Medieval Jousting: §Observed my first Jousting re-enactment at The Renaissance Festival on 11/20/10.
§ Jousting started with the emergence of Knights as a fighting force in Europe of the Middle Ages in the 10th century.
§ Jousting started as a means for knights to practice horsemanship skills and their prowess with the use of a lance - a weapon used by knights during the Middle Ages.
§The first recorded reference of a jousting tournament was dated in 1066 and refers to Godfrey de Preuilly, who is described as having invented the medieval tournament.
§The most skilled and accomplished knights were referred to as the King's champion. He would fight in jousting combat for his King.
§ The decline in jousting started with the invention of the musket in 1520.
§ Jousting moved to a form of lavish entertainment and a venue where men could show their skills in jousting and horsemanship.
Medieval Entertainers:
§Observed several Medieval Entertainers at The Renaissance Festival on 11/20/10.
§ Medieval Entertainers were popular when there was something to celebrate such as victories, weddings, and festivals.
§ Entertainers consisted of jugglers, musicians, masked or costumed merrymakers or dancers just to name of few.
The Executioner
§Survived an execution at The Renaissance Festival on 11/20/10.
§ Execution has been a common punishment throughout the world since the Middle Ages.
§ Execution was inflicted for a large number of crimes including petty offenses involving property. Most death sentences involved torture, such as burning at the stake, breaking on the wheel, and slow strangulation.
§Severe punishment and torture began to die out in the 18th century. Penalties involving torture disappeared with the idea that punishment and death should be swift and humane, whether by guillotine, hanging, the garotte, or the headman's axe.
NASA Johnson Space Center
§ It is the home of NASA’s astronaut corps and is where astronaut training takes place.
§ It is home of The Mission Control Center where all Space Shuttle missions are directed.
§ Lead center for the International Space Station and home of the Constellation Program that will take us back to the moon.
§ Educational and historical center of America’s human space program.
Diamond Head Crater Park
§ I visited Honolulu, Hawaii on April 2005. While in Honolulu, I visited many landmarks in the island of Oahu. The most interesting one was Diamond Head Crater Park.
§ Diamond Head is Hawaii’s most known landmark because of its coastal views, hiking trails, and military history.
§ The crater was formed 300,000 years ago during an explosive eruption.
§The trail to the summit was built in 1908 as part of Oahu’s defense system.
The Houston Live Stock and Rodeo
§Began in 1932.
§ Organized for charitable, educational and scientific purposes and to promote many areas of the livestock industry.
§ Largest Rodeo in the world. In 2011, approximately 2.3 million attended the HLSR.
§ Complete line up of Rodeo events include bareback riding, barrel racing, bull riding, and saddle bronc riding.
§ Feature many interactive activities for the whole family.
The Mexican Silver Peso
My Dad loves to collect these Mexican Silver Pesos. He then gives them to me.
§During the time of Porfirio Díaz, who ruled Mexico as a virtual Dictator between 1876 and 1911, the peso had not changed at all for several centuries. The silver contained in the peso was 24.44 grams.
§ In 1918 Mexican President Carranza issued a new peso that contained only 14.5 grams of silver in order to depreciate the currency to pay for expenses incurred during the Mexican Revolutionary war.
§ In 1920 silver in a peso was reduced to 12 grams. The coin was 72% pure silver and used for 25 years.
§ By 1945 so much paper money had been issued - both in Mexico and in the whole world as a result of World War II – that the silver in the "0.720 Peso" was worth more than one peso, and it was no longer possible to mint.
§ A new peso was issued in 1947 and this new peso had only 7 grams of pure silver. However, this peso lasted only three years; it had to be discontinued again due to monetary inflation.
§ In 1950 the silver content of the peso was again reduced, to 4 grams, and the same thing happened once again - the 4 grams of silver rose in value to more than one peso; this coin was in circulation only four years, up to 1954.
§ In 1957 a new peso with on 1.6 grams of silver was minted. This peso coin circulated for 10 years, until at last the continued inflation made even this tiny amount of silver worth more than one peso and silver coinage ceased to circulate.
§ Pesos minted after 1967 contained no silver.
Country Potato Salad
One of my favorite dishes.
Country Potato Ingredients:
Red Potatoes
Whipping Cream
Velveeta Cheese
Green onions
Pepper
Bacon
Butter
Salt
