Enjoy the History of the Castles of England

Filed under: History Parlor, Online Travel Resources — admin at 12:03 pm on Monday, June 14, 2010

Over 30 old castles still exist in the southeast region of England as reminders of the days when The united kingdom was a region partioned by dominating families who constructed solid fortresses to defend their lands from invaders, both overseas and domestic. Current castle trips allow visitors to gain a sense of how essential these amazingly safeguarded buildings are to the rich history and culture of Britain. Exploring the the royal collections of noteworthy aristocrats including Mary Queen of Scots during guided trips of the Arundel Castle in West Sussex present visitors a feeling of the grandeur and elegance that surrounded the British aristocracy in medieval times. The professional guides tell stories that bring the past alive as they retell famed battles and legends that surround this intriguing castle. At the majestic Guildford Castle, visitors can safely clamber to high on top of the Great Tower to see the breathtaking view that was utilised by the castle’s defenders to see approaching opposing soldiers. Within are displays that let visitors study designs of the castle as it was initially created in the 1300s. Informative videos describe the part that Guildford Castle played in British background. Whenever the wonderful Herstmonceux castle comes into view, visitors are astounded by the moat that draws attentions to how solid defenses were essential to discourage invaders when this castle was built in the turbulent times of 15th century England. Though once in ruins, the castle has been magnificently restored and is now house of the Queen’s Bader Institute. Encircling the castle alongside the moat are public grounds that represent the Elizabethan age when grounds were elegant play grounds for the aristocracy. Immediately after the turning forest paths that head towards forest sculptures that are displayed in the Shakesphere garden, Rose Garden and the Herb Garden present visitors a sense of how the romance of courtliness was once performed amongst these dramatic spaces. High upon the well known white cliffs of Kent, the Dover Castle’s breath-taking sights over the English channel make it apparent why this historic site has been put to use for centuries to secure the south eastern shores of Britain. Dover Castle was designed by William the Conqueror in 1066 after his win at the Battle of Hastings, however there are wrecks surrounding the castle that date back much further, and evidence of enhancements through the years. Viewing the many versions of this strategic site, which includes a hall once referred to as Arthur’s Hall, gives present day visitors an idea of Britain’s rich history. When you get into Hever Castle, the childhood household of Anne Boylen, the homely ambiance is quite different from other southeastern English castles. The exhibits of personal items and recreations of the dresses worn by the six wives of Henry the VIII demonstrates the richness of 16th century Tudor life style. But the selection of weaponry, armor and devices of torture and execution in the Council Chamber speak of a much darker side of life full of high intrigue and authentic danger that lurked in the medieval courts. Find out more information about some of the numerous Castles in England

Time Warner\’s Steve Ross

Filed under: Education Special, History Parlor, Media Portal — admin at 5:20 pm on Thursday, September 25, 2008

Time Warner’s Steve Ross

Time Warner is closely associated with Hollywood and has produced myriad movies and television shows. Throughout its existence, many people, be they employees or clients, have acknowledged its stature as the second largest of the leading media and entertainment companies in the world, just behind News Corporation. Time Warner though, would have not come into reality if not for the man who was behind its helm: Steven J. Ross.

Steven Jay Rechnitz, later known as Steve Ross, was born on September 17, 1927 in Brooklyn, New York to Jewish immigrants. Steve’s father replaced the name Rechnitz with Ross in 1932. In 1945, Steve was enlisted in the U.S Navy but only spent seven days at sea and never served in combat. Despite his military record, Ross claimed that his hearing loss was due to his participation in battles. After the war, he went to study at Paul Smith’s College.

Ross married Carol Rosenthal in 1954. Rosenthal’s father owned the Kinney Parking Company, which four years later, expanded under Ross’ leadership. The former funeral parlor enterprise boomed into a media venture. After a series of buyouts and mergers, the Warner Communications was born in 1972 with Ross as its CEO. Three years before his death, Ross oversaw the merger that would make his company one of the biggest in the media and entertainment industry: Time Warner.

Ross is remembered by his peers and employees as an emotional boss rather than an intellectual one. Most of his corporate decisions were based on gut feeling and instincts rather than market trends and surveys. Ross was also a generous employer. He gave lavish salaries to all his employees, from the utility personnel to the stars. He justified that his generosity was just his way of providing incentives to his employees.

To learn more about Steven Ross, read his biography on the Business Biographies site.

Courtney Sale Ross, the wife of Steven Ross, was interviewed by Charlie Rose.

Courtney Sale Ross and Steve Ross founded the Ross School, an innovative educational institution that uses progressive models of learning.

About climate change

Filed under: Education Special, History Parlor, Political Groups — admin at 4:25 am on Friday, June 6, 2008

Climate change can be defined as a phenomenon where significant and long term changes can be observed in the environment of a particular place or region. During the recent times, there has been increased scientific evidence that suggests that the temperature of the earth is increasing as a result of human activities. There are different ways in which human activities are influencing changes in the environment. Some of these include fossil fuel combustion, deforestation, obnoxious gases released by the industries, land use, agriculture,

Among all these, fossil fuel combustion holds the biggest share in influencing climate change. Ever since industrial revolution has taken place, human consumption of fossil fuels has increased significantly. As a result, concentration of certain gases in the atmosphere has increased to enormous levels resulting in increased temperatures on the earth, a phenomenon known as greenhouse effect. Some of these gases include carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide and sulfur that have caused huge depletions in the ozone layer. Next important factor that has significantly changed environment is deforestation. Trees have an important role to play in safeguarding earth’s environment since they absorb harmful greenhouse gases from the environment and convert them into useful materials. Apart from these, other factors such as excessive usage of land, rise in agricultural activities and rearing of livestock have been known to contribute enormously towards release of greenhouse gases, thereby influencing changes in the local climate.