February 28, 2008
http://da.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bergen
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bergen
http://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bergen
The Gateway to the Fjords of Norway
Welcome to Bergen, the old city with a young outlook. A city with its feet in the sea, its head in the skies and its heart in the right place - full of infectious enthusiasm, and happy to share it with visitors.
http://www.visitbergen.com/?sp=GB
Posted on 02/28/2008 6:54 AM Comments (0)
February 27, 2008
IS UNUSUAL INDEED THAT THERE IS SO MANY FRIENDS ONLINE, EVERYBODY TOGETHER!!!
Posted on 02/27/2008 12:20 PM Comments (1)
February 25, 2008
http://www.all-free-photos.com/en/main-en.php
Lake Lugano (Italian: Lago di Lugano or Ceresio) is a lake in the south-east of Switzerland, at the border between Switzerland and Italy. The lake, named after the city of Lugano, is situated between Lago Maggiore and Lago di Como.
In 1848, the dam of Melide was built on a moraine between Melide and Bissone. The A2 motorway and the Gotthard railways cross the lake there, linking Lugano to Chiasso.
The dam separates the northern (27.5 km²) and southern (21.4 km²) basins. The lake retention time of the northern (11.9 years) is considerably higher than the one of the southern (2.3 years) (8.2 years on average).Well known mountains and tourist destinations on the shores of the lake are Monte Brè (925 m) east, Monte San Salvatore (912 m) west of Lugano and Monte Generoso (1,701 m) on the south-east shore. The World Heritage Site Monte San Giorgio (1,097 m) is situated south of the lake.Campione d'Italia is an enclave within Ticino, separated through mountains and the lake from Italy.Fishery in the lake (and Lake Maggiore) is regulated by an agreement between Switzerland and Italy of 1986. The current agreement on navigation dates from 1992.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lake_Lugano
Posted on 02/25/2008 12:03 PM Comments (1)
February 22, 2008
Borromean Islands (three islands and two islets located between Verbania to the north and Stresa to the south)
Brissago Islands (close to Brissago)
- San Pancrazio (or Grande Isola)
- Isolino (or Isola Piccola or Isola di Sant’Apollinare)
Castelli di Cannero (three small islands just off the shore from Cannero Riviera)
Isolino Partegora (in the gulf of Angera)
Posted on 02/22/2008 12:37 AM Comments (6)
February 19, 2008
Val Rendena - Pinzolo - Strembo
This itinerary is completely flat and it measures about 4 kilometres. It develops in the Municipality of Caderzone, following the right bank of river Sarca. It starts on the outskirts of Pinzolo nearby the sport structures. It follows the river until the football ground of Caderzone, and there it divides to form a ring. Carrying it is possible to reach the park Crosetta on the south of Caderzone. Pinzolo is the centre of the Valle Rendena; thanks to its proximity to the Dolomites of Brenta and Adamello it is the starting point for the excursions on the mountains. The cycling path ends northwards the village of Strembo, seat of the Adamello Brenta Natural Park.
Val Rendena - Villa Rendena - Pinzolo
This itinerary develops for 19 km starting from the village of Villa Rendena until Pinzolo, following the river Sarca, and crossing the villages of Iavrè, Darè, Vigo and Pelugo. It crosses the torrent coming from the Val Borzago and continues on the left bank of the river Sarca until Spiazzo and Mortaso. It carries on towards Pinzolo, passing nearby the Parco Crosetta. Than it divides and forms a ring. A part of the path follows the right bank of the river and ends in locality Vetreria. The other part follows the left bank until the village of Carisolo.
Villa Rendena is a comune (municipality) in the province of Trento in the Italian region Trentino-Alto Adige/Südtirol, located about 30 km west of Trento. As of 31 December 2004, it had a population of 846 and an area of 35.0 km².[1]
The municipality of Villa Rendena contains the frazioni (subdivision) Verdesina and Iavré.
Villa Rendena borders the following municipalities: Daone, Pelugo, Montagne, Vigo Rendena, Darè, Preore, Tione di Trento and Breguzzo.
Posted on 02/19/2008 12:47 PM Comments (4)
February 18, 2008
February 18 - Mon
The picture of the day is an image which is dynamically updated each day with an image from
Wikipedia:Featured pictures.
Posted on 02/18/2008 11:52 AM Comments (4)
Posted on 02/18/2008 2:13 AM Comments (0)
February 17, 2008
My appeal to the German people published in the weekly Die Zeit.
”Italy is launching an appeal to our German brothers. Declare war on us. We will surrender willingly. You won’t even have to fire one rifle shot. We will throw violets and mimosa to your Franz and Gunther as they march through. You are our final hope. Meanwhile, while you reflect and prepare your armoured tanks, we would like you to take care of our public employees. Every day we are sending you by train our rubbish from Campania. Our politicians are toxic waste, we just need to add a few extra wagons, shut tight, so that they too, arrive at Berlin or Cologne. Please take them too. When they arrive, thermo-valorise them straight away. They are more contagious than Ebola or the West Nile virus. We will pay you well. I give you my word that you will not get in exchange, bonds from Parmalat, the greatest collapse in history, or from Cirio and not even shares of Alitalia, that is losing a million Euro a day. I can even reassure you about the State bonds: they won’t be part of the payment. Italy has the biggest public debt in Europe, about 1,626 billion euro. If they had to reimburse all the different types of Treasury Bonds, the Italian State would declare itself bankrupt and the people would be shooting in the streets.
I would like to suggest to you a few names for the sealed wagons. You know many of them, they are even famous abroad, like Berlusconi who offended one of your representatives in the European Community labeling him a kapò. A man who has created himself with a tiny bit of help from friends. In Italy, friendship is sacred and if the friends are called Bettino Craxi, who died as a fugitive from justice in Tunisia, or Marcello Dell’Utri, convicted for tax fraud and false invoicing and the creator of Forza Italia, or Licio Gelli, convicted for having infiltrated his organisation, the P2, in all sectors of the Italian State, you can close an eye. Friends are never betrayed, above all if they exchange the favours. Craxi, for example, made an ad hoc decree that allowed him to have 3 national TV channels with which he could do political propaganda for his party and Gelli signed him up in his organisation of delinquents. Berlusconi also owns Mondadori, the most important Italian publishing group. He was judged thanks to the corruption of the judges by his trusted lawyer, Cesare Previti, who then ended up in prison. If Merkel were to own 3 TV channels and 40 of the daily and weekly publications, she would not need to do the Grosse Koalition. She would have 80% of the vote at the elections. Why don’t you suggest it to her?
With us, the conflict of interests is a funny story that the Centre Left has been telling us for years. Its leaders in reality, pass their time talking about banks and insurance on the telephone, someone goes sailing, someone goes to Arcore to reassure Berlusconi. They are called Violante, Fassino, D’Alema. The latter two are being investigated by the Milan prosecutors. The judge is called Clementina Forleo. Her parents died in a strange accident after they were threatened and she has been made out to be mad by the media, put on trial and transferred. I would also like you to take Veltroni, the new one that is left over, a politician that got his training in the 1970s and he has been given a new coat of paint with the new colours of the Democratic Party (PD). A new brand that is a substitute for the Democrats of the Left (DS) that had replaced the name Democratic Party of the Left (PDS) that came after the Italian Communist Party (PCI). Our politicians are chameleons. They change name and colour but they stay always the same. They hope that the voters will forget that Italian politics has been the worst in Europe in the last 20 years.
I wouldn’t want you to forget Mastella who lives in Ceppaloni. A gentleman who has amused the world. He believed he was the Minister of Justice, but he had a token role. They made him a minister with a giant lollipop and a precise mission: to do the Great Pardon. The first action of the Prodi government was to liberate 24,000 prisoners and the not-put-in-prison hundreds of public officials connected to the parties. Mastella spent so much of his time being photographed in prison with the inmates that they adopted him. He had to resign because his wife ended up under house arrest for abuse of power as a public official, together with an imprecise number of leaders from his family-led party. Dini, a former President of the Council, is extra-toxic waste. He is 77 years old and his internal organs, in particular, his brain, are decomposed. His beautiful wife has been convicted for bankruptcy and sentenced to 2 years and a few months. In Italy, that’s a merit point and he is rightly proud.
I’m asking you to do a raid in Parliament to fill the wagons. You will find 24 who have been convicted and have had their final appeals, for crimes that go from association in armed gangs, to fraud, to giving false witness, to mafia association. Added to these magnificent 24 there are those who have been convicted and have as yet had no appeal or just one appeal, in all about a hundred ruffians. With us “Prescritto” means that the conviction arrived too late to end up in prison. The world champion for this crime is the 90 year old Giulio Andreotti, to be accompanied to the wagon in a wheelchair. He has been convicted for being close to the mafia, but out of time. This is why he was promoted to being a life senator. Perhaps you came to hear that the Governor of Sicily was found guilty in January, for having acted in favour of certain mafia people, and he got a sentence of 5 years, as well as the prohibition on holding public office. He ate a plate of pasties to celebrate. (He thought he would get a lot longer) and then he was forced to resign. But he won’t serve a day in prison even if he gets confirmation of the conviction at the final appeal (with us there are 3 levels of conviction). Two years are done away with for every citizen and three are a pretty little gift from the Great Pardon law from the eloquent Mastella (he’s got a waist measurement of 200 centimetres, he eats like a warthog). To make up for that, Cuffaro will go into Parliament, appointed by his party. In fact, our electoral law, imposed with a sleight of hand by Berlusconi before giving up the position of President of the Council in 2006, sets out that deputies and senators are appointed by the party secretaries and not elected by the Italians. In Parliament, there are many wives, lovers, clerks, lackeys, yes-men, convicts, mafia people, and camorra people. The citizen can just make a mark on a symbol.
