Antony Taylor. British anti-monarchism and debates about royalty since 1790.
The Monarchy and the Constitution by Vernon Bogdanor. English constitutional history and theory. The author makes a case for the positive role that monarchy plays in modern democratic politics.
King and Country: Monarchy and the Future of King Charles III by Robert Blackburn. Unravels the tangled relationship between crown and state in Great Britain, examining how a monarchy can work in a democracy, the political powers of a British monarch and the nature of the royal prerogative, the case for republicanism, and the future of the monarchy.
The Nature of the Crown: A Legal and Political Analysis edited by Maurice Sunkin and Sebastian Payne. Essays about the monarchy and constitutional law in Great Britain.
The Constitutional History of England by Henry Hallam. From the accession of Henry VII to the death of George II.
The Executive in the Constitution: Structure, Autonomy, and Internal Control by Alan Page and Terence Daintith.

Titles, Rites, and Ceremonies

Honours and Rewards in the British Empire and Commonwealth (2 Volume Set) by Anthony N. Pamm.
Symbol and Privilege: The Ritual Context of British Royalty by Ilse Hayden. Customs, rites and ceremonies of British royalty. Out of print, but available from Alibris.

Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip

Books About Queen Elizabeth & Prince Philip

The Princess Royal

The Princess Royal by John Parker. A 1989 biography of Queen Elizabeth II's only daughter. Out of print, but available from Alibris.
Riding Through My Life by HRH The Princess Royal. Princess Anne's own account of how riding has benefited her life, from her first tiny pony through becoming European Champion in the dangerous sport of Three-Day Eventing, and representing Britain in the Olympic Games. From Alibris.
Anne: Portrait of a Princess by Judith Campbell. About the events, joys, and sorrows of childhood and life at school which formed Princess Anne's strong character. Published in 1970. From Alibris.
Anne and the Princesses Royal by Helen Cathcart. A book about the position of Princess Royal through the ages as well as about Princess Anne. From Alibris.

More Books About Princess Anne

Zara Phillips

Zara Phillips: A Revealing Portrait of a World Champion by Brian Hoey. The only daughter of Princess Anne, Zara Phillips is known as a royal rebel. This book looks beyond the public image to reveal the real Zara with anecdotes and quotes from those who know her.
Out of the Shadows: The Richard Johnson Story by Richard Johnson and Alan Lee. Autobiography of Richard Johnson, one of Britain's leading National Hunt jockeys and the former boyfriend of Princess Anne's daughter, Zara Phillips. Available from AbeBooks.

Prince Edward and Sophie Wessex

Edward Windsor, Royal Enigma by Wendy Leigh. What is Prince Edward really like? Find out! This biography is out of print, but available from Alibris.
Sophie's Kiss: The True Love Story of Prince Edward and Sophie Rhys-Jones by Garth Gibbs and Sean M. Smith. The little-known details of the romance between Queen Elizabeth's youngest son and the woman he eventually married. Out of print, but available from Alibris.
Edward Wessex's Crown and Country: A Personal Guide to Royal London by Prince Edward. The prince takes the reader on a tour through the history of London's royal palaces. This is the companion book to the PBS series (for which scroll down to the video section).

Princess Margaret

Princess Margaret: A Life Unravelled by Tim Heald. A biography based on unprecedented access to the Royal Archives and those closest to Princess Margaret, including her ex-husband, Lord Snowdon, and her son, Lord Linley.
Margaret: The Last Real Princess by Noel Botham. Biography of Queen Elizabeth II's unconventional younger sister.
Princess Margaret: A Life of Contrasts by Christopher Warwick. Authorized biography. Available from Alibris.

