Mira Na

characteristics of crayfish~~

2011-08-15T02:49:00.000-07:00

Crayfish

~Crayfish, also called crawfish or crawdad, are closely related to the lobster.

~More than half of the more than 500 species occur in North America, particularly Kentucky (Mammoth Cave) and Louisiana in the Mississippi basin.

~ Crayfish also live in Europe, New Zealand, East Asia and throughout the world, including the Tristan da Cunha Islands. Nearly all live in freshwater, although a few survive in salt water.

~Crayfish are characterised by a joined head and thorax, or midsection, and a segmented body, which is sandy yellow, green, or dark brown in colour.

~ The head has a sharp snout, and the eyes are on movable stalks. Crayfish are usually about 7.5 cm (3 inches) long.

characteristics of frog and crab~

2011-08-08T22:35:00.000-07:00

CHARACTERISTICS of frog………….

v Frogs have very good eyesight. They bulge out the sides of their heads in order for the frog to see in nearly all directions.

v Frogs also have amazing sense of hearing. You can often tell the difference between a male and female frog by the size of their eardrum, which can be seen behind their eyes. If the eardrum is smaller than the eye, the frog is a female. On males their eardrum is the same size as the eye.

v Frogs have very powerful back legs and webbed feet that help them jump great distances, as well as, swim. Frogs even use their legs to dig, or burrow, underground for hibernating. Certain frogs can jump up to 20 times their own body length in a single leap.

v Every different species of frog has his or her own look. They come in many colors, patterns and sizes.

What are five characteristics of a frog?

1) need to live by water

2) smooth, moist skin

3) high, round eyes

4) teeth in upper jaw

5) long legs

Characteristics of crab………

v Crabs have one set of claws and four other pairs of legs. If a predator grabs a leg of a crab, the crab will shed it and later it will grow back.

v Lined Shore crabs dance sideways down to the sea. They scrape small plants off rocks with the tiny cups on their pincers. The Lined Shore crab hides in the cracks of rocks.

v Hermit crabs make their homes in empty snail shells. The hermit crab's back legs hold its shell on tight. The borrowed shells protect their soft bodies. As a hermit crab grows, it needs a bigger shell. Some hermit crabs will try and steal another's shell. They are scavengers who look for dead plants and animals that have fallen to the bottom of the tide pool.

v The male crab shoots sperm into two hollows between the females back legs. That will make it possible for the female to lay eggs. When the eggs hatch, they are called zoea larva. The zoea larva feed in the ocean by trapping its food in its bristles. After a while the zoea larva change shape and are called megalopa larva. When the megalopa gets too heavy, it sinks to the bottom of the sea and starts to live as a crab. As the baby crab starts growing, it has to hide because its shell is soft. As it grows, its shell gets harder. Then when the crab gets too big for its shell, the shell cracks and falls off. This is called molting.

~Crabs have one set of claws and four other pairs of legs. If a predator grabs a leg of a crab, the crab will shed it and later it will grow back.

~Lined Shore crabs dance sideways down to the sea. They scrape small plants off rocks with the tiny cups on their pincers. The Lined Shore crab hides in the cracks of rocks.

~Hermit crabs make their homes in empty snail shells. The hermit crab's back legs hold its shell on tight. The borrowed shells protect their soft bodies. As a hermit crab grows, it needs a bigger shell. Some hermit crabs will try and steal another's shell. They are scavengers who look for dead plants and animals that have fallen to the bottom of the tide pool.

~The male crab shoots sperm into two hollows between the females back legs. That will make it possible for the female to lay eggs. When the eggs hatch, they are called zoea larva. The zoea larva feed in the ocean by trapping its food in its bristles. After a while the zoea larva change shape and are called megalopa larva. When the megalopa gets too heavy, it sinks to the bottom of the sea and starts to live as a crab. As the baby crab starts growing, it has to hide because its shell is soft. As it grows, its shell gets harder. Then when the crab gets too big for its shell, the shell cracks and falls off. This is called molting.

Green environment presentation slide...

2011-08-07T02:28:00.000-07:00

Green environment..(deforestation)

2011-07-11T18:26:00.000-07:00

1) Imagine you are a part of a big orchard with a lot of trees around. How do you feel being cut?

-If I are part of a big orchard with a lot trees around, I felt very sad if I being cut. At first I felt very fortunate because I give protection to people and animals to shelter . I felt very sad. I cannot talk does not mean I cannot feel. I wonder, do they feel what I feel? I was disappointed because they are selfish and they do not think what the effect of the deforestation.

2) What will happen to all the animals which were talking shelter on you?

-Animal which were talking shelter on me are be effected.Forests are natural habitats to many types of animals and organisms. That is why, when there is deforestation, many animals are left without shelters. Those that manage to go through the flat lands and residential sites are then killed by people.