Many say that we will end up like Argentina. In reality we have already done so. But we are ashamed to say so openly. There are almost 6 million precarious workers in Italy who work one month on and one month off. The luckiest earn 800 euro a month. They are young men and women who will never have a pension. Every year the number increases. Italian industry is Fiat and little else. The big groups are State concessionaires, motorways, telecommunications, energy: they are monopolies. Foreign investments in Italy have collapsed. Spain has overtaken us. In European classifications we are always next to the last or last. Each time we are competing with Greece. Italy has the highest number of frauds in relation to the European Community. European funds, about 9 billion a year, finish up almost all in 3 Italian regions: Campania, Calabria and Sicilia, where the Camorra, Ndrangheta and Mafia are in command. A black hole of mixing between politics and organised crime. I could go on for hours, but I don’t have the courage or the space. Let the train start off as soon as possible and invade us. The Italians are on your side. “Cry for me, Deutschland”. Beppe Grillo
V2-day, 25 April, for freedom of information:
1. Put your photos on www.flickr.com with the tag V2-day
2. Put your videos on www.youtube.com with the tag V2-day
3. Give your support to V2 day
Posted on 02/17/2008 8:39 AM Comments (2)
February 16, 2008
 ONE DAY IN BELLAGIO: A TOUR IN THE HISTORIC CENTRE AND SOME HAMLETS
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Visit Bellagio website.
The town of Bellagio extends from 229 mt over the sea level up to 1686 mt. that is the altitude of Monte San Primo and is divided in 22 hamlets.
During our visit, following this itinerary, we try to let you know the hamlet of Borgo, one of the first residential complex in Bellagio and historic centre of the town, togheter with the other most pictoresque hamlets.
Let’s start our tour from the “imbarcadero dei battelli”, the pier of the boats and follow the road the leads to the higher part of the village. We find on the left , after the left bend, the entrance to the Grand Hotel Villa Serbelloni, that was built as private villa in 1852, for the Frizzoni Family. The Villa became a Hotel in 1872 and was called Grand Hotel Bellagio, afterwards, when among its properties was included the Villa Serbelloni at the beginning of 1900, it imported the name and conserved it till nowdays.
Before reaching the top of the rise, we suggest you to follow the road that turns on the left and that leads at the very top of the village, called Punta Spartivento. The sight you can see is one of the most surprising of the lake. The Punta divides the lake into three branches: the branches of Lecco on the right, that of Como on the left, and, in the middle the northern part of the lake.
From this point you can go back, following the same road, untill the Church of San Giacomo, in the high part of the town. This is one of the best sample of romanic-lombard art. The construction dates back to the end of XI century, and beginning of XII. In 1904, with a Ministerial Law, it was recongnized national monument.
For an accurate visit of the inside we reccomend you to have a look at the illustratet leafleats that you can find on a little table, on the right side of the principale entrance.
Once you have visited the basilica of the medieval tower, located in the right side of the Square, you can start the guided tour of Villa Serbelloni’s park, that now is the Study and Conference Centre of Rockfeller Fondation in New York.
Let’s go up Via Garibaldi, surrounded by every kind of shops, such as all the steps of the centre, among wich, the most famous is the Salita Serbelloni that is rich in different pictoresque shops too.
Let’s go always right untill we meet, on the right, an elegant building, nowdays seat of the Comune di Bellagio. You can see on its front side the fresco of the coat of arms of the town.
By one side, you can find the little church dedicated to San Giorgio that dates back to the XI-XII century, and is contemporary of the Basilica of San Giacomo.
In front of it there is a steps that at the beginning goes up softly and then goes down, leading you, in 15 minutes, in the heart of the characteristic hamlet of Pescallo. It was famous, in ancient times, as village of fishers and there took place the fish marcket.
Let’s go across this little hamlet that faces on the branch of Lecco, and stop for a while in the little square to admire the breathtaking sight of this part of lake, surrounded by mountains. On the background you can see the rocky Grigna (2.409 mt.) rich in iron.
For the sportsmen, during the eastern months, here there is the possibility to practice water skiing through the Club “Liquid Park”. For information and booking call the 0039-335-8281065.
Now let’s follow the road that goes up surrounding nice private gardens and a field of nursery gardening, that is one of the activity more important of Bellagio, after the tourism.
Once you have reached the main road that leads to Lecco, let’s turn on the left and follow the pavement along a huge plot of land cultivated with olives. At the end of the pavement, at the left, you’ll notice the enchanting Villa Giulia. In front of it there is a boulevard of grass, called the “Vialone” that let you to get to the two branches of the lake.
Now, let’s walk along it . Let’s go across the road very carefully, turn on the left and go down to the hamlet of Guggiate. At the end of the slope, on the left, you’ll see the little square of the hamlet of Guggiate where is possible to notice the Oratory of San Andrea 5, by a big palace, surrounded by walls with an elegant ancient portal built in the XVII century by the family Ciceri. Nowdays some families live there. This little square is a the knot from which different little roads leave that lead to the Bellagio hinterland. Let’s come back to the main road, cross the Perlo river and turn right to reach the hamlet Giovanni. At the end of the road you’ll notice, on the left, an ancient towered house with a meridian where the Museum of the instruments for the navigation is located. This museum has been recently opened thanks to the fervour of the collectionist and traveller Gianni Gini. Inside it there are almost 200 precious objects that, in the past centuries, let the man to get oriented in the sea and navigate towards new worlds. Among the more interesting instruments of this collection, we remind you telescopes of the 1700 made in Venice, compasses, solar clocks of various ages, a rich series of navy chronometers and a wonderful brass planetary.
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Posted on 02/16/2008 9:58 AM Comments (1)
February 11, 2008
Top 20 Social Networks
Myspace
It's easy to see that Myspace is the largest of all the social networking sites. It contains four-fifths of the total population of people who use Social Networking Sites. The nice thing about Myspace is its customizability. The site can be worked with a good amount of HTML to look however you want it to look. Also, because of its popularity, hundreds of sites have sprung up to help you with your own Myspace page, designing it to adding games or other programs. The downside to Myspace is also its upside. Because the site is so popular with many friends you can interact with, it has also been targeted by small companies that will spam and send junk email to your account to try and sell their products. Spam is a growing problem which is slowly causing people to switch to other sites.
Facebook
Facebook is probably the most popular networking site when it comes to College students. You may not be able to customize your own Facebook page as much as Myspace can but Facebook has a unique feature that allows you to add applications to your profile which serve as mini-webpages or software programs. These can range anywhere from your Best Friends application to playing Poker with other players on Facebook. Most of these applications are developed by Facebook members and most anything goes with these programs as long as their are no illegal implications with them. Facebook is slowly growing and is excellent with preventing spam. The problems with Facebook can be seen with the look of the site itself as their is virtually no customizability with your own profile page.
Bebo
This site is very similar to other sites like Myspace and was originally launched back in 2005 but never achieved the popularity of Myspace. It is much better with dealing with spam than Myspace because it only has 1.8% of the market share of Social Marketing Web sites. Bebo does have a unique feature with Bebo Bands. People can create a profile for their own band that showcases your new music and has featured artists such as Paris Hilton and Kylie Minogue. And whereas Myspace has a friends list, Bebo offers a fan section for those who enjoy your music. The problems that arose with Bebo were that people found one in three people on Bebo was under 18 years of age that showed detailed information about the kids. It is also difficult to find friends on the site that may go to your school or work.
Blackplanet
Blackplanet was one of the first Social Networking sites and boasts a population of 16 million and primarily concentrates on Black Diaspora (or those who originate from Africa and have spread throughout the world). On the site, one can find African Americans to other blacks around the world. The site is open to everyone of course but has the highest concentration of blacks (as it isn't just African Americans) of any of the social networking sites. Blackplanet is currently run by Omar Winslow who is an Internet analyst who frequently appears on TV. The downside to Blackplanet is its lack of diversity on the site but at the same time that's the good part of it, as well. The site is a bit simplistic but can be changed to adapt your style.
Xanga
Another site that started almost ten years ago, Xanga is primarily used by teenagers. It differs from the other sites because it hosts not only profiles but places to host videoblogs, weblogs, and Podcasts. It has around 60 million users as of right now. You may have seen many videos and ads displaying Xanga. Xanga has an extensive marketing campaign that has been a bit shady at times but overall has been successful. Xanga is nice because anyone in the world can use it as it has the ability to be displayed in many different languages such as Chinese, Korean, and Japanese. One of Xanga's problems is that if you want to join their premium service (which pretty much allows you to host more data) you have to pay a monthly fee to use it.
iMeem
iMeem has grown enormously since 2006. Its primary purpose was to be a typical blogging/hosting social site but eventually was soon just known for its music hosting, a type of Napster if you will. Users could upload their own music to the site as well as their own videos for others to enjoy. After a month or so it attracted millions of more users. Just like Youtube, others could upload their songs and have others leave comments. It wasn't meant for copyrighted materials but eventually their was an explosion of illegally uploaded music on the site. Now all the songs uploaded (unless owned by the uploader) are 30 second samples of the song that can be purchased through iTunes as an option. Imeem still goes strong with its videos though and should at least be looked at, not to mention its blogs.
Yahoo 360
360 is still in its beta testing but is going strong. It helps that the largest search engine in the world is running it. 360 runs just the same way as Orkut or Myspace would run but whats really nice about 360 is how it integrates and works with the other Yahoo applications and programs. With 360 you can talk on your Yahoo Messenger directly on your 360 Page. It also works very well with LAUNCH (a program of Yahoo's that works as a radio tuner). 360 is very customizable and is very low on spam because of its popularity. Something to definitely look into, 360 is very likeable. The only bad part about it is it doesn't have a very high population but is great for those that use Yahoo a lot.
