Pleasant weather has finally arrived this season; the kind of weather that makes you eager to turn off the AC and throw open windows and doors. However, the bugs come right in along with the cool air. The answer to this problem has been available for homeowners for quite a while now: screens. Unfortunately, many owners of historic homes no longer have their original window and door screens. Because window screens are easily removed when in need of repair, they usually get stacked in the garage and added to the bottom of the To Do List. Wood screen doors typically get removed directly to the trash. The result is both a loss of historic character and a loss of comfort and function.

While the majority of wood window screens tend to be similar in design, the wood screen door has a greater degree of design variety to suit various architectural styles. The screen door also is subject to much more daily wear than the average window screen. Add some high humidity and temperature fluctuations and you do have to spend some time thinking about screen doors if you want them to look appropriate and last for a reasonable amount of time.

Although basic wood screen doors are available at local home improvement stores, they are rarely suited to historic homes or are built to last. Many of the available screen doors are built of finger jointed, soft woods with narrow frames. The result is an oddly proportioned door that tends to sag and stick shortly after installation and rot within a season or two. They also are available only in stock sizes that often need to be modified in order to fit existing historic door openings.

A better, longer lasting solution is to install a custom built screen door that is designed to complement the architectural style of the home and built of rot resistant materials using durable joinery techniques. Screen door styles range from simple rectangular frames suited to vernacular homes to ornate ginger-breaded doors for Victorian era homes. Several designs are available for the Craftsman-influenced and Mission style homes as well. Materials such as cypress and dense pine are suited for wood screen doors due to their rot resistance and dimensional stability. Strong joints, such as mortise and tenon connections add to the strength and durability of screen doors as well. Finished with period-appropriate hardware, a well designed and built wood screen door can add character to a historic home and serve as a welcome to pleasant weather and friends alike.

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Jefferson proposed that a group of explorers travel across North America in search of such a waterway. Meriwether Lewis and William Clark led the exploration west from eighteen-oh-three to eighteen-oh-six. They discovered that the Rocky Mountains divided the land. They also found no coast-to-coast waterway.

So Jefferson decided that a different transportation system would best connect American communities. This system involved roads, rivers and railroads. It also included the digging of waterways.

VOICE TWO:

By the middle of the eighteen-hundreds, dirt roads had been built in parts of the nation. The use of river steamboats increased. Boat also traveled along man-made canals which strengthened local economies.

The American railroad system began. Many people did not believe train technology would work. In time, railroads became the most popular form of land transportation in the United States.

In nineteenth-century American culture, railroads were more than just a way to travel. Trains also found their way into the works of writers like Ralph Waldo Emerson, Nathaniel Hawthorne and Walt Whitman.

VOICE ONE:

In eighteen-seventy-six, the United States celebrated its one-hundredth birthday. By now, there were new ways to move people and goods between farms, towns and cities. The flow of business changed. Lives improved.

Within those first one-hundred years, transportation links had helped form a new national economy.

(MUSIC)

VOICE TWO:

Workers finished the first coast-to-coast railroad in eighteen-sixty-nine. Towns and cities could develop farther away from major waterways and the coasts. But, to develop economically, many small communities had to build links to the railroads.

Railroads helped many industries, including agriculture. Farmers had a new way to send wheat and grain to ports. From there, ships could carry the goods around the world.

Trains had special container cars with ice to keep meat, milk and other goods cold for long distances on their way to market.

People could now get fresh fruits and vegetables throughout the year. Locally grown crops could be sold nationally. Farmers often hired immigrant workers from Asia and Mexico to plant, harvest and pack these foods.

VOICE ONE:

By the early nineteen-hundreds, American cities had grown. So, too, had public transportation. The electric streetcar became a common form of transportation. These trolleys ran on metal tracks built into streets.