Through the years, it is estimated that there are millions of plant and extinct animal species that have been wiped out because they have been deprived of home. Thus, biodiversity is significantly lowered because of the savage deforestation practices of some people.

Wildlife advocates have been constantly reminding that several wild animals left in the world could still be saved if deforested forests would only be reforested and the practice of slash and burn of forests would be totally abandoned.

3) What would be the surroundings like after you are cut?

-The surrounding will effect by the change in temperatures in the nearby areas. Forests naturally cool down because they help retain moisture in the air.

-Second is the long process of global climate change. As mentioned above, deforestation has been found to contribute to global warming or that process when climates around the world become warmer as more harmful rays of the sun comes in through the atmosphere.

-The ozone layer is a mass of oxygen or O3 atoms that serves as shield in the atmosphere against the harmful ultraviolet rays from the sun. Because ozone is made up of oxygen atoms, oxygen react with carbon monoxide. Such reaction would use up oxygen atoms.

-It follows that when there are more carbon monoxide atoms going to the atmosphere, the volume of oxygen would decline. Such is the case of ozone depletion.

-The third effect to the environment would be on the water table underneath the ground. Water table is the common source of natural drinking water by people living around forests.

-Water table is replenishing. That means, the supply of water underground could also dry up if not replenished regularly. When there is rain, forests hold much of the rainfall to the soil through their roots.

-Thus, water sinks in deeper to the ground, and eventually replenishing the supply of water in the water table. Now, imagine what happens when there is not enough forests anymore. Water from rain would simply flow through the soil surface and not be retained by the soil.

-Or other than that, the water from rain would not stay in the soil longer, for the process of evaporation would immediately set in. Thus, the water table is not replenished, leading to drying up of wells.

4) What change will take place in the environment after you are cut?

What are the Effects of Deforestation~

The change will take place in the environment after cut is~

Erosion of Soil: When forest areas are cleared, it results in exposing the soil to the sun, making it very dry and eventually, infertile, due to volatile nutrients such as nitrogen being lost. In addition, when there is rainfall, it washes away the rest of the nutrients, which flow with the rainwater into waterways. Because of this, merely replanting trees may not help in solving the problems caused by deforestation, for by the time the trees mature, the soil will be totally devoid of essential nutrients. Ultimately, cultivation in this land will also become impossible, resulting in the land becoming useless. Large tracts of land will be rendered permanently impoverished due to soil erosion.

Disruption of the Water Cycle: Trees contribute in a large way in maintaining the water cycle. They draw up water via their roots, which is then released into the atmosphere. A large part of the water that circulates in the ecosystem of rainforests, for instance, remains inside the plants. When these trees are cut down it results in the climate getting drier in that area.

Loss of Biodiversity: The unique biodiversity of various geographical areas is being lost on a scale that is quite unprecedented. Even though tropical rainforests make up just 6 percent of the surface area of the Earth, about 80-90 percent of the entire species of the world exist here. Due to massive deforestation, about 50 to 100 species of animals are being lost each day. The outcome of which is the extinction of animals and plants on a massive scale.

Flooding and Drought: One of the vital functions of forests is to absorb and store great amounts of water quickly when there are heavy rains. When forests are cut down, this regulation of the flow of water is disrupted, which leads to alternating periods of flood and then drought in the affected area.

Climate Change: It is well known that global warming is being caused largely due to emissions of greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. However, what is not known quite as well is that deforestation has a direction association with carbon dioxide emissions into the atmosphere. Trees act as a major storage depot for carbon, since they absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, which is then used to produce carbohydrates, fats, and proteins that make up trees. When deforestation occurs, many of the trees are burnt or they are allowed to rot, which results in releasing the carbon that is stored in them as carbon dioxide. This, in turn, leads to greater concentrations of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.

5) Message you would like to give to people who are cutting down trees.

Message that I would give to people who are cutting down trees is stop destroying the forests, which are so valuable to us. The forests are a boon to the earth which is bestowed with different natural resources. Extensive deforestation means the increase in pollution, global warming, natural calamities like flood and drought. Furthermore,they should stop to cutting of the tropical forests . Because rebirth of certain new species which would help in the balance of the flora and fauna. There are certain steps to be taken in order to keep the beauty of the nature intact

The people must be provided with certain knowledge about the ecosystem of the earth so that the people know the importance of the trees and stop the illegal cutting of the trees. There should be certain programs so that the children can teach their elders how important the trees are for the earths existence. The children must be taught the importance of the trees because the children of today are the future of tomorrow. Education should not however stop only amongst the school aged children but should be continued to the upper level i.e. the older people should also be taught the preventive measures of deforestation. The education however has become the easiest way to transfer the message. Saving the forests is a worldwide duty of the people. Measures should be taken by the people to save and preserve the forests.

