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Much of the early popularity of tobacco in Europe rested on its supposed medicinal properties, rather than on its pleasurable smoking qualities. The tobacco leaf was introduced as a universal remedy for all ailments by a Frenchman, Jean Nicot, from whom both the tobacco plant Nicotiana and the term nicotine derive their name.

Nicot, appointed ambassador to Portugal by the French Queen, Catherine de Medici, first saw the plant growing in the royal gardens in Lisbon. Learning that the Indians believed the plant to have healing powers, the ambassador decided to experiment. As Nicot’s chef happened to have sliced his thumb with a kitchen knife, Nicot bandaged the cut with fresh green tobacco leaves. Surprisingly, the wound healed. A young lady acquaintance of Nicot’s had a severe rash on her face, and a gentleman friend had sharp pains in his foot. In both cases, after the application of tobacco leaves, the maladies disappeared.

Nicot pursued his experiments, and not long afterward returned to France where he informed the Queen of the marvelous cures which the plant had effected. One day, when the Queen was suffering from a severe headache. Nicot suggested that she sniff some powder he had crushed from dried tobacco leaves. The Queen agreeably took a pinch of the brown powder, and sneezed. After a few more sneezes, the Queen remembered her headache only to find it considerably improved.

From that moment on, the Queen of France became an ardent snuff enthusiast. The French Court followed her example, and the popularity of tobacco spread throughout the country. For many years the plant was called “The Queen’s Herb” or “The Medici’s Herb.” Even those not suffering from a headache thought they could avoid the risk of getting one by an occasional sniff or two; snuff-taking rapidly became very fashionable.

But snuff was not as yet taken purely for pleasure; it was still considered strictly a medicinal preparation, to be purchased at the local apothecary’s. Physicians gave it the somewhat repugnant Latin name of clysterium nasi which, liberally translated, means “nasal purge.” An encyclopedia published at the time by Nicot himself provides the following listing:

“Nicotiane. An herb with miraculous healing powers against all complaints such as boils, open sores, and rashes, etc. It was introduced to France by the envoy to the King of Portugal, Mr. Jean Nicot, after whom it derived its name.”

The name Nicotiana was given to the tobacco plant not by Nicot himself but by the famed Swedish botanist, Linnaeus, to acknowledge Nicot’s efforts in encouraging the plant’s general use. Nicot did not live to see his medical observations discredited as having little scientific value; nor did he see snuff abused and vulgarized by being taken merely for its pleasurable sensations.

In popularizing snuff, Nicot inadvertently also helped to introduce smoking. A pinch of snuff or a pipe of tobacco both produced a stimulating effect; whether one smoked or took snuff was just a matter of taste. When Frenchmen were first taking snuff, Englishmen were smoking pipes; but later on, when snuff became fashionable in England, pipe smoking had already spread throughout the rest of Europe. After Europe had had sufficient time to try both ways, the taste for smoking triumphed.

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It’s strange to think how some of the oldest pieces of equipment are still used today, and perhaps in greater number than they ever were. If you have an iPod, for instance, perhaps you wear it around your neck on a chain, as opposed to sitting in your pocket, to avoid it falling or pulling your earplugs out. If so, you’re making use of an ancient knot combination called a lanyard

Whenever you think of pirates, or classic old seafaring films, one of the most visual things that spring to mind are the little sashes that sailors wore to hold their swords or cutlasses in place. These were some of the first lanyards ever, and although the design may have evolved, the idea behind it has always been the same; keep the most important things close to hand and easy to access. It is also the type of knot that would be used to keep rigging on a ship tied together.

In the days when the British Empire ruled most of the western world, a lanyard would be in the shape of a collection of braids. These would be worn on the shoulder of a military officer, to denote what rank he held. They were (and still are) especially popular with the military on horseback, as they allowed concealed whistles to be secured to pockets, which could then be used to ensure troops weren’t separated on a battlefield for too long.

Nowadays, lanyards have a multitude of uses. Walk into most retailers on the high street or in a shopping mall, and you’ll notice that many associates wear either their nametag or a security pass around their neck. This is a modern-day reinterpretation of a lanyard, yet the age-old need of requiring something with easy access is still the thinking behind it. The same goes for roadies or press people at a major concert or tour – all these laminated “Access All Areas” passes are lanyards at heart.

Perhaps the most widespread use now, though, is via iPods and digital cameras. As opposed to taking up valuable space in either your pockets or handbag (especially with the more advanced digital cameras), many people are now using lanyards to hang the devices around their neck. Not only does it allow quick and easy access, it’s just more comfortable than having bulky pockets. Even everyday objects like keys can be kept on some form of a lanyard.

