Articles written by Mary Gindling

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About me - Mary Gindling

I am the channel steward for History Mysteries, which offers a chance to explore unusual and unexplained events in history. The subjects are, to me, at least, fascinating and I invite you to visit History Mysteries. You might find a few surprises there. You

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Jobs & Careers > Career Path & Goals Career goals: Why you should put society on the back burner & go after your dreams: 3 of 30
What is the difference between a dream and a goal? A dream is something you would like to do, or to be, or to have, sometime in the future. We all have dreams. For many of us, a dream is only a dream, a vague, open-ended idea that few of us ever expect to achieve. But a dream can be turned into a goal just by following a few ... More..
Politics, News & Issues > Government & Policies Compulsory ID cards: 1 of 7
What is easier for a government to control than citizens whose every move can be tracked and analyzed? If a population's moves can be restricted, then any restive or potentially dangerous elements can be tracked and subdued. Any gathering can be monitored and if necessary, subverted or shut down altogether. Until now, Americ... More..
Travel > South & Central America The Kuna Indians: 1 of 6
Panama's Kuna people have successfully straddled two different worlds. They fought for autonomy and won against almost overwhelming odds, then created a society based on their traditional beliefs and values. At the same time, they participate in Panama's legislative process and have built up lively trade and tourist industri... More..
Hobbies & Games > Kids Crafts Kids crafts: Play dough recipes: 2 of 9
The women in my family have always worked on a wide variety of crafts, and all of us collected and shared our favorite instructions, patterns, and recipes. Each of us had a favorite clay recipe, and grandchildren, nieces and nephews loved it when we made a batch of homemade clay for them. The kids made Christmas ornaments, an... More..
Arts & Humanities > History Mysteries The mystery of the Phaistos Disc: 1 of 4
The Phaistos Disc is one of the most fascinating archaeological enigmas ever discovered. It was found in 1908 in the ruins of the Minoan palace of Phaistos on the southern coast of Crete. The room it was discovered in has been described as a "temple depository," a basement cell that had been deliberately covered over with a l... More..
Arts & Humanities > Colonial & Early American History Causes of The French and Indian War: Tanaghrisson's proclamation: 1 of 3
In the spring of 1754, two parties of soldiers, one English and one French, set out toward Pennsylvania's Ohio Valley. Major George Washington of the Virginia Militia led the British group, and the French force consisted of Ensign Joseph Coulon de Villiers, Sieur de Jumonville, and a small escort. Each man carried documents c... More..
Arts & Humanities > European History The Charge of the Light Brigade: 1 of 3
Alfred, Lord Tennyson, immortalized the Charge of the Light Brigade in his great poem, but in fact the charge was a disaster caused by two aristocratic brothers-in-law who hated one another, and a temperamental officer who hated them both. The legendary charge took place on October 25, 1854, at Balaclava. From his hilltop pos... More..
Arts & Humanities > Colonial & Early American History The history of San Francisco's Presidio: 8 of 22
In 1776, as the fledgling colonies on the east coast of what would become the United States were busy declaring their freedom from England, a Spaniard named Juan Baurista de Anza led a priest, 193 colonists and soldiers, and a herd of cattle into the area that became known as San Francisco Bay. There he established a garrison... More..
Hobbies & Games > Beading & Jewelry Making Is jewelry-making an art form or a craft?: 9 of 23
If you think of beads and gemstones as paint and metal, thread or wire as a canvas, then a jewelry designer is an artist. Just as a painter chooses his colors and his subject and applies his paint to a surface, the jewelry designer chooses gems and beads, then creates a suitable background for them by applying them to metal o... More..
Religion & Spirituality > Wicca & Witchcraft Wicca: It's just not deep enough: 20 of 43
For many people, the stereotypical image of a Wiccan is a vague picture of groups of naked people frolicking around a fire, brandishing swords, and dancing in some sort of bizarre, made-up ritual. Others see Wiccans holed up in tiny cabins happily brewing up love potions and casting spells. And sometimes those images are tru... More..