The Seven Storey Mountain [Paperback]

The Seven Storey Mountain [Paperback]
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Monday, April 29, 2013

Gold - Where To Find Gold, Where Is Gold Found? A Love Story About Gold

Gold - Where To Find Gold, Where Is Gold Found? A Love Story About Gold





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Gold Nuggets - The Ultimate Love Affair

It was a barmy scorching hot day somewhere out in the Pacific Ocean, a rather nondescript place where the ocean waves heaved and sighed in their relentless rise and fall. A single particle a tiny droplet of water within the ocean felt itself being drawn upwards towards the ever increasing strong light above, to start on it's course an amazing journey, until now untold, a love affair between the elements, which would result in one very happy individual like you, holding in their hand, one of the most precious gifts known to man and a lifelong cherished memory of good and happy times.

Upon breaking the surface of the ocean, the particle of water felt itself being lifted up and away from the surface which was still heaving below. Along with billions of other similar particles of water, this particle felt itself rising higher and higher until the ocean home it had known for so long was now far, far below.

Swirling on the winds above, the feeling was very much similar to being in the watery deep which so far had been it's only memory, but this was altogether a totally new environment, at least she thought to herself, 'I Am not alone', for there were still billions of other particles of water also it seemed destined for this new and strange journey. What is to become of me the particle of water said to herself as yet another gust of wind carried her higher still.

Before too long, she happened to bump into another particle of water and together they held hands and talked about their individual journeys and how they had got to where they were now, it felt good all of a sudden not to be so alone, so they made a pact to try to bump into as many other friendly looking particles of water, for it felt as though at least, in the safety of numbers, they might at least defy this ever increasing upward lift that they were still experiencing, in the hope that one day, they might just be able to find their way home again, to the ocean which was now way, way below them.

In the very far distance storm clouds were brewing and as the day went by, they were drifting ever closer to their present position, high in the sky. By now their number had swelled to a very good number of them all holding hands together so that they did not lose any one of their fellow particles of water. Suddenly the storm system was upon them and they held hands ever tighter than before, grouping themselves together so that they formed by now a tiny droplet of water.

The storm was now gathering speed, rushing westwards and within several hours they saw land ahead. Some of the other particles of water in the great ocean had told them about this strange substance called land and the stories shared had always been rather fantastic, so although with a little trepidation and trembling they anticipated a great adventure ahead, one which they all knew individually one day they too would be sharing with other particles of water in the ocean, which was now starting to recede as they crossed over onto the land mass itself. The droplet of water all the while had been growing larger and larger in size and they could see now that many other particles of water had had exactly the same idea and were all now gathered together in little clumps bouncing and swirling around on the the swirls and rushes of wind which enveloped them. In fact there was quite the party atmosphere and everyone was immensely enjoying themselves.

On and on they flew over the land crossing first the coastal cities sitting on their rivers, up up and away they continued, the rolling landscape below in all it's shades of color, never had they all experienced something so exciting as this. Up ahead they could now see on the horizon a chain of mighty mountains. Suddenly they realised just how many of them there were in this single droplet of water and how heavy all of a sudden they were. You could certainly see them now with the naked eye and it was getting more and more difficult for them to stay airborne.

Before they knew it, they were right on top of the mountain range, when suddenly without warning a huge clap of noise thundered all around them, making every droplet of water quiver and shiver excitedly, when suddenly, slowly at first and then faster and faster they felt themselves falling towards the landmass far below.

Faster and faster they went, tumbling over and over and every other droplet of water around them was doing the same. Without warning they were right on top of the mountain when Plop! - they connected with it and instantly dissipated in many different directions. All the particles of water were highly surprised by the experience but at least the surface upon which they all now found themselves was wet, so they still had a very good feeling about the journey in front of them. Slowly and surely, they felt themselves still being drawn on downwards. Thankfully they had all landed on a rather friendly looking small tree, on one of it's leaves in fact, so sliding over the surface of the leaf, they approached the edge and again felt themselves falling, only this time, not so far, for the next leaf below them caught them safely where they thereupon repeated this several times, landing at last on the actual surface of the earth, and it actually felt very good. Calling goodbye to the tree and saying thank you for being so kind they now slid across the surface of this 'thing' that they had heard was called the ground, arriving shortly in a small puddle of water, where much to their delight, all the other particles of water with which they had shared their journey so far, were now in, with just the last few particles arriving.

All around it was still raining very heavily and already many other particles of water were far ahead of them down below on the mountainside, grouping themselves once again together in little rivulets and then tiny streams and then bigger streams and further ahead still, even greater torrents of water.

The puddle by now was really getting quite full, so joining together again, the droplet formed it's previous friendship with as many other particles as they could muster and they started to teeter towards the edge of the puddle. With a sudden swoosh they went over the edge to begin the great water roller coaster journey of their lives.

Somewhere below, the first torrents of water were now really gushing at full pelt, stirring up the rocks which too were starting to tumble all around them in the same direction. Such was the force of the water at this point, that some rocks were now becoming dislodged from the bedrock upon which they had been attached to for a very long time, and along with them, one small nugget suddenly felt itself being forced away from it's mother and this rock seemed to glow that much brighter than all the other rocks around it. Down and down further the nugget was forced to go and way above him, another droplet of water was experiencing similar emotions. Some time passed, many hours in fact and eventually the very heavy rain started to ease off, however, on the ground, all was still a very great turmoil, as everyone seemed to have the same purpose, which was to get as far down as possible.

The little gold nugget eventually came to a stop in a somewhat perilous location, caught by a tiny projection of rock. He surveyed the scenery flying past him. Billions of droplets of water rushing past, now and again lifting him slightly, before his weight conquered the force and he settled backwards again into his resting place. The water was getting stronger all the time though and he knew that eventually he would be lifted out again and most likely would continue his onward journey to the valley below.

A roaring noise assailed him just a few minutes later from further up the mountainside. Lo and behold it was the droplet of water now rushing downwards with an even mightier force of similar droplets, when suddenly the two came face to face for the very first time. Bang! 'Oh hello', said the droplet diving underneath the nugget of gold, and with another sudden whoosh, the gold nugget felt itself finally lifted up, over the edge of the little projection of rock which hither-to-fore had been holding him back and together they bounced and swirled downwards, finally reaching the valley floor. The gold nugget was ever so thankful to the droplet of water for depositing him in such a quiet and peaceful looking spot and he settled back into his new home, resting place. Checking that he was ok, the droplet swirled around in the eddy a few times, each time passing by the gold nugget and calling out, checking to see that all was well. On the final go around, they called out to each other and bade their goodbye's as the droplet joined the river which was now moving more slowly downstream

Meanwhile somewhere far away, another beautiful event was unfolding. A handsome young man was down on one knee and saying something to a gorgeous looking lady.

