The belief that humankind is going to

The belief that humankind is going to, inevitably, reach a dramatic decline is present among many young thinkers today, and even more so seen in the older generations. It is obvious that societies, globally, cant seem to reach out to the next generation. There are many problems present that we humans must face. Some of them are seen as more important than others, and it is all personal bias. I think that three of the most pressing problems are isolation or alienation via technology, the inequality of educational institutions and the systems in which we teach, and the moral decay of society, in general. While there might be, seemingly, simple solutions to these problems, we must look further into the problems we face in order to understand them better. It seems that the more technologically advanced we become the more isolated, or alienated, we become from ourselves, and society as a whole. I am not saying that we should "Take Vermont Back" but that we should be aware of social progress as it relates to how we communicate with each other. I am sure we all can relate to the phone messages that go on forever asking you to push button after button and never once speaking to a person! This sort of useless technology only serves to alienate humankind, as a whole, while saving corporate America the "added expense" of a personal greeting. Computers and all of the related wizardry that has exploded on to the scene in the late 20th century has benefited millions and can only be described as nothing short of miraculous to the needy, such as the disabled, but is used mostly by the young and bored who have further distanced themselves from society. "Supersized" shopping malls versus the village square. The Internet shopping craze versus! the touch and feel of humankind as one makes their way from person to person in their town. "Playstation 2" versus playing with your kids! We all do it and it becomes so easy to withdraw, be alone, beco...

Facts on the Russo-Japanese War

Facts on the Russo-Japanese War The Russo-Japanese War of 1904-1905 pitted expansionist Russia against up-and-coming Japan. Russia sought warm-water ports and control of Manchuria, while Japan opposed them. Japan emerged as a naval power and Admiral Togo Heihachiro achieved international fame. Russia lost two of its three naval fleets. Snapshot of the Russo-Japanese War: When: February 8, 1904, to September 5, 1905Where: The Yellow Sea, Manchuria, the Korean PeninsulaWho: The Russian Empire, ruled by Tsar Nicholas II, versus the Japanese Empire, ruled by the Meiji Emperor Total Troop Deployment: Russia - approx. 2,000,000Japan - 400,000 Who won the Russo-Japanese War? Amazingly, the Japanese Empire defeated the Russian Empire, thanks mostly to superior naval strength and tactics. It was a negotiated peace, rather than a complete or crushing victory, but hugely important for Japans rising status in the world. Total Deaths: In battle - Russian, approx. 38,000; Japanese, 58,257.From disease - Russian, 18,830; Japanese, 21,802. (Source: Patrick W. Kelley, Military Preventive Medicine: Mobilization and Deployment, 2004) Major Events and Turning Points: Battle of Port Arthur, Feb. 8 - 9, 1904: This opening battle was fought by Japanese Admiral Togo Heihachiro against Russian Vice Admiral  Oskar Victorovich Stark in a surprise night attack by the Japanese. While the battle was largely inconclusive, it resulted in a formal declaration of war between Russia and Japan on the day after the battle.Battle of Yalu River, April 30 - May 1, 1904Siege of Port Arthur, July 30 - January 2, 1905Battle of the Yellow Sea, August 10, 1904Battle of Sandepu, January 25 - 29, 1905Battle of Mukden, February 20 - March 10, 1905Battle of Tsushima, May 27 -28, 1905: Admiral Togo destroyed a fleet of Russian ships, ambushing them on their way through the Tsushima Strait on their way to Vladivostok. After this victory, Russias prestige was damaged and they sued for peace.Treaty of Portsmouth, September 5, 1905, formally ended the Russo-Japanese. Signed at Portsmouth, Maine, USA. Theodore Roosevelt earned the Nobel Peace Prize for negotiating the treaty. Significance of the Russo-Japanese War The Russo-Japanese War held great international significance, as it was the first all-out war of the modern era in which a non-European power defeated one of Europes great powers. As a result, the Russian Empire and Tsar Nicholas II lost considerable prestige, along with two of their three naval fleets. Popular outrage in Russia at the outcome helped lead to the Russian Revolution of 1905, a wave of unrest that lasted more than two years but did not manage to topple the tsars government. For the Japanese Empire, of course, victory in the Russo-Japanese War cemented its place as an up-and-coming great power, particularly since it came on the heels of Japans victory in the First Sino-Japanese War of 1894-95. Nonetheless, public opinion in Japan was none too favorable. The Treaty of Portsmouth did not grant Japan either the territory or the monetary reparations that the Japanese people expected after their significant investment of energy and blood in the war.