study notes 10/11-15/10

The Story of Art-This just may be the world's greatest book on the history of art from the perspective of a real person. No stuffed shirt here. The architecture of the Romans is beautiful and impressive, that is until we remember what it was used for and what it represented. The Colosseum borrows heavily from the Greeks and why not? The Greeks were a great civilization in many ways. Anyway the colosseum has  four stories of huge arches--the ground floor having the Doric style with meropes and tryglyphs, the middle Ionic, the third and forth have Corinthian half-columns. Perhaps it is more the Roman's copying the Greeks in architecture that influenced Western Civilizations around the world than the actual Greeks.

The Romans invented the idea of the arch with their triumphal gates--one large arch with two smaller flanking arches. Arches were built from wedge-formed stones, which is an engineering discovery. This made possible the famous aqueducts, bridges, and vaulted roofs.The most famous vaulted building is the Pantheon, temple of all gods.

As they did with architecture, the Romans borrowed ideas from the Greeks for painting and sculpture. They made bust of the emperors. To show loyalty, citizens were required to burn incense in front of them. Since the Christians would not do this, it is the likely reason that their persecution became so violent. The biggest difference in Greek and Roman portraiture was the Roman attention to perfect likenesses of the actual subject.

Another subject of Roman art were victory columns. A combination of history and propaganda, these columns displayed a sort of picture book of feats of campaigns to those who had stayed home. Here the emphasis of art moved away from harmony, beauty, or dramatic expression and moved toward the practical. We can see the influence of the Roman Empire in the art of , Mesopotamia, Israel, India and Egypt, with their representations of religious stories told on walls.

Religions of the World: A Latter-Day Saint View-Looking at other religions in the world is fascinating. The Jains are no exception. Many of their commandments are similar to Christians: don't lie, steal, be unchaste, or kill. Pray a lot and don't set your heart of worldly possession. They go beyond this with extreme denial. And then completely with karma and reincarnation. They believe that cows are living temples that provide milk. They won't even kill bugs. Knowledge of scripture is not good. Family and emotional ties avoided.

Madrigal's Magic Key-OK so this time I'm going to do it. I've dabbled in Spanish for years. Getting discouraged, I quit and re-start, sputter and quit. Enough! I will conquer this demon or desire depending on the day. I've learned a lot from Madrigal's and intend to review it and English Grammar for Students of Spanish, while I read the Book of Mormon in Spanish again and complete Rocket Spanish. My problem is that I spent so many years making sure my students studied and knew their stuff that I didn't learn it deeply enough to really speak. By this time next year, I hope to be able to read, write, and converse in Spanish intelligently. I've given up my hopes for furthering Latin or Mandarin until I see success here.

A History of the American People-The Fundamental Orders of Connecticut was the first written constitution not only in America but in the world. Constitutions adopted by the various colonies plus their independent assemblies (House of Burgess patterned after British House of Commons) made the American political climate unique throughout the world. Constitutions made the colonies self-contained, mature, and nearly sovereign. Constitutions outlined perimeters for rights, natural law, and absolutes. These things were not given in England but conditional. Since the crown could not physically exercise direct control of the colonies, early self-rule, assembles and written constitutions, were the serendipitous outcome.