Classmates
If you've ever been on the web before, you've seen an add about Classmates.com. This site is extremely different from the others as its primary purpose is to find Classmates that once attended one of your schools. As implied, the audience for this program leans more towards the older spectrum. People that want to find what happened to their classmates back in the 80s or 90s or even earlier will like this site. It's a worthless site for people born in the late 80s and past as those users mainly use Myspace and Facebook to see what's happening to their old high school chums. So unless you're thirty or older this site probably won't be worth your time, but if you happen to be older than it's a great site.
hi5
This site's population consists mostly of those from Central America and a good population of Asia. Most American users flock towards Myspace and Facebook but for those who don't know English as well lean towards hi5. Hi5 is another type of site that is extremely customizable and user friendly featuring the same ideas and programs such as Myspace. It does have a unique aspect that differs from other programs with its degrees of friends. There are three degrees in all. There is first degree (which contains all of your immediate friends) second degree (which shows the friends of your friends) and third (which shows the friends of your friends of your friends). This program really helps finding friends that you can't find just by searching for their names.
Tagged
Tagged.com is simply a Myspace clone. It does exactly the same thing but seems to have a bit more intrusive adds than Myspace. It's population ranges from all over the world but doesn't have a specific country that separates it from the others. Actually, the only thing that separates it from other social networking sites is that its search engine is a bit more advanced than others using meta tags on everything. It does feature a youtube type video showing program integrated in the actual site that is used fairly often. With a low population and uninteresting adds, its easy to see why it's so low on the popularity list.
LiveJournal
If you're into blogging, then this is the site for you. Originally named for Emos, LiveJournal has turned into the perfect site for getting things off your chest. It does offer a friend adding program and another that lets others just watch your blog. Pictures can also be added to your blog in many different formats. But overall its a blogging application. You also have the option of not having someone see your profile and what you post and then it turns into an online Diary or Journal for your use. Only about 1.8 million of the accounts are actually active as of right now but the demographics of the site are primarily female standing at two-thirds of the population. Strangely enough, most users are American and Russian.
Gaiaonline
If you're into Animé then you're going to enjoy Gaia Online. In a nutshell, Gaia Online is an Anime themed forum based web site. Users (usually gamers). On this site however, people don't own a page they can customize but instead own an avatar that they can customize. But here's another catch. In order to change your avatar you must use Gaia Gold which can be obtained through activities and flash games that the web site offers. So if you're really into gaming this could be the site for you. It really stresses status as people just by looking at your avatar can see how dedicated you are to the site and how much free time you have on your hands. This site is kind of on the edges of Social Networking but is trying to integrate it so as to much up to the giant Myspace.
Friendster
Believe it or not, Myspace wasn't the top Social Networking Site on the Internet since the start. Friendster, up until 2004, was the giant but was soon surpassed by Myspace. Friendster offers the choice of broadcasting any video from any video hosting site (except for Myspace Video) which makes it very likeable especially if you're a user of Revver.com. Friendster also has an older population of people with most people above 25 years of age. One of Friendster's unique programs is its Circle of Friends which shows and collects data about the relationships you have with your listed friends and their information. So pretty much, if you find a random person on their site, it can show you how you are related to that person (e.g. This guy is my grandpa's cousin's best friend) even if you have no idea who they are. Very cool feature on the site.
Orkut
Orkut is Google's answer to Myspace and does it fairly well. Originally, Google wanted it to take away competition from Myspace but it had a different affect. Orkut attracted a high population of Brazilians and then later a high concentrations of Indians (from India). It grew very quickly in Iran as well but was soon outlawed by the government. Just recently, the site announced that the whole interface of Orkut will be redone to something totally different, so check out what it looks like right now. There have been some legal implications involved with the site that include hate groups being formed and also users distributing Child Porn and drugs with the site, but they have been dealt with swiftly. And if you don't like those things, just avoid them and Orkut is a very enjoyable experience.
Live Spaces
This Social Site is owned and operated by Microsoft. This site receives a high amount of traffic ranging around 100,000,000 hits per month. The unique thing about Spaces is that it offers a program called gadgets. What these are pretty much are small programs that can be added to your site for more customizability like games or flash programs that show pictures or play music. Technologic wise, Live Spaces is the most advanced and can be used even without having any friends or others looking at your site. The problem arrises with this site when you don't use Internet Explorer, most people do use this so there isn't a problem for those who use Mozilla Firefox, they repeatedly receive problems running Live Spaces as it's a browser that wasn't made by Microsoft.
Hoverspot
This site is interesting in that it's nothing more than a cheaply done myspace clone. It has received many users mainly do to the fact of advertising rather than by word of mouth. It offers no redeeming qualities or unique programs that could make it likeable. If you want to talk to friends it could also be difficult to find some or any at all. The interface is a bit difficult to get used to and tries to cram ads down your throat whenever it can. Overall, not a very good web site and one that should try and be avoided at all costs. Best to just stick with Myspace if you're thinking about doing this one.
BuzzNet @@@@@@@@@ BUZZNET @@@@@@@@@@@@BUZZNET @@@ 17
Buzznet is very similar to a typical social networking site, but how it differs is rather than having the web page just about you, it focuses more on a group or activity such as juggling, movies, or Fan Clubs for Celebrities. The site is fairly new being created in 2005 and gained notoriety for its Photo sharing which rivals that of Flickr. It also has another program that's very similar to Digg's system where you can find and share news articles or videos for others to view and that others can vote for. But instead of voting, they refer to it as Buzzing. So if you Buzz something a lot, it's worth looking at. Buzznet has a little bit of everything and really should be looked at if you work well in a group.
Sconex
Sconex was specifically made for Teenagers, mostly high school students, to interact with each other. It has many things similar to Facebook in that one can post their class schedules and teachers or even make blogs about what they did in Science class earlier that day. It's very user friendly and supports itself entirely with Adsense and a select other advertising programs. The concern rises with the sexually explicit photos that some High Schoolers post on their own pages. Parents are concerned at these findings although they are no different than what is posted on any other site.
MiGente
MiGente is made mostly for the Latin Community around the world and boasts 2.5 million members. It's a smaller site that usually only has about 4,000 various people online at any given time but has been enjoyed immensely by its members. It pretty much looks exactly like BlackPlanet does mainly because it is owned and operated by the same people. So if you have ever had any experience with BlackPlanet you'll know what to expect with MiGente. They have also just recently launched a music sharing program to broadcast your own Latin based music.
myYearBook
There really isn't anything too special about myYearBook but it is very easy to use and easy to get started and is used mainly for kids aged 12-17. Recently, myYearBook signed a deal with CliffNotes to provide free Cliff Notes on the site to those who are currently reading the High School curriculum. It does have over a million users though and is starting to pick up steam. The layout of the site seems to attract the younger audiences with its bright colors and cutesy atmosphere.
See also
Posted on 02/11/2008 12:51 PM Comments (1)
February 10, 2008
Posted on 02/10/2008 11:58 AM Comments (6)
Posted on 02/10/2008 11:26 AM Comments (0)
| Italian lakes at risk, report says |
| Pollution and George Clooney fingered as culprits |
(ANSA) - Rome, February 4 - Climate change, pollution, drought and even Hollywood are threatening Italy's lakes, a new report has warned. The annual dossier by the heritage association Italia Nostra, which looks at the health of the nation's lakes, claims there is serious cause for alarm.
In particular, it singles out Lake Garda, north of Verona, and Lake Como near the Swiss border. Garda, Italy's largest lake, is under attack from several connect sources, according to the report.
Pollution, aggravated by a booming tourist industry, is the most immediate cause of concern. The situation deteriorated so much this summer that local authorities barred swimming in several parts of the lake. The next major issue is climate change, which is contributing to falling water levels as a result of soaring temperatures, the report says. This is not only upsetting the lake's delicate ecosystem. It is also increasing the concentration of pollutants in the water. Turning to Lake Como, Italia Nostra suggests the allure of Hollywood is partly to blame for problems in recent years. Since heartthrob George Clooney bought a lakeside villa in the area a few years ago, there has been an upsurge of interest in local properties resulting in a rash of new construction projects. 'The Clooney Effect', as the association has dubbed the problem, is damaging the lake's ecosystem as well as the natural environment around the lake. The National Research Institute (CNR) has also expressed concerns about some of Italy's lakes but believes there is cause for hope at a wider level.
Gianni Tartari of the CNR's water research institute agreed that tourism was a major issue for Lake Garda, which is struggling to absorb the impact of around ten million visitors a year. Lake Iseo, not far west of Garda, is also facing acute difficulties, the result of poor drainage and industrial and agricultural run-off.
Yet overall, the situation is not as bleak as Italia Nostra suggests, Tartari said, describing the state of the nation's 100 natural and 200 artificial lakes as generally positive. Tartari said the quality of natural lakes would rate ''somewhere between sufficient and good'', while the artificial lakes would generally score a ''good''. ''Compared to two decades ago, the situation has improved radically,'' said Tartari.
''This is mainly thanks to the introduction of a law 20 years ago that banned phosphorus in domestic detergents''. Phosphorous is a key factor in eutrophication, a process involving excessive plant growth that eventually results in lack of oxygen and severe damage to water quality and ecosystems.
The ban had produced particularly impressive results in Maggiore, Como and Lugano, commented Tartari, which were now all reaping the benefits of 20 years of 'detox'. Photo: the Val di Fanes lake near Cortina d'Ampezzo. |
Posted on 02/10/2008 7:08 AM Comments (5)
Posted on 02/10/2008 1:44 AM Comments (2)
February 9, 2008
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Il vostro amico è il vostro bisogno saziato.
