"Life can't ever really defeat a writer who is in love with writing, for life itself is a writer's lover until death - fascinating, cruel,
lavish, warm, cold, treacherous, constant."
-- Edna Ferber, American novelist, author, and playwright
Tuesday, February 17, 2009
Monday, December 15, 2008
Christmas: Ever wonder why...?
The season is here, but did you ever wonder why...
...people write merry X-mas?
X is the Greek letter that is the ancient symbol for Christos or Christ.
...the celebration is on December 25...when was Christ really born?
The twenty-fifth was officially declared as a holy day until the 4th century AD. scholars believe that the "star" was an alignment of 3 planets (Mercury, Venus, Mars) that occurred in March of 4BC. but this collides with Easter which was firmly established prior to 400AD, so the 25th was kept as the beginning of the church liturgical (calendar) year.
...people sing about birds in the 12 days of christmas carol?
there's tremendous controversy about the song as to whether it was from England or France, or if the song was simply a child's rhyme or a secret code for outlawed Catholics to safely sing when they were being persecuted in England during the late 1500s. birds are especially meaningful as they were game and highly prized in any feast. "four calling birds" is actually a corruption of "colly birds" which refers to any black bird or perhaps cawing birds like crows. the five rings are thought to be ring neck pheasants, which were naturalized in Europe from China.
...don't Christians light more candles?
technically they light candles all year long, but at Christmas they only light 4 on an Advent Wreath. The candles symbolize each week of the period of Advent (the 4 weeks prior to Christmas Day). The practice of lighting candles on the Christmas tree was discouraged due to the number of house fires that occurred around Christmas.
...do people put up Christmas trees?
first a German then later an English tradition, immigrants brought over the tradition to the U.S. and it stuck. the decorated tree was credited to Martin Luther, but chances are he borrowed the centuries-old tradition from Latvia. ancient pagan rituals celebrated trees and large boulders as living (though non-mobile) creatures.
Merry Christmas
Source: NovaReinna.com
...people write merry X-mas?
X is the Greek letter that is the ancient symbol for Christos or Christ.
...the celebration is on December 25...when was Christ really born?
The twenty-fifth was officially declared as a holy day until the 4th century AD. scholars believe that the "star" was an alignment of 3 planets (Mercury, Venus, Mars) that occurred in March of 4BC. but this collides with Easter which was firmly established prior to 400AD, so the 25th was kept as the beginning of the church liturgical (calendar) year.
...people sing about birds in the 12 days of christmas carol?
there's tremendous controversy about the song as to whether it was from England or France, or if the song was simply a child's rhyme or a secret code for outlawed Catholics to safely sing when they were being persecuted in England during the late 1500s. birds are especially meaningful as they were game and highly prized in any feast. "four calling birds" is actually a corruption of "colly birds" which refers to any black bird or perhaps cawing birds like crows. the five rings are thought to be ring neck pheasants, which were naturalized in Europe from China.
...don't Christians light more candles?
technically they light candles all year long, but at Christmas they only light 4 on an Advent Wreath. The candles symbolize each week of the period of Advent (the 4 weeks prior to Christmas Day). The practice of lighting candles on the Christmas tree was discouraged due to the number of house fires that occurred around Christmas.
...do people put up Christmas trees?
first a German then later an English tradition, immigrants brought over the tradition to the U.S. and it stuck. the decorated tree was credited to Martin Luther, but chances are he borrowed the centuries-old tradition from Latvia. ancient pagan rituals celebrated trees and large boulders as living (though non-mobile) creatures.
Merry Christmas
Source: NovaReinna.com
Tuesday, October 28, 2008
Weird World Series
While the 2008 World Series was halted after 6 innings due to relentless rain and a flooded field, it's not the first time something unusual has marked America's National Pastime Championships.
In 1989 an earthquake ripped through California's Bay Area moments before the start of Game 3 between Oakland and San Francisco. Game 3 was delayed for 10 days.
In 1945, unable to bring his goat into Wrigley Field, Bill Sianis cursed the Chicago Cubs who have never won a WS since.
The longest game: 2005 WS -- 5 hours 41 minutes
Shortest game: 1919 WS -- 51 minutes
Youngest pitcher: Ken Brett, 19.5 years in 1967 WS
Oldest pitcher: Jamie Moyer, 44.9 years in 2008 WS
Tallest player: John Rauch 6' 11"
Shortest player: Donnie Sadler 5' 6"
Source: MLB.com
In 1989 an earthquake ripped through California's Bay Area moments before the start of Game 3 between Oakland and San Francisco. Game 3 was delayed for 10 days.
In 1945, unable to bring his goat into Wrigley Field, Bill Sianis cursed the Chicago Cubs who have never won a WS since.