Pietism=emphasis on leading a holy life without troubling too much about the doctrinal disputes which racked the 17th century, was a German concept, and this is the first time non-English speaking immigrants brought with them ideas which influenced Amarican lintellectual life. Great Awakening=Protestant revival-rural roots, find out for themselves by studying the Bible necessitating basic education---Mentions Francis Bacon's Advancement of Learning---gotta read this one [My intent is, without varnish or amplification, justly to weigh the dignity of knowledge in the balance with other things, and to take the true value thereof by testimonies and arguments divine and human...First therefore let us seek the dignity of knowledge in the archetype or first platform, which is in the attributes and acts of God, as far as they are revealed to man and may be observed with sobriety; wherein we may not seek it by the name of Learning; for all Learning is Knowledge acquired, and all knowledge in God is original: and therefore we must look for it by another name, that of Wisdom or Sapience, as the Scriptures call it....So in the age before the flood, the holy records honour the name of the inventors and authors of music and works in metal. To descend to Moses the lawgiver, and God's first pen: he is adorned by the Scriptures with this addition and commendation, THAT HE WAS SEEN IN ALL THE LEARNING OF THE EGYPTIANS; which nation, we know, was one of the most ancient schools of the world. So likewise in that excellent book of Job, if it be revolved with diligence, it will be found pregnant and swelling with natural philosophy; as, for example, cosmography, and the roundness of the world. So likewise in the person of Salomon the King, we see the gift or endowment of wisdom and learning, both in Salomon's petition and in God's assent thereunto. By virtue of which grant or donative of God Salomon became enabled not only to write those excellent Parables or Aphorisms concerning divine and moral philosophy; but also to compile a Natural History of all verdure, from the cedar upon the mountain to the moss upon the wall, (which is but a rudiment between putrefaction and a herb,) and also of all things that breathe or move. Nay, the same Salomon the King, although he excelled in the glory of treasure, yet he maketh no claim to any of those glories, but only to the glory of inquisition of truth. Our Saviour Himself did first show His power to subdue ignorance, by His conference with the priests and doctors of the law...Wherefore, to conclude this part, let it be observed, that there be two principal duties and services which philosophy and human learning do perform to faith and religion. The one, because they are an effectual inducement to the exaltation of the glory of God: the other, because they minister a singular help and preservative against unbelief and error...To proceed now to moral and private virtue: first, it is an assured truth, that knowledge taketh away the wildness and barbarism and fierceness of men's minds. It taketh away all levity, temerity, and insolency, by copious suggestion of all doubts and difficulties, and acquainting the mind to balance reasons on both sides, and to turn back the first offers and conceits of the mind, and to accept of nothing but examined and tried. It taketh away vain admiration of anything, which is the root of all weakness...there is no power on earth which setteth up a throne or chair of state in the spirits and souls of men, and in their cogitations, imaginations, opinions, and beliefs, but knowledge and learning...History, which may be called just and perfect history, is of three kinds, according to the object which it propoundeth or pretendeth to represent: for it either representeth a time, or a person, or an actions. The first we call chronicles, the second lives, and the third narrations or relations. But for modern histories, whereof there are some few very worthy, but the greater part beneath mediocrity...History ecclesiastical receiveth the same divisions with history civil: but further, in the propriety thereof, may be divided into the history of the church, by a general name; history of prophecy; and history of providence. Thus much therefore concerning history; which is that part of learning which answereth to one of the cells, domiciles, or offices of the mind of man: which is that of memory.] It goes on the discuss mathematics, poetry, science, religion, and natural history. WHAT A GREAT FIND! Apparently Rousseau and Voltaire played a huge role in this change from Puritanism to individualist interpretation of the Spiritual, which makes no sense. Must read some of their works to understand.---"The Great Awakining was thus the proto-revolutionary event, the formative moment in American history, preceding the political drive for independence and making it possible." "The Great Awakening altered this separateness (colonies as self-contained islands)...it taught them to grasp and appreciate what they ahd in common, which was a great deal.

"The revolution was effected before the War commenced. The revolution was in the minds and hears of the people; and change in their religious sentiments of their duties and obligations. John Adams  It was the marriage between the rationalism of the American elites touched by the Enlightenment with the spirit of the Great Awakening among the masses which enabled the poplar enthusiasm thus aroused to be channeled into the political aims of the Revolution...Neither force could have succeeded without the other...The essential difference between the American Revolution and the French Revolution is that the American Revolution, in its origins, was a religious event, whereas the French Revolution was an anti-religious event. That fact was to shape the American Revolution from start to finish and determine the nature of the independent state it brought into being."

A Bluestockings Guide: Economics-Watched Capra's 1936 movie Mr. Deed's Goes to Town with Gary Cooper. Great Movie! The scene which subsidizing the arts is discussed is significant for many reasons. I liken it to the public school system of today. It is not selling a product that the customers want. Because it is subsidized it can continue to lose money and present material objectionable to those it supposedly serves. If an organization whose sole purpose it is to enlighten, educate, or inform, cannot survive without forced charity aka governmental taxation, it should not exist. Likening the scene in the movie to the Seattle Symphony, I'm reminded of the year Joseph gave me season tickets for my birthday. As a frustrated musician, I was thrilled at the prospect. He got box seats behind the violin section so I could watch their fingers. After the first time, I didn't really want to go any more. The music wasn't beautiful, as we would hear from selections of the old masters. It was awful experimental junk. We didn't renew, but the SS went on without us playing it's awful repertoire at the taxpayers expense. Instead, these institutions, schools, symphonies, operas, and such should nor rely on taxes and be privately owned. One exception in this are the schools. Families with children should be given vouchers and the freedom to attend any school or home school they wish. Competition breeds competence.