On and on the droplet of water journeyed, until eventually after the passage of quite some time, it felt itself tasting salt again and knew instantly that by now it must be very close to the ocean once more.

The nugget of gold was pleasantly pleased with his new surroundings too, the sunlight sparkled like a million diamonds above him and all around him were similar little tiny nuggets of gold just like him. The weeks passed into months, the seasons changed, the water level rose once more for a few months until once again, they dropped and their was a faint discernible difference in the temperature of the water. It was spring and then summer all over again.

Bouncing along the track in his four wheel drive meanwhile, a young handsome man was behind the wheel on one of his many expeditions into this part of the county to prospect for gold. He had already enjoyed quite a few successful seasons and was hoping that today too, he could turn up a decent yield of gold for the surprise gift he was hoping to give to his girlfriend, to whom he was now engaged. Upon arriving in a beautiful and serene very peaceful spot, he turned off the track, parked up and started to pull out his gold prospecting equipment.

He was pleased that by now, with several seasons experience behind him, that he had a few, very good lightweight tools that he knew would help him in his search for gold. He had a plan up his sleeve too, the gold that he found today, was to go with other gold that he had found on previous gold prospecting trips, and via a jeweler craftsman friend of a friend, he was going to have this made into a very beautiful wedding ring, with which to marry his girlfriend. She would see it for the very first time on the actual wedding day. Without further ado, he set to work, setting up the equipment and started the enjoyable experience of looking for gold using his sluice and panning equipment.

As the day was drawing to a close, he thought he would try just one more spot about fifty feet away from where he was presently toiling away.

The nugget of gold saw the shadow first above the surface of the water getting closer and closer and once again a warm glowing feeling came over him as he sensed with a degree of excitement that the next finger of his journey was about to begin.

This young man moved closer with something in his hand, a long tubular device. Suddenly this was right on top of the nugget of gold and with great surprise he felt himself being sucked up out of his lovely resting place and together with other silt and tiny stones and sludge, being conveyed towards the bank, whereupon he was put through several processes which involved being swirled around in a pan. After a very short while, there was less water in the pan than before and then suddenly with a whoop of joy, the man saw for the very first time the little nugget of gold, knowing instantly that he now had enough for his gold ring. Hooray! he thought, talking to himself about how he would have the ring designed.

So this is what is to become of me the gold nugget said to himself, I am to become a gold wedding ring, well, what finer privilege could I have than to help this kind man share his love with the lady of his dreams. What a beautiful item I am to become a part of and to think, everyone will admire me for so many years to come, what could be a more beautiful destiny?

The months passed by, the seasons came and went, the years rolled along and the gold nugget was very happy. He loved his new home, he loved what he stood for, he loved the fact that he was part of a symbol of eternal love and affection between two such very special people. Years rolled into decades and everything was very good.

As if it was yesterday, the couple walked along by the shore of the ocean, still holding hands, arms gently swinging, talking about their life so far together. Still very much in love, it was their golden wedding anniversary. Fingers joined, entwined together in love the little gold nugget could not be happier. The sun was warm and everything felt so very good. Laughingly the couple kicked off their sandals and walked together, the waves now and again rushing up to greet their toes scrunching into the soft golden sands. They embraced, her hand caressing his warm facial features, the gold ring glistened in the sun, a small wave crashed at their feet as they kissed and a tiny droplet of water flew upwards through the air and landed on her third finger onto her gold wedding ring. Everything had come around once again, full circle.


Gold - Where To Find Gold, Where Is Gold Found? A Love Story About Gold


Story Mountain



Story Mountain

Gold - Where To Find Gold, Where Is Gold Found? A Love Story About Gold



Gold - Where To Find Gold, Where Is Gold Found? A Love Story About Gold
Gold - Where To Find Gold, Where Is Gold Found? A Love Story About Gold



Story Mountain

Thursday, April 25, 2013

Escape From the Dungeon: Jennifer's Survival Story

Escape From the Dungeon: Jennifer's Survival Story





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Have you ever been encountered with a trauma in life and not know how your life would be after it was all said and done? This is a story of my trauma and how I survived and how I am taking an extreme tragedy and turning it into something spectacular.

This is a story of psychological terror brought on by the hands of my mother. I am the second oldest of 16 children and the stories I am about to describe relays what it was like to live under the terror and reign of our mother. The abuse started about 35 years ago in 1970 and who knew there would be 16 direct victims and many other people affected by her manipulations when all was said and done. Hind sight is truly 20/20 and I think if things were handled differently with the 1987 felony child abuse charges in Waukesha County, there wouldn't be this tale to tell today in 2005.

There are two distinct time periods in this story: the 17 years prior to 1987 and the 18 years after 1987. Unfortunately for all us children involved, the story reads nearly the same with only the children involved changing. You will find parallels in both sections that I still can't believe today and I was part of the situation from the beginning and a catalyst for this coming to light. What you will see is a very large break in the system but above all, the master manipulation that would rival the greatest minds. By manipulating her children, the social workers, the lawyers, the prosecutors, mom got off with nothing in 1987 when she was facing 18 counts of felony and misdemeanor child abuse charges, 0,000 in fines and 30 years in prison. Her ability to walk away from that without a scar only enabled her psychotic manipulating mind and that allowed mom to abuse again without fear for the next 18 years. It is heartbreaking to know and live with the fact that these actions have been addressed in the past and she ended up inflicting the same thing on my brothers and sisters as soon as the Department of Social Services stepped out of the situation in the late 80's. You often hear that history repeats itself, but I never would have imagined to be the exact same acts of manipulation, terror and intimidating abuse over such a long period of time.

September 14, 1987 - This is a day that I will never forget, it was the day that I looked into my mothers eyes and saw my own mortality. It was the day that I wanted to give up trying and just pass away to the next world. This day, is engrained in so many of the kids minds that each one that witnessed it can tell you a story of psychological warfare, utter pain, mental anguish, and overall defeat. This day was worse than anything I have faced in 14 years in the military. This day was worse than anything I could imagine, it was the day that my mother tried to kill me and was the day that I saw the devil in her eyes. So much of the last 17 years have built up to this moment and this day was merely the straw that broke the camels back.