To save the forests, eco-tourism should also be encouraged so that the people feel that forests are important for attracting the tourists to their country.

.http://wiki.answers.com/Q/What_message_you_would_like_to_give_to_people_who_are_cutting_down_trees#ixzz1R8BwvJuR

http://www.effects-of-deforestation.com/tropical-deforestation.php

6) What do you think the use of technology in reducing and minimizing the problem?

-I think the use of technology in reducing and minimizing the problem can improve solution of deforestation. For example, increasing productivity of cleared rainforest lands is possible using improved technology to generate higher yielding crops.

- Taking advantage of improved germplasm developed through careful selection can produce grasses and crops that will grow on degraded forest soils. While technology may have accelerated the development and impoverishment of tropical rainforests, it will be one of the keys to saving them.

-Example: In partnership with the British National Space Centre (BNSC) and the other DMC member nations (Algeria, China, Nigeria, Turkey, Spain (2008)), DMCii uses the commercial exploitation of the DMC small satellite constellation to fund co-ordination of the DMC for humanitarian use in the event of major international disasters. DMCii works with the UN, the European Space Agency and The International Charter: Space and Major Disasters during disasters such as flooding, earthquake, tsunami, fire and hurricanes.

-DMC imagery is provided by the five-satellite international Disaster Monitoring Constellation (DMC). The DMC small satellites, built by Surrey Satellite Technology Ltd (SSTL), use wide area cameras to capture the high-resolution images. The latest satellite, built for China, was launched into the DMC on 27 October 2005. Two new DMC satellites will be launched in 2008 and a third in 2009.
-Speaking at the Royal Society in London, 25th October, Dr. Gilberto Camâra, Director General of INPE said, "The DMC data is an important affordable contribution to our assessment of deforestation of the Amazon rainforest.

http://www.mongabay.com/saving_brazils_forests.html

7) In your opinion blog is able to stimulate environmental awareness among community. Elaborate.
~In my opinion blog is able to stimulate environmental awareness among community because people can know how to solve deforestation problem. In the blog, have been write that we need sufficient oxygen to live; we breathe in oxygen and breathe out carbon dioxide. We all know where we get this oxygen from. It is from the plant, and all this make up an ecosystem. This statement was true and people should care about this. But,some problem ecosystem was occur and this blog can mention about how to stimulate environmental awareness among community. For example, post about campaign to solve deforestation at blog can invite all community to settle this issue.

Solutions to Deforestation

The safe keeping of our precious planet lies with each and every member of its human population. We are the ones accountable for our actions even though it is ourselves we are accountable too. We have the power and knowledge to turn this planet into a green and pleasant place to live or to completely destroy all life. Deforestation is one of the major pressing environmental issues we face and one we must address the solutions to and quickly if we are to restore the damage we have done to the environment.

Writing~

2011-07-03T01:04:00.000-07:00

Students need to learn martial arts to protect themselves. In a world, have many types of martial arts. For example Silat Gayong, Taekwando, Karate and others. First example of martial arts is Silat Gayong. It referred as Silat Seni Gayong. It is a Malay arts of self-defence, a fighting art and the art of stopping wars. Students can develop of self and becoming a better person. It is good for our mental, discipline and self-confidence. Second, is Taekwando. It is very different from many martial arts. Physically it is very dynamic with active movement. Furthermore, it possesses dynamic poses from another perspective and it can improve to protect themselves. Third, traditional Karate is different from boxing, wrestling and kick boxing. In Karate, importance things is the strength of the mind and good manner to strength of the body. In a nutshell, students should practice and learn martial arts to protect themselves.

Celebration..

2011-06-20T02:58:00.000-07:00

Fasching..

~Do you know that the fasching celebration? Fasching is Germany's carnival season. It starts on the 11th day of November at exactly 11minutes after 11am often referred to as Fat Tuesday . Fasching is more or less a Roman Catholic and Christian Orthodox celebration and most Protestant and non-Christian areas do not celebrate it.Fasching (also known as Karneval) is a time of festivity and merry making.It is a time to break the rules, poke fun at those who make them and then to make your own new rules.

~During karneval time, they would make a mock government of eleven people, as well as other officials. A price and princess were selected to rule the country during the Fasching season. Political authorities, high placed persons and king were the target of ridicule. To avoid persecution and punishment, these antics were played out from behind masks and costumes. Parades, dancing in the streets, masquerade balls and others.

Karneval festivities have become annual events around the world. Also known as Fasching, Carnival and Mardi Gras, the most famous are located in the following places:

Köln, Germany
Nice, France
Trinidad
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
New Orleans, Louisianna

The picture of fasching celebration..

http://www.theholidayspot.com/mardigras/celebration.htm

Songkran..

