LongCase GrandFather Clocks and Their Place in American History Part I

The first person in the United States that became obsessed with the inaccuracy of sand timers and started to make time pieces is entirely unknown. Clocks were imported from both England and Holland. They operated by spring mechanisms. These clocks were so expensive that only major settlements could afford them,which is why the town clock became essential. Few citizen could afford their own time piece. The first clock-makers were the finest of craftsmen. They had to make every part themselves to the exact size. The tools available were often crude and cumbersome. The same person often had to make the clock case too.

Because the number of settler's who could afford a longcase clock where so small, clock-makers were also locksmiths or gunsmiths. This compound was particularly beloved while the American War of Independence. After the war, many were still unable to afford a grandfather clock and so the clock-makers experimented with smaller mantel clocks. Because of this, many homes soon had their own clock.

There are around 7,000 American known clock-makers from this time period. Most of these made the usual types of clock but a few introduced major innovations in clock-making and thus deserve special mention.

Abel Cottey arrived in America in 1682 on board the Welcome with William Penn (the Quaker leader whose name is given to the state of Pennsylvania. He may well be the first clock-maker to institute a business in the colonies. In his workshop in Philadelphia he in general made longcase clocks that became known as grandfather clocks.

These grandfather clocks later became very beloved and can now be found throughout America. In coarse with other clock-makers, Cottey made the mechanism, the dial, the pendulum, and the weights himself but left the case to be made by a jointer. The jointers allowed their creativity to run free and many cases are superbly carved in tiny detail. These early jointers used the exact same jointing techniques and styles they used on furniture. Philadelphia proved to be a hotbed for clock-makers to set themselves up.

Great names such as Christopher Sower, four generations of the Gogas family, the Chandlee family, and Edward Duffiels ring out from Philadelphia. The last of these was a good friend of Benjamin Franklin. Duffiels was interrupted so frequently by citizen request the time that he made a clock with a face on both sides that he hung covering his workshop. The most convivial clock-maker was David Rittenhouse. Rittenhouse succeeded Benjamin Franklin as president of the American Philosophical community and later became Director of the United States Mint.

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American Casino History

Early casinos were originally known as saloons. The amelioration of saloons was influenced by four cities; New Orleans, being the first step to Texas, the home of gamblers; St. Louis, the home of fur traders; Chicago, with its large brewing trade; and San Francisco, the entrance to the goldmines. It was in a saloon that you could find somebody to talk to, drink with, and often gamble with.

Initially saloons could be found anywhere, often dug into the side of a hill. They later developed and could be recognized immediately because they were the town's most imposing structure. Likewise, the saloon's bartender was in effect suited because he would be the best-dressed man in the saloon. He could also be found armed with a pistol and most likely a knife because he was both judge and jury to any disputes that commonly broke out.

The main contender for the status of America's first casino was known as Brown's Saloon. It was established in 1822 and could be found bordering Utah, Colorado and Wyoming. Typically, saloons followed miners; wherever miners settled, saloons were never far behind.

During the early 20th century gambling became outlawed and banned by state legislation and social reformers. However, in 1931 gambling was legalized throughout the state of Nevada, and Las Vegas spawned America's first official casinos. Additionally, New Jersey's Atlantic City joined them in 1978 to become America's second largest gambling city.

Las Vegas was responsible for putting the glamor and entertainment into gambling, largely straight through celebrities like
Elvis Presley and Frank Sinatra. Sinatra and his friends, together with Sammy Davis Jnr., and Dean Martin, became known
as the 'Rat Pack'. They achieved iconic status in the gambling circuit and every person wanted to share in their oasis of
sophisticated glamor. The customary film 'Ocean's 11' was filmed in Las Vegas, and cemented the town's kudos forever.

During the 1970s the casinos in Las Vegas became notorious for their connection with the Mafia. These events were in effect summarized in the 1995 Martin Scorsese film 'Casino', which in effect says the first and last word about
the glitz and glamor of American casinos during that eventful decade.

Nowadays whatever can perceive the sophistication and excitement of a casino in the online world of gambling. Online casino gambling is one of the 21st century's biggest phenomenons. These days, American casinos are just as likely to be hosted in the real world with a web server, and existing in a virtual format on the Internet.

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How Leadership Affects Culture and Culture Affects Leadership

There has been so much written on leadership that there is very diminutive I can de facto add. Leaders should be story tellers, communicators, holistic, strategic, encouraging, creative, conservative, risk taking, ethical, competitive, inspiring, and a whole host of other attributes that are too numerous to mention. There are 940 books currently ready on the field and it would not surprise me if you there were close over half a million articles on the subject. It is the bread and butter of every consulting firm throughout the world. With so much conception and insight, why is it still an issue?

The write back lies with culture. The whole purpose of leadership is to create a culture. In a large and well established organization it can be difficult for an outsider to implement a new culture. So, does leadership create a culture or does culture create a leadership? The write back to both questions is yes.

Culture Affecting Leadership

"I have been here 25 years." said the director of a large municipality. "I have outlasted 3 City Managers so far and I will outlast this one." That is the attitude that many leaders face, especially when they are brought in from outside organizations to run or manage large, well established ones. The negative cultures especially can undermine inevitable leadership as initiatives are actively undermined by managers who have a stake in the old culture. Either it through manipulation or complacency, negative cultures can be create considerable challenges for change.

Negative leadership, however, can have a fast, dramatic sway on a inevitable culture. WorldCom was a telecom leader and very innovative culture until Bernie Ebbers took over. While squeezing every cent he could from the environment and putting pressure on employees to work harder with less, he was pillaging the company. Turnover soared and, within a few years, WorldCom was bankrupt.