Whatever Happened to Penny Candy-OK, I've been reading economics books for a decade, and I finally got it. Dense? Just a bit. Inflation is an increase in the money supply, meaning government counterfeiting. It is not the rise in prices at the grocery store. Inflation, the increase of the money supply, CAUSES the rise in prices, because the money is not worth as much as before. It is not worth as much as before, because of the law of supply and demand. If there was only one pencil in the world it would be priceless. Since there are zillions of pencils, they are cheaply obtained. They don't cost much, because they aren't worth much.

The Fallacy Detective-A Red Herring is something true but irrelevant. They don't prove the point being argued.

Richard Halliburton's Complete Book of Marvels-Even though big cities are commonplace now, New York seems to hold a bit of mystery. Personally, I want to see a Broadway Play (G-rated), Central Park, The Statue of Liberty, and The Empire State Building.

An Evening A Month For America-Cicero again...I love this guy...Even though his religion was pagan, he was able to penetrate through the writings of Plato and Aristotle to see that there was an intelligent designer to the universe, who had an ongoing interest in his creation. Amazingly, he discovered that only with Natural Law, laws irrevocably decreed in heaven, could a society succeed. "Man shares with his Creator the quality of utilizing a rational approach to solving problems, and the reasoning of the mind will generally lead to common-sense conclusions. Natural Law cannot be repealed, abandoned, or legislated away, even if the people and their leaders pretend to do so. We share with the creator the ability to reason. Cicero was able to identify the first and second commandments. 1) Love God, meaning we love His commandments, His justice, and His Reason. 2) Love your Fellow Man, meaning we love Mercy and Fellowship. According to Cicero, all can attain virtue if taught correctly, governmental laws are not laws if they violate Natural Law, and all laws should be measured against God's laws. "For if ignorant and unskillful men have prescribed deadly poisons instead of healing drafts, these cannot possibly be called physicians' prescriptions; neither in a nation can a statue of any sort be called a law, even though the nation, in spite of being a ruinous regulation has accepted it." Cicero We need to return to being a highly moral and virtuous society, lifting ourselves from the chicanery and depravity of past civilizations so that we might have liberty and prosperity for all.

Several concepts that have their basis in Natural Law include: unalienable rights, unalienable duties, habeas corpus, limited government, separation of powers, checks and balances, self-preservation, contract, family, marriage, justice by reparation, bear arms, and no taxation without representation.

The School of Natural Healing-

Both organic and the inorganic cathartics act to hasten intestinal evacuations. However, inorganics irritate and dehydrate sensitive organs, while organics strengthen and tone malfunctioning tissues and organs.  

Aperients excite moderate peristalsis and produce normal stool formation without griping or irritations (fruit, water, licorice root, olive oil)--should be administered at night.  Cathartic herbs cause active peristalsis, stimulate glandular secretions of the intestines, produce semi-fluid bowel movements with possible griping or irritation--should be administered in the morning before meals on an empty stomach. 

Chologogues stimulate flow and discharge of bile.

For a partially atrophied colon, mandrake or culver’s root are indicated.

According to Dr. Shook, the best and safest laxative is Cascara Segrada.

Black Walnut tree has many uses besides providing nourishing walnuts: anti-microbial, cathartic, anti-fungal, nutritive, anti-inflammatory. The husk contains iodine, potassium iodine, potassium sulfate, magnesium sulfate, and silica.

Turkey rhubarb is an excellent laxative for children, because of the milk-like quality of its actions.

Turkey rhubarb, senna, and licorice are the preferred herbs, when constipation is accompanied by hemorrhoids.  

The griping and nauseating effect of senna can be lessened by the use of cloves, ginger, cinnamon, coriander, or fennel.

One must avoid overdosing, when administering mandrake, because it possibly can cause convulsions and coma. 

The diaphoretic herbs produce sweating in three ways. They enter the circulation and are thrown off by sweat glands; they stimulate the local nerve fibers to these glands to increase action. They influence the peripheral sensory nerves, which relax and dilate the superficial capillaries and vessels. They stimulate the sweat glands indirectly by stimulating the cells in the central nervous system from which the nerve fibers controlling the actions of the sweat glands originate. When administering diaphoretics think of a hot herbal bath in conjunction with hot internal diaphoretics. Afterward use friction with a brisk towel down and then a deep message. Cathartics should not be given just before or during administration of diaphoretics. Diaphoretics are one of the most important of all herb groups, because they clean foul, mucus conditions from the body.