 
H. Nelson Jackson at the wheel of his Winton

Soon, however, people began to drive their own cars. Nelson Jackson and his friend, Sewall Crocker, were honored as the first to cross the United States in an automobile. Their trip in nineteen-oh-three lasted sixty-three days. And it was difficult. Mainly that was because few good roads for driving existed.

But the two men, and their dog Bud, also had trouble with their car and with the weather. Yet, they proved that long-distance travel across the United States was possible. The trip also helped fuel interest in the American automobile industry.

VOICE TWO:

By nineteen-thirty, more than half the families in America owned an automobile. For many, a car became a need, not simply an expensive toy. To deal with the changes, lawmakers had to pass new traffic laws and rebuild roads.

Cars also needed businesses to service them. Gas stations, tire stores and repair centers began to appear.

Many people took to the road for personal travel or to find work. The open highway came to represent independence and freedom. During the nineteen-twenties and thirties, the most traveled road in the United States was Route Sixty-Six. It stretched from Chicago, Illinois, to the Pacific Ocean in Santa Monica, California. It was considered the “people’s highway.”

VOICE ONE:

The writer John Steinbeck called Route Sixty-Six the “Mother Road” in his book “The Grapes of Wrath.” Hundreds of thousands of people traveled this Mother Road during the Great Depression of the nineteen-thirties. They came from the middle of the country. They moved West in search of work and a better life.

In nineteen-forty-six, Nat King Cole came out with this song, called “Route Sixty-Six.”

(MUSIC)

VOICE TWO:

 
Traffic in the 1950′s

World War Two ended in nineteen-forty-five. Soldiers came home and started families. Businesses started to move out to the edges of cities where suburbs were developing. Most families in these growing communities had cars, bicycles or motorcycles to get around. Buses also became popular.

The movement of businesses and people away from city centers led to the economic weakening of many downtown areas. City leaders reacted with transportation projects designed to support downtown development.

Underground train systems also became popular in the nineteen-fifties. Some people had enough money to ride on the newest form of transportation: the airplane.

VOICE ONE:

But for most automobile drivers, long-distance travel remained somewhat difficult. There was no state-to-state highway system. In nineteen-fifty-six Congress passed a law called the Federal-Aid Highway Act. Engineers designed a sixty-five-thousand kilometer system of roads. They designed highways to reach every city with a population over one-hundred-thousand.

The major work on the Interstate Highway System was completed around nineteen-ninety. It cost more than one-hundred-thousand-million dollars. It has done more than simply make a trip to see family in another state easier. It has also led to the rise of the container trucking industry.

(MUSIC)

VOICE TWO:

The American transportation system started with horses and boats. It now includes everything from container trucks to airplanes to motorcycles. Yet, in some ways, the system has been a victim of its own success.

Many places struggle with traffic problems as more and more cars fill the roads. And a lot of people do not just drive cars anymore. They drive big sport utility vehicles and minivans and personal trucks.

For others, hybrid cars are the answer. Hybrids use both gas and electricity. They save fuel and reduce pollution. But pollution is not the only environmental concern with transportation. Ease of travel means development can spread farther and farther. And that means the loss of natural areas.

Yet, every day, Americans depend on their transportation system to keep them, and the largest economy in the world, on the move.

(MUSIC)

VOICE ONE

The National Museum of American History in Washington, D.C. has a new transportation exhibition. “America on the Move” explores the connection to the economic, social and cultural development of the United States. And you can experience it all on the Internet at americanhistory.si.edu. Again, the address is americanhistory.si.edu/onthemove/exhibition.

Needsee can do you a favor to help you develop your business. Needsee is an integrated service provider of overseas marketing for the global import and export enterprises to provide a full range of overseas marketing outreach programs.

Once you have built your wooden garden shed there are several things you need to add to make it even better. If for example you are using your garden shed for a potting shed or garden shed then there are some things you need to add to make the gardener in your life happy. Regardless, of the use for your garden shed there are several accessories you need to add to the garden shed.