E' il campo che seminate con amore e mietete con riconoscenza.
E' la vostra mensa e il vostro focolare.
Poiché, affamati, vi rifugiate in lui e lo ricercate per la vostra pace.
Quando l'amico vi confida il suo pensiero,
non negategli la vostra approvazione, né abbiate paura di contraddirlo.
E quando tace, il vostro cuore non smetta di ascoltare il suo cuore:
Nell'amicizia ogni pensiero, ogni desiderio, ogni attesa
nasce in silenzio e viene condiviso con inesprimibile gioia.
Quando vi separate dall'amico non rattristatevi:
La sua assenza può chiarirvi ciò che in lui più amate,
come allo scalatore la montagna è più chiara della pianura.
E non vi sia nell'amicizia altro scopo che l'approfondimento dello spirito.
Poiché l'amore che non cerca in tutti i modi lo schiudersi del proprio mistero
non è amore,
ma una rete lanciata in avanti e che afferra solo ciò che è vano.
E il meglio di voi sia per l'amico vostro.
Se lui dovrà conoscere il riflusso della vostra marea,
fate che ne conosca anche la piena.
Quale amico è il vostro, per cercarlo nelle ore di morte?
Cercatelo sempre nelle ore di vita.
Poiché lui può colmare ogni vostro bisogno, ma non il vostro vuoto.
E condividete i piaceri sorridendo nella dolcezza dell'amicizia.
Poiché nella rugiada delle piccole cose
il cuore ritrova il suo mattino e si ristora.
Tratto da "Il Profeta" di Kahlil Gibran |
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Si deve avere un'amico invisibile
a cui parlare
nelle ore silenziose della notte
e durante le passeggiate nei parchi.
K. Gibran |
Kahlil Gibran, born in Lebanon, was a poet, philosopher, and artist. His poetry has been translated into more than twenty languages and his drawings and paintings have been exhibited in the great capitals of the world. He lived in the United States, which he made his home during the last twenty years of his life.
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1883 - 1931
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Ka
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SULLA LIBERTÀ |
E un oratore disse: Parlaci della Libertà.
E lui rispose:
Alle porte della città e presso il focolare vi ho veduto, prostrati, adorare la vostra libertà,
Così come gli schiavi si umiliano in lodi davanti al tiranno che li uccide.
Sì, al bosco sacro e all'ombra della rocca ho visto che per il più libero di voi la libertà non era che schiavitù e oppressione.
E in me il cuore ha sanguinato, poiché sarete liberi solo quando lo stesso desiderio di ricercare la libertà sarà una pratica per voi e finirete di chiamarla un fine e un compimento.
In verità sarete liberi quando i vostri giorni non saranno privi di pena e le vostre notti di angoscia e di esigenze.
Quando di queste cose sarà circonfusa la vostra vita, allora vi leverete al di sopra di esse nudi e senza vincoli.
Ma come potrete elevarvi oltre i giorni e le notti se non spezzando le catene che all'alba della vostra conoscenza hanno imprigionato l'ora del meriggio?
Quella che voi chiamate libertà è la più resistente di queste catene, benché i suoi anelli vi abbaglino scintillando al sole.
E cos'è mai se non parte di voi stessi ciò che vorreste respingere per essere liberi?
L'ingiusta legge che vorreste abolire è la stessa che la vostra mano vi ha scritto sulla fronte.
Non potete cancellarla bruciando i libri di diritto né lavando la fronte dei vostri giudici, neppure riversandovi sopra le onde del mare.
Se è un despota colui che volete detronizzare, badate prima che il trono eretto dentro di voi sia già stato distrutto.
Poiché come può un tiranno governare uomini liberi e fieri, se non per una tirannia e un difetto della loro stessa libertà e del loro orgoglio ?
E se volete allontanare un affanno, ricordate che questo affanno non vi è stato imposto, ma voi l'avete scelto.
E se volete dissipare un timore, cercatelo in voi e non nella mano di chi questo timore v'incute.
In verità, ciò che anelate e temete, che vi ripugna e vi blandisce, ciò che perseguite e ciò che vorreste sfuggire, ognuna di queste cose muove nel vostro essere in un costante e incompiuto abbraccio.
Come luci e ombre unite in una stretta, ogni cosa si agita in voi.
e quando un'ombra svanisce, la luce che indugia diventa ombra per un'altra luce.
E così quando la vostra libertà getta le catene diventa essa stessa la catena di una libertà più grande.
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Kahlil Gibran, born in Lebanon, was a poet, philosopher, and artist. His poetry has been translate
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SUL DOLORE |
E una donna disse: Parlaci del Dolore.
E lui disse:
Il dolore è lo spezzarsi del guscio che racchiude la vostra conoscenza.
Come il nocciolo del frutto deve spezzarsi affinché il suo cuore possa esporsi al sole, così voi dovete conoscere il dolore.
E se riusciste a custodire in cuore la meraviglia per i prodigi quotidiani della vita, il dolore non vi meraviglierebbe meno della gioia;
Accogliereste le stagioni del vostro cuore come avreste sempre accolto le stagioni che passano sui campi.
E veglieresti sereni durante gli inverni del vostro dolore.
Gran parte del vostro dolore è scelto da voi stessi.
E' la pozione amara con la quale il medico che è in voi guarisce il vostro male.
Quindi confidate in lui e bevete il suo rimedio in serenità e in silenzio.
Poiché la sua mano, benché pesante e rude, è retta dalla tenera mano dell'Invisibile,
E la coppa che vi porge, nonostante bruci le vostre labbra, è stata fatta con la creta che il Vasaio ha bagnato di lacrime sacre.
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On Friendship
Kahlil Gibran
Your friend is your needs answered.
He is your field which you sow with love and reap with thanksgiving.
And he is your board and your fireside.
For you come to him with your hunger, and you seek him for peace.
When your friend speaks his mind you fear not the "nay" in your own mind, nor do you withhold the "ay."
And when he is silent your heart ceases not to listen to his heart;
For without words, in friendship, all thoughts, all desires, all expectations are born and shared, with joy that is unacclaimed.
When you part from your friend, you grieve not;
For that which you love most in him may be clearer in his absence, as the mountain to the climber is clearer from the plain.
And let there be no purpose in friendship save the deepening of the spirit.
For love that seeks aught but the disclosure of its own mystery is not love but a net cast forth: and only the unprofitable is caught.
And let your best be for your friend.
If he must know the ebb of your tide, let him know its flood also.
For what is your friend that you should seek him with hours to kill?
Seek him always with hours to live.
For it is his to fill your need, but not your emptiness.
And in the sweetness of friendship let there be laughter, and sharing of pleasures.
For in the dew of little things the heart finds its morning and is refreshed.
  
great capitals of the world. He lived in the United States, which he made his home during the last twenty years of his life. | Gibran, born in Lebanon, was a poet, philosopher, and artist. His poetry has been translated into more than twenty languages and his drawings and paintings have been exhibited in the great capitals of the world. He lived in the United States, which he made his home during the last twenty years of his life.
Posted on 02/09/2008 11:17 AM Comments (0)
Hotels and restaurants in Italy
Travel through Italy and let yourself be seduced by the colours and aromas of a land blessed by the most spectacular scenery, a country so rich in history, art, and music, that few can resist the temptation to return again and again.
Top Destinations
Positano, Ravello, Amalfi, Maiori, Paestum and the Cilento 
Admired by poets, artists and travellers from all over the world. 
