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Archive: January 2012 (21 Posts)

Ornate red and ivory wall decoration, with plaque and symbols

Ethiopian Emperors and Slavery

Posted by: Hanibal Goitom

Slavery in the Ethiopian region is of “great antiquity.”  (Pankhurst, 1964, p. 202.)  Historical inscriptions going as far back as 1495 B.C. point to the subjugation of people from the Land of Punt into slavery.  (Encyclopedia Aethiopica, p. 673.)  There are also sources indicating the export of slaves from the Aksumite Kingdom (100–940 AD), a …

Ornate red and ivory wall decoration, with plaque and symbols

State of the Union Addresses

Posted by: Margaret Wood

The annual State of the Union address by the President of the United States to a joint session of the U.S. Congress has become a modern ritual that generates considerable discussion among newspaper and broadcast commentators, bloggers, and the Twitterverse.  This commentary covers a broad array of topics, including political analysis, comments on special guests, …

Ornate red and ivory wall decoration, with plaque and symbols

Garnets: The Beauty and Utility of a Gem

Posted by: Francisco Macías

Because many of my ancestors were jewelers, I have always had a special interest in gemology and jewelry.  This month, since garnet is the official birthstone of January, I felt that it was apropos to dedicate some time to this semiprecious stone and mineral. It seems that the American National Association of Jewelers (Jewelers of …

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Royal Ascot, Ladies Clothing, and Whips

Posted by: Clare Feikert-Ahalt

The United Kingdom is renowned as a nation of animal lovers.  Our laws protecting animals are extensive, and range from prohibiting sheep from riding in the backseat of cars (even if they are the family pet) to the controversial ban on hunting with hounds that outlawed fox hunting across the nation.  Animals are an integral part …

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Bacon and the Law Redux

Posted by: Nathan Dorn

Sunday (January 22) was the 451st birthday of the English philosopher and politician, Francis Bacon (1561-1626). Francis Bacon is usually remembered as the father of modern science and the founder of the empirical method of inquiry. Opinions vary on how important he was for any particular science, but he is generally held to have been …

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The UK: Foreign Aid and Political Pressures

Posted by: Clare Feikert-Ahalt

I have recently seen an increase in coverage in both the U.S. and the UK about the provision of aid to foreign countries (commonly referred to as Overseas Development Assistance, or ODA).  Many countries are facing the question of how much assistance to provide to other countries in need when they are struggling domestically.  I …

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Now There’s a Congressional Record App for That

Posted by: Andrew Weber

I am very excited that today marks the launch of the Congressional Record App presented by the Library of Congress, an initiative of the House leadership under the guidance of the Committee on House Administration.  The goal of this new free app is straightforward – easily read the daily edition of the Congressional Record on …