Culture as a Function of Leadership

Companies reflect the ethics of the leaders who run them. Bob Page felt like an outsider and had to hide his sexuality. When he built Replacements Ltd. He ensured that it would be a place that standard diversity not just of lifestyle but of conception and would spend in building their community. Anita Roddick founded the Body Shop to show that you could build an environmentally amiable corporation that reflected her commitment to environmental activism. Jim Goodnight's commitment to work-life equilibrium is part of the culture at Sas, the largest privately held firm in the world. Jack Welch's commitment to being the best created an environment of excellence at general Electric. In each of these cases, the ethics of the leader became a central part of the culture.

The Obstacles to Culture Change

The real obstacles to culture turn are what we call the internal obstacles. False ego, fear, complacency, and preconceived ideas create a negative environment. When turn is introduced there is resistance, even when the turn is positive. People learn different coping mechanisms to avoid the turn such as hiding behind procedures, 'office cooler' talk or gossip and complaining, or actively undermining the initiative. The examine then becomes how can leadership have a inevitable impact on the culture of an organization.

How can a leadership sway culture

Whether a leader comes up through the organization or is brought in from the outside to turn the organization, there are ways that leadership can have an impact on culture.

1. Walk the Talk People survey what you do, not just what you say and the values of the leader, not just what they say, While Enron C.E.O. Kenneth Lay and his management team were stealing from shareholders, many of his traders were laughing how they were going to bankrupt diminutive old ladies for their heating bills. This is the toughest part of leadership. Having worked with People who wrote books on the subject, I can tell you that often times their actions did not match their words and the sway was that a number of People had no respect for them. When you say you are going to do something, you need to result through and do.

2. Rewards and enforcement are a function of ethics. .
We value what we recognize. How are People rewarded or recognized? For instance, if you want collaboration and teamwork and then reward People for 'hitting their numbers' then their energies will be on what they are recognized for. Jim Goodnight from Sas enforces that People only work 37.5 hours a week because they will be burned out if they work late hours and are therefore less productive. If 'yes' People are promoted, then the culture will see that conforming is the only way to result and you will create a hierarchical culture.

3. Be Passionate
Passion is contagious and People like to be part of it. As the saying in the maritime Corp. Leadership program goes, "People will result you because they have to or because they want to and who do you want with a gun at your back?" When you inspire People to make change, you de facto reprogram their brains and they will take proprietary to ensure success.

4. Get Networked with the organization
Many senior leaders are very removed from the front lines, which is de facto where the tire hits the road. These are the People who ultimately create the culture. Many leaders de facto only interact with their direct reports, which gives them a skewed sense of what is going on. What is de facto happening at the front lines of the organization? Who are the enablers and resisters in the organization? That is the one advantage of promoting within the organization - they know the people. Of course, the problems within the organization may call for new leadership. Either way it is prominent to be networked in the culture. There is the culture you have and the culture many leaders think they have.

A number of years ago, I heard this story from a client. He was upset that the organization was getting rid of their smoking rooms because smoking was being banned by law from the whole building. "Even though I don't smoke," he told me. "I was amazed by what was happening in there. People were de facto talking without regards to title because they had one thing in tasteless - an addiction. One day a Senior Vice President came to me and told me about this guy he was talking to who had a number of very good suggestions regarding labor relations he wanted to implement. He asked me who he was, I looked it up and found out he was part of the custodial staff. He was de facto the janitor."

Leaders need to take off the layers around them and build in "smoking rooms".

5. Quote clearly
It may sound like an inevitable statement but in the absence of clear communication there is unclear and informal communication, i.e. Gossip. Gossip can undermine any turn and have a negative impact on the culture. People appreciate honest and uncomplicated communication, even when it is negative. The worst part is not knowing.

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The History of Print Media

Currently, in the times of digital media and data technology, the importance of print media is same as years before. May be it is the convenience of reading something anytime you want that makes the hardcopies remain more popular. Even in our offices where most of the company and data change are carried out straight through internet, stuff like laser tone cartridge and bulk ink are still very important part of office supplies. It seems like nothing is ever going to take the place of print media. While the usage of printing and print media seems to have no end even in the future, one assuredly gets thoughprovoking about the history of this media. Let us go back in time and trace back man's first prosperous print production endeavor.

Many historians trace the history back to Mesopotamian times of colse to 3000Bc but there are hardly any evidences to prove it. However first actual record is known to be of block prints used colse to 200Ad in China. Initially it was used to print on clothes. As the usage of paper became common colse to China and East Asia, the same technique was used on paper as well. Nearly two centuries later the Romans also used the same printing techniques on both papers and clothes. The earliest example of a faultless printed compilation along with illustrations is The Tiananmen scrolls. It was printed in China in 868 Ad. In Korea, the same block technique was supplementary enhanced by using metal rather than wood.

Later while the 9th and 10th century same technique was used in clay, wood, metal, stone and even glass in the Middle East. The Arabs and Egyptians used the technique to print prayer books and amulets. With the Arab invasion of Europe and Central Asia, this technique also travelled along. Yet in Europe also, it was used to print religious banners and scrolls mostly n fabric.

As this technique was taking over the world, the Chinese invented yet other technique in the 1040Ad. This was the portable object printing. The basic technique was still the block recipe but the components were assuredly movable. The very first example of book printed with this recipe is a Korean book, 'Jijki'. It required a lot of attempt in thoughprovoking the tablets around.