Songkran is a celebration of Thai traditional New Year, . Not only Thai people living in Thailand accompany of Songkran, but also people who speak the language such as Laotian, Thai people in Myanmar who live near the border at the north of Thailand, and Thai spoken Chinese people in Hunan.

Troot' means 'cut' or 'separation' which refers the end or the separation of the year. Therefore, 'troot' represents a celebration that the old year is ended and people manage to live throughout the year.Monks are invited to reprove. Merit-making, food giving are performed, especially to monks. In turn, people get blessed.

Songkran means movement or displacement, refers to the Sun is moving into the new year. New year days last from April 13^th-15^th, annually.

April 13^th is called Maha Songkran day.April 14^th is called Wan Nao , and April 15^th is called the beginning of new year day. These may be called differently in the North, but still easy to understand. For example, April 13^th, called Sungkarnlong day, means the old body, mind and spirits of the old year are leaving. April 14^th, called Wan Nao, April 15^th, called Wan Paya Wan, means a first important day of the New Year.During festivies,people spray water and put poowder on each other's face to symbolise washing away the sins from the old year.

http://www.google.com.my/search?sclient=psy&hl=en&site=&source=hp&q=songkran&btnG=Search

Obon..

~Obon is one of the most important Japanese traditions. People believe that their ancestors' spirits come back to their homes to be reunited with their family during Obon and pray for the spirits. For the reason, Obon is an important family gathering time, and many people return to their hometowns.

~Obon was originally celebrated around the 15th day of the seventh month in the lunar calendar. Obon periods are nowadays different in various regions of Japan. In most regions, Obon is celebrated around August 15th, and it typically begins 13th and ends 16th of August. In some areas in Tokyo, Obon is celebrated around July 15th, and it is still celebrated on the 15th day of the seventh month in the lunar calendar in many areas in Okinawa.

~On the first day of Obon, people go to their family's grave to call their ancestors' spirits back home. It's called mukae-bon. In some regions, fires called mukae-bi are lit at the entrances of houses to guide the spirits. On the last day, people bring the ancestor's spirits back to the grave, hanging chochin painted with the family crest to guide the spirits. It's called okuri-bon. In some regions, fires called okuri-bi are lit at entrances of houses to send the ancestors' spirits. During Obon, the smell of senko (Japanese incense sticks) fills Japanese houses.

~Obon is not a Japanese national holiday, but many people take vacations during this time so that they can visit their hometowns. Especially, mid August is the peak travel season like Golden Week in Japan. Airports, train stations, and highways are jammed with travelers.

http://gojapan.about.com/cs/japanesefestivals/a/obonfestival.htm

Inti raymi..

~The day when the sun was the most far away from Cusco is also the day when it comes back with the soil fertility. This day is the most important of the year, and people needed to be ready for the new year of the Inca's world: the Inti Raymi.
At the time of the Inca, the present Plaza de Armas in Cusco was called "Aucaypata Square" and was much larger than it is now (its size was reduced by the Spanish). This magnificent square was used as a stage for the great sun celebration: the "Inti Raymi".
On June 24th, the winter solstice, the Inca, his priests and main vassals stood in the middle of the square, people who waited for the sunrise. Once the sun there, the Inca offered two golden tumblers.
Immediately after, all the people meet at the Qoricancha, where the priests gave their offering to the sun. Next, they went back to the square for the sacrifice ceremony. During this ceremony, a lama was sacrificed. The ceremony designated the end of the predictions of the priests to the Inca. Then, the Inca indicated the end of the year and the beginning of the new year, and a general popular feast started and lasted for several days.

http://www.peruhotel.com/english/article.php3?idarticle=30

Festivals around the world........

2011-06-12T02:08:00.000-07:00

Carnival

~Brazil’s most popular and festive holiday is Carnival. In fact, many people consider Carnival one of the world’s biggest celebrations. Each spring, on the Saturday before Ash Wednesday, the streets of Brazil’s largest city, Rio de Janeiro, come alive with wild parties, festivals and glamorous balls.

~The Samba School Parade is the highlight of the four-day event. About 3,000 performers, clad in ornate costumes embellished with feathers, beads and thousands of sequins, dance down the parade route alongside dazzling floats and into the Sambadrome-a dance stadium built for the event. Judges award a prize to the most spectacular group of dancers.

Diwali

~Diwali, the Hindu festival of lights, is the best known of Hindu celebrations and certainly the brightest. Amid the darkest skies of autumn, lights brighten homes throughout India—a sign of welcome to the gods Rama and Lakshmi. Families get together and celebrate with gifts and feasts. Many families decorate their homes with flowers and draw a colorful rangoli, an intricate pattern made in rice flour, at the entrance of the home.