This day started like any other day in our house, but it ended being a day that changed our lives forever. After school that day I was walking to my babysitting job which was a couple of miles away. One of the sneaky things I did as a teenager was to switch my clothes and hair when I got to school. Mom always made me wear skirts and two pigtails in my hair up until this day (I think she was reliving her high school years through us) and I snuck a pair of pants to school and a brush. When I got there in the morning after being dropped off I would go to the bathroom and switch out of my skirt and comb out my hair. Ted knew what I was doing but he never said much, he knew the deal. Well I took my skirt along with me when I was walking to the house I was to baby-sit at but I was still wearing my pants. Unbeknownst to me, my mother was following me in the car. She came up to me and found that I was wearing a pair of pants and had my hair down and not in pigtails which was one of her number one rules I wasn't allowed to do. She shoved me in the car and refused to let me continue to the job and she made me take off my pants in the car and she threw them out the window. To this day I do not remember how Mr. Maloney found out I wasn't going to be working there anymore, I think I was in too much shock to remember that. She started to beat me in the head, a 17 year old girl, in the car and saying things that I just can't write down on a piece of paper without cringing. All I could do was cry to myself but knew it would be over soon, until she stopped at the hair cutters. She said that since I cared so much about my hair and that I wouldn't wear the pigtails that she would have it cut off. She had my father take me in and say "cut it short" and then they left me there to get it cut. I cried in the chair the whole time and told the lady that mom was forcing this. She cried too and said she would try not to cut it too much. My dad came back to pick me up and he immediately looked at my hair and said "your mother is going to be mad". I tensed because I knew what was coming. I got home and no sooner did I walk into the door that the bug eyes my mother is so famous for came out and she went straight for my hair. She was so mad she ran over to me and started pounding on my head and my back. I screamed in pain and disbelief and this went on for a while. Then she got even more crazy, she made dad get the other two girls down from the room to watch what was about to happen to me. Mom dragged me to the bathroom by my hair holding my face up to the mirror and screaming profanities at me. She took me by the neck with her forearm and strung me up on the wall with my feet dangling. She had freakishly strong grips that you couldn't get out of and she made the girls watch as she terrorized me. I was screaming, the girls were screaming for her to stop but she wouldn't. She pushed on my neck and put her face up to mine and simply yelled at me "do you want me to kill you, do you want me to kill you now" and the only words that would come out of my mouth was "yes, yes, yes just kill me now and get it over with". She dropped me and yelled at the girls to watch what would happen to them if they ever disobeyed her and she took the knife and started chopping off my hair to the scalp. Just chopped and chopped in her fit of rage and beating me to my knees. I drained of life in that very moment. When she was done she sent us all to our black prison cells of our rooms and the girls cried for me that night. I slumped down on the bottom bunk, curled to the fetal position and prayed to God that I wouldn't wake up.

September 15, 1987 - the day I left home and never looked back - After falling asleep in my locked black room in an endless pit of sorrow and despair, the time came to go to cleaning. I was to continue on like nothing had happened. My dad called into my room to get up and get into the car to go to work. I hadn't seen my hair myself yet because I had no access to mirrors after the assault. I felt my head not sure if what happened was a dream or if it really happened. I cried, I just kept crying. She took the one thing from me that I adored, my long beautiful hair. I looked like a boy and to this day I can't bear to have short hair because of the memories associated with it. I sat in the car with my head on the window feeling lifeless and I had no ounce of hope. I was done, I was finished, I wanted out of my life. I continued on with cleaning, just working through my silent tears unable to look at my father who allowed this to happen to me. How could he let this happen to his daughter? After cleaning my mother made me wear a wedding type dress to high school with my tattered hair. So there I was, 17 years old, tattered hair in a fancy dress, most assuredly used to distract from my head. She slapped me a few more times when she saw the tears on my face and cut my hair so more, to even it out she said. I just stood there, emotionless, feeling dead to the world. I got dropped off in front of school, tears in my eyes as I was stared at walking through the halls. I walked to my homeroom and then walked right past it. I didn't know where I was going but I wasn't going to class like this. I hid in the sixth floor bathroom staring at my hair, I crawled under the sink in the fetal position and just started to cry. People came in and asked me what was wrong, all I could say to them was, "go get Meg - I only want Meg". Someone listened, someone got her. To this day I don't know what I told her. I blocked so much of what happened. Someone gave me a bandana to put on my head and she took me to the chapel in the basement. She stayed with me all day - she is my hero, she saved me. She brought in Father Reiney and I told them everything. I was hungry and pulled out my lunch and was eating my spaghetti sandwich that was packed for me, Meg and I shared a laugh on that one. After I told the Father about everything he brought in a Nun and they told me what my options were. I had to find shelter for that night, somewhere where I would be safe, before I even got to say a word Meg said she would take me home with her that night. I was so scared at what was about to unfold before the both of us. We ended up getting on the bus to get to her house in Wauwatosa and she and I were embarking on our first adventure. She laughed at me on the bus because as we left Pius and traveled through the town I remarked, "oh my gosh, the street signs are blue". I never knew that the street name signs were any color other than green. We never left our little area in New Berlin. That night Meg and her mom welcomed me with open arms but the peace did not last too long. My mother found out that I was at Meg's house and she camped out in her front yard and started yelling at the top of her lungs. The police were called and I sat upstairs crying and in complete terror that she would take me back home. Meg and her mom did everything they possibly could to console me and they said that they knew someone down the street and that they were going to get me there. Poor Jane, Meg's sister, was left to endure mom's psychotic ranting and raving on the front lawn. They just got a small taste of the life I was living everyday. I was snuck out the back door and we ran down the street like we were really in hiding from the enemy. We ended up at that other house where I made a very important phone call. I hadn't talked to my dad's family in probably a decade when I called Uncle Butch and Aunt Judi in tears. I told them who I was and that I ran away from home could I stay there for the night. I can't remember what else I talked about but I ended up at their house where mom would never suspect my whereabouts. From what I was told my mother stayed on Meg's front yard for most of the night. I can't remember reintroducing myself to my relatives but looking back, I am so grateful that they opened that door for me. They have been suedo parents to me for the last 18 years and I just am in awe at their selfless acts of kindness that night. As the next day started there would be no school for me. I got up and had breakfast like a normal person. I sat at the table and served myself a meal, something that I had not done in 17 years. Aunt Judi and Uncle Butch listened as I poured out my life story at the breakfast table and they told me some of the things that I never knew about my extended family. Later that day, Father Reiney came to get me. They worked through the night for an option that would save me. This was the only option I had and ironically enough, mom's escapades from the night before at Meg's house were enough to get a restraining order. Fr. Reiney told me that they would take me to a home for runaways called Pathfinders in Milwaukee and they would protect me for two weeks. I started to cry. I just started to cry and couldn't stop. I think I said yes I would go and off we went. Fr. Reiney drove me there where I told them about the story of everything that happened in my home and then they gave me another blow. They said that they could only let me stay at Pathfinders if my parents gave permission. My world sank again, how could I escape? She would never give permission, I would be found out, I would be in the most trouble I have ever been in and I don't know what would happen. I told this to them, I told them every word that she would say to make me out to be the liar and the evil one. Word for word I described how the conversation would play out, I even shocked myself at the level of detail I provided. They called her on speaker phone, and word nearly for word it played out exactly how I explained. Somehow, someway those administrators convinced her to let me stay. I was still in my dress, she demanded it back. She demanded the clothes on my back, I borrowed some of theirs that were donated and they handed the dress over the next day. I don't remember where I slept that night, I don't remember much of anything except that was the first time in 13 years I hadn't had to get up to go to cleaning.

