While the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria and his wife triggered WW1, it was the building tension between all nations involved that forced it to continue. The Fascism of one country against the Communism of others led to a lot of hostility and some Fascist nations felt they were entitled to more, and saw Communism as a weak ideology.

The difference in ideals still continues on today but for now the hot tensions between Russia, Germany, Austria, the United Kingdom and the United States, have dissolved, at least for now. Today we find ourselves threatened by war with the North Koreans and dealing with conflicts and civil war in the Middle East. While these clashes are not directly related to the world wars they still are all about ideologies, and the different ideas that are at the heart of the world’s populations.

History will always repeat itself in some way or another and while we would like to avoid conflicts and live in a state of peace, this simply isn’t always an option. It is important to remember that we can make a change but that different ideals will always breed conflict.

It is necessary that the Doctors Without Borders set up their makeshift hospitals as quickly as possible so that they can begin giving aid to those who need it as soon as possible. The logistical effort required to get the necessary supplies together is also a challenge in setting up a field hospital.

Haiti is one of the more challenging locations to set up a hospital. When doctors first arrive in an area they must quickly assess where the hospital should be erected. The two most important factors for doctors are accessibility and safety. If nobody can get to the hospital it doesn’t do much good, but if the staff of the field hospital is in danger then they probably cannot do the best work for their patients, not to mention the risk of getting injured themselves. The area for the hospital must be flat, because the inflatable tent the hospital is housed under can only be used on flat ground, which is a challenge in a hilly country like Haiti. Small, general supplies like food, water, gauze and painkillers are sent to the area first. A major field hospital will have surgical specialists like anesthesiologists and occasionally neurosurgeons, depending on the size of the hospital.

After the hospital tent arrives, is inflated, then filled with hospital gear. Plastic flooring, tents, air conditioners, generators, communications equipment, beds and medicine are the first items to populate the tent, then surgical equipment and diagnostic machines. Once the tent is inflated, it is lined with canvas which can be easily sterilized. In the case of Haiti, fuel for the generators was shipped in from Santo Domingo, a town a little over 200 miles away from the hospital. Each of the 100 beds this hospital supports needs at least 26 gallons of water per day, which is pumped in from a local water source or imported if no clean water is available. In the case of a Doctors Without Borders hospital in Haiti, a sanitation team used chemicals to process water from a local water tower.

After 72 hours of work, the hospital is finally ready to bring in patients. The hospital can function as long as it is needed, medical supplies can be refreshed regularly, and communication to the rest of the world is made easy with satellite telephones.

1. First man to walk on the moon – Neil Armstrong
This man quite literally led us onto the moon with the timeless line ‘one small step for a man, one giant leap for mankind’.

He is the top of the list quite simply as he opened people’s eyes to the universe and was the first man to step on another surface other than the Earth.

2. Apollo 13 survival – Gene Kranz

Once the oxygen tank had exploded on Apollo 13, the crews lives were in jeopardy, they would die if they continued on their mission. Whilst everybody was panicking, Flight Director Kranz stayed calm, he told everybody that they needed to sort out the problem and in reply to someone saying ‘we’re in danger of losing everybody and everything’ he said ‘failure is not an option’. He was simply inspirational in the fact that he led everybody through such a hard time with such calm authority.

3. Crossing the Delaware River- George Washington
In the American Revolutionary war he led a column of troops over the frozen Delaware River to surprise the enemy and essentially win the battle. They did this 3 times in different circumstances.

What made this so special was that many others had tried and called it off because of the danger. Washington was not so shy and led his troops robustly, taking a risk for a very big reward.

4. Gettysburg Address- Abraham Lincoln
This speech was made during the Civil War and reminded people that the war going on around them was all for the cause of true equality.

He stated in under two minutes the entire reasoning for the war and how the declaration of independence supported the idea of true freedom. This is so special as it led the American people through a time of crisis and raised morale massively.

5. Presidential innaugauration – Kennedy’s presidential speech
The line ‘ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country’ is famous beyond imagination. He changed the view of the country and gave people a ‘work together’ attitude which is what made him one of the greatest presidents of all time.

All in all, these moments are all inspiring- they show the difference true leadership can make and you would all do well to follow some of the principles described by these moments. For more leadership inspiration, check out these inspirational quotes about not giving up here at keepinspiring.me.

This long quest began approximately 6 years ago, when a young Jordan managed to climb Mount Kilimanjaro in Africa. By 13, the California teen had also added Mount Everest to his list of climbing accomplishments. 2007 saw a lot of major mountain climbing, covering Russia’s Mount Elberus, Australia’s Mount Kosciuszko, as well as the Aconcagua in Argentina. 2008 marked the year when Jordan climbed Mount McKinley in the United States, while 2009 was the year that marked his victory at the Carstenz Pyramid in Indonesia. The last major summit that was part of this long time goal was the Vinson Massif, the highest mountain on the continent of Antarctica.

Of course, Jordan didn’t do all of these hikes alone. Like all major mountain climbers, Jordan went with a team of adventurers. His father, stepmom accompanied him on all of his outdoor treks, making it a family effort. Together, they worked as a team to climb the highest mountains in the world, and according to those who have witnessed it, have done so with perfect teamwork and cooperation.

It’s worth noting that a lot of the parts of these difficult treks proved to be dangerous, or at the very least uncomfortable. For example, while climbing Mount Everest, Jordan noted that the wind temperature near the peak felt like -25 degrees Farenheit. All of the notes about how his treks went, along with interesting notes about each of the mountains, have been written down by Jordan during the trips.