Siena, Pisa, Arezzo, Lucca. Maremma, Versilia & Chianti wines
Perugia, Orvieto, Assisi, Spoleto, Spello, Todi, Gubbio 
Naples treasures, the Vesuvius and Pompeii, Ischia and Sorrento 
Gondolas, San Marco, Grand Canal, Rialto bridge and the carnival
Uffizi & Renaissance. The cradle of Italian art and culture 
S. Peter Basilica, Colosseum, Spanish Steps, Trevi fountain 
Genoa, Columbus, Sanremo, Portofino, casino, flowers and sea
Alberobello, the Trulli, Castel del Monte, Bari, Lecce and the Gargano 
Palermo, Agrigento, Syracuse, Taormina Eolie islands, the Etna 
Cagliari, Sassari and the sea of the Costa Smeralda
Bologna, Parma, Ravenna, Rimini, the Riviera & Ferrari world 
Milan, La Scala opera, Cremona, Mantova, Como and the lakes 
Torino, Asti, le Langhe, tartufi, grandi vini, il Monte Bianco
The Alps, Madonna di Campiglio, Ortisei, Val Gardena 
Verona, Romeo & Juliet, the Arena, Cortina and Dolomiti 
Reggio Calabria, the 'Bronzi di Riace', and clear blue sea
Ascoli, Urbino, Pesaro, green hills and sandy beaches 
Udine, Trieste, the Mitteleurope, the Alps and the countryside 
A land of both mountains and sea, L'Aquila, Sulmona, Termoli, Chieti
Posted on 02/09/2008 5:04 AM Comments (3)
| Afrikaans - |
Ek het jou lief |
| Albanian - |
Te dua |
| Arabic - |
Ana behibak (to male) |
| Arabic - |
Ana behibek (to female) |
| Armenian - |
Yes kez sirumen |
| Bambara - |
M'bi fe |
| Bangla - |
Aamee tuma ke bhalo baashi |
| Belarusian - |
Ya tabe kahayu |
| Bisaya - |
Nahigugma ako kanimo |
| Bulgarian - |
Obicham te |
| Cambodian - |
Bung Srorlagn Oun (to female)
Oun Srorlagn Bung (to male) |
| Cantonese/Chinese |
Ngo oiy ney a |
| Catalan - |
T'estimo |
| Cheyenne - |
Ne mohotatse |
| Chichewa - |
Ndimakukonda |
| Corsican - |
Ti tengu caru (to male) |
| Creol - |
Mi aime jou |
| Croatian - |
Volim te |
| Czech - |
Miluji te |
| Danish - |
Jeg Elsker Dig |
| Dutch - |
Ik hou van jou |
| English - |
I love you |
| Esperanto - |
Mi amas vin |
| Estonian - |
Ma armastan sind |
| Ethiopian - |
Ewedishalehu : male/female to female
Ewedihalehu: male/female to male. |
| Faroese - |
Eg elski teg |
| Farsi - |
Doset daram |
| Filipino - |
Mahal kita |
| Finnish - |
Mina rakastan sinua |
| French - |
Je t'aime, Je t'adore |
| Gaelic - |
Ta gra agam ort |
| Georgian - |
Mikvarhar |
| German - |
Ich liebe dich |
| Greek - |
S'agapo |
| Gujarati - |
Hu tumney prem karu chu |
| Hiligaynon - |
Palangga ko ikaw |
| Hawaiian - |
Aloha wau ia oi |
| Hebrew - |
Ani ohev otah (to female) |
| Hebrew - |
Ani ohev et otha (to male) |
| Hiligaynon - |
Guina higugma ko ikaw |
| Hindi - |
Hum Tumhe Pyar Karte hai |
| Hmong - |
Kuv hlub koj |
| Hopi - |
Nu' umi unangwa'ta |
| Hungarian - |
Szeretlek |
| Icelandic - |
Eg elska tig |
| Ilonggo - |
Palangga ko ikaw |
| Indonesian - |
Saya cinta padamu |
| Inuit - |
Negligevapse |
| Irish - |
Taim i' ngra leat |
| Italian - |
Ti amo |
| Japanese - |
Aishiteru |
| Kannada - |
Naa ninna preetisuve |
| Kapampangan - |
Kaluguran daka |
| Kiswahili - |
Nakupenda |
| Konkani - |
Tu magel moga cho |
| Korean - |
Sarang Heyo |
| Latin - |
Te amo |
| Latvian - |
Es tevi miilu |
| Lebanese - |
Bahibak |
| Lithuanian - |
Tave myliu |
| Macedonian |
Te Sakam |
| Malay - |
Saya cintakan mu / Aku cinta padamu |
| Malayalam - |
Njan Ninne Premikunnu |
| Maltese - |
Inhobbok |
| Mandarin Chinese - |
Wo ai ni |
| Marathi - |
Me tula prem karto |
| Mohawk - |
Kanbhik |
| Moroccan - |
Ana moajaba bik |
| Nahuatl - |
Ni mits neki |
| Navaho - |
Ayor anosh'ni |
| Nepali - |
Ma Timilai Maya Garchhu |
| Norwegian - |
Jeg Elsker Deg |
| Pandacan - |
Syota na kita!! |
| Pangasinan - |
Inaru Taka |
| Papiamento - |
Mi ta stimabo |
| Persian - |
Doo-set daaram |
| Pig Latin - |
Iay ovlay ouyay |
| Polish - |
Kocham Cie |
| Portuguese - |
Eu te amo |
| Romanian - |
Te ubesc |
| Roman Numerals - |
333 |
| Russian - |
Ya tebya liubliu |
| Rwanda - |
Ndagukunda |
| Scot Gaelic - |
Tha gradh agam ort |
| Serbian - |
Volim te |
| Setswana - |
Ke a go rata |
| Sign Language - |
,,,/ (represents position of fingers when signing 'I Love You' |
| Sindhi - |
Maa tokhe pyar kendo ahyan |
| Sioux - |
Techihhila |
| Slovak - |
Lu`bim ta |
| Slovenian - |
Ljubim te |
| Spanish - |
Te quiero / Te amo |
| Surinam- |
Mi lobi joe |
| Swahili - |
Ninapenda wewe |
| Swedish - |
Jag alskar dig |
| Swiss-German - |
Ich lieb Di |
| Tajik |
Man turo Dust Doram |
| Tagalog - |
Mahal kita |
| Taiwanese - |
Wa ga ei li |
| Tahitian - |
Ua Here Vau Ia Oe |
| Tamil - |
Naan unnai kathalikiraen |
| Telugu - |
Nenu ninnu premistunnanu |
| Thai - |
Chan rak khun (to male) |
| Thai - |
Phom rak khun (to female) |
| Turkish - |
Seni Seviyorum |
| Ukrainian - |
Ya tebe kahayu |
| Urdu - |
mai aap say pyaar karta hoo |
| Vietnamese - |
Anh ye^u em (to female) |
| Vietnamese - |
Em ye^u anh (to male) |
| Welsh - |
'Rwy'n dy garu |
| Yiddish - |
Ikh hob dikh |
| Yoruba - |
Mo ni fe |
| Zimbabwe - |
Ndinokuda |
2. Find your zodiac compatibility
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At a Glance... |
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ARIES goes with Leo, Sagittarius, Gemini and Aquarius. |
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TAURUS goes with Virgo, Capricorn, Cancer and Pisces. |
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GEMINI goes with Libra, Aquarius, Aries and Leo. |
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CANCER goes with Scorpio, Pisces, Taurus and Virgo. |
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LEO goes with Aries, Sagittarius, Gemini and Libra. |
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VIRGO goes with Taurus, Capricorn, Cancer and Scorpio. |
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LIBRA goes with Gemini, Aquarius, Leo and Sagittarius. |
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SCORPIO goes with Cancer, Pisces, Virgo and Capricorn. |
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SAGITTARIUS goes with Leo, Aries, Libra and Aquarius. ` |
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CAPRICORN goes with Virgo, Taurus, Scorpio and Pisces. |
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AQUARIUS goes with Libra, Gemini, Sagittarius and Aries. |
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PISCES goes with Scorpio, Cancer, Capricorn and Taurus. |
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Adjoining Sun Signs
Those born in adjoining Sun signs are also often alike enough through the Mercury or Venus links they may share to be compatible. Because Mercury and Venus are never far from the Sun in a person's chart. Often one or both of these planets might be in a sign adjoining yours in the zodiac. Those relationships that really work may also have their Moon, Mars, other planet or rising sign in their partner's Sun sign, giving them traits or interests in common. |
Posted on 02/09/2008 4:11 AM Comments (2)
February 7, 2008
Per i Greci Eros, per i Romani Cupido, era rappresentato come un giovanetto nudo di grandissima bellezza armato di un arco col quale scagliava le infallibili frecce dalla cui ferita nasceva il mal d'amore. Personificazione della forza irresistibile che spinge gli esseri umani uno verso l'altro. Era venerato non solo come dio dell'amore ma anche come protettore delle amicizie fra gli uomini. Secondo la tradizione tarda era figlio di Afrodite e di Ares. Non appena nato Zeus al solo guardarlo conobbe quanti guai avrebbe combinato quel bimbo e cercò di convincere Afrodite a sopprimerlo. Allora Afrodite per salvarlo da Zeus lo fece allevare di nascosto nei boschi dove le bestie feroci lo allevarono e nutrirono. Appena il bimbo crebbe abbastanza da utilizzare un arco, se ne costruì uno di frassino e frecce di cipresso, imparò da solo l'uso dell'arma addestrandosi con gli animali nell'arte di ferire gli uomini e gli dèi. Non risparmiò nemmeno la madre che, scoccandole a tradimento una freccia, si innamorò di Adone (unico vero amore della dea) che fu ucciso da Ares ingelosito. Afrodite, gelosa della bellezza di Psiche, pregò Amore perché la facesse innamorare del più povero dei mortali per togliersela davanti.
Il dio vedendo la ragazza ne restò incantato, l'amò senza rivelarle chi egli fosse e senza farsi mai guardare altrimenti lo avrebbe perso. Psiche incitata dalle sorelle non resistette alla tentazione ed una notte accesa una lampada lo guardò, ma il dio svegliatosi di soprassalto per uno schizzo d'olio sparì. Psiche cercò inutilmente il suo amore mentre Afrodite la umiliava ed angustiava durante le sue ricerche. Infine i due si ritrovarono e Amore ottenne da Zeus che la sua amata fosse posta fra gli immortali. Dalla loro unione nacque la Voluttà. (dalla favola "Eros e Psiche" di Apuleio). In Esiodo Eros è un dio primordiale nato dal Caos che si pone come demiurgo del ciclo generativo dell'universo (…Amore, ch'è fra tutti i Celesti il piú bello, che dissipa ogni cura degli uomini tuti e dei Numi, doma ogni volontà nel seno, ogni accorto consiglio… Esiodo, Teogonia). Nella cosmogonia orfica, Eros nasce dall'Uovo primordiale, figlio della Notte e di Erebo, egli dà forma a tutti gli elementi dell'universo. In altri miti viene dato come figlio di Poro e di Penia e descritto più come un demone che un dio. In ogni caso tutti i miti legati a Eros sono d'inalterata bellezza.
In Greek mythology, Eros (Greek: Ἔρως) was the primordial god of lust, love, and intercourse; he was also worshipped as a fertility deity. His name is the root of words such as erotic. In some myths, he was the son of the deities Aphrodite and Hermes. Like Dionysus, he was sometimes referred to as Eleutherios, "the liberator". His Roman equivalent was Cupid, "desire", also known as Amor, "love".
