Can anyone tell me what book this is from?
"In writing this work, I am not aiming for any literary success. When I lived through these horrors, which were beyond all imagining, I was not a writer, but a doctor. Today, in telling them, I write not as a reporter, but as a doctor."
Come back on Friday to learn more.
Wednesday, September 29, 2010
Friday, September 24, 2010
The Last Act
Perhaps the only capability in human nature that is darker than murder is the ability to take one’s own life. Suicide is an inevitability of the human condition; it seems to exist in nearly every culture and is generally reviled. Most of the world’s major religions treat suicide as an affront to Divinity and the secular world tends to treat suicidal individuals as mentally unstable and in need of help, sometimes against the will of the individual in question.
But seemingly few cultures took suicide to the extreme of Feudal Japan. For many members of the ruling class, suicide was a gruesome and inevitable end.
The tradition of ritual suicide first appears to have started in 1192 A.D. during the Kamakura Bakufu (“Tent-Government,” or military rule.) This turbulent time period is known as much for the growth and spread of multiple schools of Japanese Buddhism as it is for the invasion of Japan by the Mongols under the leadership of Kublai Khan. In this state of immense violence, Samurai warriors would stop at nothing to guarantee that they would be captured. Suicide on the battlefield is not new, but in the highly militarized culture of 12th Century Japan and it’s warlords would leave a lasting imprint, seemingly strong enough to nearly enter the 20th century.
The act of ritual suicide is known in Japan as Seppuku, literally meaning “cutting the belly.” From a modern Western standpoint, it is difficult to conceive why anyone would want to take part in this so it helps to understand the world of Feudal Japan. Until the Meiji restoration of 1868, the Japanese world was divided by a rigid caste system. At the top of the social order was the Shogun or Daimyo. They take were the actual leaders of the country, with the Emperor of Japan existing primarily as the head of the indigenous religion of Shinto but few actual temporal authorities. Enforcing this system were the Samurai, who functioned not only as soldiers for the regional leaders, but as bureaucrats, educated-elite, and police. Beneath them existed the majority of people; primarily craftsmen and farmers.
For those individuals born into the Samurai caste, the notion of absolute loyalty to the State and it’s leaders was expected. While much has been written in the modern era regarding the philosophy and ethics of this warrior class (called Bushido) it is debatable as to how much it was actually adhered to, versus how much of it is more a concept dictated by World War II-era Imperial Japanese propaganda. What is not debatable, however, is that the expectations put upon the warrior class. The word Samurai roughly translates to “To Serve” or “Servant,” even if it means following the order of their superior to the death.
For the common-folk of Feudal Japan, a death sentence meant facing beheading or strangulation. For the Samurai class (or anyone else above them in caste system) the “method of dispatch” was formal, designed to give the Samurai a death was both certain and dignified.
Upon the declaration that a Samurai must commit Seppuku, the condemned would be required to prepare, quite literally for his death. The Samurai would don an entirely white outfit, traditionally worn for funerals. They would compose a short poem to metaphorically describe their death, drink a final cup of rice wine, and be led to the spot of their execution. (It should be noted that there was a similar tradition of Seppuku for the wives and female members of the Samurai class, but that it was not as common.) The traditions of Seppuku indicate that for the Samurai it was a honorable death. In his classic 1871 text, Tales of Old Japan, Algernon Bertram Freeman-Mitford wrote of a Samurai named Zenzaburo who had attacked visiting dignitaries from Europe. “After another profound obeisance, Taki Zenzaburo, in a voice which betrayed just so much emotion and hesitation as might be expected from a man who is making a painful confession, but with no sign of either in his face or manner, spoke as follows: ‘I, and I alone, unwarrantably gave the order to fire on the foreigners at Kobe. and again as they tried to escape. For this crime I disembowel myself, and I beg you who are present to do me the honor of witnessing the act.’ Bowing once more, the speaker allowed his upper garments to slip down to his girdle, and remained naked to the waist….he tucked his sleeves under his knees to prevent himself from falling backwards; for a noble Japanese gentleman should die falling forwards. Deliberately, with a steady hand, he took the dirk that lay before him; he looked at it wistfully, almost affectionately; for a moment he seemed to collect his thoughts for the last time, and then stabbing himself deeply below the waist on the left-hand side, he drew the dirk slowly across to the right side, and, turning it in the wound, gave a slight cut upwards. During this sickeningly painful operation he never moved a muscle of his face….At that moment the kaishaku(the condemned Samurai's "second"), who, still crouching by his side, had been keenly watching his every movement, sprang to his feet, poised his sword for a second in the air; there was a flash, a heavy, ugly thud, a crashing fall; with one blow the head had been severed from the body. A dead silence followed, broken only by the hideous noise of the blood throbbing out of the inert heap before us, which but a moment before had been a brave and chivalrous man. It was horrible”
It should be mentioned that this form of ceremonial disembowelment was not reserved exclusively for capital punishment; disgrace or loss of “face” could be and often was sufficient cause. The culture of Japan, both ancient and modern, has always been deeply steeped in the notion of honor. To have one’s name or reputation severely besmirched not only damaged the person, but the person’s family and ancestors as well. It would be better, the logic of this “honorable suicide” dictates, for a person to willing cease to live than to continue to insult family and ancestry by being alive. As well, a very special form of Seppuku, called Junshi, became especially problematic. Upon the death of noble lord, the throng of Samurai that served as his retainers would commit this gruesome form of suicide en masse as a sign of loyalty to their leader. This practice became so common that the Tokugawa Shogunate issued a statement in the 1660’s banning the practice. According to the Buke Sho Hatto, published in 1663, "That the custom of following a master in death is wrong and unprofitable is a caution which has been at times given of old; but, owing to the fact that it has not actually been prohibited, the number of those who cut their belly to follow their lord on his decease has become very great. For the future, to those retainers who may be animated by such an idea, their respective lords should intimate, constantly and in very strong terms, their disapproval of the custom. If, notwithstanding this warning, any instance of the practice should occur, it will be deemed that the deceased lord was to blame for unreadiness. Henceforward, moreover, his son and successor will be held to be blameworthy for incompetence, as not having prevented the suicides."
Suicide in modern Japan is still a common occurrence. Legally speaking, there is no prohibition against the act though government organizations have made official statements attempting to dissuade suicidal individuals from the act. While ritual disembowelment is all but a thing of the past, it was estimated by the World Health Organization in 2009 that 32,845 people committed suicide, generally by means of hanging, poisoning, or jumping from buildings and other elevated surfaces. Though it is impossible to directly link the self-destructiveness of Japan’s Feudal past to modern behavior and psychology, it is certainly noteworthy to consider that the Japanese are historically rooted in this sort of activity. Time will be the judge of whether the modern world can erase this most ancient habit.
But seemingly few cultures took suicide to the extreme of Feudal Japan. For many members of the ruling class, suicide was a gruesome and inevitable end.
The tradition of ritual suicide first appears to have started in 1192 A.D. during the Kamakura Bakufu (“Tent-Government,” or military rule.) This turbulent time period is known as much for the growth and spread of multiple schools of Japanese Buddhism as it is for the invasion of Japan by the Mongols under the leadership of Kublai Khan. In this state of immense violence, Samurai warriors would stop at nothing to guarantee that they would be captured. Suicide on the battlefield is not new, but in the highly militarized culture of 12th Century Japan and it’s warlords would leave a lasting imprint, seemingly strong enough to nearly enter the 20th century.The act of ritual suicide is known in Japan as Seppuku, literally meaning “cutting the belly.” From a modern Western standpoint, it is difficult to conceive why anyone would want to take part in this so it helps to understand the world of Feudal Japan. Until the Meiji restoration of 1868, the Japanese world was divided by a rigid caste system. At the top of the social order was the Shogun or Daimyo. They take were the actual leaders of the country, with the Emperor of Japan existing primarily as the head of the indigenous religion of Shinto but few actual temporal authorities. Enforcing this system were the Samurai, who functioned not only as soldiers for the regional leaders, but as bureaucrats, educated-elite, and police. Beneath them existed the majority of people; primarily craftsmen and farmers.