During 1843, a new technique was introduced by an American inventor, Richard March Hole. In this technique the image or text to be printed is rolled colse to a cylinder which is than pressed or rolled over the substrates. With few improvements done along time, his remained a very popular printing technique colse to the world.

Later, the offset printing was invented while 1875. The technique was initially advanced to print on tin but now has become the most common type of printing used for paper. Although it is good for large scale printing purposes, the growth in daily printing requirements lead to the development of most newest printing technique, the laser printing. It is quick and suitable and the tool is not too heavy or bulky. This is the technique home and office printers are based on.

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The History of Culinary Arts

Cooking was once seen as whether a hobby or a chore. Up till now, it is regarded as a highly skilled line of work within a multi-billion industry. Students taking up culinary arts are equipped with different levels of skills and knowledge, but they all share the same thing and that is the passion for cooking. You will never go supplementary and study culinary arts if, in the first place, you don't have interest in cooking, now would you?

Food is the one thing that has all the time been and will continue to be a big part of our daily lives as a consequent of the family recipes that we carry with great care from many generations passed. For some, they learn new cuisines while others even go to culinary schools to perfect their skills and taste and fetch a degree in culinary arts. Knowing that everybody needs food is so much easy to understand, but aren't you concerned to know as to when and where do the different types of taste, presentations and features of the food started? If you are, then lets us discover the history of culinary arts.

The history of culinary can be traced back in the 1800s when the very first cooking school in Boston was teaching the art of American cooking along with preparation the students to pass on their knowledge to others. The first cookbook ever published was written by Fannie Merrit Farmer in 1896, who also attended the Boston cooking school and whose book is still widely used as a reference and it remains in print at present.

The next phase in the history of culinary arts was taken through the television where in 1946 James Beard, who is also recognized as father of the American cuisine, held regular cooking classes on the art of American cooking. On the other hand, the French cuisine was brought to life in the American community by Julia Child in 1960s when, through the power of the radios, she entered all the kitchens nationwide.

Later on the history of culinary, the Culinary originate of America (Cia) was founded and was the first culinary school to hold career-based courses on the art of cooking. Its first location was in the campus of Yale University in Connecticut, which was later moved in 1972 to New York. But before the Cia was established, those who wanted a career in culinary arts regularly had to go through apprenticeships under seasoned chefs to gain on-the-job training. This studying formula was a traditional course in Europe, but rather a animated arrangement as organized apprenticeships were a quite new belief in the history of culinary arts in the Us. However today, apprenticeships continue to offer an perfect culinary taste to aspiring chefs.

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A Brief History of Gymnastics

Gymnastics is a graceful and artistic sport that requires a combination of strength, balance, agility, and muscle coordination, ordinarily performed on specialized apparatus. Gymnasts achieve sequences of movements requiring flexibility, endurance, and kinesthetic awareness, such as handsprings, handstands, split leaps, aerials and cartwheels.

Gymnastics as we know it dates back to antique Greece. The early Greeks practiced gymnastics to prepare for war. Activities like jumping, running, discus throwing, wrestling, and boxing helped fabricate the muscles needed for hand-to-hand combat. Further fitness practices used by the antique Greeks included methods for mounting and dismounting a horses and a collection of circus carrying out skills.

Gymnastics became a central component of antique Greek study and was mandatory for all students. Gymnasia, buildings with open-air courts where the training took place, evolved into schools where gymnastics, rhetoric, music, and mathematics were taught. The ancinet Olympic Games were born near this time.

As the Roman Empire ascended, Greek gymnastics for was more or less turned into forces training. In 393 Ad the Emperor Theodosius abolished the Olympic Games completely. The games had become corrupt, and gymnastics, along with other sports declined. For centuries, gymnastics was all but forgotten.

In the late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries two pioneer corporeal educators, Johann Friedrich GutsMuth and Friedrich Ludwig Jahn created exercises for boys and young men on sseveral apparatus they had designed. This innovation ultimately led to what is carefully modern gymnastics. As a result, Friedrich Jahn became known as the "father of gymnastics". Jahn introduced the horizontal bar, parallel bars, side horse with pommels, balance beam, ladder, and vaulting horse.

In the early nineteenth century, educators in the United States followed suit and adopted German and Swedish gymnastics training programs. By the early twentieth century, the armed services began publishing drill manuals featuring all manner of gymnastic exercises. Agreeing to the Us Army by hand of corporeal Drill, these prominent drills provided proper study for the bodies of active young men.

As time went by, however, forces performance moved away from hand-to-hand combat and toward fighter planes and modern computer-controlled weapons. As a result of the amelioration of modern warfare, gymnastics training as the mind and body connection, so prominent for the Greek, German, and Swedish educational traditions, began to lose force. Gymnastics once again took on the aura of being a contentious sport.

By the end of the nineteenth century, men's gymnastics was beloved enough to be included in the first modern Olympic Games held in 1896. The sport was a little distinct from what we currently know as gymnastics however. Up until the early 1950s, both national and international competitions complicated a changing collection of exercises the modern gymnast may find a bit odd such as synchronized team floor calisthenics, rope climbing, high jumping, running, and horizontal ladder just to name a few.

Women first started to participate in gymnastics events in the 1920s and the first women's Olympic competition was held in the 1928 Games in Amsterdam, although the only event was synchronized calisthenics. Combined exercises for women were first held in 1928, and the 1952 Olympics featured the first full regime of events for women.

By the 1954 Olympic Games apparatus and events for both men and women had been standardized in modern format, and scoring standards, including a point ideas from 1 to 10, were implemented.
Modern Men's gymnastics events are scored on an private and team basis, and presently comprise the floor exercise, horizontal bar, parallel bars, rings, pommel horse, vaulting, and the all-around, which combines the scores of the other six events.