According to tradition, Eros was principally the patron of male love, while Aphrodite ruled the love between men and women. His statue could be found in the palaestrae or wrestling schools, one of the principal venues for men to associate with their beloveds, and it was to him that the Spartans sacrificed before battle. Meleager records this role in a poem preserved in the Greek Anthology: "The Cyprian queen, a woman, hurls the fire that maddens men for women; but Eros himself sways the passion for males." (Mousa Paidiké, 86) Throughout Greek thought, there appear to be two sides to the conception of Eros; in the first, he is a primeval deity who embodies not only the force of erotic love but also the creative urge of ever-flowing nature, the firstborn Light that is responsible for the coming into being and ordering of all things in the cosmos. In Hesiod's Theogony, the most famous Greek creation myth, Eros sprang forth from the primordial Chaos together with Gaia, the Earth, and Tartarus, the underworld; according to Aristophanes' play The Birds, he burgeons forth from an egg laid by Night conceived with Darkness. In the Eleusinian Mysteries, he was worshiped as Protogonus', the first-born.
Posted on 02/07/2008 5:32 AM Comments (3)
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THE NATURE YOU WERE LOOKING FOR, UNBOUNDED SNOW
Mezzana and Marilleva, enchanting places in the heart of Val di Sole, heaven of sun and snow. Ski-runs completely covered by snow and carefully prepared, breathtaking landscapes with view of the major mountain groups of Trentino as the Brenta Dolomites Group and the Ortles-Cevedale massif, many hotels, holiday flats, restaurants and services to make your holiday an unforgottable one.
By coming here you will have followed your instincts well, you have headed high into the mountains: here you will find snow in abundance, snow-laden pines like thousands of snowmen amidst an enchanting winter landscape where all the sharp contours have been softened by the mantle of snow. Your reference points are always the same: Mezzana and Marilleva, on a Winter version. Every morning you draw the curtains to see everything covered in white, open the door and you are already on one of the many ski slopes. Just put on your skis and go!
Over 140 kilometres of ski slopes, with interconnecting runs to many other places, also to the snow of Folgarida and Madonna di Campiglio, without having to take off your skis! You can also have a great time too with snowboarding. There are selected instructors for both ski- or snowboard.  Other Winter sports that you can do:
 Cross Country Ski: over 70 km of tracks, running along the whole valley, among the woods and the meadows. You can rent the necessary equipment and attend a course with qualified instructors.
Excursions in the enchanting Stelvio National Park and Adamello-Brenta Natural Park. If you want there is an Alpine Guides Center, who will make arrangements to accompany you and introduce you to secrets of the nature park.
Excursions with snow shoes
Horse-riding in the snow (1 or more hours)
Suggested itineraries by horse drawn sleight, with also night outings on request
Ice-skating
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Posted on 02/07/2008 12:49 AM Comments (0)
February 6, 2008
Marilleva è una frazione del Comune di Mezzana in provincia di Trento, località turistica realizzata nel 1972 come stazione sciistica e centro alberghiero-residenziale.
È composta da due località, Marilleva 900, situata a circa m. 900 s.l.m., sulla riva destra del fiume Noce e Marilleva 1400, a circa 1400 metri di quota, da dove si dipartono tutti gli impianti di risalita. Il collegamento fra le due località è garantito da una strada carrozzabile e da una telecabina.
L'area sciistica comprende 25 impianti di risalita che la collegano, sci ai piedi, a Folgarida e a Madonna di Campiglio creando un carosello di circa 120 km di piste.
La località è dotata di uno stadio per lo sci notturno, di una piscina coperta, di campi da tennis al coperto, di un centro sportivo (a Mezzana) con campo da calcio, da calcetto, campo da bocce e di un centro rafting e canoe.
The Ferrovia Trento-Malè (FTM; English: Trento-Malè Railway) is a narrow gauge railway connecting Trento and Malè in Trentino, northern Italy. In 2003 it was extended to Marilleva: the line has now a total length of 66 km.
Posted on 02/06/2008 1:31 AM Comments (0)
February 5, 2008
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The symbolism of flower colors is steeped in tradition. In fact, every flower color from a deep red rose to a bright yellow daffodil offers a rich and meaningful story dating back thousands of years. The flower colors you choose for a bouquet can be as important as the types of flowers used in an arrangement. |
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The pale blue hues of a hydrangea or the deep blues of an iris can calm worries and preoccupation representing peace, openness, and serenity, fresh floral arrangements filled with blue flowers offers a cooling antidote to anxiousness. View our collection of products with blue flowers. |
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Think pink and you think of grace, gentility, and happiness. Regardless of the shape of the flower – from the tight, small buds of a pink garden rose to the delicate, open petals of a pink caellia in full bloom – pink blossoms convey youth, innocence, and joy. View our collection of products with pink flowers. |
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With its origins tied to royalty and ceremony, purple flowers represent dignity, pride and success. Whether grouped alone in a bold range of rich hues or mixed in with other colors to provide depth and contrast, an arrangement filled with purple blooms represents accomplishment and admiration. View our collection of products with purple flowers. |
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There’s an indisputable energy to the color red – an energy that has the power to transform an otherwise unassuming flower into the essence of desire, strength, and passionate love. With beauty, courage and heat as its symbolism, it’s no surprise that a bouquet filled with rich, red blooms knows no restraint. View our collection of products with red flowers. |
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Often associated with innocence, humility, and reverence, white flowers evoke simple beauty. Whether they take their shape as the luxurious, silk petals of fragrant gardenias, the small, white bells of a lily of the valley, or the quiet drama of a dozen white roses, fresh floral arrangement dominated by white blossoms conveys modesty and elegance. View our collection of products with white flowers. |
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There’s a good reason why it can feel all but impossible to refrain from smiling when you spot a bouquet of bright daffodils or a pot filled with sun-drenched chrysanthemums–the color yellow evokes feelings of joy and lightheartedness. Also a symbol of friendship, a bouquet bursting with yellow blooms sends a message of new beginnings and happiness. View our collection of products with yellow flowers. |
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There’s nothing bashful about the color orange–its message is clear and blatantly proud. Symbolizing energy, enthusiasm, and warmth, an arrangement of blooms in this vibrant color conveys confidence, satisfaction and a passion for life. View our collection of products with orange flowers. |
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Synonymous with nature–and the perfect complement to any other bloom–the color green represents health, resilience, good fortune and youth. Whether used to throw together a diverse mixture of shapes and hues or as a restful tone-on-tone bouquet, green flowers send a message of optimism and renewal. View our collection of products with green flowers. |
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While purple is the color of royalty, and pink the color of youth, lavender is femininity all grown up. Representing refinement, grace, and elegance, lavender holds an almost sacred place in nature—with violet flowers often considered the most delicate and precious. An arrangement filled with these genteel blossoms send a message of feminine beauty. View our collection of products with lavender flowers. | |
Posted on 02/05/2008 11:25 AM Comments (0)
February 4, 2008
January 18 - January 24, 2008
Saturday, January 19, 2008
Icon of Faith
A man carries a painting during Orthodox Epiphany celebrations in the Russian village of Temnolesskaya.
Posted on 02/04/2008 11:37 AM Comments (1)
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1123 - Year of the Snake
Reign of Hantei 38th, Year 20
You may read the imperial histories in order below or jump to any month of the year using the calendar to the right. You may also download the 1123 MSWord file.
The seasons of the imperial year:
Winter: Rat, Ox, Tiger
Spring: Hare, Dragon, Snake
Summer: Horse, Ram, Monkey
Fall: Rooster, Dog, Boar |
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Month of the Rat: Winter Court (Kyuden Seppun) is disturbed by two events. Bayushi Kachiko is forced to return home after her son goes missing from Bayushi castle. The Dragon clan supports Hida Kisada's request for the reinstitution of the "Jade Champion" and Phoenix and Scorpion objections are brushed aside. The emperor, now aging, agrees to consider the request and will hold an appropriate tournament at a time to be determined. Usagi Oda is still unable to find a major clan bride for Tomoe, now hampered by the fact that he has no invitation to winter court. Bayushi Tomaru presses his suit, but meets with no response. |
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Month of the Ox: Tsumado returns to Lion lands to meet with his new daimyo, Matsu Yuki and makes arrangements for the support of his parents. To reinforce their allies, Matsu Yuki sends him with an honor guard (commanded by Matsu Akira) to visit Hare and Falcon lands. Kuni Mojo is summoned by Juju to pursue the remaining black scrolls and he takes his leave of Hare lands assured that it has been cleansed of any trace of taint. |
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Month of the Tiger: Hida Goshiri and Usagi Maroni are sent as representatives of Lord Oda to Ryoko Owari and meet Asako Moharu, a phoenix inquisitor charged with investigating mysterious happenings in the area. They are sent to Kuda, a small village formerly in Hare lands to investigate the claims that a small boy saw a ghost. The "ghosts" turn out to be graverobbers and bandits, who are dispatched by Goshiri and Maroni with the help of the village headman, Muso. Unfortunately, the small boy's home is destroyed by the bandits and he becomes an orphan. They return to Ryoko Owari with the boy and headman to explain the situation to Asako Moharu. Muso then returns to the village and the boy is taken by Goshiri to Hare lands, where he is later fostered with Hondo, Gondo's son. A group of Scorpion emissaries led by Soshi Kima presents Lord Oda with a gift from Bayushi Tomaru, a gilded hourglass. The meaning could not be clearer, but Oda still does not relent about marrying Tomoe to Tomaru. |
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Month of the Hare: Usagi Fujiro goes to Falcon lands to negotiate timber and spice harvesting rights in the Shinomen Forest with Falcon Daimyo Toritaka Genzo, leaving Kuni Mojo, Gondo, and Nodojo free to look around in Tani Hitokage (Valley of the Spirit). They are approached by Toritaka Mambu, the village samurai and vassal for the Village of the Eastern Lantern. He is having trouble with what appears to be evil creatures, possibly Snake Oni, in his lands. Their investigations reveal that a band of eight formerly banished, thieving actors have been sabotaging crops and livestock.