What is Love

2011-05-22T07:55:00.000-07:00

What is Love

What is love? It is one of the most difficult questions for the mankind. Centuries have passed by, relationships have bloomed and so has love. But no one can give the proper definition of love. To some Love is friendship set on fire for others Maybe love is like luck. You have to go all the way to find it. No matter how you define it or feel it, love is the eternal truth in the history of mankind.
Love is patient, love is kind. It has no envy, nor it boasts itself and it is never proud. It rejoices over the evil and is the truth seeker. Love protects; preserves and hopes for the positive aspect of life. Always stand steadfast in love, not fall into it. It is like the dream of your matter of affection coming true. Love can occur between two or more individuals. It bonds them and connects them in a unified link of trust, intimacy and interdependence. It enhances the relationship and comforts the soul. Love should be experienced and not just felt. The depth of love can not be measured. Look at the relationship between a mother and a child. The mother loves the child unconditionally and it can not be measured at all. A different dimension can be attained between any relationships with the magic of love. Love can be created. You just need to focus on the goodness of the other person. If this can be done easily, then you can also love easily. And remember we all have some positive aspect in us, no matter how bad our deeds maybe. And as God said �Love all�
Depending on context, love can be of different varieties. Romantic love is a deep, intense and unending. It shared on a very intimate and interpersonal and sexual relationship. The term Platonic love, familial love and religious love are also matter of great affection. It is more of desire, preference and feelings. The meaning of love will change with each different relationship and depends more on its concept of depth, versatility, and complexity. But at times the very existence of love is questioned. Some say it is false and meaningless. It says that it never exist, because there has been many instances of hatred and brutality in relationships. The history of our world has witnessed many such events. There has been hatred between brothers, parents and children, sibling rivalry and spouses have failed each other. Friends have betrayed each other; the son has killed his parents for the throne, the count is endless. Even the modern generation is also facing with such dilemmas everyday. But �love� is not responsible for that. It is us, the people, who have forgotten the meaning of love and have undertaken such gruesome apathy.
In the past the study of philosophy and religion has done many speculations on the phenomenon of love. But love has always ruled, in music, poetry, paintings, sculptor and literature. Psychology has also done lot of dissection to the essence of love, just like what biology, anthropology and neuroscience has also done to it.
Psychology portrays love as a cognitive phenomenon with a social cause. It is said to have three components in the book of psychology: Intimacy, Commitment, and Passion. Also, in an ancient proverb love is defined as a high form of tolerance. And this view has been accepted and advocated by both philosophers and scholars. Love also includes compatibility. But it is more of journey to the unknown when the concept of compatibility comes into picture. Maybe the person whom we see in front of us, may be least compatible than the person who is miles away. We might talk to each other and portray that we love each other, but practically we do not end up into any relationship. Also in compatibility, the key is to think about the long term successful relationship, not a short journey. We need to understand each other and must always remember that no body is perfect.
Be together, share your joy and sorrow, understand each other, provide space to each other, but always be there for each others need. And surely love will blossom to strengthen your relationship with your matter of affection.

John Milton

2011-05-21T09:29:00.000-07:00

John Milton was born on December 9, 1608, in London, as the second child of John and Sara (neé Jeffrey). The family lived on Bread Street in Cheapside, near St. Paul's Cathedral. John Milton Sr. worked as a scrivener, a legal secretary whose duties included preparation and notarization of documents , as well as real estate transactions and moneylending. Milton's father was also a composer of church music, and Milton himself experienced a lifelong delight in music. The family's financial prosperity afforded Milton to be taught classical languages, first by private tutors at home, followed by entrance to St. Paul's School at age twelve, in 1620.

In 1625, Milton was admitted to Christ's College, Cambridge. While Milton was a hardworking student, he was also argumentative to the extent that only a year later, in 1626, he got suspended after a dispute with his tutor, William Chappell. During his temporary return to London, Milton attended plays, and perhaps began his first forays into poetry. At his return to Cambridge, Milton was assigned a new tutor, Nathaniel Tovey. Life at Cambridge was still not easy on Milton; he felt he was disliked by many of his fellow students and he was dissatisfied with the curriculum. It was at Cambridge that he composed "On the Morning of Christ's Nativity" on December 25, 1629.

In 1632, Milton took his M.A. cum laude at Cambridge, after which he retired to the family homes in London and Horton, Buckinghamshire, for years of private study and literary composition.¹ His poem, "On Shakespeare", was published in the same year in the Second Folio. From this period hail also his "L'Allegro" and "Il Penseroso." Milton's Comus, a masque, was performed at Ludlow Castle in 1634, to be first published anonymously in 1637, music by the famed court composer Henry Lawes. In April 1637, Milton was nearing the end of his studies when his mother died and was buried at Horton. Only a few months later, in August, Milton's friend Edward King died as well, by drowning. In November, upon his memory, Milton composed the beautiful elegy, Lycidas. It was published in a memorial volume at Cambridge in 1638.