Hina Matsuri

~Each year, Japanese girls eagerly await the third of March, called Hina Matsuri, or Doll's Festival. In Japanese, “hina” means “small doll.” Girls display their most precious dolls on a seven-tiered platform in their home. Families visit shrines and pray for the health and happiness of their girls.

~Japan also celebrates a special day for boys, called Kodomono-hi. On May 5th, families that have boys fly spectacular kites shaped like carp and decorate their homes with figures of traditional warriors to inspire the boys to be strong and brave. The carp is known for its strength and determination. The boys dress up in a kimono and often take baths with iris leaves, which are believed to keep boys healthy and strong.

Eid al-Fitr

~More than a billion Muslims around the world observe Ramadan (“month of blessing”), with prayer, fasting and charity. They celebrate the end of Ramadan with a three-day festival, called Eid al-Fitr, which means “breaking of the fast.” It's one of the most important holidays in Islam. (Islam is the name of the religion practiced by Muslims.) During Eid al-Fitr, people dress in their finest clothes, adorn their homes with lights and decorations, give treats to children and visit with friends and family.

Holi

~Holi is literally one of the most colorful festivals in the world. Hindus celebrate the festival in early March, when wheat is harvested. Holi commemorates spring and the mythological stories of the god Krishna and the king Prahlad. In Hindu legend, during Holi Krishna covered Radha and her friends with colored water and stole off with their clothes as they bathed. In the other story, Prahlad, the son of the king, refused his father’s demand that he worship him rather than God. God saved Prahlad from death twice, first when the king ordered him killed, and again, when the king’s evil sister, Holika, led Prahlad into a huge bonfire.

~On the eve of Holi, Hindus dress in their finest clothes and watch a bonfire. A large tree branch, representing Prahlad, is placed in the middle of the fire. The branch is removed, recreating Prahlad’s rescue. The next morning, people put on old clothes and douse each other with colored powders. It’s the one day of the year that parents encourage their children to get filthy!

Çocuk Bayrami

~Each April 23, Turkey celebrates Çocuk Bayrami, or Children’s Day. Turkish leader Mustafa Kemal Atatürk declared the holiday in 1920, as Turkey was becoming an independent nation after the fall of the Ottoman Empire, to illustrate that children were the future of the new nation.

Children all over Turkey dress up in special outfits or the national costume for Çocuk Bayrami. Boys who dress in the national costume typically wear baggy silk pants, a colorful vest, a white shirt and a sequined hat, called a tepelik. Girls wear a long colorful gown called a kaftan and an ornate veil. Many children perform in plays or musicals. The centerpiece of Çocuk Bayrami takes place in Turkey’s capital, Ankara, where children from all over the world sing and dance in a spectacular pageant.

Raksha Bandhan

~Every August, brothers and sisters in northern India show their love for each other by celebrating Raksha Bandhan. This tradition dates back more than 500 years. The girls tie a bracelet of silk threads, called a rakhi, around their brothers’ wrists. The boys then promise to protect their sisters. The siblings also give each other a piece of Indian candy, called laddu. At the end of the ceremony, the children exchange gifts.

Purim

~The holiday of Purim celebrates the salvation of the Jews from the wicked Haman. Through the leadership of Queen Esther and her cousin Mordecai, a decree against the Jews in the Persian Empire was suddenly overturned.

~Purim takes place on the 14th day of Adar, the 12th month of the Jewish calendar. (In a leap year, it takes place in Adar II, while a minor holiday, Purim Katan, takes place in Adar I.) It usually falls in March. In 2008, Purim begins at sundown on March 20.

~The traditional observances of Purim include public readings of the Book of Esther, feasting, gifts of charity to the poor, and gifts of food among friends. Other popular activities include staging comedic plays, dressing up in costumes, holding beauty contests, and marching in parades. The carnival-like atmosphere of Purim sometimes leads to it being referred to as the “Jewish Mardi Gras” or “Jewish Halloween” by non-Jews.

As with many holidays, Purim has a food of its own: hamantaschen. Literally “Haman's pockets,” these triangular cookies are said to resemble Haman's three-cornered hat. These traditionally contain poppy-seed or prune fillings, but other fruit fillings are also popular.

St. Lucia

~On December 13, one of the longest and darkest nights of the winter, Swedes celebrate the festival of St. Lucia, the patron saint of light. In many homes, a girl gets up early in the morning and puts on a long white dress, with a red sash at the waist, and a laurel crown decorated with four candles. She serves her family warm lussekatt buns for breakfast. The buns, shaped like the number eight, are usually flavored with saffron and topped with raisins or nuts. Boys, called star boys, wear long white shirts and pointed hats. They help serve the buns. Children often go to school dressed in the costumes and serve the buns to their teachers.