So, even though we may just take it all for granted today, you may want to remember the next time you see an old naval film or swashbuckling epic, that we’re using the same ideas that seem so quaint now, which just goes to show how the simplest ideas can last the longest.

Find Lanyards for wearing and displaying your Id card at our site http://www.compucardinc.com/ which features many types of lanyards for different tasks.

Jeffery and Xavier were computer programmers. They worked in the fiercely competitive computer gaming industry. They worked for the same company and were competing for the title of best game programmer. They had been assigned to come up with the next greatest video game sensation. This placed them in head to head competition.

The company knew the value of being the first to market the next great video game. It offered a bonus of 1 million dollars and 10% royalty to the owner of the game selected for marketing. It was a large sum of money but the company stood to make 20 or 30 times that amount if the chosen game was successful. Both Jeffery and Xavier had already labored for the past year to create the game of the century.

Each guarded their game secrets with the tenacity of a CIA agent. No one except them knew the full programming of each game. They knew that one slip of the tongue could not only cost them the money, but their reputation as a programmer as well. Jeffery knew that Xavier was better at some aspects of programming than he was. He compensated for his shortfalls by working extra long hours.

In the face of competition he never led on that he was weak in some programming areas. Jeffery did not let his weakness keep him from competing. They both wanted to win the contest, which they knew, would instantly boost them to fame in the game industry. The two talked occasionally but were very careful to stay away from game secrets.

The judging day was fast approaching. Jeffery felt himself starting to loose energy. He also knew that Xavier was just as energetic as the day they started. By the week before the judging day Jeffery was totally exhausted. The long hours without sleep were taking their toll.

He noticed that Xavier was going strong and he wondered how he was keeping up his energy. One day while at work, Jeffery took a bathroom break. When he walked into the bathroom, he saw Xavier taking some pills. He said what you got a cold man? Xavier said no; these help me stay awake.

Jeffery suddenly knew how Xavier was managing to keep his energy. Jeffery thought for a second. Then he said, man thats cheating. Xavier said there are no rules against taking a few pills to keep you awake. He said, the company just wants the game produced. They do not care what you do to get it done.

Jeffery said we will see. I will tell the judging committee, that you had an artificial advantage. Xavier did not really know the company rules. He just said that to bluff Jeffery, but it did not work. Jeffery insisted that Xavier would be disqualified.

Xavier knew what was at stake so he moved closer to Jeffery. He looked in his eyes and said, I am not about to loose all that money. Without thinking, he grabbed Jeffery and they struggled to the floor. Jeffery knew Xavier wanted to hurt him bad and he had to defend himself.

They fought fiercely for the next few minutes. They fell to the concrete floor and the fight continued. They were both bleeding from the scraps all over their bodies. They continued to struggle.

At that moment, a security guard that was making his rounds walked into the restroom. He saw what was going on. The two were so deeply engaged in the struggle that they did not notice him.

He called for help on his radio. Three other guards arrived in a few seconds. The guards manage to stop the fight. They detained the individuals and called the police. The two were taken to jail.

While in jail, all they could think about was the time they were loosing on the games. Later that day a vice president from their company bailed them out of jail. Under normal circumstances they would have been fired but the company knew what was at stake.

If they fired them they might take the work they had already accomplished elsewhere. That would cost the establishment millions of dollars. Besides, Xaviers actions turned out to be well within the companys rules. The pills he took were not illegal. They both returned to work on the games. Judgment day finally arrived.

The games were so impressive that they were both chosen for marketing. The games were better than anything the company officials had ever seen. They were marketed and became a huge success. Both programmers became millionaires and the company made millions more.

Sometimes perceptions of wrongdoing can lead to violence. This is especially true in highly competitive industry. If competition turns violent you must be prepared to defend yourself.

Johnny A. Jenkins, Distribution Director of Repeller Technology,provides self-defense, safety and hidden surveillance equipment, tips and advice to fit most situations. Make your surroundings safer for you and loved ones today
at: http://www.repellertechnology.com

For more than a year British ships had blockaded Boston and British troops had occupied the hungry city. Americans had fought and died at Lexington, at Concord, on Breed’s Hill and at Charleston. The Green Mountain men had taken Ticonderoga.

British armies were coming down the Hudson and a British war fleet with troopships was nearing New York harbor when at last, losing all hope of freedom with peace, the gentlemen of the Continental Congress soberly risked their lives, dipping a quill pen in an inkhorn and signing their Declaration.

“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain un-alienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness… We, therefore, the Representatives of the United States of America… appealing to the Supreme Judge of the world for the rectitude of our intentions, do, in the Name, and by Authority of the good People of these Colonies, solemnly publish and declare, That these United Colonies are, and of Right ought to be Free and Independent States.”