Women's gymnastic events comprise balance beam, uneven parallel bars, combined exercises, floor exercises, vaulting, and rhythmic sportive gymnastics.

Until 1972, gymnastics for men emphasized power and strength, while women performed routines focused on grace of movement. That year, however, a 17-year-old Soviet gymnast named Olga Korbut captivated a television audience with her innovative and explosive routines.

Nadia Comaneci received the first exquisite score, at the 1976 Olympic Games held in Montreal, Canada. She was coached by the sublime Romanian, Bela Karolyi. Comaneci scored four of her exquisite tens on the uneven bars, two on the balance beam and one in the floor exercise. Nadia will always be remembered as "a fourteen year old, ponytailed little girl" who showed the world that perfection could be achieved.

Mary Lou Retton became America's sweetheart with her two exquisite scores and her gold medal in the All-Around competition in front of the home crowd in the 1984 Olympic Games in Los Angeles.

These days gymnastics is a household name and many children participate in gymnastics at one time or someone else as they grow up. Olga Korbut, Nadia Comaneci, and Mary Lou Retton, along with all those gymnasts since, have helped popularize women's contentious gymnastics, manufacture it one of the most watched Olympic events. Both men's and women's gymnastics now attract necessary international interest, and exquisite gymnasts can be found on every continent.

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The History of Electricity

The starting of Electricity in America

Benjamin Franklin began experimenting with electricity in America and documented the experiments.  He was able to finance his unabridged work by selling off his belongings.  He is known for flying a kite in a storm that had a wet string and a key tied to the end of it.  When he observed sparks leaping from the key to his hand he understood that lightning was a natural form of electricity.

Alessandro Volta of Italy invented the electric cell in 1800, development it easier for scientists to study electricity and its assorted applications.  When the electric cells are connected together a battery is created.

Alexander Graham Bell is known to have invented the telephone.  Bell's worked as a trainer for deaf students expertly which explains his fascination with separate ways to transmit sounds.  during his experiments with sound transmission he began to use electricity, which finally led to his success with the telephone.

Thomas Doolittle, a mill laborer from Connecticut created the recipe that was used to create the first hand drawn copper wire that strong sufficient to use as a telegraph wire.  A man by the name of Michael Faraday discovered that electricity was created when a magnet was passed through commonplace copper wire.  This is the application that is used in America's power plant to create electricity that is delivered to customers across the country.  Both the electric generator and are built on this principle.  A generator takes mechanical power and converts it to electricity.  On the other hand, motors change electrical power to mechanical energy.

While Thomas Edison experimented with electricity he was able to compose the electrical light bulb in addition to many other gadgets.  His biggest challenge when creating the light bulb was to find the right material to use for the filament.  He placed on carbon soaked cotton thread.  The carbon was used to preclude the cotton thread from burning.  The thread glowed as the electricity traveled through it.  As soon as the popularity of the light bulb caught on he turned his concentration to the amelioration of power plants that would be run the light bulbs.  The first power plant that he built began operating in 1882 and served 85 New York city customers.

A major turning point occurred in 1895.  The power plant that was built by Edison was only capable of transporting power a short length since it used direct current of Dc.  The power was transmitted approximately just one quadrate mile surrounding the power plant.  With the amelioration of alternating current or Ac in 1895 the plant was able to transport power over 200 miles from the newly built power plant in Niagara Falls.

Electricity was rather slow to catch on in America.  Many habitancy were excited by the new inventions, but some were afraid of the electrical current and hesitated to have it installed in their houses.  Some habitancy were unable to afford the price of the service.  Electricity was blamed for causing the end of uncomplicated living.  Many habitancy felt that electric lights were less romantic than the gas light they were used to.

Many expos and fairs often featured exhibits that displayed the new inventions that used electricity as their power source.  The 1893 Columbian Exposition that was held in Chicago displayed 5,000 arc lights and 90,000 incandescent lamps.  habitancy that visited the expo had the occasion to view or ride the separate electrified exhibits which included three cranes, several water fountains, a entertaining sidewalk, elevators and a street car law that was created by general Electric.

The Pan-American Exposition that was held in Buffalo, Ny in 1901 used electricity as the theme.  An electric tower that was 400 feet in height, displaying 40,000 lights was featured in addition to the Electricity building which was home to a huge exhibit of electrical appliances.

Power became accessible by more habitancy as small electrical clubs started to spring up nearby the country.  A estimate of the smaller clubs started to merge together and form large conglomerates, the largest ones being general electric and Westinghouse.  These two clubs started building power plants that were qualified with generators that used fossil fuel combustion and steam to produce electricity.  Other plants were being built that used kinetic power to create power like water or wind.  Once nuclear power was developed, the power that was released as nuclear reactions occurred was used to create electricity.

The examine for electricity grew by 12% each year for the first thirty years of the twentieth century.  In order to keep up with today's examine for electricity, renewable resources are being implemented to furnish the much needed power.  Many habitancy are using solar power, hydropower and wind power are being put to use in order to meet the demands of consumers and to safe the environment.

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Meanings of Flowers in American Culture

We will be going over some of the more common, and popular flowers that are found out there.

We will start out with the carnations. The carnations have several distinct color varieties so we will go over the basic consolidate starting with the normal meaning of the carnation. The carnation stands for the love of a woman and your love. It also incorporates fascination.