Akodo Tsumado, Kuni Mojo, and Nodojo visit the monastery of Shihoden in the Kuni lands, where Kuni Mojo undertakes research to discover the whereabouts of certain scrolls. The party is greeted kindly by Abbot Sagayama and the brothers; however, after a few days, a wounded shugenja, Kuni Yoma appears and tells the story of being pursued by a terrible Oni, which has possessed crab in his party. He receives sanctuary from the Abbot. The next morning, a party of crab approaches and they are regarded warily by the bushi and monks. However, just as they are explaining that the Kuni is the one possessed, Yoma appears and hideous clouds of beetles break out of his skin, attacking everyone. The Crab shugenja, Hida Hoyama unleashes “Fires that Cleanse” largely destroying the beasts, but the library is set aflame. Kuni Mojo hurriedly preserves documents about maho-tsukai plans against the Hare, but loses some other scrolls. Kuni Mojo, Akodo Tsumado, and Nodojo, shamed by their failure to stop the creature, help the monks rebuild and cleanse themselves spiritually over the next few weeks. |
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Month of the Dragon: Lord Oda sends Gondo and Usagi Maroni as escorts for Piroto, a fireworks expert, who is to install an early warning device at Hare's Nose Island . They meet with Usagi Tanaka and cross the river to plant the devices. Unfortunately, the Scorpion are wise to their scheme and they are attacked by a party led by Shosuro Nagai. Tanaka is wounded and Gondo is nearly killed and captured. Gondo spends the next several weeks in the dungeons of Bayushi Tomaru's castle.
Nokatsu returns to Crab lands with a rice shipment and Hida Goshiri leaves his employ. Oda sends Goshiri and Jiro to the Temple of Osano-Wo along with Hondo and the orphan boy to learn jiu-jitsu from the monks. While there, a strange prophesy is revealed to Goshiri and Jiro. Jiro stays with the recovering boys at the Temple , while Goshiri visits Kyuden Miya and speaks with Miya Katsu, but learns little.
Meanwhile, the action at Hare's Nose turns out to be the first wave of assault on the Hare by Tomaru's army, which quickly lays seige to Shiro no Usagi. Akodo Tsumado and Matsu Akira arrive; however, the Hare are finally forced to capitulate to Tomaru's terms. Tomoe and Tomaru are married and Oda agrees to go into retirement at the Temple of Osano-Wo. Tomaru makes plans to annex the Hare lands and rule the area as a personal fief. Usagi Fujiro and Usagi Yarusen dispute his claim and the matter of who rules Hare lands comes before the Emperor. The three claimants to the Hare lordship (Tomaru, Fujiro, Yarusen) are distressed to discover that Usagi Takeshi (Oda's Yojimbo) and the ancestral Hare swords are missing from Shiro no Usagi. They also search in vain for Lord Oda’s battle fan, the traditional object used to rally Hare clan troops. |
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Month of the Snake: On the three hundred and seventieth anniversary of their clan's founding, the question of who shall rule the Hare is put to Hantei XXXVIII. The presentations of the three claimants are all compelling, but not convincing. At the same time, a party of 4 begs audience and claims that the Usagi are maho-tsukai (bloodspeakers). They are Kitsune Hamato, Daidoji Unoko, Toritaka Bonugi, and Yasuki Taka. The emperor forbids repairs on Shiro no Usagi and inquisitors and witch hunters are sent to investigate Hare territory and the emperor "tables" the matter of the Hare lordship until their investigations are complete. Hantei XXXVIII, in declining health, is pressed to make a decision by the Bayushi. Ultimately, he decides that whoever can find and present the ancestral swords to the imperial court should be the Daimyo of the Hare. The hunt for the lost swords begins in earnest.
Matsu Yuki leads a major Lion army in a skirmish against the forces of the Tsume family, a minor Crane holding. The ronin Itto enters the service of Yuki and is commended for his ferocity in battle. |
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Month of the Horse: An empire-wide search for Usagi Takeshi begins, as the claimants search for clues to the swords. Usagi Fujiro and Usagi Yarusen agree to ally in order to oppose Tomaru’s claims on the Hare lands. They are backed by most of the Hare bushi, though some still favor Tomoe. Many of the ronin and bushi who Oda recruited leave Hare lands and travel to the unaligned village of Kuda, where they are employed by the local headman, Muso, to quell the local bandits. |
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Month of the Ram: The Hare repel raids of ronin.
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Month of the Monkey: Akodo Tsumado, Kuni Mojo, Shinjo Ratha and his sister, Shinjo Akito, travel to the Court of Bayushi Tomaru after the report that an assassin, apparently hired from the Wasp Clan, was killed after slaying two palace guards. While at the Court three Fox Clan members, Kitsune Tsuro (father), Mako (mother), and Tarmo (son), arrive accompanied by the Phoenix Clan shugenja, Isawa Sanjo and his two yojimbo. They enter the court and begin making assertions that Tomoe’s possession of a certain silk fan is an indication of her guilt in the death of Kitsune Shimako (Tsuro and Mako’s daughter). Tomaru refuses to to give them access to the fan. |
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Month of Rooster:Akodo Tsumado visits home while travelling in entourage of his daimyo, Matsu Yuki. He discusses arrangements for his sister’s dowry with his mother and father. He also speaks with Ikoma Kagata about the composition of an epic about his grandfather. Then, Tsumado travels with Matsu representatives to the Kintani Valley , where cross words are exchanged between Matsu Yuki, Doji Satsume (the new overlord of the area) and Tsume Takashi, the local daimyo. Later, a Tsume raid on the Lion village of Oiku (L5) results in the death of its daimyo, Ikoma Ujiaki. Matsu Yuki leads an army against the Tsume and retakes the Kintani valley for the Lion. Tsumado distinguishes himself fighting in the thick of the battle with Matsu Akira, but is severely wounded by Kakita Shinichiro in a duel. Matsu Akira is rewarded with the fief of Oiku, Tsumado is promoted by Yuki.Hida Goshiri is defeated in a duel by Kakita Haiyabusha and forced to carry out three tasks to atone for the slaying of Kakita Yosujan while guarding Yasuki Nokatsu.
In Ryoko Owari, the Emerald Magistrate, Ashedaka Noritoki is murdered. The new magistrate, Shiba Kohashi, summons the former Hand of the Hare to the city to serve him. The “foot” of Kohashi begins enforcing imperial law in the city. Tsumado and Gondo investigate the murder of the magistrate on teardrop island. They subdue a drunken ronin, Anka. Akodo Tsumado, Gondo, Shinjo Ratha, Yogo Yomaru recover Bayushi Tomoe from the bandit leader Fade and receive the thanks of her husband, Tomaru, as well as the trust of Shiba Kohashi. |
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Month of the Dog: An imperial cartographer, Miya Sosumi, begins mapping Fox lands. While in Fox lands, Goshiri and Gondo see Kitsune Juko from afar, who will later become a person of much greater importance. Tsumado and Gondo find some clues to the magistrate’s murder in the Merchant’s quarter, but are trapped in a merchant ship set ablaze. They are rescued by the ronin merchant “Shrimp.” Bayushi Korecho claims damages from the magistrates. They recover vital clues about the former Magistrate’s activities. |
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Month of the Boar: Miya Sosumi maps part of Crab lands. Usagi Takeshi is cleared of wrongdoing by the Inquisitors.Doji Satsume leads a raid on the Lion forests of the Northern Plains. During savage fighting, Akodo Kage is killed. Kage’s former lover, Matsu Tsuko vows vengeance and marches Lion forces northward but is only able to push Crane forces back to the border before Winter. Meanwhile, the Scorpion clan sends an army through Beiden Pass, threatening the Castle of Vigilance (L15); when the Lion responds, this force melts away. At the same time, a second Scorpion army (entering by unknown means in Lion territory), successfully retakes Kenson Gakka from the Lion. Soon, however, war becomes impossible as all of the principals are summoned to Winter Court at Kyuden Otomo by Hantei the 38th. |
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Posted on 02/04/2008 7:17 AM Comments (0)
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Chinese Zodiac - Year of the Rat
The Rat or Mouse
People born in the Year of the Rat are noted for their charm and attraction for the opposite sex. They work hard to achieve their goals, acquire possessions, and are likely to be perfectionists. They are basically thrifty with money. Rat people are easily angered and love to gossip. Their ambitions are big, and they are usually very successful. They are most compatible with people born in the years of the Dragon, Monkey, and Ox.
You are imaginative.
You are generous.
You can be quick tempered.
You will be happy as a writer, critic or publicist. On to Next Sign Return to Chinese Zodiac |
Posted on 02/04/2008 6:53 AM Comments (3)
Chinese New Year
2008 - The year of the rat
THE RAT
2008, 1996, 1984, 1972, 1960, 1948
Rats are perfectionists. They communicate extremely well, are quick-witted, level headed and always alert. They choose their friends carefully and dote on children. Rats are great strategists and make good politicians, but most importantly, their intuition enables them to suss out the enemy quite early in the game. Rats are shrewd and know how to amass wealth. They�ll gladly spend on their loved ones while outsiders will find them miserly. Their adaptability and clever manoeuvring will see them thumbing their nose at even the tightest spot. But they can be quick-tempered and overly critical, making them edgy, nervous and a downright nag with things don�t go their way. They have an opportunistic trait that will see them wheeling and dealing in exploiting situations for self-benefit.