March 23, 2004 - The day the kids were taken away... again!! - Another day in the history of our family that is difficult to forget. I received a call out of the blue from my sister saying the four kids whom I had never met or known before were taken away from mom. Jeffery had turned them in for abuse. My jaw dropped down to the ground in disbelief but more of relief. I immediately went to Annie's house and walked in and found the kids sleeping in the living room. I walked in and said "Hi, I am your sister Jennifer, boy I am glad to meet you guys!" Annie gave me a run down of what had happened. Much like myself at the very same age, Jeffery had enough. He knew that I was emancipated and made a legal adult at 17 and went to his guidance counselor to see how he could do the very same thing. From there, the police were involved and they took the four children from school and Annie took emergency custody of them. I spent that entire first day, just sitting with my brothers and sister that I never knew and just talked. I found out who they were and allowed them to meet me and know that I would be there for them. Over the course of the next few days, I became the permanent home for Nick and Jeffery. Charlie was diabetic and I could not care for him so he went to a foster home and Amber stayed with Annie. As you might imagine, these weeks became utter nightmares being brought to life all over again. Nick and Jeffery were thrown into a home with a sister they never met and I suddenly was responsible for four kids as a single parent. My rules were strict and as the emotions played out, Nick shut down on me. He left my custody after a few short weeks and went to live with Ted for a few months before moving to a permanent foster home only a mile away from my house. Amber became too much for Annie and her five children so she came to live with me and through a barrage of emotional rollercoaster's and a stint at Elizabeth's house, Amber went to a loving foster home, also just a couple of miles from my house. Jeffery had a few rough spots but now lives in his own apartment after graduating High School and loves it. As of today, the kids spend a lot of time at my house to give the foster parents a break and they are thriving beyond belief. We are hoping mom is held accountable for years to come so these last three can be given the best chance possible to succeed.

27 July 2005 - Mom gets hard time - she is in prison tonight! - Judge Dreyfuss was incredible, he not only allowed every child to make their victim impact statements, but said that it was critical as to the character of Linda Stephens and her propensity to abuse again and to take advantage of her children. Each child got up there and gave their statement; each child described how they are affected today because of what mom has put us through. Each child spun their tale of manipulation, abuse and control that mom exuded over them and how they are affected today. Mom sat their stone faced without caring just staring ahead with her jaw clenched.

Then the judge said his piece and then he sentenced mom. He admonished her for her 35 years of manipulation and stated that she was brilliant in her schemes and manipulations. He stated that prison can either be a punishment or to protect society. Judge Dreyfuss stated that he didn't feel she was threatening society but the threat she posed to her own children were too great to not recognize. Judge Dreyfuss sentenced her to 3 years in prison with no possibility of getting out early and then 8 years of extended supervision and probation. During those 8 years she would have to get a fulltime job (which she has never had) and pay back the people she has stolen from. She will not be allowed to have a credit/debit card, credit/debit card numbers, a computer, internet access or checking accounts due to the extent of her fraud and financial crimes. The Judge stated that she was to have no contact with the minor children ever via any means until they reach the age of 18 (the youngest now is 13). She was instructed to have absolutely no contact with the adult children in any fashion or form unless they wanted that contact and requested it and on their terms. This is so important to all of us who want nothing to do with her. Today was our closure.


Escape From the Dungeon: Jennifer's Survival Story


Story Mountain



Story Mountain

Escape From the Dungeon: Jennifer's Survival Story



Escape From the Dungeon: Jennifer's Survival Story
Escape From the Dungeon: Jennifer's Survival Story



Story Mountain

Monday, April 22, 2013

The Walt Disney World Wayback Machine - 1973 and The Walt Disney Story

The Walt Disney World Wayback Machine - 1973 and The Walt Disney Story





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Having just returned from a research trip to Walt Disney World's Magic Kingdom, I was really able to take my time in what is my favorite part of the entire resort. I spent a great portion of my day on Main Street, USA, and was brought back to my childhood, walking down the street, parents in tow, marveling at the sights, sounds, and yes, the House of Magic.

So, on this installation of my WayBack Machine, I wanted to focus on a time when the Magic Kingdom was still in its relative infancy, and a wonderful, yet extinct Main Street, USA attraction.

(Lou borrows four quarters from his dad, plunks them into the WayBack Machine's coin slot, and sets the dials for 1973).

The sounds of Tony Orlando and dawn singing "Tie a Yellow Ribbon 'Round The Ole Oak Tree" are quickly drowned out by the sounds of children laughing, train whistles, and a ragtime tune being played on a distant piano.

I'm on Main Street, USA in the spring of 1973. There is no EPCOT Center. No Blizzard Beach. Not even a Port Orleans or Grand Floridian. The Magic Kingdom IS Walt Disney World. Well, for now, anyway.

What you CAN find here now is The "Wonderful World of Water" Ski Show, a new attraction called "Tom Sawyer Island", and even a rootin' tootin' "Country and Western Spectacular" show with stars like Anne Murray, Faron Young and Freddie Hart. These mini-concerts will be taking place in the evenings at the Tomorrowland Terrace (you now can find Sonny Eclipse performing there), the Diamond Horseshoe (sadly, you can now find an empty building there), and the Fantasy Faire (where you can now play in Ariel's Grotto).

You could also still ride along the Rivers of America on one of Mike Fink's Keel Boats, or for the person who's just not sweating enough in the Florida heat, you and your family can power your own little canoe on the same body of water thanks to Davy Crockett's Explorer Canoes. (no swimming, please). Don't even get me started on 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea, Mr. Toad's Wild Ride and the Skyway. (Lou wipes away a tear, blames the heat, and moves on)

I'd love to start off with a breakfast with some of my favorite characters, but we won't see something like that for a while now. Speaking of which, where is Holidayland? It's supposed to be between Tomorrowland and Fantasyland, but, oh well. And what about Thunder Mesa and the Western River Expedition? So wait - you're telling me we're going to get the "Plaza Swan Boats" but NOT Thunder Mesa? Oh, the humanity.