SOLAR POWERED LIGHTS ALONG THE PATH LEADING TO THE SHED – No matter what you store in your garden shed sooner or later you will find yourself needing to go the shed at night to get something you have stored in the shed. Lighting the pathway will make it much safer for you to get to the shed and to get there in a safer manner. No more tripping to get to the shed. Best of all solar powered lights come in a variety of styles to make the lighting very attractive along the pathway to your shed.

SOLAR POWERED PUMPS – If you are using a rain barrel to collect the rainfall coming off the shed you will eventually want to pump the collected rain water to some plants, shrubs, trees, or flowers. Today you can get solar powered pump kits that will allow you to pump the water to wherever you want plus you can also use the pump to pump the water into a drip irrigation system or to run a fountain. Using solar powered pumps save electricity and are the right thing for all of us to do whenever possible.

SOLAR POWERED SECURITY LIGHTS – As you approach your garden shed there is nothing better than a motion detector light coming on to light the area for you. This is a safe way to avoid tripping over garden hoses, pots etc. as you approach the shed. Even if the solar powered security light is not a motion detector type you can using get a motion detector kit to make your light a motion detector light.

HOSE REEL AND HOSE CONTAINERS – If you have landscaped around your garden shed or if you have turned your garden shed into a potting shed then you will be using water to water the plants, vines, flowers, or shrubs around or in the shed. In all likelihood you will have hoses around the garden shed and need to pick and roll those hoses up to avoid tripping and to make the area just look better. Keeping the hoses under control can be done in two ways. One, install a hose reel on the shed or sitting at the side of the shed and reel the hose in after use. The other way is for you to coil the hose up in a hose container. Either way solves the basic problem of making it safer to walk around the garden shed.

PORTABLE SINKS -  For those shed builders who do not want to add plumbing to the garden shed there are a couple of ways to use portable sinks to help out the gardener. First, you can mount a portable sink on the side of the garden shed. Second you can use a portable sink that is constructed on wheels and that can be moved around. Both types of sinks are available online today and are a great way to make watering easier for the gardener in the family.

ADD A WEATHERVANE AND A RAIN GAUGE – Adding a weathervane not only adds character to your garden shed but it also provides you with an accurate wind direction reading for your micro-climate in your back yard. Add a rain gauge so you can get accurate rain amounts for your lawn and garden. You will probably already have thought of adding a thermometer but you can also add a device to give you the wind speed. I installed a complete weather station to my shed and had it transmit to a control panel in my house. I was constantly looking at the monitor for accurate information for my area. An added value to this station was that the information could be downloaded to my computer for historical weather records for my yard.

WINDOW BOXES – Add some window boxes to your garden shed to give you some additional areas to plant flowers, starter plants, and herbs. Adding a window box also beautifies the shed.

ADD PLANTER BOXES AROUND THE SHED – Not only will planter boxes allow you to beautify the area around the shed but they also give you an area to plant starter plants in the spring. You can start your seedlings in your planter box and move them into the garden shed at night if the temperatures get too cold.  

The legend tells that Rome was founded on April 21, 753 BC, by the twin sons of Mars, Romulus and Remus. Romulus killed his brother over the throne and became the sole ruler of Rome. He reigned until 715 BC, when he was succeeded by Numa Pompilius, the founder of Roman law and its religious practices.

With time, Roman power, influence and territory grew to unprecedented proportions in the ancient world. By the end of the Republic (31 BC), Rome controlled the entire Mediterranean. They defeated their most powerful rivals, the Carthaginians, and took over many of the lands ruled by the Greeks, including Egypt. Although, eventually ancient Rome was sacrificed at the altar of its own internal struggles for power, it was not before it had written its name under one of the most important periods in humankind’s history. Two thousand years later, ancient Rome remains an endless inspiration of art, culture, architecture, and even fashion.