For those individuals born into the Samurai caste, the notion of absolute loyalty to the State and it’s leaders was expected. While much has been written in the modern era regarding the philosophy and ethics of this warrior class (called Bushido) it is debatable as to how much it was actually adhered to, versus how much of it is more a concept dictated by World War II-era Imperial Japanese propaganda. What is not debatable, however, is that the expectations put upon the warrior class. The word Samurai roughly translates to “To Serve” or “Servant,” even if it means following the order of their superior to the death.
For the common-folk of Feudal Japan, a death sentence meant facing beheading or strangulation. For the Samurai class (or anyone else above them in caste system) the “method of dispatch” was formal, designed to give the Samurai a death was both certain and dignified.
Upon the declaration that a Samurai must commit Seppuku, the condemned would be required to prepare, quite literally for his death. The Samurai would don an entirely white outfit, traditionally worn for funerals. They would compose a short poem to metaphorically describe their death, drink a final cup of rice wine, and be led to the spot of their execution. (It should be noted that there was a similar tradition of Seppuku for the wives and female members of the Samurai class, but that it was not as common.) The traditions of Seppuku indicate that for the Samurai it was a honorable death. In his classic 1871 text, Tales of Old Japan, Algernon Bertram Freeman-Mitford wrote of a Samurai named Zenzaburo who had attacked visiting dignitaries from Europe. “After another profound obeisance, Taki Zenzaburo, in a voice which betrayed just so much emotion and hesitation as might be expected from a man who is making a painful confession, but with no sign of either in his face or manner, spoke as follows: ‘I, and I alone, unwarrantably gave the order to fire on the foreigners at Kobe. and again as they tried to escape. For this crime I disembowel myself, and I beg you who are present to do me the honor of witnessing the act.’ Bowing once more, the speaker allowed his upper garments to slip down to his girdle, and remained naked to the waist….he tucked his sleeves under his knees to prevent himself from falling backwards; for a noble Japanese gentleman should die falling forwards. Deliberately, with a steady hand, he took the dirk that lay before him; he looked at it wistfully, almost affectionately; for a moment he seemed to collect his thoughts for the last time, and then stabbing himself deeply below the waist on the left-hand side, he drew the dirk slowly across to the right side, and, turning it in the wound, gave a slight cut upwards. During this sickeningly painful operation he never moved a muscle of his face….At that moment the kaishaku(the condemned Samurai's "second"), who, still crouching by his side, had been keenly watching his every movement, sprang to his feet, poised his sword for a second in the air; there was a flash, a heavy, ugly thud, a crashing fall; with one blow the head had been severed from the body. A dead silence followed, broken only by the hideous noise of the blood throbbing out of the inert heap before us, which but a moment before had been a brave and chivalrous man. It was horrible”It should be mentioned that this form of ceremonial disembowelment was not reserved exclusively for capital punishment; disgrace or loss of “face” could be and often was sufficient cause. The culture of Japan, both ancient and modern, has always been deeply steeped in the notion of honor. To have one’s name or reputation severely besmirched not only damaged the person, but the person’s family and ancestors as well. It would be better, the logic of this “honorable suicide” dictates, for a person to willing cease to live than to continue to insult family and ancestry by being alive. As well, a very special form of Seppuku, called Junshi, became especially problematic. Upon the death of noble lord, the throng of Samurai that served as his retainers would commit this gruesome form of suicide en masse as a sign of loyalty to their leader. This practice became so common that the Tokugawa Shogunate issued a statement in the 1660’s banning the practice. According to the Buke Sho Hatto, published in 1663, "That the custom of following a master in death is wrong and unprofitable is a caution which has been at times given of old; but, owing to the fact that it has not actually been prohibited, the number of those who cut their belly to follow their lord on his decease has become very great. For the future, to those retainers who may be animated by such an idea, their respective lords should intimate, constantly and in very strong terms, their disapproval of the custom. If, notwithstanding this warning, any instance of the practice should occur, it will be deemed that the deceased lord was to blame for unreadiness. Henceforward, moreover, his son and successor will be held to be blameworthy for incompetence, as not having prevented the suicides."