Anyway, let's get back to Main Street - this eastern seaboard, Victorian-era model town, with architecture and elements which were found in the late 1800's.

I could literally spend hours (or should I say, "pages"), talking about just the shops, both present and extinct, the architecture, the windows, details and so much more, but I'll have to save that for another trip. However, what I want to focus on is something that you may not really remember all that well. Let's head on over to the Main Street Exposition Hall... I mean - The Gulf Hospitality House.

Along with Tom Sawyer Island, it Walt Disney World's newest attraction. Located adjacent to the Hospitality House, The Walt Disney Story depicted Walt's life from his early childhood days in Marceline, Missouri, to the creation of Mickey Mouse and the development of Disneyland and Walt Disney World.

The attraction played in a theater constructed explicitly for this film. The film itself was a project that began in June of 1969, and wasn't completed and previewed until March of 1973. In order to accurately tell Walt Disney's life stories, a staff of more than 200 people at Walt Disney productions pored over 75 hours of interviews conducted with Walt before his untimely death on Dec. 15, 1966, ten days after his 65th birthday. One of the principle contributors was Bill Bosche, an artist and producer who worked for Disney for more than 30 years. Taking excerpts from these interviews, Walt Disney posthumously narrated much of his own autobiography.

This 23-minute film would play simultaneously at both Disneyland and Walt Disney World, with the WDW version opening in April, 1973 and being dedicated on May 6 of that same year. It would eventually run until October 5, 1992. This attraction was unique initially in that it was, much like If You Had Wings, free (as Walt Disney World was still using a coupon system of ticketing), and was sponsored by Gulf Oil, the same sponsor of the attraction building.

The theater was built on the south west side of the Hospitality House, and even had a separate entrance constructed. Looking at the Main Street Exposition Hall today, the short staircase to the right of the building's main entrance was originally created for the Walt Disney Story.

Inside the building, the long hallway which made up the queue area was filled with Disney memorabilia, including the one of a kind Oscar given to him by the Academy for the 1937 masterpiece Snow White. Unlike a traditional Oscar statue, this one had seven smaller Oscars at his side. You could also find a scale model of the Nautilus, used in Disney's 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea. (Until recently, you could have found that same model in the Living Seas queue. It is unknown whether it will remain when the Nemo-ization of the pavilion is complete).

The hallway was filled with not only displays, but the sounds of Disney's classic film songs as well. At the end of the hallway were entrances to two identical, 300-seat theaters. Between the two sets of doors was a mural with 170 Disney characters. Up until the mid 80's characters from new releases were added for every film up until the Great Mouse Detective. One of these theaters was remodeled and now shows classic Disney cartoons. The door to the other (now unused) theater can be seen at the back of the Hall.

The film itself took Guests on a moving journey throughout Walt's personal and professional life, and concluded with his plans for Disneyland, eventually WDW, and most importantly, EPCOT the city. The film was presented on a specially-designed screen, designed to give guests the impression they were looking through a virtual scrapbook of Walt's life. It was presented as a photo album, with rare audio accompanying photos and illustrations.

The post-show area was always in a state of change. It showed everything from plans for the expansion of WDW, to the futuristic EPCOT Center. Most notable was the brief display of the model of one of WDW's newest projects, the Western River Expedition. In addition to a working model, Hoot Gibson, an audio-Animatronic owl, told Guests he would be the star of the attraction. He also explained some of the processed of AA, and was accompanied by an Animatronic storybook, which flipped pages as he told his story.

The Walt Disney Story closed from June of 1981 until October, 1982 to become home to the EPCOT Center Preview Center. The original film was replaced with one that more specifically outlined Walt's dreams of his futuristic city. In October, 1982, when EPCOT Center opened to the public, the Preview Center was removed and the original film returned.

Just six years later, though, The Walt Disney Story was removed once again, this time to preview Walt Disney World's third theme park, the Disney-MGM Studios. It was renamed, aptly enough, "The Disney-MGM Studios Preview Center." Oh yes, our friend the owl was redressed yet again, perched in a director's chair, and narrated this as well.

After the Studios opened in 1989, The Walt Disney Story returned once again, but closed permanently in October 1992. Disney said that the original film had deteriorated so much that it could no longer be shown in the theater.

The original exit from the film took Guests into the Disneyana Collectibles shop, which sadly is long gone. It can be argued that this store, with its wonderful collectibles, was the first of the trend towards having themed shops at the end of attractions. It had wonderful items such as commemorative plates, original hand painted animation cels, and various limited edition reproductions. You could also make a reservation for a seat at the Diamond Horseshoe Jamboree while there.

To preserve the film and continue to make it available to Guests in the future, it was released in a much abbreviated version on VHS tape in 1994. Sadly today, the video is unavailable on DVD, other than any remaining copies of the 100 Year of Magic DVD, which had a much shorter, pan-and-scan version, minus the original opening and ending.

In October 1996, the building that once housed The Walt Disney Story became the home of the Walt Disney World 25th Anniversary Welcome Center. Like the earlier "preview centers" before it, the building was filled with models and exhibits introducing the Disney Cruise Line and other upcoming projects. The Welcome Center closed in 1997, and the exhibits removed. It later hosted the "Disney's Animal Kingdom Welcome Center"

While the mural is still there at the back of the theater, most of the original displays are long gone. The remaining ones are themed towards photography, as the building is now sponsored by Kodak.

(To get a very small sampling of what this attraction was like, I highly recommend taking time to go through the exhibits and film "Walt Disney: One Man's Dream" at the Disney-MGM Studios).

As we get ready to head back home (darn this real job of mine), we can see some signs of things to come later this year, like the Plaza Swan Boats, which will ply the waterways of the Magic Kingdom, the Fort Wilderness Railway (hop on boards fast, as this won't be around for long), and some new attraction called "Pirates of the Caribbean". Nah, that'll never catch on.

On a personal note, I often walk through the Town Square Exposition Hall, to reminisce about the former attraction, view the exhibits and see what me on the horizon. It saddens me to see such a wonderful, personal tribute to Walt having gone by the wayside, and the building remaining almost vacant for all intents and purposes. That being said, I did do a little snooping, and it looks like there may be something new on the horizon for part of the building... Keep your eyes and ears peeled!

Anyway, I can see by the docks up ahead that... oh wait. Wrong attraction.

Err... What I meant to say was that this is going to do it for this installation of my Walt Disney World WayBack Machine. Time to return to the Magic Kingdom of 2006 and enjoy Stitch's Grea... ah forget it.