Costume

Roman costume was influenced by the styles of previous civilizations, such as the Etruscans and the Greeks, and also reflected the dress of conquered peoples, although in a lesser degree. It comprised two main categories: indutus, items that were put on, and amictus, clothing wrapped or draped around the body. The wide range of climates that existed within the vast Roman Empire led to the creation of the seasonal dressing concept. Dress was adapted to the specific seasons and weather conditions.

Women’s clothing

Women’s clothes were made of light materials and in a variety of colors, which set them apart from men’s clothes. Also, unlike men’s dress, women’s clothes changed little. The primary garment was the stola, a long tunic with full sleeves. It was made from wool, cotton or linen, with the more expensive designs made from silk. The stola was worn with a girdle known as cingulum and a wide belt, known as a succinda. With the help of these, women achieved to create a double-bloused effect. Under the stola women wore a bust bodice – the strophium, and a sleeveless shift dress – the subucula.

Roman matrons wore wide tunics, pleated into tiny folds, which were held together at the shoulder by a series of buttons along the sleeve.

The palla was a warm piece of cloth with a hood, fastened with a clasp. Another outer garment was the sapparum, worn by women of the upper class, which had short sleeves, and the olicula, which basically was a short cape.

Men’s clothing

In the early days of the Republic, Roman men wore a simple linen loincloth known as the subligaculom or licinium. By the time of the empire, only athletes and workmen were permitted to wear loincloths. Romans, unlike the Greeks, were not tolerant of nudity. They did, however, inherit from them their two main garments: the tunic and the cloak. The basic short-sleeved tunic consisted of two pieces of wool cloth joined at the shoulders and down the sides, with slits for the head and arms. It was gathered at the waist with a belt, but could also be worn with a girdle.

There were different tunic styles for different occasions and social ranks. Magistrates wore the Tunica angusti clavi, which had two narrow purple stripes on each shoulder. The Tunica laticlavia, worn by senators, featured wider purple stripes. Made from purple silk and embroidered with gold thread, the Tunica palmata was worn by victorious generals. It consisted of two pieces and was worn together with the Toga picta. There were also other tunics, such as the Tunica recta, the Subucula and Tunica exteriodum, and the Caracaila.

The most important mantle was the toga, which was descended from the Greek himation and the Etruscan tebenna. The draped, elliptically shaped woolen piece of fabric was reserved for Roman citizens; slaves, foreigners, and lower classes were forbidden from wearing it. The toga’s decoration, color and shape denoted the wearer’s social rank. As did the manner in which the toga was draped.

The different forms of togas included the Toga picta, which signified victory and was worn by Roman generals on specific occasions. This toga was property of the state and only loaned to generals for ceremonial wear. Another toga was the Toga candida, which was worn by candidates for public office. Mourners wore the Toga pulla, which was either black, dark brown or gray, and had a head cover. The solid purple Toga trabea was worn by spiritual men. The same toga with purple and crimson stripes was reserved for the augurs or omens interpreters, while the purple and white one revealed the rulers of the Republic.

With the expansion of the Empire, Rome came to include in its territories much of northern Europe, which translated into harsher climatic conditions. Warm outer garments became a necessity. The Roman wardrobe included the sagum – a blanket-like wrap, taken from the Gauls; the lacerna, a rectangular piece of wool, draped over the shoulders, which had to be fastened with a clasp; the pallum – or women’s palla – was a short rectangular cloak, influenced by the Greek himation; the paludanentum, was an enlarged version of the Greek chlamys, worn by Roman generals.

Severe weather occurs year round throughout the world.  Tornados, hurricanes, tsunamis, thunderstorms, micro-bursts, lightening and flooding; they are occurring every day somewhere on our planet. 

Natural occurring severe weather has caused millions of deaths throughout history.  You may be asking yourself, millions, is that possible?  Consider that the great Indian Ocean tsunami tragedy in 2004 in and around Indonesia, killed approximately 300,000 people and in 1970 a cyclone in Bangladesh drowned over 500, 000 people.

