Niagara Fall, not!

I was watching a PBS show on Niagara Falls hoping to be drawn more to visiting the great work of God. But I was disappointed as they chronicled the taming of Niagara Falls by the US and Canada. I think the first, worst thing that was done was to make a spectacle of it in the 1800's. Some profiteers decided to send a burning ship with animals in it over the falls. 20,000 people showed up to watch this barbaric act. If the Falls could cry it would be screaming. Then the horrible buildings that were built around it and ruined the view.

Then the electricity that was supplied by the magnificent force of the water was displayed. As an engineer this part was more fascinating then repulsive to me. Not knowing how to get the power from the Falls to Buffalo there started a fight between one famous and one unknown scientist. Thomas Edison wanted to use direct current to transfer the energy. Tesla(now the name for a unit of measurement) wanted to use alternating current. Sorry Edison, but you lost this one.

The final straw and the worst yet was in the 50s, the US could actually control the flow of the Falls which now constantly flows at 25% of capacity. How sad. I think I would rather enjoy watching the Nature Channel on t.v. than go to the circus.

Drought imperils Iraq's 'Garden of Eden' marshes, an ancient culture

I found this article interesting.

http://www.boston.com/news/world/middleeast/articles/2009/04/16/drought_imperils_iraqs_garden_of_eden_marshes_an_ancient_culture/

My home journey begins.

I was fascinated when I heard about the book Guns, Germs and Steel by Jared Diamond. The revolutionary explanation for how our world is currently divided up very much interested me. I also thought it was a great place to begin on my journey into anthropology. But I could not get past the first Chapter. One reason was that my schedule was limited and I kept having to return the book back to the library. It was also in high demand at the library. Secondly, as a Christian it was difficult to get through the predicate that we evolved from monkeys.

Sigh....I hope one day to finish the book. Now I'm interested in getting my toddlers interested in world geography. As we watch Amazing Race (love the show) I mark each country the contestants visit in our Atlas (thanks dad).

I also follow a replicated voyage that was made by the Phoenicians in 600BC. The ship will circumnavigating Africa, starting in Syria. I just found out they launched an online website for students!!! http://www.phoenicia.org.uk/education-home.htm