So, until our next trip together to Walt Disney World, I invite you to learn more about some of the secrets, history and fun facts about the "Vacation Kingdom of the World" at http://www.DisneyWorldTrivia.com and on the http://www.MouseTunes.com Disney podcast, recently named Best Travel Podcast of 2006.

Thanks! Sssssssssseeeeeee ya!!!

The article first appeared in the August 29, 2006 issue of ALL EARS® Weekly Newsletter

For more trivia and fun facts about WDW, check out the Walt Disney World Trivia Book or Ask Lou, where the author answers your questions about Walt Disney World and posts weekly articles with more in depth history, secrets and stories!


The Walt Disney World Wayback Machine - 1973 and The Walt Disney Story


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The Walt Disney World Wayback Machine - 1973 and The Walt Disney Story



The Walt Disney World Wayback Machine - 1973 and The Walt Disney Story
The Walt Disney World Wayback Machine - 1973 and The Walt Disney Story



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Friday, April 19, 2013

I-H20 - "Intelligent Water" - The Story And Its Inspired Benefits!

I-H20 - "Intelligent Water" - The Story And Its Inspired Benefits!





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In 1986, the nuclear meltdown at the Chernobyl plant killed perhaps a million and exposed millions more people to incredible and debilitating illnesses, all from the effects of radiation contamination, 100 times greater than man had previously been exposed to.

It was not until after this event that scientists, studying the healing effects of mountain spring water found a correlation to how water could be "changed" to man's benefit. They found that molecular resonance effect technology (M-RET) activates water molecules and when the science is applied this, found it changed the molecular structure of the water completely. Instead of a "cluster" structure, it was changed into a linear structure, now known as M-RET.

Subsequently when the water was further scientifically enhanced by a process, akin to photo-synthesis, it is became fully energized and, much more importantly, so much easier for the body to fully absorb and utilize all its properties. And its properties are many and varied. Some of the wide-ranging effects include people noticing a difference to their skin, improvements in skin conditions such as psoriasis and eczema. Other reported results include help to heal severe burns, improvements from Bells Palsy and many, many other medical distress conditions.

Pets are even helped too. From clearing up a bulging eye infection to eliminating tearing and staining around the eyes, to improved appetite and energy, i-H20 seems to do wonders for people and pets alike.

Mankind is and has been under-hydrated for millenniums, but we never knew! All we did know was that as we age the ability to benefit from complete hydration is lessened, hence the process of aging. As babies, we are somehow able to be fully hydrated but this lessens over time and until the advent of M-RET and ERT (Energized Radiation Technology) we never knew how to become fully rehydrated. Nor did we know the multiplied benefits of full hydration.

Powered by the proprietary, patented, GIAplex technology, this water embodies the most profound breakthrough to consumers for home consumption. The slogan reads "Water so Intelligent that NASA wants it!"

The wide-ranging benefits of the patented, proprietary, i-H20 include:
- Help to hydrate three times faster than inactivated water
- Assists in optimal absorption
- Helps normalize the circulatory system
- Enhances red blood cells;Supports vital biofeed "communication" Supports and enhances powerful antioxidant effects;
- Aids in promoting healthy intestinal flora;
- Supports optimization of nutrient and vitamin availability to and within your body;
- Shown to display and counteracts antibacterial and antifungal properties;
- Supports natural skin hydration and collagen production;
- Natural Detoxant and a boost to metabolism

This list of benefits cumulatively translates into full body hydration which in turn creates energy and motivation, wellness and improved appetite for well-rounded personal improvement.

World-renowned 2010 Winter Olympic medalists, like New Zealander Tionette Stoddard of the NZ Skeleton Team is an enthusiastic devotee of the product as she is convinced that its many and varied properties helped her achieve her gold medal. Other profound testimonials that, while not purporting to make medical claims, have enjoyed otherwise credible results. And pets have also been found to have improved qualities of life from the utilization of the product.

How it works is, perhaps, the subject of science-fiction turned reality and has been studied and documented by Dr. Howard Fisher and Dr. Igor Smirnov and published in their book "Molecular Resonance Effect Technology: The Dynamic Effects on Human Physiology (Britannia Printers, Canada ISBN 978-0-9780331-8-7)


I-H20 - "Intelligent Water" - The Story And Its Inspired Benefits!


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I-H20 - "Intelligent Water" - The Story And Its Inspired Benefits!



I-H20 - "Intelligent Water" - The Story And Its Inspired Benefits!
I-H20 - "Intelligent Water" - The Story And Its Inspired Benefits!



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Wednesday, April 17, 2013

Biker Bells: The Story Behind the Tradition

Biker Bells: The Story Behind the Tradition





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Putting biker bells on motorcycles is an old tradition. There are a variety of stories about biker bells, and no one really knows the exact origin of the biker bell. The most popular story takes place decades ago.

On a cold December night a lone biker rode the highways, working his way home after a trip to Mexico. His saddlebags buldged with toys and trinkets he had bought for some orphans who lived at a group home near his home. The old biker had lived a good life, and as he rode that dark night, he thought about how blessed his life had been. He was a simple man who enjoyed the simple things of life. As he thought of all the good in his life, he was thankful to have a loving partner who understood his need to ride the highways and he was thankful for his bike that had never failed him. As the miles rolled by, he thought about the many road trips he had taken. As he rode, the miles slipped by and he was happy. As he entered the high desert about 40 miles from the border his life would forever be changed. As luck would have it, the lone biker came around a curve and was ambushed by the gremlins. As was their practice, they had scattered across the road an old pair of shoes, a board with a nail in it, pieces of tires and trash. And they had dug holes in the road for bikers to run over and, they hoped, crash.

And every time a biker wrecked, the road gremlins rejoiced over the evil they had done. While the old biker fought to stay upright, the gremlins traps proved too strong and he crashed to the road, sliding to a stop next to his saddlebags that were broken open. Laying on the road, bruised but not broken, he watched the gremlins come out hiding. Slowly they moved towards him. Unarmed, the old biker saw a bell that had spilled from his saddlebags and thinking there was nothing else he could do, he began ringing it, hoping to scare the evil gremlins away. Not too far away, a couple of bikers had stopped for the night to make camp. While sitting around the fire, they heard a ringing bell. Curious, they investigated and found the wounded biker now surrounded by gremlins. They hurried to his side and frightened the gremlins away. Grateful for what the bikers had done, the old biker took two of his bells and tied them to his rescuers bikes as low to the ground as possible. Before he left them, he told the two bikers that should they ever need help to ring the biker bells that he had put on each of their bikes, and a fellow biker would come to their aid.