May Day

~Children in England celebrate the end of winter and the arrival of spring on May 1 each year. The festivities center around a huge striped maypole that’s decorated with flowers and streamers. Children hold the streamers as they dance around the pole, weaving intricate patterns as they pass each other. Men also join in on the fun. A group of six or eight Morris dancers arrange themselves in two lines and wave handkerchiefs or sticks as they dance by each other. A May Queen is crowned each year to preside over the celebration. May Day dates back to ancient times, when Romans honored Flora, the goddess of spring.

Trung Thu

~Vietnamese children look forward to the 15th day of the 8th lunar month, when they celebrate Trung Thu, a mid-fall festival commemorating the moon at its brightest and most beautiful. Traditionally, the festival also marked the end of harvest, and parents who had been hard at work in the fields enjoyed spending extra time with their children and lavishing gifts on them.

The children wear colorful masks and dance in the streets with star lanterns that are illuminated by candles. The lanterns, which are made out of bamboo and plastic, represent the moon.

The children also feast on moon cakes. Shaped like fish or flowers, the sweet cakes are filled with sugar and meat or eggs.

~During Trung Thu, Vietnamese also remember relatives who have died. They light incense and burn fake money as tributes to them.

Esala Perahera

~Every July or August, thousands of Sri Lankans travel to the hill city of Kandy to watch dancers, acrobats, drummers, whip crackers, flame throwers and more than 100 elegantly decorated elephants parade through the streets during Esala Perahera. This is a 10-day festival in honor of to the country’s most prized possession, the Tooth Relic of Lord Buddha.

~Esala Perahera, first celebrated in the third century B.C., kicks off with the cutting of a ceremonial jack tree. Pieces of the tree are then planted near the shrines of the four Buddhist gods that protect Sri Lanka: Natha, Vishnu, Kataragama and Pattini. For the next five nights, ceremonies with festive dancing and drumming take place outside each of the temples. On the sixth night of the festival, processions begin from each shrine and parade toward the Temple of the Tooth (Dalada Maligawa). The processions grow longer and more spectacular each night.

~During the last night of the pageant, an enormous elephant carries a relic of the Tooth Relic in a gold casket on its back as the performers entertain crowds along the route. The ceremony ends at dawn after the full moon with a water-cutting ceremony. Priests representing each of the four temples walk into the Mahaweli River, “cut” a circle in the water with a sword and fill pitchers with water from within the circle. They keep the water in the pitcher for the entire year.

Day of the Dead

~Day of the Dead is celebrated on November 1 in Mexico, Ecuador, Guatemala and other parts of Central and South America. Families gather to pray to the souls of dead relatives, asking them to return for just one night. People decorate altars in their homes and gravesites with food, candles, candy skulls and marigolds to welcome the souls back to earth. Skeletons are displayed throughout cities, and people dressed as skeletons parade through the streets. Pan de los muertos (bread of the dead) is baked in the shape of skulls and crossbones, and a toy is hidden inside each loaf. The person who bites into the toy is said to have good luck. Day of the Dead sounds like a grim event, but it’s a time to celebrate and remember the lives of dead family members.

N'cwala

~Each February, the Ngoni people of Zambia's Eastern Province celebrate the first harvest of the year with an N'cwala ceremony. Twelve local chiefs and their best dancers travel to a village called Mutenguleni to perform a warrior dance for the chief. The dancers wear outfits and headdresses made from animal furs. The chief chooses the best group of dancers. The villagers feast on beef stew and corn.

Chinese New Year

~Chinese New Year is the longest and most important celebration in the Chinese calendar. The new year begins on the first day of the Chinese calendar, which usually falls in February, and the festivities continue for 15 days.

At Chinese New Year celebrations, people wear red clothes, give children “lucky money” in red envelopes and set off firecrackers. Red symbolizes fire, which the Chinese believe drives away bad luck.

~Family members gather at each other's homes for extravagant meals. Chinese New Year ends with a lantern festival. People hang decorated lanterns in temples and carry lanterns to an evening parade under the light of the full moon. The highlight of the lantern festival is often the dragon dance. The dragon-which can stretch a hundred feet long-is typically made of silk, paper and bamboo.

Example image of several fesitval around the world:

Ella enchanted: my comment

2011-06-12T01:27:00.000-07:00

~My comment is,first I wanna say I love this movie.This story is very well watched by the whole family. Anne Hathaway is perfect in this role, and the direction flows. A wonderful combination of fairy tale and modern sensibilities, and a great use of modern music. Second, I wanna say the saddest thing about the step sisters is their cruelty and realistic. Third,I must say the best parts and lines coming from the ending which ella was married a prince and they are very happy.This movie is interesting, but I expected a lot more.Anne Hetaway is great actress, she is perfect. So great is also her new movie:Princess Diaries:A Royal Engagement.