What can we do to keep from being a victim of severe weather?  I can sit here and mention numerous steps people can utilize to survive natures many volatile threats.  However, individuals can access numerous websites or contact governmental agencies to find specific strategies they can utilize to protect themselves.  Consequently, this article will not go down that typical route of assistance that most people are used to.

However, what this article will discuss is the simple most important thing you and I can do to protect ourselves from severe weather, which is to simply be…aware.  As an example, it is a fact that modern technology gives us an extraordinary amount of time before a hurricane hits an area.  Tornados, which are natures most powerful storms (wind wise), can many times, also be forecast in advance.

Thunderstorms, flooding and tsunamis are all similar; they all can and are predicted well in advance.  The tsunami tragedy mentioned above was not handled well by authorities; however, we will never see such poor advance warning again.  Since that tragedy, the powers-that-be are on top of tsunamis and give solid warnings in advance of the possible deadly waves that may be coming.

The single best thing you and I can do to protect ourselves from severe weather is to be aware of our surroundings.  It is similar to that of being aware of our surroundings to help ourselves from falling victim to criminals.

If the outside weather looks concerning to you, tune into your local media outlet.  Radio and television stations are anxious about offering great services to their listeners (that’s how they get and keep listeners and consequently make money) and they will let you know what severe weather may be coming your way.  For instance, many local television stations are renowned for being right-on with predicting severe weather and helping people stay safe.  And similarly, there are many quality radio stations doing a great job as well.

Consider buying a Weather Radio which will notify you of impending severe weather even if you and your family are sleeping.  An alarm sounds notifying you of severe weather danger in your area.  These radios are inexpensive and may be purchased for less than thirty dollars.

In some areas it may be difficult to get to media outlets for warnings, as an example while camping or on vacation.  In such cases, keep aware and keep an eye on the weather and again, if it looks at all concerning make contingency plans for a severe weather possibility.  Keep an eye out for any nearby shelter just in case dangerous winds, lightening or flooding come your way.

While there are numerous specifics we can do to keep safe from nature’s wrath almost none of them are as important as simply being aware of what may be heading your way.

Electronic money is a recent invention which means that currency with real value can be exchanged for traditional cash; it is instead entirely virtual or digital. It is a new invention in the history of money and commerce. Electronic money only exists in digital format and is primarily based on the internet or smart cards that have a record of their stored value. The transactions which are electronically done are known as electronic money. Similar names for electronic money are electronic cash, e-money, digital money, digital currency or digital cash.

The computer age has made the creation of money possible. It began back in the 1960s when IBM and American Airlines created a system called SABRE (Semi-Automatic Busines Research Environment), this allowed offices of American Airlines fitted with terminals connected to telephone lines and helped agencies to check flight times, seat availability, and then make reservations electronically that could be paid by using a system of credits.

Banks in America and Europe has started using mainframe computers by the 1970s, it helped them track transactions. It was a system that proved to be a success internationally when currency exchange was needed.

Consumer uptake of electronic money was first noticed in France in 1982 with the introduction of the Minitel service. The US and UK had developed basic tele text service that helped televisions to display text directly onto the television screen like news, program guides, game show results or weather update. The teletext was a very useful and simple one way service.

The French Minitel service used a dumb terminal with built-in modem, the service operated over standard telephone lines and the terminals were equipped with full AZERTY keyboards. The subscribers typed messages or searched queries. These Minitel terminals were given for free to more than 9 million households to encourage business entrepreneurs. Payment could be made through credit card or charged to the telephone account. This marked the first use of electronic money in the consumer market.

In 1979, a slightly similar service was launched in the UK named Prestel. It supported equipment was costly and it required customers to call and arrange payment over the phone. A service known as Homelink started in 1983 with the support of the Bank of Scotland and Nottingham Building Society. The account holders could subscribe to a special Prestel service that allowed online banking. This marked the first recorded use of electronic money.