If you were to receive a pink carnation that would mean that the person that sent you that carnation will never forget you. You will all the time be in their head even if you are not there. If you were to receive the red carnation that basically means that person misses you a lot. It means that you are in their heart. It is also used for admiration. A white carnation basically implies pure or true love, a person's innocence. A striped carnation can be used to transport that you cannot be with a person. A yellow carnation is a sign of rejection.

Next we will move onto the Chrysanthemum. The chrysanthemum in normal means that person is a splendid friend, rest, and even cheerfulness. The chrysanthemum also comes in distinct varieties in which we will cover. The white chrysanthemum implies the truth, and the yellow means slighted love.

The daffodil stands for unrequited love, and it means that you are the only one for me. The daisy's meaning is innocence, loyal love, purity, and the saying I'll Never Tell. Lavender stands for Admiration, and solitude. The ambrosia flower is used to transport reciprocal love.

The Forget Me Not, which most of us are sure to know about, has the meaning of true love, and memories.

The white lily means virginity, purity, and majesty. The yellow lily means that you are walking on air, and the calla lily stand for beauty. The tiger lily, which is unique in and of it, stands for wealth and pride. The day lily is the Chinese seal for mother, and the Lily of the Valley basically stands for sweetness, humility, return to happiness, and that You've Made My Life Complete.

The bridal rose means love, of course. The dark crimson rose stands for mourning, and the hibiscus rose stands for delicate beauty. The pink rose stands for exquisite happiness, and the red rose stands for love and I love you. The white rose stands for innocence and purity.

The sweet pea stands for good bye, and departure. The iris is a flower which represents faith, courage, and wisdom. It is also used to transport the importance of a friendship. The yarrow flower is used to transport healing, and aloe is used as a seal of integrity and wisdom. The orchid stands for beauty, refinement, love, and gorgeous lady.

Now that you know a microscopic bit more about some of the meanings to several flowers that are ordinarily found in the florists today you will be able to realize what flowers should go in a determined bouquets, and if you receive a bouquet, what it means. Keep in mind that no all people will chronicle in flower choices; they may have distinct cultural insight regarding the meaning of flowers, or did not think the flower meaning and naturally chose them because of the design. However, some florists do keep these meanings in mind when designing a vase or bouquet.

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Farmall Tractors - The Most Iconic Agricultural Tractor in American History

Farmall tractors was originally a model name that later on grew to come to be a tractor brand, that was produced by International Harvester (Ih). Initially, Farmall had been authentically normal purpose and had narrowly spaced wheels at the front end. This singular "tricycle" sort of produce and style together with a large ground-clearance permitted the tractor to maneuver effectively inside the field while crop cultivation. Though at the same time, it was effective at accomplishing any work which up until then had been complete using a team of horses.

It was authentically not long before separate manufacturers launched comparable kinds of tractor, purely as a result of Farmall tractors popularity.

Ih started building Farmall tractors in the early 1920's and the prototype was introduced in 1923. This was exclusively launched in Texas as a result of concern that there may not be adequate sales. Nonetheless, by 1926 it was clear that the Farmall tractor was authentically destined to be flourishing and Ih scaled upward creation by developing a new Farmall Works plant at Rock Island, Illinois.

Then in 1932 a more qualified machine was assigned to the Farmall with the designation of F-20, that was the change unit to the prototype. Further fresh versions were man-made and the series became known as the F-Series. That included amongst others:

F-30 (1931)

F-12 (1932)

F-14 (1938)

Before 1937, all Farmall tractors were painted in the color of battleship gray. Just after 1937 however, a separate color ended up being chosen - "Farmall Red".

The Farmall Letter Series

In 1939, the Farmall letter series came into existence: A, B, Bn, C, H, M, Md. The commercial developer Raymond Lowy was commissioned to provide the revolutionary Farmall a more sleek appearance. It had been devised for the smaller-sized to moderate American plantation and the new letter series offered a bigger engine, a range of options for add-on apparatus thereby great abilities all-round. The more robust versions kept the "tricycle" narrowly-spaced front wheel as a result of its quality at quick steering as well as quality to move, that was a lot great than the rival at the time - Ford 9N.

The A, B and Bn models were small in dimensions which provided the end user extraordinary visibility as well as maneuvering. The C and M series were more robust thereby more substantial - great for intense plowing. The Md model provided a diesel engine. The faultless Farmall range therefore offered American farming an iconic standing. The tractors were crafted from very heavy duty resources and were designed to last longer and deal well with serious use. Even these days, you can study Farmall tractors in use on farms - especially and in particular, the two top capacity units - the H and the M.

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From normal Hospital to American History X - And Beyond

Ever heard of John Martinuzzi? Unless you're a real soap opera fan from way back in the 1980s, you've probably not heard of him. Ever heard of John Morrissey? Unless you're an aficionado of film and know who produced which topnotch film of this or that year, you've probably not heard of him, either.

In fact, as a buyer of Tv and movie entertainment, you're likely not any more familiar, by name, with Mr. Morrissey than you are with Mr. Martinuzzi. Yet if you're a quarterly buyer of Tv and movie entertainment, be assured, you are aware of the products put out under these names.

In 1982, John Martinuzzi originated the role of the deliciously-evil Stavros Cassadine on Abc's normal Hospital, and went on in 1984 to play David Preston on Cbs' The Guiding Light. John Morrissey is the established producer of recognized and celebrated films, namely the critically-acclaimed American History X, among others, both for the big screen and television.

What makes this engaging is that Martinuzzi and Morrissey is the same man. Actor, producer, writer, photographer, clothing designer-these are his professions in just the first 50 or so years.