They denied the Old World’s ancient, traditional, never-before-rejected belief that human beings are born members of classes, low class to work or upper class to rule. With nothing but certainty of this truth, they faced the oncoming military forces of the British Empire, strongest of the world’s Great Powers. They had no ally, no army, no money; in the scattered colonies the people lacked gunpowder for their muskets.

They had not even a flag. They were devising their symbols of freedom: the Pine Tree flag of Massachusetts; Carolina’s Rattlesnake coiled under its defiance, “Don’t Tread on Me”; New York’s Beaver. The Continental Congress appointed General George Washington to raise and command the Continental Army. An army in battle must have a flag.

In Philadelphia three rebel leaders hurriedly conferred: General George Washington, the planter; General George Ross, the prosperous merchant; Robert Morris, the rich financier. General Ross thought that his nephew’s widow, Mistress Betsy Ross, might make a flag. They walked to her little upholstery shop on Arch Street.

She never had made a flag, she said; of course she would try. She studied their hasty sketch and said that, for her part, she would not choose six-pointed stars; five-pointed stars would make a pattern more to her taste. They thought that five-pointed stars were too difficult to make.

Mistress Betsy took a bit of paper, deftly folded it, and with one snip of her scissors made a five-pointed star. General Washington accepted it with no more words. The gentlemen said they would send her a colored sketch at once.

A breathless messenger brought it, drawn and colored by the renowned artist, William Barrett. Mistress Betsy threaded her needle and made the flag. She made it of patchwork: thirteen five-pointed stars set into a blue square, thirteen strips of red and white sewed together. Clear, gay colors, white for purity, red for courage, blue for faith; stars for light, and straight lines to ripple strong and free against the sky. This was the tradition of American patchwork, and this is what Mistress Betsy’s grandchildren and their grandchildren, and theirs, would tell of the making of the star-spangled banner.

In the tradition of American patchwork she made the flag that stands today, with its fifty stars, for the inalienable liberty and human rights of every human being, the flag of the Revolution that already has carried the New World far around this earth and some day will help banish the last tyranny and free all mankind.

John Wigham has been a professional author and editor for 20 years and is a co-founder of http://www.patternspatch.com an online cross stitch club dedicated to counted cross stitch. Sign up for
Cross Stitch Tips & News at ppp_totw@aweber.com.

Billy was a railroad security guard. His company was one of the largest in the country. He knew the rail yard well. He also knew of all the dangers that come from working around trains. He also knew of the danger from all the low lifes that hung around the yard. Sometimes he had a vehicle but usually made his patrol by foot.

He encountered all sorts of characters on his daily routes. He had been trained not to apprehend them. The exception was, if they were interfering with the company business. Most of them were there to catch a quick nap. He usually just woke them up and urged them to move off railway property.

Most of them willingly complied. Every once in a while he would he would exchange a few heated words with them. Most of the time they just obeyed his orders and left.

He knew that he would probably see them again later that day or the next day. He knew most of them by face. He also knew which ones would be most resistive.
There was nothing he could do except try to persuade them to leave railway property. The company did not want to start detaining large numbers of vagrants.

One day while on routine patrol he came across a man sleeping in the middle of a train track. He thought man this guy must be crazy. He could not see his face, so he assumed it was just one of the regulars.

He woke the guy up to keep him from getting hurt by a train. He pushed the guy with his baton. The guy quickly jumped up. Beneath his long shabby hair his face slowly appeared. Billy had never seen this guy before.

He had a crazed look in his eyes. Billy had seen that look before and knew this guy was on Methamphetamine, a cheap illegal drug. Billy knew he had to be cautious.

Meth addicts had a tendency to explode violently if agitated. Billy asked the man to leave railway property, but the man just stood there. He demanded the man leave rail property again.

The man started slowing moving straight toward Billy. Billy knew there was going to be trouble. He prepared to defend himself. It was rail yard policy not to allow them to carry guns.

The only weapon he had was his nightstick. The man was unarmed, but Billy had heard about the incredible strength these guys have when they are on drugs. He did not want to take any chances, so he prepared to defend himself.

The guy kept moving toward Billy and reached out to grab him. Billy swung his club one time and hit the guy on the arm. The guy did not budge. It did not phase him. Billy knew it was time to get out of there.

He pushed his panic button and started running. In a few seconds a truck with armed security showed up. After a brief struggle they detained the guy for local authorities. Billy was shaken up but otherwise all right.

After that incident patrol guards were allowed to carry a more variety of nonlethal weapons. They included things that could stop an attacker no matter what their condition. From that day on, Billy was prepared to defend himself if necessary.

Johnny A. Jenkins, Distribution Director of Repeller Technology,provides self-defense, safety and hidden surveillance equipment, tips and advice to fit most situations. Make your surroundings safer for you and loved ones today
at: http://www.repellertechnology.com