Suicide in modern Japan is still a common occurrence. Legally speaking, there is no prohibition against the act though government organizations have made official statements attempting to dissuade suicidal individuals from the act. While ritual disembowelment is all but a thing of the past, it was estimated by the World Health Organization in 2009 that 32,845 people committed suicide, generally by means of hanging, poisoning, or jumping from buildings and other elevated surfaces. Though it is impossible to directly link the self-destructiveness of Japan’s Feudal past to modern behavior and psychology, it is certainly noteworthy to consider that the Japanese are historically rooted in this sort of activity. Time will be the judge of whether the modern world can erase this most ancient habit.
Wednesday, September 22, 2010
Preview of Sept. 24th
Something to think about...
“Another person has said that, as the ceremonies to be gone through by principal, witnesses, and seconds are all very important matters, men should familiarize themselves with a thing which is so terrible, in order that, should the time come for them to take part in it, they may not be taken by surprise.” -Algernon Bertram Freeman-Mitford
I'll explain it on Friday.
“Another person has said that, as the ceremonies to be gone through by principal, witnesses, and seconds are all very important matters, men should familiarize themselves with a thing which is so terrible, in order that, should the time come for them to take part in it, they may not be taken by surprise.” -Algernon Bertram Freeman-Mitford
I'll explain it on Friday.
Tuesday, September 21, 2010
Why I Do What I Do
Just a quick bit of info...
As of this morning, The Obscuritan Journal has received 927 hits. When you consider that as of Sept. 11th, the count was at 676, that's saying a lot.
1,000 hits has been a goal of mine since I started. My reason for this is that once I crossed that line, I knew I would have reached a point where I could feel good in really pushing outwards with this project in terms of advertisement and content.
Just remember: I might be the one doing the writing, but it is you, the reader, who makes this blog what it is. And while I certainly live by the adage that I'd still be doing what I do regardless if anyone is looking, I can't overstate the point that having people, some of which from points literally thousands of miles away, are the reason I continue.
So thank you for everything.
As of this morning, The Obscuritan Journal has received 927 hits. When you consider that as of Sept. 11th, the count was at 676, that's saying a lot.
1,000 hits has been a goal of mine since I started. My reason for this is that once I crossed that line, I knew I would have reached a point where I could feel good in really pushing outwards with this project in terms of advertisement and content.
Just remember: I might be the one doing the writing, but it is you, the reader, who makes this blog what it is. And while I certainly live by the adage that I'd still be doing what I do regardless if anyone is looking, I can't overstate the point that having people, some of which from points literally thousands of miles away, are the reason I continue.
So thank you for everything.
Friday, September 17, 2010
Design Flaws?
In May of 2005, the Kansas State Board of Education held a series of hearings regarding science curricula. While the process of review and revision educational standards and teaching methods are not new, these specific hearings were highly abnormal. Recent elections had given six of the ten available seats on the Board of Education to socially and politically Conservative Christians who wanted to change how the Theory of Evolution, as proposed by Charles Darwin, would be presented.
These members of Board wanted to present a concept called Intelligent Design as a scientific theory that offers an opposing but plausible explanation of life on Earth. Intelligent Design, since entering into public consciousness, has been a cause of major argument. It’s proponents contend that Evolution is a theory that is still hotly debated by the majority of the scientific community, therefore in it’s place Intelligent Design could offer an explanation that uses God (the “Intelligent Designer”) in place of the seemingly random or chaotic forces of Natural Selection and Mutation.