Summary….( And the Lucky Number is…)

2011-05-31T06:23:00.000-07:00

What means the lucky number? Many of the superstitions surrounding number have a basis in science and phenomenon. Number don’t have the same meaning in all culture. Five is considered a most holy and lucky number in Egypt. But in Ghana,the Ashanti people consider five to be unlucky number. To give something five of anything is to wish the person evil. However,the Chinese consider the number four to be unlucky because it sounds like the word for death. The number almost universally considered unlucky is 13. Some say number 13 means that person who rises will meet with misfortune ,even death,within a year. In conclusion, each number has a purpose in some religious beliefs.

supertitions in the world....

2011-05-30T19:16:00.000-07:00

Superstition is a credulous belief or notion, not based on reason or knowledge. This leads to some superstitions being called "old wives' tales". It is also commonly applied to beliefs and practices surrounding luck and spiritual beings.

picture superstitions..

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Example:

Brazil...wedding dress.

~In Brazil, the groom cannot see the bride wearing her wedding gown before their ceremony, he also can't see her gown and will only see it when she arrives for the wedding. If the groom sees the bride's wedding dress before their wedding, it is considered bad luck.

Pakistan....scissors.

In Pakistan, there is a belief that one should not open and close a pair of scissors without any reason or purpose. It is considered bad luck and believed to cause problem to the family living in the home.

India,Dog..

This superstition is based in India, it is believed that when someone hear a dog whining at night, it's a sign of bad luck, especially when a family member in your house or neighborhood is ill.

Mongolia~whistling..

In Mongolia, the nomads live inside a ger. Ger is a Mongolian word for Yurt, a portable felt covered dwelling structure used in the steppes. It is considered bad luck to whistle inside a ger, it is believed that this act will cause a windstorm which can be very dangerous on the steppe. The sound of someone whistling would be easily mistaken as howling winds.

Russia~travelling..

In Russia, there is a belief that when someone has left or travelling on a long journey, one should not clean the traveler's room until they have return from their journey and arrived home.

Moldova~head.

This is quite rare, in Moldova, there is a belief that if you accidentally hit your head with your friend's head, you have to hit it the second time. If you don't hit your head again, it is feared that someone will die in the family.

Indonesia~giving birth.

In Indonesia, there is a superstition associated with giving birth. It will be unfortunate if your pregnant guest suddenly gives birth in your house, it is believed that this will cause bad luck. When this happens, usually people will advise them to move to another house or place to live.

America~cat..

This is one popular superstition in America. When you are moving to a new home, you have to put your cat in the house through the window for the very first time, so that it will not leave the house. Avoid bringing your cat through the door.

2011-05-29T13:16:00.000-07:00

Me and Color……………………………

I love purple.Purple is a color that combines blue and red. Purple is used to represent royalty. It is a sign of power, nobility, luxury, and ambition. It shows wealth and extravagance. It is thought as a royal color because in Roman times, there was only one way to make the color purple, which the Romans called purpura. They used the small bumps, or cysts. Purple is associated with wisdom, dignity, independence, creativity, mystery, and magic. Purple is a very rare color in nature, though the lavender flower is an example of purple nature.

flower, purple.

Mystical Purple.

Themes of purple are the fundamental and often universal ideas explored in a literary work.

In my opinion,purple is the color of good judgment. It is the color of people seeking spiritual fulfillment. It is said if you surround yourself with purple you will have peace of mind. Purple is a good color to use in meditation.

Purple has been used to symbolize magic and mystery, as well as royalty. Being the combination of red and blue, the warmest and coolest colors, purple is believed to be the ideal color. Most children love the color purple. Purple is the color most favored by artists. Thursday's color is purple.

Violet is the color of purpose. Violet is associated with the Crown chakra.

Violet Energy

Violet is a combination of blue and red. Red is a focusing, dynamic and active energy while blue is cooling, calming and expansive. Violet brings a new dynamic to the expansion of blue and the activity of red. Red brings practicality to the undirected expansiveness of the blue, and allows more creative energy to emerge. For this reason, violet is associated with imagination and inspiration.

Violet is an important energy for those who use blue and indigo skills in the psychic field. The red in violet offers a grounding effect.

I put some violet in my life when I want:

to use my imagination to its fullest
to re-balance my life
to remove obstacles
to calm overactivity or to energize from depression

Violet gem stone properties…

Violet gemstones are associated with mysticism and purification. They are used for meditation and to sharpen psychic awareness, connection with higher self, and to increase imagination and inspiration.

Amethyst Gemstone meaning….

Crystalline quartz in shades of purple, lilac or mauve is called amethyst, a stone traditionally worn to guard against drunkeness and to instill a sober mind. The word amethyst comes from the Greek meaning "without drunkenness" and amethyst is believed to protect one from poison.

~ Rough Amethyst . ~ Tumbled Amethyst.

~Chevron Amethyst Palm Stone.

Healing properties of Amethyst.