If yarrow, one of the most effective diaphoretics was unavailable, one could use chamomile, pleurisy root, boneset, thyme, blessed thistle, hyssop, sage, catnip, or spearmint. 

Chamomile is used hot as a diaphoretic. When used cold, it relieves uterine congestion and stimulates menstrual flow. The flowers of chamomile, and really all herbs, should be covered during preparation and never boiled, because the volatile oils containing the therapeutic values will escape.

A powerful, capillary-relaxing herb which is valuable for all chest complaints is pleurisy root.

Thyme, a common diaphoretic, nervine, and culinary herb, forms the basis for Listerine Compound, and may be relied upon to eliminate infection, destroy worms, remove foul odors, and tone the respiratory system.

A warm infusion of sage will produce perspiration, while a cold infusion will treat night sweats. 

Catnip, a diaphoretic and nervine herb, is most widely used to allay colic and restlessness in babies. 

Spearmint, a diaphoretic herb, can alone alleviate the nausea of pregnancy, and is used in a formula especially for that purpose: spearmint, cloves, cinnamon, and turkey rhubarb for such. 

Gravel root, a diuretic herb that influences the excretion of solid materials, is used with demulcent agents to soothe irritation and forestall any stress that may arise during the elimination process.

Often, the cause of bed-wetting (enuresis) is nerve damage and psychosomatic. It can be treated with gravel root and parents refraining from harassing or spanking children.

Some of the wonders parsley has been known to work include: removes gall stones, heals adrenal glands, therapeutic to nervous system, tonic for circulatory system, reduces swollen glands, eliminates edema, treats all ailments of the urinary tract, helps anemia, high blood pressure, and arthritis, and eliminates halitosis. 

Juniper should be administered in smaller doses in the treatment of renal dropsy, because the stimulating effect may irritate the urinary passages. 

Some of the herbs that can be compatibly combined with Juniper in the treatment of urinary complaints include cleavers, tansy, cayenne, shavegrass, oat straw, and black current leaves.

Possible, damage to the delicate urinary tissues is the danger of cleansing the chronically clogged urinary tract too rapidly through an overdosage of diuretics.

The garden carrot, a powerful cleanser, is rich in the minerals potassium, sodium, and calcium. Dr. Loretta Foote was instrumental in popularizing the healing properties of the underestimated carrot.

Cleavers, diaphoretic herb, is contraindicated in diabetes or kidney weakness.

In menstrual abnormalities it is necessary to know the cause before administering herbal aids, because it cannot be cured without knowing the cause.The causes of leucorrhea are many and varied; they include: fungal infections, sexually transmitted diseases, polyps, unhygienic behavior, stress, tuberculosis, and anemia. An herbal program to eliminate the condition might include injecting an infusion of or wearing a tampon soaked in equal parts white pond lily, red raspberry leaf, comfrey, and witch hazel.Squaw vine, an emmenagogue, is a legacy from American Indian who held it in high esteem as a uterine tonic to be taken during pregnancy. In retarded menstruation due to a sudden chill or cold, the herb Penny Royal is indicated.  When taken as a warm infusion in connection with a vapor bath, it is almost a specific cure.  It should be avoided during pregnancy, because it can cause irritation in the genitourinary tract and may possibly cause reflex uterine movements. Cramp Bark, an emmenagogue herb. is helpful in the prevention of unnecessary abortions (miscarriages).The herb is also a stimulative tonic to the uterus and when properly applied can regenerate the female protective organs. Potassium, Magnesium, Sodium, Phosphorus, Potash, Calcium, Iron, and Silicon are all mineral elements are contained in the emmenagogue herb blue cohosh. Three Therapeutic Actions of the emmenagogue herb, rue, are anti-spasmotic, tonic, emetic. Mother Wort, an emmenagogue, is a well-known cardiac tonic. Southern Wood, an emmenagogue, is also indicated in swellings and inflammatory state. 

Tonsils should remain in the body, because they are a valuable organ. They are the last refinery organ that guards the reproductive organs from toxins in the body. Removing tonsils reduces fertility, and sets the stage for problems of the ovaries and prostate.