Scientists, on the other hand, contend that there is no real debate over Evolutionary Theory’s veracity and that Intelligent Design and it’s related movement is pure pseudoscience; Intelligent Design cannot be backed by physical evidence nor be proven by the Scientific Method, given that it deals exclusively in the realm of the Metaphysical.
During the hearings, Bobby Henderson, a graduate of Oregon State University with a degree in Engineering, sent a letter to the Kansas Board of Education arguing that there may be a third argument to be had. Henderson’s letter stated that alongside Darwin’s Theory and Intelligent Design, a creation myth regarding an god known as The Flying Spaghetti Monster should also be taught. (Yes, you read that correctly.)
It must have been difficult for Henderson to predict that his letter, written as an absurdist criticism of the Intelligent Design debate, would balloon into an Internet sensation as well as a sold criticism of Religious Fundamentalism. Calling his faith “Pastafarianism,” Henderson argues that he has “written accounts” of The Flying Spaghetti Monster creating the world, as well as altering any attempts at Carbon or Nitrogen Dating materials used by scientists with the power of “His Noodly Appendage.” When word broke of this incident, it spread quickly causing many Internet users who were critical of Intelligent Design (and a large portion of those with an unusual sense of humor) to proclaim themselves “Pastafarians” and that they too believed in the power of The Flying Spaghetti Monster. In short order, Henderson launched a website as The Church of The Flying Spaghetti Monster, as well a book comprising it’s gospels. In the spirit of his original letter, The “About” section of his website claims “Some claim that the church is purely a thought experiment, satire, illustrating that Intelligent Design is not science, but rather a pseudoscience manufactured by Christians to push Creationism into public schools. These people are mistaken. The Church of FSM is real, totally legit, and backed by hard science. Anything that comes across as humor or satire is purely coincidental.”
So what can be said of Henderson’s “Church?” The website presents itself with tongue planted sharply in cheek, but the use of satire as an antidote to the sometimes venomously grim world of religion is not new. Organizations such as “The Church of The SubGenius” have made this a stock-in-trade. Venerating the clip-art image of a salesman called J.R. “Bob” Dobbs, The SubGenius aspire to a transcendent state called “Slack” and claim that they are the descendants of the Yeti (a mythical Tibetan form of Sasquatch.) The Church of the SubGenius has been making mockery of religious and social Evangelism for more than twenty years, and use their unique brand of surreal mockery as an effective, if not hilarious skewer against social and religious institutions. In the world of Religious Parody (or depending upon your worldview, Parody Religions,) The Church of The SubGenius are a sort of Dadaist gold-standard by which to be measured. The Pastafarians and could easily reach that sort of absurd pinnacle. Like anything else in life, a parody can only ultimately be as strong as it’s subject matter. In the end, The Flying Spaghetti Monster needs Intelligent Design as much as Intelligent Design needs Natural Selection.
These members of Board wanted to present a concept called Intelligent Design as a scientific theory that offers an opposing but plausible explanation of life on Earth. Intelligent Design, since entering into public consciousness, has been a cause of major argument. It’s proponents contend that Evolution is a theory that is still hotly debated by the majority of the scientific community, therefore in it’s place Intelligent Design could offer an explanation that uses God (the “Intelligent Designer”) in place of the seemingly random or chaotic forces of Natural Selection and Mutation.Scientists, on the other hand, contend that there is no real debate over Evolutionary Theory’s veracity and that Intelligent Design and it’s related movement is pure pseudoscience; Intelligent Design cannot be backed by physical evidence nor be proven by the Scientific Method, given that it deals exclusively in the realm of the Metaphysical.
During the hearings, Bobby Henderson, a graduate of Oregon State University with a degree in Engineering, sent a letter to the Kansas Board of Education arguing that there may be a third argument to be had. Henderson’s letter stated that alongside Darwin’s Theory and Intelligent Design, a creation myth regarding an god known as The Flying Spaghetti Monster should also be taught. (Yes, you read that correctly.)
