Written by the TreasureGuide for the exclusive use of treasurebeachesreport.blogspot.com.
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July 4th Postcard
Circa 1906.
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Researchers at the University of Hong Kong have built a drone capable of seeking out gemstone deposits and fossils at night using a laser. The drone uses a scanning laser to react with fluorescents in the various objects that can later be detected in processing.
The researchers, Thomas G. Kaye and Michael Pittman, found during experiments that laser-stimulated fluorescence (LSF) would react and begin to glow under laser light. The drone detects the glowing objects in the ground by recording a video.
To ensure it can detect even small fossils, minerals, organisms, and archaeological artifacts, the drone is flown 4 meters (13 feet) from the ground, enabling it to detect objects of interest as small as a thumbnail...
For more of that article about how to use drones to find fossils and gemstones, here is the link.
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| Troops at Bailey's Crossroads on Nov. 20, 1861 Source: See WashingtonPost.com link below. |
Yesterday I couldn't help but be reminded of my friend Larry Persina, who passed away a few months ago. His birthday was July 3, and his favorite holiday was always the fourth of July, but I also got word of the passing of another relative who was always part of our 4th of July family picnics as far back as the 1950s. Those picknics were very much what you would expect for that time in history.
Yesterday, receiving sad news and yet being filled with fond memories, ended for me around mid-night listening to the Battle Hymn of the Republic as it was being sung in front of Mount Rushmore. I was filled with awe and grateful for the everlasting assurance of those who had departed.
The last verse of the Battle Hymn was originally written as follows:
In the beauty of the lilies Christ was born across the sea,
With a glory in his bosom that transfigures you and me:
As he died to make men holy, let us die to make men free,
While God is marching on.
The words are too challenging for some, and the second phrase of the third line is sometimes changed to read "let us live to make men free," or "let us fight to make men free." But there are those who have died to make men free.
One interpretation of the hymn is that it is about the judgment of evil at the end of time. It is based on the Book of Isaiah and the Book of Revelation. The enemy is spiritual as well as physical. The melding of Biblical imagery and the Civil War is truly amazing if you take the time to study each.
See https://literarydevices.net/the-battle-hymn-of-the-republic/
Written in Nov. of 1861 by Julia Ward Howe in the predawn hours after reviewing the troops at Bailey's crossroads the day before, the lyrics were written to the tune of John Brown's Body.
Howe's words show the keen intellect and penetrating sensibilities of an accomplished author and poet who was fluent in several languages, and who fought for causes including the abolition of slavery and women's rights. Analysis of both the lyrics and the author's accomplished, complex and troubled life would be fruitful endeavor for any honest student.
On June 8, 1968, as the 21-car funeral train bearing the body of assassinated U.S. Sen. Robert F. Kennedy from New York to Washington crept through Baltimore, a lone mourner in the crowd began slowly singing, Mine eyes have seen the glory . . .
Others in the throng of stricken bystanders picked up the lyrics and the melody singing
Glory, glory, hallelujah..
For more information about Julia Howe see https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/how-julia-ward-howe-wrote-battle-hymn-of-the-republic--despite-her-husband/2011/11/15/gIQAnQRaYN_story.html or any of a variety of excellent references.
Many old hymns have amazing inspiring stories behind them.
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Here is a really good web site that provides access to a broad range of resources for historical research. For example, for the Civil War you will find the contemporary Harper's Weekly issues describing the progress of the war, but other periods of history are included.
http://www.sonofthesouth.net/
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Tropical storm number 5 is heading out to sea and away from us.
Wishing you a deep and happy fourth of July.
TreasureGuide@comcast.net