The year 1991 saw the introduction of internet in consumer market and the disbanding of the Arpanet network. It wasn’t long until 1992 when America Online took advantage of the new Internet and started offering retail services directly to their subscribers who could pay using a credit card.

The year 1994 took a leap of faith that internet would help businesses. Pizza Hut adopted a same model that was used by Peapod for allowing online pizza ordering with the choice of payments like credit card via internet or in cash on delivery.

Late 1990s proved to be an essential moment for electronic money. Amazon.com was launched in 1995 and PayPal was formed in 1998. This made convenient and easy payment of money online without any risk of credit card number theft. The innovation of PayPal was to offer virtual account to the customers that could be topped up using credit card or wire transfer. Then email addresses were used to receive and send money. The services of PayPal marked a unique beginning of electronic money which was different from traditional phone and online credit card transactions.

Furthermore, the model of PayPal was copied by other providers with new ideas for securing customer funds using gold standard, silver, platinum or palladium. However sending and receiving payments with an email address was flexible.

Virtual currency backed by precious metals can be exchanged for any supported currency. eLibertyReserve, e-gold and Webmoney have become the biggest gold backed electronic money providers.

Private currencies had also proliferated encouraged by the demand for some form or marketplace within networked games like World of Warcraft and Second Life. Since then, private currencies have developed in many forums and webmaster services as a means of offering advertising amongst members.

The most successful electronic money has been facilitated with stored value cards that are denominated in local currency. The US military designed a stored value card called Eagle Cash that provided an advance on soldier’s earnings. Hong Kong also designed a stored value card for making quick purchase of subway tickets also accepted as a defacto cash card by many retailers in the city.

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Radio is a technology that transmits data to a remote point where a receiver detects the simple without the use of wire. Radio is thought to be AM or FM stations in terms of common glossary. In fact, radio waves are also used for receiving and sending data waves like satellite broadcasts, Bluetooth devices and wifi networks.

The history of radio dates back to the mid 1800s. It involved theory related to electricity and magnetism. Telegraph was the first available technology developed from this discovery although it required wire cables.

James Maxwell had developed his own theories related to electromagnetism in 1865. This led to the first true experiments of wireless. Many physicists like Thomas Edison, Mahlon Loomis and William Henry Ward patented methods of sending and receiving a wireless telegraph system but a working system was never demonstrated by them.
In 1884, Temistocle Calzecchi-Onesti invented a device which was subsequently refined. Edouard Branly later named it coherer in 1886. It was a glass tube filled with metal filings connected to electrical current producing an audible click in a sounder while receiving the signal. The coherer became the enabling technology allowing early radio signals to be received.

In 1887, Heinrich Hertz was the first person who had refined a system that allowed him to experiment with sending wireless signals to a wireless receiver. He was honored in 1933. In 1892, a Serbian-Croatian immigrant to the US, Nikola Tesla demonstrated the first complete radio transmitter and receiver system and became the first successful person invent radio. Unfortunately, there was a fire in his laboratory in 1895 and he could not demonstrate his radio. However in 1898, Tesla demonstrated the first radio later and filed patents for radio in early 1900s.

An Italian, Guglielmo Marconi was fascinated by the idea of wirelessly transmitting a telegraph signal. In 1894, he successfully invented a spark transmitter with an antenna. Unfortunately, the Italian Postal Service which controlled telegraph services were not interested in his experiment. He moved to England in 1896 where he successfully demonstrated his technology to the English Post Office who immediately recognized his services. Queen Victoria was also impressed by his invention. Marconi was related to British nobility who were powerful investors in his companies and in the emerging US markets.