Biker Bells: The Story Behind the Tradition


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Biker Bells: The Story Behind the Tradition



Biker Bells: The Story Behind the Tradition
Biker Bells: The Story Behind the Tradition



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Sunday, April 14, 2013

20 Fun Facts About Mount Kilimanjaro

20 Fun Facts About Mount Kilimanjaro





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1. A German missionary by the name of Johannes Rebmann is considered to be the discoverer of Mount Kilimanjaro in 1848 when he explored the lower scopes and sent the Royal Geographical Society his findings, including a description of a snow-capped summit. The experts of those times doubted the real possibility of a snow-capped mountain situated near the equator.

2. In 1889, the very first successful summit occurred and it took about six weeks in comparison to today when an average climber can do it in five or six days.

3. Many of the camps located on the mountain commercialize beer.

4. The mountain stretches 5,895 meters into the sky, making it the world's tallest free-standing mountain and at the same time, the highest point in all Africa.

5. The snow caps are rapidly diminishing. In comparison to 1912, it lost over 80% of its mass mostly because of the climate changes (global warming). By 2020, it is estimated that they will be entirely gone.

6. On June 29, 2009, eight blind climbers made it to the top of the mountain in a struggle to raise money for 52 blind children in Arizona.

7. The first person to climb the mountain in a wheelchair is South African Bernard Goosen. He did it twice; first in 2003 and it took him nine days and the second time in 2007 when it took him only six days.

8. Author of the legendary Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy series, famed humorist Douglas Adams, ran up to the mountain dressed in a rhinoceros suit.

9. The mountain is in fact a massive strato-volcano, formed by repeated lava flow. It has three volcanic cones, two of them being extinct while the third one, Kibo, is the highest point on the mountain and is dormant.

10. Justin Timberlake, Kenna and Lupe Fiasco are planning to climb the mountain to raise awareness for the worldwide water crisis.

11. There are six different ecological systems on the mountain, as follows: cultivated land, rainforest, heath, moorland, alpine desert and arctic summit.

12. On the lower scopes coffee is grown and is considered a major export.

13. Famous writer Ernest Hemingway wrote a short story where he captured the beauties of the mountain in the following passage describing the mountain "...as wide as all the world, great, high and unbelievably white in the sun"- he named it "The Snows of Kilimanjaro".

14. The vast majority of the porters are hired from villages that are near the mountain. They earn between - / day (without tips). They carry almost all the luggage on their heads.

15. Per year, more than 20,000 people try to climb Mount Kilimanjaro.

16. Climbers can take up the mountain by following one of the six established routes. Marangu Route is considered to be the most popular one.
17. Each year, almost 10 people die trying to climb the mountain.

18. A porter from the very first successful summit lived up to see the 100th celebration of the climb. He was 118 years old at that time.

19. The oldest person that successfully climbed the mountain was Valtee Daniel, aged 87.

20. It is approximated that out of every 1,000 tons of water that trickles down the mountain, 400 are directly from ice caps.


20 Fun Facts About Mount Kilimanjaro


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20 Fun Facts About Mount Kilimanjaro



20 Fun Facts About Mount Kilimanjaro
20 Fun Facts About Mount Kilimanjaro



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Thursday, April 11, 2013

9 Key Elements Related to the Conflict of a Story I Look For in the Screenplay Example

9 Key Elements Related to the Conflict of a Story I Look For in the Screenplay Example





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Among the various elements to be searched for in a screenplay example is the conflict that can be defined as the clash of opposing forces that are described in a story. Of this there are 9 properties I want to identify and dissect for its educational value.

Unity of the work.- I am interested in that the work is consistent in all its parts, so it can be told in a way understandable because it meets the basic information in thought units that can be transmitted simultaneously in a fluid way to the audience. Empathy. - Another important feature perhaps fundamental is how the author shows us he/she can do empathize with the thoughts and feelings of the spectator. Nuances. - It should be possible to identify modulation in the different feelings shown throughout the play, based on the experiences of the characters as revealed by various significant details. Chronology and hierarchy of events leading to the current story. - It is very rewarding also know the background of the work, the events that gave rise to the current theme and what was the specific importance of each in its particular time no matter if was fictional or real. This point gives projection and depth to the general discourse of the script, even though could not take part of the final text. Dramatic curve. - That refers to a harmonious development of the topic in general and not just the format that is presented. It is not about to force the story into the structure of the three acts plan, since this would make either a flat discourse never reaching the climax or in contrast a very fast conclusion even before ends the first or second acts. Strength. - It is vital to identify individual opposing forces in a work, which are responsible for creating the conflict, but also crucial is to define the degree of intensity that show each of those forces in the development of the topic. Balance. - A key point that keeps the tension throughout the development of the play is that the lights and shadows of the various forces are at least sometimes mutually complementary between different types of elements which form the conflict. Tone.- Not only matter whether the opposites are in balance, but they do so for a long time during the story since is what will keep the interest, because at the moment that any of the opposing forces overcome the other, the interest of the viewer will be distracted. Unity of opposites.- Finally is desirable find that the different elements in a screenplay, are identifiable as a binomial, trinomial, etc., since this way you can focus attention on a unit which furthermore can follow closely throughout the entire work.


9 Key Elements Related to the Conflict of a Story I Look For in the Screenplay Example


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9 Key Elements Related to the Conflict of a Story I Look For in the Screenplay Example



9 Key Elements Related to the Conflict of a Story I Look For in the Screenplay Example
9 Key Elements Related to the Conflict of a Story I Look For in the Screenplay Example



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Monday, April 8, 2013

Do You Know the Real Story of the Princess and the Frog?

Do You Know the Real Story of the Princess and the Frog?





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Before you see the Disney film The Princess and the Frog, keep this in mind: everything you know about the fairy tale may be wrong.

You may know the story of the Frog Prince: a handsome young prince was innocently minding his own business when, for no apparent reason, an evil witch cursed him and turned him into a particularly ugly little frog. He was doomed to live in this miserable, lowly condition until a princess with a pure, loving heart saw past his ugly exterior and kissed him. Her purity and sweetness would break the evil spell and turn him back into a handsome prince-and the perfect boyfriend for the lucky princess. That's how the story goes, right?

Wrong.

Pick up Grimm's Fairy Tales and you'll read an entirely different version. The true story of the Frog Prince is better still.

You see, the witch in the story wasn't really evil at all. Her name was Ellspeth, and as she told it in her autobiography Ellspeth's Book of Shadows, Prince Heinrich wasn't as innocent as he later claimed. He refused to get out of her path as she walked up the mountain pass, searching for wild witch hazel. To add insult to injury, he called her all kinds of foul names. Ellspeth cursed the ill-tempered young prince for his own good, to teach him a lesson in manners.

