Abstract
This paper will discuss the historical precedent set by Homer's The Iliad, and seek to understand the mistaken conclusion that it was an actual history, rather than a mythos. By understanding that certain archeologists have shown, the evidence does not, and cannot perpetuate this theory, and hence, never proven. By resenting the facts that have been uncovered from this ancient story, as well as some of facts that are shown in the data recovered for the site of Troy, which is the basic foundation for this argument, we can see how the evidence is severely lacking in the connection of fact with fiction.

Abstract
The writer of this paper ponders the issue of the Trojan war and debates whether the war in fact occurred. This paper discusses the lack of writing and description of the Trojan war until Homer's "Iliad" written some 300 years after the event. This paper examines the modern archaeological excavation findings as well as discusses geographical and historical facts of the Trojan war.

From the Paper
"There are some other curious literary anomalies. If the Trojan war was such an important event to the mainland Greeks, why is it that there are so few other descriptions or writings about it, until Homer's Iliad and Odyssey, some three hundred years or so, later. "Another epic, the Kypria, dealt with the events leading up to the arrival of the Greek forces at Troy at the beginning of the ten-year siege. The full text of this epic no longer survives, but a capsule summary of its contents is preserved."

Tags:history, homer, iliad, helen, troy, greece

Abstract
Many historical facts have been lost in the shuffle concerning the Thanksgiving Holiday traditions in America, in favor of origin myths commonly accepted by mainstream society. This paper examines some of these origin myths and sorts them out from the true historical facts.

From the Paper
"Although physical remains of their settlement have not been found, historians and geographers have utilized surviving navigation logs and other records to reconstruct the 1526 voyage. Based on the latest research, the San Miguel de Gualdape settlement probably was situated on the mainland of what today is McIntosh County in Georgia, opposite Sapelo Sound. Disease and disputes with the local Guale Indian village caused many deaths in the settlement, and finally in November 1526, the African slaves rebelled, killed some of their Spaniard masters, and escaped to live with the local Guale tribe."

Tags:pilgrims, indians, columbus, Huguenots, plague

Abstract
This paper looks at Ridley Scott's movie , "Gladiator." The author compares and contrasts the movie's portrayal of Marcus Aurelius, Commodus, and Maximus Decimus Meridius, with what happened to them in their "real" lives in ancient Rome.

From the Paper
"Marcus Aurelius was actually the Roman Emperor at the time the movie took place. The real Marcus Aurelius was the last of the Five Great Emperors of Rome. He ruled from 161 to 180 BC. The movie corresponded nicely with these dates. As portrayed in the movie, Marcus was a very wise stoic philosopher. In the movie Marcus desired to hand Rome to the Senate and showed so in his handing the Empire down to Maximus. In actuality Marcus Aurelius did often portray the image that he respected the Senate and publicly held a very Republican point of view. Speculations have been made though, that Marcus Aurelius simply may have put up this front to avoid the fate of other rulers such as Julius Caesar."

Tags:acuracy, ancient, aurelius, commodus, decimus, fact, fiction, film, gladiator, marcus, maximus, meridius, movie, rome

Abstract
The article "Gasoline Prices Fact or Fiction: A Primer on Supply and Demand" by Tom Lehman, reviews a number of theories about the rise in gas prices and determines whether or not these theories are fact or fiction. The paper shows that the ideas have risen over the past few years, especially following natural disasters.

From the Paper
"The first idea presented is that "Gas prices are controlled entirely by wholesalers and big refinery oligopolists who illegally collude and profiteer at consumer expense." This idea has been deemed fictional because gas prices are controlled by supply and demand. This theory completely ignores the demand for gasoline. The demand for gas is price inelastic because when prices change consumers buying habits change much less than the change in price. Gas is a necessity and with the rise and fall of prices consumers do not have the time to react. Gasoline has very few, if any close substitutes and in the short run consumers don't really have a solution. Consumers could go out and buy hybrid cars but that would be a long term solution that would cost a significant amount of capital up front, much more than the temporary rise is prices."

Tags:capital, consumers, fuel, gas, conservation

Abstract
The writer of this paper contends that while it's impossible to prove whether life after death in fact exists, one must be willing to consider the speculative information that's available. This paper explores the scientific, religious and spiritual aspects as to what occurs after death. The writer examines reported cases of near-death experiences, as well as reincarnation, in which individuals remember previous lives. The majority of reported incidents regarding reincarnation have occurred in children in South Asia, where Hindu and Buddhist thought popularizes the concept of reincarnation. This paper also discusses the issue of the "light" which many claim to have seen immediately following a near-death experience. This paper examines expert scientific research which supplies reasonable explanations into near-death experiences. This paper also details the various types of out of body experiences which include: Seeing a dark tunnel, feelings of peace and quiet as well as meeting others who have previously passed away.