Famous people born in the Year Of The Rat:
Antonio Banderas, Antonio Moreno, Ben Affleck, Bobby Avila, Burt Reynolds, Cameron Diaz, Carlos Delgado, Churchill, Colin Firth,Doris Day, Englebert Humperdinck, Fernando Valenzuela, Hector Elizondo, Hugh Grant, Juanes, Jude Law, Julianne Moore, Justina Machado, Kathy Bates, Kenny Loggins, Marlon Brando, Mozart, Pedro Armend�riz, President George Washington, Ron Moody, Samuel J Jackson, Sean Penn, Shakespeare, Timothy Hutton, Truman Capote, Ursula Andress, and Xavier Cugat
The Chinese zodiac signs are determined by the lunar year in which you were born. The Chinese believe the animal ruling one's birth year has a profound influence on personality, and destiny.
The saying is: "This animal hides in your heart."
Years Corresponding to Chinese Zodiac Signs:
The date of the Chinese New Year is determined by the Chinese calendar, a lunisolar calendar. The same calendar is used in countries that have adopted the Confucian and Buddhism tradition and in many cultures influenced by the Chinese. Chinese New Year starts on the first day of the new year containing a new moon (some sources even include New Year's Eve) and ends on the Lantern Festival fourteen days later. This occurs around the time of the full moon as each lunation is about 29.53 days in duration. In the Gregorian calendar, the Chinese New Year falls on different dates each year, on a date between January 21 and February 21.
Years Corresponding to Chinese Zodiac Signs:
| Rat |
1900 |
1912 |
1924 |
1936 |
1948 |
1960 |
1972 |
1984 |
1996 |
2008 |
2020 |
| Ox |
1901 |
1913 |
1925 |
1937 |
1949 |
1961 |
1973 |
1985 |
1997 |
2009 |
2021 |
| Tiger |
1902 |
1914 |
1926 |
1938 |
1950 |
1962 |
1974 |
1986 |
1998 |
2010 |
2022 |
| Rabbit |
1903 |
1915 |
1927 |
1939 |
1951 |
1963 |
1975 |
1987 |
1999 |
2011 |
2023 |
| Dragon |
1904 |
1916 |
1928 |
1940 |
1952 |
1964 |
1976 |
1988 |
2000 |
2012 |
2024 |
| Snake |
1905 |
1917 |
1929 |
1941 |
1953 |
1965 |
1977 |
1989 |
2001 |
2013 |
2025 |
| Horse |
1906 |
1918 |
1930 |
1942 |
1954 |
1966 |
1978 |
1990 |
2002 |
2014 |
2026 |
| Sheep |
1907 |
1919 |
1931 |
1943 |
1955 |
1967 |
1979 |
1991 |
2003 |
2015 |
2027 |
| Monkey |
1908 |
1920 |
1932 |
1944 |
1956 |
1968 |
1980 |
1992 |
2004 |
2016 |
2028 |
| Rooster |
1909 |
1921 |
1933 |
1945 |
1957 |
1969 |
1981 |
1993 |
2005 |
2017 |
2029 |
| Dog |
1910 |
1922 |
1934 |
1946 |
1958 |
1970 |
1982 |
1994 |
2006 |
2018 |
2030 |
| Boar |
1911 |
1923 |
1935 |
1947 |
1959 |
1971 |
1983 |
1995 |
2007 |
2019 |
2031 |
Posted on 02/04/2008 12:39 AM Comments (6)
February 3, 2008
Chinese New Year
The Year of the Rat
by Holly Hartman
Chinese New Year is the longest and most important celebration in the Chinese calendar. The Chinese year 4706 begins on Feb. 7, 2008.
Chinese months are reckoned by the lunar calendar, with each month beginning on the darkest day. New Year festivities traditionally start on the first day of the month and continue until the fifteenth, when the moon is brightest. In China, people may take weeks of holiday from work to prepare for and celebrate the New Year.
A Ratty Year
Legend has it that in ancient times, Buddha asked all the animals to meet him on Chinese New Year. Twelve came, and Buddha named a year after each one. He announced that the people born in each animal's year would have some of that animal's personality. Those born in rat years tend to be leaders, pioneers, and conquerors. They are charming, passionate, charismatic, practical and hardworking. Gwyneth Paltrow, Ben Affleck, Samuel L. Jackson, William Shakespeare, and Mozart were all born in the year of the rat.
Fireworks and Family Feasts
At Chinese New Year celebrations people wear red clothes, decorate with poems on red paper, and give children "lucky money" in red envelopes. Red symbolizes fire, which according to legend can drive away bad luck. The fireworks that shower the festivities are rooted in a similar ancient custom. Long ago, people in China lit bamboo stalks, believing that the crackling flames would frighten evil spirits.
The Lantern Festival
In China, the New Year is a time of family reunion. Family members gather at each other's homes for visits and shared meals, most significantly a feast on New Year's Eve. In the United States, however, many early Chinese immigrants arrived without their families, and found a sense of community through neighborhood associations instead. Today, many Chinese-American neighborhood associations host banquets and other New Year events.
Chinese New Year ends with the lantern festival on the fifteenth day of the month. Some of the lanterns may be works of art, painted with birds, animals, flowers, zodiac signs, and scenes from legend and history. People hang glowing lanterns in temples, and carry lanterns to an evening parade under the light of the full moon.
In many areas the highlight of the lantern festival is the dragon dance. The dragon—which might stretch a hundred feet long—is typically made of silk, paper, and bamboo. Traditionally the dragon is held aloft by young men who dance as they guide the colorful beast through the streets. In the United States, where the New Year is celebrated with a shortened schedule, the dragon dance always takes place on a weekend. In addition, many Chinese-American communities have added American parade elements such as marching bands and floats.
Chinese New Year 2008
Chinese new Rat year
2008 The Year of the Rat
2008 Feb. 7
The Year Of The Rat
1912, 1924, 1936, 1948, 1960, 1972, 1984, 1996, 2008, 2030
People born in the Year of the Rat are noted for their charm and attraction for the opposite sex. They work hard to achieve their goals, acquire possessions, and are likely to be perfectionists. They are basically thrifty with money. Rat people are easily angered and love to gossip. Their ambitions are big, and they are usually very successful. They are most compatible with people born in the years of the Dragon, Monkey, and Ox
2008 calendar Chinese new year :2008 Feb. 7
Chinese New Year is the longest and most important celebration in the Chinese calendar. The Chinese year 4705 begins on Feb. 18, 2007.
2008 Chinese date new year :2008 Feb. 7
Chinese months are reckoned by the lunar calendar, with each month beginning on the darkest day. New Year festivities traditionally start on the first day of the month and continue until the fifteenth, when the moon is brightest. In China, people may take weeks of holiday from work to prepare for and celebrate the New Year.
2008 The Year of the Rat, Chinese new year date (2008 Feb. 7)
Chinese New Year
2007 The Year of the Pig (2007 - Feb. 18 )
2008 The Year of the Mouse (2008 - Feb. 7 )
 Chinese new year date
2000 Feb. 5
2001 Jan. 24
2002 Feb. 12
2003 Feb. 1
2004 Jan. 22
2005 Feb. 9
2006 Jan. 29
2007 Feb. 18
2008 Feb. 7
2009 Jan. 26
2010 Feb. 14
2011 Feb. 3
2012 Jan. 23
2013 Feb. 10
2014 Jan. 31
Chinese new year calendar
happy Chinese new year!
Chinese New Year is the longest and most important celebration in the Chinese calendar. The Chinese year 4705 begins on Feb. 18, 2007.
Chinese months are reckoned by the lunar calendar, with each month beginning on the darkest day. New Year festivities traditionally start on the first day of the month and continue until the fifteenth, when the moon is brightest. In China, people may take weeks of holiday from work to prepare for and celebrate the New Year.
Fireworks and Family Feasts Chinese new year history
At Chinese New Year celebrations people wear red clothes, decorate with poems on red paper, and give children "lucky money" in red envelopes. Red symbolizes fire, which according to legend can drive away bad luck. The fireworks that shower the festivities are rooted in a similar ancient custom. Long ago, people in China lit bamboo stalks, believing that the crackling flames would frighten evil spirits.
The Lantern Festival
In China, the New Year is a time of family reunion. Family members gather at each other's homes for visits and shared meals, most significantly a feast on New Year's Eve. In the United States, however, many early Chinese immigrants arrived without their families, and found a sense of community through neighborhood associations instead. Today, many Chinese-American neighborhood associations host banquets and other New Year events.
Chinese New Year ends with the lantern festival on the fifteenth day of the month. Some of the lanterns may be works of art, painted with birds, animals, flowers, zodiac signs, and scenes from legend and history. People hang glowing lanterns in temples, and carry lanterns to an evening parade under the light of the full moon.
Chinese new year dragon
In many areas the highlight of the lantern festival is the dragon dance. The dragon—which might stretch a hundred feet long—is typically made of silk, paper, and bamboo. Traditionally the dragon is held aloft by young men who dance as they guide the colorful beast through the streets. In the United States, where the New Year is celebrated with a shortened schedule, the dragon dance always takes place on a weekend. In addition, many Chinese-American communities have added American parade elements such as marching bands and floats.
Year of the Rat Single from the Lunar New Year Series.
In January 2008, in observance of the Lunar New Year holiday, the U.S. Postal Service will introduce a new series of Lunar New Year stamps that will continue through 2019. Starting next year the U.S. Postal Service will release the Year of the Rat issue, followed by the Year of the Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Ram, Monkey, Rooster, Dog and Boar.
Posted on 02/03/2008 10:11 PM Comments (13)
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