When the princess (whose name was Anika) came along, tossing her famous golden ball in the air, and dropped her ball into the bog that Heinrich called home, Heinrich saw it as his golden opportunity to take advantage of Anika. He offered to retrieve her golden ball from the pond, if she'd let stay at the castle. His plan was mooch off Anika and her father the king, while all the while staying warm, moist and comfortable in the royal palace. Anika agreed, but she could only put up with Heinrich's selfish, greedy ways for so long. When he wanted her to allow his slimy carcass to sleep on her pillow, Anika got disgusted and threw Heinrich face-first into a stone wall. That would have killed an ordinary frog. But in Heinrich's case, it made him wake up and smell the bogwater. He realized he'd been an awful jerk, and turned back into a prince.

Anika, however, chose not to forgive Heinrich's thoughtlessness. She and the prince did not get married, and they certainly never lived happily ever after. In fact, after that incident, whenever Anika and Heinrich crossed paths, she was polite but distant to him. He accepted that he was never going to get anywhere with her romantically, though in his later years, he did become rather bitter about the lack of a closer relationship. He's said to have circulated rumors that the princess was born with webbed toes, which were later corrected through surgery. In fact, webbed toes ran in Heinrich's family, though he himself did not inherit the gene.

A fascinating variation on the fairy tale is "The Frog Princess" by Barbara G. Walker, from her book Feminist Fairy Tales. In it, a female frog aspires to marry a handsome and kind-hearted prince. She goes to a good fairy of the woods, who agrees to transform her into a human being if she can get the prince to kiss her. The clever frog succeeds, but her success comes at a terrible price. Although the prince and the frog both end of living happily, their happily-ever-after is spent apart. Female frogs, Walker notes in her introduction to the tale, are often larger and stronger than the males of their species. For that reason, the frog makes the perfect symbol of the independent woman who can make it in the world, even without her handsome prince.

Works Cited

"The Frog Prince," Grimms' Fairy Tales by the Brothers Grimm. There are many editions; mine happens to be translated by Mrs. E. V. Lucas, Lucy Crane and Marian Edwardes. New York: Grosset & Dunlap, 1945.

"The Frog Princess," Feminist Fairy Tales by Barbara G. Walker. San Francisco: HarperCollins, 1996.

"Relationship Basics: Never Kiss a Frog," The Magical Girl's Guide to Womanhood by Violetta Marmalade-Spirit, as told to Erin E. Schmidt. Unpublished, 2008.


Do You Know the Real Story of the Princess and the Frog?


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Do You Know the Real Story of the Princess and the Frog?



Do You Know the Real Story of the Princess and the Frog?
Do You Know the Real Story of the Princess and the Frog?



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Tuesday, April 2, 2013

The Valiant Little Tailor, the Grimm's Fairy Tale Story of Deception and Intelligence to Succeed

The Valiant Little Tailor, the Grimm's Fairy Tale Story of Deception and Intelligence to Succeed





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The Valiant Little Tailor is one of the most intriguing fairy tale stories written down and likely altered some by the Brothers Grimm. The story is of a poor tailor within Germany during the period of time when tailors where some of the poorest and least respected people in Europe. And this tailor is somewhat more dislikable by the general public then most, for he is very arrogant and picky. We see this in his personality almost immediately for the story begins with him calling to a women selling jam, telling her "here you will get rid of your goods." His words would seem to indicate a general willingness to purchase all or at least a large portion of her jams. However on inspecting them for quite some time he takes only 4 ounces. Such a small portion is after building expectations and so much trouble is liable to make anyone angry and indeed the women leaves in a huff.

What is interesting in this conversation is that while many have asserted that not a lot of personality is given to fairy tale story characters the Tailor has been given a lot in a single conversation very quickly. First we are aware that he is a very picky person prone to exaggeration, and second we are aware that he has a very wry wit for he does not just ask in a straight forward manner for his jam but instead says "our ounces, dear woman, and if it is a quarter of a Pound that is of no consequence."

One can't help but wonder if the initial characterization of the tailor in this story what an addition or variation which the Brothers Grimm added, for as Jack Zipes assures in his book "The Brothers Grimm" the brothers had a particular liking to clever tailors, poor workers who with intelligence succeed. So it would seem if they where to make improvements it would be to these stories. Of course this does not prevent the tailor from getting off completely innocently he comes off looking presumptuous and rude. However at the same time their had to be an awareness for the Grimm brothers that success often depended on being Presumptuous, as it does for the tailor.

The jam which the tailor purchases is indeed very sweet and it soon attracts a swarm of fly's. The Tailor smashes these, killing seven of them in a single swipe. Again he is arrogant and presumptuous and so presumes that this is an amazing feat, one which requires that he make girdle which brags of his deed. He however does not tell the whole story, failing to mention that what he slew where fly's. And so now being emboldened by his experience he goes out and finds a giant who he brags about his deed to. The giant of course presumes that he means men slain with one stroke and so challenges the tailor to a contest, in which the tailor cheats to appear to win. It can't escape notice at this point that the tailor is indeed very clever and brave, to challenge and best a giant, but also fairly dishonest and arrogant.

The tailor uses all of these traits in order to help a king in accomplishing a series of tasks including the outsmarting two giants to allow the tailor to slay them, and the capture of a wild unicorn. The success of the tailor in this enterprise allows both added security for the kingdom and helps the tailor raise his situation and marry the kings daughter.

However the kings daughter discovers that the tailor was once a tailor for he talks of his former life in his sleep. It is interesting to note that the tailor is not talking of his work but is talking to a boy who presumably worked for him, threatening to punish the boy if he does not finish some work. Though of course punishment was common at the time, indeed it is likely that the Grimm brothers having gone to strict school knew all too well the possibility of punishment for failure, the choice of words would seem to indicate that again the tailor is perhaps a little lazy and arrogant. However he is not punished for this.

For even though the princess tells her father the king of her husbands secret, and the king sends men to get the tailor, the tailor once again outsmarts everyone and so manages to escape their punishments. He then remains married to the princess who hates him (though one of course can question if this isn't in and of itself a form of punishment).


The Valiant Little Tailor, the Grimm's Fairy Tale Story of Deception and Intelligence to Succeed


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The Valiant Little Tailor, the Grimm's Fairy Tale Story of Deception and Intelligence to Succeed



The Valiant Little Tailor, the Grimm's Fairy Tale Story of Deception and Intelligence to Succeed
The Valiant Little Tailor, the Grimm's Fairy Tale Story of Deception and Intelligence to Succeed



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