Getting Up: Finding My Way Back in a Flash, 2011-2014

Nonfiction

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Roanoke: Did They Come From Croatia?

In the 16th century, Queen Elizabeth allowed her paramour, Sir Walter Raleigh, the right to establish a colony called the Virginia Colony, in what is now Roanoke Island, North Carolina. After much discussion and planning, Raleigh employed his cousin, Sir Richard Grenville, and a fellow compatriot, Ralph Lane, to herald this enterprise. Several attempts were made, but the pioneering colonists died in trying or abandoned the whole plan, sailing back to England. These attempts were not only made because of the need to have a "miniature England" in the New World, but also to have a base where the Spanish fleet could be run down and robbed.
In 1584, Sir Richard Grenville made another attempt and left 75 colonists to try to establish the colony again. However, terms were not good with the local Croatans because of one stealing a silver cup, the tribe's chief being burned to death, and one of their villages plundered and likewise burned. Sir Richard Grenville was supposed to return, but he did not return quick enough. Sir Francis Drake, on his way home from laying waste to the Caribbean, gave the relieved colonists a lift back to England. They probably had to sleep with one eye open the entire time they lived in their doomed settlement. Grenville did return after this and upon finding the settlement gone, he left behind soldiers to maintain military presence, but unfortunately these men were never heard from again, in my opinion, due to the burning incident.
The much-debated missing settlers were the next group to try, a total of 117 men, women, and children. They were led by an artist friend of Sir Raleigh, named John White, who was the grandfather of the first English child born in America, Virginia Dare, whom he left behind when he sailed back to England. Due to the war with the Spanish and the greed of the captains that were employed to provide passage back and forth across the tumultuous Atlantic Ocean in winter, John White was unable to return for three solid years because he was unable to finding the funding to return. In his defense, he did try to hire two smaller vessels, but the captains of these ships were thieves and were captured themselves when they tried to rob a Spanish ship. John White was able to return finally on August 18, 1590, but found no trace of the colonists, including his granddaughter. All he found was the fort dismantled, the word "Croatan" carved on the entrance, and the letters "CRO" incised on a tree.
I believe that "Croatan" was carved on the entrance to identify the tribe who had formally taken over the colony, but why would it be necessary to carve "CRO?" According to sources, the colonists were instructed to carve a Maltese cross, but this was not found. Another question that comes to mind is why does the word "Croatan" not sound like an Indian name? Indian tribes in those times and even now to an extent are transcendental, meaning "spiritual, ascending above the scientific," and they use a lot of symbolism regarding the earth, animals, plants, and seasons to get their point across. I theorize that the carving of words or even initials points to a culture whom has a dedicated alphabet to form words, whereas early Indians carved symbols to signify letters or even whole words.
Another interesting theory in relation to this is that of Adam S. Eterovich who wrote a book entitled, "Croatia and Croatians and the Lost Colony, 1585-1590." He points out that the Croatan tribe could be Slavic people from the Balkans who intermarried with the Indians. They were also mariners who incorporated their own people, freed slaves, some Spanish and Portugese, and then our lost colonists. If this is true, then the 117 were absorbed by a community more like their own but still Indian. He also points out that places in that region had names that exist in Croatia. This would subscribe to my earlier point of carving a name and initials. An opposing theory to this is that the colonists gave up like their predecessors and tried to sail home in a "pinnace" that John White left behind and died at sea. I think they took their pinnace and lived their days out with a tribe they took refuge with, an already mixed race of Indians.
The mystery of these lost men, women, and children, including the life of the first English child documented to be born in this country, will hopefully be solved in our time, with an ongoing DNA project spearheaded by FamilyTreeDNA of Houston, Texas.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roanoke_Colony
http://www.melungeons.com/lumbeeproject/croatan.html (Update, website no longer exists).

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How to Make Ferrofluid Sculptures

Ferrofluid sculpture, pioneered by Sachiko Kodama, an associate professor at the University of Electro-Communications in Tokyo, spirals and climbs around different-sized metal objects with the use of electromagnets and ferrofluid. An inky black, highly magnetic liquid, ferrofluid consists of ferromagnetic particles dissolved into solvent such as water or oil. Your sculpture can vary in its dimensions and appeal with the amount of ferrofluid, the intricacy of the metallic object used and the size of the magnets placed underneath the receptacle. Fascinating patterns depend on the strength and positioning of the magnet and how the ferrofluid attaches itself. Attracted materials may be as simple as nuts and bolts to as complex as three-dimensional, sculpted iron shapes.

Things You'll Need:
Flat, non-wobbly surface
Plastic, disposable petri dishes or small-to-large oval or rectangular plates
Latex gloves
Safety goggles
Old clothing
Ferrofluid
Metallic objects
Different-sized electromagnets

Instructions:
1. Put on latex gloves, old clothes and safety goggles.
2. Place a round, plastic petri dish in the middle of a secure, non-wobbly table. Position a small, square electromagnet underneath the
container. An inappropriate, larger magnet could cause ferrofluid to explode out of the dish and stain clothing, skin and the table. Pour
enough ferrofluid into the dish to reach the rim.
3. Immerse a bolt with a nut attached into the ferrofluid. Move the electromagnet around underneath the petri dish. The ferromagnetic liquid will be attracted to the metal and will recreate the pattern of the magnet and climb up the bolt and nut, evolving into spiky, intricate details.
4. Experiment with pushing the magnet closer to the fluid and moving it away to demonstrate how much magnetic strength is needed to enhance your sculpture.
5. Place an airtight covering over your sculpture and seal your ferrofluid bottle. Your creation and supply will last longer since ferrofluid will evaporate if left out after 48 hours.

Read more: http://www.ehow.com/how_12084844_make-ferrofluid-sculptures.html

References:
Forcefield; Fun with Ferrofluid; 2003
Organic User Interfaces; Dynamic Ferrofluid Sculpture - Organic Shape - Changing Art Forms; Sachiko Kodama; June 2, 2008
Sachiko Kodama; Sachiko Kodama; 2010