As customary for young gentlemen of means, Milton set out for a tour of Europe in the spring of 1638. He met famed scholar Hugo Grotius in Paris, where he stayed briefly before continuing on to Italy. Milton arrived in Florence in the autumn, where he probably met with Galileo, who was then under house arrest by order of the Inquisition. In Rome, he was a guest of Cardinal Barberini, the Pope's nephew, and visited the Vatican Library. In Naples, Milton met Giovanni Batista, biographer of Torquato Tasso. Milton wrote Mansus in his honor. Upon reaching Geneva to visit with Calvinist theologian Giovanni Diodati, Milton found out about the death of his childhood friend, Charles Diodati in London. Milton's tour of Europe was cut short with rumors of impending civil war in England, and he returned home in July 1639. Shortly after, Milton composed Epitaphium Damonis, a Latin poem to the memory of his dearest friend.

Milton settled down in London, where he began schooling his two nephews, later also taking in children of the better families. The Civil War was brewing — King Charles I invaded Scotland in 1639, and the Long Parliament was convened in 1640. Milton began writing pamphlets on political and religious matters; Of Reformation, Animadversions, and Of Prelatical Episcopacy were published in 1641, The Reason for Church Government in February, 1642.

In the spring of 1642, Milton married Mary Powell, 17 years old to his 34, but the relationship was an unhappy one, and Mary left him to visit the family home briefly thereafter, and did not return. Matters were not improved when the Powells declared for the King in the Civil War which broke out in August. This prompted Milton to write his so-called 'Divorce Tracts' speaking for divorce on the grounds of incompatibility. In 1643, Milton published the Doctrine and Discipline of Divorce, which had its second, longer edition in early 1644. In 1644, Milton also published The Judgement of Martin Bucer Concerning Divorce. The 'Divorce Tracts' caused an uproar both in parliament and amidst the clergy, as well as with the general populace, which earned him the nickname "Milton the Divorcer."² It is in reference to the attempted censorship of the same by the Stationers' Company, that Milton published his eloquent Areopagitica, an oration advocating freedom of the press, in late 1644.³ Milton had also had time to write a treatise Of Education, which prescribed a rigorous course of study for English youth. In 1645, Milton published Tetrachordon and Colasterion, and registered Poems of Mr. John Milton, Both English and Latin.

Milton had made plans to remarry, when Mary Powell returned. The two seem to have reconciled, since their daughter Anne was born in 1646. The whole Powell clan moved in with the Miltons, because Royalists had been ousted from Oxford. The situation was not savory. The year 1647 saw the death of both Milton's father and his father-in-law. The Powells eventually moved out and the Miltons moved to the neighborhood of High Holborn, where their daughter Mary was born in 1648.

It is probable that Milton witnessed the public execution of Charles I on January 30, 1649.⁴ Tenure of Kings and Magistrates was published two weeks later. In March, the Cromwellian government appointed Milton Secretary for Foreign Tongues and ordered him to write an answer to Charles I's purported Eikon Basilike ("Royal Image"). After publishing Observations on the Articles of Peace, Milton published Eikonoklastes ("Image Breaker") in October, 1649. In 1650, the Council of State ordered Milton to write a response to Salmasius' Defensio Regia — the Continental outcry against the English action ("Defense of Kingship"). Defensio pro populo Anglicano was published in February, 1651. Milton's first son, John, was born in March and the Miltons moved to Westminster.

The year 1652 was one of many personal losses for Milton. In February, Milton lost his sight. This prompted him to write the sonnet "When I Consider How My Light is Spent." In May, 1652, Mary gave birth to a daughter, Deborah, and died a few days later. In June, one year-old John died.

In 1654, Milton published Defensio Secunda, the response he had been ordered to write for Pierre du Moulin's Regii sanguinis clamor ("Clamor of the King's Blood"). Andrew Marvell had become his assistant, and he had aides to take dictation, to facilitate the carrying out of his duties as Secretary. In 1655, Defensio Pro Se ("Defense of Himself") was published. In 1656, Milton married Katherine Woodcock, but the happiness was short-lived. Milton's daughter Katherine was born in late 1657, but by early 1658, both mother and daughter had passed away. It is to the memory of Katherine Woodcock that Milton wrote the sonnet "Methought I saw my late espousèd saint."