The longest game: 2005 WS -- 5 hours 41 minutes
Shortest game: 1919 WS -- 51 minutes
Youngest pitcher: Ken Brett, 19.5 years in 1967 WS
Oldest pitcher: Jamie Moyer, 44.9 years in 2008 WS
Tallest player: John Rauch 6' 11"
Shortest player: Donnie Sadler 5' 6"
Source: MLB.com
Thursday, September 25, 2008
Your Data Stolen
The following companies are the most recent victims, they represent the tip of the iceberg when it comes to ID theft:
AIG -- June 2006 -- personal data stolen from computers -- 930,000 customers
Boeing -- Dec 2006 -- personal date stolen, laptop recovered --382,000 customers
JC Penney -- Jan 2008 --personal data stolen -- 650,000 customers
Google -- July 2008 --personal data stolen -- undisclosed number of employees
Countrywide Home Loans -- Aug 2008 -- personal data stolen, thieves caught -- 20,000 customers
Consumers can't prevent ID theft when it happens to a lender or credit company.
Close accounts, paying off monthly debt and keeping only one or two cards per name limits damage to individual. Report ANY questionable purchase or credit line to company. Watch credit score.
AIG -- June 2006 -- personal data stolen from computers -- 930,000 customers
Boeing -- Dec 2006 -- personal date stolen, laptop recovered --382,000 customers
JC Penney -- Jan 2008 --personal data stolen -- 650,000 customers
Google -- July 2008 --personal data stolen -- undisclosed number of employees
Countrywide Home Loans -- Aug 2008 -- personal data stolen, thieves caught -- 20,000 customers
Consumers can't prevent ID theft when it happens to a lender or credit company.
Close accounts, paying off monthly debt and keeping only one or two cards per name limits damage to individual. Report ANY questionable purchase or credit line to company. Watch credit score.
Tuesday, September 16, 2008
Hurricane Season
Technically hurricane season starts June 1, but it's September when most hurricane activity in the Atlantic Ocean is seen.
Hurricanes are categorized by wind speed, prior to 1991 it was air pressure and wind speed. Cat 1 hurricanes have wind speeds of 75-95, Cat 2: 96-110, Cat 3: 111-130, Cat 4: 131-155, Cat 5: 156 mph and higher. Hurricane Katrina had wind speeds of 175 and higher.
Hurricanes flow in an east to west direction and their winds in a counter-clockwise direction.
Earthquakes are more common than hurricanes. We can only feel 100,000 of the 500,000 of the annual global earthquakes.
New hurricane novel: http://www.booklocker.com/books/3527.html
Sources: NOAA, National Geographic
Hurricanes are categorized by wind speed, prior to 1991 it was air pressure and wind speed. Cat 1 hurricanes have wind speeds of 75-95, Cat 2: 96-110, Cat 3: 111-130, Cat 4: 131-155, Cat 5: 156 mph and higher. Hurricane Katrina had wind speeds of 175 and higher.
Hurricanes flow in an east to west direction and their winds in a counter-clockwise direction.
Earthquakes are more common than hurricanes. We can only feel 100,000 of the 500,000 of the annual global earthquakes.
New hurricane novel: http://www.booklocker.com/books/3527.html
Sources: NOAA, National Geographic
Monday, September 15, 2008
presidential quirkiness...
in 1992 Kerrey ran for president.
that's Bob Kerrey, not John Kerry. But both are democrats.
Bob Kerry is married to Sarah Paley. that's Paley not Palin.
John Kerry is husband to Teresa Heinz Kerry. South African by birth, she married Senator Heinz in 1966 and Senator Kerry in 1993.
Sources: 4president.org, Biographies of Kerrey & Kerry
that's Bob Kerrey, not John Kerry. But both are democrats.
Bob Kerry is married to Sarah Paley. that's Paley not Palin.
John Kerry is husband to Teresa Heinz Kerry. South African by birth, she married Senator Heinz in 1966 and Senator Kerry in 1993.
Sources: 4president.org, Biographies of Kerrey & Kerry
Wednesday, July 16, 2008
Cheetahs chirp
Over the years Hollywood has inserted sounds to make animals more or less menacing. Here's a few examples of how The movies played fast and loose with sound:
1. Cheetahs chirp. Young cheetah cubs sound a lot like birds. Cheetahs never roar, but hiss and churr--a sort of throaty growl.
2. Dolphins don't bleat. Dolphins use three primary sounds: Whistles, clicks and chirps. The annoying bleating sound is man-made.
3. Zebras never neigh. Zebras bark or bray, like donkeys. They don't whinny or neigh like a horse.
4. Alligators are quiet. Gators have no vocal chords so the only noises they produce are hisses and an infrasonic bellow that rattles the water around them.
1. Cheetahs chirp. Young cheetah cubs sound a lot like birds. Cheetahs never roar, but hiss and churr--a sort of throaty growl.
2. Dolphins don't bleat. Dolphins use three primary sounds: Whistles, clicks and chirps. The annoying bleating sound is man-made.
3. Zebras never neigh. Zebras bark or bray, like donkeys. They don't whinny or neigh like a horse.
4. Alligators are quiet. Gators have no vocal chords so the only noises they produce are hisses and an infrasonic bellow that rattles the water around them.
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