It must have been difficult for Henderson to predict that his letter, written as an absurdist criticism of the Intelligent Design debate, would balloon into an Internet sensation as well as a sold criticism of Religious Fundamentalism. Calling his faith “Pastafarianism,” Henderson argues that he has “written accounts” of The Flying Spaghetti Monster creating the world, as well as altering any attempts at Carbon or Nitrogen Dating materials used by scientists with the power of “His Noodly Appendage.” When word broke of this incident, it spread quickly causing many Internet users who were critical of Intelligent Design (and a large portion of those with an unusual sense of humor) to proclaim themselves “Pastafarians” and that they too believed in the power of The Flying Spaghetti Monster. In short order, Henderson launched a website as The Church of The Flying Spaghetti Monster, as well a book comprising it’s gospels. In the spirit of his original letter, The “About” section of his website claims “Some claim that the church is purely a thought experiment, satire, illustrating that Intelligent Design is not science, but rather a pseudoscience manufactured by Christians to push Creationism into public schools. These people are mistaken. The Church of FSM is real, totally legit, and backed by hard science. Anything that comes across as humor or satire is purely coincidental.”
So what can be said of Henderson’s “Church?” The website presents itself with tongue planted sharply in cheek, but the use of satire as an antidote to the sometimes venomously grim world of religion is not new. Organizations such as “The Church of The SubGenius” have made this a stock-in-trade. Venerating the clip-art image of a salesman called J.R. “Bob” Dobbs, The SubGenius aspire to a transcendent state called “Slack” and claim that they are the descendants of the Yeti (a mythical Tibetan form of Sasquatch.) The Church of the SubGenius has been making mockery of religious and social Evangelism for more than twenty years, and use their unique brand of surreal mockery as an effective, if not hilarious skewer against social and religious institutions. In the world of Religious Parody (or depending upon your worldview, Parody Religions,) The Church of The SubGenius are a sort of Dadaist gold-standard by which to be measured. The Pastafarians and could easily reach that sort of absurd pinnacle. Like anything else in life, a parody can only ultimately be as strong as it’s subject matter. In the end, The Flying Spaghetti Monster needs Intelligent Design as much as Intelligent Design needs Natural Selection.
Monday, September 13, 2010
Preview of Sept. 17th
Can anyone tell me what this has to do with the nature of all living creatures on this planet?
Anyone?
No?
Then come back this Friday so I can explain.
I'll see you then.
Saturday, September 11, 2010
The Obscuritan's State Of The Union
I began writing here at The Obscuritan Journal in May of this year, and I have to admit that I am having a great time doing so. I owe everyone who has taken a second to stop by and read my posts, so I thought I throw a little something different this week at you, just so you know what is going on here.
I've stated previously that my goal here is to eventually parlay my work here into something bigger. After taking into consideration the advise of some of my readership and close friends, I have a rough plan for the next year as to what I want to do here, and how to improve this blog to make it something more noteworthy.
The plan, as of now, looks something like this. In no specific order, I need to achieve the following goals:
1. I would like to purchase "The Obscuritan Journal" as my own and get away from using a third-party group to host my site.
2. I would like to spread the site via syndication and dead-tree advertising. If anyone would be willing to help me create and spread flyers/business cards, it would be deeply appreciated.
3. I'm thinking it's nearly time to create a Facebook page for The Obscuritan Journal, primarily as a dedicated point-of-contact for those people who are already Facebook users to help spread the word.
In short, The Obscuriatan Needs You!
(And yes, it is fun to refer to myself in the 3rd Person by a different name)
So what am I getting out of all of this, other than a creative outlet? Thanks to Blogger's "Stats" feature (which I will miss dearly once I do leave Blogger) I have been able to see what is actually happening in terms of readers and web-hits. So let me hit you with some facts:
- As of this posting, I have had 676 views, 307 of which in the past month.
- "Four Gods," posted on July 16th, has had the most viewers, followed by "Among The Ruins."
- Google and Facebook are the primary sources of hits for my site.
- The following countries are the highest ranking in terms of readership: Untied States (572 hits,) Canada (17 hits,) United Kingdom (14 hits,) and Germany (9 hits.) I have also had hits from The Czech Republic, Indonesia, and Ecuador.