It's in the transition from one name to the other, one form of visibility to another, that the meat of the story is revealed. For all practical purposes to anything who may have followed his screen work, John Martinuzzi seemed to disappear from the face of the earth, and at that time, his just-growing "fan base"-as John Martinuzzi aka Stavros-was left wondering if he, like Stavros, had passed away . . . Or at very least, dropped out of the commerce to become, say, a car salesman.

What did happen?

John Martinuzzi, the man, is alive and well, living in Los Angeles, but the name is no more.

Using Martinuzzi as his last name, the actor came to collective light in 1983 as Stavros Cassadine on normal Hospital, a part which he had no way of knowing would live on in soap history. And though Stavros reportedly died during Martinuzzi's tenure, the character was at last resurrected, with other actor in the role. This is when John Martinuzzi gradually began to morph into oblivion - or so it appeared to the normal collective who'd come to enjoy his compelling portrayal of such a involved character. Though Martinuzzi took on other nationally-known role on The Guiding Light a few years later, that character never grabbed viewers in the same way. Then-he was gone to daily visibility. No more John Martinuzzi.

It didn't categorically happen that fast, though. Things were changing in John's life. Lots of things. To start from the beginning-what originally brought John into the engaging lights of stage, television, and film, and what came about to bring about his change in personas?

He was born in the 1950s. At a point where there was no male figure in his life, his mum worked as assistant to the celebrated Eartha Kitt, and she and John lived with her. He called Eartha the "head of the household," and said she was "stubborn and agressive in her way, but very smart." It was a "unique" atmosphere, since the head of their home "was a black woman." John became accustomed early on to "women and blacks in positions of power."

He, his mother, and Eartha went from theater to theater, and, as he put it, acting "just seemed like . . . What grown ups did." So when he grew up, John followed suit. He went to college, then to drama school in London. He did a important estimate of regional theatre before going on to Broadway.

How did he make the transition to soap operas?

He auditioned. As John Martinuzzi, he auditioned six times for the role of Stavros Cassadine. Though he had been born John James Morrissey Iii, his parents divorced and his mum ultimately remarried. He was adopted by his stepfather and lived as John Martinuzzi well into adulthood-and notoriety as an American actor, a time which had started with these auditions.

John said, "By the time it got to the end" of the casting process for the part of Stavros, "I had come to be what they imagined, and they changed some dialogue for me and when I would improvise, they would add some of what I said." Stavros was uniquely his, and even though he held that part for only a year or so, he put an irresistible stamp on the character . . . So much so that, over 25 years later, viewers still talk about "John Martinuzzi" and his portrayal of Stavros Cassadine. And the next thing they want to know is, "Whatever happened to him?"

After his stint on normal Hospital, and then The Guiding Light, and other less-visible roles, John moved from in front of the cameras to behind them as a movie producer. during this time, he made the decision to return to his roots. Now the name change. It came about when he fell in love and asked his sweetheart to marry him.

"Will you take my name?" he asked her.

"Not the Italian one," she replied, "but I'll take your real name." He acquiesced, and returned to his birth name. For about 14 years, John James Morrissey Iii was a married man with a family, working normally as a movie producer. He helped raise his wife's daughter from a previous marriage whom he calls "a spectacular girl," with softness in his voice, and John Martinuzzi slipped into the past.

By changing his name, John didn't comprehend he was effectively cutting away one measure of his collective persona. It didn't even cross his mind. Amazingly, he was totally unaware he even had a following. When the issue of the Stavros re-cast was brought up, John was surprised.

"I don't think the role was recast. Relatives were chosen. I don't think Stavros himself was recast." He hesitated. "Maybe I don't even know."

He didn't know. He was told Stavros was brought back in 2001 with Robert Kelker-Kelly in the part, and he asked pointedly, "Was Genie on the show?"

"Genie" referred to Genie Francis, the actress who originated the role of Laura Spencer, and went on to come to be half of Luke and Laura, one of the most celebrated soap couples of all times.

When informed that Genie was on the show at the time, John's response was short. "Genie would've opposed me coming on to do it."

This brings us to the real history in the middle of not only the characters-Laura and Stavros-but also in the middle of the actors-Genie and John.

"I have not followed normal Hospital," John explained. "I did not corollary normal Hospital when I was on it."

After only a miniature hesitation, it was evident he had made a decision, a decision to tell his story. "I fell in love with Genie Francis and we lived together for any years." This explained the realism behind their electric onscreen chemistry. "We did some plays after our work [together] . . . Had a good time. She was implicated about becoming a great actress . . . So we went to New York-she wanted to study with my acting teacher. We went to New York; I was cast in some plays, she was learning . . . ."

He stopped for a occasion to gather his thoughts, as if trying to resolve how best to enumerate the next part of their shared drama.

"I was an alcoholic, I am an alcoholic, and I didn't categorically know it but she did. She had been exposed to alcoholism with her father, and she had had her own process with drugs and alcohol even though she was quite young. She understood a lot more about alcoholism and A.A. Than I did, so I think that I was not a viable partner for her, really."

Anyone who's followed normal Hospital's history has heard the rumors that Genie and her prominent man at that time became an offscreen item. What happened to that romance, however, has been nearly as much of a mystery as the whereabouts of that prominent man since he left daytime Tv. Here he was now, personally explaining all that had gone on behind the scenes.

"It was impossible to carry on and so after a few years, we broke up. She left, and it was very upsetting to me." His voice tinged with regret. ". . . She became angry with me because I was upset with her." They did things against each other, as so often happens when love gets hurt. John sounded surprised at the depth of his recollections all these years later. "I don't even barely remember the things I did that upset her but, apparently," he laughed uncomfortably, "she's still upset, I discovered years later. She's one of the few women I've had a serious association with that I didn't remain very good friends with . . . And for anything reason, I have not remained friends with Genie."