In 1900, another American Reginald Fessenden demonstrated his new technology which was used by the weather department for sending information to ships at sea. He invented the Barretter detector allowing him to develop amplitude modulation (AM).
The 1920s was the true birth years of modern radio and almost every home owned a radio. Television started to catch up during the 1960s and it was a preferred medium of entertainment for Americans. However radio firmly held on in the car and by 1990s, many Americans listened to radio in their car or at work. Wirelessly broadcasting traffic reports, music and news to radio receivers still prevails despite the arrival of internet and satellite radio.

Memorial Day is held annually on the last Monday of May. It is America’s favorite federal holidays as it is an official start of the summer season. Besides this, it is also an emotional holiday for many people because this day honors the fallen soldiers of the US Army. The history of this day dates back to the 19th century and is more complex than it appears.

No one is sure when and where the first Memorial Day was held. It is documented but many towns throughout the country began celebrating their dead after the end of Civil War in 1865. Towns from North and South participated in this annual tradition. It was soon known as the ‘Decoration Day.’ It got its name from the custom of decorating soldier’s graves.

Waterloo, New York was one town that became famous for its celebration of Decoration Day. Its residents started this tradition in 1866 holding it for a long time every year at the same date. On 1868, Decoration Day became a national event when Gen John Logan declared its value for the entire nation. The first official Decoration Day was held on 30 May 1868.

In 1967, Decoration Day officially became a Memorial Day despite its name was used since the end of 10th century and was popular after the Second World War. After a year, Memorial Day became a ‘uniform’ holiday and was declared to be held on the last Monday of May instead of May 30. The underlying principle was for three important federal holidays to provide America with a long weekend every year.

Like many holidays, time has somehow lessened the historical importance of Memorial Day in people’s minds. The US government still holds a service every year to commemorate its fallen soldiers. The ceremony is traditionally held every year in Arlington Military Cemetery which is attended by thousands of people. The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier is particularly honored and the nation is addressed by the President.

At present, Americans observe Memorial Day not only to commemorate the fallen Civil War veterans but also to honor all American soldiers who laid their lives in war. On the same hand, Memorial Day still remains more than just a day off from work for Americans. This holiday is also a fun day for celebrating the arrival of warmer weather.

Weather is not like climate that normally stays the same for much longer periods, weather changes very often every day or every hour. One day witnesses sunny skies and the next day it is cloudy. Sometimes, it would be a rainy morning and a sunny and warm in the afternoon. The weather changes so often that it is difficult to predict. One wonders why and how the weather changes.

One the same hand, Mars is said to be Earth’s twin plant. Mars and Earth orbit around the sun almost at the same speed. Although lately astronomers have discovered newer, smaller planets that resemble with Earth more than Mars does. But Mars role in Earthling history whether real or imaginary, remains unquestionable. There have been many movies, stories, books and artworks depicting Mars as a world- in-waiting.

For a long time, it has been thought that Mars harbor life because of the visible changes of color on its surface that is said to be caused by the changing of the seasons. Mars may have harbored life millions of years ago but it remains a mystery why it went extinct. There is a wide belief that Mars has both warm and cold seasons and a surface that looks deceptively fit for human habitation. Human’s mind definitely wants to know why Mars have seasons.

When talking about the changing of weather on earth, there are factors that affect weather changes which are wind direction, elevation and clouds. The direction the air is moving from affects the type of weather such as air from the ocean will bring in more humid air, air from the desert will bring in dry air and air from the Polar Regions will bring in colder air. The elevation factor comes in when the weather will be more unsettled at the time air is flowing from a lower elevation towards a higher elevation. Weather becomes more fair and calm when air is flowing from a high elevation towards a lower elevation. The factor of clouds come in when weather tends to be cooler during the day when there are clouds blocking most of the sun’s heat and UV rays. It will get warmer at night when there are clouds in the sky. The heat that has gathered during the day cannot easily dispel at night because the clouds kept it inside the lower atmosphere near the ground.