Amethyst is a gemstone often worn by healers, as it has the power to focus energy. A healer will usually wear several pieces of jewelry with amethysts set in silver, especially an amethyst necklace. The person to be healed will have an Amethyst to hold while the healing is being done. The healer will place another piece of Amethyst on the area of the body in need of healing, the heart or lungs usually.

Amethyst is used for problems in the blood and in breathing problems. Amethyst crystal clusters are used to keep the air and life force in the home clean and positive.

Amethyst clusters, points or several tumbled Amethysts placed in a window that receives sun most of the day are very beneficial to use in healing and to heal negativity in the home. Place Amethyst clusters, points or several tumbled Amethysts in moonlight and everyone in the home will be feeling calmer. Using an Amethyst as a meditation focus will increase the positive spiritual feelings. Amethyst helps overcome fears and cravings. It also helps relieve headaches.

Amethyst would be very expensive if it were not for its widespread availability. Once considered more valuable than diamonds, these members of the quartz family occur naturally as crystals within rocks. Amethyst usually forms as clusters of crystals. Most Amethyst is faceted or cut into cabochons for jewelry while large chunks are carved. Most Amethyst jewelry and beads are made in Hong Kong and India. As the amethyst is abundant, there is few reason to buy gems with visible inclusions.

Translucent amethsyts with free of visible inclusions of any kind are considered best quality amethysts. They are often cut as brilliant round to maximize the color. Shapes of other cuts can be used when the color of the stone is better distributed. The gem is available in a wide range of calibrated shapes and sizes, including many fancy shapes. The stones are mined in Australia, Brazil, Sri Lanka, Uruguay, Madagascar, Zambia and in the mountains of Russia. Amethyst gets its name from a Greek word meaning "not drunken".

Meaning of Purple Roses.

Dark purple roses are one of a variety of purple roses. Other shades of purple roses include lavender, mauve, etc. Some of the roses that come in these shades are Angel Face, Plum, Sterling Silver, Blue Bird, etc. It is rare to find purple roses in nature. Hence many of the purple roses that we see, are the creation of human beings, through hybridization of different roses.

The purple rose with its elegant color and amazing fragrance has captured the hearts of millions of people. Like every rose, even the purple rose has different meanings. As red roses symbolize the emotion of love, the purple rose stands for love at first sight. The beauty of the purple rose is enchanting and enthralling and in the same way this magnificent flower is given to that person whom one finds as beautiful and irresistible as the rose. Receiving a purple rose from a person means that he / she has fallen head over heels in love with the receiver. The rose expresses fascination and attraction towards an individual. However, it is said that attraction can be just an infatuation if the rose is of light purple color. In this case, the feeling is not that of permanent or long lasting love. On the other hand, the dark purple rose symbolizes deep rooted and intimate relationships. It represents love that is true and would stay forever. Hence, they are given as gifts and used as decorations for weddings and also for anniversaries.

2011-05-29T12:56:00.000-07:00

All About Me..

2011-05-29T12:05:00.000-07:00

ASSALAMUALAIKUM......................

AND WELCOME TO MY BIODATA..........

My name is Mirana Binti Mohd Sharom and I'm 19 years old. Most of my friend call me Mira but my family call me 'Adik' . I was born on 20th August 1992 in Kampung Temau,Raub,Pahang.My mother gave birth of me at Raub,Hospital. I have 3 siblings including me. As you all might guess, I'm the youngest in the family.

My father's name is Mohd Sharom Bin Jalil. He's 60 years old. Before he retired ,my father worked in the public works department. My mother's name is Misnah Binti Sirat. She's 48 years old. My mother is a full-time housewife since he got married to my father. Both my parents have been dedicated their lives in raising the 3 of us and ensure that we become successful individuals in this world and here after. I thank God to have such great parents.

The eldest among my siblings is my brother,Ahmad. He's 35 years old and already married. He has been blessed with 5 sons. He graduated from National University of Malaysia in statistic management. He now works as executive at ‘Permodalan Nasional Berhad’. The second one is my Sister, Miliza. She's 24 years old. She got her first degree which is Statistic from National University of Malaysia. Then recently, she work as a executive bank at OCBC Bank , Jln Hang Kasturi near with Masjid Jamek.

My primary school life begun when I was 7 years old. The school is Sekolah Kebangsaan Temau,Raub. I pass in UPSR in standard 6. Then I went to secondary school, Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Seri Raub but only 4 days. After that, I continued my study at SMKD. I managed to do well in PMR in Form 3 and continued my form 4 in the same school.I choose science stream class in form 4 and 5.Now,I want to complete my study at Selangor International Islamic University College,course diploma in Human Resource Management. After finish my diploma, I want to continue my study in degree, then take master in human resource. I hope my dream will be achieved.

photo's I and my friends,,..