So the stormy truth of the Laura and Stavros/Genie and John story is ultimately revealed. He lived with his regrets and went on after Genie, though still not toning down his lifestyle.

"I did two years on The Guiding Light, as John Martinuzzi." The name change hadn't yet taken place-the disappearance was still a few years into the future. "That was interesting," he continued, "but I think my alcoholism began to flare more during that time . . . Soap opera acting just wasn't what I was concerned in. It was a miniature too limiting."

John sighed heavily. It sounded as if he hadn't visited this duration in his life in quite some time. "I was very young and very frightened of taking a step away and trying to get somewhere more on my own, go in anything direction I categorically wanted to go as an artist, on any level. . . . I did some plays while on the show. And right after my contract ended, I came to L. A. In 1987. I had acted on a bunch of episodic television but found I was at the peak of my alcoholism and still in denial, still not recognizing it, but it was interfering in my life."

What happened? Love happened. "I met this woman, and I liked her a lot . . . And I met some other citizen who were film producers, and film yield began to interest me. . . . Acting is ego-oriented. Even [for] actors who are not particularly egotistical."

The surprise here was that John didn't seem to be an egocentric man. When the world has but one or maybe two personas on which to base an impression, and when those personas are self-serving and not-so-nice, it's an unfortunate mistake to expect the person behind the characterizations to be similar.

The man himself was quite the opposite. "It's constantly, 'til you are a star, having to worry about how you look and having to run nearby chasing work. Self-focused. And the parts of oneself that aren't necessarily the most interesting. So I was sick of it. I was attracted to producing films. I hadn't particularly stopped acting, I hadn't consciously stopped acting, but I got more and more involved in producing."

When asked if he'd reconsider acting again, he replied, "I like acting. It's categorically fun. It's the best of lifestyles that . . ." he laughed, the sound happy, young, impish, " that I've lived. You show up on the set, everyone treats you categorically nicely and you get a lot of privileges. Nice ego-boosting things happen, then you go out and play and . . ." again he laughed, "that's all that's staggering out of you. It's emotionally-challenging but I like that. But I'm not so eager to pursue that because I don't want to worry about running nearby seeing for work. It's a pain in the ass." More light-hearted laughter. "So," in final answer to the original question, "if citizen ask me to act, I do."

It was here in his story, at a time where he was in love and engaging away from acting and into producing-a true life change-where he proposed, and his lady said, "Yes." She wanted to come to be Mrs. Morrissey, though, not Mrs. Martinuzzi. John reverted to the name given him at birth, and this lifestyle worked well for a time, long enough for him to get used to being a husband and a father. While he was married, he produced the well-accepted American History X with Edward Norton, Edward Furlong, and Stacy Keach.

"I've produced 14 or 15 movies and some television stuff, and I have an ongoing career as a producer and a lot of credibility and a good position in the industry, so I think I'm in good shape, and I can make good money doing it."

Unfortunately, though his expert world was going well, his personal life went through other major change. By 2001, with a solid career as a film producer, he and his wife had split. John was again on his own . . . And this seemed to encourage a desire for something new in his expert life, as well.

"I was feeling I'd grown miniature by what I was doing as a producer," he explained. "Producing is so depependent on such a huge variety and variety of citizen it can be monumentally frustrating. I can categorically make a good living and get a lot of movies made, but I'm no longer concerned in manufacture movies that don't vigor me, like American History X did. I've made some movies just to make a living, and I don't particularly want to do that."

He needed to advance again. He had the means, and he " . . . Started writing more, I'm a photographer, and I shoot for a variety of publications. A few years ago I decided I was concerned in women's clothing so I started to design. My line is starting to take off. . . . I just made a major sale to Sears in Mexico. Sears in Mexico is partnered with Sachs, and they've bought my line, called John Morrissey, as well as a estimate of other boutiques in Mexico City. I've started to sell in Miami. I'm putting all my concentration on this Mexican process because my clothes go on sale there in September."

What led John to take his clothing speculation south of the United States border?

"At the time I split with my wife, I decided to learn how to speak Spanish. I've had an expanding interest in Central and South America, and have travelled to Mexico, Spain, Venezuela, Argentina, and Uruguay." Costa Rica, Guatamala, Colombia, and Chile are on his list of hereafter tour spots.

John's journey-emotional as well as literal-painted the photograph of an entrepreneur, a man with various but related interests, and a determination to not limit himself to only one but, instead, excel at all of them.

When it was recommend that he was an entrepreneur, he belief for a occasion before responding. "Producing is entrepreneurial. I think what I am is an artist, and I find different media or venues in which to express or convention or make my art. For me, it all comes from the same place. . . . Designing clothes and writing and taking pictures and producing movies and acting, and all of it is sort of the same thing. I know it isn't, it requires different skill sets, but the impulse comes from exactly the same place. I think of myself as an artist. Some of the stuff I do requires entrepreneurial skills, of which mine are very limited." He laughed, as if he couldn't quite see himself in that role.

Yet, in hearing his story, there seemed to be miniature about this man that could be described as "limited." He gave off an air of one who was confident, yet not oversure. Capable but not arrogant. person who knew his way nearby romance but who truly prefers being in love with one special lady.

Which brought about a revealing commentary from John. In talking again about his first real national role, that of Stavros on normal Hospital, he said, "It was quite engaging to me because it sort of changed my view of myself. I belief of myself as a character, kind of a weird-looking guy, and I got cast as a very sexy guy. It had a great impact on my self-image."

