Modern humans as well as extinct Neanderthals share a common ancestor who lived about 500 thousand years ago (~25 thousand generations). Mitochondrial Eve All humans living today descend in the female line from a woman nicknamed “Mitochondrial Eve.” This unknown woman probably lived in Africa, perhaps in Kenya, Tanzania or Ethiopia, probably about 150 thousand…
Author: Justin Durand
Daily Vedette
Excerpts from the The Daily Union Vedette (1863-1864), a Civil War newspaper published at Fort Douglas in Salt Lake City. These excerpts describe the murder of Samuel R. Bunting by Jason Luce, an associate of Bill Hickman, and Luce’s subsequent trial and execution. *** Murder.—On Monday morning last the prevalent quiet and monotony of city…
Symbolism of Swans
In the ancient world, it was widely believed that swans sing only once in their lifetimes, just before they die. Socrates and Plato both mentioned this belief. Geoffrey Chaucer alluded to it about 1374. Hence, the phrase swan song, meaning a person’s final labor. This belief led to an association between swans and prophecy, because…
Haurie Families in France
Many French families bear names similar to the Swiss Hauris, but they have a different origin. Noms de Famille, an amateur effort, lists the following: Arouet, a name immortalized by Voltaire (François-Marie Arouet de Voltaire, 1694-1778), but now extinct. It might be a variant of Arrouet, which is undoubtedly a diminutive of arrou, which means a watering…
de Beauharnais
The Beauharnais were an ancient French family of pretended nobility. Through their relationship with Napoléon, they rose to high rank in French and Russian society. They descend from Guillaume Beauharnais, who lived in Orléans, France in the 14th century. The name means “good harness”. François de Beauharnais, marquis de La Ferté Beauharnais (1714-1800), served as…