Overall, he is still very humble about the fact that he broke a world record by the time that he became a high school sophomore. In his eyes, being able to climb the seven summits was an accomplishment as well as an amazing opportunity that most other people would have loved to have. What a champ!

Here are some great travel ideas for history nerds.

1. Go To Machu Pichu

Machu Pichu is currently having an artifact retrieval effort. This ancient Incan empire city has a lot of ancient artifacts waiting to be discovered, as well as a lot of secrets that it may just hold for centuries more. If you want to actually discover a major historical artifact by yourself, it may be a good idea to visit Machu Pichu.

2. Head To Harvard’s Library

Harvard has an amazing history library. If you’ve always wanted to check out some of the rarest books on famous historical events, you can probably find them at this library. It’s one of the biggest libraries in the world, so you will never run out of material to read!

3. Take A Trip To The Louvre

There’s a reason why people who are fans of art history consider the Louvre to be a must-see. This museum has some of the best examples of architectural art, an incredibly expansive array of objects d’art from some of the most famous artists in history, and an incredibly detailed tour that can help you learn some new facts about your favorite pieces.

4. Go To The Xi’an Beilin Museum

Imagine being able to enter a shrine that is over 1,000 years old, getting to see some of the finest statues in Chinese history, and being able to walk through a forest of steles. This is an amazing place to go if you love Tang dynasty artwork, or if you love Chinese history in general. Visitors say it’s breathtaking.

5. Head To Dujiangyan

Dujiangyan is the oldest dam-free irrigation infrastructure in China, built in 256 BC. It’s also known for its scenic views, the many cultural events which are thrown in the area, and the operas that are held every July 24th in this location. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

6. Go To Bran Castle

Also known as Dracula’s castle, Bran Castle is home to Romania’s most infamous national hero. Bran Castle has tours that run frequently enough for people to be able to ask questions at their leisure, without having to worry about too many crowds, or being rushed by the tour guide. It’s a favorite destination of history nerds who enjoy both Romanian history as well as Bram Stoker’s uniquely spooky novel.

7. Travel Through Angkor Wat

Angkor Wat was once home to Cambodia’s much feared Khmer empire.

The empire is now extinct, but the artwork, buildings, and statues that they created are not. You can check them out at the ruins of Angkor Wat.

Over the Top Excitement; Roller Coasters

1. The Kingda Ka

The Kingda Ka is in New Jersey (in the U.S.) and is the fastest roller coaster in the world. Once you see this thrilling roller coaster you’ll know you’re in for a wild ride. This roller coaster can speed up to over 120 miles per hour in under 4 seconds and there are huge 400 foot drops and rises that launch you into the air and down the railings; hair raising!

2. Weird Holidays; Tinku, the “Have you Punched Your Neighbor Today?” Festival
It seems this festival is a recipe for disaster because believe it or not, in Postosi and Macha, people swarm the tiny towns in order to celebrate and experience “Tinku”. The word “Tinku” means an encounter between 2 people also known as a punching match. In the past the festival was held to encourage Goddess Pachamam to provide a good harvest (with a lot of blood); fortunately today the event is a lot tamer.

3. Penis Festival (blushing)
In Kanamara Japan there is the Penis festival which is just as colorful as it sounds. You’ll see drawings, costumes and all sorts of penis shaped candy, decorations and artwork. It’s a lot of fun and a very silly festival built around you know what.

4. If It’s Haunting you Want
There are a number of different thrilling tourist spots for you to check out that have hauntings at their core as well. The Berry Pomeroy Castle is thought to be most haunted place in the world. The castle is actually a Tudor mansion tucked away within the walls of an historic castle built in the late 15th century. The castle is located in Berry Pomeroy, South Devon, England and if you’re up for a “haunting” holiday experience, you’ll want to see this castle the Tudor mansion it contains.

Whether you want to experience the excitement of the world’s fastest roller coaster, quirky festivals or a haunted castle can deliver, or want to feel the thrill of standing on the top level of the world’s tallest buildings, you can have it all by visiting any of the 4 thrilling options listed here plus an ended list of others that you can add to your bucket list.

Solve these riddles or at least give them a go and you might find yourself a little more open minded, and experience renewed mental clarity as you go through the day. Below are 3 different riddles to solve that can help achieve that state of mind.

1. The Ship of Theseus
This is one of the best examples of paradox. It is simple and easy to understand and the principle at the core of the story is just one of changing yourself. The paradox asks that if you build a ship out of 100 pieces of wood and then replace the wood day by day with metal bars is it the same ship? What if you build another identical ship with the wood planks again? Would this be the original then? Naming these ships can make the paradox a bit more coherent. This paradox is also a mirrored question of ourselves. If we change who we are as a person are we really the same person we were before? Interesting thought right?

2. Schrodinger’s Cat
This paradox is built around the fundamental basics of quantum mechanics. It revolves around putting a cat in a box with explosives. The cat might explode and be dead inside or the cat might be alive. Until the box is actually opened however we won’t know and the actual answer will not exist yet giving the 50% chance a hold. Once you open the box nature is forced to answer the question but until then we are in a state of limbo. This is one of the many examples of paradox ideals regarding reality outside of our own perception, such as “if a tree falls in the woods with no one around is a sound made?”

3. The Liar Paradox
If a person lies about being a liar, how can you know if it is the truth. It’s most simply stated as “The next statement is true. The previous statement is false.” How would you ever know which statement is true? There is no real answer and that is something one is forced to accept, as is the case with many situations in life.

The paradoxes can limber up the mind and stretch it in order to keep it active. They are simple mysteries will no real answer that we will likely ever know. Trying to solve them however, is still a rewarding experience.