Lord Protector Oliver Cromwell died in October, 1658, and the days of the Commonwealth were coming to a close. In early 1659, Milton published A Treatise of Civil Power and Ready and Easy Way To Establish a Free Commonwealth. For his propaganda writings, Milton had to go into hiding, for fear of retribution from the followers of King Charles II. In June, 1659, both Defensio pro populo Anglicano and Eikonoklastes were publicly burned. In early autumn, Milton was arrested and thrown in prison, to be released by order of Parliament before Christmas. King Charles II was restored to the throne on May 30, 1660.

In 1663, Milton remarried again, to Elizabeth Minshull, a match his daughters opposed. He spent his time tutoring students and finishing his life's work, the epic, Paradise Lost. Among the greatest works ever to be written in English, the feat is all the more remarkable for Milton's blindness — he would compose verse upon verse at night in his head and then dictate them from memory to his aides in the morning. Paradise Lost finally saw publication in 1667, in ten books. It was reissued in 1668 with a new title-page and additional materials. The book was met with instant success and amazement; even Dryden is reported to have said, "This man cuts us all out, and the ancients too."⁵

History of Britain was published in 1670; Paradise Regain'd and Samson Agonistes were published together in 1671. Of True Religion and Poems, &c. upon Several Occasions were published in 1673. In summer 1674, the second edition of Paradise Lost was published, in twelve books. Milton died peacefully of gout in November, 1674, and was buried in the church of St. Giles, Cripplegate. His funeral was attended by "his learned and great Friends in London, not without a friendly concourse of the Vulgar."⁶ A monument to Milton rests in Poets' Corner at Westminster Abbey.

History of Prince of Persia

2011-05-21T08:33:00.000-07:00

History of Prince of Persia

t all began back in 1989 when Jordan Mechner released Prince of Persia on the Apple //c. It was a game with simple graphics but featured some of the most amazingly fluid animation ever seen in a game.
Jordan had videotaped his brother doing many different styles of animation and incorporated it in his programming. Mechner's previous game, Karateka (1984), also featured some brilliant animation, especially for its time when other games featured pixelated blocks as their protagonist.
Prince of Persia, or PoP as it was nicknamed at the time, was something of a platformer full of treacherous traps and puzzles, like fall-away floor panels, spikes, and sabre-wielding foes. In addition to the deadly traps, the unnamed protagonist (who wasn't a Prince, by the way) had to rescue the princess within an hour's time, or face failure.
The original version of Prince of Persia was re-released in 2007 for Xbox Live Arcade and in 2008 for the PlayStation Network. Both versions featured enhanced graphics and animation, and included more acrobatics and references to the Sand of Time series.
Five years later, in 1994, Prince of Persia 2: The Shadow and the Flame was released with better graphics and a larger environment filled with all sorts of nasty contraptions and a whole new dynamic with the protagonist's shadow.
In 1999, Prince of Persia took a leap into the polygonal world, with the appropriately-named (but not very original) Prince of Persia 3D. It played similar to the original series, with a more dimensional world--a precursor to the following games in the series.
In 2003, arguably the best Prince of Persia game since the original was released: Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time. The Sands of Time garnered high praise for the game's finely tuned mechanics, storyline, and gameplay.
The Prince of Persia took his darkest turn with The Warrior Within, the following year, which took the game into M-rated territory. This wasn't the only change to the game. Jordan Mechner, who had worked on the 2003 title, did not work on The Warrior Within, stating in an interview that he was not happy with the level of violence and the direction of the art style. Despite the changes, the game still received praise from reviewers, although some felt that the charm of The Sands of Time was lost with the grimmer and grimier style of The Warrior Within.
2005 rounded out The Sand of Time series with Prince of Persia: The Two Thrones. This game continued a similar sense of style to that of The Warrior Within, including another M-rating. It received generally favorable reviews, but some felt that it was more of the same but with better graphics.
In 2008, the Prince of Persia experienced a reboot of the series, taking the game into, yet again, a new direction, this time with a whimsical cell-shaded art style and a female companion. The game also presented the player with something of a no-fail mode. Anytime the player was about to perish, whether it was at the end of an enemy sword or by falling off the edge of a very high ledge, the main character would be saved by the wispy female companion.
2010 marked two significant releases in the Prince of Persia franchise. First, the series saw its film debut with the release of Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time. The film starred Jake Gyllenhaal as the rogue prince, and was roughly based on the 2003 game of the same name. While the movie was generally not well-received by reviewers and had little substance, the movie was seen as an entertaining swashbuckler, and was significantly better than most video game adaptations.
Prince of Persia: The Forgotten Sands was also released in 2010, coinciding with the release of the film, but had very little to do with it other than the two being based on the Sands of Time series. The Forgotten Sands is the follow-up to the 2005 Sands of Time series, The Two Thrones. The game received mixed reviews with most of the criticism falling on the overly simplistic combat.