- 40% of my readers are using Firefox. 38% are using Internet Explorer.
I can't say enough how much I appreciate everyone who has commented, emailed, called, or sent text messages in response to my work. I intend to keep this up for some time...so if you keep coming, I keep writing and researching.
I've stated previously that my goal here is to eventually parlay my work here into something bigger. After taking into consideration the advise of some of my readership and close friends, I have a rough plan for the next year as to what I want to do here, and how to improve this blog to make it something more noteworthy.
The plan, as of now, looks something like this. In no specific order, I need to achieve the following goals:
1. I would like to purchase "The Obscuritan Journal" as my own and get away from using a third-party group to host my site.
2. I would like to spread the site via syndication and dead-tree advertising. If anyone would be willing to help me create and spread flyers/business cards, it would be deeply appreciated.
3. I'm thinking it's nearly time to create a Facebook page for The Obscuritan Journal, primarily as a dedicated point-of-contact for those people who are already Facebook users to help spread the word.
In short, The Obscuriatan Needs You!
(And yes, it is fun to refer to myself in the 3rd Person by a different name)
So what am I getting out of all of this, other than a creative outlet? Thanks to Blogger's "Stats" feature (which I will miss dearly once I do leave Blogger) I have been able to see what is actually happening in terms of readers and web-hits. So let me hit you with some facts:
- As of this posting, I have had 676 views, 307 of which in the past month.
- "Four Gods," posted on July 16th, has had the most viewers, followed by "Among The Ruins."
- Google and Facebook are the primary sources of hits for my site.
- The following countries are the highest ranking in terms of readership: Untied States (572 hits,) Canada (17 hits,) United Kingdom (14 hits,) and Germany (9 hits.) I have also had hits from The Czech Republic, Indonesia, and Ecuador.
- 40% of my readers are using Firefox. 38% are using Internet Explorer.
I can't say enough how much I appreciate everyone who has commented, emailed, called, or sent text messages in response to my work. I intend to keep this up for some time...so if you keep coming, I keep writing and researching.
Friday, September 10, 2010
Quick Update Sept. 10th
This weeks blog may be delayed by 12 to 24 hours while I am collating some information. For your information, the information I am collecting has less to do with a new topic, and more to do with this blog. You'll hear from me shortly when I am ready to present.
Talk to you soon, and enjoy your weekend!
Talk to you soon, and enjoy your weekend!
Friday, September 3, 2010
A Dark Mystery
Arguably one of the most ubiquitous beverages in the world, Coffee is arguably a cornerstone to the lives of millions of people, from farmers all the way to consumers. Coffee has such a place in the cultural heritage of so many, that even people who don't drink it will often speak fondly of the aroma while it's brewing or refer to taking a "coffee break" from an activity.
But how did such a humble shrub become one of the world's largest agricultural powerhouses? What magic does a tiny bean contain that can lead to true international trade?
The history of coffee is generally traced back to Ethiopia in 850 AD. A goat-herd named Kaldi once found his flock munching on a bush with red berries, after which they behaved with an unusual amount of energy. Perplexed, Kaldi decided to sample the berries himself and experienced the world's first case of "coffee jitters." Shocked by his discovery Kaldi took some of the berries to a local elder, who roasted the berries over a fire and added them to boiling water, creating the world's first "cuppa Joe."
Whether or not there is any truth to the "Myth of Kaldi" is a matter of speculation. What is known, on the other hand, is that coffee beans were traded and passed through Sudan into Yemen's port of Mocha around 1400-1500, where it spread throughout the Arab world. Given the Koran's prohibition on Muslims consuming alcohol, coffee became a beverage at social gatherings, a trait that it still holds as true today as it did during the 16th century. By the mid-1500's, three coffee shops had opened in Constantinople. By 1650, coffee had fund it's way into Venice where Europe's first cafe' was opened in 1654.