Sometimes that's what it takes. Perception coupled with acceptance and action. John went for the role, it was given to him, he learned to play it, and he excelled.

That could, in fact, be John Morrissey's modus operandi these days. Not only has his name changed. In his own words, "On September 17, 1993, I stopped drinking and doing drugs and I've been clean and sober ever since. In 1996 I quit smoking." Each time he's gone nearby other curve in life, he has found a new role. Up for every new challenge, he's figured out how to play each one. Seems that for every projection John will turn, he'll continue to happily surprise himself.

But make no mistake. If you want to keep an eye on this artist, from here on out you need to be watching for John Morrissey, not John Martinuzzi!

John Martinuzzi may be gone but there's no sorrow there. Morrissey is here to stay!

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Caribbean Food - A itsybitsy History

The Arawak, Carib, and Taino Indians were the first inhabitants of the Caribbean islands. These first inhabitants busy the gift day islands of British Virgin Islands, Cuba, Dominica, Grenada, Haiti, Trinidad, and Jamaica. Their daily diet consisted of vegetables and fruits such as papaw, yams, guavas, and cassava. The Taino started the process of cooking meat and fish in large clay pots.

The Arawaks are the first population known to make a grate of thin green wood strips on which they gently cooked meat, allowing it to be enhanced by the flavor of the wood. This grate was called a barbacoa, and the word we know today as barbeque is taken from this early Indian cooking method.

The Carib Indians added more spice to their food with hot pepper sauces, and also added lemon and lime juice to their meat and fish recipes. The Caribs are said to have made the first pepper pot stew. No recipes exist since every time the Indians made the dish, they would always add new ingredients. The Carib had a big impact on early Caribbean history, and the Caribbean sea was named after this tribe.

Then the Caribbean became a crossroads for the world . . .

Once the Europeans brought Africans slaves into the region, the slaves diet consisted mostly of food the slave owners did not want to eat. So the slaves had to be inventive, and they blended their primary African foods with staples found on the islands. The Africans introduced okra, callaloo, fish cakes, saltfish, ackee, pudding and souse, mangos, and the list goes on.

Most gift day Caribbean island locals eat a gift diet that is reflective of the main ingredients of primary early African dishes, and includes cassava, sweet potatoes, yams, plantains, bananas and corn meal.

African men were hunters in their homeland, and often away from home for long periods of time. They would cook spicy pork over hot coals, and this tradition was refined by the early slaves in Jamaica. The technique is known today as "jerk" cooking , and the secret involves a slow meat cooking process. Jamaica is renowned for jerk chicken and pork, and you'll find jerk all over the island.

After slavery was abolished, the Europeans went to India and China for labor, and more cooking styles were introduced. Much of the Indian cooking culture remains alive and well in the Caribbean of today with the introduction of curried meats and curry powder. Indians call it kari podi, and we have come to know this pungent flavor as curry.

The Chinese introduced rice, which is always a staple in home cooked island meals. The Chinese also introduced mustard, and the early Portuguese sailors introduced the beloved codfish.

Most visitors to the Caribbean have no idea that the fruit trees and fruits so well-known to the islands were introduced by the early Spanish explorers. The fruit trees and fruits brought from Spain contain orange, lime, ginger, plantains, figs, date palms, sugar cane, grapes, tamarinds and coconuts.

Even the Polynesian islands play an prominent role in Caribbean cooking. Most of us remember the movie "Mutiny on the Bounty", but do not know that particular ship carried breadfruit, which was loaded on board from the islands of Tahiti and Timor. In the movie the crew took over the ship, forced the captain into a small boat to fend on his own, and they threw the breadfruit, which they thought about "strange fruit" overboard. Someone else ship was more successful in bringing breadfruit from Polynesia to Jamaica and the St Vincent and the Grenadines. Breadfruit is a staple diet in the current day Caribbean

America is responsible for introducing beans, corn, squash, potatoes, tomatoes, and chili pepper to the Caribbean. In fact these particular foods had never been seen in Asia, Europe or Africa, so America as a matter of fact introduced these foods the rest of the world via the Caribbean.

So it's no wonder Caribbean cooking is so rich and creative with the flavors of Africa, India, and China, along with Spanish, Danish, Portuguese, French and British influences. Food served in the Caribbean islands have been influenced by the cultures of the world, but each island adds its own special flavor and cooking technique.

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Hispanic Culture In America

1st Generation Hispanics are intimately in tune with their culture. Whether they are from Mexico or El Salvador, they live in the U.S. But their hearts and their minds are still back home in their native country. That is why in America there are so many languages being spoken. There is also more and more exposure to flags of other countries.

The imagine behind this is the First Generation mindset of not letting go of the inner culture. A first Generation Hispanic will talk openly about where they came from and how they like to visit their native land from time to time. Once they settle, 1st Generation Hispanics will determine for life and live in the same home or city for the rest of their lives.

A 3rd Generation Hispanic will not be as in tune with their parents or grandparents native country. The imagine is because the more assimilated they are in American culture, the more they embrace it. When Hispanics embrace and live within a determined culture, they shy away from their native culture. They may still want to be a part of Hispanic functions but they will not speak the native language, they will speak English because that is the way they learn and think in the U.S. Social school system.

The Hispanic Culture is still arresting to Third Generation Hispanics but not as much as 1st and 2nd. Third Generation Hispanics are living in better upscale residential areas then the way they were raised. 3rd Generation Hispanics will move often and turn jobs, even if it means arresting far away from parents and immediate family.

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