History of Orange Juice

2011-05-20T04:23:00.000-07:00

History of Orange Juice

Orange Juice (OJ) is the best known and most popular raw food drink. It's known for it's vitamin C content and great when you have a cold. But OJ is much more! Here you'll read about the history of orange juice and other fun facts.

Read here about oranges:

Fast OJ facts;
The history of orange juice;
Vitamin C content;
Number of calories;
Why oranges are for the royal family;
Oranges - Santa Claus' favorite fruit;
Other fun facts.

History of Orange Juice

I find the history of orange juice fun. OJ was't always a breakfast drink like it is today. In the mid 1910s there was an overproduction of citrus fruits in California. The OJ growers didn't know what to do with the fruit and didn't see another option but to destroy 30% of its trees. At that time, people didn't have a fridge yet, so if they used the crop for juicing, the juice would only last for a day before it would start to rot.
However, at the same time, pasteurization was discovered and the national railway system was completed. Now, the growers of the citrus could juice their oranges, pasteurize them for longer storage and then ship the juice to the big cities. This is when the OJ was first mass produced and mass marketed.
The history of orange juice is also important for the American culture. The drink started to play an important roll in the Americanisation of breakfast. The orange juice replaced the more British breakfast of stewed fruit.

Santa Loves Oranges

What do Santa and Oranges have in common? Santa Claus originates from his Dutch "brother" Sinterklaas. Sinterklaas is celebrated in the Netherlands at Dec 5. Like Santa, he brings the children presents AND oranges!
Oranges are a symbol of the Dutch Santa. Between 1568 and 1648 there was a war between Spain and the Netherlands (the Spanish War). The trade between these countries never stopped however. In that time, Spain was rich and had many luxuary articles and goodies. The Dutch exchanged gold and silver for spices and oranges. Sinterklaas was also the Saint protecting the sailers who in that time brought the oranges from Spain to the Netherlands.
When the Dutch came to the US they brought their Sinterklaas, who later was Americanized into Santa. So you see, in his old days, Santa loved oranges! With his history of orange.

Oranges for the Royal Family

Oranges are also a symbol and the last name of the Dutch Queen. The Dutch queen got her last name from the little city Orange in France. Once a princedom that was inherited by the Dutch Royal Family. The Dutch Royalties owned this princedom between 1530 - 1702. For many years, this city was the center of the orange trade. This explains also where the French and English word orange comes from.

OJ in the Music

There are few bands named after our juicy drink:

Orange Juice Jones
Orange Juice (Scotland)

Making Orange Juice

You can make OJ with a simple hand juicer, an electric citrus juicer, a fancy Solis centrifuge juicer, the Mercedes amongst the home juicers the Green Star Juicer or a professional Orange Juice Machine. The price ranges from 4$ to 1000$! For everybody there's a right juicer and making orange juice is as easy as a pie.

Orange Juice Smoothie

If you'd like to try something else for breakfast than your regular orange juice, youou can add whole orange juice to a blender i.e. with avocado, banana and a teaspoon of raw chocolate for a delicious breakfast smoothie!
Whether you're starting a raw food diet - or choose to eat cooked food for now, a fresh glass of OJ can be made and found almost anywhere. It's a raw drink full of enzymes and vitamins. A delicious, easy and healthy start of the day!
Click here for more outrageously delicious raw food recipes, juices and smoothies.