Weather changes also depend on the type of pressure. Low pressure tends to bring in cloudy conditions and rainfall. On the other hand, high pressure tends to bring in fair weather. Tropical low pressures do not have fronts. This keeps the air mild even when the weather gets unsettled.

Mars tilts at an angle similar to earth spins around an axis that does not move up or down. When Mars tilts on one side, the northern side points to the sun while on the other side of the orbit which is the southern part faces the sun also. When most parts face the sun then the sun naturally gets a wider mileage. Back on the surface the sun’s light gets very intense makes the surface a lot warmer. This results in the summer season. The other part that sides away from the sun does not get warm so it is winter season over there. Because Mars has volatile atmosphere, the changing of the seasons is usually accompanied by high temperature swings.

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The Cote d’Azur, or the French Riviera as it is referred to in English, is a magnificent stretch of coastline running between Menton, near the Italian border, and Hyéres. 115km of coastline makes up the region, and the Mediterranean climate provides 300 days of sunshine. It is a perfect place for a French walking holiday, where you can ramble beside the bright blue sea and sandy beaches.

The name Cote d’Azur, refers to the colours blue and gold, with the blue being that of the Mediterranean ocean and the gold referring to the region’s rising economy.

Early European Influences

Being an area of such great beauty with an excellent climate, it is no small wonder that many European countries wanted to have a share in the area. In the 7th century BC, Greek sailors travelling from Asia Minor began visiting and establishing trading posts in the area. Settlements were developed and trading began with the inhabitants of the interior. This has seen a visible Greek influence in the region, and a great way to learn the history while you enjoy the scenery is on a hiking tour in France.

Roman influence began in 8 BC, when Emperor Augustus built La Turbie (Trophy of the Alps) and began building towns, monuments and amphitheatres along the coast, many of which you will still be able to stumble over on your French walking holiday. Two notable amphitheatres which still remain standing are the amphitheatre and bath at Cimiez, and the amphitheatre and Roman walls at Frejus. These ancient sites add a Roman twist to the ground you will tread on your walking holiday in France.

The Early Days of the Resort

The French Riviera was one of the first modern resorts to be established in the south of France, and hiking in this area will clearly show you why. Its beauty is unrivalled, and its climate is gentle, making it the perfect retreat to escape the British winter.

It was originally established as a winter health resort for sickly British tourists, where they could escape the cold and return to health. Until the end of the 18th century, the area consisted of local people leading simple lives, where the focus was on growing olives, fishing, and producing flowers for perfume.

The French Riviera first started to gain attention when Tobias Smollett, a British traveller, described the benefits of the health resort in his book, ‘Travels Through France and Italy,’ in 1765. This was the beginning of spreading the idea of the French Riviera as an ideal place for a French walking holiday.

At the same time, Scottish doctor John Brown gained fame when he prescribed climato-therapy, a therapy based on climate change to cure a range of illnesses such as tuberculosis. A trip to the French Riviera was the ideal place for this therapy to occur, as the climate was perfect in the south of France. Hiking in this region could have a similar effect on a holiday, where the fresh sea air, exercise and warm weather will revitalise you.

A Perfect Holiday Destination

Once attention was drawn to the area, it became a favourite destination of the aristocracy. British nobleman Henry Peter Broughman loved the area so much after travelling through the region with his ill sister that he bought land a built a villa there, where he spent most of his summers. Other members of the British aristocracy followed suit, recognising the benefits of a French walking holiday.

With the development of the railway in the 19th century, the area became easily accessible to Europe, and in 1865, one hundred thousand visitors flocked to the area. Casino resorts were built, the most notable being Monte Carlo, established by Charles III. Gradually the area became more popular with tourists from America and Europe, and no longer belonged to the aristocracy.

The perfect place for hiking in France or simply sitting by the sea, the area quickly became popular with celebrities such as Brigitte Bardot, Elton John, and Princess Diana. With so many people attesting to its beauty, it must be an ideal destination for a French walking holiday.

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