From the Paper
"Although psychics, parapsychologists and others have long known about the out-of-body experience, frequently called "separation",1 the greater scientific community has not accepted it as a normal phenomenon occurring under even bizarre conditions, nor is the average person generally familiar with it. However, it seems to be the key to unraveling the mystery about what happens after death. In other words, if we can prove that some aspect of the self, soul, or consciousness can leave the body under certain circumstances, the question arises: where does it go if not into the next dimension - notably the spirit world. A separation is completely unlike daydreaming, dreaming, or sleep. It is also unlike hallucinating, undergoing a trance, or the hypnotic state."

Tags:science, spirituality, medical, religion, buddhism, hindu

Abstract
A contrasting view of truth in American politics citing the points of view of Donald Senese, Lynn Turner, and Alice Cary. The paper is based on the fact that Monroe won the popular vote.

From the Paper
"Throughout the course of American history, tall tales have been told to stir the imagination, to entertain, and to spark a sense of patriotism. Our nation's history is built on the backs of men who are perceived as being larger than life. Stories about such great legends as Johnny Apple-seed and Paul Bunion have been passed down through generations. Heroes like George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, and Ben Franklin are symbols of the strength of our nation. Because of this notion, which renders these great leaders as nearly immortal, many become susceptible to fallacies in history. By placing these heroes on such a high pedestal, we often forget, or rather care not to remember, that they are but men. More importantly however, we often lose sight of what is true in history. A highly debated topic among historians is the election of 1820. This debate derives from the electoral vote against Monroe. Opposing views about this topic are expressed in the contrasting works of Donald Senese and Lynn W. Turner."

Tags:1820, cary, college, electoral, history, house, monroe, politics, president, senese, turner, voting, washington, white

Abstract
This paper examines how it is clear from novels and movies, such as "Interview with the Vampire" and Bram Stoker's "Dracula", and long-surviving TV shows, such as "The Musters" and "The Addams family", that there is a genuine folklore fascination with vampires. It analyzes how the vampire genre is a perfectly legitimate theme for horror stories, as legitimate as ghosts, werewolves, and other monsters. It also discusses the lack of empirical evidence as to the genuine existence of vampires, past or present. It shows how myths and folklore about vampires are part of the landscape of history and very easy to come by for researchers, but factual evidence is far more difficult to obtain.

Outline
Vampire Folklore and the Burning of Corpses
Believers, Murderers and Some History of Vampires
Conclusion

From the Paper
"This phenomenon of burning the corpse of a suspected (or "known") vampire is universally present throughout folklore literature, notably in the richly descriptive vampire book edited by Alan Dundes . There are myriad customs when it comes to the burning, however. In Romania, for example, as recently as 1914 (Dundes, 17), the vampire corpse was "disinterred," undressed and put in a bag; the clothes were put back into the coffin, sprinkled with holy water, and the coffin was returned to the grave. The body was taken to the forest, the heart was cut out, and the body cut up in pieces, and burned, piece by piece, with the heart being burnt last. Those present came near the fire when the heart burned, so the smoking from the burning vampire heart passed over them, to "protect" them."

Tags:corpses, dracula, monsters, folklore, exhumations

Abstract
This paper reviews how Burroughs filed a motion for summary judgment and it was denied. The court, based on its reading of the motion for summary judgment, called for briefs from both sides related to the Court suspicion that Kirkland and Ellis, the attorneys for Burroughs, had violated Rule 11 by stating that the motion was based in existing law. The paper further discusses how, in fact, Kirkland and Ellis had originally stated that the motion was based in existing law and then altered their position in a later motion stating that the case was made based on an argument for extension modification or reversal of existing law.

Tags:law, facts, case

Abstract
This paper outlines the E. H. Carr's theory in his book, "The Historian and His Facts", which argues that that a historical fact can never be a hard fact that can be taken at face value because it is really just a reflection of the historian's thought process. The paper summarizes Carr's arguments, which support his theory, and cites the examples used by Carr, which add credibility to his views. The paper also reviews Carr's belief that hard historical facts can not exist independently and objectively of the historian because the view of the past is always colored by the present. Finally, the paper looks at how Durkheim's definition of social facts can both relate to and refute Carr's theory.

From the Paper
"Carr presents several logical and highly persuasive arguments in support of his argument. For instance, he submits that our picture of Greece in the fifth century B.C. is largely based by the documentation and picture left behind by a select group of people in Athens and to that extent is not truly representative since very little was recorded of the history of the Spartan or Corinthian civilizations. Similarly, he questions the current day picture of the medieval man as deeply concerned with religion since the facts of medieval history have almost all been selected by people who were professionally occupied in the theory and practice of religion and who, therefore, may have focused on recording all facts relating to it."

Tags:selection, arrangement, representative, biases, presentation, documentation, decipher, interpretation