As Europe began exploring and colonizing the "New World," coffee invariably followed. From it's mythical origins to today, coffee has lost none of it's power. According to the United Nation's Food and Agricultural Organization, global coffee output should reach seven tons by the end of 2010, with an estimated 6.9 tons consumed in the year. As of 2008, the countries consuming the most coffee per day per year are Finland, Norway, and Iceland (The United States ranks number 26 of 181 in terms of daily consumption per year.)
While the history and current usage of coffee does shed some light, the question still remains: Why is coffee popular? At a glance, it can be hard to fathom how a dark, oily fluid, served piping hot, and known for it's bitter, acidic flavor could have crossed so many cultural borders. The obvious answer would be caffeine. But this idea falls apart when the the wide-spread popularity of tea is figured into the equation.
Perhaps the historical connotation of the educated and intellectual class being fond of coffee explains it. In England, coffee shops were historically referred to as "Penny Universities," since a potential patron only needed to pay a small charge at the door to cover the beverage cost, thereby allowing them to take part in animated discussions or impromptu lectures. However, there is an equally strong modern connotation of coffee being the a blue-collar beverage, symbolized by the seemingly omnipresent thermal-sealed containers of strong black coffee in factories and job sites.
In most major cities, one can find at least one coffee shop with very little effort. Most major grocery chains now have at least half an aisle devoted to coffee and related items. While the reasons for coffee's popularity may be intangible, it is nearly guaranteed that the thirst for it will never pass.
But how did such a humble shrub become one of the world's largest agricultural powerhouses? What magic does a tiny bean contain that can lead to true international trade?
The history of coffee is generally traced back to Ethiopia in 850 AD. A goat-herd named Kaldi once found his flock munching on a bush with red berries, after which they behaved with an unusual amount of energy. Perplexed, Kaldi decided to sample the berries himself and experienced the world's first case of "coffee jitters." Shocked by his discovery Kaldi took some of the berries to a local elder, who roasted the berries over a fire and added them to boiling water, creating the world's first "cuppa Joe."Whether or not there is any truth to the "Myth of Kaldi" is a matter of speculation. What is known, on the other hand, is that coffee beans were traded and passed through Sudan into Yemen's port of Mocha around 1400-1500, where it spread throughout the Arab world. Given the Koran's prohibition on Muslims consuming alcohol, coffee became a beverage at social gatherings, a trait that it still holds as true today as it did during the 16th century. By the mid-1500's, three coffee shops had opened in Constantinople. By 1650, coffee had fund it's way into Venice where Europe's first cafe' was opened in 1654.
As Europe began exploring and colonizing the "New World," coffee invariably followed. From it's mythical origins to today, coffee has lost none of it's power. According to the United Nation's Food and Agricultural Organization, global coffee output should reach seven tons by the end of 2010, with an estimated 6.9 tons consumed in the year. As of 2008, the countries consuming the most coffee per day per year are Finland, Norway, and Iceland (The United States ranks number 26 of 181 in terms of daily consumption per year.)
While the history and current usage of coffee does shed some light, the question still remains: Why is coffee popular? At a glance, it can be hard to fathom how a dark, oily fluid, served piping hot, and known for it's bitter, acidic flavor could have crossed so many cultural borders. The obvious answer would be caffeine. But this idea falls apart when the the wide-spread popularity of tea is figured into the equation.Perhaps the historical connotation of the educated and intellectual class being fond of coffee explains it. In England, coffee shops were historically referred to as "Penny Universities," since a potential patron only needed to pay a small charge at the door to cover the beverage cost, thereby allowing them to take part in animated discussions or impromptu lectures. However, there is an equally strong modern connotation of coffee being the a blue-collar beverage, symbolized by the seemingly omnipresent thermal-sealed containers of strong black coffee in factories and job sites.
In most major cities, one can find at least one coffee shop with very little effort. Most major grocery chains now have at least half an aisle devoted to coffee and related items. While the reasons for coffee's popularity may be intangible, it is nearly guaranteed that the thirst for it will never pass.
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